Minutes 02-01-2010

HPMP Meeting notes: Monday, February 1, 2010
7-8 pm in the Smith School Library

Pre-meeting at 6:30 pm

Attendees: Co-President Diana Hammer, Treasurer Roger Hoogerheide, Secretary Marika Adamek, Central Principal Merry Fahrman, Smith Principal Pam Wright

We are awaiting approval of District’s offer to teachers needing Montessori training an interest free loan specific to training tuition, material, and certification. The loan would be paid back by the teacher using his/her stipend over 3 or 5 years. Specifics are being worked out by District. HPMP would like to know how the District plans to move forward with these plans so that HPMP can move forward with their teacher training policy so as not to compete, but to work with District. Co-President Diana Hammer, will follow up with Cherche Prezeau who has also had discussions with Dr. Messinger.

Jodi Delaney, 4/5 Broadwater teacher, plans to continue her training online with mentoring possibly only through HPMP support. It is not certain if she would qualify for a mentor through the District program – she is not a first year teacher.

General discussion continued regarding HPMP’s role in continuing education for teachers. Teachers would like to observe a public school setting. Secretary Marika Adamek is looking into the Spokane Public Montessori Schools as a possible observation opportunity. HPMP could pay for substitute teachers so that mentoring could happen and/or continuing ed opportunities.

Regular HPMP Meeting began at 7:00 pm.

Attendees: Co-President Diana Hammer, Treasurer Roger Hoogerheide, Secretary Marika Adamek, Central Principal Merry Fahrman, Smith Principal Pam Wright, Elvira Roncalli, Perri May, Susan Anderson, Liz Stine, Tracie Kenyon, Lisa Mecklenberg-Jackson, Tacy Sartorius

Co-President, Diana Hammer, began the meeting at 7:00 pm.

Welcome/Introductions

Diana opened the meeting with introductions of HPMP Officers and meeting participants.

Secretary Marika Adamek circulated the sign-in sheet.

Approval of minutes

Diana asked for corrections/additions for minutes from 1/4/10. There were none. The minutes were approved.

Treasurer Report

  • Treasurer Roger Hoogerheide gave the treasurer’s report. The current HPMP balance is $23,729. This included the MT Club reimbursement from Lobsterfest.

Secretary Report

Nothing to report.

Announcements

  • Diana announced that Co-President, Joshua Schultz, has resigned from his position. The HPMP By-laws state that there should be 4 officers on the Board and that a vote should take place to fill any vacancies at the next HPMP meeting. Secretary, Marika Adamek, offered to become Co-President. A vote was taken – all in favor. Liz Stine offered to take the place of Secretary. A vote was taken – all in favor.
  • The current By-laws are listed as with our organization’s former name – HAME. A request was made by Marika to update these By-laws with our current name. By-laws will be attached to our email to members for review. Any revisions will be voted on at our next meeting, March 1, 2010.
  • Marika announced a brown bag lunch for Broadwater Kindergarten parents on Tuesday, Feb. 16th at 12 pm to answer questions and give information regarding the Montessori program and upcoming lottery. Any Broadwater parent is currently in the program and interested in sharing their experiences may attend.
  • KidWorks! At the Holter: Saturday, Feb. 27th from 10 am – 3 pm HPMP volunteers are needed at several tables to help children with art project. Holter gives HPMP $500 or $600 in return for volunteers. Thank you Susan Anderson for heading up this event. A volunteer sign-up sheet was passed around.

Fund-raising

  • Perri May met with Josh Turner in December who suggested we reapply to Steele Reese for grant as well as other ideas. On Jan. 31, 2010 Perri applied for a PP&L grant online specific to teacher training of the new hire for Smith Elementary. Thank you Susan Anderson and Marika Adamek for help with editing.
  • Treasurer, Roger Hoogerheide reported on eScrips as a possible fundraiser. He will follow up. Members were asked to consider.
  • Lisa Mecklenberg-Jackson suggested looking into “Goodsearch” as a possible source. Members were asked to check it out online and consider.
  • Diana looked into The United Way and was encouraged to participate. Applications are due in March. She is also looking into the Federal Employee Campaign as a possible fundraiser.
  • Another possibility for members to consider is the ability to donate through automatic bank withdrawals. Our website would direct people to this donation option. Roger reported on costs associated with “Bill Pay” with our current bank. Tracie Kenyon offered to look into the costs associated with “Bill Pay” at other institutions, possibly credit unions, for less to no cost.

Montessori Week: February 21-27, 2010

  • Many states and communities celebrate Montessori week through public awareness, student projects and school wide events. It takes a Mayor or Governor proclamation to make it official. There was agreement that this is something to consider for next year.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

  • Lisa and Marika will update our HPMP displays for use during P/T Conferences at Central (Feb. 9 & 11), Smith (Feb. 10 & 11) and Broadwater (Feb. 23 & 25)

HPMP Training Policy

  • Diana and Anne Hedges (Past Co-President and Central parent) met with Jodi Delaney to discuss her training. Jodi Delaney, 4/5 Broadwater, plans to continue her training online with mentoring (made possible through HPMP support.) Diana suggested to members that HPMP pay for her online training. There were no objections. A mentor for Jodi could come from another 4/5 teacher in the district. HPMP could support this by paying for a substitute while she observes. Jodi and Charla Kempa (4/5 Central) are working on an Upper Elementary stipend from APETS.
  • A 1/25/10 revision of our teacher training policy is on hold. The District loan offer is still under review at the District level, but there has been indication that it could be offered this year to the new hire for Smith. Diana is following up with District. A copy of the draft will be attached in an email sent to members. Reworking of our policy was made to offer “Scholarships or Sponsorship” for teacher training costs associated with tuition, certification, materials and continuing education.

Education

  • A discussion led by Pam Wright using the book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, was offered for member education. However, because of time we have postponed this presentation for next month. The Board and members would also like to invite Dr. Messinger to a future meeting. An invitation will be made.

Brochure

  • Marika has drafted a new version of our brochure and will attach to an email to the membership for review/comments. A heartfelt thank you to all of the classroom reps who took pictures of our Montessori students for this project! – Salina Ernst, Tracie Kenyon, Susan Anderson, Chrystal Bridges, Colleen Roylance, and Tacey Sartorius.

Everyone was thanked for attending and the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2010 in the Smith School library.