Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

PHACS Monthly Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday February 12, 2026 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:  February 12, 2026
Time:  6:30 pm
Location:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 
Other Location(s):  https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349

2 Dows Lane, Irvington, NY 10533

 

 

 

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 febrero
Hora:  6:30 pm
Lugar:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares:   https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349 

2 Dows Lane, Irvington, NY 10533

 

 

 

Trustees Present

G. Garcia (remote), J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Rivera, J. Sowell, K. Shah, T. Perez

Trustees Absent

P. Wesonga, T. South, V. Angeles

Guests Present

C. Russell, M. Dorsey, T. Brown

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 Feb 12, 2026 at 6:39 PM.

II. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from PHACS Monthly Board Meeting on 01-15-26.
J. Sowell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Board Governance - Best Practices (Part II of II)

Jarrod Sowell provided a compliance refresher for the Board for the Best Practices that the Board Members can 

 

Topics of Discussion 

Board Governance and School Leadership Management Practices

Three Fiduciary Duties 

Open Meetings Law (OML) Basics 

Executive Sessions- Know the Rules 

Videoconferencing, Quorum, and Voting 

Avoiding illegal "Virtual Meetings" 

Conflict of Interest 

Academic Oversight 

Top 10 Warning Signs

 

 

III. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

Enrollment discussed 

Declassifications of funds  discussed

Staff expenses and contingency discussed

Retirement contribution (discretionary) to be reviewed at the end of the school year to be discussed 

 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the January 2026 financials.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Investment Account Update

C.

Items Over 50K

IV. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

State graduation data was released - 95% overall graduation released rate 

2% Gap June versus August graduations.  This gap is the same as the state gap. 

NYC Public school is at 78%/81% ; State is 85% - School is right in line with the city and state level. 

Compiling interim assessment data, which will be available at the next Board Meeting. 

Everything else is pretty standard at the school 

 

V. Academic Committee Report

A.

Academic Committee Report

N/A for this month

VI. Facilities

A.

Facilities Update

N/A for this month

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 8:12 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey