PTA Meeting Minutes: 9/9/25

Whittier PTA Board Meeting
September 9, 2025
7:00pm Whittier Library & Zoom
Meeting ID: 817 3911 8250
Passcode: wildcats

BOARD MEMBERS / CHAIRS IN ATTENDANCE

• Kate Lindsay Scher – President
• Anika Anand – Vice President; Year Book Co-Chair
• Dafna Amster Kahn – Co-Secretary; Back To Business Co-Chair
• Mary Ann Rozance – Co-Secretary
• Brian Wold – Treasurer
• Allie DeLong Thomas – Fundraising Co-Chair
• Renee Hartnett – Fundraising Co-Chair
• Jess Twardzik – Hospitality Co-Chair 
• Aisling McCarron – Events Chair; Back To Business Co-Chair
• Emily Schweiger – Outreach Chair
• Laura Zingg – Programs Co-Chair; Student Directory Co-Chair
• Kyle Hiatt – Legislative Rep
• Kristin Laughlin – Volunteer Coordinator 
• Kate Gray – Fall Festival Chair; Member-at-Large
• Snigdha Rege – Book Fair Chair
• Ashley Schiavone – Spirit Gear Chair 
• Janet Kim – Student Directory Co-Chair

COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

• Morgan Leming
• Trilby Cohen
• Bonnie Smith (PTA member; Kraken ice skating event)
• Katie Stiver (PTA member; Mariners event) 
• Sara Lukas (PTA Member)
• Theresa Miranda Blockney (PTA Member)
• Ellen Pepin-Cato (PTA Member)
• Noel Frame (PTA Member)
• Andrea Pungoli (PTA Member)
• Yelena Nueman (PTA Member)
• Clara Fajardo (PTA Member)
• Natalie Gwormoff-Halt
• Johan Manson (PTA Member)
• Jessica Brinto (PTA Member)
• Ben Stein (PTA Member)
• Stephanie Mylenski – (PTA Member)
• Jared Cortese – (PTA Member)
• Dan Marx
• Jitu Nadine
• Hartley
• Hanni

Meeting Called to Order at 7:04 PM

Welcome & Call To Order

• PTA Dashboard (slide presentation) 
• Table & Zoom Chat Introductions

President Update

• This Year’s Overview (Volunteers, Open positions, Goals, Schedule, Programs/Services, Meeting Structure)
• September To-Do List 
• PTA Work Cadence (Oct-May)
• Dashboard Review – 58 members today (over charter minimum, less than last year’s 166); Annual Give update
• PTA Membership and Volunteer Refreshers
• Standing Rules Updates – voting on WA State and National PTA recommended changes
• Revised Budget – voting on changes to approved budget due to change in cost of Spring Fling 
• Communications Chair – implications of this role not being filled
• Event Planning Worksheet – made available to members planning PTA events
• Community requested update – Plymouth housing development community meeting request 
• School Board – meetings and elections information
• District Superintendent – info re Superintendent search

● Principal Watters’ Report –By Morgan Leming (4th Grade teacher) and Trilby Cohen (Reading Intervention Specialist) in Principal Watters’ absence.

• Update on how the first week of school went. Construction disruption has been minimal and full playground access is expected October 6.
• New staff – Devlyn Habib (He/She) is the new enrichment coordinator and math intervention and extension coordinator. STEAM lab will be used by teachers at their election for specific units with Devlyn’s support. Use of the STEAM lab will be communicated to parents in the teacher’s weekly communication.
• Math intervention and extension will be run by the classroom teacher with Devlyn facilitating volunteers. Teachers may choose to have volunteers run Gen Ed, while the teacher works with kids who need intervention in small groups, on a unit by unit basis.
• Math agency was not extended for an additional year because it did not meet community needs. We were not required to make the last payment in the amount of $20,000, which per PTA approved budget will be used to fund this new staff position for the 2025-26 school year.

Belonging practice

Overview of the purpose they served in last years meetings and what they included. It was led by EDI Co-chair last year but can be taken up by any community member.

