PTO Meeting Minutes 04/09/24

Neff Elementary PTO -- Quarterly Meeting

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 6:30pm

“I want to call the meeting to order, time is 6:33_”

1. Welcome & Introduction:  

   1. Principal: Travis Bash

   2. PTO Board:  Rachel Levine, Whitney Tsakonas (absent), Katie Warner, Lori DeTemple, Kelsey Danz (absent)

   3. Attendees

      1. JoAnn Hentz (MTSD Board), Ruth Wagner, Steph Gerber 

1. Approval of minutes from last meeting—February 13, 2024

   1. Minutes Approved

      1. copy available for review on the website

1. Principal Report:  Travis Bash

   1. End of Marking Period Assembly

   2. PSSA prep has begun, spirit week scheduled

   3. Field Trips scheduled for each grade

   4. 4th Grade vs. Teachers Kickball game to take place June 4

1. School Board Report: JoAnn Hentz 

   1. Working on finalizing the budget

   2. Changes in Staffing for next school year

      1. Changes in Special Education Staffing

   3. Changes to STEM programming

      1. New special being added for STEM

      2. Increase use and staffing for STEM labs

      3. STEM curriculum to align with the STEELS standards

1. Treasurer Report:  Lori DeTemple

   1. Reviewed the Profit & Loss for the year:

      1. Teacher appreciation: $780 has been budgeted for this expense

         1. Hoping to create committee to manage this event

         2. Request donations from families and local businesses to alleviate expenses 

      2. 
         

1. SLAC (Superintendent’s Lay Advisory Council) Report: Kisha Johnson, Rachel Levine, Lori DeTemple

   1. Rachel Reports:

      1. Summer Feeding program to be held at Nitrauer Elem as well as Bucher Elem. 

      2. District will begin to recognize high holidays when scheduling 

      3.  May 4: The 175th anniversary event at Barnstormers game details: PTO members can be there to set up a table as early as 3:30PM. The township celebration starts at 4:30pm, and students and staff will get a voucher to get in free. Other family members will be $12. The regular gate for the game starts at 5:30pm and PTOs can clean up and enjoy the pregame festivities at this point. The game itself starts at 6:45pm, and there will be fireworks at the end. 

1. PTO Update: Rachel Levine

   1. Passive Fundraising

      1. Yearbook- Hannah

         1. have sold about 100 to date

         2. still selling yearbooks

         3. possibly do in-person sale at Roller Skating event 

      2. Restaurant Nights:  Sara

         1. Mick’s $50

         2. MOD Pizza - $118

         3. Primanti Brothers

         4. BJ’s Brewhouse

   2. Past Events

      1. Dinner and a movie:

         1. $800 Profit 

         2. Didn’t upcharge PTO for using second theater

      2. Roller Skating- Good participation

         1. Made approximately $300

      3. BOTH events were highly successful and well attended. Hope to repeat these events in future years. 

1. Upcoming Events

   1. Teacher Appreciation Week -Steph Gerber volunteered to Chair

      1. Budget: $780

      2. Looking for ideas:

         1. at least one meal, 

         2. coffee

         3. mocktail bar

         4. gift from students

         5. send emails to parents with opportunities to participate and celebrate teachers. 

   2. Spring Fest Update

      1. NEEDED: Additional Co-chairs

         1. Kona Ice is lined up 

         2. PTO will sell concessions: Hot dogs, Caruso’s Pizza, juice, water and chips

         3. Business donation requests have been sent out

         4. Two bounce houses with staff 

         5. Balloon Twisters have been booked

         6. NEED: Volunteers for Face Painting

            1. recruit HS art students

            2. Recruit volunteers from HS clubs including Key Club and Future Teachers

         7. 27 companies have made donations for the Give & Get

         8. 3 companies making their own baskets

         9. Basket Assembly will take place on May 1 from 2pm to 6pm

1. Volunteer Update

   1. NEED: Spring fest 5/10/24 volunteers- adults and students

   2. Field day 5/20-21

      1. Mr. Bransby has made a request for volunteers

         1. possibly ask HS students, universities, sports teams

         2. need clearances

   3. Board Member status for 2024-25

      1. Vote held and approved incoming Board members for the 2024/25 SY

         1. President: Rachel Levine

         2. Vice President: Whitney Tsakonas

         3. Secretary: Katie Warner 

         4. Treasurer: Lori DeTemple

            1.  Steph Gerber

         5. Social Media: Kelsey Danz 

            1. Erin Checchia

         6. Website Manager/Directory

            1. Ruth Wagner 

         7. Restaurant Nights: Sara Bowers

Next Meeting:  NEXT FALL - Sept. 9, 2024

Adjournment—I move that we adjourn the meeting at 7:10pm