Attendees:  Lois Darbonne, Denise Kubick, Toni Johnson, Leslie Levy, Jeff Gilbert, Carol Spillman, Lisa Souther

1. Welcome & Introductions            Lois Darbonne, President

2. Update on Principal situation             Jeff Gilbert, Principal
Interviewed 3 candidates last week for Co-principal/Principal Kyoto House. Did not offer the position to any candidate. Jeff Gilbert will ask the district to post the available position for 2008-09 and will present an interim principal situation to the district for 2007-08. Possibilities include the Dean of Students (Brett Stevenson) and Sabrina Braccini (Activities Director) taking on more administrative functions, and possibly freeing up Greg Lance (English – Kyoto) for curriculum house teacher leader.
Currently Jeff Gilbert is Principal of Marrakech and Lead Principal and Cheryl Lawton is Principal of Florence. 

Librarian situation update:  HHS will share Burlingame High School’s librarian half-time.  HHS is presenting a plan the district to have a classified office staff to work the opposite schedule as the librarian to function as Library Assistant and keep the library open from 8 am – 4 pm each day of the week. HHS needs parent volunteers to help Gail Curran with processing new textbooks before school begins.  Jeff will provide dates to Carol to send out to volunteers from last year.      

3. Explanation/update on Hillsdale Foundation and its relationship to/with PTSO
The Foundation is up and running and in the formative stages. It is currently looking for seed money opportunities.  The Foundation has identified four sources of funds:
       1. National educational foundations and grants
       2. Local non-profit/foundations and grants
       3. HHS Alumni
       4. Parent/local community 

The Foundation has created a Centralized group, lead by Cheryl Lawton, which will provide a resource of parent skills, possibly a clearinghouse of information to help reach the Foundation’s goals.  There was a general discussion of the fundraising function of PTSO vs. the Foundation and possible parent confusion this year.  This year will be a year of transition, with ultimately the PTSO moving towards providing information and fostering community amongst teachers, parents and teachers as the Foundation begins taking over more of the fundraising function. Currently we will still be asking parents to write their checks to PTSO.  We discussed the need to have someone introduce PTSO and the fundraising options at Maze Day and PTSO meetings. There was also discussion about looking into other options for fundraising vs. AKOTT only.   The Board decided to wait and see what money comes in with the Maze day donations.
The Final AKOTT fundraising amount from 2006/2007 = $30,600.  The point was raised that there is a need to schedule a budget meeting before the Sept. 10th 1st PTSO meeting (see below). 

4. Meeting plan for 2007-08
Need to set meeting dates (see below) and propose programs at meetings. There was a discussion of the benefits that the PTSO can offer the school, teachers, etc. or something else?  The consensus was the need for parent information. A discussion of the following topics/needs ensued:
      SLC’s – definition, information
      Next steps in your child’s education
      More advertising of what the PTSO meetings offer (Use of Schoolloop, website, etc.)
      Possible goal of challenging parents to attend at least one meeting
      Idea of quality meetings vs. quantity

 

         Discussion of whether there should be a business meeting portion of every meeting.  Have business portion early?  Give people options of not coming to business portion.
         Honorary service awards issue.  When/have to?  Discussed the issue that people do not know about the awards or reason to do this? 
      Possibity of posting the PTSO Agenda on Schoolloop for voting by Staff/teachers and parents. 
      Panel of students coming back from college. 
     
It was decided that board members could suggest additional ideas for programs and email them to Nancy Venezia – 1st Vice President – Programs.  The Board also agreed to a new PTSO meeting format when there will be a formal “program”.  At these meetings, the business portion will start early at 6:30 pm and program will begin at 7:15 pm.

5. Calendar of special events for PTSO
Discussed which events the hospitality committee is responsible for providing food, etc., including two Teacher lunches (1st day back - Mon. Aug. 13th and Spring - TBA).  PTSO agreed to look into increasing options of bringing staff together, with the suggestion that PTSO do something for teachers at Winter Holidays. Discussed feasibility of a breakfast – does not work as well as a lunch do to schedule conflicts. Discussion of whether PTSO needs to do something at Maze Day (correction - Thurs., Aug. 9th) with the parent meeting being held in the Little Theater. Possibly outside in the hallway.
Did not get to discuss PTSO’s presence at Back-to-School night, Car show, Open house, etc.  Did not have time to discuss the Scholarship committee, nominating committee – other special committees needed?
Discussed the need for Ways/Means help with the Maze Day . tallying of contributions. Correction -  Thurs/Fri., Aug 9th and 10th.
Also discussed the need for a database/spreadsheet to capture all PTSO member/volunteer information to give to each board member/committee chair. Does this fall to Membership and/or Ways and Means responsibilities?

6. Discussion of By-Law changes
Tabled due to Pam Hansson, PTSO Parliamentarian not able to attend meeting.

7. Date for next board meeting (purpose: to set the 2007-08 budget)
Set date for Monday, Aug. 20th, 6:30 pm in Rm. 110 – budget/business meeting.  Possibly use the same budget from last year?

PTSO meetings schedule (2nd Mondays of ’07 – ‘08)

Sept. 10 – Business Meeting and Program:  “How to Navigate HHS”
Oct. 8 – Business Meeting
Nov. 12 – Business Meeting and Program:  TBA
Jan. 14 – Business Meeting
Feb. 11 – Business Meeting and Program:  TBA
Mar. 10 – Business Meeting
April 14 – Business Meeting and Program:  TBA
May 12 – Final Business Meeting

Meeting Adjourned at 5:40 pm

Respectfully submitted:
Carol Spillman Rogge, Recording Secretary (c.spillman@comcast.net)