PTA´S AGM ON THE 16TH SEPTEMBER 2009

The annual general meeting (AGM) 2009 was attended by 14 parents, which I must consider as a small disappointment given the fact that we have approximately 100 member families. In other words, less than 10% of the members (both parents eligible to vote) was present and this naturally constitutes an increasing democracy-deficit in the formal decision-making of our association. Furthermore, a low turnout means less debates and discussions about the direction and activities the PTA should take and adopt. For this reason the new PTA board must pay more attention to the issue of how we can encourage more parents to get involved in the PTA activities in the future.

The AGM approved the activity plan and budget for 2009-2010. The PTA will keep the club activity at the same level compared to previous years; i.e. 3-4 clubs. The “Ressu rocks”-dancing club and arts craft club will continue and plans have been made to start a sports club and socalled ´ambassador-club` this autumn. The PTA has set up its own website at www.ressupta.fi, which helps the PTA inform the students and families about its activities and keep contact with the families. Prjo Markelin, PTA´s treasurer played a significant role in the PTA finally accomplishing this long-standing goal. The AGM was also told about the challenges I think still lie ahead. We have found it extremely challenging to see more parents getting involved in PTA activities. Perhaps the new board must focus more on mapping out the skills and availability of the parents who could potentially accept some project-based responsibilities. The promotion and demonstration of Ressu´s multicultural variety also remains as a largely unexploited resource.

The financial situation of our association is stable. There was a surplus of €760 in our annual accounts. However, a subsidy of  €360 approved for a school camp activity last spring was not recorded in the accounts of 2008-2009; hence an additional surplus at the top of some €400 real surplus. The budget for 2009-2010 of €4,030 was approved but there was a lively discussion with regard to the membership fee. Some parents felt that there should an increase of €5 - €10 to the current fee of €10. This would, so they argued, challenge the PTA to develop new and more attractive activities as the parents would feel they have the right to ask more value for their money. The board stuck to its proposal to maintain the fee at the previous year´s level of €10 as the plans that might require additional resources should first be in place. The AGM finally decided this issue by casting a vote:  both proposals got 4 votes and as the board´s proposal was seconded by the chair, the AGM approved it. The membership fee remains at €10 for 2009-2010. However and this as my personal remark, the new Board must certainly consider this AGM discussion later this and next year.

Finally the AGM accepted a vote of thanks to Pauliina Ståhlberg and Jeremy Thorne who both had informed the PTA that they have decided to step down from the board. Pauliina did a tremendous job as the PTA´s information officer and furthermore, she was practically the only note taker of the board meetings. Jeremy in turn played an important role in PTA adopting the English-speaking drama club last spring. Jeremy´s monkeybread in the Arctic bazaar 2007 was also something we will never forget. The composition of the new board is as follows: Aarremainio Aaba, Kirsi Turunen, Cristina Dobrin, Bernardo Rivera, Pirjo Markelin and Timo Lappalainen. Dorothee Liikanen (1A), Ilkka Hilakivi (1A) and Lounes Melikechi (2B ja 3B) are new members of the board. Timo Lappalainen was elected the chair.

 The administrative board would like to thank to all the parents, teachers and pupils for participating to its activities and wishes to everybody and nice and active autumn!

 The Administrative Board of the Parent’s Association of Ressu Comprehensive School