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CPA Board Meeting Minutes – June 9th, 2011

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CPA Board Meeting, June 9th, 2011- Ginger Everhart’s home

In Attendance – Ginger Everhart, Sue Wilson-Schmitz, Tracy Hannuksela, Pam Gaspers, Tina Marohn, Tina Raghu, Jenny Cain, Maya Shinn, Ann Radcliffe

Calendar items:

Festival of the Famous tomorrow. We have three legislators attending. Ginger put in a facility use form, helpers are in place and we are setting up early. A posting went out this morning on the website.

6th grade tea is on the 15th. Tracy is expecting to hear from a few parents on helping to supplement the cost for the event. We already had a wonderful parent donate $125. Does CPA want to set up a pay pal account in the future for donations from parents for special events?

Mary Freitas wants to set up a luncheon with current board during the last week of school. The board members need to send their available dates to Ginger.

Summer Park dates: Nancy Gilbertson is ready to send out that information to new families.  Tina Raghu has stated that the input from new board is to reduce the number of park dates for the summer. Would like to have a banner or something for people to easily find the group, especially for the beach outing. Would like to do a Saturday morning park time to make it available to working parents and maybe 2 or 3 other park dates. The hope is that 3 or 4 board members can make it to each one. Tina Raghu suggested the following park play dates: 2nd Wednesday in July, last weekend of July, 2nd Wednesday in August, and the BBQ on August 28th. The plan is to have a flyer go out for the summer BBQ and summer park dates next week. Pam will handle this, work with Mary Freitas for approval and connect with Nancy Gilbertson to get it out to new parents.

Park suggestions:

  • Hickman Park
  • Edmonds City Park
  • Edmonds Beach
  • Logan Park – Brier

 

New Board agenda:

New board will set up a joint meeting with the PTA board.

CPA and PTA presidents will meet with Mary Freitas to set up key dates for the year. The new board has to come up with a calendar for the next school year soon.

Tina Raghu is searching for someone to replace the new position for co-president as Kate Shelby-Martin will not be able to fill the position. Pam has connected with Michelle Toshima and Kristen Merrill about the at-large position representing Brier Terrace Middle School families.

Summer BBQ –

  • Ginger to email Pam and Tina her master list for the BBQ.
  • Need to access CPA cupboard for BBQ supplies.

 

Treasurer’s Report (Tracy Hannuksela):

See attached sheet which includes current financials and budget, previous years actuals and budget and projected budget.

  • We did well with the Spring fundraiser.
  • Parent donation of $125 for 6th grade tea. If there is any money left over in the budget for the tea, Tracy will check with the donor to see if we can roll it over to next year.
  • Received 2 checks for the festival of famous rentals.
  • We recently agreed to cover 2 substitute teachers to cover interviewing for 2 new challenge teachers for next year.
  • Grants are trickling in. Transportation reimbursement for Island Wood Summit will be coming from Kathleen Pratt soon.
  • All the classroom support money has been spoken for.
  • Need to budget more for summer BBQ with the inclusion of BTMS families.
  • $39. 06 donated per student this year
  • This year we will have an $8000 carryover. We are budgeting for a $4000 carryover for the next fiscal year.

Next year’s proposed budget highlights…

  • Fundraising – Good search/shop $100
  • Did not budget again for Pacific Science Center
  • 60% of what we budget is used for grants, so there’s no plan to increase that
  • Bumped up Summer BBQ $550

Gifted Education Day – any scholarship CPA pays toward the field trip cost for the the 4th graders is considered a grant. We need to find out if GED (Friday, January 27, 2012) lands on a non-school day next year. We won’t know until the district submits their 2011/2012 calendar.

WAETAG -Tracy is projecting $250 per teacher for registration, as we do not know the actual cost yet. Since it is in Wenatchee this year, teachers may need substitutes for that Friday. CPA cannot afford to cover every teacher next year. We are waiting for Nancy Gilbert to let us know if the district can cover the registration cost. One thought was to cover some of teachers, based on need, and Mary thought that was reasonable. Assuming the district doesn’t pay for anything, Tracy estimated each teacher would receive $75 for food stipend, $250 hotel (2 nights), $186 per substitute.

Tracy to check with Mary Freitas on allocation of speaker money for next year. Does Mary want it for a speaker next year, or to cover substitutes for their curriculum planning day, or  can some of the money be used for WAETAG?

 

*CPA board voted on budget for 2011/2012 – Pam Gaspers motioned, and Jenny Cain seconded, all members unanimously in favor. Budget passed.

Audit committee:  Maya Shinn and Pam Gaspers will perform an audit before the 1st general meeting. Tracy will close the books in July.

 

Presidents’ Report:

Meeting with Mary

  • Summer math
  • Conditional acceptance
  • Bylaws
  • Meeting protocols

Meeting with Tony

  • conditional status
  • meeting protocol

District Hi-Cap task force – Their last meeting was canceled. They are still looking at IB and are on board with our revised bylaws.

Lake Steven’s Parent Group – Sue met with this group and encouraged them to focus on building a strong supportive community before approaching their district. They gave Sue a tip on getting grants and that may help to bring back our Pacific Science Center visiting scientists.

