Kerr Community Center Board Advances Governance, Programming, and Community Partnerships
The Kerr Community Center Board convened on December 15, 2025 with a quorum present, marking a substantive meeting focused on governance, financial oversight, programming, and community service. Serving as interim chair, the board formally called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer reflecting the center’s mission to serve the broader Bastrop community with integrity, purpose, and care.
Approval of Minutes and Financial Transparency
The board reviewed and approved minutes from both a special-called bylaws workshop meeting and the regular October 25, 2025, board meeting. Emphasis was placed on accuracy, transparency, and ensuring records are consistently shared with board members.
Treasurer’s reports reflected steady but carefully managed finances. As of November 30, the treasurer reported the balances in both the general checking account and the building fund during the open meeting. The board also acknowledged receipt of a $50,000 grant from the City of Bastrop to support the upcoming Sister Moses Project, noting that an initial $18,000 payment had already been issued to the performing company to launch production planning.
Ongoing monthly expenses—including utilities, insurance, security, and internet—were reviewed, alongside income from rentals and organizational partnerships. Board members discussed the importance of standardized financial reporting, agreeing that clearer monthly documentation would support accountability and long-term sustainability.
Major Grant Update: The Sister Moses Project
A significant portion of the meeting focused on updates for the Sister Moses Project, a nationally recognized dance, music, and narrative production portraying the life of Harriet Tubman. Funded in part by the City of Bastrop, the project is scheduled for February 6–7, 2026, at the Bastrop Independent School District Performing Arts Center, which has been donated for student matinees.
The production will include community participation through auditions for dancers, singers, and youth performers. After discussion, the board agreed to schedule auditions and rehearsals in January 2026, allowing sufficient preparation time ahead of performance week, with additional details to be shared as plans are finalized. Community rehearsal spaces—including the Kerr Community Center, local churches, and other civic facilities—will be utilized as needed.
The board also discussed outreach efforts to BISD, neighboring school districts, senior citizens, and the broader community, with ticket pricing kept intentionally affordable to ensure accessibility.
Governance and Bylaws Review
The board continued its detailed review of revised bylaws, focusing on modernizing governance practices. Key discussions included:
Allowing board participation through remote or video conferencing platforms
Clarifying proxy voting language
Defining clearer financial reporting expectations
Ensuring no single officer holds multiple leadership roles simultaneously
Given the scope of revisions under consideration, the board agreed to pause formal adoption and schedule a dedicated follow-up meeting to finalize language before approval.
Nominations for Officers
In preparation for leadership elections, nominations were opened for officer positions, with elections to be held following the required 14-day notice period as outlined in the bylaws. Nominees were identified for chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer, with final votes to take place at a future meeting.
Community Services and Partnerships
Reports highlighted the Kerr Community Center’s role as a hub for essential services, including Meals on Wheels, which serves between 60 and 80 seniors weekly with hot and frozen meals. Volunteers deliver meals across Bastrop and Paige, underscoring the center’s critical role in elder care and food access.
The board also reviewed partnerships with organizations that regularly use the facility, including civic groups, service clubs, cultural organizations, and educational partners. Discussions reaffirmed the center’s commitment to remaining nonpartisan while equitably serving all community groups under clear rental and membership agreements.
Facilities and Infrastructure Needs
Facility concerns were addressed, including electrical upgrades needed to support the African American Cultural Center Museum housed on site. The board acknowledged the need for permitting, professional estimates, and compliance before proceeding with improvements.
Seasonal updates included plans for modest holiday decorations, with volunteers stepping forward to assist.
Looking Ahead
The board scheduled its next meeting for January 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., to continue bylaws revisions and finalize preparations for the Sister Moses Project. Members emphasized collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility as the Kerr Community Center enters a busy and impactful new year.
As one board member noted during the meeting, the work ahead is significant—but so is the opportunity to strengthen the center’s role as a cultural, civic, and service cornerstone for the Bastrop community and beyond.
