PTO Minutes Minutes - May 2026

BLE PTO General Meeting
Tuesday, May 12, 2025
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Library
Attendees
Lisa Carrell, Secretary/Treasurer, Parent
Colin Machado, Parent, Website Manager
Gabi Jones, Teacher
Avery Butler, Vice-Principal
Alan Hans, Parent
Maely Keeling, Parent
Matt LeMies, Parent

Treasurer’s Report, Lisa
Income for April: $4,133.24
Expenses for April: $4,969.18
Ending Balance: $18,929.93
ACTION (REPEAT): Gretchen to find the bylaws and send them to Kyle.

Google Space
Discussed concern about not being able to communicate / interact outside of the monthly PTO meetings. Colin shared that non-profits can get a free “Google Space” that can be used by a group like ours (different logins with different access levels, place to house documents, etc.). Group was in favor of going ahead with this.
ACTION: Lisa to check on 501c3 and EIN paperwork so Colin can get us set up.
ACTION: Colin will get this setup.

2026-2027 Budget, Lisa
Discussed concerns about not bringing in enough funds to cover all the things that we would want to include in the budget. Initial budget had about a $7k shortfall. One cost of concern is Reflex/Frax, which is about $6k. One solution is to do more fundraising. Discussed multiple options including adding back in the Read-A-Thon, nights at local restaurants/ice cream places, and other options.
ACTION: Avery/Gabi to talk to site team about how important Reflex/Frax is to the teachers.
ACTION: Maely to check with some restaurant businesses in the area about doing one of those events where a portion of profits goes to the PTO (Chipotle, Panda, etc.)
ACTION: Alan is willing to go to grocery places to ask for donations (Winco, etc.).
ACTION: Lisa to check on letter that Alan can use to ask for donations.

Garden Day
Scheduled for May 30th.
ACTION: Gabi to check on gravel connection.
ACTION: Gabi to make a flyer that tells people to come between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and bring shovels, gloves, gardening tools (sheers/loppers), etc.
ACTION: Matt to take care of benches and may be able to help with gravel if Gabi can’t get that figured out.
ACTION: Gabi will ask if there is anything that needs to be done with garden beds now that the new ones are received and already put together.
ACTION: Chelsi to check on infield dirt?

2026-2027 Event Schedule
Set tentative schedule:
September 8th - Java Jitters (since it’s the first day of school for all parents, we’ll probably need to open it up to all parents)
September 9th - Ice Cream Social (5:30 p.m. start time)
First PTO Meeting - September 15th at 5:30 p.m.
Fun Run Kickoff - September 24th (Avery said school set this)
October 9th - Fun Run (Avery said school set this)
October 30th - Boo Bash
December 17th - Flaky Fun
February 19th - Parents Night Out (5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
April 23rd - Books & Bingo
May 22nd - Garden Day (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

Next Year
Would like to get a flyer to families about the PTO. Would be great to include in mailed information as well as in packets for strong start. Have an option to turn in a form for signing up to be on PTO Directory or do this online (QR Code).
ACTION: Lisa to ask Jen about timing for getting a flyer out to families in the mail.
ACTION: Lisa will put together a flyer of information about the PTO for teachers that will be provided at their August staff day when PTO provides lunch.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. in Library