PTA Meeting Notes – Oct 18, 2021

PTA Meeting Notes – Oct 18, 2021

Meeting Recording

2021-22 Horace Mann PTA Meeting Agenda 

October 18, 2021

Agenda Item:Purpose:Notes
Welcome and Introductions
Call Meeting to Order/Begin Recording. This recording will be posted to FB and on the HM PTA website.
Welcome 
Information
Announcements
2021-22 HM PTA Meeting Dates – Virtual for Now
Wednesday, November 17
Tuesday, January 11 
Tuesday, March 15
Wednesday, April 13
Thursday, May 12
Guiding goals for 2021-22:
Revisit Mission, Reset for Sustainability, Increase Participation
Youth Participation:
We encourage and invite youth participation in all PTA meetings, team´s, and events to provide greater student voice and leadership opportunities.
Co-Curricular Activities:
We seek ways for the HM PTA to support the co-curricular activities (Girls on the Run, Scouts, 3rd and 4th Grade Service and Leadership Groups. etc.) that directly benefit the HM community.
HM School Website (see below
HM PTA  Employer match and Amazon Smile (see below
What we have been up to:
Kids Back to School Spirit Wear
Vocal Music Update
Directory in Progress
Boo Bash Update-Planning and registration are going great. Greatest need for volunteers and a few more cars in the trunk or treat event!
4th Grade Council Seed Squad Volunteering
FVS/GS/4th Grade Council October Anti-bullying month activities.
Information
Questions
Ideas
Vocal Music Update:
Grades 1-5 November 1st with Mr Dutcher-Videos to be watched in class and/or at home. Also hired Mr. Dutcher for a family sing-along.
Kindergarten will be trained in the Music Together Program and will participate in that program
Spirit wear-a winter hat will be ordered for all students and staff.
Directory taking longer due to virtual back to school night, but is in progress.
BooBash will be returning and is being supported by the PTA.  Volunteers needed for games and trunk or treat.
4th grade council had their first event-Joined “Seed Squad” with DNR-information in Perspectives.
Family Volunteer service with 4th grade council did chalking, bookmark and wear orange for anti-bullying
New Business
Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities and Updates
Board Shadowing 2021-22 and…Chat for new ideas.
Information
Questions
Discussion
Many applications are being processed and matching volunteers with committees is happening.  Day of volunteering may be requested for some events.
There are positions on the PTA board that are going to be open next year- request to shadow a position if interested.  Contact Volunteer Coordinators-Jill Mack and Joy Collman.
Treasurer’s Report and Budget Proposal (see below) and presentation.
Complete budget to share and vote on in November inserted herePaypal Management – anyone interested?Attached Proposed Budget – Proposed Budget
Budget has conservative estimates for fundraising and aggressive estimates for expenses due to ever-changing situation with COVID-19.  For example-Large amount budgeted for Field trips that are currently not happening.
All events will be free, unlike previous years to try to make things equitable for all families.  No personal fundraising should be happening by grade level for anything.
Reach out to Treasurers with any questions.
Principal’s Report
Introduction of new Tutoring Coordinator: Amanda Humpage 
Information
Questions
Ideas
School district is going through a process looking at closing some schools to best serve students.  Horace Mann is not on the list, but an additional 50-75 students may join HM.  https://www.spps.org/envision
There is ongoing discussion about the racial makeup and income levels in schools that are closed versus those that are not.  Mr. Litwin encourages parents to be engaged in this discussion to help ensure the district is making the best decision for all students.
Amanda Humpage-Tutoring Coordinator: Will meet with teachers about needs and how to safely and comfortably arrange to have tutors working with students.  Much of it will be over Google Meet.  Please reach out if interested and share the information with anyone who might be interested.
PTA Team Updates (see below
Read-a-thon Team – Becky Mayer
Auction Team – Allison Broughton
FVS and 4th Grade Council-Karla L Cummins
Give to the Max Day-Brandon Mason
Scholastic Book Fair-Maureen Hartung
Information
Action
Read-a-Thon: starts on 11/1, ends on 11/28.  Two goals-1-create good daily reading habits for students. 2-this is the second largest fundraiser for the PTA and will be used for enrichment programs, community building and special events.  Late next week a packet will go home with each child, including a book.  Theme is Reading Acts of Kindness.  Activities will also be part of the Read-a-thon for teachers to use.
Auction: Has begun to meet and is planning for a return to an in-person event along with an online component.  Business solicitation will be going out soon.  If you have contacts that could be helpful, please reach out to Allison Broughton. 
4th grade council: 4th graders are all welcome to join the council.
Give to the Max: November 3rd.  Some matching gifts may be available (interested donors let Brandon Mason know)  Is during read-a-thon, so will be used to encourage people to make read-a-thon donations.
Scholastic Bookfair: Nov. 10-23.  Virtual this year.  Some promotional things may overlap with read-a-thon.  Will coordinate cross promoting both events.  Will have lists of books that teachers want. Mr Litwin recommended that Hannah Jacobsen be used as a point of contact to inform students of the book fair.
Action Items: Thank you to all who came to the meeting and everyone who has volunteered for committees with the unknowns of recent times.  Reminder-The budget can be reviewed for a month.  It is available for review  Proposed Budget and is not “set in stone”.  Please reach out the the PTA board with questions, comments and suggestions in the coming month.

