Minutes of CSCA Board Meeting April 14^th, 2011

(Approved)

Attendance:  Paul Dieter, Liz Wolk, Mollie Martin, Pamela Pakker-Kozicki, Sam Star, Sandi Tennyson, Mary Grace, Jessica Wesch,  Aimee Bramble, Dinah Coops, Steve Havas, Carol Wolf, Margaret Chodos-Irvine, Marty Hendley, Julie Vergeront, Wynn Potter-Levy, Jerry Clayton, Rebecca Saninski

Center School will be hosting Patty Murray on Monday (10 minutes for Center School Staff)—Senator Murray will be meeting with innovative schools in Seattle.

Brief history—2 years ago, Center was put on the list of school closures, with a proposed move to Rainier Beach.  CSCA together with school board directors organized a PR campaign to educate the school board about Center School.  Once board understood what Center was accomplishing, Center was taken off the list.  Then, Dec of last year, superintendent took Center Principal to Rainier Beach.  That was followed by four interim Principals and no one steering the ship during that entire time.  There were a few positives that came out of that experience.  We ended up with a great Principal, some great presentations about what Center does and we’re producing more college ready students than any other school in the district.

Blast Dabacle—Freshman parents have not been receiving the Blast since the beginning of the year.  That has been rectified as of a month ago, now everyone who has given an email address to Center is receiving it.

BLT—Paul—It’s a great way to get involved.  They craft ideas and policy, strategy that then is brought up in staff meetings.

Treasurer’s Report—Carol Wolf

Fundraising update:  Current totals: $11,373 raised and goal is $35,000.   Night at the Theaterand Art Showcase included.  House Parties will hopefully make up the difference.  Last year House Parties raised $15,000.

Operating budget this year:   $50k total including grants this year, fundraising goal this year is $35, last year goal was $40k. 

Paul—We need to take a look and see if what CSCA budgeted for this year, was the best use of our money.   We are awaiting an evaluation by the staff on whether or not it was worth the money spent.  Perhaps some feedback from the students would be helpful as well.

The new executive board will craft next year’s budget with Oksana. 

CSCA Pays for :  Partnership with the Rep, Drama for Humanities, Physical Theater, Acting for the Camera (Beverly) $12,000, Writer’s in the school (Greenburg) $3000, Theater rental ($1000 for one drama production) Molly Pritchard, Curriculum enrichment (Wynn)  guest artists that come into the schools, for example the Chemistry phd who is now an artist using design to explain chemistry concepts.  $5000 for arts enrichment, $5000 Model United Nations.  Back to School teambuilding for students, mini-grants ($2000) for things like lab coats, tickets to Washington for Model UN, bus trip for students to visit Microsoft, etc.  Also, CSCA sets aside funds for new technology (software, computers, etc.).

Grant Writing:  Margaret trying to get together a grant writing group with a grant writing chair that is part of the CSCA Board.  The new officers coming in should add a fundraising chair and a grant writing chair. 

Fundraising Ideas

Marty--Many of the parents are artists and musicians, has anyone asked parents to do a performance fundraiser? 

Rebecca—Fundraising is Parents!  Events are great because they are community building and if you can match that with fundraising, it’s a win/win.  Grants are not going to be our major source, parents will be.  All Schools at this point are still using “dig in your pocket” funding to make up the shortfalls.

Sam—PayPal monthly donations would be the way to go.

Julie--Expanding the community is great, and what has been lacking this year is someone to organize events. 

Paul—We need to deal with what we can deal with this year.  The next generation needs to step up, we hope to have a calendar set up for the new board so they have some idea of what‘s coming.

Upcoming Events

Teacher appreciation week—May 6^th will be the first event (one event for each day) and need volunteers.   Monday--Chocolate bars in teacher boxes.  Tuesday (Janet Grayson)—Flowers.  Wednesday (Marty)—Refreshments for staff meeting.  Thursday (Student Senate)—To be determined.  Friday—Staff lunch for staff meeting (27 total staff although usually 15 to 20 show up for staff meetings).

House Parties

Saturday May 7^th and Julie’s House & Sunday May 15^th at Liz’s house, 5:00 to 7:30pm

RSVP stand at 30 for each house party.  Parents will provide food, clean up, etc.  Students will come to provide entertainment.  We will use the parties to highlight the arts integration that we fund at the school and showcase the impact we can have on the students. 30 minutes for intro and performance (staff will introduce students).  Following that will be the big “money ask”.

Margaret & Dinah to organize student performances

Wed April 27^th, 6:30 at Center School Food Court--meeting to discuss how best to go about asking for money at the House Parties.

April 25^th, hard copy invitations will be given to students at school.  That will be followed by a robocall from Oksana telling parents to get invitation from student.

Organize the students to do a phone tree and call all parents that have not responded to hard copy invitation.

