Garnet Mesa Parent Teacher Organization Meeting Notes

August 31, 2026

8:30-9:40 am; 5:30 pm

Treasurer Report

• Account balance is solid to start the year.
• Kroger check of just over $400 was received.
• This is an incredibly easy to provide PTO with funds! Just link your City Market Shoppers Reward Card to GMES PTO.
• PTO will provide $500 to each grade, $250 to each SPED and EL team. GMES will match PTO funds. These funds are for each grade to use as they wish; funds are usually used to help cover field trip costs.
• Specials teachers are invited to submit a request for funding if the need arises.

Fall Fundraiser 

• Lots of ideas for GMES/Panther items! Items include beanies, ball caps, hoodies/sweatshirts, coffee cups/tumblers, socks, keychains, etc.
• Mr. Renfrow suggested having all options available to families, and letting them chose what they want.
• Theme will be “retro” or “throwback” GMES Panther logo
• Is there a possibility of having smaller items available in a prize box for bucket fillers?
• Jenny Urich and Holly Mautz will take point on this.

Fall Book Fair: September 28-October 1

• Fall book fair will be a table-top fair. There is the possibility of a case fair in March.
• Need to start doing publicity—dates, special visitor lunch, etc. Scholastic has generic fliers, but perhaps PTO volunteers can create something more tailored to our school.
• Setup will be Monday Sept. 28 in the morning. Fair will start that afternoon and will run through the end of conferences. Teachers are encouraged to preview the fair before their conferences start.
• Special Visitor Lunches: Tues Sept. 29 and Wed Sept. 30. Parents are invited to join their student for lunch, and then head to the book fair. Notices will be sent out in Tuesday folders.
• Volunteers are needed to help set up, run, and pack up the book fair. Jenna Valdez will send out a SignUp Genius link as we get closer.
• Volunteer shifts usually last 2 hours. Sign up for as many shifts as you like! We need at least 2-4 volunteers per shift, more for setup and take down.
• Book fair is usually held in the Kiva. Is it possible to use the gym?

Parent Teacher Conferences: Sept 28, and one other evening that week TBD

• PTO provides dinner for teachers on Monday, Sept. 28. 50-55 meals will be needed.
• PTO is looking into different options for catering: Sub sandwiches, appetizers from CB’s, Taco Time, El Pollo, Papa’s Grill.
• Jennifer Hixson, owner of El Pollo, will reach out to other food trucks to get catering prices.
• Suggestion of having one or more food trucks outside for families to get food from after conferences.

Admin Business

• School is off to a great start! Teachers and staff are excited to see all the new and returning faces!
• A few para positions still need to be filled, and GMES is always looking for substitute teachers. Reach out to office staff if you’re interested!
• Update on concrete pad: new concrete is poured and fence around it will be coming down this week.
• Plans for what will go on the concrete pad are still being finalized. Shade sales, tables, and a track will be included.
• Asphalt near cafeteria is in rough shape and needs attention, and there’s repair needed in a hole that leads to plumbing on that side of the school.
• The modular building will eventually be taken away and replaced with more shade and community gardens. This is Phase 2 of the concrete pad project, but no timeline has been set.
• The District Office wants to extend the front of the building, making it safer and more secure. It’s on the DO’s “list” but admin doesn’t know how high up on the list. It’s at least several years out and will cost over $1 million.
• Suggestion that families/community members donate trees (or money towards a tree) and getting a plaque on “their” tree. This will have to be approved through the DO, but Mr. Renfrow will look into it.

Next meeting: Monday, September 21 at 8:30