Foundation Meeting 8/15

[PTA President at Sagamore Hills Elementary School]

Good morning,

I wanted to share some highlights from the Foundation meeting last night. 

Principal's Report - Dr. Williams shared general information about school enrollment. Currently we have 415 students enrolled. This is about where we've been the past few years - which is good bc many schools have lost students through covid. We are fully staffed - also good news bc there was a freeze on spending at one point but we got all our hires in before that went into effect, and I believe that is also now lifted so we're able to fill a couple new vacancies coming up (cafeteria staff and a para, no teacher resignations currently). Lastly, noted the upcoming milestones testing and that coming out of last year we were above projections on scores, among the top 3 and 5 compared with nearby schools. 

There is a new district volunteer policy that was recently released. Most parents, like us on PTA who volunteer for school events, will fall under Level 2. This means we will be volunteering in a capacity where we will have contact with students but with district staff present. I believe at some point we'll have to complete an online training course.  Level 1 is no student contact when volunteering, and level 3 is the potential to be alone with students without district staff present (overnight chaperones, for example).  Level 3 requires a background check and public safety approval. 

Foundation Project Updates - The blinds were approved by the school board and will be installed the weekend after labor day. This was a huge pain for the foundation bc of the cost for this project which required it to go all the way up to the district board meeting for a vote. Lesson learned, break these projects up cost-wise to stay under a certain threshold. :) 

There was also a landscaping project that happened right before school - mulch, path clearing, and a few other things. More landscaping on deck, potentially getting goats or sheep to clear the front natural area some, also painting the school benches. 

Note for Room Parent Coordinator - Foundation noted that they have budget for teacher "mini grants" up to $300 that teachers aren't utilizing. There is a short form that they have to complete and then it gets approved and they can get money for supplies for their classrooms and other needs they may have. Foundation mentioned that when/if teachers are asking their classes for money/supplies/amazon wishlists, we can point them to these mini grants.  I know one of my kid's teachers had an amazon wishlist - but foundation noted that if there are items that are not purchased, or if they prefer to just go straight to the grant they can ask for this money. 

I think that's all the big stuff we covered. Let me know if you have questions about anything. 

Hannah

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Blair Powell & Hannah Spell

Co-Presidents 

PTA at Sagamore Hills Elementary School

[PTA President at Sagamore Hills Elementary School]

Thanks Han! All great info to know. 

--

Blair Powell & Hannah Spell

Co-Presidents 

PTA at Sagamore Hills Elementary School