PTA Meeting Minutes - November 04, 2025

11/7/2025 10:27 pm

November 4, 2025

 

Joint PBES-TPES PTA Meeting

 

What is the PTA?

  • A volunteer-led organization that connects parents, teachers, and the school community
  • We work and raise funds in order to:
    • Meet needs beyond school capacity
    • Create connection for students and parents
    • Build a strong, inclusive community
  • PTA meetings
    • First Tuesday of the month
    • Virtual meetings on zoom at 8 pm
    • Next in-person PTA meeting will be held at PBES on February 3, 2026 from 6:30 – 8 pm (Summer Camp Expo and PTA)
  • In the past month, we have:
    • At TPES:
      • Purchased a new gym rules poster
      • Hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month “Big Read”
      • Organized the school assembly: StoryShip Diggery Diggers Dino Adventure!
      • Provided color-coded field trip t-shirts
    • At PBES:
      • Gave Book Fair vouchers for 79 kids, raised $6,000 for Media Center books
      • Gave 42 requested books to classrooms (as well as parent donations)
      • Supplied 50 new clothing items for Health Room
    • In the next month, we plan to:
      • At TPES:
        • Coordinate Movie Night with school administration
        • Launch “Community Cares Collection” to address food insecurity
      • At PBES:
        • Host Parents Night Out – Holiday Planning Edition (Dec 13)
        • Coordinate opportunities for food-security support
        • Begin planning for the Geo-Bowl
      • We talk regularly to school leaders to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support our school community:
        • TPES Principal, Dr. Gadsden
        • TPES Principal Intern, Ms. Hayden
        • PBES Principal, Ms. Obderdorf
        • PBES Vice Principal, Mr. Weerts

 

TPES Announcements - 

  • Upcoming School Closures
    • November 24-25, Early Release (School day ends at 1:20 pm)
    • November 26-28, Systemwide Closure and Holiday (schools and offices closed)
    • December 24-31, Winter Break – No school for students and teachers
    • January 1-2, Winter Break – No school for students and teachers
  • Dolphin Drive - $10,000 goal
    • The Dolphin Drive is one of TPES biggest fundraisers of the year. 
    • Accepting check, cash, online donations (tpespta.net)
    • $1290 raised so far (as of November 3)
  • Community Cares: we are also collecting gift cards (Aldi, Lidl, and Megamart) for families in need.  They can be dropped off at the school office.
  • Movie night
    • Took place 11/6 at Takoma Park Middle School, 6:30 PM, showing Encanto
  • Budget Update

 

  • Communications
    • PTA Communication channels are: WhatsApp classroom chats, Listserv (including Monday Dolphin Digest), website
    • School communications channels: ParentSquare (source of truth), Remind (sunsetting in December)

 

 

PBES Announcements

  • Communications Channels
  • PBES Panther Appeal - $10,000 Goal!
    • $545 raised so far (as of noon November 4th)
    • Email appeal went out 11/5
    • Will support STEAM Night and literacy support, supplies for teachers, staff and teacher appreciation, cultural heritage and community celebrations, PTA funded after-school club scholarships
    • Discussion around increasing funding goals for food support
  • Announcements
    • Supporting our Community
      • Immigration support resources/donation opportunities are updated weekly in Panther Tracks newsletter
      • In response to SNAP reductions, the community can donate grocery gift cards in front office collection box
      • Coat drive continuing through 11/24, in partnership with Small Things Matter
    • Highlighting the Boundary study is an example of how the PTA connects families with helpful information
  • Events
    • Panther Appeal – Donate on PTA website
    • November 21 – Makeup Picture Day
    • November 24-25, Early Release
    • November 26-28, No school
    • December 13, Parents Night Out, hosted by OverTime Athletics
      • $45 for first child, $35 for additional children
      • Sports, games, and fun.  Food and drink included in fee. 
      • 5:30 – 8:30 pm
  • PBES Budget Update
  • Volunteer Opportunities: email pbes.pta.members@gmail.com
    • URGENT –
      • GeoBowl Planning Team: info sessions will be held on Nov 13 (7 pm) and Nov 17 (7:30 pm) to learn more about support needed
      • Teacher Appreciation
    • Read-a-thon Planning (Jan/Feb/March)
    • Black History Night Planning (Jan/Feb)
    • Amharic Resource Team
    • Background checks – you do not have to have a background check to volunteer for many of these activities.  You only need a background check when you volunteer for opportunities that involve unsupervised time with kids and there are no school personnel present. 

 

PBES Renovation

  • Oct 13 budget was released with PBES included in plan. 
  • 7B in funds,
  • PBES ranked highest in need; building recommended to be replaced, including replacing the pool. 
  • On Nov 20th the board of education will make recommendation. 
  • It is expected construction would begin in 2029, with 2 years off site.  The new PBES would open in 2031
  • Amy Wesolek, TKPK Ward 6 Council Member, is meeting with Mayor Searcy. Amy and the Mayor are happy to answer questions or discuss further: amyw@takomaparkmd.gov, 240-997-2410

 

MCPS Boundary Study

  • Two new high schools will open in MCPS in 2027
  • This will lead to updates to programs at schools
  • They will hold a dedicated meeting with PBES and TPES in the future
  • Students currently in seventh grade and below may be affected.
  • Superintendent recommendations will be made in January.
  • Final decision will be made in March 2026.
  • Upcoming information session will take place at Blair High School, November 10th, 7-8 pm
  • Q&A:
    • The boundary study will eliminate Down Consortium, but Blair would still be local school
    • We would be a region and students would only be able to attend schools in our region under current proposal
    • The magnet consortium would change
    • The program analysis may be delayed a year; fear it is going too fast
    • NAACP meeting: the boundary change may help equity concerns by providing access to more schools when compared to current approach