PTA Meeting Minutes: 1/14/25
PTA Meeting Minutes: 1/14/25
Meeting Called to Order at 7:02 PM
WELCOME
Agenda
Welcome
Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions
PRESIDENT UPDATES
- Goals and Meetings Reviews
- Dashboard Review
- Exceeded annual give goal by almost $4500 (goal: $130,000; raised $134,448.40)
- Monthly meeting format adjustment
- Budget Priorities/strategic planning survey results
- 46 responses
- Staffing and educational enrichment are top priorities
- Specialists supported
- Math Agency overwhelmingly supported
- Fundraising – people want to keep it as is, though there was more interest in a higher annual give option
- Preference for Zoom – plan to offer hybrid, but open to other ideas (alternate months?)
- Principal Watters – most likely communication to be read, followed by class rep
- Lots of interest in after school programs
- Levy Overview
- Special election February 11th
- BEX VI
- EP&O
- Advocacy Work Session update
- Billion Dollar Bake Sale (created by North Beach parents to raise awareness about education funding), work being done by the Salmon Bay community
PRINCIPAL WATTERS UPDATE
- MLK Activities Friday
- Math Agency
- Over 50 kids involved (27 intervention, 25 in extension)
- Recess supervision updates – more teachers outside and goes well
- Hiring two more teachers
- Wildcats wonder April 25th, 2025 – need keynote speaker
- Theme: We want to make our world safe, healthy, fair, and fun
- Also looking for speakers ~90 minute time commitment
● 5 new families have joined Whittier – getting them added to class lists, etc.
TEAM AND CHAIR UPDATES
Move-a-thon (David):
- Friday April 4th
- Need new ideas for swag
- Logo contest, maybe it gets printed on a bandana
- Might need more than $2/kid to get this made
- Could use a donor/sponsor that might donate money to the event and then have their name on things
Hospitality (Kahtleen):
- Stocking the teacher’s lounge next week
- 2 dream items on the Wish List – air fryer and ice machine(?)
After School Programs (Laura):
- Registration opened
- Space available in 3-4 programs primarily K-2
- Hip hop dance class
- Parkour class
- Clubs start Monday Jan 27th and go through mid March
Book Fair and Winter Performance grades (Anjean):
- Book fair was a success!
- Total raised at Book Fair: $6,865 (up from last year’s $6,019)
- Waiting for Phinney Books total sales
- Seeking feedback for next year’s planning
Spring Fling (Elan):
- Start planning in earnest for February
- Looking for 1-2 more core committee volunteers – procurement, marketing & communications
- Timing is late in the year
- Entertainment
- Experiences, vacation homes, awesome donations
EDI (Jill):
- Author Jaya Ramesh March 4th
- Drag Queen Story Time and other events coming up
- Come to the next EDI meeting!
Advocacy (Jon):
- Check out advocacy website on PTA site
- Kudos to Kate
- Legislature – state revenue not looking as good as projections
- Need constituents emailing and calling
- Rainy Day Resource podcast (overview of school funding issues)
- Feb 10th – 14th WA State PTA focus on advocacy
Comms update (Meg):
- First Wildchat of 2025 scheduled for distribution tomorrow!
Events (Kate):
- Whittier Mariner Game (Friday, April 25th)
- Tickets secure; should be announced/available this week!
- Co-Chairs needed for Family Dance & Game Night (Thurs, March 20th)
Volunteers (all open positions)
Outreach:
- Helping Hands Report – 120 gift cards
EDI Belonging Practice (Kiana)
- How can we apply inclusion to Whittier events specifically?
Treasurer’s report (Michelle):
November
■ Income–Annual Give $8005
■ Expense–Whittier Support Grant $25,011, Fall Festival $3277, Membership $1909
December
■ Income–Annual Give $8056
■ Expense–nothing of note
VOTING FOR PTA MEMBERS
- November Meeting Minutes
- Kathleen D Motioned
- Seconded
- Approved
Kudos & Thank Yous
Open Floor for Community
Meeting Adjourned 8:40 pm