Flynn PTO Update 3/9/14

Hey There Flynn Families - So fun to see all the families out on the ice Friday night for our annual Leddy Skate Night.  Thank you so much to all the parents that organized and supported fundraisers this year - money raised by the PTO goes towards free family events like this one.  Skate night alone costs the PTO upwards of $800 for ice rental and skates.

Many thanks to the families that baked, organized pizza, picked up donations, set up/cleaned up the concession area.  We raised over $600 that will go directly into the Tom Sawyer play fund.  Also grateful that everyone had a hearty appetite and made generous donations - Flynn families are the best!!!

Raffle winners at Skate night won Front row seats for Tom Sawyer and VIP Parking.  So far, our winner are the following families:  K. Poquette, M. Rubman, A. Greenip.  Unclaimed tix include: (last 4 numbers) 9690, 9685, 9706...  If you have one of these tickets, shoot me an email! akbelluche@aol.com

(Also - unclaimed plate that once held mini cupcakes - white plate with blue trim - is washed and in the PTO mailbox in the office)

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-ups  This spring, Flynn will continue to use the electronic scheduling system, PTC Fast, to schedule our March 27th and 28th Parent Teacher Conferences.  It will allow you to select the teacher(s) with whom you would like to conference. By registering your email address, you will be able to view and select a conference time(s) that works for you.

If you have more than one child at Flynn School,  you may begin scheduling your conferences on Thursday March 6th.

Q. What if I need to schedule multiple conferences (more than one child at Flynn)?

A. If you have more than one child for whom you need to schedule, you should select (check) all teachers with whom you need to conference from the list of available teachers. You will then be prompted to  enter the children’s names for the corresponding teachers. When that is done you can proceed with registering your email address.  You will receive a link via email to access and view the teachers’ schedules.  You will see all selected schedules at one time!

http://ptcfast.com/schools/John_J_Flynn_Elementary_School

One Child? Families needing only to schedule a conference for one child may begin scheduling conferences on Tuesday March 11th. Supporting documentation can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/flynnparentconferencehelp 
If you are not able to access this system and need help, please call the Flynn office (864-8478)  to schedule a conference appointment with our administrative assistant, Karen Carr. 

Minutes from the PTO meeting last week are included at the end of this post.

The Theatre committee is looking for a few items to borrow for our upcoming production of Tom Sawyer...  Could you lend any of the following?: (if so, write to us at flynnschoolpto@gmail.com)

 
Suspenders
Train cap
Jean Overalls (size 10 or 12)
Plastic grasshopper, plastic beetle
Pick ax
old kite

BSD Budget Defeated...Spotlight – Superintendent’s Column

Greetings All,

As you are now aware our budget was defeated significantly in this week’s vote. The disconnect between our growing enrollment and investment in quality programs, with an education funding system that resulted in an anticipated 9.9% tax increase (for a moderate 3.9% budget increase) hit the wall and Burlington voters expressed that they could not afford it any longer.

What are the next steps? We will have six new Board Members beginning in April and this Board will determine if we go back out for a second budget vote, and if so, what shall it be? Ultimately, if we have no approved budget by June 30th, we can spend this year’s budget amount plus any additional revenue. This will mean additional reductions of about $2M at the high end.

In the next week, I must prepare a reduction in force list in anticipation of what the Board decides and how we will end up with a spending plan. This likely means there will be many RIFs extended and some positions will likely be recalled this year, but not until late spring. This always causes anxiety and I am very sorry for that. Because of contractual deadlines, we must RIF first and then bring back as revenue is approved through a budget.

I will try to keep you up to speed as to the thinking of the Board. Basically, anything not mandated will be considered for             reduction. There is no doubt there will be an impact on the classroom and on programs. Of course, we will also seek non-program reductions as much as possible. We will get through this together. Please hang in there and ask questions as we go through this process. Thank you for your commitment to the children of  Burlington.

I wish to thank the following Board Members for their years of service and dedication to Burlington’s children as they leave the Board: Kathy Chasan (8 years), Bernie O’Rourke (6 years), Jill Evans (4 years), Rebecca Grimm (3 years), Erin Kranichfeld (2 years), and Linda Deliduka (2 years).

