Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday June 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Location
1001 Intervale AvenueBronx, NY 10459
Zoom - https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
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: June 16, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 Zoom - https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
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.
Día: 16 de junio, 2022
Hora: 6:30 p.m.
Lugar: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459 - Zoom - https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
Trustees Present
B. Thompson (remote), J. Sowell (remote), K. Shah (remote), R. Granado (remote), S. Beier (remote), S. Sutherland (remote), T. Perez (remote), T. South (remote)
Trustees Absent
A. Abreu, J. Lopez-Molina, S. Jean-Jacques
Guests Present
C. Russell (remote), Dr. Rahesa Amon (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), Ramel Nealy (remote), T. Brown (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. PHACS Staff Presentation
A.
PHACS Staff Presentation
III. Board Governance
A.
Approve Minutes
B.
22 - 23 Board Meeting Calendar
Presented and reviewed in May 2022.
C.
22 - 23 Personnel Handbook
22-23 Personnel Handbook presented with the updated changes and adjustments made for the FY23 School Year.
PTO changes discussed in detail along with various changes and adjustments.
D.
22 - 23 School Calendar
Principal Brown provided 22-23 School Calendar.
IV. Annual Board of Trustees Governance Meeting
A.
Annual Board of Trustees Governance Meeting
B Class to be renewed - June 30, 2022
3 resignations mentioned and 11 Board Count
Executive Addition: Jarrod Sowell
School Culture Addition: Tamara South
Facilities Addition : Jarrod Sowell
V. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
May financials - Projecting ending in a net positive position.
Contingency was released into financials.
Everything was on track and nothing of concern to note.
As we transition to the new consultant, the professional and experience in providing a deep scrub in the budget and financials has provided an impressive and uneventful financial experience.
Insurance Renewals - reviewed and discussed with an anticipation of 12% increase.
Optional Quote - Workplace Violence an added option for the insurance coverage.
Insurance Broker - Bolton
B.
Investment Account Update
C.
Expenses Over 50K, Navigating Forward
D.
FY23 Budget
FY23 Budget - Budget Detail reviewed discussing the FY23 anticipated school revenue and expenditures.
Largest Adjustment within the Academic Staff, Culture Support Staff discussed with the Board.
K-12. Over the years the School has always overstaffed using the Bench Model. Lowering the staff count, places the school close to the same count in past years.
August & September 2022 numbers will provide a better analysis of the enrollment numbers.
Budget amendments can be reviewed if necessary at that time.
E.
Employee Benefits
Michael Diament - March & McLennan Agency
Presentation of comparison review of the Benefit analysis - TriNet/Insperity
Analysis provided a comparison review of benefits and services offered from Insperity
Current vs Proposed Benefits reviewed yielding an overall savings to the School.
Benefits are in line with the current marketplace.
Insperity technology, services and availability discussed in detail with the Board.
VI. COVID-19 Updates
A.
COVID-19 Updates
No major items to report. School has remained with the mask requirements and stay with this to the end of the year.
Anticipating possible changes with the guidance of the State and Board of Health mandates.
VII. Culture Committee Report
A.
Culture Committee Report
Nothing to report - Meeting not held.
Committee working on rescheduling meeting dates and times.
VIII. Academic Committee Report
A.
Academic Committee Report
Academic Committee Meeting:
Spoke of the Garden Project and the Support of Sharon Beier.
Death of Alumni Scholar discussed and shared with the Board. Service - Monday 6/27/2022
Learning loss: ELA & Math Scores in need of improvement. Growth is anticipated and adjustments have been made.
IX. Board of Trustees Interview
A.
Dr. Rahesha Amon
Dr. Rahesha Amon introduced to the Board
Rahesha provided brief summary of her history and work experience in the Educational Sector.
Board provided feedback and inquiries related to her current working role, application process with Pharos Academy Charter School and her role as a future potential Board Member.
X. Executive Session
A.
Scholar Matter
To be discussed at the July 2022 Board Meeting.
B.
Board of Trustees Interview
To be discussed at the July 2022 Board Meeting
C.
Personnel Matter
To be discussed at the July 2022 Board Meeting
XI. Executive Session Voting
A.
Board of Trustees Interview
To be completed at the July 2022 Board Meeting
Ramel Nealy - Staff Presentation
Provided history of his 8 Year Teaching Journey, starting at TFA in 2014.
Challenges in education related to Bronx Scholars and how the Board can support in providing Math and how it relates to real life situations.