TRANSLATION AVAILABLE – TRADUCCION EN ESPANOL

Larry Wood, & Juanita Douglas Co-Presidents, Presiding Meeting called to order at 7:15 pm

I. Minutes from the 4/6/06 meeting reviewed and approved

II. Principals Report

a. Thank you to all the parents who worked on the auction. A special thank you to Anne Pejovich. It was a great event and generated a lot of good feeling with the teachers and community.

b. Playground. 107^th street is closed for the 6^th grade, to the West of Manhattan Mini storage. Thanks to Manhattan Ministorage and the garages on 107^th for their cooperation. It is not an ideal situation. Children can stay in the cafeteria. Auditorium on rainy days. Looking into possible activities. Balls are problematic, will be trying footballs. Encourage parents to send their children in with jump ropes, chalks, or other activities. Concerned about the pace of the work in the playground; for example there has been no work done this week. Encourage parents to call Parks Department to query status. Sylvia Case will follow up.

i. Safety. Concerned that children are acting irresponsibility during recess due to lack of supervision.

1. Currently staff is limited for lunch duty; teachers are scheduled for classes during lunch. Cannot have adequate supervision at present for multiple areas of play. Will be working on schedule for next year.

ii. Alternatives. 108^th has too many businesses, park is too small. Have applied for a crossing guard, but nothing yet.

iii. Suggestion of parent committee for recess that would meet over summer & work on solutions for recess. Torrie ? has agreed to work on this committee. Other interested parents should contact Anne Pejovich.

c. 8^th Grade graduation. Scheduled for 6/15 at 5:30 pm, Riverside Church. Bear Mountain senior trip 6/5.

d. Cell Phones. It is a DOE policy. Scans will be random, if cell phones confiscated parents must come to pick up. Suggestion made that parents check the cell phone minutes on bill that are used by their child & at what time of day. If there is daytime usage, they need to speak with their child. Children may not use phones during the day. Parents can call 311 and file a complaint re cell phone policy. If there is a family emergency parents can call the school directly or call Anne Pejovich.

e. Changes for next year.

i. Looking at the possibility of one main entry & dismissal time. Currently 4 afternoon dismissal times, which is a problem. If there is one entry time, it will probably be 8 am.

ii. Looking at ending outdoor lunch for 7^th grade due to safety and lateness. Request made to end outdoor lunch after playground is finished.

iii. Unknown at present how extended day will be structured for next year. Waiting on region for policy.

iv. Question of how remediation is progressing. 75% attendance prior to test; attendance has gone down since then. Will know better after results of tests are released. Children are benefiting from the additional class time in ways not related specifically to test results.

III. Executive Committee Report

a. Co Presidents Report

i. We need parents from all programs to step forward to serve on the Executive Committee. Many current members are ‘graduating’ this year. Nine slots are open, approximately 3 have nominees at present.

ii. There are two SLT openings plus an alternate position available. SLT meets twice a month, this year at 7:20 am. Two year commitment.

iii. Town Hall meeting at St. Bart’s related to school funding & smaller class size.

iv. Cell phone issue is being addressed by CPAC (Chancellors Parent Advisory Committee) and District Presidents Council, among others. Norm Siegel has agreed to join to organize law suit.

v. UFT will be having an informational picket at schools next Thursday.

b. Treasurers Report

i. Financial statement and preliminary 2006-2007 budget distributed.

ii. Auction grossed approximately $50,000; expenses projected at $3-4,000.

iii. Preliminary 06-07 budget. 2005-06 is $67,000. Next year the proposal is to increase the budget to approximately $167,000, with the bulk of income coming from pledge drive (projected at $80,000 vs. $40,000), and the auction (projected at $60,000). Additional funds usage proposed to go towards increase in some line items, recess, conflict resolution programs. Will be voted on at the June meeting.

IV. Committee Reports

a. Auction: see above. Parents who won items but did not stay to pay will be invoiced. Please pay as soon as possible. Ideas welcome for improvement.

b. Grants: Monday morning meeting (5/15 8:30 pm) for review of greenhouse proposal. Committee members met with some of our local representatives. Will be following up for request for monies.

c. Safety. Following up on conflict resolution programs. Meeting with Teachers College next week. Making presence known at the Police Departments community meetings. Next meeting is at the 24^th Precinct stationhouse on Wednesday, 5/17. Parents are welcome to attend. In order to get a stronger police presence in the area, it is important that all incidents are reported to the police. If incidents are under-reported, the police will assign personnel where they perceive a greater need.

d. Technology. Meeting Tuesday 7:20 am. Working on receiving monies through elected officials and grants.

e. SLT Committee is working on the CEP; awaiting data and new template from the Region. Minutes are posted on the bulletin board.

f. Graduation. Graduation dance scheduled for 6/17 at the Youth Hostel. Deposit has been paid. The location can hold only 150-175 so students interested in attending should respond as soon as they receive information. Need parents to assist in organization, food, drink, paper goods. Contact Betsy Lind.

g. Nominations: Larry Wood & Juanita Douglas co-chairing. Please contact if you are interested in running for a spot on the board. We need parents from ALL programs to participate, parents can volunteer for any of the open positions.

h. Anne Pejovich will be needing help on getting invitations out for the incoming 6^th grade breakfast, and parents to assist at the breakfast.

i. Dr. Elster is considering a buddy program for incoming families. If you would like to assist, please contact her.

The Raffle for ________________ was won by Roy ___________

DID YOU MISS A PTA MEETING BUT WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING? GREAT NEWS! YOU CAN READ THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS ON THE WEBSITE: www.ms54.org/pta.htm

FINAL PTA MEETING OF YEAR June 8, 2006 We will be voting on the 2006-2007 executive board and the budget for 2006-2007 at this meeting

NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS BUT THE SCHOOL IS OPEN – PLEASE ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT MEETING

If a meeting needs to be changed due to an unforeseen reason, a notice will be sent out as early as possible to let you know of the change