May 22nd at 7 pm

Welcome and Introductions,Kim Love & Whitney Griesbach

Approve April Board Meeting Minutes (to be approved next meeting)

Officer/Standing Committee Reports

1. Treasurer’s Recap Report (7:10-7:15) Brita Willis & Lorraine Sawicki
   • 12k from Blast
   • PTSA staffing grants = 72K
   • Budget Committee Meetings came up with preliminary budget
   • Fiscal sponsor for other clubs, total we hold for others = 109k
   • Lorraine is leaving to move to San Francisco, in need of co-treasurer for next year
2. Legislative Chairs Report,Jean Charette, Yvonne  Roberts & Diana Fryc    
   • Levy lifted end of last legislative session=collect additional 3k per student
   • List of bills WA State/PTSA supported provided: 28 total passed
   • Feedback from leg that they were hearing from Bryant specifically!
3. Bryant Leadership Team, Kim Love
   • Wrapping up school improvement plan
   • Trying to determine whether or not to have math goals, decided to leave it up to grade levels to make goals that are grade appropriate
   • 5^th grade curriculum night held in spring, positive feedback and great turnout
   • Information sent out to second language parents, coordinated with ELL teacher
   • ELL dinner being held on May 23^rd for ELL parents/teachers/ELL teacher
4. Principal’s Report, Charmaine Marshall
   • Restoration of Anne (librarian) to full time
   • Assistant Principal restored to full time
   • Census numbers looking better for next year than they currently are-this will help restore PCP- should be able to be back to 2 PE teachers, 1 FTE Art, .5 Music
   • This isn’t set in stone until census numbers are set
   • No counselor still, Bryant has not been ever designated a counselor, these are designated for high ACES schools, and free and reduced lunch
   • Student and teacher surveys have come back- reviewed in meeting
     • Student Report:
       • Areas of concern: adults care about me/students in my class are focused on learning/
       • Focusing on more support for students that originally anticipated, drilling down to provide those supports based on what this report indicates
       • Increased incidents of bullying/defiance from students
       • Working to equip teachers with tools to work with kids in the midst of bullying
       • Also looking to train playground staff as this is an area where bullying occurs
       • Encouraging kids to report incidents immediately
       • Increase communication to parents around incidents and how to provide more support
       • Looking to increase SEL books in library and in collaboration with other schools
       • Anne is creating an SEL library, first focus on 3^rd grade, working to make this available to all grade levels along with SEL lessons during library time
       • Staff climate survey: overall very positive!
       • Principal had very positive remarks about the culture at Bryant and how fantastic it is!
5. LASER Report, Eric Noble
   • Summer camp opens, starting to fill up!
   • Fall registration opened in early May
   • Working to shift room usage at LASER to provide more space for more kids
   • LASER is having a family event on June 6^th! 5:30-7pm
   • LASER Board positions are open soon
   • Board meetings are open to all, 2^nd Thursday of every month usually at Bryant

New Business

1. Drafted PTSA Budget for Approva, Brita Willis
   • (Please see Prelim Budget document)
   • Highlights:
     • Annual Campaign increased by 26k, however expenses also increased by basically same amount
     • Will not use reserve to pay for staff positions
     • Discussion around affording to pay for a counselor, determined that PTSA does not have current funds for that position
     • Anne Sonnen made motion/Motion passed
     • 68% of budget is for staffing positions already, determined we did not have capacity at this time for another fundraising effort to fund additional staff (including counselor)
     • 68% of staff funding for next years budget includes:
       • Artist in Residence
       • Subs for Teacher Assessments
       • Volunteer Coordinator (hours cut this coming year)
       • Instructional Support (increased hours this coming year from .4 to .5, with idea that some of time will go towards math as well)
       • Tutoring
       • Lab Tech Manager
       • Instrumental Music
       • Recess Supervision
       • Moving pieces on this budget include enrollment and amount of carryover may fluctuate
       • Also school supply ask will fluctuate depending on enrollment
       • Discussion around increasing communication around what families fund with their donations to the PTSA. Treasury to work with Communications to increase transparency and education around what is being funded and why
2. Bryant Blast Recap (7:50-7:55) Ann Sonnen
   • Great day! 12k earned. Tried a few new things including pre-pay on line and credit cards, asked teachers to join more overtly this year
   • New Blast leaders this year, thank you and great job!
3. Nomination Committee’s Slated Candidates, Tammy Shorr
   • Nominations approved!                                             
4. Playground Update:
   • Consensus amongst kids is to add more age-appropriate structures
   • Parent interest in turf field (which is not allowed by district)
   • Sought quotes, around 175K for what is being asked
   • Other option is wait for district to replace structures, but won’t happen until structure is 40 or more years old (!!!)
   • Most popular grants sought for this project has fallen to 25k
   • We do have strong support from the community and willingness to donate time and money
   • We have a great and dynamic playground committee, and we have the desire!
   • Other grants available through King County Parks and some national grants
   • More research is needed before we can approve this project
   • Will put another survey to see what people want from PTSA

