Pharos Academy Charter School
Minutes
Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday September 21, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
Pharos Academy Charter School
1001 Intervale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10459
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: September 21, 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: 21 de septiembre 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, J. Sowell, K. Shah, S. Sutherland, T. Perez, T. South
Trustees Absent
J. Lopez-Molina, R. Granado, S. Beier, S. Jean-Jacques
Guests Present
C. Russell, M. Dorsey, T. Brown
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.
23 - 24 Scholar Family Handbook
The Board engaged in a continued conversation regarding who will serve as the Hearing Officer for PHACS. Options explored included:
-Internal staff
-Third party
-Partner school
-Etc.
The Role of the Hearing Officer Election for Expulsion and Long Term Suspension (>10 Days) :
Oversee the hearing process to confirm adherence to rights, rules and procedures outlined within the school handbook and confirm due process is provided to the parent(s)and scholar(s).
- School Staff
- Board Member
- External Party - Not connected to the school
- Board Committee
Person/people to serve as Board-approved third party options to be discussed and voted on in the October 2023 meeting
C.
ED/Principal Evaluation
To be discussed at the October 2023 Board Meeting
D.
Post-Graduation Survey Follow Up
To be revisited at the October 2023 Meeting
E.
Enrollment Update
745 Maximum Enrollment
Current enrollment as of 09/20/2023= 698.
Budget enrollment is =715
School is still actively enrolling and the enrollment goal is 720's.
IV. Finance Committee Review
A.
Finance Committee Report
Financial update based on this months meeting.
Expenses and revenue information is on track with projected enrollment. Enrollment updates will provide further insight on financial status. No concerns to report as all should be on track as projected.
Inquiry regarding the grant money adjustment and the schools plan to financial management this.
B.
Investment Account Update
C.
Items Over 50K
Items over $50K
Teacher Retention/Recognition - GrubHub amount was $85,500.00
(95 Staff Members X100 month X9 Months)
UberEats, DoorDash and GrubHub were all explored with only a response from GrubHub.
Extended to all Staff Members
The Rolling Roast - Barrister
172 School Days - 3 hours per day. $103,200
SAVVAS $88,727.12
Sole Source Vendor
V. COVID-19 Updates
A.
COVID-19 Updates
No major reports related to positive COVID testing.
A few staff members have reported positive reporting but nothing major to report.
VI. Culture Committee Report
A.
Culture Committee Report
Culture Committee Discussed the Following Items:
Retention of Teacher Life Cycle (10-20 Years)
To Encourage Teacher Life Cycle to 5 Years Timeline - After 3rd Yr., to encourage 2 or more additional years of service- Health Benefits Perks during 4th Year.
Perks for Staff Retainage:
GrubHub Stipend $100/Monthly
Barrister 7:00 AM- 10:00 AM
Housing Stipend $250.00/PayPeriod
Other Tools used for Staff Retention Support:
CultureAmp- Employee survey data
Stay conversations
Board entered into Executive Session @ 7:50 PM to discuss academic information
Reason to enter into Executive Session:
f) the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;
g) the preparation, grading, or administration of a corporation;
VII. Facilities
A.
Facilities Update
Facility updates and enhancements are moving and being maintained as planned.
Teacher : Samuel Bass
Started out as a 9th Grade Teacher and is now an 11th Grade Teacher.
Discussed his role here as a 4th Year Teacher.
Spoke of the accomplishments and support received at Pharos Academy Charter School.