[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
>> [NOISE] THE TIME IS 5:30 AND THE COURT IS IN PRESENT.
DR. TENSOR, WILL YOU CONFIRM THAT THE MEETING'S DULY CALLED AND NOTICE THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT. THE MEETING WAS DULY CALLED AND POSTED WITHIN ACCORDANCE OF THE LAW.
[C. CONFERENCE RECAP REPORT TO THE BOARD]
>> AND VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT'S IN OUR BOARD POLICY THAT WHEN WE GO OFF TO CONFERENCES, THAT WE COME BACK AND MAKE A LITTLE REPORT ON SOME THINGS WE FOUND INTERESTING.
AND SO MR. DAVIS AND I WENT TO ONE RECENTLY AND I'LL LET YOU START.
>> I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. IT'S AMAZING.
YOU GO THROUGH SIX OR SEVEN CLASSES IN TWO DAYS, THEY'RE JAM-PACKED FULL PLUS A COUPLE OF GENERAL SESSIONS AND YOU GET 9.25 HOURS OF CREDIT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH FUN THAT IS TO GET DONE.
BUT THIS IS UNIQUE CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO.
THE FIRST THING THAT REALLY CAME TO MIND WAS AT THE VERY FIRST OPENING SESSION.
AND THEY WERE VERY BOLD FROM THE VERY GET-GO.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WAS THE LETTER THAT WENT OUT LAST YEAR TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PARENTS BEING TERRORISTS AT BOARD MEETINGS.
THEY ADDRESSED THAT VERY QUICKLY.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS VERY UPFRONT ABOUT IT.
HE TOOK PART OF THE BLAME, SAID THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM IT MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
THEY HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THEY'VE GOT TONS OF ATTORNEYS THAT WORK FOR THEM AND THAT ONE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM TEXAS, DOWN THE VALLEY, I FORGOT WHAT TOWN IT WAS.
IT'S AFTER THE KNEE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
ANYWAY, SHE ALSO ADDRESSED THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, ENCOURAGING THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE AND THAT CALMED A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FEAR, BECAUSE I WAS VERY APPREHENSIVE OF WHAT THE TONE WAS GOING TO BE AT THE CONFERENCE.
BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE UPFRONT, ADDRESSED IT QUICKLY.
SOME OF THE SESSIONS WERE GREAT SOME WE WENT.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF A FEW OF THEM THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION.
SMALL GROUP THAT WE MADE HERE ARE REALLY NOT THE VOICES OF YOUR COMMUNITIES, SO BE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT THEY ALSO GAVE A PRETTY ALARMING STATISTIC THAT 73% OF THOSE THAT THEY'VE SURVEYED, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENCY IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IN NORTH TEXAS AREA.
WE HAVE MANY ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION, WE'RE GLAD OURS IS ON BOARD AND STAYING WITH US.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS IN ANOTHER SESSION THAT AFTERNOON.
LET ME SEE WHAT THE NAME OF THAT ONE WAS, REMEMBER THAT; THE POLITICIZATION OF AMERICAN SCHOOL BOARDS.
THAT IS COMING VERY REAL, EVEN MORE SO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
EVERYTHING IS TIED, REALLY DIDN'T USED TO BE, BUT IS TIED TO NATIONAL POLITICS AND NATIONAL STATEMENTS AND ISSUES.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE IN TEXAS AND NO EVIDENCE IN A LOT OF PLACES THAT THAT'S BEEN REALLY FOCUSED IN PUSH.
BUT ANYWAY, NATIONAL PACKS ARE NOW INVOLVED IN VERY MUCH INTO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.
MORE SO EVEN THE AREAS WHERE I'M CALLING THE UNION STATES, WHERE THEY HAVE UNIONIZATION OF EMPLOYEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT THE BAD NEWS IS, PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE POLITICS AND SCHOOL BOARD.
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE.
NOTHING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO FIND THE WAY.
A COUPLE OF SESSIONS LATER ON ABOUT KNOWING OUR POPULATION, WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THEM.
THAT ONE WAS CALLED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
BEING IN THE BUSINESS THAT I'M IN, WHERE WE'RE PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY EQUIPMENT STUFF FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DISABILITY.
BUT THESE ARE NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE PHYSICAL DISABILITY, BUT MENTAL DISABILITIES AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
A LOT OF THINGS TALKED ABOUT HOW TO HAVE A PLAN AND STICK WITH THE PLAN.
DR. SHOWELL SHOWED US VERY RECENTLY HOW WELL THEIR PLANS WORK.
HAVING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS INVOLVED, FIRST TO EVACUATE SPECIAL NEEDS, ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING THAT FOCUS HAS BEEN GIVEN ON THAT.
WE'VE GIVEN FOCUS TO THAT AS A SCHOOL BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
IN FACT, I GOT TIRED OF HEARING DR. BROWN TALK ABOUT SAFETY THE FIRST 36 MONTHS THAT HE WAS HERE, BUT IT WAS A PRIORITY AND WE FIXED A LOT OF THINGS ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S STILL A PRIORITY, NOT JUST FOR DR. JENSEN, BUT ALSO FOR THIS BOARD, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT THAT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER SESSION TALKED ABOUT THE LEGAL ISSUES REGARDING THE LGBTQ, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER LETTER AND I FORGOT WHAT IT WAS, BUT THEY'VE ADDED ANOTHER ONE.
ANYWAY, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS THAT'S DOING INVESTIGATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHEN SCHOOLS FAILED TO ADDRESS TITLE NINE RULES.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING GOING ON.
THERE ARE SOME NEW RULES THAT WERE COMING OUT, PROPOSED RULES.
I THINK THEY CAME OUT IN APRIL.
IF THEY HAVEN'T COME OUT, THEY'RE COMING OUT VERY SOON.
SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY ADOPTING SOME THINGS LIKE GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS,
[00:05:05]
ALL THINGS, BUT NEW GUIDELINES ARE COMING OUT AND WE'LL BE ON TOP OF THAT.I'M SURE THAT THERE'LL BE SKIPS READING MATERIAL FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND STUFF IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL ALSO WENT TO ABOUT FEDERAL LAW MANDATES AND UPDATES.
OF COURSE, COVID MASK MANDATES.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES.
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND JONAH REALLY RE-EMPHASIZED AGAIN, OF HOW IMPORTANT OUR COURT CASE THAT WENT TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AND WHAT THE SUPREME COURT WE MIGHT GET FIGURED OUT A WAY AND PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION, BECAUSE WE DID SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE THAT AFFECTS EVERY SCHOOL BOARD IN THE COUNTRY NOW.
SOME OF THE SAMPLES THEY GAVE WERE ENCOURAGING WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT FEDERAL LAW AND MANDATES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS CHANGE THINGS A LOT.
THERE'S MY FIVE-MINUTES WHAT WAS GOING ON.
THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY AND YUCKY.
IT RAINED EVERY MORNING IN SAN DIEGO.
>> [LAUGHTER] IN SOME OF THE SESSIONS I WENT TO, I WENT TO SOME OF THE SAME ONES MR. DAVIS DID, BUT SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT I CAME OUT WITH AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO DR. TENSOR ABOUT ONE IS, AND BY THE WAY, DR. CLARK, I WAS PROUD BECAUSE ONE OF THEM WAS.
THE TITLE OF IT WAS REDEFINING STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN I GOT IN THEY WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE AND I WAS LIKE, YOU'LL NEED TO COME TALK TO DR. CLARK FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID SAY IN THERE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS FANTASTIC WAS THEY SAID, GO OUT THERE AND FIND STUDENTS FOR EXAMPLES OF YOUR PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT HAVE EITHER MADE IT IN COLLEGE OR MADE IT IN PROFESSION.
PEOPLE LIKE MR. DILKS, THE VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANT HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT'S NOW A DOCTOR.
WAS HE VALEDICTORIAN OR SALUDICTORIAN?
>> I THINK THAT ONE WAS A SALUDICTORIAN, THE OTHER ONE WAS A VALEDICTORIAN.
>> AND JUST INCREDIBLE STORIES OF ALL DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND TEACH PEOPLE WHAT BUBBLE'S ABOUT AND AGAIN, HELP TO ATTRACT STUDENTS HERE.
I WENT TO A CRISIS COMMUNICATION.
I THOUGHT WE DID A GOOD JOB DURING THAT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.
THEY CALLED IT ESTABLISHING A BATTLE RHYTHM.
THEY BASICALLY SAID DON'T PUT OUT EVERY TIME SOMETHING NEW CAME OUT.
IF YOU RECALLED, ONE PART WOULD SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR COVID ANOTHER ORGANIZATION WOULD SAY NO, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR COVID.
ANOTHER WOULD SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR COVID.
SOME OF THEIR THOUGHTS WERE WHAT TO EXPECT, WHEN TO EXPECT, AND WHERE TO FIND IT.
I THINK THEY HAD RELEASES ON EVERY FRIDAY, I THINK THAT WAS THEIR DEAL.
ALSO ANOTHER THING I THINK WAS PRETTY GOOD WAS IF THEY JUST SAID THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY THEY GOT CONFLICTING FROM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.
THEY SAID ONE WAY TO KEEP YOU LOOKING IT AS A GOOD SOURCE WAS THAT YOU JUST LINK TO.
YOU JUST SAY HERE'S WHAT THE CDC SAID TODAY AND YOU LINK TO THAT IN THAT WAY YOU DON'T TAKE OWNERSHIP. YOU'RE JUST LIKE, HERE'S WHAT.
AND THEY SAID "BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU'RE DOING ABOUT IT." THEY DON'T CARE SO MUCH ABOUT, WELL, HERE'S WHAT THE CDC SAID OR HERE'S WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION SAID.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING ABOUT IT.
