Meeting called to order at 7.45 PM by Julie Engel, PTA President

The minutes from May, 02 were accepted.

Correspondence: JeanMarie Broomfield – The third grade teachers sent a thank you to the PTA for the staff welcome back luncheon. Mrs. Tarulli sent a thank you for the staff luncheon. Mrs. Trancho sent her well wishes along with a thank you to the PTA for her gifts.

Treasurer’s Report: Michelle Calcagni - Opening balance of $12,066.76; Debits of <$1,029.83>; Credits of $10.74 with an ending balance of $11,047.67. Reviewed the proposed budget for the 2002/2003 school year. A motion was made to accept the 2002/2003 PTA budget. Motion passed.

Administrative Report: Dr. Gerstenlauer – Welcomed everyone back and encouraged new parents to join the PTA. Dr. Gerstenlauer spoke about Mrs. Trancho and her relocation to Vermont to become a building principal. Introduced Mrs. Mato as the Administrator of the Primary Center and thanked her for a doing a terrific job. Mr. Masera was introduced as the new assistant principal in the Intermediate Center. Dr. Gerstenlauer read off the names of the nine new faculty members added to the Ridge staff including: Kindergarten teachers, Ms. Sipala and Ms. Queirolo; 1^st grade teacher, Mr. Shapiro; 3^rd grade teachers, Ms. Verbarg and Ms. Sutherland and Special Education teachers, Ms. Klein (substituting for Mrs. Pearl) and Mrs. Keil; new gym teacher, Mr. King; new music teacher, Ms. Scully; new teacher's assistant, Ms. Graniello and new speech teacher, Ms. Garbe and student teachers - Ms. Imeidopf, Ms. Amico, Ms. Bruckner and Ms. Peck. Open Houses are scheduled for Tuesday, 9/10 - Kindergarten at 7:00 PM and 1^st Grade at 8:00 PM and Thursday 9/12 - 2^nd and 3^rd grades at 7:00 PM and 4^th grade at 8:00 PM. Introductions will take place in the gyms of both buildings and then parents will be asked to proceed to the classrooms. PTA Class Parent sign up sheets and November Parent/Teacher conference sheets will be in the classrooms for parents to use to sign up. Dr. Swenson's goal was to open full day kindergarten and have lower class sizes - it has been achieved. The current enrollment at Ridge School is 852 total students - 296 in the PC and 556 in the IC. Class sizes are: K with 18 students, 1^st grade with 20 students, 2^nd grade with 23, 3^rd grade with 24 and 4^th grade with 26. This year's district theme is "Raising Student Achievement". Dr. Gerstenlauer will go over the ELA and Math scores at the October PTA meeting. She thanked everyone for his or her support.

Mr. Masera - Discussed the plans for the 9/11 memorial project - daffodil planting. Every student and staff member in Longwood will plant a bulb at their respective school. At Ridge they will be planted in two locations - by the gate entrance and exit in front of the Intermediate Center and near the flag pole in the Primary Center. There will also be a moment of silence at 9/11. The administration needs PTA volunteers to assist with the planting between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. A sign up sheet was available. The new cafeteria in the IC is working out well. Encouraged the prepay system when buying lunch so money will not have to be carried out onto the playground.

Teacher Representative: Dr. Gerstenlauer introduced ESL teacher, Mrs. Teale LaBarbera. Mrs. LaBarbera provides an opportunity for students to speak English and improve on their speaking skills. Her goal is to have 100% face to face contact with parents because it fosters a great relationship.

Mrs. Mato - A workshop on diversity will be held on 9/26 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the LMS. The workshop will deal with bias issues, diversity and prejudice. Everyone is encouraged to come.

Jeanne Knudsen - Personally thanked Dr. Gerstenlauer for her contribution in lowering class size.

President’s Report: Julie Engel – Introduced the Executive Committee. Went over the PTA roster. Reviewed the 2002/2003 schedule of PTA events. Encouraged everyone to visit the National PTA website for back to school and homework tips - www.pta.org. Bulk Islander tickets are available if anyone is interested. Suffolk District PTA will host its Cultural Arts Showcase on 9/28 in Copiague. A parliamentary procedure seminar will be held in Syosset. Read the proposed Longwood PTA Council bylaws changes for 2002/2003. Motion passed to accept the Council Bylaws changes. An amendment to the Ridge PTA bylaws was accepted allowing for membership to be increased to $6.00 for the first member and $5.00 for each additional member and to $10.00 for a business membership. The PTA Staff Welcome Back luncheon received positive feedback. The Shared Decision Making Team is looking for PTA members. Anyone interested can see Julie. Anyone interested in acting as BOE representative can see Julie. Class Parent sign up sheets will be available at the open houses. It is the teacher's responsibility to chose their class parent. Parents who are selected to be Class Parent will be invited to the Class Parent Bagel Breakfast on 10/11. In order to be considered as class parent a person must be a PTA member, attend PTA meetings, help out on at least two committees, and retain the class list for the entire school year. Committee sign up sheets are available tonight. Spirit wear and Longwood duffle bags and lunch bags are still available for purchase. The 2002 NYS PTA Convention is being held in Rochester from 11/8-11/10. Anyone interested can see Julie. Thanked Dr. Gerstenlauer for the new PTA room in the Intermediate Center and the very large storage closet in the Primary Center.

Committee Reports:

Fall Fundraiser – Michelle Calcagni – Packets will be going home on 9/17 and will be due back on 10/4.

School Pictures - Cathy D'Onofrio - Scheduled for 10/28 and 10/29.

Newsletter - Bonnie Bredes and Terre Arena - First issue will be going out soon. The deadline for the next issue is 10/1/02.

Membership – Terre Arena – Encouraged everyone to join. Need 25% father participation. Please also join SEPTA - a very small PTA where every penny counts. Do not have to have a child in Special Education to become a member.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM

Minutes taken by Judy Greco, PTA Recording Secretary.

Minutes typed by Julie Engel, PTA President