The meeting was called to order and an awesome group of students let the large audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. There was a slideshow featuring photos from Emerson Events. (Little Shout out to Mrs. Ashlie Lindstrom, Mr. Ron Antonette, and Mrs. Anni Sees for the use of their photos). The minutes from last month's association meeting were presented to the association by Recording Secretary, Mrs. Michelle Arslan.
President, Mrs. Paula Nathan shared the president's report. The technology committee met last month and their recommendations were reiterated to the association at this meeting. They decided to fulfill the initial technology commitment a year and a half early, all classrooms will be receiving ELMOS by the end of the year. The teachers are coming up with a technology vision so that we may proceed with a clear plan. Other technology needs were addressed, like ongoing maintenance (elmo bulbs) and printing capabilities.
Secretary, Mrs. Michelle Arslan read the board recommendation... The Board proposed that we fund the purchase of 11 ELMOS at a cost of $12,985. Mrs. Cynthia Antonette seconded the motion and it passed without any discussion or abstentions.
Treasurer, Mrs. Cynthia Antonette presented the treasurers report (which is available at any time for viewing by any current member). A motion was made to ratify check numbers 3134-3142 for the month of February. Mrs. Kryssie Booth seconded the motion and it was passed without discussion or abstentions.
Financial Secretary, Mrs. Bridgette Jones, presented the Financial Secretary's report. A copy of the report was filed with the auditor.
Parliamentarian, Mrs. Tamara Burke shared that the amended bylaws were submitted to the district on 10/26/11, then submitted to the state on 12/20/11. We received the approved bylaws signed by the state parliamentarian on 01/20/12. The bylaws were approved and adopted by the executive board. Tamara Burke moved that the new bylaws be adopted by the association. Mrs. CJ Holder seconded the motions. It was passed without discussion or abstentions. The changes that were made have been posted and are available for review by and current member by contacting Mrs. Tamara Burke.
VP of Membership, Mrs. Kris Williamson shared that we met our goal of 609 members last month. We are currently at 626 members. We have had 100% of teachers participation!
VP of Fundraising, Mrs. Wendy Cuellar gave an update on Fitness Day. Next Thursday, March 22, students will be participating in a fitness course, class by class over the course of the entire day. Schedules have been made and will be coming home soon. Your support is greatly appreciated! We are also in desperate NEED of Volunteers on that day. Any time that you can spare will be helpful! We are utilizing the whole school and are in need of people to direct the students to their next station.
Students are welcome to wear previous Fitness Day t-shirts to school that day. Kinder students are invited to wear athletic themed shirts as well as part of their uniform.
The next Family Dinner Night Fundraiser will be at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries at the Marketplace in Long Beach, near Mimi's Cafe on 03/29, all day.
Thank you to Mrs. Sally Wuchner, our Cheesecake and Cookie Dough Fundraiser Chairperson. We have just wrapped the event and it was the most successful yet! We cleared $9500! Way to GO!
Principal, Mrs. Maggie Kerns shared that the we just had a visit from the Distinguished Schools Committee. Emerson was one of three schools that were qualified to submit an application for the award. We were visited by a committee who came to validate our claims from the application process. The team visited all the classrooms, met with students, teachers, parents, faculty, specialists and school site council. They were very complimentary in their findings and offered such opinions as
"There is a clear progression of writing that is easy to see and follow"
"Kindergarten launches the culture of the school"
"Data is very collaborative"
"Great Communication"
"Emerson sets priorities based on what is best for kids"
As there was no unfinished business, we moved on to the election process.
Formalities needed to be observed. Parliamentarian, Mrs. Tamara Burke read a list of important rules and qualifications. The positions of President, Executive VP, VP Membership, VP Fundraising, VP Activities, VP Teacher Liaison, Recording Secretary, Auditor, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Historian are elected by vote. The positions of Corresponding Secretary and Parliamentarian are appointed by the board and subject to ratification by the association.
If a position is left vacant it shall be filled by the board elect.
Mrs. Felice Spark, chairman of the nominating committee, presented the findings and recommendations of the nominating committee. The considered candidates were presented to the association at the last meeting. President, Mrs. Paula Nathan re-read the slated nominees.
