March board minutes

Minutes taken by Elaine Nelson, Secretary

Called to order 6:37, after potluck

Present: Don LeMaster, Elaine Nelson, Sam Schroeder, Chad Akins, Kerry Smith, Ruth Middlebrook, Bev Kooi

Absent: Yvonne Fish, Jenni Fleming (Nathan Allan submitted his resignation from the board by email earlier this month.)

Guests: Janine Gates, David Brune, Susan Haring, Heather Hansen

Introductions.

Janine asked if we could move the dinner later in the evening, and that was received well. [I don’t have written down what time: 6 or 6:30?]

Chipper coming to Ruth’s this Saturday.

Discussion of doing more advertising with potlucks, as well as email & Facebook generally.

A reminder article about graffiti on trash cans will be on Janine’s blog. Discussion of graffiti & other aesthetics issues re: trash bins.

Elaine is looking for someone to take on newsletter editing. Bev may be interested in assisting. Ruth may be able to help with distribution.

Chad brought up a project concept for redeveloping around 4th, State, Boulevard, that he is working on: “East end urban renewal project” Discussion.

Don brought up the issue of becoming a 501(c)3, to go to the next level, be available to receive grants. Big thing that came up at last meeting was desire for a meeting place, maybe even a building. How do we get more money? How do we get participation from the 1100 residents? Discussion of pros and cons. Chad and Don are willing to work on putting together the proposal to bring back to the board. Janine asked if any other NAs are 501c3s. Bev proposed having Chad and Don research and bring a proposal about nonprofit status back to the board. Moved, seconded, approved.

Slate of officers was nominated: Chad Akins for President, Don LeMaster for Vice President, Elaine for Secretary, Jenni for Treasurer. Moved, seconded, approved.

Discussion of publicity concerns.

Discussion of business cards. Chad will get the information to go on the cards and give it to Bev.

Garden walk. Heather will be planning the event, group decided on April 11, probably around 1:30 or 2pm. Suggestions for gardens were discussed, several individuals were mentioned. Elaine will post request for gardens on media.

Chad will get yard signs from Nathan.

We will have a meeting specifically for newsletter: Thursday April 1, Don’s house, 7pm. Elaine will bring all the materials that she has for both editing and distribution.

Adjourned 7:30pm

2010 Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan

Download the plan at http://www.olympiawa.gov/city-services/parks/parks-arts-and-recreation-plan.aspx — print copies also available for review at the Library, the Olympia Center, and the Evergreen library.

Note that Lions Park and Madison Scenic Park improvements are described as “Tier 1” projects and are scheduled for the 2010-2011 timeframe. (pgs 68 & 104. See also pp 91-94, “New Approach to Play” and pp 79-80, “Community Gardens”) The ENA anticipates involvement in this process.

If you have particular concerns at this time, please attend the March 24 meeting or send your comments to Jonathon Turlove (jt******@***********wa.us) before March 26.

Show your support for Madison Elementary School

Show your support for Madison Elementary School – our neighborhood school.

The next two years could be difficult for students, families, and staff at Madison Elementary School.

If no changes are made the Olympia School District is will cut one of Madison’s seven classroom teachers next year and another classroom teacher the following year.

Why?

Falling student enrollment is the simple answer. The school district plans to cut the number of teachers to match the falling number of students in grades K-5 enrolled at Madison. There are fewer children living in Madison’s service area now than in past years.

Why is losing a teacher a problem?

Madison is already a small school – it has become too small. Losing one of the 7 classroom teachers will make it more demanding and difficult for the remaining 6 teachers to effectively teach all of our students and run the school at the same time.

It is the threat of losing one of our seven teachers that has made the Madison community willing to stand up and ask for changes – changes that will make Madison a sustainable small school that serves our students well. The Madison community is asking for more students – enough students to fill most of the empty classrooms in its recently constructed building.

Show your support for Madison Elementary Schoo

Think about a few things and write them down:

  1. What do you value about Madison school, it’s location, programs, education, and activities, etc.
  2. What concerns would if the school were to change in some way.
  3. What hopes would you have for our local neighborhood elementary school?

*Send those ideas to Bonnie Guyer Graham at gr******@*******nk.net

What else can you do?

Come to the next Eastside Neighborhood Potluck in March and talk with other neighbors to share your concerns.

Who is Bonnie Guyer Graham? Bonnie is a long-time parent at the school and someone who has lived in this neighborhood for over 12 years. Bonnie is a parent volunteer, and works with other parents and staff on to help increase family and community involvement at the school as part of the Madison Action Team .

Questions or comments?

Please send your questions and comments to Bonnie at gr******@*******nk.net rather than to the Olympia School District at this time. Bonnie will be happy to talk with you about any questions you might have. We at Madison are trying to gather input from a variety of our school’s neighbors and friends and see what they have in common.

We are hoping to use this collection of hopes and concerns to amplify the relatively small voice that the small number of Madison families and staff can muster.

Link to a related news article:

At this time it is apparent the Olympia School District does not realize there are empty classrooms at Madison Elementary and that it is necessary to act to fill that empty space and to improve learning opportunities at Madison. Here is an excerpt from the Olympian article on March 2nd.

Where to build schools?

Olympia: East side crowded, while west has empty space, session hears

The lopsided growth of Olympia’s population has resulted in schools that are at or nearing capacity on the east side and schools on the west side with room to grow…

Lahmann noted that districts get state funding to build new schools only when existing schools exceed capacity, which is imminent for some of the district’s east side schools.

To see the full article: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/02/1157163/where-to-build-schools.html