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P&C minutes 15 MARCH 2005 |
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WOOLLAHRA PUBLIC SCHOOL P&C ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF MEETING HELD TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2005 AT 700.PM STAFF ROOM__________________________________________________________________________________ 1. WelcomeMeeting declared open at 7.05pm. Geoff Waring (President) chaired the Meeting. New members were welcomed. 2. Apologies.Cliff Hoey (Principal). 3. Attendees.All present signed the Attendance Book. 4. Confirmation of Minutes.Motion: that the Minutes of the AGM held 22/2/05 be confirmed.Moved Jill Casson. Seconded : Trish McAlary. Carried. 5. Business Arising.There was no business arising that was not separately covered. 6. Reports 6.1 TreasurerTeck Lew (Treasurer) reported that the accounts situation had not changed much from last Meeting. Insurance: Ambulance insurance is due. Motion: confirm/pay the standard insurances.Moved: Mary-Ellen Bard. Seconded: Teck Lew. Carried.Student Injury Insurance has been offered to the P&C. This is a new & optional product which could be taken out at any time. Discussion ensued as to whether the P&C should purchase this cover. Teck pointed out that the cost was high (in excess of $2,000) and that many parents would already have cover . Sonya Burchell agreed to look at the proposal and report back at the next meeting. Income/Expenditure: Teck reported that last year $39,243 had been raised through fundraising events. $21,882 had been raised through the Voluntary Family Contribution Scheme (VFCS). $31,000 worth of commitments had already been made for this year (literacy enhancement teacher two and a half days per week, home and school readers, school band and merits award system etc.,) in addition to approx $10,000 in other costs (insurance etc). Most of these have not been paid yet. There is currently approx. $18,000 in the General Account. Building Account stands at approx $156,000. Voluntary Family Contribution Scheme (VFCS): Noted that it had been agreed last year that this years’ VFCS funds should go into the General Account. Teck reported that the response rate to the VFCS last year was only 33%. Considerable discussion ensued as why the contribution rate was so low and how we could increase it. It was generally agreed that we need to be specific about what the money is being spent on. Various strategies were suggested including sending out the letter attached to the school fees, posting a reminder to parents, emailing parents (although concern was expressed re. privacy issues), setting a target per class, specific use commitment, class parent follow up, etc. Some of the suggested strategies had been tried in the past. Discussion also turned to a wish list of projects. These included air con in some or all class rooms (3 classes already have it, Angus Corbett will check with DET/Tax Office on whether the building account could be utilised, Sandra Byron to check with Woollahra Council whether DA approval would be needed and investigate more environmentally friendly and more cost efficient alternatives with Michael Mobbs, Ross Newman raised concerns about ongoing utility costs) softfall for the bricked in area in the bottom playground, increasing the literacy enhancement teacher’s funding to 3 days per week (Maureen Hallahan pointed out that this benefits all children in the school - not just those struggling with literacy skills - by allowing other teachers more time with other children), more money for readers and painting the toilet blocks in the middle playground (graffiti). It was generally agreed that the VFC letter should give families the option of specifying whether their donation would be tax deductible (making a commitment to a capital building use such as airconditioning) or non tax deductible (where the use would not be restricted) and that we would quote Maureen Hallahan on her comment that all children benefited from the literacy enhancement teacher.Motion: That the suggested VFCS amounts per child should remain the same as last year ($120 for 1 child, $190 for 2 children, $240 for 3 or more children) and that the letter should go out at beginning of Term 2.Moved: Geoff Waring Seconded: Angus Corbett. Carried. Federal Govt “Investing in Schools” Programme: A recent letter regarding the availability of funding through grants in the Federal Government’s “Investing In Schools” was discussed. Deadline for grants up to $50,000 is 31/5/05. Deadline for grants of $50,000 - $150,000 is in August 2005. Discussion ensued as to possible projects which would meet the criteria for a grant. Time constraints were noted in getting an application in. It was noted that softfall for the bottom playground has been on the agenda for some time (especially in relation to concerns with children with asthma aggravated by the existing woodchip surface) and that a quote for it (approx cost $30,000) had been obtained last year. Motion: That an application for a grant for softfall in the bottom playground be made under the Fed Govt’s “Investing in Schools” programme.Moved: Mary-Ellen Bard. Seconded: Julia Hall. Carried.Susan Miles offered to prepare the application with Carrie/Geoff Waring. Pavers: Teck reported that we have 20 pavers paid for that have yet to be laid. Sandra Byron will locate file. It was agreed that the paver programme should be continued. Auditor: Teck reported that we need an auditor for this year. Sonja Burchell will contact parent Richard Weeks to see if he will volunteer to do the audit. 6.2 PrincipalRoss Newman (Dep. Principal) reported. There are 20 classes in the school. We now have 4 Kindergarten classes with a maximum size of 20. In 2006 maximum Year 1 size will be 22 (currently 28) and in 2007 maximum Year 2 size will be 26 (currently 29). There are 2 new permanent staff (RFF and a new K teacher). The school is running out of space - there is a maximum of 1 spare classroom available (it is currently being used by the RFF teacher).A literacy consultant from Macquarie University had been engaged in relation to Stage 2 (Yrs 3 & 4) literacy and Stage 2 have commenced a computer element in their literacy programme. Stage 3 (Yrs 5 & 6) are working on a maths project.The school had received a $20,000 grant for a Information & Communication Technology (ICT) programme to educate the teachers in ICT. This will involve approx. 4-5 days training for all the teachers in ICT.The school is interested in using email to send out the School Newsletter. This would improve hopefully improve communication with parents and save on photocopying costs.The school is also looking for volunteers to convert the 125Th Website into a School Website. 7. Committee Reports 7.1 Fundraising.Mary-Ellen Bard reported on progress and itinerary for Wine Trivia Night on 6/5/05. Peter Bourne will provide his services & $150 of wine per table for free. There is room in the hall for 12 tables of 8 people each. Some nibbles would be provided for those attending. Red and white wine, glasses and umbrellas labelled with WPS logo and would be available for purchase on the night, and thereafter, with profits to go the P&C. It was agreed that $40 per head be charged for the Night.Motion: that the P&C purchase wine, glasses and umbrellas to the approx value of $5,000.Moved: ME Bard. Seconded: Angus Corbett. Carried. 7.2 Band.Band is progressing well.. 7.3 WASC.ME Bard reported that a Committee had been established to assist in WASC accreditation. Parents included Deborah Taylor, Richard Birdsey, Sandra Sims, and Susan and Andrew Kirk. 7.4 School Review.Geoff Waring reported that the School Review would get under way in Term 2. 7.5 Uniform.Simon Rice gave the feasibility committee’s preliminary report into the possibility of establishing a uniform shop at the school due to high prices at Wylies. Based on his discussions with Joel Mathews (a uniform wholesaler & retailer) he outlined two possible options - a wholesale system (as per Bronte PS) which should generate profits to the P&C but which required considerable parent volunteer input & investment in stock , and a retail system (as per Daceyville PS) which would provide a service to parents but generate little profit. Simon will investigate further. 8. Other Items. 8.1 PlaygroundSoftfall for bottom playground dealt with during Treasurer’s report. 8.2 TrafficEfforts are being continued to educate parents not to double park in Forth St. 8.3 BuildingWe still have a way to go to fund the hall. 8.4 Family Contributions SchemeThis was covered in the Treasurer’s report. 9. Correspondence No further correspondence not dealt with elsewhere. 10. Other BusinessNone. 11. Close/Next Meeting.Meting closed @ 9.15 pm. Next Meeting 10/5/05.
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