Bronx Charter School for the Arts
Minutes
Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday July 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Location
Zoom
Trustees Present
Arlene Bascom (remote), Barbara H. Scott (remote), Charles Whites (remote), David Barnard (remote), Denise Brecher (remote), Evette Stair- Radlein (remote), Susan Geisenheimer (remote), Zahreen Ghaznavi (remote)
Trustees Absent
Eric Osorio, Lori Biancamano
Guests Present
Melanie Hok (remote), Patricia Rooney (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Board Chair Report
A.
Update
III. Facilities & Real Estate
A.
Update
David Barnard provided an update on the summer construction project at 950 Longfellow Avenue, reporting that the project remains on schedule and is anticipated to be completed by August 21, 2026.
Mr. Barnard also shared that PS WRX will continue to engage in ongoing discussions with Civic Builders regarding lease negotiations and the potential purchase option for the property.
IV. Finance Report
A.
Update
Melanie Hok reported that the School's primary priorities at this stage of the fiscal year are the successful closeout of the prior fiscal year in preparation for the annual audit, as well as the timely completion of all required annual state reporting.
Ms. Hok also shared that the School has secured approval for a $750,000 revolving line of credit with Capital One.This additional financial resource strengthens the School's financial flexibility by providing access to supplemental working capital, should the Board and School determine that its use is warranted.
V. Data Highlights
A.
Update
Patricia Rooney reviewed the School's recent data dashboard, highlighting key performance indicators from the 2025–2026 school year. She reported that student enrollment remained stable at 582 students, with average attendance ranging from 86% to 91% throughout the year. She also noted a strong student retention rate, with 96% of eligible students re-enrolled for the 2026–2027 school year.
Based on the data, School leadership has identified several strategic priorities for the upcoming year, including strengthening attendance among students in Grades 7 and 8, particularly during the spring months; improving the transition from Grade 5 to Grade 6 to support student retention; and enhancing enrollment analytics, including tracking student withdrawal reasons, to better inform targeted retention and enrollment strategies.
Barbara H. Scott provided an update on the Board committee restructuring, noting that the changes are designed to optimize board members' time and improve committee efficiency. Ms. Scott also shared that the new board governance platform, Diligent, is now live, with training sessions for board members scheduled to take place over the coming month to support implementation and adoption of the platform. Finally, she announced the successful launch of this year's 2026 NYC Summer Boost program, which will run through July 27. Attendance has been strong, with a 95% participation rate to date. In addition to ELA and math, this year's program offerings include ballet, piano, mixed media arts, design lab, band, cooking, and cosmetics; providing students with a rich and diverse range of enrichment opportunities.