Northwestern Middle School
PTA Board Meeting
October 11,2005

-Please see Attendance Roster for those present.
-The meeting was called to order at 10:38am.
-Bonnie welcomed everyone and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
-Minutes of the September 13, 2005 Board Meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer's Report
The current balance stands at $30,665.18. Membership stands at 1003 or 81%. This membership includes 81staff and 922 parent members.

Old Business
YMCA Night-Over 100 6th graders attended and all went well.

Music Showcase-The name has been permanently changed to "A Music Showcase". September's showcase went well even though it had to end early as performers had to finish testing at Milton. The showcase lasted for approximately 20 minutes.

"Spruce Up Our Campus" Day-Kathy reported that 50 hard working volunteers helped plant 4 new Crepe Myrtle trees around the patio as well as mulch and clean up the campus. Kroger stores of Windward and Crabapple as well as Port City Java and Dunkin Donuts (Hwy 9) provided refreshments.

-Bonnie thanked Sara Burks and Adrianna Marchese for the wonderful food they provide at our meetings.

New Business
Pastwords-Karen Mueller reporting.
Pastwords will take place next week, October 17-28. Teachers and our own Co-Presidents will be participating. Karen will have Bulletin Boards ready this week with black backgrounds and author's quotes highlighted to be visually effective. There will also be a drawing for a student to win a book.
Book Fair-Kim Horne reporting.
The Book Fair will be in the PTA Room from Thursday October 20-27th. Each class will visit twice, once to preview and then to purchase. Kim passed around a sign up sheet for volunteers to fill shifts and posters will go up this week. On October 24th the Book Fair will be open during the 6th grade Band Concert.

Renaissance-The assembly went well and the students enjoyed the football player.

Box Tops-LeAnn has not received the kit from General Mills yet, but is going to put a box outside the front office (to the right) for students to drop their box tops.

Other-
-Extra enrichment funds will be used for SADD's Red Ribbon week. SADD requested $500.00 to fund programs for the week. They will be outlined in the next budget copy.

-Red Ribbon Week activities will be listed on the school's website and flyers on red paper will be sent home by SADD outlining the week. (Red Ribbon week did not go in PTA's newsletter, as it is not a PTA project.)

-Spirit Wear has left over book covers, sweatshirts and T-shirts that could be sold at the Book Fair. Tracy will check with the Media Center to insure that there will be no conflict.

-Tuesday/Thursday volunteers for the front office will now roam to areas of need during their shift as the school now has the front office staffed Monday-Friday.

Legislative Update-Sue Derene reporting.
The two police officers assigned to our schools during am traffic are no longer with us due a reassignment of the county money that paid for them.
This presents a very dangerous situation - please email Vicki Denmark, Katie Reeves and our new principal (once assigned) regarding this important problem.
Residents of Six Hills and Kensington Farms subdivisions are not crossing at intended crosswalks, instead they are weaving through the traffic and putting themselves at great risk of being hit. Sue Derene will try to get in touch with these homeowners associations to alert them to the problem. This same problem exists with students parking at Crabapple Baptist Church and crossing traffic to campus.
Bonnie reiterated how important it is for the Board to email our concern over no additional officers. She also expressed Officer Neely's concerns over these safety issues. He sees these issues as an immanent threat to our students. Officer Neely also says that adult and parent drivers are part of the problem as they are very abusive to him in traffic.
Sally Hildebrant will put an entry in the PTA Newsletter about students not crossing in the crosswalk.

On October 19th from 10am-12pm The Legislative Conference will be at Milton's Auditorium. Anyone interested in going can RSVP on the North Fulton County website (for lunch). It is recommended people arrive at 9:30am. Parking will be available at Northwestern. Issues that will be discussed include the sales tax proposition and a state mandated school calendar.

On November 4th Katie Reeves will have a community meeting at Crabapple Crossing at 9:30am. Issues to be discussed include housing of students, list of needed building projects and propositions to pay for these projects. With SPLOST II ending and the new SPLOST not up for vote until 2007, other means of funding building projects are needed.

The Math Curriculum presentation with Q&A segment is now on Fulton County's website under current good news.

Hurricane Katrina's impact on Fulton County: the county has 1000 students displaced by Katrina, most south of the river. These students are receiving counseling and tutoring.

The Bus ridership campaign mentioned at last month's meeting has been dropped. The county realized there is not enough room/drivers to transport every student should all decide to ride the buses. Gas prices were also cited as a reason to drop campaign.

Principal's Report
Northwestern's new Principal will be announced at either tonight's School Board meeting or on Thursday. Said Principal will be introduced to the staff either Wednesday am or Friday am depending on when the announcement is made. Mr. Barchi will remain at Northwestern until the end of the month, as the new principal will be interfacing with him twice a week while transitioning from assistant principalship.
Mr. Barchi reviewed the CRCT Analysis he handed out, noting that Northwestern consistently scored "neck in neck" with surrounding schools.

Upcoming Events
Newsletter deadline: 10/14-articles are needed from Reflections, Wildcat Days, Music Showcase and 8th Grade Career Day.
Pastwords: 10/17-28
Book Fair: 10/20-27
Next PTA Board Meeting: November 8th at 10:30am.

Joyce could not be here this morning, but requested that anyone with check requests place them in her file in the front office. She will pick them up later today.

Meeting adjourned at 11:39am
Minutes submitted by Melanie McNaughton, Recording Secretary

*Those unable to attend today's meeting please email volunteer hours (not entered on TRAXX) to Kristin Levert at K_levert@comcast.net

*Please note that Sue Derene spoke with Vicki Denmark, Area Superintendent, after the Board meeting. She suggested that LSAC and PTA send letters regarding traffic safety concerns instead of individual emails (as requested in the meeting) as this will be more effective.

*Information will still go out in the Newsletter for parents and walking children about safe travel to school.