THEY STARTED SEEING THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T IF THEY KNEW THAT COMMUNICATION WOULD COME AT A CERTAIN TIME.
HERE'S WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT THEY WERE GOOD WITH THAT.
THEY ALSO SAID LOOKING AT BACKUP PER BACKUP OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND I KNOW DR. SHOWELL'S HAVE BEEN DOING SOME OF THAT.
ONE OTHER QUICK THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT.
I WENT TO SOME FEDERAL LAW UPDATES.
ONE OF THEM, IT'S IN HOUSTON AND I KNOW TOM'S MEMORY WITH THIS.
IT'S HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE VERSUS WILSON IT'S VERY INTERESTING CASE BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, THERE WAS A BOARD MEMBER ON THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD WHO WAS ANTAGONISTIC.
HE HAD SUED THE DISTRICT SEVERAL TIMES.
HE CAME OUT AND CALLED THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS NAMES IN THE PRESS.
AND EVERY TIME THEY MADE A DECISION, HE WENT OUT AND HE SAID IT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION.
HE WAS ANTAGONISTIC, SAY THE LEAST, AND THEY KEPT CENSURING HIM.
AND THEN FINALLY THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO CENSURE YOU AND YOU'RE NO LONGER GOING TO BE A BOARD OFFICER.
YOU'RE DONE BEING A BOARD OFFICER.
HE SUED AND SAID, "I HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SAY WHAT I THINK".
THEY CAME BACK SAYING, "YEAH, BUT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT DOING THINGS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE." AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT MR. WILSON DID NOT HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT CLAIM AGAINST THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENSURED HIM, BUT THEY DIDN'T CENSURE HIM IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE COULDN'T STILL SERVE AS A BOARD MEMBER.
HE COULDN'T BE AN OFFICER, BUT HE COULD STILL DO WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED HIM TO BE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING TO US AND ALSO ANOTHER ONE TO KEEP.
I KNOW THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT IT, BUT THE COACH IN WASHINGTON WHO WOULD KNEEL ON THE 50-YARD LINE AND SAY A PRAYER.
[00:10:01]
PER HIS STATEMENT, HE WAS NOT ENCOURAGING PLAYERS OR ANYBODY ELSE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THEY DID.THE DILEMMA IS ON THAT, WHICH THERE'S TWO BEDROCK PRINCIPLES THAT THERE'S THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, WHICH HE'S OBVIOUSLY ARGUING I HAVE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, BUT ALSO AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AS AN EMPLOYER, NORMALLY COURTS SAY, EMPLOYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL WHAT'S BEING SAID ON SCHOOL PROPERTIES AND DURING SCHOOL TIME AND WHY YOU'RE ON THE CLOCK.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL THAT SPEECH.
FROM THE QUESTIONS, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW THAT MAY COME OUT [LAUGHTER] THAT HAPPENED DURING THE ARGUMENTS.
BUT IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IF THEY DO GO TO THE FREEDOM RELIGION, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONTROL MAYBE SOME STATEMENTS AND FREE SPEECH THINGS THAT EMPLOYEES WANT TO SAY.
HOWEVER IF THEY GO THE OTHER WAY AND SAY, YES, THE EMPLOYER CAN CONTROL THAT SPEECH.
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE MAYBE IMPEDING THEIR FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
INTERESTING STUFF. IT WAS GOOD AND I AGREE WITH RICHARD.
BY THE WAY, IT'S A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
HE'S NOT THE ONE THAT WAS THERE WHEN THAT HAPPENED. I WILL TELL YOU.
IN THIS WORLD, WE NEVER KNOW IF IT'S A TRUE APOLOGY.
PEOPLE ARE LIKE, I'M SORRY, YOU GOT YOUR FEELINGS HURT, TYPE THING.
IT'S LIKE THAT ONE, AN APOLOGY.
BUT THIS WAS A TRUE SINCERE, WE MESSED UP AND IT'S ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND WE MISSED OUR MISSION AND WE HAVE NO EXCUSE.
>> ALSO THE TENANTS, WE FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS.
IF YOU SPEND A THIRD OF WHAT IT HAS PRE-COVID, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT HAD 2,500, 2,800 SOMETHING LIKE THAT, FROM MY MEMORY.
YEAH, VERY SMALL COMPARED TO, AT TIMES, THEY WOULD HAVE 8,000-9,000 AT A CONFERENCE.
I THINK NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE IN ORDER TO LAY.
>> EXHIBITORS HALL WAS LESS THAN IT IS AT TASB.
>> YEAH. I'M AN EXHIBIT AT TASB.
OF COURSE, TEXAS IS VERY UNIQUE AND IT'S A VERY BIG SHOW.
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES COME TO TEXAS TO SHOW THEIR WARES IN TO SEE OTHER STUFF. ALL GOOD.
>> OKAY. WE WILL NOW CONVENE IN
[D. CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
CLOSED SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551, SPECIFICALLY 0.074 PERSONNEL 0.072, REAL PROPERTY, 0.071, CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY AND 0.076 SECURITY.THE TIME IS 7:00 O'CLOCK AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
[E. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]
[F. INTRODUCTION OF MEETING]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON MELISSA PELLEGRINO PRINCIPAL OF SMITHFIELD ELEMENTARY, ONE OF OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TO INTRODUCE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT TOLBERT, BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. STINTS, AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU. YES, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW CAMPUS AS WELL.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE SOME PRETTY AMAZING SMITHFIELD WILDCATS THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME TONIGHT.
I HAVE ANNA FILES AND WITH US ARE HER GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE JOINING US FROM FLORIDA NIGHT, SO THIS IS A LITTLE SPECIAL OCCASION FOR THEM.
BUT WE HAVE REED AND JANET FILES WITH US, AND THEN IS HAS BENJAMIN GROWALT AND HIS PARENTS AND SIBLINGS ARE WITH US AS WELL, CARRIE AND CHANDLER GROWALT.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ANNA AND SHE WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> NOW BENJAMIN WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT AND EXPRESSION.
>> DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE TEACHERS WHO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND GRATEFUL FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT MAKES THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
PLEASE HELP THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR BISD.
PLEASE HELP OUR PRINCIPALS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL LAST, HELP OUR CUSTODIANS, CAFETERIA WORKERS, AND OTHERS THAT WILL HELP OUR SCHOOLS AND BISD RUN.
LASTLY, HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE BLESS OUR BISD STUDENTS TO GROW IN RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARNING IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
>> ANNA, BENJAMIN AND MISS PELLEGRINO, IF YOU GUYS WOULD COME DOWN HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PICTURES.
GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER HERE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES AND THEN AS SOON AS HE'S THROUGH, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THEM ROPED IN HERE AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN TAKE PICTURES TOO.
[00:15:04]
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] HOLD ON, GUYS.YOUR MOM'S GOING TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE GRANDPARENTS.
[APPLAUSE] BENJAMIN, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING OUR CUSTODIANS TOO.
I THINK THEY ARE OVERLOOKED AND I THINK DURING COVID WE REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW MUCH THEY DO, SO VERY WELL DONE ABOUT TWO PARTS, BUT I WAS APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU THOUGHT OF THAT.
MOST KIDS YOUR AGE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT THE SCHOOLS GET CLEANED EVERY DAY.
ALSO MAYOR MONAH, YOU'RE HERE, YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WITH YOU THERE FROM THE WATAUGA COUNCIL? [LAUGHTER].
>> COUNCILOR BOOBY DOWNIE AND VERONICA [APPLAUSE]
[G. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS]
>> THE NEXT THING WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. MARK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. TOLBERT. AT THIS TIME, PHIL BECKMAN WILL COME FORWARD AND DO OUR RECOGNITION FOR OUR PTA THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. THOMAS. SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. SIMPSON, APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH.
THEIR VOLUNTEERISM PROVIDES VIA SUPPORT TO THE DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS AND IMPACT VOLUNTEERS HAVE ON BISD'S STUDENTS LIVES.
TONIGHT, WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL OF PTAS.
CANDACE BISHOP, COUNCIL PTA PRESIDENT, HAS SERVED THE DISTRICT AND BIRDVILLE COUNCIL OF PTAS AND KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THIS YEAR.
SHE HAS DONATED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO THE CHILDREN AND STAFF OF BISD.
KATHY LANGSTON, FIFTH VICE-PRESIDENT, CLOSE CONNECTION, HAS WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS AT THE CLOSE CONNECTION, PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF BISD STUDENTS.
THE CLOSE CONNECTION FILLED 734 ORDERS AND PROVIDED 581 PAIRS OF SHOES.
THOSE ARE UPDATED NUMBERS FROM WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BOOKS.
SOME OTHER STATS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND OUR GUEST HERE TONIGHT, [NOISE] ALSO PROVIDED 3,665 PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR, 3,665 PAIRS OF SOCKS, OVER 3,000 SHIRTS, OVER 1,900 PAIRS OF PANTS, AND JUST OVER 1,000 JACKETS.
[NOISE] MELISSA FLOWERS, TREASURE, AND ACTING SIXTH VICE PRESIDENT, SUPPLY DEPOT, HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ACROSS BISD HAVE THE NECESSARY SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR.
>> IF YOUR PARENTS ARE HERE, WE'LL LET THEM TAKE PICTURES TOO.
MELISSA, ARE THEY HERE? THEY DRIVE IN FROM FLORIDA FOR YOUR BIG AWARD? [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] I WOULD RECOMMEND ALL THE BOARD, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, HOOKUP WITH CLOSE CONNECTION AND GO OUT THERE AND VOLUNTEER.
THEY DO A GOOD JOB, AND KELVIN, I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THAT.
NEXT ONE IS ONE I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF.
WE'VE GOT THE RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM HERE TONIGHT.
THEY HAD A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE WANT TO HONOR TONIGHT.
IF Y'ALL COULDN'T STAND SO TALL THAT MIGHT MAKE MR. DAVIS FEEL A LOT BETTER.
[LAUGHTER] HE WON'T FEEL SO BAD.
>> YOU GOT HIM ON. I'M GOING TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND.
WE'RE GETTING COACH HENDERSON ON FACETIME SO HE CAN SEE THIS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, COACH HENDERSON HAS UNDERGONE SOME SURGERY, SO HE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE,
[00:20:02]
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET HIM ON FACETIME SO HE CAN AT LEAST BE A PART OF THE RECOGNITION THAT WAY.>> RIGHT. COACH HENDERSON IS NOW ON FACETIME WITH US.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DR. SIMPSON, PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MR. TOLBERT, BISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE MEMBER OF THE CABINET.
IT IS MY PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE THE RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM.
THE BOYS STARTED THE SEASON BY WINNING THE NORTHEAST LINES CLUB TOURNAMENT AND THEY ALSO WON THE MORTIZ CLASSIC ALITO TOURNAMENT.
THEY WENT ON TO FINISH 12 AND TWO IN DISTRICT PLAY AND THE PLAYOFFS THEY DEFEATED WICHITA FALLS RIDERS FOR BY DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP.
THEN THEY WENT ON TO DEFEAT ARLINGTON SEGUIN TO BECOME THE AREA CHAMPIONS.
THIS IS THE FARTHEST RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL HAS BEEN SINCE THE 2003-2004 SEASON.
THIS GROUP OF PLAYERS WON A TOTAL OF 50 GAMES IN TWO SEASON AND THEY ONLY HAD 14 LOSSES.
THEY REMAIN RANKED IN TIBC TOP 20 TEAMS IN TEXAS THEIR ENTIRE SEASON THIS YEAR.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THEIR NAMES BRIEFLY TO LET YOU KNOW WHO WAS REPRESENTING US.
I'M NOT HERE TO ANNOUNCE CJ NELSON BECAUSE HE'S AT REGIONAL TRACT REPRESENTING BISD THERE IN LUBBOCK.
WE HAVE NUMBER 1, JORDAN, GRANBURY.
[APPLAUSE] NUMBER 3, JAGUAR MENDEZ HAD SURGERY YESTERDAY, SO HE WAS TRYING TO GET HERE AS QUICK AS HE COULD.
[APPLAUSE] NUMBER 5, EVAN PACE WILLIAM, [APPLAUSE] 10, GLENN SCOTT, [APPLAUSE] 12, XAVIER PAYTON.
[APPLAUSE], 21 KELVIN FRAZIER, [APPLAUSE] 22 KIRAN WALTON, [APPLAUSE] 23 MARK RUCHA, [APPLAUSE] 25 KINDLE KP ARNOLD, [APPLAUSE] 32 TYLER MORRIS.
[APPLAUSE] IN CONCLUSION I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY A VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SENIORS ARE GOING ON TO PLAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THEM.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHAT THE FUTURE HAS TO HOLD FOR THEM.
CONGRATULATIONS, RICHLAND BOYS BASKETBALL.
JORDAN AND MARK GOT NAMED ALL AREA BASKETBALL TEAM.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WAS ALL DISTRICT, COACH JOHNSON?
>> IF YOU GUYS COULD STAY THERE FOR JUST A SECOND.
I THINK DR. JENSEN'S GOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD LOVE TO. COACH ANDERSON, WE WANTED TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND TO THE GUYS AND LET THEM KNOW FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT ABSOLUTELY LOVED BASKETBALL.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT, BUT I LOVE BASKETBALL AND I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN ANY TYPE OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY, WHETHER IT'S ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
BUT YOU GUYS HAVE REPRESENTED US SO WELL AND WE WERE SO PROUD.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY YEAR IS WHEN YOU INVITED ME TO COME TO YOUR FIRST PEP RALLY TO OPEN BASKETBALL SEASON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. BLAST OFF, AND JUDGED YOUR DUNK CONTEST, BY THE WAY.
BUT COACH, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE THINKING OF YOU, GET WELL SOON, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
>> [BACKGROUND] HEY, GUYS, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S GRADUATING EXCEPT FOR MARK.
YOU GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL NEXT YEAR.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE TEAM LEADER NEXT YEAR.
BUT YOU GUYS, ALL GOOD LUCK IN COLLEGE.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GOING PLACES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
[00:25:02]
>> THANKS, GUYS [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND].
>> MR. TOLBERT, I REMEMBER WATCHING COACH JOHNSTON PLAYING PRETTY GOOD BASKETBALL YEARS AGO.
[LAUGHTER] HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADING SCORERS.
>> YEAH, JUST A FEW YEARS. [LAUGHTER].
>> MY DAUGHTER'S WORKING FOR HIS WIFE NOW, SO I'VE GOT TO BE NICE TO HER.
[LAUGHTER] NEXT IS THE HAAS SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS SCHOLASTIC EVENT , VASE. MR. DIETRICH.
>> MR. TOLBERT, AS MR. DIETRICH IS PREPARING TO DO THIS RECOGNITION, IF YOU'LL TURN YOUR MONITORS ON.
SHOWN ON YOUR MONITORS IS THE ARTWORK.
I'M GOING TO START THAT OVER SO WE CAN START AT THE BEGINNING SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE [BACKGROUND] ART PIECES.
>> PRESIDENT TOLBERT AND BOARD MEMBERS, DR. STENSEN, AND CABINET MEMBERS, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE SOME VERY TALENTED STUDENTS.
IN THE ARENA OF HIGH-SCHOOL ART, THE TEXAS ART ASSOCIATION OF ART EDUCATORS HOST THE ANNUAL VISUAL ART SCHOLASTIC OR VASE COMPETITION AT BOTH THE REGIONAL AND STATE LEVEL.
ONLY THE TOP SIX PERCENT OF ARTWORKS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL RECEIVING THE HIGHEST RATINGS ARE SELECTED BY JUDGES TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE-LEVEL COMPETITION.
BIRDVILLE ISD HIGH-SCHOOL ART PROGRAM IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE 19 STUDENTS SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THAT COMPETE IN THE VASE COMPETITION EACH YEAR, ONLY 2,300 STUDENTS THAT ADVANCE TO STATE, LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THOSE 2,300 WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION OF A GOLD SEAL AWARD FOR THEIR ARTWORK.
THE STATE WILL AWARD ONLY 150 GOLD SEALS AT THE STATE COMPETITION THIS WEEKEND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING ANY ADDITIONAL AWARDS FROM THIS WEEKEND WITH YOU NEXT WEEK.
BEFORE I ACKNOWLEDGE THESE AWESOME STUDENTS, WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR AWESOME PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.
IF THEY WOULD STAND. IF WE HAVE ANY PARENTS HERE OF THESE WONDERFUL ART STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE] WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SHARED THEIR TALENTS WITH THEM, OUR AWESOME STAFF OF ART EDUCATORS WHO WERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
[APPLAUSE] WE ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THESE NAMES.
[APPLAUSE] CALLUM ASPAAS, A SECOND-YEAR VASE MEMBER.
[APPLAUSE] ABBY BENHAM. [APPLAUSE] ANOTHER TWO-YEAR STATE VASE PERSON, BROOKE BOHANNON.
[APPLAUSE] ANOTHER TWO-YEAR STATE VASE PERSON, JASMINE GRANT.
[APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, CLARISSA KOTERA.
[APPLAUSE] CLAUDIA MEDINA. [APPLAUSE] AND OUR THREE-YEAR STATE VASE WINNER, LAUREN MOORE.
[APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, SARA MORALES CANO.
[APPLAUSE] A TWO-YEAR STATE VASE RECIPIENT, EDDIE PULIDO.
[00:30:04]
[APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, LILLIAN SEALS.[APPLAUSE] A TWO-YEAR STATE VASE RECIPIENT, NYALA SINGLETON.
[APPLAUSE] ANOTHER TWO-YEAR STATE VASE RECIPIENT, EMILY SMAY.
[APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, OUR LAST TWO STATE VASE PEOPLE, SARAH URIBE AND HANNAH VICE.
>> IF I MAY, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE ARTWORK.
SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR ARTWORK I HAVE SEEN FROM HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MY ENTIRE CAREER, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I'M SORRY, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, KIRSTEN, CALDWELL-AUTREY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS IN SERVICE TO BIRDVILLE ISD.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] SHE'S RETIRING THIS YEAR.
>> OKAY. IF YOU GUYS COULD COME DOWN HERE AND THEN MARK'S GOING TO ALIGN YOU UP, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES.
YOU'RE ALL GOING TO COME HERE AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO FLIP AROUND.
[BACKGROUND] COME HERE AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO FACE BACK TO THE AUDIENCE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS FIRST AND THEN, ART STUDENTS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STAYING THERE AFTER THAT AND WE'LL LET PARENTS TAKE PICTURES FOR A SHORT TIME.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] I'M NOT SURE MR. KUNKEL SHOULD BE WITH THE ART STUDENT, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE'LL ALLOW IT.
[NOISE] [LAUGHTER] IF YOU GUYS COULD STAY AFTER HE GETS THROUGH AND THEN WE'LL LET PARENTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR PARENTS CAN TAKE YOUR PICTURE AS WELL.
>> IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN COME ON DOWN FROM YOUR SEATS, WHEREVER YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE.
>> [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANKS, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] WE'RE READY FOR MR. DIETRICH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] PHENOMENAL WORK, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> MR. BENNO, GOOD WORK, YOUR DAUGHTER, THAT WAS NICE.
>> MR. TOLBERT, OUR NEXT RECOGNITION WILL BE INTRODUCED BY DR. CLARK.
DR. STENSON, IT IS GREAT TO SEE SUCCESS FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE ART ROOM, TO THE CLASSROOM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT A WONDERFUL [OVERLAPPING] FROM ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> IT IS. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE A DISTRICT THAT NURTURES TALENT AND IT ALLOWS TO SHINE.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE WINNERS FROM THREE SEPARATE SPELLING COMPETITIONS.
IT IS WONDERFUL WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO COMPETE AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR UNIQUE AND SPECIAL ABILITIES.
[00:35:02]
WE HAVE WINNERS FROM THE DISTRICT SPELLING BEE, THE SPANISH SPELLING BEE AND THE OMEGA PROGRAM SPELLING BEE.I WILL START BY ASKING DR. HUURMAN TO START WITH THE INTRODUCTIONS.
>> GOOD EVENING. THE PURPOSE OF THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IS TO HELP STUDENTS IMPROVE SPELLING, INCREASE VOCABULARY, LEARN CONCEPTS AND DEVELOPED CORRECT ENGLISH USAGE THAT WILL BE A LIFETIME BENEFIT.
THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 1925 AND HAS A LONG HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS AN HONOR TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE BIRDVILLE ISD SPELLING BEE WINNERS.
I WILL START WITH OUR RUNNER-UP SECOND PLACE IS GRACE CHOTE FROM SMITHFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] GRACE IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHED STUDENT AND SHE HAS MANY OTHER AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS.
OUR FIRST-PLACE WINNER IS TONY HUNG FROM NORTH OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> GOOD EVENING [FOREIGN] I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE OUR SECOND PLACE SPANISH SPELLING BEE WINNER DEBORA TEJADA FROM BENNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] OUR FIRST-PLACE WINNER, CHRISTA LOPEZ FROM WT FRANCISCO ELEMENTARY.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS [INAUDIBLE]
>> OUR RUNNER-UP FOR THE OMEGA SPELLING BEE IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BROOKE SANDERS FROM HALTOM HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] OUR FIRST-PLACE WINNER FROM HALTOM HIGH SCHOOL IS ALAN MARQUEZ.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE BACK.
YEAH, SAME THING GUYS, IF YOU-ALL COULD STICK AROUND AFTER HE GETS TO TAKING A PHOTO AND WE'LL LET FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
[BACKGROUND] WAIT, WAIT, THIS IS A SPELLING BEE.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> BY THE WAY, MR. MCCURRY, THIS IS THE BIRDVILLE ISD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT. OH, YEAH, GOODNESS.
AFTER THEY GET THROUGH, IF YOU WOULD STICK AROUND SO WE CAN LET PARENTS TAKE PHOTOS.
LET'S LET PARENTS TAKE PICTURES.
>> MR. TOLBERT, I JUST WANT TO SAY WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITTLE LUNSFORD WAS OUR SPELLING BEE WINNER AND HE WENT ON TO WIN A PULITZER.
>> GREAT THINGS ARE AHEAD FOR THESE STUDENTS.
>> ALAN, I THINK MR. DREES HAS CHALLENGED YOU TO A SPELL OFF IF YOU WANT TO VERY QUICKLY.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. AWESOME WORK.
>> I GO IN AND GET THIS IN VERY QUICKLY.
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
[I. PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD]
AS NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, AND THAT IS MS. BOWMAN, THE HARTMAN ELEMENTARY STORM CLAIM UPDATE.>> GOOD EVENING. YOU'VE SEEN AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT HARTMAN AND THE HARD WORK OF THE DISTRICT MOVING THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON A LITTLE MORE BORING SIDE OF IT, WHICH IS THE FINANCIAL CLAIM.
I'M GOING TO HAVE JOHN HUGHES GO THROUGH THAT AND THEN I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT A LITTLE FINANCIAL PIECE OF IT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'LL JUST BEGIN BY SAYING THAT THE PROJECT HAS GONE VERY WELL.
I THINK AS WELL AS ANYONE COULD EXPECT, WE'VE HAD GOOD PROGRESS.
THE CONTRACTOR AND INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WRAPPING IT UP THIS SUMMER.
>> OKAY. THIS IS JUST A DIAGRAM SHOWING WHERE THE BIG PART OF THE DAMAGE WAS RIGHT THERE IN THAT LOWER RIGHT-HAND CORNER AND JUST MODERATE DAMAGE IN THE YELLOW AREAS.
[00:40:03]
SORRY. JUST A FEW SHOTS OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AT THE TIME.THEN THIS DEPICTS WHAT WAS ACTUALLY DAMAGED AND THEN THE FULL AREA OF REPLACEMENT BEING A METAL ROOF.
I KNOW YOU ALL SAW THE VIDEOS, SO IT JUST DID A BIG FLIP-FLOP.
YOU GET A LARGER AREA BEYOND THE ACTUAL DAMAGE THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH, THEN JUST THE TYPE OF ROOF SYSTEM THAT IT IS.
THAT'S THE RIDGE UP THERE AT THE BACK.
IT'S JUST A NATURAL POINT WHERE YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE TYPES OF ROOF.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE FLOODING, AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL OF ANY OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS THAT ARE ORGANIC BASED.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED THAT THE SHEET ROCK WAS ABLE TO GET PULLED OUT QUICKLY AND OTHER AREAS THAT COULD BE DRIED WERE DRIED.
DID THAT AND HAD TWO INDEPENDENT LABS, PULL TESTS, SO WE COULD HAVE THAT AS INFORMATION FOR THE PARENTS IF THEY WERE CONCERNED.
ACTUALLY FINISHED THE EMERGENCY AND TEAR OUT WORK ON APRIL 3RD, AND ANTICIPATING CABINETS TO BE IN PLACE BY JULY 31.
LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A LONG LEAD ITEM ON THAT AND ROOF REPLACEMENT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.
[NOISE] THEN THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCOPE OF WORK, WHAT WAS DONE, AND KATIE IS GOING TO VISIT NEXT ABOUT THE MONEY PART.
>> WITH INSURANCE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY WANT US TO PAY THE MONEY OUT OF POCKET AND GET REIMBURSED.
WE DO HAVE A $250,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
TONIGHT YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS AND YOUR BOARD AGENDA AND ACTION ITEMS. I DO HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE 1.686 MILLION, ONCE WE PAY OUT THE COST TO BELFOR AND WE'RE PLANNING ON BELFOR DOING ALL OF THE WORK.
YOU SEE WE HAVE THE ESTIMATED EMERGENCY & TEMPORARY REPAIRS, THE REBUILD, AND THEN THE ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THE SUMMER, SO WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH BELFOR.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO STAY IN THAT EMERGENCY REPAIR CLAUSES IN THE LAW AS FAR AS PROCUREMENT.
WE DISCOVERED, AFTER TALKING TO OUR ARCHITECT, THAT IF WE GO THROUGH A FULL RSP BIDDING SITUATION THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS COMPLETED THIS SUMMER.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TONIGHT, WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THEN MS. FREEMAN, OUR PURCHASING DIRECTOR REACHED OUT TO TASB.
IN BOARD POLICY EDUCATION CODE, I GUESS CHAPTER 44, THE BOARD HAS GIVEN IN BOARD POLICY AUTHORITY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE CARE OF ANY EMERGENCY REPAIRS, SAFETY, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
BUT WHAT HAS NOT BEEN PUT THERE, WE CANNOT WAIVE THE COMPETITIVE PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS, SO TONIGHT WHAT WE HAVE FROM TASB IS A RESOLUTION THAT FOR THIS PROJECT, THE BOARD IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF GETTING THIS WORK COMPLETED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A FULL BIDDING PROCESS.
I DO HAVE MS. FREEMAN HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BELFOR THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR CONTRACTORS, PEOPLE THAT WE TRUST, AND THEY'LL COMPLETE THE WORK.
BUT THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT WILL BE TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THIS PATH.
THEN ALSO, WE WILL BE DOING A MONTHLY REPORT IF THERE'S ANY LARGE CONTRACTS.
RIGHT NOW THE MAIN CONTRACT WE'RE DOING IS JUST WITH BELFOR BECAUSE THEY'LL BE HANDLING ALL THE ACTUAL ROOFING COMPANIES AND THOSE TYPES OF OTHER PIECES OF IT.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY OTHER MAJOR CONTRACTORS, BUT I'LL ASK JOHN.
JOHN HAS ONE MORE SLIDE AFTER THIS ONE.
>> AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY THING WE LACK ARE JUST GETTING THE CABINETS IN PLACE WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY PROCURED THOSE, AND THEY'RE IN PRODUCTION, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE ROOFING.
JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE SCHEDULE.
THE TEMPORARY REPAIRS ALL COMPLETE APRIL 3RD, AND THEN THAT INCLUDED NOT ONLY THE TEAR OUT, BUT THE DRYING AND PUT BACK OF THE SHEET ROCK ITSELF.
THEN AS I MENTIONED, THE REBUILD OF THE INTERIORS, WHICH REALLY COMPRISES THE COMPLETION OF THE CABINET TREE,
[00:45:01]
THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FLOORING WHICH THE MASTIC HOLDING THE FLOORING DOWN JUST DOESN'T LIKE WATER MUCH SO WE'RE GETTING A CLAIM ON THAT.THEN JUST BE PUTTING IN THE CEILING AS SOON AS THE ROOF IS COMPLETED.
ALL ANTICIPATED TO BE DONE BY THE START OF SCHOOL.
>> JUST ONE MORE QUICK THING BEFORE WE LET YOU GUYS DO QUESTIONS.
