Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday June 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Location

All meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Pharos Academy Charter School are held in compliance with New York State Open Meeting Law. 
 

Date:  June 12, 2025
Time:  6:30 p.m.
Location:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 11215

Other Location(s):  https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349

992 McNair Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446

14201 E Orange Lake Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747

525 W. 49th Street, Apt 5A NY, NY 10019

 

 

ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!
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PHAROS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
DE LA JUNTA ADMINISTRATIVA
 

 

Realizamos todas las reuniones de la Junta Administrativa de la escuela Pharos Academy Charter School conforme a la Ley de Reuniones Abiertas del Estado de Nueva York.

Día:   12 de junio 2025
Hora:  6:30 p.m.
Lugar:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares:   https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349 

992 McNair Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446

14201 E Orange Lake Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747

525 W. 49th Street, Apt 5A NY, NY 10019

 

 

 

Trustees Present

G. Garcia, J. Lopez-Molina, J. Rivera (remote), K. Shah (remote), P. Wesonga (remote), T. Perez, T. South, V. Angeles

Trustees Absent

J. Sowell, S. Sutherland

Guests Present

C. Russell, Eleanny Arroyo, Lea Kanyinda, M. Dorsey, Rohey N'Dow, Rouguiatiu Diallo, T. Brown, Tristan Bryan

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Lopez-Molina called a meeting of the board of trustees of Pharos Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Jun 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM.

II. PHACS Scholar Presentation

A.

PHACS Scholar Presentation

FY25 Scholarship Candidates provided a brief presentation to the Board. 

 

1.  Eleanny Arroyo

2.  Tristan Bryan

3.  Rohey N'Dow

4.  Lea Kanyinda

5.  Rouguiatou Diallo 

 

Board discussed and voted on the final awardees that were chosen. 

Chosen 1,2,5 


Board agreed to raise the  annual $500 scholarship to $5,000

 

Board Chair volunteered to donate the funds to supplement the scholarship increase. 

 

 

III. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting on 05-15-25.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Financial Disclosure Form

Financial disclosure forms were handed out for completion and collection. 

 

C.

Board Bios and Resumes

Board members were encouraged to complete bios and resume updates. 

 

D.

Executive Director Evaluation

E.

Board Elections

Board Elections were discussed and voted on term renewals. 

 

Ad Hoc committees are not in need of voting activity, if changes are needed, they will be as Board deems necessary. 

 

The School Culture committee has not met in over a year.  If the need arises, the School Culture committee will be considered for reinstatement.  

 

 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to made a motion to Renew Board membership in Group A : Javier Lopez-Molina, Keyur Shah, Stacy Sutherland, Tamara South, Jarrod Sowell.
V. Angeles seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew the Board Officers: Chair - Javier Lopez-Molina, Vice Chair - Jarrod Sowell, Secretary - Tamara South, Treasurer - Keyur Shah.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew the Board Executive Committee: Javier Lopez Molina, Keyur Shah, Jarrod Sowell, Tahina Perez, Joseph Rivera, Tamara South.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew the Board Finance Committee: Keyur Shah, Javier Lopez Molina, Patrick Wesonga, Gustavo Garcia, Jarrow Sowell.
G. Garcia seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew the Board Education and Accountability Committee: Tahina Perez, Stacy Sutherland, Vaness Angeles.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew the 1005 Intervale Avenue LLC Members : Jospeh Rivera- President , Keyur Shah - Treasurer, Courtney Russell- Secretary.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

2025 - 2026 Board Meeting Calendar

Board meeting calendar shared with Board 

12 Meetings/Year - 3rd Thursday of the Month 

Exception for the month of February due to the School Break Period 

September meeting to be short to make time for special board event. 

All Board members in agreement with the 2025-2026 Board Meeting Calendar 

G.

School Calendar

School calendar discussed with the Board.  The Pharos calendar for the most part follow the NYC Department of Education with no major differences.  Pharos used NYC DOE as a template to design the School Calendar and stay align with the NYC DOE dates.

Adjustment - Thanksgiving Break , May (Memorial Day) 

 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the FY26 School Year Calendar.
V. Angeles seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Personnel Handbook

Similar to previous year with a few small changes regarding the Federal Holiday and BlackOut Days. Employee Handbook to be reviewed and voted on by the Board. 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve the FY25 Personnel Handbook.
T. South seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the May 2025 financials.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Investment Account Update

C.

Items Over 50K

Cleaning Contract discussed with Board and the selected contractor was discussed and approved. 

K. Shah made a motion to approve the selected cleaning contractor.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

FY26 Insurance Update

E.

FY26 Budget

K. Shah made a motion to approve the FY26 Budget.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Facilities

A.

Facilities Update

No updates to discuss, all has been moving as anticipated. 

VI. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

Executive Session:  8: 50 PM 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to enter into Executive Session 8:54 PM.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to exit into Executive Sessions 8:55PM.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey