Minutes – General Membership Meeting
October 1, 2008 
8:30am
Media Center

Pending Approval

President Lisa Kauffman called the meeting to order at 8:35am.  Board Officers present: Nely Martinez, Floriana Martinez, Tim Orrange, Bruce Barham, Mary Porges, and Tony Anderson.  Principal Carmen Garcia and Assistant Principal Barbara Garcia were also present. 

Agenda item #1 – Welcome – Lisa Kauffman, President
    -     Welcomed the parents present on behalf of PTA Board. 
-    Reviewed and Approved 9/03/08 General Membership Meeting Minutes
-    Approved Mary Porges as new Recoding Secretary
-    Amendments being revised as they relate to student recognition programs and scholarship funds

Agenda item # 2 – Treasurer’s Report – Tim Orrange
-    $13,419 beginning balance for September 2008
-    $23,908 end balance for September 2008

Agenda item # 3 – Overview of Upcoming Events – Nely Martinez and Amanda Kleidermacher (Special Events Chair)
-    Judy Schaecter taking Advocacy role for PTA
-    DanGelber.com looking for stories of how budget cuts have affected children’s school experiences
-    Pizza sales – Charese Chester is managing pizza sales and needs more parents to participate
-    Box Top Initiative – Liliana Cadavid is spearheading this program that provides additional revenue to the school.  Last year $200 was raised; goal for this year is $500. 
-    Janet Forte of the Butterfly Committee presented the vision for the Butterfly Garden depicting the cycle of life.  Will target student and teacher participation and seek grants for garden.
-    Green Committee meeting tomorrow to reactivate program
-    Flu shot program will be initiated (vote not needed)
-    International Food Festival, October 17th, 2008 – tickets will be sold two weeks prior to event and need help selling tickets
-    Hispanic Heritage Week events will take place October 14th-16th.  Spain will be the theme.  Students can wear red and yellow October 15th, flamenco dancer will perform, Spanish items will be on display, etc.
-    Book Fair starts October 27th, volunteers are needed for set up October 23rd
-    Gala – in a cost saving suggestion the membership voted for the Gala to take place on a Friday evening
-    Catalog sales will being October 2nd – all siblings can complete one form


Agenda item # 4 – School Security – Sergeant Al Palacios, School Police – 305-995-1553
-    Addressed the Board during last meeting regarding traffic and safety issues in and around the school.  Spoke about several options, department is short officers, suggested hiring officer one hour in the morning (7:30-8:30) and one hour in the afternoon (2:50-4:00).  Stressed that parents must follow rules when dropping off children, no double parking, etc.  School will split costs with PTA.  The $5,000 needed will be taken from Summer Reading Program ($4,000) and $1,000 from security budget.  Daisy Hevia will be the officer in the morning, Jay Matelis will be the officer in the afternoon.
       
Agenda item # 5 – Principal’s Report – Principal Carmen Garcia
-    October calendar is full – workshops, science fair projects for grades 3-5, FCAT, United Way Drive, October 28th applicant tour begin, IS / IE starts October 6th, AR Program starts, K-2 fire safety field trip, etc.
-    Parents please pick up children on time will start charging $10 after 15 minutes late    




The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 am.