Chagrin Falls PTO

District Office Report

Administration’s Report – Bob Hunt and Abby Thaker

• Digital Academy Update – Update on Program: 200-2011 130 teachers have participated/trained.  Teacher leaders and program part of new teacher orientation both point to the continuity and sustainability of  the program in the District.

• kidsMoveSmart –Bob presented an overview of program: a comprehensive plan to develop the overall health, wellness and internal development of our students.  The Board of Education recently approved a plan to raise $750,000.00 to implement this plan.  The initiative has a strong backing with a $250,000 matching fund donation by the Leopold family.   A more specific request for support in the areas that best align with mission of the PTO will be forthcoming in the Spring.

School Board Report

Board of Education’s Report – Liz O’Neil

• Bridge to the World Update:

o   Steve Thompson and Bill Kline are traveling to S. Africa in Dec. to scope out schools.  Will determine after that trip where and when the exchanges will take place.

• OSBA Capital Conference:

o   Board members, Steve Thompson, Anne Spano, Kurt Gabram, Chris Jackson spent 1-3 days in Columbus networking and attending many worthwhile professional development sessions.

o   Deb Delisle, State Supt., stated that with the election of John Kasich, the state of funding education and education reform is up in the air.

• 2011-2012 school calendar approved with 8/24/11 start date.

District PTO Report

First Vice President’s Report:  Gigi Kuper-Lewis

• Laura Fricke reported that this month 35 more members joined and 11 more staff members joined  – our staff membership is up to 94
• We now have 396 members – $8089 vs last year  $7995

Financial Vice President’s Report:  Laurie McCormack

• Funding up to $800 for a table saw for the HS art department was approved unanimously.
• Shopping  –331 families registered for GE (291 registered last year); Heinens – 209 registered families, Gurney 42, CFIS 41, MS 20, HS 40 (down 30 from last year), CFEX 66.  Heinens registration has experienced large decline in recent years. Ideas suggested for increasing enrollment. Economy mentioned as potential reason for decline as shoppers may be shopping at lower priced outlets.
• Fundraising – Total funds raised to date are over $18,000.  (See this report for breakdown by product by school.)

1. Cherrydale online ordering goes through December.  This has been advertised in each Newsletter and on the website.  The link to Cherrydale is on the PTO website.  We receive 50% of all the sales. Pick up was November 10^th. There were two orders that were incorrect.   We are researching this and will fix the orders.

2. We received an $800 check from our Otis rep to cover the incentive prizes that we bought.

• Financial Planning and Research – We received one grant request for a new table saw for the HS art department for $1600.  The existing one is 30 years old and the replacement will be significantly safer to use.  The committee is recommending that we fund at most $800 towards this purchase. The balance will most likely be picked up by Dad’s Club.

• PTO District Fundraiser 2010-11 (Preliminary totals)

Otis Spunkmeyer (our profit is 40% of sales):

Gurney

Total Sales from 154 participants:                                                                        $9570.00

CFIS

Total Sales from 125 participants:                                                                        $9465.00

MS

Total Sales from 39 participants:                                                                        $3360.00

HS

Total Sales from 6 particpants:                                                                          $630.00

Total:                                                                                                $23,025.00

Our Profit:                                                                                       $9210.00

Total Participants:                                                                         323

• Cherrydale Catalog Sales (our profit is 50%)

Gurney

Total Catalog Sales:                                                                        $7156.50

Total Internet Sales:                                                                       $816.00

Total sales from 122 participants:                                             $7972.50

CFIS:

Total Catalog Sales:                                                                        $8,100.50

Total Internet Sales:                                                                       $403.00

Total sales from 124 participants:                                            $8,503.50

MS:

Total Catalog Sales from 5 participants:                                      $161.50

Total Cherrydale  Catalog Sales:                                                                            $15,418.50

Profit Catalog Sales:                                                                                                      $7,666.64

Total Cherrydale Internet Sales:(as of 10/21)                                                     $1,219.00

PTO Donations made instead of purchase:                                                             $782.50

Final profit numbers should be available by January.

