[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:14]
AND I CALL THE MAY 23RD MEETING OF THE EISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ORDER.[2. ESTABLISH A QUORUM]
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT
[3. CLOSED SESSION]
TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071, 551.074, AND WE'LL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY SEVEN O'CLOCK.THANK YOU ALL, WE WILL SEE YOU IN A BIT.
GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7:05 AND WE WILL RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.
[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]
WELCOME TO THE EANES ISD BOARD MEETING.I AM VERY GLAD YOU'RE HERE AS ARE MY FELLOW TRUSTEES. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I CAN DISPENSE WITH SOME OF THIS STUFF AND I WILL.
THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING, WE HAVE 14 PEOPLE 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 IF THE NEED ARISES, PLEASE HEAD TO THE EXIT IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.
WE HAVE TWO EXITS ON THIS FLOOR.
WE HAVE ONE, THE DOOR THROUGH WHICH YOU ENTERED, AND THEN WE HAVE THIS DOOR HERE AT THE END OF THE HALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR KIDS.
LET ME START WITH A READING OF THE MISSION STATEMENT.
[5. EANES ISD MISSION STATEMENT]
UNITE, EMPOWER, INSPIRE.EVERY PERSON EVERY DAY WE UNITE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL.
WE EMPOWER STUDENTS, PROVIDING AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION THAT DEVELOPS CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND INDIVIDUAL TALENTS, AND WE INSPIRE EACH OTHER TO LEAD PURPOSEFUL LIVES OF EMPATHY, GRATITUDE, AND COMPASSION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS AN ACTION ITEM.
[7.1 Level Three Appeal of Parent/Student Grievance]
LEVEL 3 APPEAL OF PARENTS STUDENT GRIEVANCE.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FROM JEN? DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION?
GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR MOTION.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPHOLD THE LEVEL 2 GRIEVANCE DECISION IS PRESENTED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM JANICE, SECOND FROM JAMES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE ABSTAINED.
>> I'M SORRY. IS THERE ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE OPPOSED.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, DR. ARNETT.
[8. REPORTS]
>> MR. HAVENSTRITE, THANK YOU.
WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING.
I THINK THIS MAY BE THE LONGEST SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GIVING THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NOTABLE RECOGNITIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EXTEND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN FIRST WITH WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I'M GOING TO ASK DIANNE PARKS, THE PRINCIPAL TO COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE OUR AWARD WINNERS TONIGHT.
>> I HAVE TO ACTUALLY SIT IN THE CHAIR.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO CHANNEL MY INNER CARROLL REESE.
SHE'S ON AN AIRPLANE RIGHT NOW HEADED BACK FROM DI GLOBALS, SO STUDENTS AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAMES, COME ON UP.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT SEVERAL AMAZING WEST RIDGE STUDENTS WHO COMPETED IN THE AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT LEAGUE COMPETITION.
THE AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT LEAGUE COMPETITION IS A TIMED QUIZ BOWL TYPE OF ONLINE CHALLENGE THAT TESTED ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CORE SUBJECT INFORMATION AND ALSO REQUIRES THE USE OF THEIR REASONING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.
STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE ANY MAPS, DICTIONARIES, OR MATERIALS OTHER THAN A CALCULATOR.
WORKING INDEPENDENTLY, THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR TO ANSWER 100 QUESTIONS,
[00:05:01]
INCLUDING TWO TRIVIAL QUESTIONS THROWN IN FOR FUN.FIRST, PLEASE MEET EIGHTH GRADER, LAILA GROVER. COME ON UP LAILA.
>> I DON'T KNOW, YOU CAN STAND THERE.
>> WE CAN ALL BE AWKWARD TOGETHER.
IT'S AWESOME, SO LAILA RECEIVED THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT LEAGUE COMPETITION.
>> THAT'S FOR THE EIGHTH GRADE, AND THERE WERE 9,000 STUDENTS COMPETING ACROSS THE NATION IN THIS EVENT, SO EARNING THE HIGHEST SCORE IN TEXAS IS NO SMALL FEAT.
>> NEXT, I'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO MEET YINA WANG, WHO RECEIVED THE HIGHEST SCORE.
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS IN THE NATION IN THIS COMPETITION FOR SIXTH GRADE.
>> THAT WAS OUT OF 4,006 GRADERS IN THE COUNTRY.
THE AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT LEAGUE IDENTIFIES THE TOP INDIVIDUAL SCORES FROM EACH COMPETING SCHOOL AND PLACES THEM TOGETHER TO FORM A TEAM.
THEY THEN LOOK AT THE TOP SCORES OF ALL TEAMS IN THAT GRADE LEVEL TO DETERMINE NATIONAL WINNERS.
WEST RIDGE WON THE TOP TEAM SCORE IN OUR SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY AT BOTH THE SIXTH GRADE AND EIGHTH GRADE LEVELS, SO TEAM MEMBERS, [APPLAUSE]
>> ALL YOU GUYS COME ON UP AND AS I SAY YOUR NAME WAVE.
>> OUR EIGHTH GRADE TEAM, YOU GUYS CAN SEE ARIA MITRA, KARTHIK PERRY, PERRY FORST, ALONG WITH LAILA GROVER.
THEY WERE GOLD MEDALISTS FOR GRADE 8.
>> THEN WE HAVE CORALA SETH, AUDREY HENDARTO, HASSINI RUM KUMAR AND YINA WANG ARE OUR SIXTH GRADE TEAM.
>> THIS RECOGNITION IS A TRIBUTE TO THE EXCELLENT PREPARATION THESE STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS AND IN PROBLEM SOLVING BOTH AT WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IN ALL OF THEIR COLLECTIVE YEARS IN EANES ISD.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR STUDENTS.
WHILE WE'RE FOCUSED ON THEM, THAT'S WHERE WE ALWAYS LIKE TO BEGIN, AND WHILE WE HAVE THEIR PICTURE ON THE SCREEN, I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEXT PORTION OF MY REPORT THIS EVENING.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP POSITION IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF IS THAT OF THE CAMPUS PRINCIPAL.
OVER THE LAST FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, WE'VE HAD THE UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY IN EANES TO SELECT THREE NEW CAMPUS PRINCIPALS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT'S ONE-THIRD OF OUR TRADITIONAL CAMPUSES.
THAT'S BEEN A DAUNTING RESPONSIBILITY, ONE THAT WE'VE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY, ONE OF WHICH WE'VE SOUGHT THE INPUT OF PARENTS AND STAFF AND A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS.
TONIGHT IT BRINGS US TO THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING
[00:10:02]
THREE NEW INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL LEAD THREE OF OUR SCHOOLS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.WHAT'S ESPECIALLY PROUD ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT IS THAT ALL THREE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE SELECTED FROM WITHIN THE EANES ISD FAMILY.
>> THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH EVERY DAY.
I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM AS THEY'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEIR CAMPUSES AND THE STAFF AND THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS AND GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO NAME THEM AS PRINCIPLES OF THEIR CAMPUSES BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.
THE FIRST THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS EVENING AS WE MOVE FROM THESE RECOGNITIONS AT WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO OUR OTHER MIDDLE-SCHOOL TONIGHT, AND THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL BE KIMBERLY DEWRELL.
KIMBERLY, IF YOU'D STAND THERE.
>> KIMBERLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY THAT'S WITH YOU THIS EVENING?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
>> YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIMBERLY'S BACKGROUND ON THE SCREEN AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING ALONGSIDE HER IN THIS NEW LEADERSHIP CAPACITY.
THANKS TO ALL OF THE STAFF WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO SUPPORT KIMBERLY AS WELL.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, MR. AND MRS. DEWRELL.
>> THE NEXT PRINCIPAL THAT WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT, ALSO COMING TO US FROM WITHIN THE EANES ISD FAMILY, BUT WELL-KNOWN AND LEGENDARY IN HER LEADERSHIP AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY, BUT NOW MOVING NEXT YEAR TO SUCCEED TIFFANY PHELPS AT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, IS MRS. JENNIFER DUSEK.
>> JENNIFER YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF FAMILY WHO I THINK ARE IN THE AUDIENCE OR THEY ARE LIKE FAMILY, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY THIS EVENING?
>> I'M LAUGHING [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> I SEE THAT WE'VE GOT VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK RIGHT THERE ALIVE TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] TOGETHER, I LIKE IT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANKS TO BARTON CREEK FOR TURNING OUT TO SUPPORT JENNIFER THIS EVENING.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF YOUR STAFF HERE.
>> SPEAKING OF VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY, JENNIFER IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW THERE, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO NAME HER SUCCESSOR ALSO FROM WITHIN HER CAMPUS FAMILY.
THE CURRENT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, BUT GRADUATING TO PRINCIPAL NEXT YEAR AT VALLEY VIEW IS BRANDIS SMOLAND.
>> BRANDIS WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY THIS EVENING?
>> ABSOLUTELY [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS MY DAUGHTER EVELYN [INAUDIBLE] MY HUSBAND RIGHT NOW.
>> MY SON IS NOT HERE, HE HAD TO GO TO WORK.
THANK GOODNESS [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, ANOTHER CHANGE THAT'S OCCURRING AT VALLEY VIEW AND ALSO JOINING BRANDIS IN HER LEADERSHIP ROLE WILL BE CAROLINE VARNER.
CAROLINE IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT SHE'S GOING TO BE STEPPING INTO A HYBRID ROLE AT VALLEY VIEW.
SHE'S CURRENTLY THE EDUCATIONAL PARTNER AND SHE'LL BE MAINTAINING THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT ALSO TAKING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A SYSTEM PRINCIPLE AS BRANDIS NOW ASCENDS TO THE POSITION OF PRINCIPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROLINE, CONGRATULATIONS TO VALLEY VIEW AND TO BARTON CREEK AND TO HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE'RE SO GLAD THAT ALL OF YOU JOINED US TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE THESE THREE INDIVIDUAL LEADERS.
[00:15:01]
LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM TONIGHT, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY BE NAMED OFFICIALLY AS THE PRINCIPALS OF THESE SCHOOLS.ONCE AGAIN, TO KIMBERLY AND TO JENNIFER AND TO BRANDIS, CONGRATULATIONS.
>> IN JUST A MOMENT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH ALL OF THEIR STAFF AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE WITH THEM TONIGHT AS WELL.
I DO ALSO WANTED TO MENTION A FEW OTHER THINGS JUST BRIEFLY AS I CONCLUDE MY REPORT FOR TONIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK THAT MOLLY MAY AND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING WHO SERVED ON THE SPANISH IMMERSION TASK FORCE.
THEY CONCLUDED THEIR WORK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION, PROBABLY GOING INTO NEXT FALL AND YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DISCUSSED ON THE TASK FORCE AND HOW THAT MAY EVENTUALLY EVOLVE INTO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WOULD BRING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK THE TASK FORCE FOR ITS WORK AND MOLLY MAY AND OTHERS FOR HAVING LED THAT EFFORT.
AS WE REFLECT BACK ON THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE AGAIN.
ONE OF THOSE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO, THE BEST BUDDIES WALK AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE CONTINUE TO BE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE NATION THAT HAS A BEST BUDDIES CHAPTER ON EVERY CAMPUS.
AGAIN, THAT'S THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR STAFF.
>> THAT WAS A SPECIAL DAY AND I'M SURE IT PROVIDES THE PLATFORM FOR A LOT OF CONTINUED GREAT WORK IN THAT AREA.
THEN ANOTHER THING, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAVE CELEBRATED THIS YEAR IS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A NUMBER OF CELEBRATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
ELLEN, YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THAT, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY IN HELPING TO SPEARHEAD THAT EFFORT ALONG WITH OUR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION STAFF?
>> A SECOND GRADER SAID TO ME, 150 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.
THAT WAS JUST AFTER HE ASKED ME IF I WAS 150 YEARS OLD.
>> BUT IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ORIGINS OF THIS FABULOUS SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE FACT THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS BEEN OFFERED HERE IN WHAT WAS A ISOLATED BACKWATER OF A COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
IT'S BEEN OFFERED HERE FOR LONGER THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, AT LEAST ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS IN THE SAME PLACE IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN TEXAS.
THAT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO REALLY BE PROUD OF AND TO LOOK TO OUR HERITAGE TO SEE HOW THAT IS INSTRUCTIVE OF HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD.
MOLLY MAY AND HER TEAM DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE HISTORY CONTEST AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THESE ARE ALL PICTURES ON THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES OF THE HISTORY CONTEST WINNERS.
I HOPE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT CAMPUSES RECOGNIZE THE HERITAGE THAT WE ALL SHARE TOGETHER AND CAN USE THAT AS A COMMONALITY THAT REALLY BINDS US TOGETHER AND MAKES US ALL THE APPARELS.
>> WELL, AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMES TO A CONCLUSION HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I WANT TO COMMEND CHRIS SCOTT, WHO IS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
CHRIS TESTIFIED AT THE CAPITOL A WEEK AGO IN OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 1814 THAT WOULD HAVE DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED OUR I&S RATE AND THE ABILITY FOR US TO LEVERAGE FUTURE BONDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FORTUNATELY, THAT BILL APPEARS TO BE DEAD, NO LONGER FOR DISCUSSION, SO CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON BEHALF OF NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A PROPOSED DRAFT POLICY LATER THIS EVENING IN REGARDS TO ADDITIONAL PEACE OFFICERS ON EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATED IN A SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.
WE HAD A GREAT AUDIENCE FOR THAT, LED TO A CONVERSATION THAT I'M SURE WILL PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR THIS EVENING'S DISCUSSION AS WELL.
JUST TODAY, WE'VE LEARNED THAT OUR WESTLAKE MEN'S GOLF TEAM ACHIEVED ITS SIXTH CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AS WELL, SOPHOMORE, ALSO ACHIEVED THE INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOO, SO A LOT HAPPEN ON THE GOLF COURSE TODAY, SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO CALLAN NOKES AND HIS GOLF TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR SIX CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
THAT'S REMARKABLE. SPEAKING OF CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE HOPE OUR WESTLAKE BASEBALL TEAM CONTINUES TO ADVANCE NOW TO THE 6A REGION FOR SEMI-FINALS THEY WILL PLAY THIS THURSDAY.
THAT FIRST GAME HAS AN EAGLE PASS AND THEN BACK HERE AT HOME ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND POSSIBLY AGAIN THREE FRIDAY NIGHT.
A LOT OF BASEBALL TO COME STILL THIS WEEK.
THEN FINALLY, LAST NIGHT, MANY OF US WERE THERE FOR GRADUATION AT THE NEW MOODY'S CENTER.
[00:20:02]
THAT WAS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION TO BE THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL TO HAVE HELD ITS GRADUATION CEREMONIES AT THE NEW CENTER DOWNTOWN AND IT WAS REALLY A SPECIAL EVENING.TO THE 695 GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES, WE CONGRATULATE THEM, AND THIS IS THE MILESTONE THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEN I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IS THIS FRIDAY.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR HAS COME AND GONE.
THE LAST DAY, NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT A NUMBER OF OUR LEGENDARY LEADERS.
I MENTIONED TIFFANY PHELPS WHO WILL BE LEAVING BARTON CREEK, KATHLEEN SULLIVAN WHO I DON'T BELIEVE IS HERE THIS EVENING, BUT KIMBERLY WILL BE SUCCEEDING HER AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT'S A BITTERSWEET DAY, BUT ALSO A DAY THAT EVERYBODY CELEBRATES TO CONCLUDE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR AND THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER VACATION.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS EVENING.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUR NEW PRINCIPALS AND ALL OF THEIR GUESTS AND FRIENDS AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD AND STEP OUT INTO THE HALLWAY.
WE'VE GOT OTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO TONIGHT.
THEN MR. HAVENSTRITE, I'LL TURN THE AGENDA BACK OVER TO YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
>> A COUPLE OF ITEMS. BECAUSE WE HAD DISCUSSED TAXES LAST TIME AROUND, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE DID SEE THAT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE TAX LEVY.
IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE TO IT FROM PREVIOUS MONTH.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GAP BETWEEN WHERE WE WERE AT LAST YEAR TO CLOSE A LITTLE BIT, NOT EXACTLY, BUT IT CLOSED A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THEN AS FAR AS BUDGET AMENDMENTS, SO WITH BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
AGAIN, IT WAS WHAT WAS SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENTS AND [LAUGHTER]
THE NET EFFECT ON THE FUND BALANCE IS ZERO, AND THEN THERE WAS NO BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AND THEIR CHILD NUTRITION FUND.
OF COURSE, WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT MONTH, WE WILL HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL BE OUR FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE YEAR TO DO OUR FINAL TRANSFERS AND REVISIONS THROUGH SOME.
>> THAT WAS THE HAPPIEST PLEASURE.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO? THANK YOU, MARIA.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
[9. OPEN FORUM]
>> I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THIS STATEMENT.
I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD IT.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
WE HAVE 14 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP THIS EVENING AND EACH WILL SPEAK.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE AFFORDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL YOU FORWARD WHEN IT'S YOUR TERM 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.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION AND RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY MAYBE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES, BUT TO 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 ENTIRE MEETING AND IT'S 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.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS WENDY CONTRERAS.
MS. CONTRERAS, SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT OUR FUTURE.
>> MS. CONTRERAS? WELCOME MS. CONTRERAS. YEAH, JUST PULL IT DOWN.
>> I AM HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO EVERYTHING GOING AS [INAUDIBLE], THREE THIRD GRADE STUDENTS ON THE SPANISH PROGRAM AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
ON MAY 16TH, WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM MR. TRIMBLE THAT THE STUDENTS WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SA PROGRAM DUE TO ENROLLMENT IN CLASS CAPACITY FOR FOURTH GRADE SPANISH IMMERSION NEXT YEAR.
[00:25:02]
THESE FAMILIES MADE A COMMITMENT TO EANES ISD AND EANES ELEMENTARY SINCE KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE.THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WITH RESPECT AND QUALITY BECAUSE THEY ARE TRANSFER STUDENTS.
I URGE DR. JEFF ARNETT AND EISD ADMINISTRATION TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION.
I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILY OF THE CURRENT THIRD GRADE AT EANES ELEMENTARY FOR ASKING THEIR FIVE CLASSES ARE ADDED NEXT YEAR TO ALLOW THE CURRENT STUDENTS TO STAY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE CONSIDERATION AROUND YOUR TRANSFER FAMILIES AND YOU TREAT THEM WITH MORE RESPECT.
THE STRESS I [INAUDIBLE] MAY 16 SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING ANY FAMILY JUST GO THROUGH AND LACK OF RESPONSES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AT EANES ISD TO THE FAMILIES IS INDICATIVE THAT IF YOU'RE AN OUT OF DISTRICT STUDENTS, YOU DON'T MATTER.
MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT ACCEPTED IN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT RECENTLY, HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MR. TRIMBLE TO GUARANTEE MY DAUGHTER'S ACCEPTANCE INTO THE FOURTH GRADE EANES ELEMENTARY FOR NEXT YEAR.
I URGE YOU ADMINISTRATION TO BE MORE CONSIDERATE AND HAVE TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE EANES FAMILIES AND THE FAMILIES YOU'RE AFFECTING THEIR DECISIONS.
THAT DO NOT MAKE SENSE TO NOT HAVE A CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FACT THAT MR. TRIMBLE IS ACTIVELY RECRUITING TRANSFER STUDENTS FOR ALL THE ASD SCHOOLS AND THEN DECIDES TO REMOVE THE TRANSFER STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INVESTED AT EANES ELEMENTARY AND THIS DOES NOT HAVE ANY LOGICAL EXPLANATION.
I REALLY URGE YOU TO MAKE SPACE FOR TWO SA CLASSROOMS FOR FOURTH GRADE EDUCATION AT EANES ELEMENTARY AND KEEP THE GROUP INTACT THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOE ELLEN SMITH, AND MS. SMITH IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT RISING FOURTH GRADERS AT EANES ELEMENTARY. WELCOME, MS. SMITH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I AM HERE SPEAKING ON ITEM 13.2 ENROLLMENT UPDATE AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF MY CHILDREN, EVELYN AND JAMES CAANUS.
THEY ARE RISING FOURTH GRADE SPANISH IMMERSION STUDENTS AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
WE WERE INFORMED LAST WEEK THAT AFTER THREE YEARS OF ATTENDING SCHOOL WITH THIS COHORT, WE ARE THE ONLY TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE NOW THAT MARTY FAM MAY BE BACK IN, OF THE ENTIRE 30 STUDENTS SI CLASS THAT ARE BEING REJECTED FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR CLASS DUE TO A CLASS SIZE SHIFT IN THE FOURTH GRADE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
EVELYN AND JAMES ARE LONG-ESTABLISHED CHILDREN IN THE SI PROGRAM.
THEY'RE FLOURISHING AFTER A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND-GRADE DISRUPTED BY COVID, REMOTE LEARNING, HYBRID LEARNING, AND ALL OF THAT.
WE WERE INVITED IN STARTING IN THE FIRST-GRADE IN SPANISH IMMERSION AS AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT FAMILY AND WE'VE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OUR CHILDREN ARE EXCELLENT STUDENTS AND HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS AND HAVE DEVELOPED DEEP FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER SI FAMILIES AND KIDS OVER THE YEARS.
OUR FAMILY HAS PARTICIPATED BOTH PERSONALLY IN TERMS OF COACHING AND VOLUNTEERISM, AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY.
AS LATINOS, EVELYN AND JAMES BRING MUCH-NEEDED DIVERSITY, AND AS TRANSFER STUDENTS, WE BRING $17,000 A YEAR TO THE SCHOOL.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 30 KIDS IN THE SI CLASS, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S 27 KIDS MOVING FORWARD.
THIS WOULD MAKE ONE OF THE LARGEST CLASSES OF ANY SIZE IN ANY OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
I DON'T THINK THAT OFFERS MAYBE THE CLASS SIZE PARODY.
WE WERE TOLD WITH THE REASON FOR THE REDUCTION FROM TWO CLASSROOMS TO ONE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AGAIN, I ECHO WENDY IN TERMS OF ASKING THAT THE DISTRICT CONSIDER, AGAIN, MOVING FOR FIVE CLASSES IN THE FIFTH GRADE AS I UNDERSTAND, POSSIBLY CURRENTLY EXIST THERE.
I KNOW AS EDUCATORS, YOU GUYS CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND HOW CONFUSING A REJECTION AND DISRUPTIVE THIS WOULD BE ON NINE-YEAR-OLD KIDS AND CREATING A LASTING MARK ON THEM.
IT'S NOT A SIMPLE PROCESS AND THE PAIN OF BEING SINGLED OUT AMONGST THEIR PEERS IS IMPACTFUL.
TWENTY-SEVEN OF THEIR CLASSMATES WILL BE TOGETHER AND EVELYN AND JAMES WILL BE THE ONLY TWO LEFT OUT.
PLEASE CONSIDER USING ALL YOUR TALENT AND RESOURCES TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE WAYS TO ALLOW ALL THE KIDS TO MOVE TOGETHER THROUGH SI AS A COMMUNITY, AS A GROUP.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA MORRIS.
[00:30:02]
MS. MORRIS, SHE'S GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT SAFETY AND SECURITY. WELCOME ANNA.>> MY NAME IS ANNA MORRIS, AND I HAVE TWO KIDS AT BRIDGE POINT AND A THIRD JOINING IN 2024.
YOU BROUGHT ME TO TEARS ON MAY 9TH WHEN SIX OF YOU WERE HERE AND ALL AGREE THAT HAVING A POLICE DEPARTMENT AT EANES AND HAVING S ARROWS AT EACH CAMPUS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY.
THE TOWN HALL MEETING LAST WEEK WAS GREAT AND MADE ME HAPPY TO HEAR THE CONVICTION BEHIND THIS AND THE COURAGE YOU ARE OPERATING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO IMPLEMENT THIS THE RIGHT WAY, TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE MISSIONS FEELS SAFE AND THEY BENEFIT FROM THE POLICY YOU ARE PUTTING INTO PLACE.
I AM COMMITTED TO HELP FUND-RAISE.
I KNOW YOU SAY THAT PARENTS SAY THIS AND THEY WILL NOT DO IT.
I PROMISE YOU, I WILL MAKE THAT MY JOB TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN DEVID.
MS. DEVID. DID I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME PROPERLY?
I'M A PARENT AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
I HAVE ONE IN TRADITIONAL EDUCATION, WILLIAM, AND TWO IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, HATTIE AND ROBERT.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT MY CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED COMBINATION OF TWO SPANISH SECTIONS INTO A SINGLE CLASS OF 27 STUDENTS FOR NEXT YEAR AT SI.
IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE REDUCED FROM 29 BY DENYING AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFER TO THE CAANUS FAMILY.
THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN UP AND SPOKEN TODAY, THE CONTERAS'S AND THE CAANUS ARE VERY INTEGRAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED DIVERSITY WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS BEING VOLUNTEERS, ROOM PARENTS, SPORTS COACHES, AND MENTORS TO STUDENTS AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A NEED TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL TRADITIONAL LEARNING CLASS AT EANES ELEMENTARY TO ALLEVIATE CLASSROOM SIZE.
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT AS EVIDENCED DEMONSTRATES THAT SMALLER CLASS SIZES IS BENEFICIAL TO EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.
THIS IS QUITE FRANKLY WHAT WE EXPECT FOR EANES ELEMENTARY AND WHY WE MOVED HERE FROM AISD.
BUT THIS INCREASE SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FUTURO PROGRAM.
WE URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN TWO SECTIONS OF THIS SPANISH IMMERSION AT EANES ELEMENTARY FOR ALL GRADES, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR FOURTH GRADE NEXT YEAR SINCE WE'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THOSE CHILDREN WILL BE COMBINED INTO A SINGLE CLASS OF 27 STUDENTS.
WE ALSO URGE YOU TO UPHOLD YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SI PROGRAM AND TRY TO MAINTAIN THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT IN FIFTH GRADE, THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE ONLY 25 PERCENT INSTRUCTION IN SPANISH, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT IMMERSION.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE A CONCERN, I CERTAINLY DO, AROUND THE GRADUAL ATTRITION AND LOWERING OF THE QUALITY OF THIS PROGRAM BEING AN ADDITIONAL DECISION THAT, I THINK, EACH ONE IS MADE WITH BEST INTENTIONS, TRYING TO BALANCE CLASSROOM SIZES, BUT REALLY HAS A TREND OF MISMANAGEMENT AND REALLY HAS A RISK FOR THE OVERALL SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AT EANES.
WITH THAT, I WILL LEAVE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA LEE.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.
MY THREE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN TOWN WITH ME TONIGHT ARE ENROLLED IN THE SI PROGRAM NEXT YEAR IN KINDERGARTEN, THIRD AND FIFTH GRADES AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
IN JANUARY, I WAS ONE OF THE MANY PARENTS WHO HAVE SHARED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM AND ASKED THAT MEANINGFUL STEPS BE TAKEN TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN SOLVING THE COMPLEXITIES BEING FACED.
I WENT ON TO PARTICIPATE IN SI PARENT TASK FORCE.
IT WAS INDICATED THIS SELECT GROUP WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE DATA AND TO WEIGH IN ON POSSIBLE CHANGES.
HOWEVER, RATHER THAN A SUBSTANTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE AND PROBLEM-SOLVE, IT WAS MORE OF A FORUM FOR THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PARENTS TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR ALREADY-FORMED POINTS OF VIEW.
ATTEMPTS BY TASK FORCE MEMBERS TO GET MORE DETAILED DATA OR TO HAVE
[00:35:03]
A ROBUST ANALYSIS OF THE FACTS AND ALTERNATIVES NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.JUST ONE WEEK AFTER THE TASK FORCE CONCLUDED, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DECISION TO REDUCE THE PROPORTION OF THE FIFTH GRADERS' SPANISH INSTRUCTIONAL TIME NEXT YEAR FELL TO ONLY 25 PERCENT.
THIS IS NOT VIEWED BY ME NOR MANY OTHER PARENTS AS A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT.
IT DOES NOT STAY TRUE TO THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO PUT A PAUSE ON ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.
IT IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF INDIVIDUAL SMALL DECISIONS BEARING OUT AS A TREND THAT RISKS DEGRADING THE PROGRAM OVER TIME.
EANES IS STILL LACKING A COHESIVE STRATEGY AND PLAN BACKED BY DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS THAT WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE VISION FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR OUR DISTRICT.
WHILE ENROLLMENT FOR ANXIETY IS DECLINING, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT AS A WHOLE ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE DEMAND FOR ENROLLMENT IN SI CLASSES REMAINED STRONG, EVEN WITH LESS EFFORT TO ATTRACT SI STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE VALID CHALLENGES TO BE SOLVED FOR, THIS PROGRAM CAN AND SHOULD BE A POINT OF STRENGTH FOR ATTRACTING AND RETAINING BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
WE ASK AGAIN FOR TRANSPARENCY ON THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH A PARENT COMMUNITY WHOSE CHILDREN ARE BEING AFFECTED.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE LEE.
MS. LEE. HI, MS. LEE. HOW ARE YOU? [FOREIGN]
I'M HERE WITH THE SPANISH IMMERSION CLASSES.
I'M ONE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT THE CHANGES YOU'RE MAKING.
WHEN I WENT TO KINDERGARTEN, I DIDN'T SPEAK ANY SPANISH, BUT NOW, WHEN I WRITE, THE WORDS COME TO ME IN SPANISH.
WHEN I SEE A PERSON WHO SPEAKS SPANISH, I LIKE TO SPEAK SPANISH WITH HIM OR HER.
USE THE GIFT, DON'T THROW IT AWAY.
MANY PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME WANT MORE SPANISH IN FIFTH GRADE, NOT LESS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA HANOVER.
MS. HANOVER IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION.
>> WHAT I WANTED TO START WITH FIRST, I'M JESSICA HANOVER.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION LIKE MANY OF THE PARENTS HERE.
I WANTED TO START BY JUST REITERATING WHAT I HEARD AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, WHICH WAS PART OF THE MISSION OF THE EANES DISTRICT, WHICH IS WE EMPOWER STUDENTS PROVIDING AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION THAT DEVELOPS CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND INDIVIDUAL TALENTS.
I THINK WE JUST HEARD SOME AMAZING INDIVIDUAL TALENT JUST NOW.
I THINK THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NURTURES THESE TALENTS, JUST LIKE OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
I'M HERE, OF COURSE, IN SUPPORT OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND ALSO HOPING THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE THE TIME TOGETHER AS WE HEARD FROM OTHERS TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE RATHER THAN JUST EASILY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS OR THE PERCENT OF EDUCATION THAT IS IN SPANISH.
I KNOW AND I'VE HEARD MANY OTHERS SAY THAT THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE WHEN WE STARTED THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, MY DAUGHTER IS IN KINDERGARTEN AT CEDAR CREEK.
THAT COMMITMENT MEANT A LOT TO US.
WHEN WE SIGNED THE NAME ON THE LINE, WE THOUGHT, WE'RE ENTERING INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILD THAT'S GOING TO LAST FOR HER WHOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAREER.
I GET WORRIED WHEN I HEAR ABOUT THESE LITTLE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE AND THERE BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT MAYBE THE COMMITMENT IS NOT EQUAL ON BOTH SIDES.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO BUILD THAT BACK-UP AND WORK TOGETHER AND AGREE ON HOW THE PROGRAM CAN MOVE FORWARD TO BENEFIT ALL OF THESE CHILDREN.
AS AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT FAMILY, AND I'VE PROBABLY MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, WE EXPLORED A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR OUR DAUGHTER, AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE COME BACK TO CEDAR CREEK AND THE EANES DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
THE TEACHERS SEÑORA GARZA AND MRS. PEREZ AT CEDAR CREEK ARE INCREDIBLE.
WE'RE ASTOUNDED BY THE PROGRESS THAT SHE'S MADE JUST IN KINDERGARTEN.
[00:40:05]
I THINK THAT EANES SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR DISTRICTS AND VALUE PROPOSITION.WE OFFER PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT OTHER SCHOOLS DON'T.
THE AUSTIN SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T OFFER THIS EXACT PROGRAM.
SO MANY OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DO NOT OFFER THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT IF IT WERE TO BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED OR CHANGED DRASTICALLY, WE WILL BE SORRY IN THE END.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO WORK WITH ALL OF US.
WE'RE HERE, WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION TO MAKE THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE AND TO KEEP EANES AT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION IN EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HERE.
IS ASHLEY APPLEWHITE HERE? NO? ANDREW MARVELL. WELCOME BACK.
>> TWENTY-SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IS THE IMPLICATION COST OF NOT HAVING PROPER SAFETY AND SECURITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
TWENTY-SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT THE FAMILIES OF UVALDE HAVE SUED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR NOT HAVING PROPERLY PROTECTED THEIR CHILDREN.
THIS SCHOOL BOARD IS AWARE OF THE MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND HAVE GIVEN PARENTS REASON AFTER REASON FOR NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH ADVANCED SAFETY MEASURES THAT COULD BE PROVIDED BY EXTERNAL VENDORS.
CONSEQUENTLY, PARENTS LIKE MYSELF, ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY PARENTS, ARE RELUCTANT TO SEND OUR KIDS TO YOUR SCHOOLS DUE TO A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN WHILE ON CAMPUS WITH OR WITHOUT AN OFFICER ON DUTY.
IN FACT, FAMILIES ARE HESITANT TO MOVE INTO THIS DISTRICT FOR THIS VERY REASON.
IF THIS CONTINUES, ADMISSION RATES WILL CONTINUE TO DROP, WHICH WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT FUNDING, QUALITY, AND REPUTATION OF THE DISTRICT AND WILL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF STAR STUDENTS COMING FROM THIS DISTRICT.
THIS CALLS FOR CHANGE AND WE MUST SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER WHERE WE ALLOCATE OUR FUNDS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS THAN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.
CHANGE IS HARD, CHANGE IS AWKWARD.
BUT ON THE EVE OF THE TRAGEDY IN UVALDE, WE MUST CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE AND CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN BUT THE LONG-TERM INTEGRITY OF THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE IT IS ON THE LINE.
INVESTING IN THE SAFETY OF OUR SCHOOLS NOW COSTS FAR LESS THAN 27 BILLION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYA BRIGHTMAN.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME BEFORE.
BUT FOR CONTEXTS HAVE A RISING FOURTH-GRADE AND SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS AT SPANISH IMMERSION AT THE ELEMENTARY.
I ALSO HAVE A PRESCHOOLER WHO YOU MIGHT HEAR OUTSIDE WHO WILL HOPEFULLY BE PART OF THE PROGRAM SHOULD THERE STILL BE A PROGRAM FOR HER TO JOIN IN FALL OF 2024.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS.
ONE, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE SI TASK FORCE AND DUE TO FLEE, WENT TO THE FOUR MEETINGS CANDIDLY AND IN SHORT ORDER, IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME, TIME THAT IT CANDIDLY DO NOT HAVE.
ESSENTIALLY NO TIME WAS SPENT ON FINDING SOLUTIONS.
THE ONE PIECE OF COMFORT WAS THAT ADMIN AGREE THAT NO MAJOR CHANGES WOULD HAPPEN TO THE PROGRAM.
TWO, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PIECE, THE PART ABOUT NO CHANGES WAS NOT TRUE.
RISING FIFTH-GRADE PARENTS FOR LAST WEEK THAT THEY COULD EXPECT A 50 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SPANISH THEIR KIDS WILL BE GETTING NEXT YEAR.
I WOULD DEFINITELY CHARACTERIZE THAT AS A MAJOR CHANGE AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE.
THREE, I HAVE A RISING FOURTH GRADER AT EANES.
A CLASSIC GOT THE SHORT END OF THE STICK BACK IN FIRST GRADE WHEN WE HAD FOUR SEPARATE TEACHERS.
DESPITE WHAT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE, OUR KIDS ARE THRIVING AND THEY'RE SPEAKING SPANISH.
THE LATEST THING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS THAT WE ARE SLOTTED TO DROP INTO ONE CLASSROOM GOING AND ARE GOING TO BE LOSING THREE STUDENTS.
THREE STUDENTS WHO'VE BEEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS, WERE OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFERS WHO ARE NOT BEING WELCOME BACK TO EANES SI BECAUSE APPARENTLY A CLASS OF 26 IS BETTER THAN 29.
I FOR ONE, WOULD RATHER KEEP MY FRIENDS IN WITH US BECAUSE THAT IS WHO WE ARE.
[00:45:01]
MAKE IS THAT THIS BOARD LIKES TO BE MINUS THAT THEY'RE HERE FOR GOVERNANCE, NOT ADMINISTRATION.BUT I ASK, AT WHAT POINT WERE YOU DECIDED THAT IT'S TIME TO JUMP IN? YOU'RE WATCHING AS OUR DISTRICT HEMORRHAGE A STUDENTS.
I KNOW WE'RE HEARING FROM MR. TRIMBLE LATER TODAY, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS.
THEY ARE OPTING OUT OR UNROLLING THEIR KIDS FROM EANES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT OUR DISTRICT CAN MEET THEIR KID'S NEEDS OR HAVE THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
I HAVE STARTED TO QUESTION THAT MYSELF MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.
WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT THE BOARD IS GOVERNING US INTO ADDITIONAL DECLINE IN STUDENTS, AND YOU'RE SPEAKING FROM LITERALLY TWO SIDES OF THE EQUATION WHERE YOU SAY WE NEED TRANSFERS YET, YOU WON'T HESITATE TO SEND THEM AWAY WHEN THE NUMBERS DON'T LINE UP. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAGGIE SUTER.
MAGGIE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT. WELCOME, MAGGIE.
>> GOOD EVENING. SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW THE STORY ABOUT HOW MY FAMILY ENDED UP HERE AND SOME OF Y'ALL DON'T, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS YOU CONSIDER THIS AS AN OPTION FOR US, I WANT TO CAUTION YOU TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT LIKE A REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THEY OPERATE COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN HAVING AN SRO AT EACH CAMPUS AND THE POLICE CHIEF REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE SUPERINTENDED ONLY AND ALSO THEY GET PAID BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THERE CAN BE SOME CONFLICT OF INTEREST SOMETIMES.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WE MOVED HERE FROM HOUSTON IN 2015 AND IT WAS BECAUSE MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON WITH DOWN SYNDROME WAS ABUSED AT SCHOOL.
IT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA, CLEARLY WELL-LIT IN A HALLWAY.
THERE WAS NO WONDERING WHETHER THE ABUSE HAPPENED OR NOT, IT WAS COMPLETELY VISIBLE.
THE FIRST CALL THAT OUR PRINCIPAL MADE, ONCE HE LOOKED AT THE VIDEOTAPE WAS NOT TO THE POLICE, IT WAS NOT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY WAS IT TO HR.
IN FACT, DFPS WAS NEVER CALLED UNTIL THEY WERE CALLED BY ME.
THERE'S REASONS FOR THAT, BUT I'M GOING TO GO ON.
THE WOMAN THAT ABUSED HER CHILD WAS NEVER CHARGED.
I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT AND I TOOK IT AS FAR AS I COULD GO AND SAT DOWN WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DA.
WE WATCHED THE VIDEO UNDER THE STIPULATION FROM THE DISTRICT THAT WE COULD ONLY WATCH IT ONE TIME AND OUR LAWYER COULDN'T BE IN THE ROOM.
WE WATCHED IT ONETIME FRAME-BY-FRAME, AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT THE WOMAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL.
IF THAT ABUSE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE BESIDES THE SCHOOL CAMPUS, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL.
BUT THE DA SAID THAT THE POLICE CHIEF DID NOT RECOMMEND CHARGES.
IT WAS THEIR JURISDICTION AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY OPERATING BY THEIR OWN RULES.
IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH CAN VARY FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, IT WILL NOT BENEFIT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS LIKE YOU THINK THAT IT WILL.
I PRINTED OUT THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY FOR FIVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND AROUND DIFFERENT PARTS OF TEXAS.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW IN LOOKING AT THEM HOW VERY DIFFERENT THEY ARE.
CIPHER HAS NINE PAGES OF LOCAL POLICY.
>> IS THAT THE END? THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES, DR. ARNETT.
THE 2023, 2024 ENROLLMENT NUMBERS FOR FUTURO LOOK VERY HEALTHY DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE PROGRAM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PROGRAM WAS EITHER NOT MENTIONED OR BARELY MENTIONED, IT ROUND UP AT TWO OF THE SCHOOLS.
DESPITE THE OFF-PUTTING PESSIMISM OF THE [INAUDIBLE] PARENT MEETING FAQS, IF YOU HAD MINIMIZED THE UNCERTAINTY BY TAKING THE PROSPECT OF A 50 PERCENT CUT OFF THE TABLE, YOU WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL
[00:50:01]
A SECOND SI CLASSIC BRIDGE POINT WITH THE HELP OF OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS, THEN WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE COHORTING EFFECT FOR THE ONE CLASS THAT IS GOING TO EXIST.WE LOST ONE FAMILY TO THE EAST COAST BECAUSE THEY WERE UPSET BY THE SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF THE DISTRICT IN HAVING THIS 50 PERCENT CUT STILL ON THE TABLE.
WE LOST ANOTHER FAMILY THAT I KNOW VERY WELL TO PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE ONE PARENT WANTED ALL THREE CHILDREN IN THE SAME SCHOOL FOR LOGISTICAL EASE.
THEY WENT PRIVATE EVEN THOUGH THEIR ELDEST COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED PER AS THIS AUGUST BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE YOUNGER TWO CHILDREN.
THERE'S TWO, NOT JUST THE FAMILIES THAT SPRING TO MIND IMMEDIATELY.
WE'VE LOST FAMILIES TO MAGELLAN, WE'VE LOST FAMILIES TO AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AND WE'VE LOST FAMILIES TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF TEXAS, ESPECIALLY TO MAGELLAN, AND I WOULD SAY, THESE ARE AFFLUENT FAMILIES WHOSE LOSS IS A BIG LOSS TO THE EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
BUT CONSIDER WHAT THE SITUATION WOULD BE IF ULTIMATELY YOU HADN'T LISTENED TO WHAT WE REPEATEDLY TOLD AND WROTE TO YOU LAST NOVEMBER.
WE WHO HAVE A MUCH BETTER AND FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASPIRATIONS OF ELEMENTARY-AGE FAMILIES BECAUSE WE ARE THESE PEOPLE AND BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR FRIENDS.
IF YOU WOULD CUT, THERE WOULD NOW BE 66 CHILDREN YOU'D HAVE TO TURN AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM.
THE PLAN TO CUT WOULD'VE LEFT 88 SPOTS AND NOW WE HAVE THOSE SPOTS TAKEN BY EANES ELEMENTARY AND CEDAR CREEK ADMISSIONS ALONE STARTING IN AUGUST.
THE DEMAND DOES NOT SURPRISE ME WHATSOEVER.
YOU WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE FILLED ALL 176 SPOTS HAD THERE NOT BEEN THE UNCERTAINTY.
I KNOW MANY OF THE PARENTS OF THE OUT-OF-DISTRICT CHILDREN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AMONG THE 66, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO TURN AWAY FROM FUTURO.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO INTEREST IN TRADITIONAL EDUCATION IN EANES.
THEY WOULD HAVE EITHER GONE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED IN LAKE TRAVIS ISD TRADITIONAL HAD THEY NOT BEEN AIMING FOR A SPOT IN FUTURO.
I'M NOT GOING TO WRITE YOU YET ANOTHER LETTER ON THIS BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN FIVE, THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO BACK AND REREAD SOME OF MY PARAGRAPHS ON THE ASPIRATIONS OF THESE FAMILIES BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE NOT REALLY GETTING IT.
ABOUT WHAT THEY CONSIDER A FIT-FOR-PURPOSE EDUCATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMMY EASON.
ARE YOU HERE? I DON'T SEE IF HE'S CHECKED IN.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ME.
[10. BOARD MEMBER REFLECTIONS]
MY TIME AS A TRUSTEE IS, LOOK AT THAT, IS COMING TO AN END.I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON ALL THE THINGS I'VE DONE AND NOT DONE NOW AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN.
THIS HAS BEEN AMONG THE MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE ASIDE FROM TRYING TO RAISE TEENAGERS AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ALL THE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFORDED.
BUT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I HAVE WORKED ON OVER THE YEARS, I AM MOST PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE ON BEHALF OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND FAMILIES.
WE ARE NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING, BUT WE ARE ON OUR WAY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MOLLY, FOR LEADING US ON THIS JOURNEY.
IT WAS A ROCKY START, BUT WE'RE DOING GOOD THINGS NOW.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE AGENDA OF THIS SPECIAL MEETING WHERE WE APPROVED TOM'S EMERGENCY AUTHORITY HAD A SINGLE ITEM THAT OUR MAY 16TH SPECIAL MEETING HAD THREE ITEMS. THAT THREE IS MORE THAN ONE AND FOUR MINUTES IS FEWER THAN 22. I WIN.
HONESTLY, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. IT'S BEEN SOME FUN.
[00:55:03]
>> I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A COUPLE OF EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A GREAT ONE THAT WILL SOON BE HERE ON THE DICE.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, [APPLAUSE]
>> SEE, I GUESS I HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT WIN WHENEVER.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE TOUGH TO BEAT.
>> JOHN, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
THERE'S NO SECRET THAT THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THIS BOARD, FOR OUR STAFF AND YOU HAVE HANDLED YOURSELF WITH GRACE AND POISE.
YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST HEART AND ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET AND I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU.
THANK YOU. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY THANKS YOU.
>> ARE WE ALL DOING THIS? [LAUGHTER]
>> OTHER THAN JEN AND ELLEN, THE REST OF US HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE BOARD WITHOUT YOU.
I THINK WE'VE ALL LEARNED FROM YOU AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT AND LOVE THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND YOU'VE REALLY DONE YOUR BEST TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE THAN WHEN YOU GOT ON THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OVER THE YEARS.
>> I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL, THOUGH, JOHN, I'VE KNOWN YOU NOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS COMING INTO THE MEETING.
SINCE 2015 WHEN YOU WEREN'T IN THIS LEADERSHIP POSITION, BUT YOU WERE IN THE WEI REED'S PACK LEADERSHIP POSITION.
YOU, IN ADDITION TO YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE ON THIS BOARD AND WELCOMING MAY, YOU BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN 2015 TO HELP SUPPORT THE BONDS AND WORK IN SUPPORT OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
STARTING ON THE VERY FIRST DAY, WE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP AND I TREASURE THAT DEARLY.
I KNOW THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
>> JOHN, YOU WERE ELECTED PRESIDENT WE WERE MEETING IN THE SHOP CORD AT THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND WE WERE ALL 10 FEET APART FROM EACH OTHER AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
I THINK AT THE TIME WE PROBABLY THOUGHT WE WERE MAYBE GETTING THROUGH THE STORM.
BUT IT TURNED OUT THE STORE GOT MUCH WORSE.
UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AS OUR, AS OUR PRESIDENT, WE WEATHERED THAT STORM AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
YOU EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS QUITE HONESTLY, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
>> BUT I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS TIME TO SERVE WITH YOU AND WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THIS TIME. THANK YOU, JOHN.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I REALIZE THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY SITTING HERE TODAY AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS THAT YOU'VE SERVED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE BOARD THAT HE WASN'T ON AND YOU GOT IRRITATED ENOUGH AND FREQUENTLY THAT YOU DECIDED THAT YOU WANTED TO BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I'M PROUD OF THAT. I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW YOU'VE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THIS BOARD.
THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN EASY AND YOU'VE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP, SOMETIMES COMIC RELIEF, AND A FEELING FOR ALL OF US THAT WE'RE PART OF A TEAM.
WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO DO THE BEST FOR THIS DISTRICT.
JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU.
[01:00:05]
>> ALLEN HE HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD BEFORE JOHN.
IN FACT, I BLAME JOHN FOR CONVINCING ME OR LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT I COULD DO THIS JOB.
JOHN AND I GOT TO BE FRIENDS OVER SOME DISAGREEMENTS WE HAD OVER THE DISTRICT AND SOME THINGS THAT DISTRICTS THAT WERE GOING ON AT THAT TIME AND SO HE WOULD FREQUENTLY REACH OUT TO ME AND I KNOW HE FREQUENTLY REACHES OUT TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> THIS IS PAYBACK WE'RE EVEN NOW AND I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS AND BUDDIES AND EVERYTHING AND THEN I REALIZED, OH, NO, I'M JUST THIS SOUNDING BOARD.
YOU ARE OPEN AND LISTENING, WILLING TO HAVE THESE VERY CANDID AND OFTEN HEATED DISAGREEMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS ON THINGS IN A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY, IN A KIND WAY, THANK YOU.
THAT WAS A I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AS JOHN SAID, YOU HAVE LED US WITH GRACE AND KINDNESS AND COMPASSION AND THAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU HAVE DONE IT, BUT YOU'VE TAKEN A GROUP OF SEVEN VERY STRONG, BIG PERSONALITIES AND LED US WITH GRACE SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> JOHN, IF I COULD BEFORE I SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I THINK ONE OF YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ALSO WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING THIS EVENING.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP HERE FOR THREE MINUTES AND NOW I'M JUST LIKE, OH MY GOSH.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIE BYBEE AND HELLO BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO JOHN.
