May 09, 2023 School Board Special Meeting

THE TIME IS NOW 7:03.

[00:00:04]

[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]

I'M VERY GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND THAT WAY WHEN I READ IT, BUT IT'S TRUE.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE WHEN A BUNCH OF FOLKS COME LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE COME THIS EVENING.

SO THANK YOU.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I NEED TO COVER VERY QUICKLY.

THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING.

NINE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP AND EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

LAST THING IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE EXIT NEAREST YOU AND IF THE NEED ARISES, PLEASE HEAD TO THAT EXIT IN A QUICK AND ORDERLY MANNER. SO THE TWO EXITS ARE THE DOOR THROUGH WHICH YOU ENTERED AND THE STORE HERE AT THE END OF THE HALL.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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

AND WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, I BELIEVE IS YOU? I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY MR.

[5. REPORTS]

WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

HI THERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE BOOK IS RIGHT HERE.

PERFECT. SO THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO ONCE A QUARTER.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SINCE SEPTEMBER, SO THIS WILL BE A FULL YEAR, FULL YEAR RECAP OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.

MY NAME IS JACE BENNETT.

I'M THE STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT OF WESTLAKE.

ERIC SENDS HIS REGARDS.

HE WAS CAUGHT WORKING AT KERBY LANE TONIGHT, SO HE CAN'T MAKE IT, BUT WE'LL DIVE RIGHT IN.

RECENTLY, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD OUR STUDENT COUNCIL RETREAT, AND THIS WAS FOR OUR NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WE.

ERIC, MYSELF AND THEN THE TWO NEW STUDENT BODY AND STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT THAT'S NASSAR.

AND BRIAN WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR.

WE GOT TOGETHER AND SELECTED NEW PEOPLE.

WE APPOINTED TO BE A PART OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD OF WESTLAKE STUDENT COUNCIL.

WE WENT OVER TO CAMP BUCKNER OUT IN BURNET, WHICH WAS A LOVELY RETREAT, RAINED A LITTLE BIT, BUT DIDN'T MESS UP OUR PLANS TOO BADLY.

HOMECOMING, WHICH WAS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL HOMECOMING THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE SCHOOL HAS MADE OFF OF PREVIOUS HOMECOMINGS, BUT OUR REVENUE THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT $9,800, WHICH IS DEFINITELY UP THERE FOR BEING THE MOST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE WINTER BREAK.

WESTLAKE STUDENT COUNCIL HOSTED A TOY DRIVE FOR THE DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DOWNTOWN.

WE RAISED $3,000 WORTH OF DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A BUNCH OF TOYS DONATED FROM STUDENTS, STAFF AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

LASTLY, ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS OUR STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS, AS I KIND OF TOUCHED UP ON A LITTLE BIT.

SO OUR WE WORK IN OUR EXECUTIVE OR IN STUDENT COUNCIL AS TWO DIFFERENT BODIES.

WE HAVE GENERAL COUNCIL, WHICH I LIKE TO KIND OF REFER TO THE HOUSE IN A WAY OF REPRESENTATIVES A LOT.

THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE THERE.

IT'S KIND OF WHEN YOU APPLY TO DO IT AND WE HAVE THOSE APPLICATIONS IN THE FALL, MOST PEOPLE DO GET IN AND THEY CARRY OUT THE KIND OF DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS, VOLUNTEERING AND EVERYTHING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SMALLER GROUP, THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, AND THOSE MAKE UP THE SO THE STUDENT BODY, STUDENT BODY REPRESENTATIVES RUN IT.

SO THAT'S ME AND ERIC THIS YEAR.

AND THEN YOU HAVE EACH CLASS SENDS A PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES AT LARGE.

AND SO OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD, WHICH WE JUST HAD THE RETREAT, WAS WE HAD THOSE ELECTIONS THE WEEK BEFORE SPRING BREAK.

AND SO WE HAVE BRAND NEW BOARD.

WE I ALSO LIKE TO MENTION WHEN I RAN FOR STUDENT BODY LAST SPRING, EVERY SINGLE SENIOR POSITION WAS UNCONTESTED.

THERE WASN'T. AND THERE'S EVEN ONE VACANCY SPOT.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF MOTIVATION TO JOIN STUDENT COUNCIL.

AND I THINK OUR NEW ELECTION REFLECTS OF HOW WE'VE INSPIRED NEW STUDENTS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE POSITION, FROM STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT TO FRESHMAN CLASS REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTESTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE.

SO WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

UPCOMING EVENTS.

WE HAVE OUR AMAZING GOLDEN APPLE AWARDS COMING UP.

VOTING ACTUALLY ENDS TOMORROW FOR THAT.

AND EACH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE TEACHER THEY HAD THIS YEAR.

AND THEN AS WELL AS GIVE SOME NICE WORDS OF THANKS OR WHY THEY DESERVE THAT AWARD.

THE TOP 20 TEACHERS WILL WIN AN ACTUAL GOLDEN APPLE.

AND IT'S A FUN TRADITION THAT WE'VE DONE FOR MANY YEARS.

[00:05:06]

AND SO THOSE WILL BE COMING OUT IF NOT THIS FRIDAY, THEN DEFINITELY MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

PROM IS THIS WEEKEND, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HOST.

OUR THEME IS A STARRY NIGHT, AND SO THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COMMONS AT WESTLAKE AS WELL AS THAT NEW KIND OF WHAT WE CALL THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, THAT NEW COURTYARD AREA OUTSIDE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF GAMES PLANNED.

WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN SNACKS.

THERE WILL BE MUSIC.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AS ALWAYS.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE STARTED LAST YEAR IS CUSTODIAN APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S SO VITAL, WE BELIEVE, TO HELPING OUT THE STAFF OF OUR SCHOOL.

THERE ARE 35 CUSTODIAL WORKERS AND M AND O WORKERS AND WE RAISED WITH SOME LEFTOVER FUNDS FROM LAST YEAR WE HAVE JUST SHY OF $25,000 TO GIVE BACK AND THAT'S $18,000 THAT WE RAISED THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS SOME MONEY THAT WE HAD LEFT OVER.

AND WITH THAT MONEY WE ARE GIVING EVERY EACH OF THE 35 CUSTODIAN WORKERS A $500 GIFT CARD TO H-E-B AS WELL AS WE WILL SPONSOR A LUNCH AND DINNER FOR ALL CUSTODIANS.

NEXT WEEK. SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT'S TWO YEARS GOING ON.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE GRADUATION, WHICH IS, FOR ME, VERY BITTERSWEET.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN QUITE AN HONOR SERVING THIS DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY WESTLAKE FOR SO, SO LONG.

I STARTED IN THE DISTRICT AS A KINDERGARTNER.

BOTH MY PARENTS ACTUALLY WENT TO WESTLAKE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY MET. AND SO IT'S IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE. BUT, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS BITTERSWEET.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THAT'S A TON.

[APPLAUSE] AND FOR THE FOLKS SITTING IN THE BACK, HE DID THAT WITHOUT NOTES.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL GO. HEATHER AND THEN JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'VE ALSO APPRECIATED YOUR SHARP RECAPS THIS YEAR.

YES THANK YOU. THOSE WERE GREAT AND THE PEP RALLIES HAVE BEEN AWESOME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOMECOMING BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THIS YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY YOU RAISED MORE MONEY.

WHAT DID YOU DO THAT KIND OF DREW MORE KIDS TO COME AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT CONTINUING IN THE FUTURE? DEFINITELY. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO THINK HOMECOMING IN OUR DISTRICT HAS NOT THE BEST REPUTATION.

RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO SPEND A FORTUNE GOING OFF CAMPUS TO HOTELS AND EVERYTHING.

AND OVER THE YEARS, JUST A NUMBER OF ATTENDEES HAS DRAMATICALLY DROPPED.

AND EVEN IN MY FOUR YEARS HERE, I WENT TO HOMECOMING AS A FRESHMAN.

BUT THE KIND OF THE STANDARD IS YOU DO IT ONE YEAR KIND OF TO SAY THAT YOU DID AND YOU DON'T USUALLY GO AGAIN.

THIS YEAR ERIC AND I, YOU KNOW, WITH WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING A LOT ON THE WORD WE LIKE TO USE IS INSPIRATION.

THAT'S KIND OF THE WORD THAT WE USE WHEN WE DO ANYTHING.

WE WE LIKE REALLY LIKE TO INSPIRE, LIKE, AS YOU SAID, THE PEP RALLY, A CHAP RECAP AND EVERYTHING.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST THAT MORE OUTSPOKEN CAMPAIGNING FOR IT HAS REALLY GOTTEN A LOT OF PEOPLE MOST I FORGET THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOW UP TO HOMECOMING THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS DEFINITELY NOT HAPPENED IN YEARS PAST.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE STUDENT BODY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T I NEVER SAW ADS WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN OR ESPECIALLY SOPHOMORE.

AND SO JUST KIND OF DRIVING THAT IN THAT, YES, WE DO PUT ON A HOMECOMING DANCE.

YOU SHOULD COME KIND OF DEAL.

I THINK IT REALLY HELPS AND I THE TWO STUDENT BODY AND VICE PRESIDENT COMING UP THEY ARE A LOT LIKE ME AND ERIC SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JAMES AND THEN LAURA.

YEAH. JACE I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO YOU AND ERIC, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I KNOW THE STUDENTS ARE TOO, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO INSPIRE THE STUDENTS TO BORROW YOUR WORD, TO BE MORE INVOLVED.

AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. AND THAT'LL BE A GREAT LEGACY THAT YOU GUYS CAN LOOK BACK AT.

AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU. WE'LL MISS YOU.

WE'LL MISS BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

LAURA. YEAH.

SO I CAN'T GO OFF NOTES.

I HOPE TO LEARN FROM YOU.

SO I HAVE TO ASK THAT YOUR SENIOR WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR NEXT YEAR.

DEFINITELY. I WILL BE STUDYING ENGINEERING AT A&M, SO.

YEAH, I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY CONTROVERSIAL LIVING IN AUSTIN.

[00:10:06]

MY SISTER IS THERE NOW.

WE'LL OVERLAP FOR A YEAR, SO I'M EXCITED.

I'M ACTUALLY ROOMING WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR STUDENT COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.

FANTASTIC. WHICH IS AWESOME. AND THEN ERIC IS GOING TO DUKE IN THE FALL.

SO FANTASTIC.

AND DID I SEE DID YOU DO SOME POST OR SOMETHING, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

DID I SEE YOU DO THAT? YES, THAT WAS JUST ME.

WE DO MEET ONCE A WEEK FOR THE CHAP RECAP.

AND WE ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN GOING AROUND FOR EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR VIDEOS AND EVERYTHING.

LIKE TOMORROW I WILL BE AT HILL COUNTRY AND BRIDGE POINT INTERVIEWING.

AND AS MUCH AS IT SEEMS ERIC AND I DON'T ACTUALLY DO A LOT OF THE THE WORK FOR THOSE THAT'S THE FILM TEAM AT WESTLAKE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF EMILY MCINTYRE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO COME UP WITH THE SCRIPTS AND THEY COME UP WITH THE LOGISTICS AND THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING.

ERIC AND I ARE JUST KIND OF KIND OF THERE.

BUT I DO THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

I THINK IT'S A BIG PART OF OUR CIVIC DUTY AS CITIZENS.

I VOTED IN THE MIDTERMS AND IN THE AUSTIN, MAYOR RUN OFF.

AND THEN NOW THE SPRING ELECTION.

AND AS I WAS GETTING BACK INTO MY CAR, I WANTED TO GIVE A MESSAGE TO THE OTHER 18 YEAR OLDS, ESPECIALLY THE NEW VOTERS ON CAMPUS, THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL ELECTION AND YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT.

SO. IT DOES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.

OF COURSE. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS YEAR AND TALKING TO US.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

AND OVER THERE AT WESTLAKE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU ALL. GOOD SEEING YOU.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

GO, CHAPS. ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

DR. ARNETT. ALL RIGHT, JACE, THANK YOU AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU. MR. HAVENSTRITE.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

JUST A FEW ITEMS IN MY UPDATE.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK REALLY BECOMES STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE VALUE WE LOVE OUR EMPLOYEES AND PARTICULARLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR BOOSTER CLUBS.

THEY DO A LOT TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND TO HONOR THEM THIS WEEK.

SO IF YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME.

SPEAKING OF RECOGNIZING OUR STAFF LAST WEEK, THURSDAY EVENING, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AND RETIREE CELEBRATION.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CELEBRATED THE 25 YEAR MILESTONE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT IT'S VERY BITTERSWEET TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEM AS THEY RETIRE AND MOVE ON TO A NEW CHAPTER IN THEIR LIFE.

AND THAT SAME EVENING WE RECOGNIZED OUR EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING JENNA SCOTT, OUR EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY, ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR GOT TOGETHER AND THEY WERE HONORED BY THE AUSTIN WESTLAKE ROTARY CLUB.

I THINK THIS IS A 41 YEAR TRADITION WHERE THE DAY AFTER WE RECOGNIZE OUR [INAUDIBLE] OF THE YEAR, THEY'RE RECOGNIZED BY THE ROTARY CLUB AND PRESENTED WITH A VERY NICE GIFT AS WELL. SO THAT WAS [INAUDIBLE] WHERE WE GOT TO HONOR OUR TEACHERS.

AND BASEBALL.

IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE GAME, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR A CHAP BASEBALL CLUB.

THEY ARE NOW ADVANCING TO THE AREA CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEY'LL HAVE GAMES THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND THEN POTENTIALLY SATURDAY.

SO WE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT AND COME OUT AND ROOT FOR THEM.

THEY'RE DOING VERY, VERY WELL THIS SEASON AND CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO WILL BE SEATED ON MAY THE 23RD.

DIANE HEARN. DIANE'S NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.

I BELIEVE SHE'S TRAVELING BACK.

BUT THEN CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL TO INCUMBENTS LAURA CLARK AND KIM MCMATH, WHO WERE REELECTED, TOO.

SO THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING THEM IN THE ELECTION AND ALSO THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING ALL THREE OF OUR PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL.

[APPLAUSE] SO WE ARE GRATEFUL AND WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY FOR UNDERSTANDING THOSE NEEDS AND THEN COMING OUT AND VOTING, AS JACE SAID DURING THE ELECTION THIS PAST SATURDAY.

SO THAT'S IT FOR MY UPDATE AND WE'LL MOVE ON IN THE AGENDA.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JEFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THOSE BONDS.

THEY TOUCH EVERY ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES.

THEY SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY AND THEY EXPAND PROGRAMS FOR KIDS.

SO IT'S A GOOD PACKAGE OF OF PROJECTS.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OPEN FORUM.

[6. OPEN FORUM]

AGAIN, APOLOGIES.

HERE WE GO.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

[00:15:03]

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.

SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION AND RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY MAY BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES, BUT THE BOARD 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 AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME AND MAKING THE EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR EVENING WITH US.

WE ARE NOW READY FOR OUR FIRST SPEAKER.

THAT IS ANNA MORRIS.

WELCOME. HI.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ANNA MORRIS AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT BRIDGE POINT WITH A THIRD BEGINNING IN KINDERGARTEN IN 2024.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE GONE ON A MISSION THESE PAST FIVE WEEKS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR CURRENT SAFETY SITUATION AT EANES ISD AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE IT TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE ALSO, WITH SOME FRIENDS, STARTED A PETITION TO GATHER COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR SROS AT EANES SCHOOLS.

IT HAS OVER 1100 SIGNATURES.

WE'VE ALSO DONE MUCH RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND IN TEXAS AND FEEL LIKE THE BEST OPTION FOR EANES ISD IS TO HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH TRAINED SROS AT EACH EANES ISD SCHOOL.

I'VE MET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME.

I'VE ALSO MET WITH JEFF TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSONAL FEELING ABOUT SECURITY AT OUR DISTRICT.

WHAT I ASK OF YOU TODAY IS TO PUT THE STUDENT SAFETY FIRST AND ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT MANY OF THE SCHOOLS IN TEXAS ARE DOING.

I ALSO ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF BK AND MATT GREER.

THEY ARE THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO DEFEND OUR STUDENTS.

DR. ARNETT, I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING TOGETHER THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND I HAVE HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT I ASK YOU TODAY AND SLIGHTLY BEG OF YOU IS TO REALLY CONSIDER SROS AT EACH EANES ISD CAMPUSES, INCLUDING ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. LET'S ROLL THIS OUT AND LET'S ROLL IT OUT WELL.

THERE ARE FOUR REASONS.

FIRST, SROS CAN HELP NOT ONLY WITH PHYSICAL SAFETY, BUT WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WITH EDUCATING STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THEY CAN BE THERE FOR CROSS GUARDS.

THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, MUCH LIKE A NURSE.

NUMBER TWO, 10% OF OUR POPULATION AT EANES, AS YOU KNOW, HAS SPECIAL NEEDS.

THESE SROS CAN KNOW THOSE STUDENTS WELL AND THEY CAN HELP THEM.

THREE, WE HAVE VARYING RESPONSE TIMES WITH OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND TO REALLY, TRULY MAKE THIS EQUITABLE, LET'S HAVE AN SRO AT EACH ELEMENTARY CAMPUS.

OR LASTLY, AND SADLY, OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOLERS, SO LET'S PROTECT THEM.

I SEE MYSELF AS A TEAM PLAYER HERE, AND I WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, WHATEVER WAY YOU NEED.

AS I'VE SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU, I HAVE ALSO LOOKED INTO CREATING A GRANT UNDER EF TO FUND RAISE TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS.

AND I'M WILLING AND COMMITTED TO HELP FUND RAISE TO KICK THIS OFF.

I TELL MY CHILDREN EVERY DAY MY NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

AND THAT'S WHY MY WHY IS WHY I'M STANDING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA RADBILL.

MELISSA, WELCOME.

HELLO, I'M MELISSA RADBILL AND I ALSO HAVE TWO STUDENTS AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY.

I HAVE ONE FOURTH GRADER AND ONE FIRST GRADER.

THE REASON I'M HERE IS I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

I PERSONALLY FIND IT A HUGE AND IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS POSTED ONLINE IN HAVING EANES HAVE ITS OWN INDEPENDENT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT TEN OFFICERS BE APPOINTED TO THAT POLICE FORCE.

THE REASON I FEEL THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT IS THAT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER STATIONED AT EACH SCHOOL.

[00:20:05]

THEY'LL BE ABLE ANOTHER SET OF EYES AND EARS AT THE SCHOOL.

IN ADDITION, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH ADDITIONAL THINGS AROUND THE SCHOOL, LIKE A CROSSING GUARD, WHICH WE HAVEN'T HAD THE ENTIRE YEAR.

HELP OUT ON THE PLAYGROUND IN THE BLIND SPOTS WHERE THE STUDENTS VASTLY OUTNUMBER THE TEACHERS AND HELP OUT IN TRAINING THE TEACHERS AND STAFF ON SAFETY AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS DOING CONTINUOUS AUDITS OF THE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOL IS BEING FOLLOWED.

I KNOW A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE BOARD WILL BE THE FUNDING, AND AS ANNA HAS ALREADY MENTIONED, MYSELF INCLUDED, SEVERAL OTHER PARENTS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH, ARE COMMITTED TO ASSISTING YOU IN FIGURING OUT A WAY TO FUND THIS SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS IS EQUALLY COVERED AND SECURE.

SO THAT IS MY ASK.

THAT IS WHY I'M HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE COVERED WITH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER AS WELL AS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA MARWA.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ANDREA MARWA AND MY SON IS IN FIRST GRADE AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE BOARD FOR REVIEWING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES AT EANES ISD.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, I HELD AN INFORMATIONAL CALL LAST TUESDAY MAY 2ND BETWEEN 3D RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND JEREMY TRIMBLE, MATT GREER AND BRENT KELLY FROM THE EANES ISD SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM. THE CALL WENT VERY WELL AND IS WELL ATTENDED BY OTHER VERY CONCERNED PARENTS.

ALL PARENTS I SPOKE TO AFTER THE MEETING SAID THEY WANTED EANES TO TAKE THE LEAD AND MAKE OUR DISTRICT ONE OF THE SAFEST IN THE COUNTRY NOW BY INSTALLING 3D RESPONSE SYSTEMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THIS COMPANY HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN CLASSROOMS INTO BALLISTIC PROOF SAFE ROOMS IN SECONDS AND HELPS FACILITATE SWIFT POLICE RESPONSE.

WE MUST NOT IGNORE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ON THIS.

FURTHERMORE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CURRENT SAFETY FILM ON THE FRONT DOORS OF OUR SCHOOLS BUYS ABOUT 90 SECONDS OF TIME, BUT HAS NO BALLISTIC CAPABILITIES.

AFTER REVIEWING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PRESENTATION THAT WILL BE GIVEN TONIGHT, EXCUSE ME, I CONTACTED JASON POLINSKY AND HIS TEAM FROM 3D RESPONSE FOR THEIR OPINION.

MY PHONE QUICKLY RANG BECAUSE WITH THEIR COMBINED 100 YEARS OF POLICE EXPERIENCE IN AREAS OF SWAT, SRO, POLICE ADMINISTRATION, MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE, TACTICAL INSTRUCTORS AND ACTIVE SHOOTER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, THEY WERE HORRIFIED TO LEARN THAT THE DISTRICT WAS PLANNING ON BRINGING MORE GUNS ONTO CAMPUS, SOME INTO THE HANDS OF MARSHALS WHO, AFTER AN 80 HOUR TRAINING, ARE ABLE TO WALK AMONG OUR CHILDREN CARRYING DEADLY WEAPONS.

FOR REFERENCE, A YOGA TEACHER MUST TAKE 200 HOURS OF TRAINING AND A HAIRSTYLIST MUST TAKE 1500S.

THESE CIVILIANS ONLY HAVE TO DO 80 HOURS TO CARRY A WEAPON ON CAMPUS IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

WHILE I'M AWARE THAT TEXAS STATE LAW ALLOWS CONCEALED CARRY IN SCHOOLS, IT IS UP TO THE DISTRICT TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY TRAINING.

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THE CURRENT 80 HOUR MARSHAL TRAINING INCLUDES, AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING EACH YEAR, MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING FOR GUN RETENTION.

SHOOT NO SHOOT TRAININGS THREE TIMES A YEAR.

MINIMUM OF FOUR QUALIFICATION SHOOTS FOR ACCURACY, BACKGROUND EVALUATION, PRE-EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY TESTING AND EVALUATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE MENTALLY STABLE TO CARRY A FIREARM AND USE IT CORRECTLY UNDER STRESS AND AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION.

TACTICAL TRAINING.

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS.

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AS PART OF A DE-ESCALATION COURSE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT AGAINST A TRAINED ARMED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ON CAMPUS, AND IN FACT, I SUPPORT THAT AND IT'S NEEDED.

BUT TRAINING CIVILIANS TO BE MARSHALS COULD BE DEADLY, DEADLY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS.

EVEN IF ALL ARMED PERSONNEL ON CAMPUS DO GO THROUGH THE STRICT AND VERY COSTLY YEARLY TRAINING, WE MUST PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS IN UVALDE HAVE FILED A $27 BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING 3D RESPONSE SYSTEMS IS MARGINAL TO THAT AND CAN SAVE LIVES.

WE DON'T WANT A TRAGEDY TO OCCUR IN OUR DISTRICT, AND ONLY IN RETROSPECT WISH WE HAD DONE MORE TO PROTECT THE KIDS.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE AND THE BOARD IS AWARE OF IT.

SORRY IF CHILDREN IN EANES ISD ARE SLAUGHTERED ON CAMPUS YOU AS A BOARD NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL GRIEVING FAMILIES THAT YOU DID ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THOSE LIVES. NOW THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT 3D RESPONSE SYSTEMS CAN PROVIDE IF YOU CHOOSE TO NOT IMPLEMENT THE TECHNOLOGY YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. I IMPLORE THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND SECURITY SYSTEM THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIS SERRANO.

MR. SERRANO, WELCOME.

YOU BET. ESTEEMED TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS LUIS SERRANO AND I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.

MY FAMILY WAS TOUCHED BY THE TRAGEDY OF NASHVILLE.

MY NIECE WAS IN THE SCHOOL NEXT DOOR AND WAS TRAPPED IN THE SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE DAY.

AND SHE'S BEEN TRAUMATIZED EVER SINCE, HAVING NIGHTMARES AND HAVING A HARD TIME.

[00:25:01]

THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AT EACH OF NINE SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT IS CRITICAL FOR THE SAFETY, NOT JUST OF OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO OF THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF.

IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT IS VERY HARD TO HIRE TEACHERS, WE NEED TO OFFER THEM A SAFE ENVIRONMENT SO WE CAN ATTRACT THE BEST TEACHERS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY I STARTED THIS INITIATIVE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES TO SHOW TO YOU GUYS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR THE COMMUNITY, HOW EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT THIS.

AND IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE COLLECTED OVER 1100 SIGNATURES THAT REALLY WAS JUST WORD OF MOUTH.

I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS WHICH OTHER MAYBE OTHER PARENTS AND YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD OF THIS.

I SENT YOU AN EMAIL, BUT I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD FOR OTHER PARENTS TO HEAR AS WELL.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE FORCE TRAVIS DEL VALLE, AUSTIN ISD, LIBERTY HILLS, PFLUGERVILLE, ETCETERA.

IT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED THAT BASED ON THE NASHVILLE EXPERIENCE, THAT THE SHOOTER WENT TO THE SCHOOL THAT HAD NO OFFICERS.

SHE HAD MAPPED OUT ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA AND SHE WENT FOR THE ONE WITH NO, NO OFFICERS.

I DON'T WANT WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE SITTING DUCKS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL, REALLY THE BIGGEST SCHOOL THAT DOESN'T HAVE OFFICERS AVAILABLE.

AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE A POLICE OFFICER SITTING OUTSIDE TO PROTECT US, TO PROTECT YOU.

AND I'M ASKING YOU TO OFFER THE SAME TYPE OF SECURITY TO OUR CHILDREN, WHICH ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS THING WE HAVE.

ALL OF US HAVE.

SO IF YOU GUYS NEED A POLICE OFFICER TO PROTECT YOU GUYS FROM US, THE CHILDREN SHOULD BE AWARDED OR AFFORDED THE SAME TYPE OF SECURITY.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE TWO POLICE OFFICERS AT WESTLAKE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW.

SO WHY ARE WE NOT DOING THE SAME THING FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PARENTS.

NUMBER ONE OPTION OF ARMING CIVILIANS IS NOT IDEAL.

IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING, BUT IT'S NOT IDEAL HAVING ROAMING OFFICERS GOING FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD OPTION EITHER.

I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO ALL IT TAKES IS AN INTRUDER TO WAIT UNTIL THE PERSON LEAVES TO GO INTO THE SCHOOL.

WE NEED TO HAVE A DEDICATED OFFICER PER SCHOOL FOR THE REASONS THAT OTHER PARENTS HAVE DESCRIBED, I THINK IS A BETTER IDEA.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU GUYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND GIVE US A PEACE OF MIND, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT ALSO FOR THE STAFF AND THE TEACHERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] LET'S SEE, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHANDLER HATCHETT.

CHANDLER, YOU ARE UP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. HI.

MY NAME IS CHANDLER HATCHETT AND I AM A PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT WITH TWO CHILDREN.

NEXT YEAR AT CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY.

ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, AT LUNCHTIME, I CHECKED MY PHONE AND THERE WAS A TEXT FROM A MOM IN THE FIRST GRADE WHO SAID, GUYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WE'RE ON LOCKDOWN AT CEDAR CREEK. ANOTHER TEXT CAME FROM ANOTHER MOM SAID THE STREET, I CAN'T EVEN GET THROUGH.

IT'S BLOCKED WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

MY HUSBAND AND I, AFTER WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN UVALDE, IMMEDIATELY HOPPED IN OUR CAR AND MADE IT AS FAR AS WE COULD BEFORE POLICE STOPPED US.

I LOOKED AT MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL WHERE MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOY WAS INSIDE AND IT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY POLICE.

I SAW POLICE RUNNING WITH GUNS OUT.

I WAS TOLD BY POLICE OFFICERS I COULDN'T COME ANY CLOSER, THAT THERE HAD BEEN A THREAT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER ON OUR CAMPUS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF MOST PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THIS DID HAPPEN.

IT HAPPENED THIS PAST YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.

IT WAS THE WORST DAY OF MY EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT.

I'VE EVER HAD. I'M SURPRISED I DIDN'T HAVE A BABY RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS JUST A MONTH BEFORE HAVING A BABY MYSELF.

IT WAS HORRIFYING.

I WILL SAY THAT THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSE MY MY CLASSES RESPONSE, MY TEACHER'S RESPONSE, OUR PRINCIPALS RESPONSE WAS IMPECCABLE.

OUR REUNIFICATION SYSTEM WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND THERE WERE STEPS THAT WERE MADE THAT WERE EVIDENT THAT OUR SCHOOL WAS PREPARED TO DO WHAT THEY COULD, GOD FORBID, BUT GOD FORBID.

LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT DAY.

THE STATE IS GOING TO CALL A LOT OF THE SHOTS FOR US IN THIS, AND WE'RE HERE TO HEAR THE CONVERSATION YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE.

I'M GOING TO BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE I STAND ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THE LAST FEW MONTHS I'VE BEEN SCREAMING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS . AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN DO.

LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS A PARENT WHO STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT MAJORITY OF GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES HAPPEN BECAUSE PARENTS DIDN'T LOCK UP THEIR GUNS IN SAFES.

THAT IDEA OF A PARENT SIGNATURE FORM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS SO CHEAP AND I THINK WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT FIRST STEP FOR US TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS NO LONGER A STUDENT SAFETY ISSUE.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND I IMPLORE YOU TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY AND INVOLVE OUR PARENTS IN THIS ISSUE.

[00:30:05]

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO TELL MY EIGHT YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY TO DO IF, GOD FORBID, HE'S IN A BATHROOM AND AN ACTIVE SHOOTER COMES IN THE SCHOOL.

I NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO PREPARE MY CHILD.

AND SO OUR APPROACH, WE IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISKS IN STUDENTS AND WE MITIGATE THOSE THROUGH HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO EDUCATE PARENTS MAYBE ON A PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT ON SCHOOL SAFETY TO HELP US KNOW THE RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR IN OUR CHILDREN AND HELP US KNOW WHO TO GO TO IF, GOD FORBID, WE FIND OURSELVES IN THAT SITUATION WITH OUR OWN CHILDREN BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM AND WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM, WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO TO TRAIN OUR CHILDREN IF, GOD FORBID, THEY'RE IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION.

AND FROM A HOLISTIC SAFETY OF STUDENTS, HOW DO WE TALK TO OUR KIDS ABOUT THIS? HOW DO WE VALUE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH? THIS COULD BE EASILY DONE THROUGH A PARENT ENGAGEMENT NIGHT THAT WE DO AT THE PAC.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY SCHELL.

GOOD EVENING, MS. SCHELLE. WELCOME.

HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU TODAY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BK, AND JEREMY HAD A MEETING WITH ME.

THEY'RE LOVELY AND THEY WERE GREAT.

AND THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT I HAVE A TWO KIDS IN THE DISTRICT AND I'M NEVER GOING TO BE AS ELOQUENT AS MOST OF THESE FOLKS WERE.

SO FORGIVE ME, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME AND STAND FOR WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED IN THIS SCHOOL, NOT JUST FOR THE KIDS, BUT FOR THE PRINCIPALS WHO I SEE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRINCIPALS RIGHT HERE.

I MEAN, WE REALLY LOVE THESE PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, KIDS ARE ALL SAFE.

MY CHILD, WHO'S A FIFTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW, HE WAS TERRIFIED AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF DAYS OF HIM NOT GOING BECAUSE HE HEARD ABOUT DIFFERENT SHOOTINGS AND BK TOOK HIM AROUND AND REALLY HELPED EASE HIS MIND.

BUT THIS 11 YEAR OLD IS IS PRETTY SMART AND KNOWS THAT TEN SHOTS CAN CAN BREAK THAT GLASS.

AND SO IT'S NOT COMPLETELY AT EASE, BUT IT WAS HELPFUL.

SO THANK YOU BK. I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE WERE I WAS TOLD WHEN I HAD THE MEETING THAT EQUITY IS EQUITABLE ACROSS THE SCHOOLS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU GUYS.

SO I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE EQUITABLE BECAUSE WESTLAKE ALREADY HAS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND SO AND I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS AND THERE WAS A LAW THAT WAS JUST PASSED, I BELIEVE, TWO MONTHS AGO.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

OH, OKAY. ANYWAY, THAT WAS I WAS JUST SURPRISED BY THAT.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS IF IT'S A GOOD TIME.

BUT I DON'T. I MEAN, IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS? I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS BEFORE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T DO IT IN THIS FORMAT.

OKAY. OKAY.

WELL, THERE WAS DEFINITELY A NO, SO I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT'S SURPRISING.

OKAY, SO BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO IT.

AND THERE WAS A LAW THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY PASSED WHERE YOU CAN PUT RETIRED OFFICERS IN PLACE.

IT'S NOT EVEN A QUESTION.

WHEN I HAD A MEETING WITH THE GUYS, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION AND WHO THEY CAN HIRE.

OF COURSE IT WOULD BE SHERIFFS, RETIRED SHERIFFS.

I HAPPEN TO BE FRIENDS WITH A DETECTIVE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR LIKE 30 YEARS.

HE'S AMAZING. HE WANTS TO HELP.

THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE STARTING RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE THEY'RE PUTTING THEY SEE THAT THIS IS A NEED FOR SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER SECURITY TEAMS FROM RETIRED POLICE FORCES.

THERE'S IN TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN I HAD A MEETING, THE FIRST MEETING WITH THE DETECTIVE, HE TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE ARE 93 OFFICERS WHO HAVE RETIRED THIS YEAR. USUALLY THERE'S THREE.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF GUYS OUT THERE, WOMEN OUT THERE WHO CAN HELP US AND YOU CAN PUT THEM IN PLACE.

I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE SAFE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS.

OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JOEY ROMERO.

MR. ROMERO. WELCOME, MR. ROMERO. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

YOU BET. SO, JOEY ROMERO, I HAVE TWO SONS AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY IN FIRST AND KINDERGARTEN.

AND I'M HERE ON THEIR BEHALF TO URGE YOU TO PLACE A FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER AT EVERY EANES ISD CAMPUS.

[00:35:05]

BEING EQUITABLE IS IMPORTANT, AND HAVING AN OFFICER AT EACH CAMPUS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

AS A FATHER, COMMUNITY MEMBER, PHYSICIAN AND FRIEND, I CAN'T SIT IDLE KNOWING THAT THERE'S A GAP IN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PREVENT SCHOOLS FROM BEING TARGETED FOR A MASS SHOOTING OR A SIMILAR CATASTROPHE.

I'VE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE AFTERMATH OF A MASS SHOOTING WHILE WORKING AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS, TEXAS, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR KIDS THAT HAVE SUFFERED VIOLENT, TRAUMATIC INJURIES THROUGH ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

AND NOTHING CAN REALLY PREPARE YOU OR THE COMMUNITY FOR THESE TYPES OF EVENTS TO LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYES AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBER OR LOVED ONE. AND I KNOW THAT WHILE WE CANNOT CONTROL EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AND MENTAL ILLNESS IS RAMPANT AND PREVALENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT AS A PHYSICIAN, I'M GRATEFUL THAT OUR HOSPITAL CAN PROVIDE ON SITE POLICE OFFICERS.

SO MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES, OUR NURSES AND CARE TEAM PROVIDERS CAN ALL WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY AS MUCH ABOUT THE ON SITE SAFETY ISSUES THAT COULD OCCUR IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME ON TO OUR HOSPITAL CAMPUS AND TRY AND ATTEMPT A MASS SHOOTING OR INJURE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE SECURITY COMFORTS THAT WE'RE ALL CURRENTLY ENJOYING THIS EVENING WITH THE ON SITE OFFICER HERE TODAY, AS LUIS POINTED OUT, I THINK THAT YOU ALL CAN AGREE THAT OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF ALL DESERVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SECURITY.

AUSTIN ISD, DEL VALLE, MANER, LIBERTY HILL, PFLUGERVILLE, ROUND ROCK, LAKE TRAVIS, HUTTO, BASTROP, HAYS CONSOLIDATED ISD DO BELIEVE THEIR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DESERVE THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT OF A SECURE SCHOOL.

ALL OF THOSE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PROVIDED WITH THE ACTIVE PROTECTION OF AN ON SITE SRO OR SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE OFFICER AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ACT WITH URGENCY TO PLACE AN OFFICER AT EVERY EANES ISD SCHOOL CAMPUS.

AND LASTLY, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A CHILD.

KIDS ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND INHERENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SAFETY PLAN IN PLACE AND THEY WILL HAVE MORE THINGS ON THEIR MIND, LIKE MATH, SCIENCE, SCHOOL FRIENDS, AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY MIGHT BE SHOT AND HURT AND KILLED.

AND THAT PSYCHOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANKS.

THAT BRINGS US TO.

OH, OKAY.

DID I MISS SOMEBODY? GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR? JAMES WELCH. OH, I MISSED YOU.

I'M SORRY. I JUST JUMPED RIGHT OVER YOUR NAME.

APOLOGIES. WELCOME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS JAMES WELCH.

I'VE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, ANNA AND GORDON AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY.

I'M HERE BECAUSE MY NUMBER ONE DUTY AS A PARENT AND A FATHER IS TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN.

AND I FEEL I NEED TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT THAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DUTY.

THERE IS NO HIGHER RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE THAN TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, AS I'VE GOTTEN UP TO SPEED ON WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, I'M KIND OF FLABBERGASTED THAT IT'S TAKEN NINE MONTHS TO EVEN REACH THIS POINT OF THE DISCUSSION.

TO ME, IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

IF YOU'VE GOT IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS, YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

OKAY? MONEY'S NOT THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THIS DISTRICT.

IT'S A CHOICE OF WHERE YOU SPEND THE MONEY.

SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO OVERLY COMPLICATE IT.

EVEN THE CONSTITUENTS HERE ARE WILLING TO DO FUNDRAISING AND PAY FOR IT.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE THE MONEY IS NOT AN ISSUE EITHER.

WHAT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IS I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT AN SRO AT EACH SCHOOL.

ANY OTHER KIND OF HALF MEASURE IS NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE.

AS EVERYONE'S SEEN WHEN THESE KIND OF INCIDENTS HAPPEN, IT STARTS AND IT'S OVER IN MAYBE UNDER TWO MINUTES.

[00:40:04]

AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO THAT IS IF YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE WHO'S TRAINED, WELL TRAINED, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CAMPUS, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE STUDENTS, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION, AND THAT HAS GOT HIS HEART AND SOUL IN THE SITUATION AND IS GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO THAT THREAT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

EVERY SECOND THAT GOES BY THAT'S WASTED IS ANOTHER LIFE LOST POTENTIALLY.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, I DON'T WANT TO GET THE BOILERPLATE TWEET THAT YOU'RE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

AND THIS IS A TRAGEDY, OKAY? IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.

IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND THE RIGHT THING IS TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I APOLOGIZE FOR SKIPPING YOU.

NOW, THAT DOES BRING US TO THE END OF THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE 2023-24 DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

[7.1 2023-24 District Improvement Plan]

I'M GOING TO LEAVE MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME TODAY AND JUST I'LL REVIEW THE DIP THIS EVENING.

OKAY. SO JUST TO REVIEW, SO WE HAD GONE OVER THE DIP TWO MEETINGS AGO AND THERE WERE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

SO WE WENT BACK AND MADE SURE WE INCORPORATED THOSE.

SO YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THOSE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REVIEW THAT WITH THE BOARD BEFORE IT COMES UP TONIGHT FOR A VOTE FOR ADOPTION.

OOPS, GOING THE WRONG WAY.

SO THE FIRST AREA THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS AROUND CURRICULUM AND ESPECIALLY FOCUS ON STUDENT SUCCESS FOR ALL.

AND IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA WE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE HAD A GOAL AROUND OUR SCIENCE SCORES.

SO THAT WAS UTILIZING BEST INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, HIGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND GUARANTEED VIABLE CURRICULUM TO INCREASE ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION OF SCIENCE SKILLS IN CONCEPTS IN GRADES K THROUGH FIVE.

WE SPECIFICALLY DID NOT FOCUS ON RAISING STAAR SCORES.

ALTHOUGH STAAR SCORES ARE AN INDICATOR OF WHAT WE DEALT, WE THOUGHT WAS A CONCERN IN OUR SCIENCE SCORES, GIVEN THE NEW STAAR AND THE STAAR REDESIGN AND HOW SCORES ARE GOING TO BE CALCULATED, WE WANTED TO REALLY FOCUS MORE ON THE INSTRUCTION AND DOING BENCHMARKS OR OUR OWN TYPE OF ASSESSMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE STAAR AS A MEASURE, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I'M SORRY.

THERE WE GO. AND THE NEXT AREA ON INSTRUCTIONAL PRIORITY.

FOSTER SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.

WE ADDED A GOAL AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE ACCESS AND PROMOTE ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, CURRICULAR RESOURCES AND DISCUSSIONS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL STUDENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE THAT DIVERSITY BRINGS TO OUR SCHOOL AND BROADER COMMUNITY.

SO THAT GOAL CAME FROM A DISCUSSION AROUND THE FACT THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT DEI WAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED AND CALLED OUT WITHIN THE THE DIP.

IT'S IN THERE IN A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT WE FELT LIKE THIS PARTICULAR GOAL REALLY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

AND THEN IN THE GOAL BELOW THAT, WE ACTUALLY JUST WE ADDED THE WORD BELONGINGNESS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH THE BOARD AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS REALLY A FOCUS FOR OUR STUDENTS, THAT EVERYONE FEELS THAT THEY BELONG AS PART OF THE DISTRICT.

AND THEN LASTLY, IN THAT AREA, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES AND I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME BOARD MEMBERS.

WE HAVE SOME PHENOMENAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN OUR DISTRICT.

WE HAVE COUNSELORS, WE HAVE SCHOOL BASED THERAPISTS, WE HAVE LICENSED SPECIALISTS IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.

AND NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR ROLES.

NOT EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.

WE HAVE SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO MAYBE DON'T KNOW WHO THEIR COUNSELOR IS.

AND SO HEIDI AND I REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS GOAL, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT NEXT YEAR WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE CAMPAIGN AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE ON OUR CAMPUSES, WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THOSE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THAT OUR STUDENTS KNOW WHO THEY CAN GO TO ON CAMPUS TO ACCESS HELP.

SO WE ADDED A GOAL IN THAT AREA.

[00:45:05]

SO WE WANTED THAT TO BE NOT ONLY IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL PIECE, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR ENGAGEMENT OF STAFF AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE GOAL IN THE FACILITIES AREA THAT WE ADDED WAS TO AN AUDIT REVIEW AND REMOVE TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGITAL RESOURCES THAT ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTED OR UTILIZED BY OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.

SO JUST A WAY TO SUNSET SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY AS WE ALL KNOW IT.

IT COMES AND IT LASTS FOR A WHILE AND SOMETIMES WE NEED TO REPLACE IT OR UPGRADE IT.

SO THOSE WERE THE ADDITIONS THAT WE MADE TO THE DIP FROM OUR LAST CONVERSATION IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.

SO I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF I NEED TO GRAB ANYONE FROM CABINET, WE CAN DO THAT ALSO.

THANK YOU. LET'S SEE, I'M GOING TO GO HEATHER AND THEN JEN AND THEN ELLEN.

I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION.

I ASKED ALL MY QUESTIONS WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS THE LAST TIME, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR REALLY IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD CONCERNS WITH AND FOR IMPROVING UPON WHAT YOU HAD ALREADY IMPROVED.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

JEN. I AGREE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON THE SCIENCE GOAL, HOW WILL YOU MEASURE THAT PROGRESS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE BENCHMARKS FOR ANYTHING BELOW FIFTH GRADE PREVIOUSLY. SO WHAT ARE WE USING TO SHOW THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY IMPROVED? SO WE MADE PROGRESS.

YEAH. SO WE'LL BE I MEAN, WE ALREADY HAVE COMMON ASSESSMENTS, SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT EACH GRADE LEVEL AND AT THOSE PARTICULAR TEKS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BENCHMARKING STUDENTS ALONG THE WAY.

JUST PROGRESS MONITORING THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD DO WITH READING OR MATH, BUT BEING A LOT MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE GOING ALONG, THAT OUR STUDENTS, WE CAN SHOW THAT PROGRESS AND THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT THEY'RE MEETING THOSE SPECIFIC TEKS.

OKAY. BUT WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING SOME SORT OF BENCHMARK TESTING GOING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR.

IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? YES.

YES. I GUESS IT'S A LITTLE LATE IN THE YEAR TO TRY TO GIVE A BASELINE RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, THE FIFTH GRADERS DID JUST FINISH STAAR.

AND SO WE WILL WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND YOU KNOW WHILE THE STAAR SCORE IS WHAT IT IS, YOU CAN STILL DEFINITELY LOOK AT SOME OF THE AREAS.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE AREAS AND SEE IF THERE'S AREAS WHERE OUR STUDENTS REALLY SUCCEEDED OR IF THERE WERE AREAS WHERE WE SAW SOME DEFICITS.

SO WE'LL DIG DEEPER INTO THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO GET SOME DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION, AS MUCH AS THE STAAR ALLOWS THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE ADDING SOME BENCHMARKING IN THE LOWER GRADES GOING FORWARD SO THAT WE DON'T GET INTO MAYBE KIND OF THE SITUATION AGAIN WHERE WE GET A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED, RIGHT, WITH THE FIFTH GRADE SCORES THAT WERE REALLY MONITORING ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD DONE EARLIER ON STEM SCOPES, WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT CURRICULUM AND FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP US INSTRUCTIONALLY IN SCIENCE.

AND SO THE TEACHERS ARE EXCITED AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAINING.

OUR OUR NUMBERS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THIS SUMMER OF OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ARE SIGNED UP ARE JUST PHENOMENAL.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ELLEN.

HI, MOLLY. THIS IS A MORE OF A PROCESS QUESTION AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT THEORETICAL, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE DIP GOING FORWARD. THERE ARE TWO, AT LEAST TWO BIG THINGS THAT HAVE COME INTO PLAY MORE RECENTLY SINCE WE STARTED ON THIS WAY BACK IN JANUARY.

ONE IS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPANISH IMMERSION TASK FORCE WRAPPED UP THEIR WORK THIS WEEK.

AND SO THERE WILL BE SOMETHING FORTHCOMING FROM THAT GROUP.

AND THEN LATER TONIGHT, WE'LL BE TALKING SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT PERHAPS VERY DIFFERENT STAFFING SCENARIOS AS FAR AS STUDENT SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.

HOW, AND WHERE ARE BIG INITIATIVES LIKE THAT ABLE TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE DIP IN REAL TIME, IF YOU WILL, IN A PROCESS THAT'S PRETTY, PRETTY RIGID AND MONTHS LONG IN THE MAKING? SORRY. SORRY.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN TALK TO IT OR. JEFF.

I THINK EVEN THOUGH THE DIP REQUIRES FORMAL APPROVAL BY THE BOARD, WE STILL INTEND FOR IT TO BE AN ORGANIC DOCUMENT.

[00:50:04]

SO WHILE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THE DIP NOW AND PLANNING FOR THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR, IF WE MAKE A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH CHANGE, WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT THAT. THAT'S OUR INTENT.

OKAY. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS WILL BE DEVELOPED IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

AND SO. BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL, YES.

THESE THINGS COULD BE INTEGRATED.

THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL A LOT BETTER.

THANK YOU. AND THOSE DON'T REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS FLEXIBILITY AND LATITUDE TO INCORPORATE SOME MEASURES THERE TOO.

GREAT QUESTIONS. ANYBODY ELSE.

ALL RIGHT, MOLLY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YOU PASSED.

THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COVERAGE FOR EANES ISD SCHOOLS.

[7.2 Considering Additional Law Enforcement Coverage for Eanes ISD Schools]

MR. JEREMY TRIMBLE, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS AND PLANNING, IS JOINING ME ON THE PRESENTATION.

LET ME JUST PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT IN THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN VIEWABLE IN THE PUBLIC AGENDA DOCUMENTS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLEASANT AND WELCOMING IMAGES.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO CREATE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AT THE SAME TIME, ANYTIME WE'RE DISCUSSING SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY, THAT'S A TOPIC THAT REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS AND OBJECTIVITY.

SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION, WHILE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT ARE PRESENTED, WE'RE NOT MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE.

WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF DATA POINTS THAT THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER IN MAKING POTENTIAL DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT COVERAGE ON OUR CAMPUSES. SO IF I COULD JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING THIS NOW? IN THE FALL OF 2022, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED ALREADY TONIGHT, WE HAD A SWATTING INCIDENT AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND THEN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAD A PRE-PLANNED SAFETY SUMMIT.

AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT.

AS A RESULT OF THAT PUBLIC DISCUSSION, BOARD OF TRUSTEES ASKED US TO CONSIDER WHAT MIGHT BE SOME POTENTIAL SCENARIOS AND TO DO A COST ANALYSIS OF HOW WE MIGHT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COVERAGE ON OUR CAMPUSES.

AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, REALLY, IN THE WAKE OF THE UVALDE TRAGEDY, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AS IT WAS BEGINNING TO PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION AND AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR, BEGAN TO PUT A GREATER EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.

SO IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THAT, THROUGHOUT THIS PAST SPRING, WE HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME ADMINISTRATIVELY LOOKING AT A VARIETY OF SECURITY OPTIONS AND STAFFING COSTS RELATED TO THOSE.

WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONFIDENTIALLY IN CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE SOME OF THIS IS RELATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY AS WELL AS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. BUT NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENING, WE'RE READY TO HAVE A MORE PUBLIC DISCOURSE AROUND THESE POSSIBILITIES.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY RECENT TRAGEDIES, EVEN THIS PAST SATURDAY.

WHAT WE SAW UNFOLDING IN ALLEN, TEXAS, HAS GIVEN GREATER IMPORTANCE TO THIS DISCUSSION.

AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE REAL REASONS AND THE IMPETUS FOR LOOKING AT THIS MORE CLOSELY AND SERIOUSLY IS THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S AND THE TWO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT THEY PROVIDE AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THEIR STAFFING NEEDS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT AT SOME POINT THEY MAY REQUIRE THOSE CURRENT SROS AND DEPLOY THEM IN OTHER PLACES. AND IN FACT, AS WE'LL MENTION TONIGHT, THAT CONTRACT ITSELF COULD BE DISCONTINUED WITH ONLY 60 DAYS NOTICE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT POSSIBILITY AS WELL.

NONETHELESS, I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF.

SO WITH THAT, MR. TRIMBLE AND I ARE GOING TO KIND OF ALTERNATE HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO DIFFERENT POINTS THAT WE THINK THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE TRIENNIAL SAFETY AND SECURITY AUDIT THAT IS CONDUCTED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND SPECIFICALLY THERE IS AN EXCERPT.

WHILE THE 2023 AUDIT IS NOT YET COMPLETE, WE KNOW FROM AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THAT, THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY A RECOMMENDATION THAT PERTAINS TO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL GIVE IT TO MR. TRIMBLE. ABSOLUTELY.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH MENTIONING WHILE WE JUST WRAPPED UP THE TRIENNIAL COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY AND SECURITY AUDIT THAT LOOKS AT EVERYTHING SAFETY, THERE WAS ONE COMPONENT THAT COMES OUT OF THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT REGISTERED CONSULTANT WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER.

[00:55:05]

A RECOMMENDATION CONSIDERING IMPLEMENTING OUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST PRACTICES OF ONE SRO PER 1000. THIS IS A DATA POINT, A METRIC NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS HAS THIS METRIC.

THIS IS JUST ONE COMPONENT THAT WAS OBSERVED IN HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR SECURITY ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.

BUT WE WANTED TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IT PERTAINS TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TONIGHT.

NOW, ONCE THAT REPORT GETS FINALIZED, IT'S NOT FINALIZED YET.

THAT WILL COME TO THE BOARD AS REQUIRED IN CLOSED SESSION BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST.

SO BE LOOKING FOR THAT IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.

NEXT. SO TO FRAME THE CONVERSATION, WE'VE GOT TO START WITH WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AND THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE HAVE OUR TWO ARMED TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE KNOW THAT. BUT BEYOND THAT, WE HAVE FOUR OF EANES ISD EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUR CIVILIAN SECURITY ATTENDANTS.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.

WE HAVE MATT GREER AND BRENT KELLY, OUR TWO SAFETY DIRECTORS WHO RESIDE IN HOUSE AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND THEY CAN DEPLOY AT ANY CAMPUS AS NEEDED.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR AREA AGENCIES AND THESE ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS MAINTAIN AND BUILD UPON. WE OPERATE WITHIN A FEW JURISDICTIONS.

WE HAVE NOT ONLY TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT WE HAVE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE WESTLAKE HILLS, BUT ROLLINGWOOD, WHICH JUST THEY DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER OUR CAMPUSES, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WILLING TO RESPOND.

THEY ACTUALLY HELP US WITH SOME OF OUR DRILLS AS WELL.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE SCENARIO THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

BUT WITH THAT SCENARIO, THERE'S ALSO SOME LIMITATIONS WITH THE MODEL, WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, AND SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS.

CURRENTLY WITH OUR AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS.

THERE IS NO COST SHARING MODEL.

MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE SOME TYPE OF COST SHARING MODEL IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND CURRENTLY OUR COVERAGE IS ONLY LIMITED TO WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND DEPENDING ON SITUATIONS, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

THEIR OBLIGATION CURRENTLY IS PRIMARILY THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE ALSO TALKED WITH THE SHERIFF FOR TRAVIS COUNTY ABOUT POSSIBLY EXPANDING.

COULD WE GET MORE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS? AND THEY BASICALLY TELL US THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE OFFICERS AND THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO EXPAND THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE OFFICERS. CURRENTLY, THERE'S TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT UTILIZE TRAVIS COUNTY.

THAT'S EANES ISD, AND THEN LEANDER ISD UTILIZES THEM FOR ONE HIGH SCHOOL VANDEGRIFT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SOUTHERN AREA OF THEIR DISTRICT.

ALSO, DR.

ARNETT MENTIONED JUST THAT CONTRACT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AND THAT CONTRACT WE CAN END IT.

THEY CAN END IT WITH A 60 DAYS NOTICE, 60 DAY TURNAROUND TO IMPLEMENT ANY ADDITIONAL MEASURES WOULD BE RATHER DIFFICULT.

SO THERE IS THAT RISK THAT'S CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONTRACT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH THEM.

AS JEREMY MENTIONED, THERE ARE PRESENTLY ONLY TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN ALL OF TRAVIS COUNTY THAT CURRENTLY UTILIZE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS PROVIDED BY THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND VANDEGRIFT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LEANDER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND MORE AND MORE DISTRICTS, AS YOU'LL SEE IN A MOMENT, AS WE MAKE THESE COMPARISONS, MORE AND MORE DISTRICTS ARE FORMING THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

SO IN THAT SCENARIO, AS OTHER DISTRICTS NOW CONSOLIDATE THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND EMPLOY THEIR OWN STAFFS, THEN CONTINUING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECOMES LESS AND LESS ECONOMICAL FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BECAUSE IN SOME CASES WE'RE BEARING THE EXPENSE TO A GREATER DEGREE FOR THOSE OFFICERS.

JUST IN LOOKING AT ALL DISTRICTS TEXAS WIDE OR ACROSS THE STATE, RATHER, STATEWIDE, OUT OF 1,022 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, 41% CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER AGENCY OF SOME KIND.

IT MAY BE THEIR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT MAY BE THEIR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SO YOU CAN SEE LESS THAN HALF OF THE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE SOME SORT OF A FORMAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THEIR AREA POLICE DEPARTMENTS OR SHERIFFS.

HOWEVER, 32%, ROUGHLY ONE THIRD OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING, ARE NOW PROVIDING THEIR OWN SECURITY OF SOME KIND.

THEY'RE EITHER EMPLOYING THEIR OWN POLICE, CREATING THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR THEY MAY BE RESORTING TO SOME OTHER PROGRAM.

[01:00:02]

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OTHER DISTRICTS AND HOW THEY PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THEIR CAMPUSES.

AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF HOW IT'S DONE ELSEWHERE.

ONE OF THE APPROACHES, OBVIOUSLY, IS TO FOCUS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ALL AGREE THAT TRYING TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR ADULTS WHO COME ON TO OUR CAMPUSES IS AN IMPERATIVE.

AND WE SEE THAT CERTAINLY AS A MEASURE OF PREEMPTIVE SCHOOL SAFETY.

SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THIS EQUATION.

AND YOU'LL SEE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS THAT WE'RE ALREADY INCORPORATING THAT ELEMENT INTO OUR SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.

AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I'LL EXPOUND ON THIS IN JUST A MOMENT, WE HAVE THE SCHOOL MARSHALS OR GUARDIANS PROGRAM.

I'M NOT GOING TO DWELL ON THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S A SLIDE COMING UP WHERE WE'LL EXPOUND ON IT SLIGHTLY.

BUT THAT IS AN APPROACH THAT MANY DISTRICTS NOW ARE GOING TO, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND PROVISIONS.

AS WE'LL MENTION, A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW ARE EMPLOYING THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE POLICE FORCE WITH THEIR OWN DISTRICT EMPLOYED OFFICERS, OR THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES. AND THEN WE'RE SEEING SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PERHAPS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS HERE GOING TO A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE ABOVE ELEMENTS.

SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

IN TERMS OF THE MARSHALS AND THE GUARDIANS, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT THIS IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

THERE MAY BE ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER IN A TRANSITIONAL PHASE OR AN INTERIM APPROACH, BUT NOT FOR A LONG TERM SOLUTION IN OUR DISTRICT.

I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE USING A SCHOOL MARSHAL OR A SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM, THEY'RE MOST OFTEN RURAL DISTRICTS. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THAT.

THE SCHOOL MARSHAL PROGRAM, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 7% OF DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT HAD A MARSHAL PROGRAM AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

IT ALLOWS TRAINED CIVILIANS TO CARRY GUNS.

IT DOES TAKE LONGER TO IMPLEMENT DUE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE TRAINING THAT ARE ATTACHED TO A GUARDIAN PROGRAM OR EXCUSE ME, TO THE MARSHAL PROGRAM.

THE SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM CONVERSELY, ABOUT 27%, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE NOW HAVE SOME VERSION OF A SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM.

THE ONE THING ABOUT THE SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM IS THAT IT PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY TO EITHER ADHERE TO OR EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARSHAL PROGRAM.

SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE MARSHAL PROGRAM, I THINK REQUIRES ROUGHLY 80 HOURS OF TRAINING, WHEREAS A GUARDIAN PROGRAM, IF WE DECIDE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE WANT THE TRAINING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THAT, THEN WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.

IT IS EASIER TO IMPLEMENT IN A TRANSITIONAL PLAN BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER REQUIREMENTS ATTACHED TO THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM.

BUT YET WE COULD IMPOSE OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS AND THEN CREATE THE TIMELINE SHOULD WE WANT TO CONSIDER THAT AS A TRANSITIONAL OR AN INTERIM APPROACH? WE'RE GOING TO COMPARE OURSELVES AND OUR CURRENT NUMBERS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND YOU SEE SOME OF THOSE REPRESENTED ON THIS SLIDE.

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

ONE THING I'LL NOTE ABOUT THIS IS THAT SOME OF THESE ARE IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE GREATER STATE OF TEXAS.

THEY'RE BEYOND THE GREATER AUSTIN REGION.

SOME OF THESE ARE SIMILAR TO EANES ISD.

SOME OF THEM ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN EANES ISD.

WE'RE SIMPLY TRYING TO SHOW THE RANGE OF APPROACHES AND HOW DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS MIGHT BE STAFFED IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND HOW THOSE RATIOS COMPUTE DEPENDING UPON THE ENROLLMENT OF THOSE DISTRICTS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A GAMUT HERE, AND SOME OF THESE ARE OUTLIERS.

SOME OF THEM ARE KIND OF IN THE VICINITY OF THAT 1 TO 1000 RATIO THAT JEREMY MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO.

AND THEN THERE'S EANES ISD.

SO WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS IN A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST, I THINK TO TRY TO ILLUSTRATE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE HAVE DONE AROUND THIS TOPIC AND OUR STUDYING OF OTHER DISTRICTS AND THEIR APPROACHES, PERHAPS BEST PRACTICES. I WANTED TO LET JEREMY TALK ABOUT A VISIT THAT THEY MADE TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE ARE OFTEN COMPARED TO AND SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT FIELD TRIP.

ABSOLUTELY. SO MATT GREER AND MYSELF HAD THE PLEASURE IN LATE APRIL TO TAKE A SITE VISIT TO THE HIGHLAND PARK ISD.

SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHIC.

AND WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS JUST EXPLORE KIND OF HOW THEY IMPLEMENTED IT, THE STRUCTURE THAT THEY HAVE, COST SHARING.

ET CETERA. JUST TO LEARN ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SIMILAR TO US.

AND SO WE MET WITH CHIEF ROWDEN HERE, WHO'S IN THE PICTURE, BUT ALSO SUPERINTENDENT DR.

TRIGG AND AND ANOTHER OFFICER THAT ACTUALLY WAS HOUSED ON ONE OF THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

[01:05:04]

THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF JURISDICTIONS THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

ONE PROVIDES MONEY FOR THE OFFICERS, THE OTHER ONE PROVIDES THE OFFICERS.

AND THEN THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A COUPLE OF OFFICERS THEMSELVES WITHIN THE HIGHLAND PARK.

SO IT'S A VERY HYBRID APPROACH.

AND THEY'RE PAID FOR, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE PAID FOR BY THOSE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

SO AGAIN, VERY UNIQUE.

BUT BEYOND THAT, WE WANTED TO LEARN THEY HAVE OFFICERS AT EVERY CAMPUS.

SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE KNOW WHAT A HIGH SCHOOL LOOK LIKE.

WE CAN IMAGINE WHAT A MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? SO CHIEF ROWDEN TOOK US AROUND.

WE VISITED EVERY GRADE LEVEL, BUT WE ALSO DID VISIT BRADFIELD ELEMENTARY IN HIGHLAND PARK.

AND WE SPOKE WITH OFFICER CONNELL THERE AND JUST LEARNED WHAT IS YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE AT AN ELEMENTARY? SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT COULD ENTAIL FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY TILL THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT WE ARE MORE FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU DO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

AND SO WE HEARD MENTIONED EARLIER IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BUT JUST BEING ON THE PLAYGROUND, A LOT OF TIME IN THE CAFETERIA, BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS, BUT ALSO THAT OFFICER WAS NOT GOING TO BE AFRAID TO WIPE DOWN A TABLE OR SWEEP A FLOOR.

BUT STARTING FROM ARRIVAL THERE IN THE BUILDING AT THE DOORS, GREETING PARENTS, GREETING, GREETING STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO CLASSES.

THEY'RE TEACHING KIDS.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO ANY LARGE EVENTS.

THEY'RE BECOMING PART OF THAT CAMPUS, PART OF ADMINISTRATION TO GET THE KIDS FAMILIAR WITH THEM.

SO THEY'VE MADE A STAPLE THERE.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS MEANT FOR THAT TYPE OF POSITION, THOUGH, AND JUST THE PERSONALITY AND THE MINDSET THAT HE HAD PROBABLY MADE SENSE FOR HIM BEING AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO LIKE WE TALK ABOUT, IT HAS TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON AND THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND WHICH WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ANY PLAN MOVING FORWARD, BUT IT IS A GREAT TRIP JUST TO LEARN EVERYTHING THAT THEY WENT THROUGH IN SOME OF THEIR CHALLENGES AND THAT THEIR OFFICERS AREN'T AFRAID TO REALLY DO ANYTHING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THAT COMMUNITY. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT REAL QUICK.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO SOME OF THE NUMBERS AROUND THESE SCENARIOS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

IF YOU'LL SEE THIS SPREADSHEET, THIS CHART IN FRONT OF YOU WE'LL FOCUS FAR LEFT FIRST.

OKAY. THAT'S THE CURRENT MODEL THAT WE HAVE.

YOU'LL SEE AT THE TOP $391,000.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE NOW PROJECTED OUT INTO NEXT YEAR.

THIS WOULD BE THE COST FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR THOSE TWO TRAVIS COUNTY SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT'S $391,000.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR EANES ISD PERSONNEL, WHICH IS MATT, BK, THOSE FOUR ATTENDANTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE SOME AFTER HOUR SECURITY THAT WE DO AND SOME OF THE SUPPLIES.

SO THAT'S $544,000.

SO CURRENT SCENARIO IS $935,000 COST TO THE DISTRICT.

OKAY. SO THAT'S OUR BENCHMARK.

THEN WE LOOK AT SCENARIO ONE.

WHAT SCENARIO ONE IS, IS A POLICE CHIEF, SIX OFFICERS, AND WE STILL MAINTAIN THE FOUR CIVILIAN STAFF AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'LL SEE THAT THERE'S NOTHING IN THE TWO TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, THOSE WOULD BE POLICE OFFICERS NOW, NOT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE'D BRING ON THOSE THE CHIEF AND SIX OFFICERS, THAT'S INCLUDING THE $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT'S OUR COST FOR PERSONNEL, FOR SUPPLIES.

WE STILL MAINTAIN THAT AFTER HOURS SECURITY THAT DRIVE AROUND.

SO $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT FOR OUR M&O, THAT WOULD BE AN ANNUAL IMPACT OF $297,000.

OKAY. SO THAT'S OUR NET INCREASE IN EXPENSES FROM BASELINE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

BELOW THAT, YOU'LL SEE $525,000 BECAUSE TO START A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PURCHASED FROM CARS TO EQUIPMENT.

THERE COULD BE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE ONE TIME START UP COSTS.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED HERE POTENTIAL BOND PROCEEDS, SAVINGS, ALSO DONATIONS OR POSSIBLE GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE.

SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON IS THAT INCREASE NET EXPENSES, THAT ANNUAL M&O COST.

NOW, GOING OVER TO SCENARIO TWO, SIMILAR, THAT'S A CHIEF AND TEN OFFICERS.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S MORE PERSONNEL TIED TO THAT.

SO IT'S $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT'S A NET INCREASE IN EXPENSES TO THE M&O OF $622,000, $834,000 IN START UP COSTS, WHICH AGAIN ARE THOSE CAPITAL EXPENSES.

SO THIS IS THIS KIND OF OUTLINES WHAT THOSE SCENARIOS COULD COST, BUT WE WANT TO COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

[01:10:01]

IF EITHER ONE OF THOSE SCENARIOS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, YOU'LL SEE HERE WITH A SEVEN, THAT WOULD PUT US AT ONE OFFICER PER 1104 STUDENTS.

AND THEN WE JUMP TO SCENARIO 2 WITH 11 TOTAL ARMED OFFICERS WOULD BE ONE OFFICER PER 703 STUDENTS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THESE ARE TWO SCENARIOS.

THERE COULD BE A SCENARIO IN BETWEEN THOSE, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TRY TO LAY THE COST OUT, BUT ALSO SOME OF THOSE RATIOS WHEN WE COMPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WE WANT TO BEGIN WITH A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

AND ALREADY IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE ARE PROJECTING TO ADD THREE SCHOOL BASED THERAPIST AND THAT WOULD NOW PROVIDE FULL COVERAGE FOR ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARIES AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH STAFF PERSON OR EXPERT ON CAMPUS.

AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH STAFF AND POLICE OFFICERS CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH ONE ANOTHER TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE APPROACH, THE MODEL THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND.

IF WE WERE TO EMPLOY OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, AS WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT, RATIOS OF POTENTIAL POLICE OFFICERS OR ARMED SECURITY TO OUR STUDENTS.

OUR CURRENT RATIO OF STUDENTS TO ALL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 1 TO 184.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING TO BE LESS WHEN WE ADD THE ADDITIONAL THREE SCHOOL BASED THERAPISTS NEXT YEAR.

SO OUR RATIO IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE AND SUPPORT IS VERY GOOD.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE BOARD PRIORITIES.

WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT COMPONENT, THAT RATIO ALONGSIDE POTENTIALLY INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE ON OUR CAMPUSES, WOULD BE A PRETTY DYNAMIC COMBINATION.

IF I COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DECISIONS AND THE TIMELINES AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING ALL THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.

WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE INPUT.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF METHODS SO THAT WE KNOW HOW OUR COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT ANY PROPOSAL.

WHAT THE BOARD MAY EVENTUALLY CONSIDER.

SO WE WANT TO BEGIN THERE WITH THAT IN MIND.

AND I KNOW THAT AS WE'VE NOTED THIS EVENING, BOARD MEETINGS ARE NOT OFTEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOG OR FOR Q AND A, SO AS WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY, WE'RE STILL TENDING TO DO A TOWN HALL FORUM AGAIN ON THIS TOPIC.

IF THE BOARD DECIDES THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO GATHER INPUT, TO PROVIDE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER THAT AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO DO AN ADDITIONAL TOWN HALL EVEN BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AS JEREMY MENTIONED, THERE ARE CERTAINLY BUDGET IMPLICATIONS HERE AND YOU'RE IN THAT FINAL SEASON NOW WHERE YOU'RE DETERMINING WHAT OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE BOARD MEETINGS LEFT BEFORE YOU FINALIZE THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, AND THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THOSE IMPLICATIONS MAY BE . IN TERMS OF A REASONABLE TIMELINE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED SHOULD THE BOARD WANT TO FORMALIZE ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE BY LAW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT APPROPRIATE POLICIES.

THAT TAKES TIME.

WE WOULD HAVE TO APPLY TO TCOLE, WHICH IS THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT IS THE GOVERNING BODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT COMMISSIONS POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT APPLICATION PROCESS.

ONCE WE TAKE THAT STEP, IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DETERMINES, WE'D HAVE TO ALLOW TIME TO RECRUIT HIGHLY QUALIFIED OFFICERS, THOSE THAT FIT THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND ELEMENTS OF THE JOB THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED HERE TONIGHT.

AND THEN ASSUMING WE CAN HIRE THOSE QUALIFIED OFFICERS, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO COMMISSION THOSE OFFICERS IN CREATING A FORMAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

QUESTION WAS RAISED EARLIER TONIGHT THAT WE COULDN'T RESPOND TO DURING OPEN COMMENTS, BUT I DID WANT TO ADDRESS IT NOW, THIS HAS NOT ACTUALLY YET BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

HOUSE BILL THREE IS PROGRESSING THROUGH THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT IT HAS NOT YET BECOME LAW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL STATUS OF THE BILL WILL BE, BUT WE'RE FOLLOWING IT VERY CLOSELY.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO ELEMENTS OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE THE MOST TRACTION AND THE MOST RELEVANCE TO WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.

JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BILL.

IT PROVIDES $100 PER STUDENT IN OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, PLUS $15,000 PER CAMPUS THROUGH THE SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT.

THERE IS A STIPULATION ATTACHED TO THAT $15,000 POTENTIALLY, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THAT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE $15,000 YOU WOULD HAVE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE SPECIFIED TECHNOLOGY FROM A STATE APPROVED VENDOR.

WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THAT VENDOR WILL BE.

IT PROBABLY WILL BE SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY, BUT WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY DEFINITION OF THAT YET IN THE EARLY VERSIONS OF THE BILL.

[01:15:09]

BUT THE MEASURE OR THE ASPECT, RATHER, OF THIS MEASURE THAT I THINK IS MOST PERTINENT TO THIS CONVERSATION IS THAT THIS BILL POTENTIALLY WOULD MANDATE ARMED SECURITY PERSONNEL ON EVERY CAMPUS.

THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE IF THIS DOES BECOME LAW AND EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE HAS TO COMPLY WITH IT, THERE WILL BE A RUSH ON QUALIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE STATE, BECAUSE IF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO COMPLY BY PROVIDING ARMED SECURITY ON EVERY ONE OF ITS CAMPUSES, WHETHER IT BE SCHOOL MARSHALS OR GUARDIANS OR THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMMISSIONING THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE STATE.

JEREMY, I'LL LET YOU TAKE THIS ONE.

SURE. I'LL WRAP IT UP WITH THIS SLIDE.

BUT THIS PRESENTATION IS ALL ABOUT POSSIBILITIES WITH INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

SO WITH ANY MODEL THAT WOULD BE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE BEING INCREASED RESPONSE TO TWO CRITICAL INCIDENTS.

BUT THESE OFFICERS WERE TALKING ABOUT RECRUITING THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THOSE RESOURCES. ALSO, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE MOST GLAMOROUS PART OF ANY OFFICER'S JOB, BUT WOULD BE DIRECT TRAFFIC AND SERVICE CROSSING GUARDS AND WHICH IS A STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE IN THIS DISTRICT WITH TRAFFIC AT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS.

BUT CROSSING GUARDS IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER ONE AT A COUPLE OF OUR CAMPUSES.

SO THAT'S HOW THESE OFFICERS THAT SPOKEN TO US, THAT'S HOW THEY BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY SEE THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND THEY'LL STEP IN, BUT ALSO MONITOR ALL THE CAMPUS ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE THE BUILDING AND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

IT'S ADDITIONAL EYES AND EARS.

CONDUCT SAFETY AUDITS.

OUR STAFF, MATT AND BK, GET AROUND TO ALL THE CAMPUSES AND DO THEIR WEEKLY AUDITS OF ALL OF THEIR DOORS.

ANY ADDITIONAL STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE FREQUENCY OF DOING THOSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S AGAIN, THE OFFICERS THAT WE SPOKE TO THAT'S PART OF THEIR JOB.

THEY MAKE AS MANY ROUNDS AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN TRAIN AND ASSIST STAFF AND WHAT THEIR TRAINING THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING.

THESE WOULD BE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT IN THESE POSITIONS.

THEY WOULD HELP TRAIN ALL OF OUR STAFF ON ANYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH ANY TYPE OF CRITICAL INCIDENT, BUT ANYTHING ALSO TIED TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL CONCLUDE AND ALLOW YOU TO DISCUSS AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

ANY MORE INFORMATION PERHAPS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JEREMY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JEFF.

A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ALL OF MY QUESTIONS NOW BECAUSE I'M GUESSING THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SOME, TOO.

AND I HAVE A LOT.

AND ALSO JUST SOME CONCERNS AND COMMENTS.

BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SAY SORRY ABOUT MY HEAD NODDING DURING OPEN FORUM.

THAT WAS IN REGARD TO HOUSE BILL THREE, WHICH IS GETTING A HEARING IN SENATE ED ON THURSDAY.

AND I KNOW THAT SINCE THE SENATE IS GOING TO HEAR THIS, THIS COULD COME OUT AS A VASTLY DIFFERENT BILL, AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE'S ONLY $5 BILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN GENERAL.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DIFFERENCES ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT.

AND HOUSE BILL THREE HAS A LARGE FISCAL NOTE, SO WE SHALL SEE.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT IN THERE AND THIS CAME UP TOO, IN AN OPEN FORUM, IS THAT SAFE FIREARM STORAGE IS IN THAT BILL ALSO.

SO THERE'S A LOT IN THAT BILL.

SO WATCH FOR THINGS COMING.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH IT, TOO, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THAT TEA AND THE COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO IMPOSE IN ORDER TO GET THE $15,000 AND THEN THE $100 PER ADA AND EITHER WAY, $15,000 IS NOT ENOUGH.

SO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT.

BUT QUESTIONS WHEN DOES OUR TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF SRO CONTRACT EXPIRE? I BELIEVE IT'S THROUGH 2024, I BELIEVE.

IS THAT LIKE DECEMBER OF 2024, JULY 31ST? AND THEN IN THE SLIDE ON FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, IT SAID, ADDING THREE SCHOOL BASED THERAPISTS.

WAS THAT INCLUDED IN SOME OF OUR OTHER CONVERSATIONS ON BUDGET OR WERE THOSE.

YES. OKAY.

THAT'S ALREADY FACTORED IN.

OKAY. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT RATIO OF STUDENTS TO ALL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THAT BROKEN DOWN BY CAMPUS JUST BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF

[01:20:07]

AND ALSO.

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN ALSO IN OUR BUDGET TOOL THAT WE GET FROM CHRIS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON IF WE DID GO TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND WE COULD PLAY WITH THE AMOUNT OF OFFICERS AND ALL OF THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND I HAVE SOME MORE THINGS, BUT I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE GO.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET'S SEE, JEN AND THEN I HAVE JAMES.

THANK YOU, JEREMY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I ALSO HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

I'LL PROBABLY JUST ASK A FEW FOR NOW AND THEN SAVE UNTIL I LET SOME OTHER PEOPLE ASK.

SORRY. THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE LATEST SCHOOL SAFETY AUDIT FOR AN SRO PER EVERY 1,000 STUDENTS I DON'T RECALL THAT RECOMMENDATION IN THE 2020 AUDIT.

AM I MISTAKEN OR WAS THAT RECOMMENDATION ALSO IN THE 2020 SAFETY AUDIT? YES. YES, IT WAS. WAS IT? OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT HPISD AND THEIR MODEL.

ARE THEIR OFFICERS ALL TRUE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANY OF THEM, THE GUARDIAN MARSHAL.

TRUE LAW ENFORCEMENT. OKAY. THANKS FOR THAT.

AND THEN CAN WE LOOK AT THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE THE COST BREAKDOWNS FOR THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS? SO YOU MENTIONED THAT IN OUR CURRENT MODEL THAT INCLUDES MATT AND BK'S POSITIONS.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT WITH SCENARIO ONE AND SCENARIO TWO THAT'S ALSO INCLUSIVE OF MATT AND BK'S.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S HELPFUL TO ME AND GOSH. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY'S QUESTIONS. AND THEN CAN WE CIRCLE BACK? AND THEN, I GUESS HB THREE, I DON'T KNOW IF HEATHER OR ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE ANY INSIDE INFORMATION.

I HAVE READ THE BILL.

IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY GUIDANCE ON TIMELINE OF IMPLEMENTATION.

SO WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL TEA ISSUES RULES.

CORRECT? YES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL STOP FOR NOW. THANK YOU.

LET'S SEE JAMES IS NEXT.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IS A BIGGIE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO YOU KNOW, A FEW ROUNDS.

SO DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT ALL OUT AT ONCE.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE I'VE GOT LIKE 30 MINUTES WORTH OF COMMENTS HERE, BUT I'LL DO PART NOW.

[LAUGHTER] A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS AND THEN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET AND IT'S OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS TO ME IS REMOVING DISTRACTIONS AT SCHOOL.

TO ME, THE EFFORTS WE'VE DONE TO STOP BULLYING AND RACISM, ETCETERA IN OUR SCHOOLS IS REMOVING THOSE DISTRACTIONS, MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR KIDS FEEL COMFORTABLE.

WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN GENUINELY HAVE FEAR BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE HEARING ON THE NEWS OR HEARING FROM FRIENDS.

MY OWN SON, MY BABY CAME HOME LAST WEEK, MY 19 YEAR OLD BABY.

AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU DON'T STOP LOVING THEM WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

YOU DON'T STOP CARING FOR THEM AND WORRYING ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

HE CAME HOME FROM COLLEGE AND HE ATTENDS A COLLEGE WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN MURDERS ON HIS CAMPUS.

IMAGINE DROPPING YOUR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN MURDERS.

THERE WAS A MURDER IN HIS DORM ROOM.

THIS ISSUE IS VERY CLOSE TO ME.

I TALKED TO HIM. HE BROUGHT UP AND WE SAT DOWN FATHER AND SON ON SUNDAY MORNING AND HE BROUGHT UP THE TRAGEDY IN ALLEN.

IT WAS SO FRESH AND HE STARTED TALKING TO ME ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND WHEN HE WAS AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT MULTIPLE CLASSES HE WAS IN WHERE THE TEACHERS SORT OF HAD THEIR AND I'M NOT TRYING TO RAT ANY TEACHERS OUT.

I WOULDN'T GIVE ANYTHING UP ON THIS.

BUT THERE WERE TEACHERS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL SORT OF EMERGENCY PLANS THAT MAY NOT BE ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE DISTRICT HAS ASKED THEM TO DO OR WHAT THE SCHOOL HAS ASKED THEM TO DO. AND THESE TEACHERS ARE TALKING TO THEIR STUDENTS ABOUT IF THERE'S AN INCIDENT, WE'RE GOING OUT THAT DOOR AND WE'RE RUNNING TO THE WOODS OR IF THERE'S IF WE HEAR SHOTS FIRED, WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP THIS BASEBALL BAT AND STAND BY THE DOOR AND HIT ANYBODY THAT COMES IN THIS ROOM.

[01:25:02]

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS REMOVES THAT NECESSARILY, BUT HOPEFULLY HELPS DAMPEN SOME OF THE WORRIES AND SOME OF THE FEARS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST OUR KIDS WHO ARE AFRAID.

IT'S OUR STAFF.

IT'S OUR TEACHERS, TOO. SO I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART.

SO JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

SO ON THE FUNDING PIECE.

AND I DON'T BLAME A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW WE'RE FUNDED, BUT WE GET FUNDED BY THE STATE.

THE STATE GIVES US OUR MONEY.

WE GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY PER STUDENT AS EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE WITH SOME ADDERS HERE AND THERE.

HAS THE STATE PROVIDED MONEY YET FOR THIS? THE ANSWER IS NO, AND IT MAY COME IN THAT BILL, BUT IT ISN'T LIKE WE'VE GOT A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS SITTING AROUND.

AND ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO AT OUR SCHOOL.

SO THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

AND WHAT IT MEANS IS WE'RE POTENTIALLY TRADING STAFF PAY TO BUY SOME OFFICERS.

THAT'S VERY HEAVY ON OUR HEARTS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO CONSIDER.

ON THE SROS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE DO WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO SEND THEM WHERE WE NEED THEM? I MEAN, IF WE SAID WE NEED YOU TO HEAD OVER TO CEDAR CREEK AND HELP OUT WITH AN INCIDENT THAT'S GOING ON OR SOMETHING.

DO WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY? I'LL START. AND JEREMY, YOU CAN EXPOUND ON THIS.

SO THEY ULTIMATELY REPORT TO TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF AND SO THEY HAVE TO SEEK PERMISSION BEFORE THEY COULD BE DEPLOYED SOMEWHERE ELSE, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY REQUEST THAT OF THEM.

BUT WE LACK THE FLEXIBILITY TO UNILATERALLY TELL THEM WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO.

JEREMY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT.

WE CAN REQUEST IT, BUT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THEIR PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND.

AND THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT.

WITH OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WE CAN SAY WE NEED FOUR OFFICERS AT THIS LOCATION RIGHT NOW AND THEY GO.

RIGHT OKAY. I DID WANT TO CALL OUT.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHETHER WE DO GUARDIAN.

MAYBE IF IT'S GUARDIAN, WHATEVER THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SET UP, WE AS A BOARD, WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SET OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE FOR THAT WE DON'T.

IT ISN'T LIKE WE THERE'S SOME STATE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW MINIMUMS. BUT WE CAN GO WELL ABOVE THAT, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY.

I'LL ASK ONE MORE QUESTION REAL QUICK.

I'M STILL SAVING SOME.

CAN WE START THAT TCOLE APPLICATION PROCESS WITHOUT HAVING MADE A FINAL DECISION? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.

IF WE START DOWN THE PATH OF THAT APPLICATION, ARE WE COMMITTED TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR IN ORDER TO SPEED THINGS UP, COULD WE LOOK AT STARTING THAT APPLICATION PROCESS SOONER AND NOT MAYBE EVEN BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE DECISION? I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR I'M JUST ASKING FOR INFORMATION HERE.

REQUIRES BOARD POLICY, CORRECT? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS, JAMES. ELLEN.

ARE WE ASKING QUESTIONS NOW AND HOLDING COMMENTS FOR LATER? BECAUSE MOST OF MINE ARE COMMENTS AND NOT QUESTIONS.

YOUR PREFERENCE. HOWEVER YOU WANT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A FEW ROUNDS.

YOU WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING? SHARE.

OKAY. I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE'VE BEEN STUDYING THIS PRETTY INTENTLY AND HAVE SEEN LOTS AND LOTS OF DATA.

SO AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS EXCEPT ONE FOR CHRIS SCOTT, AND THAT IS CHRIS I KNOW WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, YOU DON'T NEED TO.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE QUESTION.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, IF A BILL IS IN PLAY, YOU DO RUNS TO SEE WHAT THE COST IS TO OUR DISTRICT.

HAVE YOU RUN ANY RUNS ON HOUSE BILL THREE? SPEAK IN THE MIC.

WE ESTIMATE THAT HOUSE BILL THREE WOULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $800,000.

GOOD. MORE THAN MY BACK OF THE ENVELOPE MATH.

GREAT. OKAY.

I'M READY TO SAY THAT I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO AN INTERNAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH TEN OFFICERS.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO HAVE AS MANY CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AS WE CAN FIGURE OUT AND PROVIDE.

[01:30:01]

AND I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE KEY TO US BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT REALLY SUPPORTS HOLISTIC STUDENT WELL-BEING.

AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EXTENSIVELY AS A BOARD.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ALL OF THE CONTROL TO DO THAT, WHICH AN INTERNAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD PROVIDE.

OBVIOUSLY THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM.

IF HOUSE BILL THREE DOES PASS WE WILL SEE IF THAT'S OUR FISCAL NOTE.

I CAN IMAGINE THAT MULTIPLIED BY 1000 PLUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.

THAT'S NOT HOW THE BILL IS GOING TO END UP, BUT PERHAPS THERE WILL BE SOME SUPPORT THERE.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT IS WILLING TO HELP PRIVATELY, AND I HOPE WE WORK DILIGENTLY WITH THAT COMMUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SAY YES AND TO ACCEPT THEIR HELP IN PROVIDING THIS SERVICE SO THAT WE DON'T GET IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO TRADE OFF TEACHERS FOR OFFICERS.

THAT'S KIND OF AN UNIMAGINABLE TRADE OFF, A REAL SOPHIE'S CHOICE FOR US.

I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO MOVE DILIGENTLY IN EXAMINING DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AND ANY LOW COST OR NO COST SUPPORTS. YOU KNOW, PERHAPS A FORM SAFE STORAGE OF GUNS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT INCREASES AWARENESS AMONG THE GENERAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS, I THINK WE SHOULD NOT TAKE OUR EYE OFF THE BALL EVEN WHILE WORKING QUICKLY TO SET UP SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS AN INTERNAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO MAKE THIS DECISION WITH URGENCY SO THAT NEXT FALL WE CAN START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH DIFFERENT SUPPORTS IN PLACE AND THAT WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT TIMELINE GOING. I'LL JUST END BY SAYING I PRAY THAT ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE A WORLD WHERE THIS IS NOT A NECESSITY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AMEN. LET'S SEE.

WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY ON THE CLOCK.

I'VE GOT LAURA, JEN, JAMES AND HEATHER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AFTER THAT, ELLEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I HAVE A COMMENT.

HEATHER, YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOMETHING.

WHAT? NO, I MEAN, IS IT THE GUARDIANS, IS IT? OKAY, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF HOUSEKEEPING STUFF.

JEREMY, THE BREAKOUT OF OFFICERS, COULD YOU SHARE WITH US HOW THE ALLOCATIONS OF OFFICERS WOULD LOOK BETWEEN THE SIX OFFICERS AND FOUR CIVILIAN STAFF VERSUS THE TEN OFFICERS AND FOUR CIVILIAN STAFF? SURE. SO SCENARIO TWO WOULD BE AN OFFICER ASSUMED AN OFFICER AT EVERY ALL NINE CAMPUSES.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WOULD ASSUME WOULD BE TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OFFICER AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN TWO OFFICERS THAT WOULD ROAM BETWEEN THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND JEREMY, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, IN BOTH SCENARIOS, THERE WOULD BE TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

YEAH. THANK YOU. SO SECOND SCENARIO, WHICH IS 11 ARMED OFFICERS, YOU WOULD HAVE TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ONE AT EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THEN SCENARIO ONE WOULD BE TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OFFICER AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN TWO OFFICERS TO ROAM BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE SORT OF HOUSEKEEPING QUESTIONS, HOW WE WOULD HANDLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT ATS, THAT SORT OF THING.

I'M GOING TO.

BUT WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS.

[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO ECHO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ELLEN SAID.

AND ACTUALLY I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE, I THINK JAMES SAID IT AS WELL, AND ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPOKE ABOUT WE KNOW THAT OUR KIDS CAN'T LEARN WHEN

[01:35:04]

WHEN THEY ARE IN THAT FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE THEY CANNOT LEARN.

I CALL IT THE DINOSAUR BRAIN.

THAT IS, TO ME, THE FOUNDATION OF PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH IS TO HELP OUR CHILDREN GET OUT OF THAT FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE, GET OUT OF THAT DEPRESSION, THAT ANXIETY AND PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT FOR THEM.

OUR KIDS NEED TO FEEL THAT THEY'RE SAFE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO LEARN.

WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE EVEN NINE MONTHS AGO.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED, AND NOT JUST WITHIN THE STATE AND WITH THE LEDGE, BUT AS WELL AS WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME THAT WE DO THIS.

IT'S TIME THAT WE DO THIS WITH OUR CONTROL AND THE WAY THAT WE WANT IT DONE.

THESE OFFICERS COULD, IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS SUPPORT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE AND THE SAFETY THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE, THEY CAN ALSO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE POINTS THAT WE HAVE.

I KNOW DIRECTING TRAFFIC AND CROSSING GUARDS IS NOT GLAMOROUS, BUT THAT IS A HOT SPOT FOR US AND THEY CAN HELP THERE.

AND AS WE OWN THIS, WE CAN ALSO UTILIZE THEM TO ASSIST IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT. AND I DO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT RATIO, BY THE WAY, OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS MUCH, MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT I BELIEVE IT TO BE.

THAT IS WHERE I AM.

LIKE I SAID, I HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE AND WE I KNOW WE WILL BE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN HOW IN OUR NEXT STEPS SO THAT WHATEVER WE CHOOSE WILL ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND LEARN.

THANK YOU. AND JAMES AND HEATHER.

THANKS, I GOSH I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S FEAR SO MUCH.

I HAD A CHILD WHO WAS CLOSE TO AN INCIDENT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS.

ONE OF HIS PLEDGE BROTHERS WAS THE YOUNG MAN WHO ENDED UP PASSING AWAY.

AND IT'S WE NEVER, EVER WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN EANES ISD.

I NEVER, I WISH IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

AND IT'S SO AWFUL TO THINK THAT WE ARE IN THIS POSITION.

BUT WE ARE. AND I THINK WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND I SEE ZERO POINT IN GOING WITH SCENARIO ONE AND NOT CHOOSING SCENARIO TWO.

DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

THAT BEING SAID, I STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS WELL.

I HAVE LOTS OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION ABOUT THIS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE BOARD, AS WE WORK TOWARDS THAT POLICY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FRAME A POLICY THAT WE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE HAVING THE RIGHT PERSON ON OUR CAMPUS TO BE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR STAFF.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE THE BOARD REALLY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED RIGHT NOW, IS MOVING FORWARD TO WORK ON A POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR OUR DISTRICT.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WHAT IT IS IN OTHER DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE CAN'T COMPARE.

HIGHLAND PARK GETS ALL OF THEIR OFFICERS PAID FOR BY OTHER ENTITIES.

AND THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY IS THAT WE GET ALMOST NO SUPPORT AND WE CANNOT COUNT ON THEM FOR SUPPORT, FRANKLY.

AND I FIND THAT INFURIATING.

BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I WILL SAY THAT MY TWO BIGGEST CONCERNS FROM AN IMPLEMENTATION STANDPOINT ARE FINDING THOSE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I, YOU KNOW, I DO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SOME VERSION OF HB THREE IS GOING TO PASS AND THAT WE WILL BE REQUIRED THAT EVERY, DISTRICT IN THE STATE WILL BE REQUIRED, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE A RUSH TO HIRE.

[01:40:01]

SO, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT INTERESTED IN THE GUARDIAN OUR MARSHAL PLAN OR ANYTHING THAT PUTS A LESS QUALIFIED PERSON ON OUR CAMPUS WITH OUR KIDS.

SO SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I ALSO SEE US I BELIEVE THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE POTENTIALLY LOW, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THAT RUSH TO HIRE IS GOING TO FORCE US AND OTHER DISTRICTS TO COMPETE WITH SALARY.

SO IN MY MIND, THESE ARE LIKELY LOW.

AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE SAID IT EARLIER THAT NOW IT'S A CHOICE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR MONEY AND WE HAVE TO SPEND OUR MONEY HERE.

THE REALITY IS THAT THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE REST OF OUR BUDGET.

AND I'M NOT MAKING THIS DECISION ON THE HOPE AND THE PROMISE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET DONATIONS TO COVER THIS.

I'M MAKING THIS DECISION BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO THIS.

BUT THE REALITY AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY WANTING US TO IMPLEMENT ONE, ONE PROGRAM OR ANOTHER SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET THE DONATIONS FOR YOU.

I MEAN, IN ALL HONESTY, Y'ALL IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND WE'VE THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I'M HOPING THIS IS DIFFERENT.

I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO STEP UP AND HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE THERE WILL BE AN EFFECT DOWN THE ROAD ON THE OTHER OUR OTHER PRIORITIES YOU KNOW EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

SO I JUST I JUST FEEL THE NEED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT IS JUST IT'S JUST A REALITY OF THE SITUATION.

SO I'M I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I WANT TO ASK TONIGHT, BUT I WILL HAVE QUITE A FEW WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT OF DEVELOPING POLICY.

THANK YOU. JAMES. THANKS, JEN.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU AND I WILL DOVETAIL INTO THAT, THAT WHO WE HAVE IN THESE POSITIONS IS SO IMPORTANT.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IN CONVERSATIONS.

I WANT PEOPLE ON OUR CAMPUSES WHO ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY, PART OF OUR EANES FAMILY.

WE ARE LUCKY AND BLESSED TO HAVE RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, SOME REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.

AND I SINCERELY HOPE WE CAN I WANT THEM TO COME AND HELP US HERE.

SO I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE THING WE ARE AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

BUT TO ME, IT'S LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT IT GOT TO GET THIS POLICY RIGHT AND KNOW IT'S HARD TO WRITE TO DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY AND WHO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO JOIN YOUR FAMILY.

BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY.

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AS A COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE AS ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, POLICY MAKERS WE'VE REALLY GOT TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS ONE.

WE REALLY GOT TO GET IT RIGHT.

I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK.

I'VE LOOKED AT OUR OPTIONS AND I THINK THE BEST OPTION BEFORE US RIGHT NOW.

THE ONE THAT REALLY GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CONTROL WHO IS ON OUR CAMPUS.

THE ABILITY TO PUT OFFICERS WHERE WE NEED THEM WHEN WE NEED THEM IS TO CREATE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I SUPPORT THAT.

AND I SUPPORT PUTTING AN OFFICER ON EACH CAMPUS.

I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

OUR DISTRICT IS VERY SPREAD OUT, AND I DON'T THINK ROAMING OFFICERS IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

IT MAY BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AS WE CONTINUE TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND FULLY STAFF.

BUT IT'S NOT A PERFECT LONG TERM SOLUTION.

AND I'D REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO CHALLENGE US.

TRY TO GET AS MUCH IN PLACE AS WE CAN FOR THE FALL.

I REALIZE THAT'S A HUGE STRETCH GOAL.

I REALIZE THAT, BUT IF NOT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE.

I SUPPORT THAT.

I'M WILLING TO HELP DO THAT.

I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO CHALLENGE US TO DO THAT.

BUT I DO SUPPORT STARTING YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STAFFING AN OFFICER AT EACH CAMPUS.

THANK YOU, JAMES.

OKAY, BEAR WITH ME.

I HAVE DUG IN DEEP ON THIS ISSUE, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE MET WITH PEOPLE ON OTHER BOARDS THAT HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

I'VE MET WITH OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS THAT HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

[01:45:02]

BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A THREE PRONG APPROACH, AND I THINK THAT IF THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE HITTING, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE POLICE PRESENCE OR SRO PRESENCE OR PERSON WITH A GUN.

MENTAL HEALTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND THEN ALSO, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP OUR TEACHERS IN THE LOOP ON EVERYTHING.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPTICK IN EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR STUDENTS, THAT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE INTERVENING AND DOING SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATIONS. AND MOLLY KNOWS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER NOW.

AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S WE HAVE TO STAY TRUE TO THE THREE PRONGS.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WORRY ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECES, BUT I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE MAKING EVEN MORE IMPROVEMENTS THAN WE ALREADY HAD TO KIND OF COVER THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS KIND OF THE THINGS THAT KEEP GOING THROUGH MY MIND, YOU KNOW, AND WE HEAR, YOU KNOW, GOOD GUY WITH A GUN, WHATEVER.

WELL, IT SCARES ME.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY TO JUST SAY WE HAVE ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER AT THE FRONT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN ALLEN, THE FIRST PERSON WHO WAS KILLED WAS THE SECURITY OFFICER.

IN THE MOST RECENT INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT AT A SCHOOL THE FIRST PERSON THAT WAS KILLED WAS THE OFFICER.

AND SO WE HAVE TO AND IT GIVES ME SORRY, BEAR WITH ME.

WE HAVE TO COVER THIS FROM ALL ANGLES, NOT JUST FROM HAVING ANOTHER BODY WITH A GUN ON A CAMPUS.

I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I ORIGINALLY WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE AFTER UVALDE, WE SAW SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT AGAIN AND ALSO JUST FROM SOME OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

I NOW SEE AFTER TALKING WITH MORE PEOPLE, THAT THIS REALLY DOES SEEM TO BE MAYBE OUR ONLY OPTION.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE VERY STRONG POLICY ON EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR USE OF AUDITORS IS STRONG, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER DISTRICTS THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN EANES. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS EXTREMELY CLEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE SAW IN UVALDE AND WHEN TO DO WHAT IT'S CLEAR.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY.

KIND OF TO JEN'S POINT, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS LONG TERM, AND IT CAN'T BE AT THE COST OF OTHER MENTAL HEALTH OR THE TEACHERS WHO ARE IN THE ROOMS TELLING THE KIDS WHAT TO DO WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR ONE PERSON OUT FRONT OR WHEREVER THAT PERSON IS.

OUR TEACHERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PROTECTING OUR KIDS IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND SO WE CAN'T SACRIFICE THEM AND THEIR PAY.

WE CAN'T. IT HAS TO BE BOTH.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

I KNOW. YOU KNOW, AND I'M AWARE THAT WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND SPEAK TO US FROM ONE CAMPUS TONIGHT.

I'M AWARE OF THE SURVEY.

I APPRECIATE THOSE THINGS.

WE HAD ANOTHER MOM FROM ANOTHER CAMPUS, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE SOME CAMPUSES THAT MAYBE STILL DON'T WANT AN ARMED SECURITY GUARD AT THEIR CAMPUS.

AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HEAR ALL VOICES.

SO I THINK A TOWN HALL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION IS IMPERATIVE AND SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR APPROACH AND NOT THAT IT'S NOT SIMPLY JUST ANOTHER ARMED PERSON ON THE CAMPUS, THAT THERE IS MORE TO THIS PROGRAM IF WE CHOOSE THAT.

MY PREFERENCE I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM OR THE MARSHAL PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SOME CAPACITY ISSUES AND THAT WE WANT TO GET THIS STUFF DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, EVEN IF THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP IN COVERAGE. I AM GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR IN OUR POLICY PSYCH EVALUATIONS FOR OUR OFFICERS BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM, TOO.

AND PTSD IS REAL.

IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH SENSITIVE THINGS AND HARD TO DEAL WITH THINGS.

I MEAN, WE'RE ALL UP HERE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PTSD AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH A HORRIBLE SITUATION, THANK GOD.

AND HOPEFULLY WE AREN'T.

BUT SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PSYCH EVALS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND YOU KNOW, MY PREFERENCE IF WE'RE GOING THIS ROUTE WOULD BE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SROS WHILE WE ARE SETTING A POLICE DEPARTMENT UP

[01:50:02]

THEN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE ALREADY SAID I JUST WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED IF WE DO THIS.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.

AND WE CANNOT DEPEND ON THE LEGISLATURE.

WE CAN'T.

I THINK THAT I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW.

I'LL PROBABLY HAVE MORE, BUT THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, HEATHER. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE RIGHT NOW? LAURA. THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A QUESTION, I GUESS, FOR DR.

ARNETT OR YOU, JOHN, IS WHAT IS OUR GOAL FOR THIS EVENING AND FOR THIS DISCUSSION? I CAN TELL YOU WHAT MINE IS.

MINE IS TO GET A SENSE FOR THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

ARE WE GOING TO ADVANCE THIS DISCUSSION? ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT ON ANOTHER AGENDA? ARE WE GOING TO STAGE A TOWN HALL SO THAT WE CAN GET A BROADER SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY IN ENGAGED? AND ARE WE GOING TO SET EXPECTATIONS TONIGHT? SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE DOING THE EXPECTATION SETTING.

I THINK WE'VE GOT SIX OF US HERE AND I'VE SEEN FIVE HEADS NOD.

I HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED YET, BUT THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

OKAY. THE WAY I COUNT.

DR. ARNETT, YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, WHAT YOU NEED FROM US TONIGHT? I THINK, THE SAME DIRECTION.

WE KNOW WHAT A POTENTIAL TIMELINE MIGHT BE, AND I COULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

BUT WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME FRAMING OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

OKAY. YEAH, I HAVE I HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND SORT OF THINGS THAT I WILL NEED TO SEE TO BE COMFORTABLE.

BUT THIS IS I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS OF SCENARIO TWO.

THANK YOU. HEATHER.

OKAY, JEN. SORRY.

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS, SO I WANT YOU TO DO THAT.

BUT I ALSO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TIMELINE THAT YOU HAD IN MIND.

SURE. GO AHEAD AND ROLL IT OUT. YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME JUST A SECOND.

SO THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE TIMELINE.

THE NEXT POTENTIAL DATE OR BENCHMARK WOULD BE A TOWN HALL MEETING, IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HOST, WE WOULD SEE THAT HAPPENING NEXT MONDAY, MAY THE 15TH.

HERE AT THE VERY END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OUR WINDOW OF DATES AND OPPORTUNITIES IS CLOSING QUICKLY.

AND THAT'S ONE DATE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN THE CALENDAR THAT WE DON'T SEE CONFLICTS WITH OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT HERE AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHERE WE COULD HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING TO FACILITATE MORE OF A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO RETURN TO A DISCUSSION AND ASK ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS WOULD BE MAY THE 23RD.

AND THEN IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE'RE PROGRESSING TOWARDS A POSSIBLE DECISION, THEN YOU HAVE MEETINGS ON JUNE THE 6TH AND THE 20TH WHERE WE WOULD MAKE SOME BUDGET DECISIONS IN THE SCOPE AND SCHEME OF OUR LARGER BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AS WELL AS SOME PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS ABOUT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT US TO WORK ON. THAT LEAVES REALLY JULY AS KIND OF AN OFF MONTH, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE WORKING ON IT.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE NEXT MILESTONES IN AUGUST, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AROUND POLICY.

WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TIME TO BRING BACK A POLICY FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IN AUGUST, WE'D BEGIN MAKING SOME PERSONNEL DECISIONS.

AND THEN DURING THAT TIME, ASSUMING YOU'RE ABLE TO APPROVE A POLICY, WE WOULD APPLY FORMALLY TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT PROCESS ALONE COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS, POTENTIALLY EVEN A FEW MONTHS.

SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST TO DECEMBER.

OUR GOAL, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED, WOULD BE TO HOPEFULLY HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE A FORMAL POLICE DEPARTMENT BY THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD.

SO WE'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A TRANSITIONAL APPROACH THAT MIGHT BE A VERSION OF A GUARDIAN OR A MARSHAL PROGRAM.

WE COULD DISCUSS THAT.

BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE OFFICERS ON CAMPUS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT YET COMMISSIONED, AT THAT POINT, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF AN INTERIM PROCESS OR PROGRAM IN PLACE.

DURING THAT TIME AS WELL.

DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WE'D LOOK AT THE WINDOW FOR ORDERING EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN OUR GOAL TO POTENTIALLY, IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT TO GO, TO HAVE A FORMAL COMMISSIONED POLICE FORCE THAT ALL THE OFFICERS ARE EMPLOYED BY OUR SCHOOL

[01:55:06]

THANK YOU FOR THAT JEFF.

IF I COULD ANSWER ONE OTHER QUESTION, TOO.

LAURA, YOU ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICITY AROUND OUR MENTAL HEALTH STAFF.

SO MOLLY HELP ME HERE, BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT FOUR CATEGORIES OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE DISTRICT.

WE HAVE OUR LICENSED SPECIALISTS IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.

WE HAVE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, OUR COUNSELORS AND OUR SCHOOL BASED THERAPISTS.

ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEARING RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH .

WITHIN THOSE GROUPS, CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 42 PROFESSIONALS IN THE DISTRICT, SO THAT'S WHAT GOT US TO THE RATIO OF ONE STUDENT TO 184 PROFESSIONALS BY ADDING THE ADDITIONAL THREE SCHOOL BASED THERAPISTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT WOULD BRING US TO 45 TOTAL PROFESSIONALS AND WOULD LOWER THAT RATIO TO ONE STUDENT FOR EVERY 1, OR 1 PROFESSIONAL FOR EVERY 172 STUDENTS.

AND OBVIOUSLY THAT VARIES BY CAMPUS.

SO BUT THAT'S A DISTRICT WIDE AVERAGE.

OKAY. SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNSELORS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS.

OKAY. I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GENEROUS, PUTTING THEM UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ALSO, I KNOW MOLLY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES THE.

SORRY. I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON WHAT? THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DO THE TESTING.

THE LSSPS.

YEAH, I MEAN, THOSE I LOVE THEM.

THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

SO. BUT KEEP IN MIND, THEY DO HAVE ASPECTS OF THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

THANK YOU.

I THINK WE'VE GONE AROUND A COUPLE OF TIMES.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINE, HONESTLY.

AND IN MAY 15TH IS, I MEAN, I'M TRAVELING FOR WORK FOR ONE.

I THINK THAT'S NOT A LOT OF NOTICE TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I. HOW DID YOU PICK MAY 15TH? WHAT ALTERNATIVES WERE THERE? BETWEEN NOW AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL THAT'S THE ONLY EVENING THAT WE COULD FIND IN THE CALENDARS WHEN THERE'S NOT A SINGLE CONFLICT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

OTHERWISE WE'RE LOOKING AT MAJOR EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT I THINK I KNOW WHERE THE BOARD IS LEANING, NOT LEANING, BUT WALKING.

AND I'M THE LEAST IMPORTANT VOICE AT THE TABLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE MY TENURE IS EXACTLY TWO WEEKS SHORT, BUT I AM ALL IN ON 10.

I THINK. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS COMPELLED US TO SEEK OPTIONS.

ROLLINGWOOD WASN'T AN OPTION.

WESTLAKE WASN'T AN OPTION.

THE CONSTABLE WASN'T AN OPTION.

SO THE ONLY AVAILABLE OPTION WAS GOING IT ALONE.

AND SO HERE WE ARE.

AND THEN THE CHOICE THAT WE HAVE IS, IS HOW DO WE GO? HOW DO WE GO ALONE? AND THE TEN OFFICER SCENARIO GIVES US TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE AT ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS, PLUS A ROVER AT THE AT THE WHACK AND THE [INAUDIBLE] OR WHATEVER WE CALL THAT SWIMMING POOL THING.

SO I'VE HEARD MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPRESS THEIR DESIRE TO HELP US WITH THE BUDGET CHALLENGES.

AND THOSE BUDGET CHALLENGES ARE VERY REAL.

LET ME TELL YOU THAT I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO BE SECURING OUR SCHOOLS WITH PHILANTHROPY.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM SUSTAINABLE.

IT DOESN'T SEEM RESPONSIBLE.

BUT WHAT I DO THINK IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ABOUT THE SCENARIOS ONE AND TWO, I DO THINK THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US IN THAT RESPECT, AND THAT'S NOT WITH PERSONNEL OR ONGOING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

IT'S WITH THE CAPITAL UPFRONT EXPENSES.

SO YOU SEE THE 834 THERE AT THE BOTTOM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT A REAL NUMBER IS, BUT SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALLPARK WE'RE GOING TO BE BUYING CARS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING OUT OFFICE SPACE.

AND WE'VE GOT ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY.

THESE ARE CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE COULD HELP WITH.

AND THESE ARE SORT OF ONE TIME UPFRONT EXPENSES THAT WE CAN THEN ROLL INTO A BOND AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD.

[02:00:04]

I DON'T WANT US TO TRY TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A WAY.

THE ATTEMPTS TO HELP US SUPPLEMENT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

AND YOU KNOW PERSONALLY THIS IS JUST SUCH AN AWFUL, AWFUL THING TO HAVE TO DO. I WISH WE HAD A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT COULD TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMPELLING THESE DECISIONS BUT WE DON'T.

SO HERE WE ARE. LET ME JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AGAIN IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT I'M NOT AS AFRAID OF THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW AS I WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

I'VE GOTTEN A LOOK AT OUR FUND BALANCE.

OUR FUND BALANCES ARE VERY, VERY HEALTHY RIGHT NOW.

WE USE OUR FUND BALANCES IN TIMES LIKE THIS TO HELP US BRIDGE FROM WHERE WE ARE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

AND WE'VE USED IT.

WE'VE USED IT TO SUPPLEMENT SALARIES AND WE'VE USED IT TO DO THAT FUND BALANCE, TO DO OTHER THINGS.

AND SO WE DO HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO THOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A USE IT AND LOSE IT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY.

BUT IT'S THERE.

AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VOTING AFTER I LEAVE TO NOT FORGET THAT BECAUSE IT'S A SOURCE.

IT'S A GOOD SOURCE OF REVENUE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S HEALTHIER THAN IT'S BEEN IN YEARS.

SO. ELLEN.

I JUST WANT TO PUT IN ANOTHER PLUG FOR URGENCY THAT I REALIZE THAT MAY 15TH IS VERY SHORT, BUT IT'S THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITHOUT THIS BECOMING AN ONGOING, ENDLESS DISCUSSION.

I THINK PARTICULARLY GIVEN WHAT I'VE HEARD BOARD MEMBERS SAY TONIGHT WE KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARD, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT WITH GREAT URGENCY.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE TOWN HALL.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT ON MAY 23RD, WE MIGHT TALK ABOUT A BOARD DECISION, PARTICULARLY WITH SOME BUDGET ALTERNATIVES FOR AT LEAST YEAR ONE, AS JOHN HAS JUST MENTIONED, AND WITH A BOARD DECISION, THEN PERHAPS WE COULD CONCURRENTLY LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN EARLY JUNE ALONG WITH POLICY DEVELOPMENT.

BECAUSE POLICY DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIRE.

AND IF WE DON'T GET IN THE HIRING ARENA BY MID SUMMER, EVEN IF IT'S WITH A TRANSITIONAL COVERAGE APPROACH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE.

SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE WITH AS MUCH URGENCY AS WE CAN BRING TO BEAR.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WHEN THE SUBJECT COMES UP AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON IMPLEMENTATION AND POLICY.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE SET OURSELVES IN MOTION THIS EVENING.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO.

ALLISON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ECHO THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO GET DR.

ARNETT TO GET THAT, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT THAT.

WE DID NOT WANT TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS AND TRY TO PRESCRIBE A MORE AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.

SO THANK YOU FOR SUGGESTING THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU JUMPING IN THERE, ALLISON.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A 23-24 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS DISCUSSION.

[7.3 2023-24 Employee Compensation and Benefits]

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS EVENING.

APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT.

YEAH, THIS IS ALSO A BIG DISCUSSION.

WELCOME, LAURIE.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO ABBY BURGESS.

SHE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

HEY, ABBY. WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU.

SO WE WANTED TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT OUR COMPENSATION.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT DISTRICTS ARE DOING AROUND US, AND I'M SLOWLY SINKING IN THIS CHAIR.

SORRY. THE COMPARISON CHARTS AND OUR LOOK AT OUR BENEFITS.

[02:05:05]

SO LET'S START OUT WITH WHAT OTHER AREA DISTRICTS ARE PROPOSING FOR THE 23-24 POTENTIAL INCREASES.

SO WE HAVE SURVEYED OTHER LOCAL DISTRICTS AND YOU CAN SEE THE LIST UP HERE.

AND WHAT THEY'VE TOLD US, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING AT THIS TIME.

I THINK WE'RE AT THAT POINT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR WHERE A LOT OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

SO THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF FIRM NUMBERS QUITE YET.

AND ONE FIRM NUMBER THAT WE DID GET AS OF 7:00 TODAY WAS DEL VALLE DID DECIDE TO GO WITH 6%.

AND WE KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS ALSO AN OUTLIER ON THIS LIST BEING AT 7% THE HIGHEST THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT ON MAY 18TH.

SO THAT'S COMING UP.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING.

MOST OF THE DISTRICTS YOU'LL SEE ON HERE ARE IN THAT 2 TO 3% RANGE.

WE THINK THEY'RE LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE 3%.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO EVEN OUTLINE THAT DEL VALLE DID HAVE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A $16 MINIMUM FOR THEIR AUXILIARY STAFF.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AMONG THE BOARD WITH THAT LIVING WAGE.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE.

AND I THINK THAT AISD IS TALKING ABOUT A $20 AN HOUR, MINIMUM FOR THEIR AUXILIARY STAFF.

SO THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO COMPETE WITH.

BUT WE AT LEAST WANTED TO BRING THAT.

SO IN THE PAST, THE BOARD HAS REALLY HAD CONVERSATIONS AND LOOKED AT KIND OF RANKING.

WE HAD SOME GOALS THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP.

WHERE WE HAD OUR NEW TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE THAT WAS OUR TEACHERS COMING IN WITH ZERO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW, NOT JUST COMING FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT WITH EXPERIENCE, BUT ZERO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COMING FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL OR COMING INTO THE CAREER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND WE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE KIND OF COMPARABLE TO LAKE TRAVIS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS LOOKED AT.

THEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT FIVE YEARS, WE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN THAT MIDDLE OF THAT COMPARISON DISTRICT.

THESE ARE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WE ALWAYS COMPARE OURSELVES TO.

THEY'RE JUST OUR REGION 13 AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WE ARE COMPETING WITH FOR TEACHERS WHEN WE ARE HIRING.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT.

OUR TEACHERS COME THROUGH MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEFORE THEY EVEN COME TO US BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN JUST IT'S NOT THERE FOR OUR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

SO WE TOTALLY KNOW THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM THE LEANDERS, THE PFLUGERVILLE'S, EVEN THE GEORGETOWN TO WORK FOR US.

SO HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE SALARIES.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THAT BOTTOM QUARTILE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.

AND WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN SLIPPING EVERY YEAR.

WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY HIGH RAISES IN DISTRICTS AROUND US.

WE'VE REALLY DONE OUR BEST.

THE BOARD HAS REALLY DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN IN ORDER TO KEEP UP.

AND THEN WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THOSE 10 AND 20 YEARS WHEN WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS, WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO AT LEAST BE IN THE TOP QUARTILE.

AND YOU CAN TELL WE'VE DROPPED TO THAT BOTTOM QUARTILE IN THAT AREA.

YOU KNOW, OUR BENEFIT CONTRIBUTIONS.

WE'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE'RE REALLY STRONG THERE AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES OFFSET US IN SOME AREAS OF PAY.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TRS IS GOING TO DO WITH THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES.

WE WERE HEARING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE ARE NOW HEARING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE THEIR DECISION AN THEIR CONVERSATION TO THE END OF MAY, WHICH TELLS ME THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY MONEY.

RIGHT. SO THEY HAVE PROBABLY SET THEIR RATES AND THEY'RE GOING TO PREPARE US AND GIVE US THAT INFORMATION.

WE HOPE THAT WE DON'T SEE A HUGE INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S PROBABLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE BENEFITS.

SO I KNOW THAT WAS PRETTY BRIEF, BUT WE WANTED TO JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE? I'M SURE THERE ARE.

WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? HEATHER. I AM STILL INTERESTED.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE IN THE PRESENTATION, BEFORE INTERESTED IN THE DOCUMENT FROM CHRIS WHERE WE CAN KIND OF PLAY WITH THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND AGAIN INCLUDING POTENTIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT NUMBERS AND THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT TO ME.

AND IF I COULD, HEATHER, THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE WEEKLY UPDATE.

SORRY I MISSED IT. IT'S BEEN A CRAZY WEEK.

OKAY. I'LL PLAY WITH IT THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU. AND THEN, DID IT HAVE? WELL, NEVER MIND. OKAY. AND THEN I WAS AT THE CAPITOL TODAY WITH A COUPLE OF TRUSTEES FROM OTHER DISTRICTS; LIBERTY HILL, THRALL, LEANDER AND AUSTIN ISD I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT

[02:10:08]

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE WERE ALL LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU KNOW, AND THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WERE ALL KIND OF SAYING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING A LARGE INCREASE FROM THE STATE AND BECAUSE INFLATION IS SO HIGH, YOU KNOW, THAT GIVING LIKE A 2% RAISE IS BASICALLY A CUT BECAUSE IT IS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO DIP INTO FUND BALANCE TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S A CONCERN TO ME.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE AUSTIN ISD IS KIND OF THE OUTLIER AND MAYBE DEL VALLE, BUT AUSTIN, I KNOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT ON THURSDAY.

SO AT THEIR INFO SESSION AND I WAS TOLD 7% AND THEN A $4 HOURLY RAISE SAME.

SO. YES, I THINK I HEARD THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON MAY 18TH.

YEAH. SO I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE TRUSTEES SAY ON THURSDAY TO SEE IF THEY ARE STILL IN FAVOR OF THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A DEFICIT BUDGET TO DO THAT.

BUT THEY ALSO DIDN'T GIVE BIG RAISES LAST YEAR.

SO JUST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

AND AGAIN, I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF GIVING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

SUPPORT STAFF IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BUS DRIVERS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS AND ALL OF THAT.

SO YAY, THAT WASN'T A QUESTION SORRY.

JAMES AND THEN JEN.

GOODNESS. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE CHARTS THAT SHOW THE COMPARISON OF WHERE WE ARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS.

I ALWAYS STRUGGLE, THOUGH, WITH THE IDEA THAT AND MAYBE I'VE GOT A BIASED OPINION, BUT WE'RE A GREAT DISTRICT AND SOME OF THOSE DISTRICTS HAVE TO JUST HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES.

I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME.

I DON'T LIKE SEEING US IN THE BOTTOM LEVEL, BUT I FEEL LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR AND I'M OF THE MINDSET THAT, AND CHRIS WILL HATE ME FOR THIS, BUT I'M OF THE MINDSET THAT ONCE WE'RE PAID FOR EVERYTHING.

IF WE'VE GOT MONEY LEFT OVER, I'M FINE WITH ALL OF THAT GOING TO STAFF.

I'M OKAY WITH OUR BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR BEING SORT OF ZERO, YOU KNOW, AND NOT PUTTING ANYTHING IN SAVINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

AND SO MY POINT IS THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAVE GIVEN AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

WE COULD CERTAINLY BE DIPPING INTO SAVINGS AND THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO GO.

BUT IT ISN'T LIKE WE'VE MADE A DECISION TO FALL DOWN TO THAT LEVEL.

I THINK THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE REALIZING THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE TO ATTRACT TALENT THAN WE DO.

AND IT'S THAT DELICATE BALANCE.

I ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SOME DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT EXTRA FUNDING ALONG THE WAY.

IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE OR 2019, THEY GOT FUNDING WE DIDN'T GET.

AND IN ESSER FUNDS THEY GOT MORE MONEY THAN WE GOT AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST AT THIS POINT.

AND I HOPE THE STAFF UNDERSTANDS THAT, GOSH, WE WANT TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

I HONESTLY DO.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHRIS KIND OF CLARIFICATION ON THE BUDGET TOOL.

SORRY. THERE IS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGETING TOOL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EANES ISD POLICE FORCE.

WHAT DOES THAT LINE ITEM TAKE INTO ACCOUNT? IT BASICALLY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN.

SO AS JEREMY TALKED ABOUT, OUR CURRENT BUDGET ALREADY HAS SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES IN THERE.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL KEEP, INCLUDING SALARIES OF SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING.

AND SO I'M STILL WORKING ON PUTTING IT TOGETHER, BUT I'LL GET IT OUT TO YOU THIS WEEK.

I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT.

AND WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT'S JUST GOING TO SHOW AN INCREASE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT ONE OF THESE.

SO FOR THE 11 OFFICER SCENARIO, IT'S $600,000.

AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT IS LOOKING AT THE M&O PORTION ONLY.

AND WE'RE MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THOSE CAPITAL EXPENSES WILL FIND ANOTHER SOURCE FOR.

EXACTLY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.

I AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THAT IN THERE.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WANT TO LOOK AT.

THAT BEING SAID, FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I AM NOT GOING TO BASE MY DECISION ON SALARY BASED ON THAT COST FOR THIS YEAR. JOHN'S EXACTLY RIGHT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE THE FUND BALANCE FOR WHAT IT'S INTENDED FOR THESE YEARS THAT WE HAVE FLUX FOR WHATEVER REASON. IT MAY BE OFTEN CAUSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ANYTHING AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO LAND FOR COMPENSATION THIS YEAR, THAT WE DO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.

[02:15:06]

SO THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE DELAYED, BUT THEY WILL BE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE LIKELY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHERE MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS AROUND THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THE DECISION ON SECURITY PERSONNEL INFLUENCE MY DECISION ON WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD BE FOR STAFF COMPENSATION FOR THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. JAMES.

OH, NO, I'M SORRY, ELLEN. [LAUGHTER] I FORGIVE YOU.

I STILL LIKE THE PHILOSOPHY OF US BEING MORE CONCERNED WITH OUR WITH GETTING EXPERIENCED TEACHERS AND BEING COMPETITIVE AT FIVE AND TEN YEARS THAN WORRYING TOO MUCH ABOUT THE VERY THE ZERO EXPERIENCED TEACHERS BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO HIRE MASTER TEACHERS AND THAT'S WITH PROVEN EXPERIENCE AND THE SWEET SPOT OF THE FIVE TO PROBABLY 15.

AND I WOULD ARGUE IN OUR CASE, 25 AND 30 YEAR TEACHERS.

SO THAT'S WHAT DROVE THOSE OLD QUARTILES.

AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE GOTTEN OFF TRACK WITH THAT.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ESSER MONEY THAT THE OTHER DISTRICTS GOT, NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

I WOULD ASK IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH OUR SALARY SCHEDULE THAT I THINK LAKE TRAVIS IS DOING.

BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE WITH THEIR ZERO YEAR TEACHERS, THEY'RE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM KIND OF WITH US, AND THEN FIVE YEARS AND TEN YEARS THERE WAY UP AT THE TOP.

SO THAT SAYS TO ME THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING INTERNAL TO THEIR SALARY SCHEDULE AT 3 TO 5 YEARS THAT SOMEHOW GIVES PUTS A PREMIUM ON EXPERIENCE.

SO IF THAT'S LEGAL, I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

YEAH I BELIEVE THEY'VE BUILT IN SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND THEY MADE SOME INTENTIONAL ADJUSTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THEM AT FIVE AND TEN AND I THINK 20 YEAR STEPS FOR THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.

SO SMALL ADJUSTMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKE THOSE STEPS HIGHER.

AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE THOSE STEPS EVEN MORE.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS THAT END, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 5 TO $6000 DIFFERENCE.

RIGHT. THAN WE ARE. AND THAT'S HUGE.

AND SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN OUR OFFICE.

WE REALLY HAVE. WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH JEFF WITH LOOKING AT AND I KNOW, ELLEN, YOU'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF THIS.

INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT A MIDPOINT INCREASE, REALLY LOOKING AT AN INCREASE BASED ON PAY, BASED ON THAT STEP, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY GIVE THE PEOPLE TOWARDS THE END MORE MONEY IF THEY WOULD RECEIVE AN INCREASE FROM THE BOARD.

SO THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUT LOUD, ABBY AND MYSELF AND OUR TEAM AND EVEN DR.

ARNETT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THINKING IN THOSE DIRECTIONS.

ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT YOU THAT THE BOARD AND WE VALUE THAT EXPERIENCE IN OUR DISTRICT AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT TURNING OUT TEACHERS FROM UNIVERSITIES AND PROGRAMS, RIGHT? SO ONLY WAY WE CAN HIRE THEM IS TO HIRE THEM AWAY FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE A $5,000 PAY CUT EVEN TO COME TO A PLACE AS WONDERFUL AS THIS.

AND THAT'S THE PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY WORK ON IS WHEN WE SELL OUR CULTURE, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST GET THEM HERE FIRST, RIGHT? AND THEN THEY LOVE IT.

BUT THEY HAVE TO GET HERE FIRST.

RIGHT. AND I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE A VERY LONG WAY, BUT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT LAKE TRAVIS, DRIPPING SPRINGS AND AISD, THE WEST SIDE SCHOOLS AND AISD, BECAUSE WHEN I'VE SEEN TEACHERS LEAVE US AND CONTINUE IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

LAKE TRAVIS UNFORTUNATELY HAS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY'VE BEEN VERY STRATEGIC.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CONSIDERATION AND I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I KNOW WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OR WE GOT THE THE TOOL WHERE WE CAN PLAY WITH IT OURSELVES.

BUT JUST AS A STARTING POINT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR PASSING THE BOND, THE THREE BOND PROPOSALS AND THE $2.9 MILLION

[02:20:07]

AND I THINK WE SHOULD PLOW AS MUCH OF IT AS POSSIBLE DIRECTLY INTO COMPENSATION THIS YEAR AND AT LEAST START SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT FOUR, IF NOT 5% FOR 2023-2021.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LET'S SEE, LAURA, AND THEN WE'RE GOING BACK TO YOU HEATHER.

YEAH. ELLEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN KEEP I MEAN, THAT'S ALL WE TALK ABOUT IS HOW DO WE ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHERS AND KEEPING THAT TEN YEAR, THOSE TEN YEAR TEACHERS AND BEING ABLE TO TRACK THEM IS IMPORTANT.

WHEN IS OUR NEXT BUDGET DISCUSSION? WELL, WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 23RD OF MAY.

23RD IS THAT SO YOU'D HAVE TWO MORE MEETINGS AND THEN THE FINAL MEETING FOR APPROVAL.

OKAY. AND CHRIS, THE NEXT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US A REVISED BUDGET TOOL THAT INCLUDES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.

AND I THINK THE ONE THAT WE HAVE DOESN'T INCLUDE DOES THAT INCLUDE THE BOND SAVINGS? NOW THAT IT DOES, YES.

THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE.

AND I'VE GOT IT SITTING IN FRONT OF ME.

AND YES, WHEN YOU TRIGGER THAT PARTICULAR CELL, I THINK ELLEN'S IDEA OF 4 TO 5% IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE.

AND. YEAH, I AGREE.

YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, LAURA. THANK YOU.

I THINK SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, AND I HATE TO KEEP BRINGING BACK THE LEGISLATURE, BUT IT IS THE STATE WE'RE IN.

SOME OF THE BILLS REFERENCED JUST GIVING RAISES TO TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, NURSES AND COUNSELORS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR THOUGHTS ARE ON MAKING IT RIGHT FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST THOSE PEOPLE, BUT WE WILL BE REQUIRED IF WE GET MONEY TO GIVE IT TO THEM, WHICH GREAT.

HAPPY TO GIVE THEM A RAISE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT ALSO.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. JOHN? ELLEN.

THANK YOU. AT THE LAST MEETING, WE ACTUALLY HAD A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL SUPPORTS FOR THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.

DO WE KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS? I'M NOT SURE.

THAT LIST IS COMPLETE.

I HAVE A MEMO READY FOR THE BOARD TO.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO HR OR TO PERSONNEL.

NO, IT WAS THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT COST PER CAMPUS.

OH, YEAH, WE PROVIDED THAT.

THAT WAS IN THE APRIL 24TH THROUGH 28TH UPDATE.

SO. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. I'M SORRY.

YOU GET A LOT OF INFORMATION EVERY WEEK.

WE FULLY REALIZE THAT.

SO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE COMPUTER.

BUT I THINK LAURIE IS RIGHT.

SO SHE'S GOT A VERY COMPREHENSIVE MEMO PREPARED BASED ON YOUR CONVERSATION THIS EVENING THAT ARE ITEMS SPECIFIC TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL.

A QUICK QUESTION.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT YET.

NO. OKAY. LET'S COME.

ANYBODY ELSE. NO IF I MIGHT.

CHRIS, REMIND ME, WHAT DOES 1% COST US? ABOUT $650,000.

650,000. OKAY.

AND WE'VE GOT 2% BUILT INTO THE BUDGET, RIGHT? THAT IS RIGHT. THAT'S FOR EXEMPT AND NONEXEMPT.

THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, CORRECT? SO IF WE SO A THREE IF WE WENT FIVE IF WE ADDED 3% AND WE ENDED UP AT 5%, THAT WOULD COST US TO 2 MILLION BUCKS.

RIGHT. THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.

YEAH. I'VE GOT THAT NUMBER, THAT SCENARIO EXACTLY PULLED UP ON MY COMPUTER RIGHT NOW.

SO LOOKING AT 5% ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE WITH THE BOND PROGRAM HAVING PASSED, I'M SHOWING WITH THAT SCENARIO A BUDGETED DEFICIT OF $250,000 AND A PROJECTED SURPLUS OF ABOUT $750,000.

ALL RIGHT, THEN I MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT 6%.

BUT YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING.

AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ROOM, YOU SEE HOW VALUABLE OUR FUND BALANCE IS IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS.

NOW, LET ME MAKE ONE MORE POINT.

[02:25:01]

TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE HAYS IS ON THAT 20 YEAR SLIDE.

IN OUR REGION, IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS REGION THE HIGHEST PAYING SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 10 OR 20 YEARS TENURED TEACHERS IS HAYS.

AND THOSE TEACHERS ARE MAKING $67,000 AFTER 20 YEARS IN THEIR JOB.

THAT IS WHAT OUR LEGISLATURE HAS DONE.

NO SCHOOL BOARD VOTED FOR THAT KIND OF WAGE COMPRESSION.

NO GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS VOTED FOR OR, YOU KNOW DRAFTED POLICY TO PRODUCE THAT KIND OF WAGE COMPRESSION. OUR LEGISLATORS DID THAT AND THEY DID IT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE.

AND THEY'RE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW.

BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH PUB ED, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE HAVE RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS, THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE PERSUADING YOUNG PEOPLE THAT TEACHING IS A VIABLE PROFESSION.

THINK ABOUT THIS CHART.

THINK ABOUT THE WAY OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE VALUED EDUCATION AND THEN ASK YOURSELF, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO? THAT'S THE END OF THAT LITTLE SOAP BOX.

BUT IT JUST PISSES ME OFF WHEN I SEE HAYS HERE AT 20 YEARS WITH $67,000.

IT JUST IS WRONG.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

WITH THAT, WE MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[8. ACTION - CONSENT]

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

DO I HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE, AYE. IS THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

DO I HAVE A MOTION ON DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN?

[9.1 2023-24 District Improvement Plan]

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION FROM JAMES AND A SECOND FROM JEN.

DO I HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? NEXT ITEM IS LEVEL THREE.

APPEAL OF A PUBLIC GRIEVANCE.

[9.2 Level Three Appeal of Public Grievance]

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPHOLD, IN PART THE LEVEL TWO GRIEVANCE DECISION AS PRESENTED IN CLOSED SESSION AND GRANT IN PART THE LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE APPEAL DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENGAGE A THIRD PARTY AUDIT OF THE FACILITIES RENTAL PROGRAM.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION FROM JEN.

A SECOND FROM LAURA.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AND WITH THAT, A RECITATION OF THE UPCOMING MEETINGS.

WE HAVE A MEETING ON MAY 16TH.

[10. UPCOMING MEETINGS]

ON MAY 18TH.

WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO.

IS THAT OUR TOWN HALL? OH, YEAH.

NEVER MIND. YEAH. SO WE HAVE A IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING.

CLOSED SESSION SPECIAL MEETING ON MAY 18TH.

ON MAY 23RD, WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD ON JUNE 6TH WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION.

ON JUNE 12TH WE HAVE A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.

WELL, NOT ME.

NOT ME. I WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING.

AND JUNE 20TH WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD.

AND WITH THAT THE TIME IS 9:32 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.