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PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ASSOCIATION – DRAFT Minutes of the February 8, 2001 Meeting In attendance were: Ed Morganrath, Jerry O’Brian, John Wandrey, Paul Adamski, Ron Wessels, Chuck Nason, Jim Anderson, Jim Ramsay, Jeane VerHagen, Al Flanders, Chris Scott, Judy Pflugradt, Susan Morrison, Marissa Miller, Ian Miller, Renee Schiebley, Kate Wichman, SPAS Board Member, Deb Wilz, SPAS Board member, Cindy Schmitz, Carol Weston , Wendy Berg, Julie Schneider, Superientendant Emery Babcock, Jim Ramsey, President Bill Hettler, Vice President Wendy Berg, , Secretary Michele Bjella. The meeting opened with welcome and introductions. Attendees to the business meeting were welcomed. No additions or changes to the agenda were made. Minutes of the November 8 meeting were approved. Treasurer's Report: No report. In treasurer's absence, Carol Weston shared the last bank statement showing a current balance of $2,796.03.
Correspondence: We received a thank you from the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future for taking an active part in the State budget hearings in Madison. Those from Stevens Point were one of a large number of groups whose parents, students, administrators, teachers and townspeople rallied at the capital in Madison on January 24 to raise consciousness regarding the detrimental effects of state spending caps on students in schools across Wisconsin. The issue got a lot of press coverage across Wisconsin with legislators telling us it really will make a difference. People are now convinced by this impressive rally that there really is a problem with school funding. Representatives from our Stevens Point PTSA as well as Portage County’s League of Women Voters were there meeting with legislators personally and underscoring the need for reform at the state level. Upcoming Conventions: “ Focus on the Future
– Reaching for the Goal” – Wisconsin’s PTA annual convention will
be April 26-28, 2001 at the Holiday Inn Convention and Expo Center in
Stevens Point. The keynote is Joyce Epstein, Director of the Center on
School, Family and Community Partnerships and the National network of
Partnerships – 2000 Schools. Saturday’s speaker is Dennis Haskins,
actor on NBCs “Saved by the Bell” and a strong advocate for children.
A motion to fund up to $240.00 for convention fees for interested
persons was made and approved. (Fee: $60.00 or $49.00 for 1 day) Please
contact Michele at 345-9779 if you are interested in receiving funding to
attend the conference and learn more about how to reach goals for
children. “Connecting Communities for the Future, the
national PTSA convention will be held on June 23-26, 2001 in Boston.
Please call Hettler-Westons at 345-1735 for workshop and registration
information. PTSA continues to be a highly organized resource for parents.
Their website is www.pta.org. “Celebrate Wellness” will take place at the Stevens Point Mall on March 3. Bill Hettler suggested that we have a booth there to promote PTSA efforts and the upcoming school district needs. If you would like to volunteer to help set up or work the booth please call Hettler-Westons at 345-1735. Old Business: Local elementary schools which currently do not have representation at PTSA meetings were visited in January. Thanks to Judy Pflugradt who visited Madison, Carol Weston for covering McKinley, Bill Hettler for and Michele Bjella for McDill. All PTOs welcomed us and some shared their difficulty
in staffing their in-school activities. All wished that we continue to
keep them informed of issues and activities that PTSA is working on. We
plan to continue sending Email or snail mail notes to all current
presidents and President Bill Hettler plans to send letters to all
elementary principals so we can continue to try to get representation from
all schools for the benefit of students. Superintendent’s Race: The recent Candidates Forum for State Superintendent of Public Schools sponsored by Wisconsin League of Women Voters was videotaped and is available by calling 345-1735 or 345-9779. This in depth forum provides you with up-to-date proposals by the seven candidates running for this office. Voting day is February 20.
VISION FORUMThe Business portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7 PM. Notes of the “Vision Forum #1”, the first of a series of
discussions with a variety of community members who share a stake in the
success of our educational system follows. Bill Hettler introduced our “Vision Forum” process, asking us to arrive at a possible mission together for the needs of education in our community. This would include what could we do differently in our next educational referenda and provision of a Vision statement(s). Invited guests included: Jerry O’Brian, John Wandery, Paul Adamski, Chuck Nason, Ron Wessels, Jim Ramsey and Jim Anderson. Bill also read a Vision statement from Dennie Brown, who along with a small number of other business leaders was unable to attend. Individual guests contributed their thoughts and perceptions regarding factors in the community, which may have influenced the failure of past referenda. They also described, as business leaders and employers recruiting potential employees relocating to this area, aspects of the quality of the educational experiences available here, both positive and negative. Some guests felt that an educational referenda seem to require “better packaging”. Some history was provided on the type of work (informational, telephoning, surveying, etc.) that was done in preparation for and following the failed referenda of November 1999 and May of 2000. Various guests suggested one or more of the following: Going “door to door”, reaching people with a consistent message and utilizing a mission statement for direction. A number of guests posed directional questions, including: Shouldn’t the Board of Education have set the direction and course for the campaigns based on planning?; Could the District articulate their specific vision for the future? Enhancing the trust level which people have in the School district as embodied by the BOE was discussed. It was suggested by a various participants that an “Open Book session” in which community members with financial and budget expertise join concerned community members to look at how our local needs and state funding may not match up in terms of what’s currently needed. This process might garner a broader level of trust among the stakeholders in our community and provide education of the issue at the same time. Some guests wondered if the school district has(d) a ten year plan. Others questioned possible discrepancies in past budget/referenda requests, as well as discrepancies in enrollment figures. The issue of what some residents in Plover may wish in contrast to what those in Stevens Point may wish regarding a second high school was touched on, as an issue to be addressed. President Hettler pursued summarizing this thoughtful interchange of ideas by suggesting that we work toward a vision – something we can all ”put our arms around” while realizing we, as a community have a serious problem with the operating budget. The meeting concluded with a brainstorm of
“Visions” aiming at getting to the voter, communicating that there are
problems to be solved. Board unity and partnerships with the business
community were all highlighted. Credibility was underscored. The areas for
future Vision statements which we may address were as follows: 1)
Marketing and Advertising 2)
Developing partnerships (e.g. look at the United Way type model) 3)
Open Book Budget Workshop 4)
Listen to Advisors – get input 5)
Use “loaned expertise” from knowledgeable community members 6)
Use the expertise of retired builders community 7) Keep trying – never give up. Once the business community is convinced, they will get behind the effort Invited guests were thanked for their time and talents. The meeting adjourned a 8:45PM. Next Meeting: April 4, 2001 at Jackson Elementary Respectfully Submitted, Michele Bjella
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