PTSA Minutes

(For archived minutes from previous meetings, click here)

Tremper PTSA Meeting Minutes
November 19, 2007

Attendance:   Terri Harold, Patti Ault, Sharon Corso, Renee Blise, Patty Mahoney, Jay Marinan, Katie Mahoney, Keith Corso, Linda Coopland, Jodie Zarletti,
Gene Mathias, Jan Brandes, Erik Brown (new staff member), Michelle Amundson, and Carol Kok

Special Guests:  Jolene Schnieder, Talent Development and Foreign Language Coordinator for the Kenosha Unified School District
Rebecca Stevens:  KUSD School Board Member

Jolene Schneider
Work # 653-7553     jschneid@kusd.edu
Ms. Schneider spoke about AP courses provided by the district.
AP Courses are designed for students who are looking for rigor, college credit, an introduction to college courses, and college study habits.  Statewide AP tests are given in early May.  Unfortunately at that point many students still haven’t finished the necessary coursework for the test. Many students take AP courses for Honors credit and do not intend on taking the test.  The district budgets and spends over $50,000 for students to take the test.  This becomes a problem when students are not taking the test seriously with the purpose of college credit.
Some students do not want to take AP courses because the risk involved due to the rigor is lowered GPA. Parents are encouraged to contact the college that their child is interested in to see if the student will benefit more from the AP test score for up to 6 college credits or the individual college placement exam for up to 16 credits.
Youth Options Program (YOP), Honors, and AP courses are all provided by the district. Colleges look at GPA, ACT, Scholarships, and then AP and Honors classes upon acceptance. KUSD teachers that teach AP classes and their syllabi must be approved by the district.

Intervention: There are still concerns regarding intervention since it is not required.  It is used as a study hall for kids that are doing well or want extra help, but is not working well for those who truly need it. There is no consequence if you do not attend and are getting below a C grade at this point. Mr. Marinan’s idea is to move intervention into the middle of the day having an alternating schedule without Advisory. His proposal is to have interventions on: Monday during 1st Block, Tuesday during 2nd Block, Wednesday during 3rd Block, Thursday during 4th Block, and hold Advisory on Fridays. This would provide each student a chance for extra help with each course they are in.  Teachers could work with students that need help while other students could be working on ACT prep or class projects.

AP Update: Mr. Marinan encourages students to take AP classes and tests because studies show that they will do better in college.  He would also like to see more minorities and male students taking these classes as well as offering them to 9th and 10th graders. His research also showed that colleges look at AP test scores first followed by ACT/SAT, coursework, and lastly GPA for entrance.

Lock Down:  The recent lock down was handled well and according to policy.

The computerized phone message regarding testing was helpful.

Mr. Marinan would also like to set building goals for suspensions and truancies.

Renee Blise presented the treasurer’s report and the donut sale was discussed as a success.  Thanks to Linda Coopland for arranging the donut donation from Pick N’Save, and to the volunteers who came to sell the donuts before school.

Secretary’s report:    The minutes were approved (Blise/Zarletti). Carol will get the minutes to Mr. Romano to be posted on the website.

Membership:  Patti Ault:  There are 208 members to date.   We are down about 40 faculty members this year.  Mr. Marinan was asked to encourage the teachers to support the PTSA.

Students of the Month
December:                                            January
Julia Broesch                                       Liz Tabor
Emily Coopland                                   William Harold                        
Emily Nyquist (Parking pass)            Molly Martin (Parking pass)                 

Vice President’s Report:  Patty Mahoney:  Bylaws were reviewed and edited. A motion was made and approved (Blise/K. Corso).  Page 10 of the bylaws: special meetings were changed from having 7 days notice to requiring 5 days notice; the month for the annual meeting (when the budget is passed) was changed from May to September; and we will retain 9 members as the amount needed to constitute a quorum.  On page 11, we will send one delegate to represent Tremper PTSA at the Kenosha Unified PTA Council instead of two.
Patty Mahoney will call the state to see if one or two signatures are required on the PTSA checks.  If only one signature is required, our bylaws will be amended to reflect that practice.

Student Government Report was given by Katie Mahoney. 
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up; December Holiday gathering TBA; and a Freshman only dance is being planned for February.

Reflections: Applications due Mid December.  Theme:  I can make a difference by…

New Business:
The Golden Strings at Founder’s Day will be at the Parkway Chateau. A motion was made and passed to donate $50 to The Golden Strings to help offset their costs for giving this performance.  It was moved to send the $100 budgeted money for the PTSA Council Scholarship fund, and the $25 for PTA Council dues to the PTA Council Treasurer this month.  (Zarletti/Mahoney).

Meeting Adjourned at 9:08 pm.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the library.

Respectfully submitted by,
Carol Kok
Tremper PTSA Secretary