CMS-PTO Board Meeting – Wed., Sept. 5, 6:30pm-7:30pm

CMS-PTO
Board Meeting Minutes: APPROVED September 5, 2018

Board Attendees:
Helen Mah, Co Treasurer
May Bakken, President
Betsy Slattery, VP Communications
Heather Marklein, Secretary
Jackie Grapa, Co Treasurer
Michele Lapede, Co VP, Fundraising
Maia Elder-Kadar, Co VP, Fundraising
Kim Pantoja, 7th grade math teacher (teacher representative)
Maria “Bernie” Urbina Alonso, Co VP, Programs
Mike Cellini, Principal
Mamta Kochar, Co VP Programs
Julie Crane, Parliamentarian (arrived prior to New Business voting)

Meeting comes to order at: 6:33pm. A voting quorum is present.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Hello/Introductions

1. Proposed Bylaws: Will review and possibly amend again in January 2019. Send any immediate feedback to May Bakken. Vote next meeting.
2. Greeted staff with J. Grapa and snacks at back-to-school morning
3. Welcome Back event was well received, well organized. Send May

   suggestions for improvements.

4. Back to School Night: some teachers played CMS-PTO video, some didn’t.

   Some connectivity issues. Would like to figure out a way to promote CMS-

   PTO at BTSN that doesn’t put a hardship on teachers.

5. Coming up: coffee or tea or donuts with CMS Principal and parents.

   Thinking of hosting during the last week of September. A parent suggested this idea and will run it.

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VP, COMMUNICATION’S REPORT

1. All CMS-PTO logos are available on CMS-PTO drive.
2. Social network: 184 members on Facebook. Ask others to join. Will send

   invitations to staff members.

3. Web page:

   a. Adding donations “thermometer.”
   b. Working on redesign.
   c. “Donate” page: okay for donors to write check to CMS-PTO or

   CMSF; email treasurer@cms-pto.org for clarification but for Corporate Matching, please select “CMSF” under nonprofit listing (not school listing); same tax ID (or EID) number = 47-2764057. Betsy to put clarifying verbiage on web site.

4. 60 people signed back-to-school volunteer list
5. Third CMS-PTO “Everyone Belongs” banner to be posted on Helena
6. Swag is in the main office. Should give more out at future events.
7. Online CMS-PTO group calendar is in progress
8. Outside vendors wanting us to promote their goods/services on CMS-

   PTO Facebook page

   1. Informal policy: if CMS already has an ongoing relationship with

      the vendor, okay to post about it on CMS-PTO Facebook page. If CMS does not have an ongoing relationship with the vendor, we will route such requests to the school. If the school then decides to work with the vendor, we can post information about it on the CMS-PTO Facebook page as appropriate.

   2. Okay for parents of feeder schools (Homestead High School, etc.) to post information about their school’s activities (such as Featherettes) on our Facebook page, since many parents would be interested in learning about available opportunities for their kids at those schools.
9. Okay to put www.cms-pto.org on outdoor school marquee.

TREASURERS’ REPORT

1. See attached report.
   a. Most matching donations will come in October/November. b. Participation rate is higher than last year for CMS Foundation

   (more have donated via credit card at this point in time vs.

   previous years)
   c. Bank balance as of 9/4/18: $80,995
   d. Available balance to spend as of 9/4/18: $54,826

2. New individual reimbursement form available for CMS-PTO volunteers. Will also be online. You can also take pictures of receipts and submit with form online.
3. Auditor’s report (Connie Wu)
   a. July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 audited.
   b. See attached report. We passed review.

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CO-VP, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS’ REPORT

1. Focusing on two types of programs this year: community and education
2. Secured a parent speaker for Tech-Savvy Parenting on Wed., 10/10 at

   6:30pm. Speaker is Dr. Leena Khanzode. ~ 70 attendees attended event at nearby schools. Do Eventbrite invitation or similar. Event Center already booked for another event.

3. Early January tentative event: alumni panel re careers.
4. Fall Family Night, 11/2/18 from 4-7pm. “Thankful Tree” or similar

   student activity. Will email parents to request volunteers to help

   coordinate this event. Can send email blast from CMS to all parents, too.

5. Spring Event: fitness related. Junior Olympics, Fitness Jam…April TBD.

   Check which CMS sports are being held at that time (track and field?) and tie in if possible. Also to see whether facilities (field) are available.

CO-VP, FUNDRAISING’S REPORT

1. Publicize via web site, Facebook, flyer, etc.:
   1. Amazon Smile. Already on as PTA. Need to change to CMS-PTO.

      (CMSF also has an Amazon Smile account; already informed Treasurers to change to CMS-PTO. They will do it soon. Treasurers have password to this.)

   2. Sports Basement
   3. Lucky Rewards
   4. Box Tops

      i. Have student council help manage the program.
      ii. Contest to be held in December and April/May timeframe.

      Grade that wins gets a small prize.

2. Family Dine Out nights
   1. Chipotle donates 33% of net profits. October and March. Student Council may already have Chipotle event planned; follow up.
   2. Pizza My Heart? Nick the Greek? Ideas? Panda Express + Baskin

      Robbins or similar duo? Nice to have dinner + dessert.

3. Book Fair: not run by CMS-PTO. Different team (led by Maya Bronicki)
4. Remind parents re: donations toward end of this calendar year.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

1. School year off to a great start
2. Bear Pride big success: Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.
3. Bear Bravos for positive reinforcement.
4. First fire drill today. Students and staff learning protocol for each potential

   emergency.

5. Emails coming from CMS vs. CUSD will now be differentiated in email

   subject line.

6. Focusing on school climate and culture. Activity every Friday. Ask your

   child if he/she has heard about it.

a. Had CMS adult tricycle race in quad area. Kids were extremely

excited. Teachers dressed up. Big morale boost.

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NEW BUSINESS
1. Proposal: Fund four adult tricycles for future races

Estimated cost = $1405.95.
Motion: made by Heather. Seconded by Maia. Oral vote. Motion carries by unanimous vote; funds approved.

2. Proposal: Boxes for Bear Bravos/Box Tops per grade level Estimated cost = $150.00.
Motion: made by Michele. Seconded by May. Oral vote. Motion carries by unanimous vote; funds approved.

3. Proposal: Crossing Guard for Foothill Expy. – Arboretum intersection (near Lucky supermarket). To be paid to City of Los Altos.

Estimated cost = $2,160.00.
Motion: made by Betsy. Seconded by May. Oral vote. Motion carries by unanimous vote; funds approved.

4. Proposal: Treasurer requests budget approval for guest speakers ($5,000), teacher/staff appreciation ($2,500) and Welcome Back Event ($500).

Motion: made by Nanette. Seconded by Jackie. Oral vote. Motion carries by unanimous vote; funds approved.

Other New Business: think about how we can get students involved in CMS- PTO, and vice versa. Will add as agenda item for next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at: 7:48pm

Next meeting we will not be voting on spending proposals; teachers need not be present:
Wed, 10/3/18 at 6:30pm.