[*Portions of this meeting are not available]
[00:00:06]
>> WE DO NOT HAVE AN INVOCATION TONIGHT,
[1. Call to Order Open Session in the Board Room at Little Elm ISD Administration Building on 400 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, Texas 75068.]
SO MISS FLORES WILL GO INTO INTRODUCTION AND ROLL CALL.>> THANK YOU. WE'LL GOING INTO THE REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, MR. GACIOUS.
[7. Reports of the Superintendent ]
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OLSON, MR. LAMB, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE FIRST QUARTER DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW AND THIS WILL OFFICIALLY BE MY LAST REPORT TO THE BOARD.
I OFFICIALLY RETIRE IN ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I HOPE IT TAKE THAT LONG, BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS REPORT AND HOW IT'S PRESENTED, SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH IT REAL QUICK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS TIME WAS OUR REGION 10 AND 11 ENROLLMENT TRENDS.
WHAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM THIS, LOOKING AND YOU SEE THE LITTLE ELM IN VERY MIDDLE THERE AND CIRCLED BY THE RED.
LITTLE ELM POPULATION GREW FROM 1819 IN THE LAST FIVE YEAR PERIOD BY 5.7 PERCENT IN STUDENT POPULATION, AND IN REGION 10, THAT INCREASE WAS ONLY 2.4 PERCENT.
REGION 11 IS GROWING AT A LITTLE FASTER RATE THAN REGION 10, BUT SPEAKING OF WHAT AREAS ARE OUT THERE AND AS CITIES ARE MOVING AND EXPANDING OUT FROM THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, THEN I THINK YOU'RE SEEING MORE RURAL AREAS DOING THAT.
STUDENT INCREASED IN REGION 10, LIKE I SAID, 2.6, EVEN IN ONE YEAR.
THOSE POPULATION TRENDS ARE STILL HAPPENING.
YOU CAN SEE THE AREAS AROUND US ARE GROWING AT A LITTLE FASTER RATE THAN WE ARE.
THIS IS FOR THE DFW AREA, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AD NAUSEAM SOMETIMES.
WE SAW THE UPTICK IN HOUSING STARTS AND THEN THE UPTICK IN THE HOUSING CLOSINGS.
THAT'S WHAT THE LIGHT BLUE LINE MEANS, IS THE ANNUAL CLOSINGS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE ABOUT TO EVEN OUT.
AS WE GET TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE WHY THOSE ARE EVENING OUT.
THIS IS THE LAST, IN A ROW, SIX YEARS, ACTUALLY, BUT WE HAD 54 HOME CLOSINGS THIS YEAR.
SO FAR IN THE FIRST QUARTER, WE HAD 93 STARTS, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TREND, THAT IS STARTING TO UPTICK.
WE HAD 61 STARTS LAST FIRST QUARTER IN 2023, BUT AS YOU SAW, WE HAD 292 CLOSINGS.
THAT'S FROM THE BUILDERS HAVING THAT INVENTORY AND THEM SELLING OFF THAT INVENTORY AND SLOWING DOWN ON THEIRS.
BUT AS YOU SAW FROM THE PREVIOUS CHART, THOSE CLOSINGS AND STARTS ARE STARTING TO SWITCH AGAIN, BUILDERS ARE STARTING TO BUILD MORE HOUSES.
THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR US, THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA.
BY THE ELEMENTARY ZONES, WE ALL KNOW THAT OAK POINT IS, BY FAR, OUR LARGEST FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AREA.
WE HAVE SOME LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW, LAKEVIEW.
THE VACANT DEVELOPED LOTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THERE, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE VALENCIA PENINSULA.
THAT'S WITHIN THEIR ATTENDANCE ZONE.
THEN HACKBERRY HAS THE 207, WHICH IS AN INCREASE THERE, BUT THAT'S THE NEW ADDITION GOING ON AT KING AND WITT AT THAT INTERSECTION.
THIS IS THE MAP OF ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
YOU SEE PRESTWICK HAS GOT A BIG AREA THERE, BUT THAT'S MISLEADING BECAUSE THAT WHOLE AREA IS ALREADY OCCUPIED A LOT.
BUT WE'VE GOT THAT ALL CIRCLED.
