Kimball Elementary PTSAKimball Elementary PTSA
General meeting2024–25

General Meeting: Budget Approval and School Planning

The meeting included families and the principal.

SESSFA / Fundraising Update

  • Kimball has surpassed our goal ~ $21k + a Kimball family helped secure a $20k anonymous foundation donation.
  • We had the most donors and engaged families of any school
  • Special thanks were recorded for Move-A-Thon coordination.

Principal Bogan’s Updates

  • Presented Kimball budget - projected to have fewer students, so the budget is down accordingly. That may shift, but not until October 1st. Current enrollment is 425, projection is 376. (This is school district policy, and generally we do not see that severe of a drop in enrollment.)
    • The assistant-principal role was budgeted at 0.8 FTE.
    • Down 3 FTE teachers, but were able to shift teachers around and not backfill positions for teachers who are leaving, so no reduction amongst current staff.
    • Music will now be .5 FTE - was a staff (union) vote. - They will have music every other week instead of weekly.
    • Will still have full time counselor, family support, etc.
    • Hourly positions are frozen at $20/hour - hard to hire playground help.
  • We are classified as a poverty school but not a high poverty, so we lost some Title 1 funding, but are still a Title 1 school.
    • Free lunch form collection is how this gets designated, and next year we need to work harder to collect those.
    • Could be a drive during conferences / back to school - teaching assistants with laptops could help.
  • Legislative changes: Special Ed - removed the cap for reimbursement. 35% of our kids are special needs. This may add funding.

PTSA Budget

  • We reviewed FY 2025-26 (and current actuals)
  • Proposed changes for next year
    • Team Read is fully funded by PTSA
    • Raz Kids and ILA Math - not being used so discontinued.
    • RET Trauma training - $1500, will not be a reoccurring expense.
    • Playground support - adding $10k for a supervisor role.
    • Kimball office supplies - weren’t needed, so removing.
    • Events are coming back post-covid - and those costs are up, so budgeting accordingly.
    • Pride event wants more funding - $600 (previously $250)
    • 5th grade outdoor education $3k (additionally grant funded) - wasn’t used this year because the staff voted not to do it.
      • This year’s 5th grade is going to go to Jefferson Park and then have a movie night at school (graduation celebration)
      • Islandwood was the previous location, but wasn’t a good fit (4 days, other issues like gender binary housing).
      • Camp Seymour, Orkilla could be options.
      • Museum of Flight curriculum and field trip - went over field trip budget, so that came out of outdoor education funds.
      • The notes stated that future budget changes should receive written PTSA requests.
      • The PTSA will leave the outdoor education fund in place for now.
    • After School Program - used to be a wash - the more participation, the less overhead. Rebuilding the program. Currently operating at a loss.
      • Need to drive interest and also capture a better sense of what kids want - a survey of interests?
    • Fundraising - PTSA needs more support and clarity aka a subcommittee. The culture of Kimball PTSA is that our fundraising builds community and we don’t want to move toward auctions, etc.
    • We officially voted to accept the budget as written.

Succession Planning

  • Several fifth-grade-parent volunteers were moving on.
  • After-school program leadership transition was noted.
  • Red Apple receipts needs someone?
  • Officers are currently all new, so there is time left on terms.

Teacher Appreciation Week - week of May 5th

  • Sign up coming out soon
  • Teacher Appreciation Week preparation was planned.