Simon Fraser Elementary
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Date: Monday, October 24, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Agenda:
1. Treasurer’s Report – Richard Neal
Mentioned last meeting that there was $12.5 K to spend. We have now reviewed last year’s spending and have a clearer financial picture. As a result we have a few recommendations for approval by the PAC:
Gaming grant spending
There was $2,700 of spending last year on items that may not be eligible for the gaming grant funds. For example, the SMART board, a/v equipment. Just to be cautious in allocating funds, Richard recommends holding back $2,700 from our 2011/12 spending until we submit the report this November on how the gaming grant for last year was spent. Funds can be released once the eligibility is worked out.
Garden
There was $700 allocated for the school garden last year ($300 from PAC and $400 from fundraising) but not yet spent. Richard recommends holding this $700 back from 2011/12 spending to be allocated to the garden overspend expenses from last year.
Contingency
Typically the PAC holds back $1000 as a general contingency for overspending or special circumstances/spending that arise during the course of the year. Richard recommends continuing this practice of a $1,000 contingency for 2011/12.
Questions/Comments:
The gaming grant eligibility issue could be recording of how funds were allocated on paper. Could be a bookkeeping issue that will be resolved with submission of the final report to the gaming commission. (per Nathan Wilkes, Past Chair)
Total recommended holdback: $4400
Voting: Motion passed by majority
School lunch program update:
Had good revenue in first round – over $30 for an average order and over 100 families participated!
2. Fundraising – Wealthy School Revolution - Stephanie Redivo
Natasha from the WSR presented and shared information about their online service that is also a fundraiser for schools. Up to 20% goes back to the school (18-20%) and food is delivered every 2 weeks to the school. The program needs a parent to administer and promote it, and Stephanie Redivo volunteered. This will require some coordination with the administration regarding logistics and whether they can support it.
Action: Stephanie to coordinate with Ruth Wrinch and report back to the PAC at the next meeting.
3. Budget voting and funds allocation
This portion of the meeting took some time to work through as we had great proposals from parents as well as the PAC and the administration.
APPROVED FOR FUNDING:
| Amount | Description |
| $1,100 | Classroom supplies as outlined by teacher proposal |
| $2,360 | SMART board (school pays for installation); projector, scanner and keyboard |
| $250 | Home reading bags |
| $800 | Team jerseys |
| $500 | Author visits |
| $750 | Fine arts performance(s) |
| $1000 | Grade 6/7 camp |
| $800 | Sexual health educator Saleema Noon; parent and student education |
| $500 | Choir |
NOT APPROVED FOR FUNDING:
iPads ($1,600)
iMac resource machine ($2,000)
Discussion:
Classroom supplies:
One parent wanted to revisit the PAC’s support of $1,100 to classroom supplies.
Choir:
There were three great proposals from parents around restarting a choir program at Fraser. There was discussion about potentially partially funding it by the PAC, partially a fee from parents/registration. There is much desire to get a continuous program happening but concerns about sustainable funding. It’s difficult to coordinate with the job action to find out what teachers or administration can or would like to support.
Action: Form a sub-group of the parents who put forward choir proposals (Ronit, Linda and Julie) who can move this forward with Ruth Wrinch and decide how to build out a program at Fraser.
Action: Ruth will talk to teachers and find out about how music has been incorporated at Fraser and specifically with Brandi Goodearle about special performances and sharing with other schools (i.e. Cavell).
SMART board:
There was extensive discussion about the need to create a technology plan for access to technology at Fraser. Specifically, if we purchase a SMART board, where should it go? Does the lack of access in one of the 6/7 classes put students at a disadvantage if they don’t have it in their class. It’s a significant purchase for the PAC (25% of the available budget).
Action: procure the board and work with the administration to decide where to put it in the school.
Meeting adjourned at this point as the meeting ran 30 minutes over time.
4. Adjourn to next meeting – Wednesday, November 30, 2011 @ 6:30pm