Submitted by : Karen Nordstrom

Welcome/Introductions:

The Co-chair Ellen Roane kicked off the meeting.

Co-Chair Comments:

(1) A vote was taken and approved to purchase Dreamweaver software for the PAC website. Karen Nordstrom to purchase the package for the school, and will work with Ann Flynn and Miss King to finalize details.

(2) SUM I+ Allocation: Total cost for this program is $363, of which some is supplemented by the PAC. A vote was taken/approved to pay for this. This program contributes to improving our MCAS results. Usually about 100 kids participate. Parents are asked to contribute $2-3 per child. We are hoping to “jazz” up the program and make it more engaging this year.

(3) 2 Hour Power Hour Update: A thank you to all who have already signed up! However, this year’s response from our campaign during Open House received a lower than usual number of parents signing up. The PAC agreed to distribute additional forms to all parents.

Treasurers’ update/remarks:

Ann Flynn briefly re-iterated her role in helping the PAC Committee persons coordinate their events. She willingly will deliver and pick up checks from Committee Heads. Receipts are needed for ALL reimbursements.

Fundraising:

Fundraising items were covered in Co-chair comments and in relaying PAC Goals to group.

Team/Committee Reports:

(1) ChuckECheese Night: School gets 15% of all sales that evening! Urged everyone to attend if they can.

(2) MeadowFarms Update: Sales totaled $6683.60! Thanks to everyone who helped with that effort.

(3) Shopper’s Night: It’s planned for the night of Nov 13th. There will be an entry fee of $2. Raffles to awarded that night. If you are a vendor or know of someone who wants to participate as a vendor please contact Sharon Pierce or Diane Morris.

(4) 4^th Grade Update: Committee is on target with the pumpkin decorating contest this year. Once completed, they will be on display at our local Post office. The group is checking whether we can post pictures of this event online/at school.

(5) Livingston Terror Tickets: The PAC was selling tickets for this event at a discount to receive a profit for our organization. At the time of the meeting, only 4 tickets had sold for a profit of $8.00.

(6) Simon Mall Evening of Giving: This event is scheduled for the evening of November 23^rd from 6:30-9:30pm at the Rockingham Mall in Salem, NH. Tickets are being sold for $10, of which the PAC keeps $7. There will be many raffle/door prizes!

(7) Arts and Enrichment:

a. Tin Cup: This entire school program will be held on Nov 10^th. We are in the process of reviewing/approving the contract for this event. Anyone having questions should contact Leigh Leslie for more information.

b. Marine Life/Michael Glaser: This event is expected to cost $300, and will be for the benefit of our First Grade students. March 13^th.

c. Michelle’s Menagerie: This event is scheduled for our Second Grade students on April 7^th. The cost for the two shows to be performed is to be $285.

d. Susan the Map Lady: This program is being scheduled for our Third Grade students January 6^th. Cost for one assembly and three cartography sessions is $450.

e. Natural Discoveries: This program is being scheduled for our Kindergarten students. Details on this program will be announced shortly.

f. Aquarium Trip and Boot Mills in Lowell: Fourth graders will take trip to Aquarium in the fall and trip to Boot Mills in spring.

g. Mr. Magnet: This program is on target to being delivered in Jan 2009.

Teachers’ Update:

Mrs. Enos is our teacher representative to the PAC and she will be spearing heading our annual “Children Helping Children” event (where North Street school works in conjunction with DSS to help children). Information on this initiative will be distributed in the next couple of weeks.

Principal’s Comments/Remarks:

(1) An addendum to the School Handbook will be going home with students shortly. It will cover the updated rules on items such as: bus dismissal procedure, rules on no trading/selling items at school, etc. Parents will be expected to read through the addendum with their children, and returned a signed copy of the notice that will be sent out.

(2) There is a need to elect a parent representative to our school council. School Council members meet once a month, about an hour before the monthly PAC meetings. They assist in the budget review process for our school. Anyone interested can contact Miss King.

SPED PAC Updates:

(1) Kelly Preble is SPED PAC’s Treasurer and is once more our SPED PAC representative.

(2) The next meeting for SPED PAC will be held on October 19th at 7:30pm at the John F. Ryan school library.

(3) Upcoming event: On Saturday October 25^th the 4^th Annual “Families Striding to Help Families Fun Day” will take place. Event runs from 9am-2pm at Livingston Street recreational Center. This year’s new feature: “Bounce-a-thon”. There will train and hayrides, variety of vendors, field games for everyone, raffle, etc. To volunteer or just learn more about this event, please contact Kim Mance (978-640-1991) or Kelly Preble (978-640-8860).

Budget Committee Update – A special presentation given by Budget Committee member Rick O’Neil was given to the PAC meeting attendees. He was explaining how the Budget Committee would like to better reach out to all parents of school kids for discussion. Discussion included items such as:

Public Schools core foundation is it’s teaching staff
The committee does not want to have any fewer teachers than we have now.
$1.2 million of our budget is going to 3% raises.
Healthcare and retirement costs are escalating (up %500k this year!)
We are looking at a $1.7 million budget increase.
They are looking to identify all costs of extracurricular activities.
The committee’s goal is to have 3 models of budgets to work with.
Parents make up approximately 35% of the voting electorate in Tewksbury. We need to create an outreach effort to get them informed.
Committee is hoping to get an override passed.
The committee is trying to identify revenue to “hold the current course”.
The committee is expecting to loose revenues from the Fed/State.
Re-districting may be considered, as the “closing” of any school is not preferred.
During November, the Budget Committee would like to come to North Street to meet with a North Street parent advisory group. Details on this to be announced shortly.
All public Tewksbury schools will be included in similar efforts.
Anyone with suggestions for the budget Committee can send them to Rick’s email address: roneill@oneillassoc.com.

Open Discussion:

(1) We are working to update our Committee/Fundraising binder with additional details to help new volunteers run events.

(2) We are continuing to work to create a parent directory by grade for distribution.

(3) We are working to improve existing PAC website, and to publish material in a timely basis. We would like all parents to utilize our website as a means to go “paperless’.

Next Meeting:

November 6th, 2008 in the North Street School Library.