Texas Center for Arts + Academics

Minutes

TCAA Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday March 23, 2021 at 6:00 PM

Location

  • Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89319395231
  • Meeting ID: 893 1939 5231
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Video/Audio Conferencing NoticePursuant to Governor Abbott’s Temporary Suspension of Open Meetings Laws issued on March 16, 2020, the March 23, 2021 TCA+A Board Meeting will be conducted via video conference on the Zoom Video Conference platform, which will be audible to the Board and public and allow for two-way communication. The Board Chair, presiding officer, or trustees will not be physically present at one location, but a quorum will be required for the meeting on the video conference or phone.

Directors Present

Charles Reid (remote), Daniel Bates (remote), Leslie Scott (remote), Leslie Wade (remote), Mary A. Zimmerman (remote), Melissa Goodroe (remote), Michael Wellbaum (remote)

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Paul Gravley (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

Paul Gravley (remote)

Guests Present

Betsy Compton (remote), Janelle Grau (remote), Jennifer Jackson (remote), Luke Byford (remote), Monica Sheehan (remote), Nancy Vaughan (remote), Penny Clay (remote), Phillip Garrott (remote), Sheyna Ferraro (remote), Tommy Fisher (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Melissa Goodroe called a meeting of the board of directors of Texas Center for Arts + Academics to order on Tuesday Mar 23, 2021 at 6:20 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

Public Comments regarding Mask Mandate were made by: 
  • Leslie Cook - staff member
  • Jennifer Fast - parent
  • Jenna Smith - parent
  • All other comments were submitted to the board in writing 

III. Consent Agenda

A.

Financial Statements

Leslie Scott made a motion to approve the February 2021 Finance Statements.
Michael Wellbaum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Closed Session

A.

Convened to Closed Session at 6:43pm

   

V. Open Session

A.

Reconvened in Open Session at 7:52pm

    

VI. Finance

A.

FY21 Budget Amendments

Adjustments - Mrs. Grau
  • Take the actual revenue and expenses that we know so far as of September 2020 - February 2021 and project out the rest of the year from now through August 31, 2021
  • TEA requires the actual revenue and expenses be plus or minus 10% of the budget amount for all three entities by the end of August so it's good to look at the half way point and then again at the end of August

 

Highlights - FWAFA
  • Net decrease of revenue is $37,198
    • mostly from cafeteria income lower than expected
  • Net increase of expenses is $157,708
    • mostly from food services decrease and plant maintenance operations,  including rent expense which was higher than the original budget
  • Still expecting a positive net income for the year
Charles Reid made a motion to approve FWAFA FY21 Budget Amendments.
Mary A. Zimmerman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Highlights - TCA+A
  • Net increase of revenue is $133,990
    • mostly due to rent from the schools that were higher than expected
    • decrease in performance and camp fees due to COVID
  • Net increase in expenses of $328

 

Michael Wellbaum made a motion to approve TCA+A FY21 Budget Amendments.
Leslie Wade seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Highlights - TeSA
  • Net decrease of revenue is $36,000
    • mostly due to cafeteria income lower that expected
  • Net increase of expenses is $4,900
    • mostly from food services decrease and slight increase in general admin expenses
  • Expect TeSA's net loss to be lower than what was originally budgeted

 

Mary A. Zimmerman made a motion to approve TeSA's FY21 Budget Amendments.
Charles Reid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Academics

A.

Spring 2021 Assessments Waiver Info

  • Last year waiver for no testing at all
  • This year - ask for individual waivers for each district if there is a need regarding class size and the need to spread out and to bring at-home learners on campus to test
    • It only involves testing days of May 11-14, 2021
    • Testing students at school
    • Not testing students can be at home

B.

