[1. CALL TO ORDER - 5. REPORTS]
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BE USED FOR IS LOST REVENUE AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT
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ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE.[00:17:06]
THIS DISTRICT RENTS ANYTHING THEY CAN RENT.[00:17:09]
SO WE RENT SOCCER FIELDS, FOOTBALL FIELDS.WE RENT THE PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
WE RENT ALL THOSE THINGS, AND WE ACTUALLY BRING IN QUITE A BIT OF MONEY FOR THAT PER YEAR. WHEN COVID HAPPENED, THERE WERE A LOT LESS EVENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING, SO PEOPLE WERE NOT RENTING AND WE COULDN'T USE THAT MONEY TO MAKE UP THAT REVENUE.
CHRIS SCOTT HAS SAID YOU CAN'T DIRECTLY USE THAT MONEY TO PAY STAFF, YOU KNOW, JUST IN RAISING SALARIES OR DOING SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU CAN TAKE MONEY IN YOUR M&O BUDGET AND OFFSET IT WITH ESSER FUNDS, YOU CAN THEN USE THAT OTHER MONEY IN YOUR M&O BUDGET TO MOVE THAT TO STAFF.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN.
I TALK ABOUT THIS IN DETAIL AT THE STATE OF THE DISTRICT.
YOU CAN SEE THE COMPENSATION THAT WE GAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
BUT SEVERAL DISTRICTS GAVE ONE TIME PAYMENTS OR PERCENTAGE INCREASES ON THE RIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, LAKE TRAVIS THAT HAD QUITE A BIT MORE MONEY PER STUDENT.
THEY GAVE THE SAME RAISE WE DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, BUT THEN THEY ALSO GAVE AN ADDITIONAL THREE PERCENT MID-YEAR TO SOME EMPLOYEES AND TWO PERCENT TO OTHERS.
AND SO WE KNOW THIS HAPPENED IN MY CONVERSATIONS AND CHRIS'S CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF ESSER MONEY AND OUR LACK OF IT DID NOT HELP.
THE BOARD ASKED US AT ONE POINT TO KIND OF LAY OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST IN OUR BUDGET SHOULD WE GIVE A ONE TIME PAYMENT OR HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST IN OUR BUDGET IF WE GAVE A SALARY INCREASE PERCENTAGE MID-YEAR.
AND SO I LAID THAT OUT AND THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.
HERE IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE HAVE.
WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BELOW AT TWENTY FIVE PERCENT FUND BALANCE RATIO.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS OUR BILLS DO NOT COME OUT, DO NOT COME IN AT THE SAME TIME OUR REVENUE COMES IN. SO JUST LIKE ANY HOUSEHOLD, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN THE BANK BECAUSE YOU MAY GET A BILL BEFORE YOU GET YOUR PAYCHECK.
AND 25 PERCENT IS THE KIND OF THE STANDARD THAT MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPERATE, NOT WANTING TO GO UNDER THAT NUMBER.
IT TURNS OUT THAT BECAUSE REALLY, OF THE GOLDEN PENNIES, WE HAVE STAYED ABOVE THAT 25 PERCENT AND THAT YELLOW LINE IS OUR FUND BALANCE LINE.
AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO STAY ABOVE THE BLUE LINE.
THOSE GOLDEN PENNIES HELPED US A LOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE.
THEY WERE PASSED BY THE VOTERS BY A PRETTY HIGH RATE.
AND THEY ALSO ARE ACTUAL TAX RATE ALSO WENT DOWN OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
HAD WE NOT HAD THE GOLDEN PENNIES, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR FUND BALANCE LINE.
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING TO THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE MEANT QUITE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS IN WHAT WE COULD DO IN TERMS OF PROGRAMING.
ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABOVE THAT LINE.
ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT IS LOOKING FORWARD.
WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE OUR SITUATION GOING TO BE THIS YEAR?
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WE ANTICIPATE AT THIS TIME A BALANCED BUDGET THIS YEAR.IT WON'T BE A BIG, BALANCED BUDGET, BALANCED BUDGET.
WE ALSO ANTICIPATE A BALANCED BUDGET NEXT YEAR.
AGAIN, NOT A HUGE NUMBER, BUT AT LEAST A BALANCED BUDGET.
NOW WE HAVE NOT HAD A BALANCED BUDGET IN A LONG TIME.
WHEN I GOT TO THIS DISTRICT, AS ALLEN KNOWS, OTHER THAN ONE YEAR WHERE WE CHANGED THE BUDGETING CYCLE, WE WENT THROUGH QUITE A FEW YEARS OF DEFICIT SPENDING AND GOING IN AND PULLING FROM THE FUND BALANCE, WHICH YOU CANNOT DO FOREVER.
AND IF YOU JUST LOOK AT AND I JUST WENT BACK TO 12 13, WE WERE RUNNING THESE DEFICITS FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WE PASSED GOLDEN PENNIES AND YOU CAN SEE THE YEAR THERE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY BROUGHT US INTO THE BLUE AND WE WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY STAYED IN THE BLUE.
BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF DISTRICTS AROUND US WITH HB THREE GOT A LOT OF MONEY AND THEY STARTED GETTING RAISES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE PERCENT.
AND THE BOARD VEERED THAT YEAR FROM OUR TWO PERCENT REGULAR THAT WE HAD GIVEN AND GAVE ACTUALLY A FOUR POINT FIVE PERCENT RAISE, WHICH ACTUALLY DID BRING US BACK INTO A DEFICIT SITUATION. BUT AGAIN, WE CAME OUT OF THAT AND WE GOT BACK INTO THE BLUE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AHEAD, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE OK.
WE'LL BE JUST SLIGHTLY IN THE BLUE, WHICH MEANS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE WILL BE WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND THAT'S GOOD. AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN AS HER STORY IN HERE, ELLEN WILL TELL YOU, HAS NOT BEEN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE COULD SAY WE HAD THAT, THAT RUN.
THERE ARE FACTORS THAT PLAY INTO THIS, AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THOSE FACTORS BECAUSE THE BUDGET ISN'T DONE TO THE BUDGET STUFF.
OK. THESE ARE THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE OPERATING LIKE WE ARE OPERATING UNDER A TAD OF NINE POINT ONE, CHRIS WILL GET THE ACTUAL NUMBERS I BELIEVE IN APRIL.
WE'LL GET THE OFFICIAL ESTIMATE.
I'M SORRY. WE'LL GET THE OFFICIAL ESTIMATE IN APRIL, AND THEN YOU'LL DO ANOTHER BUDGET UPDATE AT SOME MEETING AFTER THAT.
AND THEN WE GET THE FINAL NUMBER, TYPICALLY IN...JULY.
IN JULY, AND USUALLY IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT WE GET IN APRIL.
SO APRIL GIVES YOU A GOOD PICTURE, BUT IT COULD BE UP OR DOWN A PERCENT.
WE'RE JUST SHOWING YOU ONE PERCENT CHANGE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR BUDGET.
DOES THAT MAKES SENSE? SECOND, ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST SAYING ENROLLMENT WILL REMAIN STATIC.
WE'RE NOT SAYING IT'S GOING UP OR DOWN.
WE JUST GOT THE DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT AT CABINET SOON AND THEN WE'LL GET IT TO THE BOARD AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHANGES YOUR REVENUE.
BASIC ALLOTMENT, WE'RE ASSUMING IN THESE THE SITUATION THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED.
REMEMBER, THE STATE OF TEXAS GAVE US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ALL STUDENTS PER STUDENT IN 2019, AND THEY KEPT THAT STATIC.
AND IF YOU DO NOT CHANGE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND YOU DO RAISE COMPENSATION, MOST DISTRICTS WIND UP GETTING IN TROUBLE.
AND IT IS COMMON FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS TO CHANGE THAT BASIC ALLOTMENT ONCE IN A WHILE, AND THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE BETWEEN THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THIS ONE IS IN RED BECAUSE THIS COULD HURT US.
THESE THERE ARE ABOUT 10 SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE AREA.
WE ARE WORKING ON A DRAFT LETTER TO TO TEA.
AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH THAT LETTER, I'LL MAKE SURE THE BOARD GETS A COPY OF IT.
OUR ATTENDANCE RATE HAS BEEN GOOD IN THE FALL.
WE WERE BACK TO ABOUT 96 PERCENT OF THE KIDS COMING DAILY AND THAT JUST THE SAME PERCENTAGE WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.
IT WAS NOT GOOD IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES, WAS NOT GOOD FOR AIRLINES, IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE.
IT WAS WHEN OMICRON HIT AND OUR ATTENDANCE DROPPED INTO THE 80 PERCENT AND THAT COULD COST US SOME MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
CHRIS IS AWARE OF THAT AND IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, SO THAT WOULD BRING US DOWN FROM OUR ESTIMATES.
ONE THING THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP US INTEREST RATES.
WE HAVE MONEY THAT TWENTY FIVE PERCENT PLUS IS IN THE BANK AND IT IS BEING INVESTED AND WE DO GET MONEY FROM THAT AND THE INTEREST RATES HAVE BEEN VERY LOW.
IT SEEMS THAT THE FEDERAL AND RIGHT NOW IN CHRIS'S ESTIMATES, WERE ASSUMING THAT IT'S GOING TO STAY LOW.
THERE IS A REALLY GOOD CHANCE THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE OVERNIGHT RATE WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE SOON, AND THAT WILL ALL THAT WOULD POP OUR BUDGET POSITIVELY THAN THE OTHER.
SO ONE COULD BRING IT DOWN, ONE COULD BRING YOU UP.
BY THE WAY, ON THE ONE IN RED, TEA CAN ISSUE A WAIVER LIKE THEY HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS AND CHANGE THAT SITUATION IMMEDIATELY.
OK, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT'S WHY THE LETTER IS COMING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GAVE YOU THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SPRING BREAK COMING
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SOON. OUR DISTRICT, OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED.WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL SPRING BREAK.
AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE.
AND THEN THANK YOU FOR GOING OVER THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LOOK INTO OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION OUT THERE, AND IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET DESPITE GIVING OVER ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BACK TO THE STATE AND RECAPTURE THIS YEAR ALONE.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO JUST DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT TODAY THE HOUSE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE WROTE A LETTER TO TEA AND THE GOVERNOR ASKING FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT A [INAUDIBLE] LIST FOR US, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE SOME RELIEF. I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH, BUT THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR TOM.
ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT GAS PRICES INCREASING AT THIS POINT AND WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO THE BUDGET [INAUDIBLE]? CHRIS WELL, I THINK EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT GAS PRICES RISING IF YOU'RE BUYING GAS ANYWHERE. CHRIS, CAN YOU TALK TO THAT BRIEFLY AND PROBABLY COME UP HERE IF YOU DON'T MIND? THANK YOU. WHEN WE BUDGET, WE PLAN ON AND ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'LL BE SOME VOLATILITY IN THE FUEL SECTOR.
WE DON'T BUDGET FOR THIS MUCH VOLATILITY.
SO YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME IMPACT.
A LOT OF OUR FUEL IS ACTUALLY COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS DIESEL AND WE HAVE STORAGE TANKS AND WE DEPENDING ON WHEN WE BUY IT.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME WE BOUGHT IT, BUT THOSE LAST SOME AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YES, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A HIT ON ON FUEL COSTS THIS YEAR, BUT THERE IS SOME EXPECTATION THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE HIGHER FUEL PRICES THAN WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
AND SO IT WON'T BE AS BAD AS IT COULD BE.
RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHRIS.
I THINK YOU MEAN THIS CHART? YEAH, OK. I MEAN, SO IN THE 2019-2020 YEAR, THIS WAS ALSO THE YEAR AFTER WE REACTED TO SOME OF [INAUDIBLE] THREE THAT OTHER DISTRICTS GOT LARGE RAISES AND WE GAVE AS MUCH AS WE COULD.
AND THE OTHER PIECE IS WE THIS WAS A COVID HIT.
WE WERE TOLD BY THE STATE TO SHUT DOWN, GO HOME.
YOU CAN'T HAVE SCHOOL IN MARCH.
BUT WE STILL PAID BUS DRIVERS, WE STILL PAID CUSTODIANS, WE STILL PAID CAFETERIA WORKERS AND WE DIDN'T COLLECT ANY RENTAL REVENUE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SCHOOL LUNCH REVENUE.
SO I MEAN, THAT'S MORE THAN THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT RED BAR THAT'S TRUE.
AND AS FAR AS THOSE SALARIES, THE BUS DRIVERS, THE CUSTODIANS, THE FOOD SERVICE WORKERS WHO WE BASICALLY TOLD GO HOME, THAT THOSE WERE APPROVED, THINGS THAT WE COULD SPEND ESSER MONEY ON AND WE DID SPEND THAT MONEY REIMBURSING THAT WHERE WE WHERE WHAT WE COULDN'T DO, THOUGH, IS SAY, WELL, WE WOULD HAVE SOLD AS MANY LUNCHES AND WE WOULD HAVE MADE SOME MONEY. WHAT WE COULDN'T DO IS SAY, LIKE TOM SUGGESTED, WE WOULD HAVE RENTED OUT THESE FACILITIES.
WE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MONEY AND SO FORTH SO WE COULD PAY THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE TOLD TO STAY HOME, BUT WE COULDN'T MAKE UP FOR THE LOST REVENUE.
THANK YOU. ELLEN AND THEN HEATHER, SPEAKING THINGS THAT WE COULD SPEND ESSER MONEY ON.
THE CENTS IN THE LAST BOND, WE DID A LOT OF HVAC WORK AND IMPROVED VENTILATION, WHICH THEN ENDED UP BEING EXTRAORDINARILY VALUABLE TO US AND TO OUR SAFETY DURING COVID.
COULD WE GO BACK AND REIMBURSE ANY OF THOSE COSTS? WE COULD. WE DON'T WANT TO, BECAUSE WE WE MADE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS OUT OF BOND.
AND I WOULD RATHER LEAVE IT ON AND USE THAT ESSER MONEY FOR OPERATIONS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DEFICIT YEAR THAT WE HAD RECENTLY WAS ALSO DUE IN PART TO
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THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE TEXAS OR TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS, WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US, WHICH RESULTED IN US LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTIES THAT WERE NOT REASSESSED.WHICH AGAIN, WAS NOT OUR DOING AT ALL.
SO FOR ONE YEAR, THE ASSESSOR DECIDED THAT ALL VALUES IN OUR DISTRICT DID NOT GO UP AT ALL ZERO PERCENT CHANGE, AND THEY EVEN ADMITTED THAT ISN'T WHAT IT WAS.
YEAH, THAT WAS JUST RESIDENTIAL, THAT ONE COMMERCIAL.
