Attendance - Jane Mayo, Kathy Wilde, Elizabeth Shaller, Heather Shields, Cathi Wolf, Christina Sapp, Terri Stenger, Dawn Carapazza, Genia Edmonds

Business

Approval of Minutes

Unfinished Business

The Rotarian Breakfast is scheduled for February 26th. If you signed up to bring a dish , please allow for 30 people instead of the previous 25. Jane checked with the Sunset Restaurant for price of biscuits & gravy. PTO decided Sunset wanted too much money therefore, Jane will provide sweet rolls or donuts. Since someone signed up to make biscuits, Jane will bring butter and jelly. Deliver your dish first thing in the morning, 8:00am!

Evening Meeting - Decided on Thursday, April 22nd at 6:00pm. Theresa Trammel will distribute a newsletter to the all elementary schools to be given out to parents inviting them to attend this MMS PTO meeting. Student Counsel will be used during meeting to possibly give parents a tour of the school. Jane will check about using New Century Scholars, too. It was decided that refreshments should be served as parents are entering meeting. Therefore, meeting should be held in the cafateria.

New Business

Teacher/staff appreciation - This will be held during May 3rd through May 7th as to not interfere with MMS testing. Jane reported that a questionaire had been sent to staff and teachers asking for input. But for the most part PTO will stick to what we did last year because the teachers and staff had nothing but praise for what PTO did last year. Jane will ask Cedar's to give a bid and Cathi Wolf talked highly of Wayne from Angel Medical. He has done a lot of catering for Caterpillar and the prices are really good and the food is especially good! Cathi will get more info for MMS PTO.

Genia Edmonds brought up the subject of giving the A students and A/B students words of encouragement by publishing their names in the newspaper, like the high school did last week. The PTO thought that was an excellent idea. Mr. Bonard said that he would be happy to give us the list. The PTO will need to get that list to Franklin Press and or Macon County Newspaper. Next year the PTO will need to appoint someone or some committee to take care of this every nine weeks.

There is a Gifted Students meeting at MMS for all interested tonight at 7:00pm.This meeting will address many questions parents have about getting their children involved in the Gifted Program.

Next year the Band Students (8th grade) have been invited to the Gator Bowl. It was suggested that PTO will need to encourage or help with a fundraiser to help allow participation in this prestigous.

Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for new officers. At this time Jane Mayo will remain as one of the Co-Presidents. Therefore, another Co-President is needed. Heather Shields will remain as Treasurer for one more year. Elizabeth Shaller will remain as Secretary for her second year. All other positions are available!


Committee Reports

Teacher/Staff Appreciation - already discussed

Newsletter - Terri Stenger is slated to distribute newsletter from printer to MMS teachers.

Volunteer Coordinators - Mr. Bonard needs volunteers to help with tutoring program. He has been given many more students due to testing coming up soon.

Front Sign/Bulletin Board - no report

SAS - no report

Refreshments - There is a Drama production scheduled for March 11th. Tammy Combs usually takes care of refreshments but please call her to help volunteer your services. This is a big job to do by yourself. I'm sure she will appreciate any help she can get!

Funding Requests

Mr. Bell has asked from the PTO for $2000.00 to help with the cost of supplying the fiberoptic line needed to connect to MMS from its present site. It will cost a total of $9000.00. Mr. Shotwell is behind this 100 per cent. He has promised Mr. Bell $5000.00 along with Southwestern College donating $2000.00. The $2000.00 Mr. Bell asked for was approved by the PTO.

Colette Lovell requested the PTO to help fund a project which would ultilize the greenhouse purchased by Gear Up. This would commemorate the late Baldwin Kinsland. This project is to grow vegetables and flowers to sell to MMS staff, parents, and others who are interested. Money would be needed for soil, pots, fertilizer, seeds, hoses, etc. The proceeds would go to Spina Bifida research or any other charity chosen by the Kinsland family. Mrs. Lovell has asked for $500.00 or any amount to help get this underway. Mr. Bell thinks this project should be supported but there are a few things that need to be done before supplies can be purchased.The Greenhouse needs to be totally up and running before suuplies can be bought. He suggested this be tabled until our next PTO meeting. The PTO members agreed.

Gear Up was renewed for another year. However, next year Gear Up will be working with 7th grade through 12th grade. The grant does not allow 6th grade to be included. Just recently, Gear Up paid PSAT fees for approximately 50 to 60 students. Gear Up needs volunteers for tutoring on Mondays through Fridays, 9:05am until 10:45am, 1:15pm until 3:00pm, and 3:00pm until 6:00pm. Any one interested please contact Gear Up.

There is a dance scheduled for Thursday night, February 19th. The proceeds will go to March Of Dimes and the Patton Family who lost their house in a fire last month.

Next Meeting will be March 11, 2004

submitted by Elizabeth Shaller