JOHN, I COULDN'T LET DAY GO BY WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU FOR SERVING IN EANES ISD OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THE LAST TWO-AND-A-HALF IS PRESIDENT.
HAVING SERVED WITH YOU FOR THREE OF THOSE YEARS, I CAN SAY THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE FROM THE HEART WITH EVERY CHILD, TEACHER, STAFF MEMBER, AND PARENT IN MIND.
WE DEALT WITH MANY ISSUES OVER THE YEARS, BUT NONE MORE TRYING THAN COVID.
YOU ALONG WITH TOM, HIS STAFF AND YOUR FELLOW TRUSTEES NAVIGATED A DIFFICULT [NOISE]
>> SITUATION AND HERE WE ARE TODAY AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD WITH SAFETY AND SPANISH IMMERSION, BUT THE BOARD IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH ITS CURRENT TRUSTEES AND WITH ITS NEWEST MEMBER, DIANNE BUT YOU JOHN WILL BE MISSED.
IN CLOSING, I WILL LEAVE YOU JOHN HAVENS STRING WITH THE TRUSTEE TRADITION OF LOWS, HIGHS AND GOOD GARBAGE. MY LOW.
THIS IS JUST ME. I FORGOT TO RENEW MY SEASON WEST LIKE FOOTBALL TICKETS.
THAT IS A REAL LOW BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE 50 YARD LINE.
TIFFANY. MY HIGH HAS BEEN SERVING ALONG YOU SIDE ON THE BOARD AND NOW I KNOW I HAVE A LIFELONG FRIEND.
MY GOOD GARBAGE IS, I KNOW WHEN I CALL YOU FOR A GLASS OF WINE AND A 2C9, YOU'LL BE AVAILABLE.
>> JOHN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE YOU AND THE TRUSTEES DURING MY FIRST YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW ADMINISTRATORS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR HUMILITY, YOUR GUIDANCE THROUGH SO MANY VERY COMPLEX SITUATIONS AND ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS PLAQUE THAT'S IN THE SHAPE OF EANES ISD.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING [LAUGHTER]
>> SERVICE ON THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR YOUR YEARS, 2017- 2023.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE DEAN'S COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS
[11.1 ACTION - Issue Certificates of Election to Elected Officials]
THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. ALLISON.>> THANK YOU, JOHN. AND BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE AUDIENCE IS A VERY EXCITING TIME WHERE WE SWITCH OVER THE BOARD AFTER THE TRUSTEE ELECTION AND AS A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE,
[01:05:02]
JOHN, I DO WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER SINCE BEFORE YOU GOT ON THE BOARD, TEN PLUS YEARS.
AND IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR. THANK YOU.
>> AT THE LAST MEETING, THE BOARD CANVAS TO THE VOTES OF THE ELECTION.
NOW WHAT'S LEFT TO DO IS ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS TO SWEAR IN THE NEW MEMBERS.
FIRST WE WILL ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION WHICH WILL TAKE AN ACTION OR TAKE A MOTION.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION TO KIM MCMATH AND DYNASTY TRUSTEE PLACE ONE.
LAURA CLARK EANES ISD PLACE TO AND DIANN HEARN, EANES ISD TRUSTEE PLACE THREE.
>> WE HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO DO, BUT JOHN, YOU ARE OFFICIALLY DONE WITH ACTION, DONE WITH THE SCRIPT.
>> YOU'RE OFF SCRIPT WITH THAT.
>> I KNOW. BUT NO, DON'T LEAVE YET. YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.
[11.2 Newly-Elected Trustees Complete Statements of Officers]
OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO COMPLETE A FEW BUSINESS PIECES OF BUSINESS.MS. CLARK, MS. SMITH, MS. MCMATH AND MS. HEARD, YOU HAVE A FOLDER IN FRONT OF YOU CONTAINING TWO DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE TO BE SWORN IN AS BOARD MEMBERS.
THE FIRST IS CALLED THE STATEMENT OF OFFICER, AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY AN ANTI-BRIBERY STATEMENT.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THAT AND SIGN ACCORDINGLY.
>> WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED SIGNING THAT, YOU CAN LEAVE IT IN THE FOLDER AND THE NEXT DOCUMENT IS THE OATH OF OFFICE.
YOU ACTUALLY READ AND SIGN THE OATH OF OFFICE BEFORE YOU WERE SWORN IN SO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SIGN, PLEASE.
THEN PLEASE TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AND
[11.3 Swearing-In of New Trustees (Oaths of Office)]
STAND IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN AND TIFFANY MURDOCK, WHO IS A NOTARY, WILL SWEAR YOU IN.>> NO. ALL TOGETHER. YES, STAND HERE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROOM.
[01:10:03]
[LAUGHTER]THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS.
[11.4 ACTION - Election of Officers for the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees]
WE WILL TAKE NOMINATIONS FOR EACH OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND SECRETARY.IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE NOMINATION FOR AN OFFICE, THE NOMINATIONS WILL BE VOTED ON IN THE ORDER THEY WERE MADE.
NOMINATIONS DO REQUIRE A SECOND.
DO I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR BOARD PRESIDENT? LAURA.
>> I NOMINATE JAMES SPRADLEY FOR BOARD PRESIDENT.
>> NOMINATION BY, ARE YOU GOING TO TO SAY IT?
THE NOMINATION FOR JAMES SPRADLEY.
>> SO NOMINATION BY LAURA, SECOND BY HEATHER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES? ANY DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THE VOTE? I'LL DISCUSS AND SAY THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND I'M HUMBLED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF JAMES SPRADLEY FOR OFFICE OF BOARD PRESIDENT? [LAUGHTER]
>> I GOT VERY FEW HOURS OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT.
DO I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR BOARD VICE PRESIDENT? JANE.
>> I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE KIM MCMATH AS BOARD VICE PRESIDENT.
>> NOMINATION FOR KIM MCMATH. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN. SECOND BY ELLEN.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF KIM MCMATH FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD VICE PRESIDENT SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS KIM.
DO I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR BOARD SECRETARY? LAURA.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE HEATHER SHEFFIELD AS BOARD SECRETARY.
>> SECOND BY KIM. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ANY DISCUSSION?
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF HEATHER SHEFFIELD FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD SECRETARY SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? NO. CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER ON BOARD SECRETARY.
SHOULD WE SHUFFLE AND GET TO OUR SEAT. JIM, YOU HAVE A NEW SEAT.
>> SURE. CAN I SAY THANK YOU AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE.
>> WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A WEIRD MEETING. WE'RE SETTLING IN.
>> ARE WE AT 12 NOW? THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR RETURN TO
[12. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN (RIPICS)]
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICE PLAN RUBIKS.MOLLY MAY IS COMING TO THE PODIUM.
>> SO I BELIEVE I'M STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER COVID, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A NOTE SAD TO HEAR OUR LAST REPORT ON RUBIKS.
BUT IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS PART OF OUR FUNDING FROM THE ACERS, SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS REPORT.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.
WE HAD TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE TO REVIEW THE PLAN, REVISE IT, AND THEN EVERY SIX MONTHS DISCUSS IT.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT NOW, WE WON'T HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.
WE ALSO HAVE A OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS EVENING IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP.
AS YOU ALL KNOW IT IN TERMS OF COVID ON MAY 4TH, COVID 19, THE WHO CONSIDERED, IT NO LONGER CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.
ON MAY 11TH, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SAID THE PUBLIC EMERGENCY FOR COVID HAS EXPIRED.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT JOHN AND HIS SERVICE DURING COVID, AND MAYBE THIS IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE END OF COVID THIS EVENING.
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WILL BE DOING WITH THIS ENDING.
[01:15:04]
AS YOU GUYS REMEMBER, WE HAVE EXTENDED COVID LEAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES.THAT WILL END ON JUNE 30TH, 2023, AND WE DO NOT INTEND TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND ASK FOR COVID LEAVE TO BE EXTENDED.
WE WILL DISCONTINUE ANY DASHBOARDS THAT WE HAVE BEGINNING IN 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.
AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE ANY FAMILY MEMBER, ANY STUDENT, ANYONE IN OUR DISTRICT WHO WANTS TO WEAR A MASK, WE ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE THAT AND PERMIT THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING DAILY MASKS TO SOME STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES JUST EXPECT THAT THE DISTRICT WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE'LL DISTRIBUTE ANY EXTRA MASKS WE HAVE, BUT WE WON'T CONTINUE HAVING OUR NURSES DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEN WE WILL UPDATE OUR RUBIKS WEBSITE FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION.
ANY FEEDBACK WE GET THIS EVENING, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL TAKE DOWN OUR RUBIKS WEBSITE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT RETURNING AFTER COVID? GREAT.
>> REAL QUICK, MOLLY. YOU SAID IT EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 2023 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE COMING UP? I GUESS IS MY QUESTION.
>> NO. WE ARE DONE WITH RUBIKS UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US MORE ACERS FUNDS, BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING.
>> I HOPE THEY'RE BUSY WITH OTHER STUFF RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICE PLAN.
NO SPEAKERS HAVE SIGNED UP, ALTHOUGH THE TIMER IS RUNNING.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.
TONIGHT THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONSIDERING
[13.1 Considering Additional Law Enforcement for Eanes ISD Schools]
ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR EANES ISD SCHOOLS.FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICY CKE LOCAL.
ALLISON AND JEREMY ARE JOINING US.
WE APPRECIATE THE TIME TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
AS DOCTOR ARNETT REFERENCED, WE'VE HAD A BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS, TO INTRODUCE THE TOPIC AND BEGIN DISCUSSING IT.
WE HAD THE TOWN HALL WHERE WE GOT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
THEN TO STAY ON A TIMELINE TO ANTICIPATE STARTING SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
WE DO HAVE FIRST READING OF A DRAFT POLICY.
I WILL NOTE FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT THE POLICY WAS REVISED AND REPLACED ONLINE IN THE BOARD PACKET LAST NIGHT.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING REFERENCED IN THE POLICY, AND SO WE DID EXPAND THE POLICY AND THERE'S A NEW VERSION ONLINE IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE OR ANYONE WATCHING ONLINE HAS NOT SEEN IT YET.
THAT'S THE VERSION THAT WE'LL DISCUSS TODAY.
JEREMY IS HERE IN CASE WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND DR. ARNETT AS WELL.
BUT AS YOU SEE IN THE POLICY, IT STARTS OUT AS A PRETTY STANDARD TARS B VERSION POLICY AND THEN WE INZIFY IT.
AS I THINK ONE OF YOUR OPEN FORUM SPEAKERS REFERENCED, EVERY DISTRICT HAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE TYPE OF DEPARTMENT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE? WHAT DOES YOUR COMMUNITY WANT? WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES AND AN EFFORT SUCH LIKE THIS.
YOU SEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POLICY, WE SPELL OUT PROVISIONS REGARDING A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICERS.
WE GO THROUGH WHAT TRAINING THE DISTRICT AND STATE REQUIRE OF PEACE OFFICERS.
WE SET UP THE REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT POLICY MANUAL AND A FEW VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN THAT POLICY MANUAL.
WE TALK ABOUT SOME OVERLAPPING JURISDICTIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
VIDEO AND AUDIO MONITORING AND BODY WORN CAMERAS ARE REFERENCED IN HERE, AND THEN COMPLAINTS ARE IN THIS POLICY.
THEN THE POLICY DESCRIBES INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS, WHICH WOULD BE PERSONNEL HIRED BEFORE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, BEFORE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONED BY TCOL.
THEN WE DO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS HERE AS WELL, WHICH WE PROBABLY WOULD ANTICIPATE HAVING UNTIL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY UP AND RUNNING, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE BOARD DECIDES TO GO IN.
IT'S PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE, BUT IT IS JUST A FIRST DRAFT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO OPEN THE TABLE FOR CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU ALLISON. BOARD? YES, HEATHER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INZIFYING THIS.
EVEN I APPRECIATED THE LATE NIGHT ADDITIONS TOO.
I DO STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD.
I'M NOT GOING TO WORDSMITH, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU MY TWO CENTS.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING IN THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST ON EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND HOW AND WHEN THOSE OCCUR.
>> INVESTIGATIONS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE?
>> OR SITUATIONS WE'VE HEARD ABOUT ONE IN OPEN FORUM TODAY.
>> IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD THEN REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
[01:20:04]
I KNOW WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES, BUT I WOULD LOVE SOMETHING MORE AND MAYBE THIS IS JUST A COMFORT THING, BUT ON DISPATCH AND WORKING WITH THEM WITH RADIOS, AND HOW THAT ALL REALLY WORKS.>> THEN WHEN IT COMES TO INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS, I'M JUST GOING TO BE FRANK, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT IDEA.
I LIKE EITHER HAVING WHAT WE HAVE OR MOVING FORWARD.
THE ONLY WAY I'D BE COMFORTABLE IS IF WE NAME I THINK THE TWO PEOPLE POTENTIALLY THAT WE ARE THINKING, THAT MIGHT BE THERE, RATHER THAN TO HAVE IT OPEN-ENDED.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AND TALK FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE AUDIENCE OF WHAT THAT SECTION IS.
LIKELY, GIVEN THE BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS TO START A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS NOT BUREAUCRAT.
IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF VETTING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK APPROVAL FROM THE STATE.
TO START A POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT.
THAT PROVISION FOR SAFETY OFFICERS WOULD PROBABLY NOT JUST APPLY TO THE TWO SAFETY DIRECTORS THAT ARE ON STAFF RIGHT NOW.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE OFFICERS THAT MEET THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING COMMISSIONED BY TCOLE.
IT WOULD GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU FOUND A GOOD PERSON, TO GO AHEAD AND GET THEM ON BOARD.
THEN WHEN WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION, THEN MENTOR OFFICERS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, MAYBE MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THERE.
>> ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE THE SAME.
THE SAME POLICY WOULD APPLY TO THEM IN TERMS OF PD POLICY THAT WOULD NOT BE IN EFFECT COMPLETELY YET, OR WOULD THAT REQUIRE SEPARATE POLICY IN ADVANCE OF HAVING A POLICE DEPARTMENT?
>> WELL, THAT'S IN THIS POLICY.
>> THAT SECTION ON INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS WOULD BE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO CARRY WEAPONS ON CAMPUS AND PROTECT THE DISTRICT BEFORE THEY ARE COMMISSIONED AS EANES ISD POLICE OFFICERS.
>> UNDER THE SAME RULES THAT WOULD APPLY.
>> YES. WELL, NOT ALL THE SAME RULES BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE PEACE OFFICERS AT THE TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EANES, SO THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE PEACE OFFICERS.
THEY FOLLOW THE RULES OUTLINED IN POLICY, THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE IN POLICY.
THEN ONCE THEY'RE COMMISSIONED AS PEACE OFFICERS, IF THEY DO MOVE TO THAT NEXT STEP, IF WE FIND THAT THEY'RE A GOOD FIT FOR US AND THAT WE WANT TO COMMISSION THEM, THEN THEY WOULD FOLLOW THE PEACE OFFICER LAWS.
>> I PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING JUST START IT FROM THE GET-GO OR STICK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
I DID APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THERE.
IF THAT ARRANGEMENT IS STILL WORKING, WE STILL HAVE THAT CONTRACT.
THAT'LL BE MY PREFERENCE, TO JUST STICK WITH THAT UNTIL WE HAVE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST MY PREFERENCE.
THEN MOVING ON TO THE OTHER PIECE UNDER, AND THIS IS MY LAST ONE, AUTHORIZATION.
MAYBE IT'S NOT UNDER AUTHORIZATION, MAYBE I JUST WROTE IT THERE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING.
I KNOW WE HAD SOMEWHERE IN THERE ABOUT PSYCH EVALUATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE THAT FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING INTERIM EMPLOYEES OR INTERIM.
THEN ALSO I KNOW IT MENTIONED SOMEWHERE IN HERE ABOUT PHYSICAL EXAMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A PHYSICAL FITNESS EXAM OR JUST A PHYSICAL LIKE WHAT THAT IS.
IF WE NEED TO NAIL THAT DOWN BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED THIS WOULD ALSO BE BENEFITING OUR KIDDOS WHO MAYBE WE HAVE SOME ELOPERS.
>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ELOPE WITH THEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THOSE REFERENCES ARE TO THE PEACE OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE THOSE ARE REQUIRED COMPONENTS OF BECOMING A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AS TO UNDERGO A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL TRAINING AND EXAMINATION.
>> THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS. I AGREE WITH HEATHER.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT.
I FORGET, SORRY, WHAT WE'RE CALLING THAT.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE ARE NOT NEARLY AS ROBUST AS WHAT WE ARE REQUIRING FOR PEACE OFFICERS AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I WOULD AGREE WITH HEATHER THAT EITHER WE CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT SROS UNTIL WE HAVE OUR POLICE OFFICER PROGRAM IN PLACE OR IF THERE IS A WAY TO REQUIRE OUR TEMPORARY OFFICERS TO HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS,
[01:25:04]
THEN I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT MYSELF. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?>> WELL, YOU DO SEE IN HERE THAT WE SAID THAT THEY EITHER NEED TO BE CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS OR HONORABLY RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
>> BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THE TRAINING THAT WE ARE REQUIRING AS THE POLICY IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, CHILDHOOD, ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGY POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, ALL THAT LONG LIST THERE?
>> RIGHT. THEY MAY HAVE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FIVE OF SIX.
YOU SEE ALL OF THE DISTRICT TRAINING THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THE REFERENCES THAT YOU ARE READING FROM WERE FROM THE TEXAS OCCUPATIONS CODE, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS.
DEFINITELY, THOSE ARE COURSES THAT THOSE OFFICERS TAKE THROUGH TCOLE TO GET A SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE, BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY STILL REQUIRE ALL OF THE TRAINING LISTED ON PAGE 5.
>> ALL OF THE TRAINING REQUIRED ON PAGE 5 IS REQUIRED WHETHER THEY ARE TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT?
>> YES, OR SROS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE REQUIRE THAT RIGHT NOW OF OUR SROS.
>> IS THAT REQUIRED BEFORE THEY START OR AFTER THEY START?
>> I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
>> I WOULD WANT IT TO BE REQUIRED BEFORE.
>> I WILL PASS THAT ALONG TO THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
>> NO, I THINK I WOULD LIKE IT WRITTEN IN THE POLICY.
>> I WOULD LIKE IT WRITTEN IN THE POLICY.
>> IF THE REST OF THE BOARD AGREES WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S NO MENTION OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS AND SECURITY STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN THIS POLICY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INCLUDED AMONG OUR DISCUSSION.
WE'VE DISCUSSED HAVING TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND EVERY OTHER CAMPUS.
>> THAT IS WHAT THE BOARD DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING.
>> RIGHT. HAND UP WHEN I'M REMEMBERING.
THEN THOSE ARE INCLUSIVE OF THE TWO SAFETY PERSONNEL POSITIONS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
>> I DO THINK THERE WOULD BE A CHIEF, THEN THE TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN ON EVERY CAMPUS.
>> IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH DR. ARNETT, HE INDICATED TO ME THAT OUR CHIEF WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.
>> THEN I'LL DEFER DR. ARNETT ON THAT.
>> ONE OF THE 11 THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, YES.
>> WE WOULD HAVE 11 TOTAL OFFICERS AND THEN THAT'S INCLUDING THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR SAFETY STUFF.
>> OKAY. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT WRITTEN INTO THE POLICY, THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE PER CAMPUS.
>> THE WAY WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROACHING THAT IS THAT YOU WOULD APPROVE THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET TO ALLOW THE POLICY.
IF YOU WANTED TO ADD MORE OFFICERS OR CHANGE THE ARRANGEMENT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO REVISE POLICY EVERY TIME.
>> I THINK THE ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND REGARDING THE POLICY, WHICH THIS IS ALREADY VERY COMPREHENSIVE COMPARED TO MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHICH IS FINE, WE UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATION OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS THAT ARE NOW BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE POLICY, INCLUDING A LOT OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION TOO.
THE CAUTION IS THAT THE POLICY BECOMES SO COMPREHENSIVE AND SO DETAILED THAT IT REMOVES ANY FLEXIBILITY THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE OR THE ADMINISTRATION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
IF THE PROFESSION CHANGES, IF TRAININGS CHANGE, IF THERE ARE OTHER EXPECTATIONS OF THE ROLES THAT CHANGE, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO REVISIT THE ENTIRE POLICY.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS LIKELY NO MORE IMPORTANT POLICY WITHIN OUR BOOK.
IF THAT REQUIRES FREQUENT AND REGULAR REVIEW BY THIS BOARD AND BY FUTURE BOARDS, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD AIM FOR PERSONALLY.
>> CAN I ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> COULD IT BE HANDLED IN SOME WAY, LIKE A POLICY SPECIFICATION THAT WE WOULD EXPECT EQUITY BETWEEN CAMPUSES OR ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICERS TO ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS OPPOSED TO A NUMERICAL NUMBER THAT MIGHT CHANGE OVER TIME?
>> WELL, I THINK WE COULD EASILY DO.
WE EXPECT TWO OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE PER CAMPUS, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
>> RIGHT. AS OPPOSED TO A SET NUMBER OF.
>> THAT'S FINE, AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING TO THE NUMBER THAT WE ARE EXPECTING NOW.
I DON'T REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE, BUT YEAH.
[01:30:01]
>> BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'D BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW MANY OFFICERS AND HOUSE BILL 3.
THE BILL THAT WAS DISCUSSING THIS WAS UPDATED TODAY.
THERE WAS ANOTHER SENATE AMENDMENT THAT DOES NOW ADD IN THAT YOU MUST HAVE AN OFFICER ON EVERY CAMPUS.
IT WAS IN THERE ORIGINALLY. IT WAS REMOVED.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE IT'LL END UP TOMORROW.
AGAIN, THERE'S NO REASON THAT BASED ON LAW, WHICH WE DO REGULARLY EVERY YEAR, WE COULDN'T COME BACK AND AMEND THE POLICY IF THE LAW CHANGES.
>> THEN THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS POLICY ABOUT OVERSIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN OUR SOCIETY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
I'D LIKE TO SEE AN EXAMPLE OF A POLICY THAT INCLUDES OVERSIGHT THE NEXT TIME WE REVIEWED THIS.
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANOTHER POLICY THAT INCLUDES OVERSIGHT, BUT I KNOW OF OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ENGAGED IN THOSE KINDS OF INVESTIGATIONS.
I'LL TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHAT I CAN DRAFT FOR YOU.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT GOES WITH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AS WELL. GOT IT.
>> I'VE GOT KIM AND THEN LAURA AND THEN ELLEN. KIM, YOU'RE UP.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'M NOT OVER THERE.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THEM, JANE, GOES TO YOU.
WHAT YOU ENDED WITH, WHICH IS OVERSIGHT.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF OR ARE YOU REQUESTING OVERSIGHT IN A COMPLAINT FASHION?
>> MAYBE IT'S MORE OF A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE, AND HOW THAT HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT, WHERE WOULD THAT GO, WHERE WOULD THE COMPLAINTS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS? WITHIN OUR DISTRICT OR BEYOND OUR DISTRICT IF IT WERE NEEDED.
I HOPE THAT WE HIRED THE MOST WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THAT NEVER HAPPENS BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION AND AS THE OPEN FORUM SPEAKER REFERENCED, THE CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS POLICY IS NINE PAGES BECAUSE THEY HAVE ABOUT FIVE ADDRESS TO COMPLAINTS AND SO I'LL TAKE IT LOOKS LIKE THAT.
>> GOOD AND I APPRECIATE THAT I HAVE A SHORTLIST, BUT ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS HOW WE HANDLE COMPLAINTS.
I KNOW IT IS ADDRESSED AND IT'S CALLED OUT, BUT I THINK IT COULD BE MORE FULSOME SO THAT EVERYONE EXPECTS AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE POLICE OFFICERS AND SOMEONE MAKING A COMPLAINT.
>> THAT WOULD BE NICE TOO IF WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE TO INCLUDE THAT.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AN OFFICER AT EVERY CAMPUS, BUT WE HAVE 10 CAMPUSES.
HOW ARE WE HANDLING ATS? BECAUSE WE HAVE NINE TRADITIONAL CAMPUSES, WE HAVE ATS, AND SO NINE AND TWO OR 11, DON'T REALLY ADDRESS ATS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CAMPUS PROTECTED WITH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE PROTECT EVERY CAMPUS.