April 2nd at 7 pm

Welcome and Introductions

4.23 Screen Time Speaker- Emily Cherkin 7 pm                                                  Kim Love & Whitney Griesbach

Approve February Board Meeting Minutes

Officer/Standing Committee Reports

1. Treasurer’s Recap Report
   • Collected $ for annual; $164K now – silent at $30K (will use next school year); $71K went to Seattle school board
   • Had budget meeting; will have to pull from reserve and want to carve out an equitable and sustainable plan
   • Unallocated: $14K approved this year; $10K unallocated               
2. Legislative Chairs Report
   • 4 Bryant students testified at State Ways and Means 4/1/19
   • SPS is short $40M for next calendar year
   • $70M shortfall; $235M shortfall in special ed
   • State is increasing special ed funding
   • Email someone in state leg. about getting funding (Sam will draft email and contact info)
   • Check the Bryant Facebook Page as lots of info is on there
3. Principal’s Report, Charmaine Marshall
   • Bryant is only school with a resource model
   • PCP vote: instead of 1.0 PE, we would have .5 PE, .5 music and 1.0 art
   • PE Teacher has classroom certification and would replace a classroom teacher
4. LASER Report
   • They are fully enrolled at LASER.  They are packed for Spring Break.  They have hired 5 people and have 3 positions to go.

New Business

1. Discussion for Funding Guiding Principles, Whitney Griesbach    
   • This will be a guiding principle for the 2020-2021 school year; want a sustainable funding model ; don’t want to fund things that should be paid for the state; this mean “certificated” positions; we looked at funding models from other schools- John Rodgers doesn’t fund any teachers; others fund much more in support; have seen the Seattle Council funding model; PTAs were established as advocacy groups for students; have become fundraising heavy; this is a conversation that we face about every 2 years; historically Bryant PTSA has taken a stance about not paying for teaching positions but it hasn’t been formalized
   • Our neighborhood is changing and we are seeing two sides: families really struggling and others who are doing well; how do we maintain inclusion so all can participate but also raise enough money to continue to make Bryant great; wanting to streamlining fundraising efforts more; 2^nd grade auction item where all kids were included is a great model; should we have a hard line as it might push families away?  If we pay instructors it creates a employer/employee relationship; we used to fund 0.25 but now as a board we are funding 0.4- essentially we don’t cut back what we start funding; We should have the school make the request to the board for certain positions; the building should manage that decision and process; If we help pay for the counselor the cost will be unsustainable and are we prepared for it; anyone in public education understands that when they are hired its only for one year
   • Charmaine thinks it is risky if we cover a certificated position as it would include insurance and benefits.  Also how do you make it equitable in determining what positions/staff should stay?; What attracts parents to Bryant is the quality of instruction; With the counselor position we tried to create depth in the classroom; The teachers have been learning to incorporate SEL strategies and solutions in the classroom; PBIS has been integrated; in a sustainable world we have to utilize those tools in the classroom; at a tier 4 school we are not going to get a counselor paid for us; She and Amy are still working on finalizing their ‘ask’
   • We will have a bullet list in Bryant Weekly of what parents funded so they have a better idea
2. New Board Positions Proposal
   • New Board Positions:
     • Community Engagement (speaker series, different community building opportunities, possibly an EID advocate)—we will continue to grow this position
     • Communications: streamline all communications of social media, Bryant weekly
     • EID (Equity, Inclusion and Diversity) -this position exists at Wedgwood and Thornton Creek; We should look at including this role with a current board position
3. Playground Committee – Mary Strazer                                          
   • Great turn out on Saturday for helping improve the playground.  In talks with parks about the field.  They can’t irrigate but will reseed.  In the last cycle they added irrigation but the district won’t let us use them.  They will not water anything unless it’s a brand new install.  If we water it ourselves it goes against their water conservation policy.
   • Sounders has a non-profit group (The Right Foundation) trying to provide turf for Seattle public schools.  Would cost @$300K to get turf here (Allison Broadgate’s husband researched this).  Sounders will do it for lower socio-economic schools so possibly we can partner in fundraising efforts

Welcome and Introductions Kim Love & Whitney Griesbach 

Approve Meeting Minutes
October Minutes ApprovedJanuary Minutes Approved

Officer/Standing Committee Reports  

1. Treasurer’s Report: Brita Willis & Lorraine Sawicki 
   • Continuing to collect Annual Campaign funds, on target to collect target of 179K
   • Received Q2 invoice from School District for 33k
   • Beginning Annual Budgeting process, working to balance and meet needs of community
   • No other changes
   • (See report)
2. Legislative Chairs: Jean Charette, Yvonne Roberts &  Diane Fryc
   • Post-card letter writing campaign to fundraise
   • Announcement written in weekly to inform/educate people on why money is needed
   • Looking for prime opportunities to catch parents to write cards and continue education on budget
   • Will leave literature LASER sign out as well as scoping out other places

Special Committee Reports  

1. Auction Recap: Jen Kennedy 
   • Total: 31,993.50
   • Late requests can be completed through the donate button at top of Auction page
   • 263 participants (+22 from last year, +57 from 2017)
   • In-Kind donation from Office Depot, gave us all signage for auction ($600 in signage). Signage can be used each year
   • 207 total items, last year 280 items
   • Top Money Makers: Fall Kegger 3K
     • Moms in Margaritaville: 1500+
     • 2^nd grade Cineplex: 1100
     • Treehouse Crawl: 1k
     • Trivia Night 840
     • Gallagher Kids Dance Party 80
     • Takeaway: experiences are the top moneymakers
     • 12 people on Auction Committee, ended up with 10 members, 12 is ideal

New Business  

School Budget: Principal Charmaine Marshall 

• (see reports)
• Cuts across district illustrated in packet presented
• Bryant is a Tier 4 school (budget is determined by tiers, tiers based on test scores
• Bryant losing 1.5-positions/Assistant principal reduced by .5/Cert Core reduced by .5)
• District is going back to legislature and hope is to restore 2.5 mil, which would restore .5 of Assistant Principal and .5 of Cert Core
• Week of 4/28 will be week of decision from legislature
• Reduced .5 PCP (PE/music)
• Bryant filled out a waiver to get a .5 interventionist and .5 Librarians, waiver denied
• Scenario voted on and approved by staff thus far for budget is to have a ½ combo and 4/5 combo
• .5 Librarian/ .5 PCP reduction/Counselor position eliminated

Selection of Nomination Committee :Tammy Shorr 

• Candidates for Nomination Committee:
  • Clare Kealy
  • Kelli Hessler
  • Marlene Weiss
  • Nelly Goodnoe
  • Tammy Shorr
• Motion made and approved

Constant Contact Payment Kim Love

• Constant Contact has previously been paid for by a graduated parent (Kim Blakely)
• Motion made, approved to pay her back for this past year (55.05 x 8 months= $440) (up to $500) and also increased line item to $1000 to cover paying back and paying other Constant Contact bills

Playground Steering Committee: Mary Strazer 

• Discussion with SPS to renovate playground, immediate concerns of grass field replacement and new wood chips under play area to be paid for by SPS.
• Work to start in the spring, possible field closures. Holes in field are being filled March 30^th.
• Talking to students and staff about what structures and things that are needed on the playfield.
• Looking at matching grant of 50k from a local playground supply company- require deposit from matching before getting funding. No timeline.
• Neighborhood matching fund grant has dropped to 25k
• If we receive both grants we would still need 50-90k to rehab playground
• Possibility of requesting some funds from LASER
• Consideration to be given to Field Day and Blast
• Irrigation provided by SPS only is on for 2 years. Last irrigation was 10 years ago, so way overdue.
• Discussed fundraising strategies for playground- looking at 50k +. Fundraising then depends on when we want to execute playground changes
• Wunderkind/LASER/PE all involved in committee efforts
• Grass is already funded by SPS

