Cedarmere Elementary School

PTA Budget Meeting

PTA Minutes: September 13, 2004

The Cedarmere Elementary School PTA Board Meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm by PTA President Shamren Fletcher. The meeting was held in the school library. Attending the meeting were Terri Filbert, Sandi Wilkins, Shamren Fletcher, Michael Goldsmith, Lynn Link, Mary Cialella-Smith, Barbara Roman, Lori Ditto, Barbara Marks, Allison Hogeman, Cindy Littman, Shandra Patrick, Mary Jo Link, Mary Frantz, Dave Green, Alvin Stevenson, Jodi Marlow, Rose Marry Albright, Sigrid Houston, Karla Cohen, Toody & Ed Rusnak, Candace Ocunsade and possibly more who did not sign in.

Shamren Fletcher (President):

Shamren welcomed everyone and it was determined that we have a quorum, so we are able to vote tonight on the proposed budget issues. She brought it to everyone’s attention that a $1000 check was donated for the Arts Excel Program from Gina Sherer’s company. It was also brought to our attention, by Karla Cohen, that Cedarmere is the talk of Baltimore County for our First Day Celebration. This was all thanks to the efforts of Cindy Littman and her hard work over the summer.

Michael Goldsmith (Treasurer):

Michael passed out copies of the proposed budget for this coming 2004 – 2005 year. We have four major fundraisers. Historically the Fruit Express has been the largest. Dave Green spoke about how Florida has been hit with two hurricanes and at this point he is still uncertain about the crops and delivery. He feels that the number to use this year would be $8000, providing we can get the fruit. Shamren Fletcher made a motion to accept the budget for fruit at $8000. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Sigrid Houston spoke for the Book Fair. The Book Fair has been moved to February because other schools had already scheduled American Education Week. She felt that $1400 would be a safe budget. Barbara Roman made a motion to accept $1400 as the budget for the Book Fair. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The T-shirts/Spirit wear that were sold on the First Day Celebration went well. The budget is set for $500. Mary Cialella-Smith made a motion to accept the $500 budget for T-shirts. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Barbara Roman spoke regarding the Innisbrook gift-wrap. A motion was made to increase the budget to $6500. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. We moved on to the Tile Wall fundraiser. There is now a PTA copy machine in the building. The teachers are able to use it. All the teachers expressed their appreciation. The contract has a 60-day option out for the life of the lease. The cost is $556.35 per month. There is a person donating a computer to attach to the copier. Although Shamren has a letter from Michael Franklin regarding the copier stating that we are in compliance with PTA guidelines, she has agreed to take financial responsibility in the event that it cannot stay in the building. Our goal is to have the Tile Wall fund the copier. Dave Green brought up the issue that if the copier is so needed by the teachers, then why does the PTA have to pay for it? He feels that the PTA should only be responsible for the short term and the county should eventually pick up the expense. All this will be taken into consideration. Karla Cohen made a motion to start the Tile Wall fundraiser to help fund the copier. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Greeting cards were discussed next. A motion was made to leave greeting cards at $125. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Fuddruckers Night made $240 last year. A motion was made to keep the budget at $250. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Mr. Meerdter runs the pizza fundraiser to benefit Arts Excel. A motion was made to keep the budget at $1600.  The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The Box Tops for education budget was previously at $500. A motion was made to keep it a $500. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The Jeanne’s Gourmet fundraiser, which is new this year, is proposing a budget of $1500. A motion was made to accept the $1500 budget. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The Holiday Gift Shop was a success last year. We made around $500. This year if we added additional shopping days we feel that we could meet a budget of $2000. A motion was made to accept the $2000 budget. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The Valentines Day Candy Grams would like to keep the budget at $200. A motion was made to accept $200. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. We are planning a Parent to Parent Sale (yard sale type event) in the spring. Parents or anyone could rent tables and then sell their items. A motion was made to accept a $1500 budget. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Baseball Day last year was more of a social/fun day. A motion was made to keep the budget at $200. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. We will carry all three Power Cards this year. They each cost $5.00 per card. A motion was made to set the budget at $450. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. The Yearbook was then discussed. A motion was made to keep the Yearbook budget at $1000. This is usually a break-even situation. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. A motion was made to keep Direct Donations at $150 as last year. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. A motion was made to keep Administration at $3890 as last year. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. A motion was made to accept the Hospitality budget for $500. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. A motion was made to accept the PTA Supply budget at $500. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Leadership Training at $1000 and BSO/Arts Excel at $2000, a motion was made to keep them the same. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. A motion was made to reduce Cultural Programs to $1000. The motion was seconded. Motion passed. Time for Kids budget will remain the same. Dave Green made a motion that we should remove the Lamination Film line item from the budget. Barbara Roman seconded the motion. Motion passed.  The scholarship fund will be contingent on making the money that we said we would raise during this upcoming year.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2004 at the beginning of Back to School Night.