Minutes from October Board Meeting

NOMS PTSA Meeting Notes October 14, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 8:45 a.m. by Betsy Lowe with 14 people in attendance including: Kim Finnicum, Lyne Church, Bonita Tong, Leah Simpson, Pauline Moore, Cynthia Paris, Pam Brown, Betsy Lowe, Jean Lewis, Robb Smith, Stephanie Mattingly, Beth Scherer, Allyson Parker and Nancy Stevens.

Special Guest Speaker: Pam Brown from Oldham County Dollars for Scholars let us know this is their 6th year of helping businesses in Oldham County select what student’s get what scholarships. This is done very objectively as each application is given a number to track through the system so no scorers know any names. Any Oldham County Senior can apply for these scholarships. Last year there were 182 applications with $56,000 in scholarships given out. The deadline this year is 3-1-09.
**** They need volunteers to score the applications in March, there are 2 locations either Pewee Valley or Buckner, there is day and night availability and you do not need any experience you will be trained so please consider helping out with this extremely worthwhile cause.

Principal’s Report: Robb Smith is looking at the possibility of every student either owning or renting a mini notebook, is it feasible for all student’s to own or rent a notebook? He is considering putting out a survey to get some feedback on this while also communicating the benefits that the students would gain from this.

President’s Report: Special thanks to Nancy Stevens and Susan Spayd for a wonderful Kentucky Kids Day, Allyson Parker for an exciting Red Ribbon Week, Beth Scherer and Jenny Stegeman for executing the Paragon Fundraiser, Monica Helsley for the Birthday Board, Nikki Feuquay for getting all the volunteers for Picture Day and Holly Ansman for getting the directories printed as well as everyone who works diligently to get their jobs done, it is much appreciated.
· There have been 12 arrests of student’s in Oldham County in the first 20 days of school for drug possession so please talk to your kids about not using drugs and beware of the signs, Operation Spirit is an excellent program to help with awareness and how to handle situations.
· Betsy Lowe commented that we need 14 board members present to conduct business. Since we didn’t have enough today, Betsy to send out an email to determine if a different day would be better for everyone as we need a voting quorum of 14 board members minimum at each PTSA meeting.

Corresponding Secretary: Angela Newcomb a NOMS accelerated science teacher is an only child with a mother who is ill and in intensive care and a father who needs assistance also so we are proposing making her some meals to feed she and her dad a few times a week, dropping them off at NOMS and then someone at NOMS will get these to her home in LaGrange. There are no food allergies. Betsy asked if Nikki Feuquay could coordinate this with getting a list out to everyone to fill in dates they would be able to help, Nancy suggested we set it up for Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s. Keep Angela and her family in your prayers.
· Gay Alsup in the front office became a grandmother again so congratulations to her!
Treasurer’s Report: The checking account balance as of today is $24,799.12 but we still have to pay Paragon their portion of the sale and orders are still being confirmed.
· If you have any receipts you need reimbursed please get them to Cynthia Paris by putting them in the PTSA mailbox and she will get you a check.

Red Ribbon Week: The week is going well but next year there are opportunities for speakers and more direct information about drug use and the effects vs. guesstimates of candy in a jar. Trying to enhance the assembly this Thursday to really pump the student’s up to “Just say no to drugs”.

Secretary’s Report: The minutes from the last meeting stand approved with corrections to the recycling information under Kentucky Kids Day.

Membership Report: Currently we have 889 members but our NOMS staff number is still low so Bonita will send Robb a note to see what can be done.
· January 28th is the tentative date for the PTSA student social to reward students for being a PTSA member. Need ideas for this, currently discussing giving each child a can of soda and allowing them to bring electronics into the cafeteria with them, it was also discussed about possibly selling chips or candy for .25 cents each during this time. Please email Bonita with any ideas you have and she will put together a proposal for Robb Smith’s approval.
Secret Pal’s Program: All staff members have a secret pal and the program is going well. Lyne will let Angela Newcomb’s secret pal know she could use an extra pick me up right now.

Legislative Report: The next meeting is October 22nd and the session starts in January.

Reflections: There were 23 entries in 4 categories and they will complete judging these this week. Need to determine where awards will be distributed, should this be at school during the day? As part of an assembly or at a General PTSA meeting? Need to discuss this with Robb Smith and finalize plans.

Kentucky Kid’s Day: Nancy wants to thank Terri Stinebruner, Susan Spayd, Betsy Lowe, Jean Lewis, Shelly Heckenberg and Lana Rice for all their help with this.
Newsletter: The deadline for the next newsletter is November 9th so please get all information about your events to Leah. Leah and Betsy to work out how this gets sent out quicker from NOMS.

Paragon Fundraiser: All merchandise will be coming in October 29th for distribution to students. We sold over $18,000 dollars of products.

SBDM Council: KCCT test scores were reviewed and NOMS is still excelling.

Old Business: Betsy Lowe to find out why the bathrooms are still not open?
Meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m.