Northwood High School PTSA General Meeting Minutes (October 18, 2011)
Meeting Opened at 7:30 with approval of Agenda and Minutes. There were 37 attendees.
Election - Membership elected Yolanda Mazyck to President by voice vote. Attendees were informed
that Brad Sperber became 1st VP when Yolanda became Interim President.
President’s Report - Reminded attendees that meeting is being simultaneously translated into Spanish and
to consider the translators when they speak. Thanked parents for donations and willingness to volunteer
at Homecoming.
Treasurer’s Report (Jim Burke) - Expenses similar to last year. Revenues expected to be slightly less.
PTSA took over After Prom duties last year, revenues include senior dues. Attendees were reminded to
use eScrip Web Portal for online shopping because PTSA gets a percentage of each transaction.
There are 107 members. Approximately $1,057 in membership dues (after fees to MCCPTA). $1,120 in
donations. The Silent Auction will have an online component. Honey Baked Ham fundraiser Orders are
due on November 8th and orders can be picked up on November 22nd .
SGA – Thanked PTSA and parents for donations and volunteer efforts.
1st VP Presentation (4X4 Schedule Reconsideration Process) The benefits of the 4x4 schedule compared
to a 5 of 7 schedule are being reconsidered this year because of a concern the there was insufficient
parental involvement in the decision process last year. Teachers instruct 6 of 8 class periods in the 4X4
schedule whereas they instruct 5 of 7 class periods in a 5 of 7schedule. A memo was distributed by the
school last week that explained the process. Brad is accepting parent nominations for a Multi-Stakeholder
Committee. The Multi-Stakeholder Committee is composed of parents, students, teachers and
administrators. Seniors and their parents are excluded from this committee. He would like individuals
with divergent opinions. There will be 3 meetings, the first of which will be held next week. There will
be a general Q&A meeting between the 2nd and 3rd meeting. The Q&A meeting will serve as a means
for the Committee to gather information. The Multi-Stakeholder Committee will forward a
recommendation to Leadership Committee who will then make a recommendation to the Superintendent
of Schools.
Principal’s Report – Parents were thanked for volunteering for Homecoming events. Leftover snacks w ill
be used for the upcoming rising 9th graders DCC presentations. Preliminary results were presented from
due date/deadline policy change. As of 10/18/11, fewer students are in danger of receiving poor grades.
Too early to tell much as ineligibility tends to follow a specific pattern over the course of the year. In
response to discussion on the list serve that seniors without full schedules must leave the school after their
classes. Seniors have the option to do an internship, attend UMD or MC, work or take 8 classes. There
are 277 seniors, 32 have abbreviated schedules with 2 classes/day and 12 have 3 classes/day. 22 seniors
attend UMD or MC. Parents can volunteer to monitor seniors so that they could remain in school, but he
cannot ask staff to do this. During Spirit Week, there was some concern about hazing and a couple of 9th
graders stayed home. Security and Administrators were stationed at the buses at the close of school.
Three students received 10 day suspension.
After Prom Committee First meeting next week. Need Volunteers. There will be a Vendor Fair on
December 11th at the Montgomery County Fair Grounds. The event is free.
NAACP Rep NAACP Kick-off. MCCPTA Pres., MCPS Principals, Community Superintendents,
NAACP Reps, and members of the community attended the kick-off. Topics concern challenges to black
males. The top 3 issues: Control of classroom; Challenge students more; Clarification of course
information. Meetings occur 3rd Saturday of each month. Sophie will post information about future
meetings on the list serve.
Diana Blitz, NHS Resource Counselor – Financial Aid meeting to be held on November 30 th at 7 p.m.
Ms. Blitz gave an overview of Family Connection. Parents need to contact Ms. Hammond-Davis to get a
password. All students are being instructed how to use the program. The program is structured to
aide/track the college application process.
General Discussion –
PTSA needs Committee volunteers.
Recommendations: (1) Need better signage to direct community to the Media Center for PTSA
meetings. (2) Need to give students guidelines for Homecoming hall decorations. Due to liability
concerns, building services removed some 9th grade class decorations (sand). NHS Administration will
give the class sponsor more guidance next year on what students can and cannot do for hall decorations.