RIGHT. BUT REGARDLESS OF ALL OF THAT, WE STILL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOWER TAX RATES.
NOT YOUR BEST VALUE. SORRY, THAT'S NOT UP TO US, BUT TAX RATES.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SO IT APPEARS THAT WE'VE GOT A BALANCED BUDGET THIS YEAR.
WE'RE EXPECTING A BALANCED BUDGET LAST YEAR AND WE'RE EXPECTING A BALANCED BUDGET NEXT YEAR. AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS EQUAL A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, JUST FOR THE RECORD.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRS REPORT, MR. DANSBY. AND I CAN MOVE THE SLIDES OR YOU CAN RELEASE WHATEVER YOU WHEN YOU NOD AT ME, I'LL MOVE THE SLIDES.
HEY, THANKS. THANKS Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
I'VE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE THE DISTRICT SINCE 2015.
I WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE 2015 COMMITTEE AND A FED CHAIRMAN HERE FOR THE 2019 COMMITTEE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
QUICKLY CITE THE DUTIES THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THE BOARD JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY IS REMINDED OF THAT. AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH A FEW OF THE FEW ACTIONS THAT WE DID TAKE OVER THE PAST YEAR. BEFORE GETTING TO THAT, I DID WANT TO THANK THE DISTRICT STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND TRANSPARENCY AND COOPERATION.
WHAT THEY DO IS FROM EVERYTHING I CAN SEE, CERTAINLY AROUND ALL THE BOND ACTIVITIES AND THE INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OF THE INDIVIDUALS SO [INAUDIBLE] JEREMY AND EVERYBODY THANK.
THE CHARTER ACTIONS, AND THEN I'LL HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE FOUR PRIMARY ITEMS IN OUR CHARTER TO REVIEW THE 2019 BOND EXPENDITURES AND TIMELINES.
THE STAFF BRINGS POSSIBLE SCOPE CHANGES TO US SO THAT WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD AS TO WHAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU'RE DOING THE ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORT, SO THAT'S A DUTY WE HAVE.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY SOMETHING THAT GOT ADDED TO THIS COMMITTEE'S CHARTER WAS BEING PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE MAY BE ASKED TO ADVISE THE BOARD ON A FUTURE BOND PROGRAM.
AND THEN AND WE'RE CERTAINLY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE EXECUTE THIS IS WE MEET MONTHLY FROM AUGUST THROUGH JUNE.
IF THERE ARE NO ACTIONS AND NO SIGNIFICANT UPDATES, WE WILL SKIP A MONTH, BUT WE RARELY THINK WE'VE EVER SKIPPED TWO MONTHS.
SO THAT'S THAT'S HOW WE GO ABOUT IT.
OUR ACTIONS IN THE PAST YEAR, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED A FEW.
WE DO RECONFIRM OFFICERS EACH YEAR, SO WE DID THAT LAST JANUARY.
WE JUST DID IT AGAIN THIS JANUARY AND FOR THE THIRD YEAR, [INAUDIBLE] SERVING AS CHAIRMAN, HOLLY KNOWLES SERVING AS VICE CHAIRMAN AND [INAUDIBLE] BENITEZ AS OUR SOMETIMES RELUCTANT SECRETARY.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST JOB.
TAKING THE NOTES, BEING ABLE TO REGURGITATE.
WE HAD TWO ITEMS COME UP THAT WE RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD.
ONE WAS A CHANGE ORDER REQUEST OF FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS RELATED TO THE EANES ELEMENTARY WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
WE WERE ABLE TO REALLOCATE SAVINGS FROM OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SECONDLY, THE FIRE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT AND THE CHANGES WE REALLOCATED ABOUT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM OTHER CAMPUSES TO SUPPORT INCREASED SCOPE HERE AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. AS I RECALL, THERE WAS A FAIRLY EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS BOARD THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE [INAUDIBLE] TO DO THAT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
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AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE ITEMS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US NEED TO HIT TWO THRESHOLDS ONE THE AT LEAST A FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR CHANGE AND TO EXCUSE ME, HAD THAT BE A MINIMUM OF 15 PERCENT CHANGE YOU KNOW UP OR DOWN IN THE BUDGET.JUST, YOU KNOW, OVERALL, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE MET EIGHT TIMES THAT INCLUDED TWO SITE VISITS TO OUR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS, AND AS WE HEARD EARLIER, THOSE ARE NOW DONE AND COMPLETE AND THEY ALL THEY ALL LOOK GREAT AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT OR OUR ATTENDANCE.
WE GET GOOD ATTENDANCE. WE'VE STARTED TO MEET IN PERSON AGAIN AND THINK WE GOT ONE OR TWO OF THOSE DONE BEFORE COVID AND HAD TO DO IT VIRTUALLY.
WE DID LOSE AN ALTERNATE MEMBER THIS YEAR.
DINA [INAUDIBLE] WHO HAD BEEN ON THE 2015 BOARD, MOVED OUT OF THE DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE DOWN TO 13 MEMBERS, SO NINE VOTING MEMBERS AND FOUR ALTERNATES, AND THAT SHOULD SERVE US HERE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE GET GOOD PARTICIPATION FROM EVERYBODY [INAUDIBLE] KIND OF GOT THEIR THINGS THAT THEY LIKE TO ASK ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE LAST YEAR, THE PROJECT MANAGERS ON THE BOARD ASK SOME VERY POINTED [LAUGHING] QUESTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AROUND OR BEHOLDING HOLDING THE CONTRACTOR ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOME OF THESE DELAYS AND SO FORTH.
AND SO ASK FOR SOME VERY DETAILED RECONCILIATIONS OF ALL THOSE AND IN THE BOARD AND THE STAFF COMPLIED AND GAVE US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED.
YOU MENTIONED THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT A BOND FOR 2023, YOU KNOW, MAY BE CONSIDERED.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN EYEBALLING IT SOMETIME IN THE FALL, WE MIGHT BE ASKED TO GO AND DO THAT. CHRIS ADVISES THAT WE MAY NOT QUITE BE DONE BEING THE OF BUT THE CHRIS 90 PERCENT OR NINETY FIVE PERCENT, IT'S 90 PERCENT THE NEED TO BE 90 PERCENT SPENT AND WE MAY NOT BE ALL THE WAY THERE BY THE TIME WE GET ASKED.
BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE ACTIVITY ON THE BLOCK HAS BEEN LIGHT.
SO I THINK WE'RE CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF DOING BOTH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND PLEASE CONVEY OUR THANKS TO THE REST OF YOUR TEAM.
[INAUDIBLE] NO QUESTIONS, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE MEETINGS MIGHT BE, YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO DO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT AS FAR AS THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT ITS OVERSIGHT AND IT'S A CRITICAL ROLE THAT YOU ALL PLAY IN OUR DISTRICT.
THANK YOU ALL. AND AS YOU ALL TRANSITIONED TO THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THOSE ARE GREAT MEETINGS.
SO THOSE ARE MUCH, MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN WHAT WE DO.
LOTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
THAT'S LIKE THE BEST WAY TO GET TOWN AT THOSE BACK MEETINGS.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TO HEAR WHAT Y'ALL BRING US.
OVERSIGHT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO WHAT WE DO.
KIM. YEAH, I WANTED TO ADD MY THANKS TO A PREVIOUS BOARD, IMPLEMENTED THE IDEA OF A BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND IT'S PROVED TO BE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.
