PTA Meeting Minutes 2022-09-21

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MECA HS PTA General Meeting- 09/21/2022 Virtual meeting 

Attendees: Josh Ehrlich, Ms Kaplan, Monica Soto, Shelby Banks, Carlean Ingram, Mary Fordjour, Leo 12, Alejandrina Bruno, Joelle iPhone, Julia Tseng, Marco's Fermin, KC Reddy, Kiendra Moore, Joelle Washington, Vivian Cruz, Jamiers mom, Rinzen Shela, Latasha Ingram, Tisha Lettman, Cheye R 

Meeting Started 7:05pm 

1. Business Item: Approval of Last meeting' minutes  

2. President's Report: 

• Introduction of Executive Board: Josh Ehrlich (President), Shelby Banks (Treasurer), and Monica Soto (Secretary). 

• Review of Proposed MECA PTA ByLaws: Request parents to review the current draft and present comments directly to Executive board at PTAinfo@mecahspta.org. Any concerns to be discussed and approved on next PTA meeting. Draft can be found on the MECA PTA website.  

• Tour of PTA Website https://mecahspta.org Josh went over the website Home page and navigated to Parents Resources and other helpful links. Josh requested parents to provide feedback and comments of what they would like to see on the PTA site. 

3. Treasury Report
   Shelby spoke kindly about our need for fundraising since our current balance is only $2,500 total. Based on that need, our Treasurer asked for the support of every parent to donate the suggested amount of $200 per student per school year or $50 quarterly. This will help boost the PTA fundraising balance which is almost nonexistent. The funds will help the PTA to sponsor events for all the MECA students and help the school when they are in need.
   
   Shelby shared the MECA PTA site charity navigator to verify if your employer participates in gift/matching program.
   
   Another way to help the PTA is updating your Amazon account, going to their link of smile.amazon.com page and set up MECA PTA for your charity. Amazon will donate a fraction of your purchase to the PTA for every amazon purchase you made using the Amazon Smile page. And at no cost to you.
   
   We will send parents that contribute a total Donation letter for the end of the year for tax purposes.
   
   

4. Principal's Report: 

Jupiter Grades: MECA purchased the license of this online grading and communication tool for this school year. Parents will have their own account to the Jupiter Grades. Josh shared screen and gave a tour of how to use the tool from his middle school account.

Back to School Night. Sept 29. Because it was declared that all Parents Teachers Conferences will be virtual this year. And to allow the majority of parents to participate, this event will be virtually. We hope we could still hold an in-person event in the year for the families to come into the School. The virtual event is set up in different zoom rooms from 5:00pm to 8:00pm for 30 minutes sessions per teacher with the same agenda (Introduction, how to best contact teacher, expectations, Q&A). A flyer will be sent home to parents. 

CAP update: funds of $5M of Capital Asset will be used in different projects including the for needed work on the Gym. Funds are also being used to update the Cafeteria, a new Hydroponic lab/green farm; replacement of lights; improvement to Auditorium. Shared link re: hydroponic lab ->https://www.agritecture.com/blog/2020/3/2/teens-for-food-justice-launch-latest-farm-set-to-grow-10000-pounds-of-produce-this-year 

Student' Activities: New coordinator for this effort. To put together a comprehensive after-school program students were surveyed asking what students are interested in exploring. A Halloween dance in October 28th and PTA can fundraise by selling drinks and snacks. Oct 21st Senior Freight Fest Six flags; school will pay for portion and students to cover the rest.

Tentative events that School might need funds: 

- Cultural events-  

- Thanksgiving Feast- 

- Idea: Auction to help fundraising 

5. Old Business
   Parent's workshop will be offered this school year. We have a survey to learn what type of topics parents are interested. Please stay in look out for a resend of that survey.
   
   

6. New Business: none 

End of meeting 8:15pm