MIXER for PTSA March 26^th, Pizza provided 6:30 No kids

• Please indicate attendance on Facebook

Superintendent Juneau will be visiting at 9am on Friday the 15^th

HIP Committee has only 3 people signed up for 1^st grade – it is on Friday the 15^th 7pm

5^th grade science fair March 13^th 7pm

LASER Update:

• LASER is currently hiring. 
• Summer camps are being planned
• Jump Start being planned as well

Welcome and Introductions Kim Love & Whitney Griesbach

Approve January Board Meeting Minutes

Officer/Standing Committee Reports

Treasurer’s Recap Report Brita Willis & Lorraine Sawicki

• Collected 158k so far from Annual Campaign
• Closed Home Street Bank Account
• PTSA has collected 6,200 for instruments, goal is 10k
• Bank fees = 5600 so far
• Artists in Residences approved for $700, not used yet
• Unallocated balance = 10,800
• Reserve = 82k
• Surplus = 11k
• Have discussed meeting with Committee Leads at the beginning f the year to discuss process of collecting cash

Legislative Chairs Report Jean Charette, Yvonne  Roberts & Diana Fryc    

• Levies passed!
• Gerry Poulett does localized meetings, idea to show up with Bryant Spirit Wear on and bring specific issues to discuss
• Focus Day cancelled due to weather, so above meetings are thought to take the place of Focus Day
• Jean and Sam will work together to come up with scripts and meeting times with Gerry Poulett and Rep. Valdez to discuss various issues around special ed, etc.
• Personal stories can make a huge difference in swaying Reps.         

Bryant Leadership Team Kim Love

• Continuing to work on smart goals for next two academic years: SEL and Reading as well as Math scores
• Starting to focus on and refine action plan, making goals more specific for grade levels

Principal’s Report Charmaine Marshall

• BLM learning has been very exciting
• Adjusting schedules due to snow days

New Business

Bryant Directory App for 2019-2020      Ann Sonnen

• App to download for free, you put in your own info (as much as you want)
• Still offer soft cover directory
• Can update your own info if it changes in the year
• Free App, but there are ads within app
• Interface is easy
• Info is locked down so that not all people can see info
• Discussion about centralizing all info for school: directory, sign-up, fundraising, etc. Not affordable at this time.
• Roll out app within the Board to see if it is tenable- suggested and tabled

Yearbook Editor Report Loree Melens

• Proposal to get a book for $14.50 for a bigger book and in color/hardback
• Currently books are 12.50 and we charge 15, proposal to go with 14.50 book and charging 20
• Sales to start Tuesday @ $20 per book
• No free books for 5^th grade, but there will be extras delivered to each classroom (to be returned if not needed)

PTSA community outreach/ social media presence Kim Love

• Best Practices for passwords
• Discussed LastPass as option for passwords
• Facebook/social media/newsletter Best Practices and guidelines
• Recommendation to form Committee to figure out expectations and roles and responsibilities
• Communication Chair for Board suggested

Adjourn

Welcome and Introductions                                                          Kim Love & Whitney Griesbach

Approve December Board Meeting Minutes

•  Approved

Officer/Standing Committee Reports

Treasurer’s Recap Report Brita Willis & Lorraine Sawicki

• Continue to collect Annual Campaign
• Collecting funds for instruments- have 5300 out of 10k needed
• Read-a-Thon donation $2700    
• Remaining unallocated= 9k as of 12/31
• Reminder: Read-a- Thon is not a PTSA event. Want to clarify we are fiscal sponsors, not our fundraiser
• Billing receipts and reimbursements need to be submitted in a timely manner or otherwise will be considered donations
• 43k in cash reserve at this time

Fundraising Chair Report

Volunteer Coordinator Janie Booth & Tammy Shorr

• Uptick in volunteer asks due to increased activities coming up
• Please reach out to your network for volunteer interest and need for leadership roles         

Legislative Chairs Report Jean Charette, Yvonne Roberts &Diana Fryc    

• Updates on next month:  get the vote out for the levy
• Looking for volunteers for phone banks- teachers have been asked and parents can help as well.
• Washington’s Paramount Call put out to ask people to testify tomorrow regarding increasing money for school. Hearing at 3:30 in Olympia on Wednesday Jan 16. If interested, contact Sam Fogg.

