CUSD Funding Challenges and Strategies – A Talk with Dr. Craig Baker, CUSD Superintendent

Please join us Wednesday night (March 6) at 6pm in the CMS Library to hear Dr. Craig Baker, CUSD Superintendent, discuss our district’s funding challenges and revenue enhancement strategies.

Band parents: Dr. Baker should be finished by the time the band concert starts, so you can attend the talk and the concert.

Please RSVP for Dr. Baker’s talk at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-the-future-holds-for-cusd-a-talk-with-superintendent-dr-craig-baker-tickets-56145071420

CMS-PTO Talk: Drugs, Alcohol, and Other Substances – How to Talk to Your Kids About Use and Abuse

There is a CMS-PTO Talk is this week!

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019: CMS-PTO Talk Drugs, Alcohol, and Other Substances – How to Talk to Your Kids About Use and Abuse. 6:30-7:30pm in the CMS Library. For more info and to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cms-pto-talk-drugs-alcohol-and-other-substances-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-use-and-abuse-tickets-55193378882

Please update your calendars!

Monday, Feb. 25, 2019: Homestead Rd. Corridor Safe Routes to School Community Meeting. 6-8pm in the Homestead High School Auditorium
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rda/PnS/CP/Pages/Homestead-Rd.aspx
 
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019: CMS-PTO Talk Drugs, Alcohol, and Other Substances – How to Talk to Your Kids About Use and Abuse. 6:30-7:30pm in the CMS Library. For more info and to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cms-pto-talk-drugs-alcohol-and-other-substances-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-use-and-abuse-tickets-55193378882
 
Tuesday, March 5, 2019: CMS-PTO Meeting. 6:30-8:00pm in the CMS Office Conference Room. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A NEW DATE FOR MARCH’S CMS-PTO MEETING.
 
Wednesday, March 6, 2019: What the Future Holds for CUSD – a talk with Superintendent Dr. Craig Baker 6:00-6:30pm in the CMS Library. Please RSVP https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-the-future-holds-for-cusd-a-talk-with-superintendent-dr-craig-baker-tickets-56145071420
 
Wednesday, April 3, 2019: CMS-PTO Meeting and Election of 2019-20 CMS-PTO Officers. 6:30-8:00pm in the CMS Office Conference Room.
 
Friday, April 5, 2019: CMS Spring Fling! 4:00-7:00pm on the CMS Fields.

What the Future Holds for CUSD – a talk with Superintendent Dr. Craig Baker

Please join us in welcoming Superintendent Dr. Craig Baker on March 6 at 6:00 PM in the CMS Library for a conversation about OUR District and the work ahead to ensure all students benefit from a quality education. Dr. Baker will share information about the District, CUSD goals and priorities, while also providing a District budget update highlighting strategic next steps. As the leader of our District, Dr. Baker’s focus continues to be on providing opportunities, experiences, and resources to all of our children at each of our 25 schools. CUSD25 – We are in it together!

Please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-the-future-holds-for-cusd-a-talk-with-superintendent-dr-craig-baker-tickets-56145071420

Homestead Rd. Corridor Safe Routes Study Meeting 2/25/19 @ 6-8pm

You are invited to the final community meeting for the Homestead Road Corridor Safe Route to School Study is on Monday, February 25, 2019, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Homestead High School Auditorium.
 
In June 2018, the County Board of Supervisors approved one-time funding to secure a consultant to develop a multi-jurisdictional conceptual plan for additional on-street safety improvements on the Homestead Road corridor for students coming to and from West Valley Elementary School, Cupertino Middle School, and Homestead High School.
 
The overall objective of the study is to identify near-term pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Homestead Road, from Grant Road to N. Stelling Road/Hollenbeck Avenue, and to seek funding for the identified improvements through various grants.
 
The purpose of the community meeting on February 25, 2019, is:
Provide an update to the community on the study status;
Present proposed concepts;
Receive community feedback on the proposed concepts that have been developed based on input received from first community meeting; and,
Review next steps.
 
Homestead High School is located at 21370 Homestead Rd in Cupertino. Parking will be available in either of the lots on campus. https://hhs.fuhsd.org/about-us/general-information/map-and-directions
More information about the study can be found at: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rda/PnS/CP/Pages/Homestead-Rd.aspx
For questions regarding the study ​or to contact project team, please send an email to: RDA-HomesteadRoad.Study@rda.sccgov.org

CMS-PTO Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 6

Please join us for this month’s board meeting. It starts at 6:30pm in the office conference room.

