Aug 17, 2026 Regular Board Meeting

SO. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO TO PARK

[00:00:07]

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

PRESENTE. MR. ERIC WILSON. HERE. MR. JASON OLSON.

HERE. MS. MARY WATKINS. MR. KEN BEBER. HERE. MR. JEFF BURTON. AND MR. DELEON ENGLISH. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? NO, MA'AM. THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION AND THE BOARD SUPPORT CONFERENCE ROOM AS PERMITTED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT CODE SUBCHAPTER

[4. 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]

IT IS 6:00 PM.

LITTLE ELM ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.

IT IS 7:02, WHICH WILL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION.

[5. Pledge of Allegiance]

WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER TONIGHT? FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU.

I THANK YOU FOR EVERY MEMBER IN HERE THAT WE GET TO GATHER UNDER YOUR NAME.

AND I PRAY THAT THERE WOULD BE WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, INSIGHT WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE HUMILITY, WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE STRENGTH. WOULD YOU GUIDE US AND LEAD US AS THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE TONIGHT AND PRESENTED BEFORE YOU? WE GIVE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM AND ORDER IS REPORTS OF THE

[7. Reports of the Superintendent]

SUPERINTENDENT LAMB. THIS EVENING, I'M PLEASED TO BRING TO YOU OUR 2026-2027 EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES. WE WANTED TO JUST MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK HAS NOT BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO EMPLOYEES YET.

WE WERE WAITING UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THIS REPORT TO YOU ALL.

BUT THE PLAN IS TO DISTRIBUTE THE HANDBOOK TO THE EMPLOYEES THIS WEEK, AND WE DO THAT VIA SAFE SCHOOLS.

SO YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH SAFE SCHOOLS.

IT'S OUR COMPLIANCE TRAINING SOFTWARE. WE'RE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK THROUGH SAFE SCHOOLS.

EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO READ IT AND REVIEW IT, AND THEN THEY SIGN AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT VIA SAFE SCHOOLS THAT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE READ IT, THEY HAVE REVIEWED IT, AND THEY WILL COMPLY WITH IT.

SO I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH. IN YOUR BOARD BOOK, THERE'S THE DRAFT OF THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, AS WELL AS A REALLY SPECIFIC GUIDE TO REALLY SHOW YOU GUYS HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

SO THE 1ST CHANGES ARE REALLY JUST LOCAL CHANGES FOR THE MOST PART, LIKE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS HAD TO BE UPDATED.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME PAGE NUMBERS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED THERE.

THEN ON PAGE 5, WE UPDATED THE DISTRICT CALENDAR, OBVIOUSLY, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE 26-27 ACADEMIC CALENDAR INCLUDED.

CONTINUING ON PAGE 6. OH, AND BY THE WAY, ALL OF THAT CHANGES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YOUR BOARD BOOK SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY JUST STAND OUT FOR YOU EASILY.

THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS WERE CHANGED AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 6 TO LITTLE ELM ELEMENTARY AND DOCTOR ASHLEY B GLOVER ELEMENTARY.

THEN THE NEXT CHANGES DON'T HAPPEN UNTIL PAGE 9.

AND ON PAGE 9 IS WHERE WE SHUFFLED YOU GUYS, THE THE NEW OFFICES THAT YOU HOLD.

[00:05:01]

WE HAD A COUPLE OF NEW DIRECTORS THAT WERE UPDATED THERE, INCLUDING COACH HARBIN, MR. CONLEY THEN ON PAGE 11 AGAIN CHANGED THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS AND THE PRINCIPALS OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

DOCTOR MIKA WAS INCLUDED THERE ON PAGE 11 AND MISS RICHARDSON ON PAGE 16.

SO ON YOUR GUIDE, LIKE YOUR GUIDE TO CHANGES THAT'S IN YOUR BOARD BOOK, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S LIKE A LOT OF ASTERISKS ON THAT GUIDE.

THE ASTERISK INDICATES THAT IT'S A TASB EDIT.

SO THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS GIVES US A MODEL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, AND THEY TELL US WHERE ALL THE EDITS NEED TO BE MADE.

