Meeting was called to order at 9:30am.
The following PTA Board was in attendance:
Jo Anderson, PTA PresidentPrincipal's Report: Mrs. Epstein, Dave Varrocca(head driver), and Bill Crosson Head of Transportation were present. Our parking lot near the All Purpose Room is dangerous with the bus garage at the end forcing all busses to drive by where children are darting in between cars. Mr. Crosson has been in the district 35 years. Historically, infrastructure (buildings, parking lots, equipment...) has been put on the back burner for the sake of the quality of education. Garages are used at Sheafe(which is rented property at $9500/mth!), Wappingers Jr. High and Fishkill Plains; the garage at Van Wyck can not be used due to the location of the air intakes for the building and the air tightness of the building. The district has looked all over the area for a new garage location, but nobody wants a bus garage next door to their house. There are 80 employees that use the Fishkill Plains garage; it is in disrepair with holes in the roof. It could be $50000 to repair and it does not seem worth it.
(absent Traci Scarduzio, Vice President of Programs )
Lisa Ruvo, Vice President of Membership
(absent: Dina Finelli, Treasurer )
Peggy Farrington, Correspondence Secretary
Shelly Black, Recording Secretary
Avenues other than Board of Education meetings to voice concerns include: letters to the editor, PTA Council meeting at Fishkill Plains Feb 1st and speak in person to (Assistant) Superintendent. Bus stops were determined initially by distance and a few basic rules of not walking across Rt. 9. Parents can file a transportation review if they are dissatisfied with the bus stop. Three members of the committee go out and take a look and 'score' the bus stop. A determination is made whether to honor the bus stop change or not. Parents can then appeal if rejected; new committee takes a look. We cannot put a stop at every house since it would add too much time to the route. Operation Safe Stop has an intensive campaign once a year ( March 27th this year); if you pass a stopped school bus, the penalty is 5 points on your license and excessive fines($275-$500) . When the bus stop is questionable, bottom line: it is the responsibility of the parent to get the student to school safely.
We need to get together a PTA committee with some possible solutions to have a meeting with a committee of drivers and Mr. Crosson/Varrocca and work out the best, safest solution in light of the situation what we have currently. Ultimately it would be best to enlarge the parking at Fishkill Plains. There is a Fishkill Plains parking lot expansion plan proposed each year and it has not yet passed on the budget.
"Alert Now" automated phone calling list form will be coming home soon. Please return it ASAP so that phone calls can be made in the event of an emergency cancellation/delay/early dismissal. Tom Stella would be the person to contact if you have suggestions concerning this system.
Teacher Liaison: Mrs. Plambeck was not present.
Correspondence: Peggy reported we received a Veteran's Day thank you from the Veterans.
Treasurer's Report: Lisa reported (for Dina Finelli) a balance of $25,047 is in our account. We still need to pay for the Holiday shop - about $1000. Negative expense=money to spend for the garden $103 is shown although all bake sale money is not included so the balance will be about $300.
PTA membership: Lisa Ruvo had no updates..
After School Clubs: Clubs will run 5 weeks Starting Feb 5th. There will 18 clubs, including: Yoga, Basketball, Group Games, Baseball, Scrapping, Spanish, Stamping, Jewelry, and Dance. An e-mail/memo will go out to get volunteers or kids who may need to do community service to help with club supervision and/or attendance.
PARP: PARP will be run the 1st 3 weeks in March; volunteers are needed (e-mail will be sent)
School Store: The store will be held during lunch periods Tuesday Jan 23rd.
Family Fun Night: Bingo is tentatively set for Feb 9th 7pm.
Box tops for Education: We just received $1200! A determination on where to spend the money has not been decided.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:40am.
Next meet: Feb 13th