Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday January 19, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
Pharos Academy Charter School
1001 Intervale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10459
https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
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 19, 2023
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 1005 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.
Día: 19 de enero, 2023
Hora: 6:30 p.m.
Lugar: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
Trustees Present
J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Sowell (remote), S. Beier (remote), S. Jean-Jacques (remote), S. Sutherland (remote), T. Perez (remote)
Trustees Absent
B. Thompson, K. Shah, R. Granado, T. South
Guests Present
C. Russell (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), Nancy Ma (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.
PHACS Bylaws
IV. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
Courtney Russell provided overall review.
Fairly quiet finance committee meeting.
Some of the highlights to discuss are the greater surplus with grant receivable and other items. Several areas are right on track at 50% range with no major red flags to discuss at this time.
Opportunities to discuss in-house financial staffing.
COVID funds discussed in detail. Spending on track with ESSERII and ARP funds.
No concerns and financial numbers are looking strong.
Next's Year budget will be presented to the board in April & May 2023.
B.
Investment Account Update
Board approved transfer to solidify general operating contract.
Funds are holding steady and recommendations are coming in for future investments.
C.
Expenses Over 50K, Navigating Forward
V. COVID-19 Updates
A.
COVID-19 Updates
School returned to Mask mandates after the Winter Break. On the school front it has been uneventful.
VI. Culture Committee Report
A.
Culture Committee Report
No update at this time.
VII. Academic Committee Report
A.
Academic Committee Report
Robb Granado visited Pharos Academy Charter School today.
Board members invited to come to the school during today.
8 years, something special has been built, Robb was able to visit the school during a time when the school staff and kids were present.
Possible thought presented that the Board can have or create a "Board Day" , when the Board members can come to the school.
The entire academic approach for reading has shifted. Reading has been noted that there is a science behind it. Just reading more books does not make you a better reader. The NYC Board of Education visited the school last week . 10 Top Literacy Professionals visited the school to review the early literacy program activities at the school. This has occurred through Success For All, who recommended the NYC Board of Education to visit the school. The Science of reading has become a major move and transition of how reading has and will be taught.
The School made the shift 3 years ago, so this an exciting result of the shift as the school will continue to embrace this growing transition.
VIII. Executive Director's Report
A.
Executive Director's Report
Month of January 2023 , calm. Interim Assessments coming up in February 2023 for the High School.
Goal is to have 65% proficiency by Interim Assessment 2
The areas that are in need of a significant jump were shared with the Board, via presentation.
February will be good to see where the School is and Interim assessment 2 will be presented in comparison with Interim Assessment 1.
Key Academic Dates:
February will be a heavy data month:
Initial graduation rate will be available.
Semester End Dates: HS. January 27, 2023
Semester End Dates: K-8 Trimester 2- March 10, 2023
Student Ked Conferences - March 16-17, 2023
State Tests: (3-8) ELA April 19-21, 2023; May 2-4, 2023
Principal Brown provided details around the Commence Studio/EYL Partnership:
EARNER'S ACADEMY
1. Partnership between Earn Your Leisure, Commence Studio and Pharos Academy
2. Goal is to build a hyper-relevant digital financial literacy course for Pharos Academy
3. At project completion the will be 5 digital financial literacy courses students can choose from:
a. Assess over Liabilities (General Course)
b. I want all the Credit ( Credit & Credit Cards)
c. Taking Stock (Stock Market)
d. Strategic Entrepreneurship (Building Businesses)
e. Playing Monopoly (Real Estate
f. Protecting Your Future ( Estate Planning, Trust , Life Insurance)
Pharos Academy currently are learning CPR/AED, Drive, Cook, and Financial Literacy will be added to the curriculum. Swimming classes will be offered in June 2023 for scholars.
College credits will be available within this program.
Teachers will be learning along with students.
Course Senior Seminar & Digital Courses will be made available.
Board recommended participation of parents if possible.
IX. Facilities
A.
Facilities Update
All things are holding steady.
X. Executive Session
A.
Personnel Matter
Board Entered Into Executive Session: 7:43 PM
Courtney Russell & Travis Brown invited into Executive Session
Board Exited Out of Executive Session: 8:46 PM
Principal Brown introduces Nancy Ma:
NYU Residency Program wins to Science educators and Nancy Ma is a part of that partnership.
Nancy Ma provided background history of her educational activities.
Applied to NYU Program, Pharos was her top choice. Inspired by her DCI- Erin Kim, which lead her to Pharos Academy Charter School. Erin Kim became an inspiring mentor to Nancy Ma.
Nancy Ma presentation as a Basketball Head Coach, Summer School Teacher, and Chemistry Teacher. Her main focus is to let the scholars know that they can do Science.