OPEN BOARD POSITIONS: We need you!
Secretary (Executive Board) - Takes notes; Works with blog author to distribute communications
Fundraising Lead - Manages fundraising activities, including spring/summer auction and/or party
DNPA/School Administration Coordinator - Keeps school administration informed of DNPA activities and concerns. Solicits administration's feedback and ways the DNPA can best help.
At-large Board Members - Attend meetings and volunteer (as able) for DNPA activities/events.
HOUSEKEEPING BUSINESS: Financials move into the 21st century
Matt Gousman (Treasurer) has set up a new bank account with better online account features. When the funds have been transferred, he will close the old account. He has also created a PayPal account (with fee of 2.2% per transaction, which is the non-profit rate). DNPA will need to explore how to use the account (e.g. charge extra for online or credit card purchases in order to adjust for the fee). The DNPA blog now includes an online donation button that links to the PayPal account.
PHILANTHROPY: Volunteering time in addition to donated items
The Philanthropy Committee proposed activities involving volunteer work by the kids and parents, rather than only donated goods/money. Some ideas included: volunteer gardening, assisting with a homeless shelter or the local low-income preschool off Piedmont Ave. Other ideas included canned food drive, book drive as part of a DN "Literacy Day" (this has been done in years past), assemble "Night Night" packages for homeless children, connect with Hillary Clinton's "Talk Read Sing" program of which Fairyland is a local site. They would like to solicit other ideas.
ENRICHMENT: Emphasis on balance and LHS 6-wk program approved
Background: School tuition helps to fund various enrichment programs (music, art, spanish, and gardening). The Parents Association has historically funded additional enrichment. This has varied from year to year, and has included gymnastics, dance, hands-on science, as well as cultural performances. This year's proposed enrichment budget was for $4,600 (assuming funding 1 field trip per class and 5-7 school-wide one-time events such as cultural performance or science show).
The Enrichment Committee felt that there should be a balance of on-going classroom programs (e.g. Lawrence Hall of Science 1/wk for 6 weeks) and one-time school-wide events (e.g. cultural dance performance or vivarium show). They developed a criteria for help to select programs including cost, ability to easily organize/coordinate, connection to school curriculum, and augmenting areas that the school does not emphasize as greatly, such as science education.
Teacher Miles re-iterated a point that has been brought up before, which is that too many enrichment programs can be disruptive to the classroom routine and the teachers' program for the year. He greatly stressed quality over quantity.
The group voted and approved to contract with LHS for a 6-week program for a cost of appx $3,600. The administration has made contact with the Vivarium, and may contract them to do a one-day classroom activity.
The Committee is planning to send out an online survey to all parents for thoughts on preferences and priorities for enrichment activities. They also plan to survey the teachers to get their feedback on how enrichment can enhance their curriculum and integrate well into the classroom routine.
FUNDRAISING: To gala or not to gala...
Historically, the spring/summer gala party (including silent and live auction) has brought in the vast majority of fundraising money and has provided an opportunity for parents to connect in a fun setting. Past gala organizers feel that coordinating the event is too taxing on a small group of parents, and that lowering the DNPA budget and doing more low-key community-focused events might be preferable.
In order to pull off a gala and auction, we would need a core of at least 6-10 (very) committed parents who are willing to devote a good # of hours to planning the event, plus appx 10 more support volunteers. The group expressed support and willingness to contribute, but no one was willing to take on the lead role. Last year's gala committee will put together a list of tasks and necessary volunteers in order to make the event a success.
Thoughts on how to lessen the burden on parent organizers:
- Use the same venue and vendors as last year (e.g. Oakland Zoo)
- Use the Oakland Duck's Nest campus as the venue, with childcare at the Broadway campus (though some felt that off campus felt more "special")
- Throw a casual party (BBQ) and make money off ticket price (i.e. charge $100/head but the actual cost is $50/head)
- Forego the silent auction and just do live auction items (silent auction items take a lot of work to gather, create a catalog, and require a lot of accounting on the night of the event). Live auction items have included larger ticket items such as classroom artwork, vacation rental homes, etc. Silent auction items have included donated services and goods (connecting to local businesses) as well as hosted parties (e.g. luau at the Smith house for 10 people)
- Online auction only (no party)
Other parents were interested in doing a "direct ask" where the DNPA would ask for a monetary donations, in order to reduce the burden on organizing fundraising events. Opinions varied. This question may be added to the upcoming all-parent survey. Folks agreed that along with the ask, it would need to be very clear what the Parents' Association funds. In order of proposed amount in the budget this year, those categories are:
1. Teacher/Staff Appreciation (birthdays, holiday, end of year)
2. Enrichment (described above)
3. Overhead (insurance, etc.)
4. DN Community Events (these costs are typically split with the school)
5. School Improvement (campus improvements, equipment, etc.)
Other fundraising activities:
DN Tote Bags: They have been purchased in conjunction with the Berkeley parents' association. We may opt to sell them via the blog or just at events.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes: The school could be a distribution site for parent subscribers, and the DNPA would get a percentage of the cost of the boxes.
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