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY, THEY TAKE LEGISLATION THAT'S PASSED AND THEY APPLY IT TO THE HANDBOOK, AND THEY TELL US WHERE THE EDITS NEED TO BE MADE. SO EVERY PLACE ON THE GUIDE TO CHANGES THAT YOU SEE AN ASTERISK.

THAT MEANS IT'S A TASB EDIT. SO ON PAGE 16, THERE'S SOME EDITS TO THE HEALTH, HEALTH AND SAFETY SECTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY TASB.

THERE'S, IT'S A LARGE CHUNK THERE. THAT'S EDITED FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY.

ALSO OUR COORDINATOR, OUR HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR, TONY NELSON PUT EYES ON THAT AS WELL.

AND SHE IS IN 100% AGREEMENT WITH THE CHANGES THERE.

THEN THE NEXT EDITS ARE ON PAGE 19. AGAIN, TASB EDITS THAT JUST ARE ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS OF SUBS AND WHO HAS WHEN PARENTS HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED.

THE NEXT EDITS ARE ON PAGE 20. ON PAGE 20. IT'S JUST A POLICY EDIT.

YOU'LL SEE UNDER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, THERE'S A ADDITIONAL POLICY ADDED THERE.

PAGE 23 IS A LOCAL EDIT. WE HAD TO UPDATE ALL THE PAYROLL DATES, LIKE WHEN WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 23, YOU'LL SEE, SORRY, PAGE 22, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE.

THEN WE MOVE ON. THERE'S TASB EDITS ON PAGE 27 IN REGARDS TO LEAVES AND ABSENCES ON PAGE 30 TO 31.

THIS IS A LOCAL EDIT. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEE PROTECTED DATES.

SO THE PROTECTED DATES ARE ABOUT DISCRETIONARY LEAVE.

SO WE ASK OUR EMPLOYEES NOT TO TAKE TRIPS TO YOU KNOW, INTENTIONALLY SCHEDULE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS ON THESE DATES.

THEY'RE USUALLY THESE ARE DATES THAT ARE BEFORE, AFTER A HOLIDAY.

THESE ARE DATES THAT ARE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS.

THESE ARE DATES THAT ARE TESTING DATES. SO THEY'RE DATES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF TO BE HERE.

SO YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE UPDATED THOSE DATES.

THEN THE NEXT EDIT IS MANY PAGES DOWN ALL THE WAY ON PAGE 45.

IT'S 2 TASB EDITS THAT ARE ON PAGE 45. 1 IS JUST A POLICY ADDING ANOTHER POLICY UPDATE UNDER STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

AND THEN IT, THERE'S AN ASPECT REQUIREMENT THERE ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTING.

MISCONDUCT, ALLEGED MISCONDUCT BY CONDUCT BY EDUCATORS THAT WAS UPDATED THERE.

THEN ON PAGE 48, THERE'S JUST SOME NUMBERING EDITS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STANDARDS OF THE STANDARDS OF EMPLOYEE CONDUCT ON STANDARD 3.9, JUST SMALL EDITING NUMBER OF THE NUMBERS. THEN ON PAGE 58, SO QUITE A FEW PAGES FROM DOWN WE HAVE SOME EDITS THAT ARE JUST POLICY REFERENCE CHANGES. THERE'S AN EMPHASIS TASB WANTED US TO MAKE AN EMPHASIS ON THE 24 HOUR REPORTING TIMELINE FOR CHILD ABUSE.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE AND THEN ALSO WE UPDATED THAT ABUSE MUST BE REPORTED TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES EVEN WHEN IT'S MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AGAIN, TASB EDITS ON PAGE 59, WE UPDATED A POLICY THERE UNDER SEXUAL ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.

THE POLICY LANGUAGE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED THERE.

PAGES 60 TO 61 WAS ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF REPORTING CHILD ABUSE, SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE TO I'M SORRY CERTAIN MISCONDUCTS TO TEA AND HAVING A 48 HOUR WINDOW TO DO THAT. SO THOSE EDITS WERE MADE ON PAGE 60 TO 61.

AGAIN, THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTED THERE FOR YOU ON PAGE 62.

WE DID A SMALL TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE POLICY UPDATE THEN PAGE 62 TO 63.