WE DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN HERE, BUT WE DID HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AT HARTMAN HIGH TENNIS COURTS FENCING WITH THE STORM.
WE'RE WORKING WITH INSURANCE RIGHT NOW ON GETTING THOSE FENCING PIECES REPLACED AS WELL.
IT'S NOT HUGE, SOME OF THE FENCING POSTS WERE BENT, BUT WE'LL BE COMING BACK WITH SOME PROPOSALS ON THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS IN HERE, MR. DAVIS?
>> THE HALTOM HIGH SCHOOL BE A SEPARATE DEDUCTIBLE, THEN ARGUED ONE EVENT.
>> THERE ARE ALL UNDER THE SAME DEDUCTIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME STORM [OVERLAPPING].
>> HAVE I DONE HERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YEAH. WHAT WORK HAS BELFOR DONE FOR US BEFORE AND ARE WE CONFIDENT THIS IS, I MEAN, COMPETITIVE PRICE SINCE WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS?
>> REMEMBER, INSURANCE IS PAYING FOR ALL BUT 250,000, BUT YES, WE ARE USING OUR VENDORS AND WE'VE USED BELFOR I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER LAST TIME WE USE THEM.
>> I THINK IT WAS BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
ONE YEAR WE USED THEM IN A MUCH SMALLER WAY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THEM SO FAR.
>> IS THAT IT? GOOD PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
[J. PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN RENEWAL]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN RENEWAL DR. CLARK [BACKGROUND].>> ACCORDING TO THE TEA WAIVER PROCESS, DISTRICTS ARE TO RENEW THEIR DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WHILE WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE YEAR, WE ARE RENEWING THE PLAN NOW BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL AREAS WHERE WE ARE SEEKING RELIEF.
I THINK THAT IS DUE TO A LOT OF THE RECENT LEGISLATION THAT WHERE THE TEA HAS PROVIDED US WITH SOME MORE DIFFERENT AREAS.
WITH THAT, AND OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE ALSO FOLLOWED SUIT.
I'VE NOTICED RECENTLY THAT GRAPEVINE COLLIERVILLE HAS RENEWED THEIR PLAN, EAGLE MOUNTAIN HAS.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WAIVER PROCESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU WILL RECALL, HOUSE BILL 1842 THAT WAS IN THE 84TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ALLOWED THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PROCESS TO BEGIN.
WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WERE FEW AREAS, BUT WE USED OUR DISTRICT SITE-BASED DECISION-MAKING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE TEE TEACHING FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION COMMITTEE PROCESS TO HELP US IN THAT DEVELOPMENT TO NOT, OF COURSE, WE'RE CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS PART OF THAT PROCESS AND GIVE THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU'VE HAD ACCESS TO THE PLAN TO REVIEW THAT AND TO MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU FEEL THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
THEN WE WILL HAVE TIME TO MAKE ANY REVISIONS AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
THE PROCESS AND THE CONCEPTS THAT WE HAVE WANTED TO EMBRACE WITH THIS DISTRICT OF INNOVATION WAS TO REALLY MAXIMIZE STUDENT LEARNING AND IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY AROUND CALENDARS AND THE WAY THAT WE USE TIME.
BUT TO REALLY PUT MASTERY LEARNING AT THE CENTER OF THAT INTO SAY THAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO NOT NECESSARILY BE BOUND BY SEAT TIME, BUT TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TIME.
IT'S REALLY IRONIC THAT WE HAD TO GO VIRTUAL DURING THIS SPAN OF WHEN WE FIRST EMBRACED THE CONCEPT OF DISTRICT OF INNOVATION.
NOW WHERE WE ARE THAT WE HAVE HAD LITERALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE VIRTUAL TO HELP US WITH LEARNING SO THAT WE WOULD NOT LOSE TIME FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN.
IT'S ALSO TO EMBRACE AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATION AND LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN IN A DIFFERENT MODALITIES AND ALSO TO USE MORE TIERED APPROACHES.
THEN TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY
[00:50:04]
IN AREAS SUCH AS TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.THE PROCESS IS THAT WE USED ARE BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS TIME WE USE THE SITE-BASED DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
THESE WERE THINGS THAT WE DID LAST YEAR IN 2016 AND 17 THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT WE CHOSE NOT TO, WE DID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CALENDAR.
WE DID MAXIMIZE THE USE OF MINUTES AND SAY THAT THERE WERE SOMETIMES EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE SEAT TIME WAS NOT AS IMPORTANT IF STUDENTS COULD SHOW MASTERY.
WE LOOKED AT THE CLASS SIZE RATIO ASPECT, BUT IN 2016-17, WE STILL EMBRACED AND SUPPORTED THE 22 TO ONE SO WE DID NOT CHANGE THAT.
WE DID NOT REALLY WORK ON THE TAKEN ANY LENIENCY OR FLEXIBILITY WITH DISCIPLINE.
WE DID ON THE TEACHER CONTRACT TO SOME DEGREE OF PARTICULARLY AROUND CTE.
BUT THEN WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE 90 PERCENT COMPULSORY WHERE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE SAID THAT THE ATTENDANCE WAS NOT QUITE AS IMPORTANT IF STUDENTS COULD DEMONSTRATE THEIR MASTERY.
THEN TEACHER BENEFITS, WE DID NOT CHANGE THAT AND WE DID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TIME WITH THE TEACHER APPRAISAL.
THESE WERE THE AREAS THAT WE COULD HAVE AND WHERE THE X'S ARE IN THE INITIAL 2016-17, WE REALLY DIDN'T MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE COULD HAVE.
NOW THIS TIME, HOWEVER, WE DID DO SOMETHING.
WE'D STILL SAID SITE-BASED DECISION-MAKING WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LAX ON THAT.
WE LOOKED AT THE UNIFORM SCHOOL START DATE AND WANTED THE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE CALENDAR.
WE WANTED TO STILL SAY THAT WHILE THE STATE DOES REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR US TO GET FUNDED, THAT IF WE HAD STUDENTS THAT COULD DEMONSTRATE MASTERY, WE'D TAKEN ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE-BY-CASE BASIS THAT WE COULD RELAX THE MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE CLASS SIZE RATIO THIS TIME AND IN DOING THAT, THERE IS A WAIVER PROCESS THAT SCHOOLS HAVE TO EVERY TIME WE GO OVER 22 TO ONE IN GRADES K THROUGH FOUR, WE HAVE TO FILL OUT A WAIVER, GET IT APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND SEND AND THAT'S EVERY TIME.
WITH THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION, YOU CAN ALLOW A ONE WAIVER TO BE DONE AND THEN THAT WOULD SUFFICE.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO, WHICH WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE THIRD GRADE AND BELOW, WHERE YOU COULD SUSPEND THEM AND IN THE PAST UNDER TEA RAGS, YOU CAN'T BUT WITH A WAIVER PROCESS AND THE DOI, YOU CAN.
WE HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT AND I'M GOING TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN A MINUTE ON THAT ONE AND 90 PERCENT RULE.
WE'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT THE TEACHER BENEFIT WE DID, WE HAVE NOT WAIVED ANY OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
TEACHER APPRAISAL WE HAVE ON THAT IN THAT TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FULL CYCLE OF T-TEST.
WE'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND TEACHER CERTIFICATION WE'VE EXPANDED OUR WAIVER PROCESS BY GOING BEYOND CTE TO INCLUDE FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND THEN THE ABILITY TO HIRE TEACHERS THAT ARE IN AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION WHERE WE'RE HAVING MORE DIFFICULT TIME FINDING STAFF.
WE ARE ALSO ON THE HEALTH ADVISORY WHICH YOU KNOW AS A SHAC COMMITTEE, WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS.
HERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS, BUT WE HAVE 15 DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES OF TAKING MORE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN AND USING THE DOI WHERE WE COULD HAVE SOME RELAXATION.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW MORE FOCUS ON MASTERY RATHER THAN SEAT TIME, MORE FLEXIBILITY IN ESTABLISHING THE FIRST DAY OF
[00:55:04]
THE CALENDAR WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW ON THEM.MORE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST THE MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION AND WHERE WE COULD PERSONALIZE LEARNING MORE.
MORE FLEXIBILITY TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION, CTE STEM COURSES, ABILITY TO EMPLOY PART-TIME PROFESSIONALS TO TEACH SPECIALTY COURSES.
ALLOWING TEACHERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY TO BE IF THEY HAVE A DEGREE IN CERTIFICATION, THAT WE COULD USE IT PARTICULARLY FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
ALLOWS THE DISTRICT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL IN DETERMINING CLASS SIZE WHERE PRE-K THROUGH FOUR, WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHERE WE COULD EXCEED 22-1 IF WE HAD TO IN INSTANCES, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENED LIKE TOWARDS AFTER JANUARY OR FEBRUARY WHERE WE JUST COULD NOT HIRE ANOTHER TEACHER AT THAT TIME.
ALLOWS THE PRINCIPAL TO DELEGATE THE DUTIES OF THE CAMPUS BEHAVIOR COORDINATOR TO WHERE THE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
THIS ALLOWS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, FOR INSTANCE, TO SPREAD IT OUT OVER FOUR MULTIPLE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN AWARDING CREDIT OR FINAL GRADES TO A STUDENT WHO EARNED A PASSING GRADE, EVEN IF THEY'VE MISSED, IF THEY HAD 75 PERCENT OF THEIR DAYS DUE TO THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE SOME KIDS WHO, DUE TO HEALTH REASONS, THAT THEY HAVE MISSED MORE DAYS THAN WHAT THEY NEED TO, BUT THEY CAN STILL DEMONSTRATE MASTERY OF THE CONTENT.
