Wattles Elementary PTO Executive Board Meeting Minutes
8/14/2025 - Call to Order at 6:04pm
Attendees: Mrs Wallace, Brandi L, Mandy K, Tisha R, Anne R. Absent: Rachel V.
Discussed using Robert’s Rules of Order going forward.
Approve minutes from previous meeting. Motion by Mandy, second by Tisha. Motion passes.
Treasurer Report Discussion.
2024-25 Wattles Report as submitted by treasurer was distributed and reviewed.
Discussed 2025-26 Budget
Anne to revised budget proposal and submit to PTO board.
Items to note from budget discussion:
5th grade camp bus is $4,790.90. Will offset the cost this year by adding $20 to each 5th grade camper to bring down total cost to PTO by about $1,300.
Amy would like help on 5th grade reception. Jen DiPerna and Mandy to meet and discuss. Will bring back video, etc. Would like to ask for volunteers of 4th grade parents and any 5th grade parents who want to be involved. (Brandi to add this volunteer position to 4th grade volunteer sheet at curriculum night).
- Committees (persons listed are from SignUp Genius or otherwise noted in previous minutes)
- Dining for Dollars. Chair is Mandy and no need for other members.
- Working on setting up 9/17 for first event, at BWW.
Planning on most months having 2 events, generally one faster pizza or other takeout, and the second a more sit down place. Anne suggested a hot chicken place so Mandy to add to list of places to look into. Going to go back to ones that worked well in the past.
Fun Run
Committee chairs: Mandy K and Tisha R. Members Michelle T and Anne R. Still would appreciate additional volunteers.
Sponsors so far are Dignity Memorial $600, Financial Services $500 and Wallace Holdings $300. Donation request letter dropped off at Madany Dental. Still looking for other donors. Tisha made up new flyers. Please think about other businesses you have a relationship with, that we could reach out to for a donation.
Date is Tuesday 10/21. Amy thinks the playground will be done enough, in time to have it outside on the track. Backup outdoor plan is in the parking lot on the bus loop. Inside backup plan is the gym since Tuesdays there is no gym.
- International Night/School Fair
- Committee chair: None yet
Committee members: Poornima is willing to help again but not be a chair. She is really good at getting performances set up.
No one has volunteered to help with the fair part of it, so we have to decide if we go back to just the International Fair, or if we can still plan a combined fun fair with it too.
The fair part is expensive and time consuming.
From May’s meeting: A suggestion for next year was made that we could do the International Fair and the bounce houses and train and no games. We have a lot of prizes left. Check the PTO closet for the prizes.
Becky texted after meeting that there was a parent with the last name of Ford who had wanted to set up an art fair last year, but suggestion came too late to incorporate. Maybe consider reaching out to her for ideas and help.
- Online Promoter
- Committee chair: Rachel (absent so no discussion)
Spirit Wear
Tisha R and Mandy K to lead, and work with same company as for fun run shirts. Mandy has already been in contact with Luanne from company and waiting to hear back with more details to set up a store.
Suggestion was made to make sure that we work with the company to establish an order by date to guarantee delivery/pickup by winter holiday break or any other holidays we know of.
- Talent Show
- Committee chair: None
- Committee members: Cheryl U. Tausha willing to help a little bit but not be a chair again.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Committee chair: Tisha R volunteered. Should reach out to Syed H. to see if he is still willing to help and provide details and contacts from last year.
Committee members: Mandy K can help some but most likely will be working in the office more days, so can’t do the snack cart again, but does have suggestions to make that part go smoother.
Principal Report - new curriculum initiative is writing.
- Unfinished Business
- Sign new bylaws
- New Business
- Curriculum Night is Wednesday 10/3
- PTO board will set up a table.
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Need to get a google doc signup, with QR code, so parents can sign up for the fun run shirts with sizes. Tisha and Mandy to organize. Have paper copy as well as secondary method.
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Ask Luanne at Highest Honor to get sample t-shirts for sizing purposes.
Brandi to make up volunteer sheets to give to teachers to have at curriculum night. Include all the committee positions we are looking for, etc. Mandy suggested after meeting that for 4th grade sheets, we add 5th grade reception help.
We can also give Amy a PTO slide to put in their presentations.
Increase attendance at PTO meetings
Have students present at the meetings. Amy and Megan to organize and have 1 student per grades 1-5, come to PTO meetings each month starting in October. They can present what is happening in each grade. This will encourage at least their parents to come to meetings.
Virtual option - doesn’t usually add too much to numbers, but a good option to have available if possible. Technology through Teams is better, so we will try that again this year.
Invite guest speakers. Safely and Security is always a popular topic. Digital Media as well.
Offer babysitting - perhaps local high school students? Need to ask about liability and what parts of the school are available. Need to make sure not to disrupt teacher work spaces. Get NHS members to volunteer. Maybe consider paying someone like noon aide.
Have snacks, candy and/or water available on the tables.
Any other ideas?
Need process for chairs to follow after an event. Would like them to report on their events in a PTO meeting and pass along all notes and contacts.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:53pm
