A Letter from Your Council President

By Julia Spiva

president@scptamo.com

Council Goals:
1. To provide leadership development for local units and council board members
2. To serve as a resource for education, parenting information and legislative issues
3. To encourage parent and public involvement in the Springfield Public Schools

Welcome back to returning families – and welcome to families who are new to Springfield Public Schools this year!
It’s hard to imagine that the last time we were all together was at Hillcrest High School on March 4^th.  The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to do things differently and school life is not immune to the need for change. As we begin the 2020-2021 school year, the SCPTA Executive Board remains focused on supporting our students, families, teachers and staff in every way that we can safely.

Our most important work remains to advocate for every child. I strongly encourage you to join the PTA and become more involved in shaping how education will move forward with the hybrid model and when safe, transitioning our students to return to in seated classes full time.

We are proud of the role our PTA/PTSAs play to support our school with items such as teacher grants, library books, field trips, enrichment programs for students and community-building family events throughout the year. Given the COVID-19 restrictions, we are adjusting our approach for the 2020-21 school year and are shifting to a direct ask to support the aspects which will still continue such as teacher grants and encourage each unit to communicate with their school regarding their needs.  

What does the Springfield Council of PTAs do anyway?

How will our SCPTA General Membership Meetings be held?

If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions, the Council has the answers you are looking for and we are here for you! YOU are Council, and we are here to serve YOU! We are here to provide help, give ideas and guidance. The Council provides many communication tools to help keep your unit on track and up to date with the Missouri PTA and the National PTA programs. We also try to provide information and training through our newsletter, website, text alert system and Facebook. We keep you informed about legislative issues that affect your children and their education. We practice parliamentary procedures and are available for questions on how to take these good practices back to your units. The Council exhibits correct budgeting and treasurer’s habits to take back to your units, also. Our Council meetings are held to support the responsibilities of the Council and provide guidance as to how a unit can use such programs locally within their unit or school.

At the SCPTA general council meetings, which will be held via Zoom, the vice presidents will report about the dates, deadlines, and results of each of their programs. When it is pertinent to the moment they will speak at the meetings, but there is always a VP report in the newsletter. You will still see the faces of your 2019-2020 Council board at our Zoom meetings as we are holding in place until an election can be held via Zoom as early as November. We urge you to get to know us. We are here to answer your questions and help you. We plan to keep up to date with SPS happenings and progress, community events that pertain to our kids and potentially a virtual legislative town hall. We will be presenting a 90-day estimate of expenses until which time we can vote to approve the 2020-2021 budget.  We will continue to support programs virtually like RIF, Reflections, Scholarships, the McBride and CARE Fund, Project Graduation, the Clothing Bank and the 4th Grade Play, just to mention a few, which all benefit students all over Springfield when held.

So please come to the Zoom meetings to get to know us because we want to be there for you and your units. Our first Zoom General Membership Meeting will be Thursday, October 1^st from 930-1030 am.

 Julia Spiva is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: SCPTA General Membership Meeting

Time: Oct 1, 2020 09:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81703994239?pwd=TFZIb1Y2aVduaGJnU3hVQS9LbDRFQT09

Meeting ID: 817 0399 4239

Passcode: 238774

Dial by your location

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

 Let us know what you need and how we can help!

Your 2019-2020 SCPTA Executive Team holding in place.  

—

Julia Ann Spiva, PresidentCall or text 417.379.1109president@scptamo.com

Reflections

2020-2021 Reflections theme: I matter because…

Zoom Meeting Training 

            Tuesday, 10/20 10AM & 7PM

            Thursday, 10/22 10AM & 7PM

            Saturday, 10/24 10AM

Registration for Reflections Zoom Training is required. Please fill out your contact information at this link and the Zoom information will be emailed to you:

Registration Form (Registration Required)

Submission Deadline:   Tuesday, 12/15

City level Awards will be announced Sunday, 2/21

Reading is Fundamental

Reading is Fundamental has  books that we can’t wait to get to you!

Since we had to cancel our third book to students last year, we are going to do things a little different for this one time only. We get to give books to our usual 1st & 2nd graders, but for one time only we also get to give them to third graders. (We are trying to make up for the book they had to miss last year).

Sometime in early to mid October each 1st, 2nd, & 3rd grade class will receive a box of books for their class to choose out of.

Keep an eye out for RIF week at your school. Traditionally our RIF coordinators help the students pick books but this year to help minimize exposure and contact, Teachers will assist the students.

Coordinators we still need you! Please contact Peggy Stepp to find out what you can do to help. We have plans for 2 additional distributions later in the year, to be announced at a later time. 

