Malibu High School PTSA General Association Meeting

November 18th, 2004

Nancy Bishop called the meeting to order at 9.15 AM in the library.

A motion was made to approve the minutes of the previous meeting by Nancy Bishop. Motion was carried.

The turnout for the meeting was low.

Mark Kelly – Principal: MHS is having a very successful athletic season.

6-week report cards went home. Middle school counselor is meeting with groups of students who got Ds and Fs. High school counselors are meeting with students who got Ds and Fs individually.

Counselors are meeting individually with seniors regarding their college applications.

Some students have been concerned that they will not get recommendations from the school, as the principals are new. Mark Kelly reassures them that this will not be a problem. The previous principal and assistant principals will write recommendations. The message is, “Please do not worry.”

PSAT results will be out in January.

2^nd grading period goes out next week.

ASB heading many charity drives.

Field trips –a less than successful field trip last year has left the school on murky grounds as to what is a school-sponsored field trip. The Site Governance is going to try and resolve this issue.

Drug and Alcohol committee meets the 1^st Tuesday of the month at 3:15PM.

SMC-dual enrollment will be offered next semester. It will take place after class.

Mary Ellen Sherry will do a survey on lockers.

Block scheduling meeting will be held Dec. 1^st at 3:15 in the library.

General discussion: the article about college admission published in the school newspaper was brought up. Was the negative view the general opinion of the seniors? This could influence the younger students’ aspirations. Discussed having alternate views in the paper to keep it balanced.

Parent eyes: Cindy Vandor brought up three points.

1. Liability problem with picnic tables being used for skate boarding, etc. These need to be chained down.

2. Lots of students wandering around, especially during 6^th period Friday. A lot of these students seem to be TAs.

3. Trash, get the students to pick up the trash. Need more trashcans. Detention should be picking up trash. Some students are not taking detention seriously. A call for in-school detention and trash pick-up was raised.

Rhonda Mosser: sports teams are getting competitive. Teachers are not backing them up. Principal will remind teachers of the systems that exist.

Bathrooms are much better.

Site Governance Council: David Kramer informed us that the Site Governance meets the 3^rd Tuesday. Will put message on the MHS eNetwork on Yahoo. He feels it should have more awareness in our school community. If members want something brought up at SGC, please contact Bob Snyder (oursnydes@aol.com) or David Kramer (dmkramer2@aol.com). David suggested a poll of parents should be done on what matters to them. Could do it via e-mail. The MHS eNetwork has a simple way to e-poll its 400 members.

Tennis Tournament: Bridget Hanson did a great job. People came together. Invites went out a bit late. Not as many people as last year. Made $14,226. All thank yous have gone out. A suggestion was made to do flyers instead of invitations next time.

Cathy Egner Treasurer’s Report Presented (see attached).

Transaction report: Motion to ratify. Passed unanimously.

Grant Proposal (see attached). Motion proposed. Passed unanimously.

Sonia Ottusch: Jill Green is incorporating the new policy changes for the MHS Handbook. The Community Service booklet will be reformatted to allow in-house production to save money. The beta test for faculty and staff network printing will commence soon.

Nancy Bishop: shark funds down, $290,000 raised. The Shark Fund board has discussed different ways to target people. Points discussed:

1. Enthusiasm has waned since last year.

2. Need everybody to donate something, no matter what the amount.

3. One can earmark the funds.

4. Can give in-kind contribution up to $4,999.99 without having to pay 15% district equity tax, but the in-kind donation does not qualify as an income tax deduction.

5. We do get back 9% from the equity tax, from the 15% we give.

6. Exemptions from equity tax: operating funds, scholarships, $200 per teacher, earthquake supplies, etc.

7. Don’t donate in-kind items that are exempt (e.g. copiers).

There are still different assumptions; viewpoints could be reviewed in monthly newsletter. Equity fund going to file June 30^th. Education Foundation is going to redistribute according to formula.

Shelly Kramer: health and safety committee, school district does not have recycling cans. Trucks pick up everything together. Going to research recycling pick-up.

New 6^th grade parents feel lack of communication and involvement in the school. The PTSA will plan a question and answer meeting for them, with Nan Helgeland to head this.

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM.

Respectively submitted,

Fiona Corrigan