Salisbury Central School
PTO Meeting Minutes
September 11, 2007

Attending: Anne Upson, Cristin Rich, Karen Grimaldi, Vanessa Fraser-O’Connor, Tracy Kaufman, Stephen Fitch, Chris Butwill, Marianne Ostendorf, Robert Nellson, Kathryn Murray, Kelly Austin Rolo, Amy Mckee, Michelle Kinzinger, Kay Lindsay, Lyndell Giffenig, Fern Weisman, Weezie Fallon, Jen Segalla, Julie Kremer, Becky Lachaine, Beth Vernali, Pilar Bristow, Jennifer Weigel

Call to Order: Co-President Julie Kremer called the meeting to order at 7:03

Introductions: Introductions were made of the PTO board members and the attending PTO members. Everyone was welcomed to the first PTO meeting of the 2007-2008 school year.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Butwill expressed his high regard for Salisbury Central School. He was a teacher at SCS from 1991 – 1996. Mr. Butwill is looking forward to working with the PTO and is available to all community members. Mr. Butwill thanked the PTO for the ice cream social and felt it was a big success. He commented that the location was terrific!

Treasurer’s Report: Becky Lachaine reviewed the budget. We have approximately $3,300 to start the year. Our major fundraisers are the Sally Foster sale and the Book Fair. Last year the money we raised helped to fund a variety of things which had a great impact on the SCS community! Examples include: Senior Band “Music in the Parks”, Gym mats, Ski program, In-school Enrichment programs, 3 rd grade T-shirts, Pedometers, Multiple copies of books for the K – 3 reading program, and the Eighth grade class trip. Teachers are encouraged to apply for mini-grants from the PTO so that we can help fund programs which will enhance our school.

Old Business:

Ice Cream Social
This was a terrific success. It was started by Kay Lindsay several years ago. The new location down by the middle school made it possible for students to play on the lower building playground equipment during the event. The PTO thanks Jeff Paine, head custodian, for his help in setting up for the event!

Sally Foster
The Sally Foster gift wrap sale will begin on Friday. Students will receive the packets along with their Friday folders. The sale lasts for 2 weeks. PTO gets 50% of the sales.

Book Fair
Jennifer Weigel spoke about the upcoming book fair. In the past we have combined Scholastic and local bookstore items, but it was very difficult to manage. Therefore, our book fair items come solely from Scholastic. This year the dates are October 15 th – 19 th. Set up for the book fair will be on Friday October 12 th from 11- 3. Volunteers are needed to set up on Friday the 12 th from 11- 3, run the register during the fair, and take down the display on Friday the 19 th. Please contact Vanessa Fraser-O’Connor, volunteer coordinator, if you are available to help.

This year the book fair will not coincide with parent teacher conferences because we have moved to trimesters in the elementary building. There was discussion about having a spring book fair, possibly in conjunction with the Academic Fair which is held in the evening and has a high attendance.

Box Tops for Education
Julie Kremer spoke about this program. People can participate by clipping the coupons on food item box tops and sending them in to the school either with a student or dropping them off to the PTO by placing them in the PTO mail box at the office. Sending them in a student’s Friday folder was suggested.

Another way to participate is through online shopping. has great online shopping sites such as and . If you log on to this site before you shop online, a certain percentage of your purchases go to our school. Last year the money helped fund the Health/Wellness program, providing pedometers for student use.

It was suggested that we share our Box Tops for Education program with the community through the Salisbury Sampler. The more people who participate, the more money we have to support our school!

Please note:LaBonne’s Receipts are collected by other local organizations such as Owl’s Kitchen. The PTO does not collect LaBonne’s receipts.

Volunteer Coordinator
Vanessa Fraser-O’Connor will be asking for volunteers throughout the year.

Walking Club
Janice Fitch,physical education teacher, requested to use left over money from her mini grant for student prizes. It was decided that more details about her request was needed.

New Parent Packet
Julie Kremer shared the New Parent Packet. This was developed in order to provide new SCS parents with some helpful information. The PTO will be working to update the packet. Julie asked people to let her know if there were any new ideas. Bus numbers, sports pick up places, providing secretary Patty Steven’s name, and a map of the school were suggestions. Members also discussed the benefits of having a Middle School Open House for 5 th grade parents in June. There is a parent information meeting held each September for grade 6 parents.

Mr. Butwill said that he will be working to make the SCS handbook more helpful and would welcome PTO input.

 

New Business:

Rob Nellson , band director, thanked the PTO for the mini grant that he received last year. The grant helped fund SCS band participation in “Music in the Parks”. The SCS band won a 1 st place award! Mr. Nellson said that the feedback he received from fellow musicians was terrific for him. He would like to participate in this program again and may be back next month with a formal request.

Mini-grants
There was a discussion about how to encourage teachers to apply for mini-grants.

Ho Down
PTO members discussed last year’s Ho Down fund raiser. There was almost no start up money involved. The “caller” was about $350. Anne Day took terrific family and individual pictures. Thanks, Anne! The 8 th grade had a bake sale. The Ho Down offered our community a chance to get together and have fun! We decided to have another Ho Down this year.

Beth Vernali offered to co-chair along with Kay Lindsay this year. Thank you!

Other Fundraisers

Marianne Ostendorf asked if we had considered Bingo. She will investigate the regulations.

Kelly Austin Rolo suggested that we might investigate other fund raising ideas in case we decide to rotate our major fund raisers (Sally Foster).

Weezie Fallon offered her ideas about raising money through school related items. There was discussion about selling SCS items such as sweat shirts. The band did this some time in the past.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Book Fair: October 15 th – 19 th.

Next Meeting is October 9 th from 7:00 – 8:00

Free babysitting is provided!

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Updated October 15, 2007