To view the recording of the full meeting, please request access to the video here.

MECA HS PTA General and Election Meeting- September 20, 2023

Virtual meeting (zoom)

Attendees: Josh Ehrlich (PTA President), Monica Soto (PTA Secretary), Vivian Cruz (School Parent coordinator), Sarah Kaplan (Principal), Shelby Banks (PTA Treasurer), Carlean Ingram (teacher), China Camacho (Assistant Principal) and total of 6 other Parents. Complete list of attendees available upon request.

Meeting Started 7:05pm with Quorum of parent members. 

PTA President Josh Ehrlich chairing the meeting. Monica Soto PTA secretary scribing the meeting notes.

1. Approval of June 2023 minutes: meeting notes are not posted yet to the PTA website https://mecahspta.org   . The meeting minutes approval will be scheduled in the next general meeting. In the meantime, parents are welcome to view the recorded meeting and any prior general meetings since 2022. Josh showed how to navigate to the PTA website to the page of requesting prior meeting videos. It will require parents to fill a form before receiving access.

2. President’s Report- Josh Ehrlich: 

• Introduction: Josh started the report with introductions of the PTA executive board that includes him as the president, Shelby Banks as Treasurer and Monica Soto as the secretary. Josh welcome any parent interested in joining the executive board to hold a co-position to let us know. Josh invited new parents and school staff to introduce themselves too.

• Parent’s Workshop: Parents can still vote for their choices of Parent’s workshop they would like the vendor to provide. The survey is still open and available in the PTA website.

• General Meeting Invites: Josh encouraged parents to download or save the recurring invites to all the PTA meetings to receive in advance reminders of the upcoming monthly meetings. Josh warned that he might need to send a new series of invites pending the Department of Education changes our email addresses. 

3. Treasurer’s Report- Shelby Banks:

No treasurer’s report provided.

Shelby stated that our goal is to raise school funds for extracurricular activities and offer a scholarship for a senior. Shelby welcome fundraising ideas like a book fair which can be tied to the school reading program. 

4. Principal’s Report-: Ms Kaplan informed this year MECA is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Ms Kaplan shared the following:

Updates:

• New Students enrollment: Open houses and school fairs are the main events MECA gets new students. There will be on campus school fair for Manhattan High schools in October. MECA will also host open houses on Saturdays in October (Oct 14th, 21st, 28th). Ms Kaplan will share the flyer and ask parents for help to generate some interest.  

• Back to school Night: This event will be in person on September 28th from 5 to 7. All  New 9th & 10th grade families were invited to hear the overview of our early college program, learn from the administrative and guidance team, and participate in Q&A. 

• College Fair: October 13th there will be a shared College fair focus on Juniors and Seniors but Sophomores are welcomed.

• SAT Format for 2024: SAT will be moving to digital format starting Spring 2024. Juniors will have the opportunity to take the SAT on paper on the October 26th test at MECA. There is not enough information about the choice and differences between paper and digital format. Also there is no information to address the logistical and infrastructure concerns about the digital format.

Questions from parents: 

Q1- is the school escalating the concerns of internet connection of the digital testing?

1. School has not heard information on this.

Q2- are there any SAT prep being offered?

1. School does not have a partner that offers SAT prep. School suggests to use KHAN academy.

5. New Business- Request for Non Instructional Day

AP Camacho requested parents to approve that due to SAT Testing to select October 26 be a Non Instructional day.

Motion and voting of 13 PTA meeting participants. No objections.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm .

Please reach out via email to ptainfo@mecahspta.org 

Replies from our PTA HS comes from 02M280PA@schools.nyc.gov