November 2025 Meeting Minutes

GAP PTA Meeting (November 11, 2025)

Attendance: Meaza Tekele, Markon & Akinoam, Samson, Pondie Taylor, Ribka Gezemu, Graham Martin, Michelle Klemmer, Kaylan Pundsack, Sher Po, Tina Abem, Carl Johnson, Hanan Zavala, Alicia Ramirez, Karen Bajana, Magdelene Welp, Yessica Polito, Raina Linnerson, Patricia, Hazel Allen, Yousif Mohammed, Hillary, Stephanie Stegeman, Ms. Kate Allen, Michel, Morris

Treasurer’s Report (Hanan)

-       Between checking and savings we have about $28,000

-       After expenses, the carnival cost us about $500

-       Talked about the Direct Ask, starting with Give to the Max Day (November 20).

o   Can go to the website starting now, or wait until Give to the Max Day.

§  Donating on GTMD enters the school for Golden Tickets

·      Drawn every 15 minutes, worth $500 each

o   Can also donate to the Direct Ask directly on the PTA’s website.

Upper Campus Update (Ms. Kate)

-       In the midst of conferences; student-led this year

-       Go Fund Me update (random acts of kindness for families in need; holidays, Project Reach, etc.)

o   Goal was $2,000, which was met in a week

o   Upped to $3,000, which has also been met

o   Half will go to upper campus, half to lower campus

GAP Lower Campus Carnival Debrief (Maggie Welp)

-       Went well

-       Different starting at 5:00 pm, but setup went very smoothly. People arrived slowly for the first half hour (we usually have started it at 5:30). At 5:30 people really started rolling in.

-       Would love not to lose money, but some of the expenses will be shared with the Sneaker Ball (loss should come out in the wash); dance budget is substantially lower, so we should make money back on that.

-       Thanks to volunteers not signing up until the last minute to volunteer. Not knowing if we have volunteers is the most stressful. This year it happened a lot earlier than in the past.

-       They want community feedback. They are very open to ideas.

-       Probably ready to pass the baton to someone else next year. Maureen will definitely be out this year; Maggie may be able to help next fall to help hand it off smoothly. If someone wants to take over, they should get in touch this year to make the planning easier before next fall. If interested, please contact Maggie or Maureen (email addresses?)

-       Did not have a lot of photos, so if people want to share pictures, that would be really helpful.

Approve the Minutes from September 24, 2025 meeting

-       For some reason they are not up; apologies.

-       We will get them up on the PTA website within the next 24 hours, and then we can review and approve them at the next meeting.

GAP Gear (Graham)

-       Clothing orders are all in. Sold just under $3,000 worth of clothing this year. Orders will be submitted to the printer in the next couple days, and then hopefully delivered around the first week in December.

Eat out for GAP fundraisers (Pondie)

-       Have a few coming up

-       Like to do it in the winter to help people get out when it’s cold

-       But people have been asking to do more.

-       Recommendations for Famous Dave’s and The Nook.

-       Planning to have the dining out nights on PTA meeting nights

Calendars for GAP Campuses are being used online now, so if you want to know what is going on, check them out.

-       Globalartslower.spps.org/calendar

-       Globarartsupper.spps.org/calendar

Questions about the Gatherings:

-       Pondie and Graham had a meeting with Dr. Franks about this.

-       She was adamant about the arts and the school.

-       She read every email that was sent, and understood the concerns of the parents and students.

-       She also said she was directed by the requests from teachers at the end of last year

o   Teachers wanted more intentional use of that time sometimes

o   Compromise was to switch to every other week, and let students and teachers use off weeks for other arts review and study.

-       Graham will find the summary of the meeting and include it in these minutes

o   Meeting Summary Notes are at the end of this document.

-       Stephanie Stegeman wants to know about why the gatherings seem so much less polished and put together this year and last year.

o   Unclear who is in charge of the gatherings

o   Artists performing at gatherings were funded by grants in the past, and those are harder to get.

Approve the Minutes

-       Motion: Stephanie Stegeman

-       Second: Michelle Klemmer

-       No further discussion

-       Motion passes. Minutes are approved.

No other business. Motion to adjourn passed at 6:41pm

Summary of Meeting with Dr. Franks re GAP Lower Campus Gatherings (Sept. 29, 2025)

School Safety and Community Engagement

Principal Franks discussed the need for reduced parental involvement in school events to ensure safety and teacher comfort. She emphasized that parents can still schedule meetings and attend publishing parties but large gatherings are temporarily suspended due to issues like parents pulling students out of line during dismissal. The school aims to balance safety with community engagement, particularly for the arts. Plans include bi-weekly gatherings to allow teachers more time to prepare and involve students in presentations. Concerns were raised about the perceived reduction in arts programs, but Franks clarified that the opera and choir are not being cut but are being managed more cost-effectively. A follow-up meeting was suggested to refine these plans and improve communication.

Action Items

• [ ] @Graham Martin - Schedule a follow-up meeting between the PTA and Principal Franks to further discuss options for parent attendance at the November and December gatherings.

• [ ] @Graham Martin - PTA to discuss with parents and teachers to brainstorm ideas for the November gatherings before the follow-up meeting with Principal Franks.

• [ ] Principal Franks to send a message to the community before the November gatherings to provide information on the updated procedures.

Outline

Principal Franks' Communication and Safety Concerns

• Principal Franks emphasizes that parents can still schedule meetings and attend publishing parties, but large events are temporarily suspended due to safety concerns.

• Teachers have complained about parents pulling kids out of line during dismissal, causing disruption and anxiety.

• Principal Franks aims to ensure every student is accounted for during dismissal and plans to address this issue next semester.

• Pondie highlights the importance of community and performance experiences for the art school, suggesting a way for third-grade families to attend gatherings.

Challenges with Parental Involvement and Safety Measures

• Principal Franks discusses the logistical challenges of differentiating between parents and the need for better check-in processes.

• Pondie suggests using volunteers to manage ID checks and RSVPs, emphasizing the importance of safety.

• The conversation touches on the emotional impact of virtual gatherings on students and the desire to return to in-person events.

• Principal Franks acknowledges the feedback from teachers and the need for more intentional and less frequent gatherings.

Feedback from Teachers and Adjustments to Gatherings

• Principal Franks explains the feedback from teachers about the need for more time to plan gatherings and the desire for bi-weekly gatherings.

• The goal is to make gatherings more intentional and less disruptive to classroom activities.

• Principal Franks mentions the possibility of students highlighting their work during off weeks and the involvement of other performers.

• Graham Martin inquires about the communication process with staff regarding gathering changes and the potential impact on arts programs.

Concerns About the Winding Down of Arts Programs

• Graham Martin raises concerns about the perceived winding down of arts programs, citing the chorus dropping out and the potential impact on the fourth-grade opera.

• Principal Franks clarifies that the chorus is not being cut but is being considered for different scheduling options.

• The discussion includes the financial constraints of paying for subs and the need to balance budget with arts programs.

• Principal Franks emphasizes the importance of finding creative solutions to continue supporting arts residencies across all grade levels.

Communication and Planning for Future Gatherings

• Pondie expresses concern about the timing of family involvement in school events and the need for better communication.

• Principal Franks agrees to schedule another meeting to discuss plans for November and December gatherings, ensuring staff and parent safety.

• Graham Martin suggests involving parents and teachers in brainstorming ideas before the next meeting to improve communication and planning.

• Principal Franks acknowledges the need for more transparency and better communication with the community about changes and decisions.