Feb 20, 2023 Regular Board Meeting

[00:00:05]

>> WE WILL NOW OPEN THE REGULAR MEETING OF

[1. Call to Order Open Session in the Board Room at Little Elm ISD Administration Building on 400 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, Texas 75068.]

AT THE LITTLE ELMISD ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

AT THIS TIME WE AT 6:00 PM WE WILL ALSO GO INTO THE BOARD

[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:]

THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND LAND AT 6:00 PM.

WE WILL RECONVENE BACK INTO OUR OPEN SESSION FOR

[3. Pledge of Allegiance]

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SO IF I CAN HAVE EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE AN INVOCATION FROM A PASTOR TROTTER FROM FRIENDSHIP CHURCH.

[4. Invocation]

>> THANK YOU TO THE LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME IN OFF OF THE INVOCATION.

COULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS PLEASE, FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, A DAY THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED US TO EXPERIENCE YOUR GRACE AND MERCY.

NOW LORD, WE PRAY FOR THIS BOARD AND FOR THIS BODY AS THEY NOW CONVENE WITH THE BUSINESS AT HAND.

WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM GUIDANCE.

WE PRAY THAT YOU GIVE THEM DIRECTION.

BLESS THEM TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE THANK YOU FOR PLACING EACH OF THEM ON THE BOARD.

NOW USE THEM FOR YOUR GLORY IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU PASTOR TROTTER. I APPRECIATE THAT.

[5. Introduction and Roll Call]

>> YES SIR. MR. KEN BEBER.

>> PRESENT.

>> DR. MONIQUE THOMSON.

>> PRESENT.

>> MR. JASON OLSON.

>> PRESENT.

>> MR. DAILYON ENGLISH.

>> PRESENT.

>> MS. MARY WATKINS.

>> PRESENT.

>> MR. ALEJANDRO FLORES.

>> PRESENT.

>> NOT PRESENT, MR. DAVID MONTEMAYOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[6. Superintendent Spotlight]

>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND GUEST.

IT IS, MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR VERY BEST AND I'M GOING TO FLIP THE SCRIPT A LITTLE BIT AND START WITH THE SECOND ONE'S ON THE AGENDA.

I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS.

THAT ASSOCIATION IS A MEMBERSHIP OF ABOUT 9,000 BUSINESS OFFICIALS AS THE NAME INDICATES AND THEY ESTABLISHED A RISE AWARD.

THE RISE AWARD RECOGNIZES A PERSON WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITHIN THEIR CAREER AND IN TASBO, WHICH IS THE ACRONYM FOR THAT ORGANIZATION, DISTINGUISHES THEM AS FUTURE LEADERS IN THE PROFESSION.

THE GOAL OF THE AWARD IS TO BRING LIGHT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE RISE IN THE SCHOOL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE ONLY BEEN TWO CLASSES FOR THIS AWARD LAST YEAR IN 2022 AND THIS YEAR OF COURSE IN 2023.

TASBO HONORED THE RECIPIENTS AT THE TASBO ENGAGE CONFERENCE AWARD LUNCH ON LAST WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO.

LAST WEEK, OUR VERY OWN, JESSE WAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES, WAS ONE OF THE 10 RECIPIENTS OF THAT AWARD [APPLAUSE].

JESSE, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD.

[APPLAUSE]

>> VERY BLESSED TO HAVE STRONG DIRECTORS IN OUR BUSINESS OFFICE AND THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS WE JUST RETURNED FROM THE TASBO CONFERENCE, THERE ARE TWO OTHER AWARDS THAT THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED US FOR.

[00:05:03]

THE AWARD IS SPONSORED BIBLE, WHICH IS A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE.

BUT AS TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE EVER INCREASING PRESSURES TO USE FUNDS EFFICIENTLY, WE HAVE BEEN HONORED AS TASBO TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF OUR HONOREES DUE TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, COMPLYING WITH REGULATIONS AND SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR HOW WE UTILIZE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

DR. TRACY GINSBURG IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SHE SAYS THAT, THESE ORGANIZATIONS NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATED THEIR PROFESSIONAL PURCHASING OPERATIONS BY DOCUMENTING THEIR DISTRICT'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BUT I'VE ALSO SHARED THESE BEST PRACTICES WITH COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE TAKE ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND CAMPUSES TOGETHER TO EARN THIS AWARD.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN A TUNNEL, BUT WE DO HAVE A GREAT LEADER IN THAT AREA.

OUR COORDINATOR OF PURCHASING IS HERE, BERNICE SANSHAY GONZALEZ.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HER WITH A TASBO FOR HER SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE TASBO AWARD FOR MERIT OF PURCHASING OPERATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] THERE'S MORE.

WE HAVE ONE MORE AWARD THAT WE WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE CONFERENCE FOR, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BEGAN IN 2020.

THAT AWARD IS GIVEN TO TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, BEST PRACTICES, AND INNOVATIONS IN THE AREAS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

IT IS BASED ON GUIDELINES IDENTIFIED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY RESOURCE GUIDE, AND APPLICANTS THAT SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTS ACROSS 11 KEY AREAS ARE REVIEWED BY A TASBO ACCOUNTING SUBCOMMITTEE.

DR. GINSBURG SAYS OF THIS AWARD THAT "THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO DEMONSTRATE TRANSPARENCY BY METICULOUSLY DOCUMENTING THEIR DISTRICT'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

NOT ONLY THEY SHOWCASE THE WAYS THAT THEY MONITOR SPENDING, IMPROVED BUDGETING, IMPLEMENT CONTROLS, AND ENHANCED FINANCIAL REPORTING.

BUT THEY HAVE SHARED THEIR BEST PRACTICES WITH COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT TEXAS, HELPING EVEN MORE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER UTILIZE TAXPAYER DOLLARS." AGAIN, IT TAKES AN ENTIRE DISTRICT BUT JENNIFER BARRYCHECK IS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING TOGETHER OUR APPLICATION LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST-YEAR RECEIVE THIS AWARD AND I BROUGHT THE BOOK WITH ME.

IT'S LITERALLY ABOUT THAT THICK OF DOCUMENTS AND THAT GREAT WORK WAS ALREADY GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT.

WE JUST HAD TO PUT IT TOGETHER TO DEMONSTRATE THAT.

WE, ALONG WITH 22 OTHER DISTRICTS, ONLY 23 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WERE RECOGNIZED, THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR AND I WOULD LOVE FOR JENNIFER TO COME FORWARD TO TAKE THIS RECOGNITION [APPLAUSE]

>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND SHAY BECAUSE I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU, IN THE FACT THAT ALSO JUST FOR OUR AUDIENCE TO KNOW, SHAY IS NOW ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OF TASBO.

I THINK THAT IS A GREAT HONOR THAT SHE'S RECOGNIZED ONLY ACROSS OUR PEERS, ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS AND SHE'S NOW REPRESENTING TASBO FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS IN THAT REGARD IN THE FINANCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I WANT TO REALLY TAKE THE TIME NOW TO SHIFT AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT I WAS IN THE DISTRICT IN THE SAME ROW, FROM 2000-2003.

I WAS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT THEN.

LONG BEFORE I CAME BACK TO THE DISTRICT IN 2021, THEN WE BEGAN GIVING AN AWARD CALLED THE TRIPLE E AWARD.

I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.

I WILL JUST READ A SYNOPSIS THAT WE HAVE THAT AT THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH OUR STUDENTS, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST MISSION, IT IS ABOUT GREAT ADULTS WHO HAVE PASSION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.

TEACHERS AND EVEN OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WHO INVEST MORE TIME AND ENERGY DO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCES AS THEY LEARN.

OUR DISTRICT IS FULL OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS AND ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING SURE THAT THESE EXCEPTIONAL NOBLE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED.

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SONIA FLORES TO SHARE MORE ABOUT OUR RECIPIENT AND PRESENT THE TRIPLE E HONOR [NOISE]

[00:10:06]

>> GOOD EVENING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY, AND ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE ALL OF OUR KIDS.

I CANNOT THINK ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE WHO TRULY BELIEVES IN THAT.

OF COURSE, HE IS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT COME TO MY MIND.

COACH DALEY IS A TRUE LOBO AT HEART.

HE HAS TRULY BEEN DEDICATED TO HELPING ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND ATHLETES.

HE HAS COME IN TOUCH WITH AND PREPARING THEM FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES.

COACH DALEY HAS BEEN WITH LITTLE ELM ISD FOR 25 YEARS.

JUST DO THE MATH AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW MANY STUDENTS HE HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON.

HE SUPPORTS EVERY SINGLE EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY THAT IT'S GOING ON.

YOU GO TO AN EVENT AND HE'S THERE, SUPPORTING EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, TEACHER AND COACH.

COACH DALEY HAS BEEN PART OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT FOR 25 YEARS.

HE HAS OVERSEEN DAEP IN THE PAST, AND HE IS A TEACHER AT LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL.

HE IS ALWAYS GOING THE EXTRA MILE ON EVERYTHING HE DOES.

HE HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO A LOT OF EMPLOYEES.

HIS LOYALTY AND INTEGRITY HAVE GIVEN COACH DALEY A VERY SPECIAL SPOT AND REPUTATION IN LITTLE ELM, NOT JUST IN THE DISTRICT, BUT THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM AS WELL.

THIS SPECIAL SPOT AND REPUTATION GO FURTHER THAN JUST OUR TOWN AND OUR DISTRICT.

IT IS AN HONOR TO WATCH HIM ATTRACT MATES AT OTHER SCHOOLS, AND SEEING HOW EMPLOYEES FROM OTHER DISTRICTS GO UP TO HIM FOR ADVICE AND ASK FOR HELP.

GUESS WHAT? HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO HELP.

WHETHER THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING OR THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED, HE WILL FIND A WAY TO HELP AND FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEY KNOW IT, THAT'S WHY THEY GO TO HIM.

AS A TRACK HEAD COACH, HE HAS WON FOUR DISTRICT TITLES, SEVERAL RUNNER-UP TROPHIES, TWO REGIONAL RUNNER-UP TROPHIES, SIX TOP FIVE REGIONAL PLACES, AND IN 2013, GIRLS STATE RUNNER-UP.

WE HAVE HAD FIVE TOP TEN FINISHES AT THE STATE MEET AS A TEAM OVER THE PAST 24 YEARS.

WE HAVE ADVANCED 303 STUDENTS TO THE ORIGINAL MEETS, AND ANOTHER 19 STUDENTS TO THE STATE MEET.

WE HAVE HAD 37 KIDS MOVE ON TO COMPETE AT COLLEGE LEVEL.

TODD HAS A TEAM AT HOME WHO SUPPORTS HIM 1000 PERCENT.

HIS WIFE LYNN, WHO'S A TEACHER HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

SINCE CALEB, KYLE AND COAL, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TO TATIANA, IN GRANTS ON LOOK, I AM VERY HONORED AND EXTREMELY HUMBLE TO PRESENT THE TRIPLE E AWARD TO COACH DALEY.

CONGRATULATIONS, POPS.

[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]

>> THANK YOU COACH DALEY FOR ALL YOUR YEARS.

I KNOW BECAUSE CALEB AND MY SON ACTUALLY STARTED IN T BALL TOGETHER WHEN THEY WERE FIVE YEARS OLD.

[LAUGHTER] WE'LL GO TO CITIZEN INPUT.

[7. Citizen Input]

I WILL HAVE A CLOCK GOING UP HERE.

I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU AS BEST AS I CAN, A ONE-MINUTE WARNING. WE WILL GO WITH THAT.

JUST PLEASE REMEMBER THE BOARD CANNOT COMMENT ON ANYTHING YOU SAY, THIS IS JUST CITIZEN INPUT IS HERE FOR YOU TO GIVE US YOUR INPUT.

AS WE DO THAT, DENISE AUNTY SHE'LL BE OUR FIRST ONE COME UP.

[00:15:04]

>> MY NAME IS DENISE AUNTY.

I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT'S SERVING ON THE BOARD, SO I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF WHO I AM.

I HAVE TWO STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH, PRESSED WEEK.

THEY ARE IN HONORS CLASSES, NOW IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

ALSO, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME MORE SO BECAUSE I DID SERVE ON THE LITTLE ELM ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION SINCE DAY 1.

I HAVE SERVED AS A PAST PRESIDENT FOR THAT AS WELL.

I'M COMING FROM A PLACE FOR YOU TO SAY THAT I WANT TO REPRESENT THE VOICE FOR THE TEACHERS THAT CAN'T SPEAK UP.

THEN I AM REPRESENTING THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS THAT CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT I CAN.

THERE IS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT THE DISTRICT IS DROPPING COMPACTED MATH.

