[1. Call to Order Open Session in the Board Room at Little Elm ISD Administration Building on 400 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, Texas 75068.]
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551.072 AND 551.074, THE BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENT WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND
[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 (Part 1 of 2)]
LAND. 7:03 P.M.. I KEEP FORGETTING.[3. Pledge of Allegiance]
WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE AN INVOCATION TONIGHT FROM MR. ZACH WRIGHT FROM HOPE FELLOWSHIP.
MR. WRIGHT, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
GOD, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TASK IT IS TO RAISE UP AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION, AND FOR THAT REASON, WE SEEK YOU FIRST.
AS DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AND TOPICS ARE BEING DISCUSSED.
WE START FIRST WITH JUST ASKING YOUR BLESSINGS OVER EACH STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT.
EACH DAY THE TRIALS THAT THEY FACE THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM AND GUIDE THEM.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS OVER THE TEACHERS, THE ONES WHO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, ARE GIVING THEIR TIME TO TEACH AND SPEND TIME WITH THESE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEM.
FOR EACH OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS THAT SERVE THE NEEDS OF THESE STUDENTS.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH EACH DAY TO DO THE TASKS THAT ARE PUT BEFORE THEM.
FOR THE BOARD THAT IS HERE TODAY AS YOU'VE GIVEN THEM THE TASK OF LEADING AND GUIDING SO MANY. WE JUST ASK FOR WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND COURAGE THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM YOU AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE NEEDS OF SO MANY, AND SO TODAY WE ASK THAT YOU GO BEFORE US. AS TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED AND DECISIONS ARE MADE, WE TRUST THEM TO YOU.
WE TRUST YOU TO LEAD US AND GUIDE US AND TAKE CARE OF US.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS DISTRICT IN THIS TOWN IN EVERY WAY, AND WE TRUST YOU COMPLETELY, IN YOUR SON'S NAME JESUS, WE PRAY.
WE'LL GO INTO INTRODUCTION AND ROLL CALL.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT.
[6. Superintendent Spotlight]
ALL RIGHT, GALLAGHER.PRESIDENT, ALSO BOARD MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE].
I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, MR. ROSS ROBERTS. HE'S ALREADY UP, AND WE'VE GOT SOME WONDERFUL RECOGNITION TONIGHT FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU BET.
THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IT'S A FANTASTIC HONOR TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AND START TONIGHT'S MEETING OUT WITH CELEBRATION OF OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN LITTLE ELM ISD.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE STUDENTS, I SWITCHED THE ROUTINE LAST TIME, AND SO I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF THE PARENTS THAT ARE HERE WITH A STUDENT BEING HONORED TONIGHT, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT? [APPLAUSE].
ALSO NEXT, WE HAVE A PACKED HOUSE WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS, SO CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL? [APPLAUSE] ALL CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS.
PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL ASK PRESIDENT OLSON AND MR. GALLAGHER TO COME UP TO THE FRONT.
WE'LL START WITH OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT STAR AWARD, AND SO STUDENTS, IF YOU WILL, COME UP HERE AND WE HAVE A NICE TROPHY FOR YOU TO RECEIVE AND WE'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES.
SO STARTING OFF TONIGHT FROM BRENT ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE CODY BROWN, FIFTH GRADER.
MOVING ON TO CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY,
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WE HAVE KINLEY BANKS, SECOND GRADER.YOU HAVE A WHOLE SECTION THERE, KINLEY, CONGRATULATIONS.
[CHUCKLING] NEXT UP, WE HAVE HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY, AND WITH US TONIGHT, WE'RE CELEBRATING AUSTIN GLOVER.
LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE A FOURTH GRADER WITH US THIS EVENING, ELAN LUND.
[CHUCKLING]. I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE, BUT TONIGHT WE JUST HAVE ELAN.
WE HAVE EVANGELINE JUDD , AND THEN FROM PRESTWICK ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE HATTIE BRANCH-EVANS.
PARENTS, YOU WANT TO COME UP TO TAKE PICTURES? ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE GREAT STUDENTS.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK STRIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I THINK WE HAVE DR. BLACKWELL WITH US THIS EVENING TO COME UP AND THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR STUDENT THAT THEY ARE CELEBRATING THIS EVENING.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR STUDENT, FRANCESCA [INAUDIBLE].
SHE IS A SIXTH GRADER AT STRIKE AND HER TEACHERS SAY THAT SHE SHOWS UP EVERY DAY AND GIVES HER BEST EFFORT.
SHE HAS SHOWN GREAT PROGRESS THIS YEAR AND IT IS DUE TO HER HARD WORK AND DRIVE IN WHAT SHE DOES. PLUS, SHE'S GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND A STELLAR, POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
WE LOVE GETTING TO WORK WITH FRANKIE, AND I BROUGHT WITH ME A VERY SPECIAL PERSON IN FRANKIE'S LIFE, MISS HEATHER [INAUDIBLE], WHO WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH FRANKIE, AND SO I WANTED HER TO HELP US HONOR FRANKIE TODAY.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS, FRANKIE.
TO ROUND OUT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL RECOGNITION.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR STUDENT OF THE
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MONTH.GOOD EVENING, MR. GALLAGHER. PRESIDENT OLSEN AND THE BOARD.
TONIGHT, HERE AT WALKER, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL STUDENT, MISS MARIAH LEONARD, AS OUR STUDENT OF THE MONTH.
MARIAH, COME ON UP. I HAVE A FEW THINGS I'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT MISS MARIAH.
COACH JENNA BROWN WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT MARIAH DOES A GREAT JOB IN PARTNER PE WITH HER PAL AND SHE'S VERY HELPFUL AND KIND WITH HER PAL.
MS. HEISLER, HER HISTORY TEACHER, SAYS MARIAH IS A LEADER BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. SHE IS KIND, CARING, PATIENT WITH HER CLASSMATES.
SHE HAS AN UNPRECEDENTED WORK ETHIC AND STRIVES TO BE THE BEST IN HER CLASS.
SHE IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE IN HER CLASS.
MS. LAMBERT IN SCIENCE SAYS MARIAH LEONARD IS ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHTFUL STUDENTS I HAVE EVER MET.
SHE CONTINUALLY AMAZES ME WITH HER KINDNESS TOWARDS OTHERS AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP IN DIFFICULT TIMES. MARIAH ALSO WORKS HARD IN CLASS.
SHE PERSEVERES THROUGH THE DIFFICULT LEARNING AND I HAVE SUCH A RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR HER.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE MARIAH LEONARD IN CLASS, AND LASTLY, ONE OF OUR COUNSELORS, MS. BRADLEY, SAYS MARIAH IS AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT WITH QUALITIES THAT WILL TAKE HER FAR IN LIFE AS A COUNSELOR AIDE.
SHE WORKED BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS AND HELPED OUR DEPARTMENT WITH ANYTHING WE WOULD ASK OF HER, AND SHE DID IT WITH A SMILE.
MARIAH IS A GREAT STUDENT LEADER AND I'M TRULY GOING TO MISS HER WHEN SHE GOES TO HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS.
NOW ONTO OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.
WE HAVE OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, MR. BORDEN. GOOD EVENING, MR. GALLAGHER. MR. OLSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO IT.
OUR FIRST STUDENT IS GOING TO BE LUKE [INAUDIBLE].
I CALLED HIM INTO MY OFFICE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PREP HIM AND TALK TO HIM, AND I SAID, HE WALKS IN, HE JUST SITS DOWN ON MY DESK AND I SAY, LUKE, HOW ARE YOU DOING? HE'S LIKE, GOOD.
I SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE? HE SAID, YEAH.
I SAID, ARE YOU EXCITED? YEAH. [CHUCKLING] SO COOL HAND LUKE.
LUKE HAS PLAYED MULTIPLE SPORTS, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL.
HE ALSO HAS FOUNDED THE LITTLE ELM PING-PONG CLUB, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.
ON TOP OF THAT, HE CREATES, ORGANIZES AND EMCEES ALL OF OUR PEP RALLIES.
HE'S AWESOME. HE'S A MEMBER OF DECA HOSA.
HE'S A PART OF THE LOBO COLLEGIATE ACADEMY.
HE'S CURRENTLY IN NHS AND HE IS A CO-PRESIDENT OF THE WOLFPACK.
AFTER SCHOOL, HE PLANS ON ATTENDING EITHER UT AUSTIN OR TEXAS A&M.
THERE WE GO. HE SAID HE'S STILL DECIDING WHICH ONE, BUT HE ALSO PLANS ON GETTING A DEGREE IN BIOLOGY AND PURSUING A CAREER AS A PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT.
HIS TEACHER SAYS THAT HE'S AN AMAZING STUDENT, THAT HE CAN SAY ONE THING AND CHANGE THE ENTIRE MOOD IN THE CLASSROOM IN A POSITIVE WAY, AND HE IS WELL RESPECTED BY HIS PEERS AND HIS TEACHERS.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE MISS VANESSA [INAUDIBLE].
[CHUCKLING] AS YOU COULD PROBABLY GUESS, VANESSA IS A MEMBER OF OUR VARSITY BASKETBALL
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TEAM WHO'S DOING PHENOMENALLY WELL THIS DISTRICT.LET'S GO! SHE'S ALSO A NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
SHE'S A VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR BOOK CLUB.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF STUDENT COUNCIL AND HOSA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE SAYS SHE IS GEARED UP AND STARTED OUR TOYS FOR TOTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE'RE SUPER, SUPER PROUD OF HER FOR THAT.
THIS WAS OUR VERY FIRST TOY DRIVE AND IT WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
YOU GOT ON THE NEWS AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD STUFF.
SO AND I THINK SHE'S WORKING TO BE A NATIONAL AMBASSADOR AS WELL.
AFTER GRADUATION, SHE HOPES TO BE ATTENDING UCLA OR STANFORD TO MAJOR IN BIOLOGY AND BECOME A CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON.
[APPLAUSE] I HAD TO PRACTICE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.
TEACHERS SAY THAT SHE'S A GREAT KID.
SHE ALWAYS HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
SHE'S DELIGHTFUL, ENERGETIC, DRIVEN.
SHE LEAPS INTO NEW PROJECTS WITH SUCH ENERGY , AND WHEN SHE WHENEVER SHE HITS A ROADBLOCK, SHE INCREASES HER ENERGY IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THAT ROADBLOCK.
SHE'S BRILLIANT, AND THEY SAY WE NEED MORE STUDENTS WITH HER ENERGY, AND I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. CONGRATULATIONS, VANESSA.
ALL RIGHT, PRESIDENT OLSON, BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE BOARD MEETING, RECOGNIZING STUDENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER GREAT RECOGNITIONS HAPPENING AT THIS TIME.
I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS, MRS. CECILIA JONES, TO COME TO THE PODIUM FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER.
PRESIDENT OLSON BOARD MEMBERS.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DEIDRE MILLER, OUR COORDINATOR FOR THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WHILE SHE'S MAKING HER WAY UP WITH THE REST OF THE GANG.
COME ON UP HERE. THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL 633 RUN, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THEM A CHECK FROM THE PROCEEDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN FROM THE RACE.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE TURNOUT.
IF YOU WERE THERE, IT WAS A VERY NICE MORNING.
IT WASN'T AS CHILLY AS IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, BUT WE HAD ABOUT 345 REGISTERED RUNNERS THIS YEAR.
WE THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR ATTENDANCE WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN IT WAS OUR FIRST YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SEE IF MAYBE PUSHING IT BACK A LITTLE FURTHER WILL HELP IN RECRUITING MORE RUNNERS, BUT WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT YOU A CHECK FOR $6,000 SO YOU CAN SCHOLARSHIP KIDS, AND ON BEHALF OF JERRY R.
WHILE THEY'RE TAKING A PICTURE, I JUST WANT TO THANK CECILIA JONES AND HER TEAM AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE THE 633 RUN HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR AND I'VE EVEN THOUGH I'M RETIRING, I'LL BE RUNNING IN IT NEXT YEAR , AND MY GOAL IS TO BEAT ALEX FLORES THIS TIME.
I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WAS CLOSE, BUT NEXT YEAR IS THE YEAR THAT I THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO.
I'M GOING TO WORK AND TRY TO PASS ALEX UP.
DIDN'T YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AT SOME MARKER? [CHUCKLING] I ACTUALLY STARTED WITH THE WRONG GROUP, BUT THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
HE STARTED WITH THE SIX MILE GROUPS.
SO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS GOING TO STAND UP HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE DISTRICT.
DEIDRE. THANK YOU, MR. GALLAGHER AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IN LITTLE ELM ISD HAS THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ENSURE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, AND WE WERE VERY PROUD THIS YEAR OF OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AWARD $59,333.46 IN INNOVATIVE TEACHING GRANTS TO OUR LEISD TEACHERS THIS YEAR, AND WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU TONIGHT.
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[APPLAUSE] BOARD MEMBERS, WOULD YOU COME TO THE FRONT? WE CAN ALL TAKE A GROUP PHOTO, AND THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION JUST RELEASED THEIR VIDEO. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE HAPPY MOMENT WHEN THE TEACHERS RECEIVED THEIR GRANT DOLLARS, IT IS OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE ONE MORE DONATION THAT'S BEING MADE THIS EVENING.
THERE IS A FOUNDATION THAT WORKS WITH THE LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL WELDING DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAVE ALSO MADE THE SECOND YEAR'S DONATION FOR $50,000 TO THE LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL WELDING DEPARTMENT.
SO WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO PRESENT THOSE FUNDS TO THEM AS WELL AND MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT GRANT HAS BEEN MADE.
THANK YOU, CECILIA AND DEIDRE, AND AGAIN, THE LITTLE LITTLE ELM ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION JUST DOES AMAZING THINGS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE GREAT THINGS AND MORE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOU ALL.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, MILA QUINTERO, TO COME TO THE PODIUM FOR MORE RECOGNITION AND MORE APPRECIATION.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, MR. GALLAGHER. PRESIDENT OLSON BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT I KNOW IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EACH ONE OF YOU, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE OUR STUDENTS, OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR STAFF MEMBERS, AND, OF COURSE, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY. BEFORE I DO THIS, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ANGEL TREE PROGRAM, WHERE WE CALL IT NOW, THE LOCAL ANGEL TREE PROGRAM, HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS SOME OF OUR MOST NEEDED FAMILIES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING CHRISTMASTIME.
AS SOME OF YOU VOLUNTEERED THAT NIGHT, YOU SAW THERE'S A LOT OF JOY, RIGHT TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR FAMILIES.
BEFORE I NAME, THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE, WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, MRS. JONES AND HER AMAZING STAFF MEMBERS, AND ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TO THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THEM, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT BEING THERE, HELPING ME TO ORGANIZE AND TO PLAN FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENT, AND THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
MR. SIMON GALLEGOS I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE.
I WAS LOOKING AND HE'S NOT HERE THAT HELP ME TO PUT MORE THAN 300 BOXES TOGETHER TO IN ORDER TO PUT THOSE THOSE GIFTS THERE, AND THE CUSTODIANS, THEY ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SLEEPING. TOMORROW, THEY HAVE TO BE IN AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING.
SO, MRS. ALMAGUER AND MRS. HERNANDEZ, THEY ARE NOT HERE, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
NOW, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING COMMUNITY HELPERS THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
I AM GOING TO NAME EACH ONE OF THEM AS SOME OF THEM ARE HERE.
SOME OF THEM AREN'T, BUT I'M GOING TO NAME THEM, OF COURSE, AND THEN I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SOME OF THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
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SO LET ME BEGIN WITH MR. LARRY SALERNO, [INAUDIBLE], I SAW YOU.NORMALLY, THEY ADOPT MORE THAN 20 ANGELS PER YEAR, BUT ALSO MR. SALERNO IS THE ONE THAT SUPPORTED WITH THE BOXES.
SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU.
MRS. [INAUDIBLE], FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] CLUB.
THEY ARE NOT HERE, BUT I THINK MRS. AMY NICHOLSON IS HERE.
THANK YOU, MRS. AMY, AND COULD YOU PLEASE STAY FOR THE PICTURE? THANK YOU. MRS. [INAUDIBLE] AND STONEBRIAR COMMUNITY CHURCH , BUT WE APPLAUD THEM.
[INAUDIBLE] FROM [INAUDIBLE] UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
DO YOU MIND, MR. FLORES, TO COME ON THEIR BEHALF, PLEASE? MRS. AMANDA MILLER AND FROM THE [INAUDIBLE].
DR. BHAUMIK AND STONEBROOK PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY.
WHAT AMAZING LEADER AND FIREFIGHTERS.
I JUST SAW THEM WALKING OUT, BUT WE GIVE AN APPLAUSE TO THEM AND MR, AND MRS. I'M SORRY, MY PRONUNCIATION [INAUDIBLE].
THEY ARE NOT HERE, BUT WE WILL APPLAUD FOR THEM.
MEMBERS OF MY SPECIAL SORORITY, NU DELTA DKJ , AND HERE WE HAVE MRS. CLARK AND MRS. [INAUDIBLE]. MRS. GUIDRY. MRS. KIM GROVE AND [INAUDIBLE].
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT THEY ALWAYS SUPPORT US WITH NOT ONLY PROVIDING FOOD ITEMS TO OUR FAMILIES, BUT THIS IS LIKE THE FOURTH OR FIFTH YEAR THAT THEY PROVIDE THIS BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE FOR THE FAMILIES AS WELL.
MRS. ELISA MARTINEZ FROM OUR HACKBERRY FAMILY AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MRS. ELIANA ANDRETTI AND FAMILY.
OF COURSE, THESE ARE THE MAIN SUPPORTERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THIS PROGRAM IS BECAUSE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
IF I NAME EVERY ONE OF THEM, IT WILL BE THE WHOLE NIGHT.
SO MORE THAN 100 STAFF MEMBERS COLLABORATING WITH THESE, AND SOME OF THE ALSO THE STUDENT COUNCIL FROM HIGH SCHOOL, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, DECA AND VANESSA, ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT JUST GOT THE AWARD, SHE ALSO WAS ON BOARD HELPING WITH SOME OF THE TOYS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOUR KINDNESS MEANS A LOT TO OUR PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE] LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.
NOW, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS.
THEY ARE OUR OWN STAFF MEMBERS THAT DEDICATE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS TO COME AND SUPPORT THIS
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PROGRAM FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS THEY COME TO RECEIVE WITH THEIR ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILES, ALL THE PRESENTS FROM THE DONATORS AND PUT IT ON THE BOXES.SO THEY ARE LIKE OUR LITTLE ELVES BEHIND THIS.
MARISSA FLORES. [APPLAUSE] MRS. CHRISTINE COOK. [APPLAUSE] MRS. MYRA MORENO.
[APPLAUSE] MRS. EILEEN HORTON. [APPLAUSE] MRS. BLANCA ARIAS-GONZALEZ.
[APPLAUSE] MRS. CAROL ALONSO. [APPLAUSE] LINDA VERNON.
[APPLAUSE] AND AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THREE OF THE MOMS THAT MRS. YOLANDA FOX, MRS. MARITZA RODRIGUEZ, MRS. MELBA GONZALEZ, THEY ARE NOT HERE, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF EVENTS HAVE BEEN OUR, YOU KNOW, TO YOU BOARD MEMBERS THAT VOLUNTEER DURING THIS EVENT THE DELICIOUS HOT CHOCOLATE AND THE PANDESALS THAT WE ENJOY SO MUCH, NOT ONLY FOR THE FAMILIES THAT CAME TO PICK UP, BUT FOR YOU, TOO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS AMAZING PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, AND WHILE THEY'RE DOING A PICTURE, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE YOU, MILAY.
I REALLY WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES FOR THIS DISTRICT, FOR THE PARENTS, FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE ANGEL TREE PROGRAM, SHE REALLY IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT.
SO YOU, MILLIE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND WE JUST ALL NEED TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, NEXT, I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS FOR TONIGHT, WHICH I LOVE, AND CAN I TELL YOU, THIS IS REALLY NICE TO SEE A PACKED BOARDROOM, BUT SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS, I WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THIS IS BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH.
EVERY JANUARY, WE RECOGNIZE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AROUND THE STATE.
THE ONE THING ABOUT THIS POSITION SOMETIMES IT'S A THANKLESS POSITION.
SOMETIMES YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT, THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THE ONE THING I'LL SAY ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS IS THEY'RE IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THEY LOVE OUR KIDS, THEY LOVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY EACH HAVE A PASSION TO KEEP MOVING THIS DISTRICT FORWARD.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO CONTINUE ON BECAUSE I CAN GO ON FOREVER.
I THINK I SAY THAT EVERY EVERY JANUARY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A LOT OF THANKS AND I HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT, HOW MUCH OUR COMMUNITY APPRECIATES IT, AND JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE GLAD THAT WE'VE GOT THIS BOARD HERE HELPING US MOVE FORWARD AND ENJOY YOUR GIFTS.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GALLAGHER. [APPLAUSE] SO WE'LL GO ON
[7. Reports of the Superintendent]
TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, THE REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR.GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT OLSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MR. GALLAGHER. THIS EVENING WE ARE COMING TO YOU WITH A REPORT ON THE SURVEY THAT WAS PUT OUT REGARDING THE 2023 24 CALENDARS.
