President Lisa Kauffman called the meeting to order at 8:35am.Board Officers present: Lina Spalding-Ramsay, Bruce Barham, Amanda Kleidermacher, Deanna Christensen, and Mary Porges.28 attendees.
Agenda item #1– Welcome – Lisa Kauffman
-Lisa welcomed all members, has park agreement and Bruce will post on PTA website, bylaws are 3 years old in February and expire, we will need volunteers to review and later consult with Sandra West, Ron Kauffman will look at bylaws, must vote on bylaws in March, Lisa would like to allow for electronic voting via e-mail for the Board members, does not have electronic copy, Joan Silverstein will scan bylaws document and create a PDF document and send to Lisa
-$9,000 was budgeted for courtyard, Dade County fixed erosion problem and put in the grass, not used for recess, Brickman donated plants, some dried up during the recent freeze, reallocation of funds needs to be decided upon, smartboards???, North Beach PTA funded 50% for each class to get a smart board, AMK8 will not get additional funds from County, we will table decision
Agenda item # 2 – Approve December General Membership Meeting Minutes – Mary Porges
-Distributed minutes to members, Ben Cruz motioned to approve minutes, Bruce Barham seconded, all (28) approved
-Book Fair netted about $2,000, next book fair will have a middle school component
-Book sales very successful, thanks Brenda Schwartz
-Uniforms – not needed, we will lose money, possibility of new T-shirt, administration does not want several different T-shirts worn on Fridays
-Gala – need auction items, date is March 19th at Jungle Island, donor forms are available
Agenda item # 4 – Financial Update – Lisa Kauffman
-Distributed December 2009 Statement
-About $19,000 in the bank
Agenda item # 5 – Principal Garcia’s Update
-There will be more budget cuts, rumored to be 20% across the board;school will need new Portuguese text books for K-5 as a result of language changes, about $25,000 needed for new
-books; technology needs; AMK8 spends about $60,000 in substitute teachers, each teacher attends 3 to 4 professional development seminars per year;8th Grade field trip will be to Boston and 5th Grade field trip will be to Islands of Adventure
Agenda item # 6 – Other
-North Beach Elementary has a PTA store and makes money at it
-Should PTA purchase work books needed for homework (copies are now being made), teacher grant money available for such needs ($3,700)
