Thank you to all the PTA members who joined us for today's February PTA Family Community Meeting. The minutes can be found here.
We voted on so many important funding requests, most notably we approved up to $50,000 to build a shade structure (with a 30 X 30 shade structure) that would provide shade over a large area including parts of the big play structure and blacktop. The shade structure is a huge community win that has been four years in the making. In fact, former Principal Beth Rhine, who was on the forefront of the initial advocacy, asked her retirement gift be a shade fund, which the PTA has used to maintain the current small shade structures. The Oxford PTA urged current Principal Beth Cornwell to pick up the advocacy, which resulted in the planting of some fast growing shade trees. The trees are a great long term solution for both shade and privacy. However, the trees were not a sufficient response in helping the children that attend Oxford today. Student's were coming home with sunburns and huddling under the picnic benches for shade. Even on days when the weather was temperate, the Oxford yards would feel unbearably hot. As a community, we stood firm that having safe outdoor space is simply a non-negotiable for our children. Ultimately, the Oxford PTA's persistent advocacy got BUSD to finally hear our concerns and offer us actual solutions. Because of your fundraising, our lean operations, and fortuitous rollover funds, we were in a position to vote for this sizeable endeavor. This has been a community effort and a true testament to the power of collective action on behalf of our children. We will keep you all up to date as the process gets finalized.
We also approved funding a large mural on the large wall in the upper yard. The mural process will be very collaborative so stay tuned for meetings and design votes! (Click HERE for mural proposal). We hope this brings some much needed life and joy into the courtyard and that the act of creating this mural builds even greater sense of community and belonging. Thank you to Jaclyn Estrella Mercede for spearheading this initiative.
In lieu of a March PTA Family Community Meeting, join us for Family Math Game Night March 11. Our April PTA Family Community Meeting will be April 8th where we will be voting on the 2025-2026 Executive Board and approving our bylaws.
In Community, Patricija Petrac (2024-2025 PTA President)
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