KPN Minutes
May 17, 2012

Meeting called to order at 6:02 p.m.

Purpose of KPN
Discussion concerning the purpose of KPN – It was explained that the main thrust for KPN is to contact the parents, scholars, staff and community. The parents can voice concerns and pose suggestions through the KPN about school operations. This year one way this was done was through the online survey on the KPN website. The results of the survey were shared with school administration and changes were made to accommodate/address the concerns. It was confessed that enough of these successful impacts were not shared with parents.

Nominations for 2012-13 Officers
President – Terry Bushnell
Vice President – Dana Meadows
Treasurer – Reginald Burnett
Secretary – Tameka Clemons
Public Relations – Rose Majors

Since there was not a quorum, each of these nominees have been appointed to the respective positions. Congratulations. During the summer, Mrs. Nasir will organize a meeting for the purpose of transition from old to new Board as well as plan for next year. In addition, Jacinta Steele volunteered to serve as the Parent Liaison (or at least one of them).

Membership
It was agreed that the KPN dues should be a part of registration fees making membership mandatory for all. This way the KPN budget can be set at 100% and there will not be a need to nickel and dime folks during the year.

Parental Support of End-of-Year Trips
Darlene Whitlow proposed an idea of the 220 Club. This would involve asking parents to contribute one dollar for each the scholars are in school, 220 days. Participants in the club will receive recognition in the form of t-shirts, buttons, etc.

KPN Event Participation
It was suggested that KPN events be opened to community members. Because they are not members of KPN, they will have to pay. It was then suggested that KPN membership should be opened to community members.

Tracking Commitments and Donations
Jacinta Steele suggested that KPN use Sign Up Genius to allow parents to commit to supporting events with donations and then receive an electronic reminder. Using this tool will eliminate the guessing prior to an event like the Meal of Thanks of whether there will be enough food.

Parent Talent Utilization
A discussion was held concerning that many parents are simply not available during the evening hours. Thus, could KPN organize activities or tasks that these parents could work on during the day hours. One suggestion was to have these parents solicit businesses for donations like door prizes and food.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