IT GIVES US TIME TO ALSO, ON PROBATION WE CAN EXTEND THE PROBATIONARY CONTRACT, OWN EXPERIENCE TEACHERS TO TWO YEARS IF WE NEED TO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CHANGE SCHOOLS FROM ONE CAMPUS TO ANOTHER CAMPUS AND THAT PRINCIPAL WANTS ANOTHER YEAR FOR A PROBATIONARY CONTRACT.
MORE LATITUDE FOR THE DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH PROTOCOLS FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN GRADES THREE AND BELOW AND WE'VE HAD SOME SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE HAD SOME EXTREME BEHAVIOR CASES WITH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, LIKE KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, WHERE WE'VE NEEDED TO TAKE THOSE STEPS.
MORE FLEXIBILITY ON LIKE I SAID, HOW WE EXEMPT TEACHERS FROM A FULL APPRAISAL AND MORE FLEXIBILITY AROUND DESIGNING OUR OWN MENTOR PROGRAM AND DEVIATING FROM, BECAUSE WE DO A LOT FOR NEW TEACHERS AND MENTORING TEACHERS WHERE WE WANT MORE FLEXIBILITY.
ALLOWS ALSO FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, SRO OR SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICER TO REMOVE A PERSON WHO HAS DISTURBED AN ASSEMBLY OR FOOTBALL GAME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE FULL DUE PROCESS AT THAT MINUTE AND THEY I CAN EXPEL A PERSON AND THEN GIVE THEM THEIR DUE PROCESS AFTERWARDS.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HOW WE'VE EXPANDED THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION AND TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE OF WHAT NOW THE LAW ALLOWS US TO DO UNDER THIS PROCESS.
HERE IS THE STEPS THAT WE FOLLOWED.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR T COMMITTEE, WITH U SUBCOMMITTEES.
WE'VE PRESENTED THIS TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO GET INPUT AND PROVE THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK IN MAY.
HERE'S OUR NEXT STEPS THAT WILL MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES.
IT'S STILL IN A DRAFT FORM, SO ANY INPUT THAT WE HAVE FROM THIS PUBLIC HEARING, ANY OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THAT FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES WE CAN DO THAT.
WE'LL PRESENT THE PLAN AT THE MAY BOARD MEETING FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION.
IF IT'S APPROVED AT THAT TIME, THEN WE WILL SEND THE APPROVED RENEWAL PLAN TO THE TEA, THEN WE'LL POST IT TO THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS,.
>> BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL START OUT ON THIS SIDE.
YOU WILL SEE ME, DO YOU HAVE ANY DOWN HERE? GOOD PRESENTATION AS ALWAYS [OVERLAPPING]. THANK YOU.
THIS REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:00:01]
NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT ON THESE TYPE ITEMS, I DO LIKE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS.I DON'T SEE ANYONE GIVEN THE TIME, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY STANDING UP.
AS THERE IS NO ONE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THIS PUBLIC HEARING, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. CLARK AND THE DISTRICT SITE-BASED COMMITTEE AND EVERYONE WHO SPENT HOURS AND MONTHS OF TIME REVIEWING AND COMMITTING THEIR WORK TO THIS AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
>> IF YOU GUYS COULD HANG WITH ME, THIS IS THE EXCITING PART AS THE MINISTER SAYS,
[K. REQUIRED ANNUAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF BOARD TRAINING HOURS]
REQUIRED ANNUAL ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD TRAINING HOURS.UNDER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK COMPLETING REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION EACH YEAR OF SERVICE IS A BASIC OBLIGATION EXPECTATION OF ANY SITTING BOARD MEMBERS, AS BOARD PRESIDENT, I'M REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF EACH MEMBER WHO'S COMPLETED, EXCEEDED, OR IS DEFICIENT IN MEETING THIS REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING ARE MEASURED AS OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THE TRUSTEES ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO OUR TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS OR HER PREVIOUS TRAINING IS APPLICABLE.
THERE ARE SEVEN TRAINING AREAS FOR BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION, LOCAL DISTRICT ORIENTATION, ORIENTATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, POST ELECTIVE UPDATE TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, TEAM-BUILDING, ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION, EVALUATING STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SETTING GOALS, IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING ABUSE, TRAFFICKING, AND OTHER MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.
FIRST-YEAR BOARD MEMBERS, BRENDA SANDERS WISE AND MATT WOMBLE, HAVE COMPLETED LOCAL DISTRICT ORIENTATION TRAINING AND ORIENTATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE TRAININGS FOR THE TIME PERIOD COVERED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS HAVE COMPLETED THE ANNUAL TEAM-BUILDING TRAINING, THE ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER TRAINING AS REQUIRED FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD.
I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS HAVE COMPLETED OR EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE 2021-2022 TIMEFRAME, SO GOOD JOB BOARD.
I SAW A TA PAST THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
SOMETHING TO DO WITH SAFETY OR SOMETHING AGAIN, ANOTHER HOUR-AND-A-HALF TRAINING OR WHEREVER IT IS.
BUT A LEGISLATURE DIDN'T DO THOSE TRAININGS, ONLY WE DO THOSE.
>> WE [OVERLAPPING] MAKE THE RULES BUT NOT FOR THEM. [LAUGHTER]
>> CAN WE REQUIRE THEM TO DO TRAINING?
>> I WOULD LOVE THAT IT WAS A RECIPROCAL BUT APPARENTLY DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY [LAUGHTER].
WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
BUT WE HAD A FULL EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE STARTED.
[D. CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK THERE AND WE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL WE WERE READY TO COME OUT HERE. BUT WE DIDN'T GET IT ALL DONE.WE DO NEED TO COMPLETE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS BEFORE WE COMPLETE OUR ACTION ITEM.
WE WANTED TO COME OUT HERE AND START THIS SO THAT OUR AWARD WINNERS AND OTHER FOLKS COULD GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE THEIR EVENING AND GET BACK TO HOME AND FOOD AND BED.
BUT WE'RE TAKING A BREAK TO GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
>> I WOULD GUESS SOMEWHERE, WHERE'S KATY? I WOULD SAY HALF AN HOUR AT THE MOST. IS THAT FAIR?
>> YES. NO, DON'T HOLD US TO IT, BUT THAT'S IT.
THE TIME IS 7:51. NO, THAT'S NOT THE ONE.
[LAUGHTER] WE WILL NOW CONVENE INTO A CLOSED SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551 SPECIFICALLY 0.074 PERSONNEL, 0.070, REAL PROPERTY, 0.071, CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY AND 0.076 SECURITY.
[NOISE] THE TIME IS 8:50 AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION, AND LET'S SEE THAT CHANNEL WE WERE ON.
WE WERE ON SEPARATE ACTIONS AND BEFORE WE'RE CONSIDERING THE PERSONNEL ITEMS,
[L.1. Consider Personnel Items]
I WANT TO ANNOUNCE DR. STINSON ACCEPTED 84 RESIGNATIONS AND SEVEN RETIREMENTS.DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THE PERSONNEL ITEMS?
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVE AND ADOPT ALL PERSONNEL ITEMS AND CONTRACT RENEWALS AS PRESENTED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> MOTION BY MR. DILKS AND SECOND BY?
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. KUNKEL.
ANY DISCUSSION? I DO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION THAT I WANT TO SAY ON THIS VERY QUICKLY.
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES HAVE MINISTERIAL AND DISCRETIONARY ACTS.
MINISTERIAL ARE ONES THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE CALLED RUBBER STAMPS.
IT'S NOT REALLY THAT, BUT THIS IS NOT A MINISTERIAL ACT, IT IS AS DISCRETIONARY ACT.
IT IS SOMETHING THE BOARD CAN VOTE FOR OR IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD CAN VOTE AGAINST.
I KNOW THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN ON HERE, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER VOTED DOWN ONE OF THESE AND I SUSPECT THAT IT HAS
[01:05:05]
BECOME THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS BOARD WILL ACCEPT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.THE POINT BEING THAT IF IT COMES TO THE BOARD, NOBODY'S EMPLOYMENT STARTS UNTIL AFTER THIS BOARD VOTES AND THAT NEEDS TO SOMEHOW SINK BACK INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR DISTRICT TO KNOW THAT NOBODY'S HIRED UNTIL THIS DAY AND THIS VOTE HAPPENS.
SECOND THING IS PART OF WHAT WE DO FOR PART OF OUR HIRES, NOT ALL, BUT IF WE HAVE A COMMITTEE AND OUR COMMITTEE MEETS AND THAT COMMITTEE, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECOMMITMENT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A SOLEMN DUTY WHEN YOU SERVE ON ONE OF THESE COMMITTEES TO DO RIGHT BY THE STUDENTS, TO DO RIGHT BY THE PARENTS, TO DO RIGHT BY THE SCHOOL, AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
BY DOING THAT, THAT MEANS HIRING THE VERY BEST PERSON THAT YOU CAN FOR THE JOB, BAR NONE, THAT'S IT.
THAT'S ALL THE COMMITTEE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE FACT THAT THE COMMITTEE DID THEIR VERY BEST JOB AND THAT THEY WERE DOING THEIR SOLEMN DUTY.
I'M JUST 107 BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT THINGS THAT COULD BE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT AND MIGHT NOT, IT WOULD JUST BE UP TO YOU TO LOOK AT TO SEE IF WE COULD DO SOME THINGS.
ANY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOULD JUST MAKE A DISCLOSURE BASED ON THREE THINGS; THE WORK HISTORY THEY'VE HAD WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW.
SECOND THING IS ANY PERSONAL CONNECTIONS THEY HAVE WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INTERVIEWED.
