Norton Elementary PTA General Meeting Minutes

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015 in the Norton Elementary Multipurpose Room

Attachments

(A) Financial Report for 7/1/2015 through 9/15/2015

(B) Budget vs. Actual, fiscal year 2015-2016 dated 9/15/2105

(C) Proposed Budget Amendments, fiscal year 2015-2016 dated 9/15/2015

(D) “Don’t Stand By, Stand UP!” program Powerpoint handout

(E) Agenda – General Meeting, Tuesday, September 15, 2015

(F) Attendance Sheet for PTA Members (Note: The Attendance Sheet will not be included in the version of the

minutes posted to the Norton PTA website in order to protect the privacy of our members.)

Minutes

1. Opening – Jennifer Keys

a. Meeting called to order at 7:09 p.m.

b. Quorum (20 general members) was established.

2. Treasurer’s report – Rhonda Nesin

a. Rhonda Nesin explained to the membership how to read and understand the financial handouts. b. Financial Report for 7/1/2015 through 9/15/2015 – Income & Expense (Attachment A)

i. Beginning Balance $ 8,580.92 ii. Income $ 20,815.27 iii. Expenses ($ 7,253.96) iv. Ending Balance $ 22,142.23

c. The Treasurer’s Report was filed. d. The Budget vs. Actual (Attachment B) and Proposed Budget Amendments (Attachment C)

handouts were reviewed. e. Budget Amendments

i. MOTION 1. Rhonda Nesin moved to

a. (a) increase the Current Budget Beginning Balance from $6,100.00 by $2,480.92, so that the Proposed Budget’s Beginning Balance totals $8,580.92 (This allows the Beginning Balance to match the Total Balance Carried Forward from Fiscal Year 2014-2015.); and (b) increase the Current Budget Carry Forward Expense from $4,190.00 by $480.92, so that the Proposed Budget’s Carry Forward Expense totals $4,670.92.

b. (a) add the expense budget line item “Fundraiser Costs: Flower Sales 6th Grade Graduation,” and (b) increase the Current Budget Fundraiser Costs Flower Sales 6th Grade Graduation from $0.00 by $1,200.00, so that the Proposed Budget’s Fundraiser Costs Flower Sales 6th Grade Graduation totals $1,200.00.

i. (Background: The 2014-2015 school year was the first year for the 6th Grade Graduation Flower Sales fundraiser. Flowers were sold in advance of Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week, and delivered to faculty/staff during that week. An expense line item was needed in order to provide funds for the 2015-2016 6th Grade Graduation Sales fundraiser to pay the vendor in a timely matter.)

c. increase the Current Budget Fundraiser Costs Spirit Nights from $0.00 by $500.00, so that the Proposed Budget’s Fundraiser Costs Spirit Nights totals $500.00. The $500 will be donated to the In & Out Burger Foundation in the

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spring as a gesture of goodwill after the Spring Carnival. The motion was seconded and carried as stated.

i. (Background: In & Out donated 100% of the income from their sales at the 2015 Spring Carnival to Norton PTA. They asked for us to in turn donate 25% of their donated amount to the In & Out Burger Foundation. The remaining 75% stayed with the Norton PTA.)

d. increase the Current Budget New Teacher Start-up Expense from $300.00 by $300.00, so that the Proposed Budget’s New Teacher Start-up Expense totals $600.00, allowing funds for the teachers new to Norton or new to the grades they will be teaching this year. The motion was seconded and carried as stated.

i. (Background: For the 2015-2016 school year Norton has 6 teachers who are either new to the school or new to the grade they are teaching this year.)

e. amend the Proposed Budget by increasing the Electronic Payment Fees by $100, and decreasing the Carry Forward Expense by $100. The motion was seconded and carried as stated.

i. (Background: This year’s online sales so far have already exceeded the budgeted amount for electronic payment fees (Paypal), reaching 104% of budget.)

2. The motion was carried as stated. (No second was needed because this motion

comes as a recommendation from the Executive Board.)

f. Tax Free Days i. MOTION Rhonda Nesin moved to declare the following as Norton PTA’s tax-free days for the

2015-2016 fiscal year: Thursday, August 20, 2015 (Back to the Castle), and the Monday after the Fall Festival. The motion was carried as stated. (No second was needed because this motion comes as a recommendation from the Executive Board.)

3. Audit Report – Tiffany Brookman

a. The Audit Committee approved the books from the 2014-2015 fiscal year dated 7/1/2014 through 6/30/2015.

b. MOTION Tiffany Brookman moved that the Audit Report be put into record and filed. The motion was seconded and carried as stated.

4. Membership - Cara Schroeder/Tiffany Meseberg

a. To date we have 329 members, representing about 60% of the student body. The membership

deadline is 10/15/15. b. MOTION Cara Schroeder moved to amend Article V, Section 2 of the Norton Elementary Bylaws as

follows: “Annual dues for each member shall be five dollars and fifty cents ($5.50) for the local portion of dues plus state dues as determined by Texas PTA and national dues as determined by National PTA. Annual dues for two members joining from the same family shall be six dollars ($6.00) for the combined local portion of dues plus state dues per member as determined by Texas PTA and national dues per member as determined by National PTA.” The motion was carried as stated. (No second was needed because this motion comes as a recommendation from the Executive Board.)

i. (Background: Norton PTA’s membership dues have not increased in several – at least six – years, while state/national dues have. This has resulted in a decrease in the “local portion”, ie. funds that remain with Norton PTA, over the years. Research by our treasurer has shown that Norton PTA has one of the lowest membership dues in the district. Additionally, the Allen ISD PTA Council has advised an increase in dues so that they are of a similar amount across the district. With the present rates for state and national dues, the result will increase Norton PTA membership dues from $6 to $10 for an individual, from $12 to $15 for two members

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joining from the same family, and from $3.75 to $7.75 for a Texas PTA Honorary Life Membership Award recipient. This Bylaw amendment will not take effect until approved by the Texas PTA.)

5. Bylaws & Standing Rules – Jacqueline Shipchandler

a. The change in Bylaws voted upon by the membership (see motion above by Cara Schroeder) will be

sent to the Texas PTA for approval.

6. Ways & Means – Karen Murray/Bhagya Kale

a. Back to Basics Fundraiser

i. Donations as of 9/14/2015 total $11,000. An additional $5,000 needs to be raised in the next two weeks to reach the goal amount of $16,000. The deadline is 10/1/15.

ii. Though there are prize levels for donations, any amount is greatly appreciated. iii. The class with the most participation and the class with the most funds raised will receive

prizes. The teachers of these classes will receive $50 toward classroom supplies. iv. If the $16,000 goal is met by 10/1/2015, the Norton students will design a “wacky obstacle

course” for Mrs. DeLeon to complete in the school hallways. b. Additional fundraising sources

i. Kroger cards need to be re-linked to Norton PTA yearly after August 1st. ii. Tom Thumb cards need to be linked to Norton PTA once per card. iii. Purchases made through Amazon Smile (when Norton PTA is selected as the charity) will

benefit Norton PTA.

7. Bond Election – Jennifer Keys/Tiffany Brookman

a. Tiffany Brookman presented a summary of the upcoming $273 million school bond. It will not impose a tax rate increase on Allen ISD school taxes.

b. Voter registration is through 10/5/2015, and the vote will be 11/3/2015. c. MOTION Tiffany Brookman moved that the Norton PTA support the $273 million school bond up for

vote on 11/3/2015. The motion was seconded and carried as stated.

8. Program

a. An anti-bullying program entitled “Don’t Stand By/Stand Up” was presented by a Heather Ashwell-Hair from the Texas PTA. Mrs. Gilbert, our school counselor, and Mrs. Abohosh, Assistant Principal, shared with parents what will be presented to the students during school, and answered questions

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________

Meg Beach, Secretary