PTA Meeting, 8/27/2008
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Carlow Campus School PTA Meeting
August 27, 2008
Minutes
Dana Casale, PTA President, opened the meeting on August 27, 2008 at 8:35am.
Dana welcomed the returning and new families. She introduced the new officers:
- Mary Kiernan, Vice President
- Anne Ward, Treasurer
- Susan Lee, Secretary
Dana stated that the mission of the PTA is a social organization that works with the faculty and raises money for enrichment, technical enhancements (such as Nanny Net software), and scholarships.
Dana then introduced Jeff Beesong, Director of Safety and Security and Chief of Police for Carlow Campus. Safety is a priority for the campus. There are full-time police officers on duty and 40 monitoring cameras. Parents and students must use their swipe cards or be buzzed in to enter the Campus School buildings.
Jeff requests that parents sign up for E2, which in case of an emergency can send a text message to their cell phones. For more information on how to sign up for this service, contact the office (Shana Eberhardt, School Secretary) at 412-578-6158 or Jeff Beesong at 412-578-8898.
Jeff spoke of the need to follow the parking procedures. He requested that parents not park in the Sister’s of Mercy spaces or the circle. Please park in the designated 15 minutes spaces only for drop-off and pick-up, try to use the lower drop-off in the morning if entering from Fifth Ave and use lot C for extended parking. Lot B is actually Sister’s of Mercy parking. There was discussion about the difficulty of exiting parking lot C. A mirror had been installed to view cross traffic, but was destroyed within 3 weeks. Jeff welcomes suggestions and questions at X 8898.
Patty Cooper, Interim Executive Director, is filling in for Dr. Anne-Marie Balzano for the fall term. She has taught for over 20 years at Carlow Campus School, worked with 6 Carlow administrations, chaired the Middle States Accreditation, and been president of the Pittsburgh Independent School Teachers. She would like to have the best environment possible for our students by keeping the lines of communication open between the parents and herself, please contact her with any questions (412-578-6157). Shannon Eddy will take over Ms. Cooper’s science class for the semester. Patty plans to stay involved in the progress and curriculum.
Shana Eberhardt, Secretary in the front office is starting her second year at the Campus School. She can be reached at 578-6158.
Melissa Hankins is replacing Billie Girard as Director of Admissions. Melissa has worked at Carlow since 1991. She worked as Director of the Early Childhood Center. Melissa is excited to observe the classrooms to better help in recruiting new students for the Campus School. There will be some open-houses for recruitment, volunteers are welcome. Dana suggested contacting local Montessori schools, Cyert Center and other pre-K schools. Questions were raised about sibling preference for admittance to the school, which Melissa assured parents was the Campus School’s wish that siblings be able to attend the same school. Linda Rembold, parent, raised the issue of a lack of bus service outside of 10 miles of Pittsburgh as prohibitive in recruiting students. Updating the web-site was also discussed as a recruitment tool.
Marlee Flaherty has been let go in a University consolidation. Concern was voiced by Greg Gerlach and others, about finding someone to maintain and update the school web-site. Dana would like to communicate more information on the school web-site, such as quarterly PTA newsletters and the PTA calendar. Mary Kiernan and her company, Actual Size Creative, created the the PTA web-site (campusschoolpta.com), but there is an ongoing need for other volunteers to update it more regularly.
The new earlier start has created some arrival time issues for certain buses. These problems should be worked out shortly, as the bus companies have been advised of the change.
Parent, Doug Spittel, of Boy Scout troop 373 chartered through Sacred Heart Parish, was offering scouting opportunities for any boys interested. Please contact him directly.
Other volunteers recognized:
- Catherine DelBarba-Bingo Chair
- Lorraine Buck-Homeroom Chair
- Marie Hairston-Boxtops Chair
- Joan Carcillo and Amy Johnson-Bookfair Co-Chairs
Anyone wishing to volunteer, please contact Dana Casale.
The annual BBQ will be held in Schenley Park on Sep. 27, hope to see everyone there!
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35am.
Susan Lee
