PAC Meeting Notes, January 2015

PAC Meeting Notes, Monday, January 5, 2015

• Treasurer’s Report – The current balance is $23,153.34. Some of this money is set aside for the $100 teacher gifts, a new shed on the playground, new gymnasium lights, rubber playground mats and a possible pavilion for the outdoor classroom. Kathy Lorge is looking into the lighting and is going to get back to PAC with some information.
• Cookie Dough Fundraiser Update from November– This fundraiser was a huge success this year! Our sales were almost $30,000 with PAC profits being around $15,000.
• Holiday Shop- Comments – We had approximately 200 children shop at our first annual Holiday Shop. This was not a fundraiser but a free event for the children to shop for family and friends on their own for the holidays. P.A.C. made a motion and passed to try the holiday shop again next year.
• Paper Recycling for December – We are still currently collecting for our last paper collection.
• School Dance – This dance will be held Friday, February 6 at 6:00 in the gym. Cindy Taft, Chairperson, is organizing this event as an entirely free event for the children.  All children attending need to be accompanied by an adult. PAC usually has bubble wrap for the youngest children to “dance” on in the multipurpose room. This year, we are having difficulty getting the large roles at a reasonable price. If anyone has any options for us, please let us know. The last few years we were only paying $5 to $10 for a large 4ft by 2ft roll.
• Brain Bowl – This is scheduled for February 3 and February 4 for pre-K, M/W classes. Everything is organized and ready to go for this event. We had a short discussion on whether or not to give the participants a small gift incentive like previous years or not. Connie Wheeler, Chairperson for this fundraiser, will discuss with Mrs. Kurkiewicz, Teacher Rep., and decide.
• February Parent/Teacher Conference meal – Feb 25. An email will be sent out to the Helping Hands list for donations for the teacher meal that PAC will provide.
• Staff Book Fair – We have done this the past few years and it has been successful.  Gently used or new books are donated by parents and teachers are able to use them in their classrooms. Meghan Grembon volunteered the be the Chairperson. She will get this started in February.
• Artist in Residence – The details of this event are still being worked through. PAC is considering a creative writing/book making option with an author. Loralee L. Olson-Arcand is looking into an author.
• Family Fun Night – Wendy Cropsey is chairing this event which will be a carnival themed event held on April 10. This will also be a free event for the children. All children attending need to be accompanied by an adult.
• Updates – Reeve Pullen, Boy Scout, made a proposal to build one outdoor shed for the playground behind the school to help him earn Eagle Scout. Construction should begin in the springtime. A motion was made and passed to donate $1,500 for the shed. He has a few questions about how many doors and location of doors on the shed. Amy Lahay will get feedback from Mrs. Fox, Teacher Rep. and Reeve will get final approval from John Seegers, Head Custodian. He will also work with Mr. Seegers regarding location of shed. Thank you Reeve!
•  Rubber flooring mats for playground – We have been looking into the cost of getting rid of the mulch on the playground and replacing it with rubber matting. Another option that came up was smaller rubber mats to use under swings and at the end of slides. The goal is to control the mulch getting pushed off to the side in these areas. After discussing with Mrs. Lipsey and John Seegers, it was decided to just try a few of these in the spring and see how well it works before putting any more money into this. John Seegers will help us purchase the correct number and size in the spring. If the mats help maintain the ground under the swings, purchasing of more mats will be considered.
• Kellogg/Scholastic Book Offer – If anyone has any codes to be sent in, they can bring to the school office for PAC. Connie Wheeler will enter the codes and donate the books to the school’s Guided Reading Program. The earlier the better. She is looking into exchanging a large pack of Spanish only books we received last year.
• Plastic Bag Recycling- Collection bins are now around the school and information was sent home with the children about this recycling effort. Our school will receive a free birdhouse for participating in this recycling program. If our school would collect the most plastic, we would receive a free bench. Sandy Lezotte is chairing this initiative.  She also has recycling bins for plastic recycling at the Middle and High School.
• Teacher Requests – Maria Bichler, representing the second grade teachers, requested 110 privacy screens to be used with all second grade classes. The cost is $219.78.  A motion was made and passed for PAC to purchase these privacy screens.
• New Business – PAC’s website needed some repairs which cost $13. The website is now fixed!

Babysitting is provided by Freedom High School National Honor Society students during the meeting. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Amy Lahay at 687-1736 or lahay5@wildblue.net

Next PAC meeting: Monday, February 2, 2015 at 6:00 in Art Room.