Morley PTO

Minutes of the Meeting of June 13, 2006

 

Present: Sharon LaPointe, Michael LaPointe, Stacy Raney, Nichola Dustin, Jenny Travers, Kris Monnes, Patti Mohler, Lisa Sandstrom, Caroline Anderson, Lisa Bonariggo, Christie Kennedy, Stephanie Barnes, Ruth Lawlor, Michele Paul, Kim Jackson, Sharon Zajack, Lisa Tanen-LaFontaine, Christine Mengel, Debbie Abraham, Megan Wares, Barbara Flores, Katie Odell, Jen Hall, Craig Diamond, Ellen Rosow Stokoe, Dawn O’Connor, Sharon McHale, Rachel Schaumburger, Deta Reid, Peggy Mantz, Michalee Merritt, Martha Rosenthal

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm.  The minutes of the PTO meeting of May 24th were reviewed and approved.  Sharon LaPointe stated that the purpose of the meeting was to vote on the purchase of one additional Smart Board from surplus PTO funds.

 

  1. Sharon McHale gave an overview of the current budget and the amount of “surplus” in the PTO checking account.  The PTO will purchase a previously agreed-upon technology package (including one Smart Board) from the proceeds of the Pond House fundraiser.  At the last PTO meeting, we voted to purchase one additional Smart Board and support an artist-in-residence for the fall.  This leaves approximately $3,500 to $4,000 to spend in order to go into the 2006-07 school year with an appropriate balance in the checking account (about $7,500).

 

  1. The floor was opened for discussion before the vote.  Several teachers spoke in favor of the Smart Board purchase. Dawn O’Connor expressed that the staff has long had the goal of being more technologically up-to-date, and it has taken Morley quite some time to get there. She stressed that the current Smart Boards have helped to bring the school up to higher technology standards.  Jennifer Hall described how the Smart Board increases her enthusiasm as a teacher because of the way it enhances traditional teaching methods, and stressed how much the students get out of it as well.  Some concerns voiced by parents were the amount of training available to the staff (will equipment be utilized effectively?), and the fact that the majority of our PTO funds are going to support technology, which ideally should be provided by the school district through tax dollars.  Dr. Rosow Stokoe explained that the staff has already been heavily trained on the technology, that she has an ongoing Technology committee headed by Sharon Zajack, and that Smart Board training is also offered through the town’s Continuing Education program.  She also explained that the Board of Education does have a consistent technology plan, which takes time to implement for the entire school district.  Her goal is to push Morley forward at as quick a pace as possible.  The question was raised regarding what is in currently place at the school now.  Currently, we have one permanently mounted Smart Board, three more to be permanently mounted, and two portables, for a total of six.  Dr. Rosow Stokoe’s goal is to have one Smart Board for every grade level. 

 

  1. Jenny Travers made a motion that we purchase one additional Smart Board with surplus PTO funds.  Lisa Tannen-LaFontaine seconded the motion.  The vote passed unanimously.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Stacy Raney

Secretary