Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our first meeting of the year. We started the year off with some administrative items, including the approval of the budget for the 2017-2018 school year.
The budget includes over $20,000 towards curriculum support in the form of $500 stipends for each grade level, special area instruction, music, art and athletics. It also includes the purchase of 2 additional Chromebook carts, completing the PTO’s commitment to the school (approved last year).
The PTO has largely spent down the reserve funds which were held in the PTO account in the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year through the contribution of $80,000 to FCASD to supplement the new playground equipment. Another $20,000 has been earmarked for O’Hara courtyard improvements. Teachers are already making use of the courtyard tables purchased by the PTO, which included six tables with umbrellas. The district matched the PTO purchase, providing an additional set of 6 tables. A rotating schedule for courtyard use will be set up beginning this week; the courtyard can be used at teacher’s discretion for lunch and classroom instruction/activities.
Mrs. Batis shared a quick update on construction, noting that work is progressing as planned and thanking everyone for their patience and understanding. She also provided further clarification on O’Hara’s Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTII) program, a brief overview of which was presented at Curriculum Night. Mrs. Batis emphasized that while the RTII team meets formally each month, students can be referred to RTII at any time needed.
Parents are encouraged to complete the PTO volunteer form if they have not already done so, and to please GET YOUR CLEARANCES. Initial volunteers for classroom and school-wide events will be pulled from the volunteer form respondents. The volunteer form also asks respondents to indicate if they would like to be a PTO member, a new change for the school year that is a necessary step in updating the PTO bylaws. PTO membership remains open and free of charge, but parents and teachers/staff must elect membership to vote and participate in PTO business. Proposed changes to the bylaws were presented at the meeting and will be voted on by members electronically on or after October 24.
Finally, the PTO Board announced that, based on various requests received and poll results, we are going to alternate morning and evening meeting times for the rest of the calendar year. Evening meetings will be held on TUESDAY, October 24th and December 19th at 6:00pm in the Auditorium. Future evening meetings will be determined based on attendance at these two events. We look forward to seeing many new faces!
O'Hara Elementary PTO 