April 28 Parent Council Meeting Minutes

Parent Council Business Meeting

Chairman, Helen Beardsworth began the meeting with introductions all around. 

Secretary’s Report -- Helen explained that, according to our by-laws, we are conducting our meetings based on “Robert’s Rules of Order” which require that at this month’s meeting we approve the minutes of the last meeting in March.  She did not know how we could approve the minutes if we had not already read them, but she did not want to post them on the blog if they had not been approved.  After some discussion, persons present suggested that the Recording Secretary use the attendance list to e-mail the unapproved minutes out for approval.  At each meeting, the Recording Secretary will ask for approval of the minutes of the last meeting, and the Recording Secretary will ask if anyone present at that meeting would like to be added the list to review the minutes before the next meeting so they can indicate their approval.  The group decided by consensus to give this method a test run to see how it works so that we can move on with the agenda.

Treasurer’s Report – Cindy Wright presented the Financial Report as of April 1, 2010:

Total Account Balances are $55,409.  Total Fundraising Net Income is $25,284. Total Year to Date Fundraising Income as of April 1 is $43,485. Our income and expenses are on target, and expenditures for March totaled about $29,600. 

Principal’s Report – John Wayland reported in Randy Bernstein’s absence.  Randy has been working with scheduling, putting pieces together.  We are trying to offer classes that the students want at the times they can take them.  He is grateful to Parent Council for helping fund FTE.  John Scott will not be teaching with us next year.  His position is unfunded which affects a couple art sections.  Class sizes shouldn’t be too much larger.  We are doing the best we can.

Old Business: 

By-laws – Cary Hancock handed out a draft of Parent Council By-Laws.  Our current situation is different than what we were when we began.  In 1997, voting members were parents who attended the first meeting in September.  We are rewriting the by-laws with the intention of being inclusive.  We are saying that any parent who attends the meetings is allowed to vote in order to keep things open.  We are writing the first draft and we plan to have a vote next month.  We are taking comments this month.  The Financial area needs to be reviewed, and we are working to improve that.  We are looking at who can be an officer:  parents, guardians, relatives…Our rules should be consistent with Site Council, and we will have to look more closely at those.  Cary wants to talk about what has been changed and why.  We don’t want to push things through, but we do want to start with a new structure in the fall for freshmen parents.  Please contact Cary with comments, suggestions, or a copy of the By-law draft at caryhancock13@hotmail.com.

Gala – Helen Beardsworth announced that tickets are available.  Please buy them now so we will know how many people to plan for.  $6 of the ticket goes to Parent Council, $8 goes to Drama.  Our objective is to build community and make money.  We have gotten donations from Divine Cupcake and The Shedd.  Please sign up to set up 3:30 to 5 and take down 11 to midnight.

New Business:

Election of New Officers – Rebecca Kovach

We are nominating officers:

Helen Bearsworth, Chairman

Cindy Wright, Treasurer

Maggie Moore, Recording Secretary

Michelle Pellitier, Communications Secretary

Cary Hancock, Site Council Rep.

We are planning to vote at the next meeting.  Other candidates can be on the ballot and be in on that vote.

School Athletic Fields – Rebecca Kovach

Rebecca handed out a draft letter to be sent to the 4j district regarding Civic Stadium.  Parents are concerned around the issues of the sale of Civic Auditorium.  We want to say that this is vitally important to our community, and we are concerned about the loss of the field.  Other high schools have had massive fundraising efforts to improve their fields.  There is a vast majority of South people who think we should maintain this as a recreation facility.  We want to make sure that the larger parent population supports this.  Ideas and concerns should be expressed.  One parent mentioned that if the cost of re-doing playing fields exceeds the amount derived from the sale of the property, the district may want to reconsider selling it.  We may want to form an ad hoc committee to determine the needs of the school, so we can present that to the district.

Agenda Items for Next Meeting, May 26 at 7 pm:

Voting for PC Officers

Bicycle Racks – There is a need for visitor bike rack parking.  The current rack is small and is usually always full.  South does own bike racks that are in storage.  We need to find them and bolt them in.