Minutes of the November 8, 2000 Meeting

In attendance were: Al Flanders, Susan Zach, Cindy Schmidtz, Randy Peelen, President Bill Hettler, Jeanne VerHagen, Treasurer Collette Swiech, Past President/Media Coordinator Carol Weston, Judy Pflugradt, Secretary Michele Bjella

The meeting opened with a welcome and introductions. No additions or changes were made to the agenda. Correspondences from individuals attending the Nov. 2nd School Funding Forum 7th hosted by our Stevens Point PTSA were shared by president Bill Hettler. Minutes of the September meeting were approved.

Lisa Lara of the Stevens Point Journal wishes to do an article as a followup to PTSA’s work on the November Funding forum and Carol Weston is working to set up a meeting time with her for members who are interested to be a part of this interview. Look for notice of this in upcoming email announcements or call Bill Hettler or Carol Weston for the time and date.

Committee Reports/Other Status:

Membership – PTSA has 46 official members to date and we anticipate increased membership as a result of the Reflections Cultural Arts Program underway.

Discussion touched on current trends away from joining organizations as opposed to the mid-70s when joining was popular. Randy Peelen encouraged the “Reply to all” feature, as a model for the future to enable communications between members.

In an effort to reach out to the local schools that do not have a parent(s) represented at PTSA meetings, Bill, Carol and Michele offered to visit local PTO meetings over the next few months. They will provide information on our current undertakings, seek representatives and offer the membership dues opportunity to those schools, as we have in the past.

The group agreed to continue use of the PTSA web page, kept current by Carol Weston, for communications outreach.

Monies were allocated for members to attend the PTSA state conference.

Reflections – Reflections is a cultural arts program through the state PTSA that offers elementary through high school students an opportunity to compete in areas of Photography, Literature (essays), Visual Art and Musical composition. Carol has sent out registration information to Pete Werner, Coordinator of the Arts Program at all SP Area schools. Children may be working with their art teacher to submit something they have completed in school, but others complete their projects at home, independently and have a parent register them. Please call Carol for a registration packet, if you know a child interested in participating in this marvelous contest.

(Projects are due to Reflections committee Mon., January 8^th; January 10^th is PTSA volunteers packing and mailing day).

Advisory Board – The advisory Board of the Stevens Point Schools meets every other Monday at Bliss. This is a meeting of administrators in the district and we have four parent representatives attending on a regular basis – Judy Pflugradt, Susan Zach, Chris Scott and Carol Weston. Judy Pflugradt attended the last meeting. She reported that there was discussion regarding the Budget Forum we hosted, the Calendar committee’s work and the Board’s concern over the safety of Emerson, which they may close for an alternative sight. Board of Education is looking at potential budget cuts. Board workshops to address these possible cuts are anticipated.

Discussion followed among PTSA members as to how the Board is working to prepare for future referenda efforts. Keeping the needs fresh in the public’s minds and working with groups within the community, including the business community to support the needs were all discussed. Al and Randy suggested that we consider inviting business leaders to our next meeting and follow up with other special meetings for a meeting with the senior population and representatives of churches as well. Our members might consider the areas of influence they have in our community, as we prepare for these meetings. The effects of staff shortage related to discipline were also touched on. It was agreed that our Advisory representatives would bring up our concern that administration and Board members openly advocate for the coming referenda needs, at the next meeting they attend. In order to insure the community addresses these needs, it was decided that we as a PTSA personally invite to our next meeting, community people who can help impact the success of our schools. (See “Vision Forums” below) Bill also suggested that we consider an “Open Book” workshop to continue awareness on the Stevens Point schools district’s budget status.

Gifted and talented Committee: Randy reported our Superintendent continues to give strong support for the G.T. concept and that the presence of G.T. liaisons in each of the schools is an asset.

Status of the P.T.O. Council account: The account remains intact. Currently no parents have come forward to participate. Each elementary had paid $20.00 dues in the past and this year, we will approach schools as to their preference regarding dues to PTSA.

Legislative Conference: The state PTSA is sponsoring a Legislative Conference to be held in Madison, with the IWF (Institute for Wisconsin’s Future) presenting testimony to the legislature on January 25 and a legislature forum that evening. A motion was made to approve minutes from the budget to get people from our chapter and the Board of Education involved in state education funding issues by attending this conference. Please contact the Hettler- Weston if you wish to attend.

PTSA Conference in Stevens Point: April 27 – 29 are the dates. Michele will approach Dee Martz and Steve Bjella regarding musical entertainment at the event. Carol, Will contact Maggie Beeber and the Student Education association to request volunteers to help at the convention.

PTSA Web Pages: A motion was made to set a budget to hire a student is necessary to work on and update our Web pages. The motion passed with an allotment of up to $200.00.

Kettle Commission: This commission, established by Tommy Thompson to look at the status of state funding in communities and municipalities has come forward with many suggestions to refinance schools in the state, including eliminating all school boards in the state.

Vision Forums: The meeting closed with a decision to plan a special meeting, to potentially be followed by a series of forums called” Vision forums”, to look at solutions for our community’s schools. The first would involve inviting community business and township leaders. Later meetings could invite clergy, seniors, those involved in exceptional education and the parochial school community.

Next meeting: A February 7^th, 7 pm meeting at Washington School, was set. Look for confirmation of this date and time due to any adjustments for the Vision Forum participants.

Respectfully submitted by Michele Bjella

11/17/2000

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