September 2021 Meeting
FOM 2021 - 2022 Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Attendance:
JULIE SCHULHOF - President
SANDY BACCAM - Assistant Treasurer/Teacher Appreciation
ROONA SHAH - VP, Communications
JACKI VAN HOUT - Secretary/Welcome Committee
MILLIE FRANK - Room Parent Communication
MICHELLE RAMIREZ - VP, Fundraising/Pledge Drive Chair
KEMPER FLORIN - VP, Social
ROWENA DUMES - Director, Social/Website
SARAH POLACHEK - VP, Community/Outreach
AL HABER - Treasurer
NICKI MCNAIR - Director, Sponsorship/Spirit Wear
STACEY KAPLAN - Director, Benefit/Auction
DANIELLE DRAYTON - Principal
ROHIT CHANDRA – LSC President
Not In Attendance:
JEN JONES - Director, Walkathon
Welcome/Introductions - Julie Schulhof
Budget/Financials - Sandy Baccam
- FOM Operations reviewed.
- FOM Event-Related Costs reviewed.
o Benefit Budget – Approved
o Mayer Merchandise – Increased as revenue has increased.
o Beyond the Classroom
o Walkathon
o Community Outreach
o Bulldog Relief Fund – Criteria needs to be determined for selection and distribution.
o Teacher Appreciation
o Pledge Drive
o Business Sponsorship
o Volunteer Appreciation
o Marketing
- Funding to School Reviewed – Amount is lower than previous year.
- Chicken Emergency Fund – New item added to Budget.
Comments:
- Gross Revenue added as events occur.
- Participation was low last year at 27%, max participation has been at 70%. Target is to achieve Pre-COVID participation.
Voted and Budget approved by Committee.
Bulldog Buddy Program - Jacki Van Hout
- Program was established to partner existing Mayer families with new Mayer families.
- 65 new Mayer families reached out for a buddy between the Bulldog Blast, Social Media and the Back to School event.
Next Step: Closing the project – Last email to check in on new families.
Room Parents – Millie Frank
- Google Groups as a platform for Teachers, Room Parents and Parents to connect.
- Focus has been to increase engagement with the Room Parent Process, over 40 Room Parents with 2 per classroom.
- All older classrooms have room parents.
- Room Parent Handbook being made to help share ideas between classrooms.
- Extra requests for Room Parents will be requested to volunteer with FOM activities.
Social Events (Back to School & Back in School) - Rowena Dumes/Kemper Florin
- Thank you for the hard work for social events!
- CPS Funding has been used to increase engagement with Mayer families as they head back to school. CPS Budget still remains for back to school events.
- Local and school programs as well as FOM participated to inform Mayer families about programs.
- Spirit Wear had huge success.
- Estimated 300 kids participated at events, specifically new families.
- 30 student volunteers, specifically 5 th graders for Back in School event.
Spirit Wear - Nicki McNair
- Tie Dye shirts sold out in first event, sold well in second event.
- Totes also selling fast.
- Adult clothing still available.
Next Steps: Sandy/Al/Nicki in conversations about pre-sale for future ordering (sweatshirts, mask, hats, umbrellas, water bottles).
Previous years have done a holiday push.
Teachers/Staff requested mask lanyards.
Upcoming Happenings
Mayer Clean up – Sarah Polachek
- This Saturday is the first clean-up with over 27 volunteers.
Next Events: Care for Friends – Targeting to do an on-site event next month.
December – Targeting to do a coat/food drive.
Moms’ Night Out - Rowena Dumes/Kemper Florin
- October 14 th 7-10 pm, Barcocina – outdoor event with max capacity at 50 ppl.
- Finalizing cost/tickets which includes drinks and appetizers.
Next Event: Dads’ Event in November
Pledge Drive – Michelle Ramirez
- Building Together incorporating Legos in the theme.
- Target is for the drive to be in the Fall, specifically in October. A proposal is being finalized now and aligned with Principal Drayton.
- Want to engage students in the drive as well as increasing community engagement.
Comments: Pre-Thanksgiving blitz was a huge success; Giving Day is November 30 th .
Merchants for Mayer – Nicki McNair
- Year round fundraiser being communicated in the FOM website including Amazon Smile, Minted.
- Current partnership is with JCrew Factory.
Future events: ABC Building Blocks, Papa Johns, Barnes and Noble Book Fair
Communications Calendar – Roona Shah
Coordinating timing of communication is critical so that visibility through Bulldog Blast,
Room Parents and other platforms can be scheduled appropriately.
Ability to provide multiple dates with scheduling is always helpful.
Miscellaneous
- Open House/Parent night
- Halloween, further conversations to occur on how FOM can support.
Principal Update – Principal Danielle Drayton
- Thank you for participation in the FOM session as well as the hard work the FOM team is doing!
- Looking into options for Back to School funding as a budget item.
- School tours are as an action item, looking for weekend dates.
- Right at School unable to increase students as staffing at capacity.
- Volunteers may be required for recess or cafeteria.
_______________________________
CLOSED SESSION
Volunteers – Julie Schulhof
- Open Point on How FOM should support volunteer engagement.
- Volunteer coordinator required where Roona can take a lead with communication.
- Volunteer list has been created, currently 50 people are on the list.
Committees (working with LSC) – Julie Schulhof
- LSC Feedback (Amy Robbins) – Options for requested committee.
o Safety Committee – Priority
- Moving sidewalk, Disabilities sign, maintenance on the playground
o School/Facilities Committee
o Tech Committee – small group, LSC/FOM lead known
o Marketing Committee – small group, volunteer for social media
o “Concerns/Suggestion” Box Committee – small group (internal between LSC/FOM)
o Parents Curriculum Involvement/CIWP already planned with LSC, looking for parent volunteers.
- LSC/FOM member to lead committee but volunteer support required as well.
- Smaller groups preferred.
Comments:
- Pre-K not included in student count. Student headcount has declined since 2019, where overall funding will reflect current headcount.
- Moving budget to support afterschool activities and clubs is more desirable than teacher assistance.
Meeting adjourned, at 9 pm
Next Meeting Date: Wednesday October 6th