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November 6, 2009
Attendees: Chris Morrow, Aggy Morrow, Stephanie Levine, Leslie Selle, Brett Ownez, Connie So, Gwendolyn Jimerson, Elaine Donoyano, Alex Hayden, Thao Nguyen, Chris Hong, Chandra Chenvert, Vernette Stowers, R. Marshall, Kelly Toland, Jennifer Gaer
Committee Work: There are currently 8 working and soon to launch committees including: fundraising, cultural and special events, immigration and language, political action, garden, athletics and arts. Committees should be meeting a minimum of one time per month and working towards agreed upon goals and objectives of that committee. Committee chairs should plan to attend next meeting on January 7th and plan to report out on committee progress.
· Athletic Committee is getting off the ground. With about 6 members, they are starting to get our MS students involved in competitive sports across the city. Elaine Dondoyano reported they are going to need some major fundraising for uniforms and coaches for various sports—Contact Mr. Fulford if you are interested in coaching.
Assignment Plan: Cris encouraged every parent to review the plan. South Shore kids who live in the neighborhood, with the new assignment plan are slated to attend Rainier Beach High School. SS PTSA will be meeting with the principals at RB, Cleveland and Franklin to further understand what will be the academic options for our students. We are experiencing “educational flight” in S. Seattle. While we are being well served now at SS, what will keep us in the S. end for HS? We need to identify and create good options for our students. The Political Action Committee has not been able to meet yet but would like more voices to help them formulate a plan to address these needs for our students. There are currently 4 members. Chandra Chenvert stepped up to join. Are there others? Contact Stephanie at slevine@q.com. Cris has also met with other elementary and middle school parent reps to help develop and plan of action to truly provide equity in education.
Budget: Cris handed out updated budget in Sarah’s absence. Budget approved.
Holiday Bazaar: December 17th. Goal is 50 tables. Fundraising Committee is organizing for winter. World Market, Spaghetti feed, entertainment, and Scholastic Book Fair. Parent suggested the areas be roped out to keep students from running around and keep them safe. We will open up to the community and advertise for vendors and participants locally. All proceeds go to PTSA.
Student Council: Many students stepping up to serve on school government. They have lots of ideas about fundraising and we need to listen. Middle School teacher Ms. Ruchi is helping launch the council.
MISC. • New School PAG named in the process of being changed to South Shore Pre-K-8 PTSA. • Kudos to the Daniel Fernandez clan and all other participants for making last nights event a huge success! • Current free and reduced lunch rate up to 67%, which should make us eligible for Title I funding next year. • Along with increased free and reduced numbers, comes an influx of new students and staff. As a community it would be great for parents/guardians to step into the building as often as we can to help insure students are being respectful, listening, safe and as parents, not be afraid to acknowledge the situation if they are not. • Carla, the Family Support Worker could use some gently used underwear, socks and sweat pants for some of our students. She is also looking for support from PTA to help her financially support some families over the holidays. A donation box was proposed for the Holiday Bazaar. • Communication has been difficult getting out to Middle Schooler’s . We are trying to get a bookcase to post flyers etc. to better communicate with families. October 15, 2009 38 South Shore parents in attendance & 2 staff New Student Assignment Plan - Presented by Sherrie Encarnacion SPS wanted a plan that was --Predictable, Equitable and Easy to understand. The new plan is about bringing services closer to home, decreasing transportation cost sand making it easier for families to become involved in their students education. South Shore is a “Choice School” for next year. This means students must apply to attend or will be place in their service area school transportation provided within the Service Area. Students who are assigned to a school because of special needs and APP will continue to get transportation. Transportation will not be available to students assigned outside their service area. We are strongly encouraged to become part of the political action committee as we will need to advocate for our school and students. The Political Action Committee will make recommendations to the PTSA on our messaging to the district. All plan information will be held in PTSA office. We will submit “comment cards” to district. Parents will also be able to log into a computer in the library and provide feedback to district online. School Board Vote on 11/18 on the new assignment maps only. Whole plan to be voted on in January. (INSERT DATES from Sherrie) Tie Breakers: The new assignment plan continues to recognize the following tie breakers when determining placements: siblings, geographic zone and lottery. Grandfathering: Students currently enrolled in their current school can stay there until the last grade level-up to 8th grade at South Shore. Question: What does this plan mean to us as an OPTION SCHOOL? A: Students can apply from all over the district upsetting the ethnic, language and socioeconomic balance we have worked so hard to attain. We want to keep our current demographics and need to be vocal about it. Ways to be heard: Comment Cards, board meetings, Getting involved in Political Advocacy Committee. Question: How will this impact our class size? A: We currently buy-down classroom size. Class sizes are increasing because the union agreement reports that a teacher can take up to 28 kids in the classroom. This union agreement supersedes the Agreement of Understanding between the foundation and district. There is nothing we can do about the class size. The NS foundation is most interested in keeping class rooms small in the pre-k-3 grade bands and duplicating this model nationally. Question: How do we get our Title 1 status back? A: 50% free-reduced lunch rate. We were at 42% last year. We believe we are higher this year but do not yet know current rate. Important to have families to fill out form if they even think they may qualify. New Business: Vernette Stowers • Brown Bear car wash tickets expires 11/30—$3.00 • Mr. Smith requests Lewis and Clark history boxes. $55 to serve 4th and 5th graders. Althea motions to approve financial support. Connie 2nds motion. Budget: Sarah Doss • DON grant owes us $15,000.00 for 2008-09 and will be added to our budget for 2009-10. • Althea approved the budget. Tina seconded the motion. A parent mentioned her husband works for World Vision and we should look into partnering with them to acquire free food/supplies for future events and for our families in need. Cultural Events: Connie So • Day of the Dead and Native American Heritage month will combine for 1 event on 11/5. • Winter Bazaar and Spaghetti feed for December 17th • Lunar New Year –February 14th • Black History Month—Date? Events committee meets on Mondays evenings 7-9. Email Connie So with ideas or your desire to participate. Connie also strongly recommended folks to join the grant writing committee. Althea motioned to end the meeting. Vernette 2nds motion. |
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