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW THE INITIAL BOD IS THAT ATS WOULD BE SHARED WITH HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL OR PERHAPS IF YOU HAVE A CHIEF WHO IS ACTING IN A CAPACITY THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE AS NEEDED, THEN THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE DISPATCHED TO ATS AS WELL.
IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HAVING A DEDICATED OFFICER FOR ATS, THEN THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER.
>> MY THOUGHT AND I WASN'T HERE TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE ALONG WITH THE CONVERSATION ABOUT COVID, I HAD COVID, SO I WAS WATCHING.
BUT I'VE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING TO THIS POINT BECAUSE MY PHILOSOPHY IS I DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO HAVE OFFICERS ON OUR CAMPUS BUT I SEE THE NEED FOR OFFICERS ON OUR CAMPUS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO AND I THINK THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OFFICERS ON OUR CAMPUS.
I LOOK AT THE THOUGHT AROUND HAVING TWO OFFICERS ON A VERY LARGE CAMPUS LIKE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN WE LOOK AT HILL COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN HILL COUNTRY IN ATS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOLUTION THAT WOULD GIVE MORE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY TO ANY KIND OF DANGEROUS SITUATION AT ATS.
I KNOW IT'S A SMALL CAMPUS BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
[01:35:01]
A LARGE CAMPUS LIKE WESTLAKE AND REALIZE THAT WE NEED MULTIPLE OFFICERS, I DON'T WANT TO BE LACKING AT ATS THAT WOULD BE MY COMMENT AND MY FEEDBACK.THAT'S NOT REALLY THE POLICY, BUT THAT WAS MY FEEDBACK.
THE SECOND AREA IN THE POLICY TO GO BACK TO THE POLICY IS WE DO HAVE A SECTION ON WHAT'S CALLED RACIAL PROFILING RIGHT NOW.
BUT IN MY MIND, AND I KNOW THAT'S A DEDICATED AREA, BUT IN MY MIND, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO PROFILING AGAINST ANY DISCRIMINATION ON SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY, SOMEONE'S RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER IDENTITY, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT TRADITIONALLY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTION IS TAKEN WITHOUT THOSE THINGS IN MIND.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE EXPAND THAT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE BOARD AND IN THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS, THAT IS NOT ONLY LIMITED TO RACIAL PROFILING BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT'S JUST FROM STATE LAW.
BUT THE POSITION IN THIS DISTRICT ALWAYS HAS BEEN THAT WE EXPAND THAT NET AND SO I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SOME OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
KIM, THAT WAS A HOT ONE FOR ME IT WAS THAT PROFILING AND TYSON WOULD THE NEED FOR ANTI-BIAS TRAINING.
I'LL START WITH SOME OF MY QUESTIONS AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND FORGIVE ME THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALIGNED WITH THE MOST CURRENT ONE, SO HOPEFULLY I'M NOT BEING REDUNDANT HERE.
ON THE FIRST PAGE, ITEM 2, NUMBER 2 WHERE IT SAYS ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF DISTRICT POLICIES.
THAT LANGUAGE FEELS A LITTLE CONFLICTING BECAUSE IT SAYS ASSIST IN ENFORCEMENT AND THEN THE NEXT SENTENCE SAYS THEY SHALL NOT BE ASSIGNED TO ROUTINE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE OR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS.
>> RIGHT. YES. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS IN-HOUSE ABOUT THIS AND THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COURSES BASED ON THIS NUMBER 2 EXACTLY THAT LAST SENTENCE, DISTRICT PEACE OFFICER SHALL NOT BE ASSIGNED ROUTINE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE OR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM STATE LAW.
THERE'S A DISTINCTION MADE IN THE INTENT OF STATE LAW IS THAT WE HAVE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS.
FOR ROUTINE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THOSE TWO SHALL NOT MIX.
ONE IS DEFINITELY THE PURVIEW OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS AND THOSE ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, THEY'RE NOT CRIMINAL ISSUES THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THOSE ARENAS.
BUT IN TERMS OF POLICIES AND RULES LIKE CRIMINAL TRESPASS, HOURS OF OPERATION, DISRUPTIONS, WE HAVE POLICIES AND RULES THAT ARE NOT JUST STUDENT BASED THAT WE WOULD NEED OUR PEACE OFFICERS TO ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT ARE NOT ROUTINE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE OR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THINK ABOUT THE ENTIRE BREADTH OF THE POLICY MANUAL.
WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS VERY SPECIFIC TRAINING ABOUT WHAT OUR ROUTINE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS AS A PEACE OFFICER, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER IN THIS? THEN HAVE THE PEACE OFFICERS UNDERSTAND FOR THE ENTIRE REST OF THE RULES AND POLICIES AND LAWS, HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER IN THAT.
THAT'S MAYBE THE MOST COMPLICATED PIECE OF A PEACE DEPARTMENT IN MY MIND OF WHO DOES WHAT AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AND WE'LL CERTAINLY GET ALL THE TRAINING IN COOPERATION WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS ON THAT POINT.
>> WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT BEYOND THE TRAINING IS TO HAVE THAT REALLY CLEARLY DEFINED IN A POLICY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A DEFINING WHAT THOSE POLICIES AND RULES ARE.
I KNOW MOLLY, THANK YOU YOU SPOKE TO THAT VERY WELL AT THE TOWN HALL, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN MY MIND, BUT WE NEED TO GET THAT INTO POLICY.
>> LET ME LOOK AT SOME WORDING THERE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S SAY WHAT? THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAINING AND THE TRAINING FOR THE TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS AND INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS.
WE HAVE THESE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND MIGHT NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT YOU DO COVER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS DOWN UNDER THE TRAINING HEADING BECAUSE IT SAYS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS SHALL RECEIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THEN IT LISTS THE TRAINING OR IT DOES ON THE OUGHT TO CHANGE IN THE NEW VERSION.
>> IN THE NEW VERSION IT'S LISTED OUT MORE SPECIFICALLY.
>> OKAY. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE REINFORCE UNDER THAT INTERIM SAFETY OFFICER THAT DOES THAT TRAINING IS INCLUDED.
>> I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POINT I MADE
[01:40:02]
EARLIER THAT THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICERS, OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, GO THROUGH THIS TRAINING EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE DISTRICT AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATED THAT THEY RECOGNIZE OUR NEEDS AND WE WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT TO BE ANY DIFFERENT WITH ANY STAFF WE EMPLOY OF OUR OWN.>> I'LL PAUSE THERE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> WELL, I DO THINK YOU INTRODUCE A POINT THAT I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND GET BOARD CONSENSUS ON THE IDEA OF THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICER AS PART OF THE TRANSITION TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO KNOW, IS THAT A DIRECTION THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO GO IN OR NOT? THE REASON THAT THAT'S INTRODUCED IS BECAUSE AS YOU SAW IN THE TIMELINE, THE LAST MEETING, WE LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY POLICE DEPARTMENT UP AND RUNNING UNTIL JANUARY 2024 AT THE EARLIEST, WHICH IS JUST LOGISTICALLY HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET APPROVED AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER THE EQUIPMENT AND GET READY.
WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THROUGH TRAVIS COUNTY, THE TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE THINK THROUGH NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND SO IF WE CAN COUNT ON THAT, THOSE WILL STILL BE THERE.
WE WILL RENEW THEIR CONTRACT FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
IF THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICER WAS A TRANSITION AWAY TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR BEFORE WE COMMISSIONED A POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THE BOARD'S DIRECTION IF YOU WANT TO GO THERE OR NOT OR JUST GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> JAMES, SINCE I HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN ON THIS.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS AS WE HAVE FOR OUR PERMANENT OFFICERS THEN I'M OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS.
BUT THEY MUST MEET THOSE SAME TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
>> WHAT I CAN SAY ON THAT IS THEY WOULD MEET ALL THE SAME TRAINING REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THOSE FOR PEACE OFFICER CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE STATE BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE HIRING THEM AS PEACE OFFICERS.
WE WOULD NOT BE COMMISSIONED AND AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT.
BUT ALL THE OTHER LET ME SEE IT THAT'S NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 1 ON THE LIST ON PAGE 2.
>> BUT ALL THE REST THAT DON'T APPLY SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE ONLY IF YOU'RE A PEACE OFFICER, WE WOULD REQUIRE ALL THE REST.
>> THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR DEI, OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, ALL OF THIS.
>> YES. THOSE ARE ALSO LISTED ON PAGE 5, YES, JEN.
>> I'M SORRY MAYBE I'M RIGHT AT THIS POINT.
YOU'RE LOOKING ON PAGE 2 UNDER TRAINING.
>> WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT TEMPORARY OR WHATEVER WE'RE CALLING THEM? WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT?
>> IT DOESN'T SAY IT ON THAT PAGE, LET ME EXPLAIN.
LAURA'S POINT WHICH YOU WERE MAKING EARLIER ALSO, IS THAT THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS WHICH ARE COVERED ON PAGE 5 OR 4 NEED TO HAVE ALL THE SAME TRAINING AS PEACE OFFICERS.
IF I LOOK AT THE PEACE OFFICER TRAINING ON PAGE 2.
NUMBER 1 IS THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BE A PEACE OFFICER.
THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS CANNOT HAVE THAT TRAINING BECAUSE WE CANNOT COMMISSION THEM AS PEACE OFFICERS.
ALL THE REST OF THE TRAINING WE COULD DO SUM OF TWO ALSO AND THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT IN THE NEW POLICY, WE COULD REQUIRE ALL OF THOSE OF THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS.
YES, I AM LOOKING AT THE REVISED.
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE INDICATING THAT I WAS ALREADY COVERED.
>> IN THIS VERSION OF THE POLICY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
>> I'M GOING TO PASS BECAUSE I JUST DON'T SEE THAT.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'M LOOKING AT?
>> CAN WE PULL IT OUT, PLEASE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. NO, IF YOU JUST PULL UP THE POLICY THAT'S POSTED CURRENTLY IN THE BOARD.
>> SURE. BEAR WITH ME JUST A MOMENT.
>> YOU'RE ON MY LIST. WE'RE GETTING THERE AND THE COMMUNITY IT'S GETTING AN IDEA OF WHY THIS TAKES SO LONG AND WHY IT'S SO COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT.
>> I APOLOGIZE. WHAT I WANT TO GO TO IS WHAT ARE THOSE REQUIRED TRAINING FOR PEACE OFFICERS.
BECAUSE THAT'S ALL LUMPED TOGETHER AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE MISSING.
[01:45:01]
>> I WILL HAVE TO REFER YOU TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THEIR WHOLE TRAINING PROGRAMS ON HOW TO BECOME A PEACE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT THERE'S OVERLAP PROBABLY.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'S OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME A PEACE OFFICER AND THOSE THAT WE'VE LISTED.
>> I DON T KNOW THAT. I DON'T KNOW THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME A PEACE OFFICER IN THE STATE.
>> I THINK THAT COULD BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND YOU ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
>> I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE TRAINING THAT OUR INTERIM OFFICERS WOULD BE REQUIRED INCLUDE EVERYTHING BUT ITEM 1, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE MISSING.
>> I'M TELLING YOU EITHER WAY.
>> BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT SAYS.
>> DON'T FORGET THE INTERIM PEACE SAFETY OFFICERS [OVERLAPPING]
>> ARE EITHER CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS OR RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS.
THEY HAVE ALL ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE TRAINING IN NUMBER 1. THIS VERSION OF THE PROBLEM
>> LET ME LOOP BACK TO WHAT HER INITIAL START OF THIS DISCUSSION AND WHAT I STARTED WITH WHICH WAS YES, I'M FINE WITH THE INTERIM POLICE OFFICERS.
>> OKAY THEN. NARROWLY ON THIS ONE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KEEP WAITING FOR THE POLICY, BUT DR. ANNETTE MAYBE I DON'T NEED TO BE DOING THAT.
>> BEAR WITH US JUST A MOMENT.
>> LAURA YOU WERE RECOGNIZING YOU'RE DONE.
FOR NOW YOU PAUSED. IT GOES TO ELLEN.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT FOR THE AUDIENCE AS OPPOSED TO SOME DISTRICTS WHO HAVE JUST SAID SECOND GRADE TEACHER CARRY YOUR WEAPON.
IN THIS POLICY, BASED ON THE BOARD'S DIRECTION, WE HAVE SAID THAT ANY INTERIM SAFETY OFFICER THAT HAW HIRED BEFORE WE COMMISSION A POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO BE EITHER A CURRENT PEACE OFFICER OR AN HONORABLY RETIRED PEACE OFFICER, NOT JUST A RANDOM SECOND GRADE TEACHER THAT YOU GIVE A WEAPON TO.
THIS BOARD SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THAT RESTRICTION TO BE IN THERE.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT FOR SOMEONE LOOKING AT PERHAPS ANOTHER POLICY.
>> IT'S THE ONE THAT'S IN THE AGENDA PACKET.
>> NO. [INAUDIBLE] NUMBER 1, CERTIFIED OFFICERS STAY GETTING EQUAL [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE REQUIRED COURSES TO BECOME A PEACE OFFICER.
THE LAW SAYS FOR SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT PRE-SCHOOL PEACE OFFICER MUST [INAUDIBLE] AND TO HAVE EVERY SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR BASE PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THE COMMISSION, HOPEFULLY, SOONER.
THOSE TWO, ESPECIALLY NUMBER 1, ARE SPECIFIC TO BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BUT THIS CURRICULUM HERE IN THE SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE OUR INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS DO.
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PEACE OFFICERS, BUT THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THIS CURRICULUM THAT IS ESTABLISHED AND SET OUT BY THE STATE AND THEIR COURSES ON THIS.
ALL OF THIS ANNUAL AND ONGOING TRAINING REQUIRED BY THE DISTRICT IS ALL REPEATED WORD FOR WORD IN THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS SECTION SO WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY REQUIRED ALL OF THAT TRAINING.
IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN. YOU SEE IT'S DEI, BULLY IF YOU WOULD GO, SORRY, BACKUP NOW, JEFF.
YOU CAN SEE MENTAL HEALTH, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, DEI, AGE APPROPRIATENESS, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, CHILD ABUSE, BULLYING, ETC.
ALL THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT HERE, INS FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO BE TRAINED ON INCLUDING THESE STAFF MEMBERS. GO AHEAD, JEFF.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THE SUMMER TRAINING THAT WE USE HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND OUR SROS ALREADY GO THROUGH THAT.
THANK YOU, DEPUTY [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE AN ANNUAL FIREARMS PROFICIENCY, ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE TRAINING, CRISIS PREVENTION INTERVENTION, ANY OTHER IN-SERVICE TRAINING, AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED TRAINING.
ALL OF THAT, ALL THE INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS CAN ALSO BE REQUIRED TO DO.
WE CAN DEFINITELY BEEF UP THAT SECTION OF THE POLICY IF THE BOARD DOES WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH REQUIRING THAT AS TRAINING FOR
[01:50:02]
THE SAFETY OFFICERS AS WELL AS PEACE OFFICERS.IF YOU GO DOWN JEFF, TO PAGE 5 OR 4. KEEP GOING, PLEASE.
RIGHT HERE IN THE SECTION ON INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS THIS IS WHERE THE BOARD HAS SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT ANYONE HIRED AS A TRANSITION BETWEEN NOW IF YOU DECIDE TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION BETWEEN NOW AND COMMISSION OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD HIRE CURRENTLY CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS OR HONORABLY RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS TO SERVE IN THIS TRANSITIONAL PIECE.
IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN MORE, JEFF.
THE TRAINING FOR THE SROS AND ANY INTERIM SAFETY OFFICERS CAN MIRROR EXACTLY THE TRAINING WE JUST LOOKED AT ON PAGE 2 MINUS THAT TOP PIECE ON NUMBER 1 FOR PEACE OFFICERS.
WE COULD MIRROR THAT EXACT TRAINING AND AGAIN, THIS IS TRAINING OUR SROS ALREADY GO THROUGH.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND MEANS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE A LITTLE BIT? AGAIN, THIS IS THE REVISED VERSION OF THE POLICY THAT WAS POSTED ONLINE.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT LAURA SAID AND THANK YOU FOR THAT DETAILED EXPLANATION.
I FULLY EXPECT THAT THE INTERIM OFFICERS MAY WELL IN FACT BE EXACTLY THE SAME PEOPLE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE IN JANUARY, BUT WE HOPE TO HIRE THEM PRIOR TO AUGUST.
>> I THINK THAT IS THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD BE THE EXACT SAME PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD THEN COMMISSIONERS OFFICERS, THEY WOULD SWITCH OUT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SWITCH OUT UNIFORMS AND THEN BECOME THE DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THEY'RE A GOOD FIT FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> THE TWO SROS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL MIGHT BE THE EXCEPTION TO THAT, BUT I FULLY EXPECTED THAT THEY WILL BE, IF NOT, THE SAME PEOPLE CERTAINLY CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH.
I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT THERE'S LAURA STATED.
>> YOU GOT ANOTHER TOPIC OR YOU'RE STOPPING?
>> I'VE GOT OTHERS BUT OTHER PEOPLE SHE WANTS US TO TALK ABOUT.
WE SAID THAT NUMBER 1 WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE TRAINING THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE TCOLE STUFF BUT I'M JUST WANTING TO ADD THAT THEY STILL WOULD RECEIVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IN ADVANCE.
>> IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO DO THAT.
WE DO NOT DO THAT FOR ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT ANYWAYS.
>> HEATHER, THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE IT.
THEY'RE ALREADY EITHER CERTIFIED OR HONORABLY RETIRED TCOLE OFFICERS.
>> I DO WANT THAT JUST FOR EVERYBODY.
>> THE REST OF THE BOARD LIKE ME TO ADD THAT IN FOR SAFETY OFFICERS.
>> MAYBE WE SET A TIMELINE ON IT, IF THEY'RE COMING FROM AN ORGANIZATION WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS THAT WE CAN SAY YOU'VE HAD ONE OF THESE WITHIN A YEAR,360 DAYS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT IF THEY'VE JUST RECENTLY HAD ONE AND THEY'VE RETIRED.
>> WHY DON'T I DO SOME MORE RESEARCH AND ASK THE EXPERTS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM ABOUT IS THERE A RE-CERTIFICATION PROCESS? HOW DOES THAT LOOK? WHAT'S THE ANNUAL ONGOING IF YOU'RE A PEACE OFFICER AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD SO THAT WE KNOW A PERSON COMING TO US IT'S LIKE CURRENTLY IN ANOTHER AGENCY WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT PROCESS IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN RETIRED A YEAR, WHERE ARE THEY IN THAT PROCESS? JUST GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY HAS AN ISSUE, IT'S JUST I WANT TO BE SAFE BECAUSE THESE ARE CHILDREN THAT WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE WITH AND I JUST WANT IT TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS, ANYBODY THAT'S HIRED HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING WITH OUR KIDS.
PTSD HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HEB ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE BEEN ON THE FORCE BEFORE, YOU GO THROUGH SOME THINGS AND YOU SEE SOME THINGS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL GOOD.
BUT I DID PULL UP THE TCOLE WEBSITE AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN THE POLICY.
THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT DID MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF THEM IS CANINE ENCOUNTERS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A TON OF CANINE ENCOUNTERS EXCEPT FOR WITH VETO, WHICH WE LOVE HIM, SO I DON'T KNOW.
THEN JEFF AND HARD OF HEARING, I'M GUESSING THAT THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN A SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE TCOLE COURSE WOULD BE, BUT AREN'T IN STAFF WOULD TRAIN THE OFFICERS ON OUR NEEDS IN THAT AREA.
>> THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT THEY MENTIONED IS CIT.
I'M GUESSING THAT MEANS CIVILIAN INTERACTION PROGRAM.
>> WE WOULD DEFINITELY DO ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS TRAINING THAT'S LISTED IN THE POLICY.
[01:55:01]
>> GREAT. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT THEY SPELL OUT IS THE POLICE CHIEFS.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT OUR INTERIM PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE ROLLING INTO THAT COULD GET GOING ON IN ADVANCE.
>> IT MAY ALREADY BE ANSWERED.
ALLISON, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING DO SOME MORE RESEARCH.
I THINK WE NEED SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE OF THIS TRAINING REQUIRED FOR TCOLE.
I THINK THAT I INTERPRETED THAT TO MEAN PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO TCOLE, NOT JUST GENERAL, PHYSICAL.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT IS AND HOW WE WORK THAT IN.
>> YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TCOLE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS REQUIREMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT TO GET YOU.
>> THE CONVERSATION AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT WE ARE WANTING THE SAME EXAMINATIONS FOR INTERIM POLICE OFFICER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE SAME EXAMINATIONS CAN BE DONE FOR OTHER OFFICERS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE DECLARE IN A POLICY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF EXAMINATIONS.
>> I MEAN, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE TCOLE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
I MEAN, WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE IF YOU WANT THAT REQUIREMENT THAT I JUST PUT THAT REQUIREMENT IN HERE AND YOU DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> THE TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS CAN MEAN ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE ON WHAT TYPE OF EXAMINATION IF WE'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD OF HAVING THEM REQUIRED FOR INTERIM OFFICERS.
THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO LAW.
OR TCOLE, LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT A GENERIC REQUIREMENT IN THERE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT IS.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR WALKING THROUGH THAT.
I THINK KIM'S SUGGESTION IS GOOD.
I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU THAT WE WANT THIS FOR OUR INTERIM OFFICERS.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WITH JUST RELYING ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE POTENTIALLY RETIRED OFFICERS, DID THEY RETIRE YESTERDAY OR DID THEY RETIRE FIVE-YEARS AGO? WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
ELLEN, MAYBE TO YOUR POINT, PUTTING A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME ON WHEN THEY CAN PROVE THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT EVALUATION.
THEN I DID JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT THESE TRAININGS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT EANES IS REQUIRING, THAT ANY OFFICER, WHETHER THEY'RE INTERIM OR NOT, IS GOING TO RECEIVE THESE TRAININGS OR SHOW PROOF OF THEM THROUGH TCOLE OR ANOTHER SOURCE BEFORE THEY ARE ON OUR CAMPUS WITH A WEAPON.
NOT HAVE THEM ON OUR CAMPUS ENDS THEN.
>> SURE. LET ME GET WITH HR ON THAT.
SOME OF THIS TRAINING, EVEN FOR OUR TEACHERS, THEY COMPLETE AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THIS POSITION THE BOARD MAY TREAT IT DIFFERENTLY.
>> I DO THINK THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT, IN MY OPINION.
>> I THINK I HAVE TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THIS, HOW LONG SOME OF IT TAKES THROUGH TCOLE, BUT I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.
>> ANYMORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS SPECIFIC SECTION? IF NOT I'M GOING TO [INAUDIBLE], WOULD YOU LIKE TO?
>> THANKS, JAMES. I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO PUT A GOAL FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN POLICY.
>> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.
>> I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO START THIS POLICY SECTION WITH A STATEMENT OF WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH A POLICE FORCE.
I MEAN, IF I HAD TO WRITE IT TONIGHT, I WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE TO SUPPORT THE HOLISTIC STUDENT WELL-BEING.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT I DON'T KNOW THAT.
I THINK WE ARE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, IN ADDITION TO PROTECTING THEM FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT.
AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY I HAVE THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THAT END BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR TYPICAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[02:00:02]
>> I AGREE WITH THAT POINT BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT HAS TO BE IN THIS POLICY IS PRETTY LEGAL AND PRETTY POLISTIC.
>> TO INTRODUCE IT WITH THE IDEA OF THE HIGHER GOAL AND EFFORT OF WHY YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THIS BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE DETAILS, I LIKE THAT IDEA.
YOU HAVE THAT IN SEVERAL OTHER POLICIES IN YOUR MANUAL, AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE A FIRST.
>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT.
I ALSO WANT THE USE OF THE WORD PEACE OFFICER.
I THINK THAT BEGINS TO SUGGEST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ON OUR CAMPUSES.
THIS QUESTION, IT MAY OR MAY NOT BELONG IN POLICY, BUT DO WE NEED ANYTHING THAT TALKS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE EMPLOYEES WITH PEERS ON THEIR CAMPUSES? TEACHERS WHO REPORT TO A DIFFERENT PERSON, ONCE REPORTING TO THE POLICE, CHEAP ONES REPORTING TO A PRINCIPAL.
IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT THROUGH AND STATED? I WOULD HAVE THE SAME QUESTION IN TERMS OF HOW THEY RELATE TO THEIR PRINCIPAL ON THEIR CAMPUS.
