September 2022 Meeting
FOM 2022-2023 Board Meeting
September 7, 2022
6:30pm
Attendance:
Julie Schulhof
Chris Ring
Al Haber
Frida Brooks
Roona Shah
Erin Hickey
Jen Jones
Rhyan Sperling
Nell Kolpin
Kaye Muench
Jacki Van Hout
Danielle Drayton
Sarah Roche
Anastasia Awesome Room
Not in Attendance:
Molly Sundby
Rowena Dumes
Introduction – Julie Schulhof
Welcome, well attended back to school events, 70 new families for bulldog buddies, 40 families to partner, park meet up for this Saturday.
Bylaws – Roona Shah/Chris Ring
Bylaws update and vote in future meeting, date TBD
Budget – Al Haber
Overview
Budget spend is on IT maintenance, membership fees and monthly fees, in past used 3-4 providers for events, auctions, paying fees for each and causing confusion. Now have merged all to one company, “donor view” is the company for all the fundraising, had to import all the data from the old providers. Money spent for transfer and onboarding cost for first year. They have better features, text to bid, update people via text, more streamlined, easier and eventually more cost effective.
Benefit is one of the major costs of Mayer’s budget, Mayer merchandise is spirit wear, for school events, beyond the classroom, parent nights out, small margin of error, try to recover our costs with a small mark up. Walk a thon is the major fundraiser, plus sponsorships from companies or shop at J crew, Amazon smile, etc. $290,000 covid relief funds. The ask this year for FOM gift to OM is $440,000.
Correction: The ask for the FOM Gift to Oscar Mayer is approximately $418K
Comment from Principal:
Updated budget has to be done in spring, possible that the ask amount will change, we possibly have more students then we budgeted for 600 students, we are over that amount. What is that number? 672 is today. On the 20th day of classes we will receive more money for those students.
OPEN POINT: Vote for everyone on budget to be sent via email.
Communications – Roona Shah
Keep it moving system for communication and updating constantly, calendar is flexible.
School Supply Kits - School supplies, meals to feed starving children, sold 376 kits before July 11th sold another 15 kits after the deadline, $1700 just from those 15 kits with a grand total $3500 for Mayer. Last year we fed 500 starving kiddos and this year it will be greater given the number of school supply kits sold. Fully teacher driven, approved items.
Thanks Nell and Molly and Roona for unpacking all the supplies and now we get to feed a charity!!!
Julie/Danielle: we donate some of the supplies to schools in need, but we still have an abundance and allow teachers to have a wish list to use the extra supplies.
OPEN POINT: Can extra school supplied be donated to the Cradles to Crayons volunteer event in October
Chair Updates
Sponsorship – Erin Hickey
Going to partner with menchies for a Bulldog Bites, merchants for Mayer October 1-14 costume merchants for Mayer November 14, Lou Malnatis Bulldog bites
Parent Engagement – Jen Jones
Molly collected 60 volunteer names from the boohoo and back to school events, will reach out to them for upcoming events for carnival next month, help with lunch room, merge the list from last year with the 2022-2023 volunteer list.
School Engagement – Rhyan Sperling
Starbucks gift cards for teachers, Thanks Jen. Other ideas include lunches, morning coffee are ideas for teacher appreciation. School engagement: by communicating the needs for the school, voice, ideas TBD
Social – Nell Kolpin
Carnival
Friday Sept 16, at Trebes park is free for all, AMJ supplying carnival equipment, balloon twister, cotton candy and popcorn, will have prizes. Will sell spirit wear at carnival. Using funds received from CPS.
Future Events
Parents night – Barcocina outdoor area for $1500 minimum spend
Dads night – Rhyan set up Homeslice for monday night football, October 24, two hour package $35+tip and booking fee.
Moms night – Reached out to Kim at Birch Road, space is free, November 9th
OPEN POINT: NEED VOLUNTEERS for Carnival. Reach out past Mayer graduates to help out with carnival.
Spirit Wear – Kaye Muench
Spirit wear at the meet and greet sold 91 items made $2400 off spirit wear.
OPEN POINT: Ordered trucker hats for a new item. Price TBD $22-$25
Philanthropy – Jacki Van Hout
Cradles to crayons volunteer opportunity and mini drive on October 15 1:30-3:30 to sort items. Will need approx 20 volunteers, if successful with do another in November
Miscellaneous
School support
Right at School is helping with EC/EL1 lunch period 11;30-1;30 then aftercare. 6 RAS employees, Danielle prefers paid lunch and recess help rather than parents because its more consistent for the students. Ms Al is the intermediate and 6th grade. Per Danielle: Safety at Mayer is more of an issue within the past couple years. Kids talking too loud and not being able to talk during lunch is a liability bc if teachers aren’t allowed to hear announcements, Mr C is outside or at front desk. Danielle: working on school wide safety in lunch room and recess. Asking kids to be quiet and turning off the lights is a good replacement for Miss Al’s whistle. Issued consequence for talking loud in cafeteria. Would it be helpful to have parent volunteers help out with Miss Al?? Get parent input. Intermediate and EL1 could use reminders for laying out consequence for being too loud during lunch. Care room is going through December given the budget allowing for it through that month.
Room Parent
Teachers are soliciting room parents, setting up a google group for room parents so its easier for FOM to communicate with them. Danielle will start a google group for these room parents for easier communication with FOM, welcome email for new room parents.
OPEN POINT: FOM to send introduction email and checklist for new room parents.
Open House
Teacher rep plan, to staff block off September 26 and choose a date that works for open house and parent-teacher meetings, trying to have separate nights so each band will have their own night. Possibly two nights.
Mayer Wellness Program
New beekeeper will be starting and more chickens in the spring, 8-9 chickens approx, grounds will be worked on before open house, plans to amend the soil and replant the pollinator plants. All funds are made from plant sales which makes approx $1K.
Background on Anastasia and the program - 16 years at Mayer from board member growing plants, bees, chickens, meditation, overall wellness coordinator.
Meeting adjourned.
Next FOM Meeting: October 12th