The Windham Parent Network

Archive for September, 2009

Windham Parent Network

Stories in the Park Committee Meeting

September 10, 2008

In Attendance

Barbara Kaczowski Pat Calvo Elizabeth Espitia Gale Zeiba Kate Hardisty Leila Fecho

Call to Order @ 5:00 p.m.

Gail Zeiba – Literacy Tables

• We need to have volunteer ID Tags for all the volunteers.
• Literacy Tables count 10, Tables now closed to new requests.

Facilities Committee: Kate Hardisty

• We should have Hand Sanitizer since we will not have a hand washing station.
• Thank You poster needed.

Refreshments: Pat Calvo

• Pat will pick up the beverages before the event.

Advertising: Leila Fecho

• She would like to give credit to Bob Bloom and Jason Alteri in the press release. Can Pat Calvo send her the information.
• If Leila can set it up would someone be available to talk on the radio about Stories in the Park?
• Pat said she would be available by phone.

Odds and Ends: Barbara Kaczowski

• Coupon Books for food, drinks, and books are designed. They will be printed and assembled before the event. Volunteers for this have already been lined up.
• The Book coupon needs to be changed to have book pick up at the Willimantic Public Library.
• Signs will be posted around the SITP area designated that pictures will be taken.
• The registration table will tell parents about the photo zone, and that they may be on our Website, or be used for publicity.
• The registration table will be where families will get their coupons for free items, and we can collect data on who is be served by this event.
• We need to purchase hand stamps to track people who have already been registered.

Next meeting: September 10, 2008 @ 5:00 p.m. -Willimantic Public Library Children’s Dept.

Meeting Adjourned @ 5:50 p.m

Respectfully Submitted,

Barbara Kaczowski – Community Organizer

Windham Parent Network
Board Meeting
September 14, 2009

Attendance	Documents Distributed
Pat Calvo Barbara Kaczowski Suzanne Kelly Shante Powers-Gaskins Elizabeth Espitia Mark Doyle Rebecca Cronin Bill Stover Mary DeMarco Dennis Cronin Dennis O’Brien Omar Rosario	Agenda June Board Meeting Minutes Stories in the Park Summary

Call to Order @ 5:53 p.m.

Suzanne Kelly

• June Minute Approval, Motion to Accept minutes: Mary DeMarco, Motion 2nd: Bill Stover, Minutes Approved by all present.
• Suzanne Kelly has moved from Windham to Mansfield, and regrets that for the best interest of the Network, she is resigning her position as President. She will stay active as a member, and continue to help at events. Rebecca Cronin as Vice President is the next in line to take over duties.
• Thanks from all fellow members was expressed, Suzanne will be missed.

Director Report: Pat Calvo

• Back to School Fest 267 Backpacks were handed out to area children.
• 3rd Thursday, Suzanne Brogie has made sure that all entertainment has been provided.
• Health Fest went very well.
• Stories in the Park (handout). Expenses total $ 246.62, but next year we will need to get additional sources of funding, since books used this year were already on hand.
• The participation level was about half of last year, but that was to be expected since we had to change venues to inside Kramer Gym due to rain.
• 2010 Funding, Graustein is changing their funding strategies. They are moving towards 3 strategies. Funding option 1 is for communities ready to implement their Local Capacity Plan. Windham does not fit into this category. Option 2 is for communities that need to continue the process for the Local Capacity Plans; Windham could apply for this option. Or option 3 is to implement specific community activities, this fits in best with what the WPN does now.
• The SRC decided to go for option 3.
• This option would be $7500/ year for a total of 5 years.
• The current funding period would be extended until March 31st, at the current level of funding. Basically ¼ of this years $35,000.00.
• Letter of intent has been submitted to Graustein for deadline of September 15th.
• This will give us time to approach other revenue sources.

Magnet School

• Rebecca Cronin has invited Dennis Cronin and Dennis O’Brien to come and speak to us about what is happening with the Magnet School.
• Dennis Cronin has asked the Board what we knew about the issue, we all had heard various fact and fiction.
• The real danger is that the BOS would elect to have another referendum on the Magnet School. And whether or not the Board will vote for the First Selectwoman to sign the contract to purchase the proposed site.
• There are people collecting signatures on a petition to stop the Magnet School from moving forward, and to have another referendum on the issue.
• We need as many bodies as possible to show up at the BOS meeting, to show support for the Magnet School.
• If we turn down the 38 Million State money, it would be “stupid” – Dennis O’Brien.
• Bring the children to the meeting; they need to see the children this vote is impacting.
• So far the Selectmen have not received any calls or emails about this issue. If you cannot attend at the meeting, then you need to call them. But bodies in the room are preferred.
• Susan Johnson: Bond funding is still in place. Magnet schools’ funding has been increased, the regular schools funding was decreased. In addition, a student from Windham who was a good student was denied admission to ECSU, because our standards are so low. We need to have those standards raised.
• Mark Doyle: The selection for the Magnet School will be 75% Windham, and 25% Other Towns. This also has to be broken down further to reflect the ethic ratio of the town.
• The children that do go to the Magnet School will cost the town less because the State reimburses the town at a higher rate.
• The WPN will help to solicit people to come to the meeting, but we should not state we represent all WPN members.

Open Floor:

• No further discussion.

Next Board Meeting: October 19, 2009
Next Membership Social: December 13, 2009 – Holiday Hoopla.

Meeting Adjourned @ 6:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Kaczowski
Community Organizer