AND I THINK TO LAURA'S POINT THAT YOUR MEETINGS AND YOUR PROCESS IS RELATIVELY UNEVENTFUL SOMEWHAT SPEAKS TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR COMMITTEE.
SO YES, DEFINITELY THANK EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER OR MAYBE SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
CHRIS, YOU SAID WE'RE NOT QUITE TO THE 90 PERCENT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR REMAINING OUTSTANDING PROJECTS AND WHERE ARE WE ON THE BUDGET SPENT SO FAR? I'LL LET JEREMY SPEAK TO THAT FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TYPICALLY HAVE A ROLLOUT PERIOD WHERE YOU'RE HOLDING SOME OF THE MONEY BACK BEFORE YOU MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS.
JEREMY, WHAT ELSE WE HAVE GOING ON THIS SUMMER? SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS BECAUSE THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SUMMER WITHIN THE PROCESS OF THE BOND. BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
IF WE WERE TO DEVELOP THE BACK ROLL INTO THE BACK, WE WOULD DO THAT IN THE SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME. SO WHEN WITH SUMMER PROJECTS, YOU DON'T PAY OUT THOSE PROJECTS UNTIL AFTER SUMMER ENDS? SO NOT QUITE GOING TO BE THERE, BUT OVER THE FALL, WE'LL START CLOSING OUT THOSE PROJECTS WE DO OVER NEXT SUMMER AND YOU'LL START SEEING A CREEP REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CLOSE TO 90
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PERCENT. THERE'LL STILL BE SOME PROJECTS REMAINING THAT WE'VE TRIED TO TO SHUFFLE AROUND DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO ROLL OUT AFTER THAT.
THAT MAY NOT NEED JUST A SUMMER TO DO THE WORK, BUT THAT'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF THE PAYMENT PROCESS CLOSING OUT THOSE.
ARE THERE ANY NOTABLE PROJECTS LEFT REMAINING? NOT AS EXCITING AS AN AQUATIC CENTER, I'M SORRY, BUT THERE ARE PROJECTS ONE OF THOSE THAT STILL REMAINS OUT THERE IS THE FURNITURE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT STILL KIND OF REMAINS OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT IS THAT NEXT STEP IN FURNITURE, ESPECIALLY WITH COVID IMPACTING KIND OF FURNITURE DESIGN AND LAYOUTS OF CLASSROOMS. SO WE WANTED TO BE PATIENT THERE TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION MOVING FORWARD. AND IF THERE'S ANY ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE BUILDING WHAT WE KNOW NOW WITH COVID. BUT THINKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, JUST FINISHING THAT I'VE IS A BIG COUNTRY.
THAT'S OUR LARGEST PROJECT PROBABLY THAT IMPACTS A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICT FOR THIS SUMMER IS JUST FINISHING UP THE AD.
AND JEREMY, THE FACT THAT ON THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE FACT THAT WE STARTED ON WHEN WE DID WAS CRITICAL IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET CLOSE TO BUDGET.
I DON'T EITHER ONE OF YOU WOULD SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT COSTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION DOMAIN HAVE ACCELERATED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, INCLUDING 80 PERCENT INFLATION IN SOME MARKETS.
SO EVEN IF YOU BUILT A NEW SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS A SQUARE FOOT. JUST THINGS HAVE TRIPLED IN COST OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, SO WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT AND INSULATE OURSELVES FROM SOME OF THAT INFLATION. THANK YOU.
OK I'M GOING TO GO HEATHER, KIM, JAMES.
MR. DANSBY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THAT YOU SERVE.
YOU SERVE THE DISTRICT FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND OUR DISTRICT IS BETTER FOR YOUR SERVICE.
SO THANKS FOR THAT AND ALSO TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK.
MY FAVORITE WORDS, MAYBE IN THIS WHOLE PACKET ARE WE REALLOCATED SAVINGS FROM OTHER AREAS TO COVER ADDITIONAL COSTS? THAT'S HUGE.
THAT MEANS WE GET TO DO OTHER STUFF THAT IS NEEDED IN OUR DISTRICT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SOME GREAT THINGS FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF WHO WORK HERE.
SO THAT WORK THAT YOU DO IS SO MEANINGFUL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
MARK, I'LL ADD MY THANKS TO YOU AND TO THE COMMITTEE.
I THINK YOU'RE BEING MODEST WHEN YOU SAY THAT THERE'S OVERSIGHT AND YOU DON'T DO A LOT OR YOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE NOT AS RAMBUNCTIOUS.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE IN THE OVERSIGHT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED AND WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE BOND MONEY.
I KNOW YOU'VE SERVED SINCE 2015, BUT IN THE PREVIOUS ONE AND IN THE 2019, THE GROUP DID GREAT THINGS FOR THIS DISTRICT AND THE FACILITIES GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.
BUT THE LED LIGHTS AND THE OTHER SAVINGS THAT CAME OUT OF M&O AND OUR SURFACE DISTRICT.
JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU.
I WILL ECHO WHAT KIM JUST SAID.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIKE. AND THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE THINGS THAT AREN'T AS SHOWY AND AS FANCY, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL SPEND TIME WITH THOSE AS WELL.
AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE HOW IMPRESSED I HAVE BEEN WITH BOTH BOTS THAT YOU HAVE SERVED ON IN TERMS OF THE DIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.
YOU GOT EXPERTISE IN THAT ROOM.
THAT IS JUST AMAZING, AND I KNOW IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO BEAR FOR THE GOOD OF THE DISTRICT AND THE DISCUSSION AND ROBUST ARGUMENTS THAT JOEL SOMETIMES HAD THE COMPANY RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT EXPERTISE, AND PLEASE PASS THAT ALONG TO THE COMMITTEE THAT WE RECOGNIZE WHAT TOP LEVEL PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME WILL AND THE BOARD CHOSE AND ALL THE BACKGROUNDS OF EVERYBODY.
IT'S A GOOD BALANCE. KNOW WE'VE GOT LAWYERS, GOT FINANCE PEOPLE, GOT [INAUDIBLE] EQUITY TYPES YOU KNOW AGAIN.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE CONSTRUCTION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SO FORTH.
AND LIKE I SAID, EVERYBODY BRINGS THEIR THEIR VIEWPOINT AND SOME IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT SOMETIMES THAN OTHERS AND AGAIN IT MAKES FOR A CRISP DISCUSSION.
EVEN IF WE'RE NOT VOTING ON SOMETHING AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROJECTS, WE DO EXAMINE ALL THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE ON TRACK.
JAMES. YEAH, MIKE, I'LL JUST ECHO THAT I MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU, HOLLY, KEVIN AND THE WHOLE TEAM AS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS STEPPED UP TO SERVE OUR WHOLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE SPEND 40 HOURS A WEEK DOING OUR BOARD WORK.
WE JUST DON'T. WE'VE NEVER HAVE TIME TO GO INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT GUYS DO, AND THAT'S A HUGE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I FEEL COMPELLED IN THESE MEETINGS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN YOUR WORK WHERE YOU HAVE A
[00:45:01]
BLOCK? BUT I KNOW I DON'T NEED TO ASK THAT BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM YOU BY NOW.AND TO THAT END, I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.
JEREMY CHRIS, THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION FOR SUPPORTING WORK, YOU DO AS AS PARENT REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL EXPRESS THAT BACK TO THE.
SORRY, I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE 2019 BOND, AND THAT IS THE COFFEE MACHINES.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT A SUPER EXCITING ONE FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT THAT BROUGHT IN M&O DOLLARS SO IS THAT BEING COMPLETED OR IS THAT STILL PART OF THE ONGOING PROCESS? I BELIEVE ALL THAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND SO WE'RE REALIZING THOSE SAVINGS AS WE SPEAK. THAT'S EXCITING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ROOM.
WE'VE NOT ALWAYS HAD A BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
WE PUT THE FIRST BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TOGETHER IN 2011 IN RESPONSE TO SOME CONFUSING ACCOUNTING THAT FOLLOWED THE BOND THAT PRECEDED IT.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, I WAS ON THAT 2011 AND THE 2015 BOC.
BUT SINCE THAT TIME, THE COMMUNITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE COLLABORATED THROUGH THE BOC AND HAVE MONITORED ALL OF THE EXPENSES.
ALL OF THE EXPENSES RELATED TO OUR BONDS AND THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE GETS IS ACTUALLY GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT'S TYPICALLY PROVIDED TO THE BOARD. THESE GUYS LITERALLY SEE WHERE EVERY SINGLE BOND DOLLAR GOES.
AND IT'S A BIG JOB AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU.
WE'VE HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL [INAUDIBLE] BONDS EPISODES, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THAT.
THANK YOU. YOU BET, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CAMPUS CONNECTIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CEDAR CREEK.
I'M GOING TO BRING SUSAN FAMBROUGH WITH ME.
MAKING HER COME TOO. THANK YOU ALL.
AND I'M LAURA COAXUM, PRINCIPAL AT CEDAR CREEK AND HERE TO TALK Y'ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH ROBOTICS IN SCHOOLS, AND WE'VE PARTNERED A BIT WITH OUR CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT HERE AS WELL.
SO OUR ELEMENTARY SCIENCE TEACHERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST AT CEDAR CREEK, HAVE A GOAL TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS AND HANDS ON LABS THAT DEVELOP THOSE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS LIKE COLLABORATION, SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, COMMUNITY CREATIVITY, ALL OF THOSE PIECES.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A WAY TO ENHANCE THAT CURRICULUM WITH MORE HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THAT TAKES KIDS THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS FROM START TO END AND GIVES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE ROBOTICS AND CODING.
SO WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS PREVIOUSLY WITH OUR CODE THAT GAVE STUDENTS SOME LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE THOSE SKILLS, BUT WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENHANCE THAT AND GIVE THEM AN ONGOING OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO IN PARTNERING WITH OUR CIA DEPARTMENT, TRASH SPOTS WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS MENTIONED AS SOMETHING THAT MAY HELP US MEET OUR GOALS.
SO WE HAVE BEEN PILOTING THIS PROGRAM AT CEDAR CREEK IN OUR THIRD GRADE.
SO TRASHBOTS WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED BY TWO WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, ROHIT AND SIDHARTH SRINIVASAN, AND THEY'RE BOTH NOW OUT IN COLLEGE, OUT IN THE REAL WORLD.
BUT THEIR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A LOW COST PROGRAM THAT WOULD GIVE EXPERIENCE TO KIDS AROUND THE WORLD WITH CODING AND ROBOTICS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE IN A PLACE THAT'S COST PROHIBITIVE. AND FOR US AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, THIS IS ALSO A GREAT WAY TO GET ENGAGED, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROGRAMING THEY GET AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE WANT TO START THEM HAVING THOSE EXPERIENCES EARLY ON.
SO WHAT AT TRASHBOTS IS IT'S A FULL CURRICULUM AND TEACHER TRAINING.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROGRAM COLLECTIVELY THAT STUDENTS USE AN AFFORDABLE PROCESSOR, I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT CODING THROUGH THIS.
TRY TO MAKE SURE I USE ALL THE RIGHT WORDS AND ITEMS THAT ARE 3D PRINTED.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT BOTTOM RIGHT PICTURE IS THE ACTUAL KIT.
AND ALL OF THIS IS 3D PRINTED PLASTIC ITEMS SO VERY PORTABLE AND CLEAN TRASH, WHICH REALLY MEANS THINGS LIKE POPSICLE STICKS, RUBBER BANDS, PAPER CLIPS TO CREATE THEIR DESIGNS.
AND THEN THEY USE AN APP THAT CONNECTS TO THEIR DEVICE, THEIR ROBOT, AND TO ACTUALLY WRITE THE CODE AND PROGRAM IT AND MAKE IT WORK AND DO ALL OF THE THINGS.
SO THE WAY WE'VE KIND OF STARTED WITH THIS WAS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A THIRD GRADE TEACHER, DEANNA FISKE, WHO TAUGHT BOTH OF THOSE BOYS WHEN THEY WERE STUDENTS AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND SO IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO KIND OF START THAT PROGRAM AT OUR LEVEL.
AND SHE WE STARTED IT WITH THOSE TWO THIRD GRADE CLASSES THAT SINCE EXPANDED TO ALL FOUR
[00:50:02]
3RD GRADE CLASSES AT CEDAR CREEK.SO THEY ARE ALL GETTING TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND WE ARE STILL USING THE DISTRICT TEKS.
THE DISTRICT CURRICULUM TO TEACH THE 3RD GRADE TEKS AND WE LOOK AT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT SUPPLEMENTS. SO THE WAY TEACHERS ARE APPROACHING THIS IS THEY START WITH OUR CURRICULUM, THEY START WITH THE TEKS AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH THE TRASHBOTS RESOURCES AND FIND THE PIECES THAT ALIGN TO WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING AND WHERE HAT MIGHT BE A NICE FIT.
AND THEN THEY USE THOSE TO ENHANCE OR ENRICH WHERE APPROPRIATE.
SO WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AN ACTION, HERE'S OUR ACTUAL THIRD GRADERS, AND WHEN THEY START THIS PROGRAM ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING, THEY JUST REALLY START WITH THE DESIGN PROCESS. SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS BUILD A TOWER THAT CAN WITHSTAND CERTAIN MILE PER HOUR WINDS AND THEY TEST IT.
THEY TRY IT OR BUILD A BRIDGE THAT CAN HOLD X AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.
AND THEN AS THEY GO THROUGH THE CHALLENGES, THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO ALL THE WAY FROM BLOCK CODING TO PYTHON CODING.
OUR THIRD GRADERS ARE NOT QUITE DOING THAT, BUT THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE CODING IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
AND SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR LESSON, THEIR CHALLENGE WAS TO BUILD A DESIGN THAT WOULD KICK A BALL. SO THE WAY THEY STARTED WAS EACH KID ON THEIR OWN DEVELOPED THREE DESIGNS.
SO YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY'S JOURNAL WHERE THEY PLANNED OUT AND THREE DIFFERENT THINGS. THEN THEY GOT IN A GROUP AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR DESIGNS AND SAID, YOU PICKED ONE, WHAT DO WE WANT TO TEST? SO THEY BUILD THEIR DESIGN, WRITE THE CODE AND THEN THEY TEST IT AS A GROUP.
THEY THEN GO THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OF THIS, SO THEY TEST IT.
THEY TRY IT BECAUSE THAT DIDN'T WORK AS WELL AS WE THOUGHT, LET'S TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND THEY MADE CHANGES FROM EVERYTHING TO CHANGING THE CODE AND ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE OR ACCELERATION ALL THE WAY TO CHANGING THE PHYSICAL ITEM AND ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF A POPSICLE STICK OR THE WEIGHT THAT IT WAS BEARING.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO WATCH THE KIDS IN THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT PROCESS AND COLLABORATION AS A TEAM.
AND THEY GOT TO IMPROVE ON THEIR DESIGN AND COME UP WITH THEIR TEAM'S FINAL PRODUCT, AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY GOT TO TEST AND COMPETE FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE DESIGN.
AND SO THEY MEASURED THEIR DISTANCE.
SEE, IT WORKS. OH NO, NO VIDEO.
TRY AGAIN. AND IF YOU LOOK AT I THINK I.
WELL, THERE'S A LOVELY VIDEO OF THE BALL BEING KICKED BY THE ROBOTS TO GET THAT ANOTHER TIME, SORRY.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'LL GET YOU BACK OK.
AND SO JUST LOOKING AT HOW THIS IS IMPACTING OUR KIDS, WE'VE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE IN THIS GRADE LEVEL.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN COLLABORATION SKILLS AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS FROM THIS GROUP. BUT I THOUGHT I'D LET THE KIDS TELL YOU AND THERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO THAT PROBABLY IS NOT GOING TO WORK, SO I WILL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT LATER.
AND BUT ONE OF THE STUDENTS WROTE A REFLECTION.
SHE SAID, I USE TEAMWORK AND EVERYTHING.
WE KNEW WHAT TO DO, SO WE NEVER GAVE UP.
WHEN WE GOT IT, I FELT LIKE I GOT THIS AND I WAS NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP AND THEN.
I'M SORRY. WELL, THAT IS WHY THERE MAY BE HOPE.
[INAUDIBLE] SORRY, THAT WAS A SILENT MOVIE FOR THE MOST PART, BUT LAURIE, YOU WANT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
YES, HE JUST TALKED THROUGH THE CLASS'S EXPERIENCE AND ENJOYING THE PROCESS AND HAVING TO THINK THROUGH THE FINAL PRODUCT AND HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF ITERATIONS.
SO OVERALL, THE KIDS HAVE REALLY TAKEN A LOT OUT OF IT.
AND AND AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'RE STILL KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THIS LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE? HOW DO WE SCALE IT? WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PILOT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE CONTINUING THIS IN OUR THIRD GRADE CLASSROOMS AND WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW WE MEASURE AND DEFINE SUCCESS.
SO WITH THE PARTNERSHIP A [INAUDIBLE] TEAM AND HOW DO WE DETERMINE IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO COMMIT TO ON A BIGGER SCALE? AND IF IT'S NOT, WE STILL KNOW THAT OUR GOAL IS TO ENGAGE KIDS IN THAT HANDS-ON SCIENCE.
AND SO IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT HELPS US BETTER MEET THAT GOAL? AND SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT A BIT, BUT ONCE WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THAT IN PICTURE, WE CAN KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW WE SCALE UP OR DOWN AND WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD
[00:55:02]
BE. CURRENTLY ON OUR CAMPUS, WE DO HAVE 30 KIDS, SO THOSE ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO USE THEM. IN ADDITION TO WHAT OUR THIRD GRADERS HAVE, SO WE'VE SEEN THEM START TO BE USED IN OUR GIFTED AND TALENTED CLASSES [INAUDIBLE] TEACHERS CHECKING THEM OUT AND USING THEM WITH STUDENTS.AND WE'RE WORKING ON WAYS TO EXPAND TRAINING FOR THE REST OF OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO JUST PICK IT UP AND DO IT WITH KIDS AND HAVE THAT EASY ACCESS.
SO WE'RE STILL USING IT AS AN EXTENSION ACTIVITY, AS SUPPLEMENTAL TO OUR CURRICULUM AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT USING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A WAY TO ENRICH OUR STUDENTS AND JUST SEEKING OTHER WAYS TO CONTINUE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES IN THE FUTURE AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THOSE CODING OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR KIDS.
I LOVE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
THAT'S SO FUN. I WAS A SCIENCE TEACHER WAY BACK WHEN AND AND I KNOW THAT THE KEY TO ENGAGING KIDS AND KEEPING THEM ON THAT STEM TRACK IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LOVE FOR SCIENCE AND A LOVE FOR, YOU KNOW, DISCOVERY.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW YOU DO THAT WITH THIS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY MAY NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY'RE DOING SCIENCE RIGHT.
AND I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ALONG THE SAME LINES THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT KIDS ENJOY ABOUT SCHOOL AND WHAT MAKES THEM WANT TO COME AND DO SCIENCE AND OR ANYTHING THAT THEY HANDS ON LEARNING AND DOES FUN, FUN THINGS WHERE THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE LEARNING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS TRIED THIS.
I HOPE THAT IF THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT FIT THAT YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT IS A BETTER FIT, I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT IS JUST ENGAGING OUR KIDS IN GREAT LEARNING LIKE THIS.
LET'S SEE, I THINK I'VE GOT KIM, AND THEN ELLEN.
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US, JUST AS WE'VE HEARD.
I THINK ROBOTICS IS PART OF OUR FUTURE AND IT'S PART OF EDUCATION'S FUTURE AND YOU INTRODUCING ROBOTICS AT THIS LEVEL AND THIRD GRADE, YOU KNOW, JUST CREATES AN EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY FOR SCIENCE IN GENERAL, BUT ROBOTICS SO THAT THEY CONTINUE.
SO THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE HAVING FUN.
AND I THINK IT'S SO COOL, THAT YOU'RE USING A RESOURCE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY ALUMS, HILL COUNTRY ALUMS, DID THEY GO? NO THEY KNOW THEY WENT TO BRIDGEPOINT, HILL COUNTRY AND WESTLAKE.
OK, I JUST THINK THAT IS SO COOL.
AND I'M GUESSING THE KITS THAT YOU PURCHASE ARE PROBABLY PRODUCED BY A COMPANY THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING. I KNOW THEY'RE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS.
YES. SO PRETTY REMARKABLE KIDS, FOR SURE.
BUT THE FACT THAT YOU EMBRACED THAT AND CAN MODEL THAT FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, I THINK IT'S TRUE. THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? NO, OH, I'M SORRY, LAURA.
WELL, I'LL JUMP IN JUST REAL QUICK I DON'T ACTUALLY THANK YOU.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT [INAUDIBLE] SAID.
AND ACTUALLY TO BUILD ON WHAT JOHN SAID IS IT'S MONEY, THEN JUST STEAM AND NOT EVEN JUST GETTING THEM EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING THOSE, THOSE AREAS.
IT'S JUST GETTING THEM EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING AND WANTING TO BE IN SCHOOL AND WANTING TO GROW. AND ALSO, THEY JUST HAD A STEAM DAY, WHICH I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD MENTION THAT, BUT IT WAS FABULOUS.
I GOT TO GO OVER THERE AND WE SAW A LOT OF THE SIMILAR ACTIVITIES GOING ON, SIMILAR TO THE TRASHBOTS WITH THE THE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] FIRST, WE'RE BUILDING MARBLE MAZES AND THEY WERE STARTING.
YEAH, THEY WERE STARTING WITH THEIR THEIR PLAN AND SO THEY WOULD DRAW A PLAN AND THEN THEY WERE JUST, AND IT WAS ALL STUDENT LED.
THE TEACHERS WERE JUST SORT OF FACILITATORS AND THEY ARE IT'S PERFECT.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT BUILDS ON THOSE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY. IT'S JUST ALL REALLY GOOD STUFF.
AND OUR STEAM DAY WAS HEAVILY LED BY OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SO EACH APPRECIATION FOR THAT AND THAT IS SO POWERFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS TO SEE THAT.
SO IT WAS A GREAT [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS A GREAT DAY.
IT WAS VERY COOL. OK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE SRINIVASAN'S PROJECT WAS A PRODUCT OF THE INCUBATOR. IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. SO THIS IS REALLY HOMEGROWN STUFF, THIS COMING FULL CIRCLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT ITEM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR OPEN FORUM.
[6. OPEN FORUM]
WE HAVE 20 PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE AFFORDED ONE MINUTE TO[01:00:05]
SPEAK. I'LL CALL YOU FORWARD WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.ONCE YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT YOUR TIME IS UP.
PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND THEN STOP.
OF COURSE, THERE IS NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN, BUT IF ANY SPEAKER REFUSES, THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED DISRUPTIVE OF THE BOARD MEETING AND WE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION AND RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY MAY BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES PUT FORWARD CANNOT DELIBERATE REGARDING ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE AUDIO OF THIS OPEN FORUM PORTION OF THE BOARD MEETING IS RECORDED AS PART OF THE RECORDING OF THE ENTIRE MEETING AND IS PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATION.
PERSONS WHO CHOOSE TO SPEAK IN OPEN FORUM ARE CONSENTING TO THE ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THEIR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS TIME AND MAKING THE EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US AND WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOW READY FOR OUR FIRST SPEAKER, AND THAT IS PEDRO LARIOS, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT REMOVING BOOKS FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN FLAGGED FOR REMOVAL FROM THE LIBRARIES.
I THINK THAT THE REASONS THAT ARE LISTED FOR REMOVING THEM DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL CONTENT AND THEMES PRESENTED IN THOSE BOOKS.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE THE SAME STANDARD TO JUDGE THESE BOOKS ACROSS THE BOARD. SHAKESPEARE FROM JULIET, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THEMES OF SEX, SUICIDE, MURDER, ALL THE REASONS THAT ARE LISTED IN AS REASONS FOR REMOVING THOSE BOOKS.
I WOULD CHALLENGE THE PARENTS THAT ARE PURSUING THE REMOVAL OF THOSE BOOKS TO ACTUALLY READ THOSE BOOKS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT THE BOOKS RAISED USE AS A TEACHING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU CANNOT ERASE RACISM [INAUDIBLE] SO YOU CANNOT ERASE THE LGBT COMMUNITY BY BANNING BOOKS, SO.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN LARIOS HARLAND.
READY. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBYN LARIOS HARLAN, I GO TO HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST LOOKBACK.
MY FATHER JUST SPOKE BEFORE ME.
BEFORE I GET ANY DEEPER AS TO WHY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD KEEP THESE BOOKS, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ONE THING TO ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM.
READING A BOOK WITH LGBTQ REPRESENTATION IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOUR CHILD GAY.
IF YOUR CHILD IS A GIRL, READING A BOOK ABOUT A TRANS MAN IS NOT GOING TO MAKE HER TRANS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT IF YOUR KID IS TRANS, THEY ARE TRANS, AND READING A BOOK IS NOT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK THAT.
AND IF YOUR CHILD IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, ILLEGAL DRUG USE OR PREMARITAL SEX, BANNING BOOKS IS NOT THE ANSWER.
NONE OF THESE BOOKS GLORIFY THESE SUBJECTS, AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO YOUR CHILD, I TRULY BELIEVE IT WILL TURN THEM AWAY FROM THE IDEA OF DOING SUCH A THING.
[INAUDIBLE] FOR A LITTLE LONGER.
I WAS GOING TO SAY. I THINK THAT IF WHEREAS YOU WANT THESE BOOKS FROM YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO DO, PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
IF A PARENT WANTS TO MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP FOR THEIR CHILD TO READ THESE BOOKS, THEY SHOULD. OK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AUBREY JACKSON AND MS. JACKSON WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] WELCOME, THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AUDREY JACKSON.
I'M A FRESHMAN HERE AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
AFTER HEARING EVERYONE TALK AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU ALL MY OPINIONS ON THE BOOK BANNING FROM A STUDENT'S POINT OF VIEW.
A TOPIC I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT HAVING SEX IN BOOKS WILL MAKE THEIR KIDS HAVE MORE SEX AND BECOME PREGNANT AT A YOUNGER AGE.
IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT PEOPLE WHO GET TAUGHT SEX EDUCATION ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO BECOME PREGNANT THAN THOSE WHO GET TAUGHT NO SEX EDUCATION OR WHO ARE TAUGHT
[01:05:04]
ABSTINENCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING HAVING SEX IN BOOKS IS MAKING KIDS BECOME PREGNANT AT A YOUNGER AGE IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.THE REASON THESE KIDS ARE BECOMING PREGNANT IS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES AND THE SEX EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT OUR SCHOOL HAS.
BANNING THESE BOOKS WON'T SHIELD THEIR KIDS ANY LESS BECAUSE KIDS HAVE PHONES, COMPUTERS AND THEIR KIDS WILL TALK ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PARENTS CONTROLLING WHAT THEIR KIDS READ, BUT YOU CANNOT DICTATE WHAT OTHER KIDS READ JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING.
THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG [INAUDIBLE] WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS GREG LAMONTAGNE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON IN SUPPORT OF LIBRARIES AND OUR EDUCATORS THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD FOR OUR KIDS AND TO APPLAUD THESE YOUNGSTERS THAT WERE SPEAKING BEFORE ME BECAUSE THEY, I THINK, SPEAK THE TRUTH.
AND I THINK THAT THESE KIDS, THESE STUDENTS, UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION.
AND I THINK THAT THE MOVEMENT TO TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY JUST WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OR FORESIGHT IS SIMPLY THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND THANK YOU ALL THE EANES EDUCATORS THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE BLACK.
WELCOME. MISS BLACK IS GOING TO SPEAK JUST ABOUT BOOK BANDS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT I ALSO LISTENED TO SOME COMMENTS AT A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING AND THE COMMENTS THAT PRECEDED ME HERE BY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
AND I REALLY CAN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF BOOKS.
BOOKS ARE MAGIC AND SUPPORT OF TEACHERS AND SUPPORTIVE LIBRARIANS WHO PROVIDE ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT REPRESENT A DIVERSITY OF KEY POINTS.
I HAVE A CHILD IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE SOME OF THE STUDENTS ARE SPEAKING HERE TODAY, ARE FROM AND ALSO A CHILD IN EANES ELEMENTARY, AND I, I REALLY OBJECT TO THE LIST OF BOOKS THAT ARE DEEMED CONTROVERSIAL OR THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE TARGETING OR SEEKING TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE LIBRARY. EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T READ ALL OF THEM, I KNOW THAT PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SUCH MATERIALS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SOMETHING AKIN TO EDUCATING OUR KIDS IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO APPROACH THE WORLD WITH OPEN MINDS AND OPEN HEARTS.
AND I THINK YOU REALLY SUPPORT EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THANK TO BOOKS FOR ALL KIDS.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER COON, IS JEN HERE? I DIDN'T SEE HER WALK IN.
IF SHE'S OUT IN THE HALL, SHE'S GOING TO POP IN AND SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT HER SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS AND BOOKS.
OK. LOOKS LIKE MS. IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SIONA NEAPOLY, MS. NEAOPLY IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT BANNING BOOKS.
THANK YOU, HELLO EVERYBODY. HELLO.
BANNING BOOKS IS AN AFFRONT TO WHAT YOU STAND FOR.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO BREAK DOWN THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE EANES DISTRICT.
PART ONE. WE UNITE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL.
LITERATURE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDIUMS THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS CAN LEARN HOW TO BETTER FORM RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEY FOSTER A MORE INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. PART TWO.
WE EMPOWER STUDENTS PROVIDING EXEMPLARY EDUCATION THAT DEVELOPS CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY AND INDIVIDUAL TALENTS.
ACCEPTING THE IDENTITIES OF OUR STUDENTS EMPOWERS THEM TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND REPRESENTATION IN LITERATURE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE FORMATION OF A STUDENT'S IDENTITY. PART THREE, WE INSPIRE EACH EACH OTHER TO LEAD PURPOSEFUL LIVES OF EMPATHY, GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION.
READING IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF ALLOWING STUDENTS TO EMPATHIZE AND HAVE
[01:10:01]
COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.WITH THIS MISSION STATEMENT, EANES HAS CREATED IN AN OPEN ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND BE WHO THEY ARE AND BENEFIT TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THE INCLUSIVITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] CAROLYN [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT HER SUPPORT OF LIBRARIES. CAROLYN.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THE FINE STUDENTS WE HAVE IN EANES ISD AND THEIR ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY IS SO IMPORTANT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE LIBRARIANS AND THE DISTRICT WHO WORK CAREFULLY TO SELECT MATERIALS FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT'S LIBRARY SELECTION POLICIES AND KEEPING THE MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS OF THE DISTRICT IN MIND.
I'M A FORMER LIBRARIAN IN EANES ISD, BUT I JUST CAME BACK TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD FOLLOWING THE POLICIES AND FOR THE WORK THAT LIBRARIANS DO.
BUT MOSTLY, I WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT LIBRARIANS BELIEVE THAT YOUR STORIES BELONG ON THE SHELF OF LIFE. THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KIM TAYLOR, MS. TAYLOR, SHE IS GOING TO SAY THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A STUDENT AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I WOULD RATHER NOT BE HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO BAN BOOKS.
BUT MY FAVORITE IS A BOOK CALLED CINDERELLA'S [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S ONE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] BOOKS ABOUT A WORLD WHERE CINDERELLA'S FAIRY TALE HAPPENED, AND NOW IT'S 16 GIRLS [INAUDIBLE] BUT OUR MAIN CHARACTER BASICALLY SAYS, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
INSTEAD, PRETTY MUCH FIXES THE SYSTEM AND GETS A GIRLFRIEND AT THE END.
THIS BOOK IS BANNED, AND BASICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT PEOPLE OTHER THAN CIS WHITE STRAIGHT MALES DESERVE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN BOOKS.
WE ALL DO. AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF BOOKS ON SHELVES AND THAT IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE BOOK JUST TO SHUT IT, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE] AND MS. JACKSON SPEAKS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] WELCOME MS. JACKSON. HI THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RACHEL JACKSON.
I'M THE PARENT OF TWO NINTH GRADERS AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
I DECIDED TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING WHEN I SAW THAT ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS IS RELATED TO THE FUTURE ADOPTION OF A NEW HEALTH AND HUMAN SEXUALITY CURRICULUM.
MY KIDS BOTH TOOK HEALTH CLASS IN EIGHTH GRADE AT WESTRIDGE, WITH CURRICULUM PROVIDED BY AUSTIN LIFEGUARD.
THE MATERIALS PRESENTED BY AUSTIN LIFEGUARD ARE AT BEST WOEFULLY INADEQUATE AND AT WORST HARMFUL AND MISLEADING.
AUSTIN LIFEGUARD IS A PROGRAM OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE SOURCE, PREVIOUSLY CALLED AUSTIN LIFE CARE, WHICH IS A RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER.
THE INSTRUCTION MATERIALS THEY PROVIDE DO NOT DISCUSS ANY FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL OTHER THAN CONDOMS, AND THEY EXAGGERATE THE FAILURE RATES.
THEY ALSO EMPHASIZE THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE.
I'M SURE WE WOULD ALL PREFER OUR STUDENTS WAIT UNTIL MATURITY.
THE REALITY IS THAT MANY WILL NOT.
AUSTIN LIFEGUARD ALSO HAS SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ON THE WEBSITE, WHICH I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WATCH. ONE OF THEM IS ABOUT HOW WEARING PANTS IS THE BEST WAY NOT TO GET PREGNANT.
BOTH OF MY STUDENTS HAVE SEEN IT AND KNOW HOW RIDICULOUS AND CONDESCENDING IT IS.
[APPLAUSE] BAKER IS ON THE AGENDA AND SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK US ABOUT BOOK BANNING . HI.
HI. HI, I'M ANDREA GENDER, I'M A PROUD PARENT OF VALLEY VIEW CARDINALS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR HISTORY HAS MANY EXAMPLES OF BOOKS, MUSIC, FILM THEATER, VISUAL ART BEING BANNED, STICKER BURNED OR CENSORED IN SOME WAY.
AND AS A KID, A LOT OF THOSE WORKS THE VERY THING, AND I, I AND OTHERS COULD NOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON. AND I EVENTUALLY DID, AND I VIEWED THESE, AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T AS EASY AS IT IS NOW.
OUR KIDS HAVE THE WORLD AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.
CENSORSHIP IS ABOUT FEAR, AND IN MOST INSTANCES IT'S ABOUT HATE, AND IT'S ABOUT HIDING TRUTHS ABOUT OUR PAST THAT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND I RESPECT AND TRUST MY TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR MY KIDS.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY AND LEARNING DIFFERENCES,
[01:15:01]
SHOULD FEEL EQUALLY REPRESENTED AND RESPECTED IN OUR SCHOOLS.I SINCERELY HOPE THE BOARD SHARES THESE VALUES, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT PROTOCOLS, THE REVIEW OF READING TRAILS AND ABOUT SWEEPING POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL FERVOR.
LET'S SEE, JENNIFER DICKINSON IS NEXT, AND SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF LIBRARY BOOKS.
MS. DICKINSON. THANK YOU. WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JENNIFER ALVAREZ DICKINSON.
AND AS AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT OF THREE EANES ISD STUDENTS, I WAS ALARMED TO HEAR THAT SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY INTEND TO REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF BOOKS FROM OUR LIBRARY.
I'M AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF WRITING AND LITERATURE AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY AND THE DAUGHTER OF A LIBRARIAN AND TEACHER.
I DEVOTED MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF TEXT.
FACED WITH SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER.
I BELIEVE MOST OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE MATURITY AND INTELLECTUAL ABILITY TO DISCERN THE PURPOSE OF THE TEXT, ITS FULL CONTEXT BEYOND ISOLATED SCENES.
STUDENTS NEED TO READ STORIES ABOUT EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN TO GROW AN EMPATHY.
STUDENTS NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN STORIES TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, TO KNOW THAT THEIR STORIES MATTER.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WORRY ABOUT THE DISCOMFORT OF THEIR STUDENTS FEELING WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER BOOKS THAT GRAVEL SENSITIVE ISSUES, I ASK THEM TO CONSIDER THE DISCOMFORT OF STUDENTS WHO OFTEN DO NOT SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED ON THE SHELVES.
IT IS CRUCIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEAVE THIS DIFFERENCE WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS AND EXPERIENCES AND THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX WORLD. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.