THAT IS, DID THEY GO TO CHURCH WITH THEM? HAVE THEY BEEN ON SOME CLUB OR SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION WITH THEM IN THE PAST? THE THIRD THING IS BUSINESS CONNECTIONS.
NOW, IT HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH OF A THING SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AS IT WAS WHEN I STARTED BUT I WANT TO FIRST STARTED, WE HAD A LOT OF MULTI-MARKETING SCHEMES THAT WERE GOING ON AND PEOPLE WHO WERE HIGH UP HAD PEOPLE UNDERNEATH THEM THAT WOULD HOLD ON TO THEM AND THEY MADE MONEY BASED ON PEOPLE THAT WERE BELOW THEM.
THERE'S OTHER BUSINESS CONNECTIONS THAT COULD BE OUT THERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO SERVE ON A COMMITTEE, WE WANT A DISCLOSURE THAT SAYS THIS IS MY WORK EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PERSON, THIS IS MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PERSON, AND THIS IS ANY FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT OR INCENTIVE THAT I HAVE RELATED TO THIS PERSON.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN'T SERVE.
IN FACT, A PRINCIPLE THAT'S WORKED WITH THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR A LONG TIME MIGHT BE THE PERFECT PERSON TO SERVE.
BUT I THINK THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS OUGHT TO BE FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT, SHOULD SOMEBODY ACTUALLY SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE? OR MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT BE BETTER TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR OBJECT TO HEAD ON AND TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FULFILL THEIR SOLEMN DUTY.
THE SECOND THING WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS IF THERE MIGHT BE SOME DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME THE COMMITTEE VOTES AND WHEN IT BECOMES "FINAL".
I THINK THAT WE COULD SAY THAT MAYBE 48 HOURS OR 72 HOURS OR THREE SCHOOL DAYS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AFTER THE VOTE IS WHEN IT BECOMES FINAL, AND DURING THAT TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT TO CONSIDER MAYBE HAVING SOME WAY FOR A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO REPORT ANONYMOUSLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT HE OR SHE FELT LIKE MAYBE THERE WAS AN ANOMALY IN THE HIRING PROCESS THAT PERHAPS IN THAT PERSON'S OPINION, MAYBE THAT COMMITTEE DIDN'T DO THEIR BEST WORK IN THAT RECOMMENDATION AND FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE THE VOTE BECOMES A "FINAL" FROM THE COMMITTEE, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD THEN HAVE A CHANCE IF THEY SO CHOSE AFTER THEY REVIEWED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS PRESENTED AS TO WHETHER THEY WANTED TO INTERVIEW THE COMMITTEE YOU ARE TAKING THE ACTION TO TO ONCE AGAIN SEE IF THIS WAS IMPORTANT.
MAYBE THE SUPERINTENDENT THINKS MAYBE IT'S JUST SOUR GRAPES BY ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T GET THEIR PERSON AND DECIDES JUST TO GO AHEAD.
BUT THAT WAY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE WEIGHT OF A "FINAL" RECOMMENDATION ON A SUPERINTENDENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD THEN TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT THIS PERSON OR PERSONS SAID TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED.
THE NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE AGAIN IS THAT WE DO SOME TRAINING OR WE SEND OUT SOME COMMUNICATION TO ALL OUR STAFF IS THAT UNTIL THIS BOARD VOTES, THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL, IT'S PRIVATE, AND IT IS WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE TO RELEASE THIS INFORMATION TO PEOPLE OR TO HAVE THAT POTENTIAL PERSONS START CONTACTING PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT AND REPRESENTING THAT THEY ARE IN FACT HIRED WHEN THEY'RE NOT.
[01:10:01]
I'M JUST ONE OF SEVEN.I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM USES THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER AT THINGS THAT YOU DO.
I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PERFECT SYSTEM, BUT THERE DO SEEM TO BE SOME FLAWS AND I REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES HIRING YOUR FRIEND MIGHT FEEL GOOD BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.
THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
JUST THOSE TO CONSIDER IS AGAIN, I'M GOING TO RE-EMPHASIZE, I'M JUST ONE OF SEVEN.
BUT IF WE CAN MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER AND MAKE IT, I'M SURE DR. STINSON HAS AN ABILITY TO MAKE HER BEST DECISION AND WE CAN THEN KNOW THAT OUR COMMITTEES ARE MAKING THEIR BEST DECISION AND THAT OUR PERSONNEL ARE SCHOOLED AND TRAINED IN KNOWING HOW TO KEEP INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING CONFIDENTIAL, I THINK THAT WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER SERVED.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE AND ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
>> WELL, CAN SOMEONE OF US SPEAK? [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH, I'M SO SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
>> NO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT IN EXPLORING ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS THAT YOU JUST SAID.
>> THANK YOU, MR DREES. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE 100 PERCENT OF EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
I HAVEN'T ALWAYS LIKED THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING STAFF.
AT TIMES, IT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS BUT SOME POSITIONS, IT'S NOT.
I THINK THE CONFIDENTIALITY FACTOR IS WHAT IS REALLY DISTURBING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN POSITION THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE PUT IN AT TIMES, IT PUTS THIS BOARD IN A BAD POSITION AND FOR THAT, I THINK IT'S REGRETFUL MANY TIMES.
IN MY ALMOST 16 YEARS OF DOING THIS, THERE'S A FEW TIMES I'M SURE THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN INFORMATION THAN I KNEW BEFORE A DECISION HAD BEEN MADE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME TYPE OF TIMELINE SAY BY SUMMER TO COME BACK WITH SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHETHER IT BE POLICY OR PROCEDURES THAT DR. STINSON IS GOING TO ESTABLISH, SAY HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO FROM NOW ON BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE, IT ALL FALLS BACK TO HER RESPONSIBILITY.
>> I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
IF I DON'T LIKE IT, I'LL TELL HER AND I'LL VOTE APPROPRIATELY IF NECESSARY.
BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T WANT TO TIE THE HANDS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO TIE THE MOUTH OF SOME PEOPLE IN THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING BUT I SUPPORT A 100 PERCENT, LET'S GO FORWARD, LET'S LEARN FROM THESE MISTAKES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND I'LL TRUST DR.
STINSON TO SET AND PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES THAT WE CAN AVOID THAT TRAP AGAIN.
>> I'LL SAY THAT, AND I'M THE NEW GUY HERE SO I'M FIGURING THIS OUT AS I GO, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PRINCIPALS AND ATHLETIC COORDINATORS AND BAND DIRECTORS ON EACH CAMPUS HAVE AUTONOMY TO CHOOSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM.
BUT IN THAT SAME VEIN, THERE'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE LEADERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER CABINET AND WE WOULD HOPE FOR A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO AND THE BUCK DOES STOP WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I THINK THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, SOME OF THE DISCLOSURES FOR A COMMITTEE, IN MY PROFESSION THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HELD TO.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING THAT'S OUT OF THE NORM, I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF LINE, I THINK THAT IT ALLOWS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND I THINK SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WOULD BE VERY GOOD FOR THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT TRANSPARENT AND TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE'S ON EQUAL FOOTING.
I SAY THAT I KNOW IT'S VERY NUANCED.
I'M PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE BECAUSE I FULLY SUPPORT A PRINCIPAL ON HIS CAMPUS BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE WITH THE PEOPLE HE'S GOING TO BE STUCK ON CAMPUS WITH.
BUT THE BUCK DOES STOP WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THERE HAS TO BE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO SOME OF THOSE MEASURES THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD MEASURES AND GOOD TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DREES. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT OFF THE DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND, AND IT'S UNANIMOUS.
NEXT IS CONSIDERED THE 2022-2023.
[L.2. Consider and Take Possible Action to Terminate Probationary Contract Effective at the End of the School Year]
LET'S CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION AND TERMINATE PROBATIONARY CONTRACT EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE BOARD TO TERMINATE THE PROBATIONARY CONTRACT WITH DEBORAH CHERRY EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, FIGHTING SUCH ACTION TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE DISTRICT AND DIRECTOR SUPERINTENDENT TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THIS ACTION TO THE EMPLOYEE.
>> BY MR. KUNKEL. ANY DISCUSSION?
[01:15:02]
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, AND IT'S UNANIMOUS.BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
THE BIRDVILE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES WANTS TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.
OUR BACKING WILL BE REFLECTED IN A FEW MINUTES, I SUSPECT, AND AN ACTION THE BOARD WILL TAKE REGARDING THE '22-'23 PAY RAISE FOR STAFF, THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR SALARIES AND FUTURE RETIREMENT INCOME FOR YEARS TO COME.
I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN, NOT ONLY IMPACT THEIR SALARIES NEXT YEAR, BUT ALSO FUTURE RETIREMENT INCOME.
AT THIS TIME IT'S PREDICTED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE WILL BE LEAVING THE TEACHING PROFESSION.
[L.3. Consider 2022-23 Employee Compensation Increase and Pay Grade Adjustments]
COLLEGES IN TEXAS ARE PRODUCING ABOUT 18,000 STUDENTS A YEAR IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION, YOU CAN DO THE MATH.THERE'S MORE REASONS AS TO WHY WE NORMALLY HAVE ABOUT 40,000 AND WHY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY 30 TO 60 THIS YEAR.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A TEACHER SHORTAGE CRISIS AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT THERE'S REASONS FOR ALL THAT, BUT WE KNOW ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS ISN'T ATTRACTIVE AS A PROFESSION AS IT ONCE WAS, IS THE OVER-REGULATION THAT IS COMING DOWN FROM AUSTIN AND THE FEDS IS IMPEDING OUR ABILITIES, THAT THERE ARE TEACHERS TO DO WHAT THEY WERE CALLED TO DO AND THAT IS TEACH.
