10/8/2020 PTSA Minutes
PTSA October 8, 2020
6:05 pm
Benjamin, current PTSA President, asked everyone to introduce themselves in chat.
Last meeting was community conversation this is first annual PTSA.
Benjamin current PTSA President.
Thomas Coleman current treasurer greeted folks. Looking for folks to take leadership roles.
Will discuss how to govern this space. Historically Roberts Rules – looking to revise to be more community-based consensus.
Agenda, approve reports, old reports, new reports. Looking to be creative to connect with the community. Looking to provide a more equitable space for more people to be involved.
Thomas
Current $49,257 static for last five or so months. Funds coming in from four separate programs. Amazon Smile, Fred Meyers, PayPal (appears to be $9,000). Have a process for dispersing those funds.
Benjamin
Care packet program at end of last year with SEI; made gift cards and gift supplies happen. There were excess left over. A few gift cards left (about 20) about $20-25. Plan is to connect with Reuben at SUN to distribute those and connect about a similar model moving forward.
Assistant-Principals:
Evening Kraul introduced herself.
Amy M-D: also introduced herself and is here to pass along information to Principal Mair.
Regarding Mr. Mair’s bereavement leave - Shall we put together a floral arrangement or gift card. Email htmsptsapdx@ptsa if you want to connect.
Open Appreciations:
Benjamin – likes to hang out with his son at school.
Sheila Zachry – from Maurice Lucas foundation – have been able to be in the academic hub. They are doing a fantastic job, they are adapting really really well. Kids interested in being there; takes a lot. Shout out the Tubman teachers and administrators.
Benjamin sent appreciation to after care programs and all that goes into it – SEI and others. Keep up the good work.
Staff body very inspiring – dedication, passion, flexibility, hard work. Mr. Chu has been generous about taking students on - so student centered. Many elective teachers have opened up additional classes – has been remarkable. Appreciates the HTMS community who have stewarded that until now.
Judy – entire new operating system. Everything is new.
Thomas – reached out to the Principal to meet with him. There’s not a good system for meeting with people. Interested to share ideas including a parents group to support African Dance and daughter’s experience . Will be a challenge just to meet with him. Need very basic systems. Don’t want folks to get exited, not been able to connect, then get frustrated and to not engage.
Benjamin shared Principal is willing to do a monthly principal’s coffee. HTMS is a startup school which could have led to some communication issues in the past. Have heard that systems to enhance communications between families.
AP Kraul – Mr. Mair intends to get that Principal’s coffee going. Want to create those lines of communications.
Kesia – also appreciated that time to spend with administration and the Vice-Principals; not knowing when and were to be at any given time.
Recap of meeting with administration last week:
- Communications should be clear and timely; day before or night before.
- How to get kids together in social situations.
o One idea would be to host a lunch bunch with administrators – allow kids to get together and socializing.
- Met with the team of administrative support; everyone enthusiastic, ready to take on “what’s next”.
- Middle schoolers needing support with calendar. Students learning how to be virtual learners.
- Perhaps put a plan together to support students to be students.
- Math credit – answer forthcoming.
- Some parents brought up concern around testing; worried about how students will show progress. Concern about balance or rigor and knowing students were making progress.
- Kirstin shared a suggestion from her 7th grade daughter: teachers could use canvass to write the schedule for the week – like the lesson plan.
- Benjamin underscored more engagement with students on the PTSA; envisions more of that happen more spaces for those engagements.
Q: How many students?
A: from Ms. Krauel
6th 166
7th 121
8th 160
447 total
Q: compared to last year?
A: see chat for details
Other continued comments, reflections from last week:
- A student council is being formed.
- Is BSU coming back? Benjamin understands it is.
- SLAMBU will be run through sun school. Focus on black students open to all. Working in tandem at Ockley-Green. When back in person will definitely be on.
About SLAMBU: Mr. Chu and schools from around the region. Write poetry, break bread and share their pieces. Getting people who normally wouldn’t be together, together. Lead people through writing poetry individual and group pieces – biggest slam event the region has ever seen. Black students are the focus – open to everyone from elementary school to adults.
Mr. Chu – individual students scheduling meetings getting good benefit. Could use a creative space to share those ideas. With online, opens up different possibility. Need to follow-up with the kids that aren’t showing up. Speaking of racial equity; need to put our money where our mouth is.
Benjamin would like the PTSA to be representative of everyone, particularly over-reprenting those who may not have been able to have a voice.
Need a Treasurer and Secretary to stay enrolled as a non-profit.
Thomas can provide details on Treasurer.
Secretary takes notes, be present.
Need folks at the table who are well-connected to all the communities at HTMS. Please connect with Benjamin. Do need a certain amount of positions filled. Should be representative of getting positions filled.
Ms. Krauel asked how to rally parents to be involved. Parents suggested Tribune, other methods including describing what’s meaningful for them so they can see themselves in it.
Perhaps a pamphlet for the PTSA.
Ms. Krauel showed pictures of some of the outdoor spaces at HTMS that could be beautified.
- Flint Mural Wall and Rose Garden
- Front doors landscape and walls
- Front doors landscape slide
- Front doors landscape
- Landscape Flint brick wall
- Mural wall and corner
In HTMS history – rose garden – Roses for Moses as Ms. Tubman was called Moses for her legacy of leading so many from slavery.
Perhaps bringing kids to the building to do some student art. Community and professional artists. Is there a professional landscape architect for those open spaces?
Benjamin invited folks to put their name in the chat and Benjamin will contact you. Encourages space to make folks happen.
Suggestion to connect current with previous members of PTSA.
Put specific information in the Tribune, PTSA webpage.
Also teachers onto the home page of their canvasses.
Email Mr. Mair with a request to join the staff as a whole.
Kirstin is available to be a second set of hands typing for a secretary. Appreciates Benjamin’s vision for the PTSA to represent and over-represent the diversity at HTMS.
Benjamin wrapped up the meeting, stated they will work on getting the recruitments well.
Next meeting: PTSA meets 2nd Thursday of every month. Next meeting is November 12. Could move the time a bit earlier. Now 6 pm.
Please see also chat for more comments, persons expressing interest in getting involved.