Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

PHACS Monthly Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday October 16, 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:  October 16, 2025
Time:  5:00 pm
Location:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 
Other Location(s):  https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349

Friedrichstraße 96 10117 Berlin, Germany

605 Pavonia Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

700 N Larrabee Street, APT 1915, Chicago, IL 60654

 

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:   16 de octubre 2025
Hora:  5:00 pm
Lugar:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares:   https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349 

Friedrichstraße 96 10117 Berlin, Germany

605 Pavonia Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

700 N Larrabee Street, APT 1915, Chicago, IL 60654

 

 

 

Trustees Present

G. Garcia, J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Rivera (remote), J. Sowell (remote), V. Angeles

Trustees Absent

K. Shah, P. Wesonga, T. Perez, T. South

Guests Present

C. Russell, M. Dorsey, T. Brown

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Sowell called a meeting of the board of trustees of Pharos Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Oct 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM.

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

No public comments at this time .

III. PHACS Scholar Presentation

A.

PHACS Staff/Scholar Presentation

To resume in November 2025.

IV. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Sowell made a motion to approve the minutes from PHACS Monthly Board Meeting on 09-18-25.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Charter Renewal Update

Charter Renewal application has been completed and submitted 

Charter Renewal visit scheduled for 12/16/2025 

In holding pattern waiting for  other upcoming events. Schedule meetings anticipated for Board Members and for the School Community to participate in during the hearing, 

 

The hearing will provide an opportunity for family, staff, community to participate and add their comments on why the renewal is important for Pharos Academy Charter School. 

 

 

 

C.

Community Leader Event

Matter is related to the State of Enrollment.

 

Event scheduled for November 12, 2025, waiting for electives to respond to their invitation to attend this event.  Bring in the Gatekeepers to support understanding the knowledge of the school.  

 

Board invited to provide feedback on this event and possible suggestions. 

Various methods of advertisement shared with the Board regarding the November 2025 event.  Small response (5) have responded. 

 

Dr. Travis Brown  shared his experience with a recent school visit. 

Schools shared their perspective on the school advertisement.  

 

Information shared in relation to the comparison of communication and knowledge of Public Schools and what they know about Charter Schools.  It is imperative to promote knowledge within the community, specifically parents and children.

 

We have a timing - Lottery enrollment should be April and May.  Parents will make a decision as soon as possible.  The waiting list may cause a parent to look elsewhere.  Once the investment of uniform purchasing it may not be easy to change the decision of the parent. 

School has to get savvy in the timing and locking in enrollment. 

 

There is a need to create a pipeline with other schools Pre K , Childcare Centers, (K-8) schools, will need to enroll those scholars as they matriculate to the next level of education.   

 

V. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

Nothing remarkable, just an update with enrollment.

Audit nothing substantially or relevant as a result of the audit. 

Nothing over 50K for approval. 

 

J. Sowell made a motion to Approve the financials presented for September 2025.
G. Garcia seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Investment Account Update

C.

Items Over 50K

VI. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

Dr. Brown provided details as the school are still in first semester.  

First round of interim assessments coming soon, this will provide data on where and how  students are currently performing. 

 

Academic staff is working, this time is currently the proofing ground for the acidic staff. 

K-12 is moving along as planned and expected. 

VII. Academic Committee Report

A.

Academic Committee Report

Resume in November 

VIII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

7:15 PM - Enter into Executive Session 

7:45 PM - Exit out of Executive Session 

IX. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

J. Sowell made a motion to Approve the previous motion discussed in Executive Session.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:46 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. Sowell
J. Sowell made a motion to Adjourn the meeting.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.