10/18/2023
This is a meeting summary. All members are entitled to review the official minutes, but they are not posted online in order to protect the privacy of our members and the PTA's internal discussions. Please contact the PS 111 PTA Board to request meeting minutes.
- Meeting Type: General Membership
- Call to Order: 9:35 am
- Called to Order by: Caitlin Canfield, President
- Meeting Adjounment: 10:47 am
- Attendance: 47
Board Members in Attendance
- Caitlin Canfield
- Sally Atkinson
- Christopher Canfield
- Ana Kostic
- Thu-Loan Dinh
- Sonali Khandwala
- Maria Messer
- Negesti Thompson
School Staff in Attendance
- Edward Gilligan, Principal
- Gloria Jean-Bernal, Parent Coordinator
Agenda
- Updates from Principal Gilligan
- Approval of September 2023 minutes
- General reminders
- Bylaw changes
- Expedited PTA elections
- SLT elections
- Parent survey results
- Treasurer's Report
- 2023-2024 Budget
- Website & Infrastructure (Tabled)
- Parent Q&A
Motions & Votes
| Title | Text | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Approval of September 2023 Minutes | The September 2023 Minutes are approved. | Approved on Motion |
| Bylaw Changes | Approved by Vote | |
| PTA Fall Expedited Elections | Maria Messer & Negesti Thompson nominated as Members-at-Large. | Elected by Vote |
| SLT Fall Expedited Elections | Vivian Lubrano, Christina Solazzo, and Rhonda Brockington nominated as SLT members. | Elected by Vote |
| Updated 2023-24 Budget | Approved by Vote |
Summary
Principal Gilligan
- School website needs updating. Would like to replace it. Waiting for DOE budget to say how much he can spend on a website vendor.
- Discussed recess support; reiterated that the school does not think it is good to have parent volunteers at recess.
- School test scores increased in literacy and math; erased the pandemic losses and this will hopefully improve our school’s ranking in the city.
- School uses flexible seating, so students may sit on the floor or in other configurations; this is for different needs and is used as a support, never a punishment; used in consultation with families to benefit students
- Principal Gilligan will talk with the head of the school food department to see what can be done about the broken salad bar machine, and will see if the lunch staff can serve salad from the kitchen.
- Parents expressed concern about crowding during dismissal at the 52nd street gate; there is not enough space for strollers to pass that area and parents and kids are walking in the street; there is also no crossing guard this year; Principal Gilligan said he will talk to teachers about having one grade per day come into the yard early for pick up and allow parents in, which might ease congestion.
- Parents asked what students do during indoor recess; Principal Gilligan said staff does their best to play games (Simon Says, etc.) and students can bring books to read, but main activity is often a video.
- Family Friday: 8:25-9:05
- Costume parade: Friday 10/28, :45 for Pre-K to 2nd, 2:15 for 3rd-5th
- Picture day on 9/29. Volunteers needed.
- 4th & 5th grades attending Lion King and Aladdin Broadway shows in March 2024. Will need to fundraise to offset the cost of these tickets.
- Family Fridays returning.
- Halloween character parade event in October.
- Winter Wonderland returning in December, for first time since 2019.
- Spirit Week in February 2024.
Treasurer's Report
- Presented by Christopher Canfield, Co-Treasurer
- Covered 7/1/2023 through 10/17/2023
- Filed IRS Form 8868 to request extension for Form 990, as we continue to not have access to all financial accounts that existed last year.
- We need to complete an internal audit.
Other Updates
- Need class parents and lunch volunteers. Please contact board@ps111pta.org is you would like to volunteer.