September 5th Meeting of the GHTX Board of Directors

Dear Great Hearts Texas Families, Faculty, and Staff–

On September 5th, Great Hearts Texas held its Board of Directors meeting at Great Hearts Invictus. We are grateful to all parents, faculty, staff, and community members who joined us. We especially appreciate our host campus and the leadership at Invictus, who partnered with us to host this critical Board meeting.

Opening: 

Jim Rahn, Chairman of the Great Hearts Texas Board of Directors, opened the meeting at 6:00 PM by welcoming attendees. He shared how inspiring it was to spend the day at Invictus, engaging students, faculty, and the vibrant community that defines the campus spirit.

Public Comment: 

Several community members shared their perspectives during the public comment portion of the meeting for two minutes each. 

Superintendent Welcome: 

Interim Superintendent Dr. Wade Dyke acknowledged the hard work of Great Hearts headmasters in managing campuses and introduced the Headmasters of Great Hearts Invictus, who shared updates:

• Headmaster Hammond of Invictus Lower School highlighted the school’s involved community and commitment to bringing liberal arts and classical education to Northwest San Antonio and Helotes.
• Headmaster Monteverde of Invictus Upper School spoke about the challenges of founding a new Upper School and praised the dedication of teachers in fostering the Great Hearts values.

Conservator Progress Report: 

The TEA Conservator, Paul Pastorek, was appointed on May 29th of this year to address issues relating to HR onboarding compliance. He has reviewed documents and met with staff members to determine that there have been positive corrective actions.

He noted that there is still work to be done, with ongoing collaboration between the Superintendent and the HR team.

Jim Rahn then motioned to move the Board of Directors into Executive Session, from which they returned shortly after 8:10 PM. 

Board Decisions and Announcements:

After the Closed Session, Board Vice Chair Jackie Moczygemba motioned to create a governance committee of the Board that includes Jim Rahn, Shannon Sedwick Davis, and JJ. Sanford, nominating Dr. Sanford as chair of that committee. The motion was carried unanimously. 

Board Member Kevin Hall then motioned to take no action on an expulsion hearing. Motion carried unanimously.

At 8:17 PM, the Board motioned and unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Wade Dyke as the sole finalist for the role of Superintendent. Jim Rahn praised Dr. Dyke’s 25 years of experience in education and dedication to the Great Hearts mission. 

Dr. Dyke expressed his gratitude and excitement about the opportunity to continue leading Great Hearts Texas.

Operations Report:

Lisa Zerbonia, Vice President of Operations, provided updates on key operational initiatives:

• A recent safety summit brought together campus safety coordinators to review and improve emergency protocols, resulting in safety enhancements across campuses.
• Enrollment across Great Hearts Texas has surpassed 13,000 students, with recent ribbon cuttings at Great Hearts Live Oak and a groundbreaking at Arlington campuses.
• The nutrition program continues to improve, saving approximately $200,000 by incorporating USDA Foods into meal programs and introducing additional serving lines for faster service.

Academic Report: 

Great Hearts Chief Academic Officer Jake Tawney presented an overview of academic performance:

• Expansion schools and online programs grew, but overall pass rates across established schools dropped slightly, from 85% to 83%.
• Reading remains the most vital subject, with an 88% pass rate.
• A comprehensive support plan is in place for six brick-and-mortar schools and the online school, focusing on aligned professional development and strategies to enhance student outcomes.

Great Hearts Vice President of Academic Achievement Heather Washburn detailed targeted academic support efforts, including collaborative audits with campus leadership and regular check-ins to ensure continued improvement in student achievement across identified schools.

Financial Report: 

Kevin Byrne, Vice President of Finance, shared a financial overview, noting:

• Great Hearts Texas is on track with cash on hand, with a goal of reaching 70 days by next year.
• Charter First ratings for the 2023-2024 fiscal year are in the “Above Average Achievement” (B) category, though there are areas for improvement related to cash reserves.

Board members discussed various financial considerations, including administrative costs and ADA (Average Daily Attendance).

Closing: Chairman Rahn moved to adjourn the meeting following the financial report.  

We appreciate the continued dedication of our families, faculty, and board members in supporting Great Hearts Texas. For more information on future board meetings, please visit https://texas.greatheartsamerica.org/finance-compliance/public-board-meeting/