DRAFT Friends of Salmon Bay (FOSB) Board Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2015
Meeting begins: 7:00 PM
Meeting ends: 8:45 PM
Co-chairs present: Jen Pfiefer and Danielle Steele
Secretary present: Jeannie Cziesla
Welcome – Jen and Danielle
November Meeting Minutes
Voting to approve November meeting minutes: Motion to approve;
Motion seconded:
Membership VOTE: November Meeting Minutes Approved
(Counted vote by Danielle Steele)
Teacher Spotlight
Brian Williamson – 5th grade
 Whole 5th grade went to Carkeek Park today to see salmon
 Salmon tank will go in front hall of school – salmon will be
released in April
Nancy Gruber – special education
 Just started sister school in Uganda, Africa school supply drive
 Social studies starts with World Geography then moves to Africa
 Overall theme of looking at conflict and the causes of conflict
 Mock trial about Rwandan genocide coming up after winter break
– tribunal held with jury and justices
Principal Update
Neil Garrens
 Great start to the year, lots to celebrate
 Transitional shelter that adopts middle school – service project
happening now
 Sister school supply drive starting next week
 ASB – middle school ambassadors will go to elementary
classrooms to talk about the school supply drive
 Direct giving drive – grateful to parents and contributors – use
funds in part for K-2 resource base for reading (guided reading
practice);
 allocation for technology about $186,000 – levy money coming in
the near future
 Participating in the “Hour of Code” program – raising awareness
for computer literacy – kids have at least one hour to exposure of
coding between now and the winter break
 Might be able to remove the storage sheds in the playground –
looking for other areas for storage
 Lighting coming to the lobby and second floor – fixtures have been
ordered
 New chairs for the library from raise the paddle funding
 Alternative education policy and the district – Policy C54,
Alternative Education Policy for Seattle Schools – it’s up for
review
 Neil invited to participate in discussion of review of policy –
there’s been one meeting, next one Dec. 10th
 BLT minutes will be out next week
 Policy is now generic and can be interpreted in many different
ways – trying to figure out what backing and options or
alternative schools have
 Would like policy to address assignment and hiring and
assessment issues
Committee Updates
Direct Giving – Mary Ullrich
 $70,874.37 final total for direct giving as of 12/2/15
 Made an effort to go out to community and teachers to donate
 Rock for FOSB - $2231 total earned; great success
Drama Committee - Natalie Merry
 Two-parts to a K-8 play; one before Thanksgiving, one after (next
week) – The White Witch
 Great community of kids – helping each other out, running the
show backstage
 Next play – K-5 play: auditions in January
 Neil trying to get better infrastructure for stage – electrical
Legislative Committee – Ian and Scott
 Both House representatives have been at the school
 Not sure what’s going to happen with the McCleary decision –
we’ll see some effect next academic calendar year
 Reuven Carlyle is moving to the Senate; his spot is being filled by
Noel Frame
 Gail Tarleton had an idea for Focus Day – maybe partner with
another district and see what each district is hearing
 Check out the legislative committee bulletin board near Sally’s
classroom
Appreciations – Mary Ullrich (Direct Giving) and Kim Laton (Rock for
FOSB) and Scott Koch and Ian Whyte (Legislative Committee)
PTO 101 – most of the info (on back of meeting agenda) from PTO
Today website: Jen Pfiefer went over some of the aspects of what makes
FOSB a PTO
FOSB Survey
 Survey revised from the survey created in June – it’s on Survey
Monkey; will be sent out Dec. 4
 Really trying to reach out to community to get higher
participation in survey
“For the Good of the Order” – Open Mike
 Class size – comment on large class size by Ian Whyte
Meeting Adjourned 8:45 PM (Danielle Steele)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by,
Jeannie Cziesla
FOSB Secretary