November 13, 2020 

PTA Meeting

 

• Brian welcomed guests and we approved October 2020 PTA meeting minutes. 

 

Treasury Update: 

• Membership due income has increased since last meeting
• We also have additional spirit wear income – $1200 from Van Vleck pop up sale
• If you don’t use a charity, consider adding Hillside to your Amazon Smile account
• We have paid out the yearly accounting fee and a few stipends; Colleen will draft reminder to teachers about stipend programs
• We are considering purchasing a tent; Edgemont might loan/sell us a tent. 
• We are in a hard year for many families and we cannot hold many fundraisers. However, we are uncomfortable making an annual appeal at this time. We will continue to assess what events we can hold and if we need to spend from Fireball to get through this year, we will do so. 
• Trying to keep expenditures low this year and focus on communication between school and parents.

 

Activity Update: 

• Without our normal activities, lots of families are craving safe, outdoor get togethers. Class liaisons are all in place; please work with them to plan any local, small group activities
• Book Fair is postponed; looking for date in December for virtual pick up
• We will begin the Mark-A-Wish launch right before Thanksgiving
• Thank you for making Halloween special; reach out to Brian if you’d like books from the Scholastic book donation. Dr. Anglin will also give books to families / classrooms in need.
• Looking at running a small, local, virtual Explorer program in Spring 

 

SATp Update: 

• Collected 70 coats for the drive that ends 11/19. Goal is 125 adult, child, infant coats. Drop off bin is left outside door K.
• Thanks to PTA for funding Thanksgiving meals; Thanksgiving meals are ordered and to be delivered to school on 11/23
• Social Justice Subcommittee – 
  • Interested parents have come together to create a list of possible initiatives. List was presented and reviewed with Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo. Divided group into subgroups focused on initiatives. Each group is drafting proposals for each category:  

1. Racial Literacy (bring racial literacy to adults with trained experts; affinity and SE groups for kids to come together, library promoting race education, equity, getting together with Ms. Scott)
2. Cultural Infusion (inspired by Nishuane program, holidays, events, experiences to lift up other cultures) 
3. Student Support Groups 

• PTAC and other schools also have racial equity groups. Restorative justice and equity audits are also in progress. Also promoting MFEE Real Talk watch groups. 

 

Principal Update: 

• We will be staying with current remote schedules; reevaluate on 12/1
• Reading feedback to hybrid plan; appreciative of getting feedback; principal e-blast this afternoon will have additional clarification and information

 

BOE / PTA Council Update: 

• Conversations with NJEA are ongoing. PTA Council issued a statement urging the district and union to work together to improve clarity and specificity of the union’s concerns and demands so the district has a chance to respond. We want to ensure stakeholders are working productively and collaboratively towards a safe opening. Letter can be found at:  Www.montclairpta.org
• Governor has left decisions to districts to determine when it’s safe to return to school. If the district has specific reasons why they cannot open safely, they must inform the state of their remedies. Local health department is a huge driver in current decision making process 
• Technology support needs can be addressed through district
• Busing at high school: providing courtesy busing to 2 ¼ miles away and working on transportation even closer
• Jeff Freeman was appointed new high school principal
• PTA Council has a Equity, Racism, Opportunity Gap committee with Hillside parents involved. There are 8 different subcommittees working on district wide issues. Committee has required data about discipline, referrals for special ed, racial disparity, etc. to start working with the district on issues.