SINCE THE PRINCIPLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAMPUS, BUT YET THEY ARE AN INDEPENDENT AGENT ON THAT CAMPUS.
>> I GET WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.
LET ME TALK TO THE TEAM, BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WOULD JUST BE PART OF THE JOB AND MAYBE WOULDN'T NEED TO BE IN HERE.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.
LET ME TALK TO THE TEAM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SUGGEST.
>> I WOULDN'T SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD.
I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD RARELY, IF EVER, BE A PROBLEM, BUT IF IT IS WITH DIFFERENT REPORTING STRUCTURES AND THAT SORT OF THING, IT COULD GET.
>> ALSO THEY ARE STILL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
I MEAN, SO HR WOULD CERTAINLY BE INVOLVED IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, AND THEN BACK TO THE COMPLAINT PROCESS IF WE FLUSH IT OUT, IF IT NEEDS TO GET THAT SPECIFIC.
BUT IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, EVEN WITHOUT A COMPLAINT, WE WOULD DEAL WITH IT THROUGH A NORMAL HR PROCESSES.
>> THEN UNDER THE AUTHORITY, REALLY THIS QUESTION IS IN ONE AND TWO.
CERTAINLY STUDENT AND SAFETY STAFF IS PRIMARY.
BUT DO WE NEED TO MORE SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT VISITORS ON CAMPUS? IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE TO PROTECT STUDENTS, STAFF, AND CAMPUS.
WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE ON CAMPUSES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT THEY ARE EMBRACED IN THE SAFETY EFFORTS.
>> UNLESS THE VISITORS ARE BAD ACTORS.
>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE. I MEAN, THAT'S [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ASK THAT QUESTION IS.
>> PEOPLE WE INVITE ONTO OUR CAMPUSES SAY YOU'RE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION. I GET THAT.
>> IN THE SECTION 2, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE IS IN STATE LAW.
>> TO ME, CAMPUS DISCIPLINE IS DIFFERENT FROM CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE.
>> COULD WE USE A WORD CAMPUS OR IS ONE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN THE OTHER? I GUESS IF ONE IS IN LAW.
>> YEAH. CLASSROOMS IN LAW, BUT WE WERE ALREADY GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SECTION.
LET ME SEE WHAT WE CAN WORDSMITH.
>> BECAUSE PARTICULARLY, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF PARTICULARLY, BUT MAYBE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL A LOT OF THINGS WERE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM PER SE.
DO YOU REMEMBER NUMBER 4, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO SPELL THAT OUT THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE SYSTEM.
>> BUT WE WOULD AS YOU SEE REFERENCE IN SEVERAL IN ANOTHER SECTION OF THE POLICY, WE WOULD HAVE THE BOARD ADOPT MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH OUR OTHER AGENCIES AND JURISDICTIONS TO TALK ABOUT OVERLAPPING, MUTUAL AID, IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS THAN WE WOULD SPELL OUT THAT WE WOULD BE DOING TRAFFIC WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION IN THOSE AGREEMENTS.
>> THIS NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THIS SECTION 6.
IT RELATES A LITTLE BIT TO THE DISCUSSION ON CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE OR CAMPUS DISCIPLINE.
I DID ASK YOU THIS WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO APPROPRIATELY TALK ABOUT IT IN CLOSED SESSION, THAT THE LAW YEARS AGO WAS THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A PEACE OFFICER WAS REQUIRED TO TURN SOMETHING INTO A LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATION.
YOU HAVE CLARIFIED THAT THE LAW HAS CHANGED IN THAT THERE IS DISCRETION.
BUT IN SECTION NUMBER 6, THE LANGUAGE IS THERE IN THE OFFICER'S PRESENCE.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S ALSO STRAIGHT FROM STATE LAW.
[02:05:01]
BUT I AM REMEMBERING OUR CONVERSATION.THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS THAT POLICE OFFICER HAS TO IS REQUIRED MANDATORILY TO ARREST SOMEONE FOR THERE IS A LOT OF DISCRETION THERE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND KIDS NEED TO LEARN RATHER THAN HAVE HAMMERS, WHICH IS ALSO THE APPROACH WE TAKE TO STUDENT DISCIPLINE, SO THAT WOULD ALSO APPLY HERE.
THAT IS JUST REFERENCING STATE LAW AND THE REQUIRED THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ARREST FOR, BUT LET ME SEE IF WE CAN SOFTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE PHRASE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ON THE TRAINING LIST I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> THAT'S INTENTIONAL BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS FROM LEGISLATIVE THINGS, DISTRICT INITIATIVES.
WE WOULD ALL MIGHT ALWAYS ADD TO THIS LIST.
>> THIS GOES TO PAGE 4, AUDIO AND VIDEO MONITORING.
I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THE POLICY.
BUT DO WE NEED TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THEIR ACCESS TO REISD SECURITY CAMERAS?
>> NO, WE DON'T. THAT'S ACTUALLY COVERED PRETTY EXTENSIVELY UNDER FERPA, THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT ABOUT WHO CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
THIS IS ESTABLISHING MORE ON THEIR END.
WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDINGS, WHAT WE COULD HAVE ACCESS TO, AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE COULD HAVE ACCESS TO.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO COVER SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS HERE.
WE WOULD GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THOSE LIKE WE DO OUR SRO.
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN I'VE GOT HEATHER AND THEN LAURA.
>> I JUST THOUGHT OF A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, SO SORRY.
AGAIN, I KNOW I'M DIGGING DEEP, SO [OVERLAPPING]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CIPHER HAS IS THAT THEY HAVE A TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION AND IT'S A BEST PRACTICES AND THEN ALSO A RECOGNITION, WE ARE IN SO WE'RE TWIN THINGS.
BUT DESPITE THAT, IT'S ACTUALLY GOT SOME REALLY GOOD BEST PRACTICES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THAT IMMEDIATELY, BUT I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE ANOTHER GOOD OVERSIGHT TOOL FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE JUST TO VERIFY THAT WE ARE STAYING UP TO DATE ON BEST PRACTICES.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME SPECIAL TRAINING FOR POLICE CHIEFS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE PUT THAT IN POLICY OR IF THAT IS SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WE WOULD APPLY.
>> I WOULD PUT THAT IN POLICY IF MOST, MAYBE IT'S IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT ALSO THIS TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER HAS EXTENSIVE TRAINING, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, TCOLE.
I THINK WE WOULD EXPECT AND COULD PUT ON THE RECORD THAT OUR DEPARTMENT WOULD GET ALL THE NECESSARY AND REQUIRED TRAININGS AND EVEN ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR BEST PRACTICES.
>> YEAH OTHER ACCREDITATIONS FOR BEST PRACTICES.
THEN SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DON'T MENTION EXPLICITLY IS PROPERTY AND EVIDENCED MANAGEMENT.
>> THAT WOULD BE IN THE POLICY MANUAL THAT'S REFERENCED HERE.
>> THEN ALSO THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION HAS A TON OF OTHER SAMPLE POLICY MANUAL PIECES THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT, SO THAT WE WOULD ALL BE IN A SEPARATE POLICY MANUAL.
>> WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THAT, WE HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY STARTED DRAFTING THE POLICY MANUAL.
>> THEN THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY POLICY, BUT SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IS HOW FORMING OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPACTS OUR INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
>> I DON'T KNOW THOSE ANSWERS, BUT WE'RE ALSO ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS OF TASK B, WHO COVERS OUR RISK MANAGER.
>> NO, THAT'S GREAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, SO ANY QUESTIONS?
>> SOME POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.
WE ADDRESS WEAPONS IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES IN HERE, AND THEN ONE PLACE THAT SAYS WEAPONS AS DIRECTED BY CHIEF OF POLICE.
THEN I THINK IT'S UNDER THE TEMPORARY ONE.
IT SAYS PERMANENT WEAPONS ONLY DISTRICT TO PROVE.
>> RIGHT. THEY WOULD ALL ONLY BE DISTRICT APPROVED, I CAN MAKE THAT LANGUAGE CONSISTENT.
YEAH, ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WOULD ONLY EITHER USE WEAPONS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT OR AN APPROVED LIST OF WEAPONS WE HAVEN'T QUITE DETERMINED THAT, YES.
>> SO IF WE CAN GET CONSISTENCY ON THAT LANGUAGE AND THAT SORT OF LEADS ME TO THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND THE MOU AND THE, WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY? WHAT DOES THE HIERARCHY, WHAT IS THE TRAIN? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? >. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY AND I CAN GIVE YOU A VERY SHORT ANSWER, BUT MAYBE ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY AT A LATER DATE, WE PROBABLY DO NEED TO FLESH OUT QUITE A BIT OF THIS.
[02:10:01]
BUT THE AUTHORITY AND THE EVENT OF A CRISIS IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE EVENT HAPPENS.OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY CRISIS IN OUR SCHOOL.
>> THAT'S A VERY CONCISE ANSWER, I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> BUT THAT GOES THROUGH A WHOLE INCIDENT COMMAND AND SO WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY IF WE NEED MORE DETAILED.
>> THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT [BACKGROUND]
>> TO OUR POLICY, IS HAVING THAT VERY, VERY.
>> AGREE AND WE SEE THAT UNFORTUNATELY WENT WRONG IN SOME OTHER DISTRICTS WITH SOME TRAGEDIES AND SO WE WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
THAT GOES BACK TO, I THINK A QUESTION OVER HERE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICER AND THE PRINCIPAL WHO'S IN CHARGE? THAT ISN'T VERY TOP OF MIND AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD AND STAFF, WE'LL WANT TO DO THAT.
>> YEAH, IF YOU ALL CAN JUST USE THAT LENS WHEN DOING A REVIEW. HOLD ON.
I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT CLARIFICATION, I KNOW WHAT IT WAS IS IT'S BACK TO ALAN'S QUESTION ON THIS ENFORCE ALL LAWS.
LIKE I UNDERSTAND IT'S ARREST AND THEN SERVING WARRANTS.
WILL OUR PEACE OFFICERS BE ALLOWED TO SERVE WARRANTS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> I'LL PROBABLY NEED TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION TO YOU ON THAT.
IF THERE'S A WARRANT AGAINST ONE OF OUR STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS, THEY MAY NEED TO SERVE THAT, BUT NOT JUST GENERALLY IN ISD.
>> I'D LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
WE'RE PREPARING FOR JUST WORST-CASE SCENARIOS HERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE OUR CAMPUSES SAFE AND MAKE OUR STUDENTS FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY'RE ON THE CAMPUSES.
I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN BEHAVIORS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE CAMPUS, AND THEN SOMETHING THAT HAS MAYBE HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY ARE HERE TO CONNECT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEM.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE VIEWED AS INTIMIDATING OR SCARY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I DO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY WILL BE CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS.
>> IF WE DECIDE TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, I DON'T WANT TO PRESUME.
>> BUT IN AS MUCH AS WE DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT HAPPENS, WE HAVE THINGS HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IN OUR CAMPUS THAT REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT, AND WE HANDLE THOSE AS DELICATELY AND AS CONFIDENTIAL AS POSSIBLE.
BUT IT MAY HAPPEN AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES HAPPEN.
SOMETIMES OUR SRO STAY BUSY, YOU MAY NOT THINK IT, BUT THE POINT IS TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND SET UP THE RIGHT TYPE OF PROGRAM AND EXPECTATIONS THAT THAT'S HANDLED WHEN IT HAS TO HAPPEN, NOT ONLY AS INFREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY GIVEN THE AGE OF OUR POPULATION.
>> IF WE CAN JUST GET SOME CLARIFICATION AND I KNOW IT'S A REAL FINE LINE AND IT MIGHT BE EVEN TO FIND TO EVEN SOURCE OUT AND POLICY.
>> I THINK THAT ALSO GOES TO WHAT DOES A DAY OR A WEEK OR A MONTH IN THE LIFE OF ONE OF THESE OFFICERS LOOK LIKE.
THAT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT THEY BE CALLED ON TO DO FOR OTHER AGENCIES FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
>> I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME AS I SCROLL.
WELL, I THINK ACTUALLY NO, IT'S NOT POLICY NECESSARY BUT NECESSARILY BUT MAYBE IT IS MAYBE WE CAN PUT IT IN AS REVIEWING AND TRACKING.
LOOKING AT THE DATA OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT STUDENTS ARE HAVING INTERACTIONS WITH THE SROS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE FOR BOARD POLICY OR?
>> WE COULD, AND RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THAT IS ALREADY MONITORED.
WE HAVE TO REPORT IT THROUGH PMS AND SKYWARD AND TO THE STATE.
LET ME LOOK AT WHAT WE ALREADY REPORT EVEN WITH OUR CURRENT SROS AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT INTO.
I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN SOME EMAILS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ANNUAL REPORTING OR WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> THAT'S FINE TO HAVE IN POLICY.
I THINK I'M FINISHED WITH MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU-ALL.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. TRUSTEES, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE.
[02:15:01]
I CAN'T UNDERSTATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO GET THIS RIGHT.I AGREE WITH ALL THE ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO THIS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL BRINGING ALL THIS OUT.
I THINK IN THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I WAS ADVOCATING FOR FAST.
BUT FAST DOESN'T COME BEFORE GETTING THIS POLICY RIGHT.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE INTERACTING WITH OUR CHILDREN, WE NEED TO HAVE A VERY HIGH STANDARD FOR THAT.
TO BE CLEAR, LET'S TAKE OUR TIME AND GET THIS RIGHT AND I SUPPORT THAT.
IN RESPECT TO THAT IS THE NEXT TIME WE WILL SEE THIS IN PREPARING FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, CORRECT?
>> I'LL BRING A DRAFT BACK AND WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON IT.
>> THERE'S A LONG LIST OF THINGS I'M SURE YOU'RE TAKING OUT OF THIS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO SEE HERE.
>> I'VE MADE NOTE SO JEREMY AND I WE'VE GOT IT ALL.
>> TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN HAVE EVEN EARLIER, AS SOON AS WE CAN HAVE IT WE'D LIKE START DIGESTING THAT.
>> IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT OR THAT YOU DIDN'T ASK, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S ADDRESSED.
>> I'M SURE OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE HEARD THINGS AND HAVE QUESTIONS TO FEED TO US.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEES, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> CAN I JUST ASK A HOUSEKEEPING MATTER AND THE CHANGES THAT YOU ARE DOING, I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A RED LINE SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT CHANGED.
>> THANK YOU, KIM. WE'RE NOT ON THIS ITEM OR ARGUMENT, LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[13.2 2023-24 Enrollment Update]
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE 2023, 2024 ENROLLMENT UPDATE.WE HAVE JEREMY TREMBLE AND RACHEL HAWKINS. WELCOME.
>> I HOPE THIS CHAIR DOESN'T GRADUALLY SINK LIKE THAT ONE DOES.
I HAVE JOINING ME, RACHEL HIGGINS, OUR DISTRICT REGISTRAR, AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION A LOT OF THE WORK GOES ALONG WITH RACHEL AND ALL THE LONG HOURS THAT SHE PUTS IN.
THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR FOR OUR PROJECTIONS LOOKING AT WHAT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND RACHEL IS INTEGRAL TO THAT, ALONG WITH OUR CAMPUS REGISTRARS.
BUT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A PRELIMINARY ENROLLMENT UPDATE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
BUT WE HAD SOME PROCESSES THAT WE HAD TO KICK OFF IN MARCH, STARTING WITH OUR NSOE OR NEW STUDENT ONLINE ENROLLMENT, BUT ALSO OUR STUDENT INFORMATION VERIFICATION.
THOSE PROCESSES, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT'S A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROCESS ABOUT 7,000 STUDENTS WITHIN THOSE PROCESSES AND WE CONTINUE TO GET NEW STUDENT ONLINE ENROLLMENTS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE STUDENT INFORMATION VERIFICATION.
JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SEND THAT INFORMATION OUT, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT BACK, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS COME BACK IN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE WANT TO SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE.
BUT I'M GOING TO LET RACHEL TAKE THE MIC RIGHT NOW, RUN YOU THROUGH THE TIMELINE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WHAT NEXT STEPS ARE.
>> THANK YOU. NOT JUST MYSELF SUPPORTED OF COURSE, OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM, OUR CAMPUS TEAMS, AMAZING SUPPORT.
KIMBERLY ISRAEL OUR ENTERPRISE AND APPLICATION COORDINATOR, ALYSSA SMITH, OUR PEIMS COORDINATOR, BETH KEMP OUR STUDENT INFORMATION COORDINATOR AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
THESE THREE BEGAN THEIR WORK BACK IN NOVEMBER, STARTING TO GO THROUGH TRIM UP AS BEST WE CAN STREAMLINE THE WORKFLOW FOR OUR FAMILIES.
WE ALL SAT TOGETHER AND WORKED THROUGH HOW DO WE BETTER OUR WORKFLOW AS A PARENT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL? THERE'S A LOT OF CLICKS AND SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO ALSO HEAR THE PARENT VOICE WHEN THEY CALL OUT TO US ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THIS? DID WE DO THIS RIGHT? HOW CAN WE DO IT BETTER? WE WERE WORKING ON THAT.
WE DID KICK OFF THE WORKFLOW IN MARCH.
THAT WAS WORKFLOW THAT ACTUALLY BEGAN BACK IN NOVEMBER.
BEHIND THE SCENES YOU'RE SEEING TEAMS CONSOLIDATE, STREAMLINE AND MAKING THAT AS USER-FRIENDLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BECAUSE WE WANT THE RESPONSE FROM THE FAMILIES.
DO YOU INTEND TO REJOIN US IN THE COMING YEAR? TO JEREMY'S POINT, WE'RE STILL SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF THE FAMILIES WE WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE ALREADY HAD A RESPONSE FROM.
THAT IMPACTS A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
WE STARTED IN MARCH WITH OUR NEW STUDENT ONLINE ENROLLMENT, MAKING SURE WE HAD THAT AVAILABLE TO OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY AND THE CURRENT COMMUNITY BEING OUR NEW AND RETURNING RESONANT FAMILIES, NEW EMPLOYEES, CURRENT TRANSFER FAMILIES, NEW SIBLINGS TO TRANSFER FAMILIES.
WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL IN ROLLING THIS OUT TO THAT COMMUNITY FIRST THING.
WE DID THAT AS WELL AS THE NEW TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES, THE APPLICATIONS TO THAT SAME COMMUNITY BEING AVAILABLE RIGHT AWAY IN MARCH.
[02:20:02]
FOLLOWING KINDER ROUNDUP, WE THEN LAUNCHED SPANISH IMMERSION APPLICATION.LAST YEAR YOU SAW EVERYTHING STACKED UP AND GO LIVE AT THE SAME TIME.
THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK FOR A LOT OF TEAM MEMBERS.
IT WAS ALSO VERY CONFUSING FOR THOSE TRYING TO DO POINT CLICKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY FILLED OUT THE RIGHT FORMS AT THE RIGHT TIME.
IN DOING THIS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STRETCH OUT NOT JUST OUR WORKFLOW, BUT IMPROVE OUR DATA COLLECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING HEAD COUNTS.
THERE'S STILL ERROR IN WORKFLOW.
WE ARE HUMAN AND WE'RE BETTERING WITH EACH YEAR, EACH TIME WE GO THROUGH THIS.
NOW HAVING SOME SEASONED TEAM MEMBERS WE'RE NOT ALL NEW IN THE SAME YEAR, WE'RE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE MORE COHESIVE WORKFLOW AND PROJECT BETTER FOR YOU.
THOUGH RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL SEATING, WE'RE STILL COLLECTING, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT WE'RE IN A REALLY GREAT SPOT TO MAKE THE PROJECTIONS THAT JEREMY IS GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.
WE HAVE EXPIRED OUR TRANSFER APPLICATION.
WE ARE COLLECTING THAT, WE HAVE STARTED OUR REVIEW.
JEREMY WILL RESHARE INFORMATION AROUND THAT WITH YOU AND THEN WE'RE EXCITED TO START COMMUNICATING WITH RETURNING TRANSFER AND NEW TRANSFER FAMILIES IN THE EARLY PART OF JUNE.
THAT IMPACTS ALL OF OUR LEARNING PATHS FOR SPANISH AND TRADITIONAL LEARNING K12, K11.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR ALL OF THAT, LOTS OF GREAT TEAMWORK.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION WITH YOU AS IT BECOMES A LITTLE MORE SOLIDIFIED TOO.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE DATA.
I KNOW WHERE EVERYONE'S EYES ARE GOING RIGHT NOW.
EVERYONE'S EYE IS GOING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
LOOKING AT CURRENTLY WHERE OUR ENROLLMENT STAND IS 7,397 STUDENTS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT'S 241 STUDENTS SHORT OF THE DEMOGRAPHERS PROJECTION OF 7,638.
BUT THERE'S A CAVEAT HERE THAT WE HAVE JUST NOW BEGIN PROCESSING OUR NEW ADDED DISTRICT TRANSFERS.
NONE OF THOSE NEW ADDED DISTRICT TRANSFERS ARE INCLUDED ON A TRADITIONAL SITE IN THE THESE NUMBERS SO THERE'S STILL SOME WORK TO DO.
WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO GET NEW STUDENTS AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THROUGH THE SUMMER.
WE TYPICALLY GET A LARGE INFLUX AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN JULY.
IT'S LIKE THE JULY IS THE MONTH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY SEE A BIG INFLUX OF BETWEEN 30 AND 40 STUDENTS EACH YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE MORE STUDENTS COMING IN AND WILL PROCESS THOSE TRANSFERS.
WE JUST MET TODAY WITH ALL OF OUR CAMPUS LEADERS AND STARTED THAT REVIEW PROCESS SO WE CAN MEET THAT DEADLINE OF EARLY JUNE TO COMMUNICATE OUT TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
YOU WILL SEE THAT OUR ELEMENTARY, WE'RE DOWN THE MOST AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
WE SEE A FEW HERE AND THERE OVER THE WEEKS, BUT IT STARTED LOW AND ITS REMAINED LOW.
WE ARE GRADUATING A CLASS OF 695 SENIORS, AND WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE IN AROUND 395 KINDERGARTENERS THIS YEAR.
THAT'S A 300 STUDENT DELTA THAT WE'RE JUST DEALING WITH.
THAT'S HOW IT'S PANNING OUT FOR INDICED IN OUR RESIDENTS STUDENTS AND SO UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE GET INTO THIS TRANSFER PROCESS.
WE MARKETED A LOT MORE THIS YEAR AS WELL THAT I'LL SHARE SOME DATA WITH YOU.
THAT'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE PRELIMINARILY IN MID-MAY AND WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER UPDATE IN JUNE.
LOT OF DETAIL HERE, A LOT OF NUMBERS, AND THERE'S A FEW OBSERVATIONS THAT I THINK YOU WILL SEE HERE AND I WANT TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE.
I WANT TO POINT SOME OF THESE OUT, BUT THIS IS OUR BREAKDOWN OF NUMBER OF SECTIONS AND CLASS SIZES ACROSS EVERY GRADE LEVEL AT EVERY ELEMENTARY CAMPUS.
THE RED SQUARES REPRESENT THOSE SECTIONS THAT ARE SPANISH IMMERSION.
OUR ORANGE SECTIONS ARE THOSE SECTIONS K THROUGH FOUR THAT ARE ABOVE THE 22-1 GUIDELINE.
THEN I'LL ALSO REVIEW AT CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY.
CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY IS AN INTERESTING CASE STUDY BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE'S A SMALL NUMBER OF RESIDENT TRADITIONAL STUDENTS AT THAT CAMPUS.
THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENT SPANISH IMMERSION AT THAT CAMPUS.
BUT WHAT WE'VE REFLECTED HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 67 KINDERGARTEN ADDED DISTRICT TRANSFER APPLICATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD.
WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING HERE ARE BEING ABLE TO INCLUDE A NUMBER OF TRANSFERS AT CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY TO MAINTAIN THE TWO TRADITIONAL SECTIONS AT THAT CAMPUS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER.
THAT'S CEDAR CREEK, WE HAVE ENOUGH KINDERGARTNERS TO PROCESS THROUGH THAT AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT NOW.
[02:25:02]
ANOTHER ONE IS UP TO BRIDGE POINT, THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN.CURRENTLY I REPRESENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT TRANSFERS HERE, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO KINDERGARTEN IS VERY COMPLICATED AND IN SPANISH IMMERSION, WHAT THE NUMBERS REFLECT HERE, YOU'LL SEE ALL ACROSS ALL MERCHANT CAMPUSES ARE 22 IN EACH SECTION.
WHAT THAT DOES IS ALLOW FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR IN DISTRICT TRANSFERS TO BE SEATED AT THOSE CAMPUS, BUT ALSO TAKEN ON OUR OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS TO FILL THEM TO THAT 22 SECTION.
