September

SEPTEMBER MEETING MINUTES

MOUNT SCOTT ELEMENTARY PTO

LOCATION: MOUNT SCOTT ELEMENTARY LIBRARY

DATE: September 14, 2023

TIME: 2:30 PM

ATTENDANCE:

IN-PERSON: Rachel Wullbrandt, Jeremy Black, Emily Keller, Jesus Cruz, Tasha Cruz, Sarah Baker, Karen Ricoy, Gareth Hood, Bianca Vuittonet, Melissa Pfaff, Jenny Schmidt (ELD Specialist), Kelly Ryan, Katie Locey, Kelsey Bennet, Casey Killinger, Marcus Smith, Kelly Spanish, Liz Maxwell, Ahmed Kelil and Jeff Green

VIRTUAL: Tracey Kebede-Berhanu, Casey Killinger, Adrienne Corso, Khristina Powell and Won Song

Meeting called to order by Jesus Cruz

Approval of Minutes:

May 2023 minutes were reviewed, motion to approve minutes made by Karen Ricoy, Tasha Cruz seconded. May 2023 minutes were approved.

Old Business:

1. Community Event - New Playground: 

   1. Presented by Tracey Kebede-Berhanu

   2. Casual event with a great turn out. Kona ice was there. Families being able to see and play at the new playground. A one-time event.

2. Community Event – 2nd Annual Yard Clean-Up:

   1. Presented by Karen Ricoy

   2. Fewer people than last year probably due to the fact that it was right before Labor Day. Karen feels that it makes a big difference. Teachers agree that it makes a difference and feels nicer walking into the building. It is good for morale. It’s a good opportunity for the kids to be back into the school. We prepped ground for an upcoming project, daffodil project. Overall, the event was a success. One hiccup is a hornets’ nest that was well hidden that was missed during the inspection. Irises that were pulled to make room for the daffodils will be replanted in empty spots.

3. Community Event - New Family Welcome Event:

   1. Presented by Tracey Kebede-Berhanu and Karen Ricoy

   2. About 30 new families excluding kindergartners. A lot of the new families were 5th graders. The families were given tours and a meet-and-greet in the gym. This was a new event and it was relatively successful. This event gave people an opportunity to connect. Mrs. Ryan felt that if you didn’t have any new students it was weird to just be standing there. Mrs. Maxwell mentioned that last years, meet your teacher for the whole school was more beneficial. It was a longer time commitment for teachers to stand there because it was open house style. She feels that everyone wants to meet their teacher and that it was helpful for the jitters and layout of the school. Tasha Cruz commented that contractually the 2-3 pm meet the teacher is better because it is during the work day. Mrs. Schmidt liked having student leadership give the tours.

4.  Community Event - Kindy Coffee: 

   1. Presented by Tasha Cruz

   2. The environment of the library was much more inviting than the gym. The goal was for the kinder families to link up. There were 5 regular PTO members. A casual event that is easy for the PTO to put together.

Board Position Reports: 

1. President - Tracey Kebede-Berhanu

   1. Welcomed the group and stated that she is so excited. There are a lot of fun events this year. There are many opportunities to get involved and thanked the group for being at the meeting.

2. Vice President – Jesus Cruz

3. Treasurer – Casey Killinger

4. Secretary - Sarah Baker

5. Volunteer Coordinator – Lex Black

6. Public Relations - Karen Ricoy and Public Relations Elect – Bianca Vuittonet

7. IT – Jeremy Black

8. Teacher Liaison – Melissa Pfaff

Budget:

1. Casey Killinger presented the proposed budget for FY23 (see attached budget). The budget is pretty much the same with a couple of big expenses. Eagle Run is the top fundraiser and what we really hope to make our year on. We are also keeping up with the dine-in and carnival as fundraisers. There will not be an auction this year due to the work load and return on investment. The PTO big expenses for this year, is the sound system for the school, updating and revamping our PTO website for user friendliness. We will continue with teacher stipends, t-shirts and scholastic magazines. Melissa Pfaff asked about square 1 art is a fundraiser for the school. This project is organized by Casey Killinger. This is a project that will happen in the spring. The feedback from the teachers is that teachers liked it. She stated that the coordinator box arrived. The project is teacher lead but there is a general guideline. Casey Killinger to reach out to Nicole Donnelly about how it was run in the past. Tasha Cruz would like to make an amendment to the staff reimbursement section, she would like to add an instructional coach, Chelsea.  

