Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

PHACS Monthly Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 23, 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:  April 23, 2026
Time:  6:30 pm
Location:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 
Other Location(s):  https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349

863 Home Street, Bronx, NY 10459

3 2nd Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

 

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:   23 de abril, 2026
Hora:  6:30 pm
Lugar:  1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares:   https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349 

863 Home Street, Bronx, NY 10459

3 2nd Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees Present

J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Rivera (remote), J. Sowell (remote), P. Wesonga (remote), T. Perez, T. South (remote), V. Angeles

Trustees Absent

G. Garcia, K. Shah

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 Apr 23, 2026 at 6:34 PM.

II. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from PHACS Monthly Board Meeting on 03-19-26.
J. Rivera seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

2026 - 2027 Calendar

Highlights- Closely aligned with DOE calendar with Holidays and Break Periods

 

Overview of Key Differences

1.  First Day of School: August 31, 2026 (Proposed) vs. September 10, 2026 (NYC DOE)

2. Last Day of School: June 28, 2027 (Both)

3. Total Aidable Days: 183 (Proposed) vs. ~177–180 (NYC DOE)

4. Regents Administration: June 15–25 (Both)

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve the 2026-27 School Calendar.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

PHACS Scholarship

The scholarship package for the upcoming 2026 submissions was reviewed with the Board. The membership of the scholarship committee was verified and confirmed.

The overall process was discussed, and funding availability was confirmed. 

These funds were recorded as unrestricted revenue in the year they were received.

The Board will continue to review scholarship funding and other possible financial considerations. 

 

III. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

All financials are progressing as planned, with no concerns to report to the Board. There are no issues with expenditures or the overall financial position.

 

The Togetherhood summer program was presented to the Board. This initiative will extend the school day during Summer School, with academics scheduled in the morning and Togetherhood programming in the afternoon.

 

Summer Boost funding will support the four-week Summer School program.

Last year, student participation declined due to the half-day schedule. This year, offering a full day of summer programming is expected to improve engagement and attendance.

 

Enrollment efforts continued during Spring Break hours. The enrollment dashboard was reviewed, showing 85 new enrollments and a projected total of 705 students for the 2026–2027 school year. The target remains 745 students, and the team is confident in reaching this goal. Currently, 10% of enrolled students have IEPs, with continued efforts to meet or exceed the overall enrollment target.

Across the New York landscape, with approximately 175,000–200,000 students, schools are experiencing a general decline in enrollment. The traditional concept of a waitlist is no longer as viable; the focus is on promptly enrolling students rather than maintaining a list, to avoid losing families to other options. A key strategy is early commitment—once families purchase uniforms and commit to a school, they are significantly less likely to change direction.

J. Sowell made a motion to approve the March 2026 Financial and Investment Reports.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Investment Account Update

C.

Items Over 50K

Togetherhood Proposal presented for approval with the cooking option to remain.

 

J. Sowell made a motion to approve the Togetherhood Proposal with the cooking option included.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

Testing season is currently underway and progressing as scheduled, including SATs, AP exams, and end-of-year state assessments. A College Commitment event is planned for May, and the Board will be informed of upcoming events, including graduation ceremonies.

 

Test preparation efforts were also discussed with the Board, highlighting the strategies the school uses to support students during this period. Scholars are engaged and motivated, with a positive and energetic atmosphere surrounding testing. Grade levels are participating in friendly competitions for prizes, trips, and other school-based incentives to encourage strong performance.

V. Facilities

A.

Facilities Update

Nothing to discuss all facility activities are in good standing and operating accordingly

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Reminder: The May 2026 Board Meeting is scheduled for May 21, 2026. Scholars will be presenting for the support Scholarship fund, and Board members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

J. Sowell made a motion to Adjourn Meeting.
P. Wesonga 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 7:24 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey