PTO January 2012 Minutes
Syracuse Dunbar Avoca PTO Meeting Minutes
January 24, 2012
NEXT MEETING: February 28th 2012 at 6:30 in the Elementary Conference Room
The meeting was called to order shortly after 6:30 p.m. There were 10 members present.
Treasurers report was given.
Two guest speakers were present. Mr. Wentz, Middle School Principal, spoke to the members about different concerns at the middle school. Amanda Davis, After School Club Youth Service Coordinator, spoke to the members about the after school clubs that are currently being offered and how PTO can help.
Notes on Mr. Wentz’s question and answer session:
Why isn’t there any playground equipment at the middle school?
The east field is used for football and band and the south field is used for football. It was in the agreement that there would not be any built in equipment in those areas so that they could still be used for football and band practices. Majority of middle schools don’t have playground equipment such as swings, slides, etc. Middle schools are usually grades 6-8 but the bond issue passed was for a Middle school not an elementary and it was to include grades 4-8. We are very fortunate to even have the asphalt area for playing that we have currently. Currently there are 2 portable soccer goals and 2 more coming in the Spring. There are 2 basketball hoops and 1 portable hoop. He suggested that the PTO could provide more balls and some bases but that he would like to help in making the decisions on what equipment is purchased. He suggested Gopher as the company to buy school equipment. He made us aware that there are extra balls that are in storage when other balls are not usable any longer. He agreed to email the teachers to ask what needs there are for equipment and pass that information on to the PTO.
Would you be willing to accept Box Tops at the middle school? 
Mr. Wentz was fine with starting to accept Box Tops at the Middle School. He wants someone to coordinate it from the middle school and then PTO will help in promoting it but not be the administrative part of it.
How do you decide if there is indoor/outdoor recess?
If it’s muddy the kids don’t go out. There is plenty of room in the gym because there are no more than 2 classes at a time in the gym together. He checks the grounds daily to determine if it’s an indoor or outdoor day. He sends them outside as often as possible.
Is it really safe to be sock-footed in the gym?
If the students play under the parameters set they will be safe. There are not enough people to supervise the hallways or enough time to go back to lockers and get gym shoes and outdoor shoes are not allowed by anyone, middle school or high school, on the gym floors.
Mr. Wentz assured the PTO that he would gladly address any concerns from the parents or public at anytime personally at the middle school. He also encouraged us to go talk to him personally if there were any more questions or concerns.
Amanda Davis works for Partners for Otoe County. She is the youth service coordinator that coordinates the After School Clubs for grades 6th-8th. Currently there are four different clubs: Food Science (Partners with 4H), Theater Arts, Art Club and School Spirit Club which works on the yearbook. There is also a group called Study Buddies on Tuesdays. It is offered to students 1st-5th grade. They have a snack and large group activity and then volunteers come to work one on one to study or read. She also spoke briefly on Safe Home Pledges.
These programs are open to everyone and there are no fees. They meet in the middle school from 3:30p.m.-5 p.m.
Suggestions on how the PTO can help were that we help sponsor the end of the year activity, help buy t-shirts or materials and volunteering for the clubs. If anyone is interested or has questions or would be interested in sponsoring one of the programs they can contact Amanda Davis at her office 402-269-3166.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next month’s meeting will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary conference room.
