Board and Faculty Attendees:  Carol Spillman Rogge, Lois Darbonne, Teresa Gebler, Toni Johnson, Pam Hansson, Jeff Gilbert, Lisa Souther, Deb Stucke, Denise Kubick, Leslie Levy, Cheryl Lawton, Mickie Reimers

Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance - Meeting called to order by Lois Darbonne, President, at 6:35 pm

Approval of Minutes – Carol Spillman Rogge, Secretary 
Minutes from the last PTSO Business and Program meeting (March 10, 2007) were presented and it was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve the minutes with corrections. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Principals’ Report – Jeff Gilbert, Lead Principal - Marrakech   Cheryl Lawson, Principal, Florence
District  News:. Hillsdale received great news today from Superintendent Dr. Miller.  HHS will proceed with installing a turf field!  Enough groups (San Mateo City, soccer clubs, booster groups, possibly foundation money from Gym event) that use the fields have agreed to put in enough money to proceed.  We only need to raise $50,000 to complete.  The field will save money on maintenance over the long term.  Many thanks go to HHS parent Karen Goff who worked so hard to make this happen.
HHS wrote a grant to CTE to fund programs in art and music, specifically to replace the band wing with recording and animation studios.  We received initial results on that grant and HHS placed 8th among all the applicants in the area.  This is very good news. With a high score of 150 on our paperwork and our high placement rank by region, there is a good probability we would receive the full funding to make this happen.  It will provide the school a true computer graphic design studio.
School News:  Kyoto Principal search process: there were over 50 applicants, with 19 highly qualified individuals that were interviewed, five candidates were invited back for a second round of interviews, and the process will probably be finalized and an offer made this week (We did make an offer to Sandy Calvo, the current Assistant Principal at Bayside in San Mateo which she accepted).  HHS is also hiring teachers for next year.  59 teachers applied for a social studies position and 62 applied for the counseling position.  The district mentioned that they have never seen so many applicants for one school.  HHS is seen as a desired place to work by many of the most talented local teachers. 
Student enrollment for next year looks good.  There are 1,216 in HHS’s computer vs. the 1,120 that the district originally projected for Hillsdale. Currently 310 freshmen are committed and the school would like a total of 335, including all special education students. That would put about 300 in the regular school program.  A total of 1,175 would be the goal for maximum staffing for next year.  This year’s senior class is a small bubble that will pass.
Senior graduation is planning is coming along.  The time has changed to 5:30 pm instead of 8 pm to take advantage of warmer weather earlier in the day on the great court. There is a possibility that we could use the football field in future for graduation.  The Measure M bond will replace the bleachers, possibly this summer after the field and track are completed.  Upgrades scheduled for completion this summer at HHS include air conditioning and new paint, with the possibility of new windows. 
STAR testing off to a good start.

Fundraising Report – Mickie Reimers, Vice President – Ways & Means
The AKOTT fundraising event after expenses and withholding for next year, raised $24,000 to divide among the groups that participated.  The criteria for distribution of the funds was a point system based on 3-tiers:  1. The amount of people each group brought to the event, 2. The donations the group provided, and, 3. The number of students in each group and number of people who participated in the event from each group. 1 point = $2,000.  PTSO, Athletics, Drama and Music earned $4,000. HHS Admin. and Dance earned $3,000. Robotics earned $2,000. A copy of the letter explaining the funding system proposal will go to the head of each group. If there is dissent by the majority of the groups, then a meeting will be called to discuss the issues. Overall, the “Leap into the Knight” event was a great event for amount of time that was put in.  The committee received good feedback, especially about the student entertainment and involvement.
One parent commented that it would have been great to know the distribution criteria ahead of time.  The AKOTT committee unfortunately did not establish the criteria prior to involving the groups, as this was the first time.
A few groups that usually get PTSO money had an opportunity to work on this event, but chose only to make a basket donation and therefore did not get a split of the fundraising proceeds.  Those groups included the Freshman class, the Junior class., and the Environmental club (Solar panels). There was some discussion as to whether the PTSO might give some money to those groups directly due their donations without direct involvement.