IF THIS IS CORRECT, WHEN WERE THE PARENTS INFORMED ABOUT THIS? WHEN WAS THE BOARD MADE AWARE OF IT? WHEN WAS JUST A GENERAL COMMUNICATION PLAN? I THINK THE OTHER THING MAYBE THAT MIGHT HELP WITH THE HISTORY OF ME, I HAVE A REAL ESTATE BUSINESS NOW, HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THAT, I SPENT 15 YEARS OF INCORPORATE HUMAN RESOURCES.

I KNOW THERE SHOULD BE COMMUNICATION PLANS AND POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT IS ALWAYS HAPPENING.

THERE'S SOME COMMUNICATION THAT IS LACKING, AND NOT BEING TRANSPARENT.

I WAS TOLD THAT ADVANCED SCIENCE SUSTAINED THE SAME, NOT BEING OFFERED COMPACTED MATH.

TEXAS HISTORY HONORS WAS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED, AS WELL AS ADVANCED ENGLISH WAS ONLY GOING TO BE OFFERED IN EIGHTH GRADE, SO TAKING IT AWAY FROM SEVENTH GRADE AS WELL.

WHAT I JUST LEARNED ABOUT WAS NO HONORS FOR WORLD CULTURE.

I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE DON'T HAVE AN HONORS ENGLISH EITHER, AS WELL AS GT.

WHAT'S BEING AVAILABLE TO THEM, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THAT HOW THEY WERE ADDRESSING NOT HAVING GT OR NOT FOCUSED ON THOSE CHILDREN, WAS THAT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IS, FOR THEIR OWN LEVEL COURSES THAT THEY'RE TAKING, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CLUSTER THE GT STUDENTS TOGETHER, MAYBE TWO OR THREE TOGETHER, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I DO NOT HAVE ANY KIDS IN GT, BUT FROM OTHER PARENTS, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

I DO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS ADVANCED.

I DID SPEAK TO HER ABOUT COMPACTED MATH AND ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS ADVANCED SCIENCE THAT WASN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, BUT I'VE BEEN SINCE TOLD THAT THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

ADVANCED SCIENCE IS STILL AVAILABLE, BUT THE COMPACTED MATH IS GOING AWAY.

HER CONCERN TO ME WAS, MOM, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING ON THE ELECTIVE ON LEVEL COURSES THAT SHE HAS TO TAKE, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO EMPATHIZE WITH THE TEACHERS, THEY ARE SO INUNDATED WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

JUST GENUINE FOR HER, SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY KIDS MAY NOT CARE AS MUCH AS SHE DOES.

WITH ONLY ONE MIN LEFT, I'M GOING TO SPEAK FAST.

[LAUGHTER] FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WAS PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BE THE DESTINATION DISTRICT, BUT MORE SO ALL OUR KIDS.

WE WANTED THEM TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THINGS FROM THAT.

HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE OFFERING THIS? I DO UNDERSTAND THAT FRISCO ISD IS NOW OFFERING COMPACTED MATH,

[00:20:03]

IF WE ARE UNDER THE EXPECTATION THAT NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO BE A DESTINATION, BUT JUST EVEN AT A DISTRICT RATING.

TAKING AWAY THAT FROM THE STUDENTS WHO GENUINELY NEED THE EXTRA WORK, AND THE CHALLENGE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE'RE TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THEM.

THE OTHER THING WAS THE COMMUNICATION PIECE I FELT I WAS LACKING.

WHY WEREN'T PEOPLE NOTIFIED OF IT? THE CORE VALUE FOR THE DISTRICT IS OPEN, TRANSPARENT, AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS HAPPENING.

I DO EMPATHIZE WITH THE TEACHERS AGAIN WHO HAVE TO DEVOTE THEIR TIME FOR THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING STUDENTS.

THEY GENERALLY HAVE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AT THE IMPACT OF THE HIGHER LEARNING STUDENTS AS WELL.

IF WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A STEM CERTIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEN WHY WOULD WE TAKE AWAY COMPACTED MATH FROM IT? FROM MY RESEARCH, STUDENTS THAT EXCEL AND COMPACTED MATH CURRICULUM ARE USUALLY TYPICALLY THOSE SIXTH GRADERS AT MASLOW'S BEYOND SEVENTH GRADE CREATE PEACE STUDENTS.

RESEARCH WOULD ALSO INDICATE THAT THE GREATER THE MATH PROFICIENCY LEVEL, THE BETTER THOSE STUDENTS WILL DO IN SCIENCE COURSEWORK.

>> SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. I GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT EXTRA TIME TO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> DON'T LEAVE YOUR WATER.

>> WATER. [LAUGHTER] MR. PHILLIPS AND AFTER MR. PHILLIPS WILL BE MR. JASON SALISBURY.

>> NOW, I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOOD INTENTIONS.

EVERYBODY, THE BOARD, MR. GALLAGHER, THE ADMINISTRATION, ALL HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS AND WANT TO SEE OUR SCHOOL BOARD OR OUR SCHOOLS IMPROVE.

BUT EVERY TIME I HAVE SPOKEN OUT, IT WAS TO BE THE VOICE OF THE TEACHERS THAT COULDN'T SPEAK.

LAST MONTH, THIS BOARD GOT TO HEAR FROM THE TEACHERS IN-PERSON.

I REMAIN NEUTRAL TO THE CALENDAR OPTIONS.

I KNOW IT'S A HARD DECISION AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PROS AND CONS.

HOWEVER, I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS BOARD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAILURE TO CONSIDER THE PUBLIC'S NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY AND BEGIN TO EARN THE TRUST BACK.

THREE MINUTES BY NO MEANS ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO MAKE MY CASE, SO I'VE MADE A SERIES OF VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM.

THIS BOARD VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, DISCUSSED THE FOUR-DAY CALENDAR OPTION IN THE CLOSED MEETING ON JANUARY 4TH, THE DECISION OR CONCLUSION OR A CONSENSUS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, WAS REACHED AT THE FOUR-DAY CALENDAR PRESENTED WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M GOING TO QUOTE MR. MANT MEYER WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT ON THE BOARD, HE SAID, THE CURRENT BOARD PROCEDURES ALLOW THAT AS LONG AS TWO BOARD MEMBERS AGREE THAT AN ITEM NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA, THEN I WILL PUT IT ON.

I ALSO HAVE A STANDING POLICY THAT I WOULD RATHER HAVE MORE DEBATE AND DISCUSSION, SO EVEN IF I DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING, I STILL AGREE TO PUT THAT ON.

TO TELL THE PUBLIC THAT A FOUR-DAY CALENDAR WAS NOT AN ACTION ITEM, IS AN EXCUSE.

IT WOULD ONLY TAKE TWO TRUSTEES TO AGREE TO MAKE THE JANUARY 4TH CONVERSATION COME BEFORE THE PUBLIC, YOUR DISCUSSIONS, YOUR CONCERNS BEING DISCUSSED, AND THEN IT BEING TABLED TILL FEBRUARY.

MR. OLSON, BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT TOLD THE BOARD THAT THE BOARD AGREE TOO MANY THINGS AND THAT THE BOARD WANTED CERTAIN THINGS AND THAT WE AS THE BOARD TALKED ABOUT IT.

MR. MANT MEYER ON JANUARY 25TH ADMITS ON FACEBOOK, THE ONLY TIME THAT WE GOT TOGETHER AS A BOARD TO DISCUSS THE CALENDAR OUTSIDE THE GENERAL SESSIONS WAS DURING OUR MEETING WITH THE SEARCH FIRM.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE FOUR-DAY OPTION HAD MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

ON JANUARY 3RD, MR. OLSON ASKED IF THE VOTE CAN BE MOVED TO FEBRUARY.

MR. GALLAGHER SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMITTEE STILL BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT AND THAT MAYBE THE BOARD COULD VOTE TO TABLE IT, THE ITEM UNTIL FEBRUARY, BUT MR. OLSON DID NOT WANT THAT AS AN OPTION TO MAKE IT AN ACTION ITEM.

ON JANUARY 10TH, MR. GALLAGHER WRITES TO OLSON, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE BOARD AGENDA FOR JANUARY.

I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED TALKING TO THE BOARD THE OTHER NIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE THE FOUR-DAY CALENDAR AS AN AGENDA ITEM.

I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET AND WANTED TO CHECK.

NOW, GALLAGHER RECOMMENDED LEAVING THIS AS AN ACTION ITEM.

HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT MR. GALLAGHER

[00:25:01]

MR. OLSON HAD REPLIED TO THAT EMAIL BY SWEARING THAT THEY'VE EITHER TALKED OR TEXT ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

NOW LISTEN TO MR. GALLAGHER WORDS VERY CLEARLY.

YES, SIR. WE HAVE.

YOU TOLD ME YOU ARE GOING TO DISCUSS WITH THE BOARD AT THE JANUARY 4TH SPECIAL MEETING AND WOULD CONFIRM WITH ME WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE AN ACTION ITEM.

NO TWO MEMBERS EVIDENTLY DINNER IS CLOSED SESSION, WANTED TO AGREE TO MAKE IT AN ACTION ITEM. WHAT HAPPENED? WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DECISION WAS GOING TO BE ON TUESDAY.

THESE TEACHERS CAME IN HERE LAST MONTH.

THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT INSTEAD, IT'S LIKE WE'RE SITTING AT HOME WATCHING THIS ON CAMERA AND WE'RE LIKE, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? THIS TALKING ABOUT THIS BEING THE DESTINATION DISTRICT, IT SHOULDN'T BE THE RESIGNATION DISTRICT.

BUT I KNOW OF MANY TEACHERS THAT WERE UPSET ABOUT IT, AND I'VE HEARD SOME MORE TEACHERS THAT REALLY FEEL AFTER THAT LIKE THEY REALLY WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THEIR CONCERNS WERE BEING HEARD.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT THAT'S THE PERCEPTION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU AS A BOARD HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR.

[APPLAUSE]

>> MR. SALISBURY. NEXT UP IS MR. WONG.

>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS AND I DO THINK THAT COMMUNICATION IS A PROBLEM.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

I THINK IT'S A BIT OF A BERMUDA TRIANGLE OF LOSS OF WORDS.

THERE ARE FIVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, ADOPT GOALS AND PRIORITIES, AND MONITOR SUCCESS, ADOPT POLICIES AND REVIEW FOR EFFECTIVENESS, HIRE AND EVALUATE THE SUPERINTENDENT, ADOPT THE BUDGET AND SET A TAX RATE, COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, SO ONE OF THE FIVE.

NOW, I DO KNOW THAT I CAN REACH OUT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL HERE, INDIVIDUALLY AND REACH OUT AND I WILL GET AN E-MAIL BACK.

SOMETIMES ON FACEBOOK'S, I'LL REACH OUT AND I'LL HEAR BACK.

BUT MY STATEMENT IS, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN DO.

I'VE BEEN GIVEN SOME IDEAS AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE THEM OFFLINE AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THEM THERE, BUT WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW IS EVERYBODY HERE IS AVAILABLE AND WE NEED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HERE AND HERE.

THAT'S MY OPINION.

THAT'S WHAT I CAME HERE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SALISBURY. [APPLAUSE] STANLEY.

NEXT IS DARCY BRODSKY.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS STANLEY WONG.

I AM A PARENT OF FOUR KIDS AT LITTLE ELM ISD.

WHEN WE MOVED HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO, I THINK WE DOUBLED THE EAST ASIAN POPULATION AT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT MY KIDS RANGE FROM SECOND GRADE THROUGH 11TH GRADE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH MR. GALLAGHER, BUT ALSO WITH OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND ALSO TO MAKE SOME ASKS OF YOU, THE BOARD.

MR. GALLAGHER, I HONESTLY THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY, SO I WAS GOING TO TALK TO HIM.

BUT IN 2021 WHEN OUR DISTRICT WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE STUDENT PROTEST POLICE THING, I ASKED AT THE PUBLIC FORUM, WHERE WERE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM? I FOUND OUT THAT THE ADULTS EVENTUALLY SHOWED UP AND MR. GALLAGHER WAS ONE OF THEM.

HE FORMED A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ON THAT COMMITTEE AND EXPERIENCE WHAT REAL LISTENING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING LOOKED LIKE AND I APPRECIATE HIS EFFORTS AND PUSHING THAT FORWARD.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS COME FROM THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

TO OUR TEACHERS I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THAT YOU POUR INTO OUR KIDS, MY KIDS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, COVID, EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING THROUGH, INCLUDING THE CHALLENGE OF THE FOUR DAY, FIVE DAY CALENDAR AND ALL OF THAT, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS, BUT IT'S SADDENED ME A LOT AND SUNDRY

[00:30:02]

MY MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WANTS TO BE A TEACHER WHEN SHE GROWS UP.

BUT ONE OF OUR TEACHERS THAT INSPIRED HER TO DO THAT SHE'S NO LONGER A TEACHER AT THE DISTRICT.

MY 9TH GRADER'S FAVORITE TEACHER WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE, HIS FAVORITE TEACHER, SHE WAS HERE FOR A YEAR AND THEN SHE'S GONE.

MY 11TH GRADER.

SHE STARTED THE YEAR WITHOUT ENOUGH TEACHERS TO TEACH HER CLASSES, SO WHAT'S GOING ON? WE SHOULD BE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

WE SHOULD BE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW IN THE WORLD WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD TEACHERS FOR OUR KIDS.

BUT INSTEAD, AND AGAIN, THIS IS FROM APPEARANCES, THE BOARD WOULD RATHER IGNORE THE OPINION OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THEM AND JUST MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.

THAT'S HOW IT APPEARS.

THIS IS WHAT WE FEEL LIKE AS PARENTS.

I DON'T WANT AGAIN, THE WEEDS OF ALL THE PROCEDURAL GYMNASTICS THAT YOU DID TO REMOVE THE FOUR-DAY CALENDAR OPTION, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT YOU COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

I KNOW THE RULES. THERE'S A LOT OF RULES BEHIND IT.

YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND THOSE THINGS, BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE THE PATH OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT NOW YOU'VE LOST THE TRUST OF MANY OF OUR TEACHERS.

IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT TEACHER SHOWED UP LAST MONTH AND WENT HOME SO DISHEARTENED.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOU'VE LOST THAT TRUST.

YOU FAILED IN THE MOST BASIC JOB OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO REPRESENT US, TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR YOU.

YOU WON'T AGREE WITH US ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHY YOU'RE DOING IT.

WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHY YOU ARE DOING IT.

I'M SPEAKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT I'VE SEEN AND HEARD PUBLICLY, SO PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG.

PROVE ME WRONG THAT THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY.

BUT I ASKED THAT YOU PROVE ME WRONG BY BEING MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

I PUT YOUR NAMES BEHIND YOUR DECISIONS AND STOP HIDING.

THAT MEANS PUT YOUR NAME BEHIND WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORTED THE FOUR-DAY OR FIVE-DAY.

PUT YOUR NAME BEHIND IT.

DON'T GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND COME OUT AS A GROUP AND SAY SOMETHING.

PUT YOUR NAME BEHIND WHY YOU PLACED MR. GALLAGHER ON LEAVE.

WHY DID YOU DO IT AND PUT YOUR NAME BEHIND WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD TEACHERS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED MOST.

LIKE, TAI WAS SAY, I'M NEUTRAL WITH A FOUR AND FIVE.

I PREFER ONE OVER THE OTHER, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW FROM THE BOARD WHAT THE PLAN IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD TEACHERS. WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, I HATE TO SAY THIS, WE ARE A SEA DISTRICT.

WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO FRISCO AND PLANO, SO WE CAN'T MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.

WE NEED TO STOP PLAYING GAMES, WE NEED TO STOP HIDING AND HAVE THE COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP TO FIND REAL SOLUTIONS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> DARCY.

NEXT WILL BE KATE OLSON.

>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE LISTENING AUDIENCE OF TEACHERS AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR PRESENCE AT THIS BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS DARCY BRODSKY.

I'M THE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY.

LAST MONTH, I SAT AT HOME LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES SHARE THEIR PERSONAL TRAUMA AND EXPERIENCES IN THIS PROFESSION.

IT WAS UPSETTING TO SAY THE LEAST.

THIS IS MY 15TH YEAR IN EDUCATION AND 8TH YEAR SERVING AS AN EMPLOYEE IN LITTLE ELM ISD.

THE CURRENT REALITIES OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE NOT EASY TO ESCAPE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN LITTLE ELM.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT WITH FACTS THAT I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL KEEP IN MIND.

AS YOU ARE SCHOOL BOARD, MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM, EVERY CHILD IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT TONIGHT.

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT OPENINGS POSTED AS OF THIS AFTERNOON FOR CLASSROOM POSITIONS AND LE ISD DATE BACK TO AUGUST 2022.

THERE ARE CLASSROOMS IN OUR DISTRICT WITHOUT A CERTIFIED TEACHER.

CLASSROOMS THAT HAVE NOT HAD A TEACHER ALL SCHOOL YEAR,

[00:35:02]

THAT'S TRAUMA FOR OUR COLLEAGUES, AND TRAUMA FOR KIDS.

ENSURING THAT EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM HAS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION ON A DAILY BASIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.

OUR CURRENT REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE UNDERSTAFFED CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE AN 83.6% FILL RATE ON SUBSTITUTE POSITIONS.

WE ARE FAILING TO PUT PROFESSIONALS IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

TEA INDICATES A TURNOVER RATE IN OUR DISTRICT OF 22.5%.

BY COMPARISON, THEN ISD STANDS AT 14.2%, FRISCO AT 14.9%, AND LOUIS VILLE AT 12.9%.

EVERY YEAR, IT'S ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY CONTINUE FILLING POSITIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

NOT ONLY ARE APPLICANT POSTS LIMITED, BUT THE QUALIFIED EDUCATORS WE ARE ATTRACTING AS A DISTRICT NEED TIME.

EDUCATION IS COMPLEX.

WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WHO ARE CARRYING THE BURDEN OF LEARNING THE INS AND OUTS OF A NEW DISTRICT, IN SOME CASES, A NEW CAREER.

LEARNING HOW TO BE PART OF A NEW COMMUNITY, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, LEARNING NEW PROCEDURES, LEARNING NEW CURRICULA.

WHEN TURNOVER REMAINS HIGH, THE STEPS FORWARD THAT CAN BE TAKEN ARE LIMITED, AND OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION SUFFERS.

ACCORDING TO THE CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION, RETENTION IS SUPPORTED WHEN TEACHERS HAVE AUTONOMY AND CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.

I URGE EACH OF YOU TO NOT FORGET THE LENGTHS TO WHICH DR. [INAUDIBLE] AND MR. GALLAGHER SUPPORTED AND ADVOCATED FOR TEACHERS TO HAVE AUTONOMY AND CREATIVITY WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM.

IT'S LIKELY BEEN, IN MY OPINION, THE SINGLE SAVING GRACE THAT HAS HELPED OUR DISTRICT FROM EXPERIENCING EVEN GREATER TURNOVER.

THERE'S ONE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

IN 2022, 77% OF TEACHERS REPORTED HAVING CONSIDERED LEAVING THE PROFESSION.

A PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY INDICATES THAT LOW PAY AND FEELING DISRESPECTED ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST DETERMINANTS FOR EMPLOYEES QUITTING THEIR JOB.

A TEXAS TEACHER POLL INDICATES, 97% OF TEACHERS SAY THAT A POSITIVE WORK, CULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT WOULD AFFECT THEIR CHOICE TO STAY, YET ONLY 34 TEACHERS REPORT FEELING VALUED BY THEIR COMMUNITY.

HERE'S THE KICKER, 5% FELT THAT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS VALUED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

AS BOARD MEMBERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, I ASK YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE WORK, CULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SHOW THE TEACHERS OF LE ISD THAT YOU VALUE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SUPPORT THE RETENTION OF THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE FELT SILENCED AND IGNORED.

OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER.

OUR KIDS DESERVE THE BEST.

I'LL REMIND YOU, MY NAME IS DARCY BRODSKY.

I'M AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY AND MY EXTENSION IS 42119.

I'M PERSONALLY INVITING EACH OF YOU TO JOIN ME ON MY CAMPUS TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES EDUCATORS IN OUR DISTRICT EXPERIENCE, SO THAT YOU CAN BEST ADVOCATE FOR RETAINING THE AMAZING STAFF THAT I AM FORTUNATE TO WORK ALONGSIDE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> AFTER KATE OLSON WILL BE SARAH TONNAGE.

>> READY? I'M KATE OLSON AND I'M A COUNSELOR AT OAK POINT.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, MY HEART WAS BROKEN.

SAYING THAT OUR COMMENTS AND THE CHANGE WE WERE SEEKING SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT LEGISLATORS, ONLY CONTINUES TO SPEAK VOLUMES FOR HOW YOU AREN'T SPEAKING FOR US.

IT'S A DAVID AND GOLIATH BATTLE ALREADY GETTING THE COURAGE TO TALK TO YOU, OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

YOU GUYS REPRESENT US? TEACHERS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BEEN CRYING OUT, AND OUR VOICES AREN'T BEING HEARD.

YOU SHOULD BE OUR VOICE.

TAKE WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND START MAKING SMALL CHANGES NOW IN LE ISD.

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING AS A BOARD TO STAND UP TO TEA, THE STATE OF TEXAS, OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HOW DO YOU EXPECT US AS INDIVIDUALS TO DO THAT? IT WAS MENTIONED THAT HR SHOULD HANDLE OUR TEACHER GRIEVANCES, BUT AS THE INDIVIDUALS THAT APPROVE NEW POLICIES AND BUDGETS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALSO HEAR THIS.

SINCE BOTH ARE HERE TONIGHT,

[00:40:02]

HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD.

ONE, A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT WITHOUT ANY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

TWO, A MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT WITHOUT ANY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

MESQUITE ISD AND LEWIS CARROLL ISD ALREADY DO THIS.

THREE, PURCHASE A CURRICULUM WITH COMPLETE LESSON PLANS THAT THE TEACHERS CAN USE, OR HAVE THE CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT CREATE THEM.

THEY HAVE COPIES AND DIGITAL RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE.

THIS CREATES CONTINUITY ACROSS THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS ARE GETTING A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.

THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH HELPFUL DOES HURT MY TEACHER HEART BECAUSE AUTONOMY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EDUCATORS AND I'M NOT SPEAKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] FOUR, APPROVE STRICTER SCHOOL POLICIES THAT HELP CREATE BOUNDARIES WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

FIVE, HOLD PARENTS AND STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OR WHEN THEY'RE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED EVEN IF IT IS A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES I'VE HAD BRUISES, BITE MARKS, OR REPLACE THINGS THAT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD DESTROYED.

SIX, PAY EXTRA DUTY TO TEACHERS WHEN THEY COVER CLASSES OR TAKE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS IN THE ROOM DUE TO SOME SHORTAGES, OR REQUIRED TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHOOL HOURS.

SEVEN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE DAY AT EACH CAMPUS, OR AT THE VERY LEAST EACH LEVEL, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL, ONCE A SEMESTER.

EIGHT, REALIGN AND APPROVE BUDGETS THAT MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

NINE, YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLING TO PREVENT THE SUMMER SLIDE, BUT STILL PROVIDE NEEDED BREAKS TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

TEN, AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF COUNSELORS ON ALL CAMPUSES.

THE RECOMMENDED RATIO IS 250:1.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PRIVATELY EMAIL YOU OUR CURRENT RATIOS AT OUR SCHOOL, IT'S ASTONISHING.

COMPETITIVE PAY FOR NUMBER 11.

WE WERE GIVEN A 4% RAISE WHEN THE COST OF LIVING INCREASED BY 8.4% FOR DFW.

TWELVE, TRUST THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR, DOES NOT MEAN I SHOULD GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE.

THIRTEEN, PAY OUR NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES A LIVABLE WAGE.

THEY ARE PAID JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE.

I'VE HAD MANY FRIENDS LEAVE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE, AND THEY WERE FORCED TO CHOOSE.

I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MANY WHEN I SAY THAT MY TRUST AND OVERALL FAITH IS DEEPLY DAMAGED IN YOU AS OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, OUR HEARTS WERE BROKEN AND NOW WE'RE JUST ANGRY.

YOU DO NOT RESPECT OR VALUE US.

THIS IS EVIDENCED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IF WE CAN'T TRUST YOU WITH OUR VOICES WHEN THEY'RE HEARD, WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING ON A CALENDAR OR PASSING UNNECESSARY BOARD THE FIRST TIME, WHAT IS THE POINT IN US WASTING OUR TIME ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER WHEN WE KNOW IT WON'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME? BEFORE WE WERE EVEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, I'M SURE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR MIND MADE UP ON THE TYPE OF CANDIDATE YOU'RE SEEKING.

SPEAKING OF THAT, IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO HAVE AN INSIDE CANDIDATE, THAT MEANS AS A BOARD, YOU ARE NOT ENSURING THAT OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS BEING EQUIPPED PROPERLY, OR YOU DON'T THINK THEY'RE WORTH INVESTING IN.

I WOULD BE PROUD TO WORK FOR ANYONE AT THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP.

EITHER WAY, THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT LOSES COMING INTO THIS MESS BETWEEN THE DIVIDED COMMUNITY ON SO MANY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

AS I TELL PARENTS OFTEN, IT'S NOT THE BIG DECISIONS THAT IMPACT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, BUT THE MILLION SEEMINGLY SMALL ONES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

IT IS NO DIFFERENT WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH US.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE A FAMILY.

SOMETIMES WE THINK BECAUSE WE'RE FAMILY, THEY LOVE US AND THEY'LL ALWAYS HAVE OUR BACK.

YOU CAN ALSO ADMIT WE DON'T ALWAYS TREAT FAMILY THE WAY THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED.

WHAT EFFECTS ARE YOU HAVING ON THE LE ISD FAMILY? ARE YOU BEING PATIENT, KIND, AND UNDERSTANDING, ARE WE GETTING THE WORST PARTS OF YOU? HOW ARE YOU PROTECTING THE PACK? YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGHOUT MY SCHOOL HAS BEEN HEAVY AND FELT LIKE ALL THE AIR HAS BEEN SUCKED FROM OUR LUNGS, THE MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

I CAN GUARANTEE, WITH THE UTMOST CERTAINTY, IT'S BEEN THE SAME ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE CALENDAR.

IT WAS ABOUT FEELING LIKE WE HAD PEOPLE WILLING TO START TO MAKE CHANGES AND CHOOSE US, TO GIVE US HOPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME.

EVEN THROUGH OUR HURT AND DISTRUST, I CAN ASSURE YOU EVERY EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO CONTINUE SHOWING UP TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS FOR NOW.

BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS CIRCULATING AMONG TEACHERS IS WE'RE NO LONGER THE DESTINATION DISTRICT, BUT THE RESIGNATION DISTRICT.

THANKS TO YOUR ACTIONS THAT HR DEPARTMENTS IN THE SURROUNDING ISDS ARE PRAISING YOU SINCE THEY WON'T HAVE STAFFING ISSUES NEXT YEAR.

[APPLAUSE]

>> ALYSA BARSTOW WILL BE NEXT.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH TONNAGE.

I'M CURRENTLY THE THIRD GRADE TEAM LEADER AT OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.

I'M IN MY 22ND YEAR OF TEACHING AND MY 18TH WITH THE DISTRICT.

I LOVE MY ADMINISTRATORS, I LOVE MY COWORKERS, I LOVE MY STUDENTS, MY FAMILIES AT OAK POINT.

HOWEVER, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS, I'M LOOKING AT LEAVING THE DISTRICT.

I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TENSION IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.

[00:45:01]

I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK LAST MONTH BECAUSE I TRUSTED YOU.

I THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT WOULD CONTINUE WHERE THE BOARD WOULD HONOR THE STAFF AND PARENTS AS IT HAD IN THE PAST.

WHEN THE BOARD MADE THE DECISION PRIOR TO HEARING OUT THOSE WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I WAS SHOCKED.

I LITERALLY SAT ON MY COUCH AND CRIED IN THAT MOMENT.

I CRIED FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

IT TOOK TILL THIS MORNING TO DECIDE TO GET UP HERE AND DO THIS TODAY.

BUT I FELT IT AS AN EDUCATOR, BUT I FELT IT IS A HUMAN.

WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF HUMANS.

WE WERE SILENCED, NOT JUST THE TEACHERS, BUT EVERY PERSON THAT SPLIT UP AND SPOKE.

YOU'RE, YOU CAN GET UP THERE AND SPEAK, BUT WE'RE NOT LISTENING.

WE'VE ALREADY MADE OUR DECISION.

IT TRULY FELT LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE.

I KNOW HOW IT'S IMPACTED ME PERSONALLY, BUT LIKE KATE SAID, YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE AIR, IT'S NOT THE SAME PLACE IT WAS A MONTH AGO.

AS EDUCATORS, WE'RE USED TO REBOUNDING, WE DO.

WE SHOW UP FOR OUR KIDS.

WE TRY OUR BEST FOR OUR KIDS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO.

JUST AS I PERSONALLY WAS STARTING TO MENTALLY RECOVER, THEN CAME DOWN TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT MR. GALLAGHER.

HE'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR US.

HE WAS IN THE TRENCHES WHEN WE HAD SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE.

HE PUT HIMSELF IN THERE.

AGAIN, I HEAR OVER AND OVER TONIGHT, AND I'VE GOT IT IN MY NOTES RIGHT HERE TOO, IT'S ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY.

WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING HEARD.

WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING SEEN.

I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN'T SHARE WITH US, THERE'S THINGS YOU CAN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR EVERYTHING, BUT THE PERCEPTION RIGHT NOW IS THAT THINGS ARE BEING HIDDEN FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

MORALE IS VERY LOW RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH UNFILLED TEACHING POSITIONS ALL YEAR LONG, SUBS NOT COMING IN, PEOPLE LEAVING MID YEAR, BUT THE LAST MONTH, I THINK IT'S BROKEN THOSE OF US THAT WERE STILL STANDING.

I HAD NOT UPDATED MY RESUME SINCE 2005 WHEN I JOINED THE DISTRICT.

THIS WEEKEND I STARTED.

WE APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE STEPPED UP AND DONATED THEIR TIME OR SUPPLIES TO TEACHERS, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT THE HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE.

RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS DISTRICT'S HEADED, AND I NEVER SAID THAT IN 18 YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M SCARED FOR OUR DISTRICT.

I KNOW THE BOARD HAS MENTIONED WANTING RESEARCH.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE TEACHER EFFICACY IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN STUDENT'S SUCCESS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING IS BY HAVING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS.

AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, THIS DISTRICT IS LOSING MANY.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD PLAN TO DO TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS? BECAUSE IN THE END, IT'S OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED.

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF HUMANS AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE FROM HERE GOING FORWARD WILL BE THE BEST FOR THEM.

[APPLAUSE]

>> NEXT UP WILL BE LISA STEVENS.

ARE YOU FINE? I'M SAYING AFTER YOU LISA. YOU ARE FINE. COME ON UP.

>> DO ME A FAVOR. I GOT A LOT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

THE LAST MINUTE WAVE ME DOWN.

LET ME FIRST BY SAYING MS. TONNAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ONE OR BOTH OF MY CHILDREN, BUT I REMEMBER YOU BEING THE BEST TEACHER.

I HAVE TO SAY GIVE THE BOARD A CHANCE.

GIVE THEM A CHANCE.

JUST GIVE THEM A CHANCE.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION ON THE CALENDAR, BECAUSE I THINK WITH THE DECISION ON THE CALENDAR, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

IT WAS AN AWFUL JOURNEY, THIS CALENDAR WAS AN AWFUL JOURNEY.

YOU KNOW HOW I LEARNED ABOUT IT? FACEBOOK. YOU KNOW HOW I LEARNED ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BOARD? FACEBOOK. I FIND OUT THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS SAYING, "HEY, WE WANT DO THIS FOR THE SCHOOL WEEK.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROMOTING." I'M SITTING HERE GOING, WE'RE DOUBLE INCOME FAMILY.

I WORK EIGHT-TO-FIVE.

I HAVE TO WORK EVENING MEETINGS.

IT WAS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I REMEMBER TALKING TO A FRIEND ON THE DIC COMMITTEE AND I SAID,

[00:50:03]

I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD, THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME.

I START TALKING TO MY BOSS AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO BECAUSE I WANT THE BEST EDUCATION FOR MY KIDS.

BECAUSE I AM NOT A TEACHER, WELL, UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I END UP HAVING TO BE A TEACHER, BUT I AM NOT A TEACHER, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT MY PASSION IS.

IT WAS SHOCKING.

I FELT LIKE EVERYBODY THROUGH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL, AND I'M TRYING TO SHORTEN THIS UP, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY I CAN HAVE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES, I WILL DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS WHOLE ORDEAL HAS BEEN SUPER SHADY.

WHY DOES MY HIGHSCHOOLER GET THE EMAIL OUT FIRST? WHY IS THERE NO OVERSIGHT ON THE DIC COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE SEPTEMBER AND YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT? THERE ARE SO MANY BLATANT ISSUES WHERE EVERYBODY ACROSS THE BOARD JUST DID NOT ACT IN THE BEST MANNER.

MY BIGGEST CRITICISM TO THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. OLSON, IS YOU SHOULD HAVE LET PEOPLE TALK BEFORE YOU MADE THAT DECISION LAST TIME.

THAT'S BEEN MY BIGGEST BEEF THE ENTIRE TIME, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD.

I FEEL LIKE ADMINISTRATION GAVE TEACHERS THIS MAGIC BULLET THAT'S GOING TO SAVE EVERYTHING AND FIX EVERYTHING.

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION AS YOU WELL KNOW, AS I STOOD UP HERE AND SAID SHAME ON YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, THAT I THOUGHT YOU KNEW.

DO I NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ALL THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE? NO. BUT I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING EITHER.

MY QUESTION IS NOW, SINCE THE 2023 MEETING, WHAT IS ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN FOR TEACHER RETENTION? WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ONLY PERSON THE BOARD REPORTS TO OR THAT REPORTS TO THE BOARD IS THE SUPERINTENDENT.

WHAT DID ADMINISTRATION START DOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO TEACHER RETENTION? I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.

I THINK THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS DISCIPLINE.

I THINK WE NEED TO INSTITUTE DETENTION OR PAPER WRITING.

MY KIDS HATE PAPER WRITING.

ACTUALLY, I GOT SIX PAPERS THIS WEEKEND, AND LET ME TELL YOU THEY HATE ME RIGHT NOW. COMMUNICATION.

LIKE I SAID, I FIND OUT THINGS FROM FACEBOOK.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

I FIND THEM OUT FROM FACEBOOK.

SUPPORT. I HAVE HAD A MAJOR ISSUE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER THIS YEAR AND EVERY TIME I COMPLAIN, SHE HAS AN EXCUSE.

I GO TO THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS RESPONSES WELL, DID SHE CALL YOU BACK.

THIS LAST TIME I WAS IN THE WRONG, I WAS TOTALLY IN THE WRONG, AND YET SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF HER ADMINISTRATION STAFF TO BACK HER UP.

THE OTHER THING, BLOCK SCHEDULES.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COST WE'D NEED THEM IF WE DO NOT WANT TO BE A C DISTRICT.

ALSO, MY DAUGHTER IS A DING BAT.

I LOVE HER TO DEATH, BUT SHE CANNOT REMEMBER HER LAPTOP HALF THE TIME, OR SHE BREAKS IT.

EVERY CLASSROOM MEANS A DESKTOP THAT WILL HELP TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOMS. THIRD, ADVANCED CLASSES. OH MY GOD.

MY SON HAS A HIGHER MATH SCORE FROM FIFTH GRADE THAN HE DOES AN AVERAGE ENGLISH SIXTH GRADE.

THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS TOOK ADVANCED ENGLISH AND ADVANCED SOCIAL STUDIES AWAY FROM SIXTH GRADERS BETWEEN THE TIME MY NINTH GRADER AND MY SIXTH GRADER CAME THROUGH, OH, MY GOD, YOU GUYS AREN'T SUPPORTING MY CHILD.

HIS MATH SCORES ARE LOWER IN SIXTH GRADE THAN THEY ARE IN FIFTH GRADE.

DO NOT TAKE AWAY ADVANCED CLASSES.

THAT IS NOT WHAT STEM PEOPLE DO.

WE JUST NEED THEM.

I KNOW THAT I TALKED TO DR. TRAMBLE TODAY AND SHE PROMISED ME THAT THEY WILL EITHER HAVE SEVENTH-GRADE ADVANCED ENGLISH AND ADVANCED SOCIAL STUDIES OR PRE API.

BUT BY GOD, MY CHILDREN ARE GETTING IN TROUBLE IN NORMAL ENGLISH BECAUSE THEY'RE BORED SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

BUT JUST TO REITERATE, MY QUESTION IS, IS WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DOING FOR TEACHER RETENTION AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS? THEY SHOULD HAVE STARTED ON A PLAN FROM JANUARY 23RD.

TWO SECONDS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE THE FOREMOST AND THAT'S SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING.

[00:55:01]

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] LISA STEVENS.

THE NEXT WILL BE CHRISTINE COOK.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA STEVENS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM ARE LISTENING.

I'M A VOTING MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND A MOTHER OF STUDENTS IN LEISD AND I ALSO TEACH FOR YOU.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MYSELF SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHO IS SPEAKING TO YOU THIS EVENING.

I'VE BEEN A TEACHER IN SOME CAPACITY SINCE 1997.

I'VE TAUGHT ALL LEVELS OF MIDDLE-SCHOOL SCIENCE.

I'VE WORKED ON EVERY COMMITTEE, BEEN A GRADE LEVEL TEAM LEADER IN A DEPARTMENT CHAIR.

I'VE WON AWARDS FROM MY STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES, AND ADMINISTRATORS.

