January 2026 POP Meeting Minutes

Parents of Pinnacle

Board Meeting Minutes

Tuesday January 13, 2026

Location: Pinnacle High School- Media Center

POP board members Present: Jennifer Mellor, Craig Despres, Nisha Shah, Cara Franz

1. Call to order 6:00 pm

2. Meeting Minutes: Minutes stand as XXX

3. Introduction of Vice Chair Craig Despres- Welcome Craig!

4. Welcome Principals Message- Jeremy Richards

   1. Thank you to POP for all the support behind the scenes. From treats, lunches, gift cards- the support means so much to the teachers and staff.

   2. Tonight was our Feature Freshman Event- welcome incoming freshman and transfer students of all grades.

   3. Engineering Program- partnership with ASU.

      1. Enrollment in all 4 years at Pinnacle HS- graduate with an associate’s degree and get early acceptance into ASU engineering program.

      2. This program is a magnet to help attract students to PHS.

   4. Academic State Ratings – Pinnacle High School is top rated comprehensive High Schools in the state of Arizona.

      1. We are now adding our top achieving academics to the draw of Pinnacle high school in addition to athletics, arts and clubs. We are an academically strong school.

   5. ITC Space- largest space on campus- (School was originally built for a 3-4A school) so we are limited on space. How do we capture new students while remaining within the limits and student to teacher ratios:

   6. Partnership with ASU, Honeywell, and Avion? To help build out the space for the engineering program within the ITC.

      1. Move program from C building

      2. Some machinery is already housed in ITC

      3. As we grow, the program will move into ITC for hands on labs. (Engineering 101 will remain in C building)

      4. Remodel ITC and close off space with large windows for all to see in/out.

      5. Keep a smaller space for ITC and traditional textbooks, novels, etc.

      6. Innovation Creation Commons- Project to start this summer into the fall and possibly into the remainder of the year.

   7. Project- Improved bulletin boards around campus- assigned to clubs who take ownership.

      1. Will work on branding across campus. This Thursday, starting the project telling the story of Pinnacle High School through pictures, branding, Pioneer Pete, ARISE program, etc.

      2. Refresh areas and keep students engaged.

      3. Help make academic spaces come to life.

   8. Gym Lobby- will be getting a facelift as well.

      1. Has not been updated since built.

      2. Gym Lobby will have branding, photos etc.

         1. Area that previously housed storage will be a space to highlight athletic hall of fame area.

         2. Committee to be put in place to help with athletic recognition

         3. Historical and upcoming athletes- considering an interactive media board to help highlight athletes.

   9. Every 3-4 years, A+ School of Excellence Award- our accreditation is up, and we are going to continue to push forward to achieve the A+ Rating.

   10. Venue for Graduation has been confirmed- Grand Canyon University

       1. Need to coordinate POP and administration on Graduation tickets, and general information. Will need POP to connect with Priscilla on that information.

   11. Invite PV Schools Superintendent Dr. Carson to next meeting.

5. POP Board Introduction

   1. Jennifer Mellor- POP President

   2. Craig Despres- POP Vice Chair

   3. Nisha Shah- POP Treasurer

   4. Cara Franz- POP Secretary

6. Committee Reports

   1. Membership- Jennifer Mellor

      1. How do we want to formulate membership for the upcoming year?

         1. Thoughts on moving away from membership and towards donation

         2. Everyone is a member of POP

            1. Donations to help raise funds for supplies, staff appreciation, gift cards, PBIS

            2. Membership helps to capture member email addresses

            3. Can capture email addresses via Zeffy.

         3. Administration and POP need to be on the same page with messaging/ sending out information to parents

         4. POP to send spring donation drive, that does not promote membership- just donations for POP, PBIS, Staff Appreciation, Auction

            1. Upcoming Newsletter to include Cash Donations, Auction, Amazon Wishlist’s, Hospitality etc.

7. Treasurers report- Nisha Shah

   1. Cash Balance, Income, Expenses and Budget report provided.

   2. 30 Gift Cards donated for Holiday Hospitality/staff appreciation

   3. PBIS $10 gift cards are great- #1 requested gift cards are from QT

   4. Half of the deposit has been submitted for grad night

   5. Accumulating lots of prizes for grad night

   6. Auction pending- largest fundraiser for the year

   7. Graduation Signs also help raise money

      1. Goal of budget to break even, have some money in reserve

      2. Cut expenses in gift cards/prizes at Grad Night if necessary

8. UPC-Julie Blumenreich

   1. United Parent Council- unique to our district

      1. Includes all schools and are equal stakeholders

      2. Supports students and parents

      3. Website: PVUPC.org

      4. You do not need to be a member to attend UPC meetings

      5. General Meetings- 3 rd Wednesday of every month at 9 am/10 am Parent Program

   2. Next Meeting January 21 st at the District Office.

      1. This month’s program is: Graduation Requirements and transitions from middle school to high school

      2. Monthly newsletter- Facebook, Instagram and You Tube

      3. PV Parent Expo February 10 th 6-8 pm Desert Shadows Middle School

         1. Vendors for fundraising

         2. Parent owned businesses

         3. Variety of booths

         4. Open to anyone to attend

      4. Teacher and Staff Awards announced in Spring

         1. May 5 th @ North Canyon High School

         2. Nominations open February 18 th – March 11 th

            1. Can nominate on UPC website and link in principals newsletter

         3. Jerry Morgan Award- volunteer award

            1. Nominations held from February 18 th -March 11 th

      5. Governing Board meeting to discuss proposed new Bell Schedule

         1. To help accommodate issues with transportation

         2. Will be presented Thursday- possible changes to school start times.

         3. February Meeting will vote on proposed Bell Schedule

      6. When district has committees, they allow for parents to serve on the committee as well- one spot open for Family Student Handbook Committee

         1. Meet in person and will update handbook with any new laws or regulations district wide.

   3. Info@pvupc.org

9. Goodwill Donation Drive

   1. Goodwill has changed to only doing instore drives

      1. POP was told that we could get a truck for goodwill drive but have not heard back from them

      2. Possible to rent UHaul truck so we can bring goods to Goodwill

         1. Paid based on weight

   2. Rummage Sale/Farmers Market

      1. Families rent parking spaces at Pinnacle High Schools main lot

         1. Hold rummage sale- if left over goods, families can donate remaining items to Goodwill

      2. Need to schedule around other events being held on campus and other community garage sales (Aviano Garage Sale date?)

      3. Community Ed may have the schedule

      4. Ideally have vendors for coffee, Kona Ice etc

      5. Maybe coordinate with STUGO’s Carnival in lieu of Rummage Sale due to logistics

         1. Booth at Carnival

         2. POP Shirts/Stickers

   3. Drop Box

      1. Consistently generates about $50 per month

         1. Add this to “Did you know” including Fry’s rewards program

10. Hospitality- Kirstin Chatsworth

    1. The Hospitality Committee is responsible for various staff appreciation events

       1. Teacher Conferences (fall) went great

       2. Holiday Appreciation- huge success

          1. Every teacher and staff member got a gift card

          2. Streets of NY catered- great feedback

          3. Need more parent volunteers for next year

       3. Teacher Conferences February 6 th 2026

          1. Teacher/Staff Appreciation week is in May

             1. Need a lead to run sign up genius, daily appreciation events, sending out newsletter, coffee cart, snacks, lunches, supply donations

          2. Partnering with STUGO

             1. STUGO managed last years staff appreciation week and POP helps with paying for items and lunches

11. Website/ Social Media- Craig Despres and Jennifer Mellor

    1. Need to update Graphics to 2026

       1. Nisha Shah son to help with updated graphics

    2. Parentsofpinnacle.org

    3. Already dove into Website updates

    4. Bigger push for social media presence

    5. Can create a newsletter in Zeffy

    6. Membership Toolkit?

    7. Social Media/Website Posts

       1. All Things Senior

       2. Link to Boosters

       3. Amazon Wishlist’s

       4. Sign Up Genius

       5. Spring Donation Campaign

       6. Grad Night

          1. Volunteer positions

12. Online Fundraiser- Nicole Hill

    1. Silent Auction: Held in February and donations go to support Project Grad 26

    2. In need of businesses to donate for online fundraising

    3. May have additional parking passes available this year

    4. Need to craft email and go door to door for donations

       1. Donation Ideas

          1. Experiences like Spencer Rattler Throwing Session

          2. Painted Senior Parking Spots (school hours only)

          3. Parent Parking Spot

          4. Annual Sports Pass

          5. Boosters to donate baskets

          6. Engineering Program 3D Print an item for donation

13. Senior Scholarships

    1. Eliminated due to lack of interest and AI generated submissions.

14. Project Grad- Chair Needed

    1. Project Grad is held at Dave and Busters (Desert Ridge)

    2. Very well attended event by students. 90% of students attend and stay for the duration

       1. 15K in prizes/cash are given away to students throughout the night.

          1. Giveaways are a great incentive to have students stay and celebrate graduation in a safe environment

       2. Project Grad is free to Seniors and includes admission, games, food and more

          1. Students are allowed to bring 1 guest who is not affiliated with Pinnacle High School

       3. In need of 75 adult volunteers to ensure Project Grad 26 is successful

       4. Close games earlier this year (3am/4am?)

       5. Need to teach new group of upcoming parents on Grad Night departments

          1. Minute to Win it

          2. Raffle

          3. Hourly Give Aways

          4. Teacher held activities (casino games)

          5. Chaperone Responsibilities

15. Upcoming Events:

    1. Senior Activities/Grad Night info going out next week

       1. Standardized Document from POP/Administration

    2. Senior Meeting 3/3/26

       1. Nisha Shah to present information at senior meeting

    3. Online Auction- February

    4. Project Grad 2026 is May 21 st - 10 am entry- end time TBD

    5. Graduation Sign Distribution- Jennifer Mellor and Cara Franz

    6. Newsletter

       1. Ways to give

       2. Ways to volunteer

Meeting officially adjourned at 7:35pm.

Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:

Cara Franz,

Secretary, POP