On March 6th, 2025, Great Hearts Texas held its Board of Directors meeting at Great Hearts Arlington. We are grateful to all parents, faculty, staff, PSO leadership, and other community members who attended in person and virtually. We also thank Headmasters Andrew Duininck (Lower School) and Dina Franco (Upper School), along with their teams, who graciously hosted the Board on campus.
Opening
Board Chair Jim Rahn called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees. He expressed gratitude to Headmasters Duininck and Franco for hosting the Board throughout the afternoon and noted the joyful learning environment they witnessed in classrooms.
Headmaster Highlights
Lower School Headmaster Andrew Duininck offered a warm welcome to the Board, praising his faculty, families, and students for their commitment to the Great Hearts mission. He noted the academy’s comprehensive phonics program implemented to bolster early reading instruction, supported by federal Title funding and House Bill 3 initiatives.
Upper School Headmaster Dina Franco reflected on four years of growth at Great Hearts Arlington, emphasizing the consistent expansion in student enrollment, which has nearly tripled since the school’s 2021 opening, and the excitement for continued growth in the upper grades, including the addition of 11th grade in 2025–26.
Public Comment
During the public comment period, several community members shared perspectives. Board Chair Rahn thanked all commenters for their time and assured attendees that their comments had been noted.
Conservator’s Report
TEA Conservator Paul Pastorek joined via Zoom to provide his update on human resources (HR) protocols. He reported that Great Hearts Texas has improved oversight measures related to HR processes and remains compliant with TEA requirements.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. Wade Dyke highlighted several priorities. Great Hearts Texas will undergo a statewide safety audit as part of the enhanced Texas school safety measures. At the time of the Board Meeting, over 60% of current families had re-enrolled after only 1 week of re-enrollment.
Dr. Dyke also shared legislative highlights provided by policy expert Julie Linn, particularly proposed increases for charter facility funding and teacher pay. The Board remains hopeful about potential funding outcomes, especially regarding campus safety, special education, and teacher compensation.
The Director of Assessment & Data Literacy, Mr. Michael Linville, presented an overview of statewide accountability data. Great Hearts Texas continues to outperform state averages on overall STAAR assessments, with higher participation rates and strong SAT results.
Financial Report
Kevin Byrne, Vice President of Finance, offered a financial update on enrollment and ADA trends. Brick-and-mortar enrollment remains near 99% of projected average daily attendance (ADA).
Mr. Byrne shared that mid-year data show a small operational surplus buoyed by philanthropic contributions. Leadership is drafting a baseline budget for the upcoming fiscal year, cautiously assuming no additional state revenue. A second phase of budgeting will commence based on the progress of public and charter school funding in the Texas Legislature.
Governance and Resolutions
The Board approved new security-related Standard Operating Procedures. Members also declared the Cedar Park location surplus property, authorizing the Superintendent to negotiate and finalize its sale pending legal review.
Board Members approved the Nova State Affiliate Direct Services Contract, contingent on resolving outstanding budget details to the superintendent’s satisfaction.
Governance Committee Chair Dr. Jonathan Sanford also announced the Board’s intent to fill a vacant director seat, seeking nominations from the Great Hearts community. A letter outlining desired qualifications will be circulated, with the ultimate appointment determined by the Board after a thorough review.
Conclusion
The meeting adjourned after the Board returned from the executive session.
Thank you to everyone who participated, presented, and shared feedback at the March 6th Board Meeting.