AGAIN, THOSE WERE VERY JUST LIKE MINUTE CHANGES THEY HAD TO DO WITH UPDATING THE POLICY.

PAGE 64, WE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE OF LICENSED THERAPISTS TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED NOW. AND THEN WE ON PAGE 68 TO 69, THERE WAS SOME, A FEW SMALL CHANGES.

WE UPDATED THE LANGUAGE TO ALIGN WITH THE RECENTLY PASSED LEGISLATION AND WE ADDED A DEFINITION OF E-CIGARETTE WHICH AGAIN WAS A TASB EDIT THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PAGE 79, GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE DOCUMENT ON PAGE 79, WE UPDATED THE POLICY AND WE CHANGED IT TO TEA THERE ON PAGE 79 FOR THE DISMISSAL OR NON-RENEWAL OF CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AND.

[00:10:04]

ALL OF THIS RECOMMENDED BY TASB AND THEN PAGES 80 TO 81.

WE ADDED, THIS IS NEW LEGISLATION WHICH IS THE PROHIBITION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION.

ALL OF THIS LANGUAGE IS TASB LANGUAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO OUR HANDBOOK IN ORDER TO BE IN ALIGNMENT AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

SO THAT WAS ADDED THERE ON PAGES 80 TO 81. AND THEN FINALLY ON PAGE 81 TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, WE DID THE PROHIBITED CLASSROOM. I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT, IT'S TOWARDS THE TOP.

PROHIBITED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION THAT'S ALSO RELATED TO THE DEI PROHIBITIONS THAT THE LEGISLATORS RECENTLY PASSED.

AND THAT IS EVERYTHING. THERE WAS QUITE A FEW EDITS THIS YEAR.

NOT AS MANY AS IN A LEGISLATIVE YEAR, AN ACTUAL LEGISLATIVE YEAR, BUT STILL QUITE A FEW EDITS.

BUT THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.

AND IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS? DELEON YOU GOT A QUESTION? I THINK I READ IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU. MA'AM. OUR NEXT ITEM AND ORDER IS OUR ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT UPDATE, MR. HARBIN FOR THE 1ST TIME.

IS THIS MY FANCY CLICKER? OKAY. MR. LAMB SCHOOL BOARD.

HOW ARE Y'ALL? IT'S ACTUALLY THE 2ND TIME I WAS HERE FOR ABOUT 30S LAST MONTH, SO YOU GUYS GIVE ME.

2 IN A ROW. YES. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIG ONE, BUT HEY, I'M FOR IT.

BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I WAS VOLUNTOLD AND SO I KIND OF THREW THINGS.

I COULDN'T THROW EVERYTHING IN BECAUSE WE WERE, WE WERE DOING A LOT AND THERE'S A LOT TO GO OVER.

SO Y'ALL CAN FEEL FREE TO ASK ME QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING ONCE I GET DONE.

BUT I WANTED TO COVER JUST SOME A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS AND THINGS THAT I FELT WERE MORE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WITH KIND OF THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

WHETHER IT'S LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS OR CHANGES, STUFF LIKE THAT, I POINT THIS WAY OR BACK BACK AT YOU.

OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO FIRST THING BEFORE I GET INTO THIS WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS JOB ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT KEPT POPPING UP WAS, WHAT IS YOUR VISION? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR VISION? IF YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THIS ROLE, WHICH I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION IN A JOB INTERVIEW.

AND SO NOW THAT I'M IN THIS POSITION IT'S NO LONGER A VISION.

IT'S MORE OF A MISSION. AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT I PUT OUT THERE BEFORE, IF MR. LAMB SHARES IT WITH YOU THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY GET ACCOMPLISHED, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE TANGIBLE. AS LONG AS YOU GUYS LET ME BUT FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT AND I MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE BEFORE THIS ISN'T JUST A JOB. AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS THE, THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT MY PARENT, MY KIDS HAVE KNOWN.

THEY STARTED OVER AT ZELLERS. MY YOUNGEST WAS BORN HERE.

WE LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY.

MY WIFE SERVES ON THE PTA AT OAK POINT WHERE OUR KIDS GO.