I also wish to welcome the new Board Members who will begin their terms in April: Kyle Dodson (Ward 1), Brian Cina (Ward 2), Charlie Giannoni (Ward 3), Scot Shumski (Ward 4), Stephanie Seguino (Ward 6), and David Kirk (Ward 7).
Jeanné

Book Fair Coming Soon Put the March Book Fair on your radar!  The library is holding a one-night event on Tuesday, March 25th from 5-7:30 pm.  The third grade team is also holding a fundraising dinner. The Library is looking to line up a couple of volunteers to help with set-up (3:30-5:00) and breakdown (7:30-8:30).  Please contact Corey Wallace to help.   cwallace@bsdvt.org

Did you miss the Daylight Savings Bottle Drive?  There is still time to bring those bottles and cans to Merola's Market if you missed the drop off Saturday.  When you stop by just say your donating the deposit to J. J. Flynn School.  The bottle drop will be extended until Wednesday.

Save the date...

March 12 - title 1 meeting and Principal's coffee- 6:30pm in the library- childcare provided
March 12 - Chess Club at 7:30am
March 15 - Tom Sawyer Set Building Day (9am-5pm come for an hour or the whole day!)

March 16 - Tom Sawyer technical dress rehearsal 11:00-4 (Mandatory!)
March 16-22  - Tom Sawyer Production Week

March 19 - Chess Club at 7:30am

March 20 - Tom Sawyer School Show - 12:40 (there will be some extra seating for grandparents and families that want to bring small children during the day!)
March 21 - Tom Sawyer show - 7pm
March 22 - Tom Sawyer show - 4pm
March 25  -Book Fair dinner and shopping

March 26 - Chess Club at 7:30am

March 27/28 - Parent Teacher Conferences
April 4-Talent show-7pm
April 10 -Flynn Math Night 

MINUTES  Flynn School PTO
Learning Center
March 6, 2014

Pizza from Leonardo’s and Free Childcare Provided
6:30-8:00 - Meeting

WELCOME – Jessica Hook, PTO President

Principal’s Corner- Graham Clark (10 min) TABLED UNTIL NEXT MEETING

Gardens- Graham Clark (10 min)

Partnership for Outdoor Learning UVM conceptual drawings of Flynns future campus 

that engulf the library walls TABLED UNTIL NEXT MEETING

Treasurer’s Report- Betsy Ward (5 min)

● Cash on hand is $6,093. Still need to raise $5,700 to meet budget spending 

projections

● Betsy researching the reinstatement of Tax Exempt Status

Fundraising- Tammy Kuypers (10 min)

● Bottle drive this Saturday

● Dan’s Chocolates packets will go home March 21- Goal is $6000

Enrichment- Kate Belluche (10 min)

● First graders going to Flynn on Monday

● Chess club continues and has good participation- over 20 students coming 

weekly

● Tom Sawyer coming up in 2 weeks. Volunteers needed for Monday 3/17 11:30 

am - 2:30 pm

● Bake sale at Skate Night this friday will benefit the play

● Question from parent: Could we offer an alternative enrichment opportunity for 

students who do not participate in the play?

Flynn Family Nights - Heather Simmons (5 minutes)

● Due to the cancellation of the Drive In Heather will try to schedule a Flynn Movie 

Night

Flynn Family Partnership- Shanta Eastman (10 min)

● Math Night: April 10- volunteers needed to share their family favorite math 

activities- a flyer went home and another will go home next week

Room Parents- Happy Vail (5 min) 

● 3rd Grade this month, Kindergarten next month

Teacher Suggestion Box & Outerwear Swap – Christine Leithead (5 min)

● No suggestions

OPEN FORUM (10 min)

● Jessica Hook announced that next month PTO will host a representative from the 

North Ave Corridor to talk about Sidewalk Safety

● Sarah DeShaw asked that we take a look at the systems in place for monitoring 

the composting and recycling and will connect with the CSWD outreach 

coordinator

● Christine L. asked that we take a look at our policy of special snacks and asked 

if we could consider adopting a healthy snack only policy or even perhaps a no 


special snack policy