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER APPLICATIONS FOR SPANISH IMMERSION TO DO ANOTHER SECTION AT BRIDGE POINT.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE AT THE KINDER LEVEL AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REPRESENTED THERE AT BRIDGE POINT, THAT ONE SINGLE SECTION OF 22.
NEXT ONE IS YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER EANES ELEMENTARY, FOURTH-GRADE.
AT THE TIME OF CONSIDERATION, WE HAD 25 AND 24, TWO SECTIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND FORTH GRADE EANES ELEMENTARY OVER 49 STUDENTS.
IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM WE HAD 26 THAT WERE EITHER RESIDENT OR IN DISTRICT TRANSFER SPANISH IMMERSION STUDENTS.
IN EVALUATING THAT, LOOKING AT 13 AND 32 SECTIONS, EACH BEING 13 IN SPANISH IMMERSION, WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ADMINISTRATIVELY AND AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND COLLABORATION, WE MADE THE TOUGH DECISION AND THAT WAS TO COLLAPSE THAT ONE SECTION DOWN TO 26.
WE DO NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM THAT WILL BE UTILIZED, IT'S PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEN WE HAVE OUR MAKERSPACE CLASSROOM.
THERE'S ONLY TWO CLASSROOMS THAT WE HAVE AT EANES ELEMENTARY IF WE WERE TO ADD ANOTHER SECTION AT FOURTH-GRADE.
DECISION WAS MADE TO MAINTAIN FOUR TOTAL SECTIONS ACROSS FOURTH GRADE AND DRAW THOSE TRADITIONAL CLASS SIZES DOWN THAT ARE ALREADY AT 25 AND 24.
WITH THAT, WE DID OFFER A FEW OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER SPANISH IMMERSION STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THAT SECTION IN FOURTH GRADE.
OFFERED THEM A SEAT IN SPANISH IMMERSION AT ANOTHER CAMPUS OR THEY COULD REMAIN AT EANES ELEMENTARY IN ONE OF THOSE TRADITIONAL SECTIONS.
I WILL TELL YOU FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, THOSE STUDENTS ARE CAPTURED IN THOSE TRADITIONAL SECTIONS IN FOURTH-GRADE, JUST TWO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE STUDENTS AT THAT CAMPUS IN THAT GRADE LEVEL UNTIL DECISIONS COULD BE MADE.
BUT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT ONE SECTION OF 26 SPANISH IMMERSION IN FOURTH GRADE AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
YOU WILL SEE THAT VALUE OF U CONTINUES TO DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT AS WELL AND MANAGING THAT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
YOU ALSO DO HAVE VALLEY VIEW AND FOX TRAIL STUDENTS THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR SPANISH IMMERSION AS WELL TO KINDER LEVEL.
NOW I WANT TO GO ON MARKETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSFERS AND OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE WITH TRANSFERS.
THANKS TO CLAUDIA MCWHORTER AND HER TEAM PUTTING OUT FACEBOOK ADS.
WE PUT OUT AN AD IN COMMUNITY IMPACT AS WELL.
THIS JUST REFLECTS WHAT FACEBOOK IS.
WE'VE REACHED 75,826 ACCOUNTS, IMPRESSIONS, 256,961, THAT JUST MEANS THAT IT CAME ACROSS SOMEONE'S SCREEN AT ONE TIME AND THEN WE ADD JUST UNDER 1,400 LINK CLICKS, SO THAT'S GOOD DATA.
WE HAVEN'T HAD AS LARGE OF A PUSH BEFORE.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS HAS ALLOWED FOR ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS TO APPLY TO THIS DISTRICT AND WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED 317 TOTAL NEW TRANSFER APPLICATIONS COMPARED TO 254 LAST YEAR.
WE HOPE THAT MAYBE SOME OF THAT ADVERTISING, THAT MARKETING HELPED GET US HERE.
YOU CAN SEE ACROSS ALL OF OUR TRANSFER DESIGNATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN A LARGE INCREASE, OVERALL TOTAL APPLICANTS WHERE WE'VE SEEN A 25 PERCENT INCREASE.
I'LL TELL YOU THERE'S NOT SPOTS IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE REQUESTS. FIFTH GRADE.
WE REALLY HAVE SPOTS IN FIFTH GRADE, BUT WE'RE CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS THAT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND SEATS, INCLUDING OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES AS WELL.
BUT BACK TO THE FIRST BULLET IS THAT OUR ENROLLMENT IS DOWN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.
TALKING TO OUR DEMOGRAPHER, ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVEN'T IN OUR DISTRICT GIVEN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES,
[02:30:06]
IS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TRANSFERS AT YOUR KINDER IN YOUR FIRST GRADE LEVEL AND THAT CAN HELP YOU MAINTAIN A REASONABLE TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN FUTURE YEARS.THAT'S A QUICK PRELIMINARY UPDATE.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT DONE, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN JUNE AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE PROCESSES, BUT WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I HAVE TO SAY I'M PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SIZE OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION CLASS AND FOURTH-GRADE AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
TWENTY SIX IS OUT OF LINE WITH WHAT WE SEE IN THE REST OF THE DISTRICT AND I PERSONALLY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF ADDING A SECTION.
I ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT KINDERGARTEN AT CEDAR CREEK AND HAVING TWO SECTIONS OF EIGHT STUDENTS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR ANTICIPATION IS TO FILL THOSE.
TRADITIONALLY, THIS BOARD AND PREVIOUS BOARDS GOING BACK FROM BEFORE I JOINED AND ELLEN, I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER.
THE DIRECTION ALWAYS HAD BEEN THAT WE USE THE TRANSFER POLICY TO FILL SEATS.
WE DIDN'T CREATE EXTRA CLASSROOMS TO BE HOPEFUL THAT TRANSFERS WOULD COME.
WHILE, I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION AT THE END THERE THAT IT'S A HOPE TO STAVE OFF LOSSES OF THE FUTURE, I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT SCENARIO. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE PORTABLES AT EANES ELEMENTARY, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE? I'M JUST GOING TO SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE SAFETY AND SECURITY QUESTIONS ABOUT PORTABLE BUILDINGS.
THAT ADDS A WHOLE OTHER LAYER OF THIS CONVERSATION, BUT HOW ARE THOSE USED NOW, AND HOW WILL THEY BE USED NEXT YEAR?
>> YES. CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE HAD A BOARD GOAL YEARS AGO, TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE PORTABLES AND INTO BRICK-AND-MORTAR.
EANES ELEMENTARY PRIMARILY IS DESIGNED IN PODS.
THOSE PODS HAVE FOUR CLASSROOMS. EANES ELEMENTARY DOES REALLY GENERALLY SUPPORT FOUR SECTIONS ACROSS GRADE LEVELS SO WHAT IS DESIGNED FOR.
WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THESE OTHER SECTIONS THAT GROW TO FIVE SECTIONS, IT LIMITS YOU IN THE AMOUNT OF CLASSROOMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR OTHER ANCILLARY PROGRAMS, LIKE GT RIGHT NOW IS OUT IN A PORTABLE.
WE HAVE SOME RTI SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE OUT IN PORTALS.
WE HAVE FOUR PORTABLES WITHOUT PLUMBING.
WE HAVE TWO PORTABLES WITH PLUMBING.
THAT'S LIKE I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION GROUP COMING INTO A BRICK-AND-MORTAR CLASSROOM, THAT THIS SCENARIO WAS GOING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
WE ALSO SEE OUR FIFTH GRADE WITH FIVE SECTIONS AND THEN YOU'LL SEE KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST WITH FOUR SECTIONS.
POSSIBLY AS FIFTH GRADE ROLLS OUT, THEN THERE MAY BE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BRING OUT OF THE PORTALS.
I THINK IT STILL REMAINS A GOAL.
WE'VE BEEN CONSTRICTED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF JUST SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ON CAMPUS, BUT IT'S STILL A GOAL.
>> THANK YOU. THEN A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER IN DISTRICT TRANSFERS IN THAT EANES CLASS? MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT ON THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.
BUT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW THAT AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW MANY IN DISTRICT TRANSFERS WE HAVE INTO THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND WHERE THEY ARE, THAT'LL BE INTERESTING TO ME.
I'M ALSO VERY CURIOUS ABOUT VALLEY VIEW AND IF THE MAJORITY OF THE VALLEY VIEW KIDS OR IF THERE IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VALLEY VIEW KIDS OR NOT THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SPANISH IMMERSION AT OTHER CAMPUSES.
ALSO LOOKING AT VALLEY VIEW, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES MISS TUCIC AND THEY'RE USED TO HER THAT MAYBE THEY'D ASK FOR A TRANSFER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENED, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF IT DOES OR DID OR WHATEVER.
BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT VALLEY VIEW BECAUSE IT IS DECLINING ENROLLMENT.
>> WE DO HAVE PARTICIPANTS IN SPANISH IMMERSION FROM VALLEY VIEW.
[02:35:05]
ONE THING I WANT TO CLARIFY IS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INDUSTRY TRANSFERS IN THAT SPANISH IMMERSION, THAT A SINGLE SECTION IN FOURTH GRADE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO [OVERLAPPING]>> AND THEN ACROSS THE DISTRICT? OKAY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO TO [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN ELLEN.
>> THANK YOU RACHEL. THANK YOU JEREMY FOR ALL OF THIS.
I AM GOING TO ECHO WHAT JEN SAID ABOUT THE LARGE SPANISH MERGE IN FOURTH-GRADE MEAN'S CLASS.
AT THAT LEVEL, MAYBE IF IT WAS FIFTH GRADE, I WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH OR AN OLDER GRADE, BUT STILL AT FOURTH GRADE, THEY'RE YOUNG, AND THAT'S A LARGE CLASSROOM.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRANSFERS.
JEN, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT JUST THE HISTORY OF TRANSFERS.
I THINK THAT WE'RE IN SUCH A STRANGE SITUATION AND WHAT I'VE SEEN FOLLOWING THE LAST 4, 5, 6 YEARS AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS DISTRICT CHANGING, THAT, I WELCOME TRANSFERS AND ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN GET THEM INTO THE PIPELINE AT THESE EARLY AGES.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT CREATING CLASSROOMS. I'D LIKE TO PROBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KINDER APPLICATIONS.
YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE 67 APPLICATIONS COMING IN.
DO WE KNOW IF THERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF SI VERSUS TRADITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE KINDERS?
>> YES, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT YES.
>> BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD GET FOR US.
AND THEN, I THINK IT WAS JEREMY MAYBE IT WAS RACHEL, THE 395 OF KINDER, RIGHT NOW, REJECTED VERSUS OUR GRADUATING CLASS OF 695.
IT'S ALMOST 100 PERCENT GROWTH.
DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON TRENDS OVER THE LAST SO MANY YEARS, FIVE YEARS, OF WHERE THAT GROWTH GOES FROM KINDERGARTEN TO A GRADUATING CLASS.
I KNOW IT GROWS WITH PEOPLE MOVING IN AND TRANSFERS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY SEEN AS A TREND.
I'M SURE IT'S NOT 100 PERCENT, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD DATA POINT FOR US.
>> YEAH, AND I THINK LAST TIME WERE HERE IS WHEN WE SHOWED A COUPLE OF TREND CHARTS THAT REFLECTED WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT 395 IS NOT THE NUMBER TO GET TO 700 BY THE TIME THEY'RE SENIOR.
WE DO GROW TRADITIONALLY THROUGH THE 12 GRADES, BUT THE SWEET SPOT IS AT 450.
AROUND 450 STUDENTS, TYPICALLY, OVER TIME, HISTORICALLY HAS GOTTEN US TO AROUND THAT 700 NUMBER.
>> SIXTY PERCENT, 70 PERCENT GROWTH.
>> TRADITIONALLY. GOOD. THEN MY LAST QUESTION ON TRANSFERS IS, I LOOK AT WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE 7397 NUMBER WITH NO NEW OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS AND THEN WE HAVE THIS 317 NUMBER.
THEN JEREMY, YOU SAID THAT THROUGHOUT SUMMER WE MIGHT GET 30-40.
SO I ADDED 35 AND THAT GOT ME TO 7,749.
OF THE 317 APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED TO DATE, IS THERE A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE TRANSFERS THAT ARE BOTH EXCEPTED BY ANGE AND OFFERED IT ENROLLMENT AND THEN ACCEPT ENROLLMENT? I'M ASSUMING THAT SOME PERCENTAGE OF THEM GO ELSEWHERE EVEN IF THEY'VE APPLIED.
>> YEAH, THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES AND A LOT OF IT JUST LOOKS LIKE IS THERE ROOM WITHIN THOSE SECTIONS OR THOSE GRADE LEVELS? SOME WHOM THEY DO HAVE A PREFERENCE.
I WANT TO BE AT THIS ONE CAMPUS, WE DON'T HAVE ROOM THERE.
WE OFFER HIM A SEAT AT ANOTHER CAMPUS AND THEY MAY NOT WANT THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT.
HISTORICALLY I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER ACCEPTED ALL 317.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE EVALUATE.
PART OF THE TRANSFER PROCESS IS AN APPLICATION WHICH HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT'S REQUIRED EXCEPT IF YOU'RE A KINDERGARTENER.
SO WE EVALUATE THAT AS WELL, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CRITERIA THAT WE BASE THOSE DECISIONS ON.
IT'S HARD TO TELL YOU AN EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT WE'VE LOOKED THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
>> I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PROCESS AND I'M NOT CHALLENGING THAT AT ALL.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF HISTORICALLY IT'S AT ABOUT 50 PERCENT OR IF IT'S
[02:40:04]
75 PERCENT OR IF WE HAVE ANY TRENDS THAT FROM AN APPLICATION STANDPOINT, WE CAN START TO LOOK AT A FINAL NUMBER, OR GET A COMFORT LEVEL WITH A FINAL NUMBER.>> I CAN RUN AN EXERCISE TO MAYBE GO BACK FIVE YEARS AND SEE IF I CAN RUN A TREND ON THAT AND IT MAY BE USEFUL, BUT I'LL LOOK INTO IT.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT A LOT OF TIME SPENT ON THIS.
>> BUT I DO THINK THAT IT MIGHT GET US TO A COMFORT LEVEL OF WHERE WE WILL END UP IN THE SUMMER.
>> WE DO HAVE DATA FROM LAST YEAR WHEN WE BEGAN TRACKING IN A MORE FINITE WAY WITH REGARDS TO OUR DATA AROUND APPLICATIONS AND WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SEAT FOR THOSE THAT DID ACCEPT THE SEAT.
SO WE CAN GO BACK AND AT LEAST DO A YEAR OVER YEAR.
>> I WISH CHILDREN CAME IN TIDY LITTLE GROUPS OF 22 IN THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME, BUT THEY DON'T.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS AND WE ARE EARLY IN THAT PROCESS.
I ALSO THOUGH AND BEGINNING TO SEE MORE AND MORE DISCREPANCIES IN THE WAY OUR KIDS ARE FALLING AND AT THE RISK OF SAYING THE WORDS BOUNDARY CHANGES.
IF WE HAVE GOOD DEMOGRAPHIC DATA THAT SUGGEST WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE AS WE'RE COMING THROUGH THE PIPELINE, IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT CONCERNS ME AS I LOOK AT THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS FOR ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND WE HAVE THREEFOLD STUDENTS, ON AVERAGE, MORE AT FOREST TRAIL THAN WE DO AT OUR SCHOOLS.
IT SHIFTS BETWEEN EANES AND DELAVIEW, THE STUDENTS NEXT YEAR BUT THREEFOLD STUDENTS PER CLASS BETWEEN THOSE CAMPUSES.
TO ME THAT KIND OF IS A BUILT-IN INEQUITY THAT WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT IN A MORE MACRO WAY.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO ECHO JEN'S CONCERN ABOUT FOURTH GRADE AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DO UNDERSTAND WHY THE SI PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEY GET THE SHORT END OF THE STRAW.
THAT I LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER PLACES WHERE WE HAVE 14,13, 8 AND 8, 16 AND 16.
BUT YET THEY WERE COMBINED BEFORE FIFTH GRADE AT FOURTH GRADE LEVEL.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY END UP ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF IT'S GOING TO STAY THIS WAY, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE WHY DON'T WE KEEP 29 OR 28 IN THE CLASS AND NOT CAUSE THE TRAUMA? [APPLAUSE]
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE VERY LATE TONIGHT.
PLEASE DON'T DISRUPT THE MEETING.
>> BUT GIVEN THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NOT A GOOD ANSWER.
BUT WE DID CREATE A FOURTH SECTION FOR THAT FOURTH GRADE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 15 AND NOW 16 VIEW, YOU TAKE OUT ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS.
I'VE GOTTEN LOST IN THE NUMBERS, BUT THEY ALL LOOK PRETTY EQUAL.
SOMEBODY HAD TO END UP ON THE SHORT END.
THIS ALSO RELATES TO BRIDGE POINT AND THE SINGLE KINDERGARTEN CLASS.
DID WE DO ANY SPECIFIC MARKETING, SOMEBODY ELSE SUGGESTED IT, OF KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE? OR YOU SUGGESTED IT, THE DEMOGRAPHERS SAID THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
DID ANY OF THE MARKETING THAT WE DID, WAS IT SPECIFIC TO KINDER IN FIRST GRADE AND WAS IT SPECIFIC TO SI?
>> IT WAS SPECIFIC TO KINDER AND FIRST, I THINK WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURED BECAUSE WE HAVE TRADITIONAL AND SI AS WELL.
IT'S ALL KINDER AND FIRST IS WHAT WE NEEDED CURRENTLY WITHIN OUR MARKETING.
>> BECAUSE I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS A REAL OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THAT WE HAVE ROOM FOR KINDERGARTEN AT BRIDGE POINT AND AT CEDAR CREEK, BOTH OF WHOM ARE ON THE EXTERIORS OF OUR DISTRICT.
AND THAT TENDS TO BE WHERE TRANSFERS CAN BE CONVINCED IN A MORE EASY FASHION PERHAPS,
[02:45:01]
THAN HAVING TO COME ALL THE WAY INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DISTRICT.BUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS FOURTH GRADE AT EANES AND IS THERE A WAY TO SOLVE THAT EQUITABLY?
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE JUST SAID THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE CLASS SIZES AT AMES IN FOURTH GRADE.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT WHY NOT 28 AT THAT POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF HIS TEACHER HAS BEEN PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS, BUT I WONDER IF WE NEED TO BE SITTING WITH ONE CLASS OF 26.
I WANTED TO ALSO ASK ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
THESE ARE STARTLING NUMBERS TO ME SEEING EIGHT AT THE CEDAR CREEK CAMPUS AND SIX AT THAT'S THE PRE-K.
BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS GOING DOWN AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHERS EXPLANATIONS FOR THINGS.
I HEAR EXPLANATIONS THAT SAY IT'S BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS SO HIGH IN OUR DISTRICT AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR YOUNG.
THAT DOES SEEM A VALID EXPLANATION.
BUT HAVE WE LOOKED AT CENSUS DATA OR ANY WAY HAVE WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT, ARE THERE MORE AND MORE CHILDREN CHOOSING TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS? DO WE HAVE ANY WAY OF DOCUMENTING THAT? WHERE ARE THE KIDS? ARE THEY JUST NOT HERE OR ARE THEY CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS?
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. PRIVATE SCHOOL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TRACK, ESPECIALLY AT THE KINDER LEVEL AND THE ENTRY-LEVEL.
THE ONE GOOD THING THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD IN THE LAST DEMOGRAPHIC UPDATE WAS BRAND NEW CENSUS DATA.
IT ACTUALLY TOOK US A COUPLE OF MONTHS LONGER TO GET THE REPORT BECAUSE IT WAS IMPLEMENTING THAT CENSUS DATA.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE STILL NOT EVEN MEETING THOSE NUMBERS.
THAT EVEN SINCE AS DATA WAS REPORTING, AND THAT'S BASED ON BIRTH RATES AND ZIP CODES.
THAT'S BASICALLY THE METRIC THAT THEY'RE RUNNING.
IT'S VERY HARD TO TRACK PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE GAVE IT UPDATE LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THAT WE RECEIVED MORE FROM PRIVATE SCHOOL THAN WE SENT TO PRIVATE SCHOOL WITHIN OUR DISTRICT THAT WE KNEW OF.
THAT JUST MEANS THAT THE STUDENTS THAT EXITED OUR PROGRAM TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND THOSE THAT CAME TO OUR PROGRAM FROM PRIVATE SCHOOL.
WHICH IS AN INTERESTING FACT BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TREND MAY BE SO WE CAN BE BETTER AT ANTICIPATING THAT.
I WAS JUST VERY DIFFICULT AND SPECIFICALLY CEDAR CREEK, WHICH TYPICALLY DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH KINDERGARTENERS FINDING KINDERGARTENERS WITHIN THAT AREA.
BUT THERE'S SO MANY ANOMALIES THAT COULD BE IN THERE AND WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE DATA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER TRENDS THAT MAY BE SURFACING.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS PRELIMINARY AND IT WILL CERTAINLY CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY POSSIBLY BETWEEN NOW AND THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU-ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME, GETTING THIS TO US AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS 10,000 FOOT LEVEL.
EXCEPT FOR OUR OUTLIER THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS HERE FOR TODAY.
THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE SEEN SO FEW CLASSROOMS REQUIRING WAIVERS.
WE HAVE FOUR AND I DON'T EVER REMEMBER A TIME HAVING LESS THAN THIS.
EXCEPT FOR THE SOME VALID VIEW, A LITTLE PINCH POINT THERE AND THEN OF COURSE THE 26 AT AN ELEMENTARY.
THE NA AT CEDAR CREEK, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOME OF MY OTHER TRUSTEES IS THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY A WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
WE NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THAT ONE.
CLASSROOM BALANCE IS VERY TRICKY.
I KNOW THAT WE SET THIS AS 222222 OR 181817.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN YOU START PLACING KIDS IN THESE CLASSROOMS, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL A PRINCIPAL OR Y'ALL WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE CLASS SIZES.
[02:50:07]
WE WANT TO KEEP THEM AT A HEALTHY SPLIT SIZE WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN LEARN.BUT IT'S VERY NUANCED AND I BELIEVE THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT MY DECISION TO TELL ANYONE WHERE TO PUT STUDENTS.
THAT'S A LOT OF KIDS IN THAT CLASS.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THAT PINCH POINT, AS WELL AS WE'RE LOOKING AT 24 AND 23 OF VALLEY VIEW, MAYBE KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THAT PRESSURE.
BUT 10,000 FOOT LEVEL. THIS LOOKS GOOD.
>> I JUST WANT TO REPLY TO LAURA.
WHAT IS WITHIN OUR PURVIEW OF THE BOARD IS BUDGET AND ADDING A SECTION RELATES TO BUDGET.
BUT TO SAY EXACTLY WHERE THAT IS, WE LOOK AT FTES AND HOW MANY FTES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE RECOMMEND.
WE DON'T NORMALLY RECOMMEND ADDING OR TAKING AWAY SECTIONS.
WE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.
>> WE HAVE 100 PERCENT HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.
>> LAURA, I'M GOING TO BE CONTRARY TOO.
I ACTUALLY AM MORE DISTRESSED BY THIS THAN OUR ENROLLMENT, NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS BETTER DATA THAN WE'VE EVER HAD.
BUT YES, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY CLASSES AND ORANGE, BUT WE HAVE A TON OF CLASSES THAT ARE UNDER-ENROLLED.
TO THE EXTENT THAT EVERY CLASS IS SEVERELY UNDER ENROLLED, 8 15 17, THE BUDGET BECOMES OUT OF WHACK PRETTY QUICKLY.
IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT WE HAVE SO MANY CAMPUSES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED AND OUR DISTRICT, HAS CHANGED AND I THINK THAT OVER THE LONG TERM.
THE OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS I HEAR JEN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF WHY WE ORIGINALLY SET UP THE THE TRANSFER POLICY.
BUT I AGREE WITH KIM THAT WE ARE IN A NEW ERA NOW.
WE MAY WANT TO RE-EVALUATE OUR PHILOSOPHY ON TRANSFERS.
DO NOT JUST FILL EMPTY SEATS FOR BUDGETARY REASONS, BUT TO PERHAPS HELP US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TOO MANY DROPS ACROSS THE BOARD, THEN WE WILL REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT PARTICULARLY THE AUXILIARY STAFFING AND THE DEPTH OF PROGRAMMING THAT AFFECTS THE SECONDARY LEVEL MORE THAN THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
BUT THE AUXILIARY STAFFING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, BECAUSE WE JUST WON'T HAVE THE STUDENT BASE TO SUPPORT THOSE SERVICES ON OUR CAMPUSES.
