August 2026 Meeting

 Slides from this meeting, meant to be used in conjunction with the minutes below. 

 PTO MEETING MINUTES
August 20, 2026

Opening

The 2026–27 PTO Board and committee chairs were introduced. The PTO reviewed its role as a 501(c)(3) organization and Metro-approved School Support Organization (SSO). The PTO operates independently from the school while working in tandem with the school and is subject to Metro requirements regarding fundraising, finances, and its relationship with the school.

Principals’ Report

Ms. Gonzalez shared a positive start to the school year, including record Meet & Greet participation. The school is working to improve the car rider process as enrollment grows.

Upcoming items include:

• Literacy Night — September 22
• October assessment & school wide discipline workshop
• Continued use of the student/family suggestion mailbox

PTO Updates

The PTO introduced several new initiatives for 2026–27:

• Teacher Support Surveys
• Committee/event chairs
• Family involvement surveys
• A new volunteer recruitment process
• PTO Digital Hub
• WhatsApp communication

The new Pennington PTO Digital Hub was introduced as a central location for PTO information. The goal is to provide families with one place to find information and stay connected.

The Hub includes access to:

• PTO announcements
• Volunteer opportunities
• The 2026–27 events calendar
• Amazon Wishlist
• WhatsApp
• PTO social media and other resources

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer reported an ending balance of $6,705.92 for mid August.

What Happened

The PTO reviewed recent accomplishments, including:

• District approval of the PTO
• Teacher/staff support survey
• Strong Meet & Greet participation
• Summer volunteer efforts and Lend a Hand Friday
• Purchase of a new library document camera
• Recess equipment project, completed for $398.55 after teacher input and a family donation.

2026–27 Budget

The proposed annual budget was presented, with $4,200 in projected income and $4,105 in projected expenses. The budget will be voted on at the September meeting.

Fall Fundraiser

The PTO approved the proposed Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser. The fundraiser will use an online ordering platform, has no minimum order, and provides approximately 40% profit to the PTO. Final dates and student incentives are still being determined.

Vote: Unanimous; motion passed.

Chick-fil-A Spirit Night

The PTO approved a September 22, 2026  Spirit Night at the Hermitage location. Orders must be placed through the mobile app. The PTO will provide instructions to families.

Vote: Unanimous; motion passed.

Upcoming Events

• Open House — August 25
• JA BizTown Interviews — September 18
• Hispanic Heritage Parade — September 18
• Literacy Night — September 22
• Walk to School Day — October 7
• Fall Fest — October 8
• Halloween Parade — October 30
• Career on Wheels — TBD

The PTO will communicate volunteer opportunities through the Digital Hub and WhatsApp, including JA BizTown interviews and Fall Fest.

Staff Report - Mrs. Hardin

Mrs. Hardin on behalf of the staff expressed appreciation for family participation and encouraged families to attend Open House, build relationships within the school community, and support school activities. Staff also discussed school-wide behavior procedures and the importance of consistent expectations and language.

Open Floor

• Chess Club: Is a paid club available to families, they meet Mondays after school through December.
• Business Sponsorships: Families were encouraged to identify local businesses that may sponsor student T-shirts.
• Field Trips are planned by the school; PTO may assist with logistics and other support.
• Translation: English-Spanish translation will be offered at future PTO meetings.

Next Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.