At our April general meeting, Treasurer Joseph Hellebusch reported a budget deficit of approximately $25,894, driven mostly by a deliberate decision to double our Teaching Assistant investment to $40,000. To close the gap before June 30, the PTA is pivoting to corporate matching via Benevity and a hard push on the Spring Auction.
Financial Standing (as of April 13)
- Total Income: $62,627 (plus $5,086 pending deposits)
- Total Expenses: $88,655
- Current Deficit: $25,894
Primary Drivers
- Teaching Assistants: $40,000 — double last year's spend. A deliberate choice to prioritize classroom support.
- Family Donations: $18,000 against a $35,000 goal — the biggest single gap.
- Other Income: bake sales, Fall Flame, movie nights, camp contributions.
Spring Auction (May 7)
Roughly $28,000 in items donated so far (summer camps, artwork, restaurant tabs), with another ~$10,000 in progress.
- Event: May 7, 5:00–7:30 PM at Last Resort (13th & Avenue A).
- Childcare: Rainbow Play Space (10th St & Avenue A), geared for kids under 7; older kids get a movie option. RSVPs needed.
- Volunteers needed: uploading item descriptions/images to the Better World site; East Village item pickups.
Corporate Matching: Benevity
The PTA is now approved for Benevity, a major corporate-matching platform used by big employers (Google, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Paul-Weiss, most law firms and media companies). The Treasurer noted that corporate donations have outpaced individual giving despite far lower participation — meaning a handful of matched gifts could close the deficit without growing the volunteer load.
Treasurer's quote: "We need to tap into the corporate money… and stop with the cookies." The board will circulate a one-pager with the school's EIN and mission to make it easy for parents to start a match with their employer's HR department. See the donate page for how to give.
Administrative & Academic Updates
- Middle School Placements: Hot-spot reports coming. Students not getting their first choice are auto-waitlisted; historically most secure first or second choice.
- Teacher Appreciation: Staff said this year felt more impactful than past years — thank you to everyone who pitched in.
- C30 Process: School-leadership selection process is underway. Contact SLT reps (Danielle, Alejandro, Buster, Nick).
- Elections: All PTA and two SLT positions open for the upcoming year. Role descriptions to circulate ahead of the May meeting.
Policy Watch: "Hold Harmless"
TNS has benefited from approximately $400,000 in protected funding under the citywide "Hold Harmless" policy that shields school budgets from enrollment declines. The city is debating whether to keep this $1.6B citywide investment. If it ends, TNS could have to pay back funding for any "empty seats" where actual enrollment falls below projection. The PTA is monitoring and advocating.
AI Advocacy Meeting (May 8)
District-wide meeting on AI in education at the district office (PS20) on May 8 — the final day of the DOE's public consultation on AI guidelines. Expected participants included the district office, OpenAI, Google, and the New York Times.
Attendance
Alejandro Torres, Brooke Moreland, Clayton Lamar, Deandra Avilez, Dyanthe Spielberg, Elizabeth Devine, FelEsia Rodriguez, Jharred Williams, James Washington, Joseph Hellebusch, Kara Srpinger, Nick Petrie, Malia Baker, Margo Simon, Marry Ellen Callaway, Robert Murtfeld, Stratford Wallace.