A HUGE thank you to our many volunteers on pickup day.  Over 25 volunteers helped unload, pull orders, and help customers pickup their orders from 11:00 until 8:45 that evening.  A thank you to Mrs. Petite for providing 10 Key Club members to help volunteer after school and to Mary Beth Wolfe for her efforts in providing us the use of the Rec Center. Thank you again for the support and help of all the school office staff and administration during the sale.

Jessica Gardner and Kristin Reboul (Chairs – 2011 District Fundraiser)

The Treasurer’s Report was submitted by Katherine Collins (available for download).

In attendance:  Board – Julie Andrews, Katherine Collins, Angie DeBernardo, Lisa Fredrickson, Beth Judge, Gwenn Klose, Gigi Kuper-Lewis, Maggie Kwasny, Laurie McCormack, Meg Nachtwey, Liz O’Neil, Franny Ross, Alissa Stinson   Guests – Rick Bondy, Cindy Dean, Rachel Gebler, Bill Koons, Steve Thompson, Bill Koons

The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm by Gwenn Klose.

Secretary’s Report-Beth Judge

• Shared thank you notes.
• Thanks for prompt reports from presenters before meeting.

Treasurer’s Report – Katherine Collins

• Monthly financial report (click to download)

First Vice President’s Report – Gigi Kuper-Lewis

Membership:

Total membership : 350

Total gold membership : 59

Total $ deposited : $7364

Total staff/teachers : 83

Calendars :

Fireside – 229

Heinens – 80

Walk thrus – 108

Meet the teams – 7

Open Houses – 49

Soccer – 2

HS Bookstore – 17

Pupil Services – 5

MS – 2

New Parent Tea – 2

Bus Garage (1/2 price ) – 28

Total sold – 529

*Started with 1008 calendars, were charged for 1000 (7 were defects)

*sold 501 at full price

* 28 at ½ price

* gave away 240 comps

* 237 are left

*** total should be approx. $5150

Second Vice President’s Report -  Meg Nachtwey

Financial Vice President’s Report – Laurie McCormack

• School Supplies – We received rebate check for $2,253.
  • Shopping Credit Programs –

o   We have 323 families registered for GE (291 registered last year)

o   Heinen’s will not release 1st round of numbers until November.

o   Announcement is approved and submitted to district and all schools for web pages and newsletters.

o   Boosters and after prom committee sent out eblasts to their members.

o   Will send out eblast to PTO membership.

• Fundraising –

o   Gross receipts for fundraiser are $39,345 plus online Cherrydale orders to date of $1,219 totaling $40,564.

o   Cherrydale online ordering goes through December.  This will be advertised in each Newsletter and on the website.

o   Pick up is November 10^th from 2-8 in the Rec.

o   We will be getting $800 check from our Otis rep to cover the prizes that we bought.

• Grants – We received 7 requests this month.  1 HS and 6 Gurney.

Comments and Discussion

• Grants

o   PTO policy: no funding of field trip grant requests.  However, Gwenn noted funding exists for a student(s) in need if requested.

o   Gwenn noted submitted grants should be considered as a whole, before approving individual less than $500.  This is particularly important for repeat requests, which, perhaps, should be considered as school budget line item, such as field trips.

• PTO website

o   Contain only PTO related items, but the school calendar is included.

o   Angie noted PTO email membership list is a great tool for PTO marketing purposes.

o   Procedures and guidelines for utilizing the PTO email membership list are being developed.

• The efficacy of PTO General Meetings, due to repeat low attendance of the membership, was discussed. Options are being investigated so as to match the annual trend of low attendance and realities of the digital age, which makes physical presence significantly less important.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15pm.

Minutes approved via email by Gwenn Klose and Maggie Kwasny.

Chagrin Falls has held on to the Excellent with Distinction rating despite tougher standards.

School District News

The District Report was presented by Superintendent Steve Thompson.

Click to download the October District E-Blast (137).

• Chagrin Falls School District enjoys a long history of excellence.  This year was no exception.  For the tenth consecutive year, we received the highest rating possible in the State of Ohio – Excellent with Distinction, meeting all 30 standards on the state report card.  For the third year in a row, we also met another tough standard, “value-added”, which measures whether at least a year’s worth of expected growth has been achieved by each student in grades 4 through 8. (For a decent description of “value added”, see this site. )

• Our overall performance index score on the District Report Card was 108.1 up from last year’s 107; our mean ACT composite score was 25.8 and mean SAT scores in reading, math and writing were 576, 605, and 572 respectively ranking # 1 in Northeast Ohio.

• The Board and Administration continue to be fiscally conservative in all areas of operating our district and again came in under budget this year.  As the economic crisis in our country continues, everyone is faced with difficult financial decisions. Our schools are not exempt from these challenges. However, despite these economic conditions, I’m pleased to announce that the expected spring 2011 general operating levy be delayed for at least one year. We believe that this delay will not adversely impact the quality of education offered to the students of the district. Based on current financial projections, we anticipate being on the ballot in the spring of 2012.

• The extension of the levy cycle has been achieved due to the hard work and dedication of the entire Chagrin Falls School District staff, Board of Education, and both the teachers and non-certified staff unions. The ability to extend the levy cycle has been made possible due to budget changes. Examples of these changes can be seen in the following areas:

• Staffing
  Staff reductions were made in 2007. Since that time, we have been able to reallocate resources and hire new staff while continuing our traditional level of academic excellence.  Since these staffing changes were implemented, the Chagrin Falls School District has earned the following honors:

1.     Excellent with Distinction rating on the Ohio Report Card for 4 consecutive years (2007-2010) (View the the full report.)

2.     The Intermediate School (2009) and the Middle School (2010) were each recognized as National Blue Ribbon Award schools. The federal award is the highest recognition a public school can receive.

• Energy Conservation
  Implementation of an energy conservation plan which includes computer controls on all HVAC systems, and new guidelines which require custodians to turn off all unnecessary lights at 3:00 p.m.  every school day have proven effective.
• Maximized Grant Opportunities
  A memorandum of understanding was submitted between the teachers union (CFEA), the administration, and Board of Education to participate in the Race to the Top grant program. As a result of this collaboration, the Chagrin Falls School District was awarded $100,000 in federal funding.
• Budget Cuts
  The technology budget was reduced by $85,000 entering the current fiscal year. (See explanation in the October District E-Blast (137).)
• Union Concessions
  OAPSE (the union that represents non-certified staff) voluntarily changed their health insurance coverage which has benefited the school district with a net annual savings of $23,000 per year.

The Chagrin Falls School District’s entire staff and Board of Education will continue to diligently weigh each fiscal decision in order to continue these successful outcomes.

School Board News

The School Board report was presented by Liz O’Neil.

• Board agreed with the Superintendent’s recommendation at October 18 Board meeting that the expected spring 2011 general operating levy be delayed for at least one year. Based on current financial projections, we anticipate being on the ballot in the spring of 2012.

• The extension of the levy cycle has been achieved due to the hard work and dedication of the entire Chagrin Falls School District staff, Board of Education, and both the teachers and noncertified staff unions.

• We are thankful to the OAPSE membership for their voluntary decision to make an insurance coverage change to help the Chagrin Falls School District save money. It’s estimated that this change will save the district about $23,000 per year.

A new garden in the CFHS Commons courtyard.

Click to download the September 10 District Newsblast (78) sent by the District.

The Board of Education’s Report was presented by  Karen Penler.

