Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Meeting Time: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Executive Board Attendees:

President: Sam Posner

Recording Secretary: Stephanie Sandeus

Co-Treasurers: Michelle Choi

Sophie Richards

Vice President: Shahla Jabeen

• We had Quorum*

Attendees: Alicia Castello-Edwards (Ali), Brenda Leonard Burton, Esther Weatherington, Jessica Jones, Kalanna Wiggins, Kari Mavrovouniotis, Kristine Kirton, Llalmira, Mari Fujiuchi, Maria LaBrutto, Michelle Choi, Night Angel, P V, Randy N, Rhonda Weir, Ruby Frazier, Sam Posner, Sam Posner’s Presentation, Sandra Ramirez, Shantel Geathers, Sharae A, Sophie Richards, Stephanie Sandeus, Syretta Moore, Zoe Metcalfe-Klaw

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Sam Posner. Attendees were kindly requested to input their names in the chat for accurate record-keeping.

Approval of Minutes: The Minutes of the September 2024 and October 2024 meetings have been approved. From now on, the Minutes will be more accessible through the website.

President’s Report: Sam mentioned the passing of AP Spence and how much she will be missed. Sam also discussed past events, including Picture Day, the Multicultural Feast, and Thanksgiving Drive. To make the meetings more inclusive, two sessions were introduced to focus on Spanish-speaking families. These sessions were very successful, with 11 families participating.

Treasurer’s Report: Michelle Choi, presented the Treasurer’s Report for November and December, as the November meeting was canceled. She highlighted the successful NYC Marathon bake sale, which generated over $1,300 in profit. Although not a primary fundraiser, we also managed to raise $420 through donations. In total, we spent $443 on food purchases, which resulted in over 30 bags of food that families could take home. The Scholastic Book Fair was a resounding success, with total sales exceeding $3,000, amounting to $3,100 in scholastic dollars. This credit allows the school or the kids to purchase $1,200 worth of books at a discounted rate. To ensure every child could participate, a $10 voucher was provided to each child. The holiday pictures brought in $797. Each season is allotted $3,000 for teachers, with $250 per class, and $95 has been spent so far. The current balance is $10,631,51. We kindly request each PTA member, which is every parent, to contribute at least $10. For those who donate $25 or more, they will receive a complimentary Jesse Owens mug. Currently, four parents exceeded this donation threshold. The highest donation was $260. Donations are highly encouraged but not a requirement.

Principal’s Report: The principal was absent from the meeting.

School Leadership Team (SLT) Report: Doris Jean, a parent representative on the SLT, couldn’t attend due to jury duty. Sam shared Doris’s written report, which focused on the progress of the after-school program initiative. The report highlighted the collaborative efforts of the SLT, teachers, and administration in gathering input from stakeholders and developing a comprehensive plan. A question arose about the accessibility of SLT minutes. Sam confirmed that he receives the minutes and shares them but acknowledged the need for a more efficient system. Stephanie Sandeus, the recording secretary, suggested creating a dedicated section for SLT minutes on the school website, and Sam agreed to discuss this with Ms. Jones and Ms. Curtain, the SLT secretary.

Title I Funding Update: Shala Jabeen, the other parent representative on the SLT, provided an update on the allocation of Title I funds, which are specifically intended for parent-focused activities. She explained that the committee is still in the process of defining eligible activities and that the next step involves meeting with the Title I committee, the principal, and Ms. Jones to narrow down options and make informed decisions. To gauge parent interest in potential Title I activities, a quick poll was conducted during the meeting, offering options such as a cultural activity, a nutritional workshop, and a fitness class.

Class/Grade Parent Initiative: Sam shared an update on the class and grade parent initiative, showcasing the successful meetups organized by different grade levels. He announced a meeting scheduled for the following month to bring together all class/grade parents for brainstorming sessions and to explore potential support from the PTA for this initiative.

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