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Minutes of General Meeting
Sandia Prep Parents Association
Minutes of General Meeting
April 21, 2008
Attending:
Officers: Joanne Schiabor, Rohini Arter, Margaret Duran, Tamie Conlee, Barb Hanrahan, Catherine Taylor, Linda Kier
Sandia Prep:
Dick Heath, Susan Walton, Ron Briley, Karen Lyall
Chairs and Parents: Trish Bennett, Linda Byrd, Laurie Hall, Cathy Dexter, Mary Stiff, Anne Sapon, Kenneth Hall, Bronson Duran, Barbara Lebeck
Call to Order:
Called to order at 6:31pm by President Joanne Schiabor. Joanne reminded attendees to sign up on the list if they wish to receive a copy of the minutes by e-mail. She also asked everyone to return their ballots to Rohini, if they had not already done so.
Review and Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of the February 25, 2008 meeting were approved as written.
Headmaster’s Report:
Dick Heath reported on the enrollment picture for the fall: 660 spaces were allotted for students next year and the admissions office had that many signed contracts. This includes the count for grade six, which is 85 students (44 girls, 41 boys). There are 16 new students entering ninth grade (for a total of 49 girls, 52 boys). Thirty of these new students were First Choice applicants, so this represents over 50 new families to the school. Prep had a choice of many good candidates for next fall, especially girls, and the school is at the enrollment parameters that they wanted.
There will be several changes in the faculty, including Bruce Hammond (college counselor and History) and Anton Brecek (History and Debate) who are both leaving. Bruce has a client in China, will continue the Fiske Guides program and will continue to maintain the “no AP classes” website for independent curriculum. BJ Firestone is retiring from the library, and Kate Clarke is returning to the library after a leave of absence. Lynn Kozikowski (English/Art) is taking a leave of absence to spend a year at home with her children. Jessica Kirchels is coming to the art department from Veracruz, Mexico with 10 years experience and will handle classes that Lynn had started. Peter Goss is returning to the English department after several years’ absence and will also help with the literary magazine, La Chispa. Paul Huitt is assuming the 7th and 8th Grade Coordinator position. Karen Lyall will be in a new position as Coordinator of Health and Wellness. She has already started working on a program for next fall to work with the advisory groups and offer more support to teachers. The program will be ongoing throughout the year and will have specific topics by grade level. The school is still interviewing for a Middle School social studies teacher to replace Anton Brecek.
The ISAS visiting team liked what they saw when they visited the school in late January. They made some good recommendations and Sandia Prep was approved for re-accreditation for a new 10-year cycle.
The Field House completion date has been moved to late May. The Field House will be used as the home base for SummerPrep and there will be 80 new parking spaces. The new Performing Arts building is well along in the design plans and the old gym should come down in June. New construction should begin in July and the new Performing Arts building should be completed in June 2009.
Seniors will be done with classes on Thursday of this week (April 24) and then they’re off all over the country and world to do their Senior Experience. They need to commit to colleges by May 1. There will be a report to the Parents Association about their college choices and Senior Experiences next month. There are 94 graduating seniors this year and there will be 108 seniors in the class next fall.
Treasurer’s Report:
Linda Kier reported that all is well. As of the end of March, we have met all the income numbers for the Supply Store. The costs for PA sponsored activities are all coming in under budget. In May, the PA will set a budget for the next school year as well as decide on this year’s gifts to the school.
Committee Reports:
Supply Store: Tamie Conlee said she had no new news to report.
Eighth Grade Dinner Dance: Mary Stiff reported that she is co-chairing this activity with Jacqueline Wright and Wanda Mitnik. They are having a good time with the planning process and have been working on it for nine months. (She compared it to having a baby!) The evening will have a tropical theme, they have a DJ for the music and all the food plans are in order. The Chen family is preparing the food from their restaurant and giving a great price. The committee has spent about $2000 thus far, and their goal is $2300. Only 2 students from the 8th grade do not plan to attend. It is a nice event to schedule at the end of the year for the 8th graders as they move into the Upper School.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon: Laurie Hall reported that this event is scheduled for May 30, the Friday before graduation. She still needs some help with set up and clean up, from about 10:30am - 2pm. The luncheon will be held outdoors, in the Quad, under a tent. She also needs some more desserts and salads and is passing around a sign up sheet. Next fall, she plans to move the date to the week before finals so that the middle school teachers will still be on campus and could also attend. Any leftovers from the event could be put into the teachers lounge, for the next day (when the luncheon is moved to the week before school is dismissed).
Graduation Reception: Cathy Dexter reported that this is a lovely event held in the Quad after the graduation ceremony on May 31. Parent volunteers serve tea sandwiches, cookies and punch for about an hour, after which students and their families leave as they usually have other plans. She is co-chairing this event with Carol Hinton, and they could use some extra help with replenishing food and the punch bowls during the event.
Teacher Appreciation Snacks: Joanne reported for Molly Bell that everything was okay.
Committee Evaluation Reports: Joanne requested that all committee chairs turn in their reports, if they have not done so. It is also important that we keep track of the volunteer hours spent on PA activities.
New Parent Reception: Joanne reported that this event would be Thursday, May 1 from 5:30-7pm in the Russell Student Center. She encouraged committee chairs and officers to attend and meet new parents. The supply store will be open and Tamie asked about having a Booster Club table. Dick agreed that was a good idea.
New Business:
Transition/Turnover of Notebooks: Joanne requested that new officers and committee chairs try to come at 11:15a.m., prior to the final general meeting on May 19. If they cannot attend, they should schedule their own time to turn over notebooks and discuss the responsibilities of the positions.
Fall Grade Level Parties: Joanne asked that anyone interested in hosting or co-hosting a grade level parent get-together to please contact Linda Byrd.
Used Book Sale: The Used Book sale is set for Saturday, August 2. Parents may turn in used books on Friday morning from 9-12, or Saturday morning prior to the sale. The sale starts at 1pm and is over very quickly (in less than an hour). If parents do not pick up books that didn’t sell by that afternoon, they are considered a donation to the school. The big “Back to School” Supply Sale starts on August 11th and goes through the 13th. Volunteers will be setting it up the week prior.
Executive Committee Election Results: Rohini read the results of the returned election ballots. The new officers for 2008-2009 are:
President- Margaret Garcia de Duran
1st VP (President-Elect)- Anne Sapon
2nd VP (Programs/General Meetings)- Linda Byrd
3rd VP (Mailings/Public Relations)- Shawne Blackburn
4th VP (Membership/Nomination Coordinator)- Cathy Taylor/Trish Bennett
5th VP (Supply Store Chairperson)- Joanne Schiabor
Secretary- Martye Womble
Treasurer-Linda Kier
Meeting Adjourned: 7:00 p.m.
Next Meeting: Monday May 19at 12:00 noon in the Heath Board Room (11:15am for transitional meeting with officers and chairpersons)
Dick Heath introduced the speaker, Raul Torres, who spoke about Internet safety for children.
Submitted by Catherine Taylor