Beacon PTA meeting minutes – June 2022

Beacon PTA Monthly Meeting 

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 (5:30pm, Zoom) 

Final 2021/22 meeting & 2022/23 elections

Zoom link: Click here.

This meeting was recorded; click here.

MINUTES (approved 9/19/22)

WELCOME – PTA CO-PRESIDENTS

Welcome & meeting norms  

Nancy Molesworth (chair), Shirley Brady & Robin Broshi  

REVISED BYLAWS   

Robin Broshi [presentation & vote]

Vote outcome:  Bylaw revision APPROVED (majority vote)

Draft bylaws that were presented are here.

Updated bylaws (as approved at this meeting) are here.

BUDGET REVIEW  

Spencer Green (Treasurer – info is here; updated: final budget is here)

• 2021/22 YTD budget review and final funding requests vote  – Income approx $290K; expenses approx $380K, $90K from reserves as was planned to bring school back after Covid.

End-of-year funding requests:

• The following requests were APPROVED by a majority vote:
  • Summer Bridge (Samilia Ghartey-Sam) – $4,000  
  • IEP-focused College Counselor (Deb Heller) – $36,500 [½ of salary recommended, school paying the other ½ of this role’s salary]
  • Art end-of-year show installation overage (Beacon Art) – $150  
  • Total: $39,650.00
• Following funding requests are tabled for the fall/next EB to revisit:
  • Girls Ultimate Frisbee Club – $1,900 
  • Violence prevention training for students by Prepare Inc – $7,500 [Not recommended at this time as proposal only benefits 40 students. EB recommends request to be considered more thoroughly in September.]
  • 2 clubs requested $2,000 each (Advisor for both: Ms. Talbert-Bain): Art Activism Club and Diaries of Women of Color Club [EB recommends revisiting in September; both clubs did not submit an itemized list; also wait for other clubs’ funding requests to come in.]

• 2022/23 Proposed PTA budget review & vote – Total revenue to be approx $260K, accumulative arts fund to be divided up in fall between arts clubs – total is $73K, which is a big cut for the arts, lots of discussion re cuts and lots of kids come to beacon for the arts; sports – each club got a little less funding and making boys and girls equal for every sport, discussion re publications to be print vs. digital, HBCU summit – next year will pay for half and receive a grant for the other half.  Discussion re ways to increase fundraising and parents and kids to take responsibility for fundraising and for clubs to come up with individual ways to fundraise.Issue as to criteria used for budget cuts. PTA co-presidents reiterate the importance of having a budget in place so PTA can continue to write checks over the summer.   

Vote outcome: Budget APPROVED as presented  

Motion: Spencer Green

Seconded: Kathleen Wolf

Amendement: Additional $70,000 funding for Beacon Arts programs was APPROVED after a discussion and motion during New Business, below.

Updated & approved 2022/23 PTA budget:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vKXQ2TqruahDQ8CDbJnY6aX-0VnYGg4v/view?usp=sharing

PTA/SLT ELECTION  

Lauren McGrail (Nominating Committee chair)

Voting procedure:

• To make identifying eligible voters easier during this meeting, we ask current Beacon parents to change their Zoom screen name to their student’s first and last name.

• Non-administrative Beacon staff should add “STAFF” before their Zoom screen name if they plan to vote.

• All current Beacon parents and guardians are eligible to vote but incoming 9th grade parents are not.  

Voting outcome:

• Vote 1: 2022/23 PTA Executive Board officers [uncontested vote]

The following slate of candidates APPROVED by majority vote as follows:

Co-Presidents: 

• Robin Broshi (2023)  
• Gary Ramsay (2023)  
• Alberta Conteh (2025) 

Treasurer: 

• James O’Neill (2025)  

Assistant Treasurers: 

• Caterina Bartha (2024) 
• John Scott (2025) 

Recording Secretary: 

• Nim Delafield (2025)  

Assistant Recording Secretary: 

• Monica McSharry (2024) 

Vice Presidents of the Association: 

• Shirley Brady (2023) 
• Carole Fennell (2023) 
• Kim Youngberg (2024) 

Co-VPs, Communications: 

• Kendall Gastelu (2025) 
• Kelli Henry (2024)  

Co-VPs, Community-Building: 

• Cathy Ho (2025)  
• Judy Olsen (2023)

Co-VPs, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

• Melissa Magallanes (2024) 
• Jeffrey Marshall (2024) 

Co-VPs, Fundraising: 

• Kirsten Marino (2024)  
• Rosemary Wagner (2024)  

Co-VPs, Hospitality: 

• Robin Krugman (2024) 
• Jennifer Weisbord (2024)   

Co-VPs, Merchandise: 

• Lisa Starr (2024)   
• Toby Williams (2025)  

Co-VPs, Special Education (new position) 

• Justine Keil (2023)  
• Isabel Santiago-Gordon (2025) 

• Vote 2: 2022/23 School Leadership Team parent reps [contested vote]  

Vote outcome: The following parents were APPROVED by vote. Note that the first 4 are elected and guaranteed parent spots on the SLT; and the 5th is provisional due to DOE regulations stating tat the number of parent and teacher roles on an SLT must be the same. The incoming SLT can vote on that spot during its first meeting in September.

The 2022/23 SLT parent reps elected by majority vote (poll):

• Maud Abeel
• David Gould
• Nigel Hewett
• Natasha Zaretsky
• Gina Zucker (provisional 5th spot)

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT  

Brady Smith  – Prom was a success!  Grad rehearsal is tomorrow and graduation is Thursday.  CR conversions for seniors will be by June 27th and other students will follow.  

• Arts budget – school pays salary for teachers and procession for after hours for art teachers. Beacon has 6 ½ art teachers including Kate Reed (half-time, film & English teacher) is returning in September. Beacon pays average teacher salaries, annual procession for teachers is $381K – not just for arts but all teachers. Initial school budget has been given by NYC.  
• Admissions: Total 1,500 students next year, 360 of whom are incoming 9th graders. 4,800 students now on waitlist for fall.  
• ICT classes will be provided next year at Beacon, bringing additional funding due to extra services provided for students with IEPs. 
• Beacon’s 2022-23 budget is no worse than it was last year. Expected cut in ARPA Federal COVID-19 funds, which must be spent by August 31, 2022.
• Brady discusses vision, focus and plans for next school year:
  • Academic supports will be increased next year, ongoing partnerships will continue, including restorative justice work. 
  • Guidance counselors will be assigned per grade level for next year (not alphabetically as in years past). 
  • Advisory curriculum being shifted next year, including more circle-keeping. May renew Advisory relationship with Peer Health Exchange or another service provider.
  • New family handbook in progress; should be ready by August.   
  • Faculty handbook will also come out by the end of summer – will include a more consistent grading policy across subject areas.       
  • New health education for next year’s 9th graders 
  • Community service for 10th graders only next year
  • Equity work to be expanded as led by BUU, which has new leadership identified for next year, Respect For All posse, year 2 of district equity work.  
  • New DOE system for academic progress will replace Pupil Path and be integrated into the New York City Schools Account (NYCSA), so everyone, please sign up! It will report grades and attendance. Still in development and will provide an array of communications options (so no more family updates from Mailchimp).  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Anju Gupta, Recording Secretary

Presented May 2022 monthly meeting minutes (click here) & vote

Vote outcome: APPROVED.

Motion to approve by: Nancy Molesworth

Seconded by: Carole Fennell

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Auction: Carla Miller, Kim Youngberg – no report

• Communications: Justine Keil – please share suggestions with new communications team for what to do differently/better next year  

• Community-Building: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky – 

Special Education committee and 2 new VP’s for Special Education, had 2 parent potlucks last month which were a huge success.  Final IEP meeting tomorrow night at 6 pm

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Gary Ramsay, Windell Williams – 

Issue re body shaming by sports teams addressed immediately by Brady, HBCU event was a huge success – 299 registered, only 4-5 EB board members were present, students discussed ongoing microaggressions at beacon.  Admissions did not progress as much as hoped for next year.  Budget committee will continue working on equitable funding (including new funding request form) next year. Goodbyes to some senior parents. DEI is part of education at Beacon – respect and remembrance is important.   