I PRESENTED AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES.

I'VE PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DISTRICT.

I MAY NOT HAVE GRADUATE DEGREES OR BE AN UPPER LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR, BUT I HAVE 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN.

MY EXPERIENCE IS WORTH MORE THAN A DOCTORATE DEGREE.

I'M AN EXPERT IN MY FIELD BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE.

I WAS RAISED BY A TRIAL LAWYER AND A SOCIAL WORKER.

THEIR LIVES REVOLVED AROUND FIGHTING FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE TOO FRIGHTENED OF LOSING THEIR JOB OR RETALIATION TO COME BEFORE YOU TO ANSWER, MR. WONG, WHY.

WHY ARE YOUR TEACHERS LEAVING? DO NOT ASSUME FOR A MOMENT THAT I'M NOT A PERSON OF INTELLIGENCE OR SOMEONE WHO COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE SO I TEACH, I TEACH BECAUSE I LOVE CHILDREN, I TEACH BECAUSE I WANT TO, AND I TEACH BECAUSE I HAVE HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE.

SINCE I WAS HIRED IN 2014, I'VE BEEN PROUD TO WORK FOR LITTLE ELM ISD.

I'VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF AND BEEN TOLD THAT WE ARE FAR AHEAD OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER DISTRICTS WITH BETTER REPUTATIONS.

PEOPLE LINED UP AT THE DOOR TO HEAR OUR PRESENTATIONS AT VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND SOUGHT US OUT WHEN THEY KNEW LITTLE ELM WAS PRESENTING.

I CAN'T SAY I FEEL THIS WAY ANY LONGER.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WANT YOU TO FORGET FOR A MOMENT.

FORGET THAT FODGED CALENDAR DEBACLE.

I DIDN'T CARE EITHER WAY HONESTLY.

FORGET THAT YOU HAVE PUT OUR SUPERINTENDENT ON LEAVE.

FORGET THE DRAMA ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

FORGET YOUR OWN ASPIRATIONS. WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE'RE HAVING A VERY HARD TIME RETAINING AND RECRUITING HIGHLY QUALIFIED EDUCATORS AND THIS PROBLEM IS ABOUT TO GET WORSE.

YOUR ACTIONS HAVE PAINTED YOURSELVES AS UNTRUSTWORTHY AND UNCOOPERATIVE AND POWER HUNGRY AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, I DON'T.

WITH ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT, PEOPLE WILL HEAR AND THEY WILL NOT WANT TO COME WORK HERE AND WORSE, THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE YOUR BEST RECRUITERS, YOUR TEACHERS, THEY WILL TELL PEOPLE NOT TO COME AND WORK HERE, BECAUSE OF THE TURMOIL THAT'S BEEN CREATED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM, SO LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT IS NOT BEST FOR CHILDREN OR TEACHERS.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THEY MAY SOUND SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ADD ALL THE THINGS THAT TEACHERS DO TOGETHER, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS PILE OF JUST ONE MORE THING.

ONE MORE THING AND THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS ADDED AND THINGS ARE NEVER TAKEN AWAY.

TESTING WE WILL HAVE 14 STAR-LIKE TESTS BEFORE THE ACTUAL STAR.

IN THE PAST, WE'VE LOST MAYBE EIGHT DAYS OF INSTRUCTION, I LOOKED BACK AT MY CALENDARS.

JUST THIS YEAR, WE WILL LOSE AT LEAST 14 DAYS OF INSTRUCTION, THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THE NUMBER.

REMOVAL OF ADVANCED CLASSES, NO INPUT, NO DISCUSSION, NO TRANSPARENCY, THE RUMOR IS THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE GIFTED AND TALENTED TRAININGS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE GIFTED AND TALENTED TRAINING INSIDE OUR IRREGULAR CLASSES.

IT'S NOT FEASIBLE. TEACHERS LEAVING AND YOU HOLDING THEIR CERTIFICATION, NO DISCUSSION OF WHAT MIGHT BE DONE TO KEEP THEM HERE, JUST GIVING THEM NO OPPORTUNITY TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AS AN EDUCATOR ELSEWHERE.

THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT AND YOU'VE HELD THEIR CERTIFICATION, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EVER COMING BACK.

THESE ARE SOME OF MY VERY BEST FRIENDS.

DOCUMENTATION, IF I DOCUMENTED THE WAY THAT I WAS ASKED TO DOCUMENT, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE HIRED ME TO DO.

THREE HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND PLANNING TIME WAS LOST TO MY STUDENTS BECAUSE I WAS DOCUMENTING BED AND FIBER FOR ACCOMMODATIONS IN A CLICK SHEET.

LACK OF TIME TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE AND MANY TEACHERS ARE NOT AS PROFICIENT AS TECHNOLOGY AS I'M,

[01:00:03]

LIKE A DAD I TAKE TIME TO PREPARE, NOT DIFFERENTIATING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE WAY WE DIFFERENTIATE FOR STUDENTS THAT MAKES TEACHERS FEEL STUPID.

BOARD ADMINISTRATION AT EVERY LEVEL NOT BEING PREPARED OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AT THE SAME WAY THAT YOU ASK YOUR TEACHERS TO BE PREPARED OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOOD FOR CHILDREN, WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN.

MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS BEFORE BLOOM'S TAXONOMY AND VERBAGE IN STANDARDS.

EXCELLENT FIRST-TIME INSTRUCTION.

TEACHERS WHO UNDOUBTEDLY KNOW THEIR CONTENT AND STRIVE TO TEACH THE WAY THEIR STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN AND NOT WHAT IS BEING FORCED ON THEM.

STUDENTS RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER ADULTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM.

RULES AND CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE CARRIED OUT, NOT CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE THREATENED.

PARENTS WHO ARE INFORMED AND WORK TOGETHER WITH TEACHERS AS A TEAM.

WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING THIS BURDEN AND THERE'S A PREDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES THAT THERE WILL BE 70% TURNOVER IN SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN LITTLE ELM AND WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BE LEFT WITH? TEACHERS HAVE BEEN CALLED GLORIFIED BABYSITTERS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

IF YOU DO NOT CHANGE WHAT IS HAPPENING, YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH GLORIFIED BABYSITTERS AND RECORD KEEPERS, I PROMISE YOU, BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE HERE AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL NOT EITHER.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU, WE HAVE SOLUTIONS.

THE OTHER TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT, THEY HAVE SOLUTIONS, BUT WE DON'T FEEL VALUED AND WE DON'T BE HEARD, WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKED.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS FOR OUR KIDS YOU DON'T.

WE DON'T EXPECT YOU TO FIX THIS ON YOUR OWN.

THE TEACHERS CAN AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS.

I KNOW I'VE NOT COVERED HALF OF WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE FACING AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A LITTLE ELM PROBLEM OR A DISTRICT AREA PROBLEM OR A DALLAS PROBLEM OR A TEXAS PROBLEM EVEN, THESE PROBLEMS ARE SYSTEMIC AND THEY ARE DEEP AND WHAT WILL YOU DO? ON OUR WEBSITE IT SAYS, AS A CULTURE, WE FOUND IT ON THE HIGHEST QUALITIES OF CHARACTER, EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND COMPASSION, UNLEASHING EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S HIGHEST POTENTIAL.

CREATING A COMMUNITY WHEREVER YOU STUDENT LOVES TO LEARN AT EVERY TEACHER LED US TO TEACH AND EVERY PERSON IS PROUD TO CALL A HOME A FOUNDATION OF CULTURE THAT VALUES UNITY AND PRIDE.

HOW ARE THE VALUES OF OUR DISTRICT BEING UPHELD IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION? SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE AND I WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

ARE YOU JUST GOING TO WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES AS DIVISION DISTRUST AND FEAR, TAKEOVER OUR WONDERFUL DISTRICT AND RAISE IT TO THE GROUND OR WILL YOU BE PART OF A SOLUTION? I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO ANY OF YOU, YOU CAN FIND ME VERY EASILY. [APPLAUSE]

>> MS. COOK.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS [NOISE] CHRISTINE COOK.

I AM A 39-YEAR RESIDENT OF OAK POINT AND LITTLE ELM ISD.

I'M IN MY 20TH YEAR AS AN EMPLOYEE OF LITTLE ELM ISD.

I'VE WORKED AT THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

I WAS THE OPENER, HACKBERRY, LAKE VIEW, AND OAK POINT.

OUR THREE CHILDREN WENT THROUGH LITTLE ELM ISD FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

MY DAUGHTER IS THE READING SPECIALIST AT HACKBERRY.

AFTER TEACHING FOURTH-GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE FOR FOUR YEARS, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TAUGHT IN LITTLE ELM ISD FOR THREE YEARS.

I AM THE REGISTRAR ATTENDANCE SPECIALIST, TEAM SPECIALIST AT OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.

WE AND I MEAN, WE BECAUSE ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE ALL OF OUR KIDS AT OAK POINT.

WE HAVE 958 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.

THAT IS 21 MORE THAN WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL, 26 LESS THAN STRIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE NEXT CLOSEST CAMPUS IN ENROLLMENT, ELEMENTARY CAMPUS IS HACKBERRY.

WE HAVE 232 MORE STUDENTS.

EARLY IN THE REGISTRATION PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I SPOKE TO MY PRINCIPAL THAT I WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO WORK BEYOND

[01:05:02]

SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED MR. ROBERTS.

MY RECOLLECTION IS THE MESSAGE THAT SHE RECEIVED WAS GET IT DONE.

DON'T WORRY, JUST GET IT DONE.

WE OPENED WITH 896 STUDENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

BY SEPTEMBER 7TH AFTER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, WE HAD 949.

ALL OF MY STUDENTS WERE SCHEDULED, RECORDS WERE REQUESTED, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS WERE BEING ASSIGNED.

THAT'S THE PEEMS PART, WHICH I'M SURE YOU HEARD EARLIER DURING MS. ADAMS'S PRESENTATION ON THE ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT THE PEEMS. I HAVE HANDLED OVER 1,100 RECORDS THIS YEAR WHILE DOING THE DAILY WORK INVOLVED IN MY JOB.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, HOURLY EMPLOYEES, LIKE RECEPTIONIST, CAMPUS SECRETARIES, REGISTRARS, AND CLASSROOM PARAS, WE DON'T GET PAID OVERTIME.

WE GET COMP TIME, 1 1/2 HOURS OVER 40.

FOR EVERY HOUR WORKED OVER 40.

TWO HOURS BECOMES THREE COMP AND ETC.

THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR COMP TIME IN HALF-DAY INCREMENTS LIKE ALL OF THE TEACHERS DO.

WHEN WE TAKE OUR COMP TIME, WE GET BEHIND BECAUSE WE DON'T GET A SUB FOR OUR POSITION.

NOT THAT ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO DO IT.

WE HAVE PLEADED AND BEGGED FOR ANOTHER OFFICE POSITION AT OPE.

IT APPEARS TO HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.

THE ANSWER WAS TO ASSIGN SOME OF MY DUTIES TO THE RECEPTIONIST THAT MAY WORK IN A SMALLER SCHOOL.

BUT OUR RECEPTIONIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY AT THE ENTRY TO OUR BUILDING.

IT'S NOW A TWO-DOOR THING AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SIGN THE PEOPLE IN.

PARENTS BEGIN VISITING BY 10:00 AM TO HAVE LUNCH WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS, THEY BEGIN LUNCHTIME AT 10:15 IN THE MORNING.

SHE ALSO HAS TO LOCATE STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING CHECKED OUT.

I WILL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT AND ASSIST THE NURSE TO CALL THE NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING PARENTS.

THE RECEPTIONIST HAS A LUNCH BREAK, OF COURSE.

IT IS USUALLY THE CAMPUS SECRETARY OR MYSELF THAT COVERS.

THE SECRETARY AND I USUALLY EAT AT OUR DESK BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN TEACHERS WILL COME TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH POS OR FIELD TRIPS OR TO DISCUSS STUDENT ATTENDANCE OR GRADES OR PROBLEMS WITH FOCUS.

WE DON'T INTERRUPT INSTRUCTION TIME UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

ANY CALENDAR THAT'S PROPOSED WITH AN OCTOBER BREAK IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE PEEMS JOB.

WE HAVE SNAPCHAT DATE ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF OCTOBER.

WE HAVE STRICT DEADLINES AND REPORT TIMELINES.

DURING OCTOBER, I ACCUMULATED ADDITIONAL COMP TIME TO MEET THESE DEADLINES.

I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE A DAY IN EARLY DECEMBER, BUT NOT AFTER THE FLU STRIP RSV BREAKOUT THAT OCCURRED DIRECTLY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THAT NOBODY IN THE DISTRICT SEEM TO NOTICE THAT WE HAD 88% ATTENDANCE RATE.

