HHS PA General Meeting 5/26/21 and 5/28/21
5/26/21
5-5:40pm
Present (names provided by Zoom chat and may be inaccurate): Charles Reilly (Principal); Erin Ratner (President); Stephanie Assuras (Secretary); Esther Yoon; Aliya Fraser; Anthony Deckoff; Arslan Bektesevic; Ashton Stewart; Carmen Keels; Cass Christopher; Lisa McDonald; Esther Castillo; Ingrid Selman; Jennifer Rau; Jessica Ayala; Jeton; Julie Haggerty; Klara Naszkowska (VP); Lena; Marta Peimer; Mary Kay Yezerski; Melanie Rodriguez; Mercedes McGee; Michael Becker; Shannon Bambenek; Sophie Winbourne (VP); Stacy Carlson; Sylvia Gonzalez (Parent Coordinator)
Meeting called to address possible name change from Hamilton Heights School to William Lynch School. Presented last Friday at PA meeting and families will vote Yes or No today. Surveying families and voting is just one of several potential steps in the process to change the name. Noted that the 20-30 people in this meeting may not representative of whole HHS community.
Erin Ratner, PA President: Described background, the city proposed the name change last year (and maybe year before) and Mr. Reilly said no as school was continuing to develop. This year it was presented again and Mr. Reilly presented the idea of conditions including: Potential for community school designation by DOE (can include funding for medical, vision, dental, extra programing, etc.); new furniture; funding for rebranding (i.e., signs, banner).
Mr. Reilly: Discussed pros and cons. Pros: possible programs described above; Mr. Lynch was activist and community leader known for racial inclusivity, race relations between Black and Jewish communities, worked for Mayor Dinkins. Cons: School just now starting to be known as HHS with Mr. Reilly and families’ work; funding/designation not guaranteed; emotional attachment to name; we do not know everything associated with Mr. Lynch and some may not agree with politics.
Open to comments from general PA:
Lisa McDonald: A name represents our community, and becoming a community school highlights what the school stands for.
Julie Haggerty: Wants to know if community school has autonomy, Mr. Reilly says yes, the school’s decision-making ability does not change with new designation or name change.
Esther Yoon: Brought up concerns regarding Lynch and the fact that the name change is potentially tied to election/political gain (“political machine”, identity the school community has with HHS name. She described the importance of a name and associated things like mascots. She later stated that she works for a Hispanic nonprofit and surveyed colleagues who noted that Mr. Lynch was very well-respected.
Stephanie Assuras, PA Secretary: Stated that the bigger risk seems to be lost opportunity by not changing the name and receiving possible benefits. The biggest risk to changing the name is emotional/philosophical.
Carmen Keels: The community is bigger than a name.
Cass Christopher: Reviewed superintendent notes from SLT about community school and possible Spanish programming.
Aliya Fraser: Talked to her father, one of founders of Dwyer Cultural Center, and he said Mr. Lynch was a great man and he was supportive of the name change.
Voting form sent by Erin Ratner via chat in English and Spanish. Vote will close tonight and then reopen Friday.
5/28/21
10:00-10:20am
Present (names provided by Zoom chat and may be inaccurate): Charles Reilly (Principal); Erin Ratner (PA President); Stephanie Assuras (Secretary); Aliya Fraser; Almin Ahmemulic; Drewsidior Nesbeth; Edjanine Singletary; EK; Elizabeth Alcantara; Esther Castillo; Jeton; Kathy Calahan; Kay Lei; Kelleyrh; Lena Cekic; Marinieves; Marisa Castagno (co-President); Mary Kay Yezerski; Melanie Rodriguez; Mercedes McGee; Michael Becker; Shannon Bambenek; Sharon Conner; Sylvia Gonzalez (Parent Coordinator); Tahira; Yareht Guzman
General Questions:
DOE School Survey, one per student ID
PA Board Election next Friday, if interested contact Sylvia. We will hold another election with new families if positions available in the fall
Question regarding start time same for all grades in Sept
Field day happening, probably on campus
School Name Change Discussion/Vote
Erin Ratner, PA President: Described background, the city proposed the name change last year (and maybe year before) and Mr. Reilly said no as school was continuing to develop. This year it was presented again and Mr. Reilly presented the idea of conditions including: Potential for community school designation by DOE (can include funding for medical, vision, dental, extra programing, etc.); new furniture; funding for rebranding. Described that superintendent appeared confident regarding the community school designation.
Question about what to do if neutral. No one is forced to vote but if you do it is yes or no.
Ms. Sylvia Gonzalez, PC, interpreted background in Spanish.
Voting form sent by Erin Ratner via chat in English and Spanish. Vote will close today.