TeSA K-8th Grade Waiver Request

Leslie Scott made a motion to approve TeSA K-8th Grade Waiver regarding hybrid instruction during district-scheduled testing days.
Charles Reid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

FWAFA K-8th Grade Waiver Request

Charles Reid made a motion to approve FWAFA 3-8th Grade Waiver regarding hybrid instruction during district-scheduled testing days.
Leslie Wade seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

FWAFA HS Waiver Request

Mary A. Zimmerman made a motion to approve FWAFA HS Waiver Request regarding 40% campus hybrid instruction for 9-12th grade.
Charles Reid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

2021-2022 Academic Calendar

2021-2022 Calendar is one calendar reflective of both FWAFA and TeSA
Mary A. Zimmerman made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 academic calendar for FWAFA.
Leslie Wade seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Charles Reid made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 academic calendar for TeSA.
Daniel Bates seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Health and Hygiene Practices: Masks

Mr. Gravley - 

 

The Administration, including the principals, CAO, and myself are unanimous in our recommendation to keep mask as part of the safety protocol on both TCA+A campuses
  • First Reason
    • Two Surveys - one for families and one for staff
      • Vast majority of parents, teachers, and staff desire to keep masks as part of health protocols
      • specifically more than 80% of families and more than 90% of staff want masks kept in place
      • more than 548 families took the survey and more than 87 members took the staff survey
    • 411 FWAFA families and 158 TeSA families participated
      • of the 548 - 439 or 80.26% are in favor of masks
      • 15.17% are not in favor of masks
      • 4.57% chose other - hybrid options that were listed
    • Should face covering still be required for staff?
      • 547 families answered - 81.17% said yes, 13.16% said no, and 5.67% hybrid response
    • If face covering were made optional, would your child still attend in-person school?
      • 50.28% of families said they would stay, 29.72% would switch to at-home learning - that's 159 students, 20% didn't apply to because they are already at-home learners
    • Staff Survey
      • 87 staff participated - 60% (52 staff) at FWAFA, 31% (27 staff) TeSA, and 8% (7 staff) TCA+A - approximately 108 to 110 staff members in total
    • Should face coverings still be required for students?
      • 89.66% - (78 out of 87 staff) said yes
    • Should face coverings still be required for staff?
      • 88.51% of staff said yes
    • How likely on 1 -5 would you consider leaving your job if mask were not required?
      • 5 staff indicated a 5 -  they were likely to leave
      • 9 staff indicated a 4
      • 1 staff indicated a 3
      • 8 staff indicated a 2
      • 7 staff indicated a 1
      • 26 staff indicated a 0 - they were not likely to leave 
      • 21 did not answer this question
      • 3 and above - 15 staff or 17.24% of staff indicated they would consider leaving at a 3 or better
      • the risk is real that teachers will quit or choose to use their vacation and sick days
      • we have struggle all year with subs as they tell us they are not willing to risk their health to come into the schools for sub pay
      • if students learn they need teachers
  • Second Reason
    • Align with TEA's recommendation that each student "shall wear a mask"
  • Third Reason
    • COVID has directly affected TeSA and FWAFA - error on the side of caution
    • 1 elementary student who was hospitalized for 10 days
    • multiple staff who have been hospitalized 
    • 1 staff continues to have breathing treatments
  • Fourth Reason
    • Timing 
    • after tonight 46 days left, we've done it for 133 days already, we can do this
    • we hope to make a very different decision next year - no masks
  • Fifth Reason
    • Science - studies indicating that masks work to mitigate spread
    • Cook's Children article - "...cases have dropped dramatically... to continue this trend we must remain vigilant, especially in schools... recommendations have not changed..."
  • Sixth Reason
    • Funding 
    • If we have less students in-person than we had in September, then we do not get what's called "hold harmless" and this risk funding dramatically 

 

No motion was made by the board, therefore, current masking requirement remains in place through the end of the school year and we reassess in the summer.

VIII. CEO Updates

A.

Updates

Mr. Gravley -

 

FWAFA
  • Art Sculpture Show - virtual
  • SGT and TBC using the green space in April and May to show virtual concerts
  • Now the 70s - HS Musical
TeSA
  • Performances coming up in May
Acceptance Letters were sent out prior to Spring Break for new students on both campuses

 

Auditions will continue to fill open seats in specific grade levels at both campuses.

 

Conservatory Numbers
  • 42 students enrolled in Dance Conservatory
  • 21 students enrolled in Art Conservatory
  • 39 students enrolled in Music Conservatory

 

Thank you to everyone who reached out to me during my recent health scare. I really appreciate everyone.

 

IX. Resource Development

A.

Resource Development

Gala - April 9, 2021
  • Virtual Performances
  • Free to everyone
  • Sponsored Tables will include a Pre and Post performances and question/answer session with famous alumni
  • Based on how Carnegie Hall did there most recent Gala
  • Alumni have stepped up to help put on this amazing production

 

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 8:44 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Goodroe

B.

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