2. Karen motioned for approval and Sarah Baker seconded. The FY23 budget is approved.

Committee Reports:

1. Dine Out: 

   1. Presented by Tasha Cruz

   2. Shalia Clock has moved and is no longer at the school. Tasha currently has 5 committee members and will reach out to a few more. If anyone is interested, please contact Tasha. These events entail 1 night each month we partner with a local restaurant in the area and try to go on one of their slower nights to provide business, they give a portion of the profits back to the school. Café Yumm supported the PTO last year. They are happy to contribute this year and give us a couple of hours 5-8 pm on the night of our choice. Café Yumm gives back all of their sales during the specified time frame. If anyone is interested let Tasha know, and Jeremy will put the dine out email (dining@mountscottpto.org) in the chat.

2. Bingo: 

   1. Presented by Casey Killinger

   2. Date: 10/06/23

   3. Casey stated that last year was the first year for this event and it was a huge success. A proposal for new reusable bingo boards presented. The bingo papers and daubers were a mess and a lot of clean up. Popcorn, water and prizes will be offered at this event. Melissa Pfaff asked if the event will be held in the gym? There are not enough tables and chairs and the mess will cause this event to be held in the cafeteria. Casey requested to increase the bingo budget from $200 to $517 (see attached bingo night items). A motion to approve the increased budget by Karen Ricoy. The motion was seconded by Tasha Cruz. There was a voting exception granted by Tracey Kebede-Berhanu. A sign-up request for volunteers will come out at a later date. Jeremy added the committee email information in the chat.

3. Eagle Run: 

   1. Presented by Tasha Cruz

   2. Date: 10/20/23

   3. Tasha reported that the committee is set with a few new parents which is super awesome. The main players are lined up. Volunteers will be needed with week and day of help. The planning between now and then is pretty much set. Gareth Hood is designing the shirt. Everyone will get a shirt on the day of the eagle run. PTO will announce this event to students at the next Friday morning meeting on 9/22/23. This event has been announced to the teachers already.

4.  Daffodil Project: 

   1. Presented by Karen Ricoy

   2. Date: 10/12/23

   3. MSE gets to be the first location in the Portland area that gets to participate in a worldwide holocaust memorial with planting daffodils. Karen has spoken with the teachers and it is tentatively happening on 10/12. The biggest job from Karen’s viewpoint is to communicate with parents about this event. In this case, each student will be planting a bulb and using curriculum that the students are already having, the SEL curriculum (being a good friend, anti-bullying and looking out for each other). 

5. Rummage Sale: 

   1. Presented by Tracey Kebede-Berhanu

   2. Date: 11/09/23

   3. A committee chair is still needed. The PTO board set a new event instead of the auction. As a PTO our biggest goal is to promote community and the board thought that this event met the needs of all of our families in our community. It is still a rough idea but the board thought that a family or person will buy a spot and the seller can sell your items at the spot. PTO provides the advertisement and location. This event needs a committee lead. If anyone is interested please email info@mountscottpto.org to find more information about this event. Depending on the need, the idea is that the event would be in the gym, cafeteria and black top. The idea is that whatever the seller brings into the building they are responsible to take it home.

6. Yearbook: 

   1. Presented by Rachel Wullbrandt

   2. Rachel reported that if you buy your yearbook before 10/31 it is !0% off. The majority of the yearbook is put together towards the end of the year. Committee is always looking for pictures. Parents can upload their own pictures from events at school. Rachel and Jeremy took their own pictures last year. If anyone is a photographer or that school, we are looking for help. If anyone is interested in joining, please let Rachel know. Karen, Lex and Rachel make up the committee. Meetings will start mid-year. Kelsey will organize a folder on the google drive that she shares with Rachel so she can put teachers’ pictures in the yearbook. When uploading pictures in TreeRing, parent have the option to mark the pictures as public or private. There are folders for every event and by classroom. Jesus Cruz asked if there was a clearance issue for posting pictures of kids. At this time, there are no families that request that pictures of their kids be private. Khristina Powell mentioned that it might be worth reminding families to do a little clean-up on TreeRing accounts so that the quotes are going to the right accounts. Rachel is able to clean-up the extra accounts but that can be tricky. TreeRing provides a couple of free yearbooks the school for the library. The committee will ask TreeRing about the multiple accounts.

