The next PTA meeting is Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 pm and will be held virtually. Even if you are not a PTA member, you are encouraged and welcome to join to provide input and ask questions of others that care about our school community.
Category Archives: PTA Meeting
PTA meeting Wed, May 6 – your input is needed on what COVID-19 means for our school community!
Please join us on WEDNESDAY, May 6 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm for a virtual PTA General Membership Meeting. Please join using Zoom, meeting ID: 948 2874 5408. A reminder will be sent to PTA members prior to the meeting with dial-in details for those unable to join via app/web.
TOPICS: PTA Funded Programs. Priorities for families and Genesee Hill Elementary School are being impacted by COVID-19. It’s expected that PTA funding is going to decrease next year so, as a group, we need to decide what programs and services the PTA will plan to fund. As parents, many of you ideated on what the school needed when we met in January. Now is your chance to continue that conversation and tell us what matters to you.
But this is a Zoom meeting – what are we going to DO? In addition to getting updates on PTA finances, a recap from the auction, and a chance to ask questions about positions open for the election at the June 11 PTA General Membership Meeting (when we’ll also vote on next year’s PTA budget), we will have small group discussions about what to prioritize for the 2020-2021 school year.
Not a PTA member? PLEASE still come*. You don’t have to be a member to provide input and ask questions of others that care about our school community.
*Our PTA membership gatherings are open to everyone. You do not need to be a PTA member to attend. However, you must be a current PTA member to vote on PTA business. Your PTA membership is an annual membership (aka must be renewed each school year). If you are not sure if you are a current PTA member, please contact Jay Bitseff at president@geneseehillpta.org. If you are not a member, please consider joining the PTA here: http://www.geneseehillpta.org/join-the-pta/
Save the Date – General PTA Membership Gathering Oct 4
Please join us at our first General PTA Membership Gathering of the school year on Thursday, October 4 from 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm in the Genesee Hill Elementary lunchroom. Childcare is provided for school aged children. Our Fall Membership Gathering gives our membership and community an opportunity to learn more about our PTA’s vision and goals, activities and events planned for the year and how you can get involved, whether it is sharing your time, talents or resources. Our Fall Membership Meeting is also where will we fill our open board position (Vice Treasurer), accept nominations for participation in the Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly and review and approve our revised 2018-2019 PTA Budget.
PTA General Membership Meetings are open to all current PTA members and the community. However, if you are not a member and would like to vote at the meeting to elect the board and approve the budget, please join the PTA now. (Please note that your PTA membership is an annual membership and must renewed each school year.)
Open Elected Board Positions and Nominees
Greg Deviny – Vice Treasurer
Open Appointed Board Positions
Legislative Advocacy Chair(s)
Nominating Committee
*If you are interested in being nominated for one of the open board positions (elected or appointed positions), please let me know.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
Erika Rasmussen, PTA President
Last PTA Meeting Tonight!
Please join us tonight, Thursday May 28th at 6:30pm for our last PTA Meeting of the 2014-2015 school year! Tonight’s meeting is crucial as we vote in new board members for the 2015-2016 school year and vote on the budget. Free childcare for school age children is provided in the gym.
And please join us as at Prost after the meeting to celebrate another successful school year. Hope to see you there!
General Meeting This Thursday!
Join us Thursday, April 23 at 6:30PM for our General Meeting. We are excited to have BLRB Architects visit and present a virtual tour of our new school building. Following their presentation we will provide an update on the name submission process. If you haven’t had a chance to register your name preference, visit SchmitzParkPTA.org for details.
And a reminder free childcare is provided for school age children in the gym. Questions please contact your board at board@schmitzparkpta.org.
Agenda for PTA General Meeting – This Thursday!
We hope you all can join us this Thursday, January 15th from 6:30-8pm in the school cafeteria for our General Meeting. Members and non-members are invited to join us in discussion as we get an update from Mr. Kischner on Technology at the school and where funds are being spent. We’ll also hear from Ms. Vannini, School Librarian on the funds raised at the Book Fair and how that money will be used at the school. Following officer reports we will have a Q & A for parents. Questions please contact the board at board@schmitzparkpta.org.
You can download the agenda here.
First PTA General Meeting – October 16th
We will be holding our first PTA General Meeting of the 2014/2015 school year on Thursday, October 16 at 6:30pm in the cafeteria. We have a crucial vote on the 2014/2015 budget that requires members to vote how money will get spent this school year. The Seattle App Academy will also provide a presentation of their new after school programs and how your children can get involved in robotics, engineering, and computer programming. Free Childcare is available to all Schmitz Park school age children in the gym.
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Never miss a chance to give your input on issues that impact our children. Take the 2014 Legislative Priorities Issue Survey – The Washington State PTA – made up of every local PTA and PTSA in the state – was established as an advocacy organization to make PTA a powerful voice for children; a relevant resource for families, schools and communities; and an advocate for the well-being and education of all children. Please take 5 minutes to rate the issues and select the five you believe should be our top 5. Your responses will help guide the votes of delegates at the Legislative Assembly. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LEG2014.
First PTA General Meeting of the School Year – Thursday, October 16
Please join us on Thursday, October 16 at 6:30pm in the school cafeteria as we welcome new members and provide updates on the building of the new school, technology updates, and much more. And remember, FREE child care is provided in the gym for Schmitz Park school age children.
Important decisions made at May 15th PTA meeting
Thanks to the many members who attended Thursday night’s important member meeting or provided helpful input in advance on the historic decisions to be made! The full set of minutes will be ready soon, but as these decisions will affect us all and there is important work to be done, we thought a topline summary would be in order.
Math curriculum: As previously posted, after six years of investment in Singapore Math by Schmitz Park faculty, students, and parents, we are on the verge of having to adopt a different math curriculum, enVisionMath; a curriculum that many see as a step backward for our students. By unanimous vote, the members at the meeting adopted a resolution calling on the School Board to protect and support our investment in Singapore Math.
We also agreed to request the school board directors to consider the following alternatives:
- Reject the Math Adoption Committee’s recommendation of enVision and adopt Math in Focus as the new K-5 Math Curriculum.
- Approve a Dual-Adoption giving schools the choice to implement enVision – OR – Math in Focus
- Amend Policy No. 2020 on the Waiver of Basic Instructional Materials to allow Schmitz Park and other schools using, or desiring to use, a Singapore Math-based curriculum like Math in Focus to ensure funding will be provided from the district to support an approved alternative math curriculum.
PS as you can see, we are suggesting that SchmitzPark adopt Math in Focus, not Singapore Math. However, MiF is a Singapore based Math program, merely tweaked to the American system, aligned with Common Core Standards, and with refreshed teaching and learning materials.
Budget: The members energetically discussed the budget proposal (posted previously here). One change was adopted to increase the contingency funding in the event that it becomes necessary for the Schmitz Park PTA to pay the full price of the Math in Focus curriculum (a $20,000 increase authorized). Then, after vigorous discussion, the members voted unanimously to adopt a budget of $320,000. The members further voted to develop a fundraising plan that addresses the one-time $80,000 expense that the curriculum represents.
Stay tuned for the full minutes and for specific ways you can help us meet the policy and budget goals that these decisions require.