>> THAT'S FAIR. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT PER SE.
I DO THINK THAT PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AND THE ADMIN IS THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME, BUT PERHAPS IN THE FALL WE HAVEN'T A DEEP DIVE ON OUR TRANSFER POLICY AND WITH A REALITY CHECK OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT MEANS ISD IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE REALLY DONE THAT, SO IT DOES FEEL LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME. I AGREE WITH YOU THERE.
I THINK MY CONCERN WHEN I SEE SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF EIGHT IS THAT IT'S WISHFUL THINKING THAT WE WILL FILL THAT TO EVEN 15 EACH I THINK MIGHT BE A STRETCH.
WE'VE ONLY GOT, WHATEVER IS AN INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. IT'S NOT THAT MANY.
THAT'S ASSUMING THAT SOME OF THEM ARE KINDERGARTENERS THAT WILL ACCEPT CEDAR CREEK GRANTED, IT'S TYPICALLY ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR SCHOOLS FOR TRANSFERS.
THAT FEELS LIKE A GAMBLE TO ME WHEN WE'RE COMMITTING THAT WE'RE HAVING STAFF IN THAT SPOT NOW AND YOU BUILD IT. THEY DON'T ALWAYS COME.
[02:55:04]
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN. ANYMORE? YES.
>> MAY I SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE? FIRST OF ALL, TO THE PARENTS FROM EANES WE REGRET THE ANGST THIS HAS CAUSED.
WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH A CLASS SIZE OF 26 EITHER SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE HAVE TO WEIGH INTO THESE DECISIONS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF GRAVITY AND SERIOUSNESS WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS MAY BE.
THE CLASS SIZE OF 26 FRANKLY, IS IDENTICAL TO A SCENARIO THAT WE LOOKED AT AT BRIDGEPORT LAST YEAR, A YEAR AGO.
WE HAD THE EXACT SAME SITUATION AND WE WERE SITTING HERE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME PROJECTING A CLASS SIZE OF 26 AND THE RISING FOURTH-GRADE, THAT CLASS IS NOW CONSIDERABLY LESS AND IT'S A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE NUMBER.
WE HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE TO RELY ON.
WHEN WE WERE WITH THE BOARD IN OCTOBER AND WE SHARED WITH YOU OUR THOUGHTS AND PROPOSAL FOR HOW WE COULD BEGIN TO ADJUST THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, WE SAW A SCENARIO JUST LIKE THIS ON THE HORIZON.
WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS COMING AND WE CAN SEE MORE OF THESE.
IN FACT, THERE'S ONE EMERGING AT ANOTHER CAMPUS AS WELL IN SPANISH IMMERSION THAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THESE NUMBERS.
BUT I DO ASK THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE AGREED TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL FTE TO OFFSET THAT SIZE OF 26, THEY ARE GOING TO BE MORE.
THERE WILL BE MORE THIS SUMMER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER AS WELL, BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THIS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN.
SPANISH IMMERSION HAS REACHED A POINT IN ITS LIFE HERE IN OUR DISTRICT, WHERE THESE SCENARIOS ARE GOING TO PLAY OUT REPEATEDLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SERIOUSLY BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SAVE THE PROGRAM AND TO HELP IT BE SUCCESSFUL GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
WE CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT THERE IS CONCERN REGARDING A CLASS SIZE OF 26.
WHILE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE EANES CAMPUS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THAT SPACE FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM.
AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE BOARD TO EVENTUALLY GET OUT OF THE PORTABLES ON THAT CAMPUS AND TO GET ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BACK INTO THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR CLASSROOMS. THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS DIRECTIVE THAT WE WERE OPERATING WITH THEM, AS WELL AS WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE BOARDS DIRECTIVE GIVEN THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT TO BE FTE NEUTRAL GOING INTO THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
NOW, YOU'LL SEE IN JUST A MOMENT IN THE PRESENTATION COMING UP, THE ONLY ADDITIONAL FTE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR ARE THE PEACE OFFICERS THAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING AND CONSIDERING.
ALL OF THOSE FACTORS CAME INTO PLAY HERE, THE BUDGET, THE STAFFING CONSTRAINTS.
WE TAKE THESE SITUATIONS AND THESE DECISIONS VERY SERIOUSLY.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CLASS SIZE OF 26 WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR FINALLY OPENS BASED UPON WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AT BRIDGEPORT.
IF YOU WANT TO MITIGATE THAT CLASS SIZE OF 26, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE OF THOSE THIS SUMMER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEVOTE ADDITIONAL FTE.
IF NOT THIS SUMMER THAN PROBABLY NEXT YEAR GOING INTO THE 24, 25 SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL.
MY THOUGHT ON THIS, I DO LOOK AT THE GOVERNANCE PIECE OF THIS, AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THE BOARD IS GUIDING THAT FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE.
WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH LARGE CLASS SIZES LIKE THAT AND WE WANT TO MITIGATE THAT WHERE POSSIBLE.
I DO AGREE THAT THIS IS A BUDGET THING AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BUDGET PROJECTION ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO MAKE THAT SECOND SI CLASSROOM HAPPEN.
DOES THAT INVOLVE CHANGING ONE OF THESE PORTABLES TO HAVE A BATHROOM? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
THEN HIRING OR KEEPING A SECOND TEACHER THERE.
WHAT IS THE COST? I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, AND WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION BASED ON THAT.
BUT I AGREE, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WE'RE NOT A FAN OF GIANT CLASS SIZES AND WE'RE NOT A FAN OF TINY CLASS SIZES.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DIAL THAT IN WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT MANY CAMPUSES, THAT MANY GRADES AND YOU'VE GOT THAT SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM THAT CAUSES SOME OF THESE IMBALANCES.
I APPLAUD THE EFFORT THAT'S GONE INTO THIS AND IT'S PROBABLY BETTER THAN WE WOULD'VE EXPECTED, BUT DEFINITELY WORK TO DO AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRANSFERS COMING IN.
I HOPE THAT THE NEXT TIME WE SEE THIS, WE SEE SOME OF THESE PROJECTIONS WITH THE TRANSFERS AND THE IMPACT OF THAT. YES, HEATHER.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED GOVERNANCE AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A DECISION, AND SO WE'RE QUESTIONING THAT BY ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DOING THAT.
[03:00:04]
IF WE'RE COOL WITH THAT, GREAT.IF NOT, I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COMMENTS?
>> JAMES, I'LL SHARE SOMETHING REAL QUICK THAT YOU SEE A LOT OF 17S AND YOU SEE SOME 18S.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THOSE ARE TRADITIONALLY FIFTH FIVE SECTION GRADE LEVELS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE SOLVE LARGE INFLUX OF NEW STUDENTS THAT PUSHED US TO ADDITIONAL TRADITIONAL SECTIONS.
BUT THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY WITH CAMPUS LEADERS AND PRINCIPALS AND LOOKING AT THOSE ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTRICTS TO EVALUATE THOSE DISTRICTS.
WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU, OUR GOAL WOULD THAT YOUR 17S OR 20S.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING.
THIS IS HOW MANY SEATS WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT OUR CAMPUSES THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.
THAT'S KIND OF THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH WE EVALUATE THOSE TRANSFERS.
>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. GO AHEAD JANE.
>> SORRY, JUST ONE QUESTION. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE NEXT REPORT? WILL IT BE AT THE NEXT MEETING?
>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. YES ANN.
>> IF WE DID FIND THAT OPPORTUNISTICALLY, THEY WERE MORE SPACES FOR TRANSFERS.
I KNOW TRANSFER APPLICATIONS HAVE ENDED.
IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE RECRUITMENT OVER THE SUMMER? I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH WHAT KIM SAID ABOUT 30-40 ADDITIONAL ONES.
DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT 30-40 COME INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL, IS THAT NEW RESIDENTS THAT MOVE IN? THAT WASN'T TRANSFER.
>> CORRECT YEAH. WE'LL SEE WHERE IT ALL FALLS AND THROUGH OUR EVALUATION TRANSFER EVALUATION AND YOU CAN SEE IF THERE'S STILL REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU JUST SAID JUNE 6, WE'LL SEE ANOTHER REPORT.
WILL TRANSFER DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THEN OR THEY ARE MADE THEN. THANK YOU.
>> ONE THING TO CLARIFY IS WHERE THAT MAY REPRESENT IS OFFERED TRANSFERS.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EVEN IF I APPLY FOR A TRANSFER, MAY 1ST, MY PLANS MAY HAVE CHANGED AS A FAMILY AND THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE BASED ON OUR OFFERS, NOT NECESSARILY ON ACCEPTANCE, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETIMES.
>> WILL YOU GIVE US LIKE A HISTORICALLY 80 PERCENT EXCEPT?
>> OR SOME SORT OF BREAKDOWN OF SHOWING WHAT IS OFFERED VERSUS WHAT IS A FIRM NUMBER.
>> AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA AND SEE,
[13.3 2023-24 Property Value Review, Staff Compensation and Budget Update]
I DON'T HAVE THE SLIDES TONIGHT.PROPERTY VALUE REVIEWS TO HAVE CONVERSATION.
TONIGHT IN ADDITION TO DOING A BUDGET UPDATE AND TALKING ABOUT STAFF COMPENSATION WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM YOU ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FOR STAFF COMPENSATION FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE THIS PROPERTY VALUE REVIEW, WHICH IS THE BUSINESS OFFICE EQUIVALENT OF RIPX.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO SHOW YOU AND SO HERE IT COMES.
>> I DON'T MIND NO WAVE DOWN [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS A PRESENTATION WHERE WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TAX BASE AND HOW IT IMPACTS SCHOOL FINANCE.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT SINCE THE 2019 UPDATE TO THE SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM, NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS IT USED TO.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I WAS PROJECTING THAT WE WERE GOING TO SHOW AT 9 PERCENT INCREASE, AND NOW AFTER GETTING THE PRELIMINARY VALUES IN APRIL, AND THAT'S SHOWING A 4.3 PERCENT INCREASE AND KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S AN ESTIMATE.
IT COULD STILL RANGE FROM WHERE THAT IS.
THAT DIFFERENCE WAS ABOUT $800,000, AND WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE PROJECTIONS, AND I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE INTERESTING LOOKING THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT UP THERE IS ACTUALLY HOME VALUES, THE APPRAISED VALUES WENT UP ALMOST 10 PERCENT FROM THE AVERAGE HOME IN
[03:05:01]
EANES ISD FROM 2.02 MILLION TO 2.21 MILLION TO RANGE TO THAT DISCUSSION YOU'RE HAVING EARLIER ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE TAXABLE VALUE.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE TAXABLE VALUE IS LIMITED IN HOW MUCH IT CAN GO UP IN ANY ONE YEAR.
ON AVERAGE, TAXABLE VALUE FOR HOMES AND THE DISTRICT IS ABOUT $1.42 MILLION.
ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY VALUE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AT THE END OF THE LAST YEAR, AND SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DECEMBER 31ST, 2022.
WHAT WAS THE ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE AT THAT TIME? THE CHIEF APPRAISER SAYS THAT ACTUALLY VALUE STARTED DROPPING ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH 2022 AND THEY CONTINUE TO DROP.
AS THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO HER IN APRIL, SHE SAYS IF SHE WAS TO PUT A VALUE ON THE PROPERTY AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD BE LOWER THAN WHAT SHE PUT IT AT IN DECEMBER.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR.
BUT THAT MIGHT PLAY INTO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR IN THE 2024 TAX YEAR.
HERE'S JUST AN OVERVIEW OF IT.
THAT TOP LINE, THE $33 MILLION THAT YOU SEE, THAT IS THE TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE NOW.
AGAIN, THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE TAXABLE VALUE, WHICH YOU SEE ONE LINE BELOW.
THAT'S GOING TO ALWAYS GROW AT A SLOWER RATE.
WE'VE GOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VALUE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR HOMESTEADS THAT IS ASSESSED BUT NOT TAXED AND THAT'S REFLECTED THERE.
PROBABLY ABOUT $7 BILLION OF THAT DIFFERENCE IS MADE UP OF THAT AND SOME OF THAT IS MADE UP OF FROZEN VALUES FOR OVER 65.
SOME OF IT IS MADE UP WITH, SOME OTHER EXEMPTIONS, LIKE AGRICULTURAL EXEMPTIONS THAT SOME OF OUR PROPERTIES HAVE HERE IN EANES ISD.
UNDER CURRENT LAW NOW, I PROJECTED OUR M&O TAX LEVY WILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR JUST SHY OF $200 MILLION ON THE M&O SIDE, PLUS ANOTHER 2,526 MILLION ON THE ISD SIDE.
THAT EQUATES TO RECAPTURE AMOUNT OF ABOUT 125 MILLION.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT COMING IN AND DOING SIGNIFICANT TAX REFORM.
IF THAT GOES INTO EFFECT, THROW THOSE NUMBERS OUT.
WE'LL FIGURE, GIVE YOU NEW NUMBERS WHEN WE KNOW THEM.
NOW YOU'RE DONE WITH THE BUSINESS OFFICE RIPX.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. WE'VE STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS EARLY ABOUT AREA COMPENSATION AND OUR COMPARISON DISTRICTS.
WE WANTED TO JUST BRING TO YOU TONIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE GONE TO THEIR BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
YOU PROBABLY ARE VERY AWARE THAT A ISD HAS GONE FOR THE 7 PERCENT INCREASE AND THEY'RE ALSO RAISING THEIR HOURLY RATE BY $4, WHICH TAKES THEIR HOURLY RATE UP TO ABOUT $20 HOURLY PER HOUR RATE.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING WHERE DEL VALLEY HAS LANDED ON 6 PERCENT AND THEN ROUND ROCK LANDED ON THREE, BUT THEY DO HAVE A VADER IN NOVEMBER AND I BELIEVE THEY THINK THAT THERE COULD BE MORE COMPENSATION THAT MIGHT COME OUT OF THAT IF IT PASSES.
THEY HAVE MADE THAT CLAIM THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, THEY WOULD LOOK AT COMPENSATION AGAIN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THEN SAY MARK IS ALSO LANDED ON THREE.
TO JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF UPDATES, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.
YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF VERY RELEVANT QUESTIONS ABOUT RACES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT GOING FROM OUR TRADITIONAL MIDPOINT TO MORE OF A INCREASE BASED ON EVERYBODY'S ACTUAL SALARY, WHICH WE HOPE WILL OFFSET THOSE MORE EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES WITH A LITTLE BIT HIGHER PAY.
WE'D ALSO LOOKED AS A DEPARTMENT AT THE SALARY SCHEDULE TO BUILD BUMPS IN THERE.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS PAY MIDPOINT VERSUS THE ACTUAL PAY ON THE SALARY, WE FELT THERE WAS SOME ROOM IN THERE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE THESE BUMPS.
WHETHER WE HAVE TO GO AT IT AND THINK A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THEN I WOULD LIKE, BUT PROBABLY WHAT CHRIS IS MORE THINKING, JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WITH SOME OF OUR COMPARISON DISTRICTS, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PAY, THERE IS REALLY NO WAY TO CATCH THEM AS FAST AS WE WOULD LIKE TO WITHOUT SPENDING 2 OR $300,000 ON JUST DOING THAT.
[03:10:03]
I THINK IF WE GO INTO THIS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT LOOK AND ACTUALLY START BUILDING THAT IN, WE HAVE ONE THAT'S BUILDING IN STEPS THAT ARE ABOUT AT STEP NUMBER 5 IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT $200 MORE.AT STEP NUMBER 10, IT'S $400 MORE THAN WE ACTUALLY ADDED ONE AND IT'S STEP 15, THAT WOULD BE A $500, AND THEN AT STEP 20 WOULD BE $450 MORE.
WE'RE DOING SOME OF THOSE SLOW PROGRESSION STEPS.
IT'S STILL GOING TO COST US ABOUT $86,000.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT EVERY YEAR.
WE ALSO NEED TO WATCH BECAUSE THOSE AREAS AT THE VERY END ARE VERY COMPRESSED.
WHEN THEY'RE COMPRESSED LIKE THAT, AS YOU START TO BUILD OUT, YOU HAVE TO JUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE AFFECTING OTHER STEPS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THAT AND BEING VERY DILIGENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN DO THIS EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT AND WE WOULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THAT WOULD BE BUILT IN ALONG WITH OUR STIPENDS THAT WE'VE REVIEWED.
ALL OF THE PIECES ARE HOURLY IN AUXILIARY STAFF ALSO.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE THINK WE STAND WITH THE BUDGET AND WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED HERE.
THESE PROJECTIONS DO INCLUDE THE MNO SAVINGS THAT WE'RE PROJECTING DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF THE 2023 BOND.
IT DOES INCLUDE THE COST OF ADDING A DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE 11 OFFICER SCENARIO.
I CAN GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS TO LOOK AT IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER OTHER SCENARIOS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT, ELLEN.
I KNOW YOU'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THESE AND WE'VE SHOWN THE TOTAL COST OF THE SCHOOL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING OVER $1 MILLION.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, NUMBER ONE FOR OUR SROS, AND TWO, FOR OUR TWO DIRECTORS OF SAFETY, THAT WOULD BE ROLLED INTO THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE DUTIES WOULD FLOW INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE SOME MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING TOWARDS SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS JUST THE DELTA.
HOW MUCH MORE WOULD WE HAVE TO PAY TO PUT AN OFFICER AT EACH CAMPUS? ALSO, AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU ASK US TO SHOW YOU WHAT 5 PERCENT COMPENSATION WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND I'VE GOT IT SHOWN WHAT 4 AND 5 PERCENT SO YOU CAN SEE BOTH OF THOSE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE NOT INCLUDED ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING AT THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, THIS IS SHOWING THE DEMOGRAPHERS PROJECTION ON SNAPSHOT ENROLLMENT, AND I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT BECAUSE IN JUST A MINUTE I'LL ALSO SHOW YOU A DIFFERENT SCENARIO IN CASE WE DON'T REACH THERE, AND IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT WE WON'T OR AT LEAST POSSIBLE THAT WE WON'T.
WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LAND, BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE THE SCENARIO IF WE COME IN LOWER THAN THAT.
WHEN WE DO THIS, WE CAN SEE THAT AT THE 4 PERCENT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS WOULD BE WHAT YOU WOULD BE WHAT YOU ADOPT A BUDGET DEFICIT OF SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $200,000 WITH A PROJECTED SURPLUS OF ABOUT $800,000.
THAT'S REALLY NOT A BAD SCENARIO CONSIDERING THOSE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, 5 PERCENT SHOWS US WITH A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $800,000, OR CLOSER TO 900,000, AND THEN A PROJECTED SURPLUS OF ABOUT 100,000.
REALISTICALLY, THAT IS, TOSS A COIN [LAUGHTER]
>> ON THAT ONE, BUT THAT'S ROUGHLY.
WE'LL CALL THAT BALANCED AS FOUR WEEKS EXPECT IT TO PERFORM.
>> CHRIS, CAN I ASK YOU TO CLARIFY THE FTE CHANGE THE NINE?
[03:15:02]
[OVERLAPPING]>> OF COURSE, THE NINE REPRESENTS ADDITIONAL OFFICERS THAT WOULD BE HIRING HERE.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME SAVINGS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WILL GENERATE AN FTE BECAUSE OF SMALLER CLASS SIZES, PARTICULARLY ELEMENTARY SUMMIT AT OTHER CAMPUSES.
BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO YOU ABOUT POSITIONS THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO ADD AND LAURA'S TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
WE THINK THAT'S ROUGHLY A WASH.
I BELIEVE WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXACTLY A WASH, WAS IT?
>> YES. I THINK IT WAS 10 FTES THAT WE ACTUALLY SAVED AND I THINK WE SPENT 9.5, SO IT'S BASICALLY A WASH.
>> THAT'S A WASH, AND SO THE NINE REPRESENTS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE IN ORDER TO START THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT EVENTUALLY, WE WOULD REMOVE THAT CONTRACT FOR THE SRO OFFICERS WHO ALTHOUGH THEY WORK HERE FULL TIME, THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR FTE ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A CONTRACT RATHER THAN EMPLOYEES.
>> I WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DON'T MEET THE DEMOGRAPHER'S PROJECTION FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT.
WHAT I DID WAS I WENT IN THERE AND I PUT 7,500, WHICH SEEMS I THINK CERTAINLY REASONABLE.
I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL REACH THAT.
HOPEFULLY, WILL GO BEYOND THAT.
BUT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.
THEN I SHOWED 7,500 IN THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY THE DEMOGRAPHERS SHOWING A LITTLE BIT HIRED 7,500.
THEN AFTER THAT, THEN I JUST WENT WITH DEMOGRAPHERS AS IT DROPS BELOW 7,500.
WHEN WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, AT 4 PERCENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET DEFICIT OF ABOUT 1.2 MILLION AND A PROJECTED DEFICIT OF ABOUT $200,000.
SO I WOULD CONSIDER THAT IN THE SAME IDEA OF THE ONE I SHOWED YOU A SECOND AGO, WHERE WE HAD $120,000 OR $200,000 DEFICIT, ROUGHLY BALANCED, AND JUST AN FYI.
IF OUR 4.3 PERCENT TAX BASE GROWTH ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE 5.3, THAT'S MAYBE 150-$200,000.
ADDITIONAL, OF COURSE, IT GOES THE OTHER WAY AS WELL, A 3.3 THAT WOULD SUBTRACT OFF.
IF WE LOOK AT 5 PERCENT, AGAIN, WITH THE 7,500 ENROLLMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A DEFICIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1.8 MILLION AND A PROJECTED DEFICIT OF ABOUT 800,000.
GUESSING YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND LAURA AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU, LAURA. WE'LL START WITH HEATHER.
>> ONE, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M SUPER COMFORTABLE LEAVING THE 9 PERCENT TAX BASE GROWTH JUST GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY GOOD.
>> WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE LOUDER THAN IT WAS A SECOND AGO.
HISTORICALLY, IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER A GOOD PERIOD OF TIME, ON AVERAGE, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN.
NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND OBVIOUSLY, IF THOSE LIMITATIONS ON TAX-BASED GROWTH ARE APPLIED, 5 PERCENT BOTH THE HOMESTEADS AND TO NON-HOMESTEADS, THEN I'LL HAVE TO SHOW YOU NEW PROJECTIONS BECAUSE THESE WILL OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER BE VALID.
AGAIN, I'M SHOWING THE PROJECTIONS BASED ON CURRENT LAW AND IT'S QUITE LIKELY, PROBABLE POSSIBLE THAT THOSE WILL CHANGE.
BUT AGAIN, WE DIDN'T WANT TO SHOW THAT.
WE WILL WHENEVER WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL THOUGH AND THAT NUMBER IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE THAT BUT I GET YOUR POINT.
THE OTHER PIECE TO THIS PUZZLE, AND I ASKED CLAUDIA FOR AN OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD NUMBER, BUT I AM CURIOUS FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION THAT IS OVER 65 WITH FROZEN TAXES.
TOTALLY ANECDOTAL, BUT MY STREET ALONE, WE ONLY HAVE THREE FAMILIES WITH KIDS STILL IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF MY STREET ARE EMPTY NESTERS AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE OVER 65.
THEY HAVE NO PLANS ON LEAVING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY ARE AGING IN PLACE BEAUTIFULLY.
[03:20:05]
WHY WOULD THEY? I LIKE THEM, SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THEM.I THINK THAT THAT DOES IMPACT INTO DIANE'S POINT EARLIER, WHERE ARE THESE KIDS AND PEOPLE JUST AREN'T LEAVING.
THEY LIKE OUR AREA, I DON'T BLAME THEM.
I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR BUDGET OR IF YOU HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP YOUR HEAD.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT THE AMOUNT OF FROZEN TAXES IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE A LITTLE BIT.
THE WAY THAT WORKS IS YOU SUBTRACT OUT THE VALUE OF THOSE HOMES THAT ARE FROZEN, AND THAT WOULD BE THE ADJUSTED VALUE THAT WE LOOK AT AND YOU MULTIPLY THAT OUT.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEING TAXED AT THE CURRENT TAX RATE.
THEN YOU COME IN AND YOU ADD THE FROZEN AMOUNT BECAUSE FOR THOSE CITIZENS WHO ARE 65 OR OLDER AND THEY HAVE THAT EXEMPTION, WHATEVER THEY PAID THE YEAR THEY TURNED 65, THAT SAME TAX AMOUNT REMAINS SO LONG AS THEY STAY IN THAT HOME.
