MOANALUA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA INC.
PTO BOARD MEETING
March 10, 2010
CALL TO ORDER: President Lori Shimoda called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. in the MES library.
VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Lori Shimoda, Lei Fukumura, Robb Taone, and Manny Salvador.
NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Principal Carol Mann-Molay, Terri Kimura, Kirsten Kajiwara, Jo-Anne Oshiro, Lauren Kamikawa, Debbie Takafuji, Susie Okamura, Lyanne Yano-Figart, Stephen Figart, Jennifer Fukumitsu, Robert Hoggan, Sandra Hoggan and Darryl Kameyama.
SECRETARIES REPORT:
Meeting minutes for February 10, 2010 were distributed. Corrections were requested. The minutes should reflect that Principal Ginlack and Mrs. Gushi created the guidelines relating to the computer laboratory. The minutes should also reflect that non-voting member Suzie Okumura was present. The minutes were approved with corrections.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
R. Taone reported that the account currently has $46,341.37. He distributed the Profit & Loss Statement, Actual budget, MES PTO Balance Sheet, PTO General Ledger and Actual v. Budget Report. We spent $81,774.87 but budgeted $134,301.11. The checking account balance is $46,000. This means that we don’t have any extra money to add. We only made $84,000 in terms of income. R. Taone discussed the Actual v. Budget Report in detail. He will be sending out forms for teacher to complete regarding their budget requests.
RAP: L. Lee and C. Enrico
L. Shimoda discussed the participation percentages from the month of September to the month of January. She has a copy of the report if anyone is interested in seeing it.
MEMBERSHIP: A. Salvador
L. Shimoda reported that A. Salvador will stay on next year in her current position.
T-SHIRT/NEWSLETTER: M. Salvador
L. Shimoda reported that M. Salvador will stay on in his current position next year.
HOSPITALITY: M. Ledda
L. Shimoda reported that M. Ledda will stay on in her current position next year.
MILITARY LIAISON: D. Kameyama
D. Kameyama reported that tomorrow the PTO will be hosting a breakfast. The breakfast starts at 7:50 a.m. So far he has 40 RSVPs. It is not certain whether Marissa Ayag-Garcia will stay on in her position next year.
MES PTO Website: S. Figart
S. Figart wrote a program to use during the design portfolio contest. A demo has been completed of the voting function. So far the PTO has earned $92.00 from on-line advertisements on the PTO website. If someone clicks on the advertisement income is generated for the MES PTO. Once the PTO earns $100 it will receive a check.
ORCHESTRA: M. Martin
K. Kajiwara reported that a concert will take place this Friday at the high school.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY: K. Kajiwara
K. Kajiwara reported that Teacher Appreciation Day will take place on May 5, 2010. There are plans to host a lunch, offer massages and offer healing touch. A flyer requesting volunteers will be sent out. L. Shimoda reported that they are seeking providers such as massage therapists so please let her know if you have someone in mind.
OLD BUSINESS:
PTO BOARD NOMINATIONS:
T. Hirashima and A. Serikawa are on this committee. There will be a public announcement during the General Membership meeting scheduled to take place during Movie Night. All positions are currently open. Elections will be held during the Starlite concert. If you know of anyone interested in a board position please contact T. Hirashima or A. Serikawa.
PORTFOLIO: T. Kimura
T. Kimura reported that 23 finalists will be selected.
COMPUTER LAB:
L. Shimoda reported that she sent out a request for parent volunteers. So far, only one parent is able to volunteer. This parent can only volunteer on Fridays so this means that the computer lab will only be open on Fridays. L. Shimoda needs to confirm that the parent volunteer will be available every Friday. She is hoping that more interest will be generated as we progress.
NEW BUSINESS
SCHOOL STORE: S. Hoggan & M. Salvador
S. Hoggan reported that she and M. Salvador want to obtain funds to work on opening up a MES school store. They would like to have water bottles printed with the school logo available in the store. Also, M. Salvador has been asked to provide shirts for students. They would like students to gain entrepreneurship experience by assisting the school store with inventory, budgeting and doing whatever else is available. They are willing to assist with making the school store a learning experience for the children. M. Salvador has a lot of shirts in stock. If we had a school store the shirts could be made available, even if it does not have the most current design. School spirit will be more evident if school items/supplies are done “in-house” as opposed to using outside vendors. The school store would also address problems with students asking for a school shirt but the request not being transmitted to M. Salvador in a timely manner. Also, students can earn “rewards” in class for shopping in the school store. S. Hoggan and M. Salvador know that it is a huge undertaking but they are willing to do it. They want to use the PTO room. They asked whether the PTO would support the project. L. Shimoda recommended that they create a model so that teachers could give this project further consideration. Once they identify a grade level that could integrate the school store into its curriculum they can build on it.