UP NORTH, YOU SEE THE LAKEVIEW, THAT'S THE VALENCIA PENINSULA.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT GOING ON THERE, BUT IN OAK POINT AREA, WE HAVE THE LAKEWOOD VILLAGE GOING ON THERE.
THAT'S THE NORTH SHORE LAKEWOOD VILLAGE AND LAKEWOOD VILLAGE ITSELF.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE NEW ADDITION GOING ON ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THERE, ACROSS ELDORADO THAT WILL BE FEEDING INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NUMBER 7 OR LAKEWOOD VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
LOOKING AT THE MAP ON THE RIGHT, MAY 2024, GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE DARK GREEN SQUARE THEREBY THE CLEARED LAND, THAT'S OUR NEW ELEMENTARY SITE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHERE THAT MAP IS LOCATED.
THIS RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY IS AT NORTH LAKE ESTATE. THIS IS OUT.
IT'S IN THE OAK POINT ADDITION, BUT IT IS ON SOUTH PALOMA CREEK.
THAT'S ON THAT PENINSULA AND THEY'RE GROWING BIG THERE AS WELL.
THIS IS THE VALENCIA PENINSULA.
IT'S IN THE LAKEVIEW ATTENDANCE ZONE,
[00:05:03]
BUT THAT IS OUR FUTURE SITE.IF YOU'LL LOOK IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE MAY 2024 MAP, THAT BIG SQUARE AREA THERE, THAT IS THE FUTURE SITE OF ELEMENTARY NUMBER 8.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON AROUND THAT SITE AS WELL.
THEN THE MULTIFAMILY OVERVIEW, THESE ARE RENTALS.
WE HAVE ONE IN DOWN RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO STRIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE APRIL 2024 SATELLITE VIEW, THAT THEY HAVE STARTED A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THERE AND IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF HOUSES ALREADY IN THERE.
THOSE WILL ALL BE RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE PRIVATELY OWNED.
THAT'S THE SECOND ONE THAT WAS ON THE MAP THERE ON THE FAR NORTH END.
YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE ALREADY DEVELOPING THAT AND GETTING SITE AND PLOTS THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING IN PRETTY QUICKLY AS WELL.
THAT'S ON THE SOUTH END OF PALOMA CREEK.
THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO SEE THE FIVE-YEAR CHANGE IN OUR TRANSFERS IN.
WE'VE GAINED AN ADDITIONAL 40 STUDENTS, BUT WE'VE LOST AN ADDITIONAL 401 IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
WHERE THOSE ARE GOING, AS YOU CAN SEE, TRANSFERS OUT.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND WE HOPE TO CHANGE THAT TREND.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FOCUSES THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF MY OFFICE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IS TRYING TO REVERSE THAT TREND AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AND AGAIN, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THEM HERE IF THEY'RE LEAVING FOR REASONS THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
TEN-YEAR FORECAST. THESE NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE ONLY CHANGE THESE ONCE A YEAR BASED ON OUR PHOTOGRAPHIC DATE IN OCTOBER.
WE TAKE A PHOTO OF THAT ATTENDANCE DAY AND THOSE NUMBERS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE GENERATE THESE NUMBERS FROM.
THESE NUMBERS ARE ALSO NOT CHANGING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT THOUGH IS THE OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.
THOSE NUMBERS, AS YOU SEE, CONTINUE IN YELLOW, BUT KEEP IN MIND, THAT IS NOT TAKING INTO ELEMENTARY NUMBER 7 OR LAKEWOOD VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH OPENS IN A YEAR FROM NOW.
THOSE NUMBERS SHOULD BE HALF OF THAT, SO WE'LL DIVIDE THOSE NUMBERS BETWEEN THOSE TWO SITES.
THEN THE KEY TAKEAWAYS IS THAT THE FIVE-YEAR ENROLLMENT FORECAST TO BE MORE THAN 8,400 STUDENTS.
IF YOU REMEMBER THREE YEARS AGO, THAT NUMBER WAS EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE 10,000, BUT THAT'S JUST AN INDICATION THAT OUR GROWTH HAS SLOWED, BUT IT HAS NOT STOPPED.
THE KIDS ARE STILL GOING TO BE COMING, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AT A SLOWER PACE.
