CPA General Meeting 10/13/09 7:00 p.m. Terrace Park Commons
In attendance: Sue Wilson-Schmitz, Tracy Hannuksela, Tania Klippert, Megan Hicks, Tina Marohn, Mary Freitas, Michelle Toshima, Marilyn Hall, Kari Potter, Kristen Merrill and other parents, Denise Schmitz (youth organizer)  29 adults in attendance, with 5 children in the back.

Introductions

Treasurer’s Report
Budget Report: Tracy Hannuksela. Concerns from parents were brought up over the desire to have the ability for company matching with donations. This has been an ongoing issue for two years due to the name change and tax ID issues. Tracy is hoping to have more information within the next week or two. We will post an update on the website when we have this reconciled.

Audit Report: Tracy Hannuksela & Megan Hicks had a successful audit last week and it balanced the first time they went through the audit. *Audit Approved.

Secretary’s report: Tina Marohn. *Meeting minutes from April 14th, 2009 were approved. Encouraged parents to subscribe to website via email and RSS feed. Sue mentioned the subscription drive coming up to encourage parents to sign up on the website to receive current information from CPA.

Old Business
Picnic recap: Tania Klippert.  We had over 200 RSVPs to the picnic. It was a great opportunity to meet new and current parents. Next year we’ll save money by signing up for the park/shelter location through a resident from Lynnwood. Everyone at the meeting agreed the picnic went well and that timing was good having it at the end of summer. Feedback was that for first time Challenge families it was a great way to meet other families. Kudos extended to Denise Schmitz for her help with the kid activities.

Brier Terrace Middle School update: Kristin Merrill. She met with Kevin Allen, the Principal at Brier Terrace, for a six-week check in. All is going well and the kids are acclimating as “middle schoolers” and overall it has been a good transition. One issue is that there are more kids than they expected and classes are overflowing. Next week they are going to break up the 8th grade classes (high-cap science, English) and shift teachers and hire new ones. Teachers are being challenged as well and are surprised by the enthusiasm of the students.

New Business
Recap of CPA co-presidents’ meetings with people in the community: Sue Wilson-Schmitz – (Presidents’ Meetings Report Fall 2009-1). Sue mentioned the need to update our bylaws to reflect the change with the 7th and 8th grade moving into the new middle school.

On Dec. 3rd at 7 PM at Terrace Park, CPA will host a “Beyond Challenge Program: What’s Next for our Kids” Information Fair. There will be presentations by Kathy Ludgate, IB Coordinator at Edmonds-Woodway High School, Maren Halvorsen, Director of the UW Transition School and Sarah Childers, Director of UW Academy. They will also bring students from their respective programs (some of whom were former students of Terrace Park Challenge Program) to answer questions from parents and students. They will also present information about summer extension and enrichment programs at the UW for 5th through 10th graders.

CPC (Citizens Planning Committee) update: Michelle Toshima. The committee comprises representatives from each school in the district. Beth Beck & Michelle meet once a month. There are three essential committees: Boundaries enrollment (Beth Beck), Education (Michelle Toshima) & Operations.

Michelle Toshima explained the importance of the District Maintenance & Operations Levy coming up. This is not a new Levy, so there will be no new taxes, it is simply up for renewal (this is a four-year Levy). In fact, due to declining home values, it is possible that the new levy might even cost us less than what we have been paying. The funding represents about 24% of the District budget – approximately $40 million out of the District budget. 70% voters do not have school-age children, so it is important to get the message out to these voters as well. The vote for renewal is coming up this February. Important Advocacy push to bring awareness to parents and communities. School advocacy teams are being created within each school in the district to help spread the word to people who are less likely to vote for the Levy. Contact Michelle Toshima for more information. Levy funds pay for music, sports, after school programs, staff compensation above what the state pays, transportation, and some special education program costs.

Mary Freitas indicated we have to do this off site. We cannot call or engage folks on school grounds. She reiterated how important this is, if it does not pass, we will have to cut whole programs. Class sizes are extremely large this year and could get larger. That is why it is so important for parents to advocate for this and call voters.

Citizens for Schools – Andy Simonson heads this up and is looking for more parent involvement.

WAETAG Conference update: Megan Hicks. She still needs volunteers to help with registration and support of attendees on Friday and Saturday. We passed out a sign up sheet during the meeting. Mary Freitas gave a brief intro of what WAETAG is and highlighted the speakers attending this year’s conference. She noted that the “Vendors Hall is open to everyone, not just those who are paid attendees at the conference.  This might be of interest to parents.

Asked for more classroom parent reps volunteers – sign up sheet went around the room.

Up coming events
Gifted Education Day: Sue Wilson-Schmitz. Last year 78 or so people attended. Students can get an excused absence from the principal for this event. Last year we carpooled and caravanned to Olympia to advocate for Gifted Education funding. Everyone attending got to wear special T-shirts. We met and spoke with legislators and got tours of the capitol. Marilyn Hall discussed how the teachers all support the field trip and how they have students do activities in class for the event like writing letters to the legislators. It was stressed how great this experience is for the kids and parents.

Community Building Events: Sue Wilson-Schmitz. Scheduled guest speakers:

• November – Bio-Lyle (environmental health educator). This will be limited to 24 people (12 children with adults) with a nominal fee.
• Spring – Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide of Eide Neurolearning Clinic in Edmonds will speak about needs of gifted children and their unique brain development and asynchronistic patterns. They have written several books on gifted children. (Sue has their webinars on CD to loan out) –This will be a free event and open to everyone.
• Representatives from IB (Kathy Ludgate), AP, and Robinson Center – December 3rd, 7:00 p.m. to speak with parents for free.

Sue invited all parents to feel free to schedule their own family field trips and invite other interested CPA families along.  We will post them on website.

A Survey was handed out to attendees at the meeting to get feedback on what they would like to see CPA do in the future. These may be returned to teachers.

Kari Potter brought up the $200 in scholarships in the CPA budget. PTA offered to handle all the scholarship funds. They currently have $2000 in their own budget to cover scholarships. Tracy Hannuksela is on board with this idea and agrees it would make scholarship awards and disbursements easier.

Mary Freitas brought up that reduced lunch program participation rate and how the numbers and needs have jumped up. She indicated how important the scholarship is for students who can’t afford to pay for field trips. Marilyn Hall said some of the field trips for Challenge cost a bit more than general education trips.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM

Next Board Meeting: January 12th/ Next General Meeting: March 9th.

Recorded by Tina Marohn, CPA Secretary    www.challengeparents.org

*indicates vote or action taken by members in attendance.