MUSE TRUSTEE BOARD MEETING MINUTES

June 28, 2007

 

 

1) Call to Order: Jessica called the meeting to order at 3:42pm. Trustees present were: Jessica Grinberg, Sara Spring, Deena Zarlin, Margaret Iacuaniello, Judy Minkus, David Gross and Carolyn Carleton. Also present was Ray Alarcon, Gail Dickenson and Bronwyn Rhoades.

 

2) Minutes: Dave Gross questioned that the $13,100 grant approved for MHS Theatre Elective Instructor should be noted as part of the $20,000 per school site not $28,000  per high school site as noted in the minutes. (MSC Deena, Judy) to approve the minutes of 5/24/07 with noted change) All ayes on the vote.

 

3) Open Forum for Public Comment: no comments.

 

4) Financial Report: Sara Spring presented a current financial report.  Current balance in the Car Account is $20,559.45 and our General Fund Account has a balance of  $103,318.57 with $13,100 yet to be paid out for the approved MHS Theatre Arts Grant.  Totals for the Digging Dog June 24th event and the June 3rd Fun Fair are not yet finalized and will be added to the general account total once all expenses are paid and income totaled. The two bank accounts will remain separate and 10% of all fundraising proceeds will be awarded to the Endowment Fund through the Mendocino Community Foundation.

 

5) Correspondence: Carolyn read a letter from Margaret’s 1st/2nd grader class thanking MUSE for funding visits to elders at The Lodge at The Woods.

 

Jessica reported that Friendship Park waived the $150 Car Raffle ticket booth fee at the 4th of July event for us.

 

Jessica spoke to Katherine Stone regarding future funding of the band and choral teachers’ salaries and was assured that the District will continue to pay them into the future. Bronwyn clarified that 10% of those salaries are currently funded out of Site Council funds, about $17,000 out of the K-8 funds and $12,000 from the HS funds. She said that Site Council funds are based on student population so as the student body shrinks, MUSE may want to consider picking up some of those salaries in the future. Jessica noted the importance of coordinating fundraising events between MUSD and MUSE to avoid a fundraising burden on our community. Save The Music Program for the previous car raffle was a success so thought should go into the next program. MacHouse barbeque is still using “Save The Music” for their July 7th barbeque as the funds will be split with AV Music Program so those MUSE funds should be earmarked for music grants only. 

 

 

 

6) Committee Reports:

(a)  Car Raffle: Helena’s schedule of events to show car and sell tickets was circulated for sign-ups. Jessica will call Judy Mathey to try to locate our trailer to pull Jeep in the 4th of July Parade. Slow start on ticket sales and we need more volunteers to sell tickets.

 

(b)  July Barbeque at Mac House: Pamela is calling around for more volunteers - contact Jed Ayres for sign-ups.

 

(c)   Advisory Board Social July 12th:Pamela Graham is hosting a thank you tea for Advisory Board Members at her home on Little Lake Road at 7:30 PM on Thursday July 12th and Jessica will send out invitations. Suggestion to add Jed Ayres and Don Kirkpatrick to list of invites.

 

(d)  Fun Fair: Preliminary income total is $14,430 but not all the bills have been paid with more sponsor donations and ticket sales to be added. Jessica will call Tomek Ulatowski to be sure booth materials can still be stored in his barn in Little River. Pamela has weatherproof storage but it’s not large enough for all materials. Comments on the Money Jingle game losing money to sticky fingers and it was decided that a committee be formed to discuss success and failures of various game booths. Jessica will talk to Helena about it. 

                 

(e)   Digging Dog garden tour: Annette forwarded a report on the June 24th event with $5,840 in ticket sales - $1,592 expenses for a $4,248 profit. She suggested a similar event next year, possibly near Mother’s Day. Maybe use Albion School Parking lot to shuttle people to the event on Middle Ridge. John Scharffenberger offered to come back and Joan Katzeff offered to do a coffee demonstration.

 

(f)   Newsletter: Correction on letterhead that Iana Porter is not on our Advisory Board but will be joining the Trustee Board in September. Next newsletter will come out after October car raffle drawing. Suggestions for items to be included: fall grants proposals funded, winner of car, MHS woodworking program, theatre arts program, Carnegie Hall choral trip, dance/community building K-8 Program, Margaret’s class thank you, and a check on the school photo permission file before publishing.

 

(g)  By-Laws Revisions: Update is needed and new committee of Margaret, Carolyn and Jessica will meet.

 

(h)  Expense Reporting: Sara will develop a system for expense reimbursement for consistency for all events and to ensure that beginning bank for event is returned in full at the end with receipt proof of all expenses.

 

7)  MUSD Grant Proposals: Bronwyn presented a K-8 MUSE Special Funding Proposal for a .8FTE Art Teacher for structured art classes in ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, digital photography and fabric arts for all four K-8 schools and 2 electives at the Middle School. She explained the desire to build a comprehensive and cohesive program within the CA State Visual Arts Framework. The current program is piecemealed together with volunteers and a part-time paid K-3 instructor but if the instructor is not certified, a teacher must remain in the room. The new K-8 Building has workspaces, kiln, sinks and gallery but no teacher of art. Bronwyn asked for funding for the $38,000 - $46,500 position for 1-2 years with the hopes that the District may be able to pick up the funding in the future. Discussion followed regarding MUSE’s approach to funding v.s. banking our monies. (MSC Judy, Carolyn) to fund  .8 FTE Art Teacher for K-8 for a maximum of $46,500 for the 2007-08 school year.  All ayes on the vote.  Dave suggested that Bronwyn commit to finding additional funds to supplement the grant and Gail mentioned that MUSE could consider picking up the additional .2FTE costs to fund a full-time position. Deena applauded the quick action of the MUSE Board when it’s needed most.

 

(8) 2007 Fundraising Events: Back-To School Night at Grammar School is Sept 5th with classrooms open 6:15 – 7:00 PM so a spaghetti dinner could be put on in the cafeteria at 5PM for a minimal cost of $5 or maybe free with the purchase of a Jeep Raffle ticket. Sara will ask a family member with experience in large feeds about helping put it on.

 

October 19-20 is a possible date for Margie Crowningshield’s concert(s) at Matheson Performing Arts. Jeep raffle drawing could be done that night as well.

 

Chocolate, coffee and wine pouring event at Little River Abalone Room could be possible in December. John Scharffenberger, Joan Katzeff and Bob Nye of GoldenEye Winery are possibilities. Jessica will call regarding availabilities.

 

Ray suggested checking the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce calendar before finalizing any event dates.

 

(9) Board Member Resignations and New Members: This is Tom Hudson’s third consecutive meeting missed and our by-laws state that being a cause for resignation. Jessica will talk to him. Dave Gross is resigning in late fall and Annette submitted her resignation in writing, effective immediately. Bob Nye is interested in joining the Board but daytime meetings are untenable. Ray Alarcon will contact Anne Harvey.

 

Next meeting is July 26th tentatively scheduled for Wendy Robert’s house to invite potential members to attend.

 

We need an ad for the Beacon for our year-end thank you for the July – June 2006-07 School Year. Carolyn will compile the names of donors and sponsors and list volunteers as a whole instead of by individual names.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 5:45 PM.