Wilkinson School Community Council
Minutes
October 10, 2006
Attendees: Rachel Ault (Teacher Rep), Carol Bennett (Vice-Chair), Karin Deane, Karen Geraci (Chair), Susan Haney, John Hykel (Treasurer), Bianca Kapteyn, Ruby Lederman, Sunny Mills, April Moon, Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Jacqui Strachan, Lisa Watt (Vice-Principal), Paula Weekes Kahn, Karen Wiseman
Recorder: Jacqui Strachan
Quorum met at 7:00pm
Welcome and Introductions
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve with additions: Jacqui/Bianca CARRIED
Adoption of Minutes: June 12, 2006 meeting
Motion to approve with changes: Ruby/Paula CARRIED
3A. Business Arising from Minutes
• team uniform update – Ruby is awaiting final decision on logo before ordering the uniforms – Karen G. and Kim are working on it and will get it to Ruby in the next few days
• may go with Roots, as they are contracted with TDSB and offer a good price and good quality
4. Principal’s Update – Tanya Sterioff
• Due to a system wide staff re-organization (to accommodate changes in school populations), Lindsay Whitfield will be taking over the half-time special education position
• A Trash Awareness program is being initiated with the students because the garbage left in the school yard after recesses and lunch is becoming a problem; it is the students who are doing the littering
• A lice check and re-check were done this month. The school has purchased Nix, combs, disposable shower caps and bandanas for families who ask for help to assist them with controlling the problem
• The Eid dinner is being postponed because Sarah Manjra isn’t available to organize it right now
• Halloween parade and assembly will take place at 1:00pm on Tuesday, October 31
5. Election Results - 2006/07 School Council Elections
• Low turnout may have been due to Ramadan
• 74 votes, 70 people voted for everyone, 4 voted for individuals
• Everyone on the slate was elected (Carol Bennett, Karin Deane, Karen Geraci, Susan Haney, John Hykel, Bianca Kapteyn, Ruby Lederman, Sunny Mills, April Moon, Jacqui Strachan, Paula Weekes Kahn, Karen Wiseman)
6. Overview of Council Meetings
• Quorum & Regrets – it is very important to let the Chair know if you cannot be at a meeting. We need to know so that we can be sure quorum is met and decisions can be made
• Routine Agenda Items – Approval of the Agenda, Approval of the last meeting’s minutes, Principal’s Update, Treasurer’s Update, Committee Reports, Other Business – if you would like something added to the agenda, please contact the chair
• Role of Committees – committees include Performing Arts, Greening and Grounds, Communications, Fundraising, and Fun Fair – most planning and details of events are decided at the committee level, then brought back to the full Council for final approval of expenditures and major decisions
• Scope of Discussions – as above, most of the work is done at the committee level so that the council’s time is focused on final decisions and expenses as required.
• Voting – all council members attending the meeting vote on motions put forward by a show of hands, and motions are approved by a simple majority
• Role of Executive Officers – the Chair chairs all council meetings, prepares the circulates agendas for meetings, and represents the council – the Vice-Chair supports the Chair and chairs meetings when the Chair is absent – the Secretary takes minutes at council meetings, distributes them, and provides a summary of the meeting for the newsletter – the Treasurer makes bank deposits and writes cheques, and prepares and presents financial reports for council meetings.
7. Treasurer’s Update
• report distributed
• the first Movie Night was a huge success!
• Funding Request: $20 – 30 per meeting for childcare
Motion to approve up to $30 per meeting for childcare: Jacqui/Ruby
CARRIED
We still owe the school $2000 toward the shed
Motion to approve payment of $2000, representing the final payment toward the kindergarten storage shed: Bianca/John
CARRIED
8. Executive Elections
• the positions for 2006/7were filled by acclamation:
Chair: Carol Bennett
Vice-Chair: John Hykel
Treasurer: Paula Weekes Khan
Secretary: Karen Geraci
9. Meeting Dates
• November 13, 2006, December 11, 2006, January 15, 2007, February 12, 2007, March 5, 2007, April 2, 2007, May 14, 2007, June 11, 2007. The meeting on June 11 will also be the Annual General Meeting
10. Committee Updates
Performing Arts
• focus on literacy and puppetry this year
• Melanie Doane and April Moon also want to be part of the committee
• Ruby suggests that for complicated plots/authors, students should be given an intro so that they can better understand the performance
• April will send Tanya information about free lunch concerts at Roy Thomson Hall, so that Tanya can circulate it to staff. We just have to call in advance to book
Motion: to approve funding of up to $3500 for approximately five performances for this school year: John/Karen
CARRIED
Greening and Grounds
• Board is looking at moving the shed, so that kids can’t climb on it
• Suggestion that we just take out the piece of fence that the kids are using to get up on the roof – Tanya will suggest they look at other options
• John to meet with Bruce Day re: getting a tree with the donated money we got last year
• John has an idea to replace the dedication sign for the Simpson family tree – he will discuss it with Tanya, Tanya to check if there are any issues re. John installing it
Communications
• Newsletter is out, always looking for articles, writers, ideas, feedback
• Keeping Web site up-to-date
• No one responded to “ad” in June newsletter to help maintain the Council’s bulletin board in the main hallway. Karin Deane and Rachel Ault (Room 7) offered to do this – can consult with Carol Bennett for ideas
Motion to approve $150 per newsletter for photocopying expenses: Carol/Ruby
CARRIED
Fundraising
• Chocolate sales – 5 cases of caramel and 30 of almond, next year perhaps lower the almonds and increase the caramels
• Ruby will circulate an email to the council for people to sign up to do reminder calls to parents with money outstanding
• Cookbook forms went home – art will be by the students
• Direct Donation campaign – pink letter went home with newsletter
• Movie Nights – Over the Hedge Friday, October 13; Cars on November 10th
• Pizza Lunches – October 27th, November 24th
• Suggestion that there be a holiday party instead of a movie night some time in December
11. Some Thoughts from the new Chair
• Based on input received previously, suggestion to include times beside agenda items to keep the meetings focused – Rejected; perceived to limit additional comments/discussion
• Include regular update from Dandylion Daycare as part of the agenda – Agreed
• Include “Old Business” on each agenda to capture action items from prior meetings to ensure they are followed up on – Agreed
• Table funding requests later in the meeting so that they are dealt with all at once, after financial position has already been discussed – funding requests should be submitted before the meeting – Agreed
• Suggestion that, on a trial basis, there be an in-camera session at the end of the meeting with only the parent members to review a) any concerns/questions requiring additional discussion/clarification that parents may not have been comfortable raising in the larger group and/or b) issues requiring a consolidated “parent” position – Rejected; general feeling that council meetings should be open discussions and parents with concerns who are uncomfortable raising them at council can speak to the chair or a member of council to have them addressed. Concern that in-camera session could compromise the purpose of the council, which is to connect parents and staff.
12. Other Business
• Many parents have voiced their appreciation for the removal of the basketball nets over the summer
• Karen W. asked about the problem of students entering the school and over-crowding at the entry doors. Staff are looking into it and trying to resolve the issue and fixing the traffic jam that is particularly bad at the south doors.
Motion to adjourn - 8:45 pm
Jacqui/Sunny
CARRIED