[1. Call to Order Open Session in the Board Room at Little Elm ISD Administration Building on 400 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, Texas 75068.]
[00:00:06]
THE LITTLE ELM ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS NOW IN SESSION.
[2. The Board will recess into Closed Meeting in the Board Support Conference Room as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act Code Subchapter 551.072 & 551.074. The Board and Superintendent will discuss: A. Personnel B. Land]
551.072 AND 551.074.THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND LAND AND IT IS 6:00 MISS FLORES.
LITTLE ELM ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS BACK IN SESSION AT 7:03.
[3. Pledge of Allegiance]
LET'S START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WE HAVE AN INVOCATION THIS EVENING, REVEREND JAMES HOLLIDAY.MAY WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS, PLEASE MISS FLORES.
[6. Superintendent Spotlight]
AND I BELIEVE MISS ASHLEY HAS AH QUITE A FEW PEOPLE TO INTRODUCE US TO TONIGHT.YES, YES, PRESIDENT WATKINS WE DO.
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF OUR VERY NEWEST LITTLE ELM LOBOS.
WE HAD A, I GUESS, A LITTLE BIT OF A BUSY HIRING SEASON.
AND SO, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE FOLKS.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED AND GIVEN YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO.
SO AS I CALL EACH OF THESE LEADERS UP, IF YOU'LL JUST COME STAND BESIDE ME, I'M GOING TO SPEAK REALLY GREATLY ABOUT YOU FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN ASK YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. SO FIRST, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO THE BOARD AND TO OUR COMMUNITY OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICES, MR. MIKE MEADOR. SO MR. MEADOR HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN IN LITTLE ELM ISD AS OUR ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.
HE SPENT TIME IN LINDALE HIGH SCHOOL AS A COACH AND ALSO SCIENCE TEACHER.
A TIME IN SULFUR SPRINGS ISD AS AN ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, TEACHER, AND COACH.
[00:05:01]
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, MR. MEADOR HAS BEEN MARRIED TO MINDY FOR 33 YEARS.WHEN ASKED WHAT HIS FAVORITE TEAM IS AND OR SPORT TO WATCH, YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT HIMSELF, MR. MEDDERS SAID I ENJOY DOING ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES LIKE SKYDIVING, ZIPLINING, HIKING, BIKING, WATER SPORTS, OUTDOOR GAMES, ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES COMPETITION, THIS IS YOUR GUY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU. THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR SUPERINTENDENT.
TOGETHER, WE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS AND MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
SPEAK OF THE WOMAN OF THE HOUR.
THERE SHE IS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MINDY.
WILL YOU COME DOWN? WE ARE SO THRILLED TO HAVE MICHELLE AS OUR NEW LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
SHE WAS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT ZELLERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
THEN SHE MADE THE SWITCH FROM ELEMENTARY UP TO HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE MOVING INTO OUR COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, WHERE SHE SERVED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
IN FACT, SHE WAS OUR LEAD COUNSELOR FOR SIX YEARS THERE AT LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN MOST RECENTLY BEFORE HER MOVE INTO THE PRINCIPALSHIP SHE WAS OUR ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL AT LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, MISS GENTRY HAS A SPOUSE IN THE DISTRICT, MR. ROB GENTRY, AND THEN THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN ALEX, RYAN AND ELI.
FAMILY MEMBERS OF MISS GENTRY WILL YOU STAND IF YOU'RE PRESENT? WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SOME FAMILY TO SUPPORT HER.
WHEN ASKED WHAT HER FAVORITE TEAM AND SPORT TO WATCH IS.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS IS HER FAVORITE TEAM.
SHE LOVES WATCHING FOOTBALL AND SOFTBALL.
WE ASKED, I ASKED, WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? AND SHE SAID, SHOES, WHICH I LOVE THAT ANSWER.
AND THEN SHE SAID, I ASKED, WHAT IS A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU? MISS GENTRY, SHE'S A MILITARY BRAT.
SHE'S LIVED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
AND IN FACT, SHE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.
SO WE ARE SUPER THRILLED THAT SHE FOUND HER WAY TO LITTLE ELM.
AND WE'LL ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS FOR THE BOARD.
THANK YOU. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. LAND, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I AM SO PROUD TO BE LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.
WE SPENT SOME TIME AS A STAFF THIS SUMMER BEFORE STUDENTS CAME BACK TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA OF PACK PRIDE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS FOR ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
JV STARTS AT 5:30 AND VARSITY AT 6:30.
BUT AGAIN, I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH EACH OF YOU.
OUR THIRD INTRODUCTION OF OUR ANOTHER NEW LOGO IS OUR BRAND-NEW PRINCIPAL AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MR. STEVE MENEZES. IF YOU'LL COME DOWN.
STEVE IS A CALIFORNIA TRANSPLANT.
THIS IS HIS VERY FIRST YEAR IN TEXAS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE.
HE HAS THOUGH, A STORIED CAREER IN EDUCATION THERE IN CALIFORNIA.
MOST OF HIS EXPERIENCE WAS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
HE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
[00:10:04]
AND IRONICALLY, NOT REALLY COINCIDENTALLY, ELIM IS A DUAL LANGUAGE CAMPUS AND SO HE BRINGS TWO HERE TO LITTLE ELM EXPERIENCE RUNNING A DUAL LANGUAGE CAMPUS.SO WE'RE SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MR. MENEZES HAS A SPOUSE NAMED ALI.
SHE WORKS AT LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAS TWO CHILDREN, MAX AND LUKE, WHO ARE ALSO NEW LOBOS.
IF THE FAMILY AND IF YOU GUYS WILL STAND, THE MENEZES FAMILY.