THEN I HAD TO TAKE FOUR DAYS TO TRAVEL TO OHIO FOR FAMILY MEMBER'S FUNERAL.

I DID EAT AWAY AT MY COMP TIME.

WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS? NUMBER 1, OFFICE PERSONNEL SHOULD BE PAID FOR OVERTIME.

NUMBER 2, HIRE AN ADDITIONAL OFFICE POSITION FOR OPE.

NUMBER 3, PROVIDE A STIPEND OR PAY GRADE BOOST FOR WORKING AT A MIDDLE-SCHOOL-SIZED CAMPUS.

NUMBER 4, TAKE NON-EXEMPT OUT OF TRS.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A TRS ANNUITY WHEN I RETIRE BECAUSE MY FIVE-YEARS TOP SALARY WON'T BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR MY LIFE.

THEN IF I DO DECIDE TO TAKE THE TRS ANNUITY, MY SOCIAL SECURITY WIDOW BENEFITS WILL BE REDUCED BY 66%.

I AM TRAPPED.

MANY OF THE PARAS HERE.

HOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY PARAS HAVE ACTUALLY RETIRED TAKING TRS BENEFITS.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S VERY FEW.

[01:10:01]

I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND AS AN EMPLOYER OF NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES, FIGHT FOR US TO ELIMINATE THE WEB AND THE GPO PROVISIONS FROM THE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

PLEASE REPRESENT US TO YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S THE PART THAT COUNT THAT CUTS THE 66% OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

NUMBER 5, PAY COMP TIME AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER RATHER THAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

REMEMBER I SAID PAY.

SOMEONE FROM HR TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD TO USE MY PERSONAL DAYS, WHICH I HAVE MAYBE 170.

I DON'T KNOW. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD TO USE MY PERSONAL DAYS.

REALLY? IT WAS BECAUSE I WORKED MY TAIL OFF AND I DIDN'T GET PAID FOR IT.

THEN SOMEONE AT THE LAST MEETING AND I BELIEVE IT WAS MR. OLSON SAID THAT WE SHOULD BE CONTACTING TEA IF WE DON'T LIKE IT.

ISN'T THAT YOUR JOB TO RAISE OUR CONCERNS TO TEA? NOBODY ON THIS PANEL HAS THE SPINE TO STAND UP TO TEA AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND MIKE MORAFF.

THE MORALE AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THIS DISTRICT EMPLOYEES IS AT THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN IN OVER 10 YEARS.

PARAPROFESSIONALS LIKE MYSELF FEEL TRAPPED.

I WILL HAVE TO WORK UNTIL MY FULL RETIREMENT AGE.

WHAT I REALLY SHOULD BE DOING IS SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS.

I LIVE A MILE AND A HALF FROM MY DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY.

I'M SORRY, ELLEN THAT I DON'T GET TO COME OVER DURING THE WEEK.

I KNOW HOW STRESSED YOU ARE.

I KNOW IF WE START TALKING ABOUT WORK AND SCHOOL, WE WILL BOTH BE EVEN MORE STRESSED AND MORE UPSET.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH YOUR LIMITED FAMILY TIME.

I'VE HAD HEARD SOME ANECDOTAL INCIDENTS RECENTLY.

ANECDOTES ABOUT TEACHERS BEING DOCKED FOR DAYS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WORKMAN'S COMP, THAT THEIR SICK POOL IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT SICK POOL NEEDS TO BE WHERE YOU LOOKED AT.

I'M SITTING ON SO MANY DAYS AND I COULD TAKE EVERYONE STAY OFF UNTIL I RETIRE AND STILL HAVE DAYS LEFT.

ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO PLEASE CONSIDER PAYING THE ENTIRE EMPLOYEE ONLY COST OF THE HEALTH CARE PREMIUM.

WHILE IT'S ONLY $37, THAT'S MY WATER BILL EVERY MONTH.

I COULD USE $37 A MONTH.

THEN ONE OTHER THING THAT I JUST CHUCKLED ABOUT, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY OFFERING DEGREES TO PEREZ CASE YOU WANT TO ADVANCE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

I HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND I FEEL LIKE I AM WORKING IN MY FIELD, BUT I AM NOT PAID LIKE IT.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER SOME OF THESE SUGGESTIONS.

[APPLAUSE]

>> IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU.

[8. Approval of Minutes]

CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 23RD, 2023.

HOPEFULLY EVERYONE'S HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR PACKET.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED IN BOARD BOOK? DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONS, CHANGES? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES. WE'LL NOW GO INTO ACTION ITEMS.

[9. Action Items]

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT OLSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

[01:15:03]

THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF 2023-2024 ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS AS SUBMITTED.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD TO APPROVAL OF THE 2023-2024 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTS? HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND

>> DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? OKAY THEN.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. PLEASE NOTE MR. FLORES WAS ABSENT.

WE'LL GO TO ACTION ITEM B, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2023-2024, LITTLE ELM ISD CALENDAR. DR. CAMPBELL.

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT OLSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MS. ADAMS. THIS EVENING WE ARE COMING WITH YOU WITH PROPOSED ACADEMIC CALENDAR OPTIONS FOR THE '23/'24 SCHOOL YEAR.

JUST A QUICK REMINDER THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CALENDAR ADOPTION PROCESS WITH OUR DEIC.

WE ALSO HELD A FEBRUARY BOARD WORKSHOP WHERE WE DISCUSSED CALENDAR AT LENGTH.

I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT THE TWO CALENDARS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS EVENING ARE BASED ON THE ADDITIONAL INPUT THAT THE BOARD GAVE US AT THE FEBRUARY 6TH WORKSHOP.

CLEARLY AT THAT MEETING, THE BOARD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT OUR TEACHERS AND WANTING TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS WITH THE CALENDAR WITH DAYS TO GIVE THEM SOME TIME FOR THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT THEY HAVE VERY CLEARLY SHARED WITH EVERYONE.

WITH THAT, IN TRYING TO MEET THE INPUT OF THE BOARD AND ALL THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE WITH MAKING ACADEMIC CALENDARS, WE ENDED UP WITH A KEY OF MANY COLORS, AND SO WE WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE JUST GO THROUGH THE TWO CALENDAR OPTIONS.

I WILL SAY RIGHT AT THE START, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STUDENTS, THE ONLY COLORED DAYS ON THE CALENDAR THAT STUDENTS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE ARE ON THE EARLY RELEASE DAYS AND SHOULD WE TAKE THEM THE TWO BAD WEATHER DAYS.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE DAYS THAT YOU SEE ARE TIME FOR OUR STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE TASKS THAT THEY HAVE SHARED WITH US.

WITH THAT, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE LIGHT BLUE IS OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS.

THOSE DAYS ARE DAYS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR CURRENT CALENDAR.

THEY ARE DAYS THAT TEACHERS COME AND RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE NAVY BLUE ARE THE DISTRICT-WIDE HOLIDAYS WHERE THE DISTRICT IS CLOSED AND IT IS A HOLIDAY FOR EVERYONE.

THE PURPLE IS OUR STUDENT EARLY RELEASE DAYS.

WE HAVE TWO OF THOSE ON BOTH CALENDARS.

THE BRIGHT YELLOW ARE TWO BAD WEATHER DAYS.

THE GRAY IS OUR NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION DAYS FOR TEACHERS NEW TO OUR DISTRICT TEACHING, AND THEN THE ORANGE NOTES ARE TEACHER WORKDAYS, THIS IS TIME WHEN OUR TEACHERS ARE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS GETTING READY FOR KIDS, TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THAT PREPARATION THAT THEY HAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, AND WE HAVE A SPECIFIC DAY ON ONE OF THE CALENDARS IN OCTOBER AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE VERY BRIGHT GREEN IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT'S TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY, BUT IT'S A HALF-DAY, AND THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE BOARD'S CONCERN FOR TEACHERS TO GIVE THEM BACK SOME OF THE TIME THAT THEY ARE SPENDING ON SOME OF THESE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS, SO HALF OF THAT DAY WOULD BE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

IT COULD BE A DATA ANALYSIS AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.

IT COULD BE THINGS THAT THE STAFF HAS COME UP WITH THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TO HELP THEM MEET THE NEEDS OF KIDS, A VARIETY OF THINGS.

IT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON,

[01:20:04]

YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE ON THE NEXT LINE OF THE KEY, TEACHER INDEPENDENT PREPARATION.

THE BOARD REALLY WANTED TEACHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY HEARD THEIR VOICE.

WE HAVE PUT IN WHAT WE'RE CALLING TEACHER PREPARATION DAYS.

THAT'S REALLY GIVING BACK TEACHERS THAT TIME THEY SPEND, AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS, ON WEEKENDS DOING SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

THOSE ARE DAYS THAT THE TEACHERS ARE NOT ON CAMPUS.

THEN THE LAST THING THAT YOU WILL NOTICE IS A PINK DAY, AND THAT'S OUR TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY.

THAT'S NOT NEW, WE HAVE HAD THOSE IN THE PAST.

THIS IS REALLY FLEX-TIME FOR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A SIX-HOUR REQUIREMENT AND TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO GET THEIR SIX-HOUR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT SOME POINT DURING THE YEAR OFF OF THEIR REGULAR WORK HOURS, AND THIS IS GIVING THEM THAT FLEXIBILITY TO DO IT WHEN IT'S MOST CONVENIENT FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

WITH THAT, WE'LL JUST RUN THROUGH THE FIRST CALENDAR I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE SILVER CALENDAR.

NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION WILL BEGIN ON JULY 25TH AND END ON THE 27TH.

TEACHERS WOULD REPORT BACK FOR DUTY ON AUGUST THE 1ST.

THEY WOULD HAVE A TEACHER WORK DAY ON AUGUST THE 9TH AND THE FIRST DAY FOR STUDENTS WOULD BE AUGUST THE 10TH.

SEPTEMBER THE 1ST WOULD BE A HALF-DAY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

THE 4TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY, DISTRICT-WIDE.

THE 22ND WOULD BE A HOLIDAY, DISTRICT-WIDE.

IN OCTOBER, YOU'LL NOTICE THE TEACHER PREPARATION DAY ON THE 9TH AND A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY ON THE 10TH.

THIS WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND A WORKDAY FOR SECONDARY.

FOR ELEMENTARY, IT WOULD BE A WORKDAY AND THEN A PARENT CONFERENCE DAY ON THE 10TH, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.

THEN THE 11TH THROUGH THE 13TH IS A HOLIDAY.

THE 27TH IS ONE OF THOSE TEACHER-INDEPENDENT PREPARATION DAYS WHERE TEACHERS ARE NOT AT WORK.

THAT IS GIVING BACK TIME TO THEM FOR THE TASK THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF OFF OF SCHOOL TIME.

THE 10TH IS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING HALF-DAY, AND THEN THE 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER IS A HOLIDAY.

STUDENTS HAVE AN EARLY RELEASE AND THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER ON DECEMBER THE 20TH.

ON DECEMBER 21ST THROUGH THE 29TH, IS A HOLIDAY, IN JANUARY THE 1ST THROUGH THE THIRD IS ALSO HOLIDAY, WITH THE 4TH BEING A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS, AND THE 5TH BEING A HALF-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS.

JANUARY 15TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY DISTRICT-WIDE, AND THE SECOND IS A TEACHER PREPARATION DAY.

THE 19TH IS A HOLIDAY.

THE EIGHTH IS A HALF-PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY OF MARCH, WITH MARCH THE 11TH THROUGH THE 15TH BEING A HOLIDAY.

AS WE MOVE INTO APRIL, THE 5TH IS A HOLIDAY, THE 19TH IS A BAD WEATHER DAY.

I THINK I SKIPPED THE BAD WEATHER DAY AT THE END OF MARCH, PARDON ME.

THEN IN MAY, THE LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS WOULD BE MAY THE 24TH, AND IT WOULD BE AN EARLY RELEASE DAY.

THE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXCHANGE DAY OR FLEX DAY ON THE 28TH WITH A TEACHER INDEPENDENT PREPARATION DAY ON THE 29TH.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN THESE TWO CALENDARS AS YOU LOOK AT THEM, SO I'LL QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE NEXT CALENDAR, WHICH IS BLUE, AND THE KEY IS THE SAME.

YOU'LL NOTICE TEACHERS START ON THE SECOND AND THEIR WORKDAY IS ON THE 8TH AND THE SEMESTER AND THE FIRST DAY FOR STUDENTS STARTS ON AUGUST THE 9TH.

WE DO HAVE A HALF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER, WITH THE 4TH BEING A HOLIDAY.

THE 22ND IS A TEACHER PREPARATION DAY.