Here is the agenda:

Board Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, Feb 6, 2019

6:30 – 8:00pm

Venue: Office Conference Room

  1. Meeting call to order
  2. Review and approve draft minutes from last meeting.
  3. Officer & Committee Reports

    • President’s Report (5min.)
      Dr. Baker to present our March CMS-PTO meeting |*Note: Beginner Band and A Band performance

Review & Update on CMS-PTO Election & Timeline

Update: Safe Routes Update – Traffic Congestion and Safety at drop offs (Julie Crane)

    • Communications Report (5min.)
    • Treasurer’s Report (5min.)
    • Community Programs Report (10min.)
      1. CMS-PTO Talk – Survey Update from last event
      2. Spring Event update (Share in event agenda; solicit parent and student volunteer help)
    • Fundraising Report (5min.)
      1. Fundraising Update
      2. Announce winners from donation raffle drawing
  1. Unfinished Business (10min.)
  2. Principal’s Report (5min.)
  3. New Business (15min.) – Including Proposals and Announcements
  4. Q&A
  5. Adjournment

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 6 – 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Board Meeting Minutes: FINAL Wednesday, Feb 6, 2019 6:30 – 8:00pm Venue: Office Conference Room

Meeting called to order at 6:34pm. Quorum is present.
Presentation of Batik print from Lusie Apriliana, a parent who supervised the Indonesian booth at the CMS-PTO Fall Family Night in 2018. We will post a message and photo on Facebook re: print and Fall Family Night.

A. Officer & Committee Reports

Secretary’s Report Motion by Heather Marklein to dispense with the reading of last meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Jackie Grapa. Motion carries. Motion by Heather Marklein to approve the minutes from last meeting as distributed via email. Motion seconded by Jackie Grapa. Motion carries.

President’s Report Dr. Baker is meeting with 25 different parent groups to get feedback about all schools in our district. He started at Meyerholtz; going to all schools by the end of March. Dr. Baker to present at CMS on March 6. Will discuss funding and enrollment issues.

Discussion of CMS-PTO election and timeline. Heather Marklein (Secretary) to talk to Nanette Jackson re: ballots, etc., in preparation for upcoming CMS-PTO election.

Safe Routes Update: Traffic Congestion and Safety at drop offs (Julie Crane)

Treasurer’s Report
See attached.

Co-VP’s, Community Programs Report
CMS-PTO Talk R Survey update from last event. Spring Fling event update (solicit parent and student volunteer help).

Co-VP’s Fundraising Report CMS-PTO Dine Out pizza event: low turn out. Will publicize more through the teachers. Will give flyers to teachers to post in their classrooms. Continue to advertise on Facebook and Bear Bulletin, etc.
Box Tops: We collected 972 box tops. That generates $97.20 for CMS. We expected to collect more given the size of the school. Also, parents need to check the expiration date since some Box Tops were expired. Box Top totals by grade:

6th R 225
7th R 250
8th R 273
As a result of collecting the most box tops, the 8th grade will receive lollipops as a prize. We will tally Box Tops again on May 3rd. We will prepare a notice with the date to share with others. If we do this twice a tear we would generate an additional $200 in fundraising dollars.
Bernie Urbina suggested we explore the Benevity app as a potential fundraising source as well as others. CMS-PTO Disneyland Raffle: Betsy Slattery (VP, Communications) will publish the winning families’ names. Drum up excitement. We are considering publishing on the Facebook site, the school website, and the Bear Bulletin.

B. New Business Proposals

See table below. All proposals were voted upon and accepted.
Julie Crane suggested we publish the funding of these proposals specifically to the parents of the affected students (e.g., those in band) to show how CMS-PTO is positively impacting their students.

Proposals

Item#

Bucket

Requested By
DEPT

Detailed Information/ Itemized Cost

Total Cost

Drama Dept Anna Kirsch

1

Anna Kirsh is asking for an “on campus” experience from

the “Blush” group to come to her drama classes to provide stage make up training and to give the kids a “kit” for stage makeup.

