Minutes of Meeting June 8, 2000
I. MEMBERS ATTENDING: Janet Bates-Wilkins, Zefy Christopoulos, Hope Director, Fran M. Krisch, Jean Kutruff, Nancy Fender, Sue Goldberg, Karen Napoli, Mike Napoli, Gail Nedbor-Gross, Linda Perlman, Natasha Price, Don Ranieri, Don Scarl, Carol Spahn, Jimmy Suozzi
2. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS:
Janet Bates-Wilkins wrote and sent a letter to the Record Pilot and Gold Coast Gazette - “Top Ten Reasons to Vote for the Glen Cove School Budget”.
Janet has also taken a full-page ad on the third page of next week’s Pennysaver with a chart showing the tax decrease to be expected on various priced homes because of the STAR program.
Jimmy Suozzi has responded to Rosemary Dilgard’s request and has written a letter supporting the school board and asking for a yes vote. He gave a copy to Zefy for the Record Pilot. The Coalition will mail copies of the letter to as many registered parents as we can find.
Ronnie Lavine and Lorri Prince have mailed letters to 150 of last year’s Glen Cove High School graduates. Ronnie has contacted several past graduates to write short letters to the Record Pilot describing their experiences with the school and urging a yes vote.
Don Ranieri has gotten accurate information about the STAR reductions from Frank Fiumano.
The PTA presidents for all elementary schools will activate their phone chains and have every parent called the night before the vote. The elementary principals, who were encouraged by Elliot Garfinkel, influenced the presidents.
The Coalition has mailed membership applications to 170 people who are interested in the schools. We have pledges of contributions of several hundred dollars.
Don Ranieri and Mary Ingoglia tracked down membership prospect for whom we had only incomplete information.
Janet Bates-Wilkins has talked to the leadership at the African American Advisor Council and Fuerza. They now know about us and will distribute fliers. Jean Kuttruff has supplied fliers in Italian and Spanish. Jimmy Suozzi said that perhaps fliers in Italian are counter productive.
Rosemary Dilgard requested that Jimmy Suozzi write a letter in support of the school board and asking for a yes vote. This excellent letter was sent to the Record Pilot. The Coalition is preparing to mail 1000 copies to parents asking them to vote yes on the school budget. Jimmy Suozzi attended this meeting as well.
Jean has prepared flyers in Spanish and Italian urging parents to vote on June 20th, which will be distributed in the four elementary schools. She also had some lovely posters made to be placed in store fronts and important places throughout the city.
Signs are being placed in the Glen Cove Police Station and other areas reminding people that the vote is on June 20th, 2000. Landing School already had a sign up.
3. MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSION AND SUGGESTIONS:
Fran Krisch suggested that we get a membership list from Theatre II
Gail Nedbor-Gross and the PTA will edit last year’s signs for the two city signboards.
Zefy suggested that we ask the Parochial and Private school parents to join our organization after the June 20th vote. This would encourage them to feel part of the school community. These parents are especially interested in the bussing issue.
All members were urged to write letters to the Record Pilot urging voters to vote YES on the school budget.
The PTA will pay for an ad to be placed in the Record Pilot.
After the High School Seniors register to vote, a letter will be sent to their homes asking them to vote on June 20th.
A sample ballot will be requested from Pat Rant so that it can be displayed for the voters. Zefy will also publish it in the Record Pilot. Janet will write a flyer explaining the voting process for first time voters.
Lorri Prince will open a checking account at Fleet Bank.
Janet will get a Federal ID number for the Coalition.
Don Scarl offered the post office box, mailing indicia permit, and bulk mail permit of Dosoris Press to the Coalition.
A name change for the Coalition was discussed, including “Partners in Education”. The discussion will be continued after this year’s re-vote.
Hope Director and Nancy Fender collected several lists of voters who are in favor of the budget to enter into a computer file. Natasha Price will try to use a scanner to expedite this process.
Don Scarl talked with Les Miller who asked that we offer rides to people who need to get to the polls. We will send letters offering rides to all voters on Mason Drive and on Lee Gray Court.
Carol Sucharski and Janet Bates-Wilkins offered to drive people to the polls. Zefy Christopoulos, Jean Kuttruff (after 4:00 PM) and Sue Goldberg (before 2:30 PM) also offered to drive.
Karen Napoli, Hope Director and Fran Krisch offered to call people before the vote and to put labels on envelopes.
A discussed ensued regarding the propriety of Coalition Members identifying themselves as such when writing letters to the papers. It was decided that if the letter is circulated to the membership before it is submitted and no one objects, the letter can carry the Coalition name.
It was mentioned that the led letter in today’s issue of School News was confusing and weak. There is still a need for the School Board to explain itself to the community in better terms.
Janet Bates-Wilkins and the PTA will work on adapting Janet’s Pennysaver ad to an ad from the PTA in the Record Pilot and to a flyer. The PTA will pay for the ad.
Mike Napoli offered to put up VOTE YES signs on bulletin boards at Henry’s, Edwards, Farmers, and other businesses. Jean Kuttruff will supply him with signs in English and Spanish.
Jean Kuttruff volunteered Chuck Kuttruff to write letters with return envelopes to people who have offered to make contributions to the Coalition.
Fran Krisch will try to get lists of people who attend mass in Spanish at the Methodist Church and other churches.
Zefy asked that people attend the School Board meeting on the Monday before the budget vote to help her stay sane! Most people will be making calls that night.
The next meeting of the Coalition will be at 7 PM on Tuesday, June 13th in room 201
(Conference Room 2) at City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronnie Lavine, Recording Secretary
(Thank you to Natasha Price and Don Scarl for recording minutes in my absence.