Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 21, 2021 at 6:30 PM
PHAROS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
BOARD of TRUSTEES MEETING
BOARD of TRUSTEES MEETING
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 21, 2021
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Other Location(s): https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
Día: 21 de octubre 2021
Hora: 6:30 p.m.
Lugar: 1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/523903334
Date: October 21, 2021
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Other Location(s): https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
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.DE LA JUNTA ADMINISTRATIVA
Día: 21 de octubre 2021
Hora: 6:30 p.m.
Lugar: 1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/523903334
Trustees Present
A. Abreu (remote), B. Thompson (remote), J. Lopez-Molina (remote), K. Shah (remote), R. Granado (remote), S. Jean-Jacques (remote), S. Sutherland (remote), T. Perez (remote)
Trustees Absent
N. Jones
Guests Present
Adebunmi Savage (remote), C. Russell (remote), J. Sowell (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), S. Beier (remote), Samuel Bass (remote), Tamara South (remote)
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 Oct 21, 2021 at 6:32 PM.
II. PHACS Staff Presentation
A.
PHACS Staff Presentation
Samuel Bass - 9th Grade Global History Teacher, provided brief history and summary of the current activities at Pharos Academy Charter School. Teaches Global History to 101 scholars at the High School.
III. Board Governance
A.
Approve Minutes
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting on 09-16-21.
R. Granado seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
NYC DOE Charter Renewal
Summary & Recap
DOE confirmed Board Hearing 12/7/2021 at 8:00 PM, virtually.
PHACS/NYC DOE Charter Renewal documents shared with Board and a brief summary of the Organizational Health Section of the Board Preparation Document reviewed and discussed.
Travis Brown will be prepared next month to discuss the Academic Health with the Board.
Robb Granado, inquired about the Academic Health :
Academic results are aggregated pre- Covid and then by grade during the Covid years.
Aggregate will be the focus, with DOE looking at overall trend.
Teacher Retention is anticipated to be a topic of discussion. It is very likely that DOE will see that as a potential number to review. Board should be ready to discuss the theory of why and what the strategic plan for enrollment and how the Board monitors the process.
Areas of Discussion:
Teacher & Scholar Retention
IV. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
Finance Committee met last week with auditor. Nothing of significance noted to impact the opinion of the financial status of the school. School is financial stable, strong and meeting all requirements.
Finance committee will continue reviewing and analyzing budget variances and assessing them as needed.
K. Shah made a motion to Board approval of the Audit in its current state.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
K. Shah made a motion to approve the monthly financials.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve credit card holder accounts with limits as discussed.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Investment Account Update
C.
FY21 Audit
D.
Credit Card Holders
Request to add 2 credit card holders to the Schools Account:
1. Travis Brown - $2,500
2. Priscila Prado - $ 1,000
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the two credit card holders with suggested limits.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. COVID-19 Updates
A.
COVID-19 Updates
Recent testing and tracing activities were shared and discussed with the Board.
Covid activities have slowed down tremendously.
VI. Culture Committee Report
A.
Culture Committee Report
Snack Magic was a successful program and the committee hopes that these type of programs will continue.
VII. Academic Committee Report
A.
Academic Committee Report
Testing results discussed - I-Ready Testing.
Internally assessments will take place in November 2021.
Overall 47% students below grade level with Reading Performance
34% students are approaching grade level.
Majority of students are climbing to approach the appropriate levels.
DCI's have been tasked to create intervention plans to address the reading loss.
Current method to address the areas in need of improvement were discussed- Focus on the who, what ,when, where and how to approach and improve the specific areas that are in need of improvement.
Mathematics, performance is slightly lower.
50% students need help and 50% need a push to improve.
High School finalized data will be available next Tuesday.
First time this assessment was taken by the High School scholars.
Testing is taking place within their Math & ELA Class sessions.
I-Ready assessment was chosen because it provides instructional resources and lessons to create intervention for the student.
Best results are within the K-2 Grade Levels
Academic Challenge will be to support upper class grade levels.
VIII. Principal's Report
A.
Principal's Report
High School Vacancies:
HS Sped ELA & Math (Grades 11 & 12)
Doubling HS Sped Teacher numbers to provide ICT services.
Higher percentage of of SPED scholars this year.
IX. Facilities
A.
Facilities Update
Facilities updates are moving along well.
Night cleaning crew, no decisions have been made. Management of night crew to be reviewed to bring the service in house.
X. Board Member Interview
A.
Board Member Interview
Board Member interview with Tamara South.
Brief introduction of Board Members, followed by questions and responses related to the potential board member's career, time and balancing schedule as it related to the Board meetings.
XI. Executive Session
A.
Legal Matters
R. Granado made a motion to go into Executive Session.
B. Thompson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
R. Granado made a motion to exit Executive Session.
B. Thompson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
XII. Board Member Interview
A.
Board Member Interview
K. Shah made a motion to Approve Tamara South as a Pharos Academy Charter School Board Member.
S. Jean-Jacques seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
XIII. 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 8:53 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey