Minutes of Frost School General PTA Meeting
January 23, 2008
Lesley Lewkowicz, Recording Secretary
Meeting called to order at 7:36 p.m. by Robin Adkins, Co-President
Guest Speaker: Jack Levitt from EB Education Foundation
Jack Levitt from EBEF (East Brunswick Education Foundation) was the guest speaker at our general meeting.
Jack is the Executive Vice-President of the EBEF and gave an informative speech about what the EBEF does for our schools. He told us that the EBEF is looking for new members to support the foundation and help raise money for our schools in East Brunswick. There are mostly original members and they are looking to change and bring in a new generation of volunteers. The EBEF has a new logo and is going through what Jack called a “metamorphosis”, and has urged us to get involved.
The EBEF raises money to give away to all of the schools in East Brunswick. They do not have budgets to follow, so they can give grants to any school that requests it for a specific project or item that the school wants. For example, Frost School has recently applied for a grant for the music classes to get I-Pods – we are waiting for their response.
Jack informed us that there are a few types of grants for which schools can apply. One is a mini-grant of $500, for which the school can apply at any time. A larger grant for up to $2,500 can be applied for larger projects, and a “Blue-Ribbon” grant, for up to $7,500, can then be applied for, for specific projects.
The grant applications are reviewed by the committee at the EBEF. Jack told us that they almost never deny a grant to any school. This year, so far, $100,000 has been given to various schools by the EBEF, and $1 million in total has been given away by the EBEF, since its inception.
The EBEF gets its grant money by hosting all types of fundraisers. They’ve had fashion shows, and this year, are having two new fundraisers. One fundraiser will involve the children of the East Brunswick Elementary Schools and Hammarskjold Middle School. It’s “Principal of the Day”, and each student has an opportunity, for $5, to enter a drawing to become the Principal of the Day at his/her school on February 29, 2008. There is an East Brunswick alumnus who is going to match the fundraising effort, up to $15,000.
The EBEF also hosts a “Partner in Excellence Dinner”, which this year is honoring St. Peter’s University Hospital, two teachers at Hammarskjold Middle School, and the owner of The Colonial Diner, The Americana Diner, The Skylark Diner and The Pines Manor. The price of the dinner has been reduced from $110 to $55, and will be held on a Wednesday in March.
In October, 2008, the EBEF will be having a Kitchen Tour, and have asked all of the PTA’s for volunteers (Frost School has 3 volunteers, to date). It will $45/ticket, and the money raised will be put in a separate fund specifically for PTA use. Various restaurants will provide food and recipes at each host’s home. There will also be raffles.
The EBEF meetings are held one Wednesday, each month, from 7:30-9:00 at the Board of Education building. There is also a website, www.ebef.org.
Fundraising Report by Karen Mandleur:
Tricky Tray is the big fundraiser that Frost School is now working on, being held on 2/22/08 at East Brunswick High School. Tickets are on sale now – we are only selling 400 tickets, so everyone is urged to purchase before they sell out
Grand prize for Tricky Tray is 42” plasma television
Ellen Proia reported that a 2nd notice went home, asking for $5 donation per family towards the Tricky Tray. Ellen reported that everyone attending the Tricky Tray will go home with a door prize, donated by Liz Poholsky (either a mascara, wallet, or flashlight)
Starbucks will be serving coffee at the Tricky Tray
Principal’s Report:
Mrs. Meara reported about all of the activities the children have been engaged in for “Kindness and Justice Week”, in time with Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance.
Winter Walks on Wednesdays inside the school until weather permits – 4th-5th graders can come to school at 8:30 and walk through the halls with Mrs. Meara – promoting fitness and nutrition
Other Events and Items
Gertrude Hawke orders are going home soon
Walk-a-thon will be held in April
Clothing Drive to be held sometime in the Spring
Fit is Fun Club will begin in the Spring
January 22 was the Chorus, Band, and Strings Concert
No items were brought up from the floor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Labels: minutes, ptameetings