• The District earned an Excellence with Distinction on the State Report Card this past summer (view the district report card by clicking here.) Value added component was met.
• Reports by grade detail are available via Chagrin Falls Board of Education.
• Goal: Improve Student Learning:  Passage rate (3 and above) on AP test scores have dropped from 80% to 74%.  Board of Ed has asked High School to evaluate this drop.
• HB264 – $1.2M bond initiative with debt repayment achieved through energy savings.  Retrofitting lights in buildings and boiler in Intermediate School.  (HB 264 information at this site.)
• New Learning Center in High School Upper Library
• Board retreat in October – will discuss next levy cycle.

All our sports teams are doing well this season despite a rash of injuries. Thanks to the cheerleaders for all the clever "cup signs" on the school fence!

The Administration’s Report was presented by Charlie Barch (Athletics) and Kurt Gabram (Business Manager).

Charlie Barch:

• Charlie is new athletic director – worked at Notre Dame College for 6 years before coming to Chagrin Falls as the associate athletic director. I also worked one year at Brush High School as the faculty manager. I am very glad to be at Chagrin, it is a great community with many great support organizations. I look forward to having a great year.
• Team Updates- Teams are doing great, the girls cross country team just won the Ray Sweeny Invitational. The golf team is undefeated in match play. The girl’s tennis team is 7-1 and off to a terrific start. Football is 3-0 and the volleyball team went 2-1 at the Rocky River Invitation this past weekend. Both soccer teams are off to a good start.
• Weekly Varsity Home Contests- boys golf plays Aurora at home on Wednesday along with Volleyball playing Perry at home on Wednesday. The football team hosts Aurora on Thursday.
• Misc Updates-
  • The football game will be broadcast live via the internet on sportstalkcleveland.com. This same website will be hosting a high school sports show at the new Panini’s in Chagrin Falls.
  • New Hire – girl’s lacrosse coach KC White. She was the assistant lacrosse coach last year.
  • Volleyball and girls soccer team are working with Darby O’Brien and Kristin Weitzel to have a “Network of Strength” week (1^st week in October). This week we will be raising funds to support a group that helps raise money for breast cancer support groups. It is different from Susan G Komen because it is not for research, but support for breast cancer survivors and/or patients. The website for the group is www.networkofstrength.org.   Team and Athletic Dept selling pink tee-shirts with the groups logo on it. Everyone who comes to either the volleyball match (10-7) or the girl’s soccer match (10-5) will get in free with their pink shirt. We will be trying to have a “pink out” similar to some school white out (everyone wears a white tee shirt) for each event. I attached a flyer that has when and where the tee shirts will be sold. (More information and flyer available for download here.)

Kurt Gabram:

• Ben Needham was hired to manage the PAC. Ben has a long resume in the area of set design. Ben will be responsible for scheduling, supervision and upkeep of PAC. He will also be teaching set design and construction for the Academy, and will assist in Chagrin Falls Schools’ productions.
• Marti DeSantis was hired as our food service supervisor. Marti is a registered dietician and has her Master’s Degree from Case Western Reserve University. She has been working with an insurance company as a wellness consultant. Marti was a big part of Tuesday’s movement day at the middle school. She worked with students concerning nutrition.

Side by side comparison of the courtyard in front of the High School entrance. The left side is before repair - the right, after. Great job!

• Facilities Update: The HS courtyard has been completely renovated.   This was a project that desperately needed to be done. The new benches, retaining wall and Commons picnic area give the courtyard a very collegiate feel. We also completed the new learning center project.   This is a state of the art facility where we can provide assistance to students that meet many of their learning needs. Our custodians, grounds and maintenance crews did a fabulous job in preparing the buildings for the return of students.
• HB 264 gives us the ability to implement energy conserving upgrades to all of our facilities. The State funds that are used for a house bill come at a 0% interest and the savings generated pay back the loan so there is truly no cost to the tax payer. We are in the process of reviewing the final contract.

District PTO reports were presented by the following officers:

Secretary’s Report – Beth Judge

• Shared thank you notes.
• May 2010 approved minutes on the PTO website. Minutes are approved via email and will post on the web within a week or so of meeting.

Treasurer’s Report – Katherine Collins

• Approval of 2010-2011 budget budget pdf (91) by Meg Nachtwey and Gigi Kuper-Lewis, unanimous by those in attendance.
• Monthly financial report (73) available for download.

First Vice President’s Report – Gigi Kuper-Lewis

• PTO Calendar Sales– Approx. 200 calendars left as of last week.  Approx. same number calendars sold as last year. For next year, we need to evaluate if we want to spend the extra money printing the books with so many pages, tabs, etc. or try to keep the cost down.
• Membership – Gwenn put staff membership envelopes in all the teacher/staff calendars and we haven’t had many teacher join PTO. Anticipate 300 memberships for $5,000 total.
• Website / Publicity – The website looks great.  We asked Angie to please keep only PTO items on the website.  We are no longer going to include other district announcements, events, etc. on the website.
• Welcoming – Many welcoming “teas” were held in the fall to welcome our new families. Gwenn suggested considering revamping welcoming next year due to low new parent attendance.

2^nd Vice President’s Report -  Meg Nachtwey

Responsive Community is no longer an active PTO committee, as Amy Price, the long-time leader is no longer chairing the committee.  In an attempt to keep the movement afloat, Meg will be speaking with the guidance counselors at all of the schools to offer our help and support, and also inform them of the $550 in funds available for responsive community type of programming.  Meg will also work to maintain relationships with groups such as SAY   and CPFY  and offer our support of their programming.

Financial Vice President’s Report – Laurie McCormack

• School Supplies –
  • Gurney

Sold 202 school supply boxes, up from 193 last year.

Sales for Gurney totaled $12,234, up from $10,090 last year.

• Intermediate School

Sold 192 school supply boxes, down from 206 last year.

Sales for the Intermediate School totaled $ 13,769, down from $15,981 last year.

• Middle School

Sold 80 school supply boxes, up from 54 last year.

Sales for the Middle School totaled $5,653, up from$3,382 last year.

Summary – Number of boxes sold for the district were up by 19 boxes. Total sales were up by $2,203. Our rebate from Innisbrook is estimated to be $1,583, up $110 from last year. Gurney purchased 5 boxes for students in need. One box was requested by the Middle School and purchased by the PTO. I would recommend continuing the protocol of families requesting boxes be purchased for them first ask the school, for privacy reasons. If the school declines the offer, the section rep or school supply rep can request that PTO purchase the box.  I would also recommend that as long as the school can verify the family is in need that PTO use rebate funds to purchase the boxes.  Again, for privacy reasons it would be best if the family could work through the school with the school ordering the box, and PTO reimbursing school.

• Shopping – Heinen’s registration has started.  If you haven’t already, click here to re-register your school choice for 2010 .  PTO gets credit for all purchases made between October and April regardless of when you register.  Giant Eagle registration will begin in next 2 weeks.  The link for that will also be on the PTO website.  The Giant Eagle school credit program runs October through March.  You must register for Giant Eagle prior to October, to get credit for the full timeframe, it is not retro-active.
• Fundraising – TheDistrict Fundraiser 2010 is Otis Spunkmeyer and Cherrydale wrapping paper and gifts.  Gurney and Intermediate schools will get catalogs for both.  High School and Middle school will get the Otis Spunkmeyer.  Incentive programs are: Gurney/CFIS:  for every $30 in sales or donation they will have one raffle ticket entered into a drawing with prizes of 2 family Kalahari water park packages(4 tickets each), a Nintendo DSiXL, a Apple iPod touch, and lots of gift cards. Prizes totaling over $1000.

MS/HS:  for each 10 tubs of cookie dough sold, receive a ticket to Kalahari water park.  For every $30 sold, have one raffle ticket entered into a drawing for a Kalahari package of 4 tickets. Kathleen will cut us a check for $800 to be used for the raffle prizes and is providing the 3 Kalahari packages. Sales packets will go home with students on Sept. 15^th.  Sale will run through Sept. 29^th.  The high school would prefer that we do not hand them out to all students but would rather have them available in the office for pick up.  They generally find them all over the high school and not making it home if passed out to all via 1^st period classes/homeroom.  There will be a kickoff assembly at CFIS and during lunch periods at Gurney.  We will have extra packets at the middle school open house which is the same day as our kickoff.