Sue sent out thank you notes to all the school board members, thanking them for their support for our students as well as our board.

State budget has applied a blanket 1.9% cut in K-12 teacher salaries and 3% cut in K-12 administrator salaries. We are waiting to find out what that means for our district, as teacher contracted salaries were presumably locked-in with the last contract ratification in August of this year.  There are 290 students coming into challenge next year. This year we had 240. We will not be getting additional challenge teachers.

Sue put together a presidents’ letter that sums up what the CPA board accomplished this year. Created to help as a guide for the incoming CPA board.

Final bylaws were handed over to the secretary for keeping in the records.

CPA is a non-profit association with the state and is not listed as a corporation.

 

New business:

Communication strategies for getting BTMS parents connected into CPA.

  • Flyers are going out with last Wednesday packets to 6th grade students
  • Sue is checking in with Kevin to see what can be shared with students/families at BTMS
  • We need a link to the CPA website from Brier Terrace school website
  • Send letter along with picnic flyer to Nancy Gilberston to introduce the changes to include BTMS

Should CPA do something special for the retiring challenge teachers? Check in with Mary Freitas. Maybe something can be placed on the bulletin board.

Summer volunteer math tutoring program – Mary Freitas is working with Jackie McDonald (ESD math director) on the best way to communicate with new parents about the math curriculum website to help new students get up to speed before entering the challenge program. Further discussion is needed about how best CPA can facilitate helping families moving into the program to get caught up on math before school starts each year.

 

Meeting adjourned 8:20 p.m.

 

Official transition to the new board members begins.



Governor Gregoire Signed SB 5919 Which Implements A New Definition Of Basic Education

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Significant day for Highly Capable Programs in the state of Washington. Governor Gregoire signed SB 5919 that implements the new definition of basic education, effective September 1, 2011. This bill places Highly Capable Programs within the definition of basic education, which gives it the constitutional protections that accompany basic ed. It mandates that all districts must provide appropriate programs and services to identified highly capable students.

26th Annual Festival of the Famous this Friday–June 10th, 2011

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Come see and be seen with a host of famous names from throughout history at the 26th Annual Festival of the Famous! The festival begins at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, June 10th in the Terrace Park Commons. Friends and family of “the famous” are cordially invited to come and see if they can figure out just who’s who. Also in attendance will be distinguished guests from Edmonds School District and members of the Washington State Legislature Representative Cindy Ryu (D-32), Representative Luis Moscoso (D-1), and Senator Paull Shin (D-21).

Draft Text of Revised Bylaws–Vote on May 18th, 2011

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The link at the end of this post will open a pdf of the text of the revised bylaws for CPA. The following formatting protocols apply:

  • Text that looks like this: unchanged text from the current bylaws.

  • Text that looks like this: proposed additional text to the current bylaws.

  • Text that looks like this: proposed deleted text from the current bylaws.

Please plan to attend the vote on these revisions at 6:30 on Wednesday, May 18 in the Terrace Park Library. Only current CPA members (those who have a student currently attending the Challenge Program at Terrace Park Elementary) are eligible to vote on these bylaws.

If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please email your question or concern to the CPA board at challengeparents@gmail.com.

Thank you for your participation in CPA!

DRAFT CPA Revised Bylaws

We need you! Please come and vote this Wednesday on CPA’s Bylaws Revision.

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Wednesday, May 18th, 6:30 p.m.:

CPA Bylaws Revision Vote

Copies of the proposed revisions to the CPA bylaws were distributed through the Wednesday packets. We will be voting on the proposed revisions at this special meeting on May 18th at 6:30 in the Terrace Park Library. This will be a brief, half-hour meeting. The PTA meeting that was scheduled afterwards has been moved to June 13th.


Cheers,
Challenge Parents Association Board of Directors

CPA General Meeting Minutes 5/5/11

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CPA General Meeting 5/5/2011 6:30 p.m. Terrace Park Commons

In Attendance: Ginger Everhart, Sue Wilson-Schmitz, Pam Gaspers, Tina Marohn, Tracy Hannuksela, Jenny Cain, Maya Shinn, Lisa Flynn, Mary Frietas, Tina Raghu, Kate  Shelby-Martin, Kim Baca, Ann Radcliffe, Nancy Gilbertson, Karen Fritz, Chuck Fritz, Lisa Rinehimer

Introductions

Minutes from 3/03/11 approved – Tracy Hannuksela motioned, Lisa Flynn 2nd the motion

Principal’s Report (Mary Freitas):

There is current work being done on creating alignment between the state standards and what we do in the Challenge Program to meet the needs of gifted learners. Every grade level is being evaluated in literacy, math, sciences and social studies. The Challenge staff have four half days to work on this alignment documentation. Next year there will be a draft working document for parents to review.

We recently had students from Terrace Park deliver a very successful presentation to the school district board.

Mary Freitas is in discussions regarding next year’s plans for Challenge. It is projected that there will be more students in the program and that we may maintain the same number of teachers. In May, teachers will be looking at student placement and by August that will be more refined. At this point it looks as if there won’t be any additional new classes. They are also looking at ways in which to improve the program for next year.

Treasurer’s Report (Tracy Hannuksela):

See attached budget sheet. Nothing new to report or vote on at this time.

Vice President’s Report (Pam Gaspers):

Festival of the Famous costumes are available for renting. Pam is expecting more to come in the next couple of weeks. She plans to take them to teachers classrooms and to have them available at recess. Envelopes are provided on an honor system to people to pay for rentals.

School Board Meetings – Pam has been able to recruit parents for the June meetings, but is still in need for volunteers for Tuesday evenings in May.

President’s Report:

Up and coming events:

  • Coffee Chat, May 7th
  • Bylaws revision vote: May 18th, 6:30-7:00 Terrace Park Library (PTA Meeting to follow)
  • This incorporates BTMS families under CPA and will be effective end of June. At the end of next year, a nominee will be voted in as an at-large board member for BTMS Representation on CPA Board.
  • Festival of the Famous, June 10th
  • CPA board invited state legislators to attend
  • Famous portraits – Ginger will ask Bob Riner about taking portraits as a fundraiser for CPA.

Summer Events

  • Weekly park dates – current and new families are invited to attend this over the summer.
  • Summer BBQ, Sunday, August 28th  – North Lynnwood Community Park (Dragon Park)

Meeting adjourned 8:10 p.m.

Speaker Presentation: Stephen Martin on State and National Gifted Advocacy Agencies

Summer camps at Seabury

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Summer at Seabury registration is currently open! Summer at Seabury is a series of week-long camps for K-2nd graders and 3rd-5thgraders and middle schoolers, taught by Seabury teachers and outside experts. Pick-and-choose your favorite weeks or sign up for all seven! Camps run 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. each week and are open to everyone. For more information, please see the links to the brochure and registration: brochure registration

WERA June Workshop – Dr. David Lohman

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Washington Educational Research Association presents their WERA June Workshop

June 22, 2011

“Issues and Challenges in the Identification of Academically Gifted Students” with Dr. David F. Lohman

Puget Sound ESD

800 Oakesdale Ave. SW

Renton

9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

$125 Registration Fee

9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

$125 Registration Fee

Please register at

www.wera-web.org


Credit Card or Purchase Order Accepted

Registration opens MARCH 1, 2011

Box Lunch is included

3 FREE clock hours are available

Space is limited to 100 people


Dr. David F. Lohman is Professor of Educational Psychology at The University of Iowa. He received his doctorate in educational psychology from Stanford University in 1979.He has been on the faculty of The University of Iowa since 1981. Dr. Lohman has taught at several other universities, including the University of British Columbia, the Universityof Yucatan, and Leiden University. Dr. Lohman’s later research has focused on themore general construct of academic intelligence – particularly its measurement and the use of ability profiles in adapting instruction to the needs of learners. He is co-author of The Cognitive Abilities Test and haspublished numerous articles in journals and

chapters in books.

Workshop flyer

CPA May Calendar of Events

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Membership Meeting Thursday, May 5th, 6:30 pm:

Festival of the Famous

Costume Rental

Got a 3rd or 4th grader? Then you’re probably in need of some “specialty” clothing items and accessories. Come to the May 5th meeting and maybe get a few items on your shopping list at CPA’s first annual Festival of the Famous Costume Rental.

Got a 5th or 6th grader? We’re collecting donated items from families of 5th and 6th grade students who have been there, done that, AND bought the toga. Items may be donated to CPA or may be loaned to CPA and returned after the Festival of the Famous in June. We rent out these items for a nominal fee, raising money for CPA and saving space and time for many of our families. If you have items you would like to donate to the rental inventory, collection boxes are posted in the D2 and E2 pods, as well as the main office of the school.

This meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Terrace Park Commons. There will be a very brief business meeting at 6:30 to review end of year financials. Snacks will be provided, and children are welcome–especially those shopping for costume components.

Guest Speaker Stephen Martin, President, WAETAG

We are pleased to announce that our postponed speaker from our March meeting, Stephen Martin, will be here on May 5th at 7:00 p.m. to speak to our families about the important work and support provided by Washington state and national gifted advocacy agencies. Stephen is the current president of WAETAG (Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted), and will speak about the work of his agency as well as that of:

• NWGCA (Northwest Gifted Child Assocation)

• WCGE (Washington Coalition for Gifted Education)

• SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted)


Saturday, May 7th, 10:30 a.m.:

Parent Coffee Chat

Join us for the last coffee chat of the school year at 10:30 a.m. at Urban City Coffee, corner of 44th Avenue and 212th Streets in Mountlake Terrace. Members of the CPA board will be there to find out what’s on your mind and faciltate discussion on any topic related to parenting gifted kids.

Wednesday, May 18th, 6:30 p.m.:

CPA Bylaws Revision Vote

Copies of the proposed revisions to the CPA bylaws were distributed through the Wednesday packets. We will be voting on the proposed revisions at this special meeting on May 18th at 6:30 in the Terrace Park Library. This will be a brief, half-hour meeting immediately before the scheduled PTA General Meeting, also in the Terrace Park Library.

Cheers,
Challenge Parents Association Board of Directors