[1. Call to Order Open Session in the Board Room at Little Elm ISD Administration Building on 400 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, Texas 75068. ]
[2. The Board will recess into Closed Meeting in the Board Support Conference Room as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act Code Subchapter 551.072 & 551.074. The Board and Superintendent will discuss: A. Personnel B. Land ]
[00:00:18]
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE BACK INTO OPEN SESSION AT [NOISE] 07:00 P.M WE'LL GO AND STARTED VERY LATE.
[3. Pledge of Allegiance ]
CAN YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.WE DO NOT HAVE AN AMICATION TONIGHT, SO WE'LL GO INTO INTRODUCTION AND ROLL-CALL. [BACKGROUND]
>>> NOT PRESENT MR. DE LEON ENGLISH AND MR. DAVID [FOREIGN].
MR. GALLAGHER WILL GO INTO SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT FOR SOME STUDENT RECOGNITION.
[6. Superintendent Spotlight ]
>> I APOLOGIZE, MY MICROPHONE IS NOT, IT IS WORKING OKAY.
MR. ROBERTS, WOULD YOU TAKE IT OVER AT THIS POINT?
>> YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. GALLAGHER, BOARD PRESIDENT, OLSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AS ALWAYS, EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY OF CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE WALKING THE HALLS HERE IN LITTLE ELM ISD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO START OUT AT OUR ELEMENTARY LEVEL WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT STAR AWARD.
BEFORE WE CALL STUDENTS UP, I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE COMMON STRANDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN THESE STUDENTS TO BE CELEBRATED.
WE TALKED ABOUT TENACITY, HARDWORKING, ENCOURAGING, THOUGHTFUL, KIND TOWARDS THEIR CLASSMATES, A LEADER, A FRIEND, SOMEONE THAT IS COMPASSION AND IS FOCUSED.
THOSE ARE THE COMMON ADJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTIVES THAT WERE USED FOR THE STUDENTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH AND I'LL ASK MR. GALLAGHER AND BOARD PRESIDENT OLSON, IF YOU-ALL COME OUT AND WE'LL HAVE THE STUDENTS COME UP.
STUDENTS, AS WE SAY YOUR NAME JUST MOVE TO THE FRONT AND YOU'LL BE GREETED HERE WITH AN AWARD.
FROM BRENT ELEMENTARY IN FIFTH GRADE, WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE].
FROM CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE ROSE MORENO, FIRST GRADE.
FROM HANK BARRY, WE HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AMINA BRONCO.
[APPLAUSE] CELEBRATING A KINDERGARTENER FROM LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY TONIGHT, WE HAVE LADLE JONES.
[APPLAUSE] FROM OAK POINT ELEMENTARY, FOURTH GRADER, SAMANTHA BUNIA.
[00:05:09]
FROM PRESS WICK ELEMENTARY A FIRST GRADER, DELILAH STOMA.THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR.
PARENTS CAN YOU COME TAKE PICTURES.
ALSO HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR PARENTS? [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY OTHER PARENT [INAUDIBLE].
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU PARENTS FOR BRINGING YOUR STUDENTS THIS EVENING.
WE'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT THIS AND A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TONIGHT FILLS THE BOARDROOM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVE INTO THE SECONDARY LEVEL STUDENT RECOGNITION FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP DR. BLACKWELL FROM STRIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR STUDENT OF THE MONTH.
>> I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD TURN AROUND.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE OUR STUDENT OF THE MONTH IS ASHLYN WIMBERLEY.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] YOU CAN COME ON DOWN ASHLYN.
[LAUGHTER] I WILL READ WHAT THE TEACHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MS. ASHLYN.
ASHLYN ALWAYS COMES TO CLASS PREPARED AND READY TO FOCUS.
SHE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND.
SHE TREATS EVERYONE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH RESPECT AND HAS COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.
SHE ALWAYS COMES TO CLASS WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DR. BLACKWELL, FOR THAT. CONGRATULATIONS ASHLYN.
MOVING TO WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'M GOING TO ASK MS. CARR TO COME TO THE FRONT AND TALK ABOUT THEIR STUDENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. OUR WALKER STUDENT OF THE MONTH IS DINO ARIANO.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, DINO, HERE WE GO FROM MRS. HAUSLER.
DINO IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A LEADER IN THE CLASSROOM.
HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP HIS CLASSMATES AND LOVES TO LEARN.
HE IS RESPECTFUL, KIND TO EVERYONE HE ENCOUNTERS.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE HIM IN CLASS.
FROM MRS. LAMBERT, I WAS IN THERE TODAY.
ROCKETS. DINO IS THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT STUDENT AID THIS YEAR AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH.
HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OUR TEAM AND DOES IT WITH KINDNESS, GOING THE EXTRA MILE WITH A SMILE WHICH HE HAS ON RIGHT NOW.
FROM MR. TURNER. MR. TURNER, DINO GETS STUFF DONE AS SOON AS HE CAN,
[00:10:03]
AND HAS BEEN SEEING CREATING HOW-TO VIDEOS FOR OTHER STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW A CERTAIN CONCEPT.HIS HUMILITY AND CONSTANT STRIVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT INSPIRES ME TO STEP IT UP AS A TEACHER SO I CAN BEST SERVE STUDENTS LIKE THIS.
FINALLY FROM COACH HUNT, I AM BLESSED TO HAVE DINO AS A STUDENT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS NOW AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ABUNDANCE OF SUCCESS HE HAS COMING.
ELLIE, LITTLE ELM IS A BETTER DISTRICT BECAUSE OF STUDENTS LIKE DINO.
DINO AND ASHLYN, I BELIEVE YOUR PARENTS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WOULD YOU-ALL PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL? [APPLAUSE] GREAT. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, MR. BORDEN.
>> GOOD EVENING. OUR FIRST STUDENT OF THE MONTH IS MS. AVERY MATTHEWS.
AVERY IS AN ABSOLUTE SWEETHEART AND SHE'S A LEADER ON OUR CAMPUS IN SO MANY WAYS.
SHE'S A NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
SHE IS THE PRESIDENT, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM A SHIRT THERE OF OUR HOPE SQUAD.
SHE'S ALSO THE DASH COMMITTEE CHAIR OF STUDENT COUNCIL.
SHE'S A HIGH-FLYING STUDENTS AND AS YOU CAN NATURALLY EXPECT, AVERY PLANS ON ATTENDING A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY OUT OF STATE, HOPEFULLY NEW YORK.
IT'S COLD THERE, WHERE SHE PLANS TO MAJOR IN JOURNALISM AND MINOR IN CREATIVE WRITING.
HER TEACHERS SAY OF HER THAT MR. CHIBARI SAYS THAT AVERY HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK AS PRESIDENT OF THE HOPE SQUAD.
SHE IS A SPECIAL, KIND, DRIVEN AND GOAL ORIENTED INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A CLEAR DIRECTION OF SERVING OTHERS.
MS. CHAMBERLAIN SAYS THAT SHE'S HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING EVERY ALL FOUR YEARS OF HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FIRST AS HER COUNSELOR, THEN AS HER HOPE SQUAD ADVISOR.
SHE'S SEEN EVERY STEP OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE TO LEAD, AND SHE HAS BLOSSOMED, AND SHE IS SO VERY PROUD OF HER.
MS. WHITE SAYS THAT AVERY IS A GREAT STUDENT WITH A SWEET PERSONALITY AND SHE HAS A WITTY SENSE OF HUMOR, AND ANY TEACHER WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE HER IN CLASS, AND WE ARE DEFINITELY LUCKY TO HAVE HER AT LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL.
WHERE THE PARENTS FOR AVERY? [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT STUDENT OF THE MONTH IS ANTHONY FLORENTINO.
I JUST ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE. I LOVE HIS NAME.
[APPLAUSE] ANTHONY IS SUCH AN AMAZING STUDENT.
HE'S A SILENT LEADER ON OUR CAMPUS.
HE'S NOT VERY BOISTEROUS OR OVERLY EXTROVERTED YET EVERYONE ON CAMPUS KNOWS WHO THIS GUY IS.
BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAS TO GET DONE, YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT ANTHONY IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN GETTING IT DONE.
HE'S INVOLVED IN BANDS, STUDENT COUNCIL, HE'S MODEL UN, UIL ACADEMICS, AS WELL AS THE LOBO COLLEGIATE ACADEMY.
HE'S GOING TO BE ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN TO MAJOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND WORK IN CYBERSECURITY.
HIS TEACHERS SAY, MR. MANUEL CASTILLO SAYS THAT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ THIS.
HE SAYS, AND YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR MR. GARCIA SAYING THIS AS I READ IT.
EVERY TIME I'VE PLANNED A BIG TIME CONSUMING RISKY PROJECT, ANTHONY IS ALWAYS INVOLVED.
THAT'S ON TOP OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER THINGS HE'S ALREADY DOING WHILE KEEPING A GREAT GPA.
AS A PERSON, HE IS SOMEONE YOU CAN COUNT ON WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING.
ALSO, HE'S ALWAYS HAPPY, FOR REAL." [LAUGHTER] MS. JULIE BROWN SAYS THAT ANTHONY IS A VERY INTELLIGENT, HARDWORKING, AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUAL.
HE HELPS OTHERS IN CLASS AS WELL AS HELPING HER WITH ANYTHING THAT SHE NEEDS IN THE CLASSROOM, TUTORING OTHER STUDENTS, ETC.
ANTHONY IS ALSO ONE OF THE TOP STUDENTS
[00:15:01]
THAT SHE HAS HAD IN HER 32 YEARS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS.HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE TOP STUDENTS AT LITTLE ELM AND VERY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD.
>> JOE, ANTHONY'S PARENTS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL STUDENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR LEAD COUNCIL FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL, MS. MICHELLE GENTRY, TO COME TO THE PODIUM, AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR HOPE SQUAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US A FEW MINUTES TO COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, MR. GALLAGHER AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO BRING HOPE SQUAD TO OUR CAMPUSES.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD HOPE SQUAD AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
IT'S OUR THIRD YEAR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
HOPE SQUAD IS UP HERE INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO REDUCE YOUTH SUICIDE THROUGH FOSTERING A CULTURE OF KINDNESS AND INCLUSIVITY.
I KNOW THAT AVERY JUST GOT COMFORTABLE BACK IN HER SEAT, BUT I'D LOVE FOR HER TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM.
>> GOOD EVENING. FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TONIGHT, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE I THINK PERSONALLY FOR ME, IT'S IMPACTED ME A LOT.
BEING IN HOPE SQUAD FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND HAS MADE ME BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS TODAY, AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A VERY POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN SCHOOLS.
THAT MEANS EDUCATING THE STUDENT BODY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW TO COPE WITH IT.
WITH ACCESS TO THAT, I'VE SEEN STUDENTS BE LESS AFRAID AND ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE DOING AND TO KNOW THAT THEIR FEELINGS NO MATTER HOW GOOD OR BAD ARE VALID.
HOPE SQUAD THIS YEAR HAS HELD EVENTS LIKE OUR HOPE THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR THAT CAN BE EVENTS LIKE OUR LOVE OUR SELFIE BOOTH AND THE CHALK THAT WALK WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOPE SQUAD MEMBERS.
THAT'S JUST A GOOD WAY TO SPREAD POSITIVITY AND INCLUSIVITY AT OUR SCHOOL.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH FAIR THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE SPRING, AND THAT'S JUST A WAY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THEY MAY BE GOING THROUGH LIKE ANXIETY, ACADEMIC STRESS, AND DEPRESSION.
BUT OVERALL, I THINK HOPE SQUAD IS CHANGING THE STIGMA ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GO ON TO THE REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, MR. GALLAGHER.
[7. Reports of the Superintendent ]
>> AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK MR. ROBERTS BACK TO THE PODIUM, BUT BEFORE HE SPEAKS, I WANT TO THANK FIRST OFF PARENTS, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
BRINGING THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS, GREAT GRAND KIDS, GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE HERE IN LITTLE ELM ISD.
SECOND, AVERY, WONDERFUL JOB SPEAKING TO THE BOARD.
HOPE SQUAD IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THAT AND MS. GENTRY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE HOPE SQUAD AS WELL.
AT THIS TIME, PARENTS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE BOARD MEETING, BUT I KNOW YOUR KIDS HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS YOUR TIME WHERE YOU CAN STEP OUT.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] ALL RIGHT,
[00:20:33]
MR. ROBERTS, GOING CONTINUE.>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OLSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE CELEBRATIONS GOING FOR THIS PORTION.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT WITH LITTLE ELM ISD.
EVERY OCTOBER, OUR GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, SENDS A RESOLUTION TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS CELEBRATING HUMAN RESOURCES ACROSS THE STATE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO READ SOMETHING QUICKLY THAT REALLY CAPTURES HOW OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS THE GLUE AND IS THE BACKBONE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND I THINK IT DESCRIBES THAT PERFECTLY.
HUMAN RESOURCES IS A MULTIFACETED FIELD THAT ENCOMPASSES RECRUITING, ON-BOARDING, RETENTION, RISK MANAGEMENT, BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS WORK CRUCIAL FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL INDUSTRIES IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, WHERE THESE PROFESSIONALS MUST MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY.
THESE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN RECRUIT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST STAFF.
IN FACT, BRIGHTEST STAFF AND FACULTY, ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
THEIR VOCATION IS COMPLEX AND DEMANDING, BUT EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THOSE WORKING IN EDUCATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES RISE TO THE OCCASION AND ENSURES THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PROSPER AS THEY BECOME OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
WITH THAT, I AM MOVING INTO THE RESOLUTION SET FORTH BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
IT STATES, WHEREAS THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION IS INSTRUMENTAL IN RECRUITING, SELECTING, RESOURCING, AND RETAINING QUALITY STAFF IN SUPPORT OF PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND WHEREAS HUMAN RESOURCES PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE FOSTERING SATISFACTION AND LOYALTY AMONG EMPLOYEES BY ALLOWING FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND KEEPING EMPLOYEES INFORMED ABOUT POLICIES, WORKING CONDITIONS, COMPENSATIONS AND BENEFITS, AND WHEREAS HUMAN RESOURCES MONITORS AND MANAGES CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCE TRENDS, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE TRENDS, AND ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND WHEREAS HUMAN RESOURCES IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND IS VITAL TO THE OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE DISTRICTS WORKFORCE.
WHEREAS HUMAN RESOURCES IS VALUED AND RESPECTED DEPARTMENT THAT SUSTAINS THE DISTRICT'S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. IT'S PEOPLE.
THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY RESOLVE THAT OCTOBER 25, 2022 WILL BE OBSERVED AS TEXAS EDUCATION HUMAN RESOURCES DAY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
THE BOARD ALSO ENCOURAGES STUDENTS, STAFF, AND PARENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO LITTLE ELM ISD EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR OUR [APPLAUSE] STAFF AND STUDENTS.
>> MS. ROBERTSON WAS GOING TO SAY, CAN YOU READ THAT AGAIN? BUT IN SUMMARY [LAUGHTER] WHAT THAT SAYS IS BASICALLY ASHLEY BROWN AND HER TEAM IS AWESOME.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM HERE AND VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO AND I LOVE WORKING WITH THEM EVERY DAY.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR ALL THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND SO I'LL BRING THEM UP.
IF YOU WILL STAND BY ME UNTIL WE ALL GET THROUGH THOSE.
[00:25:04]
NEXT WE HAVE MELISSA CRANE [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP WE HAVE A SHARIF DUFFY [APPLAUSE].NEXT WITH US WE HAVE ANDREA GONZALEZ JARED [APPLAUSE].
MS. RENEE PENTECOST HAS A FAMILY COMMITMENT THAT SHE IS AT, AS WELL AS JENNA SHIP I WILL MAKE SURE THAT MS. BROWN GETS THEIR CERTIFICATES AND CAN DELIVER THOSE.
SHE'S NOT HERE, EITHER FAMILY COMMITMENT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE MS. KATHY THOMPSON [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]
>> MS. FLORES, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
[8. Citizen Input ]
>> JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, I WILL HAVE A CLOCK WHEN YOU COME UP HERE TO SPEAK, YOU'LL BE GIVEN FIVE MINUTES.
I WILL GIVE YOU A ONE-MINUTE WARNING, SO PLEASE JUST OBSERVE THOSE TIME LIMITS.
DO REMEMBER THAT THE BOARD CANNOT COMMENT ON ANYTHING YOU'RE SAYING.
WE'RE JUST HERE TO LISTEN DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FIRST WE'LL GO, GARRETT GRAVELY.
GARRETT, I WILL START THE CLOCK AS SOON AS YOU START SPEAKING. OKAY?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL DO FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR STUDENTS, THE HARD WORK YOU ALL DO DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED AND AT THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I SAY, THANK YOU.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME, BUT IF YOU DON'T, I FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WAS A REPORTER FOR THE LITTLE ELM JOURNAL, NOW THE LAKESIDE JOURNAL.
I WAS THERE UP UNTIL AUGUST AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN A STUDENT AT UNT DALLAS COLLEGE OF LAW.
I AM PURSUING A CAREER IN FIRST AMENDMENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW.
REASON I'M HERE, TAKING A BREAK FROM MY STUDIES RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF A THREAT THAT IS CURRENTLY FACING THE FIRST AMENDMENT HERE IN OUR DISTRICT FROM REPRESENTATIVE JARED PATTERSON.
REPRESENTATIVE JARED PATTERSON WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES LITTLE ELM SAID ON TWITTER IN JULY THAT HE WOULD BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION ''TO BAN MINERS FROM USING SOCIAL MEDIA," HE SAID.
HE HAS SINCE DELETED THIS TWEET, BUT WHETHER HE INTENDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT YOUR STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SELF-EXPRESSION THAT YOU AND I DO.
IT WAS MY JOB AS A REPORTER TO DEFEND THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
IT'S IN MY JOB AS A FUTURE OFFICER OF THE COURT TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING IN A BATCH DEFENSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, I COME BEFORE YOU BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO REQUEST THAT WHEN YOU CONVENE ON LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, IN THE COMING MONTHS, YOU MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON THAT YOU WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR STUDENTS' FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BEING INFRINGED.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS AFFIRMED MINOR'S RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS SPEECH MADE IN THE CONFINES OF A SCHOOL OR CONCERNED.
THE COURT'S CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY HAS RECENTLY STRUCK DOWN RESTRICTIONS ON MINOR'S FIRST AMENDMENT LIBERTIES IN CASES SUCH AS MANAHOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT V. BL, AND HAS RULED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT BANNING ANY COHORT OF PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING SOCIAL MEDIA IN PACKINGHAM V. NORTH CAROLINA.
PACKINGHAM V. NORTH CAROLINA BY THE WAY, THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A STATUTE FROM NORTH CAROLINA BANNING SEX OFFENDERS FROM ACCESSING SOCIAL MEDIA.
IF OUR GOVERNMENT CAN'T BAN SEX OFFENDERS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA,
[00:30:01]
WHY CAN IT BAN MINORS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA? ALL OF THIS TO SAY REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON'S PROPOSAL WOULD BRAZENLY VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.I TALKED TO LAWYERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I KNOW OF A LOT OF LAWYERS THAT KNOW ABOUT THIS.
NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS GIVEN ANY SHRED OF CREDIBILITY TO THIS PROPOSAL AT ALL.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING TO MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS.
WE ACTUALLY JUST RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOUR STUDENTS.
I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING TO THE ONE FROM THE HOPE SQUAD.
BEFORE SHE LEFT, I REACHED OUT TO HER AND SAID, "HEY, IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING, AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GO INTO JOURNALISM, LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
IF YOU WANT TO, MAYBE GET SOME OPPORTUNITIES, I CAN SEE IF I CAN PULL SOME STRINGS FOR YOU AT THE PAPER I WORKED AT, OR THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOME INTERNS.
WE ALWAYS LOVE HAVING SOME FRESH FACES THERE, AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SHE GAVE ME HER INSTAGRAM AND IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE SHE COULDN'T BE ON INSTAGRAM BECAUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON.
IMAGINE THAT, IMAGINE HER NOT BEING ABLE TO POTENTIALLY MAKE A PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION BECAUSE OF THIS PROPOSAL.
I'VE TALKED TO YOUR STUDENTS BEFORE.
YOU HAVE SOME OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT STUDENTS, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
THEY ARE INHERITING A WORLD THAT WE'RE CREATING.
JUST LIKE GAS, THEY ARE TAKING IN THIS WORLD AS IT CHANGES THROUGH THE EYES OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU GUYS HAD JUST CORRECTLY RECOGNIZED THE INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY HAVE, JUST HOW GREAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO EXCEL, SO WHY INSULT THEIR INTELLIGENCE BY TELLING THEM THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT THEY CAN'T GET ON FACEBOOK, THAT THEY CAN'T GET ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM.
HOW DARE REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON INSULT THEIR INTELLIGENCE? WHEN IT COMES TIME TO GEAR UP FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PLEASE STAND UP TO THIS ATTEMPTED GOVERNMENT TYRANNY AND TELL REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON, THAT A GOVERNMENT THAT FITS IN A STUDENT'S CELL PHONE IS A GOVERNMENT THAT IS TOO BIG.
LET PARENTS BE PARENTS AND LET OUR SACROSANCT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS GO UNDISTURBED, MAKE THE PROTECTION OF YOUR STUDENTS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ONE OF YOUR MANY PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GARRETT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. LORRES DAVE.
ONCE YOU GET STARTED LORRES DAVE, I WILL GIVE YOU A ONE-MINUTE WARNING. YOU HAVE FIVE-MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK PRINCIPAL BORDEN, HE'S MADE SOME GREAT CHANGES AT HIGH SCHOOL.
HE'S REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB WITH KEEPING THE TROUBLE OUT OF THE BATHROOMS, AND THERE ARE REALLY GOOD THINGS THAT HE'S INSTITUTED, SO WHOEVER GETS TO PASS THAT ON, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
I'M CLEARLY NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND CLEARLY UNCOMFORTABLE SPEAKING TODAY, BUT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS MUCH TOO IMPORTANT TO LET THE FALSE NARRATIVE OF EVELYN BROOKS INFLUENCE VOTERS.
TRACY FISHER IS TRYING TO BE AS NONPARTISAN AS POSSIBLE.
HER LONG SERVICE IN THE QU'APPELLE ISD IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE TO HER.
EVERYONE'S MISINFORMATION NEEDS TO BE CONFRONTED.
SHE CLAIMS THAT SEX EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS, "STEALING THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN." I ASKED MY GRANDKIDS, WHO'VE BEEN IN LITTLE ELM SCHOOLS FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY SEX EDUCATION IN ALL THEIR YEARS IN LITTLE ELM WAS IN NINTH GRADE AS A VERY SMALL PART OF A ONE-SEMESTER HEALTH CLASS.
THEY SAID THEY WERE GLAD THEY LEARNED HOW TO PREVENT STDS AND PREGNANCY.
THAT MOST STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED MORE FROM THE INTERNET THAN THEY EVER LEARNED IN SCHOOL, AND A LOT OF IT WAS MISINFORMATION.
THEY WERE GLAD TO GET EDUCATED IN THE FACTS.
TRACY FISHER WAS A REPUBLICAN FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT PARTY STARTED ATTACKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I HOPE TRACY GET SELECTED AND CAN PRESERVE THE PART OF OUR CURRICULUM THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO PREVENTING TEEN PREGNANCY.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL VOTE.
I VOTED TODAY AND I VOTED FOR TRACY.
>> THANK YOU, MS. DAVE. MR. DAN LOCKWOOD.
MR. BLACKWELL, ONCE AGAIN, WE'LL GIVE YOU
[00:35:03]
FIVE MINUTES AND I'LL GIVE YOU A ONE-MINUTE WARNING, SIR.>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OLSON, THANK YOU, BOARD, THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER, ADMINISTRATION.
ALSO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, I'M ALSO SHY, I DON'T LIKE BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT MYSELF ALSO.
A LITTLE BIT OF A JOKE THERE, YOU'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO LAUGH.
[LAUGHTER] AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, I ALSO AM A VERY HUGE FAN OF TRACY FISHER AND I SECOND YOUR ENDORSEMENT.
THAT'S NOT THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT THOUGH.
WHAT I AM HERE TONIGHT THOUGH IS TO SPEAK UPON THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE BOND THAT IS ON THE BALLOT.
THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS THAT I'VE COME ACROSS THAT HAVE NOT GONE OUT INTO THE PUBLIC EYE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THESE OUT BUT I FIGURED COMING TO THE BOARD AND SPEAKING ABOUT THIS WOULD HELP THE PUBLIC LEARN ABOUT THESE THINGS.
THESE ARE TWO FINANCIAL STUDIES THAT WERE DONE BY BOK FINANCIAL SECURITIES AND CLARA & ASSOCIATES.
BOTH OF THESE ARE GROUPS THAT WORK WITH PUBLIC SECTOR, GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND REVIEWING BOND IMPACTS AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS THAT ITEMS CAN HAVE ON THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THESE STUDIES ARE BASED UPON WHAT THEY CALL THE IMPLANT INPUT-OUTPUT MODEL.
THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ITEMS SUCH AS DIRECT IMPACTS THAT'S RELATED TO THE EXPENDITURES ON THE BOND PROCEEDS, HIRING CONTRACTORS, AND PROFESSIONALS.
INDIRECT IMPACTS AND THESE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH UPSTREAM SPENDING AND THEN INDUCED IMPACTS WHICH IS THE ONGOING IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD OVER THE LIFE OF THE BOND.
WHAT BOTH OF THESE STUDIES HAVE DETERMINED IS THIS BOND PROGRAM FOR LITTLE REALM WILL CREATE OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE BOND WILL CREATE OVER $412 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN OUR DISTRICT.
THAT IS, OF COURSE, OVER A 30-YEAR PERIOD BUT I'M SURE ANYONE THAT LIVES IN LITTLE REALM WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN ADDITIONAL $412 MILLION IN OUR ECONOMY.
IT WILL ALSO PRODUCE OVER $185 MILLION OF LABOR INCOME THAT INCLUDES SALARIES, WAGES, AND BENEFITS, IT'LL ALSO GENERATE ADDITIONAL $7.4 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WOULD COME UP WITH BY THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETELY PUBLIC OR IT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC AND I'M TRYING TO GET IT OUT THERE AS MUCH AS I CAN.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT KNOW.
I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MY SUPPORT OF THIS BOND, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
THE ONE ITEM THAT THEY KEEP COMING BACK TO AND I KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TRIED TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE BIGGEST QUESTION I GET ABOUT THIS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS DUE TO A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE.
A VERY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WAS IN THE VAULTING.
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PORTION OF THIS BOND IS THE MOST TOP-OF-MIND ITEM THAT I'VE HEARD FROM ANYONE.
I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER AND REITERATE THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THIS BOND THAT ARE INCLUDED IN PSYCH SECURITY.
THERE IS $13.2 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THE FIRST ONE THAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS IS THE UPGRADES ON THE LOCKS ON ALL THE CLASSROOM DOORS.
THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE LIKE HOTEL DOOR LOCKS.
WHEN YOU GO INTO THE ROOM, THE INNER DOOR CLOSES THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY SO THE HUMAN ERROR IS TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION.
THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASE IN THE APPLICATION AND USE OF THE BALLISTICS FILM ON ALL THE WINDOWS, ANYTHING UNDER EIGHT FEET IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
WE'LL ADD ADDITIONAL FENCING AND BARRIERS AROUND THE SCHOOLS WHEN POSSIBLE.
THERE IS ALSO THE OVERLAY TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM THAT OVERLAYS WITH THE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP WITH WEAPONS DETECTION AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN INTERNAL SYSTEM THAT WOULD GO INSIDE THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE A METAL DETECTOR, EXCEPT IT'S NOT A METAL DETECTOR.
IT IS ABLE TO DETECT AND NOTICE ACTUALLY HIDDEN WEAPONS THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE AND IF THAT HAPPENS, OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL NOTIFY WHO NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE TIME, THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR TIME AND LAST THING IS PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THE BOND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BLACKWELL. APPRECIATE IT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO INTO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[9. Approval of Minutes ]
WE HAVE AN EXTRA THING HERE TO CONSIDER THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 19, 2022.I BELIEVE EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THESE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS IS? I HAVE THAT FOR MARY. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND FROM ALEX? ARE ANY QUESTIONS? CHANGES, EDITS? ALL GOOD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES AND WE WILL GO INTO ACTION ITEMS.
[10. Action Items ]
[00:40:01]
I KNOW THE FIRST ONE MAY BE A SHORT ONE BUT I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR GUESTS.WE WANT TO MOVE THE SECOND ONE UP TO THE FIRST. NO.
>> WE'LL NEED TO DO DIFFERENT.
>> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. WE'LL GO INTO THE ACTION ITEMS, WE'LL GO TO ACTION ITEM A WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE APPROVAL OF THE TRANSFER OF FUND BALANCE RESULTING FROM THE 10-MONTH FISCAL YEAR TO A LOCAL FUND FOR 92 FOR GROWTH AND TRANSITION FUND. MS. ADAMS.
>> I WASN'T MEANING NO, I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO OUR GUEST, I WANT TO BE [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] [NOISE] IS BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO HAVE THIS ITEM BEFORE WE APPROVE THE AUDIT BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] IT SO AT MY REQUEST.
EVERY MEETING THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER, WHENEVER THE BOARD VOTED TO CHANGE OUR FISCAL YEAR TO END IN JUNE WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY POPULAR THING WITH OUR STAFF BY THE WAY.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED EVERY MEETING THAT WE'VE HAD AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT THAT WOULD BE A UNIQUE YEAR, WOULD BE OUR TEN-MONTH YEAR AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE THEN A RESULT OF THAT WOULDN'T BE FUN BALANCE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO MONTHS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE EXPENDITURES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
THIS IS REALLY FORMALIZING WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL YEAR BUT TAKING THE FUND BALANCE THAT CULMINATED FROM THAT 10-MONTH YEAR OF EXPENDITURES AND WE CAN FINALLY PUT IT TO REST AFTER TONIGHT.
BUT WE HAVE ASKED THE AUDITOR TO INCORPORATE THIS, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL YEAR, THAT WE WOULD SET ASIDE THESE FUNDS WHERE THE SURPLUS FROM THAT 10-MONTH YEAR OF REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES AND SET THEM ASIDE INTO A SPECIAL FUND THAT WOULD MITIGATE THE ONGOING FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC FOR THINGS SUCH AS LEARNING LAWS RELATED TO EXPENDITURES, THE INFLATION, THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
WE'RE STILL JUST SEEING SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE OUTLIERS FROM THAT AND SO THIS ITEM IS TO FORMALIZE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL YEAR LONG SO THAT WHENEVER YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET, WE HAVE MOVED THAT OVER INTO A SEPARATE FUND.
THAT WILL STILL LEAVE AS I NOTED IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, 39 PERCENT IN OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE, EXCLUSIVE OF THIS 10-MONTH YEAR SURPLUS THAT WILL MOVE OUT.
I HAS SPOKEN WITH THIS TO THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS.
MR. MONTEMEO OR MR. BIEBER WERE ABLE TO COME IN AND WE REVIEWED THAT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER?
>> FIRST, I NEED A MOTION FROM THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES OF $9,832,127 TO LOCALLY DEFINE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR 92 GROWTH/TRANSITION FUND.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND FROM MARY.
[NOISE] NOW, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THAT'S OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES.
>> THANK YOU, MS. ADAMS. NOW WE'LL GO INTO THE NEXT ITEM WITH OUR GUEST SPEAKER OVER HERE.
WE'LL CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022.
>> YES, WE WILL AND I WILL QUICKLY ASK DAN TONG TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD AS YOU ALL KNOW BUT JUST FOR OUR AUDIENCE.
THE BOARD ENGAGES AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO AUDIT THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT EACH YEAR, ANNUALLY THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOOK FORWARD AND COMPLY WITH THAT.
I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I GET EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I LOVE FOR THIRD-PARTY TO COME IN AND SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR TEAM DOES AND GIVE US ANY FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED ON THAT.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH YOU IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THIS BUT I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK BETH MUELLER FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK SHE DOES AS DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING.
IT TAKES AN ENTIRE TEAM BUT SHE LEADS THIS CHARGE.
SHE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH OUR AUDITORS AND HAS FOR MANY YEARS AND SHE IS PLANNING HER RETIREMENT.
SHE'S GOING TO BE WITH THE DISTRICT FOR A WHILE YET BUT THIS WILL BE HER LAST AUDIT WHILE SHE'S WITH US.
SHE IS A REALLY INCREDIBLE ASSET TO USE ONE OF OUR OWN WORDS AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.
WE REVIEW THIS ALSO WITH OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE REVIEWED THE DRAFT OF THE BUDGET BUT I AM GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO DAN TONG WITH OUR ACCOUNTING FIRM OF HANK'S EAST AT DEATON TONG AND SAY OUT OF DENTIN AND LET HIM SHARE WITH THE BOARD WHATEVER HE LIKES.
>> GOOD EVENING. REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT, TALK TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE AUDIT AND THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO BE IN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL CONDITION AND I THINK I CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT TO YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THE REPORT.
THIS IS AN UNUSUAL AUDIT REPORT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE OF FISCAL YEAR AND I KNOW JAY HAS TALKED TO YOU A LOT ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
BUT THE YEAR THAT YOU CHANGE, IT CREATES A LOT OF UNUSUAL RELATIONSHIPS IN TERMS OF COMPARING THE PRIOR AUDIT TO THIS AUDIT BECAUSE THIS IS FOR A 10-MONTH PERIOD AND IT
[00:45:05]
AFFECTS CERTAIN THINGS MORE THAN OTHERS AND I'LL POINT THOSE OUT AS WE GO.BUT GENERALLY, YOU DO PICK UP AN INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAT YOU'VE ONLY RECORDED 10 MONTHS OF EXPENSES VERSUS 12 MONTHS AND YET, THE WAY THE SCHOOL YEAR RUNS, YOU'VE REALLY FOR MOST AREAS, YOU'VE RECORDED THE REVENUE FOR THE FULL SCHOOL YEAR.
BUT YOU HAVE SAVINGS DUE TO A 10-MONTH OF CERTAIN EXPENSES INSTEAD OF 12 MONTHS.
JUST TO SAY THAT AS AN INTRODUCTION, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS IN THE AUDIT.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE AUDIT WENT VERY WELL.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS DURING THE AUDIT AS MS. ADAMS INDICATED, THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT DOES A GREAT JOB OF HAVING EVERYTHING READY, VERY ORGANIZED AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES AT ALL DURING THE AUDIT.
JUST TO START WITH OUR REPORT ON PAGES 5 AND 6, THIS IS WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS AN UNMODIFIED REPORT.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF REPORT THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
THE TERM UNMODIFIED MEANS THAT NO MODIFICATIONS WERE NECESSARY TO THE STANDARD INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR THINGS LIKE NONCOMPLIANCE TO USE OR FINDINGS OR ANY OF THOSE TYPE THINGS.
IT'S WHAT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A CLEAN OPINION WHICH IS REALLY POSITIVE FOR THE DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO BE IN GOOD FINANCIAL CONDITION.
YOU HAVE 27 MILLION APPROXIMATELY IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S AFTER THE TRANSFER THAT YOU JUST APPROVED.
THAT'S ABOUT 38 PERCENT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES WHICH IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE MONTHS, WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED A VERY HEALTHY AMOUNT THAT SUPPORTS YOUR CASHFLOW THAT YOU NEED DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL BEFORE THE PROPERTY TAXES START COMING IN IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A STRONG INDICATION OF YOUR FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
[NOISE] I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM IN DETAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE ON PAGES 10 AND 11, THERE ARE SOME COMPARATIVE NUMBERS BETWEEN THE AUGUST 31ST '21 12-MONTH YEAR-END AND THE JUNE 30, 2022, 10-MONTH PERIOD.
THAT'S REALLY REFLECTED MORE ON PAGE 11 WITH THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WERE ALSO SOME OTHER CHANGES THAT I WOULD NOTE.
YOUR OPERATING GRANTS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY FEDERAL GRANTS, WERE UP ALMOST FOUR MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT'S A FUNCTION OF THE PANDEMIC WITH THE ESSER FUNDING.
THE THREE MAJOR COVID BILLS THAT WERE PASSED THROUGH CONGRESS PUMPED A LOT OF MONEY INTO NOT ONLY EDUCATION, BUT THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE INCREASED FEDERAL GRANTS THAT YOU RECEIVED LAST YEAR.
I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER TO PAGE 20 AND 21.
THIS IS YOUR FUND BALANCE SHEETS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT OPERATES THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT FUNDS.
THE MAJOR FUNDS ARE ALL SHOWN ON PAGE 20 WITH THE GENERAL FUND, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND, AS WE JUST SAID, HAS A TOTAL FUND BALANCE OF 33.9 MILLION, RIGHT AT 27 MILLION OF THAT IS UNASSIGNED, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE APPROPRIATION.
THE DEBT SERVICE FUND HAS A FUND BALANCE OF 26 MILLION.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE INDIVIDUAL FUND THAT'S IMPACTED THE MOST BY THE CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 24, YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND BALANCE INCREASED BY 19.3 MILLION.
YOU MAY SAY, WELL, HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?
[00:50:01]
THE REASON IS WHEN YOU LOP OFF THOSE TWO MONTHS, YOUR PRIMARY OR YOUR MAJOR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT IS MADE IN AUGUST.THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE ON PAGE 24 INCLUDE ALMOST THE FULL YEAR OF PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS BUT YOU MAKE YOUR DEBT PAYMENTS SEMI-ANNUALLY IN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST WITH THE LARGEST AMOUNT BEING PAID IN AUGUST, AND IT'S SCHEDULED THAT WAY SO THAT YOU HAVE COLLECTED MOST OF YOUR TAXES FOR THE YEAR WHEN THAT LAST AUGUST DEBT PAYMENT IS MADE.
EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LARGE INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE, THAT FUND BALANCE IS THERE IN PART TO MAKE THAT AUGUST PAYMENT.
YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND ENDED THE YEAR WITH 32 MILLION.
THAT WAS DOWN 28.8 MILLION, BUT THAT IS JUST A REFLECTION OF PLANNED SPENDING ON YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WHICH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS JUST ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR BOND PROCEEDS AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT EXPENDITURE OF THOSE PROCEEDS ON THE AUTHORIZED PROJECTS.
AGAIN, JUST A GOOD YEAR FINANCIALLY.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING IN DETAIL.
I WILL POINT OUT JUST A FEW THINGS.
YOUR DEBT IS SUMMARIZED ON PAGE 47.
THERE WERE NO NEW ISSUES IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
PAGE 48 SHOWS YOUR FUTURE DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.
AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, YOU'VE BOTH PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.
THEN ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS YOUR DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTIONS.
THOSE BEGIN ON PAGE 84 AND 85 AND THE SCHEDULE ON PAGES 84 AND 85 SHOW YOUR COLLECTIONS FOR THE 10-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30TH.
ON PAGE 84, IT SHOWS YOUR TAX RATES AND YOUR TAXABLE VALUES.
YOU HAD A VERY HEALTHY INCREASE IN YOUR TAXABLE VALUE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COLLECTIONS THAT WERE MADE.
THEN THE NEXT SCHEDULE ON 86 AND 87 IS FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31ST.
TEA REQUIRES THIS TO BE IN THE REPORT BECAUSE ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF YOUR FUNDING FORMULA IS TAX COLLECTIONS, AND THAT FORMULA REQUIRES 12 MONTHS OF COLLECTIONS TO BE ACCURATE.
TEA TAKES THE AUDITED NUMBERS AND PLUGS THAT INTO THEIR FUNDING FORMULA TO GET THE FINAL FUNDING AND THAT'S ALL SETTLED UP IN THE SPRING OF EACH YEAR AFTER ALL THE AUDITS HAVE BEEN FILED.
THAT'S THE REASON THAT BOTH SCHEDULES ARE IN HERE.
THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO COVER IS WHAT'S CALLED THE FEDERAL AWARD SECTION.
THERE'S TWO REPORTS BEGINNING ON PAGE 93; ONE ON 93 AND 94, AND THEN ONE ON 95 AND 96.
BOTH OF THESE REPORTS DEAL WITH YOUR GRANT PROGRAMS. THE FIRST REPORT DEALS WITH ALL GRANTS, STATE AND FEDERAL.
THE SECOND REPORT DEALS WITH WHAT ARE REFERRED TO AS MAJOR PROGRAMS. THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE THE AUDITOR TO SELECT CERTAIN FEDERAL PROGRAMS EACH YEAR TO AUDIT AS MAJOR AND THOSE ARE ROTATED SO THAT ALL LARGE PROGRAMS ARE AUDITED AS MAJOR AT LEAST EVERY THREE YEARS, AND THOSE ARE IDENTIFIED ON PAGE 97.
AS YOU MIGHT SUSPECT, THE ESSER FUNDS WERE MOST OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S ALL SUMMARIZED ON PAGE 99.
THIS IS A LIST OF ALL OF YOUR FEDERAL AWARDS.
YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM, YOU RECEIVED 9.6 MILLION OF FEDERAL AWARDS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.
>> LET ME ASK, FIRST, DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD TO
[00:55:02]
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, THE YEAR ENDED ON JUNE 30, 2022?>> I GOT THAT ONE. BECAUSE SHE'S CLOSER TO MY RIGHT, SO I HAVE MS. MONIQUE FOR A MOTION SECOND FOR MARY.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I'LL JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND DOING THE AUDIT FOR THE DISTRICT.
I THINK THIS JUST STANDS OUT ONCE AGAIN FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE DISTRICT AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE RECENTLY AWARDED THE TASBO EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WHICH I THINK THAT JUST ECHOES WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, AND THEN TONIGHT ALSO FROM OUR STAFF FROM JESSE AND BETH, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK TO PUT IT IN FOR THESE REPORTS.
ALSO JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TREND HERE IN THE DISTRICT FOR A WHILE BACK IN, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS 2017 OR 2018, WE RECEIVED A TRANSPARENCY AWARD ONCE AGAIN FOR OUR FINANCIAL STATUS AS A DISTRICT.
I JUST THINK THAT ECHOES ALL THE HARD WORK THAT STAFF IS PUTTING IN HERE AND HOW WE DO TAKE OUR CITIZENS' INPUT AND THE MONEY THAT THEY GIVE US VERY WISELY, AND FROM THE STATE.
WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
WITH THAT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM T, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2020, 2023 PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
MS. GLOVER, HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN AWHILE.
>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT ALSO IN BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT OUR DISTRICT PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS FOR US TO DO A PARENT-FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR TITLE 1 CAMPUSES.
SOMETHING THAT WE DO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AS WE REQUIRE THIS FOR ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
WE DO A DISTRICT PLAN, AND THEN ONCE APPROVED, IF APPROVED, WE SHARE THAT WITH OUR CAMPUSES AND THEY MAKE IT THEIR OWN.
THEY TAKE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AND INTEND TO ENDEAVOR TO DO IN THE FUTURE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEY MAKE IT VERY SPECIFIC FOR THEIR CAMPUSES.
A FEW THINGS THAT WE LIKE TO INCLUDE ARE WHERE OUR PRE-K CAMPUSES ARE, AND THAT INCLUDES BRENT, CHAVEZ, HACKBERRY AND OAK POINT, AS WELL AS OUR TITLE 1 CAMPUSES.
WE HAVE FIVE SCHOOL-WIDE TITLE 1 CAMPUSES.
BRENT, CHAVEZ, HACKBERRY, LAKEVIEW, AND OAK POINT.
MANY PEOPLE MAY ASK, WELL, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT? WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THIS PLAN? PART OF THAT IS TO FACILITATE FAMILIES WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT SUPPORT ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
WE GO SO FAR BEYOND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS ACADEMICALLY.
WE GET TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES ALL THE WAY AROUND AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
WE WANT TO INCREASE FAMILY PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING IN THE CAMPUSES.
EQUIP FAMILY WITH TOOLS TO ENHANCE AND EXTEND LEARNING, AND THEN DEVELOP OUR STAFF AND SKILLS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS LEARNING AND ALSO FAMILY NEEDS.
THEN EVALUATE THIS PLAN AND THEN USE IT FOR OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK BULLET POINTS FOR YOU ON EACH OF THOSE AREAS THAT I JUST MENTIONED THAT ARE THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND OUR DISTRICT PLAN.
MANY WAYS THAT WE ACCOMPLISH THIS IS THROUGH OUR WONDERFUL HOMELESS AND PARENT LIAISON YAMILE QUINTERO WHO DOES A FANTASTIC JOB IN WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE WANT TO GIVE FAMILY MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS LOVE PACKS, GETTING INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT LOVE PACKS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
MAINTAINING COMMUNITY RESOURCE INFORMATION, THINGS AS SIMPLE AS ASSISTING FAMILIES ON WHERE TO FIND THE LIBRARY, GETTING LIBRARY CARDS.
WE LIKE TO DO THAT ALL THE WAY FROM PRE-K TO ANYONE THAT MIGHT NEED INFORMATION ON CLOTHING OR LITERACY OR JUST FUTURE INFORMATION.
ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF RESOURCES.
THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF OUR PARENT ENGAGEMENT PLANNING IS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH SUPPORT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY OR A QUESTION OR SOMETHING BEYOND JUST THE LEARNING AND THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL DAY.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
ONE EXCITING THING, WE HAVE SOME NEW COUNSELING POSITIONS, SOME COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL WORKING POSITIONS AS WELL, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR FAMILIES ADDITIONALLY.
[01:00:02]
THEN ACTIVE REFERRALS, AND THEN FOLLOWING UP WITH OUR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED.WE'D LIKE TO INCREASE OUR FAMILY PARTICIPATION.
AGAIN, THIS LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AT EACH CAMPUS.
FOR US AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, PROVIDING TRAINING FOR FAMILIES WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES.
ONE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK ACROSS TOWN AT BRYANT ELEMENTARY.
WE DO PROVIDE THOSE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ENCOURAGING LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET WITH PARENTS OVER TIME WHEN THERE'S BEEN A CONCERN, A QUESTION, THIS IS A VERY BASIC EXAMPLE, BUT WE'VE HAD A PARENT SESSION ON HOW TO USE FOCUS.
WE GOT SOME GREAT FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARENTS.
THEY REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
THEY CAN SEE GRADES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST MAKE SURE THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO GET INVOLVED AND INTERACT WITH THEIR STUDENTS INFORMATION.
THEN PARENTS PROVIDED INPUT ON A KEY DECISIONS THAT'S DONE THROUGH SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, THE DISTRICT EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL, WHO IS ACTUALLY BEHIND THE SUPPORT OF THE PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT INTAKE QUESTIONNAIRES AT THE BEING OF SCHOOL OR ANYTHING TO GET TO KNOW THE FAMILY OF HOW ARE THINGS GOING FOR THE STUDENT.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, AND HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THEIR PARENTS TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS? THEN MAKING OUR PARENTS OR APRIL PARTNERS WITH STAFF AND REVIEWING THE RESULTS.
THE CRITICAL PIECE, THE FOLLOW-UP, THE REVIEWING OF THE RESULTS ON HOW DID IT GO SO WE KNOW HOW WE CAN CHANGE AND MAKE THINGS BETTER OR HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED AND ARE IMPLEMENTING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE EXTEND THE LEARNING.
ONE THING THAT BECAME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW WITH CAMPUSES IS THE NUMBER ONE THING, THE NUMBER ONE THING PARENTS WANTED TO KNOW HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN WITH THE HOMEWORK AT HOME.
IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SIMPLE THING, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
WE DO HAVE STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES AND WE DO CONFERENCE WITH OUR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER EITHER IN THE SCHOOL OR REMOTELY.
WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO REMOTELY.
THEN DOING SURVEYS TO LOOK AT TALENTS AND SKILLS.
WE HAVE TITLE 1 SURVEYS THAT GO HOME AND THEN ALSO HOME ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE FOR LITTLE, WELL, REALLY NO COST OF COURSE TO THE FAMILY.
THAT MEANS PARENTS HELPING TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THAT MAY MEAN I WORKED DURING THE DAY.
I'D LIKE TO HELP YOU IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE SEND THINGS HOME IN THE EVENING SO THAT PARENTS CAN REALLY BE A PART OF THAT CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO WORK DURING THE DAY.
WE ALSO OFFER TRAINING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE DURING DAYTIME HOURS, AS WELL AS EVENING HOURS VIA ZOOM AND IN-PERSON.
WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO DO A 10:00 AM.
AND A 6:00 AM TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS FOR PARENTS, SO IF YOU WORK OR YOU'RE UNABLE TO ATTEND AT A CERTAIN TIME, WE CAN BRING YOU IN AND WE CAN EQUIP YOU WITH SOME WAYS TO EXTEND THE LEARNING ON YOUR SCHEDULE.
WE DO LIKE TO HOST THE FAMILY NIGHTS.
I KNOW THAT WE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, WE DO HAVE OUR PARENT NIGHTS AND THAT FILTERS OUT INTO OUR CAMPUS NIGHTS WITH STEM AND LITERACY AND SAFETY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT NIGHTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THOSE CAMPUSES.
WE WORK WITH OUR FAMILIES ON TECHNOLOGY [NOISE] THAT'S FAMILY-FRIENDLY, SUCH AS READY ROSIE, THINGS THAT ARE VERY FRIENDLY FOR OUR PARENTS TO INTERACT WITH, AND THEN JUST BASICALLY ASSISTING OUR FAMILIES ON IMPLEMENTING THE BEST PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
THEN WE ARE WRAPPING UP ON THIS PIECE.
SOFT SKILLS, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES AND ARE WONDERFULLY DIVERSE DISTRICT PROVIDING TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO FAMILIES IN A CRISIS, WHO TO SPEAK TO, WHO TO RECOMMEND.
WE NEVER WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TELL FAMILIES, TO TURN, WHERE TO RECOMMEND THEY GET SOME ASSISTANCE.
THEN TRAINING OUR EDUCATORS WITH THESE RESOURCES, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THEN AS I STATED, THE MAIN THING IS WRAPPING UP AND ASKING OURSELVES WHAT WENT WELL? WHAT DO WE NEED TO IMPROVE UPON? HERE I HAVE LINKED FOR YOU THE ACTUAL PLAN THAT YOU ALSO HAVE IN YOUR BOARD BOOK.
[01:05:04]
SOMETHING THAT WE DO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAT WE HAVE FOUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL VIA OUR DISTRICT EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL IS OVER TIME, THERE HAS BEEN A PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN AND WHAT WAS CALLED THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY.THOUGH THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY IS NO LONGER REQUIRED, IT DOES LIST SOME SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES ON HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DISTRICT AND AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL, AND WE FELT LIKE THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONTINUE TO INCLUDE AS A RECOMMENDATION.
WHAT QUESTIONS MAY I ANSWER FOR YOU? HI. GOOD EVENING.
>> [NOISE] FIRST OF ALL, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE 2020, 2023 PARENT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
>> I HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND.
>> DR. GLOVER, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS PLAN AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING DIFFERENT TIME AND BY DIFFERENT MODE, AND INCORPORATING PEOPLE'S CULTURES, AND LOOKING AT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT OUR PERCENT WHILE PARTICIPATION, LIKE HOW MANY PARENTS ARE WE HOPING WILL PARTICIPATE? WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO GET OUT THERE TO FAMILIES, TO CURVES THEIR PARTICIPATION WAS, I THINK I SAW IN THERE THAT THERE'S SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR SOME THINGS TO HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I WILL. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
ONE WAY THAT WE CAN SUPPORT FAMILIES FOR ATTENDING IN-PERSON IS WE CAN PROVIDE CHILDCARE.
OUR FAMILIES WORK HARD. THEY HAVE CHILDREN.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN SPEND THEIR EVENINGS TOGETHER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN THE NEED HAS BEEN THERE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
FOR PARTICIPATION, ANY FEEDBACK THAT OUR FAMILIES GIVE US ON HOW TO INCREASE THAT, WE ALWAYS WELCOME.
IF YOU HAVE THAT FEEDBACK FOR US, PLEASE DO SHARE.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE DO HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENINGS.
WHEN WE SPREAD OUT THE OPPORTUNITIES, THE 10:00 AM OPPORTUNITIES OVER ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF OR LIKE LET'S TRY IT OUT.
WE ACTUALLY DID IT LIKE AT 9:00 AM AND 10:00 AM TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO.
WE DID HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO CONTINUE THAT OPTION BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL GROW.
WE DO OFFER IT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
MYSELF AND KIM CHAO JACKSON, WHO IS OUR COORDINATOR FOR EMERGING BILINGUAL STUDENTS.
ALSO AS THEY'RE WITH US AS WELL AS MS. KINTANARO.
WE DO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE ANY PRESENTATION IN ENGLISH, IT'S ALSO IN SPANISH OR VICE VERSA, AS WELL AS FOR THE PARENT EDUCATION COURSES THAT TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY NIGHT.
PART OF THE TIME WE PROVIDE THOSE COURSES IN PERSON AND PART OF THE TIME THEY'RE ON ZOOM, WE DO FIND WE GET MORE PARTICIPATION WITH ZOOM. WE DO.
BUT WE DO HAVE PARENTS THAT DO PREFER FACE-TO-FACE AND WE LOVE THAT TOO.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SUPPORT THEM WITH THAT. YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU, MS. GLOVER. I APPRECIATE.
>> GO ON TO THE LAST ITEM FOR THE ACTION ITEMS TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF LAKEWOOD VILLAGE SITE EASEMENTS, MR. MARTIN.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
AS WE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED, LAKEWOOD VILLAGE IS ASKING FOR A SMALL CORNER OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARCEL IN THEIR CITY TO SET ASIDE AS AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN CONSTRUCT A NEW WATER WELL.
IN YOUR PACKET, THERE IS A LAYOUT OF WHERE THAT HAPPENS ON THE SITE AND THE SITE'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF BOTH THAT EASEMENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, IT WILL TAKE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT AND AUTHORIZE SUPERINTENDENT OR IS DESIGNATED TO EXECUTE ANY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SENSE.
>> YOU HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD TO ACCEPT THIS? HAVE A SECOND? ANY QUESTIONS? JUST TO CLARIFY, JUST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING,
[01:10:03]
BY DOING THIS WELL, IT'S GOING TO VERY MUCH HELP THE DISTRICT, BY GIVING THE EASEMENT TO THE TOWN BECAUSE WITH THAT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD VILLAGE IS THAT, THE DISTRICT WILL RECEIVE FREE WATER FROM THIS WELL.SO THAT'LL HELP US OFFSET SOME OF OUR COSTS FROM A MONTHLY BASIS THAT WE WON'T HAVE A WATER BILL BASICALLY.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSED.
[11.B. Consider approval of 2022-2023 Camus Improvement Plans ]
>> WITH IT, WE'LL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE IS ONE ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO PULL.
WE'LL PULL THAT FROM THE AGENDA.
ASK QUESTIONS AND DO WE NEED TO PULL IT UP FIRST, MS. FLORES AND ASK THE QUESTIONS FIRST.
VOTE ON IT, THEN GO TO THE ACTUAL CONSENT AGENDA, CORRECT? I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM B, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2020-2023 CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
MS. TREMOR, WOULD YOU MIND? WITH THIS, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND I'M ALSO JUST REFRESHING MY MEMORY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT.
JUST IF YOU COULD GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT THE IMPROVEMENT PLANS, WHY THEY'RE COMING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, AND THEN I THINK WE MAY HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS HERE ON THAT, AND OR WE MAY WANT SOME DEEPER DIVES AT A LATER DATE SHE DETERMINED.
>> NO PROBLEM. JUST A REMINDER THAT THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE COMING TO THE BOARD BECAUSE OF TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 11.
[LAUGHTER] THE PLANS ARE COMING TO THE BOARD AS A REQUIREMENT OF TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 11.251, AND THE BOARD HAS TO APPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES OF THE PLANS.
OUR CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE ALIGNED TO OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS ALIGNED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AS YOU LOOK THROUGH, YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES ARE PRETTY TIGHTLY ALIGNED BETWEEN THOSE THREE DOCUMENTS, ARE THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE DISTRICT PLAN, AND THEN THE CAMPUS PLANS.
>> [NOISE]MAKE A MOTION OR ASK QUESTIONS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE 2020-2023 CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS? I HAVE A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? NOW, QUESTIONS? [LAUGHTER].
>> DR. TREMOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON PRESENTING US WITH THE PACKET, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK WE NEED TO TABLE THIS ITEM BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY REVIEW EVERY THING IN IT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EVERYTHING IN IT EITHER.
IT IS VERY LENGTHY. EVEN LOOKING AT THE OBJECTIVES AND COMPARING THEM TO THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THERE'S A WIDE SCOPE OF INFORMATION YET TO COVER.
I THINK OUR NOVEMBER MEETING WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY, OUR CURRICULUM MEETINGS IS ON THE 7TH OF NOVEMBER?
>> MY COLLEAGUE WHO IS ON THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HONOR THE INTEGRITY OF THIS DOCUMENT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK IT OVER.
I GIVE A POP QUIZ WHERE I TRUSTEES, HOW MANY TRUSTEES DOES IT TAKE TO SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB? NONE. BECAUSE WE DON'T SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB. YOU DO.
OUR GOAL IS TO SAY LET THERE BE LIGHT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE LIGHT.
WE DON'T SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB.
THAT IS WHAT WE TRUST OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO DO.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO SCREW THE LIGHT BULB IN, IT IS THAT I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AND I DON'T THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS IN YOUR REPORT.
>> MR. OLSON, CAN I JUST MENTIONED JUST AS A REMINDER, THE ONLY THING ACCORDING TO SECTION 11.251, THE BOARD IS APPROVING ALL THE OBJECTIVES.
THE OBJECTIVES ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED.
AGAIN, IT'S THE BOARD'S CALL IF YOU WANT TO PULL IT.
>> YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVES, CORRECT?
>> WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.
[01:15:02]
I THINK TO DR. THOMPSON'S POINT, MAYBE SHE'S NOT HAD TIME OR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO FULLY DIGEST EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE PACKET, OBJECTIVES WITH ACTION ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OBJECTIVE ITEMS AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE AGENDA OF ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LINING UP WITH THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND EVERYTHING.I UNDERSTAND WHERE DR. THOMPSON IS COMING FROM, ALL THE REQUESTS, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DO HAVE A MOTION.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ACTION ITEM.
>> WHAT WOULD IT HURT TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH?
>> THAT'S A QUESTION TO DR. TRAMEL [LAUGHTER]
>> THE CAMPUSES HAVE DONE THEIR COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND THEIR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WHICH IS PART OF THEIR PLANS.
THEY ARE WORKING ON THEIR PLANS.
I WILL SAY THAT THEY ARE ACCORDING TO THE TIMELINE, DUE TO MONITOR THEIR PLANS AND EVALUATE WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR PLANS.
TECHNICALLY, THEY CAN DO THAT PROBABLY WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.
BUT WE LIKE FOR THE PLANS TO BE APPROVED PRIOR TO ACTUALLY DOING THAT FORMAL REVIEW.
>> IF I MIGHT POTENTIALLY OFFER A COMPROMISE, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK AS QUESTIONS, WE CAN BRING BACK AND STILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AT A LATER DATE IF POTENTIALLY NECESSARY?
>> YES, SIR. THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE LIVING BREATHING DOCUMENTS.
AT ANYTIME SOMETHING HAPPENS AT A DISTRICT LEVEL OR AT ANY CAMPUS LEVEL, PRINCIPLES CAN CHANGE THOSE PLANS AND ACTION STEPS TO THE PLANS.
YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BUT THEN THERE'S ALL THESE ACTION STEPS ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS.
HOW THAT WORKS IS CAMPUS PRINCIPALS WOULD NOTIFY ME OF THE CHANGE IN THEIR PLAN, WE WOULD MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT AND THEN WE POST ONLINE BECAUSE WE DO WANT THESE DOCUMENTS TO BE PUBLIC FACING SO THAT OUR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY AT ALL TIMES KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE, WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AND THOSE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN 2019, I'M SORRY, IT'S VERY LOUD.
[OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] THE RAIN IS NOT BAD.
YES, LORD. BUT IN 2019, THE DISTRICT ON ITS OWN, HAD AN AUDIT DONE ON CURRICULUM, KNOWING THAT IT PROBABLY WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIGHT AND IT WAS NOT THERE.
THE CURRICULUM AUDIT RETURN, NOT SO GOOD RESULTS.
WE JUST HAD OUR ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS, WHICH SHOW THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER SLUMP.
I'M REALLY SAYING THAT CLEARLY WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY, MY COLLEAGUE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR US AND WE DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACTUAL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEETING.
YOU'VE JUST GOTTEN HERE LITERALLY, AND SO THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST MEETING ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
IT FEELS RUSHED AND I WANT TO TAKE THE CONTENTS SERIOUSLY GIVEN OUR HISTORY.
2019 TO 2022, IN THE WORLD OF ACADEMIA, IS QUICK MOVEMENT.
BUT WE'VE HAD THIS DECLINE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SO MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.
WE'VE TRIED TO THINK OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO, BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, AND THAT IS WHY I RECOMMEND THAT WE ALLOW JUST ANOTHER MONTH TO DIGEST ALL THE INFORMATION AND REALLY MAKE AN INFORMED VOTE VERSUS JUST A MOVEMENT ALONE VOTE.
FIRST OFF, OUR CAMPUSES TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY HAVE A TEAM AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M NOT SURE.
YOU MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE CAMPUS IMPROVE ON PLANS ARE PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PRINCIPAL SITTING IN THE OFFICE FILLING OUT A FORM.
THERE'S A WHOLE TEAM AT THE CAMPUS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING I WANT TO ACTUALLY READ IT.
>> THERE'S A CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANNING FOR EACH CAMPUS.
[01:20:02]
GLAD I COULD SEE WHERE NO LIGHT FOR, SOME REVIEWING SOME OF THAT IS COPY PASTE, BUT ALIGNING ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO OUR DISTRICT AND TO OUR OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN AND ALLOWING FOR SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXTS THAT WERE COMING FROM 2019 A DEFICIT.ARE WE ACTUALLY FULLY ALIGNED? THERE'S A QUESTION MARK.
AS TRUSTEES, I THINK WE OWE OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ACTUALLY READ THE WHOLE COURSE OF THIS OUT.
I'M ASKED WELL, AS THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE TRIED TO GET INFORMATION.
I TRIED TODAY TO TRY TO LOOK UP SOME INFORMATION ON OUR BOARD WEBSITE AND WE DID TALK ABOUT HOW IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.
THE ONLY THING I WAS ABLE TO POOL WAS THAT ONE REPORT.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF A FAILED ATTEMPT, IS JUST THERE MORE TIME IS.
>> DR. THOMPSON, THAT'S WHY IT ISN'T BOARD BOOK.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, THAT'S WHY WE HIRE THESE PROFESSIONALS LIKE DR. TRAMEL, TO WORK WITH CAMPUS PRINCIPALS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS IN ALIGNMENT.
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER?
>> I WILL SAY I DID READ THE CURRICULUM MANAGEMENT AUDIT REPORT PRIOR TO INTERVIEWING FOR THIS JOB [LAUGHTER] IT IS POSTED ONLINE.
OUR FIRST PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE, OUR FIRST 1.1 OBJECTIVE IN THE PLAN IS TO PROVIDE A GUARANTEED AND VIABLE CURRICULUM.
THEN THE ACTION, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE ON THAT IS TO ALL TEACHERS WILL IMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM WITH FIDELITY.
100% OF OUR CAMPUSES DO HAVE THAT IN THEIR PLAN.
THEN IT'S MAPPED OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE CURRICULUM AUDIT IN OUR PLAN.
WE'VE ALSO ADDRESSED STUDENT GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT SUCCESS IN OBJECTIVE 1.2 IN THE PLANS.
WE HAVE RESPONDED TO OUR DISTRICT DATA AND THE AUDIT REPORT, AND WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGN, WHICH IS THE FORMAT THAT OUR CURRICULUM IS WRITTEN IN.
WE'LL SEE THAT IN ALL OF OUR PLANS.
>> IT'S CERTAINLY UP TO THE BOARD.
IF YOU WANT TO PULL IT, YOU CERTAINLY CAN PULL IT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT EACH CAMPUS AS A TEAM THAT HAS WORKED VERY HARD AND IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION.
>> WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR, SO HOLD ON.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT DR. TRAMEL FOR NODDING OF MY ANSWER.
WE CAN PULL THE ITEM FROM THE AGENDA FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
THE CAMPUSES COULD PROCEED AS PLANNING THAT THIS WILL BE APPROVED, NO CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CURRENT PLAN, IF POSSIBLE.
YES. TO YOUR QUESTION OR TO YOUR QUESTION, IT CAN BE DONE. IT IS POSSIBLE.
THERE'S NO TIMELINE THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PROOF SO THEY CAN FORMALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND ON THE FLOOR THAT WE MUST VOTE ON.
FIRST, DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME OF THAT, THEN WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE ITEM WILL BE PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC?
>> I GUESS, MAYBE JUST TO ADDRESS DR. THOMPSON HERE.
WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IF YOU FOUND SOMETHING LATER THAT YOU WEREN'T PLEASED WITH AND THEN MAYBE WE COULD GO BACK AND REVIEW IT AND LIKE IT'S A LIVING BREATHING DOCUMENT, AND MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED.
>> IT WOULD ACCEPT I WASN'T HERE BEFORE.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR THAT WE DID THE SAME THING WHERE WE APPROVED IT AND THEN WE WENT ON.
IT SEEMS THAT THAT IS WHAT KEEPS HAPPENING IS THAT WE APPROVE IT, AND WE GO ON AND THERE'S SO MUCH BUSINESS WE HAVE AT HAND.
WE HAVE A BOND TO THAT, EVERY SET WE HAVE SO MANY, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND GIVE ATTENTION TO THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SLIPPAGE AND GIVE ALL OUR COLLEAGUES A CHANCE TO EVEN JUST READ IT.
YOU GUYS HAVE OBVIOUSLY SPEND MANY HOURS PREPARING IT AND I FEEL LIKE HE WOULD EVEN DISHONOR THAT FOR US TO JUST NOT EVEN READ IT AND JUST SAY YEAH, AND JUST MOVE ON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I RESPECT THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ONLY THING THE BOARD IS APPROVING ARE THE OBJECTIVES. THAT'S IT.
EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE PLAN, ALL THE DETAILS, THAT'S NOT FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S ACCORDING TO TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, IT'S JUST THE OBJECTIVES.
>> WE'RE JUST HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT'S IN PLACE, THEN IT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
>> IN CHAPTER 4, THERE'S ACTUALLY 11 OBJECTIVES THAT ARE PLANS HAVE TO BE ALIGNED TO.
I FEEL CONFIDENT IN SAYING OUR PLAN IS ABSOLUTELY ALIGNED TO THOSE 11 OBJECTIVES.
[01:25:05]
OF COURSE, IT IS UP TO YOU TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.>> DO I HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACTUAL ITEM?
>> JASON, I WOULD SAY WITH THE SLIPPAGE AND WITH THREE YEARS OF TIME GONE BY, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD.
BECAUSE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND ANOTHER MONTH IS ANOTHER MONTH OF LEARNING THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE AND DEFINITELY LEND TO THE EXPERTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND GIVE THEM EVERY TOOL AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. WITH THAT, I WILL ASK FOR ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE LITTLE, I'M READING THE WRONG ITEM.
APPROVAL OF 2022-2023 CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
THOUGH I DO HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE, PLEASE THAT HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO FORMALLY REVIEW THIS, REVIEW THIS, AND PLEASE COME BACK WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR A LATER DATE.
THAT'S THANK YOU, DR. TRAMEL. APPRECIATE IT.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT
[11. Consent Agenda ]
ANY BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE PULLED FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS IS? HAVE THAT FROM ALEX WILL HAVE A SECOND.ANY QUESTIONS? ONCE AGAIN? NO QUESTIONS. ALL GOOD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED.
[12. Board President Comments ]
WE'LL GO ON TO BOARD PERSONAL COMMENTS.ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST RECOGNIZE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE.
I KNOW MS. ADAMS HAD TO GO, BUT JESSE, YOU, BETH, THE REST OF STAFF, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
I JUST THINK ONCE AGAIN, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE DISTRICT AND THE TRANSPARENCY WE SHOW BEING ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD FOR OVER SIX YEARS.
I KNOW THE HARD WORK, THE REPORTS YOU GUYS PUT INTO EVERYTHING WE DO.
I KNOW THE STATE FORMULAS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST TO CALCULATE AND IT DOES TAKE MORE THAN PROBABLY A MATHEMATICS DEGREE TO FIGURE OUT, I THINK NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, BUT THAT'S A STORY FOR A DIFFERENT DAY.
BUT WITH THE TASK VOW, THE EXCELLENCE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WITH THE AWARD WE RECEIVED BACK IN, I THINK IT'S 2017 OR 2018, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEAR, WAS ANOTHER YEAR FOR TRANSPARENCY.
WE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER AWARD. I THINK THAT TREND HAS CONTINUED WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER WORK WE'RE DOING.
I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME WHEN WE ARE GOING OUT FOR A BOND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE WANT THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH ALL OF OUR MONEY, THAT'S BOTH FROM THE I&S SIDE AND THE M&O SIDE.
I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES WITH THESE AWARDS THAT WE'RE SHOWING IN THE TRANSPARENCY TO THE DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANKS EVERYONE ELSE FOR STAFF STAYING ALONG.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HR DEPARTMENT FOR TOMORROW FOR THEIR HR DAY. ENJOY YOUR DAY.
HOPEFULLY THERE'LL MAYBE BE SOME CAKE AND COOKIES OR SOMETHING.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M GOING TO START AT MY RIGHT.
[13. Board Comments ]
I'M GOING TO GO TO MR. KEN TO START FOR ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS.>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY.
IT WAS A GREAT WEEK, GETTING OUT ON THE HOMECOMING AFLOAT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT HOMECOMING WEEK, IT WAS NICE TO SEE ALL THE CAMPUSES, THEM EXPERIENCING THAT AND HAVING FUN.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME HANDING OUT CANDY TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH WHO CAME OUT WITH THEIR PARENTS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS LOVELY FOR THE PARENTS TO BE IN THE PICTURES TONIGHT.
THAT WAS A SWEET SURPRISE AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PARENTS COMING OUT TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS SO THAT WE CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IN THEIR STUDENT'S SUCCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE STUDENTS AND TO THE PARENTS WHO CAME OUT.
>> I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HR DEPARTMENT AS WE CELEBRATE YOU TOMORROW.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I ACTUALLY DID SIT DOWN AND POUR OVER EVERY PAGE OF THE AUDIT WHEN THE BOARD BOOK CAME OUT.
MY HEAD IS STILL UNDERWATER ABOUT THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE VERY THOROUGH REPORT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I REALLY ENJOYED LAST WEEK PARTICIPATING AS A TRUSTEE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT OUR HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES.
I ENJOYED TOSSING CANDY FROM THE FLOAT AND ENJOYED SEEING ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN AROUND OUR DISTRICT.
>> WITH THE CLIMATE OF HAVING DIFFICULTIES KEEPING RETAINING TEACHERS,
[01:30:02]
HIRING TEACHERS, I ATTENDED A WORKSHOP DURING THE TEST AT [INAUDIBLE] CONFERENCE.ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WAS THERE PRESENTING TALKED ABOUT THE FOUR-DAY WEEK AGAIN.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND MR. GALLAGHER A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I MISSED A COUPLE OF MEETINGS DURING THE SUMMER, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT EVER CAME BACK TO THE BOARD.
IT WORKS REALLY WELL IN THIS DISTRICT.
IT WAS A FOUR-DAY WEEK FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEN FRIDAYS WERE DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR THE TEACHERS AND HELP THEM PLAN AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
THEY HAD NO VACANCIES IN THAT DISTRICT AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO THE DISTRICT WAS AT THIS TIME.
>> WELL, IT'S A STUDY WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A FOUR DAY WEEK FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S MINERAL WELLS, I MAYBE WRONG, IS THAT CORRECT, MINERAL WELLS? WE'VE SPOKEN TO THEM AND THEY ARE HAVING NO ISSUES WITH [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVEN WITH TERRENCE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING CHILDCARE FOR KIDS.
>> WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT. I'M GOING TO LET DR. TRAMEL WILL PRESENT ON THAT, BUT SHE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE CURRICULUM TEAM OF STUDENT DOING A GREAT JOB OF LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I'M NOT SAYING THE FOUR-DAY WEEK IS COMING, LET ME VERIFY.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WILL BE A BOARD DECISION IF AND WHEN THAT EVER HAPPENS.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS AN OPTION AND WHO KNOWS? IT MAY COME AS A CALENDAR OPTION.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO FINISH STUDYING AND BRING TO YOU ALL, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST REMEMBER WE SPOKE ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHERE WE LEFT OFF.
>> ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS? I DON'T WANT TO GET US IN TROUBLE FOR ANYTHING.
>> WE WON'T SEE YOU UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING.
EVERYBODY HAVE A WONDERFUL BREAK DURING THE THANKSGIVING BREAK AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. MR. GALLAGHER, ANY COMMENTS?
[14. Superintendent Comments ]
>> MY COMMENTS. LET ME GO BACK AND SAY FOUR-DAY WEEK, [NOISE] WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT IT.
I THINK EVERY DISTRICT IN THE METRO FLEX IS STARTING TO LOOK AT IT REALLY ACROSS TEXAS THAT ARE ALL LOOKING AT IT.
MY COMMENTS, TWO THINGS I WANT TO MENTION.
ONE, THE HOMECOMING PARADE WAS AWESOME.
MR. OLSON, I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T SPRAIN YOUR ANKLE, BUT THERE'S A VIDEO OUT THERE IF YOU WANT TO GET TO OUR LITTLE ELM ISD [LAUGHTER] FACEBOOK PAGE, I THINK YOU'LL SEE A VIDEO OF MR. OLSON DUNKING ON A BASKETBALL.
>> ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK SHACK EVER SLIPPED, BUT IT WAS GOOD THOUGH.
I'M GLAD YOU DID NOT GET HURT.
THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER GREAT EVENT WE HAD, WE HAD THE 6:33 RUN AND MY GOAL THIS YEAR WAS TO BEAT ALEX OR BOARD MEMBER, MR. FLORES' TIME, AND UNFORTUNATELY I FELL SHORT BY TWO MINUTES, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR, SO I'M GOING TO START TRAINING EARLY.
THAT THAT RUN WAS GREAT. GREAT TURNOUT.
MR. FLORES, I WAS IMPRESSED THAT YOU DID IT AND THE TIME YOU DID, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET YOU THIS YEAR, BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
MAYBE THAT'S TWO YEARS IN A ROW YOU'VE GOTTEN ME, SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR.
>> I WAS WORTHLESS [LAUGHTER] IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. IT WAS WONDERFUL THOUGH.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO CAME OUT.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
STAFF MEMBER, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE TO THE LAST ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
OFFICIALLY AT 8:33 PM, WE WILL END THE MEETING.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, ENJOY AND HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR UMBRELLAS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.