OKAY. SO WHEN WE GET ONE, WE GET FOUR AND WE LOVE IT.
SO, I ASKED STEVE, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TEAM AND SPORT TO WATCH? HE LOVES WATCHING SOCCER.
HE LIKES WATCHING THE US NATIONAL TEAM, FC DALLAS.
AC MILAN. WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HE COLLECTS, INTERESTINGLY, HE COLLECTS GUITARS.
SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE HIM AND I GUESS YOU PLAY THEM ALSO.
OKAY, SO WE MIGHT HAVE JUST A COLLECTION OF GUITARS THAT DON'T GET PLAYED.
WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE YOU DO A MUSICAL SELECTION, MAYBE WITH MR. LAMB AS YOUR SOLOIST.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE GLAD FOR MR. MONIS TO BE HERE IN TEXAS WITH US.
AND I'LL ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS FOR THE BOARD.
ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
BOARD. THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT.
IT IS REALLY AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MY BEST TO MOVE HACKBERRY FORWARD AND TO BE THERE FOR OUR KIDS AND TO MAKE IT A GREAT PLACE.
SO, THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT INTRODUCTION, A NOT SO NEW LOBO. WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY OFFICIALLY, OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF OAK POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
PRIOR TO JOINING US HERE IN LITTLE ELM THOUGH EXCUSE ME, BERNADETTE SERVED IN OTHER ISD'S AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO ISD, ROUND ROCK ISD, KATY ISD, AND DENTON ISD AS WELL.
IN FACT, BERNADETTE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A BILINGUAL PRE-K TEACHER ASSISTANT, AND SO SHE'S VERY MUCH A TESTIMONY TO STARTING, YOU KNOW, AS A CLASSROOM ASSISTANT AND WORKING YOUR WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE VERY TOP AND BECOMING A PRINCIPAL.
WE ARE, I'M THRILLED TO SAY THAT SHE IS PURSUING HER DOCTORATE DEGREE AT DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.
IS GETTING VERY CLOSE TO FINISHING THAT.
SHE HAS TWO MASTER'S DEGREES, ONE FROM UT AUSTIN, ONE FROM UT SAN ANTONIO.
SO, LOTS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM SHE BRINGS TO THIS POSITION.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, BERNADETTE HAS TWO CHILDREN, ROBBIE AND ROSLYN, AND HER HUSBAND IS ROBERT.
I THINK ROBBIE AND ROSLYN ARE HERE WITH US.
WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO STAND BY? YOU CAN COME UP. COME ON UP, GUYS.
HER PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, AS I MENTIONED, HAS BEEN HER DOCTORAL JOURNEY.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN A TWO WAY, DUAL LANGUAGE CAMPUS.
SO I AM BLESSED TO BE AT OAK POINT.
WE HAD OUR FIRST BALLET FOLKLORICO PRACTICE TODAY AFTER SCHOOL BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING THAT IN.
AND SO YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO COME IN AT ANY TIME.
OUR KIDS WOULD LOVE TO PERFORM FOR YOU OR LET YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR CAMPUS.
SO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME TO BE THE OAK POINT PRINCIPAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BERNADETTE, AND FOR OUR FINAL INTRODUCTION OF THE EVENING.
WE HAVE OUR BRAND NEW PRINCIPAL AT ZELLERS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER, MR. HOWARD HIGGINBOTHAM.
HOWARD HAS A VERY ACCOMPLISHED CAREER AS WELL.
HE BRINGS TO US OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION.
[00:15:02]
HIS CAREER STARTED IN OHIO AND THEN FROM AFTER SPENDING HIS EARLY YEARS IN OHIO, HE MOVED DOWN TO TEXAS AND SPENT TIME IN FORT WORTH ISD AS A HEALTH AND PE TEACHER.AND THEN HE WENT INTO MATH TEACHING.
SO, KIND OF SIMILAR TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THEN HE SPENT 11 YEARS AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
MOST RECENTLY, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR SIX YEARS AT TWO OF DENTON ISD'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PRE-K CAMPUSES.
SO HE ALSO BRINGS TONS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRE-K WORLD.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM IS MARRIED TO TANA LEE AND THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN JASON, HEATHER AND TYLER, AND ALSO SIX GRANDCHILDREN.
A FUN FACT ABOUT MR. HIGGINBOTHAM HE GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN OHIO, AND HIS FAMILY CARED FOR 17 FOSTER CHILDREN AS HE WAS GROWING UP.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL ASK MR. HIGGINBOTHAM FOR ANY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AS IT WAS SAID, MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY STARTED IN A SMALL TOWN IN OHIO.
OKAY. SO FROM THERE, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS MY JOURNEY NOW HAS BROUGHT ME TO FULL CIRCLE AROUND TO THE DESTINATION DISTRICT OF LITTLE ELM.
EXCUSE ME. THE THIS FAMILIAR HOMETOWN FEEL OF THIS DISTRICT, THE QUEST FOR THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE EMPHASIS ON FAMILY IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SEARCHING FOR. FROM MY MEETINGS WITH MR. LAMB TO MY INTERACTIONS WITH MR. BARTLETT AND MISS BROWN AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS IN THIS DISTRICT, INCLUDING MY STAFF AT ZELLERS.
I'M EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE AND FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.
I CAN UNDENIABLY SAY THAT NOW I'VE FOUND MY HOME AND THAT IS A MEMBER OF THE LOBO PACK.
THANK YOU. AND I NEGLECTED TO HAVE HIS WIFE, TANA, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR THAT TIME.
THANK YOU, MRS. BROWN NEXT UP IS OUR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.
[7. Reports of the Superintendent]
MR. LAMB, YOU ARE UP.OKAY. I WANT TO SET THIS UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRUANCY AND TRUANCY REPORTING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IS SOMETIMES WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT CITIES THAT WE SERVE, YOU GET SEVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF SITUATIONS LEGALLY. AND SO IT IT TRIGGERED IN MY HEAD A SPEAKER I HEARD YEARS AGO THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CAN BRING IT TO YOU, WHICH WOULD GIVE US CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR FAMILIES TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES.
AND SO WE'VE INVITED OUR GENTLEMAN HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE SAME THINGS WE HEARD AS WE'VE STEPPED INTO KIND OF MAKING THIS DECISION ON THE SUPPORT WE'D LIKE TO GET FOR OUR TRUANCY MANAGEMENT.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE FELLAS.
MISS WATKINS, MR. LAMB BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT JUDGE PEYTON AND I ARE VERY, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
IT IS TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES.
IT IS RECONNECTING KIDS BACK TO CAMPUS.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, JUDGE PEYTON SAT ON THE COLLIN COUNTY BENCH FOR 28 YEARS AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, AND I RETIRED AFTER 38 YEARS AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN NORTH TEXAS AREA.
AND IF THIS WORKS CORRECTLY, MAYBE.
AS YOU KNOW, MR. LAMB ALLUDED TO IT.
THIS IS THE TRUANCY COURT PROCEDURES CURRENTLY FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND IF YOU ARE COUNTING, THERE ARE 54 STEPS THAT SOMEONE FROM THE DISTRICT THANK YOU, SIR, IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO BEFORE REFERRING A STUDENT TO COURT.
AND IT COULD BE SEVEN DIFFERENT COURTS HERE IN DENTON COUNTY.
WHAT JUDGE PEYTON AND I DO IS OUR COMPANY IS ABLE TO COME IN AND STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
AND THIS ALL OCCURS AFTER THE 10TH UNEXCUSED ABSENCE.
EVERYTHING SHIFTED FROM THE COURTS TO THE SCHOOLS.
[00:20:04]
OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE SYSTEMS AND THE PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE HERE IN LITTLE ELM.IT WILL ABSOLUTELY IMPROVE STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
IT WILL ABSOLUTELY IMPROVE STUDENT GRADES.
IT'S AMAZING. YOU GO TO SCHOOL, YOUR GRADES GO UP REDUCTION IN REFERRALS TO THE OFFICE.
AND WE HAVE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
WE ARE A VERY, VERY RESTORATIVE PRACTICE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE FIRM.
WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE WITH EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.
BUT YOU GET CONSISTENCY WITH THAT, RIGHT? AND WE KNOW WITH YOUNG ADULTS THEY ARE LONGING FOR BORDERS, RIGHT? THEY ARE LONGING FOR GUARDRAILS RIGHT.
AND SO, WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROCESS OF NOT SEVEN DIFFERENT COURTS.
AND THEN IF YOU ACTUALLY GET SEEN BY A COURT AND BY THE WAY, THE COURT MAY IGNORE YOU AS WELL.
WE WILL CENTRALIZE THE LOCATION TO HEAR.
INDIVIDUALS WILL COME HERE, AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR LITTLE ELM.
SHALL IS A PRETTY STRONG WORD.
ONCE THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE MET, THEY ARE NOT TO EXCEED 45 SCHOOL DAYS.
AGAIN, THIS IS STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
BUT I WILL NOT READ THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I WILL NOT INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE.
IT'S WIDE OPEN FOR ANY IN SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL SERVICES AT ADDRESSING THE TRUANCY ISSUES.
SO IF SOMEONE CAME UP TO YOU AND ASKED, DEFINE FOR ME WHAT IS AN OUT OF SCHOOL SERVICE? THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WIDE OPEN.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PARENTS? AND THIS IS THE FUN PART.
THIS IS WHERE PARENTS COME BACK TO YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, AND TALK ABOUT HOW APPRECIATIVE THEY ARE THAT YOU HIRED US TO KEEP THEM OUT OF COURT BECAUSE THEY FACED THOSE FINES AND FEES.
SO, IF YOU HAVE TEN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A $4,000 FINE.
IT GETS PRETTY EXPENSIVE PRETTY QUICK.
EVEN THE ONES THAT COME THROUGH TRUANCY TRIBUNAL IS WHAT WE CALL IT.
RIGHT? BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE ABOUT HOW APPRECIATIVE THEY ARE OF THIS.
AGAIN, EVERYTHING HAS SHIFTED FROM THE COURTS TO THE SCHOOLS AND THE REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ALLOWS US, SINCE WE ARE THE ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINARY MEASURES, TO ACTUALLY BRING PARENTS IN AND REENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS AT A QUICKER, FASTER RATE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL TEN UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.
THIS DATA IS NOT OUR DATA FROM PEYTON NIXON ASSOCIATES AS A TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURE FIRM.
THESE ARE YOUR FRIENDS THAT ARE CLOSELY AROUND YOU.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ADA COMPONENT IS BECAUSE WE JUST PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET IN LITTLE ELM.
CORRECT? YEAH LOTS OF SUCCESS.
FRISCO, PROSPER, SHERMAN JUST TO LET YOU KNOW AS WELL, A LOT OF THESE CAMPUSES, TWO SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE CREDIT RECOVERY CAMPUSES WITH A HIGH SES POPULATION THAT'S VERY, VERY TRANSIENT AND MOBILE.
IN WINFREY, THAT'S AFTER WORKING WITH THEM ONE YEAR.
A PLUS ACADEMY AND INSPIRED VISION, THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR TO WORK WITH THEM.
JUDGE PEYTON AND I WILL ENTERTAIN AND YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE.
WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND IN REENGAGING KIDS IN SCHOOL, WE CAN HELP YOU.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.
THANKS, GUYS. APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
THANK YOU. MISS BROWN, YOU ARE UP AGAIN.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
[00:25:01]
SO IN YOUR BOARD BOOK, YOU HAVE TWO DOCUMENTS.ONE IS THE ACTUAL DRAFT OF THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, MANY PAGES LONG, 70 ISH, 80 ISH PAGES.
AND THEN THERE'S A SEPARATE DOCUMENT THAT IS CALLED THE 2024 UPDATE GUIDE TO CHANGES AND ADDITIONS, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE JUST IN ONE FORM, KIND OF IN A CHART.
THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO THIS YEAR'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.
SO I WILL GO OVER THOSE THINGS WITH YOU.
MOST OF THEM ARE JUST KIND OF INFORMATIONAL PIECES.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT WAS UPDATED IN THIS YEAR'S HANDBOOK IS JUST THE DISTRICT CALENDAR.
THAT WAS ON PAGE FIVE, PAGES SEVEN THROUGH EIGHT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN SOME STRATEGIC PLAN REVISIONS.
AND SO I CHANGED THE OFFICER POSITIONS ON PAGE NINE.
PAGE TEN. THERE WERE A FEW CHANGES TO ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS, SO I CHANGED THAT.
THERE WERE SOME PRINCIPAL CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN THERE.
SO AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 13, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF SENTENCES THAT ARE ADDED ABOUT THE NEW DISTRICT OF INNOVATION EXEMPTION THAT WENT INTO PLACE DURING LAST SCHOOL YEAR WHICH ALLOWS FOR LITTLE ELM ISD TO HAVE A SECOND YEAR OF PROBATIONARY CONTRACT STATUS FOR OUR FIVE OF EIGHT EMPLOYEES.
THEY THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SAYS THEY GET ONE YEAR OF PROBATIONARY CONTRACT.
SO THAT NEEDED TO BE REFLECTED IN OUR HANDBOOK.
SO WE DID THAT AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 13, PAGE 21.
WE JUST CHANGED THE PAY DATES FROM LAST SCHOOL YEAR TO REFLECT THESE 24-25 PAY DATES.
AND THEN THERE IS A SENTENCE THAT'S ADDED THERE ON PAGE 21 THAT JUST THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY TASB TO STATE THAT EMPLOYEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THE ACCURACY OF THEIR PAY STATEMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER TASB EDIT TO KIND OF EXPLAIN OVERPAYMENTS.
SO, YOU'LL SEE THAT SENTENCE HIGHLIGHTED THERE.
ON PAGE PAGES 28 THROUGH 29 WE UPDATED THE LIST OF PROTECTED DATES.
THESE ARE THE DATES THAT THAT STAFF MEMBERS ARE NOT TO USE DISCRETIONARY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER THE DAY BEFORE OR AFTER A HOLIDAY, OR THEY'RE ON A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY, OR THEY'RE ON A STAR OR EOC TESTING DATE.
SO THOSE HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
ON PAGE 50, SO A LOT OF PAGES ADVANCING.
THERE'S A TAB EDIT ABOUT TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU ON PAGE 50 AND THERE IS JUST REALLY THERE'S A POLICY CHANGE.
SO WE ADDED POLICY DF THERE UNDER HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS.
PAGE 66, JUST AND NICOTINE WAS ADDED, TASB AND ALSO TEXAS EDUCATION CODE HAVE GONE BEYOND JUST TOBACCO PRODUCTS BEING PROHIBITED, BUT THEY'VE ADDED AND NICOTINE.
SO WE REFLECTED THAT IN OUR HANDBOOK.
AND THEN THE LAST EDIT IS ON PAGE 70 AND IT'S FOR OUR ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND AGAIN THAT WAS TO JUST CHANGE THE POLICY CODE.
NOW THAT YOU'RE ON THAT SHEET, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE'S AN EDIT ON PAGE 82.
PLEASE IGNORE THAT, STRIKE IT, DELETE IT.
THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT FROM LAST YEAR'S.
SO THAT WAS AN EDIT WE MADE TO LAST YEAR'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK THAT I NEGLECTED TO TAKE OFF.
AND THAT'S IT. THOSE ARE OUR THEY'RE ALL VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THOSE ARE OUR EDITS FOR THIS YEAR THANK YOU, MRS. BROWN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP, COACH YOUNG FROM THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS, BOARD, MR. LAMB THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO KIND OF GO OVER SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME THINGS FROM LAST YEAR IN ATHLETICS.
[00:30:06]
HAVING THE DESTINATION DISTRICTS, WE NEED TO HAVE A DESTINATION ATHLETIC PROGRAM.SO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY PUSH WITH THE COACHES WHO WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT PART OF IT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE COACHES AND THE WINNING.
IT'S FACILITIES, IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S PARENTS WANTING THEIR KIDS TO BE PART OF THAT PROGRAM.
BOTH OF THESE, BAILEY MCCREARY ARE FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.
BOTH THESE WERE MULTIPLE SPORT ATHLETES THAT WON THE MALE AND FEMALE AWARD.
HERE'S SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FROM EACH SPORT THAT WE HAD.
I WON'T READ ALL OF THOSE OFF, BUT WE HAD QUITE A FEW IN EACH ONE OF OUR SPORTS WE'RE PROUD OF.
YOU KNOW, WRESTLING IS ONE THAT STANDS OUT.
WE HAD SOMEBODY GO TO STATE AGAIN IN WRESTLING.
NOW WE'VE GOT OUR OWN FACILITY.
