​We had our first general meeting on September 18, 2023.  It started out with a land acknowledgement and general information on how to find out more about this important topic. 
 
Council Business
We reviewed the purpose of Council and the benefits of contacting Council for help.  Some of the advantages of Council is that we can help answer questions you may have in your local PTSA, communicate training, resolve conflict, or help you find answers on the Washington State PTA website.  As a reminder, Council will not ask to review your books or report you to any agency - we are not the PTA Police. We are here to support our local PTA leaders. View the PTA Leaders Resource Chart that was shared with members at the meeting. 

We had an open board position and Christine Roehnelt was elected Secretary for the 2023-2024 year. Installation of all Council members was made by WSPTA Finance Officer Liz Nord. 2022-2023 Council Co-President Mary Khouzam was recognized for all of her work last year.

During the meeting two breakout rooms were created. Membership Co-Chair Allison Torgesen​ presented and answered questions about memberplanet in one room while Brittany Hernandez, AIM representative, provided an overview of what you should know about your PTA insurance and answered questions in the second room.

The proposed budget for 2023-2024 was presented and approved by the members at the meeting.
 
Committee Updates

• Advocacy – Update from Holly M. 
  • On 10/3 from 6-7 pm, Council will be hosting an in-person School Board Candidate Forum.  Submit possible questions to be asked at the forum by September 25, 2023 
  • Legislative Assembly will be held virtually on Oct 21 & Oct. 22. Registration is now open. 
  • Please join our Council hosted Advocacy Facebook Group for PTA leaders.
• Events – Update from Melissa B.
  • Presidents and Principals is 10/26 from 11-12:30 at Brightwater Event Center. Digital invites will be emailed to the PTSA Presidents and Principals with a reservation link.
• Membership – Update from Allison T.
  • Approx. 2100 members have joined Northshore PTA/PTSAs so far this year. There are only 7 PTAs that have not yet entered their members - that is good start for being so early in the year.
• Reflections- Update by Jasmine F. 
  • I am Hopeful Because… is the theme for this year's 2023-2024 Reflections Program. 
  • Council is hosting two Reflections Roundtables on 9/25 and 10/4. In addition to the two Council Roundtables, Jasmine is also presenting Reflections Leaders Training for WSPTA on 9/21 at 6:30 p.m. and 10/7 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Student are invited to submit a theme to WSPTA for the 2025-2026 Reflections Program. Student with the winning theme will receive $100.  
• Speaker and Events Grants Program – Update by Grace J. 
  • First grant cycle was this summer, Council did not receive any applications. 
  • Applications are open for the second Educational Speakers and Community Events grant cycle. Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events may apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. The grant deadline is 10/27.

 District and Community Partners

• School Board Director Bob Swain  
  • The Northshore School District Graphics Center was cut from budget. Negotiations with a company/union are underway to explore third party printing. No official solution yet.      
    • In regards to the machines, no response yet as to what will happen to them. One machine was 100K to repair so that was taken into consideration when the print shop was closed. 
  • School design capital improvements are happening now with designers and committees. 
  • There is approximately $13.5 million saved from the Ruby Bridges building budget. This excess will stay in buildings and facilities. 
  • There will be budget cuts again next year, maybe $17-20 million. Board will be in study sessions to discuss cuts. 
  • Director Swain did not seek another term for School Board. Elisabeth Sotak, is running unopposed in the November election for his seat. The transition to the new school board member will take place after the election in December 2023. 
  • Student enrollment is approximately 200 more than budgeted.   
• Dr. Srinivas Khedam – Assistant Director of Family Engagement and Resource Center at Northshore School District 
  • On 10/4 at 6:30 p.m. Superintendent Tolley will be hosting a Listening Session for Spanish Speaking families.
  • The Family Engagement and Resource Center opened this summer. They receive referrals of families from NSD staff. Staff will check in with the family to see what resources are needed and NSD partners with the state and local agencies and connects them to help. Goal is to eliminate barriers for students and families. More information is on their website.
  • Staff is currently working on 5 minute PowerPoint informational presentations, done by students. An example of a video they will do is “What is PTSA?”. 
  • He also shares his learning from immigrant communities.

 
The President ended the meeting with a review of the upcoming events. All of the events dates and times are listed on the Northshore Council’s Calendar. 

We hope to see you at our next General Meeting on November 14th at 7 pm.  

Washington students at schools with an active PTA/PTSA may submit their theme ideas (with parent/guardian authorization) via the form on the WSPTA website. The Washington State PTA Programs Committee will select a top 5 to submit to National PTA. The top 5 will be announced in November after the submission deadline. The deadline is November 1, 2023 12:00 PM (PDT).

Please review the past themes listed here, as repeat themes will not be considered. Please direct any questions to ptaprogdir@wastatepta.org. The submission form requires the entrant to create an account with SM Apply. The form itself should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Here's a brief summary of what you will find on the application form, to assist with your preparation:

• Student Name
• Student's Theme Idea
• Student Address
• Student's School
• Parent/Guardian Contact Info
• Local PTA Name (if different from school name)
  
  

Need help navigating the application? Here's a 5-minute video that walks through the process.