BUT AS BUILDERS START BUILDING MORE HOMES AND GETTING THAT INVENTORY BUILT BACK UP SO THAT WE CAN THEN HAVE THOSE HOMES SALE, I THINK THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT BASED ON HISTORY.
OUR DEMOGRAPHER ACTUALLY SAYS THAT THESE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING FOR US TO PLAN FOR.
>> THIS IS YOU'RE OFFICIALLY RETIRED?
>> I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL DISTRICT [APPLAUSE] AND BE A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HARPER, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> NOBODY TOLD ME. I WILL GO ON TO CITIZEN INPUT.
MISS FLORES, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
[9. Approval of Minutes]
>> THEN WE WILL GO INTO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSIDER THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING FROM MAY 20TH?
>> FROM MARY, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND, FROM JEFF. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
WE'LL GO ON TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL BOARD MINUTES FROM MAY 29TH, 2024.
DO I HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS IS?
>> I GOT ONE FROM DELEON. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND FROM KEN. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO INTO THE ACTION ITEMS.
[10. Action Items]
FIRST ONE IS CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.WITH THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MIKE WAS AWARE THIS, I PROBABLY FORGOT TO TELL HIM, HE ACTUALLY GETS TO RUN THE REQUEST FOR THE PRESIDENT PER BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UNLESS HE WANTS ME TO GO AHEAD AND RUN IT.
>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST CALL FOR NOMINATION.
SOMEBODY WILL NOMINATE AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON IT AND THE [NOISE] PRESIDENT WILL
[00:10:02]
THEN TAKE OVER AND RUN THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF ELECTIONS.>> DO I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT?
>> I NOMINATE MARY WATKINS FOR PRESIDENT.
>> WE HAVE NOMINATION OF MARY, ANY SECOND?
>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? CONGRATULATIONS.
>> TO SAVE THE CHAIR SWITCHING AS WE'VE DONE IN PRIOR YEARS, WE'LL JUST ALL STAY IN OUR SEATS [OVERLAPPING] AS IS, WE'LL RUN THE MEETING FROM NOW.
MARY, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
YOU CAN RUN FROM THE REST OF THE MEETING.
>> ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT?
>> I'LL RECOMMEND DELEON ENGLISH.
>> WE HAVE A NOMINATION OF DELEON ENGLISH. IS THERE A SECOND?
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD?
>> I NOMINATE KEN BEBER FOR SECRETARY OF BOARD.
>> KEN BEBER HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF KEN BEBER FOR SECRETARY, RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION CARRIES, AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER.
WE ARE AT CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE TASB DISTRICTS NOMINATIONS.
JASON, I'M GOING TO LET YOU [INAUDIBLE]
>> EVERYBODY SHOULD RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM SONYA.
CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, THE POSITION FOR DISTRICT 11 IS OPEN FOR THE TASB REPRESENTATION.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS CURRENTLY IN THE INCUMBENT, AND I'M SORRY HIS NAME SLIPS MY MIND, HAS MADE A COMMENT THAT HE IS RE-RUNNING FOR HIS POSITION.
I GUESS, WE AS A BOARD, IS THERE ANYONE FROM OUR BOARD WE WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE FOR THIS POSITION, OR ARE WE OKAY WITH NOT SENDING ANY PAPERWORK IN FOR ANY NOMINATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE DUE JULY 1ST?
>> STEVE NEWCOMBE IS THE CURRENT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS HIS NAME. I COULD NOT REMEMBER IT.
I'M JUST ASKING THE BOARD WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A BOARD IS DECIDE DO WE WANT TO SUBMIT ANYBODY AS A NOMINATION FROM OUR BOARD OR ANYBODY ELSE FROM ANOTHER BOARD AS A NOMINATION FOR THIS POSITION OR WE'RE GOOD AS IS?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY NOMINATION. YOU MIGHT HAVE A NOMINATION?
>> CAN WE PLEASE GET A MOTION TO DISCUSS?
>> I MOVE THAT WE NOMINATE STEVE NEWCOMBE AS OUR TASB REPRESENTATIVE FOR REGION 11.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO NOMINATE STEVE NEWCOMBE AS OUR REGION 11 REPRESENTATIVE FOR TASB.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY RAISE YOUR HAND.
STEVE NEWCOMBE WILL BE LISDS NOMINATION FOR REGION 11 FOR THE TASB COUNCIL.
NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE CONSIDERED THE HIRING OF THE ZELLERS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER PRINCIPAL.
IS ASHLEY HERE, WHO IS DOING THAT PRESENTATION?
>> MISS PEDECOST WILL BE GIVING THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, MISS WATKINS AND BOARD.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF A HIRE OF A NEW PRINCIPAL OF ZELLERS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> NO, I'M KIDDING. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN UP HERE GUYS.
>> I'M SURE YOU'RE HAPPY ABOUT IT.
>> I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVED THE REQUEST TO HIRE THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF ZELLERS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO HIRE MR. HIGGINBOTHAM AS THE PRINCIPAL OF ZELLERS EARLY LEARNING CENTER?
>> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE NAME AS DISCUSSED?
>> JASON MADE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[00:15:04]
>> I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF ZELLERS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER IS HOWARD HIGGINBOTHAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM.
THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE APPROVAL OF THE 2024/2025 BUDGET.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, BOARD, AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING THE STREAMING ONLINE.
WE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AS PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER EARLIER THIS EVENING AND WHENEVER THE DETAILS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE '24/25 ADOPTED BUDGET OR THE BUDGET THAT'S PROPOSED FOR THE BOARD TO ADOPT TONIGHT IN DETAIL.
DURING THAT HEARING, A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT ARE JUST THE EXPLANATION AND REMINDER THAT STATE FUNDING FORMULAS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE 2019.
THE SIZE OF OUR REVENUE GLASS, AS WE OFTEN CALL IT, ONLY INCREASES WITH ADDITIONAL STUDENTS.
THEREFORE, THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE EARN PER STUDENT DOESN'T INCREASE JUST BECAUSE TAXABLE VALUES INCREASE, IT SIMPLY SHIFTS THE SOURCE OF THE REVENUE.
WE FIRST FILL OUR GLASS WITH OUR LOCAL TAXES, SO IF OUR TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE INCREASES, THEN THAT'S LESS THAT THE STATE FILLS IT WITH TO BRING IT TO THE TOP OF THE GLASS.
JUST AS A REVIEW OF THAT, FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE STATE WILL CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 22 PERCENT OF OUR FORMULA REVENUE AND THE DISTRICT WILL PAY 78 PERCENT OF THAT.
IN 2015, 10 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS MORE OF A 50/50 PERCENT SPLIT.
THAT WAS JUST SOME INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARED AT THIS TIME, AS WELL AS THAT WITH OUR LAST YEAR '23/24, $4.8 MILLION DEFICIT AND $2.3 MILLION THAT WERE SPENT IN EXTRA FUNDING THAT WAS RELATED TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
WE STARTED THIS PROCESS LAST SEPTEMBER AND THE BOARD HAS MET MULTIPLE TIMES, REALLY EVERY MONTH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NOVEMBER, SPECIFICALLY AROUND BUDGET, AS HAS CABINET.
WE STARTED WITH A $7.1 MILLION DEFICIT AND WE'VE CUT THAT NEARLY IN HALF.
IT HASN'T BEEN WITHOUT PAIN, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DISPLACE ANY EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL DO DIFFERENT JOBS NEXT YEAR AND WE ARE WORKING TO RIGHT SIZE OUR STAFF.
BUT WITH NO MEANS TO REALLY ADDRESS THE EXTRAORDINARY INFLATION THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE 2019 AND NO INCREASES IN THE FUNDING FORMULAS, WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO CHIP AWAY AT THIS DEFICIT IN HOPES THAT WHENEVER THE LEGISLATURE MEETS NEXT SPRING, THAT THEY WILL OFFER SOME RELIEF THAT WAS NOT OFFERED IN THE LAST SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A TRANSITION FUND BALANCE IN ADDITION TO OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND THE BOARD WAS VERY WISE TO SET THAT APART.
WE HAD $10 MILLION SET OVER IN A FUND SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THESE DEVIATIONS IN STUDENT NUMBERS.
OUR CURRENT YEAR LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON TRACK INSTEAD OF HAVING A $4.8 MILLION DEFICIT TO HAVE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THREE MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
THAT WILL BE TAKEN FROM THAT $10 MILLION, AS WE THE PROPOSED $3.8 MILLION DEFICIT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE '24/25 SCHOOL YEAR.
WE'VE CUT THAT BUDGET BY OVER $6 MILLION TO GET TO THAT POINT TO ABSORB ALL OF THOSE EXTRA FUNDED POSITIONS AND TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE TO RIGHT SIZE FOR THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAVE.
AS A REMINDER, THE DISTRICT OPERATES OVER 31 FUNDS, AND THERE ARE ONLY THREE THAT THE BOARD ADOPTS BECAUSE THE OTHER FUNDS COME IN AS GRANT FUNDS OR FEDERAL FUNDS.
THE VERY NATURE OF WHAT WE ARE AWARDED DEFINES HOW WE SPEND THEM, SO THERE'S NOT A NEED FOR THE BOARD TO ADOPT THOSE, BUT THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE GENERAL FUND, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND OUR STUDENT NUTRITION FUND.
THOSE ARE SUMMARIZED ON A PAGE IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE '24/25 ADOPTED BUDGET, AND IT REFLECTS ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2023.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
>> ALL CONSIDER A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR?
>> JASON MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> JEFF MADE THE SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET IS NOW APPROVED FOR 2024/2025.
OUR NEXT ITEM UP IS THE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2023 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT.
[00:20:04]
MR. WYSE.>> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT WATKINS, SUPERINTENDENT LAMB, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
NOW THAT YOU'VE APPROVED THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WE CAN PUT A BOW ON THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE BUDGET IS A YEAR-ROUND PROCESS.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING.
THIS MEETING IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM YOU GUYS TO REALLOCATE AS WE NEED TO COVER OUR EXPENDITURES IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL AREAS BEFORE WE CLOSE OUR BOOKS AT THE END OF THIS WEEK.
THIS BUDGET TONIGHT IS NET ZERO IMPACT TO THE OVERALL BUDGET.
IT IS MERELY A REALLOCATION OF FUNDS BETWEEN THE FUNCTIONS TO COVER ANY EXPENSES THAT WE'VE SEEN.
THAT'S WHY WE WAIT AND PRESENT UNDER SEPARATE COVER SO THAT WE CAN GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN FOR THE YEAR OF ALL THE EXPENSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BOOK TO THIS FISCAL YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, AGAIN IT'S NET ZERO, THERE'S NO IMPACT OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
IT'S JUST A REALLOCATION BETWEEN FUNCTIONS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE '23/24 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT.
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2023/2024 BUDGET?
>> KEN, MADE A SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2023/2024 FINAL BUDGET RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WYSE. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[11. Consent Agenda]
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT?IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS?
>> JASON MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT?
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL OPPOSED.
THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS.
[12. Board President Comments]
I'M GOING TO SAY, IT SEEMS VERY EMPTY HERE WITHOUT CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.AS MUCH AS I'M ENJOYING SUMMER VACATION, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING PEOPLE IN THE SEATS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK JASON.
JASON HAS LED US THROUGH SOME PRETTY CRAZY TIMES.
HE BECAME PRESIDENT MY FIRST YEAR AS A TRUSTEE AND WE HAD A WILD RIDE.
JASON LET US WITH DISTINCTION.
HE WAS, A LOT OF TIMES, THE CALM IN THE STORM.
I WANT TO THANK JASON FOR HIS TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING MY FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT, AND I HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING SUMMER VACATION.
MR. GACIOUS, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU.
[13. Board Comments ]
YOU GET TO GO FIRST THIS TIME.>> CATCH ME OFF THE GUARD. I'M USUALLY RELAXED.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS THOSE THAT ARE LEAVING US.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A YEAR, BUT I'VE MADE, I THINK, GREAT FRIENDSHIPS AND GREAT ADMIRATION OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT WORK FOR THIS DISTRICT PUT IN.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SEES THAT, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS NOTICED AND GETS RECOGNIZED.
IT'S BEEN AN ENJOYABLE FIRST YEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE AND CONTINUING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT.
THOSE OF YOU TO LEAVING, WE BLESS YOU TO BE FRUITFUL WHEREVER YOU GO AND WHATEVER YOU DO. THANK YOU.
>> ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK STAFF.
I KNOW THIS SUMMERTIME, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
MR. GACIOUS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE DISTRICT IN THE SCHOOL.
THE TIME YOU'VE SPENT WITH US HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN YOUR LEADING THROUGH PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BEEN SWINGING OFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
WITH THAT SAID, MR. OLSON, THANK YOU.
FOR YOU AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AND TALKS AND YOU'VE LET US DO SOME REALLY ROUGH TIMES AND SOME THINGS THAT WE NEEDED YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE TIME YOU HAVE HELPED OUR DISTRICT IN GOING THROUGH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. WITH THAT SAID, THANK EVERYONE AND HAVE A GOOD SUMMER. [BACKGROUND]
[00:25:08]
>> I JUST THANK STAFF FOR COMING.
I KNOW IT'S SUMMER TIME, EVERYBODY'S TAKEN OFF VACATION, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME AND ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD US THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, ENJOYED IT.
IT'S HAD ITS, FOR SURE, MORE UPS AND DOWNS, BUT I KNOW THE DISTRICT AND THIS BOARDER ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THEY'RE IN CAPABLE HANDS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GOOD WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST YEARS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO KEEP THE DISTRICT IN THE RIGHT PACE AND THE RIGHT PATH.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WELL, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO WHATEVER EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING.
THE STEADY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY MUCH NEEDED.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS NOW THROUGH TWO BONDS, THROUGH ONE AND STARTED A SECOND ONE.
THE EXPERTISE YOU BROUGHT WAS VERY NEEDED.
BACK WHEN YOU CAME ON, THERE WAS SO THAT WE NEEDED TO GET DONE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, THE KNOWLEDGE AND ALL THAT HELP IN THE MEANTIME.
WE'RE A MUCH BETTER PLACE FOR IT NOW AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT YOU. THANK YOU VERY.
IT'S FUNNY, THERE'S PARENTS THAT LOVE THE SUMMERS BECAUSE THEY GET TO SPEND ALL THAT TIME WITH THEIR KIDS AND THEN THERE'S PARENTS THAT REALLY START MISSING THE SCHOOLS [LAUGHTER] ABOUT A WEEKEND TO SUMMER, AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PARENTS.
ANYWAY, BUT ENJOY THE SUMMERS FOR EVERYONE.
I KNOW OUR ADMIN THEY SAY, "WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO IN THE SUMMER? THERE'S REALLY NOTHING FOR YOU TO DO." I SAY, "WELL, THAT DOESN'T RING TRUE FOR OUR ADMINISTRATOR." THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE STILL DOING EVEN THROUGH THE SUMMERS THAT YOU DON'T REALLY WORK BECAUSE YOU'RE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THAT AND PUTTING IN ALL THAT HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES UNNOTICED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THEY'VE STOLE MY THUNDER, BUT THANKS EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND GREAT DAY TO AVAILABLE.
>> WE WILL NOW HAVE SUPERINTENDENT THOUGHTS.
[14. Superintendent Comments ]
>> [NOISE] WELL, THANK YOU ALL. ALFRED, I'VE GOT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
YOU'RE A GREAT EDUCATOR, AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN OKLAHOMAN, WE STILL LOVE YOU.
BOOMER SOONER. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, PAL.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT YOU GET TO DO, SO THANK YOU.
SHAY, THE BUDGET, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LOTS OF HARD WORK, LOTS OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS, LITERALLY.
IT'S GOOD TO GET TO THIS POINT AND PASS THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE THERE.
THIS BOARD, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER OVER A YEAR AND YOU ALL RESTRUCTURE TONIGHT, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.
JASON, I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER MY FIRST PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE GUIDING ME IN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE GOOD YEARS WITH EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE.
JUST EXCITED TO GET A LITTLE BREAK, BUT I'M READY FOR KIDS TO BE HERE AND PEOPLE TO BE HERE TOO.
WE'LL GET READY FOR THAT THROUGH JULY AND IT'LL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT GOES ON.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
SONYA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WONDERFUL.
THAT BEING SAID, I WILL CONSIDER A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
>> DELEON MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING THE MEETING AT 8:06 PM, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.