Pharos Academy Charter School

Minutes

Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday June 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Location

Pharos Academy Charter School

1005 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:   June 20, 2024
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:  20 de junio 2024
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, J. Sowell, K. Shah, P. Wesonga, S. Sutherland, T. Perez, T. South

Trustees Absent

G. Garcia, R. Granado, S. Jean-Jacques

Guests Present

C. Russell, Edward Botchway, Kandrew Morrison, Kayle Brown, M. Dorsey, Orah Elumeze, Ruby Danso-Dankwah, T. Brown

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 Jun 20, 2024 at 7:07 PM.

II. Board Governance

A.

Approve Minutes

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to approve the minutes from Pharos Academy Charter School Board Meeting on 05-16-24.
J. Sowell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

PHACS 2024 Board Scholarship

FY2024 Scholarship Candidates interviewed: 

 

  •  Kandrew Morrison 
  •  Edward Botchway - Mentoring (Ask Rob) 
  •  Orah Elumeze
  •  Ruby Danso-Dankwah
  •  Kayle Brown

C.

Board Retreat

D.

PHACS Annual Meeting

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew Board membership in Group B.
J. Sowell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Board Chair.
J. Sowell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Jarrod Sowell as Vice Chair.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Renew Sarah Jean-Jacques as Secretary and Renew Keyur Shah as Treasurer.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Executive Membership: Javier Lopez-Molina, Sara Jean-Jacques, Robb Granado, Keyur Shah, Jarrod Sowell, Tahina Perez.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Finance & Audit Committee: Key Shah, Robb Granado, Javier Lopez-Molina, Patrick Wesonga, Gustavo Garcia.
J. Sowell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Education and Accountability Committee: Briar Thompson, Tahina Perez, Stacy Sutherland.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Ad Hoc Work Groups (CEO Support and Evaluation ): Javier Lopez-Molina, Robert Granado, Keyur Shah, Jarrod Sowell.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Ad Hoc Groups (Facilities): Jarrod Sowell, Patrick Wesonga.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Ad Hoc Group (School Culture Committee): Stacy Sutherland, Tahina Perez, Tamara South, Sara Jean-Jacques.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Robb Granado as President of LLC.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Keyur Shah as Treasurer of LLC.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve Courtney Russell as Secretary of LLC.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

24 - 25 Personnel Handbook

No Major Updates to the Handbook, only the following minor changes: 

COVID days

Holiday/Black Out Dates 

Benefit Renewals /Updates 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve the 2024-2025 Personnel Handbook.
P. Wesonga seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

PHACS 24 - 25 Calendar

No changes, the same as last year. 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve 2024-2025 School Calendar.
T. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

PHACS 2024 - 2025 Board Calendar

Third Thursday of the month calls on a Holiday or School Break in the months of February, April and June: 

Calendar Adjustments: 

 

February 2025- Falls during the School Break  - Moved to February 13, 2024 

April  2025 - Falls during the School Break - Moved to  April 10, 2025 

June 2025 - Falls on Juneteenth - Moved to June 12, 2024 

 

 

J. Lopez-Molina made a motion to Approve the 2024-2025 Board Calendar.
K. Shah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Follow Up

PTA - Update still in progress. 

 

President of PTA hard to locate at this time. Possible opportunity to refresh and start a new PTA committee. 

 

Parent engagement, guest speakers, and other ideas to get the parents involved. 

 

The challenge/goal is to present this position as a volunteering role and not to be thought of as a chore/burden but something that  could be fun and engaging. Board discussed possibility of making activities for PTA and fund raising to coincide with a student events to encourage participation. 

 

 

 

III. Finance Committee Review

A.

Finance Committee Report

Financials are still on track with a surplus anticipated for the close of FY24 . 

No additional items to be reported at this time. 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the May 2024 Financials.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Insurance Proposal

Substantial increase in Insurance rates.  Options presented to the Board to pursue additional brokers for Insurance proposals and rates. 

 

Rising cost of construction and statute of limitations has been expanded, which has increased the number of claims presented.  Additional information to be reviewed and presented to Board. 

 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Renew insurance policy as outlined in the proposal.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Investment Account Update

D.

Items Over 50K

IV. FY25 Budget

A.

FY25 Budget

ESSER funds and grant funds decreasing in the new school year, which will cause a decrease in revenue. 

Students and programs will not be affected by the decrease in revenue. 

 

 

K. Shah made a motion to Approve the FY25 Budget presented.
J. Lopez-Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

Regents exams taken and the results have increased, above State scores. 

Full report around Regents will be available in June 2024. 

Full graduation will be available in the near future. 

 

VI. Academic Committee Report

A.

Academic Committee Report

Waiting for test score data and discussed school culture.  Updates to be shared with Board at a later date. 

VII. 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 9:22 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dorsey