Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
BLCS July 2017 Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday July 20, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Location
1005 Intervale Avenue (4th Floor)
Trustees Present
E. DeGonzalez, H. Mehreteab (remote), N. Jones, R. Granado, V. Caba
Trustees Absent
B. Thompson, J. Lopez-Molina
Guests Present
A. Duggins, M. Dorsey, T. Brown
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
R. Granado called a meeting of the board of trustees of Pharos Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Jul 20, 2017 at 6:47 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
R. Granado made a motion to approve minutes from the BLCS June 2017 Board Meeting on 06-15-17 BLCS June 2017 Board Meeting on 06-15-17.
N. Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
no public comments
III. Board Governance
A.
Board Governance
Evelyn attended Harvard Business Review meeting - met principals from other schools. Recommendations/insight were on point. - Recommended Chief Talent Officer in the budget - professional development for the teachers
- Setting a time limit for when person in place
- Review when we have a full board
- Commit to reading report and have discussion on agenda next meeting
Populating Academic Committee
- Board member or two; two principals, RVP
- That group would design an executive dashboard around academics - designing metrics/dashboards for the reports
- Being a similar construct - where academic meeting
- Evelyn/Alix/Nikali/Travis - reports, then committee, meeting, then timeline Thursday
Robb attended CPA graduation
Metrics on school culture/restorative justice - in the board packet is a document; need some direction about suspension and expulsions with clarity parents/legally/etc
- list of behaviors (level 1-5) what is our tolerance
- decision on pre-board discussion Aug 3rd, 3:30pm re: restorative justice
- Setting a time limit for when person in place
- Review when we have a full board
- Commit to reading report and have discussion on agenda next meeting
Populating Academic Committee
- Board member or two; two principals, RVP
- That group would design an executive dashboard around academics - designing metrics/dashboards for the reports
- Being a similar construct - where academic meeting
- Evelyn/Alix/Nikali/Travis - reports, then committee, meeting, then timeline Thursday
Robb attended CPA graduation
Metrics on school culture/restorative justice - in the board packet is a document; need some direction about suspension and expulsions with clarity parents/legally/etc
- list of behaviors (level 1-5) what is our tolerance
- decision on pre-board discussion Aug 3rd, 3:30pm re: restorative justice
IV. Principal's Report
A.
BLCS K-8 Principal's Report
Reduced chronic absenteeism by 20 students; 95% overall
97% promotion rate; 11 students retained
97% promotion rate; 11 students retained
B.
BLCS 9-12 Principal's Report
Science and special ed recruitment
Enrollment looking good
Looking to track chronic absenteeism
Academic Data: June # of students failing more than two courses came down; improvement in 9th grade, but higher rate of failure
Student promotion and retention: 22% retained, prior to Summer School, this time last year 23% studnets, came down to 9% by Fall. End at about 10% of students retained.
Most concerning: 9th grade. Only 3 students from Senior year didn't graduate. Two senior students that were retained from prior year did graduate this year.
Discussion of how to get ahead of issues moving forward.
1) Better teachers
2) 4 Math teachers + 3 people to support
Enrollment looking good
Looking to track chronic absenteeism
Academic Data: June # of students failing more than two courses came down; improvement in 9th grade, but higher rate of failure
Student promotion and retention: 22% retained, prior to Summer School, this time last year 23% studnets, came down to 9% by Fall. End at about 10% of students retained.
Most concerning: 9th grade. Only 3 students from Senior year didn't graduate. Two senior students that were retained from prior year did graduate this year.
Discussion of how to get ahead of issues moving forward.
1) Better teachers
2) 4 Math teachers + 3 people to support
V. Finance
A.
Finance Report
Variance in payroll taxes/electricty bill lower.
Audit/Site visit September.
Motion to approve. Unanimous vote.
Audit/Site visit September.
Motion to approve. Unanimous vote.
VI. 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 9:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
N. Jones
VII. Exec session topic: Discussion of Regional leadership changes
A.
Board Entered Exec Session
Travis Brown and Alix Duggins invited to executive session. Enter executive session 8:22 PM. Exit executive session 8:36pm.
Enter executive session, Travis Brown invited. 8:37 PM. Exit executive session 9:15 PM.
Enter executive session, Travis Brown invited. 8:37 PM. Exit executive session 9:15 PM.