The 2022-2023 WRE PTA Disbursements Committee met numerous times over the past few months to gather and review input from both parents and staff in regards to disbursing funds raised from the very successful November 2021 WRE Auction. Many thanks to Meredith Neff and her auction committee for doing such an outstanding job. Thank you to the Disbursements Committee: Melissa Duffield (Chair), Sarah Hefton (President), Melissa Chapman (1st VP-Aide), Alice Monroe (Treasurer), Lauri Griffith (4th VP) and Meredith Neff (Auction VP) for all your time and consideration as we make the recommendation to our PTA general membership. Also, a huge thank you to Principal Stevens, Ms. Walker, Ms. Smith and Mrs. Hanchey along with the staff for their input and guidance. A big thank you to parents for sending recommendations and ideas throughout this process. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please contact Melissa Duffield at melissaduffield@sbcglobal.net.

 

One For All Fund: $30,000 will go toward paying for each student to attend field trips like the PTA One for All Fund has done for the previous 4 years. This money will cover field trip entrance fees, buses and any other curriculum related costs. This money will also cover recorders for 4th graders and any new students in 5th-6th in addition to the skating curriculum in PE for upper-level grades.

 

PT Math Specialist & Reading Specialist: $75,000 will go to providing a PT Math Specialist and a PT Reading Specialist at WRE. The Disbursements Committee is excited to recommend continuing providing these funds for these specialists.

 

PT Tutors: $40,000 will, for the 5th year, go to part-time tutors. The tutors are former RISD teachers that help with bringing students up to grade level on certain TEKS and providing enrichment for other students. The disbursements committee is thrilled to recommend these funds go toward continuing to provide this classroom support.

 

PT Student Support Specialist: $40,000 will go to a part-time Student Support Specialist that will primarily focus on working with campus administration and teachers on building and maintaining a positive school culture and climate at WRE as it relates to student behavior and well-being. This position will also be the lead for the WRE Clothes Closet and Food Pantry discussed in the allocation listed below. This is a new position requested by WRE administration and staff and will be the first year our campus will have this specialist.

 

WRE Clothes Closet & Food Pantry: $20,000 will be allocated to creating and maintaining a campus clothes closet and food pantry. This was a highly requested need by teachers and staff as there has been a significant increase in needs for many WRE students and their families in the last couple of years. The old teacher’s lounge will be converted into a warm, welcoming space for those who need assistance. Our goal is to provide necessities in a quick manner without having to send them to the RISD Clothes Closet. Food will also be provided to those in need. The Student Support Specialist will be an integral part of getting this initiative up and running during the summer for 2022 so it’s ready in the fall on the first day of school. All information regarding students and their families is confidential.

 

$400/Staff for Supplies: $32,000 will go toward helping ease the burden on our teachers as they prep their classrooms and purchase supplies throughout the year. This is one of the most requested items each year. Each staff member will receive $400 to spend on classroom supplies. The teachers submit receipts, which are reviewed, and then they are reimbursed.

 

PT Garden Staff Member: $30,000 will pay for a part-time garden specialist to run and maintain our brand new WRE Garden! This position will facilitate garden curriculum as it relates to grade-specific units and will be responsible for garden upkeep.

 

Garden Supplies/Maintenance: $10,000 has been allocated for WRE Garden needs over the course of the school year.

 

WRE STEM Lab: $20,000 will be put into creating the long-awaited STEM Lab we raised funds for at the November 2019 WRE Auction. This additional funding will help with furnishings and materials needed ($14,000 has been in a reserve fund for this lab). The plan is to create this space in June and July so that it’s ready on the first day of school in August.

 

Subs during Parent/Teacher Conferences: $14,000 will go toward providing subs during parent/teacher conferences. Subs for conference days are NOT paid for by RISD and staff must use their PTO days. These dollars will cover 2 days per teacher for a fall and spring conference.

 

Instructional Fund: $6,500 will go to the Instructional Library. These dollars will be used to purchase books, manipulatives and any materials requested for shared use by the teachers. The Instructional Library is a place where the teachers can check out items to use in their classrooms. Example: Class set of books for a class to use for a reading unit.