​As a non-profit association, PTA can be vulnerable to cybercrimes. As a PTA leader, you are a person most likely to receive these types of emails. 

Scam Emails and Spoofing
The senders email may appear to come from another officer in your PTA to help make the request look legitimate. But there are things to check for before you reply:

• Confirm the actual "from" address of the sender - don't rely only on the name that is shown.
• Does this email look and sound like other emails you have received from this person?
• Does this email ask you to do something that is not in alignment with current financial or money handling policies?
• Often these emails will state the sender is unavailable in a meeting, or out of town, and sending money is an urgent matter. 
• If there is any question about an email, pick up the phone and talk to the person to double check on the message.  

​Common Scams

• Asking for gift cards. Remember gift cards are the equivalent of cash and if the email is acted upon, there is likely no recourse to get the money back.
• Requesting a wire transfer. Wire transfers are not recommended for PTAs. Instead you should have a clear funds disbursement procedure that is well documented for your records.
  ​

Protecting Your PTA
There are a few things you and your board should be doing in order to protect your PTA:

• Establish clear lines of communication between board members.
• Make your entire board aware of these type of scams and remind the board of money handling best practices. 
• Know your budget well. The best indicator of a potential fraudulent activity is a request that is made for something outside of your PTAs member-approved budget.
• Make sure your board of directors is well trained! View upcoming trainings here.
• Make sure you have well documented procedures and processes for money disbursement. (See below)
• Inform your board that Washington State PTA and Northshore Council will not ask you to transfer money, provide personal information, or provide banking information over email.
  • Verify the identity of anyone who requests your personal information by using reliable, independent means.
  • Never provide banking or confidential financial or personal information in response to a suspicious email or an unverified website or form.

​More Online Safety Tips & How to Report Internet Fraud

• US.gov Online Safety
  
• How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams - FTC Consumer Advice
  

How To Report Phishing
If you got a phishing email or text message, report it. The information you give helps fight scammers.

• If you got a phishing email, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org.
• If you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726).
• Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Election Information:
Since the position of Secretary was not contested, the election will be by voice vote at the next General Meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 7 PM.
​
Questions? Email Council President Rachel Fitzgerald.

​You are invited to join our Council Emergency Preparedness (E-Prep) Chair meetings. Anyone in the PTA/PTSA is welcome to attend. The online meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month starting on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

We encourage local PTA/PTSA E-Prep chairs to attend and or Presidents and/or Vice Presidents or delegates. In this meeting we share and obtain updates from the NSD Safety team and discuss opportunities where the PTA can provide support to our schools in the areas of emergency preparedness, safety, and security.  

​We look forward to seeing you. Feel free to contact Council E-Prep Chair Robin McKenzie if you have any questions at eprep@northshorecouncilptsa.org.

Learn more about E-Prep and how to get involved. 

The purpose of the Candidate Forum is to ensure all voters can make an informed choice when voting in the November election for Northshore School District Director positions. Hosting this Candidate Forum demonstrates Northshore Council PTSA’s commitment to the PTA mission of being a strong advocate for the health, safety, well-being and education of every child. The event is free and open to the public. 

The structured forum will be moderated by Northshore Council PTSA. Each candidate will be asked the same questions. ​Potential questions for candidates can be pre-submitted at https://forms.gle/ARFDPvGiuBBpnhew6. Please submit your questions by Monday, September 25, 2023.

The forum is free and community attendance is encouraged. However, distribution of campaign materials, including the carrying of signs, by candidates, volunteers or members of the public is prohibited.

Please submit your questions by Monday, September 25, 2023.​

The following ​2023 Northshore School District Director Candidates have been invited to participate:
(Links for each candidate below is from King County Elections website)

Questions?
Please contact Council Co-VPs of Advocacy, Terra Droney & Holly Muenchow, at advocacy@northshorecouncilptsa.org.

​PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. 

​Can't make it to the roundtable but still have questions? Check out these additional resources for help!

• Email Council Reflections Co-Chairs at reflections@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
• Check out Council's Reflection page, WSPTA Reflections Site, and National PTA Reflections Site
• Connect on Facebook by joining the WSPTA Reflections group and Council's Reflections group
• Sign up for Council's "Almost Weekly" PTA Reflections Communications with everything you need to know: 
  • ​Sign Up HERE
  • Read Past Issues HERE

Questions? Please email Council President, Rachel Fitzgerald.

October may seem far away, but now is the time to begin to identify your PTA's voting delegates for this year's WSPTA Legislative Assembly so they will be able to register when registration opens. Legislative Assembly will be held remotely through the Whova App on October 21 and October 22, 2023. Registration will open soon!

​About Legislative Assembly:
The Washington State PTA legislative platform is a two-year platform to mirror the Washington state legislative cycle. On the even-numbered years, the new platform is voted on by members at the legislative assembly in the fall. The top five issues become our short-term platform and consist of our priority issues when advocating throughout the year. Other issues are placed on an “also supported” list.
​Learn about WSPTA's current legislative priorities and other supported issues.