Email all the 8^th graders that toured the school and send out email to them that invites them to the house parties.

Still need day of the events volunteers—Food, ideas for finger foods, beer & wine, soft drinks, set up before event, clean up after event, etc.

Fundraising idea for house parties:  labels bottles of wine with the school label

2012 outlook

It would be a good idea to have fundraiser letter ready for the beginning of next year when there’s so much optimism and excitement of the new school and the new experience and people are ready to give.

First house party next year will be at Paul’s house (not to ask for money at the first house party, but really should do a better job of capturing people at that first event).

Sandi—contacted freshman and sophomore families that she knows.

Sam—stepping up as officer

All McAlister was treasurer at Salmon Bay (Julie needs someone to take over CBC perhaps co-chairs). 

Steve—there needs to be some institutional memory.  Paul will be that institutional memory for the board, Julie, and Margaret will be around for help for the new board. 

What kind of time commitment is it?  President (25 hours a week) and Vice President (5 to 8 hrs a week), this includes emails, writing, correspondence, graphic arts for events, meetings.  The President also needs to maintain face-time at the school (walk the halls at least once a week to bump into staff). 

Sam Star appointed Vice President by Paul Dieter—Cheers all around!!!

Marty Hendley raised hand for possible secretary.

Sandi will continue the blast and wants an understudy since she will be leaving after next year. 

Julie will help organize the fundraising appeal for the beginning of next year.

Liz remains as Middle School outreach.

Margaret stays on as Arts Liaison

Misc Business

Minutes need to be posted to the website—Mollie to get all meeting minutes to Tom Wolf and Bill Friend

Art Showcase posters—April 27^th, poster will be completed by Wynn and delivered to Liz.  Poster will be 11 x 17 with 4” blank space around edge.  Liz to take poster to businesses around center and for $100, a logo of their business will be added to the poster.  Train a couple of students to do this, create a contract.  If it works this year, take it to larger city next year.  Ads in the yearbook are $200/$300, could develop a package deal.  Liz and Wynn to work that out.

BLT—Technical meeting this month.  Working on teaching PD (professional development)

Wynn—Day Planner usually given out to the students with a calendar of events for the school.  CSCA could participate in loading up the dates for the calendar and then market it to parents (with CSCA meeting dates and fundraisers perhaps).

Next board meeting will be Thursday May the 11^th.

CSCA Meeting

March 18^th 2011

Attendance:  Principal Oksana Britsova, Paul Dieter, Margaret Chodos-Irvine, Carol Wolf, Julie Vergeront, Mollie Martin, Kip Kolodziejski, Cindy

Principal’s Report:  Center needs more money.  There is no money in the budget for arts programs beyond 3 sections of Art classes. No money for playgoers, no money for drama productions, etc.  No money for the arts programs that make Center what it is.   Oksana is going to the district to try to get more money, but is not optimistic about the chances (although Center runs on below average per capita budget).

Drama Dept. would like to be able to do a second semester production.  Currently there is only one production in the first semester, but there’s currently no money in the budget for this.

 Oksana & Molly Pritchard to submit $1000 reimbursement request to the CSCA for the play (this is already a line item in the budget).

Libby will be leaving at the end of the year, No replacement as of yet.

Oksana along with staff to put together a prioritized Wish List of programs they would like CSCA to fund and submit it before the budget developed for next year.

Playgoers—A lot of money spent for not a lot of return.  We need an accounting of what the Rep actually provided and whether or not they met their contractual obligations.  We may be due a refund if all The Rep provided was access to the plays along with discussion afterward.  Paul will look into whether or not The Rep met the terms of the agreement.

Senior Events—Kip

Poetry Slam Event—Entertainment provided by students and parents pay to get in.  This is not exclusively a Senior event but most parents attending will likely be Senior parents.

They will be selling t-shirts as well to try and raise additional funds, although there may be some issues with the design (currently not selling well).

Mother Earth Funds—Still need to better coordinate (or communicate) how this money is allocated and tracked.  Although this money must be allocated by the staff, perhaps they can decide where the money will be spent, and then it can be tracked by someone else who has more time throughout the year.

Flatstock—Margaret says this is moving along well and the students are working up an inventory of posters.  Posters will be sold at Center Events and then eventually will have enough stock to show at other venues like Folklife.

SOS Appeal To Center Parents—Paul and Cindy to work together to create an appeal to parents that will go in the Blast (perhaps phone tree will be necessary as well).  Appeal to center around upcoming House Parties. The  CSCA needs help planning the House Parties, needs people to attend the House Parties as well as people to contribute money at the House Parties.   The appeal will also touch on the fact that Board Members are needed for next year and how critical it is for parents to step up and get involved.

Fundraising Update & Appeal--Mollie & Carol will work up a quick item for the Blast, an update of what we’ve raised so far and an appeal to give more.

Next Meeting--April 14^th, 2011.