I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD OF EMBEDDING OURSELVES INTO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE NOW CALL HOME, AND THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

WHETHER MY KIDS BECOME BAND KIDS OR RIGHT NOW, ONE COULD PROBABLY BE A CHESS GUY.

EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT EVEN INVOLVED, THIS IS, THIS IS BIGGER THAN ME AND SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN JUST DEVELOPED IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB OR WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING. THIS IS STUFF THAT I'VE SEEN FOR 11 YEARS AND JUST TAKING NOTES AND TAKING NOTES AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON. AND SO WITH THAT OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE AND VERY EASY AND NOT VERY COMPLICATED. AND NUMBER ONE, WE ARE GOING TO BE LEADERS OF PEOPLE.

[00:15:01]

THAT'S NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT ALL GOING TO BE PROFESSIONAL BALLPLAYERS.

WE'RE NOT ALL GOING TO GO GET A FREE RIDE TO COLLEGE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET NIL MONEY AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE FATHERS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE HUSBANDS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOTHERS AND WIVES AND EVERYTHING. AND SO THAT'S OUR NUMBER 1 MISSION IS TO PREPARE THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WHETHER THAT'S GOING FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL TO WHEREVER THEY GO AFTER THEY LEAVE OUR DISTRICT. AND I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT AND YOU USE THE SPORT THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF AS A WAY TO BE THAT MEDIUM OF HOW TO TEACH THEM THAT THE WINDS WILL COME.

I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. WE SAW IT THIS PAST YEAR.

OUR BASKETBALL TEAM, THOSE STARTING 5, 6 AND THE REST OF THE GUYS, THEY WERE SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE THAT WE HAD ON CAMPUS.

I HAD CASEY IN CLASS WHEN HE WAS A SOPHOMORE.

PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEING. WEEMS, PH2ENOMENAL HUMAN BEING.

IAN BERRY, PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEING. AND THAT IS THE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP THEM AND THEN TAKE IT ONTO THE COURT.

AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND US AND OTHER DISTRICTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ELSEWHERE THAT I'VE SEEN THAT DON'T WIN THE RIGHT WAY.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE KIDS. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT TEACHING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

AND YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY ON THE NEWS WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD THAT DAY OR THAT ONE SEASON WHERE THEY WON A CHAMPIONSHIP, AND NOW THEY'RE IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK IT STARTS WITH US DEVELOPING IT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, NOT JUST HIGH SCHOOL, BUT MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT EVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN ORDER TO, WHEN THEY LEAVE US AND THEY GO OFF AND LEAVE THEIR PARENTS, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THEY KNOW HOW TO SUCCEED.

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS OUR BASKETBALL TEAM, WHICH IS FINE.

WE'VE MET AND TALKED WITH EVERY COACH, AND WE'VE GOT THINGS WRITTEN DOWN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD AND ELEVATE TO WHERE WE HAVE A BETTER SEASON THAN WE DID LAST YEAR, BOTH ON THE COURT AND OFF THE COURT. AND AS LONG AS THEY ARE WILLING TO BUY IN AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING PEOPLE, WE WILL KEEP WORKING WITH THEM TO KEEP BUILDING BECAUSE I THINK WE WILL ALL MOVE FORWARD AND WE WILL SEE IT NOT ONLY ON THE COURT, BUT IN OUR HALLWAYS AND OUR CLASSROOMS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE, WE KNOW THAT IT IS A TOUGH MISSION.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS LONGER THAN US, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH IT.

BUT I THINK IT WILL GIVE US AN EDGE AS MOST OF THOSE DISTRICTS, THEY START DEVELOPING KIDS WHEN THEY'RE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEY START WORKING FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WE'VE HAD, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OUR KIDS THAT GO THROUGH OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, BUT THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL. AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME.

AND I THINK THAT AND I KNOW FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IN THE LAST 2 CLASSES, THAT HAS CHANGED.

I THINK IF WE CAN DEVELOP SYSTEMS TO START GETTING OUR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES AND GETTING OUR COACHES TOWARDS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GETTING THEM TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO. I THINK THOSE KIDS DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH US TO WHERE THEY STAY.

