PTO Meeting February 3, 2025
Welcome from Meredith
Attendees
| Jordan Ciaramataro (in lieu of Megan Hart) | Meredith Quinn, President |
| Ashley Silva, Treasurer | Michele Meltzer, VP |
| Katie Lovett, Enrichment Coordinator | Anthony Gaglione, Event Chair |
| Sarah Ariello, Bev Ed Foundation Rep | Rachael Abell, SC Ward 1 |
| Hannah Dendas, Fundraiser Liaison (Dine-out nights) | Maggie Lilley, Secretary |
| Bethany Kenney, Fundraiser Liaison | |
| Kyle Retallack, Beverly Airport Commission Chairman |
Someone Special Dance – Big success. Wonderful evening. Ticket sales more than doubled.
(Cash in totaled about $3K. Sold 200+ tickets v. ~60 last year.)
Comedy Night – Accepting silent auction donations and/or baskets now. Tickets on sale shortly for $30 dollars pp. Option to purchase tickets at one table for a little bit more (~$300/table).
Expenses so far are covered ($2500)
School Committee President Updates
- Superintendent search kicking off. Search Committee hired to do an external search.
- Candidates
- Hopeful to get a dozen candidates for screening committee
- Present 3 candidates to the school committee
- Must be licensed as a Mass Superintendent; NH has reciprocity
- Accepting internal candidates
- School committee screening committee sign-ups are live.
- Highly discreet volunteers desired (applicants will likely be current superintendents at MA districts).
- Requires availability for 2 weeks from around 4p to 8p each night
- Search Committee Sign Up Here
- Timeline
- Initials beginning of March
- Second round end of March
- Background checks by April
- Shadow in district: priority to get candidate hired in time to be present in schools the month of June
- Both Sue & Dot are retiring, which limits opportunity for transition2
- Candidates
- Upcoming School Committee Meetings (calendar here)
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- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
- Agenda includes ‘25-’26 calendar planning, placement of additional 5 minutes of student learning time, as well as superintendent search timeline & related community questionnaires
- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
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- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- FY ‘26 Budget
- Finance & Facilities tentatively 6:15pm → Potentially moved to Thursday instead
- Committee of the Whole 7:30pm→Constructing a budget that will balance
- Very minimal aid from the state next year: $75/student
- Uncertainty surrounding federal & career grants
- After dark programs potentially affected
- Evaluating all of our programs & enrollments
- “Smaller 8th grade class next year”
- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
3. Municipal elections in April (timeline here)
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- City voted to add 2 additional seats to the school committee (9 seats total)
- 2 at-large positions: One for Wards 1/2/3; one SC member for wards 5/6
4. Questions from Meredith for Rachael Abell: Answer TBD
- “Any progress or discussions regarding in May last year the elementary librarian position? There was $50K remaining to utilize for that. Superintendent & building principal decision.”
5. Are you a parent interested in joining the newly formed Safety Committee? Contact Megan Sudak or Sue Charochak.
- “Looking for people for the Safety Committee.” – A repurposed COVID safety committee into a general school safety committee meeting that could relate to student and staff safety. Looking for parents to be on a site council (confidential work; protecting student rights; looking for people to commit to that meeting on a regular cadence; look at all the protocols & trainings to see if we’re meeting the student needs in the best way.”
Theme for Saturday School
- Game Time (superbowl weekend & pizza day)
- Teacher-based theme
Appreciation Days
- Crossing Guard appreciation day this Friday 2/7
- School Counselor v. Social Work Week: which one should we acknowledge
- Ms. Fitz & Nora
Teacher Lists for Amazon Wishlists Community Purchase
- Spreadsheet for teachers to fill out with one item & the link attached
- Record of who requested what
- List goes out to the parents
Benches
- Meredith will bring examples in March
- Choose a design
- Get on building & grounds’ list
Catalogue Fundraiser for the Spring
- Sock Magazine a potential
- Meadowlark is very easy
- Michelle happy to do that again
Save the Dates sent out for the yard sale
Superbowl Squares are on Sale – 24 more boxes to go – $20/box
PTO Board Elections in March
- Keep thinking if you want to run again
- Run for something if you like
- Meredith will put something out at the end of February to do nominations
- Current members: please write up a job description for the next person
YMCA Night – March 14
- Waiting until Super Bowl squares is over to start that publicity
- Registration opens March 10th
- Pizza, swimming, rock climbing
- $15 per kid
- 25 kids total – last year they made room for more
- 6:30-9pm Friday
Caregiver Info Night
- Speaker on Technology TBD
Polar Plunge
- This Sunday!
- Sign up and join the Ayers Bears
- Donations go to prevent homelessness
Book Fair
- After February, Anthony will reschedule
BevEd
- Grant Cycle is open.
- Meredith applying for a speaker
School sickness
- School sends out a guideline
- Handwashing not a practice before lunch here at the school
- Sarah to work on a grant for a sanitizer/hand-washing station
February Break
- Fundraisers at locations that count all customers as opposed to only the people who say they’re purchasing for Ayers
- March 12th – Giuseppe’s – proceeds received in early May $350
- October – Super Sub – $450
- End of April/May – Salty Seagull offered 10%
Stock the Teacher’s Lounge for the February Break
- Use PTO budget for that
Donations for Teacher Appreciation Week
- TBD
Events/Classes
- Rob Surette visiting next week & making a giant portrait; does a really interactive speed painting presentation
- Guinness Book of World Records jump roper – whole school assembly or 1:1 workshop for grades
- Artsy Classes returning? → We already had activities on Mondays/Fridays & Artsy doesn’t have staffing to do any other weekdays
- March – African cultures & artifacts speaker
- Down Syndrome Day celebration on March 21
Budget Update
- To be posted on the website