THE ACTUAL PERCENT IS DIFFERENT, AND SO THE WAY WE CALCULATE IS, ONCE WE CALCULATE THE PERCENT ON THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY BEING TAXED AT THE RATE AND THEN WE JUST ADD THAT IN.
LAST YEAR, THE AMOUNT THAT WE ADDED IN WAS ABOUT $26 MILLION AND I THINK THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THERE $28-29 MILLION.
OF COURSE, THAT'S SPREAD BOTH BETWEEN M&O AND I&S PROPORTIONALLY.
THAT WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE HAVE TURNED 65.
PROBABLY ALSO MEANS THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD FROZEN HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED ON AND SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE THAT EXEMPTION HAS BOUGHT THEIR HOUSE.
LONG STORY SHORT, IT'S GROWING BUT IT'S NOT GROWING EXPLOSIVELY.
>> JUST GIVEN ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF GIVING OUR STAFF AS MUCH OF A BUMP AND COMPENSATION AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME CORRECTIONS MAYBE FROM OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE, DURING SO FUNDING, WHEN THEY HAD A LOT, THEY WERE LIKE, YES, LET'S GIVE, GIVE, GIVE AND NOW THEY'RE LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH.
AGAIN, EVERYBODY SEES THE WRITING ON THE WALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW COMFORTABLE I AM GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES WITH TRANSFERS, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES WITH KINDERGARTEN NUMBERS, OUR AGING POPULATION.
ALL OF THESE FACTORS IN THE TECH SPACE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMFORTABLE GOING TO 5 PERCENT.
I WISH WE COULD, BUT I DON'T THINK I'M COMFORTABLE THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER GET TO RAISE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT AT THIS POINT.
>> I WANT TO GO TO KIM, AND THEN JEN, AND THEN ELLEN.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT WE GET SO MUCH INFORMATION FROM YOU AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
I REALLY WANTED TO JUST WEIGH IN AT THIS LATE HOUR ON MY THOUGHTS.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HEATHER, ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY.
AGAIN, I'VE BEEN JUST SITTING HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I'VE LISTENED FOR YEARS BEFORE THAT AND THERE'S ALWAYS UNCERTAINTY.
THE THINGS THAT ARE WEIGHING ON ME ARE INFLATION AND HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, AND ALSO THE HEALTHY FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE.
MY VOTE WOULD BE AT A 5 PERCENT INCREASE FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION ON SOME OF THE STIPENDS AND THE PARTICULARS AROUND IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 5 PERCENT INCREASE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 5 PERCENT INCREASE.
PARTICULARLY, I LOOK AT THE HEALTH OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
WHILE THINGS ARE NEVER EVER CERTAIN, WE NEVER KNOW.
WE GO THROUGH A SESSION EVERY TWO YEARS AND THERE'S UNCERTAINTY EVERY TWO YEARS.
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION, SO WE WON'T KNOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
MY PREFERENCE IS TO GO TO 5 PERCENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR OUR STAFF.
[03:25:07]
>> I'LL SAY UPFRONT THAT I DEFINITELY PREFER THE 5 PERCENT RECOMMENDATION AND SUPPORT THAT STRONGLY.
I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO EVEN BE ABLE TO CONSIDER FIVE AND HALF OR SIX.
BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS INTO THE CONVERSATION IN ANSWERING HEATHER'S QUESTION.
THIS MIGHT BE A JEREMY QUESTION AS OPPOSED TO A CHRIS QUESTION, DID THE DEMOGRAPHER TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE TENDENCY FOR THE DISTRICT TO STAY HERE? THAT HAS TYPICALLY BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOGRAPHER HAS POINTED OUT THAT IS UNIQUE TO US IN HIGHLAND PARK IN DALLAS, THAT PEOPLE DON'T TEND TO MOVE AT 65.
THEY TEND TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES UNTIL 85 OR UNTIL THEY GO TO THE ASSISTED LIVING OR ELSEWHERE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT WAS PART OF THE MOST RECENT ANALYSIS? HAS THAT DYNAMIC CHANGED?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S A CHARACTERISTICS OF EANES ISD WHERE THAT DEMOGRAPHY MAY WORK WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THAT IT MAY NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR.
BUT WITHIN EANES ISD, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
THEY ALSO LOOK AT REGENERATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT THAT.
IT'S A CONSIDERATION THAT FACTOR IS PROBABLY HIGHER IN OUR DISTRICT THAN IN OTHER DISTRICTS THAT THEY MAY WORK WITH.
>> SOME OF THAT IS BAKED IN [OVERLAPPING]
SPEAKING OF NEIGHBORHOOD REGENERATION, DO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE OFF VERSUS THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS? THAT'S NOT A QUESTION TO ANSWER TONIGHT, BUT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND JUST SO THAT WE KNOW BY CAMPUS ARE OUR PROJECTIONS OFF, I THINK THAT MIGHT TELL US EITHER SOMETHING ABOUT RECRUITMENT OF ADDITIONAL STUDENTS OR ABOUT WHERE STUDENTS MIGHT BE GOING.
I THINK IT'D BE GOOD INFORMATION FOR US TO LOOK AT.
CHRIS, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IMPACTS OUR BUDGET THE MOST? THE TAX BASE GROWTH OR ENROLLMENT?
>> ENROLLMENT. TAX-BASED GROWTH IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT WITH OUR GOLDEN PENNIES, THEY'VE DONE WONDERS FOR US.
THIS YEAR, WE COLLECTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $20 MILLION ON OUR GOLDEN PENNIES.
A 10 PERCENT GROWTH WOULD HAVE MEANT TWO MILLION DOLLARS MORE, A 5 PERCENT GROWTH IS ONE MILLION DOLLARS MORE.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT, BUT GETTING KIDS IN HERE AND HAVING THEM EFFICIENTLY ALLOCATED TO SCHOOLS AND SO THAT WE CAN EFFICIENTLY ALLOCATE STAFF TO TEACH THEM, I WOULD SAY IS THE DRIVING FORCE ON THE BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN HOW DISTRESSED I AM AT OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AS THEY ARE NOW.
THE REASON I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A PROPONENT OF THE TRANSFER POLICY, AND HOW KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS IS IMPORTANT TO THE KIND OF QUALITY OF EDUCATION WE WANT TO PROVIDE.
I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING THE STEP INCREASES.
DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THE DELTA WOULD BE AT 5 PERCENT WITH THE NEW STEP INCREASES AT 5 YEARS, 10 YEARS, AND 20 YEARS VERSUS LAKE TRAVIS? WE WERE ABOUT $5,000-$6,000 OFF, I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW MUCH WE CLOSE THE GAP.
>> REALLY NOT MUCH WITH JUST THAT SMALL INCREASE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY SUBSTANTIAL ONE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
>> I RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT SMALL INCREMENTS, BUT MY SENSE IS THAT WITH THE SO MONEY, THEY PROBABLY DID SOMETHING FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL BECAUSE THREE YEARS AGO WE WEREN'T FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS BEHIND, LAKE TRAVIS, AND NOW WE ARE.
>> THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING AT THOSE UPPER [OVERLAPPING]
WE USED TO THINK THAT WE COMPETED AGAINST THEM ONLY FOR THE FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A FAIR ASSUMPTION THAT TENURE TEACHER,
[03:30:02]
IF YOU'RE TALKING FIVE, $6,000, THAT'S NOT A $50 DIFFERENCE.SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT THE RANKINGS AND WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT $50, BUT THE RANKINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN NOW VERSUS VERY, VERY CLOSE NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.
I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
IF THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO TWEAK A LITTLE FASTER [LAUGHTER]
>> OR A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVELY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO DO THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH LOOKING AT THOSE HIGH NUMBERS FROM LAKE TRAVIS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
WHAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT CURRENTLY OF OUR HOURLY EMPLOYEES ON AVERAGE?
>> ON OUR SALARY SCHEDULE, IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT OUR NARRATIVE IS BECAUSE IT BASICALLY WE'RE ABOUT SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES AROUND $15 MARK.
MOST OF OUR TAS ARE HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS I THINK THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WOULD BE OUR CHILD NUTRITION, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF.
>> WE'RE AT 15 AND WE KNOW THAT AISD FOR EXAMPLE IS GOING TO 20.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S A CONCERN OF OURS.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO DO MATH IN PUBLIC, BUT THAT'S A BIG.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER DOING WHAT WE CAN BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE JOBS THAT HAD BEEN THE HARDEST TO FILL, PARTICULARLY POST-COVID.
>> JEREMY AND CHRIS AND I HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WE MAY EVEN BE BRINGING SOMETHING TO YOU IN THE FALL, BUT IT LOOKS THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER VISIT OF THAT AUXILIARY STAFF.
>> CRYSTAL, I REMEMBER THAT THE INCREMENTAL COST FOR THE LARGER SIZE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ROUGHLY 360 ISH, SOMETHING THOUSAND.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, IF WE JUST WENT AND SAID, STATUS QUO, FROM WHAT I'VE GOT UP HERE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS 11 OFFICERS, IT WOULD BE A SAVINGS OF ABOUT $620,000.
IF WE WENT INSTEAD WITH THE SEVEN OFFICER RATHER THAN THE 11 OFFICER, THEN THAT'D BE SAVINGS HAVE A LITTLE OVER $300,000 FROM WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE.
TOWARD THAT IN ANOTHER WAY, [LAUGHTER]
>> STARTING FROM ZERO STATUS QUO.
SEVEN OFFICERS AT $300,000, 11 OFFICERS AT 620,000.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS REMEMBERING ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.
I WAS REMEMBERING THE ONE THAT WE WILL LIKELY NOT DO.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, OUR FUND BALANCE IS HEALTHIER THAN IT'S BEEN IN A WHILE.
I THINK WE NEED TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN BE, BOTH WITH OUR HOURLY AS WELL AS OUR SALARIED EMPLOYEES.
>> HOUSEKEEPING QUESTION, OUR BOARD ACTION SHEET FOR THIS ITEM TONIGHT ACTUALLY INDICATES INCREASING OR DETERMINING AN INCREASE ON STIPENDS SUBSTITUTE COMPENSATION, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO GET THERE TONIGHT?
>> WE REALLY NEED TO GET THERE TONIGHT.
OR YOU NEED TO GET THERE TONIGHT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THERE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.
ONE OF THEM IS WE'VE GOT TO GET IT INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO GET IT PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
NOT DOING IT TONIGHT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE IT POSTED IN TIME FOR THE JUNE 20 MEETING.
>> BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU FEEDBACK ON ANY OF THE OTHERS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU FEEDBACK ON THE SALARY.
OR WE COULD DO IT ACROSS THEM.
WE'RE NOT DIFFERENTIATING [INAUDIBLE] THIS POINT.
>> WE TYPICALLY DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DIFFERENTIATE IT WE CAN.
WE TYPICALLY ALWAYS ADD THAT INCREASE TO OUR STIPENDS IN OUR SUBSTITUTE PAY WHEN WE'RE DOING A COMPENSATION FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
>> WELL, JUST LOOKING RIGHT THERE, LAST YEAR WE DID IT DIFFERENTLY.
WE DID AN EXTRA PERCENTAGE, 0.4.
I'M AT 5 PERCENT, OUR FUND BALANCE IS HEALTHY AND THE COST OF LIVING IS SKYROCKETING.
I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO SPEND THAT FUND BALANCE.
IT'S A LITTLE PAINFUL FOR ME ON UNPRINCIPLED TO SEE THAT NEGATIVE 800K.
[03:35:02]
BUT THEN WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE FUND BALANCE, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP THAT.OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE MAKING UP THAT DELTA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO.
IT WASN'T THAT MANY YEARS AGO THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT PROJECTED FUND BALANCES OF LOW 20S.
I'M GOOD AT 5 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS CHANGES THE SCOPE AND I'M STILL AT 5 PERCENT, BUT I DIDN'T FOCUS ON THE BOARD ACTION ITEM.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LORI, ON SALARY INCREASES, AND SO CAN YOU GIVE ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE ON WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL EMPLOYEE BASE IS SALARIED.
IF WE WENT TO SOMETHING AND YOU GAVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A $15 EMPLOYEE AND IF WE WENT TO 10 PERCENT ON THAT, WHICH IS $1 AND A HALF, SO THAT WOULD GET THEM TO 16.5 FOR THAT EMPLOY.
IS THAT 5 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION, IS THAT A BIG OR A SMALL OR DO YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE?
>> THIS IS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I LOOKED AT THIS SOMETIME AGO AND THE NUMBER SEEMS ABOUT RIGHT BECAUSE RECENTLY WHEN THEY STARTED AT THE LEGISLATURE TALKING ABOUT PAYMENT TO TEACHERS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, HOW MUCH HAD TO GO TO THAT, I WENT IN AND LOOKED AND SAID, WELL, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR PAYROLL GOES TO TEACHERS LIBRARIES COUNCIL, AND IT'S ABOUT 70 PERCENT.
THE NUMBER I HAD IN MY HEAD FOR HOURLY WAS 20 PERCENT.
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT, BUT I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT IN SOME TIME.
TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HIGHER OR SALARIED EMPLOYEES.
SORRY. THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING.
FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HIGHER IN THE RANGE OF 10 PERCENT AND MAYBE THAT'S TOO HIGH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT $15 AN HOUR FEE OR HOURLY WAGE.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 10 PERCENT IF THE BOARD WOULD AGREE.
>> HOURLY. THE TOTAL OF OUR PAYROLL, ABOUT 20 PERCENT WOULD BE HOURLY.
I'M TRYING TO DO MATH IN MY HEAD. I ASK NEXT.
FOR THE INFLATION REASONS AND THE PROTECTED FUND BALANCE, I'M IN FAVOR OF 5 PERCENT.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE NUMBERS IF YOU CAN DO THAT MATH FOR US JAMES.
IT'S GOING HIGHER FOR THE HOURLY.
>> CHRIS I'M WAITING ON YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT SEEING THE NUMBERS.
I CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE AT 5 PERCENT, AND SO I WOULD BE GOOD AT THAT.
>> REALLY ROUGH, 10 PERCENT INSTEAD OF FIVE, MAYBE $800,000 FOR THOSE HOURLY EMPLOYEES.
>> THAT WOULD PUT US AT A PROJECTED DEFICIT OF 1.6? I'M SORRY, I'M STILL AT.
>> MOST OF OUR HOURLY EMPLOYEES ARE AT A WAGE THAT'S GREATER THAN $15 AN HOUR TOO, CORRECT?
>> I'VE GOT JEN AND THEN ELLEN.
>> I WONDER IF WE CAN REVISIT THE HOURLY STAFF MAYBE IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, ONCE WE KNOW SOME OF THESE THINGS HAVE BECOME DEFINED.
ONCE WE KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE LEDGE, WE COULD STICK WITH THE 5 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR NOW, IT'S MY PROPOSAL.
THEN REVISIT WITH MORE FIRM NUMBERS, SAY IN SEPTEMBER, THE OPTION OF RAISING OUR HOURLY STAFF.
>> THAT'S WHAT LORIEN AND I HAD DISCUSSED EARLIER, WAS MAYBE WAIT AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND THEN REVISIT.
[03:40:03]
>> JUST TO COMPLICATE THINGS THIS TIME OF NIGHT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE ACTION SHEET AND ALL FOUR OF THOSE CATEGORIES ARE LISTED IN THE SAME ACTION ITEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTING AND SUBSTITUTE PAY.
BECAUSE I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO DOES DO SUBSTITUTE WORK, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN BREAK THAT APART?
>> YEAH, WE CAN BREAK THAT ONE.
>> WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THERE, JEFF?
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. CHRIS, CAN YOU CLARIFY FROM THE RECENT BOND, THE $2.9 MILLION IN SAVINGS, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PROJECTIONS?
>> YOU AND JEREMY ARE GOING TO BE UP ON THE ROOFS PUTTING ON SOLAR PANELS, LOOKS LIKE THIS SUMMER.
I'LL BRING YOU SOME COLD WATER.
THEY'RE STILL A LOT. THAT WAS ONE OF THEM.
THANK YOU, DR. ARNETT. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS THAT ARE THAT ARE IN MY MIND ABOUT THIS.
I THINK I AGREE WITH WHAT JEN SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THAT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY GOING TO COST US A LOT MORE THAN WE'RE PROJECTING.
I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE START LAYERING IN A LOT MORE TRAINING AND PHYSICALS AND DATA YET WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING TO THAT, I THINK.
THERE IS SOME DISCOMFORT THERE.
BY THE WAY, CHRIS, I THINK MAYBE YOU'VE READ MY MIND AND MAYBE THAT'S IN THERE.
I HAVE LOOKED AT ACTUAL EXPENDITURES OUT OF LTE TO EASE MY MIND A BIT.
IT DID EASE MY MIND A BIT, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, THAT GAVE ME A LITTLE HEARTBURN AS WELL.
>> THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK THE DAYS OF PROJECTING A 2 PERCENT SALARY CHANGE EVERY YEAR ARE GONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO BE DOING 3S OR 4S OR SOMETHING, BUT I THINK THAT PROJECTING TWO EVERY YEAR IS A THING OF THE PAST.
I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S VERY CONSERVATIVE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT MAKES THOSE FUTURE YEARS LOOK BETTER THAN THEY PROBABLY WILL BE AT THIS POINT, SO THAT WORRIES ME.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IF THE LEGISLATURE COMES THROUGH WITH THIS GIANT WHOPPING $50, THEY USUALLY PUT A THING IN THERE THAT SAYS HALF OF THAT HAS TO GO TO TEACHERS OR SOME WORDING THAT THEY LIKE.
IF WE PASS THIS NOW AND THEN THEY PASS THAT IN A SPECIAL, HOW DOES THAT WORK? DOES WE HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER?
>> TYPICALLY, THE COMPARISON WILL BE ON WHAT YOU WERE IN THE PRIOR SCHOOL YEAR.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE IN ANY OF THESE.
IF YOU WENT 5 PERCENT, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT 400 PERCENT OF THE INCREASE.
ONE LAST THING AND THIS IS MINUTE, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK IT ANYWAY.
ON THE SUBSTITUTE, YOU BRING UP THE SUBSTITUTE PAY AND THAT'S PART OF THIS.
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OR I HEARD FROM SOMEBODY THAT THE WAY OUR SUBSTITUTE PAY WORKS, THERE IS A BUMP.
AFTER YOU WORKED SO MANY DAYS IN A YEAR, YOU BUMP UP TO SOMETHING ELSE.
IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT IT RESETS EVERY YEAR.
I'M A SUBSTITUTE, I COULD WORK 200 DAYS THIS YEAR.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF NEXT YEAR, I GO BACK DOWN TO THE PREVIOUS RATE.
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE LOYAL TO US AND YOU'VE PUT IN THAT TIME PRAGER, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD RATHER TRAIL YOU FROM TODAY BACKWARDS, SO MANY DAYS OVER THE LAST X NUMBER OF SCHOOL DAYS.
IF I'VE WORKED 50 PERCENT OF THOSE OR SOME NUMBER, I COUNT FOR THAT BUMP, I GUESS.
MAYBE THIS ISN'T MY THING, BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT RESET.
I WISH THAT OUR LOYAL SUBSTITUTES HAD WE SHOWED THEM SOME LOYALTY BACK.
WE'VE ACTUALLY EVEN LOOKED AT THAT TO SEE.
I MEAN WHEN YOU THINK OF A TRS YEAR, THEY USE THAT 90 DAYS WORTH.
WE EVEN LOOKED AT THAT TO SEE HOW MANY SUBSTITUTES.
IT'S SUCH A SMALL NUMBER OF SUBSTITUTES, BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES WHEN WE CAN'T HONOR THEM.
IF WE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE A 60 DAY IF THEY'VE BEEN HERE AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR JUST STARTED THE HIGHER RATE.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT SOME INERTIA AND THAT'S AN ILLUSTRATION I'M NOT GETTING, I'M JUST EXPRESSING A THOUGHT ON THAT. YEAH.
>> CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION, CHRIS? IN THE EARLIER CONVERSATION TONIGHT, IF WE WERE TO ADD ADDITIONAL FTES OVER EVERY FTE THAT WE ADD, THAT INCREASES THE BOTTOM LINE BY HOW MUCH?
[03:45:02]
>> I'M OKAY WITH THE 5 PERCENT.
I MEAN, IN SPITE OF SEEING SOME CLOUDS, IT WORRIES ME A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED.
I FEEL LIKE WE WERE LOOKING A YEAR AGO, EVEN WHEN WE BUDGETED AND RAISED COUNTING ON.
I THINK WE WERE 8,000 ENROLLMENT.
WE DIDN'T LOOK AS GOOD AS WE'VE ENDED UP, THAT'S MY POINT.
WE'VE ENDED UP PRETTY WELL, SO I'M OKAY WITH 5 PERCENT.
ANYMORE QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
[14. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA]
DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, LAURA?>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVES THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
>> A MOTION BY LAURA, SECOND BY ELLEN. KIM.
>> I HAVE SOME DISCUSSION WHICH IS THE MAY 9TH MINUTES, SHOW ME IN ATTENDANCE AND I AM NOT AN ATTENDANT.
FROM AN ADMIN STANDPOINT, LET'S CORRECT THAT.
THE EMOTION WOULD BE THEN WITH THE AMENDED MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
OUR NEXT MOTION IS ON THE WESTLAKE CHAP CLUB DONATION. HEATHER.
[15.1 Westlake Chap Club Donation]
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACCEPT THE DONATION OF $156,500 FROM THE WESTLAKE CHAP CLUB BOOSTER ORGANIZATION.
>> MOTION BY HEATHER, SECOND BY LAURA. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> YEAH, I AGREE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
MOTION PASSES. OUR NEXT ACTION HANDS ON.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT? THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO GO TOWARDS STIPENDS.
WILL OUR DISCUSSION ON STIPEND INCREASE THIS AFFECT.
I DON'T WANT AFFECT THEIR GIFT, BUT THIS WILL JUST BE IN A MOUNTAIN TOWARDS THAT.
>> YES, CORRECT. THE STIPENDS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE BOOSTER CLUB OR CHAP CLUB, THOSE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THAT, THE INCREASE THAT WAS DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION ON PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE.
[15.2 Personnel Recommendations for Hill Country Middle School Principal, Barton Creek Elementary School Principal and Valley View Elementary School Principal]
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPAL POSITIONS IN EISD.
MS. JENNIFER DUSEK FOR BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, MS BRANDIS SMOLAND BRAND FOR VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY AND MRS. KIMBERLY DEWRELL FOR HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> MOTION BY ELLEN, SECOND BY JEN.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
[15.3 2023-24 Employee Compensation and Health Benefits]
DO I HAVE A MOTION, LAURA?>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUTHORIZES SUPERINTENDENT TO IMPLEMENT THE DISTRICT COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PLAN FOR THE 2023, 2024 SCHOOL YEAR AS FOLLOWS.
SALARY INCREASES FOR CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES SUCH AS TEACHERS, NURSES, COUNSELORS, LIBRARIANS, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS AND ADMINISTRATORS EQUAL TO 5 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUAL SALARIES ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE.
SALARY INCREASES FOR ALL NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES OR HOURLY SUPPORT STAFF, 5 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUAL SALARIES ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE.
A 5 PERCENT INCREASE ON ALL DISTRICTS STIPENDS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PAY RATES.
MAINTAINING THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION TO EMPLOY BENEFITS AT $473 PER MONTH.
>> MOTION BY LAURA, SECOND BY KIM.
ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES? DO I HAVE A MOTION ON SUBSTITUTE PAY, JEN?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUTHORIZES SUPERINTENDENT TO IMPLEMENT THE DISTRICT COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PLAN FOR THE 2023, 24 SCHOOL YEAR AS FOLLOWS.
A 5 PERCENT INCREASE FOR SUBSTITUTE COMPENSATION.
>> MOTION BY JEN, SECOND BY KIM. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU ELLEN. ELLEN IS ABSTAINING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TONIGHT.
I DON'T JOHN'S SCRIPT FOR THE CLOSE,
[03:50:02]
BUT PLEASE MAKE NOTE ABOUT OUR FUTURE MEETINGS.[16. UPCOMING MEETINGS]
WE HAVE A MEETING TONIGHT.WE HAVE A MEETING ON JUNE 6TH.
WELL WAIT, IS IT STILL TONIGHT OR IS IT TOMORROW YET.
>> WE HAVE A MEETING ON JUNE 6TH, A STUDY SESSION, ON JUNE 12TH, WE WILL HAVE TEAM BUILDING AND ON JUNE 20TH WE'LL HAVE OUR PROBABLY HOPEFULLY LAST MEETING BEFORE WE TAKE OUR SUMMER BREAK.
THANKS, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 10:55 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.