Brandy Hale, Coal Creek Canyon.   The last meeting of the Coal Creek Canyon K-8 PTSA for the 2017/2018 school year was on the 21st with a main topic of discussion concerning how the enrichment funds are allotted with plans to change the program for the next year.

For the past 2-3 years the money has been given to specific rooms for equipment and supplies for the year, but the idea is to change it so that the money goes to entire grades, but would still be replenished with the auction at the end of each school year. For example, the money that was surplus from the purchase of Chromebooks at this year’s Silent Auction and Talent Show fundraiser will be used at the beginning of next year as the enrichment fund for a yet-to-be-determined grade. The 2017/2018 fund was used on Rachel’s Challenge, microphones and the Rachel’s Club breakfasts. Principal Livingston made note that she would like to create a display case for the paper chain made by the Rachel’s Club, with each link being something nice about someone written by a club member. It is a very long chain and the other methods of displaying it have failed and risked it being torn.

The start time for Jefferson County schools where many of the Coal Creek Canyon 9th-12th graders attend is up for discussion, and the PTSA noted that a local parent was participating in the meetings to give input. The students being bussed out of the area are picked up very early in the morning and have long trips to school, which causes fatigue at the end of the school day and messy sleep schedules.

A lot of discussion was centered around changes to the PTA bylaws, most of which concern compliance with Federal and State standards. Affiliation with the PTA helps with infrastructure and lowers the school’s PTSA insurance rates and gives access to Jeffco benefits. Most of the changes did not present a problem, but the topic spurred conversation about the benefits and down sides of belonging to a formal PTA organization.

The presence of a new organization called CANOE, composed of Coal Creek Canyon community members and alumni will be helping with volunteers needed for events in the future. The goal of having 25 new volunteers, 14 of whom were parents of k-4th graders, fell short this year, but hopes are that with the help of CANOE members, next years’ numbers will be up. The goal for increasing Eagle Eyes membership also fell short, according to Jason Moat, chair/coordinator of the program. He said the group was hoping for 20 new members, but only 5 were added during the year. The goal of having an increased number of people at PTSA meetings was met, with an average of over 11 members at each meeting, but overall membership numbers fell 16 short of the goal of 85. The Chromebook purchase goal was met due to the tremendous success of the Silent Auction and Talent Show.

The meeting finished with a plan for 3 members to meet in July to sign the financial audit and plan for the rollover of funds for the next school year.