JUST A QUICK REMINDER THAT THE DEIC ACTS IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE BOARD AND THEY WERE INFORMED OF THEIR DUTIES ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.
ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH, THEY LOOKED AT DRAFT CALENDARS, HAD DISCUSSIONS, MADE A TWEAK OR TWO, AND THEN TOOK THOSE DRAFT CALENDARS OUT TO THEIR CAMPUSES TO GET INFORMAL INPUT FROM
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THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEN WHEN WE CAME BACK, WE TOOK THAT INFORMAL INPUT INTO CONSIDERATION, MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES.THEY DID VOTE AT THAT TIME TO PUT TWO CALENDARS OUT FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
THOSE CALENDARS WERE PUT OUT FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON DECEMBER THE 13TH THROUGH THE 19TH, AND THESE THAT TIME SPAN, WE LOOKED UP HOW LONG CALENDARS WERE POSTED FOR INPUT LAST YEAR AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE HONORED THAT SAME TIME FRAME.
ONE CHANGE THAT WE MADE WAS TO ADD COMMENTARY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO GIVE COMMENTS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CALENDARS, AS YOU KNOW, IS QUITE DIFFERENT, AND SO WE WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS. AND THEN THE DEIC DID MEET AT OUR JANUARY MEETING JUST TO CONSIDER THAT INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CALENDAR.
SO IF WE LOOK AT LIKE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THAT FELL INTO THE GROUPS, PARENTS, EMPLOYEES AND THEN EMPLOYEES SLASH PARENTS, WE HAD 2087 VOTES OF THE 2087 PARTICIPANTS, 66.1% MADE UP OUR PARENT GROUP, PURE PARENT GROUP, 27% MADE UP OUR EMPLOYEE GROUP, AND THEN 6.9% MADE UP OUR EMPLOYEE PARENT GROUP, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
THEY MIGHT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO WORK IN THE DISTRICT.
THEY MIGHT LIVE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT AND BRING THEIR CHILDREN IN, AND SO THE EMPLOYEE PARENT GROUP IS MADE UP OF THOSE TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
THEN AS WE LOOK AT TOTAL CALENDAR PREFERENCES, SO IF WE LOOK AT ALL THREE OF THOSE GROUPS TOGETHER, THEN 64.1% PREFERRED CALENDAR A WHILE 35.9% PREFERRED CALENDAR B. WHEN WE BREAK THOSE GROUPS APART AND WE JUST LOOK AT PARENTS.
50.8% PREFERRED CALENDAR A WHILE 49.2% PREFERRED CALENDAR B.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEE PARENT GROUP THAT MAY OR MAY NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, WE HAD 92.4% PREFER CALENDAR A WHILE, 7.6% PREFERRED CALENDAR B.
WHEN WE LOOK AT EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT WITH CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE TWO GROUPS, PARENTS WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS WHO ARE EMPLOYEES.
WE LOOK AT 54.7%, PREFERRING CALENDAR A AND 45.3% PREFERRING CALENDAR B.
WHEN WE LOOK AT JUST EMPLOYEES, NOT PARENTS.
WE HAD 89.5% PREFERRING CALENDAR A WHILE, 10.5% PREFERRED CALENDAR B, AND THAT IS THE RESULTS OF OUR SURVEY.
WE DID SHARE ALL THE COMMENTS.
I THINK WE HAD LIKE 536 COMMENTS OR SO FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DID SHARE THOSE WITH THE BOARD ON JANUARY THE THIRD.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS.
SO AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SURVEY OR THE INFORMATION SO THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED BASED ON THE INPUT? I THINK I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
I THINK WHAT WE'D LIKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEYS, CONSIDERING ALSO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEW SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, WHICH GETTING THAT PERSON'S OPINION IS VERY, VERY MUCH VALUED IN WHAT STEP THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO TAKE GOING FORWARD.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT JUST THE BOARD IN GENERAL BELIEVES SOME MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE. [APPLAUSE] WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS WE WOULD LIKE STAFF TO COME BACK AT THE FEBRUARY 6TH BOARD WORKSHOP WITH TWO FIVE DAY CALENDAR OPTIONS WITH DIFFERENT TERMS OF IN-SERVICE DAYS WHERE TEACHERS ARE NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRED IN SCHOOL, BUT WITH OPTIONAL DAYS WHERE THEY CAN DO PLANNING LESSON PLANNING OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL HOURS
[00:40:01]
ON IN-SERVICE DAYS.WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME BACK WITH TWO OPTIONS FOR THE FEBRUARY 6TH WORKSHOP.
THEN THE BOARD WILL TAKE THOSE OPTIONS TO THE FEBRUARY 20TH MEETING FOR A VOTE ON FEBRUARY 20TH AT OUR BOARD MEETING.
OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS, DO I HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OK. DR. TRAMEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. I DO WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT RESEARCH WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE WANT MORE DETAILED RESEARCH.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS RESEARCH DONE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE MORE AND NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY FROM BUT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD THE RESEARCH. WE UNDERSTAND, BUT THE BOARD WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON OUR OWN, AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE STAFF DO SOME MORE RESEARCH AND ALSO VALUE THE OPINION OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO TO HELP US LEAD US THROUGH THE NEXT YOU KNOW CHANGE. BUT JUST FOR THE EMPLOYEES, I WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THAT THE RESEARCH WASN'T VIEWED.
NOT THE RESEARCH [INAUDIBLE] YES, IT WAS.
I THINK ALL THE CONCERNS YES, WELL, I CAN.
BOARD MEMBERS I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY WE RIGHT NOW HAVE.
WE HAVE THEM? WE'RE DONE WITH THE COMMENTS.
WE'VE GOT WHAT WE'D LIKE STAFF TO DO.
SO STAFF IS GOING TO, AT THE BOARD'S REQUEST, HANDLE AND DO OUR REQUEST, WHICH IS WE'LL WAIT TILL FEBRUARY 6TH BOARD WORKSHOP, FOR TO 5 DAY CALENDARS COME TO THE AGENDA FOR US TO REVIEW. [INAUDIBLE] I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WAS A LISTENING SESSION THAT I HELD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE FEEDBACK.
I LISTENED TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE MET FOR ABOUT AN HALF AN HOUR.
I ASKED FOR THE COMMENTS TO BE SHARED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THERE WAS LINKS SHARED FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS ALSO SHARED WITH THE BOARD, AND TO BE CLEAR, AND I CAN SPEAK HONESTLY FOR MYSELF, I HAVE REVIEWED A TON OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND I AM SUPPORTING OUR PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO PRESENT TO HAVE THE BOARD WORKSHOP ON FEBRUARY 6TH REVIEW AND GIVE OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO COME INTO THIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS. AND I THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL NOW GO INTO CITIZEN INPUT, AND WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, DUE TO
[8. Citizen Input]
THE VOLUME OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYONE'S TIME, WE WILL DO A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.SO 3 MINUTES, I WILL GIVE EVERYONE A ONE MINUTE WARNING.
SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU WILL COME UP.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW AT THAT POINT IN TIME THAT YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND I'LL GIVE YOU A ONE MINUTE WARNING WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.
OKAY, WE'LL GO AND START WITH OUR FIRST ONE, NICOLE BEAL.
IS NICOLE BEALE HERE? NOT HERE. OKAY, AND WE WILL GO TO ROBIN BOWMAN.
I'M SORRY. NOT ROBERT. I'M SORRY.
GOT SIDETRACKED OVER HERE ON IT.
I HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTARY BACK THERE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE QUESTION FIRST.
IS THIS STATING THAT THE FOUR DAY A WEEK OPTION IS COMPLETELY TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION AND SO THERE WOULD BE TWO FIVE DAY OPTIONS ONLY? SO UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT CITIZEN INPUT.
WE CANNOT COMMENT ON ANYTHING FROM YOUR.
WHAT WE'VE AS WE STATED EARLIER, WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED IS TWO FIVE DAY OPTIONS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE BOARD WORKSHOP FOR THE BOARD TO EVALUATE, SORRY. CAN'T HEAR YOU.
SORRY. I WAS LIKE, AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF A FOUR DAY OPTION THAT WOULD ALSO THEN BE OPEN TO WHERE WE DO SELECT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THEIR INPUT, DECIDE IF IT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE, ETC., BECAUSE THEY
[00:45:04]
WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT GOING FORWARD.SO ONCE AGAIN, I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE BOARD, THIS IS CITIZEN INPUT.
CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT.
THE BOARD WILL NOT COMMENT OR GIVE FEEDBACK GOING FORWARD.
SO YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COME UP HERE.
YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO GIVE US YOUR INPUT AND THAT IS WHAT CITIZEN INPUT WILL BE.
SO GOING FORWARD, MS. BOWMAN I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR 3 MINUTES STARTING NOW, MA'AM.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
YOU ALL CHOSE ME FOR THE COVER OF YOUR 2021 MAGAZINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE DRESS I'M WEARING, BUT MY NAME IS ROBIN BOWMAN.
I'VE TAUGHT HERE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF A CHAMPION TEACHER FOR YOUR DISTRICT. I DO EVERYTHING THAT IS ASKED OF ME, AND I LOVE TEACHING.
I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER.
I HAD NO IDEA THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TEACHERS CARRY THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, AND I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE TO A FOUR DAY WEEK JUST TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP CHANGE ANYTHING.
THAT GLIMMER OF HOPE WHEN THE IDEA EVEN POPPED UP IN AN EMAIL, THERE WERE TONS OF TEACHERS WHO SHOUTED, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS GAVE ME HOPE BECAUSE IN MY ONLY FIVE YEARS OF TEACHING, I'M DONE.
I'M EXHAUSTED, BUT I LOVE MY KIDS.
SO IT'S HARD TO WEIGH THE BALANCE.
I'M ALSO A VERY ACTIVE MOTHER AND MY KIDS NEED TO COME FIRST AS WELL.
SO MY KIDS ARE IN LOTS OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
I KNOW THAT'S MY CHOICE, BUT AS A TEACHER, I GIVE ALL OF ME TO MY STUDENTS AND HAVE VERY LITTLE FOR MY KIDS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU REALLY CONSIDER THAT , AND I UNDERSTAND ASKING FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO HAVE INPUT AS WELL, AND I RESPECT THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. BOWMAN. APPRECIATE IT.
IS MY MIC OFF. I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON.
I'M A DYSLEXIA THERAPIST FOR PRESTWICK ELEMENTARY, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME REAL FACTS ABOUT TEACHING TONIGHT.
AVERAGE TEACHERS MAKE $1958 TO $3083 PER MONTH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO ZIPRECRUITER.COM.
THE AVERAGE COST OF LIVING IN LITTLE ELM FOR AN APARTMENT.
THE LOWEST I COULD FIND WAS 1600 A MONTH AND UP GROCERIES HAVE INCREASED TO 9.5 TO 10.5%, EXPECTED TO RISE TO 11 TO 12%.
WE ALL KNOW THE RISE AND FALL OF GAS PRICES.
THE CHARLES BUD FOUNDATION CONDUCTED A SURVEY LAST YEAR FOR TEXAS TEACHERS.
81% OF THOSE TEACHERS SAID THEY CANNOT SURVIVE ON WHAT THEY MAKE.
41 OF THOSE PERCENT OF THOSE TEACHERS HAVE SECOND JOBS.
SO IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THAT, AN AVERAGE PERSON IN LITTLE ELM MAKES ABOUT 2,900 A MONTH TEACHING WITH ALL THE COST.
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS TEACHERS CAN'T SURVIVE, AND THAT'S WHY TEACHERS ARE QUITTING. THE MAIN REASON WHY TEACHERS ARE QUITTING.
THE TEXAS AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 43,000 TEXAS TEACHERS WALKED OUT LAST SUMMER 43,066% OF US ARE LEAVING THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS. SO THEY'RE NOT LEAVING TO GO TO OTHER DISTRICTS.
THEY'RE LEAVING THE CAREER ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ANYMORE, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU LOVE TEACHING.
I LOVE TO RESCUE ANIMALS, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO PAY MY BILLS EITHER.
SO IF YOU'RE A SINGLE TEACHER, YOU CAN'T AFFORD ON THIS SALARY, AND SO I JUST WANT THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL REASONS WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT STRESSFUL TESTING WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE MORE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES TO CONTEND WITH DURING OUR DAY BECAUSE OF THE STRESS WE HAVE AND THE TESTING.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ISSUE, ALONG WITH DISCIPLINARY MEASURES THAT ARE PRETTY WEAK.
SO ALL OF THOSE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED EVENTUALLY, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS OUR PAY.
OKAY, I HOPE I SAY THIS LAST NAME RIGHT.
[00:50:01]
SARAH CALDI.EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TALK.
MY NAME IS SARAH CALDI AND I'M A PARENT OF A FIRST GRADER IN LITTLE ELM ISD.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO EXPRESS MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BOARD SUPERINTENDENT AND ESPECIALLY ALL OF THE TEACHERS IN THE AUDIENCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR JOB IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THAT YOU ARE RUNNING INTO STAFFING ISSUES WITH OUR SCHOOLS, SIMILAR TO THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT MANY OF US ARE CURRENTLY FACING IN OUR OWN INDUSTRIES.
I AM THANKFUL THAT WE ARE THINKING OF IDEAS TO HELP ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE IDEAS ARE ONE PARTICULAR IDEA IS JUST AN IDEA VERSUS AN ACTUAL FEASIBLE PLAN.
ONE CLEAR PROBLEM THAT I SEE WITH THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IS THE FRIDAY CARE FOR OUR LESS FORTUNATE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT.
AS OF DATA FROM THE LITTLE ELM ISD PAGE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 3,815 ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN ENROLLED.
OR BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE SHOWN, 50% OF THOSE PARENTS WOULD LIKE THAT CARE.
WE'LL GO WITH 30 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I HAVE ON MY NOTES.
1100 CHILDREN NEEDING THAT CARE.
MY CONCERNS ARE HOW IS THE DISTRICT PLANNING TO STAFF THIS? IF IT IS A 30 TO 1 RATIO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 39 STAFF MEMBERS ISN'T THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS STAFFING SHORTAGE? HOW WOULD WE CREATE MORE STAFFING POSITIONS IF WE'RE ALREADY IN A SHORTAGE? ALSO, BECAUSE THIS WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING BASED ON THE THINGS THAT WERE PRESENTED.
IF THE DISTRICT WILL NOT BE IN CHARGE OF THIS AND WE WILL BE USING A THIRD PARTY VENDOR, HOW AND WHAT WAS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE VENDORS WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND STAFF SINCE NOW THIS WILL BE FUNDED BY US, THE TAXPAYERS? MY NEXT CONCERN IS WHAT IF WE CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF STAFF? WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE CHILDREN ON FRIDAY? AGAIN, AS I STATED BEFORE, I AM THANKFUL FOR IDEAS AND BY WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TURNOUT, WE HAVE MANY FOLKS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP WORK WITH THE DISTRICT TO FIND A SOLUTION OR CREATE A THOUGHTFUL PLAN FOR FRIDAY CARE THAT HELPS OUR TEACHERS WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS AND HELLO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TONIGHT.
I THINK I SPEAK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING AND NOW THAT IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE.
SO EVERYTHING THAT I PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT IS KIND OF A MOOT POINT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAME AND HAD CHILD CARE TAKING CARE OF FOR TONIGHT MADE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. THIS CHANGE THAT THE BOARD CAME UP WITH DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT IN AN EMAIL LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IS.
SORRY, I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW, SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH WHAT I HAD PREPARED AS IF WE WERE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, WHICH APPARENTLY WERE NOT.
I'M A SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY, AND I'M ALSO A CHEER COACH AT THE LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL.
I LOVE THE COMMUNITY THAT I SERVE.
I AM HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANGE TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, AS I FULLY BELIEVE IN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE LIVES OF EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
LITTLE ELM THE DESTINATION DISTRICT.
OUR APPLICANT POOLS ARE EMPTY.
WHICH IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING NOW THAT IT HAS BECOME COMMON FOR EDUCATORS TO QUIT MID-YEAR DUE TO MOUNTING STRESS AND LACK OF WORK LIFE BALANCE, I WOULD KNOW I WAS ONE OF THE EDUCATORS WHO ALMOST QUIT MID-YEAR, AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A DESTINATION DISTRICT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
THREE WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, NUMEROUS EDUCATORS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WERE FORCED TO MOVE GRADE LEVELS BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH STUDENTS IN OUR SEATS.
I HAD 20 KINDERGARTNERS THAT I LOVED A LOT AND THAT I BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH FOR ALMOST A MONTH OF SCHOOL.
AND I WAS THEIR FIRST TEACHER AND I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT I HAD TO LEAVE THEM AND THEY WOULD BE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SOME TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT WERE FORCED TO MOVE SCHOOLS.
[00:55:02]
THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.MAKING THE HARD CHOICE TO QUIT MID-YEAR IS TRAUMATIC FOR OTHER TEACHERS WHO DECIDE TO GO THROUGH WITH THAT. SCHOOL SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
CHANGING TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK WOULD MAKE LEISD THE DESTINATION DISTRICT FOR EDUCATORS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR WORK LIFE BALANCE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR TIME SPENT WITH FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL RATHER THAN STANDARDIZED TESTING. I SEE THIS CHANGE AS A WAY FOR LEISD TO TIP THE SCALES TOWARDS A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE BOTH STAFF AND STUDENT NEEDS ARE BEING MET.
I'M AN EDUCATOR WHO LOVES TEACHING.
I AM ALSO A PROFESSIONAL WHO HOLDS THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGES IN MY WORKPLACE. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK [APPLAUSE] . JUAROD. CARL.
I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 12 YEARS.
I WORK AT PRESTWICK ELEMENTARY, IS MY SIXTH YEAR IN THE DISTRICT.
WHILE I NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF ASKING FOR A FOUR DAY WEEK, HERE WE ARE SORT OF, I GUESS MAYBE NOT, BUT LIKE OTHERS, THAT IS WHAT I CAME PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT.
SO WE ALL KNOW THE OLD SAYING IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
THERE'S MANY REASONS WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING.
VERY FEW THAT LITTLE ELM AS A DISTRICT CAN ACTUALLY FIX.
I GET THAT, BUT MOST OF THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING ARE WITH THE STATE AND POLITICS OF IT ALL. SO THEN THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE TO TRY AND DO WHAT THEY CAN WITHIN THEIR GRASP IN SOME WAY TO ENTICE TEACHERS TO COME AND STAY , AND WHAT IS IN Y'ALLS CONTROL OR OUR CONTROL OF THE DISTRICT'S CONTROL? AND TODAY, RIGHT NOW OR MAYBE THAT IS THE NUMBER OF DAYS TEACHERS DO REPORT TO THE BUILDING AND BUILDING AND TEACH THE KIDS.
MANY SOLUTIONS I SEE PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT RELATE TO GIVING US A RAISE, AND I ASKED THE COMMUNITY THIS IF SOMEHOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE WOULD THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW UP TO VOTE FOR A BOND THAT DOES RAISE OUR TAXES WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE JUST HAD A BOND BARELY PASSED THAT DIDN'T EVEN RAISE OUR TAXES TO ADD NEW SCHOOLS THAT WE DO NEED SO DESPERATELY BAD.
WE'VE GOT ALMOST 1000 KIDS AND THEY NEED ROOM.
ANOTHER ARGUMENT HERE IS THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE EARNING MORE FOR WORKING LESS.
TEACHERS ARE WORKING ON WEEKENDS, SUNDAYS, SATURDAYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE PAID THE SAME, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO WORK A FIVE DAY WEEK.
IT'LL BE A FRIDAY INSTEAD OF A SUNDAY WHEN WE COULD BE HAVING DINNER WITH OUR FAMILIES.
AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER, TEACHERS ARE LEAVING.
WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS TODAY THAT WE NEED TEACHERS FOR.
WE'VE OPENINGS EVERYWHERE AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO TEACH.
WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
NO ONE WANTS MORE FOR OUR KIDS OR YOUR KIDS THAN WE DO AS TEACHERS.
WHY NOT TRY A SOLUTION AND BE THE INNOVATORS THAT WE CLAIM TO BE AS THE DESTINATION DISTRICT? BECAUSE WITH A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, WE WILL BE THE DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR MORE QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO FILL OUR CURRENT OPENINGS, AND THEN SOME.
I'M GOING TO TRY SOMETHING HERE.
IF YOU'RE BRAVE ENOUGH, IF YOU ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. IF IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO OR THREE YOU'VE CONSIDERED LEAVING THE PROFESSION.
WHILE I MAY NOT BE READY TO JUMP SHIP TODAY OR EVEN NEXT YEAR.
THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE, AND IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR, IT MIGHT BE NEXT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE.
SO WITH THAT, I HOPE YOU RECONSIDER.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? HOPEFULLY.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS THOMAS NASH.
I'M A TEACHER OF 12 COMING UP ON 12 YEARS, I'VE TAUGHT IN LITTLE ELM.
THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR IN LITTLE ELM.
