English Landing PTA News
February 2017
Chris's Corner
For more than 100 years, National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA®) has worked toward bettering the lives of every child in education, health and safety. Founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, National PTA is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Today’s PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. Founders’ Day (February 17) is when we celebrate the legacy and work of our founders to better the lives of every child in education, health and safety.
Our founders represented women of imagination and courage. They had a simple idea—to improve the lives and future of all children. They understood the power of individual action, worked beyond the accepted barriers of their day, and took action to change the world for all children. (excerpt taken from www.pta.org)
Locally, we have an opportunity to make a difference on April 4, 2017. Park Hill School District has placed a No-Tax-Increase Bond Issue question on the ballot that directly deals with our growing enrollment. You can read a detailed description of this Bond Issue below. Also, plan to attend our March 6 PTA meeting at 11am in the Flexible Classroom, where Dr. Jeannette Cowherd, District Superintendent, will present information and answer questions about Park Hill School District's long-range facility plan.
At our January meeting, we formed committees to review our bylaws (an every 4 year process) and to create our slate of officers for next school year (2017-2018). We will vote on these two important items at our March 6 meeting. We hope to see you there!
Chris Albani
PTA President
Next PTA Meeting
Monday, Mar 6, 2017, 11:00 AM
English Landing Flex Classroom
No Tax Increase Bond Issue (April 4, 2017)
No-Tax-Increase Bond Issue:
Schools in the Park Hill School District are getting crowded.
Many families move to our community just to send their children to our schools, and this means we need to keep up with our growing enrollment.
For several years, we have been planning ahead to deal with this growth. We got feedback from the community, including students, staff and parents, to help the Park Hill Board of Education develop an enrollment-based long-range facility plan. The community told us that it was important to have enough classroom space in our schools, to maintain our existing buildings, to keep class sizes low and to have simple feeder patterns.
The long-range facility plan we created with all this feedback has enrollment targets. Since our enrollment continues to grow and hit those targets, we installed mobile classrooms at several schools this year. However, our community told us they do not want us to use these as long-term solutions to our crowding.
So, in keeping with the next step of our plan, as we hit our enrollment targets, the Board of Education decided to place a no-tax-increase bond issue question on the April 4, 2017 ballot. Voters will decide whether to take on an additional $110 million in debt to pay for facilities to accommodate our growth, including
- A new elementary school
- A new middle school
- A high school innovation studio
- A district warehouse and support services facility to support our classrooms and maintain our facilities
- Improvements to existing facilities
If economic conditions leave enough proceeds from the bond issue, we would also
- Build a transportation center, which could save us money on busing
- Pay for maintenance projects in our existing facilities
It is possible to pay for these projects with no tax increase because of our Board’s careful money management and good financial stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Thanks to good financial management by the district, Park Hill is in a position to ask for a bond without raising taxes. This is a result of aggressively paying off existing debts and refinancing for better rates. Local commercial and residential growth has also helped by expanding the local tax base. Because of these factors, we have room in our state-set debt limit to take on additional debt with no tax increase. We will continue to carefully monitor our debt and interest rates in order to save taxpayer dollars.
Thanks to their conservative budgeting, we have enough room in our debt service levy to issue bonds to cover the cost of these new schools and projects with no tax increase.
For more information about Park Hill’s no-tax-increase bond issue, please visit the district’s website at http://www.parkhill.k12.mo.us/.
Paid for by the Park Hill School District – Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Cowherd
Friendship Parties
The Friendship party will be here before we know it on February 14th from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
These parties would not be possible without help and donations from parents like you. Be on the lookout for a Signup Genius from your party host, coming soon.
Thanks for everything you do to make this an enjoyable event for the kids!
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Moore at susmoore28@gmail.com.
Invitation for 5th Grade Parents to Attend Plaza Middle School PTA Meeting
Upcoming Popcorn Fridays
For more information, contact Kathleen Threadgill at kathleendt@att.net.
2016-2017 Yearbooks for Sale
For more information, contact Kathleen Threadgill at kathleendt@att.net.