Treasurer’s Report – Toni Johnson, Treasurer
For the past month, the only activity was a check to Lisa Souther for Hospitality, plus some interest. Discussion of the amount that would be received from AKOTT. Discuss as to whether to now release all funds for Teacher Appreciation ($600), Senior Scholarships ($1,500), and for the HHS library ($1,000). Once these are amounts are factored in, what would be the remainder for Wish List requests? 
PTSO anticipates that administration will find a use for the Technology budget ($3,000).
With PTSO’s AKOTT amount of $4,000 added to the current budget, then there could be over $13,900 available, therefore, a good chunk to give to wish list.  .
It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to release $6,100 for the above (designated) amounts.. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried
Discussion of saving $1,000 for start–up for next year’s Board.  There was also a question of what amounts might need to be reserved for any HHS groups that could request student enrichment grants (newspaper, groups that donated to AKOTT, etc.?). To determine the budget for Wish List requests, it appears at least $7,500 is needed for year-end; therefore, approximately $6,800 would be available for wish list.
There was discussion of what Wish List target to set budget?  Suggestions of maybe start lower and then increase when know if any other requests are not coming in.  After further discussion, it was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to release $6,800 for Wish List.  Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried
There was also a Motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.  It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.

President’s Report – Lois Darbonne, President – no report

Programs Report – Nancy Venecia, VP Programs – not in attendance

Membership Report – Denise Kubick, VP Membership – no report

Booster Club Reports – (as needed)           
Drama:  Not in Attendance. 
Music: .Katy Bielagus,- Parent, reported that there is a band concert this Thurs. and next Tues Jazz band will go to CAL State Hayward for another festival. HHS is hosting an April 26th festival for 12 California bands to compete. Music needs parent volunteers, as there are100 student shift spots to fill.  Orchestra attended the CMEA festival on Friday at Aragon HS and scored 2 excellents and 2 superiors – up from last year.  Overall they rec’d a superior rating. The Choral groups with attend a CMEA festival on the 26th
Athletic:  Not in Attendance.
Dance:  Not in attendance. Another parent said that Knight Moves Dance show is the 2nd weekend in May for 3 nights and it is the10th anniversary show. Purchase tickets through the HHS website.

Student Report – Not in attendance 

Teacher Rep. Report – Debra Stucke, Marrakech / Mathematics –
Teachers undergoing email transformation with new emails addresses.  It will now be .ORG address.

Old Business –
Presentation of HHS PTSO Board Slate for 2008 – 2009 school year by Pam Hansson, Parliamentarian.  The completed Slate is as follows:

            President            Lois Darbonne
            1st Vice President (Programs)            Toni Johnson
            2nd Vice President (Ways & Means)            Lisa Souther
            3rd Vice President (Membership)            Denise Kubick
            Secretary            Carol Spillman Rogge
            Treasurer            Mickie Reimers
            Auditor            Pam Hansson
            Historian            Joanne Fiorucci
            Parliamentarian            Michelle Klafter – new addition
Pam gave the PTSO members in attendance the option to discuss the Board members individually or the option to vote on the group as a whole.  It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve the Board Slate as presented for 2008 - 2009. Votes: All Ayes.

The Scholarship committee has not yet met due to some uncertainty with whether students were members of PTSO, which led to a delay to give those students an extra week to turn in applications. Toni Johnson will call Susan Merport to coordinate.

New Business –

There was a discussion of date for the upcoming staff appreciation luncheon which is set for Weds., May 21st.  In addition to needing food donation for that luncheon, Lisa Souther, Hospitality, also needs refreshments for Senior awards night, May 14th.  Lois thanked Lisa for all her creativity this year.

There has been a request for email notification for PTSO meeting next year.  Discussion of needing parents to fill out a form at the beginning of the school year. Discussion ensued of use of the Phone call system with the email system.  Further discussion regarding the need to ask for permission to receive emails, instead of a “push” notification system. It was duly noted that the Request for Email Notification will be included in next year’s PTSO paperwork.

Lois asked for committee member volunteers to form the Teacher/Staff Wish List Committee. Historically, the Wish List Request is for all HHS teachers and staff to fulfill monetary requests for their classrooms ranging from $20 up to larger requests.  The committee reviews requests and decides which ones to grant and in what amounts. Volunteers included: Leslie Parent, Michelle Klafter, Mickie Reimers, Patti Low, and Lisa Souther. 

Due to the district’s printing schedule, the PTSO’s forms/inclusions for the Summer Packets need to be in by the end of May. Anything that needs translation needs to be in by the end of April. PTSO must approve next year’s meeting schedule soon, therefore, a new board planning meeting will be required in the next few weeks. Lois encouraged people to volunteer ideas for next year.

Norm Sperling, parent, announced that there were flyers available about the upcoming Maker Faire at the SM Faire Grounds. Volunteers at still needed.

Business Meeting Adjourned at 7:27 pm

Next and Last PTSO Business Meeting:  Monday, May 12, 2008, 6:30 pm, Room 100/119

Program Presentation followed at 7:30 pm – What’s the future for SLC’s at Hillsdale High School

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