IN OCTOBER, WE DO HAVE A HOLIDAY FROM THE 9TH THROUGH THE 13TH, WITH A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY ON THE 26TH AND A TEACHER PREPARATION DAY ON THE 27TH.

IN NOVEMBER, WE HAVE HALF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY ON THE 10TH, AND THEN HOLIDAY WOULD BE 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER.

DECEMBER, THE EARLY RELEASE DAY, AND THE LAST DAY OF THE SEMESTER FOR STUDENTS WOULD BE ON THE 20TH,

[01:25:03]

THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS IN JANUARY WOULD BE ON THE 4TH WITH A HALF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY ON THE 5TH, WITH A HOLIDAY ON THE 15TH.

IN FEBRUARY, WE HAVE A TEACHER INDEPENDENT PREPARATION DAY ON THE 2ND WITH A HOLIDAY ON THE 19TH.

IN MARCH, WE HAVE THAT HALF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY WRAPPING UP THE SEMESTER THING AS WELL, WITH A HOLIDAY ON THE 11TH THROUGH THE 15TH, WITH A BAD WEATHER DAY ON THE 29TH.

IN APRIL, HOLIDAY ON THE 5TH, A BAD WEATHER DAY ON THE 19TH, WITH THE LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS AND THE LAST DAY OF THE SECOND SEMESTER BEING ON THE 24TH, WHICH WOULD BE AN EARLY RELEASE DAY.

ON THIS CALENDAR, TEACHERS WOULD HAVE A WORKDAY ON THE 28TH.

THEY WOULD HAVE FULL DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE 29TH AND THE 31ST, AND THEY WOULD HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FLEX DAY ON THE 31ST.

WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE ABOUT THE TWO CALENDARS. YES, MA'AM.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CALENDARS THAT I COULD TELL WAS THE START DATE.

>> YOU GOT TO MAKE A MOTION FIRST.

>> YOU DO NEED TO MAKE A MOTION.

>> WITH THAT, I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVE ONE OF THE '23, '24 LITTLE ELM ISD ACADEMIC CALENDARS AS PRESENTED.

>> MOVED.

>> NO, YOU GOT TO SAY WHICH ONE, BLUE OR SILVER?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FIRST.

>> BUT THAT'S PROCEDURE. PROCEDURE IS WE MUST NOMINATE ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A QUESTION.

>> I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE SILVER.

WAIT A MINUTE.

>> YES, THAT'S THE SILVER.

>> THE BLUE ONE IS WHEN THEY START LATER.

THE BLUE CALENDAR.

I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE BLUE CALENDAR FOR THE 2023, 2024 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THE BLUE?

>> I DO NOT HAVE A SECOND FOR A BLUE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SILVER CALENDAR? I HAVE A MOTION FROM MARIETTA.

DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THE SILVER CALENDAR?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A SECOND FROM DALION.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

NOW YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS, DR. THOMPSON.

>> [OVERLAPPING] HERE WE ARE WITH THIS CALENDAR, THE BLUE CALENDAR STARTS ON THE 2ND, THE SILVER CALENDAR STARTS ON THE 1ST.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE FIRST BIG DIFFERENCE THAT I COULD TELL.

THEN THE END DATE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE TEACHERS HAVE AN EXTRA TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY.

THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD IS IF THEY NEEDED THAT DAY, THEY COULD USE THAT DAY, BUT IF THEY DIDN'T NEED IT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

>> NO, THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY IS WHAT MY HUSBAND DOES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEEKENDS OR HIS OWN TIME.

IT WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SIX HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT THE TEACHERS COULD TAKE PART IN AT WHATEVER TIME BEST SUITS THEIR FAMILY, ON THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY.

>> THEY HAVE TO COME ON CAMPUS ON THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY?

>> THEY DO NOT IF THEY HAVE COMPLETED AND SHOW A CERTIFICATE OF THEIR SIX HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. IS THAT IF THEY DON'T NEED THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ON THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THE TEACHER EXCHANGE DAY ON THE SILVER CALENDAR IS ON THE 28TH.

IF I AM A TEACHER AND I'VE DONE ALL THAT I NEED TO DO, THEN ON THE SILVER CALENDAR, I AM DONE ON MAY 24TH.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> IF I AM A TEACHER AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO, ON THE BLUE CALENDAR, I AM STILL DONE ON MAY 24TH.

>> NO. YOU GOT TO COME BACK ON 29TH AND 30TH OR FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS.

>> YOU HAVE TO COME FOR THOSE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS?

>> YES, MA'AM. ON THE BLUE CALENDAR, IT IS A WORKDAY ON THE 28TH AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO FULL DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ON THE 29TH AND 30TH.

NOW THE 31ST, IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR SIX HOURS COMPLETED, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME ON THE 31ST.

>> THAT'S THE REASON WHY I LIKE SILVER.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ONE OF THIS. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE CHOICE THE TEACHERS HAVE.

THIS IS THE QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK, BUT I KNOW WE NEED TO FILE A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE [INAUDIBLE] SO Y'ALL DON'T KILL ME.

[01:30:07]

ON SILVER CALENDAR, THEY HAVE TO COME BACK A LITTLE EARLY, ON THE 1ST, ONE DAY.

>> ON THE 1ST.

>> BUT YOU GET TO GO OUT BY MEMORIAL DAY, BASICALLY.

>> CORRECT.

>> ON THE BLUE CALENDAR, YOU ONLY ARE GETTING THE DAY, BUT THEN YOU'RE HAVING TO STAY PAST MEMORIAL DAY?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> THEREFORE, I GET IT NOW.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I COULD HAVE ASKED MY QUESTION BEFORE.

>> THANK YOU, DR. TRAMBLE.

>> YOU ARE SO WELCOME. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> DO ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE SILVER CALENDAR?

>> NO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND SOME OF THAT WAS GREAT.

THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE CALENDARS, THE PROCESS IN WHICH THE CALENDARS WERE DELIVERED TO THE BOARD AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT INFORMATION TO US.

I THINK THIS PRESIDES A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN A FOUR AND A FIVE DAY BECAUSE THEY GET SEVERAL DAYS OFF EVEN THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS.

I THINK IT WORKS OUT PRETTY WELL.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR BEING OPEN TO THAT AND FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND PUT THOSE DAYS IN.

>> YEAH.

>> I DO HAVE A COMMENT.

THANK YOU AS WELL, DR. TRAMBLE, AND TO THROUGH THE WHOLE CABINET AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW MANY TOOK PART IN THIS.

>> IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. IT WAS NOT JUST ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE FOUR-DAY CALENDAR IS NOT COMPLETELY OFF.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> FOR THE FUTURE WHEN WE GET MORE ANSWERS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD COMBINATION, OUR INTENT WAS TO GIVE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DAYS DURING EACH MONTH THAT GIVES TEACHERS SOME TIME BACK TO PREPARE AND DO THE THINGS THAT THEY DO BEST.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO PROTECT THEIR TIME TO USE YZ AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR KIDS.

I THINK WHAT I HEAR WHEN I SPEAK TO TEACHERS IS THAT WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN TRAINING.

IF WE CAN ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING, THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

BUT WE WANT TO PROTECT THESE TIME FOR THE TEACHER SO THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR DOING THIS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CALENDAR SILVER, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

WE WILL HAVE THE SILVER CALENDAR FOR THE 2023-2024 YEAR.

THANK YOU, DR. CHANNEL. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GO ONTO THE NEXT ACTION ITEM WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD RESOLUTION OF ALARM ISD INVESTMENT OFFICERS, MS. ADAMS.

>> THIS MOTION IS SO THAT WE CAN FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS IN OUR CDA LEGAL, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT.

AS INVESTMENT OFFICERS FOR THE DISTRICT, WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ALL THE REGULATIONS IN THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT THAT PROTECTS THE DISTRICT FROM PARTICULAR TYPES OF INVESTMENT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AMOS SAID ENDURE TRAINING.

WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL HOURS OF TRAINING OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTED PROPERLY.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAD BEEN BETH EULA, OUR DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING AND I'M VERY HAPPY FOR HER STILL, BUT SAD FOR HER STILL THAT SHE WILL SOON BE FULLY RETIRED.

I AM ASKING THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ME AS THE INVESTMENT OFFICER IN HER PLACE.

I'VE COMPLETED MY TRAINING AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY TWO YEARS, WE HAVE TO RENEW OUR TRAINING.

I'VE BEEN AN INVESTMENT OFFICER FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.

BUT BETH HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF THIS FOR THE DISTRICT.

I'LL STEP INTO THAT ROLE AND THEN VERY SOON WE'LL BRING YOU THE SAME RESOLUTION FOR JESSE WHO WAS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES TO JOIN AND SO THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TWO INVESTMENT OFFICERS.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ADAMS AS THE INVESTMENT OFFICER FOR THE LITTLE MIST. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A SECOND FROM MARY FIRST BECAUSE SHE'S CLOSER TO ME AND I HEARD HER VOICE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE'LL GO TO THE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ARCHITECT SELECTION FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL LOCKER ROOM. MR. MARTIN.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THIS PROJECT IS A RESULT OF THE NEW INDOOR FACILITY BEING OPENED, WHICH EMPTIED A LARGE PORTION OF THE EXISTING LOCKER ROOMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE CONVERSION OF THOSE SPACES INTO THREE CTE CLASSROOMS, AS WELL AS MAKING A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE WRESTLING TEAM AND MOVING SOME OF THE OTHER MINOR SPORTS AROUND.

I SAY MINOR INDOOR SPORTS AND THAT'S REALLY THE WAY WE'VE GOT IT SET UP NOW.

THE OUTDOOR SPORTS ARE IN THE NEW INDOOR FACILITY AND ALL THE INDOOR SPORTS ARE NOW IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF.

[01:35:01]

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE IT COMPLETED BY NEXT FALL AND IF WE CAN GET STARTED PRETTY QUICK, WE THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

IT IS THE LAST MAJOR PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT BOND.

BUT WE NEED AN ARCHITECT TO GET US STARTED.

I'M RECOMMENDING CORGAN, AS SEEN IN YOUR AGENDA.

THEY GAVE US ATTACHED TO THAT ALSO IN YOUR BOARD BOOK IS THEIR FEE PROPOSAL.

WE'VE ADDED 5,000 FOR REIMBURSEMENTS AND INCIDENTALS, THAT THING, WHICH IS NORMAL.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE SELECTION AND THE FEE IS PRESENTED AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE REQUIRED CONTRACT DOCUMENTS.

>> DO I HAVE ANY MOTION TO ACCEPT?

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU, MR. MARTIN. APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[10. Consent Agenda]

>> MOVED.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS GOING ON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

WE WILL GO ON TO BOARD COMMENTS. I'LL START.

ONCE AGAIN STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE ITEMS OCCURRING OVER THE LAST MONTHS AND WEEKS AND DAYS.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR DEDICATION, WE APPRECIATE ALL THE TEACHERS, STAFF, PARENTS, ALL ADMINISTRATION, EVERYONE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

YOU ARE TRULY APPRECIATED EVERY DAY.

I KNOW I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

A LOT OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT HAVE RESONATED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND TO ME, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DO TAKE VERY PERSONALLY.

THE PERCEPTION OF THE DISTRICT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND I BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GET THAT.

THERE WERE A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

BUT COMMENTS HAVE BEEN HEARD.

THEY WERE HEARD PREVIOUSLY, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE HEARD AS LONG AS THE CITIZENS CONTINUE TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT.

WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT COMES UP AND TALKS TO US.

SEVERAL ACRONYMS HERE TO REACH OUT TO SOME TEACHERS WHO'VE OFFERED UP THEIR SERVICES TO TALK TO US INDEPENDENTLY.

I WOULD EXPECT PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM THE BOARD TO THOSE TEACHERS TO TALK AND IF THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE WHO WOULD LOVE TO TALK AS WELL SO I CAN ONLY PUT EARLIER WE'RE OPEN TO TALK TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE.

PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

WITH THAT, I WILL GO TO THE BOARD COMMENTS AND I'LL START DOWN ON MY RIGHT WITH MR. KEN.

[2. Board Comments]

>> THANK YOU, JASON. HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY TO EVERYONE.

I KNOW IT'S FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE OUT TODAY.

BUT I DID WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL THE TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF.

WE ARE LISTENING, WE ARE BALANCING OUR DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE FOLKS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR SCHOOL, OUR LADY LOBOS WERE OUT FIGHTING.

A LOT OF US MISS THAT.

I WILL UPDATE YOU THAT THEY DID WIN 65-52.

[APPLAUSE] THEY WERE DOWN AT HALFTIME BY FOUR POINTS, I WILL SAY SO.

THAT DEFENSE WAS GREAT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM ON FRIDAY, SO I'M GLAD THEY WON.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT GAME ATTENDING. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

>> DR. THOMPSON.