HM PTA website:  www.hms-pta.org  If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please email web-admin@hms-pta.org 

Facebook HM Family “private” group https://www.facebook.com/groups/432804370448748/

Employer match and Amazon Smile: We also encourage families to check with their employers as many offer a company match to the cash donations made by their employees and if you are an Amazon user, go to https://smile.amazon.com and search for “PTA Minnesota Congress 008740 Horace Mann PTA” and designate HM PTA as your charitable organization.

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Report for August/September:  Dan Dressler, Mike Axtel

August/Sept. Revenue: $2,307

August/Sept.Expenses: $8,122

August/Sept. Revenue subtract Expenses: (-$5815)                                                                                                                                   

Bank Account Balance as of 10/1/21:   $115,165.43                                                                           

*Our YTD is August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021 

If you are interested in more details of the PTA budget please contact Dan or Mike directly at treasurer@hms-pta.org

Team Reports:

Auction Team: Allison Broughton:  The Horace Mann School PTA auction is Roaring Back in  March 2022!  We are planning for a return to an in-person, parents-only evening event at the University of Saint Thomas together with options for online participation.  Our next planning meeting is Wednesday, November 3 from 6:30-8:00pm on Google Meet and all are welcome to attend. Email auction@hms-pta.org with any questions. 

Give to the Max Day: Brandon Mason:   GiveMN’s “Give to the Max Day” will be on Thursday, November 18 this year.  We plan to again take advantage of the buzz around this annual giving event by inviting donations, and would also like to again offer “matching” gifts to encourage greater generosity. If you are interested in sponsoring a matching gift (publicly or anonymously), please contact Brandon at Brandon.Mason@gmail.com. The PTA’s GiveMN page is at https://www.givemn.org/Horace-Mann-Pta.

Family Volunteer Service Team and 4th Grade Service and Leadership Council: Chandra Kilgriff and Karla Lauerman Cummins:  Our two PTA groups joined forces and hosted a Unity Day/Anti-Bullying chalking event to surprise the students on Monday morning. Thank you to the over 100 HM community members that came out on a beautiful autumn day to chalk messages of kindness, acceptance and inclusion for all the students to see as they started their week of school!  Thank you to the Family Volunteer Service Team, 4th Grade Leadership and Service Council, Girl Scouts and Ms. Witt for organizing and inspiring this month of awareness and Unity. If you would like to join the Family Volunteer Service Team please contact Chandra Kilgriff at Chandra.Kilgriff@gmail.com and if your 4th grader would like to join our Council please contact Karlaraelauerman@hotmail.com 

Scholastic Book Fair Team: Maureen Hartung: The Scholastic Book Fair is coming and it will be virtual again this year.  The Book Fair will be from November 19th-23rd. More information to follow in Perspectives.  If you would like to join the Scholastic Book Fair Team please contact Maureen Hartung Maureenhartung15@gmail.com 

Current Board Members: 

Co-Presidents: Karla Lauerman Cummins & Jen Williams  president@hms-pta.org 

Treasurers: Dan Dressler &  Mike Axtel  treasurer@hms-pta.org

Teacher Representative: Amy Kortuem teacher-rep@hms-pta.org

Communications: Karen Vander Sanden &  Melanie McMahon  communications@hms-pta.org

Recording Secretary: Catherine Guglieimo & Allison Broughton  recorder@hms-pta.org

Volunteer Coordinator: Jill Mack & Joy Collman: volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org

Meeting Attendance:

Stephanie Taggart

Amanda Humpage

Amy Korteum

Allison Broughton

Jim Litwin

Karla Cummins

Kelly Axtell

Jennifer Williams

Catherine Guglielmo

Allison Litzenberg

Megan Powers

Jill Mack

Dan Dressler

Becky Mayer

Mike Axtell

Delina

Melanie McMahon

Maureen Hartung

Stacey Tsantir

Brandon Mason

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