NO MATTER WHO COMES CALLING AND DOES THINGS THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.

I'VE GOT SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER. SOME THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE, BUT I'LL START WITH OUR LOBO BUDDIES.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE DID THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WHERE WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES THAT GO TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THEY PAIR THEM UP WITH KIDS THAT THAT CAMPUS FEELS THAT THEY CAN HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON.

AND WE GIVE THEM A CURRICULUM EVERY DAY, A LITTLE SHEET OF PAPER OF TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT, AND THEN THEY ALL GET INVITED TO COME OUT TO GAMES.

THEY GET INVITED TO COME OUT TO BE ON THE COURT OR ON THE FIELD.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GROW THAT. WE WERE IN 6 CAMPUSES LAST YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GROW.

AND SO WE'LL START GETTING ALL THAT STUFF SET UP HOPEFULLY SOON WITH THE CAMPUSES AND STUFF WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I FEEL THAT YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO WORK AND WORK WITH LEYASA AND HELP THEM.

[00:20:05]

IT'S WHAT GOT MY KIDS INTERESTED IN THE GAME.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE, THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS THAT FEEL THAT THEIR KIDS NEED SOMETHING BETTER.

AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THEY WENT AND FOUND IT IN OTHER CITIES AND THEN THOSE KIDS DIDN'T COME BACK.

SO WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING WHAT WE CALL THE PACK ATHLETIC CLUB, WHICH IS TO BRIDGE THAT GAP THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WHERE WE CAN GET THE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES MORE INVOLVED. WE CAN GET THE COMPETITION LEVEL THAT THEY WANT THAT THE PARENTS HAVE OR WHERE THE KID IS AT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE AND STAY LOCAL AND BE ABLE TO GO TO THOSE COMPETITIONS AND THAT LEVEL THEY WANT TO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A BASEBALL.

SOFTBALL? WRESTLING? SOCCER? BOTH BASKETBALLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THAT. AND WE JUST STARTED FLAGGING TACKLE FOOTBALL.

AND THESE ARE KIDS THAT ARE LITTLE ELM AREA AND LITTLE ELM ISD KIDS.

AND SO WE'RE ALSO HAVE A MISSION TO KEEP THE COST DOWN.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL'S KIDS HAVE EVER DONE SELECT VOLLEYBALL OR BASEBALL OR WHATEVER.

IT, IT GETS UP THERE. AND SO THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THE COST DOWN AT A MEDIUM TO WHERE WE CAN COVER, YOU CAN COVER COST OF WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A TEAM LIKE THAT AND NOT JUST SIT THERE AND PRICE GOUGE TO LINE PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

AND SO WE'RE BUILDING, WE'RE GROWING, WE'RE WORKING ON ADDING MORE SPORTS AS FAST AS WE CAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT FOR WHAT'S COMING THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WHAT IS GOING TO GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS AND OUR COACHES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL NOW WE ARE INVESTING A LOT OF TIME INTO DEVELOPMENT OF COACHES TO GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND WAYS TO GROW AS A COACH AND TO GROW AS A PERSON.

AS WE EXPECT THE KIDS TO DO. AGAIN, OUR DEPARTMENT AND ME BEING THE HEAD OF IT, I'M GOING TO BE A LEADER OF PEOPLE FOR THEM THAT THEY ARE A PERSON FAR MORE THAN THEY ARE A COACH AND WHATEVER THEY NEED AND WHEREVER THEY NEED ME TO MEET THEM AT.

MY GOAL IS TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO BUILD THAT PERSON UP.

AND WE DO A LOT OF WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, OF GETTING THEM INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH AS A GIVE BACK.

AND WE START A LOT OF THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IS WHAT KIND OF STORY ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR LEGACY? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO REMEMBER YOU, WHETHER THEY REMEMBER YOU FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AS I REMEMBER, BECAUSE YOU WERE A GREAT KID THAT THAT HELPED OUT A YOUNG ONE.

ONE OF THE MAIN ONES THAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF IS A GUY NAMED JOHN MATEER.

JOHN MATEER USED TO BRING USED TO PURPOSELY GO AND HANG OUT AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS IN OUR BASEBALL PROGRAM. AND ONE OF THE KIDS THAT HE GOT TO KNOW REALLY GOOD, WHO IDOLIZED HIM, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE HE WAS A QUARTERBACK AND SHORTSTOP. WHEN THAT KID WAS A SENIOR, HE WAS OUR FIRST EVER THREE TIME FIRST TEAM, ALL STATE PLAYER OR ALL DISTRICT PLAYER IN OUR BASEBALL PROGRAM.

AND JOHN WAS THE FIRST ONE TO RECORD A VIDEO ANNOUNCING THAT HE GOT IT AT OUR BANQUET AS HE WAS IN HIS OU PRACTICE GEAR.

AND THEY STILL TALK AND JOHN STILL CHECKS IN ON HIM.

AND NOW HE'S OFF IN COLLEGE IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE. IT'S THAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY AND LEGACY AND JUST BEING LEADERS OF PEOPLE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE BASIS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE RECLASSIFICATION OF SPECIAL.

OH. I KNOW I'M USED TO OVERHEADS. OKAY. OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS RECLASSIFICATION OF SPECIAL POPULATION SPEECH PATHOLOGIST. MS. BROWN, YOU ARE UP. HELLO AGAIN. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR.

[8. Action Items]

[00:25:01]

IT IS IN OUR SPECIAL POPULATIONS DEPARTMENT. IT'S CURRENTLY 187 DAY POSITION, BUT IT'S ON THE ADMINISTRATOR PAY SCALE, PAY GRADE 2 OF THE ADMINISTRATOR PAY SCALE. AND MISS ROBERTS AND HER TEAM, AS THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF EVALUATING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

AND ALSO HONESTLY HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO RECLASSIFY IT DOWN TO A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANT STILL 187 DAY POSITION, BUT INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE ADMINISTRATOR PAY GRADE 2, IT WOULD BE ON THE TEACHER PAY SCALE, WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF OUR SPEECH PATH ASSISTANTS ARE.

SO IT'LL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT WILL BE A MINIMAL SAVINGS IN OUR BUDGET SINCE IT'S KIND OF A DOWNWARD RECLASSIFICATION BUT NOT SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS.

SO WITH THAT, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SPEECH PATHOLOGIST FTE AS SUBMITTED.

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

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

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. BROWN? ALL IN FAVOR? SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND SAYING I. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS MR. WEISS, WITH THE THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ATTENDANCE CREDIT.

OUR FAVORITE.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE ARE A DISTRICT THAT IS IN RECAPTURE, AND ONE OF THE MECHANICS OF THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS EACH YEAR WE HAVE TO DELEGATE THE AUTHORITY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE STATE FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO, IN THEIR TERMS, EQUALIZE OUR WEALTH. AND WE DO THIS THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

YOU CAN CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU CAN JUST MERGE INTO 1.

IF IT GETS YOUR NUMBERS DOWN RIGHT, YOU CAN GET AWAY PART OF YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU CAN PURCHASE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE CREDITS FROM THE STATE. YOU CAN CONTRACT OUT FOR SOME TECHNOLOGY AND SOME OTHER TAX COUNCIL TAX BASE CONSOLIDATION.

THE ONE THAT EVERYONE DOES IS THE RECAPTURE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE RECAPTURE PAYMENT IS, IS IT'S THE PURCHASE OF THE ATTENDANCE CREDITS BASICALLY BUYING OUR ATTENDANCE DOWN TO A LEVEL OF WEALTH THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH FOR OUR ENTITLEMENT.

SO EVERY YEAR WE, WE DO THIS AND WE JUST PICK THAT OPTION.

AND THEN ONCE WE PICK THAT OPTION, THEY APPROVE IT, THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SET OUR TAX RATE NEXT MONTH.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ATTENDANCE CREDIT.

I MOVE FOR THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL YEAR, WE DELEGATE DELEGATED CONTRACTUAL AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 11.1511 C.4 TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBLIGATING THE DISTRICT UNDER TEC.48.257 AND TEC CHAPTER 49 SUBCHAPTERS A AND D, AND THE RULES ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AS AUTHORIZED UNDER TEC49.006.

THIS INCLUDED APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ATTENDANCE CREDIT.