WE AS A BOARD, WE'LL NEED TO WORK AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO LET OUR STATE LEADERSHIP KNOW AND ADDRESS THE UNNECESSARY BURDEN OF MANDATE AFTER MANDATE ON OUR EDUCATORS.
AS A RESULT OF THESE MANDATES, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN BURDENED WITH EXTRA DEMANDS, INCREASING TESTING REQUIREMENTS, AND IT IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH.
BUT TONIGHT, WE SUPPORT OUR BISD TEACHERS AND STAFF AND THIS BOARD APPLAUDS YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE IMPACT YOU HAVE ON STUDENTS LIVES.
YOU ARE THE REASON THAT BISD SHINES.
WITH THAT, I WILL CONSIDER A 2022-23 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION INCREASE IN PAY GRADE ADJUSTMENT.
>> IN LIGHT OF PRESIDENT TOLBERT'S STATEMENT, I DO MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE A THREE PERCENT OF RESPECTIVE MIDPOINT COMPENSATION INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ALONG WITH RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE 2022-23 FISCAL YEAR AT A TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF 6,443,000.
>> MOTION BY MR. DAVIS. SECOND.
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO MS. BRENT SANDERS WALLACE.
>> YOU HAVE THE THIRD. AT THIS POINT IN THE DISCUSSION?
>> I'LL FIRST SAY THAT SINCE MY WIFE IS A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT, I MUST ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE.
I HATE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE MOTION AND BASED ON LAST PUBLIC SESSION, I HAVE A FEELING WHERE THIS IS GOING, SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY.
>> THIS IS NOT JUST FOR OUR TEACHERS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPENSATION PACKAGES FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS, FOR CAFETERIA WORKERS, FRONTLINE, EVEN SOME CHANGES IN SOME SALARIES FOR OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF.
WE GOT TO REWARD THIS MANY TOUGH COUPLE YEARS FOR OUR PEOPLE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW MANY TESTS, OFTEN SINCE DOWN HERE.
WE CAN'T CONTROL A LOT OF ISSUES AND THINGS THEY DO WITH IT, BUT WE CAN CONTROL A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE LOVED WE CAN DO FOR US TO TRY TO COMPENSATE THEM TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE VALUE.
PRESIDENT TOLBERT EMPHASIZE THAT IT HELPS THEM IN THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS.
WE'RE DOING SOME MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS IN THE UPPER YEARS OF OUR TEACHERS THAT'S BEEN HERE, 15, 20, 25 YEARS.
THAT'LL MAKE A BIG IMPACT UPON THEM IF THEY DO RETIRE.
HOPE THEY'RE HANGING AROUND TO THREE, OR FOUR, FIVE YEARS.
BUT IT'LL MAKE A BIG IMPACT UPON WHAT THEIR RETIREMENT IS GOING TO BE FOR THEM.
WE'RE RECOGNIZING IT, WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE.
WE ARE NOT THE HIGHEST PAID SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE AREA, NOT THE LOWEST PAID.
WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STAY IN THE MIDDLE, BE COMPETITIVE, TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND CREATE A CULTURE WHERE THEY'RE SHOWN THAT THEY'RE VALUED, AND WE KNOW THEIR JOB IS HARD AND THOSE ARE THE GREAT TASK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE PERCENT INCREASE.
IT WAS THE MOST, I THINK IT WAS.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OF THE MONIES THAT WE GET FROM AUSTIN.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN FIX THIS IS GIVE ME ANOTHER 400 OR 500 STUDENTS.
IT'LL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHAT WE CAN DO.
OF COURSE, OUR STAFF IS DOING THAT.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS AS FAR AS OPEN-ENROLLMENT, PRE-K, MAKING THEM MORE AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO INTO A BUDGET SESSIONS,
[01:20:03]
WE START LOOKING AT NEXT FEW MONTHS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT OF OUR RESERVES, OUR SAVINGS TO KEEP FUNDING THIS.OUR TEACHERS ARE VALUABLE, OUR CUSTODIANS ARE VALUABLE.
THE LADIES AND MEN THAT COOK FOR OUR CHILDREN, TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS, THEY'RE VALUABLE, NOT JUST FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT UP AND DOWN THE LINE.
VERY VALUABLE IN WHAT THEY DO TO KEEP THIS DISTRICT GOING.
I WISH IT WAS MORE BUT WE AS A BOARD HAVE WORKED HARD IN SOME BUDGET SESSIONS, THIS IS DOABLE, BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FOREVER. IT'S TRULY NOT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A TOTAL CHANGE OF HOW COMPENSATION THAT AUSTIN PAYS US.
WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT WE ONLY GET PAID BASED UPON ATTENDANCE, BUT WE HIRE PEOPLE BASED UPON HOW MANY ENROLL.
IF OUR ATTENDANCE GOES DOWN ONE PERCENT, AND IT HAS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I'VE GOT A HIGHER ENOUGH TEACHERS IN CASE THEY ALL SHOW UP AT THE SAME TIME.
IT DON'T ALWAYS HAPPEN THOUGH, SOME THINGS NEED TO CHANGE THERE, IN THE FUNDING PRINCIPLE.
I CAN ALSO REMEMBER WHENEVER THE STATE USED TO PAY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF WHAT WE DO HERE TO OPERATE OUR DISTRICT.
BIG STEP, A STEP OF FAITH, BUT IT'S ALSO A STEP OF TRYING TO TELL OUR PEOPLE, ''YOU'RE PART OF THE TEAM, YOU'RE PART OF THE FAMILY.
WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TAKE CARE OF YOU.'' I HOPE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT EASY TO SAY, ''I'M GOING TO PULL SOME MONEY OUT OF SAVINGS FOR THE RAINY DAY, BUT MAYBE THE RAINY DAY IS HERE.'' I WISH AUSTIN WOULD USE SOME OF THEIR RAINY DAY FUND.
>> WHEN I RETIRED, AND RAN FOR THE BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY PUSH FOR, WAS US TO LOOK AT OUR ENDING TEACHER SALARIES BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE TEACHERS AND THEIR FUTURE, THEIR RETIREMENT.
THIS MOVE THAT WE'RE MAKING TONIGHT IF IT GETS APPROVED, WILL BE ADDRESSING THAT.
IT HAS BEEN 19 YEARS SINCE RETIRED TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COST OF LIVING RAISE, A COLA, COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
MAYBE THESE TEACHERS WHO ARE AT THE END OF THEIR CAREER REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BEFORE THEY RETIRE BECAUSE THIS MONEY THAT THEY WILL SEE, THE LONGER THAT THEY WORK, THE MORE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WORK AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
>> GOOD WORDS. EVERYBODY IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IT'S SIX -ZERO WITH ONE ABSTENTION, AS NOTED EARLIER.
NOW WE NEED TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD REGARDING EMERGENCY PURCHASING.
[L.4. Consider Resolution of the Board Regarding Emergency Purchasing]
>> MR. PRESIDENT I MOVE THE BOARD ADOPT THE RESOLUTION REGARDING EMERGENCY PURCHASING AS PRESENTED.
>> GOT A MOTION BY MR. DAVIS. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> IT'S BY MR. DUKES. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, AND IT'S UNANIMOUS.
NEXT IS CONSIDER A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESTORATION AT HARTMAN ELEMENTARY. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> MR. PRESIDENT I MOVE THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT
[L.5. Consider Budget Amendment for Emergency Restoration at Hardeman Elementary]
FOR REPAIRS AT HARTMAN ELEMENTARY AS PRESENTED.>> MOTION BY MR. DUKES. SECOND?
>> THAT'S BY MR. DAVIS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR AND IT'S UNANIMOUS.
ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED WITH ONE MOTION UNLESS THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA BY A TRUSTEE FOR DISCUSSION.
[M. CONSENT ITEMS]
DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA?>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ALL ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> MS. SANDERS WALLACE HAD THE MOTION.
>> MR. DUKES. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS TO THE BOARD OR REPORTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, THIS INFORMATION TO THE BOARD HAVE BEEN MADE
[N. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS TO THE BOARD]
AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW AND BOARD BOOK.DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING THESE REPORTS? I DON'T SEE ANY.
THE BOARD HAS A BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, MAY 17TH AT 5:30.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE CLOSET.
[O. FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS]
OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH, HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.CLOSED SESSION WILL BEGIN AT 5:30 AND OPEN SESSION WILL BEGIN AT 7:00.
ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR NAMING OF SOME AREAS IN THE DISTRICT, AS PER OUR POLICY, WE PUT TOGETHER A FACILITY NAMING COMMITTEE, AND I'VE ASKED MR. WOMBLE, MS. SANDERS WALLACE, IF THEY WOULD JOIN ME IN SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE.
WE HOPE TO MEET FAIRLY QUICKLY, CONSIDER THAT REQUEST AND ANOTHER REQUEST THAT MAY COME IN IN THE MEANTIME,
[01:25:03]
AND THEN REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD BECAUSE ULTIMATELY ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BOARD SELECTION.>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED, WHAT NEEDS TO BE NAMED?
RICHARD HAS ASKED, WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A THING, BUT THE TRACK FACILITY, IS THAT THE RIGHT NAME FOR IT? I THINK IT'S CALLED THE TRACK FACILITY.
BE NAMED FOR A COUPLE OF FOLKS, AND SO WE'LL BE ADDRESSING THAT AND SAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO WE HAVE POLICY ON THAT? I GUESS A COMMITTEE FOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, WE DO. [OVERLAPPING] LUCKILY WE DO.
WITH THAT, I'LL HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
>> OKAY, MS. SANDERS WALLACE, A SECOND.
[OVERLAPPING] THE TIME IS 9:12.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.