January 2022 E-MEETING
Hatherly PTO Minutes 1-11-2022
· Welcome/introductions
o Jen Driscoll welcomed everyone
· Approval of minutes
o Jess Gavin asked to approve minutes from November meeting
§ Minutes approved
· Principal’s report
o Mrs. Ward gave update on test and stay at school
§ Kids have been great about it
§ Kids that are vaccinated do not need to test unless they have symptoms
· A little over 50% are now vaccinated which has greatly decreased the number of test and stays needed
§ Marissa Henderson returned this week
· VERY happy to have her back
§ All school meeting was done this week
· This months theme: Optimism
o Came from peer program survey
§ PBIS turning into SCIL
· Where do we go next
· Use 4th and 5th grade survey data
§ Custodians took sun shade down before the snow
· Mrs. Ward gave shout out to how wonderful the custodians are
§ School has posted 2 paraprofessional positions for the spring
· Jen Driscoll asked where the paras will be assigned
o 1 is for Mrs. Henrys room
o 1 is a float to cover all the paras
§ Also hiring substitutes
· Yearbook/School picture update
o Julie Long gave update
o Kelly Butterworth taking over yearbook chair
o Getting rid of lifetouch
o Switch to Coffeepond
§ Every child gets a photo even if they don’t buy a package
§ Also allow sibling photos
§ Give $100 to use toward enrichment
· Treasurers’ report
o Christine Donovan gave update
o 3 major events
§ Parents night out
· Went over budgeted profits
§ Fun run
· Went over budgeted profits
§ Holiday fair/raffle baskets
· Plan was to use some profits from parents night out to fund
o Ended up making a profit
o Funded books/periodicals
§ Approx. $6k
o Money was put aside from previous treasurers for a capital expense
§ Used for a LCD cart
o Hit with fraud on accounts
§ $3400 in fraudulent charges. Still waiting for money to come back
§ Bank recommended to use a credit card vs debit card going forward
· Because we use a debit card the fraudulent charges come out of the account and we have to wait for the bank to replace them
o With a credit card the funds never leave
o Would make any fraudulent charges easier to fix
· Need PTO to vote getting a credit card
· Would be paid off monthly
· Lauren Shea asked if we needed to use a credit card through the bank vs find one that offers points
o They will look into it but mentioned staying with a bank card will keep things more streamlined
o The card at Rockland Trust does offer points, they’re just not great
o Other option would be Chase Sapphire card for better points but treasurers have to look into which is better option for the PTO
o Jen Driscoll motioned to approve getting a credit card
§ Julie Long second
§ PTO approves treasurers getting a credit card vs debit card
· Website/ New Emails
o Greg Zuckerman gave update
o Kelly Swain has taken over most of website
o Set up google suite account so each position has an email vs using personal emails
§ If you have questions email the new email addresses
§ mentioned new systems can have issues so it can take time to get it completely up and running
· Holiday/December Wrap
o Julie Long and Jess Gavin gave updates
§ 4 crafts per grade were set up by Julie Long
§ Raffle baskets were a success and winners were drawn Tuesday before December break
§ Rob Surrette was a hit
§ Holiday store was a success
· Kids and teachers seemed to enjoy it
· Everyone liked that kids could come down when it worked best for teachers
· Would like to continue same format next year
· Parents were very generous with their time to help
· Kids seem split on if they prefer the store during school time or the Saturday holiday fair that happened in past years
· School Store
o Jess Gavin gave update
§ Going to skip January to give parents a break from spending
§ Will resume first Friday in February
· Fundraising Schedule for 2022-2023 Proposed Changes
o Lauren Shea gave update
§ Feedback has been that too much happens within a short time for parents and PTO
§ Would like to keep boosterthon in the fall but move parents night out to the spring
· Downside:
o 5th grade parental interest in the spring might be lower than the fall
o Receiving funds later in the year will cause a change in how we can spend
§ Christine Donovan said treasurers can keep a running tab to carry over to the following fall
o Julie Long brought up the Blarney Bash which was the first parents night out in March
§ Was a successful event
· Should try not to go past March for any major fundraising
· Enrichment/Field Trips/Teacher Appreciation
o Jen Driscoll gave update
§ PTO sent emails to teachers to let them know every grade should/can have field trips
· Found out grade 5 has never been to Plymouth Plantation
· Sending 5th grade back to Patriots Place
o STEM/engineering field trip
· Going to continue to send emails to remind them of the supporting PTO would like to give
· Will make sure every grade gets a field trip this year
· Rob Surrette in December was great
· Having issues getting certain programs because of covid
· Trying to get a cartoonist in the spring
o Comes for a full week
§ Teacher appreciation
· Jen thanked those that helped with December teacher appreciation
· PTO Mini-Grant Cycle: Review, Evaluate & VOTE!
o Jen Driscoll gave update
§ Gave quick background of why this was created
§ 6 grants were submitted
· Basketball hoop for the older grade playground, buckets for music teacher bucket drumming, drying rack for art teacher, 20 playaways for the library, magic tree house book sets for the reading specialist and books for 1st grade book extravaganza
§ Grant requests is below the amount PTO budgeted to spend
· Mrs Ward asked if we could do another grant cycle to spend the rest of the money
· It was reiterated that the PTO wants to make sure all school staff has an equal opportunity to use these funds
· People feel another grant cycle would stay within this idea
o Would make sure the next cycle would be for staff that didn’t use a grant yet
· Jen Driscoll would like to publish who has submitted and been approved for the grants
· Jen Driscoll and Greg Zuckerman discussed how to purchase the grants that have been approved
§ No vote is needed because the grants are below the amount the PTO budgeted to spend
Meeting officially ended at 7:30pm on the dot 😊