Bryant Leadership Team Kim Love

• Discussed Testing Data and Survey Data- a lot of fluctuation in testing data, waning- trying to figure out how to course correct. Math is data is lower than Reading by about 10 points, which is unusual. Theory is social emotional/anxiety
• Interim survey about student/staff connections/safety at school to solidify this theory.
  • Reading scores have been maintained.
  • How can we effectively look at data as an entire staff?
  • How to align educational goals                                                

Principal’s Report Melissa Samosa

• SPS is in second year of Black Lives Matter week in Feb. Taking a look at school teaching teams to put out grade appropriate material. Historical perspective, empathy, institutional racism. Materials about BLM education will be sent home to continue the conversation

LASER Report Eric Noble

• ED back from Maternity Leave
• Some staff raises
• Some promotions from within
• New people on LASER Board
• Things are looking good!                                                      

New Business

Playground Steering Committee Updates Mary Strazer

• Meeting with Principal/LASER to re-form a Steering Committee, reevaluate those who have expressed interest in the past
• Dept. of Neighborhoods is potentially reducing grant to 25k
• Dates for submission re beginning of March or beginning of June
• School can’t be applicant, has to be a community group. PTSA serves as fiscal sponsor.
• Landscape plans commissioned 20 years ago are still in hand and will be helpful

Artists in Residents:  Julianna and Kristen Zweirs

Ask for increase in supply budget

• Dollar amount per classroom teaching hour – $5.75 currently. Supplies are not as great quality as a result.
• Ask for $7.00 per classroom teaching hour, which totals roughly $500/year increase
• Supply Drives suggested as an alternative approach
• Potential to order some of art supplies at Office Depot as part of overall school supply purchase
• Tammy Shorr motioned to increase supply funds of $500, motion approved

Bryant Library Read-a-Thon Update     Anne Aliverti

• Read- a thon collected 28k (way beyond the expectation)             
• (Compared to last year’s book fair that raised $1500)!!!
• Able to update history section, replacing old books, replacing books that are taken from library
• Heard a lot of positive things about momentum to read over break brought on by Read-A-Thon
• Missed social aspect of Book Fair, so thinking about having an end of the year Book Fair to raise money for a school that needs it
• Very aware fundraiser fatigue and will keep that in consideration
• Will continue planning and meeting and present to PTSA again in the future with additional ideas
• Pledge Star was a great online platform for the read a thon
• Will advertise to kids how much we are able to do with the money raised
• Idea for a book stamp for books bought with Read A Thon money

Garden Shed Budget Brita Willis

• $2500 allocated to Garden Shed, some give by Boy Scouts. Garden Shed not going to happen. Brita requesting change to unallocated funds. Boy Scouts are aware.
• Motion to move funds by Brita. Seconded by Sam Fogg. Motion Approved.

Change in Budgeting Process for Fiscal Yr ’19-’20  Brita Willis

• Proposing that 32k of the current 41k surplus to cover Auction and Blast income for this year, and going forward use surplus in current year for Auction and Blast for that year. (See email) This is NOT reserve funding it is surplus money.
• Brita made motion (above), Motion seconded by Samantha Fogg, motion passed.

Speakers for Meetings Kim Love

• Screen time speaker Emily Cherkin on 4/23
• Working on 3^rd speaker, focus on literacy- May or early June

Community Engagement Grants Kim Love

• Each grade level will receive $500 grant to put on a community event for their families. Must be free, must involve all families in grade level. Parents to sponsor the event with whole grade level. Last year every grade level participated.

Max (counselor) grateful for SEL books for his office and sensory baskets. Sent pictures in an email as a thank you.

More positive feedback about school supplies from teachers as well.