IT'S MY 12TH YEAR OVERALL, AND THIS IS MY NINTH YEAR IN SECOND GRADE, AND I HAVE BEEN
[01:00:07]
IN A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK.I SPENT FOUR YEARS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND I KNOW WE'RE AFRAID AS PEOPLE OF THE UNKNOWN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IT'S SOMETHING NEW, BUT I LIVED IT AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AS AN EDUCATOR AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE I WORKED AND LIVED.
WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO A BOARD VOTE OF THIS BIG CHANGE THAT WE HAD, ONE FAMILY SHOWED UP AND THE MAIN CONCERN WAS.
THE CHILD CARE, AND IT APPEARED THAT THE DISTRICT WAS LOOKING TO TAKING STEPS INTO TAKING CARE OF THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT I CAN SAY AS AN EDUCATOR, MORALE WAS NEVER HIGHER.
I WORKED IN A PLACE THAT WAS NOT A DESIRABLE PLACE TO WORK.
IT WAS A RURAL AREA IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF NEW MEXICO.
NO ONE WANTED TO LIVE THERE, BUT WE GOT TEACHERS DRIVING 45 MINUTES AWAY, AN HOUR AWAY DAILY, AND RETAINING THOSE TEACHERS FOR A SPAN OF YEARS LIKE PEOPLE HAVE SAID ALREADY. WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP HIGHLY QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED TEACHERS, AND AS MANY HANDS WENT UP, IT HELPED ME REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE AT ALARMING RATES. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT THE NUMBERS I DO HAVE ARE THAT WHILE TEACHING ONE OF MY BEST YEARS, YOU KNOW, AS ADMINISTRATORS LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT DATA.
ONE OF MY BEST YEARS WAS ON A FOUR DAY WEEK.
I STARTED OUT WITH 50% OF STUDENTS BELOW LEVEL.
I WAS A VERY UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOL.
THEY WERE BELOW LEVEL STUDENTS, AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR I HAD TWO.
WE HAD SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT WORKED AND IT TOOK A COLLECTIVE EFFORT AND I BELIEVE IT COULD WORK. I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CHOICE THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING MADE, BUT JUST AS A PARENT, AS AN EDUCATOR, I ADVOCATE FOR IT, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
PRESIDENT OLSON, MR. GALLAGHER AND THE BOARD.
I CAME TO LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR 40 WEEK.
I'VE WORKED AS AN ADMINISTRATOR HERE IN THE DISTRICT FOR EIGHT YEARS, 18 OVERALL AND AT ALL LEVELS HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
NOW AS A PRINCIPAL AND IN ALL THE LEVELS IN THE EARLY MORNINGS OF THE HOURS, THERE ARE STUDENTS WAITING TO COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS UP TO 30 OR 40 MINUTES EARLY, AND THEY'RE STAYING AFTER SCHOOL FOR TUTORIALS.
PARENTS ARE LINING UP AT 3:30 P.M.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR THAT TIME INSTRUCTION AND A FOUR DAY WEEK TO SPEND WITH THEM IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND TO RAISE THAT INSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY THERE TO BUILD IN SYSTEMS WITH HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND ATTRACTING THEM TO OUR SCHOOLS, BUILDING SYSTEMS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS AND IN SCHOOLS AND IN OUR CARE FOR THE FOUR D WEEK, YOU KNOW.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO LE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS BEFORE US.
WE ARE THE DONUT HOLE OF THE DISTRICTS.
WE'RE IN THE CENTER OF DENTON, FRISCO AND LEWISVILLE, AND HONESTLY, WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY BRING IN TAXES, WE CAN'T COMPETE.
THIS CAN HELP US COMPETE AND BRING THAT EDUCATION TO US QUALITY TEACHERS.
IT GIVES US THE DESTINATION JERSEY, IT GIVES PEOPLE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD FORWARD TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO COME SEE.
HOW IS YOUR FOUR DAY WORKING? BECAUSE THAT'S THE TREND IN WHERE IT'S GOING.
THERE ARE MANY SUPERINTENDENTS ALL OVER THE STATE, ALL OVER LOOKING FOR THIS FOUR DAY OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WOULD, RECONSIDER TO BE THE LEAD FOR THAT AND TO BE THE ACTUAL DESTINATION.
I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE LIKE LE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE LEADER IN OUR DECISION MAKING AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS BEFORE US TO RISK IT. LEADERSHIP IS HARD IN LEADERSHIP.
WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BLAME.
WHEN THERE WE DON'T HAVE SUCCESS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGE AND TO MAKE AN IMPACT. SO I HOPE YOU RECONSIDER.
[01:05:11]
GOOD STORE IN MY LIFE.EXCUSE ME. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] ORTIZ, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN WHO ARE OR WILL BE ATTENDING SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE LIVE IN THE TRIBUTE, SO WE NORMALLY GO TO PRESTWICK, BUT WE CHOOSE TO ATTEND HACKBERRY, WHERE MY DAUGHTER OLIVIA ATTENDS.
IT IS A PART OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT HACKBERRY, WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH, AND THE TEACHERS ARE INCREDIBLE AND I HOPE THAT MY SON WILL ALSO GET TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR.
TIME PERMITTING. I HAVE THREE BRIEF POINTS.
FIRST, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL INTO A LAW SCHOOL AT SMU. I HAVE ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOL MY ENTIRE LIFE AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH BROKEN.
SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR WELL BEING, AND THE REASON WHY I WOULD USE MY PRECIOUS LIMITED TIME BEFORE YOU TO START WITH THAT IS BECAUSE THE UNFORTUNATE WAY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT PERHAPS YOU WANTED AS A BOARD AND AS A DISTRICT.
A PRELIMINARY FEEL FOR MAYBE HOW THE COMMUNITY FELT WITHOUT DATA, WITHOUT SHARING THE DATA, WITHOUT SHARING MORE INFORMATION.
WHAT IT UNINTENTIONALLY DID WAS PIT WORKING PARENTS AGAINST TEACHERS, AND I WOULD REALLY HATE THAT BY BEING HERE TODAY THAT OLIVIA'S TEACHER WOULD BELIEVE THAT I DON'T SUPPORT HER. I WOULD HATE THAT.
SO I DON'T LIKE HOW THAT PITS US AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THIS FALSE FRAMING ONLY HURTS OUR CHILDREN INSTEAD OF WORKING TOGETHER AND WHATEVER PROBLEM THE DISTRICT IS TRYING TO SOLVE, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE RETENTION.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, LET'S START WHERE WE CAN ALL AGREE.
MY SECOND POINT IS PLEASE CONSIDER, AS YOU WILL IN THE FUTURE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE HOW A DECISION MAY AFFECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE IN CANDOR.
MY HUSBAND I ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT.
IF FOR SOME REASON WE FEEL THAT IF YOU MOVE TO A 4 TO 8 DISTRICT, I MEAN.
WORKWEEK, I MEAN, NO WORK WEEK, SCHOOL WEEK, IT DOESN'T WORK.
WE HAVE THE MEANS TO FIGURE IT OUT.
MAYBE WE SUPPLEMENT, MAYBE WE TUTOR, BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT, AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, DON'T HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE, AND SO AS YOU CONSIDER, PLEASE CONSIDER WHETHER YOU ARE FURTHERING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE OR FURTHERING THE LACK OF SOCIALIZATION IN.
THAT GENERATION THAT SUFFERED THE GAP FROM COVID.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THAT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PLEASE CONSIDER THE STRONG POSSIBILITY AND PROBABILITY THAT FOUR DAYS A WEEK HARMS OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE FUTURE.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MY EXPERTISE, BUT FROM WHAT STUDIES I COULD FIND ON THE IMPACT IS AT BEST INCONCLUSIVE BECAUSE IT JUST HASN'T BEEN AROUND ENOUGH OR INAPPLICABLE TO THE SIZE OF OUR DISTRICT OR AT WORST, ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CHILDREN'S QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN THE FUTURE AND GLOBAL MARKET.
AS A PARENT, THAT'S NOT THE POSSIBILITY OR PROBABILITY THAT I'M WILLING TO TAKE.
AS A BOARD WHO'S OBJECTIVE ON YOUR SITE THAT SAYS LEISD GRADUATE SHOULD BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY, I HOPE YOU AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK EITHER.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD FACULTY AND FELLOW RESIDENTS I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL CALENDAR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO MY KIDS SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT THIS ITEM, AND EVEN THOUGH HE SHARED REALLY COMPELLING REASONS FOR IT, I DO UNDERSTAND.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT JUST FOR THEY WILL TRANSLATE TO THEIR KIDS BEING IN SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL HOUR, AND FOR ME, I THINK FOR THE YOUNGER ONES, THIS WILL BE AN UNPRODUCTIVE TIME THAT THEY SPEND IN SCHOOL , AND THE PREACHING HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
ATTENDANCE AND CONTACT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE CAN AFFORD TAKING THE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE DAY.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MORE DETRIMENTAL THAN BENEFICIAL TO OUR KIDS.
ALSO, THE OLDER KIDS, THE PROBABILITY OF THEM BEING LEFT UNSUPERVISED ON FRIDAYS AS PARENTS GO TO WORK IS REALLY HIGH, WHICH CAN ALSO LEAD TO INCREASE IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE, AND FROM MY LITTLE RESEARCH THAT I DID, MOST OF THE COMMUNITY DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ALREADY
[01:10:07]
THAT HAS ALREADY ADOPTED THIS FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK ARE RURAL AND SMALL TOWNS, AND THEY DO NORMALLY HAVE PREDOMINANT EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ABLE TO ADJUST PARENTS SCHEDULE TO MEET THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.SO IN THOSE SITUATIONS IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY , BUT UNFORTUNATELY OUR SITUATION IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
SO IT'S MY HUMBLE PLEA THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER ALL THESE FACTORS BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION IN CASE THE FOUR DAY IS BROUGHT BACK TO THAT BOARD.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS.
GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
MY NAME IS COREY WORTH AND I AM THE PRINCIPAL AT OAK POINTE, THE SCHOOL THAT ALMOST HAS 1000 STUDENTS OVER THERE.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TONIGHT IN REGARDS TO THE FOUR DAY CALENDAR OPTION.
I COME TO YOU AS A CURRENT ADMINISTRATOR IN THE DISTRICT WHO HAS SEEN THE DRASTIC DECLINE IN TEACHER APPLICANTS SINCE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
IN 2020, THE WORLD HAD TO PIVOT.
WE HAD TO MAKE A CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAD ALWAYS DONE AND ADAPT TO THE NEW WORLD THAT BECAME UNFAMILIAR AND CHALLENGED US IN WAYS WE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
LAST YEAR ALONE, OUR SIX ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES HAS 16 TEACHERS WHO RESIGN WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT'S 16 ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS THAT WERE LEFT WITHOUT A TEACHER.
16 GROUPS OF STUDENTS WHO WERE TAUGHT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR FROM EITHER A SUBSTITUTE WHO ARE OFTEN COMBINED WITH ANOTHER TEACHER'S CLASSROOM, THUS DOUBLING THE STUDENT TEACHER RATIO, EVEN WITH EXCUSE ME, EVEN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT CERTIFICATES COULD BE SANCTIONED IF LEAVING DURING THEIR CONTRACT, THESE TEACHERS DECIDED NOT ONLY TO LEAVE THEIR CURRENT POSITION, SOME OF THEM LEFT EDUCATION ENTIRELY.
A TEACHER AT MY CAMPUS TODAY CAME TO ME CONCERNED BECAUSE HER SON IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND HE WAS ENROLLED IN A COURSE TO RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT, BUT DUE TO THIS TEACHER RESIGNING MID YEAR, THEIR CLASS HAD TO BE READJUSTED.
HE NOW HAS TO LOSE THE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE.
HOW MANY OTHER KIDS HAS THIS AFFECTED AND HOW MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS DO WE HAVE LIKE THIS ACROSS THE DISTRICT? UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION, COLLEGE STUDENTS GOING INTO THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD AND SOME COLLEGES ARE DISCONTINUING I'M SORRY, COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING INTO THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD, AND SOME COLLEGES ARE JUST CONTINUING THEIR PROGRAM DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS TO FILL OUR CLASSROOMS? WHAT HAPPENS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION? WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR STUDENTS? COVID TAUGHT US TO PIVOT.
CORPORATIONS WENT TO HAVING EMPLOYEES WORK REMOTELY.
DOCTORS OFFICES CONDUCTED APPOINTMENTS VIRTUALLY, AND TEACHERS BECAME MASTERS OF ZOOM VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS AND DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, OR AT LEAST WE'RE PAST THE INITIAL HAVOC IT CAUSED.
THE SOME CHANGE WAS SOME OF THE CHANGE WASN'T NECESSARILY BAD.
SOME COMPANIES HAVE REALIZED THAT REMOTELY WORKING IS PRETTY EFFICIENT AND KEEPS THEIR EMPLOYEES HAPPIER, THUS ELICITING MORE EFFECTIVE OUTPUT.
VIRTUAL DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS OFTEN STILL TAKE PLACE, AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE DECIDED TO HAVE A ZOOM MEETING? BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN EASIER ALL THAT TO SAY CHANGE ISN'T ALWAYS BAD AND SOMETIMES IT'S NEEDED. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO DOWN BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE THE ENTIRE TIME.
TEACHERS ARE FATIGUED, FRUSTRATED AND ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING THE PROFESSION A PROFESSION THEY LOVE, A PROFESSION THAT THEY'VE NEVER IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THEY CAN MAKE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.
SCORES DON'T GO UP IF WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS, STUDENTS AREN'T SUCCESSFUL.
IF WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS, AND IF WE DON'T MAKE THIS CHANGE, WE WON'T HAVE TEACHERS.
ALBERT EINSTEIN SAID THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.
SURE, WE COULD DO THE SAME THING WE'VE ALWAYS DONE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO.
WE COULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR COMPETITORS, BUT IS THAT THE BEST DECISION? WE LOSE TEACHERS TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF PAY.
WE LOSE TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THE COMMUTE, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU WE WOULD GAIN TEACHERS WITH A FOUR DAY WEEK. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW IMPLEMENTING THIS CALENDAR WILL DO EXACTLY THAT. NOT ONLY WILL THIS BECOME A RETENTION TOOL, IT WILL PROVIDE INCENTIVE FOR TEACHERS AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS TO RUSH TO APPLY TO JOIN OUR FAMILY.
BE THE CHANGE. LET'S BE THE FIRST TO LEAD THE CHARGE AND ENSURE LAUSD LIVES UP TO OUR VISION AND TRULY DOES BECOME THE DESTINATION DISTRICT.
HI, GUYS, AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK, BUT NOT SO FAST.
YOU CANT UNDERSTAND ME. I TEACH AT HACKBERRY, THE BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
[01:15:05]
LITTLE ELM, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON SEVERAL OF THE TEACHERS AT MY SCHOOL ON BEHALF OF THEM AND AS A PARENT AT LITTLE ELM.THREE YEARS AGO, I LEFT THE CLASSROOM.
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING SINCE 2003.
MY CHILDREN AND I WOULD LEAVE FOR SCHOOL EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT WAS STILL DARK.
BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOW UP AND MY HUSBAND WOULD PICK THEM UP AT DISMISSAL SO I COULD STAY AND TRY TO GET CAUGHT UP.
I WOULD GET HOME AFTER THEY WERE IN BED.
I WAS GROWING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM MY FAMILY.
I COULDN'T KEEP UP NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED.
IT HAD GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE MY MARRIAGE WAS BEGINNING TO SUFFER AND MY CHILDREN WERE PRETTY MUCH BEING RAISED BY A SINGLE DAD.
I WAS COMING HOME AND GOING STRAIGHT TO BED.
I KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE, BUT WHAT? I PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND TOGETHER MY HUSBAND I DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME THAT I LEFT THE CLASSROOM. MY FAMILY WAS PAYING THE PRICE FOR MY DEDICATION AND MY LOVE FOR MY CHILDREN THAT WERE MY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
I'LL STOP THE CLOCK. IT BROKE MY HEART, BUT I JUST COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.
THANKFULLY, GOD HAD DIFFERENT PLANS FOR ME.
HE WASN'T READY FOR ME TO LEAVE HACKBERRY.
A LESS DEMANDING POSITION OPENED, AND I'D ASKED IF I WAS ASKED IF I'D BE INTERESTED.
I PRAYED ABOUT IT, GOT CERTIFIED AND INTERVIEWED FOR THE POSITION, AND HERE I AM TODAY. THE PE TEACHER AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY.
THE WORLD WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING 20 YEARS AGO THAN IT IS NOW. THINGS HAD CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM LOOKED VASTLY DIFFERENT. WE ADAPT AND WE HAVE A NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND BRING THEM BACK TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
ALONG WITH TAKING CARE OF THE TEACHERS, TEACHERS ARE SACRIFICING THEIR PERSONAL FAMILY TIME TO TAKE CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.
WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT, BUT BURNOUT IS SUCH AN ISSUE FOR TEACHERS.
DUE TO HOW MUCH CLIMATE OF THE CLASSROOM HAS CHANGED THE LEVEL OF DISRESPECT FOR AUTHORITY AND INCREASED DEMANDS FOR TESTING REPORTS AND DATA THAT ARE COMING FROM STUDENTS NOW THAT THEY ARE POST COVID.
IT TAKES A LOT OF EXTRA TIME TO MEET THE STUDENTS NEEDS WHERE THEY ARE.
I'VE SADLY READ NUMEROUS POSTS WHERE PEOPLE SAY THE DISTRICT IS ONLY THINKING ABOUT THE TEACHERS, NOT THE STUDENTS.
IN REALITY, YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM WITH MY CHILD THAN A WARM BODY WHO IS DOING THE BARE MINIMUM AND BE THE BEST THEY CAN.
THE LATTER IS HAPPENING IN CLASSROOMS MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.
SO WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT IS THE MOST FEASIBLE MONEY? IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE.
YES, GETTING PAID WHAT WE ARE WORTH WOULD BE REMARKABLE, BUT MONEY WOULD BE LIKE APPLYING A BAND-AID. TIME CANNOT BE BOUGHT.
I CAN'T BUY TIME FOR PLANNING AND PREPARING MONEY WOULDN'T RELIEVE THE STRESSES OF THE CLASSROOM. IT WON'T REPAIR MY EXHAUSTION OR REPLACE OF IMPORTANT MOMENTS I'VE MISSED OUT ON WITH MY FAMILY, BUT THE GIFT OF TIME CAN.
LASTLY, I APPRECIATE WORKING FOR A DISTRICT THAT CONSIDERS THEIR TEACHERS NEEDS AND WELL-BEING AS A FACTOR IN WAYS TO PROVIDE GOODS AND GOODS, GOOD SERVICES TO MEET THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN OUR DISTRICT, AS WELL AS TAKING CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST CARE NECESSARY.
JONATHAN INMAN, AND AFTER JONATHAN WILL BE ROBIN PRINTED TWICE.
SIDNEY RUSHING, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
MY NAME IS JONATHAN. INMAN A CURRENT TEACHER AT STRIPE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR IN THE DISTRICT, AND SINCE JOINING THE STRIKE FAMILY, THE WORD FAMILY HAS BEEN REFERENCED A LOT.
I LIKE. I LIKE FEELING LIKE MY WORK FAMILY IS A FAMILY AND IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LOVE MY JOB SO MUCH.
I LOVE THEM THAT MY COWORKERS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WILL HELP ME ACHIEVE THE GREATEST FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE ON THE SCIENCE TEAM LIKE TO SAY THAT ALL OUR KIDS ARE ALL OUR KIDS.
SO TONIGHT I STAND HERE AND RECOMMEND THAT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE FAMILY IS THE FOUR DAY CALENDAR. SO LET ME EXPLAIN IT THIS WAY.
DOCTOR AND TEACHER, YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF WHAT ALL THESE HAVE IN COMMON ON THIS LIST, ACCORDING TO THE PRO FILES, IS A LIST OF PROFESSIONAL CAREERS AND OCCUPATIONS.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THESE ARE ALL A LIST OF PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONALS, BUT THE DIFFERENCE COMES FROM WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM.
THEY DO NOT ALL HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH NO EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE CONSTANTLY TELLING THEM HOW BEST TO DO THEIR JOB.
TEACHERS HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF TASKS THAT ARE EXPECTED OF THEM EVERY DAY.
[01:20:01]
NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE MY JOB AND DO ALL OF THIS WILLING.ONE SOLUTION THAT IS NOT SO SIMPLE THAT MANY THINK WILL JUST SOLVE EDUCATION EDUCATION PROBLEMS IS TO GIVE TEACHERS MORE MONEY.
MORE MONEY IS NOT GIVING TEACHERS THE TIME THEY NEED.
ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS ONE DAY DURING THE WORKWEEK TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING.
TAKE UP MY PLANNING TIME TO BE ABLE TO SEND THOSE PARENT COMMUNICATIONS, CATCH UP ON GRADING PLAN, MORE ENGAGING AND RIGOROUS LESSONS.
ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY DO MY JOB AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE FAMILY TIME AT HOME TO DO IT WITH A FOUR DAY WEEK.
WE WOULD NOT JUST GET THAT TEACHERS WOULD HAVE THOSE FRIDAYS AND OR SCHOOL TO CATCH UP ON GRADINGS EMAILS, PLANNING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PARENT COMMUNICATIONS.
