Monday, March 10, 2014

Minutes: April 11th, 2013

Present:
Leah Elzinga
Wayne Rufiange
Brandi Robinson
Colleen Moskalyk
Eva Scrimshaw
Amy Duvall
Robin George
1.
Opening: meeting called by Leah Elzinga. Meeting opened at 6:06pm
2.
Additions/Amendments to Agenda: remove 3a) playground update from the agenda, no
update available or needed at this time. Addition of 9) a budget needing to be approved
for flowers for the front of the school. Leah purposes the changes, all are in favour(Eva
1st, Brandi 2nds), agenda is adopted.
3.
a.
Playground update : removed (see above)
b.
PFA Chair Reports:
i.
Grant Research & Application: Leah outlined that before she can officially
move forward on any applications or official paperwork she needs a letter
from Wayne acknowledging that the PFA has the okay from the school
and the school division for land use, applying for grants and general okay
to represent the school in these matters in regards to the playground,
getting inspections, developing a plan etc. Brandi also outlines that in
order to move forward with The Playground Guys' requests she needs to
be able to find out from the Town of Morinville what space is available for
development, again needing a letter for the go ahead from the school so
that our contact at The Playground Guys can develop a plan to present to
the community. Wayne will look into this with the school board.
ii.
Bingo/Casino Applications: Leah reports that we no longer need to show
24months of incorporation before applying for a bingo/casino as we are a
school and there are special guidelines for schools precluding us from the
regular rules. We can apply immediately, but again need a letter from the
school first stating we have permission to participate in these activities on
behalf of the school. Raffle licenses can be applied for online after we
have the letter. Because of the wait times involved in applications with the
gaming board if we apply now we will not get a casino licence until early
2016. Leah will reach out to other schools to see if we can help out with
volunteers on thier casinos and split the profit in the meantime. Robin
inquires about applying for casinos out of town (Fort McMurray) and Leah
reports that because of jurisdictions we must stay in St. Albert. Also, we
must include a dissolution clause into our bylaws to qualify for the
licences.
iii.
Meetings with Lisa Holmes, Kerry Dawson, Claude Valcourte & SSD:
Leah reports that Kerry Dawson stated that the Town of Morinville is
happy to donate in-kind items and services. Again, in order to move
forward, the town requires a letter from the school stating that the PFA
does in fact represent the school. Wayne reports that the school division
will also kick in many of these in-kind type things as well and he will check
with the school division to see how they'd like it handled. Leah reported
that the Sturgeon School Division(SSD) currently has a new person in
charge of inspecting the playground for safety and he isn't confident just
yet, the town will inspect it as soon as SSD and MPES give a written go-
ahead to do so. Leah also met with Lisa Holmes who needs a written
request from MPES to process CAO requests. Wayne asks whether it is
too early to do all of this as we are nowhere near our fundraising goals for
the playground. Brandi reports that in order to approach the Champagne
community about getting involved and present our ideas and for a
partnership with then we'd need a plan, which needs all of these things
outlined previously. Wayne agrees to look into it.
c.
School Council Chair Report: Colleen reports that the School Council is
requesting an operating budget to work from. This operational budget would
cover items such as the Annual General Meeting conference fees, catering
meetings (coffee, snacks etc) to outside groups etc as well as incidental needs.
Wayne states that he'd like two representatives of the School Council to attend
the AGM each year. This year Leah will attend the Saturday workshops and Eva
or a member of the SC will attend the Sunday AGM meeting. Leah proposes that
the PFA approve a $1000/ year budget. The amount each year should be voted
upon, and then the SC can decided how best to spend that money if its needed.
The PFA would write cheques for the amounts within that budget but we wouldn't
vote upon each item they used the money for unless it was over and above the
original agreed upon operating budget. Leah proposes, Eva 1st, Brandi 2nds it.
operating budget is approved at $1000/year. Leah proposes we set aside $200
for the remaining two months of the school year and all members are in favour
and a $200 budget is approved for School Councils use for the remainder if the
year should they need it.
d.
Positive Behaviour Support Plan: Wayne outlines that the school is currently
handing out "gotcha" slips (green) for good behaviour, catching students doing a
good deed, walking in the hall and making positive choices. The students then
take the slips to the office whereby their names are entered into a weekly draw to
have ice-cream with the principal. Currently they are rewarding 30 kids a week
this way to really encourage the program. The teachers and support staff are
handing these out as well as the program just now being introduced on the
busses to great success. Wayne reports that the next phase of the plan is to roll
out red consequence slips. The slips will go to the child's home room teacher to
discuss with the child on strategies and solutions. The slips then get tracked by
the principal. After 3 red slips a letter will be sent home, after 6 the child must
phone home and explain and after 9 slips the child must miss a school wide
event. Wayne requests a operating budget for rewards and school wide events
for the remainder of the year. Leah proposes $750 budget, Eva 1st, Robin 2nds,
motion is passed and a cheque will be written for $750.
e.
Treasurer Reports: Amy reports that we have a bank balance of $7891.45 and
$5000 that are in GICs for the playground for a total of $12,891.45. At the
shamrock dance we received a $40 donation and overall the event cost the PFA
$70.29 to put on for the entire population.
4.
Bylaw Amendments: all amendments were outlined and presented by Leah as attached.
all members were in favour of all of the amendments and the new bylaws were voted in
unanimously and are considered adopted
5.
Operating Procedures: the new Operating Procedures were outlined by Leah as
attached. All members voted in favour of the new procedures unanimously and are
considered adopted.
6.
Calahoo Meats: Leah confirms that the dates are April 19th all meat orders are due and
that delivery date from Calahoo is May 8/13. The meat will arrive frozen and stacked on
pallets. Everyone discusses pick up times and it is agreed that as many members of the
PFA as possible will attend and parents can pick up their orders that day between 2pm
and 630pm. A note/sticker will go home and it will be posted on the MPES parent group
Facebook page as well.
7.
Boonstock/St. Jean Baptiste Festival Involvement: Eva reports that the school has been
asked to volunteer at Boonstock and in turn a donation to the PFA will be made.
Involvement may include cleanup/set up crews, security or working various areas as
determined once we confirm we will volunteer. Wayne agrees that this is a viable
opportunity but as it is a music festival with alcohol use by event patrons he'd like to
check with the school whether or not we should attend as MPES PFA or simply as an
unofficial parent group and whether or not we should wear PFA TShirts or not. The PFA
has also been approached about running the pancake breakfast during the St jean
Baptiste festival this year but as this is a HUGE event and undertaking volunteer
manpower could be a major issue as well as logistics etc with a population still smaller
than the other schools therefore we can't run the breakfasts. However, Leah will look
into parents helping out as it is great for the community, but too big of an undertaking to
spearhead ourselves. Everyone agrees that we will concentrate on Boonstock
volunteers rather than spreading ourselves too thin on both events.
8.
Community Carnival: Eva outlines the attached overview of the event with Robin. Robin
will start phoning food trucks, community groups etc with Leah and Eva to help out as
needed. Wayne indicates that the school would like a table at the event and Colleen
reports that she will get back to us whether School Council would like to run a table/
booth or not.
9.
Front Flowerbed Beautification Budget: Eva proposes $150 budget to plant flowers in the
flower beds and buy planters or spruce up the ones we already have. Everyone is in
favour of this budget and it is approved. Eva to purchase plants and organize planting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:47pm

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