Meeting was called to order by President, Mary Jane Grauso at 7:40 at the Department of
Education Building. Quorum was met.
Program(s)
STEM
Program(Science, technology, engineering, mathematics)- Rick
Marquart, Lee Sommerville and Ron Nicodemus presented HCPSS
vision, mission and strategies to implement this program in
response to the national crisis of preparing our future
scientific, technological, engineering and mathematics workforce.
Goal is to create pipeline for early identification of talent,
developing and retaining talent. STEM Resource center and staffing is located in ARL
building (410.313.5623 Lee Sommerville). Program opportunities and
information about STEM Program will be posted on HCPSS web site (hcpss.org).
Grant money is being used to fund 21 extended –day and weekend
programs in the elementary, middle and high school levels. STEMBEC
(business & education) Program has business liaison working
with the business community to help problem solve work force
shortages and create curriculum.Next year all high schools will have Project Lead the Way
Program to further develop the engineering field.
Food Nutrition Services- Lynn von Paris, area field representative was
available to answer delegates’ questions about the school lunch
program. There are 3 field representatives that visit schools
daily to see what is going on. The lunch program is heavily
regulated with strict guidelines and mandates to follow. For
further questions call- 410.313 6378.
Get
Active Howard County Schools is offering a 4 week program open to students,
families, and staff of elementary and middle schools. The goal of
the program is to get active 60 minutes a day (adults’ 30
minutes) and log their physical activity daily from April 13 to
May 10. Schools with the most participation will receive an award.
For additional programs and more information contact jackie.cinquegrana@columbiaassociation.org.
Howard County Library- Rita Snyder referred to a booklet distributed by the
library entitled, “Curriculum Enhancements and Educational
Services for PTAs”. Library offers free educational classroom
programs, online study courses and practice exams in addition to
free online resources at www.hclibrary.org/partners.
Board of Education (BOE)- Ellen Flynn Giles reported that the capital and operating budgets
have been approved and are at the County Council for approval. The
school board wants $118 million for capital projects and $661
million for operating expenses. There will be upcoming budget work
sessions. Budget schedule can be found on hcpss.org. BOE and
PTACHC boards met to discuss some issues and concerns and have
made plans to meet on quarterly bases. All policies and those
under revision are available on HCPSS web site under board docs.
BOE encourages the public to email them with any comments
regarding policies under review. Coffee and Conversation with BOE
id being held at Fulton ES on March 12.
Insurance- Mary
Jane Grauso will address insurance issues with MDPTA at upcoming
MDPTA Boards and will report back to delegates at the next General
meeting. (Action Item).
Minutes from February 4, 2008were reviewed.
Treasurer Report- Bob Rosenberg reviewed monthly report. Thank you to those schools
who have contributed towards the $9,000 scholarship fund for local high school seniors.
March 31 is the deadline for all MDPTA membership cards. Please
send in dues and return all unused membership cards or you will be
billed by MDPTA for them.
Scholarship Report- Carolyn
Folger, chair encouraged high school delegates to hand out 5
scholarship applications at their next PTA meeting to get more
seniors to apply for scholarships. Chair also encouraged each PTA
to donate. The PTA Council annually awards the following
scholarships: 4-year Academic Scholarship(s), 4 year Teacher
Education Scholarship, Dr. Ecker Community Service Scholarship, M.
T. Goedeke Trade & Technical Scholarship. Scholarship
applications are located in high school guidance department and
PTACHC web site (ptachc.org)
MDPTA Membership incentive drive from now to end of March is underway. Just send
your membership invoices and unused PTA cards postmarked by March
31 to be eligible. All awards will be presented in April during
National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Fliers were distributed. (Action Item)
Nominating Committee-MOTION: that PTACHC accept the nominees for the nominating
committee as a block. ACCEPTED nominating committee members are as follows: Terri
Chiu BMMS, Ginger Segala WoES, Vicki Imre HSES, Donna Sudbrook
BBMS, Caryn Lasser AHS. PTACHC also is asking that each PTA submit
names of those individuals that may be interested in serving on
Council as an officer or for a committee. (Action Item) Information sheets on forming nominating committee and
election procedures were distributed. Information is also located
on PTACHC web site.
HB-192 states that 2 parents be appointed to serve on MSDE school board.
Email your legislators to support this bill. Legislature vote is
March 5. (Action Item)
Teen Survival Card has
been available to high school students in the past.
This issue is under review on how these cards should be
distributed (to each student or just available in guidance), to
whom (include 8th graders? if so, how to keep from
younger students obtaining cards?) Delegates were asked to go back
to their executive boards and parents/staff and ask these
questions then send information to PTACHC office by March 25 asap
so that this information can be forwarded to committee reviewing
card (Action Item)
Tuberculosis (TB)- Health Department has reported that no
further incidents of TB have been found.
PTACHC Sharing Session-next
session will be held the end of May or beginning of June.
Workshops will be announced once we have confirmed the date.
Council Board is asking delegates to furnish suggestions of
areas of interest these will be announced at the next general
meeting. Contact the
office if there is a workshop your PTA would like the council to
present at the workshop.
Cultural Proficiency Program-sponsored by HCPSS is scheduled for May 7 & 8
from 8-4 at Loyola Campus 8890 McGraw Rd. Limited to 40 PTA
members or participants. Contact
John Krownapple at DOE- 410.313.1560.
Book Drive- PTAs participating in this year drive should collect books at
their school. Contact Nehemiah Spence (nspence@gpsonline.com) with
the number of books collected in each category and he will give
you the name of the school in which to donate to.(Action Item)
Prepare for Success Backpack Program - PTAs are asked to once again stuff one backpack with
school supplies for needy students. More details on monetary
donations will be available at our next meeting. Backpacks will be
collected at our June general meeting. (Action Item)
Joan Dykstra Advocacy Award – PTAs are encouraged to nominate their PTA if they have
developed an advocacy program this year at their school. Accepting
nominations till March 31. See PTACHC web site for further
details. (Action Item)
Council Bylaws- Council
distributed copy of draft bylaws for delegates to review and
discuss/vote on during April General meeting.(Action Item)
Local Bylaws- Many
are due or coming due. Bylaw updates are due every 3 years. Ask
your PTA when they were last down. Information is located on the
back of your bylaws. (Action Item) Contact the PTACHC office for any questions.
Template is available on PTACHC website.
Healthy Schools Walk Throughis under way. Each teacher is being asked to complete
this condense on line survey regarding their classroom area.
Each Principal has received a link to the survey in order
to send out to their staff. All information is available to the
principal so that areas of concern maybe addressed by the school
custodial staff or the maintenance department. Survey questions
will be posted on the PTACHC web site (Action Item) Parent Teacher Connection broadcast did a piece on
Healthy Schools. Deb Wessner will request copies of last years DVD on
Healthy Schools Walk-Thru. PTAs
requesting a copy should contact the office for a copy. (Action Item)
PTACHC Awards-Nominate dedicated volunteers for recognition. See PTACHC web site
for applications. Deadline is May 20th.
HB #763- is requesting BOE post results of well water.
MOTION: that PTACHC request that Howard County DOE post results of well
water tests at schools on well water on the HCDOE web site.
ACCEPTED,/p>
FOCUS-you
should be receiving an electronic copy of the weekly FOCUS. If
not, contact the PTACHC office.
Next
meeting date is April 7, 2008
Adjourned at 9:45 PM
Respectfully submitted by Tara Watts, Recording Secretary
