Membership Meeting Summaries

Check back here for a recap after our June 5, 2025, membership meeting.

Council’s membership met online on May 1 for our monthly membership meeting. Lake Washington Schools Foundation Executive Director Katy Philips joined us to share a recap of their Be the Bridge spring benefit, a look at the impact of Pantry Packs, LWSF’s Staff Appreciation Week, and some upcoming programs.

In Council business, our members approved a budget adjustment for our DEI Committee. We announced upcoming roundtables for local leaders. In e-prep news, we shared that each PTA will be receiving a tourniquet for their emergency supplies, and gave an update on building room number signs to be placed inside each room district-wide. We presented our May 2025 You Rock! Award to Tesla STEM PTSA, which you can read more about here. We also shared several end-of-year “to do” tasks as well as previews of upcoming Council events.

Our April 3 membership meeting took place in person at the LWSD Resource Center. Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen joined us to discuss recent security issues involving so-called “First Amendment Auditors” making visits to LWSD buildings, including Wilder Elementary, as described in his district-wide March 28 message. As law enforcement would not remove the individuals from the campus, the district is actively pursuing other avenues to secure schools against future incidents.

LWSF President Irene Neumann reported that the foundation’s March 27 Be the Bridge evening benefit was a well-received and successful event, and thanked our PTA community for its ongoing support as ambassadors and partners.

In Council business, our membership elected our 2025-2026 board. We awarded the first You Rock! Award of the year to Wilder PTSA for their Week of Giving. We shared information about handling the upcoming National PTA dues increase, and encouraged local PTAs to send delegates to the WSPTA Spring Convention.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who joined our March 6 general membership meeting at the LWSD Resource Center. LWSD School Board President Leah Choi joined us to give an update on the board’s recent study session with the City of Redmond, the two school board positions up for election this November, and the two student board representative openings. LWSF Executive Director Katy Philips invited PTA leaders to the Foundation’s spring Be the Bridge benefit, and shared more upcoming events and resources for families.

In Council business, we shared the results of our midyear financial review and tips to consider when creating next year’s budgets. Members approved an adjustment to Council’s current year budget. We reminded PTAs to submit applications for WSPTA’s Awards of Excellence by March 13, and invited student and staff applications to our scholarship program. We also recapped recent Council events, including our Founders’ Day Celebration and our Transformative Parenting event.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who pivoted with us to join our Feb. 6 general membership meeting on Zoom in the evening, due to the snow day. Council President Kristen Dorwin updated for LWSF Executive Director Katy Philips, highlighting inclusive libraries and upcoming events. We look forward to hearing updates from LWSD leadership and the school board next month.

In Council business, our voting members approved an addition to our DEI budget from surplus reserve funds, for additional speakers. We shared a recap of our recent Reflections Open House, highlighted our Nominating Committee’s call for 2025-26 Council board nominees, and shared updates about our Founders’ Day Luncheon, clothing swap, scholarship program, Focus Day, and more upcoming Council events.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who joined our Jan. 9 membership meeting on Zoom. We welcomed LWSD Board of Directors President Leah Choi, who thanked those who attended the Eastside school funding town hall. LWSD Associate Superintendent Barbara Posthumus shared a preview of the state legislative session. LWSF Executive Director Katy Philips highlighted LWSF’s 2024 giving campaigns and invited us to the foundation’s spring fundraiser.

In Council business, our members elected Nirali Shah as Council’s Finn Hill AVP and Kameh Saman as our Advocacy Co-VP. We also elected our nominating committee members: Mansi M. Majeed, Colleen McCloskey and Sushmita Srikant. Thank you to all these volunteers! We invited nominations for Council Awards, and shared details about our Reflections Open House, Founders’ Day Luncheon, Clothing Swap and more upcoming Council events. We also discussed how to participate in WSPTA Focus Day and our newly formed Advocacy Committee.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who joined our Dec. 5 membership meeting at the LWSD Resource Center. We welcomed LWSD Board of Directors President Leah Choi, who apprised us on the board’s recent work evaluating Operational Expectations policies. LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen highlighted the district’s commitment to nondiscrimination and shared insights into budget planning. LWSF Executive Director Katy Philips joined us to highlight the Pantry Packs food drive and upcoming ParentEd Talks from ParentMap.

In Council business, we reminded leaders of membership payments, and 1099 and 1096 tax forms. We elected Garima Chandra as Programs VP. We gave updates about next steps for emergency supplies, holiday giving guidance, WSPTA office relocation, our 2025 Founders’ Day Luncheon, and Council Award nominations. We invited leaders to participate in upcoming advocacy opportunities, WSPTA trainings, Lunch & Learns and other Council events.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who joined our Nov. 7 membership meeting at the LWSD Resource Center. We welcomed LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen, who shared information about the district’s legislative priorities and advocacy (see slides linked below). LWSF Executive Director Katy Philips joined us to highlight the foundation’s Pantry Packs food drive and a new partnership with ParentMap.

In Council business, we reminded leaders of 990 tax forms and our scholarship assessments (both due Friday), as well as upcoming insurance renewals. We gave updates about next steps for local Reflections chairs, emergency supplies, and our 2025 Founders’ Day Luncheon. We shared WSPTA’s new “top 5” legislative priorities, as voted upon at Legislative Assembly, and invited leaders to participate in upcoming advocacy opportunities, WSPTA trainings, Lunch & Learns and other Council events.

Thank you to all the local PTA leaders who joined our Oct. 3 membership meeting at the LWSD Resource Center. We welcomed LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen and Deputy Superintendent Scott Beebe, who shared with us valuable information regarding elementary class size trends and school staffing decisions (see slides below). LWSD Board of Directors President Leah Choi also joined us to share updates about the board’s processes and upcoming business.

In Council business, three volunteers were appointed as members of our 2024-25 financial review committee: Kim Miller, Michelle Jeans and Colleen McCloskey. We also filled two out of three of our spots for our nominating committee: We need just one more volunteer to join Zahra Eslami and Jory Hamilton on this committee. Thank you to all of these volunteers! Other highlights included a vote to take a “no” position in opposition to ballot initiative 2066, and how to donate to or apply for a grant from Council’s Financial Equity Program.

Many thanks to all of our PTA leaders and community partners who joined us at the LWSD Resource Center on Sept. 5 at our first LWPTSA Council membership meeting of ’24–’25.

Our membership elected Bhaskar Ravikanti as Council’s Executive Vice President for the current year. Welcome, Bhaskar, and thank you for your willingness to serve on Council’s board! Members also approved a revision to our ’24-’25 budget, to fund a new Council-sponsored program, the College Essay Workshop. We presented revisions to Council’s standing rules and mission & goals documents, both of which were approved by votes.

PTAs were reminded to complete board training, set up Givebacks account information to pay fees as required, budget for delegates to attend WSPTA’s Legislative Assembly if desired, and make necessary changes to standing rules due to WSPTA’s bylaws amendments. Several upcoming Council events were also announced. Finally, our membership voted in favor of endorsing LWSD’s upcoming November levy, and in opposition to two Washington state ballot measures (2109 and 2117).