Artist Day Rate (School Visit) $ 765.00

Customized Curriculum Development $ 375.00

Mini Artist’s Kit x 60 students $ 825.00 Additional Supplies $ 185.00 Transportation Cost (round trip) 1 $ 50.00 Total $ 2,200.00

Anna is requesting half ($1,100)

This event would be for 7th and 8th graders.

$1,100

2

Mike Cellini

CEEF Donation

Mike Cellini: Previously, different organizations provided

$250

money for the CEEF gala, which was operating in a

deficit. The gala no longer exists. Superintendent Baker

is working with CEEF as a District fundraising group.

Their current initiative is titled “25 for 25.” Since the PTO

is new, he wanted to propose that we fund CEEF. It

would become a yearly request.

3

Jeff Yaeger/ Asa Stern

Music dept. is asking for funds to purchase new instruments.

The band instruments are very old and used. For example, some bear the name of schools that are no longer in existence. One$half of the students at CMS are in band or choir. The Treasurers clarified that this final request should be amended to include taxes and shipping not to exceed 15%.

Item

Cost

Needed

Fox Renard 41 Bassoon

$4,841.50

2

Yamaha 321 Euphonium

$1,932.57

2

Yamaha Student Double Horn YHRR567

Yamaha student Alto Sax Yas 200AD

$2,511.36

3

Yamaha student oboe, with Left F key

$2,735.90

2

$1,090.00

1

Jupiter Bass Clarinet

$1,800

2

$14,911.33

$14,911.33

Total Cost of Proposals

$16,261.33

C. Misc.

Our two guests (husband and wife) were welcomed and invited to talk. They shared that they were previously at ChristaRMcAuliffe school and attended because they were interested in learning more about the PTO. They discussed how low the contribution ($$$) rate is among our parents even though the “ask” is significantly more at elementary schools. Mike Cellini said that Dr. Baker will encourage contributions for all kids across the District.

There was also a general discussion about why teachers may be reluctant to ask for additional funds from the PTO.

City of Los Altos Family Emergency Preparedness Workshop

Thursday, January 31, 2019 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Family Emergency Preparedness Workshop

As part of the City’s work to improve our community’s ability to respond and recover from emergency and disaster situations, the City has partnered with the Los Altos School District and Santa Clara County Fire Department to offer complimentary Family Emergency Preparedness Workshops.

Captain Denise Gluhan from Santa Clara County Fire Department will present emergency preparedness information customized for families covering preparedness at home, emergency kits, family emergency communications plans, the basics of home fire safety planning, evacuation planning and more.

Workshop Dates/Times

January 31, 2019
7 – 9 p.m.
Egan Junior High School, Gymnasium
100 W. Portola Avenue, Los Altos

February 7, 2019
7 – 9 p.m.
Loyola Elementary School, Multipurpose Room
770 Berry Avenue, Los Altos

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

https://www.losaltosca.gov/police/page/family-emergency-preparedness-workshop

Dine out and support CMS-PTO on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Take a night off from cooking and support CMS-PTO! Go to Pizza My Heart on Tuesday, February 5 from 4pm-9pm. 30% of proceeds will go to CMS-PTO to support our students and staff.
 
Valid only at the Pizza My Heart at 20530 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino. Please note that you must mention the CMS-PTO fundraiser while ordering and before you pay.

Two days until this CMS-PTO Talk – register now!

Today’s tweens and teens can feel anxious about things such as school, friendships, puberty and growing up, and a lot more. Sometimes, anxiety can lead to feelings of depression. It’s not always easy for our kids to share their feelings with us. In this CMS-PTO Talk, you will learn to recognize the signs of anxiety and depression in your children and how to help them cope. Learning these tips now may help you prevent your child from advancing to self-harming behaviors.

Wednesday, January 30 from 6:30pm-7:30pm in the Cupertino Middle School Library

RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cms-pto-talk-anxiety-depression-in-tweens-and-teens-tickets-54738798219

Save the Date: Spring Fling 2019


Family Fun, Field Games, Fitness & Food

Join other CMS families on Friday, April 5, 2019 from 4pm-7pm for an afternoon of family fun! Food trucks will be there so you can grab a snack or dinner. This is an event for the whole family! If you are interested in helping that day, please emailBernie Urbina Alonso at mburbina@gmail.com