Meeting Minutes

Norwood High School PTO Minutes 2025-2026

September 9, 2025

Present: Lexa Sullivan (president), Christine Banks (vice president), Cindy Derrane (principal), Melissa Pickney, Samantha Bradley, Katie Neil-Rizzo, Rebecca Deeks, Sarah Cullen (treasurer), Henry Barkarr, Vicky D’Annuzio (secretary)

Call to order at 6:30pm

Principal’s report by Cindy Derrane - Smooth opening with the exception of the student who was injured in a bike accident and is expected to be fine.  Principal is in touch with the family and receiving updates on the student’s condition. Open House is on September 11. Freshmen Academy has positive response.  Picture day is coming up.  The musical was successful.  New security procedures in the afternoon because of people coming in last year after school hours were not monitored.  Doors on the second and third floor will be locked.

Lexa - Does the family need support?  

Cindy Derrane - Their church has resources for them.  Principal Derrane will let the PTO know if the PTO can provide support. 

Lexa - Can we have a PTO table for Open House?  Cindy says yes.

VP report by Christine - Christine recapped standard items the PTO supports within the budget, such as, senior scholarships, teacher grants, the Honors banquet, the Care closet, guest speakers, Caring Heart Awards, and teacher appreciation events.  We try hard to use local businesses.

Treasurer’s report by Sarah - Current balance =  $5,027.84  Anticipated expenses = $11,045.00.  We are looking for other ways to fundraise.  At Open House the PTO will remind parents about dues.  We applied for the Boch grant.

Cindy Derrane will send out a message about PTO dues on the reminder that will be sent out to parents this week. The student population is 936 and 160 staff.

Fundraising report by Christine - There is an ongoing raffle for two season passes for the fall.  Can one of our kids sell raffle tickets at lunch?  Cindy will contact Paula to set up a table.  We can send a blurb to be shown on the morning news.  Other fundraising ideas: Meadow Farms, coffee cakes, Juice Bar raffle, Cross Promos apparel, See’s Candy for Valentine’s Day, and the Giving Bean.  Katie reports that the online Fundathon raised $3000 at the Oldham last year.  Katie knows a credit card company that can be set up to take donations and doesn’t charge organizations a fee.  Katie can find out the percentage that the Fundathon charges.  

Melissa volunteers to maintain the Instagram account and Lexa can authorize her.  We need someone to run the Facebook page and Instagram.  We need to be mindful of what the PTO posts and monitor what people post on the page.  

Teacher appreciation by Lexa  - When can the PTO open up teacher grants?  Cindy suggests mid October.  There’s a Sign-up genius out to supply the teacher’s room.  Christine reached out to Blue Hills to ask about servicing an event.  Other local business to inquire for events: Veggie Crust, and Peppa’s pizza (which is a student’s family’s business).  We can do events during Teacher Appreciation week.  One idea suggested by Rebecca Deeks is for a holiday cookie treats for staff, made and donated by parents.  A possible date is December 15, which are department meetings.  Coffee truck in June?  Christine can reach out to him.