MAC MINUTES – November 6, 2007
1. Call to Order – Meeting called to order at 6:49 by chairperson Sarah Moyer.
Present: Officers Sarah Moyer, DeeAnn Apgar, Liz Brennan, Jeannie Sato; principal Brooke Hull; teachers Paula Davis, Helen O’Harra, Irene Bortnick, Dawnmarie Riley, Melissa Mathis; parents Bob Crawley, Judy Williamson, Jacob Howard, Kristin Troxell, Doris A. Higgins, Ben Armstrong, Tracy Lohman, Cindy Ljubicich, Miranda Rexford-Brown, Alyse Galvin, Kathy Garcia, Gregg Knutson. Barnes & Noble representative Renee Sands.
2. Approval of MAC Minutes: Brooke Hull moved to approve minutes from October 2, 2007 minutes; Alyse Galvin seconded. Motion passed.
3. Reports
a. Treasurer: DeeAnn Apgar: Budget provided to attendees. Includes:
1. Income: Innisbrook ($8,882), Fall Fund Drive ($2,570), BP Fabric of America Fund ($2500).
2. Expenses: (Boys’ Council ($220), partial reimbursement for Montessori certification training ($2500))
3. Received mini-grant from BP for $500 and grant to pay for volunteer
time of Paula Inman over last two years from BP. Total will be $2000.00.
b. Secretaries, Jeannie Sato and Liz Brennan
i. Previous version of Denali Handbook on website; new one to be put on soon. Web has a nice, user-friendly format to read handbook.
ii. Renee Sands from Barnes & Noble present. Bookfair will be Saturday, November 24, with activities from 9:00 to 4:00. Numerous school groups will perform: dance class, choir, Miss Becky and Tami’s Kindergarten classes, step class, Miss Harps class will read poetry, and Miss Banta will read during the story time, with a craft to follow by Barnes & Noble. Denali Brownie Troop will wrap all day – thanks to all who are involved. We can hang art at the store that week.
c. Chair, Sarah Moyer
i. Movie Night Thursday: Surf’s up (PG). Selling pizza, popcorn and some treat item for $1. Food at 6:15, movie at 6:30, and done by 8:30. The movie is free.
ii. Material Ordering Update. Started process. Want to spend about $11,000 on materials – started by distributing Ms. Julie Ayala’s materials. Asked teachers to update and prioritize top 10 materials. Hope to get to as soon as we can. Because of shipping, like to order all at once. Won’t be up to baseline by end of year – still be ordering that next fall. Hopefully by spring of next year. Then can do more in classrooms.
iii. Directory Update – being finalized. Should be coming home soon. Shirl Pagano and Alaska Legal copy to thank for that.
4. Old Business
a. Teacher Training – update by Ms. Hull. Staff is exploring possibility of two different people coming into Anchorage. May try to do as class so teachers can get credit or open up to public to defray cost. Ms. Mathis talked to Anne and just waiting to see which in-service weekend would be best and will get back to us.
5. New Business
a. Alaska Community Share, Tracy Lohman, Executive Director. Discussed at last meeting, but MAC can’t participate because MAC is not incorporated. We should think about if MAC should incorporate. Presentation by Tracy Lohman: Director of Alaska Community Share (with brochure). Her organization retains 15-20% of funds to run organization. Started in 1985 by non-profits interested in workplace giving. 44 non-profits now participate to raise funds through workplace giving programs. She is hoping someone will pursue incorporating so MAC can be involved in the program. Want to provide individuals the opportunity to become their own philanthropists. Givers can pick their own group to give to. She is the sole staff, so they have a low operating budget. Gifts really vary. Average annual gift if $5000-6000. She spoke with attorney parent who might be interested in helping with pursuing incorporation of MAC. One goal is more private sector campaigns. No restrictions on funds and given quarterly.
Parent questions if incorporation would change tax liability or any other part of MAC. Sarah reports incorporating not difficult but it takes some time. It’s come up in the past; in last year or two came up when community schools needed a sponsor. MAC could not because not incorporated. There are things that MAC can’t do, such as supervising your children. There are liability and insurance issues. Everyone is a member of MAC so everyone should consider whether we should incorporate.
Ms. Mathis suggests there are pros and cons to incorporation.
b. MAC Subcommittees
Subcommittees would help. Things we do: Barnes & Noble, holiday night, and those should have committees too so when this board leaves, people on those boards can learn about what needs to be done. There have been suggestions for subcommittees from many people:
Grants
Teacher wish lists
Spring Quilt and Craft Auction
These are super ideas, and if anyone is interested in heading those up, MAC gives their full support. If we don’t get volunteers, they can’t happen because this board is to capacity. There is money to support them.
c. Holiday Night. Liz Brennan reports she and Betsy Goudreau will run it again this year. It will be Friday, December 14. They’ll contact teachers. Each teacher gets theme, classes do baskets, which are auctioned on Holiday night. Information will follow in Thursday folders.
Parent questions if there is a central place where donations can be dropped off. Liz reports last year they went to each classroom, then to the PTA office. Ms. Riley said bringing items to the classroom gets kids really excited about the items.
Sarah reports Liz and Betsy do Holiday night auction; Jeannie Sato does Barnes & Noble fundraiser, DeeAnn does material ordering which his a huge job. Sarah has agreed to help.
There is a discussion about decanomial boxes and possibility of having someone to make them. Perhaps Eagle Scouts, KCC, talented parent? Combining boxes. Ms. O’Hara suggests also going through resource room and distributing those items. DeeAnn reports she’s checking the building before ordering new materials.
Parent reports concern about not having table and chair for each child while learning to write. Sarah suggests it varies by teacher, and should be discussed with teacher. DeeAnn reports desks and chairs come from district. Ms. Bortnik reports some teachers prefer short tables for a reason and to ask them, and Ms. Paula reports some works need larger areas for working and a desk is not large enough. Ms. Hull reports $37,000 budget for supplies for entire school each year. The school looks first at extras and warehouse, and then purchases. When only have that much money, usually can allocate certain amount for equipment. It has requirements, and almost all is adjustable.
Meeting adjourned at 7:31.