In a public meeting Wednesday, the Imagine MASTer Academy board approved a series of measures related to two charter schools in Texas.

The votes were taken more than 18 months after board members signed resolutions outside public view to create the schools, appoint and remove board members and name their own board president, Don Willis, the head of one of the Texas boards.

Ball State University recently ordered the MASTer Academy board to undergo leadership and governance training, and university officials are investigating whether the board violated state law by a approving a series of actions through resolutions that were not signed during public meetings. Ball State’s actions are a result of a Journal Gazette investigation that described a lack of local control over two charter schools in Fort Wayne.

Indiana open-meetings law requires public boards to make most decisions during public meetings. Board members Joe Jordan, Stan Robinson and Trish Fox did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

The board voted to lend its non-profit status to schools in Georgetown and McKinney, Texas, appoint board members to the Texas boards, accept resignations from Texas board members and remove their right to remove or control Texas board members. The last vote was prompted by concerns raised by the Texas Education Agency, which authorizes charters in that state, said Don Willis, Imagine MASTer Academy board president.

It’s unclear whether those votes will stand. Gil Perry attended the MASTer Academy board meeting because he is president of the sister board for Imagine Schools on Broadway, which met immediately after.

Perry voted on the resolutions as if he were a member of the MASTer Academy board and, at one point, seconded a motion made to approve one of the resolutions.

No one questioned Perry’s vote and when asked after the meeting about it, he said it was a point of order that would be looked into. If the votes were not valid, the board could vote again, he said.

Imagine Schools Inc. is the educational management company behind two charter schools in Fort Wayne, both run by non-profit boards: Imagine MASTer academy at 2000 N. Wells St. and Imagine Schools on Broadway at 2320 Broadway.

Ball State is a main authorizer of charter schools in Indiana, which are funded by tax dollars and are allowed to be more flexible in exchange for more scrutiny.

Willis said the Texas schools will use Fort Wayne’s non-profit status until January and July, respectively.

The proposed schools in Texas have been granted charters but have not yet been allowed to open.

Ball State officials also raised concerns about the sharing of a non-profit status but could not find anything illegal to prohibit it.

In other business:

•Willis gave an hour-long presentation on his educational philosophies and responded to The Journal Gazette’s series of articles on Imagine and the boards. He disagreed with many of the points made in the articles and said he believes the board is acting appropriately.

Willis endorsed an internal memo written by Imagine Schools Inc. President Dennis Bakke. Bakke’s memo states Imagine’s schools should be run by Imagine employees, not local boards. Willis said he understands that view because it’s Imagine’s money that is at risk.

Willis also said the board has not violated IRS regulations and said it has passed reviews by the government agency.

Board members and about a dozen teachers who attended the meeting applauded Willis’ presentation.

Board member and Allen County Commissioner Bill Brown thanked Willis for the information and said he believes the group is about innovation and doing what’s best for children.

•Guy Platter, Imagine executive, said the school is going to ask Ball State whether the MASTer Academy can add a high school to the building, which already serves kindergarten through eighth grade.

ksoderlund@jg.net