Welcome and Introduction

• Co-President Faydeen Sateriale brought the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.  PTO Board members present were:  Faydeen Sateriale, Martha Murphy, Joann Pustizzi, Lori Kashgegian, Irene Roque and Kathy Burns.  There were 11 parents in attendance.  Gail Sheehan, teacher representative, was also present.

Secretary’s Report, Treasurer’s Report

• November meeting minutes were circulated.  There were no questions or objections.
  
  
• Treasurer, Lori Kashgegian presented the updated monthly financials.

Parent Issues

• None

Teacher Issues

• Gail Sheehan expressed the teachers’ thanks for the PTO’s generous teacher appreciation gifts presented to the teachers in November.
  
  
• Gail asked when the teacher wish list items would be addressed.  Faydeen explained that the board is currently reviewing the items.  Awards will be issued soon.

Administrative Issues

• The short term parking signs (15 minutes) have now been installed at the front of the school.  Anyone visiting the school that plans on staying longer than 15 minutes should park in the back parking lot.
  
  
• Kathy Burns thanked the PTO for the generous teacher appreciation donation provided by the PTO.

Old Business

• Building Safety: Kathy Burns explained that a site survey was performed on all the Burlington schools, and it was determined that the cost to provide cameras at every door was prohibitive.  The situation is being re-evaluated.
  
  Kathy explained that all school employees must now wear their badges at all times.
  
  The School Committee plans to bring the building safety issue to the Town Meeting in May.
  
  Building Safety
• National Education Week: in November the PTO provided each teacher/staff member with $50 to help offset the classroom costs.
  
  
• The Box Top program, chaired by Sam Coe, continues to do outstandingly.  Last year we were able to purchase 2 digital cameras for the school from the Box Top proceeds.  A discussion was held regarding what to do with this year’s proceeds.

New Business

• The Growing Healthy Children series by Joe LeVasseur will have its 5^th session on Thursday, January 27^th at 7:00 here at Francis Wyman.  This session will focus on puberty and Internet safety.  A representative from the Attorney General’s Office will make a presentation on Internet safety.
  
  
• Marshall Simonds Middle School is offering a program entitled “What Ever Happened to My Cuddly, Communicative Pre-Teen” by Barbara Meltz, Boston Globe Columnist.  This program will focus on 5^th through 8^th grade children.  All parents of Burlington students are welcome to attend.  The program will be Wednesday, March 2, 2005 in the Marshall Simonds’ auditorium.

Committees

• Yearbook: The 5^th Grade Yearbook Committee has now collected all student information packets. Their next meeting is scheduled for next week
  
  
• Carnival: Set for April 2, 2005.  The committee continues to shop for prizes. Information will be going home in the next month or two regarding volunteering for the carnival.
  
  
• Fundraising:
  
  
  • It has been proposed that there will be additional fundraising added this year.  A 50/50 raffle at the carnival was discussed. In addition the idea of an adult social night was proposed as an additional fundraiser.
    
    
  • Magazine Drive: will take place in February.  This drive provides magazine subscriptions for each classroom at Francis Wyman.
    
    
• Newsletter: The 2^nd issue was a great success.  It highlighted the recent contest to create “Frank”.  Congratulations to 3^rd grader Matthew M. for his winning drawing. Thanks to Kwik Kopy (located at 95 Cambridge Street) who has volunteered to copy, collate and staple this year’s Publicity Newsletters at no cost to Francis Wyman.  The next Publicity Newsletter is due out in March.
  
  
• Health & Safety:
  
  
  • Installed signs for temporary parking for the front of the school building
    
    
  • Proposed painting fire lanes and handicap spaces at front of building
    
    
  • Continued discussion about the proposed notice home to parents after a child has visited the nurse’s office.
    
    
• Student Enrichment:
  
  
  • A presentation by Greg Tang has been scheduled for April for grades 2-5.
    
    
  • The Committee is presently deciding on an enrichment program for K-1 for April.
    
    
• Parent Education: In conjunction with Joe LeVasseur’s Healthy Child series, Joe would like to develop a Parent Resource Center.  Discussion was made regarding the scope of such a center and possibly assessing the probability of use by parents.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Joann Terrio, Secretary