Beacon PTA meeting minutes – Nov. 2021
BEACON PTA REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Nov. 8, 2021 (6PM, Zoom)
Meeting recording is here
MINUTES (Approved 12/13/21)
1. WELCOME
– Shirley Brady, Robin Broshi, Nancy Molesworth (PTA Co-Presidents)
- Robin discussed Zoom bombing at Beacon Town Hall on School Safety earlier today, therefore this meeting will have limited access. Specifically, Zoom chat will be disabled except for direct messaging to co-hosts, who are the three co-presidents. Meeting participants can only speak if called upon by raising hands and cannot turn on their video or unmute themselves.
2. PRINCIPAL REPORT – Brady Smith
- Reported on a 6th floor large water pipe that burst over the weekend. As a result of flooding, classes were relocated from 6th floor for today only. Pipe is now repaired. All classrooms except for the Black Box theater are back up and functional. Extensive damage to Black Box theater and the B’DAT office was reported. Additionally, out lunch was instituted today for 11th and 12th grade students.
- Beacon’s Open Street application was approved unanimously last week by Community Board 4. Daily out lunch for 11th and 12th grade students will start once the DOT barricade for the Open Street seating area has been delivered to school. A funding request will be submitted to the PTA to help fund foldable and sturdy outdoor furniture. While the DOT provides the barricade, Beacon will purchase a cover for the structure.
- Comments on the Zoom bombing at today’s School Safety town hall: Brady said the Zoom security settings were somehow re-set (the school Zoom account has been used in a while) and extremely offensive comments were made in the Zoom chat. The meeting had started and had to be restarted. An investigation will take place.
- Brady also noted that the DA’s office Zoom bombing from earlier this year (during guest speaker Amy Chin’s Zoom presentation on anti-AAPI hate) is still incomplete.
- Additionally, the DA’s office has said it will not investigate the recent Instagram-based cyber-bullying incident (aka the Beacon Burn Book) any further.
- Restorative Justice – a 2nd workshop was held today for students, with Tyler Brewster of Peer Connect leading. The group discussed various ways to repair harm at Beacon. Peer Connect will help design harm and healing Tier 2. Circle keeper training also will occur to help address harm. Brady is an accredited circle-keeper and has seen how powerful it can be to resolve conflicts and build community.
- The Beacon Equity team meeting will be held on Friday – consists of teachers, leadership, DEI co-VPs, a parent rep and student leaders
- DEI – 66 students can be supported through a new DOE initiative, a 3 tier system depending on perceived need as per student’s IEP
- NX resolution: Kerry Dowling is returning and will take on an F status position (part-time) for Fridays to support NX resolution and will take back her 12th grade advisory. T. Lewis’ advisory will be taken over by Ms. Durant (sp)?
- DESSA screening: deadline has been extended to Dec 4 and the opt out period has been extended to 11/14. Staff training is underway to provide DESSA support.
- Grades: Q1 grades are due this Friday, 11/12. The first quarter of classes ended today. Parent Advisor conferences will be held on 11/18 (evening) & 11/19 (afternoon).
- Sports: Volleyball team won today. PSAL’s new indoor spectator policy was discussed: proof of vaccination and wellness check required to enter building. No student attendees at indoor games, only parents. Then will create a “guest list” during 2nd round.
- Admissions: a meeting will be held on Friday to discuss potential models for Fall ‘22 admissions
- Vaccines: a Pop-up vaccination site for 5-11 year olds may happen tomorrow, but Brady has not received any confirmation.
3. GUEST SPEAKER – Diane Kim, Beacon’s RAPP Coordinator
Short presentation for parents on her work as Beacon’s RAPP (Relationship Abuse Prevention Program) Coordinator
- Provides individual student counseling at Beacon
- Discusses relationship abuse with students at Beacon
- Will engage in parent workshops if parents are interested in participating
- Erdene is sending around a survey to gauge parent interest in workshops (and to get ideas for themes)
- Request to focus on cyber bullying and role of technology in abusive relationships and what students should know
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- Anju Gupta, Recording Secretary
- Oct. 12, 2021 meeting minutes (click here) – Robin Broshi made a motion to approve the minutes. Nancy Molesworth seconded. Minutes have been approved.
5. TREASURERS’ REPORT
– Spencer Green, PTA treasurer, presented the updated budget & new funding requests (Katherine Bruck, assistant treasurer, also present).
-November requests were approved at the recent EB meeting to present to parents at this meeting for a vote; 2 more requests came in since EB meeting
– One request (for outdoor furniture for new Open Street lunch area) is not ready to present as still needs work
– Details discussed regarding specific requests.
– College counselor upcoming maternity leave and payment of her replacement starting in the new year (a $33,000 subsidy) discussed by Brady
– Total of $67,380 of new requests were approved by majority of parents in the meeting, so we will have to dip into our reserves.
6. COMMITTEE UPDATES –
- VPs, Fundraising: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser
- OneRun 5K charity fun run brought in $1,100
- Families can host small personal fundraising events, ie SoulCycle parties, wine-tasting parties, as in the past
- Direct appeal – almost at 40% of projected goal for annual appeal, slow steady progress. Approx $90K raised so far
- Raffle – another one is planned by the end of year
- Cody the mentalist will be invited to perform on Zoom again – late winter, early spring
- Auction chair – parent volunteer is needed
- Grant writing – also need volunteers to help
- VP, Communications: Justine Keil – present, no report
- VPs, Community Building: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky
- In person meetings have taken place recently for 9th, 11th and 12th grade families
- 10th grade meet-up is next week
- Google Groups for each grade are active and supportive
- VPs, DEI: Gary Anthony Ramsay, Windell Williams
- VPs, Merchandise: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding
- Next in-school merch sale date is Friday 12/10
- Merch Sale held on 10/22 earned $4,315
- VP, Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord – not present
7. OTHER BUSINESS
- VP Carole Fennell, who’s the PTA representative on the School Safety Team, reported on today’s school safety town hall
- Safety agent Reyes has noticed Patrol cars in neighborhood
- 12 drills occur each year
- Incidents reported are down in last 2 weeks
8. NEW BUSINESS
• Parents have volunteered to help revamp the PTA website.
• Possibility of holding in-person PTA meetings was discussed with Brady (need proof of vaccination and wellness check on arrival)
• Other upcoming events:
• 11/10: School Leadership Team meeting (5pm, Zoom)
• 11/11: No school (Remembrance Day)
• 11/18: Parent/Advisor Conferences (5:30 PM-8:00 PM)
• 11/19: Parent/Advisor Conferences (12:00 PM Noon-2:20 PM)
8. MEETING ADJOURNED
Questions? Contact beaconpta@beaconschool.org
PTA Executive Board members present:
Shirley Brady, co-president
Robin Broshi, co-president
Nancy Molesworth, co-president (meeting chair)
Spencer Green, treasurer
Katherine Bruck, assistant treasurer
Anju Gupta, secretary
Carole Fennell, VP
Robin Krugman, VP
Kim Youngberg, VP
Justine Keil, VP, communications
Karen Stonely, co-VP, community building
Natasha Zaretsky, co-VP, community building
Windell Williams, co-VP, diversity, equity & inclusion
Karen Jolicoeur, co-VP, fundraising
Alison Overholser, co-VP, fundraising
Julie Harding, co-VP, merchandise
Diana Mahiques, co-VP, merchandise
Marisol Cruz, member at large