• Fundraising: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser – 

Update re suggestions for next year’s fundraising team.  

• Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord, Robin Krugman- 

End of year sports banquet was a huge success as athletes felt appreciated.  

• Merchandise: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding – 

Raised close to $8K over the last 4 events – open houses etc.  

NEW BUSINESS 

• ARTS discussion – music, film, B’DAT, photography, arts and dance.  New PTA arts budget represents a 50% cut from previous years. Arts programs serve over 1,000 students, which is approx. ⅓ of the school.  Many of the arts will disappear (i.e. shows, etc.) if we cut arts to that extent.  
• Beacon Theatre/B’DAT director Jo Ann Cimato speaks on behalf of the entire Beacon arts dept. and does not want a “pay to play” model. Begs the PTA not to start next school year with such a deficit. Teachers (and teaching assistants) will need to be fired with this new budget, which is already in a $60K budget deficit (dipping into the PTA’s reserve funds). 
• Discussion that arts are often first on the chopping block when there are budget cuts. Point raised regarding upcoming recession and soaring inflation. Need to figure out where money will come from if we increase the arts budget. Discussion that money has to come from somewhere (such as grants, targeted fundraising, more corporate matching).    
• Nancy Molesworth makes a motion to put a placeholder to increase the art budget by an additional $70K to keep arts going for next year; Kathleen Wolf seconds the motion; APPROVED and budget amendment passes to add $70K for the arts department funding in the 2022/23 PTA budget; additional funds added in link below:
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vKXQ2TqruahDQ8CDbJnY6aX-0VnYGg4v/view?usp=sharing 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Motion to approve by: Jennifer Weisbord

Seconded by: Carole Fennell

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2022-23 Beacon PTA Executive Board candidates

[uncontested election; vote will be on entire slate of candidates]

Co-Presidents: 

• Robin Broshi (2023)  
• Gary Ramsay (2023)  
• Alberta Conteh (2025) 

Treasurer: 

• James O’Neill (2025)  

Assistant Treasurers: 

• Caterina Bartha (2024) 
• John Scott (2025) 

Recording Secretary: 

• Nim Delafield (2025)  

Assistant Recording Secretary: 

• Monica McSharry (2024) 

Vice Presidents of the Association: 

• Shirley Brady (2023) 
• Carole Fennell (2023) 
• Kim Youngberg (2024) 

Co-VPs, Communications: 

• Kendall Gastelu (2025) 
• Kelli Henry (2024)  

Co-VPs, Community-Building: 

• Cathy Ho (2025)  
• Judy Olsen (2023)

Co-VPs, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

• Melissa Magallanes (2024) 
• Jeffrey Marshall (2024) 

Co-VPs, Fundraising: 

• Kirsten Marino (2024)  
• Rosemary Wagner (2024)  

Co-VPs, Hospitality: 

• Robin Krugman (2024) 
• Jennifer Weisbord (2024)   

Co-VPs, Merchandise: 

• Lisa Starr (2024)   
• Toby Williams (2025)  

Co-VPs, Special Education (new position) 

• Justine Keil (2023)  
• Isabel Santiago-Gordon (2025) 

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2022-23 School Leadership Team candidates 

[contested election for 5 parent seats]

• Maud Abeel (2025) 
• David Gould (2024) 
• Dorine Grollman (2025) 
• Nigel Hewitt (2025) 
• Sarah Sidi (2024) 
• Natasha Zaretsky (2023) 
• Gina Zucker (2025) 

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Thank you to our 2021-22 Beacon PTA Executive Board members!

Co-Presidents: Shirley Brady, Robin Brosh, Nancy Molesworth

Secretary: Anju Gupta

Treasurer: Spencer Green

Assistant Treasurer: Katherine Bruck 

VPs: Carole Fennell, Robin Krugman, Kim Youngberg

VPs, Fundraising: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser

VP, Communications: Justine Keil

VPs, Community Building: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky

VPs, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Gary Ramsay, Windell Williams

VP, Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord

VPs, Merchandise: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding

Members at Large: Marisol Cruz, Tali Mermelstein, Carla Miller

Questions? Please email beaconpta@beaconschool.org.

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