Variety Show
Variety show act previews will be held Wednesday, April 5th and Friday, April 7th from 1:15pm-3:15pm in the English Landing lunchroom. Dress rehearsal will be Thursday, April 20th, from 4pm-6pm in the Park Hill South theater.
For more information, contact Sheri Thomson at sthomson3@kc.rr.com.
Science Fair - April 5th
For more information, contact Shawna Mazeitis at mazeitis@gmail.com or Jeanne Goodin at avocadonose@hotmail.com.
Teacher Wish Trees
For more information, contact Angela Ensminger at angelaensminger@gmail.com
Staff Appreciation Week will be May 1-5
BoxTops for Education
Keep clipping those BoxTops! We are always collecting BoxTops, which can be turned into funds for our school. Did you know about the Box Tops for Education Bonus App? You can find more information about the bonus app here: http://boxtops4education.com/bonusapp
For questions about BoxTops, please contact Lilah Hall at lilah.hall2011@yahoo.com.
Repeated Information
Join PTA
Click here for the membership form, or contact Brandy Colson at brandy@blcolson.com or Shawna Mazeitis at mazeitis@gmail.com for more information.
PTA Reimbursement Forms
English Landing PTA Executive Board 2016-2017
President
Chris Albani - christinealbani@sbcglobal.net
Vice-President Membership
Brandy Colson - brandy@blcolson.com
Shawna Mazeitis - mazeitis@gmail.com
Vice-President Volunteers
Kathleen Threadgill - kathleendt@att.net
Vice-President Fundraising
Lisa Darnell - darnellx3@yahoo.com
Treasurer
Ginger Gimple - thegimples@hotmail.com
Recording/Corresponding Secretary
Theresa Fitzpatrick - theresa.fitzpatrick@gmail.com
Principal
Kerry Roe - roek@parkhill.k12.mo.us
PTA Committee Chairs/Leaders
Book Fair: Brooke Crosby - brooke.crosby@hotmail.com
Box Tops: Lilah Hall - lilah.hall2011@yahoo.com
Clothing Center: Nicole Francis - nfrancis7913@gmail.com
Family Fun Night:
Lauren Jeppson - lpjeppson@gmail.com
Julie Durant
FEED: Sarah Andrews - sandrews9@mac.com
Hospitality:
Amy Anderson - amyanderson5@gmail.com
Cassidy Nelson - cassidy13.mcbride@gmail.com
Popcorn Friday: Kathleen Threadgill - kathleendt@att.net
Reflections: Jessica Johnson - jessi.rose.johnson@gmail.com
Room Parties: Susan Moore - susmoore28@gmail.com
School Supplies: Katie Burgess - katieeburgess@gmail.com
Science Fair Co-Chairs:
Jeanne Goodin - avocadonose@hotmail.com
Shawna Mazeitis - mazeitis@gmail.com
Staff Appreciation Week Co-Chairs:
Carolyn Arnold - tigergrad00@yahoo.com
Amie Wilson - amie71408@gmail.com
Student Directory: Crista Cochran - cristacochran@gmail.com
Teacher Wish Tree: Angela Ensminger - angelaensminger@gmail.com
Variety Show: Sherri Thomson - sthomson3@kc.rr.com
Yearbook Co-Chairs:
Scott Taylor - stayloris@mac.com
Kathleen Threadgill - kathleendt@att.net
If you are interested in leading an open committee please contact Chris Albani at christinealbani@sbcglobal.net or Kathleen Threadgill at kathleendt@att.net.
We Love Our Business Members
Ottis Family Chiropractic - Dr. Jason Ottis
Haven 360 - Abbey Thomas, Vice President
Rivalry Run - Abbey Thomas
Water Street Family Counseling - Heidi Tolnai
Edward Jones - Erica Gabrick
Keller Williams - Kate Payne
Seymour Insights - Brent Seymour
DiPasquale and Moore - Jason B. Moore
Platte Valley Bank
Keen Wealth Advisors - Bill Keen
Please be sure to thank these business members for supporting our English Landing Eagles!