Nominations for the 2012-2013 PTA Board were accepted from the floor.
For the positions of President, there were no slated nominees.
Mrs. Peggy Walker nominated Mrs. Paula Nathan and she accepted. There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Executive VP, there were no slated nominees.
Mrs. Kris Williamson nominated Mrs. Cynthia Antonette and she accepted.
Mrs. Bridgette Jones nominated Mrs. Felice Sparks and she accepted.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the positions of VP of Membership, there were no slated nominees.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed. That position was left as vacant.
For the position of VP of Fundraising, there were no slated nominees.
Mrs. Wendy Cuellar gave a brief description of the position.
Mrs. Maggie Kerns nominated Mrs. CJ Holder and she accepted.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of VP of Activities, Mrs. Rose Jackman was a slated nominee.
Mrs. Jackman vacated the nomination with respect.
Mrs. Paula Nathan nominated Mrs. Stacie Cardena and she accepted.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of VP, Teacher Liaison, Mrs. Pam Harmon was a slated nominee.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Recording Secretary, Mrs. Kryssie Booth was a slated nominee.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Treasurer, Mrs. Bridgette Jones was a slated nominee.
Mrs. Karen Jordan nominated Mrs. Jeana Luzzi and she accepted.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Financial Secretary, Mrs. Tamara Burke was a slated nominee.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Auditor, Mr. Rene Justin was a slated nominee.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
For the position of Historian, there were no slated nominees.
Mrs. Cynthia Antonette nominated Mrs. Kris Williamson and she accepted.
There were no other nominations from the floor and then nominations for that position were now closed.
The association has no dispute to holding a voice vote for the positions where there was only one nominee. For the positions in which there were more than one nominee, written ballot votes were cast. A Teller committee responsible for gathering and counting the ballot votes was appointed. Visiting Long Beach Council PTA members were appointed for the committee. Mr. Michael Morgan, LBCPTA President served as chairman. Mrs. Sandy Shewchuck, LBCPTA Director of Leadership served on the Teller committee along with Mrs. Linda Haines, LBCPTA Parliamentarian.
Voters were counted at 61. A ballot portion was done first to give the committee ample time to count the votes. Members tore a yellow sheet marked Executive Vice President from their cluster of ballots given at the beginning of the meeting. They wrote their choice on the paper and folded it in half. Raising the ballots in the air, they were collected by the Teller Committee. The Committee opted to gather and count the votes for the Executive Vice President position before proceeding with the second ballot vote.
The votes for treasurer were cast in the same manner. Voters tore from their cluster of ballots a sheet marked Treasurer and wrote their choice. The Teller Committee collected the folded ballots and proceeded to count them.
Voice voting continued for the remaining positions and the results are as follows:
President, Paula Nathan. Ayes have it.
VP of Fundraising, CJ Holder. Ayes have it
VP of Activities, Stacie Cardena. Ayes have it.
VP Teacher Liaison, Pam Harmon. Ayes have it.
Recording Secretary, Kryssie Booth. Ayes have it.
Financial Secretary, Tamara Burke. Ayes have it.
Auditor, Rene Justin. Ayes have it.
Historian, Kris Williamson. Ayes have it.
The voice portion was concluded. The ballots counting was complete and the results were as follows:
Executive Vice President, Cynthia Antonette by ballot majority.
Treasurer, Jeana Luzzi by ballot majority.
Following a suggested formality by Long Beach Council PTA, Parliamentarian, Mrs. Tamara Burke made a motion to destroy ballots immediately following the association meeting. Mrs. Wendy Cuellar seconded the motion and it passed without discussion or abstentions. The ballots only viewed by the Teller Committee were destroyed immediately following the association meeting.
The next association meeting will be on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 6:00pm in the auditorium. There will be a drawing held at the meeting next month for all current PTA members!! Come see if you win!
Wednesday packet distribution may be delayed due to a broken copier.
Yearbook photo submissions are due by Monday, March 19. Please turn them in to the office or send them via email.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:13pm.
WOW! That was a lot of reading! Thanks! Even if you just scrolled down here to see the election results ;)
See you next month!
ps. email me if I have some terrible spelling mistakes. i blame it on the late hour. and if i spelled your name wrong... sorry, let me know and i'll fix it.
