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Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting (Zoom)

Date and Time

Thursday January 20, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Location

Meeting will be held via Zoom

 

1001 Intervale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10459

 

 

PHAROS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
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:   January 20, 2022
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!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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: 20 de enero 2022
Hora:  6:30 p.m.
Lugar:  1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares:  https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/523903334

 

Trustees Present

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

A. Abreu, N. Jones

Guests Present

A. Nann (remote), C. Russell (remote), J. Sowell (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), Paola Galindo (remote), S. Beier (remote), T. Brown (remote), T. 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 Jan 20, 2022 at 6:34 PM.

II. PHACS Staff Presentation

A.

PHACS Staff Presentation

Paula Galindo - Staff Presentation 

 

Provided history related to her time at Pharos Academy Charter School.
Support from Leadership encouraged her employment at Pharos Academy Charter School.
Provided insight on the challenges and accomplishments experienced during the Pandemic. 

 

III. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting on 12-16-21.
R. Granado seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

NYC DOE Charter Renewal

Debrief on the Charter Renewal call that took place last Tuesday. 

The conversation went well in terms of asking questions and providing clarity.

Board members In agreement, very positive in comparison to the previous Charter Renewal call.

Encouraged about the inquiry from DOE representative recommending the Board Members to other DOE renewal activities.

This time it felt more like "Checking Boxes", "Dotting I's," and "Crossing T's. "

The Board felt very well prepared and proud of the call that took place. 

The interviewer encouraged the Board to celebrate all that the school has done. 

Courtney Russell and Travis Brown were commended for great leadership at PHACS.

School Observation Team - 4 Authorizers were in attendance. 

Asked questions about what the school is "doing well" and what challenges the School has encountered. 

Recommended area for the school to concentrate and increase- Specialing Designed Instruction/ Modified instruction to meet the specific needs of the Scholars in need of Special Services. 

C.

Board Recruitment

Request to connect with Courtney Russell to discuss this subject in preparation for the next meeting.

Inquiry will be pursued for pending Board Members applicants of 2021 waiting for approval. 

D.

PHACS Scholarships

2021 Scholarship Award Document 

Review the overall process and see if there are any adjustments to the Scholarship Award document. 

Encouraged the concept of promoting the Awards program to gain additional applicants.
The budget is good and clear to continue with the Scholarship Award Program 

2nd disbursement award activity was discussed related to communicating to the scholarship recipients, administrative staff, and board members in preparation for the next.

Mentoring prior to the scholars leaving the School to attend College. 

 

Points of Discussion/Clarification

Defining "Good Standing" 

IV. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

Financial confirmation was discussed for the Scholarship Awarded Funds. 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the December 2021 Financials.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Investment Account Update

C.

Expenses Over 50K, Navigating Forward

D.

PHACS Budget Amendment

Finance Committee reviewed and discussed the PHACS Budget Amendment during the  January 2022 Finance Call, for presentation and Board approval during the January 2022 Board Meeting. 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the PHACS Budget Amendment.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. COVID-19 Updates

A.

COVID-19 Updates

Additional time was taken after the Winter Holiday break in an abundance of precaution. 
In-Person instruction began on 01/18/2022.  Staff Testing Results: 98% Negative 2% Positive 
School is back in person and testing will remain in place as is. 
Tamara South expressed a thank you for the testing being made available at the school.

 

VI. Follow Up Items

A.

BPHC Dissolution

Successfully dissolved and filed in NY in December of 2021. 

VII. Culture Committee Report

A.

Culture Committee Report

Report to be provided for the February 2022 Board Meeting.

VIII. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 
Attendance rates are returning to normal with no suspensions. 
Next Board meeting data will be available for the Board regarding testing and other scholar data. 

 

Delaware State University Trip - January 2022
21 Scholars were awarded acceptance letters. 
Historically Black college, partnering with schools to set up early college program.  Allows students the opportunity to take college courses while in High School.  
Full Scholarship, Summer Camp, and other opportunities will be offered through this partnership. 
Various models are in the process of being developed with this program. 
$3,000/Course - Cost for the School. 
Students are more likely to finish College when leaving High School with College credits. 

 

Board has expressed interest in reviewing more details and information regarding this partnership. 

 

Pilot one or two classes with them in the Spring Semester 2022, to test a few 
Aviation Camp, Equestrian Team, and other  "good weird"  items at Delaware State University.

 

Partner would be accepted as 9th Graders, once graduate from High School, the Associate Degree is available for those that meet the requirements.  Participants are not bound to attend Delaware State University after receiving the Associate Degree.  College entrance classes that we can expose the High Scholars to. 

 

Principal Brown will move forward with the Delaware State University Partnership Program and will share the progress with the Academic Committee and the Board.

IX. Facilities

A.

Facilities Update

Building location 1001 Intervale - Heat has been restored. 
Booster was not damaged. Building status 90% increase for the better.
The insurance inspector visited the site and will be working on possible coverage for the expenses incurred. 

 

 

 

X. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

Board entered into Executive Session at 7:46 PM, with an invitation extended for  Travis Brown & Courtney Russell to join.  

 

Executive Session Agenda: 

Employment of a particular person

Executive Director Mid Year Evaluation 

 

Board exited Executive Session at 7:55 PM

XI. 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 7:56 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey