Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting (Zoom Only)
Date and Time
Thursday June 15, 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: June 15, 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: 15 de junio, 2023
Hora: 6:30 p.m.
Lugar: 1005 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
Otros Lugares: https://bronxlighthouse.zoom.us/j/5239033349
Trustees Present
B. Thompson (remote), J. Lopez-Molina (remote), J. Sowell (remote), K. Shah (remote), S. Beier (remote), S. Sutherland (remote), T. South (remote)
Trustees Absent
R. Granado, S. Jean-Jacques, T. Perez
Guests Present
C. Russell (remote), M. Dorsey (remote), T. Brown (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Board Governance
A.
Approve Minutes
B.
July 2023 - June 2024 Board Meeting Calendar
C.
Annual Meeting
Discussion related to renewal status for - Class A & Board Chair:
- Javier Lopez-Molina
- Briar Thompson
- Keyur Shah
- Stacy Sutherland
- Tamara South
- Jarrod Sowell
D.
PHACS Bylaws
No current meeting or activity to report for this meeting.
Item to removed from future agenda.
E.
Discipline Process
Brief Progress Report:
Working group using the Dept. of Education Discipline Code as a base. Tasking ourselves with Level 3-5, serious things that students can do, and see where Pharos is philosophically. Looking through the discipline code line by line to see where we agree with and question our philosophy against the DOE discipline activity
Goal is to keep scholars in school, if at all possible
Expulsion and Long Term Suspension discussed in detail.
These items would warrant an Expulsion:
- Possession of Weapons (Knives, Guns, etc)
- Physically causing harm or substantial risk for severe injury
- Giving or selling drugs, controlled substances
- Inciting a riot
Special Needs Scholar: If the incident is in manifest of the disability for special needs scholars
- Physically causing harm or substantial risk for severe injury (K-6 & Teachers)
- Giving or selling drugs, controlled susbtance
- Cyber bullying
- Original behavior that persisted to service the point of escalation.
School Hearing procedures reviewed with the Board.
- Resource for representation
- Resource for available support
- Case that leads to a School Hearing
School transfers- DOE can do, Charter can not do, so transfers for us mean expulsion
Recommendations to establish a partnership with:
- Professional help and support
- Behavior Scientist
- Community Service
Open item - Who will handle appeals.
Sample of case where a person brings a gun, will merit expulsion. If there is mental health concerns with the scholar, the committee would like to be able to provide support for that scholar.
Advocates for Children, as a resource, was shared with the Board.
All are welcome to attend the next meeting.
F.
ED/Principal Evaluation
Principal evaluation to me done every year.
This is just a note that this process will be started and in place.
G.
2023 - 2024 Calendar
Calendar 2023-2024 shared with Board
Goal:
Holidays and Breaks to match and be in alignment with the Department of Education.
Yom Kippur added to the calendar
Winter, MidWinter and Spring Break aligned with DOE
Good Friday added to the calendar
No voting at this time needed by the Board, but will circle back around in July.
H.
23 - 23 Personnel Handbook
Handbook Review - Few Changes highlighted
Military Leave Language
Exempt Employees - Safe Harbor
Calendar Year changes
PTO Updates - Vacation & Sick Days
Facility Staff - Vacation Days increased
Business Days & Critical Days updated
Board to approve tonight in preparation for July 1, 2023
I.
23 -24 Registration/Enrollment Update
Weekly enrollment tracker shared with the Board.
Scholar enrollment staff member is in place to support this data and enrollment activity.
June 30, 2023 - Goal to be fully enrollment
In good position 87 seats filled with 39 remaining.
No problems foreseen and overall Pharos is on target and in a much better position than in the past years.
J.
Post-Graduation Survey Follow Up
Three responses for the survey, to be discussed in the upcoming Board meetings,
III. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
Financial meeting was held with highlights:
On target with all financials
B.
Investment Account Update
IV. COVID-19 Updates
A.
COVID-19 Updates
No Covid updates to report
V. Academic Committee Report
A.
Academic Committee Report
Data - Calendar shared with Board:
June Graduation data.
July - Regents Data (High School)
August - Math & ELA test scores (Grades 3-8)
1. Graduation Data - Rate 92%
Cohort - 2019 (Freshmen in 2019) 59 Registered in 2019
June & August 2023 Graduates are considered on time.
5 Students - 3 will graduate in January 2024 / 2 will graduate in June 2024
2. College Selections for 2023 Class (May)
38 Scholars - 4 Year College
7 Scholars - 2 Year College
2 Scholars - Trade Schools
Last Year Graduation Rate was 75%
VI. Executive Director's Report
A.
Executive Director's Report
Board Member visits - Stacy Sutherland came to the school.
Stacy Sutherland thanks for the hosting with a colleague
New dates are available in Google Calendar and Board on Track.
3rd Thursday of Every Month, will remain in place.