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Texas Center for Arts + Academics

Minutes

TCA+A Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday November 16, 2021 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

Charles Reid, Leslie Scott, Leslie Wade, Mary A. Zimmerman, Melissa Goodroe

Directors Absent

Daniel Bates

Ex Officio Members Present

Paul Gravley

Non Voting Members Present

Paul Gravley

Guests Present

Anika Perkins, Betsy Compton, Janelle Grau, Lacey Gaymon, Luke Byford, Penny Clay, Phillip Garrott, Sheyna Ferraro, Tommy Fisher

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 Nov 16, 2021 at 6:12 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

  • Luke Byford, TeSA PTO Representative and TeSA parent spoke 
    • Ask the board to consider hybrid virtual and in-person board meetings to allow for more parent participation
    • Gladney Center for Adoption - thanks TCA+A for sending students to participate in Gladney Adoption Day; students dressed as Super Heroes 

III. Consent Agenda

A.

Approve September 21, 2021 Minutes

Mary A. Zimmerman made a motion to approve the minutes from TCA+A Board Meeting on 09-21-21.
Leslie Scott seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

September 2021 Finance Statements

Mary A. Zimmerman made a motion to approve September 2021 Finance Statements.
Leslie Scott seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Financials

A.

FIRST Financial Management Reports

  • Mrs. Grau reported:
    • Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices 
    • 2019-2020 data - always runs a year behind
      • TeSA - passed with an A Rating Superior Achievement; since 2015-2016 school year TeSA has achieved an A Superior Rating
      • FWAFA - passed with an A Rating Superior Achievement; since 2015-2016 school year FWAFA has achieved an A Superior Rating 

B.

FWAFA Roof Repair

  • Mr. Gravley reported:
    • Roof leaks every time it rains
    • Older church portion of the building; particular over the stage
    • Insurance Deductible is $5,000
    • Estimates ranges (if paying cash) from $80,000 to $90,000
    • Request to engage insurance for roof repair using Texas Direct Roofing and Construction
Charles Reid made a motion to approve engaging insurance for roof repair using Texas Direct Roofing and Construction.
Leslie Wade seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Academics

A.

Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Scores

  • Mrs. Perkins reported:
    • All students have experienced some decline with their academics
    • MAP Assessment
      • Students will take a beginning, middle, and end of the year assessment
      • Staff will make a comparison of each timeframe to the next
    • Campuses are engaged in working to fill the gaps for individual students

B.

FWAFA's Dyslexia Handbook

  • FWAFA was selected for a random audit by TEA for Dyslexia
    • Needed to incorporate a handbook for parents
    • TEA has just as of a few days ago updated their handbook so we will probably have to come back to the board with accommodations made to this handbook for approval once we receive TEA's updates
    • Stand alone handbook not included in our student handbook
    • FWAFA has 3 identified students and 8 students waiting to be tested
      • Each campus has a dyslexia teacher 
Leslie Scott made a motion to approve FWAFA's Dyslexia Handbook.
Mary A. Zimmerman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

TeSA's Campus/District Improvement Plan

  • Mrs. Perkins reported: 
    • Reviewed the 2021-2022 Improvement Plan with the board
    • Format of the Improvement Plan has changed
      • Working to streamline process
      • Using DMAC program already 
      • In DMAC their is a Campus/District Improvement Plan component
    • Randomly selected for Title IV validation
      • TeSA had to provide components of their improvement plan that relates to Title IV
Charles Reid made a motion to approve TeSA's 2021-2022 Campus/District Improvement Plan.
Mary A. Zimmerman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

FWAFA's Campus/District Improvement Plan

  • Mrs. Perkins reported:
    • Reviewed the 2021-2022 Improvement Plan with the board
    • Format of the Improvement Plan has changed
      • Working to streamline process
      • Using DMAC program already  
      • In DMAC their is a Campus/District Improvement Plan component
Charles Reid made a motion to approve FWAFA's 2021-2022 Campus/District Improvement Plan.
Mary A. Zimmerman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. CEO Report

A.

TCA+A Background Check Policy and Procedure

  • New for TCA+A in writing
    • We've always been in compliance, we just have not had it officially in writing
Leslie Scott made a motion to approve the TCA+A Background Check Policy and Procedure.
Charles Reid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Updates

  • TeSA & FWAFA have a combined 38 performances between now and the winter break
    • We are extending an invitation to you all for as many of these that you can attend
  • (re)Fresh Program
    • Panic has been particularly difficult on teachers
    • Using ESSER Funds to provide professional mental health services for faculty and staff
    • Each faculty and staff member can choose to participate in up to 3 sessions that TCA+A will cover the cost of
  • Audition Season
    • Online Auditions for the 2022-2023 school year
    • Took everything we learned last year and have implemented updates to this year's process (i.e. Rubric updates)
    • Two Virtual Open Houses and two Virtual Audition Workshops are coming in December and January
    • Specific recruitment focus is on Kindergarten at TeSA, 9th grade at FWAFA, and unchanged male voices at FWAFA (keep Treble section going as it is our legacy)

VII. Governance

A.

Elections and Transition of Board Officers

Charles Reid made a motion to approve Leslie Scott as Board Secretary.
Leslie Wade seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. 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 8:03 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Goodroe

B.

CERTIFICATE AS TO POSTING OR GIVING OF NOTICE

Documents used during the meeting
  • Cash Analysis Board - September 2021.pdf
  • TCA+A - September 2021.pdf
  • FWAFA-September 2021.pdf
  • TeSA-September 2021.pdf
  • FWAFA FIRST Financial Management Report - final.pdf
  • TeSA FIRST Financial Management Report - final.pdf
  • BOY 6th Grade Report.pdf
  • BOY 3rd Grade Report.pdf
  • FWAFA Dyslexia Handbook 2021-2022.pdf
  • TeSA's 21_22 District_Campus Improvement Plan.pdf
  • FWAFA's 21-22 District_Campus Improvement Plan.pdf
  • Background Check Policy and Procedure.pdf