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Henry C. Hall Middle School PTA
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Meeting of Tuesday, April 20, 2004
1:15pm • Hall Middle School
Board members present: Barbara Solomon, Kathie Cummins,
Jeannie Perry, Claudia Gropper, Rebecca Sarokin, Susy Vrouvas, Cynthia
Peterson, Susan Wirta, Liz Krakow, Scottie Spurzem, Ann Arabian, Daniel
Norbutas & Trish Mihalek.
Board members absent: Ann
Morrison, Diana Putterman & Anna
Gravley.
Guests: Bob Cone, Becky Reed & Marianne
Rafter.
Welcome:
Meeting was called to order at 1:25pm by President Barbara Solomon.
Minutes:
The minutes from the last Executive Board meeting on March 16,
2004 were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report:
See attached report from Treasurer, Kathie Cummins.
President’s Report – Unfinished Business:
- Signboard: Positive feedback is being received. It
was suggested that new messages should be changed on Fridays, instead
of Mondays. There’s a malfunction on one of the runners
where letters keep falling down Daniel Norbutas said he would
contact the company. It was agreed that CML Schools Foundation
could use the signboard to promote their fundraising events.
- April
Fund-raisers: Baja Fresh will donate
15% of today’s profits towards Hall Middle School. A
flyer that went home in backpack mail must be presented when making
an order. California Pizza Kitchen will participate in the
same type of fund-raiser, next Wednesday April 28th. Proceeds
will go towards playground improvements at Hall.
Committee Reports:
- Musical Theater: Director Becky
Reed reported that West Side Story will be held the week-end before Thanksgiving.
Financial needs include poles for stage lighting and a spotlight. Parent,
Amy Hatch, has been providing the actual lights, which she borrows
- 8th
Grade Graduation: Everything is running smoothly
for graduation and nearly all the volunteer positions have been
filled. The
next planning meeting is tomorrow at Elssy Rifkind’s home.
- Beautification: Maija Norstad, Beautification
Chair, has accomplished everything she set out to do this year. Upcoming
work parties are on May 2nd and June 5th.
- Hospitality: Kappy
Reed is organizing the Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday May 4th
in the Hall Library. She
will need volunteers to bring food, set-up, serve and clean-up. It
will be a Mexican Fiesta theme.
- Lunch Program: There
were more TJ lunch sign-ups this semester compared to last semester.
We are on track for meeting our financial goals.
VP Reports:
- The 6th grade Earth Day Project was a success. Students
decorated Paradise Foods grocery bags in an “Earth Day” theme. The
bags are being delivered to the market today, in time for customer’s
groceries to be bagged in them in honor of Earth Day on April 22nd. PTA
purchased markers and colored pens for decorating the bags. These
items were given to the teachers who greatly appreciated the extra supplies.
- The
8th grade VPs are finding chaperones for the next 7th/8th grade dance
on May 7th.
- Student Council will sponsor the 6th grade social on May
21st, to be held after school in the gym.
Parliamentarian Report:
Parliamentarian,Jeannie Perry, reported that the proposed
slate of officers and committee chairs is filling up fast. The new slate
of officers will be voted on, following Open House on May 13th, at a short
General PTA Meeting.
New Business: Auditor, Cynthia Peterson, said
the Treasurer’s books are in good order. See the attached
Auditor Report.
Superintendent’s
Report:
Bob Cone reported that the Board of Trustees will be adopting
new goals for the next 2 years at their April 28th board meeting. Mr.
Cone asked us for our input and wanted to know what we thought were the
3 most important issues facing our school district. As
a PTA board, we decided:
- fiscal responsibility was most important
- followed by focus
on student behavior (treating others & their
property with respect) including conflict resolution
- continue to make
the best use of our school facilities by coordinating with the
towns of Larkspur & Corte Madera.
Our district is in a lot better shape then many other school districts
and no one is being laid off.
Principal’s Report:
- Mr. Norbutas reported on Hall Middle School’s successful “student
release disaster drill” on April 7th. This practice
drill gave the school an opportunity to observe what works and what
does not work. Reducing the traffic congestion will be one
of the main issues that will be addressed. One of the very
positive outcomes was that many parents took a greater interest in
finding out who was on their emergency card. All in all,
Mr. Norbutas was very proud of the way the students, staff and parents
handled this challenging drill. Over 300 students were released
in less than an hour with a clear record of who picked up each student.
- Star
Testing will take place from April 27th to May 7th. Parent
helpers are needed each day from 8:15 to 8:45am and again from
10:15 to 10:45am.
- Hall Middle School is looking to hire a 7th grade
math teacher for 1 year.
- Also, Hall will be hiring a new 6th
grade LA/SS teacher, as Ms. Muserelli is moving to the
east coast.
- Ms. Fagan, 6th grade math teacher, will also
be leaving.
- Mr. Norbutas gave an update on Hall’s blacktop,
to be completed by August 15th, 2004. There’s
an early estimate of $50,000 for a rubberized ground
and play structure that the P.E. teachers can incorporate
into their program. Three full size basketball courts,
3 volleyball courts, 2 handball walls and some 4 squares
are planned for the blacktop area.
- Mr. Norbutas received
the results of the ETF writing assessments. The
7th grade class did very well, and the 6th grade class
needs a little improvement.
Diana Putterman shared the sad news of Joe Vasquez, a respected father
in our school community, who passed away of a heart attack last Friday. A
memorial fund has been set up in his name, at the Bank of the West, in
Larkspur. His wife, Claudia, and two sons, JoJo & Benny, will
benefit from community support and prayers. A memorial service
will be held this Saturday at St. Rita’s in Fairfax.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:23pm
Submitted by Ann Arabian, Secretary
[minutes approved at the Executive Board meeting of May 18 2004]
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