Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
PHACS Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 15, 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: October 15, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Other Location(s): https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
11701 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79936
525 W 49 St Apt 5A New York NY 10019
752 Hickory Hill Road Wyckoff, NJ
15 Broad Street 2101, NY, NY 10006
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: 15 de octubre, 2026
Hora: 6:30 pm
Lugar: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
11701 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79936
525 W 49 St Apt 5A New York NY 10019
752 Hickory Hill Road Wyckoff, NJ
15 Broad Street 2101 NY, NY 10005
Trustees Present
G. Garcia (remote), J. Rivera (remote), J. Sowell (remote), K. Shah (remote), P. Wesonga (remote), T. Perez, V. Angeles (remote)
Trustees Absent
J. Lopez-Molina
Guests Present
C. Russell (remote), M. Dorsey, Mayra Velasquez, Travis Brown
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
III. Board Governance
A.
Approve Minutes
B.
Board Member Recruitment
IV. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
The finance call went well. The auditors presented their report, and there were no unusual findings or concerns that required further discussion with the Board. Overall, the organization is in a good financial position.
Cash-on-hand details were also discussed in relation to the lower than normal balances.
B.
Investment Account Update
C.
Items Over 50K
D.
FY26 Audit
V. Executive Director's Report
A.
Executive Director's Report
We are now in the middle of October, and the school year is getting into full swing. Today was SAT Day, with scholars taking the PSAT and SAT. This serves as the final practice opportunity before the spring semester assessments.
Pharos is fully staffed at this time, and there are no additional items to report at this time. Overall, school operations are running smoothly.
VI. Academic Committee Report
A.
Academic Committee Report
Assessments are scheduled to begin in November. No meeting took place this month to present any details to the Board this evening.
VII. Facilities
A.
Facilities Update
No major facilities issues were reported. However, cosmetic improvements were made in the Lower Academy, including furniture updates, painting, and floor waxing.
VIII. Board Interview
A.
Board Interview
Mayra Velasquez – Board Candidate Introduction and Interview Summary
Mayra Velasquez introduced herself and shared that she resides approximately four blocks from the school, between Intervale and Tiffany. Having grown up in the neighborhood and attended parochial school, she expressed a strong connection to the local community. She also shared that her parents are immigrants and discussed how her background, personal interests, and passions have influenced her desire to become a member of the Board.
Mayra currently serves as the Director of Operations for a nonprofit organization. During her introduction, she provided a brief overview of her educational background, professional career, and relevant personal and business experiences.
Board Interview and Discussion
During the interview, Board members asked questions regarding her previous Board membership experience, professional background, and understanding of the responsibilities associated with Board service. Mayra provided responses highlighting her work history and experiences as they relate to the qualifications, expectations, and responsibilities of serving as a Board member.
IX. Executive Session
A.
Board Candidate Debrief
Board Entered Into Executive Session : 7:30 PM
Board Exited Out of Executive Session: 8:05 PM
Board Entered Back Into Executive Session : 8:10 PM
Board Exited Out of Executive Session: 8:12 PM
B.
Legal Matter(s)
X. Board Interview
A.
Board Interview
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Sowell |
Aye
|
| J. Rivera |
Aye
|
| G. Garcia |
Aye
|
| P. Wesonga |
Aye
|
| V. Angeles |
Aye
|
| J. Lopez-Molina |
Absent
|
| T. Perez |
Aye
|
No public announcements