MR. OLSON MADE THE MOTION. MR. BEBER MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WYSE? ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, SIR. TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE. WHAT IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS? WHAT HAPPENS? SO IF WE DON'T APPROVE IT, THEN TECHNICALLY WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SET OUR TAX RATE YET, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DEMONSTRATED THE STATE THAT.

AT THAT RATE, WE'RE GOING TO EQUALIZE OUR OUR WEALTH OF PROPERTY APPROPRIATELY.

USUALLY IT'S JUST, IT'S, YEAH, YOU LOSE FUNDING IN OTHER PLACES, USUALLY EQUAL TO WHAT YOUR RECAPTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO THE STATE FORCES YOU INTO IT. THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY.

YES. THERE'S, THIS IS THIS IS I USE ANALOGY. YOU GOTTA WASH THE DISHES.

YOU CAN EITHER PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER OR YOU CAN DO THEM BY HAND. BUT THE DISHES ARE GETTING CLEANED EITHER WAY.

EITHER WAY. TEA IS GOING TO GET THE THE FUNDING FOR THIS.

AND WE JUST GET TO CHOOSE HOW THAT FUNDING LOOKS.

GOTCHA. YEAH. JUST WANTED TO GET THAT. YEAH. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT.

THIS ISN'T AN OPTIONAL THING FOR US. IT'S THAT OR WE LOSE.

IT'S ANOTHER THING WHERE THEY SAY THAT SCHOOL BOARDS GET TO DO THIS STUFF, BUT WE REALLY DON'T.

RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH, EXACTLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND SAYING AYE.

AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. Consent Agenda]

[00:30:09]

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

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? EVERYONE SIGNIFY APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND SAYING AYE.

AYE. MOTION CARRIES. OUR NEXT ITEM IN ORDER IS BOARD PRESIDENT COMMENTS.

[10. Board President Comments]

EVERYBODY THANK YOU FOR STAYING TONIGHT. I KNOW LAST WEEK WAS OUR 1ST WEEK AND WE ARE CATCHING THE WAVE AND GAINING SOME MOMENTUM AND MAKING 2026-2027 OUR BEST YEAR YET. WELCOME BACK TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH WHEN WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE. AND I'M GOING TO GO. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE ELDER STATESMAN DOWN THERE,

[11. Board Comments ]

AND GOOD LUCK FOR THIS YEAR. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SOME GREAT THINGS.

SO PRETTY SIMPLE FOR ME.

OKAY, MR. BEBER. I'M GOOD. I'M WELCOME. EVERYBODY BACK FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICT.

MR. OLSON. SAME HERE. WELCOME. EVERYBODY BACK.

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE GET ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR, MR. WILSON. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THE LOBO FAMILY AND SEEING WHERE WE GO FOR THIS YEAR.

SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

REALLY EXCITED TO KICK OFF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.

I KNOW THERE'S PARENTS OUT THERE THAT START COUNTING THE DAYS DOWN FOR TIL SUMMER COMES.

SO THEY GET THEIR KIDS BACK AND CAN HOLD THEM AND SPEND ALL SUMMER WITH THEM.

I'M THE GUY THAT COUNTS THE DAY FOR WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.

SO I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS, OUR COACHES, OUR CUSTODIANS EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS ME TO KEEP MY SANITY FOR A WHILE AND GET MY KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE AND ACTUALLY MANAGE TO KEEP THE FRIDGE STOCKED.

SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT AND GO LOBOS.

[12. Superintendent Comments]

WE WERE A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE WONDERFUL AND LOTS OF GOOD COMMENTS ON IT.

AND THEN EVERYBODY HAS STARTED WELL. AND MAN, AGAIN, I HATE TO JINX IT, BUT TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR FOUR DAYS.

SO OH, LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU GUYS SITTING AT THOSE TABLES FOR THE WORK YOU DID TO GET US TO THIS PLACE. AND SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

AND IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A LOBO. WE WILL CONSIDER A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. MR. OLSON MADE THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? MR. ENGLISH MADE A SECOND. EVERYONE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE AND RAISING YOUR HAND.

AYE. MOTION CARRIES. WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 7:34 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.