Fall Creek PTA

Meeting Tonight!

Meeting tonight at the school from 6-7:30pm.  Child care provided.

Tonight’s meeting will be devoted to working groups. After a brief overview in the cafeteria (from principal Karen Keller & PTA President Rebecca James) and a quick description of each working group, we will break up into classrooms to meet in the groups specified below. We will formally end at 7:30, which is when parents need to pick up their children from child care. A list of who is doing what and minutes from all the groups will be available on Friday on our web site and posted in our lobby.

Here are the groups:
Number Crunching (collecting and analyzing data)
Political Action (coordinating our response to the school board, connecting with government officials at all levels, connecting to other schools/our alum)
Communications (writing fact sheets, media coordination, banners, flyers, connecting to our families without email)
Creative solutions (working toward a district-wide process that would allow for education and 2-way communication between stakeholders & the board/admin)
Neighborhood Impact (petition efforts, connecting/coordinating with the neighborhood)

Important Meetings

7 p.m., Tuesday Feb. 9 – School Board meeting, board room, ICSD administration building, 400 Lake Street
This issue is not on the agenda, but there will be 30 minutes to address the board. That only gives time for a few speakers (and parents are meeting this weekend to plan for a variety of statements), but we think it’s critical to have a huge turnout to show our concern. Wear your Fall Creek t-shirt and try to come early, around 6pm!  We’re discouraging people bringing elementary-aged kids to the BOE meeting in order to maintain as professional an air as possible.

6 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Strategy Meeting at Fall Creek Elementary School, child care provided.
Updates from Karen Keller and PTA President Rebecca James; break out into work groups (detailed below)

If you are able to speak at Tuesday’s BOE meeting please keep these things in mind:

1) You only have 2 minutes to speak, so keep it concise
2) Ask for a special meeting to discuss this issue
3) Stay positive
4) Don’t talk about closing other schools as a way of keeping Fall Creek open
5) Thank the Board for their work and willingness to listen

Important News and PTA Meeting TONIGHT

Dear Fall Creek Families,

The School Board met last night for a budget workshop.  Our current budget deficit is $3.25 million which is three times the anticipated amount for the 2010-2011 school year. Dealing with this will involve deep cuts in our system.  One item under investigation is the closing of Fall Creek School.  The Danby building would be closed and Fall Creek would become a pre-school center.  I want to stress that at this point, the proposal is to investigate the possibilities.  Other items being considered by the Board are larger class sizes in the elementary and secondary schools and reconfiguring classes at LACS and at the High School. No decisions have been made by the Board.

This is the only information that I have at this point.  I met with all staff this morning to share this news.  I feel that it is very important that families are informed and involved in this process every step of the way. We decided as a staff to not tell the children at Fall Creek what our concerns are at this time.  I urge you to communicate with your child (children) in the way that you feel is best. Our main concern is the children and our goal is to keep things positive and moving forward day to day in the building.  We also want to work in partnership, as a community, to learn as much as we can and to be proactive during the budget process.

We will have a special meeting tonight, at 6:00pm in the cafeteria to discuss the situation and to make action plans.  I will be there to share all that I know at this time.

You have my promise to keep you well informed as new information comes in.  Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions and concerns.

Sincerely,

Karen

Karen Keller, Principal
Fall Creek Elementary School

PTA Meeting: Monday May 4

Dinner at 5:30
(Free pizza and salad)
Meeting 6-7:30
(Childcare provided)
New bylaws up for a vote: Changes call for one president, two vice presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary and a treasurer. (A draft of bylaws is posted in the school lobby.)
Also: Updates on exciting spring events, including the rummage sale, the end-of-year-party and gallery night. Karen Keller updates us on the budget, a briefing on the PTA’s art programming committee and the election of 09-10 officers.

PTA Meeting: Monday, March 2

PTA Meeting February 2nd

Come to the PTA meeting for a free pizza dinner at 5:30 and free childcare on Monday, 6-7:30pm.

• Budget briefing with Principal Keller
• Help us choose a fundraiser
• Mike Miller talks about the Spring Festival

The Adults Try Out PE

Physical Education Teacher Carl Williamson gave us a taste of what our kids experience in physical education class at Monday’s PTA meeting. Thanks Carl!
Also:

• Our budget passed!
• We’re helping Librarian Sharon Ossont collect audio books on CD and tapes for the library, where kids would love to listen to books being read to them. If you have one at home you’re done with or see a good one at the Friends of the Library book sale that you are willing to donate, we’d appreciate it.
• Look this week in the Thursday folder for a preview of enrichment classes and the draft of directory pages for your child’s class.

Pile on for the Oct. 6 PTA Meeting

• Stretch with new gym teacher Carl Williamson.
• Hear the latest on the Halloween Party, Talent Show and Election Day Bake Sale.
• Librarian Sharon Ossont and parent Vikki Armstrong promote a new audio book drive. Listening to books increases kids’ love for reading. Bring tapes or CDs to donate.
• Treasurer Daryl Hill presents the 08-09 budget. To review the proposed budget on our web site, go to the “About the PTA” budget page.
• Find out  who is leading our adult spelling bee team. And hear about IPEI’s programs.
• Free pizza and salad at 5:30 p.m.  Meeting 6 p.m. with free childcare.