DeKalb School of the Arts
PTSA General Member Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 13th, 2014; Kyle Theater
Call to Order: 7:00 pm
Student performance: Students performed the opening 10 minutes from this weekend’s show: “Rimers of Eldridge”
Review of minutes: Monina Klevens reviewed minutes from the previous meeting of November 4, 2013; members voted to approve.
Treasurer’s report: Harold Archie gave an overview of the past 2 months of budget activity.
- Most activity was in November with the funds raised with the HoneyBaked campaign and the purchase of new spirit wear.
- Other expenditures were a teacher’s request for conference support and another for paint for columns in the theater.
- Currently the balance is $23,547.84
- The expected expenses in the spring include: the SPA banquet, graduation venue rental fee, printing programs for spring performances.
Vice-President’s report: Carla Jackson
- Volunteer opportunities are available to help with this weekend’s performances
- Parent teacher conferences were re-scheduled for February 25th changed to the 19th.
- Parents are encouraged to participate in the GA parent survey. The link to the survey is on the ptsa4dsa.org website and in the DSA this week newsletter.
- The Dekalb County School District is holding choice open enrollment with a deadline of 2pm on Feb 7.
Allyson Gevertz clarified two issues:
- District 5 will have sessions to collect input about the flexibility option plan for the county to decide details about charter schools and other options
- There’s a meeting of the Emory/LaVista Council at Briarlake at 9am.
Volunteer coordinator announcements: Latarsha Gray
- Questions about volunteering can be sent by email to either her or Terry Reid at dsa.ptsa.volunters@gmail.com
- Parents with the most volunteer hours were Kiki Levi, Devora Reiss, and Kim and Allen Wilson. PTSA will provide small tokens of appreciation at the next PTSA meeting.
Principal’s report: Ms. McCauley
- Recognition of staff present.
- The accreditation committee report should be published soon regarding the District’s current probation status. We are expecting positive news.
- Parents are encouraged to attend the meetings around the district to support DSA and speak of examples of DSA’s accomplishments. This can result in more favorable budgets.\
- The US News and World Report rankings of high schools is out, and DSA placed a proud 75th in the US, and 2nd in GA. Of all art schools in the US, DSA was ranked 25th.
- Students interested in a year book should visit yearbookforever.com to purchase.
- There will be new software (“Infinite School House”) implemented next year and parents need to re-register even if currently using eSIS.
- Tour group, drama, chorus, and other auditions will take place on February 2nd. Black history auditions will be tomorrow (1/14) for internal performances. Students with >1 audition should coordinate with Mr. Funderbunk.
- Arts reviews are a unique feature of education at DSA where students present their projects to all 7 arts faculty and receive feedback on evolution of work. Parents are not involved in this assessment.
- DSA was fortunate that during the recent weather event most of the building was comfortable; not so in many schools, one of which went without water for a day.
- Parents wishing to donate items should consider bringing tissues. At this time, hand sanitizer is not needed.
- Parent question: how do students obtain production credits? Mr. Nealer identifies and announces opportunities for working for credits. Then, as students sign up and carry through their tasks, he assigns the earned credits.
Assistant Principal’s report: Mr. Winchester
- Writing assessment will be on Jan 22nd
- No school Monday 1/20 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King
- Parents should review the accuracy of their student’s reports regarding on-time attendance. About 10% of students are chronically late.
- Before summer break, it is important for students to have final schedules for the 2014/15 academic year because changes after that date will be complicated.
PTSA President’s report: Michele Barard
- Led recognition of student performance and encouraged parents to attend shows this weekend.
- The directory project is on hold because of some changes in progress. In the meantime, if someone needs the contact information of another parent, please check with Michele (dsa.ptsa.pres@gmail.com). She can only provide the information if the parent has elected to be part of the directory.
- The DSA community includes local businesses, parents are encouraged to patronize these and let them know we belong to DSA. In the future, this could lead to more business support of DSA.
- The enrichment fee (suggested $95) yields most of the PTSA budget. Parents able to give more should, and parents able to give less can contribute as feasible. We are currently approximately $4500 short of the projected budget. Families that paid the enrichment fee in full by September 30, 2013, are entitled to a free ticket to a Main Stage performance. The link to the request form went out in November and will go out again this week.
- Parents wishing to claim volunteer hour credit for attending this meeting can either sign up using the hard copy sheet provided or can claim on-line.
Meeting adjourned 7:54 pm
Minutes taken by: Monina Klevens, PTSA Secretary
Next meeting TBA – but not on February 3rd