KPN Meeting Overview – March 15, 2012
The focus of the meeting was on the event scheduled for April 21, 2012, 3-5 p.m. – Are You Smarter Than a KIPPster? This is a fund raiser and based on the television game show, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?
Issues/Options that were posed:
• At our last meeting some of the parents suggested that we get big names of folks who people would want to see competing. The short list we have developed so far include Mayor Reed, Monica Pearson – Channel 2, Tyler Perry, Mark Hayes – Fox 5, Karyn Greer – Channel 11, Michael Baisden – radio personality, Principals from other charter schools and APS schools, Ryan Cameron – V103.3, Rickey Smiley, Chris Alexander – KSA Advisory Council, Candy Buress from Atlanta Housewives, Andre 3000 and Steph from Dr. Oz Show (he participated at the Jamboree in August). Your help and input is needed.
• Contact a corporation to sponsor the event. Have the contestants actually compete for money values. The sponsor(s) will commit to donate to the school the amount associated with the level that the contestant reaches.
• Alternate locations should be investigated since this event will be open to the public. This option was tabled because there is more value in us having the event at KSA. One the contestants will get a chance to see and hear what KSA has accomplished. This may lead to financial support of the school. More people will require more security for crowd control.
• Distribution of tickets: It was decided that the Ticketing/Admission Committee figure out how many tickets should be reserved for each KSA family. Each family will be given a deadline to reserve and/or purchase the tickets. Otherwise they will be released. This way the KSA family has an opportunity to secure tickets for this event prior to the public.
• We will ask the contestants to arrive at 2:00. Doors will open at 2:30. The event will start at 3:00.
• We will meet again on Thursday, March 29 at 6:00 to review what has been done and map out what needs to be done. Joi Bostic will serve as the coordinator and point of contact for the entire event.
• When replying with updates, please only reply to all with significant information. Reserve replies that only consists of “okay” or something like that. Our email can get very bogged down, so let’s make the best use of communicating via this method.
• Rich Thompson will be drafting a letter that can be sent to contestants explaining the rules of the game, listing other invited guests along with any confirmations, the purpose of the event, a brief overview of KPN, accomplishments made by KSA and optional reception.
• Tiffani Green will draft the letter to corporations to sponsor the event.
• Added possible contestants: Ryan Young of WSB-TV, T.I., Tacoma Perry of Fox 5, 2 Live Stews, Jonathan Slocum, Bruce Bruce and Steve Harvey
• If you have any connection to these people of those who had been listed previously, please contact them to find out their interest and availability in participating. Please reply to everyone as you get responses from people. Also reply to all who you have contacted so that the people will not be bombarded. Tiffani Green has already made contact through a former parent with 2 Live Stews.
Below are the committees and brief descriptions of each one. Please indicate to me only which ones you are interested on. I will then compile a list of each committee members and send out to everyone. This way it will prevent a lot of email flying all over the place.
• Contestant Committee – to contact and/or coordinate with other parents to contact named people to participate in this event as contestants. There should be a verbal discussion followed by the letter. Confirmations have to be communicated ASAP.
• Contestant Reception Committee – to coordinate the arrival of contestants. Along KSA scholars, the contestants will be met upon arrival and escorted into a holding area within the building where a reception will be held for them. They will also escort the contestant to the game area and then usher them back out after the event.
• Marketing Committee – to draft the letters to contestants and sponsors. To produce flyers and such to promote the event. With contestants from the media, we may receive automatic coverage of the event.
• Questions Committee – to collect previously given assessments from the KSA teachers. Select questions in each subject area and on each grade level.
• Ticketing/Admission Committee – to designate the number of tickets that will be set aside for KSA families and set the deadline for reservations and/or payment. Design a method to sell tickets to the public. Coordinate the opening of the doors and letting people in on the day of the event.
• Sponsorship Committee – contact potential sponsors. Send the letter and obtain confirmation. Collect any marketing collateral that the sponsor wants at the event so all attendees will be aware of the sponsor(s). After the event, contact the sponsor with the amount that is due the school. Suggestions: The Coca-Cola Company and Turner.
• Concessions Committee – to obtain and sell concessions during the event. This committee will also provide food the contestant reception – keep simple: cookies and beverage.
• Student Participants Committee – to talk with the teachers, deans and Mr. Chang for their suggestions of which students they would recommend participating as game assistants (the ones who the contestants can ask for an answer – possibly the honor roll students) and for the purpose of the reception of contestants.
• Set-Up/Break-Down Committee – this committee will make sure that the auditorium is set-up for the event. The game will be played on the stage so this committee will be sure to set-up the stage to accommodate the game play. Mark reserved seating for guests of the contestants. And set-up the concessions and admissions areas. Then after the event, conduct any break-down necessary.
Thanks in advance for your assistance and support to make this event successful.
Joi Bostic, KPN President
Side note: It is time for the KPN Nominating Committee to present a slate of candidates for the 2012-13 KPN offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. This slate should be ready to be presented at the March 29 meeting or it can be presented via email. If any of you are interested in taking on a leadership position, please let me know. KPN is an important arm to KIPP STRIVE Academy.

KIPP Parent Network
Meeting Minutes
February 16, 2012

Meeting called to order at 6:05 p.m.

Principal’s Message
• Completed $10 mil capital campaign for the elementary school
• We have a lot of applications for 5th grade (we’ll have our first lottery this year), so thank you for getting the word out. Please continue to spread the word, so that we can keep existing
• Upcoming will be our Sojourn Trips on Mar 9th and 10th (5th = Birmingham, 6th = Selma, 7th = Montgomery)
• Our Wren’s Nest writing project has gotten underway already – ready to publish our newest authors for the year.

Treasurer’s Report
Beginning $239.17
Deposits/Credits $9.00
Withdrawals $40.00
Ending $208.17

For 1/1-1/31/2012

Appointment of Secretary
Patricia Lockette has resigned as Secretary to attend school. An appeal was made to solicit interest in the position of Secretary. The bylaws give the Board power to appoint so no election is necessary.
• Duties
– Record minutes from KPN meetings
– Record minutes from KPN Board meetings
– Participate in planning the direction of KPN

Giving Circles
Christopher Alexander, KSA Advisory Council Member, discussed fund raising options for the KSA 8th grade trips. Parents gave ideas:
- Infinity Program – partner with local companies who will match funds earned/spent on a particular day with the business
- Mishon’s – sponsor Saturday breakfast or brunch with entertainment. Sell tickets for $15, KSA receives $5/ticket
- Solicit IBM, Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting or Kia. Perhaps raffle a car from Kia. Great idea, but must be sustainable. So this type of partnership msut be made for no less than three years
- We must create multiple streams of income
- Hole-in-One competition – networking event for corporate executives and have the course donated
- Jamboree – get parents to donate items. Each grade level volunteer for sections of events for time periods
- Silent Auction – have items donated
- Blogging to raise money – www.GivingPoints.org tied to community service for 13-18 year olds
- Parent events such as wine tasting
- Must make appeals to parents more personable and come up with ways to hold parents accountable
Christopher asked all interested in serving as leads or participating in the planning and coordination of any fund raising event to contact him within the next week. chalexander@deloitte.com or 862.432.9704
Fund Raising Events and Goals
• Dancing with the Teachers – only two teachers expressed interest in this event. This event could be changed to Dancing with the Parents
• Are You Smarter Than A KIPPster – optional event which could involve teachers and parents. Teachers could provide questions or at least worksheets from which questions can be formed. Parents would compete against one another with scholars being the “life lines.” Another idea is to invite celebrities like Mayor Kasim Reed, Monia Pearson, and so on to compete. Need volunteers to plan this event.
• Simple ideas to have parents compete against the teachers in basketball or flag football
• Study Island – $309/subject/grade level. KPN committed to support the purchase/payment for Study Island. In total the cost will be about $4,500
• Versa Tiles – $200 /subject for set of 10 http://www.etacuisenaire.com/versatiles/vthome.jsp . Ms. Douyon uses this self-guided product and the scholars really enjoy. This would be a secondary goal once Study Island has been completed.
School Spirit – Parents
- Parent apparel has been re-designed to feature the KPN logo on the front and KSA Parent on the back. They can be in gold or burgundy. The hoodies will be the same prices as before: S-XL – $25.00 and 2XL+ – $27.00. We can also get long-sleeves t-shirts and short-sleeved t-shirts. Prices are forthcoming. Due to the fact that we can mix the orders with hoodies, long and short t-shirts, we must place orders at a minimum of 24.
- The turn-around time for orders is 7-10 days

Black Business Spotlight – Bumps Cookies – samples were provided for attendees to enjoy. More information at http://www.bumpscookies.com/page/page/5561625.htm
Two prizes were given away
Meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Next meeting March 15, 2012, 6:00 p.m.

KIPP Parent Network
Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2011

Meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m.

Welcome - Given by Joi Bostic

Principal’s Message – given by Ms. K. Karachalidis
o Music Teacher, Ms. Ward. Cultural Literacy has been eliminated
o Congratulations to all parents for completing first half of school year
o 6th graders received laptops through Computers for Youth. About 6 families have not completed the training
o Jolisa Brown and Muhammed Memphis were accepted into the STEP program. They will be attending a boarding school in D.C. during the summer.
o No Saturday School on January 7, 2012 – report card pick up
o All library books due by December 20, 2011 to avoid fines

Treasurer’s Report
Beginning balance as of 11/1/11  $823.09
Deposits/credits  $204.00
Withdrawals/Debits  $67.03
Ending Balance as of 11/30/11  $959.78

Meal of Thanks Debrief and Video
Unanticipated, this event ended up being a fund raiser. Less than $70 was spent out of the budget. Historian, Vanetta Perry, prepared a video to capture the event (can be seen at www.kpnstrive.com)

KPN School Store Update
Water bottles and foam fingers are in. Since the foam fingers are much smaller than expected, they will be given to KPM members as another member benefit. The water bottles will be sold in school as well as at KSA events, i.e., basketball games and debate tournaments.

