Attendees: Kelli V, Toby T, Julianna S, Ashley K, Renee G, Kevin M, Lisa, Joane, Val, Taffy
Meeting start 6:05 pm
Overview of what PTO does
Lisa acknowledged that most on the call are aware of what we do: fun events for the kids and the school that are not budgeted for.
Bank balances
$631.67 checking
$1,820.95 savings
This is one of the first years in many where we have a surplus.
Open house recap
We got a list of people (~30) interested in being informed of our happenings (I emailed them before this meeting with the link), and we gave away some candy and swag. Kids are excited for Fall Fest!
Fall fundraiser ideas
We have been talking about what do to as a fall fundraiser. We are not sure that people would want to buy again from a catalog this year.
-Holen photography (Cassie) offered to help out again for holiday cards. We can increase the number of families and fees. Would be nice to kick some of it back to the artist.
-Pop’s Popcorn does 50/50 payout and also donates raffle boxes, so if not for a fall fundraiser, we could see about a donation for our holiday raffle.
-We saw the Waterford football coupon books for local businesses, $20/ea. We could ask where they got the printing and who the rep was. Joane knows the football coach and can contact him.
-Sell coffee, Joane contacted a company
-Donate old shoes which pays by the pound: funds2orgs.com
-School rummage
-auction experiences, e.g., Be Mr T for week
-Seroogy’s chocolates and coffee in De Pere
-Movie nights with funds made off concessions (in winter when we can get the gym)
-Silent auction where people bid on the baskets (contact Mil. Bucks, Betty Brinn, Zoo to donate tickets)
–Families are worn out by fundraising, we could create a link for them to give straight money, or if they donate shoes we put their names in for a front row seat at the concert.
--When we did the wall of money we raised only about $300.
-Art to Remember/Artsonia: It is a lot of work for the teachers but it’s really popular. The parents can get artwork put on t-shirts and coffee mugs, and the school gets a portion.
--Auction off artwork if the class all do a project together. We could talk to the new art teacher.
Everyone will do a little more research and we wi come back next month to solidify a plan..
Spirit wear
Kelli is looking at an online store who is local and could do the spiritwear. It’s not a bad markup.
The school doesn’t make a lot of money on it. We need to purchase shirts for new students.
Family nights for 4K
Mrs G thought we could come to one of her events to promote PTO and get more parents involved. Family library night (Wed 9/13), 9/27 open gym family fitness night. We could come set up in the cafeteria. 6-7 pm. We could do a coloring activity or mini contests. Kevin is leading Zumba. We could have certificates. Kevin mentioned we could try to get some former local athletes to come and draw them in. The younger kids respond well to the older kids.
Fall Fest
Fall fundraiser to an extent but moreso it’s a big Halloween party for the kids. The middle schoolers are already working on games. Possible date: October 25, 5:30-7pm. We should try to get the Dousman bus company for the Boo Bus and they might be willing to DJ. We need a to send signup genius for parent help.
Teachers' lanyards
Taffy heard from Teri who was sourcing this – The design needs to be ok’ed and we have to order at least 50. Will cost about $160. We could use the extra lanyards for visitor badges. Let’s see if we could get a few extra (60 total) if there is an incremental price difference. Red ink on white—white gets dirty fast so maybe black on red or red on black? We can always sell extras at concessions.
Student of the month
We switched to Amazon cards as a prize last year. With the littles, Kelli can help them shop or alert parents. PTO will donate $60/month for students and teachers ($540/y r total)
We also give out $81/yr for snack cart prizes.
We still want to do that but would prefer to do it by quarter. $180 for 3 months of gift cards (18 cards) by the last day of the month. Check to WashCald for $81. Taffy will write the check for the cart and then buy the gift cards in 3 packs of 10.
Board term renewal
Kevin mentioned that there are parents who come in on carnival, we need to get them involved earlier! All of our 2-yr terms are up and we have all served 2 terms, plus.
Create a google nomination form? Is there any other paperwork or process we are neglecting? Lisa and Joane will look thru the binders for a form and we can get that ball rolling.
Open floor
--PTO directory is not ready yet but the data is there. We can use that list to directly connect with parents who opted in.
--Should we do in-person meetings again after school instead of virtual?
Most of us agree that they are easier online. Renee thinks we can get more parents to come to the in person meetings. Ashley thinks a hybrid version could work too. Maybe we could try that this year, once a quarter meet in person. How about the time?
4pm might work well because its right after school. 6pm might mean more people are available but don’t know if they want to come back to school. We could entice people to come out to another place, with whom we could partner with to host meetings. The Brew Spruce (new café in Wind Lake)? Not a bar. TBD
–Upcoming opps for parents and grandparents include: join the board, chair fall fundraiser, help at Fall fest (setup, door, concessions, crafts), conference meal delivery, honor roll treats, classroom basket setup, Penguin Patch holiday shop. We will do a signup for all.
Joane will look up the Penguin Patch dates.
Julianna won the gift card! Thanks for joining us.
Meeting end 7:17pm