REBUILDING COMMUNITY TIES: S.Hoggan, M. Salvador
S. Hoggan and M. Salvador want to rebuild community ties. They would like to build up the PTO membership and reach out to the industries to build a partnership. For instance a vendor could offer the PTO a discount for patronizing its business. In return, the PTO could publicize the vendor’s name. For example, a vendor could provide memory sticks to the students. In return, the MES PTO would print the vendors name on the memory stick. The MES PTO will have to show how a relationship with various industries will benefit students as well as vendors.
SENATOR NORMAN SAKAMOTO:
Senator Sakamoto reported that there are 5 more furlough days. Questions arose about the pending legislation to do away with the Junior Kindergarten program. Senator Sakamoto reported that MES has a combined junior-kindergarten and kindergarten class. He was a strong supporter of the concept but said that it has not been implemented very well in the State of Hawaii. Senator Sakamoto said that age should not be a determinant. He commented that Hawaii students start school earlier than their mainland counterparts. S. Sakamoto also responded to specific questions from those present.
BUDGET:
L. Shimoda reported that every once in a while a principal submits a huge budget request. For example, Principal Hirai requested that the PTO spend $50.000 plus to purchase textbooks for the entire school. L. Shimoda encouraged MES to use its PTO to help with big fund-raising projects but asked that the PTO be given notice as early as possible so that it can hold specific fund-raisers to target that project.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT: Vice Principal Mann-Molay
1) Rainy day policy- A rainy day policy has been instituted. Teacher will keep students indoors when the weather is so bad that it’s dangerous to send students out to play.
2) New traffic pattern- Principal Ginlack met with Representative Lynn Finnegan. He is working with the middle school and will try out a different traffic pattern during the fourth quarter. The new traffic pattern will entail having parents turn around in the neighborhood. .
3) Staff reductions-Next year MES will lose 3 teachers because of staff reductions.
4) Software program-L. Kamikawa that use of a technology curriculum K-8 program has been proposed but MES will use only the K-6 portion. The program will be piloted during the 4th quarter. If it fits the school’s needs we can implement it during the 1st quarter of the next academic year. MES teachers have a wide variety of comfort levels so the program offers ongoing support for teacher development. The program comes with rubrics and assessments. We will be the first school in Hawaii to implement the program. L. Kamikawa feels that it is a good fit for the school. Certain teachers were asked to be part of the pilot program and she received a good response. Funding has been secured through a military grant called “Joint Venture Education Funds” or JVED.
FUN RUN AND HEALTH FAIR: L. Kamikawa
L. Kamikawa reported that the students had a great time. The event raised over $21,000. The funds will go towards a new computer laboratory. The Sunrise Crew came and interacted with the students really well but they lost the footage. The Sunrise Crew still hopes to feature MES students.
MOVIE NIGHT: S. Okumura
S. Okumura reported that Movie Night would take place on March 25, 2010 and noted that the following day is a holiday. So far 33 adults and 35 children have signed up. The flyer offered pre-sale pizzas and generated 53 pre-orders. There will be free refreshments served during the intermission. She is hoping for a great turnout. She encourages everyone to come to the Movie Night. Anyone who does not have a flyer can email S. Okumura.
FURTHER ADMINISTRATION REPORT:
Vice Principal Mann-Molay reported:
1) JVEF funds have allowed MES to purchase benches for the kindergarten and upper grade level playground areas. The benches will be placed around the trees near building A-5;
2) HSA testing will start on March 30, 2010.
VISION SCREENING:
L. Shimoda reported that the Lions Club offered to conduct vision screenings but since the screenings would cut into lesson time she suggested that the Lions Club be included in any health fair that is held at MES. L. Shimoda also stated that the Lions would like to help with other projects at MES. The Lions Club had an architect design a roof for the 40 foot container on campus but furloughs hit and the PTO budget was frozen. The Lions Club also helped with the Fun Fair.
CHILD CARE:
L. Shimoda thanked her husband Wade for providing child care during tonight’s meeting.
RAP PARTICIPATION:
L. Shimoda announced that Mrs. Oshiro has had 10% RAP participation each month.
ADJOURNMENT: President Lori Shimoda adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: The next General Membership Meeting will be held during Movie Night. The next PTO Board meeting will take place on April 14, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the MES library.
Lei Fukumura
MES PTO Secretary