March 2025 PTO Meeting Minutes

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Meeting

Thursday, March 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Harriet Bishop Media Center or Virtually

Minutes

Welcome and Call Meeting to Order (Liz)
Introductions- Liz, Sam, Celeste, Linda, Betsy, Ann, Erik, Tiffany, Heather, Keralyn.
Old Business

Approve February 2025 meeting minutes (Found at hbpto.net/blog)- Ann approves, Sam seconds.
Other

Yearbook Update (Linda)- Christina Bussler will be on design side, helping Nikki, Vanessa Rupert will be helping with flyers/promotions. Book creation deadline is March 31^st. On campus sales through the end of next week. Online sales through April 4^th. Profit of $1.50 per book, sold 80 book online and 30 on campus. Deadline for scholarship request is this week. 11 scholarships requests. Every 10 books we can do 1 scholarship. Plan- honor the 11, if more come in then evaluate. Maybe prioritize 5^th grade. Need to approve number of scholarships and how many extra to sell on the last week of school. In the past we have had 33 extra to sell at the end of the year and have sold them. Balfour has given extra in previous years for free. Could scholarship 16 books with Linda’s scenario in order to break even. Proposing to buy extra 60 book, scholarship 16. May have a loss if we don’t sell the extra. PTO has $250 budgeted for yearbook as buffer. Liz motions to approve, Ann seconds. Linda will have updated numbers April 4^th.

Conference Meal – Recap- sandwiches, slots for setup/cleanup, Ken said it was good, lots of leftovers, got two meals, something for everyone.
Restaurant Fundraisers- on hold with readathon and spring break. Liz followed up with Davannis about April. Jersey Mikes may be a good one in spring too.
Read-a-Thon Update (Liz)- in week 2. Above $3,000, which is on trend for previous years. Week 3 is typically when most donations come in. Community with the most donations get to vote on which staff member is duct taped.
MN Twins Baseball Game – Apr. 11- got 100 tickets donated, was able to approve all scholarships (and more) Can’t accept money for donated tickets, so additional requests that come in will be free (45). Donated tickets are on the other side of stadium. Betsy will check to see if they can be moved. Tickets will be distributed based on space. Can offer to bus drivers, teachers, etc.
Grade Level Initiative – first communication went out in an email and to teacher. Next step staff appreciation, work with leads and engage 1^st grade in charge of staff appreciation. Can continue to include message in newsletters. Move restaurant fundraiser to pre-k.

Past / Upcoming Communications
Staff Appreciation Week – May 5-9- 1^st grade will be in charge.
May Family Fun Night – May 9 – pizza, movie, play outside. Not one of the grade level assignments. PTO will lead and enlist help from everyone.

Treasurer Update (Sam) – counting cash from Twins and readathon. Taxes are done. Will reach out about Class Acts.
Other

Spring Bike/Walk/Ride to School (May 7 @ 8:30-9am)- fall one went well, so doing it again. PTO will help with snacks, or flyers as needed. Police and fire will help.
Board Elections- Ann has a kindergartner parent who she is trying to recruit. Ann transitioning off board since her youngest is graduating. All positions are always open, can do dual role. Change title to Event Coordinator? Or something else?
Calendar for 2025-26- will need to look at this at next meeting about how to schedule our events. October and January family fun night overlapped with Community Ed events. Need to look at Read-a-thon dates since spring break is early next year, also need to look at testing dates. Will continue to have PTO meetings at 6pm next year
April Newsletter (submission due date: Mar. 24)- Continue to include communications about grade level, read-a-thon

Upcoming School and PTO Events/Key Dates