November 2018 Board Meeting Minutes

PCEP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

November 27, 2018

MAPLEWOOD LIBRARY

6:59 – 7:26

PRESENT:  Robert Jourdan, Laurel Blanco, Misty Alseth, Brian Johnston, Shannon Alyea, Michelle Mathis, Christi Mullet, Lisa Pratt, Vanessa Stedman, Mitchell Below, Matt Erickson, Vicki Sargent, Lori Wendt, Erin Zackey, Julie Ballard, Gwen Russell, Danielle Mitchell, Cody Brick, and Erin Shull

ABSENT: Kristi Larsen, Chris McGinness, Candi Richardson

GUESTS:  Linde Lawrence, Charlene Freyberg, Richard Suico, Kevin Jenkins, Ululani Akiona, Allen Hutmacher, Dave Metallo, Mike Schindler, Julie Rose, Toni Bosman, Michelle Meares, Sachi Webb, Hava Skovron, Philip McCorvey, Trevor Peterson, Breena Miller, Aaron Krieger, David Ayers, and Jaazien Sanchez

CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: Mr. Jourdan

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Jourdan at 6:59 PM. Mr. Jourdan welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mr. Jourdan asked us to think about nominations for open board positions for next year. President, Vice President, Treasurer, and some of the classroom representatives will be open. Nomination committee will be formed in January or February.

SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT: Michelle Mathis

Ms. Mathis also had a brief report. Ms. Mathis wanted to provide an update from the district level. The Mcleary Fix wasn’t really a fix and we are looking at significant reductions next year. The schoolhouse is being more thoughtful about how money is spent.

Blueprint 2025 is a takeoff from the strategic plan, a long-range planning document but more engaging and active for community members. Please see if there is an opportunity to find a connection.

2020 it is likely we will have a bond, which Ms. Mathis has been waiting for, because it may include our playfield. Given the financial constraints, Ms. Mathis remains hopeful our playfield will be on the bond but realizes there is priorities elsewhere.

Maplewood Leadership is looking at understanding resources and the biggest expenses are copy machine and general supplies. Copy machine is $1000 a month. Ms. Mathis asks people who do not know how to use it to ask for help or not use it. There is very little availability to provide substitutes for teachers to pursue professional development – it is $225 a day for a substitute. Each click on the copy machine counts based on the negotiated contract.

Each of the schools are forming an equity team. Ms. Mathis would like to share some initial thoughts after one brief meeting. There are lots of questions forming. What is the difference between equity and diversity committee? Equity is at each of the schools and balanced between certificated staff, classified staff and families. The work is based on the needs of the school. Our focus this year is culture and responsive teaching practices. Our diversity committee is a PCEP committee. Membership is based on volunteers and they have some specific action items. The equity team is still being figured out and building trust, so people can share barriers and make things better and more equitable.

Ms. Mullet mentioned one of the equity teams at another school brought an experience to use drums. Ms. Mathis said right now ours is more about vision and short-term and long-term. Steel drums could be a short-term experience, but visioning is still being figured out. Different schools are hosting different events, potlucks, book clubs, special guests, it is really all over the place and we are the begging stage.

Ms. Mathis shared the Parent’s Educators group is going through negotiations and they were not going as smoothly as hoped, so encouraged us to provide kind words to the para educators, teaching assistant, playground supervisor. Their work is critical to our school house operating.

Ms. Mathis has been challenging herself on learning more about the story of events. Ms. Mathis shared about the Montgomery bus boycott, which brought wonderings about why Rosa and not Claudette. How did Claudette have the courage? Challenging myself to look for more than one narrative and share this with our kids.

Question about the McCleary Fix, what areas within our school can the PCEP fund to make up the difference? Ms. Mathis shared a lot of it is unknown until Dr. McDuffy looks at the budget. Ms. Mathis thinks it is a blessing to have our classroom budgets and to have luxuries like water color paper. It will filter to supplies. Ms. Mathis’ perception is PCEP enriching and enhancing, not so much general administrative supplies. Mr. Jourdan agrees. There was also a question about funding at the state level, but the answer was not known at this time.

MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL: Laurel Blanco

Ms. Blanco confirmed the board had received the following board and parent meeting minutes and asked if everyone had a chance to review the minutes and if there were any revisions, comments or changes. Mrs. Blanco called for motion to accept the following minutes:

October 2018 Board Meeting Minutes – Ms. Mullet motioned to approve, and Ms. Stedman seconded. The minutes were approved with abstentions from Ms. Alseth.

November 2018 Parent Meeting Minutes – Ms. Alseth motioned to approve, and Mr. Below seconded. The minutes were approved with abstentions from Mr. Brick and Ms. Sargent.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Brian Johnston

Mr. Johnston reviewed our pledges and confirmed we are close to where we were at last year. Our total income is also consistent with last year. We are about halfway through our budget. Please let him know if you have any questions about backup or details.

Mr. Jourdan confirmed pledges need to come up and asked for ideas. Mr. Below mentioned that on giving Tuesday his employer matches and you have until the end of the year to submit for matching. Ms. Mullet reminded everyone that pledges are tax deductible. Discussion about sending reminders to our PC’s to share out. There was a question about whether some families are giving, but don’t give 100%. Mr. Johnston said you can typically correlate to the 70% to those who give fully. There are very few families who give more. Mr. Johnston would need to see if there is a pattern with families not giving each year. Ms. Mullet will provide a template email for the board representatives. Another example is how other schools do it and you have to pay for each supply, field trip, etc. so maybe sharing the ease of use and how organized this process is and people may not realize this is in lieu of paying for each individual thing over the year. There was also discussion about how to pay, pay online, the pig, the box in the parent room. Ms. Mullet confirmed the template would be Pledge 101, A-Z on pledges. Mr. Jourdan thanked everyone for the ideas.

A detailed Treasurer’s Report can be viewed on our website every month at maplewoodpcep.org

Open Floor: Ms. Mullet added an Orca spotlight in the newsflash. It can be parents, teachers, staff, or child. Someone used jumper cables to help start a car in the parking lot. Ms. Mullet would like to keep this going all year. You can send spotlights to Ms. Mullet.

ADJOURN:

With no further business to discuss, Mr. Jourdan thanked everyone and adjourned the meeting at 7:26 pm.

Submitted by Laurel Blanco.