october 2014 mpc meeting notes

Mather Parent Council Minute Notes
Thursday, October 16, 2014


Sierra: MPC Norms

• Be present and engaged
• Assume best intentions
• Be open and willing to change your mind
• Be solution-oriented
• Be mindful that everyone's experiences are different, yet similar in some ways
• One person speaks at a time

Topic of the Month: BPS support for MPC bylaws and elections

• Rosa Inez - BPS/Parent liaison.  5 years in BPS.  Previously in Countdown to Kindergarten.  Now working with 15 schools to strengthen school/family relations, etc.  Working to strengthen Parent Councils and Site Councils.  She is available to advise and support MPC.
• BPS is now emphasizing more organized/formal PCs and SCs.  Effort to ensure that elections occur.
• Rosa has template for ByLaws that MPC can edit and adopt as needed.  She can send template to Sierra.
• PCs are separate entities from the school.  Safe space for parents to discuss issues.  PC funding is entirely within control of the PC.
• Required: 1) Must have agenda for every meeting.  MA Sunshine Mtg laws apply (meeting must be announced at least 48 hours before the meeting - various announcement venues).  2) Must have meeting minutes and transparency applies.
• VOTING: One vote per family present at any particular meeting (no matter if more than one parent attends, or if a family has more than one child at school).  
• Not clear instruction when/how long minutes must be posted.  Possibly address that in MPC ByLaws?
• Note: As for election timing, some schools run elections in the spring, but run risk of people moving during the summer and newly-elected officers not part of the school community.
• Note: Some PCs structure meetings to have business items for one part of meeting, and community building activity for another (e.g. yoga, knitting, etc)
• Question: How to balance PC tending to business matters (i.e. activities that require volunteers) and tending to school matters (e.g. curriculum discussion, etc)?  Discussion: Some PCs use Facebook/social media to help announce activities and to recruit volunteers.  Also, getting parent feedback as to what day of the week is best for meetings might help in choosing meeting dates that are more inclusive.  Or, maybe separate meetings for the community building meetings?
• Note: Ebony has agreed to be meeting coordinator.

Alicia: School site council update

• ByLaw updates were discussed
• Change election date to January to allow more families to get involved before elections are held.
• Parent Voting membership on Site Council is 2 years.  Parents who attend all of the Year 1 meetings continue with full voting rights for Year 2.  If parent does not attend all meetings in Year 1, they lose vote during Year 2.  
• Vote to accept these ByLaw updates.  Moved by Marie ZW.  2nd by Rebecca S.  Unanimous vote to approve (Parent Council needs to vote on those parents who will sit as Voting Members on Site Council).

Mather 375 Countdown

• Rebecca S: Still need some volunteers for Sunday.
• Marie ZW: Discussion regarding some of the events of 375 Week.

Review of important upcoming dates at MPC