TEACHERS CAN PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK'S LESSONS, GET COPIES MADE, SET UP FOR LABS, CLEAN UP AFTER LABS.
THEY EVEN HAVE THE OPTION AND THE AVAILABILITY TO DO IT ON A DAY THAT THEY'RE USED TO WORKING AND NOT HAVE TO SPEND SUNDAY NIGHTS FINALIZING EVERYTHING FOR THE WEEK AND MISSING OUT ON THEIR FAMILY.
TEACHERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL WOULD MAKE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS ON THAT FRIDAY WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE TIME OFF.
ATTENDANCE WOULD IN TURN IMPROVE AT THE ADMINISTRATION LEVEL.
OUR DIGITAL LEARNING TEAM AND CURRICULUM TEAMS RECEIVE COMMUNICATION FROM 7 A.M.
LEISD IS A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION IN MAY OF 2022.
LEISD BECAME THE FIRST AND ONLY DISTRICT IN TEXAS TO BECOME SIM CERTIFIED.
THAT IS CURRENTLY ONE IN TWO DISTRICTS IN THE NATION.
TEACHERS HAVE THAT HAVE POURED THEIR HEART AND SOUL AND TEARS INTO ACHIEVING THIS DESPERATELY NEED THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS METHOD OF INSTRUCTION AND HELP OTHER TEACHERS DO THE SAME. IT IS A BENEFIT TO OUR STUDENTS.
WE CANNOT CLAIM TO BE A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION AND CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING WITH THE SAME RESULTS.
THE CALENDAR DOES NOT DECREASE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, SO THAT WAY IT WILL THAT THEY WILL STILL BE GETTING A QUALITY INSTRUCTION, BUT IT ALLOWS FOR MORE TIME IN REGARDS TO STUDENTS. THEY COULD ALSO USE THAT FRIDAY TO CATCH UP ON SCHOOLWORK, FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, DECOMPRESS FROM STRESS OF ACADEMICS.
I HEAR FREQUENTLY, I'M SORRY FOR NOT GETTING THIS ASSIGNMENT DONE.
I HAD THIS EVENT OR THAT EVENT.
ATHLETICS WILL BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES.
HAVING FRIDAYS WOULD HELP EVERYONE FROM ADMINISTRATION TO TEACHERS TO STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BREATHING ROOM AT THE END OF THEIR WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING FOR THE FAMILY FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU. SYDNEY [INAUDIBLE]. AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? I HOPE PROBABLY.
ALL RIGHT, AND THEN NEXT IS JEFF BARRON.
BE NEXT UP. I'M KIND OF GOING TO WING IT.
I ALWAYS TELL MY STUDENTS TO BE THEMSELVES, SO I'M GOING TO BE MYSELF.
I TRULY FEEL LIKE I CAME TO LITTLE ELM AND IT'S LIKE THE CINDERELLA STORY WHERE I CAME FROM. THE STUDENTS WERE STEPPING IN PEE UP TO THEIR ANKLES IN BATHROOMS. WE HAD MULTIPLE LOCKDOWNS AND I WOULD DIAGNOSE WITH SEVERE DEPRESSION AND PTSD FROM THE LACK OF SUPPORT IN THE CLASSROOM.
WHEN I CAME HERE IT WAS HARD, BUT I LOVE MY SCHOOL, I LOVE MY PRINCIPAL, I LOVE THE KIDS, I LOVE THE PARENTS, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE LOW BOWS, BUT THEY'RE PEOPLE JUST LIKE WE TELL OUR KIDS.
WE TEACH THEM ALL THESE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL THINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT TEACHING OUR TEACHERS THAT RIGHT. I MEAN, WE GO HOME AND WE'RE EXHAUSTED.
RIGHT NOW I'M DOING READING ACADEMY'S I LESSON PLAN, AND I'M GETTING MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN COUNSELING AND I HAVE A HUSBAND I HAVE TO OCCASIONALLY FEED.
SO IF WE WANT TO LEAVE THAT LEGACY TO OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, TO HAVE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY EDUCATION, TO HAVE CHILDHOOD OVER CURRICULUM, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE STEPS OURSELVES.
BECAUSE IF OUR TEACHERS AREN'T MENTALLY OKAY AND LUCKILY I AM NOW, THEN OUR STUDENTS AREN'T GOING TO BE ALL THESE STUDIES, THESE POINTLESS STUDIES I WROTE DOWN SAY THAT AND THEY'RE TRUE. EVEN THE TEACHERS WHO COME IN AND TRY TO HIDE IT, THAT IT'S HARD, RIGHT? THEIR STUDENTS CAN SENSE THAT THEY CAN.
WHEN TEACHER'S CUPS AREN'T FULL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO POUR INTO THE STUDENTS CUPS. AND EACH YEAR MORE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE BEING PUT ON OUR PLATES.
THESE PLATES ARE GOING TO BREAK, AND WHO ARE WE GOING TO BE LEFT WITH TO TEACH OUR KIDS? I DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.
I DON'T, BUT I DO COMMEND LEISD FOR TAKING STEPS TO AT LEAST TRY AND THINK OF A SOLUTION , AND I ENCOURAGE ALL TEACHERS TO BE MORE OPEN ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND ABOUT THE STRUGGLES WE FACE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT NORMAL TO FEEL THIS WAY WHERE PEOPLE, TOO, AND SO OUR KIDS AND YOU GUYS.
SO I GUESS I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH TEACHERS ARE NOT ONLY LOBO'S, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST PEOPLE, AND I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF ANY SOLUTION THAT WOULD HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH, OUR STUDENTS, HAPPINESS AND EDUCATION FOR ALL.
[01:25:12]
JEFF BARON, THANK YOU.APPRECIATE YOU. SORRY I WAS LOOKING.
MICHELLE BARON. YOU'LL BE OR BARON.
GO AHEAD, SIR. EVENING, PRESIDENT OLSON, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TONIGHT, AND ALL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE AS WELL.
I'LL BE BRIEF SINCE WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED A LOT OF THE THINGS, AND I WOULD JUST ASK, AS THIS MOVES FORWARD, WE DO THIS WHEN WE GET A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, AS THAT WILL BE THE PERSON LEADING THIS CHARGE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACTS ARE THERE FOR A FOUR DAY WEEK, BUT I THINK WE ALL REALIZE SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE AND I'D LIKE ALL TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP ACHIEVE THAT. SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
A LOT OF WHAT I PLAN TO SAY IS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
MICHELLE, AND NEXT UP WILL BE SARAH MYATT.
PRESIDENT OLSON, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR OPENING IT UP FOR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED FOR THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT CONTINUING TO LOOK AT A FIVE DAY SCHOOL WEEK, FIVE DAY WORKWEEK FOR TEACHERS IS WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK ALL TOGETHER, WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS. AS A PARENT AND THE DISTRICT, MY INITIAL KNEEJERK REACTION WAS, NO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ON FRIDAYS? AND THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, LET'S DIG INTO THIS.
WE SKIPPED INTRODUCTIONS BECAUSE TIME IS SHORT, BUT I'M A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT I'M AN EXPERT.
IT BECOMING A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR MY CLIENTS.
IT MEANS THAT THEY ASK ME TO HELP SOLVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP THEM UP AT NIGHT.
PROBLEMS LIKE TEACHER RETENTION AT LITTLE ELM ISD, AND WHAT I SAW FROM DR.
TRAMEL WAS A VERY COMPELLING SET OF ARGUMENTS IN NOVEMBER ABOUT THE PROS.
THEY CLEARLY NEED SOME KIND OF A CHANGE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THAT'S A RESOUNDING YES FOR THEM BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THEM WITH SOME RELIEF, BUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T FULLY EVALUATED ARE THE NOS. WHAT WE HAVEN'T FULLY EVALUATED ARE THE RISKS, AND IT SOUNDS KIND OF SCARY, BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT WHAT I DO, BECAUSE WE TAKE EVERY SCENARIO AND WE RUN IT BACK. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE SAY YES, LET'S DO A FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, WORK WEEK FOR THE TEACHERS AND MINERAL WELLS COMES BACK WITH CRUMMY SCORES IN THE SPRING. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? IF THEN WE CONTINUE TO PROCEED WITH A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK AND THEN OUR TEST SCORES SUFFER? ARE WE GOING TO TAKE A POPULATION OF TEACHERS WHO WERE THRILLED TO HAVE A FOUR DAY WEEK, PROVIDE SOME RELIEF? ARE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A POPULATION OF TEACHERS TO WHOM WE SAID COME TO LITTLE ELM WORK FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
YOU'RE A GREAT TEACHER. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE HAPPY, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT YEAR AND SAY, I'M SO SORRY WE DIDN'T SAY THIS AT THE TIME, BUT IT WAS A TEST YEAR AND WE GOT TO ROLL IT BACK.
IT'S GOING TO BE FIVE DAYS. NOW.
THAT DOESN'T SOLVE OUR TEACHER RETENTION ISSUE BECAUSE AS A TEACHER NOW YOU'RE GOING TO WALK. I WOULD.
SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ONE SCENARIO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO RUN THAT DOWN WITH ALL OF THEM.
WHAT HAVE YOU WROTE DOWN, WHICH YOU'VE KIND OF DONE TONIGHT? YOU'VE SAID, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED MORE RESEARCH. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH SCORES.
WE NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON ACADEMIC STUDIES.
WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING IN THIS AREA? IT COULD ALSO MEAN NOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AND I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS DISTRICT.
THERE COULD BE OTHER REASONS WHY THIS COULD BE A NO RIGHT NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO CONSIDER A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND A SOLUTION TO YOUR TEACHER RETENTION PROBLEMS. FIND A SOLUTION TO WHAT IS CLEARLY A CULTURAL PROBLEM IN EDUCATION, WHICH I REALIZE IS A LARGE PROBLEM TO SOLVE NATIONWIDE BUT YOU'RE SMART, YOU HAVE RESOURCES AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM WILLING TO DO THE RESEARCH, FIND A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT COME AT THE DETRIMENT TO CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, BECAUSE THE RESEARCH THAT I FOUND SAYS THAT IT ABSOLUTELY WILL HARM STUDENT LEARNING AND TEST SCORES IN FUTURE OUTCOMES FOR YOUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, TEACHERS, FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AS WELL.
APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. SARAH MIGHT, AND NEXT WILL BE NICOLE PETERSON.
ACTIVE. AN ACTIVE MOTHER WITH TWO SONS WHO ATTEND SCHOOL IN LAKEWOOD.
[01:30:06]
I AM A TEACHER AND EMPLOYEE IN THE DISTRICT.I WORK AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY.
THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING I DID WANT TO CLARIFY.
WE'RE SITTING HERE LISTENING TO ALL THESE EDUCATORS SPEAK, SAYING HOW WE HAVE LOW QUALITY EDUCATORS IN THIS DISTRICT, AND SOMETHING I WANT PARENTS TO KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT WERE OPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
MY FIFTH GRADE SON DIDN'T HAVE A TEACHER.
MY THIRD GRADE SON, HIS TEACHER, LEFT A TEACHER BURNOUT.
A LOT OF SUBS COME INTO THE BUILDING.
YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING LIKE SPLITTING CLASSES.
WE HAD TO SPLIT A CLASS IN FIRST GRADE TODAY, SO I HAD EXTRA STUDENTS IN MY CLASS A LOT MORE THAN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
SO THOSE WERE SOME THINGS I WANTED TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE WHEN I DO SPEAK TO PARENTS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH CAMPUSES OR WHAT HAPPENS ON CAMPUSES, A LOT OF THEM DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MANY SUBS WE DO HAVE IN TEACHING POSITIONS.
I'M COMING TO WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
IT'S HARD TO NOT LOOK AT THE TEACHER.
I HAVE BEEN A WORK FROM HOME MOM.
I AM CURRENTLY AN EMPLOYEE AND A TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT, AND SHOCKINGLY, I VOTED FOR THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, BUT FOR MY PERSONAL AND MY PROFESSIONAL REASONS TOGETHER, I HAVE WORKED AND HAVE HAD CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM AND STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM THESE LAST FOUR YEARS POST COVID.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF SEEING THE DAY TO DAY EFFECTS OF TEACHERS LEAVING THE PRADESH, THE PROFESSION, THE CHANGE OF STUDENT MINDSET AND IN PARENTS.
I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE ISSUES OF HAVING A FULLY STAFFED SCHOOL, STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
I'M SORRY, I ALREADY DID SPEAK TO MY FIFTH GRADE STUDENT.
NOT HAVING A TEACHER AND NOT BEING FULLY STAFFED AND THE SPLITTING OF CLASSES.
RESEARCH SHOWS BENEFITS TO MOVING TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS TRIBUNE. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN JULY OF 2022.
THE SWITCH TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK IS A POPULAR AMONG SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE FINANCES TO ATTRACT OR RETAIN TEACHERS WITH PAY INCREASES.
THE PAY FOR 2022 2023 PAY SCALE.
A STARTING TEACHER IN LA MAKES $57,665 IN SURROUNDING DISTRICTS SUCH AS FRISCO, MCKINNEY, PLANO AND ALLEN.
NOT ONLY IS THEIR SALARY HIGHER, BUT THESE DISTRICTS ALSO HAVE ANNUAL PAY INCREASES THAT ARE HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO SALARY SCHEDULES.
MOVING TO A FOUR DAY WEEK WILL ATTRACT MORE APPLICANTS AND GIVE US FULLY STAFFED CAMPUSES WITH CREDENTIALED TEACHERS.
ON MOST FRIDAYS, I AVERAGED 3 TO 4 STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT IN MY CLASSROOM AND IT'S NOT DUE TO ILLNESS. SINCE COVID PARENTS ARE VIEWING ATTENDING SCHOOL AS AN OPTION, IT'S THE SAME ACROSS MY GRADE LEVEL ON OUR CAMPUS AND ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
IT'S FRUSTRATING AS A TEACHER BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO CLOSE THOSE LEARNING GAPS AND A LOT OF KIDS ARE MISSING OUT. RESEARCH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AMPLIFIES THE CONCERN OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS.
ONE IN SIX STUDENTS, THAT'S 16% OF STUDENTS, ARE MISSING 15 OR MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, THAT INCREASES TO ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS.
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS A RESET.
SINCE COVID STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO ATTEND SCHOOL FIVE DAYS AND HAVING A THREE DAY WEEKEND AVAILABLE MIGHT HELP STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.
FOR STUDENTS IN ATHLETICS, THERE'S NO TIME TO BREATHE, AND AN EXTRA DAY WOULD HELP BALANCE THEIR ACADEMIC PRESSURES AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND DISTRICTS ARE PRESSURED TO CLOSE THE GAPS.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AND WE ARE HAVING SUCCESS, BUT IF WE CANNOT FULLY STAFF A SCHOOL, WHO IS GOING TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS NICOLE PETERSON, AND I AM A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ALL THAT YOU DO FOR SCHOOL AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING IN TERMS OF PRACTICALITY AND EDUCATION.
IT IS COMMON FOR TEACHERS TO FACE ISSUES SUCH AS HEALTH CARE AND THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, DURING OUR TIMES TO VISIT THE DOCTOR OR DENTIST.
THOSE HOURS ARE TYPICALLY SCHEDULED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 TO 5.
HOWEVER, WITH OUR HOURS, IT ISN'T VERY FEASIBLE FOR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO TAKE OFF TIME AND BE ABLE TO GO, BUT FOR TEACHERS, WELL, WE ARE TEACHERS AND WE'RE THERE TO EDUCATE AND TEACHER OUR STUDENTS, AND IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A HALF DAY OR A FULL DAY TO DO THAT,
[01:35:02]
AND I'M SURE THAT THERE COULD BE A SOLUTION THAT COULD HELP THE TEACHERS GET THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE STAYING HEALTHY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AS WELL, AND THERE'S TIMES [INAUDIBLE] THIS WHERE TEACHERS END UP NEGLECTING THEIR HEALTH CARE NEEDS IN ORDER TO REMAIN WITH THEIR STUDENTS.I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A FRIDAY OR SOME TIME THROUGHOUT A FOUR DAY WEEK TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NECESSARY HEALTH NEEDS AT TIMES WITH OUR LOVED ONES AND TIME TO REST WILL BE IMPORTANT AS WELL AS NECESSARY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT TEACHERS ARE ALSO ASKED TO COMPLETE TRAININGS THAT BETTER EQUIP US AS EDUCATORS.
TRAINING SUCH AS READING ACADEMIES AND TRAININGS SUCH AS THE GT TRAININGS THAT WE DO TAKE CARE OF, AS WELL AS ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE WANT TO LEARN AND BETTER EQUIP OURSELVES AS EDUCATORS TO REACH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE TO REACH INTO OUR OWN PERSONAL TIME TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THESE REQUIRED TRAININGS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT DOES TAKE AWAY OUR TIME FROM OUR LOVED ONES, AS WELL AS OUR PERSONAL INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT AS THEY'RE FACTORING IN THE FOUR DAY WEEK AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TEACHERS DO WANT TO COMPLETE THESE TRAININGS.
HOWEVER, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR TIME IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING AND REACHING OUR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO PRIORITIZE A BETTER WORK AND LIFE BALANCE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR GUYS' TIME AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS PERSPECTIVE.
RACHEL [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE NEXT.
OKAY, MY NAME IS KATE OLSEN, AND I'M A COUNSELOR IN THE DISTRICT.
EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION, I'VE NOTICED THE MENTAL STRAIN INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY ON MY PEERS AND OUR STUDENTS.
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS MESSY AND BROKEN, AND THE EXPECTATIONS PUT ON TEACHERS ARE UNREALISTIC AND BORDERLINE INHUMANE.
WHEN THE FIVE DAY SCHOOL WEEK SCHEDULE WAS CREATED, TEACHERS WERE TEACHERS OF CONTENT.
I DO NOT KNOW A SINGLE TEACHER WHO JUST TEACHES CONTENT.
THEY ARE COUNSELORS, CAREGIVERS, MEDIATORS, LAWYERS, PROBLEM SOLVERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, TECH SUPPORT, AND SOMETIMES EVEN A PUNCHING BAG, BUT WE ALL KNOW THEY WEAR WAY MORE HATS THAN I JUST LISTED.
WE FOCUS SO MUCH AS A DISTRICT THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS THAT WE VALUE.
ALL OF OUR KIDS IS ALL OF OUR KIDS, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THE SAME ENERGY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE STUDENTS THAT WE FORGET ABOUT THE ADULTS THAT ARE WILLINGLY COMING IN EVERY DAY, LOVING AND WORKING SO TIRELESSLY FOR STUDENTS, OFTEN NEGLECTING THEIR OWN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR OUTSIDE DUTIES LIKE BEING A PARENT OR A SPOUSE, OR THEY'RE RUNNING OFF TO THEIR SECOND JOB.
THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT ARE SPENT WORKING OFF OF CONTRACT TIME IS ASTONISHING.
I OFTEN GIVE THE LEFTOVERS TO MY FAMILY.
SOME DAYS I GO HOME AND I DON'T SPEAK AT ALL.
I JUST GO RIGHT BACK INTO WORKING OR DISASSOCIATE SOMEHOW TO DECOMPRESS FROM MY DAY. THEY AREN'T GETTING MY BEST BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE.
UNLESS YOU'RE TRULY IN IT, YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT A HEAVY BURDEN WE CARRY.
COUNTLESS TEACHERS COME TO ME TO TALK, VENT, OR SIMPLY TO BREATHE AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS IMPORTANT AND VALUED, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY MOST OF THE TIME, BUT HONESTLY, KNOWING HOW OVERWHELMED I FEEL, I'M THANKFUL I HAVE ACCESS TO A THERAPIST.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM DOES NOT TAKE MENTAL HEALTH SERIOUS FOR OUR STUDENTS OR OUR STAFF, WHICH FEELS VERY EVIDENT.
OUR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH BENEFIT, AND EVEN IF IT DID, TEACHERS WOULD STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THEY COULD SEE A THERAPIST.
IF IT'S AT NIGHT THROUGH AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT TAKES MORE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AND OR THEY'LL BE TOO DRAINED TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR SESSION.
IF THEY WERE SCHEDULED DURING THE DAY, THEY COULD HOPE FOR A SUB OR BURDEN THEIR NEIGHBORING TEACHERS BY SPLITTING THEIR CLASS.
I KNOW AS A DISTRICT THERE ISN'T MUCH OF AN OPTION FOR THAT HEALTH COVERAGE, BUT WE DO HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE A CHANGE AND CHOOSE OUR TEACHERS.
A FOUR DAY WEEK WOULD ALLOW TEACHERS TO GET A BREAK, REESTABLISH BOUNDARIES, AND EVEN FOR A MOMENT, LET THEM BE PRESENT IN THEIR OWN LIVES.
TEACHERS CAN USE THIS TIME TO EXPLORE WAYS TO CARE FOR THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH WITHOUT THE GUILT OR FEELING LIKE A BURDEN.
A HAPPY, MENTALLY HEALTHY TEACHER IS WHAT'S DOING BEST FOR KIDS.
ON A SIDE NOTE, WE TAKE PUBLIC OPINION VERY SERIOUSLY.
I KNOW MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TEACHERS WHO ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE OF SOME CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY, SOME EVEN IN THIS ROOM, BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE SAYING ONLINE.
THEY WERE AFRAID THAT IF THEY SPOKE OUT OF THE BACKLASH, THEY WOULD RECEIVE ON TOP OF THE ANXIETY AND THE LOAD THEY'RE ALREADY CARRYING.
WE'RE TOLD IT'S FOR THE KIDS AND WE ARE INUNDATED WITH TOXIC POSITIVITY.
SO MANY TIMES OUR VOICES ARE TAKEN FROM US AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO SMILE AND BE HAPPY THROUGH THE DISRESPECT CONSTANTLY THROWN OUR WAY TOWARD OUR PROFESSION AS WE ARE DEHUMANIZED AND VILLAINIZED.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO PUT ASIDE OUR LIVES NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING PERSONALLY AND JUST DO WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO SPEAK UP? ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES.
LET US BE TRUSTED AS PROFESSIONALS AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR EDUCATORS BEFORE THERE'S NONE
[01:40:02]
OF US LEFT. THANK YOU.RACHEL. [INAUDIBLE], I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT LAST NAME CORRECT.
IF NOT, PLEASE CORRECT ME, AND THEN HOLLY HENRY WILL BE NEXT.
THANK YOU. PRESIDENT OLSON AND MR. GALLAGHER AND THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS RACHEL [INAUDIBLE].
PARENT OF SMALL CHILDREN SOON TO BE JOINING THE DISTRICT.
I'M PROVIDING COMMENTARY AGAINST THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN WITH THIS.
THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE HOW THEY CAN PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. TEACHER RETENTION SEEM TO BE THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS CHANGE AND WHILE I AM ON BOARD WITH CHANGE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, THIS PROPOSED SOLUTION SEEMS QUICK AND WITH LITTLE ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT IT, WHICH IN TURN HAS MANY OF US REELING WITH QUESTIONS.
A CHANGE LIKE THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE LIVES OF OUR EDUCATORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT THOSE OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND WORKING FAMILIES.
ANY SOLUTIONS PRESENTED TO THE FAMILIES IN THIS DISTRICT NEED TO BE WELL THOUGHT OUT, ANALYZED ALL PROS AND CONS PROVIDED SO THAT WE MAY COME TO SOLUTIONS AS A COMMUNITY.
I CAN ONLY DEDUCE THAT TEACHER TALENT IS NOT LEAVING TO GO TO OTHER DISTRICTS WITH 40 SCHOOL WEEKS BECAUSE THOSE DO NOT EXIST IN OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THOSE OTHER DISTRICTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT SUPPORTS THEM THAT MAKES THEM MORE APPEALING THAN THIS ONE? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT TEACHERS ARE FACING THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION? AND WE HAVE HEARD MANY OF THOSE CONCERNS THIS EVENING.
RATHER THAN SPENDING MONEY AND RESOURCES FOR CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS ON FRIDAYS.
WHY NOT CHANNEL THAT MONEY AND THOSE EFFORTS ON ASSISTING CURRENT STAFF WITH THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE? COULD IT BE THAT MORE SUPPORTIVE STAFF OPPORTUNITIES BE AFFORDED TO ASSIST TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS? COULD IT BE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO LOOK INWARDLY AND REEVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND QUANTITY OF MEETINGS THEY'RE ASKING OUR TEACHERS TO ATTEND? COULD FUNDS BE REALLOCATED TO TEACHER SALARIES TO HELP MAKE THESE ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS MORE WORTHWHILE AND SHOW THAT OUR TEACHERS' TIME IS VALUED? THE POINT HERE IS THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS AND THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE EXPLORED.
HOW WILL THIS PROPOSED SOLUTION OF A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK OR BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM LESS BRING US CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE BEST EDUCATION.
AGAIN, WITH THE LACK OF ANALYSIS PROVIDED, WE CANNOT TRULY SEE HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL OF GIVING OUR CHILDREN THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.
HOW DOES THIS KEEP OUR DISTRICT COMPETITIVE? WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR DISTRICT TO DELIVER A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST GETTING BY AT SCHOOL, BUT ACTUALLY THRIVING AND INSPIRED TO LEARN.
AFTER MS. BROWN, LISA [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE NEXT.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE FOUR DAY WEEK AS IT SEEMS EVERYBODY ELSE IS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO CUT THIS SHORT, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME BECAUSE I'M A MATH TEACHER AND I LOVE STATS.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR CONSIDERING A SOLUTION SUCH AS THIS, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO KSAT, 70% OF THE TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING THE FIELD.
NOT ONLY AM I THINKING THIS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION SINCE 1990.
I'M ON MY WAY OUT, BUT I'M THINKING OF THIS FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN AND FOR MY MATH DEPARTMENT, WHO I FEEL ARE MY FAMILY AND I KNOW MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING.
THEY ARE BEING PULLED APART LIKE RUBBER BANDS.
IT IS SO SAD TO EVERYDAY SEE THEM.
THEY COME IN AND SPEND 10 HOURS A DAY AT SCHOOL.
LIKE I SAID, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM AS WELL AS MY STUDENTS WHO CONVINCED ME TO COME HERE TONIGHT. MY AP STUDENTS, THEY SAID, MS. BROWN, YOU HAVE TO GO SPEAK UP ON WHAT'S TEARING OUR [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENT APART.
WE HAVE LOST WAY TOO MANY GOOD TEACHERS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF STATE MANDATES, BECAUSE OF ALL THE PAPERWORK THAT WE ARE HAVING TO DO.
ONE OF MY NEW TEACHERS SAID THAT HE WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE ANOTHER YEAR, BUT HE'S SPENDING 10 HOURS A DAY AND COMING UP ON WEEKENDS.
MY HUSBAND WILL NOT LET ME COME UP ON WEEKENDS ANYMORE.
I HAVE DONE THAT FOR 13 YEARS AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL, 13, AND HE SAID NO MORE, AND I'M SO SORRY. I LOVE BEING AT LOBO.
I'VE TAUGHT MANY OF YOUR CHILDREN, BUT THIS IS VERY EMOTIONAL.
SO I'M GETTING TO THE STATS RIGHT NOW.
[01:45:02]
HERE WE GO. OKAY, LONE OAK AND ATHENS.I KNOW THEY'RE NOT WHAT WE CALL RIGHT NOW.
THEY STARTED IN 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE REASON THAT LONE OAK STARTED WAS TEACHER ABSENTEEISM.
I LEFT HERE ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF MY SON.
HE NEEDED ME. I HAD TO LEAVE HERE, HIS HEALTH.
THEY COULDN'T GET SUBS AT ALL, AND THEY HAD A HIGH ABSENTEE RATE.
THEY STARTED THE SAME TIMES ATHENS DID.
ATHENS, RIGHT NOW YOU WANT YOUR DATA.
ATHENS RIGHT NOW, 87 OVERALL RATING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY ARE 91 OVERALL RATING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE TWO MAIN COMPLAINTS OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THOUGH, ARE WHAT ARE THE PARENTS HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR DAYCARE.
THEY'RE HAVING TO FIND DAYCARE, AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE [INAUDIBLE] IS REALLY AHEAD OF THE GAME HERE, THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO FOR DAYCARE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. I KNOW THE FOUR DAY ANY WEEK WILL NOT BE A CURE ALL.
I REALIZE THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
TEACHERS ARE NOT ENTERING THE FIELD LIKE THEY WERE IN THE PAST IN DECEMBER, ONLY FOUR TEACHERS AT UNT GRADUATED WITH THEIR EDUCATION CERTIFICATION IN MATHEMATICS.
THEY WERE ALL GONE BEFORE WE COULD INTERVIEW.
I HAVE OPEN MATH TEACHER LONG TERM SUBS IN MY SCHOOL.
I GET EMAILS FROM THE PARENTS BECAUSE I'M THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.
WHAT DO I TELL THEM? I DON'T KNOW. ONLY ONE CERTIFIED MATH STUDENT GRADUATED FROM TWU.
I TRY TO CALL HER, GONE BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET IN TOUCH WITH HER.
THEY ALL HAD JOBS BEFORE THEY GRADUATED.
TODAY, IT SEEMS LIKE A DAY AGO.
IT IS OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD JOBS FIRST PERIOD TO BE OFF AND HAVE GO IN FOR SUBS UNTIL THEY GET THERE. I DID THAT UNTIL THE SUB GOT THERE.
I GAVE UP MY FIVE DAY CONFERENCE PERIOD THAT I ONLY HAVE EVERY OTHER DAY.
I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU ON THIS NOTE.
SUBS, WE HAD 20 SUBS IN OUR BUILDING TODAY.
SEVEN OF THEM WERE NOT COVERED.
WE TEACH IT ON EIGHT PERIODS, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN PERIODS TODAY WITH ONE CONFERENCE THAT WAS SIX TIMES SEVEN.
THAT IS 42 TEACHERS THAT WERE GIVING UP THEIR CONFERENCE PERIODS.
GRANTED A FEW SUBS THEY WERE STICKING IN AS WELL.
THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ONCE IN A WHILE.
I HAVE MY 5A THAT MEETS EVERY OTHER DAY.
IT IS TAKEN AWAY ALL THE TIME.
I'M OLD, I CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT IT'S NOT FAIR TO MY DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS WHEN WE HAVE TO SPLIT CLASSES BECAUSE NOBODY IS OFF, AND I HAVE FIVE, SIX KIDS WHERE ALL OVER MY MATH DEPARTMENT'S GRADE, THEY TAKE THEM, BUT THERE ARE KIDS SITTING THERE THAT PAID FOR TWU TO GET THAT, AND IF I HAVE TO ADDRESS KIDS OVER HERE, KIDS OVER HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE OFF TASK, THAT ARE NOT EVEN IN MY CLASS, THAT TAKES AWAY FROM MY TWU STUDENTS, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS NOT ELOQUENT, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THIS SERIOUSLY.
I KNOW THAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE TEACHERS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE WHO WILL TEACH OUR CHILDREN? WILL THIS WORK? I HOPE SO, BUT I DON'T KNOW BUT IF WE DO NOTHING, THEN ALL WE HAVE IS ANOTHER YEAR TEACHERS AT A BREAKING POINT AND OUR STUDENTS WITH ALREADY HUGE GAPS SUFFERING.
I ASK YOU WHO WILL BE THE TEACHERS OF THE FUTURE AT LEISD, AND WHO WILL TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN? LISA [INAUDIBLE]. NEXT WILL BE LINDSAY MILNER.
HELLO AND GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT GALLAGHER.
PRESIDENT OLSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM HERE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK.
I'M HONORED TO BE A MEMBER OF A DISTRICT THAT VALUES ITS COMMUNITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES ENOUGH TO ASK FOR INPUT ON SUCH A HUGE DECISION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU SAID THAT YOU'D DO BY AT LEAST CONSIDERING IT.
I'VE WORKED FOR LARGE DISTRICTS IN THE PAST AND THEY JUST SIMPLY INFORM YOU OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP TO WORK AND DO IT BECAUSE, WELL, IT'S THAT OR QUIT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS.
I'M SORRY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A WEEKDAY TO BE ABLE TO VISIT THE DOCTOR, THE BANK, AS WELL AS HAVING TIME TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST AT THE MOMENT.
I WAS READY TO WALK AWAY FROM EDUCATION TWO YEARS AGO IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, AND I ACTUALLY HAD TO GET PUT ON A FEW MEDICATIONS IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH MY DAY.
I WAS READY TO QUIT BECAUSE WALMART'S ALWAYS HIRING.
[01:50:04]
I FOUND LITTLE ELM ISD AND I FOUND MY SAVING GRACE.I FOUND MY LOVE FOR EDUCATION AGAIN, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO DO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UNTIL I STARTED WORKING IN LITTLE ELM, I SAID I DIDN'T LIVE IN LITTLE ELM.
I JUST SLEPT IN LITTLE ELM BECAUSE I'M A TEACHER.
ALL I DO IS WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK, AND THERE'S NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
MY HUSBAND BECAME LIKE MY ROOMMATE.
WE WERE PASSING SHIPS IN THE NIGHT.
I'M ALSO HOPING THAT LITTLE ELM CAN FORGE A PATH, A GREAT PATH FORWARD FOR EDUCATORS TO WALK ALONG KNOWING THAT WE ARE VALUED AND HONORED THE SAME WAY THAT WE VALUE AND HONOR OUR STUDENTS.
I HAD SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACT HERE IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE GREAT CHANGES.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIT CHECK IT FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, AND WHO ARE CONSIDERING GOING TO WORK AT WALMART BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS HIRING, AND, YOU KNOW, THE PAY REALLY ISN'T THAT BAD; IF YOU WORK AT NIGHT, HEY, IT'S ALMOST 20 BUCKS AN HOUR. I'M JUST SAYING AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FLIPPANT HERE.
IT BROKE MY HEART AND HUMBLED ME AS A HUMAN BEING WHEN I HAD TO ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM MY LIFE'S PATH OF BEING AN EDUCATOR AND TWO YEARS AGO I REACHED THAT POINT.
I'M GLAD MY HUSBAND TALKED ME INTO APPLYING AT LITTLE ELM AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS CAN BREATHE LIFE INTO OTHER EDUCATORS LIKE YOU DID FOR ME AND RENEW, YOU KNOW, EQUIP, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER US FOR A GREAT TOMORROW.
I MEAN, BUT YOU CAN ONLY DIG SO DEEP.
YOU CAN ONLY AS FAR AS PUTTING MORE ON OUR PLATES AND MORE ON OUR SCHEDULES.
YOU CAN ONLY YOU CAN ONLY FIT SO MUCH INTO A 5LBS BAG WHEN YOU HAVE 20LBS EVERY DAY AND IT'S ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
WE'RE REALLY DOING OUR BEST AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT WITH A SMILE AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE KNOWING THAT THEY ARE LOVED EVERY DAY WHEN THEY SEE US AND WHEN THEY LEAVE US IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT WHO'S THERE LETTING US KNOW THAT WE'RE LOVED ? WHO'S THERE LETTING US KNOW THAT WE ARE VALUED? WE'RE APPRECIATED, THAT WE ARE THE PILLARS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FEELING IT.
I ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL TEACHERS WHO DID NOT WANT TO COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF WE'LL SAY STRONG OPINIONS.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO VOICE MY OPINION.
YOU CAN BE UPSET AT ME IF YOU LIKE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT'S MY RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN TO VOICE MY OPINION AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DO JUST THAT.
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, I STRONGLY CONSIDER YOU AND URGE AND BEG THAT SOMEWHERE WITHIN THIS PROCEDURAL PROCESS WE CAN AT LEAST CONSIDER THIS FOUR DAY WORKWEEK.
I REALLY DO THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH MORE OF A POSITIVE IMPACT THAN ANY OF THE NEGATIVES THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE SLIGHTLY CONSIDERED.
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANK YOU.
LINDSAY MILNER. NEXT WILL BE [INAUDIBLE].
I'VE BEEN A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR FOR 13 YEARS.
I'VE WORKED WITH MANY TITLES, INCLUDING TEACHER AND NOW PURSUING A DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
I'VE SEEN MAJOR SHIFTS IN EDUCATION THAT HAVE BEEN FURTHER COMPOUNDED, COMPOUNDED DURING THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19.
I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE PETER F.
DRUCKER, A BUSINESSMAN, AND ACCORDING TO HIS NAMESAKE'S INSTITUTE, SHORTLY BEFORE HE DIED IN 2005, HE WAS CELEBRATED BY BUSINESS WEEK'S MAGAZINE, THE MAN WHO INVENTED MANAGEMENT. HIS QUOTE SAYS, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING NEW, YOU HAVE TO STOP DOING SOMETHING OLD. WE MAY NOT BE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PER SE, BUT WE ARE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING STUDENTS.
THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED THE WOUNDS OF EDUCATION THAT HAVE NEVER FULLY HEALED.
THE ISSUE OF STUDENT LEARNING GAPS WERE COMPOUNDED DRASTICALLY.
I'M ASKING THAT WE MOVE TO A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK OR EVEN CONSIDER IT BECAUSE SOMETHING NEW HAS TO BE TRIED.
BECAUSE IF TEACHERS AREN'T THERE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR TEST SCORES? I CANNOT EVEN COUNT ON ONE HAND THE AMOUNT OF TIMES I'VE HAD TO ALTER MY SCHEDULE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX OF STUDENTS DUE TO A SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE.
I WORKED AT LAKESIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS AND THEN LEFT ON EXTENDED SPRING BREAK AND THEN STARTED MY CAREER TO OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.
I'VE HAD DAYS WHERE I'VE HAD TO DO THE CLERICAL JOBS, ORGANIZING FIELD TRIP PAPERWORK, PREPARING INDIVIDUAL LESSON PLANS FOR STUDENTS, PREPARING FOR MEETINGS ON A WHIM. LIKE YOU HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW, YOU NEED TO HAVE PAPERWORK DONE.
SO I'VE TAKEN THAT TIME TO WORK ON IT.
I'VE ALSO WORKED AS A SCIENCE TEACHER SO MANY NIGHTS, SPENDING TIME WITH LABS, SETTING UP LABS OR JUST PAPER MATERIALS.
MY KIDS ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M A WORKING MOM.
MY HUSBAND TRAVELS, SO THEY HAVE LEARNED TO BE IN A CLASSROOM FAR LONGER THAN A KID
[01:55:02]
PROBABLY SHOULD BE IN A CLASSROOM.THERE'RE EVEN MORE DAYS WHERE I'VE SPENT TIME, LIKE I SAID, AWAY FROM MY FAMILY ON WEEKENDS TO ENSURE THAT I'M READY FOR MY STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT IS MY HEART, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A TEACHER, AND TEACHERS ARE EXHAUSTED AND SEEKING OTHER MEANS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMAIN.
WE'RE DONE. IT'S EXHAUSTING, AND HAVING THAT EXTRA DAY OF THE WEEKEND NOT TO JUST BE ANOTHER DAY OFF, THAT HAS BEEN REITERATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT AS A TIME TO RECOUP AND GET READY FOR OUR KIDS.
SO I WANT TO ENSURE THAT MY STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED, EQUIP AND EMPOWERED WITH MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES, AND TO ENSURE THAT I MYSELF WANT A TEACHER THAT IS ENGAGED WITH KIDS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, EQUIPPED WITH WHATEVER THE DAY HAS TO OFFER AND EMPOWERED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES MY CHILDREN THAT ARE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. SO I NEED TO EXPERIENCE A DAY WHERE I CAN REGROUP, COLLECT MYSELF AND TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS DISTRICTS AND STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS FOUR DAY PLAN WITH NUMEROUS BENEFITS.
AGAIN, IF THERE'S NO TEACHERS, THERE WILL BE NO SUCCESS.
THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN SCHOOLS IN NEW MEXICO AND KANSAS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SYSTEM SINCE THE EIGHTIES, BUT TECHNOLOGY'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THE EIGHTIES, SO I FEEL LIKE THAT GIVES US AN EXTRA LEG UP.
SO AGAIN, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER IT, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THIS EVENING TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO, ALL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM A PARENT OF TWO KINDERGARTNERS, SO WE'RE NEW TO THE LITTLE ELM ISD.
I HAVE TWO OLDER KIDS IN A CHARTER SCHOOL, BUT WE REALLY RESEARCHED AND WE CHOSE TO BE HERE AT LITTLE ELM AND WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AT OAK POINT AND THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AND WE 100% SUPPORT THE TEACHERS.
SO AS A PSYCHOLOGIST AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST NOW FOR 11 YEARS AS A TRAINER OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, I GET IT.
I HEAR WHAT THESE TEACHERS ARE SAYING.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.
WE CANNOT TRAIN THEM FAST ENOUGH.
THERE'S OPENINGS ALL OVER THE STATE, EVERYWHERE IN REGARDS TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.
SO THESE EXPERIENCES ARE VALID, BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE OTHER SIDE AND THE PARENT SIDE AND THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.
THE SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT WAS SENT OUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS AT THE CRAZIEST TIME OF THE YEAR. THE PARENT RETURN RATE OF I THINK IT WAS 1300 PARENTS IS VERY UNDERREPRESENTED.
WHAT ABOUT OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES? WHAT ABOUT OUR SPECIAL ED FAMILIES? LIKE WHAT DEMOGRAPHICS DID WE EVEN REPRESENT IN THAT SMALL SAMPLE? AND SO I THINK WE REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD IN THIS TIME OF GATHERING MORE RESEARCH, PLEASE DO A SURVEY THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PARENTS THAT ARE IN THIS DISTRICT, OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE GROUPS THAT ARE REPRESENTED, THAT IS A HUGE NEED. ALSO, I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO TAKE THIS TIME, AS YOU MENTIONED, LOOK INTO MORE RESEARCH. AS A RESEARCHER MYSELF, AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, WE BASE OUR DECISIONS IN EDUCATION, RIGHT? WE'RE EVIDENCE BASED EDUCATION, EVIDENCE BASED, RESEARCH BASED DECISION MAKING, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
SO A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS THAT HAS HUGE, ENORMOUS IMPACTS ON EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN THIS DISTRICT, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON RESEARCH.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE RESEARCH OUT THERE.
MOST OF THE RESEARCH THAT I LOOKED UP, IT WAS BASED ON RURAL DISTRICTS, IT WAS BASED OUT WEST, A LOT OF THAT.
SO LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THERE'S NOT A TON, BUT WHAT IS THERE? UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S OF MENIAL IMPACT.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TEACHER IMPACT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS LEARNING.
A RAND CORPORATION RESEARCH BRIEF TALKED ABOUT HOW THE NO FINANCIAL SAVINGS BECAUSE THE FIXED COSTS CONTINUED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A LARGE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON STUDENT LEARNING OF THE FOUR DAY VERSUS FIVE DAY SCHOOL WEEK THAT WAS IN 36 DISTRICTS AND FIVE STATES.
ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION REVIEW IN 2021 SAID THAT 12 DISTRICTS FOUND REDUCTIONS IN MATH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK.
THERE'S A THIRD ARTICLE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT KIDS IN KINDERGARTEN AND THEN TRACKED THEM THROUGH THIRD GRADE, AND THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THAT THOSE WHO WERE MOST THE HIGHER PERFORMANCE IN KINDERGARTEN WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE FOUR DAY WEEKLY WORKWEEK, AND THAT THOSE AT THE MEDIUM PERFORMANCE GROUP ACTUALLY CONTINUED BELOW THAT MEDIUM PERFORMANCE LEVEL, AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESEARCH THAT WE DO HAVE SHOWS THAT THERE ISN'T A LONG TERM NEGATIVE IMPACT SPECIFICALLY ON STUDENT LEARNING. SO TWO THINGS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE BOARD DO A TRUE SURVEY THAT IS TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE GROUPS THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICT, AND ALSO TO TO HEAR THESE VOICES THAT ARE HEARD TODAY FROM THE TEACHERS AS WELL AS FROM THE PARENTS, AND REALLY LOOK AT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WHERE WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE PARENTS AND THE TEACHERS SO THAT IT DOESN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING.
[02:00:08]
OKAY, [INAUDIBLE] PATEL.OKAY, LEE ROSEN SEBLUKA, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, I'M A MOM TO GIRLS THAT ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M A HIGHLY QUALIFIED SPECIAL ED TEACHER.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR 10TH YEAR NOW, AND I'M ONE OF THE FEW I FEEL THAT ARE HERE TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE KIDS.
YOU TAKE THAT ONE SCHOOL DAY AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
YOUR SPECIAL ED KIDS ARE GETTING LESS OT, LESS PT, LESS SPEECH OR YOU'VE GOT YOUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS CRAMMING THOSE MINUTES INTO FOUR DAYS.
A LONGER FOUR DAYS GRANTED YOU.
THEY'RE LEAVING. THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY OVERBURDENED.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER KIDS.
YOU'VE GOT KIDS NOT EATING ON A FRIDAY.
YOU HAVE KIDS BEING VERBALLY, SEXUALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSED AN EXTRA DAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING PROTECTED AT SCHOOL, AND ONE MORE THING IS, LET'S BE HONEST, IF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ARE HOME ON FRIDAYS, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? THEY'RE GOING TO SLEEP IN LATE AND THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY ON THEIR IPADS ALL DAY, BECAUSE THEIR MOMS ARE WORKING AND THEIR DADS ARE WORKING, AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE, IF YOU ALL HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, IF YOU ALL HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ON IPADS.
RIGHT. BECAUSE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? QUIT OUR JOBS.
SO I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE CHILDREN EXCEPT FOR THE LAST SPEAKER, AND ESPECIALLY OUR SPECIAL ED POPULATION AND THOSE KIDS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND NOT EATING. SO LET'S DO A LOT MORE RESEARCH.
DON'T SPRING IT ON PARENTS AFTER YOU PUT A PLAN TOGETHER FOR FOUR MONTHS AND THEN GIVE US A WEEK DURING FLU SEASON AND COVID SEASON AND THANKSGIVING.
TO SUBMIT A POLL WHERE OUR OPINION REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
BECAUSE Y'ALL WERE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION , AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT AN EXTRA YEAR TO PROCESS, BUT THIS ISN'T GOING TO BRING IN BETTER TEACHERS.
THIS IS JUST GOING TO HURT THE KIDS.
EMMA NOLAN. NEXT WILL BE LLOYD REEVES.
I'M A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A FOUR DAY WEEK, SPECIFICALLY WHY IT'LL IMPROVE TEACHER RETENTION. IT IS NO SECRET THAT TEACHERS ARE VITAL IN THIS CAREER.
THERE IS NO EDUCATION WITHOUT THE EDUCATOR CERTIFIED.
TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THIS SORRY THIS PROFESSION IN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS.
TEACHERS ARE TIRED, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
NOT A DAY GOES BY WHERE I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT MY CLASSROOM, MY STUDENTS, OR WHAT I'M TEACHING, AND HOW THOSE THINGS CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
REST IS NOT A WORD THAT EXISTS IN THIS PROFESSION.
A TEACHER IS MORE THAN A TEACHER IN THIS CLASSROOM.
THEY ARE EDUCATING, MANAGING BEHAVIORS, MAKING COUNTLESS DECISIONS TO BENEFIT THEIR CLASSROOM, AND KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS REQUIRED FROM THE STATE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
MORE THAN FOUR IN TEN K THROUGH 12 WORKERS CLAIM TO BE BURNED OUT ALWAYS OR VERY OFTEN COMPARED TO OTHER CAREERS.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF TEACHERS CAN SOMETIMES SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, AND AS A RESPONSE, CERTIFIED TEACHERS ARE LEAVING IN WAVES.
PEOPLE COME INTO THIS PROFESSION ANTICIPATING A CAREER OF HARDSHIPS.
THERE ARE WHOLE COLLEGE CLASSES DEDICATING TO SAVING THE TEACHER AND HOW SOMEONE MIGHT AVOID BURNOUT. SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRY TO ALLEVIATE BURNOUT BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT SELF CARE AND HOW THE TEACHER CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES OFF THE CLOCK TO READY THEM THROUGHOUT THE WORKWEEK.
IF YOU LAST FIVE YEARS IN THIS PROFESSION, YOU'VE MADE IT.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO OUR TEACHERS.
[02:05:02]
WE CANNOT HAVE QUALITY EDUCATION WITHOUT QUALITY EDUCATORS.NOTHING CHANGES IF WE AREN'T CARING FOR THE ONES DOING THE GROUNDWORK.
SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS SUCCUMB TO BURNOUT, AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T CUT OUT FOR THE CAREER OR THAT THERE'S SOMEONE BETTER SOMEWHERE ELSE. TEACHING ISN'T A TEST.
THE GOOD NEWS IS BURNOUT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INNATE IN THIS PROFESSION.
A FOUR DAY WEEK GIVES TEACHERS A NECESSARY BREAK OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW TEACHERS TALK ABOUT RETURNING FROM A THREE DAY WEEKEND.
TEACHERS ARE MORE RELAXED AND READY WHEN ALL THE DEMANDS OF THIS PROFESSION ARE LIFTED FOR A 72 HOUR PERIOD.
THE PROLONGED WEEKEND CAN TRULY SEPARATE THE PERSONAL LIFE FROM THE PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
THIS SEPARATION CAN BE VITAL IN IMPROVING THE MORALE OF TEACHERS.
NOW THERE WILL BE RECOVERY TIME FROM THE EMPATHY FATIGUE, FROM THE DECISION FATIGUE AND THE MANY OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES TAXING IN THIS PROFESSION.
LLOYD REEVES. NEXT WILL BE [INAUDIBLE] BENNETT.
I'M SORRY. YOU WANT TO CALL THE OTHER NAME? NO, YOU'RE FINE. [INAUDIBLE] BENNETT WILL BE NEXT AFTER YOU, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OLSEN, AND IT'S NICE TO BE BACK.
MR. ENGLISH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I NEVER GET A MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF THESE GUYS.
THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY WITH THE TEACHERS, TOO, AND NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM.
OKAY, SO AGAIN, THANKS FOR HAVING ME UP HERE.
I WAS COMING TO HAMMER A LOT OF NAILS.
I HAD SOME QUIPPY ONE LINERS AND STUFF I WAS GOING TO FIRE OFF, AND, BOY, THERE'S JUST NO SPACE FOR IT. MY MAIN EXCORIATION FOR THE BOARD HERE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE MANNER IN WHICH WE WERE NOTIFIED.
WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED THAT THE TEACHERS ARE DYING ON THE VINE.
THAT'S NOT THE MESSAGE THAT'S MADE IT TO THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILIES AT ALL, BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO HUNDREDS NOW.
SO I'M SAD THAT SO MANY PARENTS STOOD UP AND WALKED OUT [INAUDIBLE] SAID, GIVE ME TWO FIVE DAY OPTIONS, AND THEY'RE LIKE, GOOD, WE'RE OUT.
WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED AND HEARD THE TEACHERS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS MESSAGE AND WE'RE CAPABLE.
I LOVE LITTLE ELM. WE PULL OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE ALL THE TIME.
WE'VE GOT THE NEW ATHLETIC FACILITY COST HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THAT'S JUST LEAGUES ABOVE AND BEYOND WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR A LITTLE TOWN WITH OUR POPULATION, IT DOESN'T FIT RIGHT.
WE'RE PLAYING WITH THE BIG DOGS IN 6A AND WE PULL OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUR SCHOOL ALL THE TIME. WE JUST PASSED A MASSIVE BOND.
HOW MUCH OF THAT WENT TO TEACH YOUR PAYROLL RAISES? DON'T ANSWER. IT'S JUST A STATEMENT, BUT IF WE CAN DO ALL THAT, WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING FOR THE TEACHERS, BUT THE MAIN THING WE HAVE TO DO IS IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. IF THE TEACHERS ARE LEAVING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, OR AT LEAST YOU KNOW WRITE THAT, SIGN THE CHECK, THAT'S BLANK RIGHT NOW, SOME PROMISES HAVE TO BE MADE.
I'M WILLING TO HELP WITH THAT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE, AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO CALL IT 80% OF THE CITIZENRY OF LITTLE ELM WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP.
YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE YOUR 20% THAT ARE LIKE I DON'T CARE.
FINE. 80% IS, AND MOST OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS AND A BIG PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WORK FOR THE CITY AND THEY WORK FOR THE ISD.
SO, THAT INFORMATION NEEDS TO COME OUT TO THE PARENTS IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FORMAT.
INSTEAD OF GETTING SIDESWIPED THE WAY WE WERE, OF COURSE, OUR HACKLES WENT UP.
HEY, IN NINE MONTHS YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO QUIT WORKING ONE DAY A WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF, LIKE, THE WORST RECESSION I'VE SEEN SINCE, WHAT, THE EIGHTIES? YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S READY FOR THAT FINANCIALLY, AND WE HAVE TO STOP LOSING THE TEACHERS, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE CITIZENS LEAVE.
RIGHT NOW, I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE THREE FAMILIES THAT I KNOW ON MY STREET THAT ARE WILLING TO LIKE, WE'RE DONE WITH LITTLE ELM ISD.
WE'RE LITERALLY MOVING BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL; THAT'S NO JOKE.
NOW, WHEN YOU START LOSING TAX PAYERS AND KIDS IN THE SCHOOL, THAT'S A PROBLEM, TOO.
SO RIGHT NOW, WHOEVER'S GOT THE NOTEPAD TAKING NOTES ON IDEAS, THERE'S A FIVE DAY BREAK, FALL BREAK.
THAT'S AWESOME. IT'S A NICE THOUGHT AND EVERYTHING.
GET RID OF THAT AND START LOOKING AT HOW MANY HOURS YOU CAN BREAK OUT INTO THE WEEK.
EVERY SCHOOL WEEK AND GIVE BACK TO THE TEACHERS, RIGHT? FIND A WAY TO TAKE VOLUNTEERS WHO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK TO RUN STUDY HALLS FOR ONE HOUR, LET THE KIDS DO THEIR HOMEWORK.
LET THE TEACHERS DO SOME ADMIN RIGHT THERE.
I UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT BEING OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID TO THE TUNE OF SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 20 TO 24 HOURS A DAY, 90 DAYS WITHOUT A BREAK, SOMETIMES AN HOUR HERE, AN HOUR THERE TO GET THE PAPERWORK AND THE ADMIN DONE IS EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO
[02:10:02]
THAT BOND, SEE WHAT CAN GO AWAY, PUT IT TO THE VOTERS.THAT TAKES SOME TIME, BUT I WANT AN ORCHESTRA SO BAD FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
SHOULD WE PUT THAT IN FRONT OF TEACHERS? NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE.
TAKE THAT WHOLE MONEY FOR THE ORCHESTRA PROGRAM AND THE BUILDING.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH CELLOS COST? IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I'M ACTUALLY A MUSIC MAJOR.
WHEN I RETIRED OUT OF THE MILITARY, I WENT TO COLLEGE, AND YEAH, IT'S OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE. SET UP A PERFORMANCE BASED BONUS PROGRAM FOR YOUR TEACHERS.
YOU WANT TO ATTRACT TEACHERS, TELL THEM THAT THEY GET ONE HOUR IN-SERVICE DAILY TO DO THEIR PAPERWORK AND THEY GET PAID PERFORMANCE BONUSES AND WE JUST NEED TO PUT IT TO THE VOTERS AND DO A GRASSROOTS TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH KIDS RUNNING AROUND EVERY FRIDAY.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE, THE KIDS ARE WORKING, AND LAST TIME I CHECKED, 12 YEAR OLDS CAN'T ACTUALLY WATCH THEMSELVES, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING.
SO WE HAVE TWO THINGS THAT DON'T WORK.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE IS A REASONABLE SOLUTION TO THIS, BUT AGAIN, MORE TIME, MORE RESEARCH. THANKS FOR THAT.
THANKS FOR BUYING SOME TIME, BUT I THINK THE ONUS IS ON US TO GET BACK IN ON IT AS PARENTS AND CITIZENS NOW. SO THAT HAS TO COME OUT IN BETTER FORMAT, MORE INFORMATION.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THE CITIZENRY UNDERSTAND HOW DESPERATE THE SITUATION IS.
THANKS SO MUCH. I HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MR. ENGLISH.
THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] BENNETT.
OKAY GOOD, JUST MAKING SURE. NEXT WILL BE HEATHER [INAUDIBLE].
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] BENNETT.
I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS WHO ATTEND OAK POINT ELEMENTARY AND WE HAVE LOVED BEING A PART OF OAK POINT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS SINCE WE MOVED HERE.
MY CHILDREN HAVE HAD AND CURRENTLY DO HAVE FANTASTIC, LOVING, CARING TEACHERS, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT KIND OF AS A SIDE OF BOTH.
I WANT TO PRESENT MY CHILDREN AND WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR THEM, AND ALSO I WANT TO SPEAK UP FOR TEACHERS.
I ALSO DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY TEACHERS WHO WERE STRUGGLING SO BADLY AND THEY NEED HELP, BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK IS THE BEST OPTION.
I ALSO FELT LIKE THE LAST GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE, THAT THERE WAS A LOT PUT OUT TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO DECIDE UPON QUICKLY.
WHEN I RECEIVED THE EMAIL TO DO THE SURVEY, CLICK THE LINK.
I CONTACTED AN EMPLOYEE AT POINT ELEMENTARY AND SAID, HEY, MY LINK'S NOT WORKING, CAN YOU SEND ME A NEW ONE? SHE SAID, OH, MINE'S NOT WORKING EITHER.
I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO.
I SENT AN EMAIL THAT IS LISTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO SEND ME A NEW LINK, DIDN'T GET ANY INFORMATION, MADE A PHONE CALL.
NO ONE PICKED UP, NO ONE ANSWERED.
I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO DID NOT GET TO VOTE.
I'M WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PARENTS, FAMILIES, MAYBE EMPLOYEES, DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO VOTE, AND IF ALL OF THE STATISTICS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT AND SHOWN, IF THAT IS ACTUALLY A REAL REPRESENTATION OR HOW MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. I WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANOTHER SURVEY.
I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME CHILDREN SPEND IN SCHOOLS.
I HEARD A LOT ABOUT TIME, A LOT ABOUT TIME FROM PARENTS, A LOT ABOUT TIME FROM OTHER TEACHERS AS THEY HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY KIDS, FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
TEXAS IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF TIME STUDENTS SPEND IN SCHOOL WITH 1260 HOURS.
THAT IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS BY AT LEAST 100 HOURS.
AS I HAVE GONE AND LOOKED THROUGH DIFFERENT STATES TIMES.
I THINK CHILDREN BEING IN SCHOOL FOR MORE TIME IS NOT BENEFICIAL.
I HAVE TO WAKE MY FIRST GRADER UP EVERY SINGLE MORNING AND SHE'S IN BED BY 7:30 AT NIGHT, AND I THINK HAVING ANOTHER 20 TO 30 MINUTES IN THE MORNING IS GOING TO BE VERY DETRIMENTAL FOR HER, AND THAT IS MOSTLY WHY I CAME WAS TO SHOW MY CHILDREN THAT I CARE ABOUT THEM AND I LOVE THEM AND I WANT THEM TO DO WELL, AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ONLY GIVEN ONE OPTION TO RETAIN TEACHERS.
I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO FIND OUT IF TEACHERS HAVE OTHER IDEAS OR THINGS THAT THEY WANT OR IF THE FOUR DAY WEEK REALLY IS WHAT TEACHERS WANT.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT FROM THE TEACHERS.
I'VE HEARD TEACHERS, SOME TEACHERS TALK ABOUT BETTER PAY AND THAT THEY WANT MORE TIME. IN MY IDEAL WORLD, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THE DISTRICT COULD DO.
BUT I WOULD LOVE IF WE COULD GET TEA TO JUST REDUCE MINUTES THAT WE NEED DURING THE YEAR, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES IS PEOPLE WANT TIME.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY REALLY LOFTY GOAL WOULD BE JUST TO REDUCE TIME, AND MAYBE THAT'S HOW
[02:15:04]
WE GET MORE TIME FOR TEACHERS AND FOR FAMILIES, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THIS EVENING. THANK YOU.HEATHER [INAUDIBLE]. CHRIS [INAUDIBLE].
AFTER CHRIS WILL BE CRYSTAL CROSS.
HI THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE WORK LIFE BALANCE, ABOUT SHORTAGES IN THE INDUSTRY AND ABOUT LEAVING FOR OTHER CAREERS.
I THINK THIS IS KIND OF A THIS IS NOT JUST TEACHERS.
I STRUGGLE WITH THESE THINGS IN MY LIFE, AND I'M NOT A TEACHER, BUT I'M ALSO MORE WORRIED ABOUT MY KIDS BECAUSE I'M NOT A TEACHER.
MAYBE I'M NOT SEEING IT FROM THE INSIDE.
I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
MY 16 YEAR OLD IS NOT GOING TO SPEND FRIDAY DOING HOMEWORK.
MY 16 YEAR OLD IS GOING TO STAY UP LATE ON THURSDAY, SLEEP TILL NOON, GET UP AND GET ON HIS PHONE FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN HE'LL PLAY HIS VIDEO GAMES BECAUSE I CAN'T DIRECT HIM BECAUSE I'M WORKING.
I WANT HIM GETTING AN EDUCATION BECAUSE I CAN'T LEAD THAT FROM HOME BECAUSE I'M WORKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SURVEY WAS KIND OF JUST THROWN OUT THERE AND MY HUSBAND WAS LIKE, OH, GET ON HERE, AND WE GOT TO WATCH THIS VIDEO, AND WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO, I WAS WAITING FOR THE THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT OUR KIDS, AND I KEPT WAITING FOR THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT AN EDUCATOR.
I WAS LOOKING FOR MY KIDS BENEFIT, AND AS I WAS WATCHING IT AND WATCHING HER, HE LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND. I SAID, ARE YOU HEARING THE KID PART OF THIS? I HEARD THE RETENTION AND I HEARD THE RECRUITMENT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT WE NEED PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO RECRUIT PEOPLE AND BRING THEM IN, AND WE WANT QUALITY PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM.
WHERE IS THE BENEFIT TO MY KID? BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A PARENT'S POINT OF VIEW.
DURING COVID, ALL WE HEARD WAS HOW WE NEED MORE TIME IN THE SEATS AND NOT LESS.
SHE GETS PICKED UP AT 4:30 FROM STRIKE.
SHE GOES DIRECTLY TO GYMNASTICS WHERE SHE'S LATE.
SHE GETS DONE WITH GYMNASTICS AT 9:00 AND SHE'S HOME AT 9:30, AND SHE DOES THAT THREE DAYS A WEEK FOR GYMNASTICS.
IF YOU EXTEND HER SCHOOL DAY, WHERE IS SHE GOING TO GET THIS EXTRA GYMNASTICS TIME, ESPECIALLY AS HER LIMITS IN GYMNASTICS EXCEED? SHE NEEDS MORE TIME FOR PRACTICE.
I DON'T WANT HER A ONE TRICK PONY.
THE SAMPLE CALENDAR HAD FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR STAAR PREP.
ARE WE SAYING THAT KIDS NEED MORE TIME FOR SCHOOL TO LEARN? SO JUST THE THOUGHT TO END IT ON.
HAS ANYBODY CONSIDERED MAYBE SPLITTING WEEKS WHERE ONE SET OF TEACHERS WILL HAVE MONDAY OFF AND WORK TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND ANOTHER SET OF TEACHERS WILL HAVE FRIDAY OFF AND THEY'RE WORKING MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY? IS THAT AN OPTION? CAN WE DO SOMETHING? LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK IS NOT SOMETHING PARENTS ARE DOING, AND I WOULD LOVE IT FOR TEACHERS. I WOULD LOVE IT FOR MYSELF, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REALITY.
GOOD EVENING, I WANT TO START THIS OFF BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY HOPE THAT NOBODY, ESPECIALLY HEARING SOME OF THE TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, SAYING HOW THEY HAD TO COME UP AND WORRIED ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS, ABOUT WHATEVER SIDE.
I PRAY THAT NOBODY DOES THAT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL EITHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, IS SHOULD BE JUDGED ON BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION.
ME, MYSELF, AT FIRST I WAS THINKING OF JUST ME AS A PARENT, HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT ME WHEN I HAD TO STOP AND TAKE THE STEP BACK, AND I SAID, IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT'S IN, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE.
IT INVOLVES THE TEACHERS, IT INVOLVES ALL THE STAFF, IT INVOLVES MY CHILDREN AND SO I STOPPED AND, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW MORE.
[02:20:01]
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON, AND EVEN HEARING THE OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICE.I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPENED UP TO WHERE WE COULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO HEAR THE TEACHERS, WE COULD HEAR THE KIDS, WE COULD HEAR THE PARENTS, AND SO EVERYBODY GOT TO SEE EVERY ANGLE OF THIS.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, OF COURSE, SOME HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED LIKE THE CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? THE CHILD CARE? BECAUSE YOU ALL SAY IT'S GOING TO SAVE MONEY BY CUTTING BACK ON LIKE THE ELECTRICITY ON SOME OF THE SCHOOLS AND STUFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE CALENDAR I'VE SEEN, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE THAT WAS GOING TO BE PROVIDED SOME OF THE FOOD FOR THAT AND BASED ON THE HOURS OF THE SCHOOL DAYS THAT WERE PUT IN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE MORE BUSSES TO COME IN TO GET THOSE KIDS ON TIME IN THOSE TIME FRAMES, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS THAT WERE GOING TO BE AT HOME, LIKE THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, SUPPOSED TO BE AGE 12.
SHE'S 11. I HAVE TWO VERY AMAZING KIDS, ONE THAT'S IN FIFTH AND ONE THAT'S IN EIGHTH.
THEY WILL BE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, IN HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
EVEN WITH THEM BEING OUTSTANDING AND AMAZING DO I WANT TO LEAVE MY KIDS AT HOME BY THEMSELVES AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, HOW HORRIBLE WOULD I FEEL? I'M NOT SAYING THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING BAD, BUT INCIDENTS HAPPEN, FIRES HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS, YES, I STAND HERE FOR THE TEACHERS MOST TO THAT. I'M HEARING THEM SAY THE PAY, WHICH LITTLE ELM DOES PAY LESS.
I'M HEARING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GETTING RESPECTED.
OUR DISCIPLINE NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE IN ATHENS.
YES, IT WORKS FOR THEM, BUT THEIR WHOLE ATMOSPHERE IS DIFFERENT AND THEY HAVE A LOT MORE RESPECT, AND WE NEED TO TEACH THESE KIDS TO RESPECT THEIR TEACHERS AND SHOW A LOT MORE APPRECIATION AND NOT JUST ONCE A YEAR.
IT SHOULD BE ALL THROUGH THE YEAR, AND THAT CHANGE HOW THESE KIDS TEACHERS ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, TREATED, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT WOULD ALSO HELP, AND THEIR DAYS OFF, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT MAYBE ADDING, YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA DAY A MONTH JUST FOR THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WOULD BE A PARENT THAT WOULD BE GLAD TO ADD THOSE EXTRA DAYS ON THE END OF THE YEAR, IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN MY TEACHERS MENTAL HEALTH TO BE THERE FOR MY KIDS. SO LET'S KIND OF THINK OF IT ON BOTH ASPECTS.
HOW'S IT GOING TO HELP AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DAN BLACKWOOD, AND NEXT WILL BE ALYSSA BARSTOW.
THANK YOU, BOARD. APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO THIS EVENING.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD, REMIND FOLKS SOME OF THE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
THE IDEA OF THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK OR THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, I REFER TO IT AS SCHOOL WEEK, NOT A WORKWEEK ACTUALLY WAS ASKED TO BE BROUGHT TO ADMINISTRATION BY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. THEY'RE ONLY DOING WHAT THE BOARD ASKED FOR.
SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES NEED TO REMEMBER IS THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PARENTS TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M CURRENTLY NOT A PARENT OF A LITTLE ELM ISD STUDENT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT I FOUND THAT IN REGARDS TO AN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REGARDING THIS, I'M GOING TO RUN KIND OF RUN OVER THOSE HERE REALLY QUICK BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUES TO SAY SINCE APPARENTLY THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK WAS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
THE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STUDY THAT I SAW AND I LOOKED AT IT KIND OF EXTENSIVELY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE UNANIMOUS.
THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THE STAFF MEMBERS HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THIS.
EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, PLANNING TIME, ATTENDANCE, MORALE, PAY AND REST ALSO HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE.
WHILE WEARINESS, BURNOUT AND TEACHERS LEAVING THE PROFESSION HAVE SHOWN DECREASES IN DISTRICTS THAT HAVE DONE THIS.
ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IS, WELL, THIS IS FOR RURAL AND SMALL DISTRICTS. LITTLE ELM, YES, WE'RE 6A.
PROSPER, FRISCO, DENTON, MCKINNEY, LEWISVILLE, CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH.
WE'RE A SMALL DISTRICT IN A BIG DISTRICT AREA.
WE ONLY HAVE A 6A HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'RE NOT TRADITIONAL 6A DISTRICT.
FRISCO DOES NOT HAVE A 6A HIGH SCHOOL.
WOULD ANYONE CONSIDER LITTLE ELM TO BE BIGGER DISTRICT THAN FRISCO? NO, IS FRISCO CONSIDERED A 5A DISTRICT? NO, THEY'RE NOT. NO ONE WOULD EVER COMPARE LITTLE ELM BEING BIGGER THAN THEM.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS, I KNOW FROM PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH FRISCO ISD TRUSTEES, ONE MINUTE LEFT, AND FROM CARROLLTON AND FROM LEWISVILLE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT LITTLE ELM TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
[02:25:01]
IS VERY IMPORTANT. I'LL GO REAL QUICK.SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE IS, BESIDES DR.
THOMPSON, I NEVER SAW ANY INFORMATION FROM ANY BOARD MEMBER ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHERWISE WHERE YOU PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO ANY STAFF MEMBER COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT I HAVE TO DRAW A CONCLUSION THAT A LOT OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE OPINION OF THE STAFF, WITH STAFF LEAVING, OTHER STAFF LEAVING AND OTHER DISTRICTS CHANGING CALENDARS AND DRIVING PAY AND GIVING PAY INCREASES, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON STAFFING THE NEW SCHOOLS THAT YOU JUST PASSED THE BOND FOR? IF YOU CAN'T STAFF SCHOOLS YOU HAVE NOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STAFF TWO NEW SCHOOLS IN 40 NEW CLASSROOMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? I PERSONALLY KNOW A PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE THAT LEAVES HOME AT 6:30 EVERY MORNING, GETS HOME AT 7:00 EVERY NIGHT.
THIS IS NOT A TEACHER. THIS IS A PARA.
THIS PARA LEFT THEIR JOB, GOT A NEW POSITION OCTOBER 31ST.
THEIR OLD JOB STILL HASN'T BEEN REPLACED.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TWO JOBS FOR TWO MONTHS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HIRE A PARA, LET ALONE A TEACHER. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
HI, MY NAME IS ALISSA BARSTOW.
I'M ACTUALLY AN ENGINEER, AND THE ONE TIME THAT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COME AND TALK TO A CLASS FOR ALL DAY IN THE ENGINEERING CLASS, I WAS EXHAUSTED.
THAT ONE DAY WAS HARDER THAN MY ENTIRE WEEK AT WORK.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T GET PAID.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE YOU CARE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUT MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIFE, THE TEACHERS' LIVES ON HOLD BY NOT VOTING TONIGHT.
IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, VOTE FOR PLAN B.
YOU HAVE NOW TAKEN [INAUDIBLE] AND IT'S NOW ROLLING OVER FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
I CAN'T MAKE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR.
I CAN'T DO THINGS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING EVERYTHING ON HOLD.
LET ME ALSO SAY THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU GUYS KIND OF THREW THIS CARROT OUT THERE FOR THE TEACHERS, SAYING, HEY, LET'S LOOK AT THIS FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK AND NOW YOU'RE TAKING IT BACK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MORALE IS GOING TO BE LIKE TOMORROW? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW AT THE SCHOOLS? THINK ABOUT THAT.
HOW ARE THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE TONIGHT WHO DON'T KNOW HOW YOU VOTED ARE GOING TO FIND OUT TOMORROW? IT'S GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE TEACHERS.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON MORALE.
STAND BY AND STAND BEHIND WHAT YOU GUYS VOTE ON, WHAT YOU ASK FOR, WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
IF YOU DIDN'T WANT THIS OPTION A, JUST VOTE NO, BUT WE ARE A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
THE DEIC VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK.
YOU HAVE THAT COMMITTEE AS A SUBCOMMITTEE TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THESE OPTIONS.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY WENT LINE BY LINE AND LOOKED AT EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM, AND YET YOU GUYS AREN'T GOING FOR IT.
65% OF THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK, AND YET YOU'RE HERE SAYING YOU DON'T WANT IT. IF YOU GUYS ARE SO AFRAID OF IT BECAUSE MR. GALLAGHER IS LEAVING, WELL, THEN MAKE HIM STAY ANOTHER YEAR AND LET'S AT LEAST TRY THIS. [CHEERING] I'M GOING TO JUMP IN.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. HERE'S THE DEAL, WE ARE A STEM SCHOOL.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A STEM SCHOOL.
STEM SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT ENGINEERING AND EDUCATION AND TRYING SOMETHING NEW, AND I WAS SO HAPPY I DID NOT BELIEVE IN PAYING FOR THAT EXTRA SCHOOL DAY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A SINGLE PARENT AND HAD TWO KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS OKAY WITH HAVING TO PAY OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYING WHAT YOU REALLY WOULD GET A GRANT BECAUSE I THINK THE TAC HAS A GRANT FOR THAT.
SO IT REALLY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF SCHOOL FUNDING, BUT IF THAT MEANT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BECOME A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION AND THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR TEACHERS, THEN YEAH, I'M WILLING TO PAY BECAUSE BY GOD, AFTER SPENDING ONE DAY WITH THOSE ENGINEERING STUDENTS, I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN AND NOW LET ME TELL YOU, I DID NOT HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THEM BECAUSE I WASN'T ASKED BACK EITHER.
SO LET ME JUST SAY, YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO THINK HARD ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THIS, BECAUSE I BET YOU HAVE MORE TEACHERS QUIT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE DECISION YOU MADE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. OUT OF COURTESY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T MISS ANYONE THAT I DID MARK NOT HERE IN CASE THEY SHOWED UP LATE OR WERE NOT HERE WHEN I FIRST CALLED.
I WILL ROLL THROUGH THE ONES I HAD THAT WERE NOT HERE.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT HERE TO GIVE THEM THEIR AMPLE TIME.
[02:30:01]
HOLLY HENRY.OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WILL CONCLUDE CITIZEN INPUT.
I WANT TO THANK THE PARENTS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEACHERS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND AGAIN, TEACHERS, I KNOW A LOT OF THEM LEFT TONIGHT, BUT JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND ALYSSA, THANK YOU FOR OFFERING FOR ME TO STAY ANOTHER YEAR. I WILL NOT BE STAYING ANOTHER YEAR.
I'LL BE LEAVING SOON, BUT I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER BEFORE.
I'M NOT READY TO ANNOUNCE I'M RUNNING FOR BOARD, BUT I CERTAINLY MAY DECIDE TO STAY ON AND BECOME A BOARD MEMBER HERE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR TEACHERS.
THAT WON'T BE FOR THIS MAY, BUT POSSIBLY FOR NEXT MAY.
SO BE LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT COMING OUT POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE.
WE'LL GO RIGHT NOW TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[9. Approval of Minutes]
CITIZEN, CITIZEN INPUT.SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO NUMBER NINE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
SO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 5TH, 2022. BOARD MEMBERS, I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING FROM DECEMBER 5TH, 2022? I HAVE A MOTION FROM DAVID. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND FROM MARY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS ABOUT THAT ONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 12TH, 2022.
HOPEFULLY ALL THE BOARD HAS HAD A CHANCE ONCE AGAIN TO REVIEW THAT IN THE BOARD BOOK.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETINGS FROM DECEMBER 12TH, 2022? SO MOVED. SOME MOVED FROM DR.
THOMPSON. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM KEN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED? I GOT ONE ABSTAIN.
[10. Action Items]
WE'LL GO INTO ACTION ITEMS. SO FIRST ACTION ITEM WE HAVE ON THE LIST IS CONSIDER THE APPROVAL, THE PERSONNEL ACTIONS RELATED TO LEGAL.MS. BROWN. YES. THANK YOU PRESIDENT OLSON BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. GALLAGHER. SO I'M BRINGING TO YOU ACTION RELATED TO BOARD POLICY DFE LEGAL AND LOCAL WITH RESPECT TO RESIGNATIONS AFTER THE PENALTY FREE DEADLINE AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THE BOARD FIND THAT THE RESIGNATIONS OF ERICA AGUILAR, MELISSA CONNOR AND RACHEL MARTINEZ WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY OF THE ACCEPTED METHODS OF RESIGNATION UNDER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTIONS 21.105 A AND B, AND THAT THOSE EDUCATORS FAILURE TO COMPLY WAS WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE.
UNDER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTIONS 21.105(C)(2), 21.160(C)(2) AND 21.210(C)(2) AND THAT THE BOARD THEREFORE REQUEST THE STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION PURSUE SANCTIONS AGAINST THOSE EDUCATORS FOR ABANDONING THEIR CONTRACTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS RELATED TO DFE LEGAL AS PRESENTED IN CLOSED? I MOVE.
MARY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND FROM DELEON.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, MS. BROWN.
APPRECIATE THAT. YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE.
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF CABINET LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS.
YES. BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT OLSON.
WE BRING SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CABINET LEVEL CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS EVERY JANUARY.
SO WE WILL, AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF CABINET LEVEL CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AS SUBMITTED.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE CABINET LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS? DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACTS IN PARTICULAR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER C, CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE RECREATIONAL GROUNDS AND FACILITIES BETWEEN THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM AND LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR APPROXIMATELY 23 ACRES AROUND BRENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
LET'S COME RIGHT BACK TO THAT ONE.
HOW ABOUT LET'S COME BACK TO THAT ONE.
[02:35:02]
WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER D, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS.MS. ADAMS. GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
WE HAVE AN ITEM HERE FOR YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTING SINCE OUR BOND PASSED AND OUR CITIZENS PASSED THAT BOND IN NOVEMBER.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO START SELLING THOSE BONDS IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED, AND SO TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, YOU'LL HEAR US SOMETIMES REFER TO HIM AS OUR FA, BUT DEREK HONEA IS HERE AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE BONDS THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORTH TO YOU TONIGHT.
IT WILL BE A SUMMARY, AND THANK YOU, DEREK, FOR WAITING VERY PATIENTLY FOR LONGER THAN TYPICAL PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT INCLUDED IN THIS $181 MILLION INSTALLMENT WILL BE ELEMENTARY NUMBER SEVEN THE RENOVATIONS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY UPGRADES AND THE PLAYGROUNDS AND THEN WE WOULD BRING A SECOND ISSUE TO YOU IN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AND AS THAT IS DEPENDENT ON GROWTH.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DEREK AND THEN HE OR I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LONG NIGHT, SO I WON'T BELABOR THIS, BUT QUICKLY, JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BOND MARKET AND OUR PLAN TO START SELLING PORTIONS OF THE NEW AUTHORIZATION FROM VOTERS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDE THREE HERE, A LOT OF DATA HERE ON THE MARKET, BUT AS YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IN THE NEWS AND IN YOUR OWN ACCOUNTS, EVERYONE KNOWS INTEREST RATES HAVE COME UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
LUCKILY, WE HAD SOME CUSHION IN OUR IN OUR PLANNING BEFORE THE BOND ELECTION.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DELIVER WHAT WE TOLD VOTERS WE WOULD DO, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT CHART THERE, THOSE ARE ALL OF OUR ECONOMISTS INTEREST RATE PROJECTIONS, AND REALLY LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE.
THE 30 YEAR BONDS IS THE MOST CLOSELY TIED TO MUNICIPAL INTEREST RATES, AND YOU CAN SEE Q1 OF OF THIS YEAR, WE'RE AT A 3.85, AND THEN A YEAR FROM NOW, THEY'RE PROJECTING WE'RE GOING TO BE AT A 3.75.
SO WE THINK IF ANYTHING, RATES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE'VE KIND OF HIT THE PEAK OF THE RISING RATE ENVIRONMENT, WE THINK AT LEAST.
IF YOU LOOK HERE ON THE MUNICIPAL INTEREST RATES, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT INSET CHART ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE TITLED SHIFT IN AAA MMD, THOSE ARE TEN, 20 AND 30 YEAR MUNICIPAL BOND RATES GOING BACK TO JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, AND AS I MENTIONED, YOU CAN SEE RATES FROM JANUARY ONE OF LAST YEAR BASICALLY WENT STRAIGHT UP UNTIL WE GOT TO HONESTLY RIGHT AROUND ELECTION DAY, EARLY NOVEMBER, AND THEY'VE COME BASICALLY STRAIGHT DOWN SINCE THEN. SO WE'VE SEEN A GOOD BUMP IN RATES WHICH WILL HELP LOWER OUR OVERALL BORROWING COST. I ALWAYS SHOW YOU THIS.
THIS IS A HISTORICAL INDEX THAT GOES BACK TO 1961.
THE YELLOW BAR IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY AT A 3.66.
THE BLUE BAR IS WHERE HISTORICAL RATES WERE.
SO HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THE BOTTOM BULLET POINT HERE SUMMARIZES IT SAYS TODAY'S LEVEL OF 3.66% IS LOWER THAN ALMOST 82% OF HISTORICAL RATES.
SO STILL VERY GOOD RATE ENVIRONMENT HISTORICALLY SPEAKING.
HIGHLIGHT ALL THE DISTRICT'S OUTSTANDING DEBT HERE.
ABOUT 427 MILLION OR I'M SORRY, 310 MILLION OUTSTANDING.
RIGHT NOW, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THERE'S NOTHING TO REFINANCE WITH WITH THE RATE SPIKE. WE'VE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF REFINANCING OPPORTUNITIES IN YEARS PAST, BUT BUT NOTHING TO DO NOW WITH WITH THE COST OF BORROWING ON THE DISTRICT'S DEBT PORTFOLIO.
YOU KNOW, THE BIG DRIVER IN OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND BOND PLANNING IS YOUR ASSESSED VALUE GROWTH, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE HAD SOME SLOWDOWN HERE WITH THE HOUSING MARKET, BUT STILL PRETTY GOOD GROWTH.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE THAT WE'RE STILL USING CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS.
THE THREE YEAR PREVIOUS GROWTH RATE FOR THE DISTRICT WAS JUST UNDER 12% AND WE'RE ASSUMING 5% A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS AND CONSTANT THEREAFTER.
SO WE THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL END UP BETTER THAN THIS AND YOU'RE GOING TO OUTGROW THAT. I GOT A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS HERE ON OUR PLAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR PLAN, AS MS. ADAMS MENTIONED, IS TO SELL 181.6 MILLION NOW, WHICH WOULD LEAVE US 107.9 TO SELL AT A LATER TIME.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASSUMING WE WOULD SELL THAT IN AUGUST OF '24, BUT THAT JUST SHOWS WE CAN DO THAT. IF WE NEED TO DELAY THAT, WE CERTAINLY CAN ON DOWN THE LINE, AND THEN THE BIGGEST ASSUMPTION HERE THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS INTEREST RATES AGAIN.
I'VE GOT A HALF A POINT CUSHION OVER WHERE CURRENT MARKET RATES ARE NOW BECAUSE WE WON'T BE IN THE MARKET FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT AS I SAID, I THINK RATES ARE GOING TO HOLD PRETTY STEADY AND WE'LL ACTUALLY PICK UP THAT PORTION OF THE RATE AND COME IN BETTER THAN WE PROJECT. THE MODEL HERE HAS ALL THE NUMBERS, BUT OBVIOUSLY KIND OF HARD TO SEE ALL THE NUMBERS. BUT REALLY THE PLAN IS IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN, COLUMN Q, WE'LL BE ABLE
[02:40:02]
TO MAINTAIN THE 47% TAX RATE THAT WAS PROMISED TO VOTERS, AND WE PLAN TO HOLD THAT TAX RATE NOW FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE REMAINING AUTHORIZATION OF ALMOST 108 MILLION, AND THEN WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A TAX RATE STEP DOWN OF ALMOST $0.06 FOR THE BALANCE OF THE AMORTIZATION, AND THE IDEA IS THERE, IF THE DISTRICT HAS NEEDS IN A FEW YEARS, YOU COULD LAYER IN ANOTHER BOND ELECTION IF NECESSARY.IF NOT, YOU COULD LOWER THE TAX RATE AT THAT TIME, AND FINALLY, HERE WE HAVE OUR TIMETABLE WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TONIGHT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED SOME OF THIS PROCESS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT REMEMBER WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS BEFORE, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE TO CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, GOT ALL OUR DOCUMENTS IN ORDER, WE ACTUALLY HEARD BACK FROM ONE OF THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES TODAY, AND THEY AFFIRMED THE DISTRICT'S CREDIT RATING OF AA MINUS, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS, WILL HELP OUR EFFORTS TREMENDOUSLY, AND WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE IN A POSITION TO ACTUALLY MARKET THE BONDS TO INVESTORS FEBRUARY 8TH AND HOPEFULLY CLOSE EARLY MARCH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT AT MARCH 8TH, AND THAT'S WHEN WE ACTUALLY DELIVER PROCEEDS TO THE DISTRICT TO START YOUR BUILDING PROGRAM.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU HAVE A BOND ORDER BEFORE YOU THAT MISS ADAMS MENTIONED THAT DELEGATES THE AUTHORITY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT TO FINALIZE THIS ON HOPEFULLY FEBRUARY 8TH WHEN WE GET EVERYTHING TO MEET THESE PARAMETERS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
FIRST, I NEED TO GO AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF ORDERING ISSUE BONDS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND? SECOND.
SO WITH THAT NOW, ANY QUESTION QUESTIONS TO MR. HONEA OR MS. ADAMS? I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF NUMBERS THROWN OUT , AND JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE BOARD AND OUR AUDIENCE, DEREK MENTIONED ON ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS IS THAT WE PARTNERED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND SHARED THIS INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE 47% TAX RATE, AND BECAUSE THESE ARE THESE ARE LARGE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE ISSUING, BUT REMEMBER THAT WE TOOK A TEN YEAR PLAN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED DOWN TO A FIVE YEAR PLAN.
THEREFORE, WE NEED TO ISSUE A LOT OF THIS UPFRONT, BUT IT WILL MAINTAIN THE $0.47.
I APPRECIATE THAT OUR FA UNDERSTANDS THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF OUR BOARD AND HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE IN WE'VE REDEEMED SOME BONDS.
WE JUST REDEEMED ABOUT 12 MILLION IN BONDS.
THIS YEAR WE DID ABOUT 5 MILLION, I THINK LAST YEAR WE REFUNDED WHENEVER WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AND BECAUSE OF THOSE ACTIONS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CARVE OUT IN OUR PORTFOLIO TO MAINTAIN THAT $0.47 WITH THE GROWTH IN OUR PROPERTY VALUE RATES.
IF I HEAR NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES ALMOST DIDN'T SAY THAT.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK. THANK YOU, DEREK.
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS ADAM.
WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER C.
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE RECREATIONAL GROUNDS AND FACILITIES BETWEEN THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM AND LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR APPROXIMATELY 23 ACRES AROUND BRENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
YEAH, PRESIDENT OLSON AND BOARD MEMBERS, MUCH LIKE THE LAND AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CURRENT BUILDING, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM AND OBVIOUSLY WITH [INAUDIBLE], THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE US. THE LAND THAT WE HAVE NEXT DOOR WE HAVE A 20 YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM, AND AS YOU COULD SEE, THOSE OF YOU THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT DOOR.
THEY ARE BUILDING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SOFTBALL FIELD, AND WHEN I SAY MULTIMILLION DOLLAR, I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE RANGE OF $7 MILLION, WHICH WILL BE USED FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR [INAUDIBLE].
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN I VISIT WITH MATT MUELLER, THE TOWN MANAGER, THE TOWN REALLY AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS, THEY LACK PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS FOR SPORTS, AREAS FOR OUR LITTLE LEAGUE, FOR SOFTBALL, FOR SOCCER.
SO WE HAVE SOME LAND BEHIND BRANT ELEMENTARY, WHICH BASICALLY THE TOWN WILL TAKE OVER, MAINTAIN. THEY'LL MOW IT, THEY'LL PUT UP SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL ATHLETIC FIELDS, POSSIBLY BASEBALL FIELDS.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A CRICKET FIELD OR A CRICKET.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL IT A CRICKET FIELD, BUT IT'S A CRICKET PITCH.
SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR LITTLE ELM ISD AND THE TOWN TO WORK TOGETHER ON LAND THAT WE REALLY CAN USE AS A COMMUNITY AND LET THE TOWN MAINTAIN THAT THERE IS A FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE DISTRICT , AND YOU'VE RECEIVED IN YOUR BOARD BOOK THE
[02:45:02]
ACTUAL AREA. NOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A GROWING DISTRICT.IT IS IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT SHOULD WE NEED TO PUT PORTABLE BUILDINGS OR EXPAND THE SCHOOL, BRENT, WE HAVE THAT OPTION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE RECREATIONAL GROUNDS AND FACILITIES BETWEEN THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM AND LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, APPROXIMATELY 23 ACRES AROUND BRENT ELEMENTARY? SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I WANT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY DID READ THE AGREEMENT, THEY DO SEE WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUY OUT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THAT, CONSIDERING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE THE TOWN FOR ANY FEES IF BEFORE A CERTAIN TIME FRAME.
SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO, BUT EVERYBODY [INAUDIBLE] UNDERSTAND THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY PENALTY, WHICH IS REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TOWN FOR ANY MONEY THEY DO PUT INTO THE INVESTMENT OF THOSE FIELDS IF WE WERE TO CANCEL THE LEASE.
WITH THAT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? WE HAVE A MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES. WE'LL GO TO THE LAST ACTION ITEM WE HAVE, WHICH IS CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF ARCHITECTURE AND SPECIAL VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2022 BOND.
GOOD EVENING, SIR. GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE ATTACHMENTS TO THE AGENDA, THERE WERE TWO RFQS THAT WERE ISSUED BY OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
ONE WAS FOR SECURING ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TO BE USED IN THE NEW BOND PROGRAM, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE CURRENT ONE.
AS WELL THE SECOND ONE WAS FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES, WHICH ARE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES LIKE MATERIALS TESTING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE IN SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS. THERE IS A TIMELINE FOR BOTH OF THOSE.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY DONE AT THE SAME TIME.
OUR COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED ALL OF THESE MET AND MADE THE DETERMINATIONS AND CAME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SEE ON THE FOLLOWING TWO PAGES.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, WE HAD 14 RESPONDENTS AND WE SELECTED SIX TO USE IN THE PROGRAM OUT OF THOSE 14.
ON THE THIRD PARTY OR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES.
WE HAD 29 RESPONDENTS IN 16 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE RESPONDENTS BEING ABLE TO DO TWO OR THREE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE HAD LISTED, WE SELECTED TEN OF THOSE COMPANIES TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
SO I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS PRESENTED AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR AS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ANY REQUIRED CONTRACTS. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
ONE QUESTION I HAVE, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE ARE THIS IS BEING PAID OUT OF THE BOND, CORRECT, FOR THESE SERVICES OR IS THIS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? NO, NO, THIS IS ALL BOND.
ALL BOND. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S AWARE.
OKAY WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE NOT APPOROVING RAISE YOUR HAND.
SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP MESSING UP ON THAT PART.
THANK YOU, RICK. WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU WITH SAME THING FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE] CONTRACTORS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THANK YOU, MR. MARTIN. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[11. Consent Agenda]
DO I HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT NEED TO PULL ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED AS IS? SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES, NOT EVEN GOING FOR IT.
OKAY, WITH THIS, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS INTO A SECOND CLOSED SESSION
[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 (Part 2 of 2)]
EFFECTIVELY AT 9:52 P.M..SO WE WILL BE BACK OUT AS NECESSARY AS SOON AS WE CAN.
WE WILL RECONVENE BACK INTO OPEN SESSION AT 10:42 P.M..
WE WILL GO INTO PRESIDENT COMMENTS.
[12. Board President Comments]
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK, FIRST OF ALL, STAFF AND EVERYONE FOR STAYING LATE TONIGHT WOULD DO TRULY APPRECIATE IT.I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PARENT WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE TODAY ABOUT THE CALENDAR.
WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS.
WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITHIN THAT IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT.
[02:50:01]
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TALK TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS.A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS NOT WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD PERTAINING TO CERTAIN ELEMENTS TO HELP STAFF, STUDENTS, ETC, BUT THAT COMES FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATORS. SO I RECOMMEND YOU REACH OUT TO THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THEY ARE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW, SO IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE WITH THEM TO GET THEIR ATTENTION AS THEY ARE BRINGING UP MANY ITEMS THAT AFFECT NOT ONLY FUNDING BUT EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, CURRICULUM, ETC.
SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WITH THAT, AND I DID EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS TO DR.
TRAMEL AND I'LL EXPRESS THEM HERE AGAIN TOO .
ON THE CALENDAR TO STAFF I CHALLENGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, AS MANY PARENTS HAVE HAD IN HERE, TO WORK, TO BRING SOME IDEAS TO THE BOARD TO REVIEW, AND WHETHER THAT'S GOING PAST MEMORIAL DAY, WHETHER THAT'S STARTING A DAY OR TWO EARLY, WHETHER THAT'S SHORTENING THANKSGIVING TO THREE DAYS INSTEAD OF FIVE DAYS, TO GIVE THOSE TWO DAYS BACK AT DIFFERENT DATES TO HELP TEACHERS ON FRIDAYS OR A DIFFERENT DAY WITH IN-SERVICE DAYS.
I JUST CHALLENGE STAFF TO REALLY SPEND THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BOARD WORKSHOP TO DO THEIR BEST TO COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE IDEAS THAT PUT LITTLE ELM AS THE DESTINATION DISTRICT, AS ONE PERSON SAID ON THERE, TO REALLY BRING IT HOME AND LET US GIVE US SOME OPTIONS TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WE CAN WITHIN THIS SCHEDULE.
SO WITH THAT, I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL.
I JUST DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING OUT THERE, THANK YOU FOR THE LOVELY GIFTS FOR BOARD APPRECIATION.
IT IS ALWAYS, AS WE JOKE, CHRISTMASTIME IN JANUARY, IT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WARMS OUR HEART TO SEE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, WEAR ALL MY LOBO GEAR PROUD AROUND TOWN ALL THE TIME.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THAT.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO INTO BOARD COMMENTS, SO I WILL START DOWN ON MY LEFT.
[13. Board Comments]
MR. FLORES.I'LL JUST ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, PRESIDENT OLSON.
EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE GIFTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US TODAY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE.
THAT'S NOT WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO TODAY.
RIGHT, BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT GOES INTO GETTING THOSE PRESENTS FOR US. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU. I, TOO, AM GOING TO ECHO PRESIDENT OLSON'S COMMENTS ABOUT REACHING OUT TO YOUR LEGISLATORS AND GETTING EFFECTIVE CHANGE FOR THE WAY WE FUND OUR SCHOOLS AND THE WAY OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WORKS.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS BROKEN, BUT WE CAN FIX IT, BUT IT STARTS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, AND TO OUR TEACHERS, I WANT TO I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE I AM LISTENING.
WE HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME.
90% OF THE TEACHERS THAT GOT UP AND SPOKE TONIGHT, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
THAT WOULD HELP, BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR RESPECT.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR STRESS RELIEF BECAUSE THEIR JOBS ARE HARD.
SO TEACHERS KNOW THAT WE ARE LISTENING AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CREATIVELY SOLVE SOME OF YOUR PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S AND AGAIN, ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE TRUSTEE GIFTS.
THIS IS MY FIRST TRUSTEE APPRECIATION MONTH THAT I APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU. I ECHO ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID THIS EVENING, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BOARD GIVES A LOT OF THOUGHT AROUND MAKING BIG DECISIONS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ENCOMPASSING OF THESE DECISIONS, AND THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO REALLY TRY TO HEAR ONE, THE COMMUNITY, TWO, THE TEACHERS AND THEN THE STAFF TO REALLY COME TO A REALLY, YOU KNOW, GREAT SOLUTION.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST, BUT WE DO GIVE A GOOD CHANCE TO REALLY TRY, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD, AND TO THE TEACHERS, WE TRULY HEAR YOU.
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE IS A TEACHER AND MY BROTHER, MANY OF YOU KNOW DEVON ENGLISH IS A TEACHER, MY SISTER IN LAW, MY OTHER SISTER IS THE TEACHER.
SO COMING WE REALLY SEE AND FEEL THE PRESSURE AND THE PAIN OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS , BUT I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU THAT YOU ARE MAKING A BIG IMPACT TO NOT ONLY THIS DISTRICT BUT TO OUR COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS.
THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THE GIFTS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. WELL, I'M TALKING TO AN EMPTY ROOM, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THIS RECORDING LIVE WILL BE HEARD.
SO I MADE NOTES AS THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE COMING IN, AND HERE'S MY COMMENT FOR TONIGHT.
[02:55:07]
I JUST WANT TO REASSURE LITTLE ELM.THERE ARE SEVEN OF US UP HERE WHO ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SEVEN PEOPLE REPRESENTING YOU, AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN SOLVE. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH PROBLEMS. YOU SOLVE THEM. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT MY COLLEAGUES.
THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
WE HAVE SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY EVERY DECISION, BUT AT THE HEART OF ALL OF IT IS DID WE DO THE BEST THAT WE COULD WITH WHAT WE KNEW AT THE TIME? I REALLY FEEL LIKE IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE MAJOR THINGS TO LOOK AT WITH HR SPECIFIC TO OUR TEACHERS' COMFORT.
I HEARD MANY ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ACTUALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO HOW FUNDING IS MADE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO I DO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITIES TO SIFT THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT AND PUT THESE PROBLEMS IN BUCKETS WHERE THINGS CAN BE SOLVED AT THE LEVEL APPROPRIATE FOR THE SOLUTION. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SUPERINTENDENT, HIS HARD WORK, HIS DEDICATION TO OUR DISTRICT, HIS TIME IS COMING TO A CLOSE AND OUR SEARCH TOMORROW, I MEAN, OUR SEARCH RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THOSE BUCKETS OF PROBLEMS; WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AS WELL.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITIES TOMORROW IS THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOUR INPUT INTO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT? WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT CAN BE IMPROVED, BUT WE ARE NOT A RAGGEDY BROKE DOWN, IRREPARABLE SITUATION.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TALENT IN LITTLE ELM.
WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL TEACHERS IN LITTLE ELM, AND I THINK WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.
I THINK WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND FIGURE THIS OUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE LITTLE ELM TO REMEMBER THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH A LOT, AND WE CAN FIGURE THIS ALL OUT.
THIS TIME, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT AGAIN.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR THE GIFTS FROM EACH CAMPUS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ENJOY JUST AS MUCH AS I DO WHEN I GET HOME.
THEY RUN AROUND SEEING WHAT'S IN THE BAGS.
THEY ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE EVERYTHING, BUT I ALSO DID WANT TO CIRCLE BACK.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR JUST LISTENING DURING CITIZEN INPUT BECAUSE IT COULD SPIRAL OUT IF YOU GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT I WISH SOME OF THESE COMMENTS COULD BE MADE CLOSER TO THAT TIME SO THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD COULD HEAR IT.
I DO WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE FACULTY AND STAFF THEY CAME OUT.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, AND I DO HAVE A CONCERN, AS ONE OF THE LAST SPEAKERS SAID, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS AS A VOTE OF WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU BECAUSE IT'S THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. I KNOW IF ANYTHING, IT'S KIND OF REIGNITED MY FIRE TO FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THIS JOB MORE REWARDING, MORE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY, AND AS MUCH AS THE FIVE, THE FOUR DAY IS A TOOL FOR THAT.
IT IS NOT A MAGIC BULLET THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SO WHETHER IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO PROPERLY DEVELOP IT, WHICH I ULTIMATELY HOPE IT DOES, THERE'S STILL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE BEFORE THEN.
TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTED.
THEY NEED TO KNOW FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY'RE SUPPORT SUPPORTED BY THEIR KIDS' PARENTS, THAT THEY'RE RESPECTED BY THEIR KIDS, THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY THEIR LOCAL CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS WHEN THERE'S DISCIPLINARY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISHED OUT. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE FIXED WITH A FOUR VERSUS FIVE DAY SCHEDULE, AND ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE DO GO TO A FOUR DAY AND IT IS A SUCCESS WHICH WE ALL WANT, SURROUNDING DISTRICTS ARE GOING DO THE SAME THING IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT BENEFIT OF US VERSUS THE NEIGHBORING DISTRICT GOES AWAY.
YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE DO GET THE FIRST MOVER ADVANTAGE TO BUILD OFF OF, BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T RELY ON THAT TO BE THE ONLY SOLUTION, AND WE CAN'T FORGET WHAT WE HEARD HERE TODAY, THAT TEACHERS ARE HURTING, FACULTY ARE HURTING.
YOU KNOW, SO MANY TIMES OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS OR EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION HAVE JUST BECOME PUNCHING BAGS, AND THAT IS JUST VERY DISHEARTENING TO SEE.
SO AGAIN, I DO HOPE SOME OF YOU SEE THAT AND SAY WE ARE LISTENING TO THE PARENTS AS WELL, BUT I MEAN, WE SAW TODAY SEVERAL OF THE PARENTS THAT CAME UP TO SPEAK ONE SIDE WERE MOVED AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE WAS OPENED AS WELL.
SO THAT DOES FALL ON ALL OF US, INCLUDING EACH ONE OF US BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THE ADMINISTRATION, TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AS GREAT AS THIS DISTRICT IS, IT'S NOT ALL RAINBOWS AND KITTENS AND UNICORNS.
[03:00:04]
WE DO HAVE ISSUES, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S KIND OF FIRED ME BACK UP TO BEING MORE ACTIVE AND PUSH THAT PROCESS QUICKER BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON ONE THING, WHETHER IT HAPPENS THIS YEAR OR TWO OR THREE TO BE THE SOLUTION FOR THAT.WE'VE GOT TO FIND THAT SOLUTION FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I CAN SAY FOR ALL THOSE PARENTS OUT THERE, WE CAN ALL DO IT BY AGAIN SHOWING OUR TEACHERS THEIR SUPPORT AND HAVING OUR KIDS SHOW THAT RESPECT IN THE CLASSROOM AS WELL.
SO ANYWAY, I COULD KEEP GOING, BUT I'LL STOP NOW.
WELL, BEING LAST, MOST EVERYBODY TAKES A LOT OF MY THUNDER, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK LITTLE ELM HAS ITS BEST IN FRONT OF US SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME OUT, BOTH PARENTS AND TEACHERS, SEEING OUR STUDENTS GET RECOGNIZED FOR BEING STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES DOING GREAT THINGS. YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE, WE ARE NOT OUT AT OUR DARKEST DAY BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. I WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD GIFTS.
IT'S MY FIRST GO AROUND AND IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE ALL THAT LOBO GEAR.
I WILL REACH OUT TO THE PARENTS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE TO THANK A PARENT OR THANK A TEACHER.
IF YOU SEE THEM ON CAMPUS OR IN THE PICKUP LINE OR SOMETHING.
I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR LITTLE ELM TEACHERS NEED THAT, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE APPRECIATED AND SUPPORTED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BETTER THINGS THAT LITTLE ELM STILL HAS IN FRONT OF THEM. SO THANK YOU.
[14. Superintendent Comments]
YEAH, AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE BRIEF, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS.I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE COMMENTS.
I THINK WHERE THE FRUSTRATION LIES IS, AND I'VE ALREADY HEARD THIS FROM SEVERAL TEACHERS, SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS, THEY'VE BEEN TEXTING ME, IS THAT A DECISION WAS MADE REALLY BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE EVEN, YOU KNOW, WERE EVEN ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE AND ALSO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE IS THE SAME PROCESS WE'VE ALWAYS USED. WE'VE USED DEIC, AND MY CONCERN IS THE MESSAGE AND YOU REFERENCED IT, WHICH I APPRECIATED, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE INTENT OF THIS BOARD IS TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T LISTEN TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO REACH OUT TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WASN'T THE MESSAGE.
THE DEIC WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WORKED AT DEVELOPING THE CALENDAR. THEY WERE GOING TO PRESENT THE CALENDAR AND NOW THEY DON'T GET THE CHANCE TO EVEN DO THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO REACH OUT TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YES, THEIR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD, AND MY MESSAGE TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF IS THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
I VISIT WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.
JUST THANK YOU AND KNOW THAT I WILL ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR YOU.
WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING? DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. MEETING IS OFFICIALLY
ADJOURNED AT 10:56 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.