Peggy Stepp rifspringfieldmo@gmail.com
Christi Matthews Programs@scptamo.com

Proposed Standing Rule Addition for Springfield Council of PTAs

Adopted by SCPTA Board 9/17/2020

To be adopted by SCPTA membership at the first Zoom meeting of 2020

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulting in federal, state and local restrictions, Springfield Council of PTAs (SCPTA) will hold meetings via telecommunication by which all persons participating in the meeting may hear each other and interact simultaneously during the meeting. This will be accomplished via Zoom video conferencing, which will allow delegates to participate in the meeting by video conference on a computer or mobile device.

To participate in the meeting, a zoom meeting link will be made available 24 hours prior to the meeting to all PTA unit Presidents (as identified by Missouri PTA).  Each SCPTA unit will be allotted up to 5 voting delegates.  Each unit President will be responsible for sharing the Zoom meeting link with their Unit members/delegates. Only delegates of units and members of the SCPTA Board are eligible to vote. Others may attend the meeting and watch the proceedings.

Meeting Format. Until further notice, SCPTA business meetings will be conducted using Zoom Webinar Technology. The meetings will begin promptly at the hour announced and order must be maintained at all times. Virtual meetings shall be considered the same as in-person meetings.

In Order to Vote. If delegates wish to vote, they must join the meeting using a PC or MAC that has the Zoom app downloaded on it.

Login Instructions.  Members will be provided a meeting invitation and password via email approximately twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting which will allow them to enter the virtual meeting room. Each voting member must sign in on a separate computer in order to vote. Only voting members of SCPTA will be authorized to attend the meeting as participants. A quorum (number of voting members present) will be confirmed using the participant logon report within Zoom.

Screen Name. Before signing into Zoom, voting members need to assure that their name appears as “First Name Last Name Unit Name” (i.e., Jane Smith Cameron PTSA) so they can be clearly identified by the Chair.

Chair. The president will act as chair, except in such circumstances when the president delegates the chair to the parliamentarian.

Audio Mute.  All participants will be muted upon entry.

Addressing the Chair. Only voting members may address the chair. Voting members once recognized must give their name and unit before beginning to speak. Discussion, including questions and answers, must be directed to the Chair or through the Chair when these are in order.

Seeking Recognition to Speak. To seek recognition, members must use the “raise your hand” tool in Zoom, or indicate their desire to speak in the Chat tool in Zoom. Once called on to speak members may “unmute”.  Once finished speaking, members will need to resume “mute”.

Making Voting Clear. The chair shall clearly state what is being voted upon prior to any vote being taken so that all voting members may understand the effect of their vote before casting it.

Voting. The online voting Zoom tools shall be used for voting. There will be no voice votes. However, to facilitate action on matters of general agreement, the adoption by the voting members of matters by unanimous consent may take place. The parliamentarian shall be in charge of voting and shall confirm the results of each vote.

In Person. Since the meeting is deemed by Missouri law to constitute an in-person meeting, only those present and participating in the meeting who have voting rights will be permitted to vote.

Technical Requirements and Malfunctions. Each member is responsible for his or her audio and Internet connections; no action shall be invalidated on the grounds that the loss of, or poor quality of, a member’s individual connection prevented participation in the meeting.

Forced Disconnections. The chair or the parliamentarian may cause or direct the disconnection or muting of a member’s connection if it is causing undue interference with the meeting.

Financial Review

Reminder…now’s the time to get last year’s books audited/reviewed & submit Form 990 to IRS; then send copies of audit/review, year-end Treasurer’s report and 990 submission to Missouri PTA. This must be completed by December 1st to remain in good standing.

2020 Missouri PTA Convention

Registration only $15.00 (T-Shirt included)

Register now for access to virtual Bylaws briefing – September 26

General Membership meeting (for PTA members) – Oct 3

PTA Covid-Style Workshop – Oct 3

Click here details: https://mopta.org/2020-missouri-pta-convention/

Proposition “S” – Bond Projects Update – as of August 18, 2020

Link to full report.

PTA For Your Child with the All New Membership Campaign

Today, PTA’s role is more important than ever in connecting parents, teachers and administrators, and supporting critical school needs. We want every family in our schools to join PTA, because we can do more together than apart.

Our new membership campaign—PTA For Your Child—is designed to engage and excite new members and existing members by making the work of the PTA more visible and highlighting the value and impact of PTA.

To bolster your membership recruitment activities, we have developed a suite of materials, including a campaign toolkit that outlines how to effectively communicate the value of PTA membership, a suite of dynamic visuals and collateral materials, and a campaign rollout checklist.

How Do I Get Started?

Watch our recorded webinar where we’ll introduce the new membership campaign. During the webinar, we will summarize the research used to develop the campaign, provide an understanding of the campaign theme and approach, and review the messaging and visual assets.

Watch Now

https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/371271399477094669

The webinar is led by: