Mar 28, 2023 School Board Regular Meeting

[00:00:03]

THE TIME IS NOW 6:00 AND I CALL THE MARCH 28TH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.

[1. CALL TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER]

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.071, 551.074 AND 551.076.

[3. CLOSED SESSION CLOSED SESSION]

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]

7:00, AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.

WELCOME TO THE EISD BOARD MEETING.

I'M VERY GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

ONE, TWO, THREE. EYES ON ME, HUH? DID IT WORK? GOOD EVENING.

I'M VERY GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I CAN SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD WHEN I SAY WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT MEETING, BUT THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER.

ONE PERSON HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING OPEN FORUM AND THAT PERSON WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

LAST THING IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT NEAREST YOU AND IF THE NEED ARISES, HEAD TO THAT EXIT IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.

SO THERE'S THE DOOR THROUGH WHICH EVERYBODY CAME IN.

AND THEN THERE IS A DOOR HERE AT THE END OF THE HALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING GREAT, GREAT KIDS.

AND NOW THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

[5. EANES ISD MISSION STATEMENT]

UNITE, EMPOWER, INSPIRE EVERY PERSON, EVERY DAY WE UNITE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL.

WE EMPOWER STUDENTS, PROVIDING AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION THAT DEVELOPS CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY AND INDIVIDUAL TALENTS.

AND WE INSPIRE EACH OTHER TO LEAD PURPOSEFUL LIVES OF EMPATHY, GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION.

AND NOW, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.

[7.1 Superintendent's Report]

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE WEST LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP WEST LAKE PROGRAM.

THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT OF OBSERVING A PUBLIC MEETING.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A GOOD ONE THIS EVENING.

WE'RE GLAD THAT THEY'RE WITH US TONIGHT.

SO FIRST UP, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MR. MATT ZEMO. HE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HE HAS SOME WONDERFUL FRIENDS TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS EVENING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME VISIT THIS EVENING.

AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M SORT OF THE UNKNOWN BAND OPENING UP FOR THE MAIN EVENT HERE PRETTY SOON.

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO KIND OF SHOWCASE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR BEST BUDDIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE VISUALS HERE, WE ARE OUR VISION OF HAVING BEST BUDDIES AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS, AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, INCLUDING OUR ADULT TRANSITION SERVICES PROGRAM, HAS COME TO FRUITION AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN ISOLATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, AT THE STAFF LEVEL AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OUR STUDENTS.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT BEST BUDDIES? IT IS START OFF AS A 1 TO 1 FRIENDSHIP PARTNERSHIP, AND THEN IT ALSO HAS INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AS I THINK WHAT'S STARTING HERE IS SOMETHING THAT SORT OF CARRIES FORWARD IN INTO ADULT LIFE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

AND SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT EANES ISD SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF IS THAT I THINK ACCORDING TO WHAT WE'VE GATHERED FROM OUR BEST BUDDIES LEADERSHIP IN CENTRAL TEXAS, THE DIRECTOR HAS LET US KNOW THAT WE ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT HAS A BEST BUDDIES AT EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER, EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS. AND SO THAT'S SUPER, SUPER IMPRESSIVE.

I WANT TO JUST NOTE A COUPLE PEOPLE HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE ONE OF OUR LEADERS AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, HADLEY THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND START LEADING THE SHOW.

A LOT OF THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT SARAH [INAUDIBLE], ONE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, CARLY ROEBUCK, ONE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.

[00:05:05]

OKAY. HELLO, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS HADLEY AND I'M A JUNIOR AT WESTLAKE.

AND I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF BEST BUDDIES.

WE ARE JUST SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU ALL AND TALK ABOUT OUR UPCOMING WALK AND ALL OF OUR CHAPTERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

AND SO TODAY WITH ME, WE HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE ELLE, RYAN, ELLA WEARING MARIS, HENRY, LIAM MOORE, WILL SOUTER, AND TONS OF OTHER FRIENDS WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOLERS COME UP AND TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT OUR UPCOMING FRIENDSHIP WALK.

HI, MY NAME IS ELLE RYAN AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT BEST BUDDIES CENTRAL TEXAS IS WORKING TO INCREASE THE FRIENDSHIP CHAPTERS IN OUR SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY ARE ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT BUSINESS IN AND AROUND AUSTIN.

THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD TO CREATE AND SUPPORT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THOSE WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE NEED YOUR HELP SUPPORTING THEM.

HI, I'M ELLA WARING AND ONE OF OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR IS QUICKLY APPROACHING.

APRIL 15TH AT THE A CHAPP STADIUM, WESTLAKE WILL BE HOSTING THE CENTRAL TEXAS FRIENDSHIP WALK.

AND THIS IS AN EVENT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AND YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR CHAPTER AND BEST BUDDIES AS A WHOLE BY REGISTERING FOR THE WALK.

I'M MARIS HENRY, AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MY NAME IS MARIS HENRY, AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO REGISTER FOR THE WALK.

OUR GOAL IS TO SHOW HOW MUCH EANES SUPPORTS BEST BUDDIES.

AND WE CAN DO THAT BY HITTING OUR GOAL BY OF HAVING 1000 PEOPLE REGISTER AND I LIKE SHAWN MENDES.

THE FUNDS RAISED FOR THE FRIENDSHIP WALK WILL HELP SUPPORT ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT PARTS OF BEST BUDDIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

THE WALK WILL BE LOTS OF FUN WITH PERFORMANCES, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD AND ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE.

WE ALSO NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MAKE THIS EVENT AMAZING.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE.

AND WE KNOW THERE'S A TIME LIMIT.

BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEST BUDDIES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM.

SO FIRST, MY FRIEND BROOKLYN CAN GO UP AND TALK ABOUT BEST BUDDIES WITH YOU ALL.

READY? OKAY.

HELLO. MY NAME IS LEN.

GOD. GREAT. AND WHY DO YOU LOVE? BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] THE GYM.

SHE LOVES SEEING HER FRIENDS.

YOU. OH, COME HERE.

WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO TO? FOREST TRAIL.

ALSO, LET'S TALK ABOUT. OH, WOW.

UM. HI.

I'M MILLER PEEBLES.

I LOVE BEING A PART OF BEST BUDDIES BECAUSE I GET TO DO EVENTS AND MUCH FUN LIKE.

THE [INAUDIBLE] PARTY.

I ALSO LOVED MEETING MY FRIENDS THAT ARE IN THE GROUP WITH ME, LIKE ELLE AND HADLEY AND.

WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

WESTLAKE. WHAT I GO TO AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND MY NAME IS WILL FULLER AND THE [INAUDIBLE] IS REALLY COOL.

AND THE DAY WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] AND MY NEW BEST FRIEND IS SLOW AND WE AGAIN AND WE ARE BEST BUDDIES EVER HAVE BEEN.

[00:10:07]

THANK YOU, WILL. HE LIKES BEST BUDDIES BECAUSE OF HIS BUDDY SLOAN LEVY AND REAGAN.

WANTS TO GO NEXT.

YOU ALL WANT TO COME? WELCOME.

HI, MY NAME IS GEORGIA REID AND MY NAME IS MEREDITH.

WE ARE THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HEMS BEST BUDDIES CHAPTER.

WE'VE MADE SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY.

WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR FAVORITES.

MY FAVORITE MEMORY HAS TO BE WHEN WE HAD OUR ANNUAL MATCH PARTY.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYONE BONDING SO QUICKLY.

WE HAD A PUZZLE PARTY.

EACH FAMILY HAD TO COMPLETE A PUZZLE TO SEE WHO WAS IN THEIR FAMILY.

MY BUDDY AND I AND I HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER.

MY FAVORITE MEMORY WOULD HAVE TO BE THE VALENTINE'S PARTY.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN MAKING CARDS FOR EACH OTHER.

THEY ARE NOW HANGING ON THE DOORS TO THE CAFETERIA.

EVEN IF THESE MEMORIES SEEM SMALL TO YOU, THEY MEAN A LOT TO US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR SCHOOL.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT OUR FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR OUR CHAPTER.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

HI, MY NAME IS ADRIANA ZOCH AND MY NAME IS KATHERINE MCCALL.

AND WE'RE THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF BEST BUDDIES AT WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MY FAVORITE EVENT WILL HAVE TO BE THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL PARTY WE HAD.

WE ALL GOT TO MAKE ICE CREAM SUNDAES, EAT THEM WITH OUR BEST BUDDIES AND HANG OUT FOR WILDCAT TIME.

MY FAVORITE PART WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE THE MATCH PARTY.

GETTING TO SEE EVERYONE'S FACES WHEN THEY GOT THEIR MATCHES WAS JUST SO FUN AND HEARTWARMING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BRODY POLLARD AND I GO TO FOREST TRAIL AND I LIKE BEST BUDDIES BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND I FEEL LIKE BEST BUDDIES HELPS YOU INCLUDE BE KIND AND RESPECT ALL PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE.

HI, MY NAME IS CARMELA, AND I GO TO CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY, AND SOMETHING ABOUT BEST BUDDIES IS, UM IT'S A GREAT PLACE, AND EVERYONE SHOULD GO.

AND, UM.

AND IT'S VERY SWEET FOR EVERYONE TO MEET NEW FRIENDS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS TREVOR AND I LOVE BEST BUDDIES AT EANES ELEMENTARY BECAUSE YOU GET TO MEET A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS AND YOU REALLY LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE INCLUSIVE.

MAKING SURE THAT'S EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND REMEMBER TO REGISTER FOR THE FRIENDSHIP WALK FOR APRIL 15TH.

ELSE. WE'RE GOOD.

YOU HAVE GIFTS FOR YOU ALL.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

REALLY COOL TOPS. EVERYONE GETS ONE.

[00:17:01]

SO THANKS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND THE PARENTS WHO WERE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

I HAVE ONLY TWO THINGS TO VERY QUICKLY CONCLUDE MY REPORT.

WE HAVE JUST FINISHED A REALLY FUN SPRING BREAK FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO SPRING BREAK OF 2024.

AND SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MOVED ITS SPRING BREAK TO A WEEK LATER THAN OUR APPROVED VACATION IN THE SPRING OF 24.

TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE ALIGNED OUR SPRING VACATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

HOWEVER, IN A SURVEY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, THERE ARE 42 DISTRICTS.

ONLY THREE OF THEM HAVE MOVED THEIR SPRING BREAK.

SO 39 OTHER DISTRICTS, INCLUDING EANES ISD, HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR SPRING BREAK MARCH THE 11TH THROUGH THE 14TH.

SO OUR SPRING BREAK WILL NOT COINCIDE WITH THE UNIVERSITIES, BUT WE WILL ALIGN WITH ALL MOST OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALL BUT THREE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, INCLUDING AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

ELLEN. I THINK IT ALIGNS WITH OUR BREAK.

SO YEAH. SO ANYWAY, WE WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WE'LL BE COMMUNICATING THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR BREAK DURING WITH THE ORIGINALLY APPROVED CALENDAR.

THEN FINALLY LAST SATURDAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE TEDX CONFERENCE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE HAVE HOSTED IT AND IT BROUGHT REGIONAL ATTENTION TO THE HIGH SCHOOL ONCE AGAIN.

MANY OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PRESENTATIONS AND THE DEMONSTRATIONS.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MUCH ACTIVITY AND ENERGY ON THE CAMPUS LAST SATURDAY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

THANK YOU DR. ARNETT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, HEATHER? I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO OUR STAFF FOR PULLING OFF GETTING BEST BUDDIES ON EVERY CAMPUS.

I KNOW THAT THAT IS A BIG DEAL AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THAT.

[00:20:03]

AND ALSO WELCOME TO MY FRIENDS FROM THE WEST LAKE CHAMBER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL TONIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE. NOW, LET ME JUST NAME CHECK CAROL REESE UP THERE ON THE TEDX STAGE.

IS THERE ANYTHING SHE DOES NOT DO? NO. MY GOODNESS.

OKAY. AND WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

[7.2 Monthly Financial Report and Budget Amendment(s) for the Period Ending February 28, 2023.]

WELCOME. GOOD EVENING.

OKAY. SO AS YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOR APPROVING THE BUDGETS FOR THREE OF OUR FUNDS.

CHILD NUTRITION, THE GENERAL FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.

AND THIS MONTH, WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE FUNDS.

FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE EVERY MONTH THE REALLOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING SUBMITTED BY CAMPUSES AND DEPARTMENTS.

THERE'S NO NET EFFECT ON FUND BALANCE FOR THOSE.

FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, THAT ONE WAS A BIG ONE.

SO WE HAVE SET UP AN ESCROW ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO DEFEAT SOME A PORTION OF BONDS WHEN THEY BECOME CALLABLE IN AUGUST 2024. AND SO WE SENT OVER MORE JUST OVER $9 MILLION.

SO THAT HAS I'M GOING TO TRY TO SAY ALL THIS, THAT HAS DECREASED THE BUDGETED INCREASE TO THE FUND BALANCE BY $8.9 MILLION TO SO THAT IT'S NOW A BUDGETED DECREASE TO FUND BALANCE OF 3.2.

THE DEBT SERVICE FUND BALANCE WAS ADJUSTED FROM 29 MILLION TO 20 MILLION.

SO IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT.

AND EVEN AFTER WE MAKE THE AUGUST 2023 PRINCIPAL PAYMENT, PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS, THAT BALANCE WILL STILL BE 6.1 MILLION.

AND THEN FOR THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND, THERE WAS ALSO AGAIN, BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED MAINLY RELATED TO INCREASED PARTICIPATION THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY EXPECTED.

SO THERE'S AN INCREASE ON BOTH THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

THE NET EFFECT AGAIN ON THAT IS ZERO AND THE FUND BALANCE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OH, YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE 2023 BOND PRESENTATION.

[7.3 2023 Bond Presentation]

DR. ARNETT, DO YOU WANT TO LEAD THIS GROUP? I WILL. LET ME INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ARE COMING UP.

SO WE HAVE JEREMY TRIMBLE, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS AND PLANNING.

CHRIS SCOTT, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DR.

CHRISTY SAILORS, WHO IS OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.

AND IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, CLAUDIA MCWHORTER, WHO IS OUR CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ON ANY BOND, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BOARD APPROVED THE BOND BEING PLACED ON THE MAY 6TH BALLOT, MANY PEOPLE ARE DEVOTED TO PROVIDING THE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY ON THIS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXCERPT FROM A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO ANY GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE FOR US TO COME AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE BOND PROPOSAL.

BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE THE AGENDA WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT MORE PUBLICLY.

AND IT WILL BE STREAMED LIVE, OF COURSE, AND RECORDED FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT AFTERWARDS.

AND JEREMY, CHRIS, CHRISTIE, CLAUDIA, ARE ALL HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE BOND.

AND AT ANY POINT THEY CAN JUMP IN HERE AND KIND OF AUGMENT THE THINGS THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU.

SO AS WE KNOW, WE'RE ON THE BALLOT MAY 6TH WITH A $131.4 MILLION NO TAX RATE INCREASE BOND ISSUE.

AND THERE ARE FOUR PRIMARY AREAS THAT WE'RE COVERING IN THE BOND SAFETY AND SECURITY STUDENT PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS AND THEN FACILITIES. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

AND THE COMMUNITY KNOWS, I BELIEVE THAT ROUGHLY EVERY FOUR YEARS WE ASK THEM TO CONSIDER A SERIES OF BONDS THAT ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES AND MANY OF OUR RESOURCES AND CAPITAL ASSETS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO BEING THE GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE ARE.

YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORY OF THOSE BONDS GOING BACK TO 2006.

THE PROJECTS ARE OFTEN VERY SIMILAR, DEVOTED TO MAINTENANCE AND ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY, AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU JUST A SUBSET OF THOSE PROJECTS HERE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE APPROXIMATELY EVERY FOUR YEARS WE'VE PROPOSED THOSE BONDS AND THESE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL REFERENDUMS IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHY DO WE UTILIZE BONDS? THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO PARTS TO OUR LEVY.

ONE IS DEVOTED TO MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, WHAT WE CALL THE M&O PART OF OUR RATE, AND THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WE USE TO FUND DAY TO DAY EXPENSES, TEACHER SALARIES AND

[00:25:01]

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS REFERENDUM IS DEVOTED TO.

SO WHY DO DISTRICTS UTILIZE BONDS? IT'S BECAUSE THE M&O DOLLARS THAT PART OF OUR RATE, TWO THIRDS OF THAT GOES BACK TO THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR RECAPTURE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SPEND OUT OF M&O DOLLARS AND THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO PRESERVE THOSE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS DEDICATED TO PRIMARILY STAFF COMPENSATION AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, BOND DOLLARS, 100% OF THOSE GO TO OOPS, GO 100% OF THOSE BOND DOLLARS, STAY IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO WHATEVER WE CAN SPEND OUT OF BOND THAT WE MAINTAIN 100% OF.

AND SO THAT'S WHY BONDS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

AS YOU'LL SEE IN JUST A MOMENT, OUR STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF IDENTIFYING PROJECTS THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE FROM M&O TO BOND SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THOSE DOLLARS. SO AS I MENTIONED, 64% APPROXIMATELY OF OUR M&O FUNDS OR THE TAXES RECEIVED THROUGH THE M&O PART OF OUR RATE GO BACK TO THE STATE FOR RECAPTURE, AND THAT GOES TO THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND AND THE HISTORY OF BONDS OVER TIME OR EXCUSE ME, THE HISTORY OF RECAPTURE, YOU CAN SEE, HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THIS YEAR WE WILL PAY ALMOST $122 MILLION BACK TO THE STATE THROUGH RECAPTURE, AND THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT OF BOND AND TO PRESERVE THOSE MONIES ON THE M&O SIDE OF OUR RATE, ESPECIALLY FOR STAFF COMPENSATION.

SO IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THIS BOND THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT AND MAY THE 6TH, WE WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THEY ACTUALLY WORKED ALONGSIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO IDENTIFY THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE ON THE BOND.

AND YOU CAN SEE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WELL RECOGNIZED IN THE COMMUNITY AND RESPECTED FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THE ROLE THAT THEY HAD ON THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO THE PLANNING TIMELINE FOR THIS BOND ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO FEBRUARY OF 2022, MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION BEGAN MEETING WITH THE CAMPUSES AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE REVIEWED THE ASSOCIATED COSTS AND BEGAN TO BRING THOSE FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT YOU COULD BE EVALUATING THOSE PROJECTS ALONG WITH THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO ULTIMATELY MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND TO ORDER THE BOND.

ELECTION, AND THAT WAS DONE IN FEBRUARY OF WELL, JUST LAST MONTH.

SO THAT'S WHEN YOU VOTED TO PUT THE THE REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT ON MAY THE 6TH.

AND YOU DID THAT ON FEBRUARY THE 21ST.

SO THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THE BOND, ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS.

BY LAW, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT PROJECTS WILL BE IN THE THREE PROPOSITIONS.

ONE IS PROPOSITION A, THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF THE BOND, $117.8 MILLION.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S DEVOTED TO MOST OF THE MAINTENANCE, SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY PROJECTS.

BUT THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021 AFTER THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION NOW SAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE STANDALONE PROPOSITIONS FOR ANY PROJECT RELATED TO AN ATHLETIC FACILITY THAT SEATS A THOUSAND OR MORE PEOPLE.

SO BECAUSE WE ARE PROPOSING SOME UPGRADES AT CHAPARRAL STADIUM AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE STADIUM FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PLAYERS AND FOR OUR FANS.

THOSE PROJECTS NOW HAVE TO BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION, AND THAT'S PROP B, PROPOSITION C IS DEVOTED TO TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

AGAIN, THE LAW NOW SAYS THAT ANY TIME ARE REFRESHING OR PURCHASING OR UPGRADING YOUR TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, THAT ALSO HAS TO BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION. SO PROP C IS FOR THOSE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AND THAT'S $11.2 MILLION.

JUST VERY QUICKLY TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS AND TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL BEHIND EACH ONE.

THIS IS PROPOSITION A, AS WE SAID, IT'S THE BIGGEST OF THE THREE PROPOSITIONS, AND IT'S DEVOTED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SOLAR PLAYGROUND SAFETY AND RESURFACING LIBRARY MODERNIZATIONS, EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM REPLACEMENT FOR ATHLETICS AND THE FINE ARTS, UPGRADING OUR NETWORKS, AND THEN ALSO REFRESHING OR UPGRADING OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES.

I'VE UNDERLINED THOSE TWO ITEMS IN THAT SHORT LIST BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY THOSE ALLOW US TO SAVE $2.9 MILLION ANNUALLY THAT WE WOULD HAVE SPENT ON THE NO SIDE OF OUR BUDGET OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

AND SO NOW BY MOVING THOSE THINGS AND IDENTIFYING THEM AS CAPITAL ASSETS IN PROPOSITION A, WE CAN SAVE $2.9 MILLION ANNUALLY AND POTENTIALLY PROVIDE THAT BENEFIT TO OUR STAFF OR COMPENSATION AND ALSO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THEIR PROGRAMS. SO PROPOSITION A IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS THAT WILL GAIN FROM THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF SOLAR ON SOME OF OUR

[00:30:07]

AND AGAIN, HOPEFULLY OUR STAFF WILL SEE THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW PICTURES TO REPRESENT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PROPOSITION A.

EVERYTHING FROM FLEXIBLE FURNITURE, UPGRADING OUR NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN PROVIDING REFURBISHMENTS ON SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES, HVAC SYSTEMS, WINDOWS, PERIMETER FENCING, SAFETY AND SECURITY PROJECTS, DOOR PROP ALARMS, AS YOU SEE.

SO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO JUST TO MAINTAIN OUR CAMPUSES SO THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE STATE OF THE ART AND PROVIDE A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THOSE ARE IN PROPOSITION A, THERE IS ONE OTHER SERIES OR LINE ITEM IN PROP A THAT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE AND THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A BUILDING ADJACENT TO WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL EARLIER THIS YEAR AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'VE CONTEMPLATED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND THAT INCLUDES EXPANDING THE LEARNING CENTER PROGRAM FOR WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS HEALTH SCIENCES AND THE CERT PROGRAM.

SO IF YOU FOLLOW THIS DIAGRAM, THE HIGH SCHOOL IS REALLY THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS LINE ITEM IN THE BOND, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE WOULD LIKE TO RELOCATE OUR STAFF AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPACES IN THIS BUILDING, INCLUDING THE BOARDROOM WHERE THE TRUSTEES MEET AND MOVE ALL OF THAT TO THE NEW BUILDING AT 401 CAMP CRAFT.

BY DOING THAT, IT FREES UP THIS CURRENT BUILDING FOR AN EXPANDED HOME FOR THE LEARNING CENTER, WHICH THE BOARD HAS ENVISIONED AND IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY FOR MANY YEARS. AND THEN WHEN THE LEARNING CENTER VACATES ITS CURRENT SPACE ACROSS WEST BANK, DRIVE OVER NEAR THE TENNIS COURTS AND THE SOFTBALL FIELD, THAT WILL BECOME THE NEW HOME FOR OUR HEALTH SCIENCES AND CERT PROGRAMS, WHICH THE HIGH SCHOOL IS SEEING AN INCREASED ENROLLMENT IN THOSE PROGRAMS AND INTEREST THERE AS WELL.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SPACES THAT HEALTH SCIENCES AND CERT CURRENTLY OCCUPIES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WILL ALSO NOW BE REFURBISHED AND WILL BE USED FOR OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES.

SO THE THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL BE THE REAL BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PARTICULAR LINE ITEM.

AND AND IT'S A BIT OF A WATERFALL EFFECT.

AND ONE THING HAS TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT TO OCCUR, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THIS SEQUENCE.

AND THEN PROP B, AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THERE ARE SOME REFURBISHMENTS AT THE STADIUM, INCLUDING POLL LIGHTING REPLACEMENTS, REPLACING THE TRACK, WHICH IS WORN NOW AFTER ALMOST A DECADE.

UPGRADING THE BLEACHERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE WITH NEW HANDRAILS AND THEN ALSO REPLACING SOME OF THE VIDEO COMPONENTS IN THE SCOREBOARD.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PICTURE ON THE FAR RIGHT, THAT IS A RECENT PHOTOGRAPH OF OUR SCOREBOARD AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT INDICATES WHY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER IN PROP B.

AN IMPROPER REPLACEMENT OF STUDENT AND STAFF, DIGITAL DEVICES, AS WELL AS DEVICES IN OUR LABS, CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES.

EVERY DAY OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF RELY ON THEIR DEVICES, THEIR IPODS, THEIR IPADS, THEIR MACBOOK AIRS AND ALL THE OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SPACE.

SO THESE DEVICES ARE CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL TO WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF LEARNING EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US POTENTIALLY REFRESH THOSE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SHELF LIFE AND ROUGHLY EVERY FOUR YEARS.

TECHNOLOGY, AS WE KNOW, IS ALMOST A DISPOSABLE ASSET AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND UPGRADED AS THERE ARE NEW IMPROVEMENTS TO TO THOSE DEVICES.

SO THAT'S PROPOSITION C.

SO VERY QUICKLY, TAX INFORMATION.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST TAX RATE IN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA.

IF YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND US, ONLY AUSTIN ISD HAS A LOWER TAX RATE.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE TWO PARTS OF OUR RATE.

AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THE NO SIDE AS WELL AS THE EANES, THE EANES IS OUR DEBT SERVICE LEVY AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD FUND THE BONDS.

SO CONTINUES TO BE VERY LOW AT $1, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $1 AND IN FACT IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET LOWER OVER TIME BECAUSE OF TAX COMPRESSION AND LEGISLATURE PASSED BY THE STATE.

HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WOULD NOT INCREASE OR AFFECT OUR TAX RATE AT ALL.

THERE WOULD BE NO INCREASE TO THE TAX RATE BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE, FRANKLY, BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE BOARD AND HOW WE HAVE MANAGED OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS, WE'VE RETIRED DEBT EARLY, WE'VE LOOKED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO REFINANCE WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE.

SO OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $10 MILLION USING A VARIETY OF DEBT MANAGEMENT METHODS.

AND SO ALL OF THAT TOGETHER MEANS THAT THIS WILL BE A NO TAX RATE INCREASE BOND ISSUE.

A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION FOR THE ELECTION ITSELF.

[00:35:04]

THE LAW NOW REQUIRES EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE AS THE LAST ITEM ON THE BALLOT.

AND SO WE'RE AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A TAX RATE INCREASE FOR OUR VOTERS, BUT NONETHELESS, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL STILL SHOW THAT IT DOES REQUIRE A TAX INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR US.

SO THIS IS THE LEGALLY REQUIRED LANGUAGE FOR EACH OF THE THREE BALLOT ITEMS. AND YOU CAN SEE, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WHEN THAT IS NOT THE CASE AND IS NOT TRUE FOR WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

SO THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THE 6TH OF APRIL IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE APRIL 24TH THROUGH MAY THE SECOND IS THE EARLY VOTING WINDOW.

AND THEN THE ACTUAL ELECTION OCCURS ON SATURDAY, MAY THE 6TH.

AND CLAUDIA MCWHORTER DIDN'T COME UP, BUT I KNOW SHE'S AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SHE HAS DEVOTED A LOT OF TIME TO MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING THE PROPOSITIONS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A NEW VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO BE RELEASED THIS WEEK THAT WILL EXPLAIN THE THREE PROPOSITIONS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN.

WE'RE MAKING VISITS TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND IN FACT, MORE DATES AND VENUES ARE BEING ADDED TO THIS LIST AS WE SPEAK, ALWAYS TRYING TO GET OUT THERE TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH AS MANY DIFFERENT AUDIENCES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND THEN OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE, EANESBOND.COM.

AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF YARD SIGNS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE 1 OR 2, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE YARD SIGN.

IN FACT, WE HAVE SOME OF THEM HERE THIS EVENING IN THE BOARDROOM AND THOSE CAN BE TAKEN HOME TONIGHT OR AT ANY TIME AT ANY OF THESE MEETINGS AND PUT UP IN YOUR YARD IF YOU CHOOSE. AND FINALLY WANTED TO ALSO INDICATE THAT THE BOARD HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IF THE COMMUNITY APPROVES THE REFERENDUM, THEN WE WILL TAKE THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THAT WILL TRANSITION TO A BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ACCOUNTABILITY, WORKING ALONGSIDE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE ADMINISTRATION IN MANAGING ANY BONDS THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY.

AS I MENTIONED, ALL THE VOTING LOCATIONS, MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT OUR SPECIAL WEBSITE, EANESBOND.COM.

AND THAT'S A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF A PRESENTATION OR SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITY IN EACH OF OUR STOPS ALONG THE WAY.

SO BE HAPPY TO STOP NOW AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL AS THE TEAM THAT'S HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. ARNETT.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HEATHER? IT'S NOT A QUESTION. IT'S JUST TO REALLY HAMMER HOME THAT WHEN YOU SAID 64% OF EVERY M&O DOLLAR COLLECTED, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE VERY CLEAR.

THAT MEANS $0.64 OF EVERY TAX DOLLAR COLLECTED THAT IS RECAPTURED.

SO THAT'S THE $121.8 MILLION THAT GOES BACK TO THE STATE THAT DOES NOT GO TO POOR DISTRICTS ANY LONGER.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

AND THEN ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THE STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS.

SO PROP B, THAT PORTION OF IT ISN'T JUST FOR FOOTBALL LIKE WE HEARD FROM BEST BUDDIES TONIGHT.

AND SO WE'LL BE USING THAT TRACK FOR THE BEST BUDDIES WALK.

SO IT'S NOT JUST FOOTBALL THAT BENEFITS FROM THE STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS.

WE USE THAT FOR A LOT OF THINGS AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEN.

YEAH, HEATHER, I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT AND JEFF, MAYBE YOU CAN REMIND US, THERE ARE EVEN BEYOND ATHLETICS AND MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES LIKE BEST BUDDIES, WE DO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT UTILIZE THE BOARD, THE THE VIDEO BOARD.

CAN YOU REMIND US WHICH OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS USE THAT? SURE. THE TECH CREW, THE DIGITAL ARTS PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ALL DESIGN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS FOR THAT.

AND THE BROADCAST OF SPORTING EVENTS THAT MANY OF US ENJOY, THE REPLAYS THAT OCCUR ON THE BOARD SO THAT THE FANS IN THE STANDS CAN WATCH.

ALL OF THAT IS DONE BY OUR STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR CLASSES, AND NONE OF THAT WOULD BE ENJOYED WERE IT NOT FOR THE VIDEO AND COMPONENTS OF THAT SCOREBOARD.

RIGHT. NOR THE REALLY THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT THAT THOSE KIDS ARE GETTING FROM THAT EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD POINT.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? JAMES.

YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE ABOUT OUR BOND PROCESS AND I DON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED BEFORE I JOINED THE BOARD, BUT IS THIS BOND ADVISORY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THE IDEA THAT CITIZENS ARE COMING IN AND HEARING FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION AND HEARING ABOUT THE NEEDS AND DEVELOPING CITIZENS ARE DEVELOPING THE BOND PROPOSALS THAT COME TO US TO LOOK AT REVIEW

[00:40:07]

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PROCESS AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THAT COMMITTEE FOR HELPING US GET THIS FAR.

THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IS IT'S IT YOU MENTIONED IT VERY CLEARLY, THAT $2.9 MILLION OF SAVINGS, IF THIS BOND GOES THROUGH AND THIS IS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY GAINS AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF WHAT WE'RE SPENDING.

IT'S HUGE BECAUSE THAT $2.9 MILLION STARTS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS WE INSTALL THESE THINGS THAT THAT HELP US WITH THE SAVINGS. AND THAT HITS OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS BUDGET.

THAT'S THE MONEY WE USE TO PAY SALARIES.

THAT'S THE MONEY WE USE FOR THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF OUR DISTRICT.

AND WE GET TO FINANCE THOSE IMPROVEMENT THINGS OVER A LONG TERM BOND.

SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO MANAGE OUR FINANCES.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE BOND IN A IN A STATE WHERE OUR FUNDING IS CONTROLLED BY OUR LEGISLATURE.

AND IT'S AND IT'S AN UNKNOWN ALMOST YEAR TO YEAR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET.

BEING ABLE TO BE RESPONSIBLE LIKE THAT LOCALLY AND TAKE ACTION WE CAN TAKE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT TO HELP MANAGE OUR FUNDS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND A VERY SMART WAY TO DO THIS. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT'S PUT THAT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? ELLEN.

UH, I HAVE A I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY, AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE STADIUM BECAUSE I THINK I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT PROPERTY.

JUST CONSIDER ON THE NIGHT OF A FOOTBALL GAME, THESE ARE THE THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REPRESENTED OUT THERE AS PART OF THAT EVENT.

YOU HAVE THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS, BOTH PHOTOJOURNALISM, WRITTEN JOURNALISM AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM STUDENTS.

YOU HAVE TECH KIDS.

YOU HAVE THE EDE KIDS, YOU HAVE THE HIGHLINE KIDS, YOU HAVE THE CHEER KIDS, YOU HAVE THE BAND KIDS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

YOU HAVE GOT YOU LITERALLY HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS OUT PARTICIPATING IN THE PRODUCTION OF THAT EVENT. I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUMP BACK VERY QUICKLY TO THE SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT RETIRING BOND DEBT.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CAUGHT IT, BUT AS PART OF MARIA'S REPORT TODAY, SHE MENTIONED THAT WE WERE MAKING SOME TRANSFERS IN OUR DEBT SERVICE ACCOUNT. AND PART OF THAT WAS TO DEFEASE BONDS AND WHAT WE WERE ATTEMPTING, WHAT WE WERE DOING.

CHRIS, YOU CAN DEFINE THIS MORE ACCURATELY THAN I CAN.

IN SUMMARY IS WE WERE PAYING OFF DEBT EARLY.

WE'RE PROVIDING FOR FOR THE PAYOFF OF DEBT EARLY AND DID I HEAR THAT THAT THAT DEFEASANCE WAS GOING TO SAVE US SOMETHING LIKE $66 MILLION IN INTEREST.

YOU CAUGHT ME UNAWARE.

I HAVEN'T DONE THAT CALCULATION.

BUT IT WILL IT WILL BE MORE THAN THAT IN INTEREST BECAUSE THESE ARE THE BONDS THAT WE'RE DEFEASING, WE SET ASIDE WE, YOU SET ASIDE A LITTLE OVER $9 MILLION WHICH WE SENT TO ESCROW IN FEBRUARY.

THIS IS A PART OF OUR 2019 B SERIES BONDS WHICH WAS ABOUT $15 MILLION.

THOSE BONDS, WE GOT A LOWER INTEREST RATE BECAUSE WE AGREED TO HAVE THE INTEREST RATE RESET IN AUGUST 2025.

IT'S NOT GOING TO RESET.

WE'RE GOING TO PAY THEM ALL OFF.

AND IF WE HAD NOT PAID THEM OFF, THE INTEREST ON THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ROUGHLY $1 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT.

ABOUT 12 YEARS, SO IT'S SAVING A LOT.

BUT I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT FIGURE FOR YOU.

I APOLOGIZE FOR CATCHING YOU OFF GUARD, BUT YOU MADE THE POINT.

AND THE POINT IS THAT WE WE TAKE THE LONG TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS OF THIS DISTRICT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE WORK HARD TO REDUCE THAT LIABILITY.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS KIND OF JUMP BACK TO THE SLIDE OF OF OPPORTUNITY THAT IS CREATED WAS CREATED BY THE PURCHASE OF 401 CAMP CRAFT.

JEFF, CAN YOU DEFINE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEARNING CENTER IS? SO THE LEARNING CENTER IS A PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED AN ALTERNATIVE PATH FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO STILL GRADUATE AND RECEIVE THEIR COLLEGE OR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

SO RIGHT NOW THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND THE BOARD HAS ALWAYS ENVISIONED BEING ABLE TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO MORE STUDENTS AT

[00:45:08]

AND BY RENOVATING THIS SPACE AND CREATING MORE ROOM FOR THEM, THEY'LL FINALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. SO WESTLAKE IS A BIG HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THAT BIG HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T WORK FOR ALL KIDS.

AND WE HAVE THE LEARNING CENTER AS A AS AN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS THAT DON'T THAT DON'T INTEGRATE COMPLETELY INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

DO WE HAVE THERE AT WESTLAKE? DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO EXPAND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, DIVIDE THAT SPACE TO TO MORE STUDENTS GOING FORWARD IF THIS BOND PASSES AND MORE PARKING.

YEAH. AND WE GET 15 PARKING SPACES OR SO.

LAURA. WELL, JUST TO BUILD ON THAT WATERFALL SLIDE BY MOVING TLC OVER HERE, THE BOARD HAS PRIORITIZED CTE AS WELL. AND THE HEALTH AND HOSA, THOSE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY.

WE GOT TO GO VISIT WHERE THEIR CLASSROOMS THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING RIGHT NOW AND THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THOSE SPACES.

PROBABLY FIVE YEARS AGO THEY OUTGREW THOSE SPACES AND THAT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AND IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

SO MOVING THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS OVER FOR THOSE COURSES OVER TO TLC ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL.

ANYBODY ELSE. UH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WALK US THROUGH THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR OPEN FORUM.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO US THIS EVENING.

I HAVE A LITTLE BLURB I NEED TO READ VERY QUICKLY, AND I DON'T NEED TO READ IT.

BUT LET ME JUST COUNSEL YOU THAT THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

ONCE YOU'RE NOTIFIED THAT YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND STOP.

OUR SPEAKER IS BONNIE ADELE.

MISS ADELE. MS. ADELE'S NOT HERE. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT WAS EASY.

UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CAN IS OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM.

[9. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA ]

BUT THEN I WILL MOVE THAT THE REST WE APPROVE THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.

I HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

I HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY ELLEN AND A SECOND BY HEATHER.

WE HAVE ANY COMMENT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF 9.1, 9.2 AND 9.3.

OKAY. ITEM 9.4, DO I HAVE A MOTION?

[9.4 Award Request for Qualifications for Long-Range Capital Planning Planning]

LONG RANGE CAPITAL PLANNING.

OKAY, I'VE GOT A MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

DISCUSSION. UM, YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF JEREMY OR STEVE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT OR JEFF.

UM, I'M THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS IN THE BOND AND WE ARE GOING FORWARD WITH THE LONG RANGE PLANNING.

I HAD AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME VISIONING OF HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNEW WHAT PROGRAMING WE WANTED TO MOVE TOWARD BEFORE THE ACTUAL CAPITAL PLANNING PER SE.

AND THIS PROPOSAL SEEMS TO BE MORE ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, EVEN THOUGH THE BACKGROUND INDICATES THERE'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING SERVICES AND DATA COLLECTION SERVICES.

SO I JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLANATION AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO THE FACILITIES FOR WITHOUT THAT VISIONING ASPECT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

JEREMY, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS? ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE OVERALL PROCESS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT JUST LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING IN THIS DISTRICT.

WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS TO TO WORK ALONGSIDE THIS CONSULTANT, THIS ARCHITECT FIRM, TO WORK ALONGSIDE US AND OUR COMMITTEES TO DEVELOP WHAT THOSE LONG RANGE NEEDS ARE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS.

BUT ALONG WITH THAT, YOU'LL SEE JUST EDUCATIONAL ADEQUACY STUDIES AND JUST LOOKING AT OUR DISTRICT AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS AND HOW OUR CAMPUSES FUNCTION INDIVIDUALLY.

BUT THEY ALL HAVE TO MEET OUR VISION AND OUR GOAL FOR THE DISTRICT.

THIS IS THAT FIRST STEP AND THIS IS A PARTNER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING ALONGSIDE US AND WORK US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT WE'RE STILL GOING TO START AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND THEN WORK THROUGH ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.

BUT WE NEED THIS PARTNER.

[00:50:01]

SO WITH THIS PARTNER, WE WILL DEVELOP EXACTLY WHAT THE VISION WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE.

BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND THIS WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.

WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ALONGSIDE THIS THIS FIRM REALLY QUICKLY OUT OF THE GATES.

WELL, CERTAINLY, I THINK VLK IS VERY WELL QUALIFIED.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT IS WE'RE AFTER AND WE KNOW WHAT OUR LONG TERM VISION IS.

AND WE DO A GOOD BIT OF THINKING ABOUT TEN YEARS FROM NOW, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, RIGHT BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR INTO THE FACILITY WEEDS.

AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO LATER THIS SPRING, WE'LL BE BRINGING TO THE BOARD A PROCESS FOR CHOOSING WHO THE MEMBERS OF THAT LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL BE AND THEY WILL THEN WORK ALONGSIDE A BLK AND AS WELL AS A FACILITATOR.

SO EVERYBODY TOGETHER WILL COME UP WITH THOSE CONCEPTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY TRANSPIRE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

THAT'S GREAT. GOOD TO KNOW.

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT ACTION ITEM IS THE HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB CHECK DONATION.

[10.1 Hill Country Middle School Booster Club Check Donation]

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACCEPT THE DONATION OF $26,704 FROM THE HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB.

GREAT. OKAY.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM KIM.

A SECOND FROM ELLEN.

ANY DISCUSSION? JUST THANK YOU TO THE BOOSTER CLUB FOR THE WORK OF IDENTIFYING THAT PROJECT AND THEN DONATING THE FUNDS.

SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. GREAT.

THE NEXT ITEM IS BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY BOOSTER CLUB CHECK DONATION.

[10.2 Barton Creek Elementary Booster Club Check Donation]

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION FROM JAMES AND A SECOND FROM LAURA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, THANK YOU.

TO THE BOOSTER CLUB.

OKAY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL.

VERY GRATEFUL. YEAH. FOR ALL OF THE BOOSTER CLUBS AS WELL AS THE EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION THAT SUPPORT US SO IMMENSELY.

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO MISS SCHOOL DAYS WAIVER.

[10.3 Missed School Days Waiver]

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE A MISSED SCHOOL DAYS WAIVER FOR TWO DAYS, THEREBY AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT SUCH WAIVER TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY FOR FEBRUARY 2ND AND THIRD BASED ON INCLEMENT WEATHER AND RELATED OUTAGES.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM LAURA AND A SECOND FROM HEATHER.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. GREAT.

THAT GETS ME TO THE RECITATION OF THE UPCOMING MEETINGS.

[11. UPCOMING MEETINGS]

STUDY SESSION THAT MAY BECOME A SPECIAL MEETING.

AND THEN WE HAVE A MEETING ON APRIL .

REGULAR MEETING ON APRIL 25TH.

AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:58.

UNDER AN HOUR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.