WE'VE GONE FROM ABOUT 8 OR 9 WRESTLERS TO ABOUT 75.
SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF AND IT'S REALLY TAKEN OFF AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THAT? LAST YEAR, WE HAD SEVEN TRACK ATHLETES QUALIFY FOR AREA.
THAT'S THE MOST WE'VE HAD SINCE WE WENT TO SIX A.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DO, WELL, HOW DO YOU SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT? AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN KIND OF TRACK WITH ATHLETICS IS CALLED THE LONE STAR CUP.
IT'S ALSO THEATER, ONE ACT PLAY ROBOTICS.
AND THEY KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS.
WHAT THIS MEANS I'VE KIND OF GONE BACK THROUGH THE YEARS.
I WENT BACK REALLY AS FAR BACK AS YOU CAN GO.
BUT JUST IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, 2014 WITH THE HIGHEST AT LITTLE ELM DID THAT WAS 80TH PLACE.
SINCE GOING 6A, YOU CAN SEE IN 2021, IT WAS TIED FOR 240.
23, WE WENT TO 140 AND THIS LAST YEAR TO 185.
NOW, EACH ONE OF THOSE, LIKE I SAID, THOSE POINTS UP THERE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF POINTS TO GET.
ONE POINT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
YOU JUMP A LOT OF PLACES IN JUST A FEW POINTS.
LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOT A POINT FOR OUR CHEER THAT DID REALLY WELL AT THE STATE THIS SPRING.
THEY GOT A POINT. THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
IT'S A, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE OUR CHEER HAS GOT A POINT, SO WE'RE PROUD OF IT.
AND THEN LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ATHLETICS.
IT'S ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS TOO.
AND IT'S ABOUT BAND IN OUR IN EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AND CHIP AWAY AT THIS.
AND IT'S HARD WHEN YOU GO FROM FIVE A TO SIX A, I'LL TALK ABOUT ROCK HILL FOR A SECOND.
SO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THAT MOVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DISTRICT THAT WE'VE BEEN IN.
IT'S YOU COULD GO TO SIX A IN SOME DISTRICTS AND NOT BE AS BIG A DEAL.
BUT ROCK HILL SHOWS IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU MAKE THAT MOVE AND IT TAKES TIME.
AND I THINK IT'S TAKEN US SOME TIME TO CHIP AWAY THAT.
BASEBALL HAS BEEN FANTASTIC IN COACH HARDMAN'S A GREAT COACH BUT IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO HAVE THE PERSON THAT KNOWS HOW TO BUILD A PROGRAM.
KNOW WHAT, WHEN MR. MINNER WAS OUT THERE WITH ME FINDING PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT 6A PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, WHAT IT'S RUN LIKE FROM DAY TO DAY.
A PART OF THAT IS NOT HAVING A TEAM BUT A PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW COACH TED IS TRYING TO BUILD THAT.
THEY HAVE THE MOST THEY'VE HAD COME OUT FOR FRESHMAN GIRLS BASKETBALL.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO FRESHMAN TEAMS THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESS.
[00:35:02]
YOU HAVE A STAFF THAT'S SUCCESSFUL AND A PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL.SO AND IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS IN THAT I MEAN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL THIS YEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO FRESHMAN VOLLEYBALL TEAMS. AND NOT ONLY DID THEY HAVE GREAT NUMBERS COME OUT, BUT A LOT OF GIRLS THAT WERE GOOD VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS.
SO I KNOW THAT OUR YOUTH VOLLEYBALL IS REALLY TAKEN OFF, AND WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF GETTING ALL THESE KIDS INVOLVED IN IT AND STARTING TO SHOW UP IN GIRLS SOCCER AS WELL. SO BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO DO BETTER AT THIS, BUT I THINK WE KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
WHEN YOU FIND A GOOD ONE, YOU GOT TO KEEP THEM.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME NEW ONES JUST HIRED.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW BOYS SOCCER COACH, COACH MARTINEZ.
HE'S BEEN AT COPPELL, HE'S BEEN AT GRAPEVINE.
HE KNOWS WHAT BIG TIME SOCCER LOOKS LIKE.
HE KNOWS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF IT.
SO SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THAT.
THIS NEXT ONE IS KIND OF THE ATHLETES THAT WE HAD SIGNED LAST YEAR, BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER PLAYERS.
OBVIOUSLY COACH HARMON HAS LOST A LOT OF GOOD BASEBALL PLAYERS LAST YEAR.
VOLLEYBALL, GIRLS BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CREDIT NOT ONLY TO THE COACHES, BUT TO THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS.
GETTING RECRUITED AND GOING TO COLLEGE AND PLAYING IS A LOT OF WORK.
AND IT'S YOU SEE, THESE AREN'T ALL TEXAS A&M AND OKLAHOMA.
YOU KNOW, THOSE PLACES ARE GOING TO FIND DIVISION ONE PLAYERS.
AND LIKE I TELL ANY KID OR ANY PARENT THAT ASKS, THERE'S A PLACE FOR ANYBODY TO GO PLAY.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY AND YOU WANT TO KEEP PLAYING, THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU.
THIS NUMBER HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
BECAUSE WE WANT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO KEEP PLAYING, WE WANT THEM TO KEEP PLAYING.
AT THIS TIME, IF YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AND ASK ANYTHING.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ONE THAT I BRAG ABOUT IS TENNIS IS FOUR AND ONE RIGHT NOW.
WHEN I GOT HERE, THAT WAS THEY WERE REALLY STRUGGLING.
THEY'VE REALLY GOTTEN A LOT BETTER.
WE WERE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY THEY'VE GONE.
YOU KNOW, TENNIS IS YET TO WIN A DISTRICT MATCH SINCE GOING TO SIX A.
AND WE PLAY BRASWELL TOMORROW AND THAT'S GOING TO END I THINK TOMORROW.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE VOLLEYBALL HAS NEVER WON A DISTRICT MATCH SINCE GOING TO 6A, AND I THINK WE GOT A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING SOME DISTRICT MATCHES IN THAT TOO. NOW WE'VE WON A LOT OF DISTRICT NON-DISTRICT MATCHES, OF COURSE, BUT IN DISTRICT PLAY, SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE, EVEN THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT MADE POINTS IN THAT YET. WE SEE THAT THEY ARE GETTING BETTER AND GETTING COMPETITIVE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COACH YOUNG.
[9. Approval of Minutes]
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION, MR. ENGLISH MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. BURTON MADE THE SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE BOARD MEETING? MINUTES FROM JULY 15TH.ALL OPPOSED? AND OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM OUR AUGUST 5TH WORKSHOP MEETING.
IS THERE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION. MR. ENGLISH MADE THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
OH. I'M SORRY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[10. Action Items]
AND NOW WE'RE INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS.[00:40:01]
OUR FIRST ITEM IN ORDER IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE 2024-2025 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.BOARD MEMBERS, MR. LAMB. YOU GUYS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THAT, I THINK AND IT WAS AUGUST THE 5TH THAT WE DID MEET, AND YOU JUST APPROVED THOSE MINUTES, BUT I THINK Y'ALL HAD IT.
I THINK I SENT IT TO YOU THAT EVENING.
IF I DIDN'T, I SENT IT TO YOU ON THE SIXTH.
SO YOU'VE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS TWO WEEKS TO LOOK OVER IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ANSWER IN REGARDS TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT? IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT? SO MOVE. MR. BEAVER MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? MR. ENGLISH MADE A SECOND. NOW, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BARTLETT? ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
DOCTOR TRAMEL, IT IS YOUR TURN.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MR. LAMB. WE ARE COMING TO SHARE AN UPDATE AND POTENTIAL VOTE ON OUR DESTINATION.
AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE OF EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS GET TOGETHER AND CREATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE LABELED DESTINATION DISTRICT 2025.
WE PROPOSED THIS NEW PLAN BE LABELED DESTINATION DISTRICT 2030.
THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED FOR THIS WAS A COMMITTEE OF ABOUT 43 MEMBERS WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
THE COMMITTEE MET BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND APRIL AND EXPLORED VALUES AND BELIEFS.
THE COMMUNITY WAS THE COMMITTEE, PARDON ME, WAS COMPRISED OF STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE EVEN HAD A FEW BOARD MEMBERS JOIN US ON THAT COMMITTEE.
WE DID A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES AROUND VALUES AND BELIEFS AND GARNERED ALL OF THAT FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF GOALS AND OUR PORTRAIT OF A LOGO.
WHEREAS IN THE 2025 PLAN WE HAD FOR THE TWO NEW GOALS ARE IN THE AREAS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY AND RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS. THE GOALS THAT AREAS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY THAT WE STILL HAVE ARE IN THE AREAS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN CAPITAL AND FISCAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AS WE LOOK AT THE GOALS BEING PROPOSED TO YOU TONIGHT IN THE AREA OF SAFETY AND SECURITY WE WILL PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SAFE, SECURE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.
THE NEW GOAL OF RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVES ENGAGING EACH STUDENT AND STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBER IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT FACILITATE BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR PARENT LIAISON THAT DOES COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES IN THE AREA OF TEACHING AND LEARNING.
WE STILL HAVE FOUR FOCUS AREAS.
THEY'VE BEEN TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT AS A RESULT OF THE COMMITTEE'S WORK.
[00:45:02]
WE WILL ENGAGE EACH STUDENT IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT LEAD TO INCREASED COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY OPPORTUNITIES FOR POST-SECONDARY READINESS.AND THEN THE LAST GOAL AREA IS IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND ENGAGING EACH EMPLOYEE IN A MORE PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THEM.
BEING ABLE TO MEET THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE ISD COMMUNITY TO BUILD TRUST, SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT, AND THEN ALSO FOSTER RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENHANCE OUR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN THE AREA OF HUMAN CAPITAL.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH STAYED THE SAME.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OF COURSE, IS OUR FISCAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO AS OPPOSED TO FOUR, WE NOW HAVE SIX GOAL AREAS.
AND THESE ARE THE GOALS BASED ON WORK AND INPUT FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO THE BOARD THIS EVENING FOR APPROVAL. AND WITH THAT DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN? SO MOVED. MR. BURTON MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. OLSON MADE THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR TRAMEL? YES. IF YOU COULD A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF METHOD.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? ABSOLUTELY.
SO PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A GOAL IN OUR 2025 PLAN THAT WAS CENTERED AROUND STUDENT CENTERED INSTRUCTION AND JUST THROUGH DISCUSSION IN THE COMMITTEE.
AND WE HAD THREE STUDENTS ON THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL.
WE FELT LIKE A MORE CLEAR REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WAS NEEDED WAS MORE OF A CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH.
SO WHAT THAT ENTAILS IS MORE INSTEAD OF MAYBE WATCHING A FILM OR SOMETHING AND FILLING OUT SOMETHING OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS, IT INVOLVES MORE DISCOURSE AND DIALOG.
IT INVOLVES MORE CONNECTIONS TO EVERYDAY LIFE AND PERHAPS THAT THE STUDENT CAN RELATE TO.
IT JUST LOTS OF LEARNING BY DOING AND MEANING MAKING.
