FOGS September 2024 Meeting Minutes

September 4, 2024; 6:30pm Library

Attendees:

2023-2024 Board Members

Joanna Miner Thomas - President

Thomas Rodriquez - Board Member

Mari Fair - Board Member

Kim Kappelman - VP

Sara McCradden - Secretary

Elizabeth Leong - Board Member

Andrew Distel - Board Member

Ashlee Vallanti - Board Member

Amanda Eich - Board Member

Other Attendees:

Chelsea

Ms Rosales

Maggie

Cynthia

Jen

Vanessa

Mandelyn

Stephanie

Evelyn

Stephanie

Elizabeth

Jon Vieve

Discussion:

• Welcome & Introductions of Board Members (10min)

• Updates on summer initiatives 

  • Recruitment committee updates - Mari (3 min)

    • In collaboration with Mr Elmasri, all went well and within budget

  • Ms. Vazquez’s online subscription to a math manipulatives program for grades 1-3 @  $269.00 

    • Purchased with President funds

  • Ms. Rosales requested two flexible chairs and a document camera for her classroom @ $162.00

    • Purchased with President funds

  • “Stop the Mudness”- Ashley (5min)

    • Raised 2.8M of approximately 3M

    • Meeting between CPS and Mr Elmasri are ongoing

  • Indoor wayfinding signage

    • This is earmarked but not yet paid, vendor is working on logistics along with Mr Elmasri

    • Money spent for this WILL NOT come out of SY25 budget unless the final quote is above what was approved last year ($5600). The difference would come out of SY25 budget

  • Goethe Gear Spirit Store is open!  Mari (1 min)

    • goethe-elementary-fundraising-store.checkout.stores.com

Ongoing and Future initiatives

• Door 6 fix - Joanna (less than 1 min) 

• Dine and Donate - Joanna (1 min)

  • Portillo’s Sept 26th

  • Chipotle Nov. 13th

• Snack attack- Amanda (2 min)

  • One grade level per month to sponsor snacks for the teachers

• Goethe Fest - 

  • Do we have the manpower for this?

    • Mari to own, delegate to helpers

      • Helpers: Sara McCradden, Kim Kappelman, Joanna Miner Thomas, Thomas Rodriquez,

  • Proposed date: Saturday, Oct 12th or Sunday 13. (Friday Jewish holiday, Monday no school) (will a lot of families be out of town?) 

  • Alternatives - movie night? 

• Budget for 2024/25 proposal and vote   - Elizabeth (budget updates from last year), (5-10 min) - APPROVED 8 to 0

  • Capital Improvements: $27,750

  • Academic Enrichment & SEL: $27,750

  • Field Trips: $9990

  • Classroom and Teacher Support: $ 7700

  • General Operating Expenses: $9990

  • Principal's Discretion: $2200

  • School and Community Building Events: $16,650

  • Reserves: $8880

• Preparing for new FOGS Board

  • Presentation

  • Discussion of committees

  • Explanation of the voting process that will take place at the next meeting

  • Questions and Answer

  • Buckets