As we head into the home stretch of the school year, we wanted to take a moment to update you on the PTSA’s activities since our last letter.  In January, we held our first ever Bookfair/Read-a-thon fundraiser which exceeded our expectations.  In March, Wilder thespians presented yet another theatrical extravaganza:  the musical “Honk!”  We hosted an all-school Spring Fling dance and elected PTSA executive officers for next year.  As the weather turned nicer, school beautification and sport field maintenance projects were completed.  Our Salmon Program finished up another successful year with more than 200 carefully incubated salmon released into our local stream by the kindergartners and fourth graders (despite challenges from power outages and equipment failures.)  The first weekend in May saw Wilder host its third Math Olympiad state competition with 33 teams of mathletes (13 from Wilder).  A traveling Planetarium exhibit,  Cookie Dough Sales  and the annual Science Fair are also on the calendar for May, followed by 6^th grade graduation and field day to round out the year in June.

The end of the school year is also a good time to update you on the financial position of the PTSA.  We are happy to report that our financial goals for this year are on track to  exceed our estimates by approximately $24,000, thanks mostly to better than expected fundraising efforts, donations and matching gifts, and other income.  It’s important to note that we will exceed our projections even after we funded various unanticipated requests this year including the purchase of $400 in new reading kits, $500 additional funds for school beautification, $600 to replace salmon tank equipment, $1,100 in additional emergency prep supplies and $3,500 initially set aside to match funds with the district for a new Wilder reader board.  There are several open funding requests to be presented and voted on at the last General Membership meeting of the year on May 31^st:  additional reader board funds ($2,200) to allow the sign to be closer to the road and illuminated, a request for roll-away soccer goals for the outdoor field (estimated at $1,500), a request for electric pencil sharpeners for each classroom ($2,700) and a request for a new conference table for the staff lounge ($700).

This financial information along with the results from the PTSA General Membership survey became the starting point for the budgeting and planning process for next year.  Thank you to all the members who took the time to complete the on-line survey.  We really do value your input and referred to it when developing plans and goals for the coming school year.  With that said, a draft of the 2007-2008 budget has been completed and presented to the board and can be found by clicking on the following link (Draft Budget, Budget Assumptions).  Please take a moment to review this draft.  You will find that in response to the survey we have reduced the number of fundraisers we will hold next year (60% of you told us that you prefer pass-the-hat or donation type fundraisers),  and we will hold another Bookfair/Read-a-thon (97% of you loved it).  Our before/during /after school enrichment programs will remain largely unchanged, and our administrative and committee budgeted expenses will increase slightly due to the normal cost-of-doing-business increases.  We also plan to conservatively spend into our surplus by approximately $19,000 based on the unanticipated success of fundraising this past year.  Survey responses also indicated that the membership would like to see community service expanded beyond the 6^th grade.  Plans are in the works for a new school-wide Community Service/Outreach program next year, so look for information on that next fall.

What’s next?  The budget draft is open for review and comments until May 31^st, where it will be presented for approval at the General Membership Meeting, so please plan to join us.  If you have any questions or comments before that, please don’t hesitate to contact us (see contact information below).  Also, if you would like to see the detailed results of the Wilder PTSA General Membership survey, we can provide that to you as well. 

 

Sincerely,

Linda Brady	Ginger Clough
Wilder PTSA Co-President	Wilder PTSA Co-President
darrenbrady@comcast.net	clough_family@hotmail.com
(425) 881-7903	(425) 895-1988