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Texas Center for Arts + Academics

Minutes

TCA+A Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday June 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Location

Kathleen E. Connors Theater 
Texas School of the Arts (TeSA)
6025 Village Parkway
Edgecliff Village, TX 76134

In-person Meeting Return: Governor Abbott’s March 2020 order temporarily suspending certain provisions of the Open Meetings Act due to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster expired August 31, 2021. Consequently, TCA+A Board Meetings will return to in-person meetings at Texas School of the Arts.

Directors Present

Daniel Bates, Michael Wellbaum, Myong Chong, Steven Jones, Wes Poole

Directors Absent

Cheryl Bean, Leslie Scott

Ex Officio Members Present

Anika Perkins

Non Voting Members Present

Anika Perkins

Guests Present

Amy Prickett, Jennifer Roby, Jocelyn Greenman, Kiera Wallace, Lacey Gaymon, Penny Clay, Ross Mitchell

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Daniel Bates called a meeting of the board of directors of Texas Center for Arts + Academics to order on Tuesday Jun 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

  • No Public Comments were made. 

III. Recognition

A.

TCA+A Recognition

Dr. Perkins recognized:

  • the board for their participation in the 2025 Gala
  • Kiera Wallace - TeSA's new principal
  • Amber Ledbetter - FWAFA's new principal

IV. Consent Agenda

A.

May 20, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to approve the minutes from TCA+A Special Session of the Board - Hold in Case of Urgent Action on 05-20-25.
Steven Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Finance Statements

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to approve April 2025 and May 2025's Finance Statements.
Steven Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Closed Session

A.

Convene to Closed Session

  • Closed Open Session at 6:17pm
  • Convened in Closed Session at 6:19pm

B.

Reconvene to Open Session

  • Closed Closed Session at 7:22pm
  • Reconvened in Open Session at 7:26pm

C.

Action Item

  • No action was taken

VI. Finance

A.

TCA+A Summer Camps

Dr. Perkins reported:

  • 2024-2025 Summer Camps currently has 169 students enrolled in 11 camps
    • Gross: $51,808.00
    • Expenses: $26,358.54
    • Net: $24,851.46
  • Continuing to enroll students 
  • Tuition rates are competitive with other summer camps; averaging approximately $75/day

B.

Approval of TeSA Investment Liquidation

Wes Poole made a motion to approve the liquidation of $325,000.00 before the close of this week.
Michael Wellbaum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Approval of FWAFA Investment Liquidation

Wes Poole made a motion to approve the liquidation of $275,000.00 before the close of this week.
Steven Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approval of TCA+A Investment Liquidation

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to not approve liquidation of funds at this time.
Wes Poole seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Academics

A.

TeSA 2025-2026 Student Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve TeSA's 2025-2026 Student Handbook.
Wes Poole seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

FWAFA 2025-2026 Student Handbook

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to approve FWAFA's 2025-2026 Student Handbook.
Wes Poole seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Academy Singers 2025-2026 Handbook

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to approve Academy Singers' 2025-2026 Handbook.
Wes Poole seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Singing Girls of Texas 2025-2026 Handbook

Wes Poole made a motion to approve Singing Girls of Texas' 2025-2026 Handbook.
Steven Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Texas Boys Choir 2025-2026 Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve Texas Boys Choir's 2025-2026 Handbook.
Myong Chong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

TeSA 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve TeSA's 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook.
Myong Chong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

FWAFA 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve FWAFA's 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook.
Myong Chong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

TCA+A 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve TCA+A 2025-2026 Personnel Handbook.
Michael Wellbaum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

I.

TeSA 2025-2026 Substitute Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve TeSA's 2025-2026 Substitute Handbook.
Myong Chong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

J.

FWAFA 2025-2026 Substitute Handbook

Steven Jones made a motion to approve FWAFA 2025-2026 Substitute Handbook.
Wes Poole seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. Parent Organization Updates

A.

TBC Parent Club

TBC Parent Club President, Jennifer Roby reported:

  • Adrian Sovik is incoming president for 2025-2026 school yearI
  • In 2024-2025, TBC:
    • participated in 36 concerts/special events
    • memorized 75 pieces of music with about half in another language
    • 8 singers were accepted into ACDA's Honor Choir in Dallas
      • TBC made up 2% of 7th - 10th grade tenor base section 
    • TMEA All Regional Choir
      • 3 Middle Schoolers
      • 4 High Schoolers
    • Approximately 8,500 people heard TBC sing this past year, not including Christmas performance on radio station WRR 
    • Hawaii Spring Trip - TBC sang the National Anthem and the Armed Forces Medley at Pearl Harbor
    • Bass Hall performance with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
    • Dallas Mayor's City Councilman Inaguraral ceremony
    • 80th anniversary of TBC this coming year
      • Tour of Texas
      • Events where planning to invite back alumni

IX. CEO Report

A.

Updates

Dr. Perkins reported:

  • 2025 Graduation
    • 63 Graduates
      • 56 attending college
      • 2 attending cosmotology school
      • 1 attending trade school
      • 4 unsure
    • were offered over $10 million in schlarships
  • 2025-2026 Enrollment
    • FWAFA - 670 students with 38 open spots in 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, & 12 grades
    • TeSA - 332 students with 42 openings in K, 1, 2, 3 & 4 grades
  • TCA+A Convocation - August 4, 2025 
    • Theme - Under Reconstruction
    • Keynote Speaker is Ericka Garza - CEO of Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • First day of school is August 11, 2025
  • TBC - Dallas Mayor City Councilman inaugural Ceremony
  • SGT - Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce luncheon
  • StarTelegram article
    • highlighted FWAFA's 3rd and 4th grade math and reading STAAR scores
      • 1 of 3 charters mentioned in Tarrant County
      • FWAFA 3rd & 4th graders had the highest math and reading STAAR scores out of all districts (private, public, etc.) in Tarrant Count

X. 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 8:33 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel Bates

B.

CERTIFICATE AS TO POSTING OR GIVING OF NOTICE

Documents used during the meeting
  • Cash Analysis Board - APRIL 2025.pdf
  • FWAFA APRIL 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • TeSA APRIL 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • TCA+A APRIL 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • Cash Analysis Board - MAY 2025.pdf
  • FWAFA MAY 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • TCA+A MAY 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • TeSA MAY 2025 Income Stmt.pdf
  • DRAFT 2025-2026 TeSA Student Handbook Code of Conduct.pdf
  • 2025-2026 FWAFA Student Handbook_Changes Added.pdf
  • Academy Singers Handbook 2025-2026 (with edits).pdf
  • Academy Singers Handbook Changes.pdf
  • SGT HANDBOOK 2025-2026 (WITH EDITS).pdf
  • SGT Handbook Changes.pdf
  • TBC 2025-2026 Handbook (with edits).pdf
  • TBC Handbook Changes.pdf
  • 2025-2026 TeSA Personnel Handbook.pdf
  • Personnel Handbook Changes 2025-2026.pdf
  • 2025-2026 FWAFA Personnel Handbook.pdf
  • Personnel Handbook Changes 2025-2026.pdf
  • 2025-2026 TCA+A Personnel Handbook.pdf
  • Personnel Handbook Changes 2025-2026.pdf
  • 2025-2026 TeSA Substitute Handbook.pdf
  • Personnel Handbook Changes 2025-2026.pdf
  • 2025-2026 FWAFA Substitute Handbook.pdf
  • Personnel Handbook Changes 2025-2026.pdf