>> I WANT TO ONE, THANK THE CITIZENS WHO CAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR THE TIPS, FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I HAVE SEVEN PAGES OF NOTES, JUST MAKING NOTES OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AND TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S REACHED OUT TO ME, I'VE CONTINUED TO MAKE NOTES AND WE SHARE WHEN WE GET THIS INFORMATION.

WE ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE.

I THINK MY NUMBER IS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

BUT BECAUSE WE ARE JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

I'M GOING TO PUT IT OUT 214-448-7555 AND MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS ON THE WEBSITE, BUT WE'RE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL SEVEN OF US REPRESENT EVERYONE IN LITTLE L. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY OF US AT ANYTIME.

YOU CAN SET UP ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH BOARD MEMBERS.

WE JUST CAN'T HAVE A QUORUM.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, BUT WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A FORMAL SETTING LIKE THIS BECAUSE THE DIFFICULTY AT THAT TIME IS AS THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED,

[01:40:03]

SOMETIMES YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ONES THAT WE SOMETIMES CAN ANSWER AND SOMETIMES THE QUESTION ARE ONES WE CANNOT, BUT I THINK IT HELPS WHEN YOU TALK TO A HUMAN.

I KNOW YOU-ALL MAY NOT HAVE YET AT THE PHONE WHEN YOU CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SPEAK TO A PERSON.

BUT I LIKE TALKING TO A PERSON.

IF YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ONE OF US, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN AND THEN GIVE YOU SOME PLACE THAT YOU CAN FEEL SAFE COMMENT TO.

I HAVE MY NOTE HERE UNDERSCORE TEACHER RETENTION BECAUSE THIS MEETING, THE JANUARY MEETING AND THE ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS THAT I'M HEARING FROM TEACHERS.

THE THEMES ARE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME UNDER THE CARPET ISSUES THAT NOW IT'S JUST BAD.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T JUST MOVE ON.

TIME WILL MOVE ON, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO SIT DOWN AND FIGURE THIS OUT AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE CAN.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SHAY FOR STEPPING IN AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR STEPPING IN AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY FOR KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A BIG DECISION IN FRONT OF US TO FIND NEW LEADERSHIP TO GET US A NEEDLE FORWARD.

IT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF EACH OTHER IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BUT AS OUR PRESIDENT MENTIONED, WE'RE HOPING TO GET QUICKLY TO SOME SOLUTION WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO GET US TO THE SHORE.

BUT WE CAN AT LEAST BUILD HOUSES AND RELAX AND HAVE COMFORT.

I REALIZE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.

BUT I BELIEVE IN LITTLE I'M, I REALLY DO.

I NEED US TO ALL COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW AND STAY TOGETHER AND WE WILL BE THERE.

WE'LL GET THERE, I BELIEVE WE CAN GET THERE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MR. ENGLISH.

>> FIRST TO THE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, THE PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I CAN SAY FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AND EVEN FOR ADMINISTRATION, I TRULY BELIEVE THEIR CARE.

WE SIT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND MEETINGS AND WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE NOT DO? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRUGGLES WE HAVE? HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THIS? HOW DO WE MAKE THAT DECISION? MS. ADAMS, I THINK IT WAS 87% OR 70.

I CAN'T REMEMBER A PERCENTAGE OUR BUDGET GOES TO EDUCATORS,80S?

>> ABOUT 80.

>> ABOUT 80% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO EDUCATORS AND THE REST OF IT GOES TO OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, WE ARE SPENDING ABOUT 9- $10,000 PER STUDENT FROM THE ADA.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT ABOUT $0.94 ON THE M&O, AND THEN I THINK 106 IS THE MAX.

>> IT VARIES.

>> VARIES DEPENDING ON BAYES LAW.

WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS THE IMPORTANT ASPECT FOR US TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, WOULD HAVE RAISED THE M&O, WHICH MEAN WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY WE WANT TO PAY OUR TEACHERS MORE AND THE TAX RATES WOULD CHANGE.

YOUR TAX RATES WOULD INCREASE, BUT CAN ONLY INCREASE FOR A PERCENTAGE BECAUSE WE'RE CAPPED AT HOW MUCH WE CAN DO THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

I HAVE ACTUALLY PERSONALLY TALKED TO SOME OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW HAS A SURPLUS BUDGET ABOUT 32 BILLION, AND I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THEM ABOUT, HEY, HOW CAN YOU ASSIST US WITH GETTING MORE FUNDS INTO THE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND ALLOWS US TO PAY TEACHERS MORE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS GOING ON AROUND THAT.

BUT ALSO I WANT TO SAY IMPORTANTLY THAT WHEN WE HEAR TO TEACHERS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK MS. BARSTOW MENTIONED OUT THAT WE, AS ADMINISTRATORS, NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO OUR TEACHERS.

I ACTUALLY HAD SOME WRITTEN OUT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO READ BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF READING ALRIGHT TONIGHT.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME WITHIN THE DISTRICT IS DISCIPLINE.

I THINK I HEARD THAT SEVERAL TIMES.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE JUST SEEMS IT DOESN'T WORK.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, I WOULD ACTUALLY DO LOOK THAT UP.

BASICALLY, WE NEED TO START HOLDING THE STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND WHAT THEY DO.

BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE, AND SOME TEACHERS, EVEN ON THEIR PHYSICAL ACUMEN.

MY WIFE ACTUALLY SHE IS A TEACHER, SHE HAS BEEN A TEACHER.

MY BROTHER, MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS A TEACHER.

HIS WIFE IS A TEACHER. MY SISTER IS A TEACHER.

MY SISTER-IN-LAW IS A TEACHER.

THEY'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR DECADES NOW, FOR LONG TIME.

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WERE IN CLASS.

[01:45:03]

THE KID WENT TO THE OFFICE AND CAME BACK TO SCHOOL.

THAT WAS IT. SHE WAS OFF FOR TWO WEEKS. SHE LOST TWO WEEKS APPELLANT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, THAT DIALOGUE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON WITHIN A SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHAT A FOUR-DAY CALENDAR, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HELPS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TEACHERS AND EVERYONE WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK, AND YOUR VOICE IS DEFINITELY HEARD, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING TO BE DONE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MS. WATKINS.

>> I ACTUALLY PREPARED A STATEMENT AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT BECAUSE I WILL LOSE TRACK OF MY THOUGHTS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET EVERYTHING OUT.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK OUR CABINET FOR STAYING THE COURSE AND WORKING WITH US AS WE NAVIGATE OUR CHANGES GOING FORWARD.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED TONIGHT'S MEETING AND WHO SPOKE AT OUR RECENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR VOICE AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.

I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE SHEA ADAMS AND THE FINANCE TEAM ON THE CONTINUED RECOGNITION AND FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL TRANSPARENCY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSE WISE ON BEING RECOGNIZED BY TASB AS A RISING STAR.

LISTENING TO THE 30 TEACHERS THAT SPOKE AT OUR JANUARY 23RD MEETING, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD AND TO SHARE YOUR STORIES AND THOUGHTS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD.

YOU SPOKE, AND I LIKE THE REST OF THE BOARD LISTENED.

WHEN ASKED BY TEACHERS WHO WERE LEAVING THE PROFESSION, THE ANSWER WAS, THIS IS A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.

ISSUES THAT THE DISTRICT WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

I REALIZED REALLY QUICKLY THAT THE ADDITIONAL DAY OFF WAS NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

IT WAS GOING TO BE A BAND-AID.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A DISTRICT FOR OUR TEACHERS.

SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I HAVE VISITED FIVE CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

I'M VISITING TWO MORE THIS WEEK WITH THE REMAINDER THE FOLLOWING.

I HAVE WITNESSED LEARNING TAKING PLACES IN NEW AND DYNAMIC WAYS.

I'VE SEEN TEACHERS WORKING WITH KIDS AND MEETING THEIR NEEDS IN CREATIVE MANNER.

I'VE SEEN THE ADMINISTRATION FRUSTRATED BY A LACK OF SUBS AND BEING FORCED TO FIND WAYS OF GETTING CLASSROOMS COVERED.

I'VE TALKED TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE IN THE MIDST OF FAMILY AND MEDICAL ISSUES AND WERE BEING TOLD THEY HAD TO SHOW UP TO WORK BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SUBS TO COVER CLASS.

TEACHERS ARE STRESSED, TEACHERS ARE TIRED, TEACHERS CAN'T POUR INTO OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEIR CUP IS CRACKED AND LEAKING.

AFTER TALKING WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS SINCE JANUARY 23RD MEETING, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES I'D LIKE TO SEE US EXPLORE.

I LIKE TO SEE A BETTER MENTORSHIP FOR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATIONS.

THOSE TEACHERS ESPECIALLY STRUGGLED THE MOST IN OUR CLASSROOM.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A PLAN TO MAKE THOSE TEACHERS MORE SUCCESSFUL AND STAY IN EDUCATION.

I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE WAYS TO CREATE A COMPENSATION PLAN FOR THE TEACHERS WHEN THE ONLY CHOICE WE HAVE IS TEACHERS LOSING THEIR PLANNING PERIODS OR LUNCH PERIOD TO COVER CLASSROOMS. LASTLY, THERE IS A HUGE REASON WHY MANY TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION.

SB 144 THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021 ALLOWS DISTRICTS TO LEAVE THE TRS ACTIVE CARE AND MOVE TO PLANS THAT PROVIDE BETTER COVERAGE.

ONE OF THE MOST REBOUNDING ISSUES THAT WE HEARD LAST MONTH WAS A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN.

LET'S LOOK AT WAYS TO FIX THIS.

DISCIPLINE OR THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED BY ALMOST EVERY TEACHER THAT SPOKE LAST MONTH.

ONE TEACHER STATED THAT TEACHERS ARE QUITE LITERALLY PUNCHING BAGS.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT DISCIPLINES PLANS THAT REDUCE DISRUPTIONS AND CREATE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR DISCIPLINE ISSUES, AND CREATE POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS.

TO OUR PARENTS, WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED.

I SEE COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK ABOUT WHAT THE BOARD IS OR ISN'T DOING AND WHAT TEACHERS AREN'T DOING.

BUT THREE FINGERS POINT BACK AT THE COMMUNITY.

STUDIES SHOWED THAT STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAVE STUDENTS WHO SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.

STUDENTS WHO KNOW THEIR PARENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN SCHOOL KNOW THAT EDUCATION IS A VALUED COMMODITY.

WE INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND OUR CALENDAR WORKSHOP ON FEBRUARY 6TH.

AN HOUR WAS ALLOTTED FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.

TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOWED UP.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD.

THE COMMUNITY, OUR ADMINISTRATION,

[01:50:02]

>> THANK YOU, MS. WATKINS. ALEX.

>> THANK YOU. YOU'VE HEARD MANY OF MY PEERS ALREADY SAID THAT WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN.

WE WANT TO LISTEN. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATIONS TO THE CLASSROOMS. WE'VE BEEN LISTENING FOR YEARS.

I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT SINCE JUNE OF 2000.

THERE WERE ONLY 2,500 PEOPLE LIVING IN LITTLE ELM.

MY WIFE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 17 YEARS.

MS. COOK, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU.

I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY OF THOSE YEARS.

I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK.

I KNOW THE SALARY IS NOT WHAT WE'D LIKE IT TO BE.

MY WIFE HAS ONE OF THOSE SAME SALARIES, SO I UNDERSTAND MORE THAN YOU THINK.

BUT WE ARE LISTENING, WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

WE'RE WATCHING FACEBOOK, WE'RE READING.

WE MAYBE NOT BE COMMENTING ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE IT'S NEVER A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US, BUT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION. WE ARE.

THE ONE LAST ITEM, FOR MS. BROWN AND MS. ADAMS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO RETAIN OUR TEACHERS, TO HIRE MORE TEACHERS.

I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO FIND MORE TEACHERS.

YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. FLORES. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. MS. ADAMS.

[13. Superintendent Comments]

>> I ONLY HAVE TWO COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MR. BIEBER SHARED.

JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AWESOME LADY LOBOS AND THERE'S HISTORIC SEASON.

THEY'VE NEVER GONE THIS FAR AS A TEAM AND SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I WOULD HAVE TONIGHT IS TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF.

OUR VALUE TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUAL LASER FOCUSED ATTENTION TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR LEARNING EACH DAY.

YOUR MISSION AND YOUR WORK IS RECOGNIZED AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE AS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MAY WE ALL AS A COMMUNITY AND AS AN ORGANIZATION, KEEP THAT DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS, TOP OF MIND. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT WELCOME OUR LAST ITEM, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> DON'T HAVE A SECOND.

>> SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AT 8:52 PM.

[NOISE]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.