PTO ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES   

WED February 7^th  2007

Attendees: Nannette Dorsey, Liz Falconer, Len Hamm, Connie Herr, Carol Hubert, Sue Isaacs, Jen Minchella, Jackie Mulhall, Janice Phillips-Robinson, Dr. Frank Sippy, Juan Rodriguez -Torrent, Fran Tepperman, Sandi Carbonari Welsh 

I.                    January 3^rd 2007 meeting minutes were approved with the following addition.  The Region 15 Dinner will be held on April 30^th and will be hosted by PES.

II.                 Treasurer’s Report. Current balance is $2735.65.   The PTO Advisory Council has received donations from all schools in the region.

     III.        Dr. Frank Sippy

      Dr. Sippy will meet with the Board of Finance on 2/13 to give them an overview of the budget.  Dr. Sippy will present the recommended budget to the Board of Education on 2/26.

      There is a significant shift in the ratio of Middlebury and Southbury students.  1.1% increase to the Middlebury student population (about $590,000 value).  New ratio is approximately 71% Southbury students to 29% Middlebury students.  This change is due to the increase of new homes in Middlebury.  I am starting to forecast out a year or 2.  Looking to lay down a foundation on which to build the academic program.  Trying to hold line for 2^nd year.  No new staff, just reallocation of staff.  Facility improvements to include fixing 3 leaky roofs at GES and a storage room leaky roof at MES.  LMES electronic surveillance system working well and would like to add to the other 3 elementary schools.  In need of a new student data management system.  Current system is 20 years old.  Need a more flexible system.  Propose leasing a new system. 

     Governor is considering more money for schools over the next 4 year.  They want to slow down construction across the state.  State will prioritize construction projects.  Reimbursement ratio will change.

    IV.         Glen Shipway is away for a few months.  No report.

     V.        Carol Hubert       Nothing new to report.

      VI.          Old Business

                         SRO – Dr. Sippy appreciated the opportunity to revisit this subject with the Board of Selectmen.  Letters from parents help.  The BOS will discuss the subject of an SRO during the Southbury town budget review process which will start on 2/20.

                         The DYK is complete and was distributed.  It will also be emailed to all PTO Advisory members.

                          LMES created an email data base.  The packet with instructions on how to set up a PTO email  system will be updated and distributed to all schools as a helpful guideline.

     VII.          New Business

                       Fran Tepperman and Karen Kirk are asking for all schools to bring forward positive input to share with the other schools.  Please provide stories to Fran or Karen.  It was suggested that PTO’s share newsletter so we are all informed of activities going on in the region.

                        Relay for Life will be held at MMS again this year.  The event will be held in June and we are asking that every school put together a team to participate in this event.

                     The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7^th.