PTO Meeting Minutes 3/11/25- Pending Approval

Neff Elementary PTO MINUTES

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 6:30pm in person

I want to call the meeting to order, time is 6:37

1. Welcome & Introduction:  

   • PTO Board:  Rachel Levine, Whitney Tsakonas, Katie Warner, Lori DeTemple, Steph Gerber, , Erin Checchia, Absent: Ruth Wagner, Kelsey Danz

   • Attendee introductions: Taylor Good (Principal), Devon Reichl (Teacher Liaison), Joann Hentz (MTSD Board Representative), Members at large: Sara Bowers, Dilek Aydin

2. Approval of minutes from last meeting— January 14, 2025

Approved

3. Principal Report:  Taylor Good

   • MTEF Science Heros - March 28th

     1. Grant allowed for this assembly

   • Field Trips paying transportation/nurse next year

     1. Advocated at SLAC to make these equitable across the district

     2. Will now be paid for by the district as of 2025/2026 SY

     3. District wide tying to Science or Social Studies

   • Girls on the Run starting

   • PSSAs - 4/23-4/25 & 4/29-4/30

   • Room Parent - Teacher Feedback

     1. Using Room Parents to recruit new volunteers. Sought teacher feedback on possible solutions

     2. Teacher Survey indicated 82% were okay with either, 6% yes, 11% no

        1. Look to get for Back to School night to recruit for 2025/26 SY

        2. The more specific role descriptions 

4. Treasurer Report:  Steph Gerber and Lori DeTemple

   • Budget review- ATTACHED

   • Lititz Orthodontics donated $200

   • Projected to end above $10k threshold

   • Venmo may be adjusted to be an independent business page so that it can be accessed easily by event chairs

5. SLAC (Superintendent’s Lay Advisory Council) Report: Kisha Johnson, Rachel Levine, Lori DeTemple:

   • Review topics from 1/13/25 and 3/10/25

   • Special Education/Inclusive Programs

     1. Best Buddies was reviewed

   • PTO Sharing:

     1. ipad usage:

        1. Measuring accurate time spent on the technology

        2. voice to text being overused

        3. iPad coach was available to discuss ways to better utilize the technology as a tool to enhance the education

        4. Discussions on integrating ipad usage in most beneficial way to encourage enrichment without loss of skill or engagement

        5. Buses: dropping kids off near flow of traffic, will need to do a full stop

        6. Respectful and inclusive of all religions by observing high holidays when planning large school events

6. PTO Update: Rachel Levine

   • MTEF Grant application- Science Heroes

     1. Focusing on application schedule to continue taking advantage of grant opportunities

        1. Review what has been done across the district

   • Upcoming board vacancies- 

     1. Secretary (need) 

     2. Discussed creating a Sponsorship role or spreading around responsibilities across the board members

     3. Social Media and Promotional: Discussed strategies to best inform and engage families 

        1. utilize social media to thank and recruit new sponsors

        2. Post a Monthly Calendar to post

        3. create a standard protocol for promotion of events, requests, notifications

   • Passive Fundraising

     1. Yearbook- TJ Stewart

        1. Don’t Forget to buy a yearbook!

     2. Restaurant Nights-  Sara Bowers

        1. Primanti’s  - $60

        2. Mick’s - $30 (possibly make a holiday PTO parent night for next year)

        3. Sandwich Factory - ? 

        4. April - Chipotle 4/2 4pm-8pm

        5. May - Mod 5/1 10:30am-10pm

        6. June - Restaurant/Ice cream party at Oregon Dairy 6/3 3pm-8pm

           1. How to promote this (15%) Can promote as restaurant and ice cream (6-8)

   • Past Events: 

     1. Talent Show!

        1. More volunteers needed for future events 

           1. Find strategies for entertaining stage crew, cap the number of stage crew

           2. Teacher participation was useful

     2. Movie Night

        1. Less attended, possibly start of spring sports

   • Upcoming Events

     1. Book Fair - 3/27-3/29

        1. Sign Up genius has been sent out

        2. PTO Book Table: 

           1. Sale books, books for each grade, can pick one for each kid instead of using voucher.

2. Roller Skating - Date was changed to April 12: 9:30-11:30

   1. Try to look for some new kindergarten parents

3. Spring Fest

   1. May 16

   2. Kona ice confirmed; Taco Truck?

   3. Bounce Houses with paid staff

   4. Balloon twisters

   5. PTO sponsored Give and Get:Switch, AG doll, Electric scooter

   6. Donations have started coming in

   7. Grade Basket; Will provide amazon links for suggestions

      1. k- outdoor fun

      2. 1 - pokemon

      3. 2 - STEM

      4. 3 - Rainy Day? 

      5. 4 - Squishmallows

   8. High School Groups to volunteer

      1. Key Club, Teachers of the Future, Art club, 

      2. $5 wrist bands or $20 max for a family

      3. $1 per ticket for Give and Get; Presale will be discounted

   9. Baskets to be put together on Wednesday before event

      1. May 7 - 2:00

4. School Board Update:

   1. New SuperIntendent has been chosen and will be voted on at meeting on March 20

   2. Sports Teams: Extra adults are present, extra steps are being taken to move forward

      1. Policies being created for future 

   3. Budget: looking for input 

   4. Monitoring Curriculum changes and outcomes

Next Meeting:  May 13, 2025 6:30pm

Adjournment—I move that we adjourn the meeting at 8:13pm

PTO Meeting MINUTES 3.11.25.docx.pdf

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