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Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

BLCS Emergency Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday May 26, 2020 at 6:30 PM

Trustees Present

A. Abreu (remote), A. Adderley (remote), B. Thompson (remote), D. Underwood (remote), J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Reyes (remote), K. Shah (remote), N. Jones (remote), R. Granado (remote), S. Jean-Jacques (remote), S. Sutherland (remote), V. Caba (remote)

Trustees Absent

T. Wethington

Guests Present

C. Russell (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), T. Brown (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

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 Tuesday May 26, 2020 at 6:43 PM.

II. Bronx Lighthouse Charter School - Name

A.

Bronx Lighthouse Charter School - Name

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and vote on the name change for the Bronx Lighthouse Charter School. The name that was approved and voted on by the Board on May 21, 2020, must be reviewed and voted on by the Board tonight to include "Charter School" in the name. 

Introduction of a few thinking points for names: 
1.  Pathfinder Charter School  or Bronx Pathfinder Charter School
2.  Voyager Charter School  or Bronx Voyager Charter School 
3.  Explorer Charter School or Bronx Explorer Charter School 
Default Option:  Pharos Academy Charter School 

Courtney Russell shared with the Board the response from the DOE with the name change presented as "Pharos Academy": 
" The name of the proposed charter school, which shall include the words "charter school" 
and which shall not include the name or identification of a for-profit business or corporate entity"

Courtney Russell presented the need to vote tonight to meet the timeline for the School name approval process. 

Pharos Academy points presented and discussed:
  1. Brief history and inquiry of the name, meaning and purpose for the future of the school.
  2. Principal Brown provided the history and intent of the name of the school. 
  3. Concerns mentioned around the name, spelling and searching issues that may arise. 
  4. Bold and aggressive approach for the school name.
  5.  Pharos -the meaning will be learned once expressed and presented.
  6. Acronym (PHACS) 

Pathfinder Academy points presented and discussed:
  1. Simple and to the point, a little long for a school name.
  2. Common and conservative name.
  3. PathFinder is a product name, which may cause flag for DOE approval
  4. Pathfinder, the name of a car, may cause flag. 

Voyager Academy points presented and discussed: 
  1. Very common name 
  2. Several Schools with this name  ( Voyager Prep Academy) 

Explorer Academy points presented and discussed:
  1. Very broad and common
  2. Explorer, not clear and defined. 
Principal provided visual samples with the Board for the name, Pharos Academy.
(https://project.invisionapp.com/boards/3E3A530FZCJVY/)

Uniforms, colors and other school products will be discussed and decided at a later date.
Decisions will be made with the goal to provide the least amount of financial burden for parents and students to meet uniform requirements.

Voting requested with individual recording. 
Courtney Russell confirmed the voting to be 9 to 3, in favor of Pharos Academy Charter School. 
 
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Pharos Academy Charter School - YES.
A. Adderley seconded the motion.
Those who voted "No" for Pharos Academy Charter School voted in favor for the school name of Pathfinder Academy Charter School: 

1. Alexandra Abreu (preferred Pathfinder but was not objecting Pharos)
2. Vilma Caba
3. Keyur Shah
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Sutherland
Aye
J. Reyes
Aye
V. Caba
No
T. Wethington
Absent
B. Thompson
Aye
K. Shah
No
N. Jones
Aye
J. Lopez-Molina
Aye
R. Granado
Aye
A. Abreu
No
A. Adderley
Aye
S. Jean-Jacques
Aye
D. Underwood
Aye

III. 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 7:20 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey