Dec 16, 2024 Regular Board Meeting

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

[00:00:07]

THE L.A. ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.

IT IS 7:10 P.M..

MISS FLORES, MAY WE HAVE THE INTRODUCTION AND ROLL CALL? OH, LET'S DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FIRST, I APOLOGIZE.

[3. Pledge of Allegiance]

SUPERINTENDENT

[6. Superintendent Spotlight ]

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS, SUPERINTENDENT LAMB, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR VERY BEST OF THE BEST CREAM OF THE CROP, THE TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN LITTLE ELM ISD WE ALL KNOW ARE TOP NOTCH, BUT WE HAVE PUT OUT THE CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY HAVE COME THROUGH WITH A PLETHORA OF NOMINATIONS OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE REALLY MADE AN IMPACT, WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.

AND SO WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THIS EVENING.

SADLY, THE FIRST HONOREE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THIS EVENING IS ELISA MCINNIS.

SHE'S THE NURSE AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY, AND SHE HAS HAD A WAVE OF ILLNESSES IN HER FAMILY, SO SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

HOWEVER, MISS MCINNIS IS A DIFFERENCE MAKER, AND WE STILL WANTED TO WATCH THE VIDEO AND RECOGNIZE HER AT THIS TIME.

SO ELISA MCINNIS, OUR FIRST LEADER OF THE PACK.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A LEADER, WE OFTEN THINK OF SOMEONE WHO GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW NURSE LISA MCINNIS, SHE IS A NURSE AND SHE TAKES CARE OF OUR BABIES WHEN THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL AND LETS US KNOW SO WE CAN COME AND PICK THEM UP.

BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT THIS YEAR SHE RAN THE HACKBERRY SPELLING BEE FOR ALL THE STUDENTS.

AND WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT SHE ALSO HAD DAILY MORNING PRACTICES SO THAT THE STUDENTS COULD PRACTICE ACTUALLY DOING A SPELLING BEE, AND SHE ALSO COACHED THEM THROUGH MAKING MISTAKES, GETTING UP AND TRYING AGAIN.

AND BECAUSE THAT IS CERTAINLY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT NURSES NORMALLY DO, THAT IS WHY I NOMINATED HER AS LEADER OF THE PACK.

I'M STEVE MUNOZ, PRINCIPAL AT HACKBERRY ELEMENTARY, AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALISA MCINNIS FOR BEING THIS MONTH'S LEADER OF THE PACK.

SHE IS MORE THAN DESERVING OF IT FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AS OUR NURSE, BUT ALSO AS BEING SUCH A POWERFUL AND THOUGHTFUL MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE AT HACKBERRY.

SHE GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, NOT ONLY IN THE NURSE'S STATION, BUT IN THINGS BEYOND IT, SUCH AS LEADING OUR SPELLING BEE AND BEING INVOLVED IN SO MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES.

SHE IS SO DESERVING AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER HERE AT HACKBERRY.

SO NURSE MCINNIS HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH US HERE AT LITTLE ELM ISD FOR FOUR YEARS.

HER FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A NURSE IS BUILDING STRONG RAPPORT WITH HER STUDENTS.

EVEN WHEN THEY LEAVE TO GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY STILL COME BACK BY AND SAY HI TO NURSE MCINNIS.

SO IF YOU GUYS, SHE MIGHT BE WATCHING FROM HOME.

SO IF YOU ALL WILL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING NURSE ALISA MCINNIS AS ONE OF OUR LEADERS OF THE PACK.

AND SHE WILL RECEIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE AS WELL AS A GIFT FROM OUR SPONSOR, OUR PARTNER SPONSOR, RBFCU.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT SHE GETS HER GIFT AND HER CERTIFICATE.

SO THEN OUR SECOND LEADER OF THE PACK THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT IS PRESENT WITH US.

SO WE'D LIKE TO ASK MISS MEREDITH SPAW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU COME UP HERE IN JUST A SECOND, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THE VIDEO FIRST.

[00:05:20]

SHE'S A FIRST GRADER, AND I NOMINATED MEREDITH SPORE FOR THE LEADER OF THE PACK.

THE REASON WHY I CHOSE MISS SPA IS BECAUSE SHE IS A GREAT LEADER AT THE SCHOOL.

SHE IS A GREAT EDUCATOR, AND SHE'S ALSO VERY HELPFUL FOR THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE HER SMILE IN THE MORNING WHEN DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT THE SCHOOL, AND ALSO WATCHING HER PUT ON LOTS OF PERFORMANCES AT THE SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND I JUST THINK SHE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TEACHER AT LITTLE ELM ISD.

WE ARE SO PROUD THAT MISS SPAW GOT NOMINATED FOR THE LEADERS OF THE PACK FOR O'QUINN ELEMENTARY.

SHE'S THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THIS AWARD.

SHE IS AN AMAZING AND INSPIRING MUSIC TEACHER.

WHEN YOU WALK IN HER CLASSROOM, ALL HER STUDENTS ARE SUPER EXCITED TO NOT JUST LEARN ABOUT MUSIC, BUT THEY'RE SUPER EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THE STORIES THAT ARE INCORPORATED IN HER SONGS.

THEY'RE EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THE LYRICS THEY ARE EXCITED TO DO, TO PLAY THE INSTRUMENTS.

AND WHEN THEY LEAVE HER CLASSROOM, THEY ARE TRULY, TRULY INSPIRED.

THE FINE ARTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL, SO HAVING SOMEONE AS TALENTED AND GIFTED AS MISS SPAW IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO LIKE TO SAY MISS SPAW WORKS REALLY, REALLY HARD AFTER SCHOOL, ORGANIZING THE CHOIR PROGRAM, ORGANIZING GRADE LEVELS WITH HER TEAM IN ORDER FOR THE CHOIR PROGRAMS TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR GRADE LEVELS.

SHE SPENDS A LOT OF HER TIME OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO TRULY MAKE THE MUSIC PROGRAM AT OAK POINT ELEMENTARY AMAZING.

AND SO WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MISS SPAW, AND SHE TRULY IS AN AMAZING CANDIDATE TO BE A LEADER OF THE PACK.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR LEADER OF THE PACK, MISS MEREDITH SPAW.

COME ON DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO ASK SUPERINTENDENT LAMB AND PRESIDENT WATKINS TO JOIN US AT THE FRONT TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR CERTIFICATE. WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'LL BE ROWDY OR CECILIA FOR A PICTURE.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MISS SPAW.

AGAIN, SHE'S OUR MUSIC TEACHER AT OAK POINT ELEMENTARY.

SHE'S BEEN IN LITTLE ELM ISD FOR THREE YEARS.

HER FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT TEACHING ARE SEEING THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT, WHEN STUDENTS FULLY START TO UNDERSTAND A MUSICAL CONCEPT AND IMPLEMENT IT.

SHE LOVES BEING AN ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER BECAUSE IT'S A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

WAIT, BEFORE MISS SPAW HAS A SEAT.

WE'D LIKE TO INVITE HER HUSBAND, CALEB TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM AS WELL.

AND ALSO, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE RBFCU, OUR SPONSOR CORPORATE SPONSOR PARTNER, TO COME UP AND TO PRESENT MISS SPAW WITH A SPONSORSHIP GIFT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE RBFCU FOR THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF AND OUR DISTRICT.

SO WE'D LIKE TO GET YOU GUYS IN ON A PICTURE AS WELL.

NOT ONLY IS MISS SPAW'S HUSBAND HERE, BUT SHE HAS A BABY ON THE WAY.

SO THE BABY IS HERE WITH US TOO.

SHE'S DUE IN MAY.

AND SHE ALSO HAS A 20 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AS WELL.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS SPAW.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU IN LITTLE ELM ISD.

AND, PRESIDENT WATKINS, THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S SPOTLIGHT.

THANK YOU, MRS. BROWN.

MISS JONES, YOU ARE UP NEXT WITH THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS.

SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT LAMB.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION UP WITH ME, PLEASE.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE EACH OTHER CHECKS.

WITH US, WE HAVE OUR PRESIDENT, ARTIE WILLIAMS. OURS IS BIGGER.

WELL, THERE'S THIS BIGGER? YES.

FOR SURE. NOT MORE MONEY, BUT IT'S BIGGER.

I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THEIR THUNDER.

BUT I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE THE CROWD.

LARRY SALERNO, LOBO FOR LIFE, LINDSEY REYES.

SHE'S BEEN WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR EVER.

JOE FLORENTINO. SAME WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

JILL ELLIOTT, SHE'S ALSO A LONG STANDING FOUNDATION MEMBER.

AND THEN OUR NEWEST MEMBER, SARAH ALLEN.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOUNDATION, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING WITH US.

[00:10:01]

AWESOME. SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS ARTI WILLIAMS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF LITTLE ELM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

WE'VE BEEN IN INCEPTION FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW.

AND WHAT WE DO IS WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS, EDUCATORS, EDUCATORS IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE DO THAT BY RAISING MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO OUR TEACHERS.

AND WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT I DO IN THIS COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE ONE THAT GIVES ME THE CHILLS.

WHEN I GO AND GIVE SOMEONE A GRANT AND THEY START CRYING.

SO IT'S VERY IMPACTFUL.

WHAT WE DO, WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.

WE'RE DOING IT FOR THE TEACHERS.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS FOR THEM.

SO IN THE PAST WE, LIKE I SAID, RAISED GRANT MONEY AND THIS YEAR IS A RECORD BREAKING YEAR.

WE'RE GIVING OUT CLOSE TO 73,000 $73,000 IN GRANT MONEY THIS YEAR.

AND WE ALSO HAD A RECORD 90 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR THAT APPLIED FOR GRANTS.

SO THE TEACHERS ARE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN GETTING GRANTS, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN GIVING THE MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN TEACH OUR STUDENTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND MARY WATKINS, MAYBE THE REST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND, MR. LAMB, COULD YOU JOIN US FOR A PHOTO? TAKE A QUICK PHOTO.

OKAY. DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

ALONG THOSE LINES I'M PROUD TO BE THE COORDINATOR OF OUR 633 RUN, AND THIS ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE LOSS OF DETECTIVE WALKER.

AND I REMEMBER THAT DAY PRETTY VIVIDLY.

AND WE ACTUALLY NAMED A MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER HIM.

AND IN ORDER TO KEEP HIS LEGACY ALIVE, WE FELT IT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO START SOMETHING IN HIS NAME AND THEN TAKE THE PROCEEDS FROM THAT RUN.

AND THEN SCHOLARSHIP KIDS AND NOT JUST KIDS GOING OFF TO COLLEGE, BUT WHERE WE WANT TO SCHOLARSHIP KIDS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A CAREER IN SOME KIND OF PUBLIC SERVICE ARENA.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M PART OF THAT.

AND THIS YEAR, I'M ALSO EXTREMELY EXCITED TO TELL YOU THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE RUN A SUCCESS, I MET GOALS, I EXCEEDED GOALS.

I DIDN'T QUITE GET THE NUMBER OF RUNS THAT I WANT RUNNERS THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO EXCEED THAT GOAL.

BUT I'M GOING TO HAND YOU GUYS OVER A $20,000 CHECK, WHICH IS 7000 MORE THAN I DID LAST YEAR, NO, 6000 MORE THAN I DID LAST YEAR. SO THAT MEANS THAT WE GET TO SCHOLARSHIP MORE KIDS.

AND I PULLED IT UP.

WE KEEP A RUNNING TAB OF WHAT WE GIVE KIDS LAST YEAR WITH THE MONEY THAT WE PROVIDED, THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WE HAD TWO KIDS RECEIVE $6,330 SCHOLARSHIP AND THEN FOUR, THREE, $633 SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND SO THE VISION REALLY IS TO GIVE MORE OF THOSE HIGH DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS.

AND I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP FOR THE RUN AND THE MORE SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE GET THAT SUPPORT THE RUN, THE MORE MONEY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS SO WE CAN AWARD THOSE KIDS. SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THAT.

MY CHECK IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS YOURS.

I HAVE TO WORK ON THAT, BUT IT CASHES THE SAME.

[00:15:16]

[7. Reports of the Superintendent ]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING BOARD.

I WANTED TO END MY TENURE AND MY CAREER ON GIVING YOU A REPORT ON FUND BALANCE THAT WE SHOULD DO AND SHOULD DO ANNUALLY, AND IT'S TO COME WITHIN A NUMBER OF DAYS OF THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

SO I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT. I'M GOING TO DO IT FAIRLY QUICKLY.

WE AS AN ADMINISTRATION AND AS THE BOARD HAVE REVIEWED THIS, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE INFORMATION.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL YEAR LONG.

WE TALK ABOUT IT ALMOST EVERY BUDGET WORKSHOP.

BUT BY OUR POLICY WE NEED TO REVIEW IT IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

AND SO I WANT TO ALTHOUGH OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS ARE PUBLIC SETTINGS, I WANTED TO PUT IT ON A REGULAR AGENDA.

AND SO AS MY LAST REPORT TO YOU, I WILL BE REPORTING TO YOU ON OUR FUND BALANCE ACCORDING TO OUR BOARD POLICY, CE LOCAL.

AND IN THAT POLICY IT TELLS US AND OH, I HAVE A LITTLE BLOCK PROBLEM.

BUT IN THAT POLICY, IT TELLS US THAT THE DISTRICT SHALL MAINTAIN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 24% WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE UNDER THAT LINE RIGHT THERE.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, IS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 29.26%.

AND THAT'S IN OUR UNASSIGNED BALANCE.

SO KIND OF KEEP THAT NUMBER SET ASIDE FOR YOU.

THERE IT IS 29.26.

AND THIS REPORT SHOULD BE DONE TO YOU.

AND IT WILL BE DONE TO YOU NEXT YEAR BY JESSE, WITHIN 90 DAYS OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT THAT YOU ACCEPTED IN OCTOBER AND WERE REPORTED TO THE STATE IN NOVEMBER. AND SO WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION ANNUALLY WITHIN YOUR POLICY IN THE STRATEGIES FOR THE FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

A COUPLE OF THE EXCERPTS FROM THAT THAT I PULLED FOR YOU ARE THAT THE DISTRICT WILL MAINTAIN FUND BALANCES FOR CRITICAL SHORTFALLS DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF STATE FUNDING.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT FLUCTUATING ENROLLMENT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GO UP.

IT SOMETIMES GOES DOWN.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY EXPERIENCED THAT, AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE HAD SOME YEARS IN THE PAST FIVE OF UNPREDICTABLE TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUES.

AND SO THAT DISCRETIONARY FUND BALANCE WILL BE MAINTAINED AT A LEVEL THAT WILL FUND ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

AND WE'RE IN A VERY HEALTHY STANDPOINT, WHICH IS OFTEN CONFUSING TO EXPLAIN, NOT TO THE BOARD, BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT NOT TO ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR THAT.

BUT IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE SOMETIMES TO EXPLAIN TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE ARE IN A STRONG, HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION, BUT YET WE'RE IN A DEFICIT STRUCTURAL OPERATING BUDGET.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS, THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES WE REPORTED TO YOU IN 2022.

AND I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GO BACK AND KIND OF GIVE YOU A PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THE FIVE YEARS FROM THAT STANDPOINT BACK.

AND SO IN 2018, YOU HAD A 28 MILLION OR ESSENTIALLY A $29 MILLION FUND BALANCE, AND WE HAD ADDED $1.1 MILLION THERE.

THAT WAS AT 40% OF YOUR GENERAL FUND.

SO YOU REMEMBER THAT 29.26 THAT WE'RE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

THESE ARE TOTAL.

AND SO YOU'RE ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED BECAUSE THE BOARD CAN ASSIGN OR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AS IT NEEDS.

BUT WHAT'S REALLY THE TREND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE IS THEN THAT DURING THAT YEAR WE ADDED MONEY TO FUND BALANCE.

BUT WE ALSO ADDED STUDENTS.

WE ADDED 193 STUDENTS.

IN 2019, WE ADDED ANOTHER 351,000 TO OUR FUND BALANCE.

STATED AROUND THAT 41%, WE ADDED 253 STUDENTS.

SO, WE ALSO HAD TO ADD STAFF TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT.

CONTINUING THAT AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 AND IT KIND OF TURNED OUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

BUT WE STILL ADDED $368,000 TO OUR FUND BALANCE.

AND SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO GROW.

BUT OUR BUDGET WAS ALSO GROWING.

SO NOW THAT 40% WAS DOWN AT 36% INSTEAD, BUT WE WERE UP 274 STUDENTS.

AND THEN IN 2021.

SO WE'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL DEALING WITH AND ENCOUNTERING COVID, BUT WE ALSO HAD ESSER FUNDS TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT.

SO, WE BUILT BACK UP TO 33.9.

SO ESSENTIALLY $34 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE.

AND WE WERE AT 40% OF THAT YEAR'S OPERATING BUDGET.

SO I'M GOING TO STOP WITH THE REVIEW OF THAT OLD INFORMATION.

AND RIGHT THERE AT 2021 IS WHERE WE REALLY STARTED EXPERIENCING FLAT ENROLLMENT BEFORE.

WE NOW ARE KIND OF GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION, US, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

BUT WE I'M GOING TO FLIP FROM THERE OVER AND REVIEW OUR LAST THREE YEARS BEFORE WE COMPLETE THIS ONE.

SO, I JUST LITERALLY TOOK THAT 2021, THAT 33.9 OVER HERE IS OUR BEGINNING 199 FUND BALANCE.

SO AT THE END OF 2021 WE'RE AT 33.953 AND THEN WE ACTUALLY I CAME ALONG AND I RECOMMENDED TO YOU THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR FISCAL YEAR.

AND SO IN CHANGING OUR FISCAL YEAR AND IN EXPERIENCING THOSE ESSER FUNDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS DURING AND AFTER COVID, WE WERE

[00:20:02]

AND THE ESSER FUNDS, WE IF YOU'LL RECALL, IF YOU'RE ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME AND IF NOT, YOU'LL RECALL FROM OUR REVIEWS, WHAT WE ESSENTIALLY DID IS SAID, OKAY, WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE IN FUND 199 THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO US.

WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH OUR OWN ESSER FUNDS THAT WOULD HELP US TO NAVIGATE THOSE FLUCTUATIONS OF ENROLLMENT, NAVIGATE THE OPENING OF CAMPUSES OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF DEVIATIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE.

AND ESSER FUNDS EXPIRED.

THE LAST ONES EXPIRED THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, AND THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR DISTRICT, BUT WE KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO EXPIRE.

AND SO WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY FUNDS THAT WERE LOCAL.

AND SO WE OFTEN CALL THESE OUR OWN PERSONAL ESSER FUNDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO EXPIRATION DATE, THEY FLOW FREELY BACK INTO 199 AS NEEDED.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE THEN IS AFTER 2122, WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THAT FUND IS IN 2023, WE ADDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT.

WE ADDED ABOUT $400,000 AT THE END OF 22, 23, AND THIS IS WHEN WE STARTED DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

BUT AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND ADD TO THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE WE STILL HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ESSER FUNDS THAT WERE HELPING US OFFSET THE EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES. AND SO THEN THE YEAR THAT WE JUST FINISHED, 23-24 ENDED JUNE 30TH.

BUT YOU JUST APPROVED THAT AUDIT IN OCTOBER.

WE ALSO ADDED FUNDS TO THAT, ALMOST $3 MILLION, ABOUT $2.8 MILLION.

AND WE AGAIN ADDED THOSE TO OUR TRANSITION FUNDS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE AND IT'S SEPARATED THERE FOR YOU FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THAT GENERAL FUND BALANCE.

WE STILL HAVE THAT $34 MILLION AND ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WE HAD, WE PUT OVER INTO OUR TRANSITION FUND, WHICH IS THEN EARMARKED FOR THOSE DEFICIT BUDGETS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

SO WE ADOPTED A DEFICIT BUDGET.

WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM.

BUT IT ALSO GIVES YOU THAT VISUAL AS YOU WATCH THAT RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN DECREMENT.

IF YOU ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THOSE DEFICIT BUDGETS AND DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA ORDINARY INCOMES THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR ON SOME OF OUR FLOOD RELIEF AND SOME OF OUR HOLD HARMLESS, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT REVIEW THEN THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE STARTING THIS YEAR WITH 13 MILLION THERE, BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE, THAT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE DOWN TO ABOUT 9 MILLION.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU'RE WHERE YOU WERE IN 21-22, AND YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED A DOLLAR OF YOUR 34,000,000IN YOUR FUND 199.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? ALL I'M DOING HERE IS SHOWING IT TO YOU IN JUST A DIFFERENT FORMAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I FIND THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT CHARTS DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO, AGAIN, ON THE LEFT SIDE, THAT 33.9 MILLION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR 199 FUND THAT INCLUDES OUR ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED.

THE BOARD ASSIGNED BACK IN LIKE 2020, I THINK IT WAS ASSIGNED $7 MILLION TO SET ASIDE.

AND THAT CAN HELP US NAVIGATE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.

THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF THINGS THAT IT CAN DO.

IT'S NOT TAGGED FOR ANY ONE PARTICULAR THING, AND IT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR YOU TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH FROM ASSIGNED TO UNASSIGNED.

BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR GENERAL FUND TOTAL ASSESSABLE BALANCE IS $33.9 MILLION.

BUT THAT IS AN ADDITION TO THAT 13 MILLION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND SO THAT 36.86 IS ALREADY A REALLY HEALTHY BALANCE.

IT'S ABOVE THE 24% OF UNASSIGNED THAT YOU HAD ALWAYS IN YOUR POLICY MAINTAIN.

BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER 14% OF THE CURRENT BUDGET SET ASIDE AS WELL, FOR A TOTAL OF 50.97% THAT YOU HAVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH HOW HEALTHY THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE DISTRICT IS, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACTS THAT YOU ARE IN A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BECAUSE OF THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT THAT WE'VE HAD AND THE EXTRAORDINARY INFLATION ON THE NON-PERSONNEL ITEMS THAT WE'VE REVIEWED.

AND SO WE'VE GOT MEASURES IN PLACE.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THOSE.

AND MR. WYSE, YOUR NEW CFO IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THOSE.

AND THIS JUST GIVES YOU SOME COMFORT IN MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OR WORSE.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE THESE KIND OF NUMBERS.

AND SO THE BOARD HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OVER THE YEARS.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GO BACK AS FAR AS I DID TO REVIEW THAT.

SO, THIS IS JUST A SCREENSHOT OF THE OTHER ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE IN THE DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND, AND THEN ONE MORE WAY, I HAD A BOARD MEMBER REQUEST ONE TIME THAT I PRESENTED IN THIS WAY AND JUST KIND OF SPLIT IT WHENEVER WE STARTED THE GROWTH TRANSITION FUND IN 492.

RIGHT NOW, THAT GROWTH TRANSITION FUND IS REALLY A DECLINING TRANSITION FUND.

BUT THAT'S THE 7 MILLION IN THE 26.9 OF UNASSIGNED THAT FAR EXCEEDS YOUR REQUIREMENT THROUGH POLICY OF 36.86%.

AND THEN JUST SOME OF THE BIG PIECES THAT WE ESTABLISHED, THAT FUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAT HAS THE $13 MILLION IN IT.

14% IS FOR THE ENROLLMENT FLUCTUATIONS, THE ESSER GLIDE PATH, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING STUDENTS THAT HAVE EXTRAORDINARY NEEDS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE RELATED TO COVID DOESN'T MATTER.

WE DON'T HAVE THE ESSER FUNDS THAT ARE FLOWING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME OF OUR OWN FUNDS TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.

[00:25:02]

AND THAT WILL HAPPEN HERE IN THE FALL WITH OUR NEW CAMPUS.

SO AGAIN, THOSE TOTAL 50.97%, LEAVING YOU IN A REALLY HEALTHY POSITION.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FUND BALANCE? IF NOT, THEN I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY IT HAS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR.

IT HAS BEEN TO OVER MY 27 YEAR CAREER.

I'VE SPENT SEVEN OF IT IN TWO DIFFERENT STINTS HERE IN LITTLE ELM.

I WAS TELLING SOMEONE EARLIER, IT FELT LIKE I KIND OF CAME BACK HOME TO END MY CAREER.

AND SO I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU, OF YOUR FAITH IN ME, OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THE CROWN I GOT TODAY AND GO HOME.

SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

MISS ADAMS, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM OUR, OH I'M SORRY, CITIZEN INPUT.

NO, NO CITIZEN INPUT.

ALRIGHTY. OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 18TH.

[9. Approval of Minutes ]

MR. BURTON MADE THE MOTION.

MR. BEBER MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

OKAY. OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE HIRING OF AN INTERIM CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR, MISS BROWN.

[10. Action Items ]

PRESIDENT WATKINS, SUPERINTENDENT LAMB AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

SO, TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF OUR CAMPUSES, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN INTERIM CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR IN THE EVENT A VACANCY ARISES.

THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE HIRE OF AN INTERIM CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR, AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE WILL CONSIDER A MOTION.

SO MOVED.

MR. OLSON MADE THE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. MONTEMAYOR MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE YOU ARE UP NEXT WITH AN FTE REQUEST.

YES, MA'AM. SO AS THE DISTRICT ENDS OUTSOURCING OF TRANSPORTATION AND BRINGS THOSE SERVICES IN HOUSE, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT THE BUSINESS AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS SERVE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE.

THEREFORE, WE ARE REQUESTING ONE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER IN EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY OPERATION AND SUPPORT OF OUR DISTRICT STAFF.

THESE POSITIONS WILL BE PAID FOR FROM THE ANTICIPATED SAVINGS OF BRINGING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN DISTRICT.

SO WITH THAT, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE BUSINESS AND HUMAN RESOURCES FTES AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO, MOVED.

MR. MONTEMAYOR MADE THE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE'LL COUNT MR. ENGLISH. I HEARD HIM FIRST.

MR. ENGLISH MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE APPROVAL OF WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONES.

MR. LAMB, YOU ARE UP.

TEST. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS AND THE REST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REZONING, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT A WHILE NOW.

JUST TO KIND OF RECAP THE PROCESS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THE YEAR BUILDING A SCHOOL, KNOWING WE WERE GOING TO NEED TO CUT OAK POINT IN HALF FROM THE THOUSAND KIDS AT SOME POINT.

I THINK THE THOUGHT IN COMMUNITY WAS THAT WE WOULD JUST CUT THAT IN HALF.

[00:30:03]

IN THE MEANTIME, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE NOTICED THE DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT, PARTICULARLY IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL AREAS, HAS TO DO A LOT WITH HOUSE PRICING.

AND EITHER PEOPLE NOT MOVING OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

JUST PEOPLE STAYING PUT A LITTLE LONGER.

SOME OF THE AREAS ARE BECAUSE THE HOUSING IS SO HIGH, YOU KNOW, THINGS AREN'T HAPPENING IN THAT AREA.

BUT IT POINTED OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE WERE GOING TO NEED TO DO SOME REZONING.

AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO MORE EQUALIZE OUR CAMPUSES.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT 601 AND 400 AND ANOTHER WHEN WE COULD HAVE 500 IN BOTH.

THAT STARTS TO HELP US ESSENTIALLY NOT GET CLOSE TO NEEDING TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.

SO THAT BECAME THE PROJECT WAS NOT ONLY TO CUT OAK POINT, BUT TO ALSO MOVE SOME ZONES AROUND WHERE WE HAD MORE, MORE EQUALIZED SCHOOLS.

I REALLY AND TRULY, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULTY OF BALANCING THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM GETTING THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

I REALLY THOUGHT WE'D BE WORKING ON THIS UP UNTIL SPRING BREAK.

WE, THROUGH OUR DEMOGRAPHER THAT WE USE, WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME SOFTWARE THAT REALLY HELPED US WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE DUAL LANGUAGE DECISIONS WITH, WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY AND FASTER THAN I HAD IMAGINED.

SO IT WAS GOOD TO GET THE DUAL LANGUAGE DECIDED, AND IT WAS GOOD TO GET TO WORK ON THE ON THE REZONE PROJECT WITH THE SOFTWARE THAT WE HAD.

WE DID SEVERAL VERSIONS, AGAIN, TRYING TO GET EQUAL, EQUAL PLACES ALMOST.

AND THEY'RE NOT ENTIRELY EQUAL.

AND WE'VE EXPLAINED THE PLACES THAT, THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOUGH.

BUT BUT THEY'RE MORE EQUAL IN THIS CURRENT RECOMMENDATION THAN, THAN ANY OTHER TIME WE'VE DONE.

AND SO WE, WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DO THIS AND DO IT WELL.

WE HAD MEETINGS WITH OUR PRINCIPALS.

WE HAD MEETINGS.

I WENT TO EACH CAMPUS AND VISITED WITH TEACHERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS.

WE DID THREE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN A WEEK, AND ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IS NOW ONLINE ABLE TO BE SEEN.

SO THAT'S BEEN OUR PROCESS IN EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS.

WE DID GET A LITTLE FEEDBACK AND WE HAVE MADE SOME TWEAKS BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK.

SO THAT'S BEEN THE PROCESS TO THIS POINT.

AT THIS POINT, I RECOMMEND WE GO WITH THE REZONE THAT'S RECOMMENDED IN YOUR BOARD PACKET, AND THE ONE WE'VE DISCUSSED AND FINALIZED OR DISCUSSED, AND THE LAST ONE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT I GUESS LAST THURSDAY.

SO THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THAT.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MR. OLSON MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. MONTEMAYOR MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.

JUST. AND I WANT THIS.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS ONLY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO INFLICT ANY CHANGES IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL ZONING.

ONLY FOR THE SIX.

WHAT WILL BECOME SEVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

IT DOES NOT AFFECT ZELLERS, NOR EITHER MIDDLE SCHOOL NOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.

ALRIGHTY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE BEING NO MORE QUESTIONS.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS CHILD NUTRITION EQUIPMENT AUCTION.

MR. METTER.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WATKINS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MR. LAMB. SUBJECT I'M COMING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU TONIGHT IS THE CHILD NUTRITION EQUIPMENT AUCTION OF 2024.

CHILD NUTRITION HAS AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF OVER 50 ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION.

THE EXTENSIVE SELECTION SPANS A WIDE VARIETY OF CATEGORIES.

MANY OF THE AVAILABLE ITEMS ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO CHILD NUTRITION'S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE ITS ASSETS AND ENABLE RESOURCES TO BE REPURPOSED FOR ONGOING SERVICE TO CHILDREN.

ATTACHED, YOU HAVE A LIST OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE WILL AUCTION.

IT WILL BE AN ONLINE AUCTION.

AND IT'LL LAST HOW MANY DAYS, PAM? 7 TO 11 DAYS.

AT THIS TIME THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE CHILD NUTRITION EQUIPMENT TO BE AUCTIONED.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO I HEARD, MR. BURTON. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. OLSON MADE THE SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE THESE FUNDS GENERALLY FOR CHILD NUTRITION COME BACK THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

[00:35:02]

SO THAT WAY WE KEEP IT THERE FOR A PURPOSE? YES. REPORTING PURPOSES.

OKAY. YES. THEY WILL BE PUT BACK INTO CHILD NUTRITION.

YES. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING IT AT OTHER PLACES.

NO, WE'RE STAYING LEGIT ON THESE ITEMS. ARE THEY BEING REPLACED WITH SIMILAR ITEMS OR ARE THESE JUST EXCESS ITEMS OR.

NO. NOT EXCESS.

OVER THE YEARS, AS THEY GET OLDER, WE HAVE REPLACED THEM.

DONE A GOOD JOB OF SEEING WHAT'S COMING UP.

THEY'VE USED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MOST OF THESE.

I WOULD SAY, AND MOST OF THEM ARE WORKING.

PAM IS IN OUR CHILD NUTRITION DEPARTMENT.

SHE'S OUR OPERATIONS OF CHILD NUTRITION, AND SHE'S MADE SURE THAT THE ONES THAT AREN'T WORKING ARE PAIRED WITH ITEMS THAT ARE WORKING.

AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY BUYS IT, THEY BUY IT AS A PAIR AND THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE PARTS.

SO THE ONES THAT AREN'T WORKING PROVIDE PARTS FOR THE PARTS THAT ARE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS WORKING.

AND THESE ARE MULTIPLE CAMPUSES.

CORRECT. LIKE THESE ARE OUR DISTRICT WIDE MULTIPLE CAMPUSES ALL OVER OUR DISTRICT.

AND JUST AREAS WHERE WE NEEDED I MEAN, IT NEEDED SOMETHING NEW.

SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING NEW.

WE'VE STORED IT OVER AT POWELL, AND NOW WE'RE READY TO AUCTION IT.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[11. Consent Agenda ]

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

[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 ]

YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE.

WE DON'T EXPECT YOU TO STAY AROUND.

WE'VE GOT A FEW THINGS WE WANT TO DISCUSS IN CLOSED SESSION.

IT IS 7:47.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.