7. Teacher Stipend: 

   1. Presented by Tasha Cruz

   2. Last year’s board, talked a lot about community. Ways to get more parents and teachers involved with the PTO. This change came about in an effort to help teachers to have more reasons to be involved. The board decided because we wanted more involvement, we wanted to incentivize getting involve.

      1. For the regular $250 teachers will 

         1. Attend one PTO meeting in-person and one PTO sponsored community event or

         2. Attend two PTO meetings virtually and one PTO sponsored community event

      2. Teachers who are not able to attend meetings/events, the base stipend of $125 will be offered.

      3. Treasurer will add another line item to staff reimbursements for two PTO teacher liaison positions, adding $200 ($100 per teacher) to the total

         1. Melissa Pfaff has volunteered to be one of the new teacher liaisons but we are still looking for a second liaison.

   3. Tasha would like to propose increasing the stipend budget from $7000 to $7900, which will increase the stipend from 250-275. Tasha would also like to increase the base stipend from $125 to $200 (see attached proposal).

      1. Karen Ricoy mentioned that she is all for increasing the stipend amount but to have the base still be half of the amount. Jesus Cruz agreed with Karen. Mrs. Locey agreed that the incentive to increase participation is important but cutting the stipend in half is a huge cut. She feels that $200 base stipend is fairer. Mrs. Ryan stated that her first thought when reading the proposal, is $75 dollars worth my time? Mr. Green asked that to look at the payout. The community and input are worth more than the monetary value. Mr. Smith mentioned that from his previous school that the PTO was non-existent so any payout is nice. Mrs. Pfaff stated that she came from Milwaukie school was shocked to see the amount of the stipend. Mrs. Maxwell stated that she loved the line in the proposal about the T in PTO.

      2. PTO voted to increase the teacher’s annual stipend from $250 to $275 and increase the base stipend from $125 to $175 

         1. Karen Ricoy motioned to approve and seconded by Melissa Pfaff. Budget was approved.

   4. Teachers who would like to apply to the liaison position, please contact Melissa Pfaff. 

8. Board Positions:

   1. Three new board positions added: 

      1. Public Relations  

         1. Social media, creating flyers and communicating with teachers

      2. IT

         1. Google workspace for non-profits, created mountscottpto.org emails, google meets is now unlimited and will work to record meetings going forward, moved documents over from the google drive to google workspace

      3. Teacher Liaison

   2. Elect Roles

      1. Tracey Kebede-Berhanu stated that all position is required to have an elect role. If anyone is interested in joining the board, please email info@mountscottpto.org

9. New Business:

   1. Adrienne Corso (IA) reached out for recess equipment and new activities for the kids to do with recess; 

      1. Request for $200 

      2. Melissa Pfaff made a motion to approve but Kelsey Bennett mentioned that she just purchased several recess items from the IAs

      3. Tracey Kebede-Berhanu requested that this topic will reach out with Mr. Green and Kelsey Bennett regarding the recess items

10. Mr. Green’s Report: 

    1. Proposed Teachers Levy:

       1. Upcoming in November. This is not a tax increase. Every 5 years (3 and 8) the levy is voted on. This directly impacts our district. If passed, it means we continue the level of support that we have. All the money stays in NCSD. Information via website (www.NClackLevy.org) is really good.

    2. Wow!! This year, Mr. Green reported that he is seeing students that know how to be around other kids. The school has really leaned into caring school community and social emotional learning. There are a couple of leaders, Kelly Ryan. He sees students interacting with each other and it has been a much smoother start to the school year. Students feeling a sense of belonging and a community. Students are not doing things just for tickets. The new playground is super fun and little bit higher up than the old playground. There have been a few injuries. Kids love the new playground. The highlight is watching the kids come out to recess. In general, the kids are really happy, “this is the best year ever”, it feels really good in the hallways. Students are in a good place to learn and grow. 

11. Parent, we don’t talk about money all of the time. Please keep coming and it is good to see you, it’s more about events and community. 

September’s PTO meeting adjourned.

Budget Proposal 2023-2024