PTA Meeting Minutes 2022-10-19

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MECA PTA General Membership meeting Minutes

October 19th 2022, 7:00pm, Virtual Meeting

Attendees: Josh Ehrlich-PTA President, Monica Soto-Secretary, Shelby Banks-Treasurer, Julia Tseng, Janine Jackman, Maribel Modesto (9th grader parent), Maurisha Dash-9th Grader, Vivian Cruz PC, (347) 327-3605 Tamika Chapman (9th grader parent); Ms Sarah Kaplan-Principal, Jamiers mom, KC Reddy ( Teacher),

Meeting Started 7:05pm with PTA President Josh Ehrlich chairing the meeting. Monica Soto PTA secretary scribing the meeting notes.

1. Approval of minutes:
   September 21st Meeting minutes approved after motion.  

2. President's report
   MECA HS PTA Website: Josh shared the screen and went over the updates to the PTA website latest news and links to new resources. For a complete list of events and resources go to the https://mecahspta.org
   
   Jupiter's App: Josh went over and shared the screen with the view of Jupiter's App platform for parents and answered some questions about updating some fields for parents.

3. Treasurer's report
   Shelby reported we have the same initial balance since last PTA meeting about $2,500. Pressing needs are still the same:  need of funding. Josh shared the screen of our PTA site and the three sections to show the ways parents can contribute. A view the PTA Website Parents Resources shows the three sections:

   1. Charity Navigator and looked up for any company that matches an employee gift to a charity like our PTA. This portal can be forwarded to any of your friends and family who can also benefit the PTA.

   2. Showed also the smile.amazon.com setup we all can do

   3. Annual contributions which will go to fund the annual contributions and suggest checks (Digital wallet options still on the works).
      Shelby asked for all parents to join efforts for fundraising.

4. Principal's report- by MS Sarah Kaplan (Principal)
   School Overall Budget cut: MECA HS estimated about 525 students for current year but only 435 students enrolled. Reason for the decreased due to a majority of students moved out the NYC DOE system altogether. Decreased enrollment, means decreased budget. The City usually asks for funds returned back. For MECA this is about $500K translate to cut to teaching staff, class trips, class specific supplies, cost to early college textbooks needs from BMCC, among others. But Ms Kaplan is still waiting for an update about the city making final decision if schools funding decide if the money will be returned. This is citywide affecting many schools. Ms Kaplan will update all parents once the City decision is shared with her.
   
   Planned Open House will be held this year. Historically MECA accepts students from all over the city. Ms Kaplan is asking parents to partner with school to help spread/share the message and talk about the programs with families, church,  facebook, friends.
   
   Exciting learning field opportunity for new 9th graders: Starting November "Exploring the work" at Museum of art and Design at Columbus Circle. This is an opportunity for students to work on speech, exposure to art work, conversations around artist inspiration, work and presentation about a selected exhibit. Ending by Spring next year.
   
   Our Afterschool clubs: some clubs have already started: Poetry, Model UN, cooking, guitar, MECA L (LGBTQ), Dance Club, etc. Ms Kaplan will share the schedule of all clubs. The students advisory can provide more info. The clubs meet on Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays ending by 4-5pm.
   10/21- Campus College Fair: Will be on campus this year. All Juniors and Seniors will attend. College reps are very engaging and fun with nice gifts.
   
   Student Led Conference will happen on Nov 17th.
   
   Thanksgiving Feast: a very loved event by MECA. It will highlight what we are Thankful and come together and celebrate all our cultures. Families are welcome to send their dishes and dessert/ beverage from your own family tradition and culture. Parents are welcome. It will be the Wednesday before
   Thanksgiving break (Nov. 23rd).
   
   Cafeteria Redesign: Capital City funding has been dedicated for enhance the campus cafeteria experience. It will have brand new furniture, design and customized designed walls, brand new hot and cold food station that will bring new breakfast and lunch options. Plans are that the brand new Cafeteria will be completed by end of school year. Ms Kaplan will share mock-up of this plan. This capital fund are also to create an Urban farm (the which will be housed in an area of Cafeteria. This will take time to be completed but it is exciting that is a new space.
   
   Ms Kaplan asked if any parent has any questions. The following parents' questions were heard:

   1. Question: what will happen to students who need to use cafeteria?
      Answer: Ms Kaplan informed the install will only affect 2 days minimal disruption.

   2. Question: what time is Halloween dance?
      Answer: Starts at 6pm and end 9pm

   3. Parent comment: reminder of the HSBCU College Fair and propose that the info be shared will all students. PTA president showed the PTA Site has this event posted on the PTA site. The link for it was shared on chat.  : 2022-11-12 New York HBCU College Fair (hbcu-cfnj.com)
      Parent added maybe to make an incentive for other grades to attend as well.

   4. Parent question: Can PTA allowed to request discretionary funds?
      Answer: PTA President answered that the Exec board got the info to request different legislative, city officials funds. PTA fundraiser funds can only help covered school costs such as the college books.

   5. Parent Question: requested for the teacher's emails. PTA president has this item as old business (see below).

5. Old business:
   By-laws: Changed to modified to meet the new update. Today PTA president asked for any comments on the proposed by-laws. No concerns or comments to the proposed bylaws were shared by any parent. We will vote to the final proposed bylaws on the next meeting.
   
   First Power Tools Session:  Josh raised the motion to Vote tonight on the first topic for the first power tools sessions for parents from this Educational Consultant. Attendees approved. There was no negative.
   
   How to communicate with teachers. Our PTA website could use a software/app to show a “directory” based view of MECA teachers where we can share info teachers shared to PTA like the best way to communicate with them (text, email, and add their numbers, email, and even add their picture.
   
   KC Reddy (a teacher) showed the screen to show their progress to the MECA school site and the ways to contact the team. The site has not being updated since 2020.
   
   PTA president asked if anyone had any questions:

   1. Question to teachers: last year teachers provided their introduction sheet. Some teachers have sent that information with their and some did not. Ms Kaplan answered: all teachers were expected to send their info with the student. Ms Kaplan will check tomorrow and figure out the issue.

   2. Parent concerns/comments: maybe a fix is an email to parents letting us know what to expect to receive on our child's bags. Ms Kaplan love the idea for core expectations with 9th parents. Like expect a syllabus from every teacher, class supplies list, etc. Ms Kaplan liked the idea that using TikTok and efforts that the Art class students can promote how much they love the school.

   3. Parent's comments: since parents likely had to sign and return the student and parent know the rules of the specific class where the teachers contact info was, maybe we could have a digital copy of the syllabus instead.

   4. Parents' Question: what is the best way for a parent to be connected to the students' google classroom. Ms Kaplan: parent can contact the teachers directly or contact Ms Kaplan or Ms Cruz to get the parents account.

   5. Parent Question: can a parent be added to the student' google classroom?
      Answer: No. There might be a privacy issue and also the accounts might be only for DOE students' account.

   6. Parent Question: parent inquired about a student not receiving any emails. Ms will look into that. That might be a way to verify the student's emails not been logged in.

   7. Parent Question: Is there a flyer to promote the school? Ms Kaplan answered is coming along to get ready for open houses.

   8. Parent Question: From the Chat: Maurisha Dash provided an update of an idea about recruiting a roller skating person, Craig at 917-279-1877.

6. No New Business

7. Adjournment at 8:34pm