 

STEM Programming: $6,000 for Lab Programming to support curriculum in Science and Technology. Will be utilized by all grade levels.

 

2% of Auction Funds Donated to…: $5,600 of our auction proceeds will be split evenly between Lake Highlands Junior High and Stults Road Elementary to assist their PTA programs.

 

Grade Level Subscriptions: $5,000 will allow each grade level to purchase and share subscriptions to things like Brain Pop Jr and Reading A-Z. These support curriculum and take the costs out of our teachers’ pockets!

 

Headphones: $5,500 for a class set of 10 headphones. Students are asked to provide their own headphones/earbuds for use at school. The Disbursements Committee recommends these funds to help fill the gap for students who are unable to provide headphones and/or replace broken ones.

 

Grade Level Chair Scholarship: $5,000 will go to recognize the additional time/work of our Grade Level Chairs. This money will go to 10 Chairs (one per grade including PreK, Specials and SPED)

 

Teacher & Staff Development: $5,000 will go toward teacher and staff development. As teachers attend conferences or continuing education programs, PTA would like to ease the financial burden. In order for a teacher or staff member to receive these funds, they will apply for “Teacher Development Grants” through the PTA.

 

Scholarships: $4,000 is allocated for 2 scholarships given to 2022 graduating seniors (former WRE students). We are currently reviewing applications and the recipients and winners will be announced in May at the Senior Awards Ceremony at LHHS and announced in the Seahawker. The two scholarships are in memory and honor of Austin Silva and Julian Kampfshulte.

 

Supplemental Fund: $3,450 will be placed in a supplemental fund. If and when there is an urgent need, the PTA is there to help out anonymously.

 

Music Instruments and Storage: $3,200 to purchase new drums and other instruments for our music departments. Storage for these items is included in this recommendation.

 

Staff/Student Incentives: $3,000 will go toward purchasing staff/student incentives.

 

Spring Staff Supplies: $3,000 is set aside to fill in any supply gaps that unexpectedly come up in the spring once teachers have spent their RISD grade level budgets and $400 wish list funds. These funds are given out as needed.

 

Special Education Supplies: $2,000 will go toward our special education programs to provide supplies and fill any gaps in this program. This “scholarship” to the department is in memory and honor of Griffin Shaw.

 

Counselor Assembly: $2,000 will go toward providing assemblies and support from the Counselors Corner of WRE!

 

Color Printer for Staff Meeting Room: $2,000 to supply a new color printer and toner for the staff meeting room where each grade level meets with Principal Stevens. The color printer will help with running these meetings efficiently.

 

Pre-K / ECSE Lego Tables and Supplies: $2,000 will be given to the Pre-K and Early Childhood Special Education classrooms to purchase Lego tables and blocks/bricks.

 

Tactile Printer for Art Department: $2,000 will be supplied to our Art Department for a stateof-the-art printer. The Swell Form Graphics Machine (often referred to as a fuser) is a simple, fast and low-cost method of creating stunning tactile maps, diagrams, text and graphics. This will assist many of our students who are developing motor skills, have vision impairments, or those with sensory needs.

 

ESL Support & Supplies: $1,000 for decorations for events like Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, etc. that can be used next year and beyond.

 

Art Displays: $1,000 for cork display rails for the hallways. Currently, Mrs. Tucker and Mrs. Hall are displaying art in the hallway with tape. The rails will allow a cleaner, more organized look for our beautiful school and will be used for student artwork for many years to come.

 

Advanced Academic Studies: $1,000 for the program also known as REACH to provide a special speaker and/or program in the spring.

 

Pay It Forward 4th & 6th Grade Art: $750 will go to the 4th grade and 6th grade funds. The 4th grade fund is used to pay for the buses for the 4th grade Ft. Worth field trip and the buses for their 5th grade Sky Ranch trip in the fall. The 6th grade fund is used to pay for all things 6th grade— end of year party, t-shirts, and special 6th grade events.

 

This recommendation will be up for a vote at the May 5th PTA General Meeting at 8am.