Give-Away – four prizes – winners: Elaine Ushry, Marsha Ivey, Darlene Whitlow, Akiba Gilbert

Committee Breakout

Fund Raising – Flap Jacks at Applebee’s. Box Tops and Capri Sun pouches monies going towards 8th grade trips.

Social – Can we have a dance off-site? Event idea: Dancing with the Teachers in February. Tameka Clemons and Akiba Gilbert will lead the planning efforts. First step is to see which teachers are interested in participating. Tickets will be sold.

Environmental Task Force – time to harvest the garden. Plan a Farm to Table event with the students in January. Thanks to Ms. M. Ivey for maintaining water jug and watering the garden plots. Rich Thompson will investigate a grant through the Cooperative Extension to assist with the Farm to Table initiative. Will host a movie day/night featuring a film about health or environmental issues.

Recruitment – Ms. Nasir has contacted the folks who signed up for this committee. Will be recruiting for both the middle and primary schools. Anyone interested in assisting, please contact Ms. Nasir

Nominating – continue to pay attention to those involved parents in order to generate a slate of candidates for next year.

All Pro Dads – will make plans in January

Historical Squad – requesting pictures to be sent to kpn@kippstrive.org. Also, looking into online storage of pictures such as Drop Box.

Other Business

Giving Circles information distributed. Led to question as to what is the fund raising goal for the 8th grade trips

Habitat for Humanity information distributed. Habitat homes are not just for those in or near poverty. Will invite a recruiter to a future meeting.

Calendar Items – Rich Thompson

Byron Amos won the APS District 2 seat

Thursday, January 5 – Statewide premiere in Georgia of the documentary, “Making the Grade in Georgia.” Main location will be Cobb Galleria with satellite showings throughout the state. We will plan a live feed event at KSA.

January 7 – Parent Advocacy Workshop at Ivy Prep Kirkwood. During this event important issues key to the success and continuation of charter schools will be identified.

January 25 – School Choice Rally at the State Capitol. Parents may be interviewed to get their perspective on charter schools.

Adjournment at 7:08 p.m.

Next meeting January 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

KIPP PARENT NETWORK (KPN)
Meeting Minutes 10-20-11

Call to Order-Meeting called to order at 6:06pm.

Welcome-Joi Bostic, President

President opened meeting with introduction of Parent satisfaction survey requesting parents to fill out survey and return to student’s teachers as soon as possible.

President requested all parents to please submit e-mail address so they will be informed concerning all KPN news.

Teleconference option for all committees phone number an access code given to all responsible.
Mr. Chang congratulated parents for making it through 1st quarter also please pick up report cards. Fifth grade class has 100% polo participation a first time ever for KIPP. Mr. Chang also talked about the new building for elementary school an update was presented to NPU, the community is very cooperative, and recruiting will begin January 2012 for first class.

Vice President spoke about the Atlanta School Board Forum for District 2 candidates to be held at KIPP he spoke about the importance of all KIPP parents to come out and find out how the candidates stand on issues relating to charter schools. Parents were made aware of the decision made by the GA. Supreme Court that local school boards determine whether charter school exists. Charter school commission was dissolved so it is very important to have right person on the school board. Parents were also made aware of a demographic survey on APS for SRT-1 our voice must be heard please take survey.

Ice cream social winner was 7th grade.

President Joi Bostic announced if any parents wanted their children’s name on 7th grade jacket she is available for a nominal fee.

Meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm dinner was served.