Chair & Lead Update

• Treasurer’s Update (Bryan) 
  • Intro – Bryan is the new treasurer.
  • The only expense during the summer was Konstella renewal. 
  • Once the new board members are approved in today’s meeting signors can be updated in the bank account
  • Financial review was completed. Report must be signed by reviewers who should contact Bryan.
• Hospitality Update (Jess)
  • Report on pre-school start activities – staff room restock, back to school gifts to staff, meals for staff for back to school tri days, tears and cheers
  • First staff appreciation is in September – Chipotle 
  • Next month will be 5th grade, signups will be sent
• Outreach (Emily)
  • Report on pre-school activities – Kindercat popsicle playdate, Kindercat welcome Pizza party
  • Mentorships – 14 families volunteered to mentor new whittier families. The office will assign families to mentors and new families will have the choice if to reach out.
• EDI (Emily)
  • EDI committee meets every third Tuesday except this month which will be Wednesday. 
  • EDI meetings work on belonging groups to address different groups within our community with unique experiences. To receive the first meeting information reach out to Emily.
• Room Rep Coordinator (Sara)
  • Room Reps still needed for Baldi and Leming classes. 
  • Room reps coordinate communications from the teacher, staff gifts etc.
• Fundraising (Aliie)
  • Annual Give will be condensed to September this year.
  • Moved to fully digital, with raffles every Friday.
  • Currently at $32,082 (25% of goal). 
  • Employer matching welcome.
• Spring Fling (Kate) 
  • Still no char, the event requires two co-chairs.
  • In the past we had a block party, which is no longer an option. Due to the move to a venue, we also need to have a caterer. Kate and Allie researched options and found Stoneway Auto and Pyramid catering to be the least expensive option that still meets community needs.
  • Other options considered were too mall, too expensive, already booked for the desired date etc.
  • Due to the increased cost of hosting the event, ticket prices will need to increase, but this is accounted for by food provided, as opposed to food available for purchase when the event was a block party with food trucks.
  • The event would still require a $7,000 budget increase, and a corresponding fundraising goal increase, which is reflected in the amended budget.  
• STEAM Lab (Kate) Once Devlyn is fully onboarded we will have work parties for volunteers to help prepare the room in coordination with Devlyn. We are hoping this will be ready to preview on curriculum night, September 25.

Voting (for PTA members) 

• Approval of 2025-2026 Board: 

• Katherine Lindsay, President 
• Anika Anand, Vice President 
• Dafna Amster Kahn & Mary Ann Rozance, Co-Secretaries 
• Brian Wold, Treasurer 
• Allie DeLong Thomas & Renee Hartnett, Fundraising Co-Chairs 
• Melissa Ivancevich & Jess Twardzik, Hospitality Co-Chairs 
• Emily Schweiger, Outreach Chair 
• Aisling McCarron, Events Chair 
• Laura Zingg-Wadsack & Natalie Gromoff, Programs Co-Chairs 
• Kyle Hiatt, Legislative Rep 
• Seeking Volunteer, Membership Chair 
• Kristin Laughlin, Volunteer Chair 
• Rachel Wold & Jill Muscatel, EDI Co-Chairs

• Sara Lukas motioned to approve
• Theresa Miranda Blockney seconded
  • Approved

• Approval of May 2025 Meeting Minutes
  • Ashley Schiavone motioned to approve
  • Anika Anand Blockney seconded
    • Approved
• Approval of the amended 2025-2026 Standing Rules
  • Theresa Miranda Blockney motioned to approve
  • Kristin Laughlin seconded
    • Approved
• Approval of the 2024-25 Financial Review Results
  • Snigdha Rege motioned to approve
  • Kristin Laughlin seconded
  • Approved

Kudos & Thank Yous

• Brian – Summer Treasurer on-boarding 
• Financial Review committee members 
• STEAM Lab Volunteers – Curriculum planning 
• Dafna, Sara, and Aisling – Back to Business planning 
• Back to Business day-of volunteer crew! 
• Emily S. – Popsicle Playdates & Kinder Welcome 
• Hospitality – Staff Lounge Restock, Welcome lunch and staff gifts 
• Laura & Natalie – Summer Programs planning!

Meeting Adjourned 8:30 pm