[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
>> THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 REGULAR BOARD MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
[B. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS]
THE TIME IS 5:30, AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.DR. STINSON, PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE MEETING WAS DULY CALLED AND A NOTICE OF THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
>> YES, MR. DREES. WE DID POST AND ADVERTISE THE MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
>> WE WILL NOW CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION AS
[C. CLOSED SESSION]
AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS CODE, 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 5:31. WELL, GOOD EVENING.
APOLOGIES FOR US BEING A FEW MINUTES LATE.
[D. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]
[NOISE] THE TIME IS 7:07, AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION.[E. INTRODUCTION OF MEETING]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL LISA WALKER, PRINCIPAL OF HOLIDAY HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY TO INTRODUCE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT DREES, DR. STINSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE TWO AMAZING FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS FROM HOLIDAY HEIGHTS WHO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES AND THEN SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STUDENT EXPRESSION.
JONAH YBARRA IS A FIFTH-GRADE STUDENT GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES.
HE'S JOINED THIS EVENING BY HIS MOTHER, REBECCA YBARRA, HIS GRANDMOTHER, TONY LOPEZ, AND HIS GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, MARIA DE GALATO.
THEN TAREN NYGAARD, ANOTHER FIFTH GRADER IS GOING TO SHARE HER STUDENT EXPRESSION.
SHE IS JOINED BY HER MOTHER AND FATHER AJ AND AMBER NYGARD.
IF YOU'RE ALL READY, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND?
>> HI. MY NAME IS TAREN NYGAARD AND I'VE BEEN AT HOLIDAY HEIGHTS FOR BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE.
I EVEN TOOK SPEECH THERAPY THERE WHEN I WAS TWO.
I'VE NEVER REALLY WRITTEN A SPEECH IF YOU COULDN'T TELL, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT HOLIDAY HEIGHTS IS A GREAT SCHOOL.
I LOVE THE LUNCHES, ESPECIALLY THE SUNBUTTER SANDWICHES.
BUT THE ONLY TWO THINGS I CARE ABOUT MORE THAN THE SUNBUTTER SANDWICHES ARE THE TEACHERS AND THE TIME I SPEND WITH MY FRIENDS.
I KNOW THIS MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE CRAZY, BUT THE TEACHERS ARE MY FAVORITE.
I LOVE HOW THEY, SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH ME, AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MY DAY.
THE TEACHERS HELP MAKE ME WHO I AM.
EVERY DAY WHEN I WALK IN, I HAVE SMILING FACES WELCOMING ME INTO THE SCHOOL, IT BRIGHTENS MY DAY, AND WHEN I GET TO CLASS, ALL OF THE TEACHERS SAY HELLO.
WHEN I GET A CHANCE, I GO SEE MY PREVIOUS TEACHERS.
SOME WEREN'T EVEN MY TEACHERS, BUT THEY STILL SAY HI EVERY DAY.
I AM AMAZED HOW CHIPPER THEY ARE AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE TEACHING A BUNCH OF KIDS FOR EIGHT HOURS CAN BE HARD.
I WISH I COULD STAY HERE FOREVER.
I REALLY HOPE ALL SCHOOLS ARE LIKE HOLIDAY HEIGHTS SO THE STUDENTS THERE CAN LOVE THEIR SCHOOL THE SAME WAY I DO. [APPLAUSE]
>> YOUR FIRST SPEECH WAS EXCELLENT.
COULD I COULD I GET A COPY OF THAT? THANK YOU.
[F. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS]
>> WE'VE NOW COME TO THE TIME FOR WORDS AND RECOGNITIONS.
MR. THOMAS, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. LOVE IT.
>> WE DO. IT IS AN EXCITING EVENING, AND YOU CAN TELL BY THE CROWD THAT WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THIS EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO CALL ON MR. DANNY DIETRICH.
HE WILL COME AND LEAD OUR FIRST TWO RECOGNITIONS.
[00:05:10]
PRESIDENT DREES AND BOARD, DR. STINSON AND CABINET MEMBERS, WHAT A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME EXCITING NEWS ABOUT OUR MUSICIANS IN THE DISTRICT.
EACH FALL OVER 70,000 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BEGIN THE ALL-STATE AUDITION PROCESS.
ONLY 1,810 OF THOSE ULTIMATELY ARE SELECTED AND REHEARSE AND PERFORM DURING THE ANNUAL TEXAS MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION CLINIC CONVENTION IN ONE OF THE 18 TEXAS ALL-STATE ENSEMBLES.
IT TAKES AN INTENSE LEVEL OF FOCUS, WORK ETHIC, MUSICAL SKILL, AND TALENT TO ACHIEVE THIS HIGHEST OF HONORS FOR A TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIAN.
IT IS CLEAR THAT PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC HAS NUMEROUS BENEFITS WITH ONE OF THOSE BEING STRENGTHENED COGNITIVE AND REASONING SKILLS RESULTING IN IMPROVED TESTING SCORES.
ALTHOUGH THE 2024 TEXAS SAT AVERAGE SCORE WAS 1004 AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WAS 1024, THE 2024 TEXAS ALL-STATE AVERAGE WAS 1,299.
THAT IS AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
BIRDVILLE ISD IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE 18 STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT ACHIEVED THE HONOR OF BECOMING A 2025 TEXAS ALL-STATE MUSICIAN.
THESE STUDENTS PERSEVERED THROUGH MULTIPLE AUDITIONS ON THE DISTRICT, REGION, AND AREA LEVELS WITH MOST BEGINNING THE MUSICAL JOURNEY THIS PAST SUMMER.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE ARE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE IN OUR DISTRICT TO HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF MUSIC EDUCATORS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, WHO GUIDED THESE STUDENTS TO SUCH A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE.
IF YOU'RE A TEACHER IN BIRDVILLE OF ONE OF THESE STUDENTS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND, OR AT LEAST IF YOU'RE STANDING WAVE AT ALL OF US SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU? [APPLAUSE] OUR EXPERIENCES IS THAT IF THESE STUDENTS MADE ALL-STATE, THEIR PARENTS HAVE HEARD THIS MUSIC SO MUCH THAT THEY PROBABLY COULD MAKE ALL-STATE THEMSELVES, AS WELL.
IF YOU ARE A PARENT OF ONE OF THESE MAGNIFICENTLY TALENTED STUDENTS, WOULD YOU PLEASE WAVE AT US AND LET US SEE YOU? [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR ALL-STATE BAND STUDENTS.
GUYS, IF YOU'LL TURN AROUND AND FACE ME, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO START AT THIS END RIGHT HERE.
ACTUALLY, DID THIS NOT WORK OUT? WHO DO YOU HAVE?
>> GOOD, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE.
OUR FIRST ONE IS MATTHEW CANTRELL, JOSHUA CRAIG, WHO IS A TWO-YEAR ALL-STATER, LIAN DUNCAN, A TWO-YEAR ALL-STATER, ANDREW HERNANDEZ, FINNEGAN MORGAN, A TWO-YEAR ALL-STATER, AYDEN PRYHUBER-FANT, A TWO-YEAR ALL-STATER, CARLOS QUINTANILLA, AMBER RENA, AND JOSHUA ROSE.
THOSE ARE OUR ALL-STATE BAND STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, FOR OUR ALL STATE CHOIR STUDENTS.
JACOB BECKER, A THREE-YEAR ALL-STATER, BENNETT CAMPBELL, GRACE CHOATE, ALSO A THREE-YEAR ALL-STATER AND A JUNIOR, PARKER MEEK, JOOLS SANDY, SOPHIA SWEENEY, EVIE TROTTER, A TWO-YEAR ALL-STATER, LILA WEST, AND JT WOODARD.
THOSE ARE OUR ALL-STATE CHOIR STUDENTS.
[00:10:01]
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] LET ME SEE IF I CAN SET THEM, AND THEN WE'LL LET YOU ALL TAKE PICTURES HERE AS WELL.I'M GOING TO GET THE BACK ROW TO TAKE ABOUT TWO STEPS BACK, FRONT ROW TAKE ABOUT FOUR STEPS BACK, AND YOU ALL FILL IN THE HOLES.
THERE YOU GO. IF OUR TWO BOARD MEMBERS WILL JOIN US HERE ON THE END.
[BACKGROUND] ALL RIGHT YOU ALL, HOLD ON, LET YOUR MOM AND DAD TAKE PICTURES. [BACKGROUND]
>> BOARD, IT'S EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU ANOTHER OUTSTANDING FINE ARTS MOMENT OF PRIDE FOR US.
THE TEXAS DANCE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1979 BY A GROUP OF FIVE HIGH SCHOOL DRILL TEAM DIRECTORS, AND IT HAS GROWN IN THE PAST 45 YEARS TO SERVE A MEMBERSHIP OF ALMOST 1,300 DANCE EDUCATORS.
THAT JUST TELLS YOU HOW DANCE AND DRILL HAVE PROLIFERATED IN THE STATE.
ALLIE HUDAK JOINED TDEA THE SAME YEAR THAT SHE BECAME THE DANCE DRILL TEAM DIRECTOR AT BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2008.
OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS, SHE HAS BUILT A PLATINUM-LEVEL DANCE PROGRAM WITH AWARD-WINNING INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL COMPETITIVE ARENAS.
ALLIE HAS BEEN AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE FOR DANCE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DISTRICT AND AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SHE HAS SERVED HER STATE ORGANIZATION IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING VARIOUS POSITIONS ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, WHERE SHE JUST COMPLETED A TERM AS TDEA PRESIDENT IN 2023-'24.
SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS BOTH PAST PRESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE ORGANIZATION.
ALL IS NO STRANGER TO BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE DANCE DRILL TEAM WORLD.
AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE NINE NOMINATIONS, ALLIE WAS NAMED BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN 2023.
WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE HER.
BEFORE WE FINISH THE COMMENTS, THOUGH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT HER INTO THE WORLD AND ALSO THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT HER ON A DAILY BASIS.
IF YOU ARE A FAMILY MEMBER OF ALLIE AND ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, PLEASE STAND.
[APPLAUSE] WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ALLIE RECEIVING THE TOP TIER RECOGNITION FROM HER STATE ORGANIZATION WHO RECENTLY NAMED HER THE TEXAS DANCE EDUCATOR ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2025.
[00:15:08]
FEW MORE STEPS.[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> MRS. HUDAK, I WAS GOING TO SAY ALL THOSE ACCOLADES ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE.
YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, BUT YOUR JOURNEY'S NOT DONE UNTIL YOU TEACH JOE TOLBERT HOW TO DANCE.
>> AS THEY LEAVE, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. BARRY NORTON TO COME AND DO OUR NEXT TWO RECOGNITIONS.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR THESE GLASSES WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE SO YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME.
I GET A CHANCE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE.
HER SPEECH WAS FANTASTIC, AND IT'S ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN EDUCATION, SO THAT WAS EXCITING TO SEE.
I GET TO RECOGNIZE SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE THIS EVENING.
WE WANT TO START WITH THE BIRDVILLE GROUP.
THE BIRDVILLE WRESTLING WILL COME FORWARD.
BIRDVILLE HAWKS WRESTLING TEAM WERE THE 5-5A DISTRICT CHAMPIONS AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE BIRDVILLE HIGH BOYS AND GIRLS WRESTLING.
WHEN I GO TO BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, I GO THROUGH THE DOOR THAT I GO INTO BACK AT THE ATHLETICS, THE WRESTLING ROOM IS RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT, AND IT'S ACTIVE.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TIED THE KNOT, DON'T GO IN THERE, BUT THEY'RE WORKING HARD.
COACH LUJAN AND COACH KEENER HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
SET OVER 70 KIDS IN OUR WRESTLING PROGRAM AND DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
ALEX CASTELLANOS, IS A 5-5A DISTRICT CHAMPION.
ROBIN CONKLE 5-5A DISTRICT CHAMPION, REGIONAL PLACER AND UIL STATE QUALIFIER.
ANDREW PURVIS IS A 5-5A DISTRICT CHAMPION, REGION 2-5A CHAMPION, UIL STATE QUALIFIER, AND REESE BRADFORD 5-5A DISTRICT CHAMPION, REGION 2-5A CHAMPION, UIL STATE PLACER IN THE SIXTH PLACE, WHICH GETS YOU A PLACE AT THE STATE MEET.
>> YOU DON'T TURN TO LOOK AT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOUNG MAN, YOU CAN SAY YOU TOOK DOWN AN FBI AGENT.
>> [LAUGHTER] INJURED. SPECIAL TIME.
WE HAVE COACH KATIE HOMAN AND COACH JASON TUCKER.
HALTOM WRESTLING HAS WELL OVER 80 KIDS IN WRESTLING AND HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, REPRESENTING NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL AND OUR DISTRICT, AND THE STATE MEETS.
BUT WE HAVE TONIGHT, WE HAVE WENDY LES A DISTRICT CHAMPION IN THE FIFTH PLACE AT THE REGIONAL REGION 16 A. WE GOT ONE COMING.
THE OTHER ONE WE HAVE TONIGHT I WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.
IF SHE DOESN'T MIND, AS YOU NOTICED AROUND HER NECK THAT THEY DON'T PASS THOSE THINGS OUT FOR NOTHING.
[00:20:01]
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.CARLA CAMPOS, IS A DISTRICT CHAMPION.
SHE'S VOTED THE DISTRICT 4-6A, MOST OUTSTANDING.
REGIONAL CHAMPION, VOTED REGION 1-6A, MOST OUTSTANDING, AND THE 2025 6A STATE CHAMPION.
[APPLAUSE] I MAY GET IT WRONG.
I DON'T THINK I AM CARLA BEAT GIRL THAT HAD WON IT TWO TIMES IN A ROW AND WAS GOING FOR A THIRD TIME, FOUND A WAY TO WIN.
STATE CHAMPIONS ARE HARD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IF YOU WIN ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ATHLETES, YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND I ADMIRE ALL THAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
[APPLAUSE] > MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MISS CAMPOS PICTURE RIGHT AFTER SHE WON THE MEAT.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE ICONIC PICTURES IN SPORTS.
I KNOW COACH TUCKER SAID HE'S GOT IT UP IN THE HALLWAY NOW, BUT MISS CAMPOS, YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT PICTURE OF HER WALKING AWAY FROM HER OPPONENT.
YOU'VE SEEN IT, I'M SURE. I STARE AT THAT PICTURE.
THAT'S AN AWESOME PICTURE JUST SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT SPORTS AND ABOUT YOU.
WASN'T SHE UNDEFEATED THIS ENTIRE YEAR OR SOMETHING, YOUR OPPONENT?
>> THREE SEASONS UNDEFEATED, AND YOU TOOK HER DOWN. GOODNESS GRACIOUS. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
>> THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SARAH UPCHURCH TO COME TO HER RECOGNITIONS.
>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT DREES, DOCTOR STINSON, AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THREE DISTINGUISHED EDUCATORS TONIGHT.
ACHIEVING NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IS A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT SPEAKS TO THE DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, AND PERSEVERANCE OF OUR EDUCATORS.
THE JOURNEY TO CERTIFICATION IS RIGOROUS, REQUIRING HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF STUDY, SELF REFLECTION, AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE.
THROUGH THE BIRDVILLE ISD SUPPORTING TEACHER EXCELLENCE PATHWAY TO NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION COHORT, OUR TEACHERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND EDUCATION.
THEIR SUCCESS NOT ONLY ELEVATES THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, BUT ALSO ENRICHES THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES OF THEIR STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES.
THEIR HARD WORK AND RESILIENCE HAVE PLACED THEM AMONG THE TOP EDUCATORS IN TEXAS, CONTRIBUTING TO A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS GROWTH AND INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE.
CONGRATULATIONS IS OUR IN ORDER FOR OUR NEWEST NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
YOUR DEDICATION INSPIRES US ALL, AND I'D LIKE TO CALL ELIZABETH HAYDEN, NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR EARLY ADOLESCENCE THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD.
PLEASE COME AND RECEIVE YOUR PEN.
[APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO CALL THOMAS VANDERBURG, NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER IN SOCIAL STUDIES, HISTORY, ADOLESCENTS THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD.
PLEASE COME AND RECEIVE YOUR PEN.
[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO HAVE DALTON WILLIAMS, WHO HAS GONE TONIGHT DUE TO ILLNESS.
HE IS A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ARTS ADOLESCENTS THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD AS WELL.
THESE PENS THAT THEY RECEIVED ARE RECOGNIZED ALL THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
NATIONAL BOARD TEACHERS SPOT EACH OTHER FROM A MILE AWAY, AND THEY ARE PART OF A SPECIAL GROUP.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS ALSO GOT TO PROBABLY WEAR THAT PEN.
[00:25:18]
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT CAMPUSES YOU TEACH? WHERE?
>> MICHELLE TAKING PICTURES. THERE YOU GO.
>> THOMAS AND I TAUGHT IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT AT HALTOM.
>> WHEN HE WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH OR WHAT? [LAUGHTER]
>> HE'S OLD AND BROKE DOWN, TOO.
>> WELL, MR. DREES, I'M GOING TO FINISH UP THE EVENING ON RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DO THIS.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN AS WE HAVE CELEBRATED TONIGHT, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE CELEBRATING OUR CAMPUSES.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, BEST HIGH SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THIS EVENING.
THE US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT THOROUGHLY EVALUATE SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS ALL 50 STATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THEY EVALUATED OVER 119,000 SCHOOLS, 96,982 OF THOSE WERE PUBLIC.
OF THE 17,656 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS WERE RANKED LAST SPRING AND THEIR SCIENCE THIS EVENING, SAY 2024, THEY DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAN THEY DO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THERE WERE 23,861 MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND 47,573 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN WHICH THEY EVALUATED.
TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE TOP 40%.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOLS BEHIND OURS THAT DID NOT MAKE THIS DISTINGUISHED HONOR.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE 13 CAMPUSES.
PRINCIPALS, AS I CALL YOUR CAMPUS NAME, IF YOU'LL COME UP AND I'LL STAGE YOU FOR A GROUP PICTURE HERE AT THE END.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] I'LL ASK YOU TO LOSE YOUR BADGES IF YOU WOULD, FOR ME, PLEASE.
FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WE HAVE NORTH RIDGE AND SMITHFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
[APPLAUSE] FOR ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE GREEN VALLEY, HARDIMAN, NORTH RIDGE, PORTER, SMITH FIELD, SNOW HEIGHTS, THOMAS, AND WALKER CREEK FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
>> DID YOU ALL NOTICE THAT THEY SAT THEMSELVES IN ORDER? THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
[APPLAUSE] AS THEY LEAVE THIS EVENING, WE HAVE BANNERS IN THE FRONT LOBBY.
THEY WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DISPLAY ON THEIR CAMPUS TO LET THE REST OF THEIR COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THIS HONOR. THANK YOU.
>> MR. CAN MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
>> I WISH WE COULD SEND A VIDEO OF THIS DOWN TO AUSTIN TO SHOW
[00:30:03]
THEM THEY THINK PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FAILING FROM STATE CHAMPIONS, ALL STATE CHOIR, ALL STATE BAND, ALL STATE JAZZ, PRINCIPALS WITH THE CAMPUSES LIKE THIS.PUBLIC SCHOOLS AREN'T FAILING.
THEY'RE JUST FAILING TO RECOGNIZE IT.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY WE'RE PART OF THE BIRDVILLE FAMILY HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.
[APPLAUSE] BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM RECOGNITIONS, YES, MR. WOMBLE.
>> IF WE'RE OFFERING PLATITUDES, I'D LIKE TO OFFER ONE MORE.
I SEE MISS HOLMAN, AND I'M REMINDED OF COACH HOLMAN AND OUR BIRDVILLE BASKETBALL BOYS, WE'LL BE PLAYING TOMORROW IN ANDREWS IN THE REGIONAL FINALS.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A COUPLE MORE STEPS AND WE'LL BE HANGING BANNERS UP IN BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
>> THAT'LL BE AWESOME. WELL, I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING JUST A LITTLE BIT ON WORDS AND RECOGNITIONS FOR A MINUTE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE HERE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE GOT THE MAYOR OF WATAUGA, WHO IS VISITING US THIS TIME AND ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, LOVE DOWNEY, ART MINERS THE MINOR.
I DO KNOW YOUR NAME, TOO, SIR.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF EAGLE SCOUTS WHO ARE HERE WORKING ON A MERIT BADGE.
I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME, SO FORGIVE ME.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> ON THEIR MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY, TOO.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AFTERWARDS.
NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE 2023-24 BISD ANNUAL REPORT,
[G. PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE 2023-24 ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING THE TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT)]
INCLUDING THE TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT, DOCTOR CLARK.>> THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS, MR. DAVIS ABOUT ALL THE GREAT RECOGNITIONS.
IT SPEAKS TO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO MEASURE EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOLS.
WHEN YOU HEAR A SPEECH BY A YOUNG FIFTH GRADER FROM HOLIDAY HEIGHTS, AS WELL AS ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CAMPUSES HAVE RECEIVED, I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE HARD WORK THAT'S GOING ON AND THE SUCCESS.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE MEASURE, IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE FAMILIES THAT WE IMPACT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY IN KEEPING WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, HOWEVER, 39.006.
ALL TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ITS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE, WHICH IS A COMPILATION OF REQUIRED INFORMATION.
IN YOUR BOARD MATERIALS, WE HAVE PROVIDED ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT TEA REQUIRES US TO COMPILE AND MAKE AVAILABLE.
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS ALSO BEEN COMMUNICATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEA GUIDELINES.
UPON CONCLUSION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A PRINTED COPY OF EACH CAMPUS'S INDIVIDUAL REPORT, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A DISTRICT LINK FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS ALL OF THESE REPORTS ON BOTH THE DISTRICT AND THE CAMPUS WEBSITES.
BRIAN ALLEN, OUR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WILL PRESENT THE DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT DETAILING ALL THE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO COMPILE FOR YOU. THANK YOU, BRIAN.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT ANDRES, DOCTOR STINSON.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
THERE ARE EIGHT SECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT.
FIRST SECTION IS OUR '23, 24 TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT IN A PDF FORMAT.
SECOND, IS OUR TEAMS FINANCIAL ACTUAL REPORT, DISTRICT ACCREDITATION STATUS, CAMPUS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES, A REPORT ON VIOLENT AND CRIMINAL INCIDENTS ON CAMPUSES, FOLLOWED BY STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING HOUSE BILL 3 BOARD GOALS, AND FINALLY, THE TAPR GLOSSARY.
THE FIRST SECTION IS COMPILED BY TEA FOR EVERY DISTRICT IN CAMPUS, USING PEIMS AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT DATA, AND AGAIN, PUBLISHED IN A PDF FORMAT AND INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.
TYPICALLY, IN THE COVER PAGE OF THE TAPR, THERE IS THE DISTRICT AND OR CAMPUS NAME AND NUMBER, FOLLOWED BY ACCOUNTABILITY RATING, SPECIAL EDUCATION DETERMINATION STATUS, DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS AND ASVAB INFORMATION.
BUT WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WE DO NOT HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS OR DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS.
THE NEXT SECTION IS THE STAAR PERFORMANCE, REPORTED FOR BOTH '24 AND '23 SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE ARE THREE PERFORMANCE LEVELS, APPROACHES GRADE LEVEL, MEETS GRADE LEVEL, AND MASTERS GRADE LEVEL.
THAT IS REPORTED FOR EACH GRADE AND SUBJECT,
[00:35:03]
GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT AND END OF COURSE TESTS, AS WELL AS ALL GRADES, ALL SUBJECTS, AND ALL GRADES BY SUBJECT.I SHARED WITH YOU IN THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING AS A DISTRICT, OVERALL, WE ARE ABOVE THE STATE AND REGION IN EVERY SUBJECT AREA.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE POCKETS OF AREAS WHERE WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE NEW MATH MATERIALS ADOPTION WILL GIVE US A GREAT PLATFORM TO BEGIN THE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS.
NEXT IS OUR SCHOOL PROGRESS, WHICH ENTAILS ANNUAL GROWTH AND ACCELERATED LEARNING PERFORMANCE FOR READING LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.
THEN WE HAVE OUR BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND ESL PROGRAMS, WHERE YOU CAN SEE DESEGREGATION BY THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS STAR PERFORMANCE ANNUAL GROWTH AND ACCELERATED LEARNING.
STAR PARTICIPATION RATES ARE PROVIDED.
THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE ACCOUNTED IN ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT INCLUDED IN ACCOUNTABILITY, WHETHER THEY ARE MOBILE OR DID NOT TEST OR OTHER EXCLUSIONS.
THEN WE HAVE OUR ATTENDANCE GRADUATION AND DROPOUT RATES AND OUR GRADUATION PROFILE OF OUR '22 '23 GRADUATES.
NEXT, WE MOVE INTO OUR CCMR RELATED INDICATORS.
WE HAVE CCMR GRADUATES, COLLEGE READY GRADUATES, AND CAREER AND MILITARY READY GRADUATES.
SOME OF THE CCMR INDICATORS ARE TSI ASSESSMENT RESULTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETED AND RECEIVED CREDIT FOR COLLEGE PREP COURSES, AS WELL AS AP AND SAT ACT RESULTS, AND OTHER POST SECONDARY INDICATORS THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH TEXAS HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
ONE LAST THING ABOUT CCMR, THAT IS LAGGING DATA.
NEXT, WE GET INTO STUDENT INFORMATION, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, STAFF INFORMATION AND PROGRAM, STUDENT ENROLLMENT BY PROGRAM AND TEACHERS BY PROGRAM.
MOVING INTO SECTION 2, WE GET INTO OUR PEIMS FINANCIAL ACTUAL REPORTS FOR BOTH THE DISTRICT AND EACH CAMPUS IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE MOST RECENT REPORTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT IS YEAR '22 '23.
SECTION 3 IS DISTRICT ACCREDITATION STATUS.
GENERALLY, EVERY YEAR, TEA ASSIGNS ONE OF FOUR ACCREDITATION STATUSES TO EACH DISTRICT WITH THE TEA NOT RELEASING ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS, THE MOST RECENT ACCREDITATION STATUS WE HAVE IS FROM '22 '23, AND BIRDVILLE ISD IS ACCREDITED.
SECTION 4 IS OUR CAMPUS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.
EACH CAMPUS IN THE DISTRICT HAS DEVELOPED AND IS IMPLEMENTING A CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 11.253.
WITHIN THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS, WE DO FORMATIVE REVIEWS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS THAT SHOW THE PROGRESS TOWARD THE PERFORMANCE WITHIN THOSE OBJECTIVES.
THEN WE HAVE A REPORT ON VIOLENT OR CRIMINAL INCIDENTS.
TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 39.306 REQUIRES DISTRICTS TO PUBLISH A REPORT ON VIOLENT OR CRIMINAL INCIDENTS AT THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE UNDER FERPA.
SECTION 6, STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
THIS DATA IS REQUIRED THROUGH TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 9.306 AND IS COMPILED BY THE TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD.
THE MOST CURRENT REPORT IS FOR '22 '23 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
SECTION 7 IS OUR PROGRESS OF THE DISTRICT IN EACH CAMPUS IN MEETING A HOUSE BILL 5 ADOPTED GOALS.
WE REVIEWED THIS IN OUR SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING.
FINALLY, SECTION 8 IS OUR TAPR GLOSSARY, WHERE TEA WILL PROVIDE A GLOSSARY.
THEY'VE ALREADY PROVIDED THE ENGLISH GLOSSARY.
THEY HAVE YET TO RELEASE THE SPANISH GLOSSARY AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT, THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT.
ADDITIONALLY, I'VE LINKED THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE NOTED IN THIS PRESENTATION.
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT OR ANY DISTRICT OR CAMPUS TAPR, THEY CAN REQUEST THAT.
THE ANNUAL REPORT, AS DOCTOR CLARK ALLUDED TO, WILL BE POSTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THIS MEETING.
[00:40:01]
PAPER COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT CAMPUSES AND AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED.>> GREAT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD CONCERNING THE TAPR REPORT?
>> NOT A REALLY QUESTION. I WOULD COMMEND YOU, WAS A GOOD REPORT AND GOOD PRESENTATION, BY THE WAY YOU GOT A GREAT VOICE. [OVERLAPPING]
BUT I WAS GOING TO SAY TOO, THAT OBVIOUSLY, SINCE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL THAT WE'VE SPENT ALL ADMINISTRATIVE TIME TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER.
THE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATORS THAT DO ALL THIS TYPE OF WORK, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT LATER.
PEOPLE WONDER WHY WE HAVE ADMINISTRATORS.
PART OF THAT IS THE LEGISLATURE AND THE TAA HAVE SAID WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS STUFF.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT OBVIOUSLY, THAT WILL ALSO APPLY IN THESE VOUCHER SYSTEMS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
I JUST REMEMBERED IT DOESN'T. GOOD JOB.
I'M GLAD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE VERY TRANSPARENT AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
OBVIOUSLY, IT TAKES A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE TIME TO DO THESE TYPE OF THINGS, BUT WE DO IT FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT'S TOO BAD, THAT'S NOT THAT WAY IN THESE NEW PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
> MR. TOLBERT, YOU SURPRISED ME A LITTLE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE.
I EXPECTED YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE A THROUGH F AND THE STATE NOT GIVING US THE GOALPOSTS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SHOOTING FOR, BUT THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S A THROUGH F ONLY FOR PUBLIC, NOT PRIVATE.
>> [NOISE] IT IS NOW TIME TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS REPORT.
IF THERE'S ANYONE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THIS REPORT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AS THERE ARE NO PERSONS PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THIS HEARING, I DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
WE NOW COME TO OPEN FORUM TO ADDRESS THE BOARD,
[H. OPEN FORUM TO ADDRESS THE BOARD]
AND I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR A GENERAL TOPIC.FOR THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REGARDING GENERAL TOPICS, PLEASE NOTE THAT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO THIS OPEN FORUM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TONIGHT.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND LOCAL BOARD POLICY, PERSONAL ATTACKS ON STAFF OR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
THE BOARD SHALL NOT DELIBERATE OR ACT REGARDING ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE FIRST NAME, SETTLEMER.
>> MR. SETTLEMEYER, FORGIVE ME.
IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> MY NAME IS IAN SETTLEMEYER.
MY ADDRESS IS 7005 MAS CAP LANE.
[FOREIGN] SPEAKING SPANISH OR ANY OTHER LANGUAGE WITH CONFIDENCE IS AN MEASURABLY VALUABLE SKILL, ESPECIALLY FOR A SOCCER ENTHUSIAST LIKE ME.
BUT IT ISN'T EASY. I'M A FRESHMAN AT BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I TOOK SPANISH ONE WITH MS. MEDINA, WHO IS AN AMAZING TEACHER THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND AND GAVE ME A MASSIVE PUSH ON MY WAY TO LEARNING SPANISH.
I EXCELLED IN THIS CLASS, EARNING A PERFECT SCORE.
HOWEVER, WHEN I RECEIVED MY FIRST HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT THIS SEMESTER, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY GPA AND CLASS RANK.
THIS SINGLE CLASS DROPPED MY GPA BY MORE THAN 1.5 POINTS, TAKING ME FROM RANK NUMBER 1 TO NUMBER 3.
WITH SOME ROUGH CALCULATIONS, I CAN EXPECT THIS CLASS TO DROP MY FOUR YEAR GPA BY A QUARTER TO A HALF OF A POINT.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE GPA WEIGHTING RULES, BUT MAKING ONE OF THE MOST COMMON, USEFUL, AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGED ELECTIVES ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN ON LEVEL CLASS, AND YET STILL COUNTY TOWARD THE GPA CALCULATION DEMONSTRABLY PUTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AT ODDS WITH LEARNING VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS.
DISINCENTIVIZING LEARNING A NEW SPOKEN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE GOES AGAINST THE CORE IDEALS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AND SHOULD BE ATTENDED TO.
THE SOLUTION I'M HOPING FOR IS THAT ON LEVEL LANGUAGE COURSES WILL NOT BE COUNTED TOWARDS GPA, JUST THE SAME AS OTHER ELECTIVES.
AS AN ADDITIONAL NOTE, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO HAVE THE SPANISH ONE COURSE REMOVE MY TRANSCRIPT, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME EXCEPTIONS THAT I MAY HAVE A FAIR CHANCE OF MY GOAL OF BECOMING VALEDICTORIAN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SETTLEMEYER.
WE'VE NOW COME TO THE TIME FOR PRESENTATIONS OF THE BOARD, MS. BOWMAN?
[I. PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD]
>> YES, SIR, MR. DREES. WE HAVE HKS, ARCHITECTS HERE TONIGHT, DOUG KANEY, WILL BE DOING THAT PRESENTATION.
I BELIEVE WAYNE RONALD IS HERE AS WELL.
[00:45:06]
>> PRESIDENT DREES, DOCTOR STINSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF BIRDVILLE ISD THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SOME TIME TO BE HERE AND SHOW YOU SOME PROGRESS ON THESE INCREDIBLE PROJECTS, DAVID E. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HALTI HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION RENOVATION.
HI DOCTOR STRICKLAND WAS HERE EARLIER, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROOF REPLACEMENTS.
WE HAVE FOUR OF THOSE. WITH ME TONIGHT IS DOUG KANEY. COME ON UP HERE, DOUG.
THEY KNOW YOU. THEY KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HOW DO I ADVANCE? I WANT TO GO FAST, MR. THOMAS. LET ME TRY THIS.
DAVID E. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO BE A LIVE.
WE WANTED TO COME AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE RENDERINGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND APPROVED AND HOW THE LOOKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MERGES THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
IS THE FRONT ENTRY OF DAVID E. SMITH.
WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU THESE BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.
AS YOU SEE SOME CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS, YOU WILL NOTICE THESE FORMS, AND IT'S GETTING EXCITING TO KNOW THAT IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE SCHOOL.
BUILDING IS DRIED IN, THE ROOFING IS COMPLETE.
THERE'S SOME DETAILING STILL GOING ON.
THE MASONRY IS COMING ALONG INCREDIBLY WELL, INCLUDING THE WATERPROOFING.
EXTERIOR STOREFRONT AND GLAZING IS COMPLETE.
THE MEP INSTALL IS ONGOING AND PROBABLY WILL BE AT LEAST TUNED UP UNTIL THE DAY IT OPENS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING SYSTEMS COMMISSIONED AND ONLINE CORRECTLY.
OF COURSE, THE INTERIOR, THE DRYWALL, AND THE RAILINGS.
HERE IT IS, AS IT IS CURRENTLY SHOWN, A DRONE CONSTRUCTION SITE PHOTOGRAPH, AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS INSIDE THE PLAY AREA, IF YOU WILL, OR THE SAFE COURTYARD WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND PLAY OUTDOORS AND YOU SEE THE LEARNING COMMONS.
DOUG, WHY DON'T YOU GO OVER THE BRICK PATTERNS REAL QUICK BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE REAL PROUD OF THE MASON AND THE JOB THEY'RE DOING IN OUR BRICK BLEND.
>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING BRICK AROUND THE SCHOOL.
YOU'VE GOT CERTAIN AREAS THAT START OFF WITH A NUMBER OF BRICK BLEND THAT IS DARKER IN COLOR AND THEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE BUILDING, IT TURNS LIGHTER.
YOU CAN SEE A DARKER AREA OF THE BRICK VERSUS A LIGHTER AREA OF THE BRICK AND THEN THAT'S THE LEARNING COMMONS RIGHT THERE.
THEN THIS IS A PANORAMIC VIEW RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN SEE HOW IT JUST SLOWLY CHANGES.
THIS IS OVER A LITTLE BIT OF A WIDER AREA RIGHT THERE, AND YOU SEE WHERE IT'S DARKER RIGHT THERE TO THE LEFT AND THEN TURNS, SO IT BLENDS REALLY NATURALLY TO GO FROM DARK TO LIGHT.
>> IT'S ONE OF THE BIG FEATURES ON THE SCHOOL.
>> ARCHITECTURALLY, IT'S TELLING THE STORY, THE TRANSITION OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS TO GROW UP IN IT.
INTERIOR SHOTS WHERE IT'S SEEING THE FRONT SECURED ENTRY VESTIBULE, THE MAIN CLASSROOM CORRIDOR, AND YOU CAN START TO SEE SOME STAIRS THAT ALSO ARE USEFUL FOR COLLABORATION AREAS AND TEAMING AREAS WITH THE HIGH CLEAR STORY WINDOWS THAT OVERLOOK INTO THE SPACE THAT THEY'RE EASY TO MANAGE AND THEY'LL BE FUN TO INTERACT IN.
THE GYMNASIUM SPACE AND THE STORM SHELTER, THE LEARNING COMMONS AREA, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VIEWS TO THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA AND LEARNING AREAS.
I THINK THE INTERCONNECTIVITY AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR IS A GREAT THING AND OUR CAFETORIUM STAGE AREA.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONCEPT, THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE SAVANNAH.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIGN.
>> SOME OF THE PATTERNINGS YOU'LL SEE IN THE INTERIOR GRAPHICS WE'RE REAL PROUD OF, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR CODING OF THOSE GRAPHICS AS THE STUDENTS GROW FROM THEIR GRADE LEVELS.
YOU CAN SEE THE LION GRAPHICS GROW WITH THEM.
YOU WILL ALSO GET A SENSE OF THE GRASS GROWING AND YOU KNOW HOW LIONS AND THE SAVANNAH FIELDS ARE GRASS DWELLERS AND THE GRASS GROWS WITH THE STUDENTS AS IT GOES ON AND ON.
YOU CAN EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A LION.
YOU CAN SEE THE STAIR THAT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED AND WHAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL THERE IS WITH THE GRAPHICS AND THE SMILING STUDENT.
I DO HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY, WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THESE INTERIOR GRAPHICS, AND WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE DOCTOR STINSON PARTICIPATE AND GUIDE THAT CONVERSATION.
THOSE OF YOU THAT PARTICIPATED, THANK YOU, BECAUSE THE STORY IN MY OPINION, IS ONE OF THE BEST HKS EDUCATION GROUPS EVER PUT OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PROUD TO SHOW IT OFF.
FOUR WEEK LOOK AHEAD, INTERIOR FINISHES ARE STARTING, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, TILE, FLOOR, CEILING, EXTERIOR SITE, FINAL GRADING, THAT'S ALWAYS EXCITING BECAUSE WE START FINDING
[00:50:01]
OUT AND CHECKING ON THE DRAINAGE OF THE SITE AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.THE RAILINGS ARE BEING INSTALLED POWER AND THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, AND THAT'LL TAKE SOME TIME TO COMMISSION AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT ON TO HALTOM HIGH SCHOOL TO THE BUFFALO NATION.
YOU SEE A RENDERING THERE OF THE DANCE PROGRAM, LOCKER ROOM ADDITION.
HERE IS A RENDERING OF THE CONNECTING COURTYARD THAT CONNECTS THE LEARNING COMMONS RENOVATION TO THE HUB CAFETERIA.
THERE'S A SHOT A RENDERING OF THE CAFETERIA, AS YOU'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.
THE PROGRESS GOING ON THERE SO THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
MAIN ENTRY IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND OPEN.
THE LIBRARY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND OPEN FOR STUDENT USE.
CANOPY STILL AT THE COURTYARD IS COMPLETED, SO YOU'RE REALLY SEEING THINGS COME TOGETHER.
THE ROOF, THE METAL PANEL INSTALLATIONS WILL BE COMPLETE THIS MONTH, AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THE CORRIDOR AND THE LIBRARY EXTENSION REALLY TAKE SHAPE AND GET FINISHED.
>> WAYNE HALTOM HIGH IS A NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL FOR ABBOTT THIS YEAR.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD, I THINK 17 OTHER DISTRICTS VISIT HALTOM HIGH AND WE STARTED OFF IN THE LIBRARY, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WERE COMMENTING ON IT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW. GREAT JOB.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS GREAT TO KNOW, AND WE'D LIKE TO PUT THAT IN THE STORY THAT WE PRESENT ONE DAY.
THE STORM SHELTER PERIMETER WALLS ARE COMPLETE, YOU'LL SEE A PHOTO OF THAT, STRUCTURAL STEEL IS GOING UP, SHEATHING, WATERPROOFING, MASONRY AND ANTERIOR METAL FRAMING IN THE OTHER AREAS.
HERE IS A NICE DRONE SHOT OF THAT STUDIO, AND YOU CAN SEE THE REINFORCED DECK AND WHY THAT IS A STORM SHELTER AND THE INSULATED CONCRETE FORM WALLS.
I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT LE LOUIS.
I WAS SAYING THAT TO SOMEONE EARLIER AND THEY POKED AT ME AND SAID, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD YOU SAY THAT ABOUT A CONTRACTOR BEFORE.
I SAID REALLY BUT, WE BELIEVE IN TENACIOUS OWNER ADVOCACY, BUT THEY'RE REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB.
I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE'S HAPPY IF THEY'RE NOT, CALL ME. BUT I'M SURE THEY ARE.
HERE'S A BEFORE AND AFTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIBRARY, JUST THE BRICK, AND IT WAS TIRED, AND WE LIVENED IT UP WITH LIGHT COLOR AND GOOD LIGHT REFRACTION AND ANTI GLARE LIGHTING AND THE FLEXIBLE SEATING AND JUST MADE A CLEAN, USABLE ENVIRONMENT.
THE THING I STILL WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS HOW EASY IT IS TO FIND NOW FROM THE HUB OF THE SCHOOL THAT WE'RE RENOVATING.
YOU CAN SEE THE COURTYARD FROM THE TOP DOWN JUST LIKE IN THE FLOOR PLANS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT CANOPY IN THERE AND HOW IT'S CONNECTED.
WALKING RIGHT THROUGH THERE LIKE I SAID, AN EASIER PATH.
STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TO WALK AROUND THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE SCHOOL NOW TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
THE SIMPLE THINGS ALSO FOR STUDENTS ALSO MAKE BUILDING SAFE AND EASY TO MANAGE AND WE LIKE THAT.
A FEW MORE OF THE SHOTS, WE'VE ALREADY DESCRIBED WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN THE COURTYARD.
IT'S BUSY AND IT'S WORKING. IT'S WORKING OUT.
WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DRAINAGE AND THE FLOORING AND THE FOUNDATION THERE, AND IT'S REALLY WORKING OUT.
THE FOUR WEEK LOOK AHEAD, PUNCH LISTS ARE COMING FROM THOSE AREAS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE OCCUPYING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THE MASONRY WORK, THE FINISH OF THE DRYING IN OF THAT NEW ADDITION.
AGAIN, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL PLUMBING AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT.
IT'S A CONSTANT AND WE'RE ALWAYS CHECKING EVEN THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR ARE COMPLETE.
THE SECOND FLOOR CONCRETE PORT, THE ADDITION IS UPCOMING.
YOU SAW THAT REINFORCED DECK LAYOUT FOR THAT.
VERY QUICKLY, THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THIRD PART OF THE PRESENTATION, SORRY, FOR THE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS REROOFING. IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
THE ROOFING IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AT ALL FOUR AT THE ACADEMY, AT SPICER, AT NORTH RIDGE, AND WALKER CREEK, AND WE'RE JUST WALKING THE ROOFS UNTIL THEY'RE TOTALLY COMPLETE WITH ALL THE DETAILING THE WAY WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE.
WE'RE CLOSING OUT THOSE PROJECTS. THAT IS EVERYTHING.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DOUG AND I WILL ANSWER HIM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
>> IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH HKS, ALSO.
THESE ARE CHALLENGING ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS, AND YOU'VE BEEN RIGHT BESIDE US ALL THE WAY AND WE'VE PICKED A GOOD PARTNER WITH LEE LEWIS, IT'S A GOOD TEAM EFFORT, BUT THINGS ARE
[00:55:02]
LOOKING UP AND LOOKING WELL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DAVID SMITH.I GET A LITTLE SLOW START WITH SOME ISSUES, BUT THEY'RE CATCHING UP, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A PHENOMENAL FACILITY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY IMPRESSED.
IT'LL BE GREAT TIME IN AUGUST WHEN WE OPEN IT UP.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. NEXT TIME YOU COME AND PRESENT, CAN YOU ALSO GIVE US BEFORE AND AFTER OF THE INTERIOR COURTYARD OF HALTOM, THAT WILL BE GREAT.
SEE AS WELL. THE TRANSFORMATION THERE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY TRANSFORMATIVE ADDITION RENOVATION PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GLEAN THE VALUE OF YOUR EXISTING ASSET AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO TELL YOU WE NEED TO KNOCK DOWN AND START OVER.
WE VALUE YOUR ASSET, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THOSE TYPE OF JOBS.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
WE'LL BE SURE TO BRING THOSE PHOTOS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> YOU TOO. NEXT, WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE RECAP.
[J. 2025 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCES RECAP]
WE HAVE THREE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE AT RECENTLY ATTENDED LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, AND IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN PRESENT A RECAP. MR. TOLBERT.>> I'LL GO FIRST, MR. DAVIS, TRY TO MAKE IT QUICK.
MR. DAVIS AND I WENT DOWN ON TUESDAY ALONG WITH SOME STAFF.
THEY'VE HAD A MORNING SESSION FOR US.
VERY INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS, PEOPLE WRITE IN THE MIX SO THAT WAS GREAT.
TELEFERO, IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD HIM SPEAK, HE BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN.
VAN DEVER, WHO IS NOT AS DRAMATIC, BUT A VERY WISE.
HE HAD SOME GOOD THINGS TO SAY.
HE SPOKE, HIS MESSAGES WERE NOT WELL RECEIVED, BUT HE WAS TREATED WITH THE MOST RESPECT AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE BUCKLEY, WHO'S THE HEAD OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SPOKE.
THREE OF THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS WERE GRACIOUS MET WITH THIS, REPRESENTATIVE LOWE FROM RIGHT HERE 991, SENATOR HANCOCK, ALSO, OUR SENATOR.
THEN GRACIOUS OF HIM, ALSO, REPRESENTATIVE GIOVANNI IN THE SOUTH LAKE AREA ALSO MET WITH THIS AND HAD SOME GOOD THINGS TO SAY.
MY TAKE AWAY VERY QUICKLY, THAT WE LEARNED A LOT THAT DAY, BUT BOILING IT DOWN, THERE WILL BE VOUCHERS.
THE SENATE HAS PASSED ONE VERSION, THE HOUSE HAS PASSED ANOTHER.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE ODD, REPRESENTATIVE BUCKLEY, WHO VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SCHOOLS.
HE SAID THAT THE HOUSE VERSION WAS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE SENATE BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY INTENT ON MAKING SURE THAT IT WAS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND ALSO FOR LOW LOW SOCIOECONOMIC KIDS.
THE REALITY IS THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE.
LOW SOCIOECONOMIC KIDS CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VOUCHERS.
THAT'S BEEN PROVEN ON OTHER 30 STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MILLS.
THEY DON'T ALSO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT BECAUSE IF YOU GO PRICE ANY OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AROUND HERE, YOU CAN'T PAY FOR THEM AT 10,000.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
WHAT HAPPENS AND THAT'S HAPPENED IN EVERY STATE THAT'S HAD IT ABOUT 60%-70% OF THE STUDENTS THAT GET IT ARE ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
IT'S JUST A WAY TO TRANSFER FUNDS TO KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY TAKEAWAY WAS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOUCHER BILL AND ALL THIS TALK ABOUT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, I DID NEED TO POINT OUT ONE THING THAT'S IRONIC IS THEY SAY LOW SOCIOECONOMIC.
THAT'S A FAMILY MAKING $160,000 AND LESS IS LOW SOCIOECONOMIC.
THAT WOULD BE NEWS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GO TO OURS THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOW ECONOMIC, MAKING $160,000 A YEAR.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY SELL IT TO YOU IS TO SAY, HEY, IT'S JUST TO GO TO A LOW SOCIOECONOMIC PEOPLE AND FIND OUT, WELL, THE FAMILY DOWN THE STREET THAT DRIVES THIS GREAT CAR AND LOSES BIG HOUSE, THEY'RE SOMEHOW ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.
I THINK THEY'LL BE A VOUCHER BILL AND I THINK THEY'LL BE VERY SIMILAR.
THE PART THAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS, IS THAT ONCE THEY FINALLY PUSH THIS VOUCHER THING THROUGH AND THEY QUIT HOLDING US HOSTAGE FOR FUNDING IS WE LIVE AND DIE BASICALLY ON BASIC ALLOTMENT.
THAT'S THE ONE ALLOWS US TO PAY THE LIGHT BILLS, PAY TEACHERS, AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
BASIC ALLOTMENTS HAVEN'T GONE UP SINCE 2019.
OUR SENATOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID, YOU WILL NOT GET ANY MORE BASIC ALLOTMENT FROM THE SENATE PERIOD.
THAT'S IT, WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU THAT.
NOW, ONE THING I NEED YOU TO KNOW IS WHEN THEY SAY WE'RE GOING TO THROW MONEY TO TEACHERS, THAT MEANS THAT THE LIBRARIAN, THAT MEANS THAT THE CUSTODIAN, THAT MEANS THAT OTHER PEOPLE THAT ALL HAVE TO BE A TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TEACHER CAN DO HIS OR HER JOB IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE DON'T GET ANY MONEY TO PAY THEM, WE SOMEHOW HAVE TO PRINT MONEY, WHICH WE CAN'T DO.
[01:00:05]
>> ANYBODY THAT'S THERE TO SUPPORT ADS, ANYBODY THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IS THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THAT TEACHER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY MONEY FROM THE SENATE.
THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BEND ON THAT.
THEN REPRESENTATIVE BUCKLEY SAID NO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME ADDITIONAL BASIC ALLOTMENT MONEY.
BUT THEN WHEN THE BILL CAME OUT, IT'S A LIMITED, VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF BASIC ALLOTMENT, WHICH WE'RE THANKFUL FOR ANYTHING.
BUT THEN YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT THE LIST.
I KNOW KATIE'S PROBABLY GONE OVER THIS.
EVERY DIME IS IN A COMPARTMENT.
THEY'RE TELLING US EXACTLY WHERE WE HAVE TO SPEND EVERY DIME.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY FOR THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU FOR MONEY FOR THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY FOR THIS, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY FOR THIS, TELLING US EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN SPEND OUR MONEY.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU, IT GETS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING IS WHY DO WE GO TO ALL THIS TRAINING? WHY DO WE DO ALL THIS? WHY DO WE WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN OUR DISTRICT? WE KNOW HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY IN OUR DISTRICT, WE KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
BUT THE STRINGS ARE ATTACHED TO EVERY PENNY AS TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAID.
NOW, ALL THAT TO SAY IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET ACROSS THAT CHASM OF THE SENATE AND I WOULD SAY THAT SENATOR HANCOCK HERE.
HE SAID, NO, YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY MORE BASIC ALLOTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID TO. THEY WERE ADAMANT.
THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN GIVING US MORE MONEY THAT WE CAN SPEND.
THEY JUST WANT TO SAY THEY WANT TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC, WE GAVE MONEY TO TEACHERS AND EVERYBODY SAY, OH, GREAT, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, BUT THEY FORGET THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY THEN.
BUT THEN THE HOUSE IS SAY WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO PITCH AND HOLD EVERYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET THOSE TWO THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEM TOGETHER.
THEY PATCH TOGETHER STUFF A LOT, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PATCH THESE TWO.
THEY SEEM PRETTY SET ON BOTH SIDES, ANYWAY.
>> I WANT TO TAKEAWAYS I GOT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT PRESENTATION IS HOW DIVIDED THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE.
THEY ARE ACTING LIKE NOT THE SAME STATE, THE SAME COUNTRY ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR US TO HELP PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DID POINT OUT THAT THE BASIC ALLOTMENT THEY MIGHT TAKE THE GUARD RAILS OFF WHERE THEY WON'T REQUIRE US TO USE 30%.
HE HINTED AT THAT, BUT THE HOUSE VERSION DIDN'T SAY THAT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DRAWN OUT BATTLE, WHAT HAPPENS.
WE DID HAVE SOME POSITIVE MEETINGS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.
SOME THINGS OUR EYES WERE OPENED.
THE PRESENTATIONS THAT MORNING, THAT TASKS WE PUT TOGETHER, ONE OF THE MOST ENLIGHTENING THINGS THAT I HEARD WAS NOT ONLY HOW DIVIDED THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE, BUT HOW MUCH EVEN THE SPEAKER'S RACE WAS DETERMINED BY UNFORTUNATELY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE GETTING INVOLVED IN IT.
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. THEY WANT TO BE VERY INDEPENDENT AND TO DO THEIR OWN THING AND VERY EARLY IN THE GAME, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STARTED PUSHING FOR A PARTICULAR HOUSE MEMBER FROM MANSFIELD TO BE THE SPEAKER.
WELL, THAT TURNED A BUNCH OF OTHER HOUSE REPUBLICANS AWAY, SAY, HEY, YOU CONTROL OVER THERE, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN BUSINESS OVER HERE AND IT MADE IT A QUICK TURNAROUND VERY FAST.
GREAT DIVISION THERE. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THAT CONFERENCE OR WHAT'S THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WORK.
IT'S GOING TO A LOT OF THINGS TO HAPPEN FOR US TO GET MORE MONEY.
WE DID EXPRESS TO OUR SENATOR AND OUR LEGISLATORS THAT WE'RE REALLY UPSIDE DOWN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING.
OUR DISTRICT ABOUT A $14 MILLION HIT.
ALSO, WE TALKED TO THEM VERY SERIOUSLY HOW YES, YOU'RE REQUIRING US TO HAVE OFFICERS AT EACH SCHOOL.
YOU GAVE US $15,000 TO DO THAT.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO READ IN THE PAPER IN THE HEADLINES.
THEY'RE GOING TO DOUBLE THAT TO $30,000.
THAT $30,000 MAY OR, YOU CAN'T HIRE SOMEBODY FOR SIX MONTHS TO WORK AS A POLICE OFFICER.
IT'S CHALLENGE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY, WE DOUBLED HOW MUCH WE GAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SECURITY.
WELL, THAT'S GREAT, BUT STILL $30,000 IS NOT ENOUGH. GUESS WHERE IT COMES FROM.
WE TAKE MONIES FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM TO TAKE CARE OF THAT NEED. DON'T WE WERE WRONG.
NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY, I DON'T WANT MY CAMPUSES SAFE.
I CAN'T FIND A CITY MANAGER, I DON'T FIND A MAYOR OR A BOARD MEMBER THAT SAYS, I DON'T WANT OUR CAMPUSES SAFE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. BUT THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE PLAYING A BIG GAME WITH SCHOOL SAFETY AND ALWAYS USE THE WORD SCHOOL CHOICE.
THERE ARE SCHOOL CHOICE GOING ON TODAY.
[01:05:02]
AS MR. TOLBERT MENTIONED, SCHOOL CHOICE IN OTHER STATES, AND THERE WAS OVER 70% IN FLORIDA, ARKANSAS, WITHIN OKLAHOMA, THE THIRD ARIZONA.OVER 70% IN ALL THREE OF THOSE STATES, WHEN THEY GOT THEIR VOUCHER MONEY, THEY WERE ALREADY ENROLLED IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
NOW, I PROMISE YOU ANYONE GETS $10,000 FOR A VOUCHER, THERE'S NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN TARRANT COUNTY THAT WILL PAY THE TUITION.
FOURTH CHRISTIAN, ALL SAINTS, FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY, YOU NAME IT.
THAT $10,000 WON'T PAY THAT TUITION.
WELL, THEY ALSO I THOUGHT WAS REALLY FUNNY.
THEY REALLY THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
IF YOU'RE A SPECIAL EDUCATION NEED, AND WE HAVE A LOT IN OUR DISTRICT, REALLY GOOD AT TAKING CARE OF THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM 11,500, A $1,500 BUMP TO TAKE CARE OF THE SPECIAL AID KIDS.
>> WHAT THEY'RE FORGETTING TO TELL YOU IS, THERE'S NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT TAKES CARE OF A SPECIAL ED KID.
NONE OF THEM DO. WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS.
THEY ALSO DON'T TELL YOU IS, THAT SOME CHILD THAT IS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER, THAT'S IN FIRST OR SECOND GRADE, THAT'S STILL NOT FLUENT IN ENGLISH, HOW CAN WE GET THEM TO LEARN TO EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH OR TO READ IT BY THIRD GRADE? THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AREN'T GOING TO TAKE THOSE KIDS EITHER.
WE TAKE THEM, WE DO OUR VERY BEST.
WE DO A GOOD JOB, BUT IT'S HARD.
IT'S HARDER AND HARDER AND HARDER ALL THE RULES THEY BRING UPON US.
THE BIG TAKEAWAY I GOT IS, THEY TALK ABOUT THEY DON'T WANT WASHINGTON MESSING WITH THEM, WANT LOCAL CONTROL IN THE STATE.
BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE A LOCAL CONTROL AT HOME, WHETHER IT BE YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOUR CITY, YOUR COUNTY, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HARM ALL THOSE ENTITIES.
EVERYTHING FROM WE'RE SEEING APPRAISAL DISTRICTS ISSUES, WE'RE SEEING ISSUES NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE ANY TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR LOBBYIST, ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE ON THE TABLE OUT THERE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN TEXAS.
VOUCHERS ARE GOING TO BE HERE, SOME FORM OF IT.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THE BATTLE.
WHEN PEOPLE GET MAD ENOUGH, THEY'LL START PAYING ATTENTION OF WHO WE VOTE FOR AND WHO WE SEND TO AUSTIN TO REPRESENT US INSTEAD OF BILLIONAIRES, NOT MILLION, BILLIONAIRES THAT ARE FUNDING A LOT OF THESE RACES AND VANDEAVER FROM EAST TEXAS, WHERE'S HE AT?
>> EAST TEXAS. HE WON HIS PRIMARY RACE.
HERE HE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS A VERY WELL-RESPECTED LEGISLATIVE LEADER, A CONSERVATIVE LEADER FROM EAST TEXAS, BUT THE COST HE WAS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HE WAS A TARGET.
HE BEAT THEM ANYWAY, BUT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE SPENT TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A SHAME THAT IT TAKES SOMEONE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO TRY TO CONTROL WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS THE VERY BEST THAN WHAT THEY DO IN WEST TEXAS, OR HEAVENS WILL KNOW WHAT THEY DO IN THE 512 AREA CODE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. I'M GOING TO SAY AMEN AND PREACH IT.
MR. KUNKEL, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?
>> I'M SORRY, I MISSED ALL THAT.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR TRIP TO AUSTIN, I WAS IN DC FOR THE TEXAS ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.
FOR REALLY DECADES, THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION HAS PUT TOGETHER ADVOCACY CONFERENCES WHERE TRUSTEES AROUND THE COUNTRY COME TO, AND I'VE BEEN TO THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN TO ONE.
BUT NOW THAT TEXAS IS NOT A PART OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS ABOUT HALF THE STATES HAVE PULLED OUT OF THAT, TEXAS DOES ITS OWN ADVOCACY CONFERENCE IN DC, AND THERE WERE PROBABLY 40-45 TEXAS TRUSTEES AT THIS CONFERENCE.
THE TOPICS, FOUR SESSIONS THAT I ATTENDED, JUST BRIEFLY, THE FIRST WAS JUST A FEDERAL UPDATE, A POLITICAL UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE.
THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT SOMEONE ASKED WAS, THE TALK OF ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ED, IS THAT TELLING US THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY MAYBE OUR LEADERSHIP DOESN'T THINK IT'S WORTHY OF HAVING A CABINET POSITION AND NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HAVE ITS OWN AGENCY, IS THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY BEHIND ALL OF THIS? PEOPLE DON'T THINK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DC AND SOME OTHER PLACES OF LEADERSHIP.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
[01:10:02]
THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE EVEN TODAY, ARE SCHOOLS PROTECTED AREAS? IF YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO BE A CITIZEN, CAN YOU GET SOMEBODY COMING AFTER YOU IF YOU'RE IN A SCHOOLHOUSE? IT'S IMPACTING ATTENDANCE IN A LOT OF PLACES.I KNOW THAT WE MONITOR ATTENDANCE IN BIRDVILLE ISD, AND IT'S NOT IMPACTING US, BUT BOY, THERE ARE AREAS IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IT'S IMPACTING BIG TIME.
I KNOW IN CALIFORNIA, FOR INSTANCE, THEY HAVE SPECIAL PARENT MEETINGS, ENCOURAGING THEM, IT'S OKAY TO SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF SECURITY TRYING TO GET PARENTS TO GET THEIR KIDS TO COME TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE 1776 PROJECT WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED THE FIRST TIME, ONE OF HIS FIRST THINGS WAS TO COMMISSION A STUDY, THE 76 PROJECT TO TRY TO GET MORE AMERICAN HISTORY THINGS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.
I THINK THE REPORT CAME OUT ONE OF HIS LAST DAYS IN OFFICE, AND I THINK WITHIN 48 HOURS, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT, AND HE STOPPED THE WHOLE THING.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS RE-ENERGIZED THAT NOW, AND REALLY BELIEVES THAT KIDS SHOULD BE LEARNING MORE PATRIOTIC SUBJECTS.
THAT'S OUT THERE, AND THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
I WAS THERE DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK.
THERE WERE BILLS IN DC TWO, THREE YEARS AGO REGARDING ALL THIS VOUCHER STUFF FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, AND WE KNOW WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP STANDS ON ALL OF THAT.
ALL THE BELT TIGHTENING THAT'S GOING ON, WE GET MOST OF OUR MONIES FROM THE STATE OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE RELY ON FEDERAL MONIES AND THINGS SUCH AS OUR TITLE 1 AND IDEA AND SCHOOL MEALS, ALL OF THAT FUNDING COULD GO DOWN, IT REALLY COULD.
SOMETHING SIMPLE AS REQUIRING A FAMILY WHO IS BELOW THE LINE THAT YOU MENTIONED, I THINK IT'S ABOUT A FIFTH OF WHAT YOU MENTIONED, THAT HAS TO FILL OUT FORMS TELLING YOU THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE LUNCH PROGRAM.
BUT WHAT IF YOU HAD TO SHOW PROOF OF EARNINGS? WHAT IF YOU HAD TO SHOW MORE STUFF? WELL, FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FILL OUT THE FORMS, AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE, AND YOU CAN GET THE MONEY, SO MORE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO HUNGRY IF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
THERE WAS A WHOLE SESSION ON OUR FEDERAL E-RATE.
THE E-RATE PROGRAM WAS SET UP ORIGINALLY FOR PHONE CONNECTIVITY FOR DISTRICTS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY FOR TELEPHONES.
WELL, IT'S MORPHED INTO INTERNET ACCESS AND KEEPING PACE WITH THE NEED FOR INTERNET ACCESSES.
OF ALL THE HISTORY OF THE E-RATE, I BELIEVE 10% OF ALL THE MONIES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE GONE TO TEXAS.
WE'RE ONE-TENTH OF THE WHOLE FEDERAL E-RATE PROGRAM.
THE DISCOUNTED TECHNOLOGY THAT COMES IN THIS, WE HAVE BENEFITED BIG TIME IN BIRDVILLE ISD OVER THE YEARS.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CUTTING BACK THE E-RATE PROGRAM.
ALL OF THESE THINGS WE JUST NEED TO LOBBY AGAINST BECAUSE IT ALL HELPS US AND IT HELPS THE GENERAL GOOD.
NOT JUST HELPS OUR DISTRICT, BUT IT HELPS THE GENERAL GOOD.
THERE WAS A SPEAKER THAT GOT UP IN THIS SESSION.
SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT TEXAS HAS TOO MANY SCHOOLS, AND THAT DISTRICTS HAVE OVER-HIRED AND OVER-STAFFED, AND ALL OF THIS.
SHE WAS MAKING STATEMENTS LIKE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS OVER IN THE COUNTRY.
WELL, YOU TALKED TO SOME OF OUR RURAL TEXAS DISTRICTS AND TEACHER SHORTAGE, THEY WERE TELLING HER, NO, YOU GOT THAT WRONG, AND I THINK SHE LEFT THAT WITH SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
THE POLITICAL EXPECTATIONS UNDER OUR NEW ADMINISTRATION.
EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE REAGAN HAS TALKED ABOUT ABOLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
IT'S NOTHING NEW, IT JUST SEEMS TO GET SOME NEW VIGOR RIGHT NOW.
THERE WAS THE EXPECTATIONS AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING ABOUT GENDER GENDER IDENTITY, IT'S TURNED AROUND BIG TIME, IMMIGRATION.
[01:15:06]
THE PLYLER VERSUS DOE FROM 1982, TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CAN'T REFUSE TO ADMIT SOMEONE IF THEY'RE A CITIZEN OR NOT A CITIZEN, WE CAN'T REFUSE TO DO THAT.IS THAT GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP IN LAWSUITS AND EVENTUALLY GET TO THE SUPREME COURT? I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT CAME FROM TYLER, TEXAS.
BACK IN THE '70S AND EARLY '80S, TEXAS WAS TRYING TO NOT HAVE TO EDUCATE CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T HAVE IMMIGRATION PAPERS.
TYLER WAS THIS PLYLER VERSUS DOE, SO IT WAS ALL REAL CLOSE TO US.
BUT THAT'S A BIG FINANCIAL IMPACT TO BIRDVILLE ISD IF CHILDREN HAVE TO SHOW IMMIGRATION PAPERS.
THE FAMILIES ARE AFRAID ABOUT THAT AND AREN'T SENDING THEIR KIDS TO US, THAT'S BIG FINANCIAL TO US.
WE JUST NEED TO ABIDE BY THE LAW AND UNTIL THE LAW CHANGES.
THEN THE LAST SESSION WAS ON CHRONIC ABSENTEEISMS. THERE'S A BIG PUSH NATIONALLY ABOUT ASKING PEDIATRICIANS TO ADD TO THEIR QUESTION CHECKLIST ABOUT FAMILIES AND WITH CHILDREN, HOW MANY DAYS OF SCHOOL HAVE YOU MISSED? HAVING THAT QUESTION ASKED, HAVING PEDIATRICIANS LINKING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE WITH GOOD HEALTH.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUDIES ABOUT LINKING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE WITH GOOD HEALTH.
RHODE ISLAND, INDIANA, HAVE HAD GOOD PUBLIC ATTENDANCE THINGS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WORK TO GET GOOD ATTENDANCE, THE TEXT MESSAGING, THE HOME VISITS, FREE BREAKFASTS, PROVIDING QUALITY TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE DOING THOSE THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT, WE THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, THE THINGS THAT WORK ABOUT STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP IS TELEHEALTH FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA.
SOME DISTRICTS HAVE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA ARE BIG PEOPLE WHO MISS SOME DAYS OF SCHOOL.
THE FACT THAT CHILDREN THAT ARE HUNGRY AREN'T GOING TO SHOW UP TO SCHOOL, AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IS A BIG PART OF GETTING THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS, NOT JUST FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, BUT SO THAT THEY'LL LEARN.
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DON'T WORK, MY LAST THING, OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS, PUNITIVE RESPONSES WHEN THEY'RE TRUANT, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS DON'T WORK, WE JUST NEED TO SHOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE.
BOY, I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT IT WAS A VERY GOOD CONFERENCE.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS WHO CHOSE ONE TRUSTEE IN EACH SERVICE CENTER TO GO TO THIS CONFERENCE FOR FREE, AND I WAS CHOSEN SO IT DIDN'T COST THE DISTRICT ANYTHING.
>> PRESIDENT DREES, ONE MORE COMMENT, I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING.
MR. TOLBERT TALKED ABOUT HOW THE SENATE AND GOVERNOR PARTICULARLY SAYS NOTHING TO CHANGE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT.
ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT CHAIRMAN BUCKLEY TOLD THE ENTIRE GROUP THAT MORNING, HE SAYS, AND HE'S IN DOWN BELL COUNTY SALADO AREA, "IN MY VETERINARY CLINIC, SINCE 2019, MY EXPENSES IN MY CLINIC HAVE GONE UP 22%." THESE ARE HIS NUMBERS. HE SAYS, "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT BE HEALTHCARE, ELECTRIC BILL, WATER BILL, GAS, INSURANCE, LOOK AT THE INSURANCE COSTS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO BIG COST OF OUR PROPERTIES AND BUILDINGS AND STUFF." HE RECOGNIZED THAT IN THE HOUSE.
BUT IN THE SENATE, FORGET IT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANOTHER PENNY.
THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES, THE DIFFERENCES, BUT I FORGOT THAT STATISTIC THAT HE GAVE IN HIS OWN BUSINESS.
I CAN SEE WHERE IT'S BEEN A 22% INCREASE.
HE REALIZES THAT WE DO KEEP PAYING THE LIGHT BILL, AND THE WATER BILL, AND THE FUEL, AND THE INSURANCE LIKE THAT, JUST LIKE HE DOES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. LET'S MOVE ON
[K.1. Texas Association of School Boards Proposed Policy Update 124, Affecting Local Policies Listed (First Reading) [Skip Baskerville, Associate Superintendent]]
TO INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS. MR. BASKERVILLE.>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT DREES.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, TASB, PROPOSED POLICY UPDATES 124, AFFECTING CHANGES TO LEGAL AND LOCAL POLICIES.
UPDATE 124 CONSISTS OF EIGHT LOCAL POLICIES.
UPDATE 124 COVERS RECOMMENDED LOCAL POLICY REVISIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CHANGES THAT IMPACT LOCAL POLICIES.
[01:20:03]
OTHER RECOMMENDED REVISIONS COVER CHANGES IN FEDERAL GUIDANCE REGARDING GRANTS, CHANGES TO CLARIFY PROVISION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF COPYRIGHTED WORK, AND CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE USE OF NON-TOBACCO NICOTINE PRODUCTS ON DISTRICT PROPERTY.I BELIEVE THE BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH LOCAL POLICY OVERVIEW, EXPLANATORY NOTES, POLICY MANUAL UPDATE, AND POLICY COMPARISONS SHOWING THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
ADMINISTRATION HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSED POLICIES OF UPDATE 124.
EACH DIRECTOR HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSED UPDATE FOR ANY CHANGES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
ALL POLICIES PRESENTED TONIGHT ARE PRESENTED FOR INFORMATION, DISCUSSION AT THE MARCH BOARD MEETING, AND POSSIBLE ACTION AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BASKERVILLE. NOW WE COME TO SEPARATE ACTION ITEMS.
[L.1. Consider Personnel Items as Discussed in Closed Session]
NUMBER 1, CONSIDER PERSONNEL ITEMS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE PERSONNEL ITEMS, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT DR. STINSON HAS ACCEPTED 18 RESIGNATIONS AND 12 RETIREMENTS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THE PERSONNEL ITEMS?
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AND ADOPT ALL PERSONNEL ITEMS, INCLUDING CONTRACT RENEWALS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> THANK YOU, MRS. SANDERS-WISE. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> MR. DAVIS, I HEARD YOU FIRST. THANK YOU.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[L.2. Consider the Certification of Unopposed Candidates and the Order of Cancellation of the 2025 Birdville ISD Board of Trustees General Election [Skip Baskerville, Associate Superintendent]]
CONSIDER THE CERTIFICATION OF UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES AND THE ORDER OF CANCELLATION OF THE 2025 BIRDVILLE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES GENERAL ELECTION.I LIKE THIS ONE A LOT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE BOARD ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATION OF UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES AND APPROVE THE ORDER OF CANCELLATION OF THE 2025 BIRDVILLE ISD, BOARD OF TRUSTEES GENERAL ELECTION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DILKS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, MRS. SANDERS-WISE.
THIS IS THREE YEARS IN A ROW WE'VE GOTTEN TO DO THIS, WHICH I THINK IS AMAZING.
I HOPE IT SAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY THINKS WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND VALUES OUR LEADERSHIP.
>> I THINK IT DOES MORE THAN THAT.
NO THAT AS A BOARD ARE DOING ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING, BUT HOW THE STAFF IS COMMUNICATING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM LED BY DR. STINSON, WE GO OVER AND BEYOND REACHING OUT AND TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS.
THAT'S OUR FIRST QUESTION EVERY TIME.
HOW'S THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR KIDS? CONGRATULATIONS, MR. KUNKEL AND MR. DREES, WELL DESERVED.
LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
BUT IT'S REALLY A GREAT REFLECTION ON THE BIRDVILLE FAMILY.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR STINSON AND YOUR GROUP, AND IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE RIGHT IN?
>> GOOD. WIFE SAYS IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT'S UNANIMOUS.
I THINK THE CITY OF WATAUGA GOT TO CANCEL YOURS, TOO, DIDN'T YOU? GOOD JOB.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] NOT ONLY DOES IT SPEAK VOLUMES FOR OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BUT IT ALSO SAVES THE DISTRICT AND THE CITIES A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.
>> NUMBER 3, CONSIDER MULLENDORE ELEMENTARY TO BECOME A PREPARATORY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
[L.3. Consider Mullendore Elementary to Become a Preparatory Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Academy with Standardized Dress [Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Associate Superintendent]]
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS ACADEMY WITH STANDARDIZED DRESS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?>> I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVE MULLENDORE ELEMENTARY AS PREPARATORY STEM ACADEMY WITH STANDARDIZED DRESS AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. TOLBERT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, MR. KUNKEL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE?
>> QUESTION REGARDING THE STANDARDIZED DRESS? WAS THAT HAPPEN TO BE TODAY AT BIRDVILLE ELEMENTARY.
DO THEY HAVE TO BE SOLID COLORED SHIRTS? IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.
BUT IT DOESN'T SAY IN OUR STUFF IT'S SOLID.
THE BLUE, BLACK, AND GREEN, I THINK IT WAS. LOOK AT THE COLORS AGAIN.
MAKE SURE IT SAYS IN THE DEAL THAT SOLID COLORS.
BECAUSE THE KIDS LOOK GREAT, BUT I SAW THREE DIFFERENT SHIRTS, THEY'RE COLORED SHIRTS AND BOYS AND GIRLS, BUT THEY'RE SOLID COLORS.
IF YOU SAY BLACK, WELL, THEY CAN HAVE BLACK WITH ALL THE OTHER COLORS ON IT, TOO.
JUST MAKE SURE IT'S SOLID COLORS ARE VERY CLEAR.
HAVE WE HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE PARENT GROUPS OR PTA AND TALK TO THEM?
>> THE PRINCIPAL HAS TALKED TO STAFF AND THE PARENTS THEY HAVE HAD COMMUNICATION.
>> WE HAD NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS.
>> I DID SOME RESEARCH TOO ON THE CLOTHING.
WHAT I FOUND IS THAT WHEN YOU DO MOVE TO A UNIFORM, THE INITIAL RESPONSE SOMETIMES BY PARENTS ALWAYS ISN'T POSITIVE, BUT THEY END UP FINDING OUT IT ACTUALLY BECOMES CHEAPER FOR THEM TO HAVE A STANDARDIZED UNIFORM.
THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO SEEMED TO REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IMPROVES
[01:25:02]
BEHAVIOR TOO AND EVEN SOME PLAYING FIELDS.EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT IT, I'M REALLY FOR IT NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DILKS. YEAH AS A FATHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE HOW IT WOULD SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
MR. TOLBERT, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> I DO. DRAW MY MEMORY, DOCTOR CLARK.
DO I REMEMBER WE DISCUSSED THAT THERE MIGHT BE COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIPS OR CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE COULD HELP BRING MONEY INTO THE SCHOOL AND OR SUBSIDIZE THE SHIRTS TO LOWER THE COST FOR OUR FAMILIES?
>> YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS TO HAVE SOME SPONSORSHIPS.
THAT'S NOT JUST FOR THE STANDARDIZED DRESS, BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE BACKPACKS AND SOME OTHER SUPPORT.
>> THAT'S AWESOME TO HEAR. I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IT.
LET'S GET THOSE KIDS WALKING AROUND WATERBUR WS AND CHICKEN EXPRESS AND EVERYTHING.
LET'S BRING MONEY. LET'S GET A CASH FLOW GOING.
>> ADDITIONALLY, THE CAMPUSES THAT CURRENTLY HAVE STANDARDIZED DRESS, HAVE A NICE SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CLOTHES CLOSETS.
AS STUDENTS OUTGROW THEIR SHIRTS, THEY TURN THEM BACK INTO THE CLOTHES CLOSET AND JUST TRADE THEM OUT FOR A LARGER SIZE AND WE JUST KEEP THAT ROTATING.
IT'S A NICE SYSTEM AND THEY LEARN TO DO THAT WELL.
>> MAYBE OUR TEAM OF EIGHT COULD DO STANDARDIZED TESTS AND HAVE LEATHER JACKETS LIKE DOCTOR STINSON.
>> SURE. [LAUGHTER] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT'S UNANIMOUS.
[L.4. Consider the 2025-26 Math Open Education Resources Transition Plan [Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Associate Superintendent]]
CONSIDER THE 2025-26 MATH OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES TRANSITION PLAN. DO I HAVE A MOTION?>> I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVED THE '25 '26 MATH OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES TRANSITION PLAN AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS AND THANK YOU, MR. KUNKEL.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ONE OR COMMENTS?
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION. WE WERE ASKED BY SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS AND ALSO BY OTHERS, IS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE? WE'VE CHOSEN TO GO TO THIS MET PROGRAM, BUT INSTEAD OF JUST LETTING US IMPLEMENT IT, TEA PUT DOWN THROUGH EDICT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COME UP WITH A TRANSITION PLANS, WHICH WE HAD THEN HAVE ADMINISTRATORS GET PUT TOGETHER A TRANSITION PLAN.
THEN WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT TO PRESENT IT AT THE LAST MEETING, THEY CAME DOWN AND THEY SAID, NO.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING A TRANSITION PLAN, THIS IS A TEMPLATE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW.
THERE'S 22 PAGES, SINGLE SPACED, VERY CONDENSED.
THIS IS JUST YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY CAN'T WE JUST IMPLEMENT OUR NEW MATH PROGRAM? BUT NO, THE PINHEADS OF TA HAVE TO TELL US, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP AFTER THAT AND SAY, WELL, THIS IS THE FORMAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN.
IF ANYBODY ASK YOU JUST ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD BURDENS THAT WE HAVE? THIS IS JUST ONE OF 1,000 EXAMPLES.
BUT IT'S A GREAT REPORT, BY THE WAY. YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON IT.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING WHEN WE LOOK AT READING FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> DO WE HAVE THE TEMPLATE AHEAD OF TIME FOR THAT ONE AT LEAST?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
IT'S UNANIMOUS. CONSIDER THE 2025-26 INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
[L.5. Consider the 2025-26 Instructional Calendar [Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Associate Superintendent]]
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVE THE 2025, 26 INSTRUCTION CALENDAR AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DILKS. WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, MISS SANDERS-WISE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE?
>> MR. BASKERVILLE, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS GIVEN THIS CALENDAR, AND I DON'T THINK IN THE TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN HANDLING THIS, I'VE EVER HAD ANYBODY COMPLAIN TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE PROPOSED.
YOU DO A GREAT JOB ON IT. I KNOW YOU HAVE A TEAM.
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT.
BUT A TEAM NEEDS A LEADER AND YOU'RE THAT LEADER. I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT MR. BASKERVILLE AND DOCTOR CLARK STILL REMAIN FRIENDS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THIS CALENDAR ADOPTION.
>> THE BRUISES ARE PROBABLY HIDDEN.
>> WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THEY HAVE TO TRY TO RECONCILE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO GO BY MINUTES AND OUR TEACHERS GO BY DAYS AND THEY'LL HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EACH AND HAVE THAT ALL RECONCILED INTO A CALENDAR WHILE PLEASING 45,000 PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IN THE DISTRICT.
IT'S AN OVERWHELMING TASK AND YOU DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
[01:30:01]
ALL IN FAVOR? IT'S UNANIMOUS AGAIN.NEXT, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[M. CONSENT ITEMS]
ALL ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED WITH ONE MOTION UNLESS THEY ARE REMOVED BY A TRUSTEE FOR DISCUSSION.IS THERE ANYTHING THAT A BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? DO I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ALL ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MISS SANDERS-WISE, AND THE SECOND?
>> MR. DAVIS, IT IS. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR? IT'S UNANIMOUS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS TO THE BOARD OR
[N. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS TO THE BOARD]
REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW.ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT CONCERNING THESE ITEMS?
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE AVID ORGANIZATION, THE AVID CENTER SENT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, PROCLAMATION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AS THANKING YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT AVID MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT YOU DO HAVE THAT IN YOUR REPORTS.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING.
THANK YOU TO DOCTOR STINSON, TO MARK THOMAS, TO ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS THAT PUT ON EXPERIENCED VERBAL THIS PAST WEEKEND, IT WAS A MARVELOUS EVENT.
WE HAD SO MANY TEACHERS APPLY AND PLENTY OF STUDENTS OPEN ENROLL IN OUR DISTRICT FROM THAT, AND IT WAS REALLY SPECTACULAR EVENT.
SPECTACULAR DAY FOR BIRDVILLE.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
WE HAD A SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF BETWEEN 75 AND 80 APPLICANTS WANTING TO COME AT OUR MINI JOB FAIR JUST ON SATURDAY MORNING AND MORE THAN 200 OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS ON OUR QR.
IT WAS A GREAT DAY IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO SHARE THE BECTLE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE GONE HOME, WHICH I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY DID.
THEY DESERVE THAT, BUT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS WAS REPRESENTED, AND IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> OUR STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED WERE AMAZING.
>> TO SEE THOSE GUYS TEAR APART A MOTOR AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, THE TEAMWORK IT WAS JUST AMAZING.
>> THEY DO IT LIKE 17 MINUTES.
>> I WANT TO ADD, MR. PRESIDENT.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, IT'S GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME TO PONTIFICATE ON WHAT YOU AND RICHARD SAID EARLIER TOO.
BUT I THINK WHEN THIS VOUCHER THING REARS ITS UGLY HEAD, I THINK BIRDVILLE IS GOING TO BE WELL POSITIONED TO COMPETE BECAUSE OF STUFF LIKE EXPERIENCE BIRDVILLE, WE'RE BRANDING AND MARKETING OURSELVES.
I THINK A LOT OF THE MORE SMART PARENTS THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA ARE GOING TO SEEK OUT BIRDVILLE ISD TO EDUCATE THEIR KIDS.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE LAYING THAT FOUNDATION.
I WOULD ALSO SAY JUST TO ELABORATE ON WHAT YOU GUYS SAID AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR A SENATOR OR A REP ANSWER THIS QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO VOUCHERS.
TO ME, IT'S NOT JUST A COUPON FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN ALREADY AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL, BECAUSE EVEN AS A PERSON IN ALL TRANSPARENCY THAT CAN PROBABLY AFFORD IT, AND I CHOOSE NOT TO, I BRING MY KIDS TO BIRDVILLE BECAUSE IT'S BETTER.
THE COUPON IS NOT WORTH IT BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY TUITION.
WHEN THE FEDS SUBSIDIZED AND BOUGHT OUT FREDDIE MAC AND FANNIE MAE, WHEN THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT CAME, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT POURS MONEY, AND GIVES FREE MONEY TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO TUITION AT UNIVERSITIES.
IT SKYROCKETED. PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.
JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPON TO GO THERE, THE PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION IS GOING TO GO UP JUST LIKE IT DID AT UNIVERSITIES.
THIS IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE STANCE, IT'S NOT A CONSERVATIVE THING AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAND ON THIS HILL.
YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW AND BELIEVE ME LATER, COME BACK IN FIVE OR 1O YEARS.
PRIVATE SCHOOL COST WILL GO UP.
WHENEVER THERE'S FREE MONEY THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES, IT GOES UP.
UNIVERSITY TUITION, IT OUTPACED THE CPI AND INFLATION.
IT'S NOT COMING DOWN, IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCE BIRDVILLE, I APPRECIATE HER ATHLETICS, I APPRECIATE HER FINE ARTS, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THIS DISTRICT DOES, BECAUSE IT POSITIONS US WELL, WE BLOW THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS OUT OF THE WATER.
[01:35:01]
KIDS MAY GO THERE FOR A SEASON OR TWO, BUT THEY WILL COME BACK HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE TO EDUCATE YOUR KID.I'M OFF MY SOAP BOX. THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GET ON MINE.
ONE OF THE REPORTS IN HERE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS THE BILLS THAT WE PAID FOR JANUARY, PRIVATE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT EITHER, DO THEY? WE DO.
>> EVERY CHECK. WE ARE TRANSPARENT BEYOND ANYTHING ELSE.
>> WE HEAR ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS, NOT GETTING ALONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HAVING LOTS OF PROBLEMS. I'M PROUD TO SAY PEOPLE THAT ASK ME, I NEVER HEAR YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I NEVER HEAR ANY NEWS ABOUT BIRDVILLE ISD IN THE NEGATIVE ARENA.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT LEADER, SUPERINTENDENT.
WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD, AND WE HAVE GREAT ADMINISTRATORS.
MOST OF ALL, WE HAVE GREAT TEACHERS AND WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. I'M PROUD TO SAY, I'M PART OF BIRDVILLE.
>> [LAUGHTER] AWESOME. ANYBODY ELSE?
>> I DO HAVE ONE THING. I DIDN'T GET TO ADD EARLIER, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THE TOPIC IS VOUCHERS OR ESAS, AS THEY LIKE TO CALL THEM.
BUT ONE THING IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE COMPOUNDING EFFECT.
BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS FOR ONE BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR, THEN THEY WILL PROVIDE 100,000 SEATS.
DO THE SAME KIDS GET TO KEEP THOSE SAME SEATS THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR.
[BACKGROUND] THE ANSWER IS YES.
IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT SAME SEAT, THEY CAN.
NEXT YEAR, THAT'S ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND SEATS AND ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR.
WHEN YOU LOOK UP AND FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, AT THE END OF THE NEXT SESSION, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE? FOUR BILLION DOLLARS, FIVE BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE? WHERE DOES IT END? NO ONE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION NOR ARE ANY OF THE LEGISLATORS ASKING EACH OTHER THE QUESTION.
MY CHALLENGE TO THEM IS TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION PUBLICLY AND TALK ABOUT WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM BECAUSE THE COST COMPOUNDS ANNUALLY, AND WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? IT'S GOING TO COME FROM US, FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT'S A TOPIC THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE AS THEY CONSIDER THEIR VOTE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE? I'M KIDDING.
>> ACTUALLY, I WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCE FIRST,
[O. FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS]
OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2025, HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM.CLOSED SESSION WILL BEGIN AT 5:30 PM AND WE'LL RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT SEVEN HOPEFULLY ON TIME NEXT TIME.
AS WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING?
>> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS IN A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SANDERS-WISE. ALL IN FAVOR? WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 8:45.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.