Welcome and Introduction

• Co-President Faydeen Sateriale brought the meeting to order at 7:42pm.  PTO Board members present were Faydeen Sateriale, Maggie Murphy, Lori Kashgegian, Martha Murphy and Irene Roque.  Teacher Representatives were Becky Shepard and Jean Perry.

Secretary’s Report, Treasurer’s Report

• March meeting minutes were circulated.  There were no questions or objections.
  
  
• Treasurer Lori Kashgegian’s presented the updated monthly financials.  It is estimated that the PTO will have funds in excess of $6,000 at the end of the school year.

Parent Issues

• Lice Communication Procedure - A parent is asking for a proactive notification to parents in a classroom affected by lice so that those classroom parents can take proactive action to prevent further cases.  Mrs. Roque noted that while the school’s policy has tried to respect the privacy of students, she will ask Kathy Burns to check with other schools to see how they handle the notification issues and the procedure will be readdressed.
  
  
• A parent asked about Kindergarten Assistants being pulled from their classrooms to cover other classrooms.  This parent was interested in the frequency and what the policy is in this situation.  Mrs. Roque explained that there are many challenges around planning for classroom substitutes and, although pulling a Kindergarten Assistant to cover a classroom is not the ideal choice, sometimes it is the only option.  Mrs. Roque feels that at this point, the kindergarten program is not being compromised and during this school year, luckily, it has been a relatively manageable issue.

Teacher Issues

• The teacher representatives thanked the PTO for all that is done for them.

Administrative Issues

• Mrs. Roque reminded parents about the MCAS testing schedule upcoming in May.

Old Business

• Town Meeting Warrant Article to Replace Heating System at MSMS - Faydeen passed around a list of Precincts with Town Meeting Member contact information if parents want to call their elected officials.
  
  
• Future of Townwide Education Night (sponsored by PTO Presidents Group and funded by PTO‘s) - will be on hold for now.
  
  
• Parking and Safety Issues - A variety of parking, door locking and outdoor safety issues seem to come up at PTO meetings on a regular basis.  The PTO is proposing to establish a “Parking and Safety Task Force” comprised of parent volunteers who will identify issues, take them to school administration and ensure that issues get addressed.  3 Parents volunteered to serve on this committee:  Sam Coe, Christine Brown and Dave Metzdorf.  Faydeen will follow up with getting the group started.
  
  
• Growing Healthy Children seminars schedule for 2004-2005 school year was announced and more information will follow regarding plans to create a Parent Resource Center.

New Business

• Artist in Residence Program - Monique Feldman will be at the school for the annual Artist in Residence Program with this year’s medium being “mosiacs.”  Monique will be helping to begin a “Scholars Reading Garden” in the courtyard of the back entrance at the school.  It will feature stools, benches wind chimes all designed and crafted by students.  Arts Night will be held on June 2.  A Lithograph of Drew Bledsoe donated by Kathy Burns will be offered as a free drawing to students at Arts Night.  The PTO will fund the framing and it will be raffled off at Arts Night.
  
  
• Meeting Schedule for 2004-2005 School Year - a slight adjustment was proposed:  meetings will be scheduled for the following months:  September, October, November, January, March and May.  The group agreed.
  
  
• Burlington Educational Foundation - Pamphlets were handed out to introduce the PTO to this new organization.  It was voted unamiously to make a donation of $1,000 to the BEF.
  
  
• Executive Board Elections - no candidates came forth for current open positions for the 2004-2005 school year:  Co-President and Secretary.  Any parent wishing to have more information about either position can look on the Website under PTO ByLaws to see a job description and can certainly contact Faydeen Sateriale, Maggie Murphy, Lori Kashgegian or Martha Murphy.

Committees

• Student Enrichment: Brown Bag Opera is scheduled for May 26.  The total expense for this program is $923.
  
  
• Fundraising: $610 has been collected in the last round of Box Tops, making a total raised from Box Tops $1,000 this school year!  Sam Coe proposed to purchase 1 digital camera per grade (6 total) with the proceeds from Box Tops.  A vote was taken and unanimously approved.  Sam Coe is also planning to send home information and a collection bag with students for summer collection of Box Tops.

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Maggie Murphy.