• Advertising – Information fliers in beginning of year “mailings”/folders; PTO website and school website advertising; school newletters and email blasts; open houses with product samples; glass case at Gurney with samples and info; sandwich boards; periodic announcements at schools once sale starts. Kristin Reboul has been great as a co-chair and we have been able to collect some volunteers via open houses, volunteer forms, etc but will still be able to use more for our pickup day shifts!
• Grant Requests Update – Karen O’Hearn

o   Gurney – Rachel Jones – $2,800 for One Book, One School initiative unanimously approved.

o   Intermediate School

1.     Jansen/Mitchell – Two sets Student Clickers for $1,800 unanimously approved. Remote controls that work with classroom computer to collect student data instantaneously. Will be used primarily in math classes but can be used in all subject areas. This will assist the educator is gather data and developing appropriate curriculum for students.

2.     Ms. Gill – PTO approved payment of tuition portion ($1,680) of Ms. Gill’s teacher development trip to Israel, a meeting with the International Reading Association.

Announcements

• Thank you to Jessica Gardner for all her work on PTO fundraiser, kicking off on 9/15.
• Gwenn reminded PTO of signup sheet for sandwich board in PTO closet as well as plentiful supplies in closet.

UPDATE:  Sale Ends Tomorrow!  Forms will be accepted through the end of the week.  In case you’ve misplaced them, here they are for download.

• Fundraiser Information and Instruction Sheet (80)
• Cherrydale Order Form (gifts and wrap) (126)
• Otis Order Form (Cookie Dough) (63)
• Order Summary Form (65)

Family and friends in other areas can also support the school by shopping online at Cherrydale Farms.  Just use our group code 159658 when you are asked what group you are supporting.

Order Pick up will be on November 10th at the Rec Center Building from 2 to 8 PM. Cookie Dough can not be stored past this date; any uncollected orders will be donated.

________________________________________________

Each year, the PTO sponsors one district wide fund raising sale.  This year, we will offer Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough (always popular) and Cherrydale Farms wrapping paper and gifts.  Packets with sales contest information (for your child) and a catalog of items will be sent home on September 15th.  You can place orders using the order forms through September 29th.  Drop your orders off at any school – or send them in with your child.  Winners of the sales contests will be determined by this sale event.  You can continue to purchase wrapping paper throughout the school year online to support our school district.  We will have the link on the front page of our website once the sale ends.  So, if December 3rd you look in your hall closet and wish you’d ordered holiday wrapping…you still can.      Here’s the promotional flyer (89) – more info to come later in the month.

At the start of each school year, most parents eagerly await stories of how well the first day went – but DREAD the packet of forms and flyers that arrive in those first day backpacks. Here’s some of what you got from us. We’ll be uploading the digital copies this week in case you need to download it or want to pass it on to a new community member later in the year.

Membership 2010 (85)

This is the PTO Membership Registration. Your membership fees support the grant programs of the PTO each year. They can be returned to any school building. If you decide to join us, thanks! We will try to keep you up to date with the information reported to us by the schools at our monthly public meetings.

If you’d like to volunteer at your child’s school, we’ve got lots of opportunities.  Download the appropriate form below to see what is available.  If you’d like to sign up, fill out the form and drop it off at the school office.  (You can send it in with your child if they are reliable about turning things in!)  If you are joining us late in the year, contact the PTO representative for your school (listed under contacts) to find out what events are still scheduled.  We can always use extra help!

• CFHS Volunteer form (81)
• CFMS Volunteer form (87)
• CFIS Volunteer Brochure (147)
• CFIS Volunteer Form (124)
  
• Gurney Volunteer form (79)