SO IT'S MORE ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT STUDENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING AND THEN BEING ABLE TO APPLY THAT TO MULTIPLE SITUATIONS. SO IT'S A VERY ACTIVE KIND OF LEARNING METHODOLOGY AS OPPOSED TO A READ A CHAPTER AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. IT'S MORE EXPERIENTIAL.
NOW IS THIS GOING TO BE BRAND NEW TO THE DISTRICT? IS THIS BRAND NEW TO THE DISTRICT [INAUDIBLE] WELL, IT'S A METHODOLOGY THAT REALLY DOES FLOW WELL WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGN STRUCTURE OF OUR CURRICULUM.
IT IS THAT'S AN INQUIRY DESIGN THAT TEACHES FOR TRANSFER OF LEARNING SO THAT KIDS CAN TAKE THEIR LEARNING AND APPLY IT TO LIFE EVEN WHEN THEY LEAVE US.
SO IT IS THROUGH IF WE THINK EVEN AS ADULTS, IF YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ON A COMMITTEE AND DOING WORK AND WHATEVER, YOU REMEMBER THE DIALOG AND YOU REMEMBER YOU MAKE MEANING THROUGH ALL OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO THAT IS THE THE IDEA BEHIND A CONSTRUCTIVIST PEDAGOGY IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND ARE TEACHERS, DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING FOR THAT, OR IS IT IS THAT KIND OF.
SO THE CURRICULUM REALLY SUPPORTS THAT.
WE FINISHED STAGE THREE, WHICH THIS WAS OUR SECOND SUMMER TO REALLY WORK ON THE CURRICULUM.
AND SO WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN SUPPORTING TEACHERS FOR THIS PEDAGOGY.
SO REALLY THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE THERE AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE PROMOTE MORE INQUIRY AND DISCUSSION AND ACTIVE LEARNING.
OKAY. SO WE FEEL LIKE OUR TEACHERS WILL PICK THIS UP.
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING THROUGH TRAINING WITH THEIR TEACHERS TO HELP THEM.
CORRECT. SO A GREAT EXAMPLE I HAVE IS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IN MATHEMATICS.
MICHELLE WOOD, OUR COORDINATOR FOR SECONDARY MATH, IS FOCUSING ON THE THINKING CLASSROOM.
SO SHE ACTUALLY TOOK OUR NEW TEACHERS THROUGH LEARNING ABOUT THAT.
[00:50:05]
IT WAS IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVIST, INQUIRY BASED WAY.MR. LAMB HAPPENED TO BE IN THAT CLASS PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
SO OUR CALENDAR ALLOWS FOR THE DISTRICT TO HAVE QUITE A FEW PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS THIS YEAR.
WE WILL BE INTENTIONALLY USING THOSE DAYS TO FOSTER THAT UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGE THAT PEDAGOGY IN THE CLASSROOMS. SO MISS WOOD AT NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION AND THEN AT OUR BACK TO SCHOOL TRAINING TRAINED ON THAT.
BUT SHE'S NOT DONE WITH THAT BECAUSE A GOOD PROFESSIONAL LEARNING MODEL IS YOU LEARN, YOU GO, DO YOU COME BACK, YOU DISCUSS, YOU MAKE MEANING, YOU GO BACK AND THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT IMPLEMENTATION.
AND OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS ARE KIND OF PACED IN SUCH A WAY.
IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE LEARNED IN AUGUST, WE'RE COMING BACK SEPTEMBER 20TH OR AUGUST 23RD.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT? WE'RE COMING BACK SEPTEMBER 20TH.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT? WE'RE COMING BACK OCTOBER 4TH.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? SO REALLY A DEEPER KIND OF LEARNING AND APPLICATION.
OKAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY? I BELIEVE I LOOKED EARLIER TODAY, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 32 PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED, AND I BELIEVE WE ARE CALLING THAT FRIENDS OF LEISD THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
OUR FIRST MEETING IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK, I THINK IT'S AUGUST 26TH ON A THURSDAY, AND SO ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF CABINET WILL BE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF DISTRICT OPERATIONS.
I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT CURRICULUM AND LEARNING AND ACADEMICS PROGRAMING THAT KIND OF THING.
AND SO EACH CABINET MEMBER HAS TOPICS.
MR. LAMB KIND OF LED US THROUGH THAT IN A PREVIOUS CABINET MEETING.
AND SO WE KIND OF HAVE THOSE MAPPED OUT WITH DATES ALREADY ON OUR CALENDARS FOR THAT.
SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE I'M NOT SURE, CECILIA.
SO WE HAVE EIGHT SPOTS I KNOW I'M FIRST UP, SO I KNEW IT WAS NEXT WEEK.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
ONE LAST, IN THE BUILDING OF THE CURRICULUM AI'S HOT NOW IS ARE WE INCORPORATING ANY OF THAT INTO OUR METHODS OF TEACHING UTILIZING AI? OH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? ABSOLUTELY. SO, YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS SCORING OPEN RESPONSES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS ONE OF THE SCORES.
MY COORDINATOR FOR DIGITAL LEARNING HAS ATTENDED SEVERAL TRAININGS.
WE FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR TRAMEL.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE TASB ENDORSEMENT FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM TASB.
YES, MA'AM. BACK IN THE JUNE MEETING, WE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND YOU GUYS DECIDED NOT TO NOMINATE ANYBODY.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE FOR AN ENDORSEMENT.
MR. MONTEMAYOR MADE THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. ENGLISH MADE THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF ENDORSING MR. NEWCOMB? RAISE YOUR HAND.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR OUR DELEGATE? I'D MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE JEFF BURTON.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR MR. BURTON? SECOND.
[00:55:01]
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.OF MR. BURTON BEING OUR DELEGATE.
THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS NAME AN ALTERNATE WHO WOULD LIKE TO.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR OUR ALTERNATE DELEGATE IN CASE MR. BURTON IS UNABLE TO ATTEND? I'LL MAKE A NOMINATION FOR ALEX.
MR. BEBER NOMINATED MR. FLORES. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. BURTON SECONDED.
MR. FLORES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF MR. FLORES BEING OUR ALTERNATE.
RAISE YOUR HAND. MOTION CARRIES.
[11. Consent Agenda]
NEXT UP IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.DOES ANYBODY WANT TO PULL ANYTHING OUT OF CONSENT? WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MR. OLSON MADE THE MOTION, MR. BURTON. SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING OUR CONSENT AGENDA? RAISE YOUR HAND.
[12. Board President Comments]
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH BOARD PRESIDENT COMMENTS.HAPPY FIRST. SECOND FULL WEEK BACK TO SCHOOL.
IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BACK IN CLASS.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE OUR TEACHERS DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A FEW KUDOS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, MISS JONES, FOR PLANNING HER AND HER TEAM FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH.
WE WERE OUT OF SUPPLIES BY, I THINK ABOUT 11:15 ON BACK TO SCHOOL BASH DAY.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF OUR LOBOS GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CABINET FOR THEIR HARD WORK OVER THE SUMMER, WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS HERE DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL YEAR SUCH OFF START WITH SUCH GREAT SUCCESS AND THANK TO ALL.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO ASSISTED.
AND I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT.
WE'VE GOT EIGHT MORE SEATS FOR FRIENDS OF LEISD.
PLEASE APPLY AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RUN.
I BELIEVE MR. BEBER PARTICIPATED IN 2018.
CORRECT. SO IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LEARN.
[13. Board Comments]
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO I'M GOING TO START WITH MR. BEBER AND WE'LL GO THAT WAY.WELL, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR STAYING LATE.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE ALL OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS OUT.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL SEEING THE KIDS ON CAMPUSES.
I KNOW MY TWO BOYS BACK AT SCHOOL IS SOMETHING GOOD FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR ACTIVITIES, AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY TIRED AND ARE SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHT, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO BE ENGAGED AND BACK AT SCHOOL AND AND BACK IN BAND AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
SO. I SEE ALL THAT EVERYBODY SURVIVED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND THE BAND AND CHEERLEADERS AND ALL THAT.
IT WAS PRETTY WARM OUT THERE, AND WE ALL DIDN'T GET TO GET WET, LIKE MR. LAMB DID. SO IT WAS A GREAT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT WE JUST NEED AN ENCLOSED BUILDING.
I GUESS NEXT TIME. THAT'S AIR CONDITIONED.
AND AGAIN, A BIG THANKS FOR THE BASH.
AND PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE THERE.
SOME THAT HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.
SO AGAIN, KUDOS, CECILIA, FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL.
AND I WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK IN THIS COMING YEAR.
JUST ONE ITEM OF NOTE HERE FOR THE AGENDA FOR CORRECTION.
MISS FLORES, IF WE CAN CHANGE THE PRESENTER AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO MS. WATKINS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK COMING ALONG AND FOR WATCHING OVER THE KIDS.
DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY, BUT CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
[01:00:01]
JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.FIRST FOOTBALL GAME IS AUGUST 30TH, SO THAT'LL BE FUN.
YOU KNOW, THE MEET THE LOBOS EVENT THE OTHER NIGHT WAS A WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FUN.
WE HAD MR. LAMB OUT THERE GETTING DUNKED.
OUR BAND DIRECTOR AS WELL BOTH BAND DIRECTORS.
I WANT TO SEE COACH CASTILLO OUT THERE, BUT HE HE BAILED ON THAT PART OF IT.
BUT EXCITED FOR FOR WHAT THIS NEXT YEAR HAS TO, HAS TO BRING AND HAS TO OFFER.
AND I KNOW OUR KIDS ARE MUCH BETTER IN THE CLASSROOM THAN, THAN OUT OF IT.
EVERYONE'S SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.
IT'S ONLY 158 DAYS TILL SUMMER.
COME ON NOW. NO THANKS TO STAFF EVERYONE.
EVENT EARLIER, BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
I WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN THE FIRST DAY.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. GREAT TO SEE ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF BACK OUT.
SO I DO AGREE THOUGH, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ALL THE KIDS BACK.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT BUZZ BACK FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR TO GET THEM BACK IN THE HOUSE.
SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR.
AND AS MR. LAMB ALWAYS SAY, IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A LOBO.
[14. Superintendent Comments]
ALRIGHTY, MR. LAMB, YOU'RE UP.IT'S YOUR SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS NOW.
AND IT'S LIKE ONCE THE KIDS GET BACK IN CLASS, WE TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO PROBABLY OPPOSITE OF ALL OF YOU THAT ARE READY TO GET YOUR KIDS BACK IN THE SCHOOL.
EVERYTHING'S BEEN GREAT. CONVOCATION HAS BEEN GREAT.
THE SEEING THE KIDS, EVERYBODY SEEMS EXCITED.
YES. WE'VE HAD SOME HICCUPS HERE AND THERE WITH BUSSES.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A GOOD PLACE REAL SOON.
THE NEW TIMES. WE WONDERED IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT I THINK STAFF IS ENJOYING THE NEW TIMES, AND PARENTS ARE ENJOYING THE NEW TIMES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY CONNECTED TO THE BUS. SO A WHOLE LOT OF SHAKING GOING ON.
AND IT IS TRULY A GREAT DAY TO BE A LOBO.
WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. ENGLISH MADE THE SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:05 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.