[00:00:02]
AND I CALL THE JUNE 6,[1. CALL TO ORDER]
2023 MEETING OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
[2. ESTABLISH A QUORUM]
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO
[3. CLOSED SESSION]
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.074.WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 07:00 PM.
THANK YOU FOR COMING, SEE YOU IN A BIT.
THE TIME IS NOW 7:05 AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE OPEN SESSION.
[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]
GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING.THE BOARD IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO COVER REAL QUICK AS WE GET STARTED.
FIRST, THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS FOR THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS LISTED ON ITS AGENDA.
THE DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO TREATING EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND WE EXPECT THE SAME IN RETURN.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM OUTBURSTS, ALTHOUGH APPLAUSE FOR SOMETHINGS IS OKAY, AND ANY OTHER FORM OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING, FIVE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND EACH SPEAKER WILL GET THREE MINUTES.
LAST THING IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE NOTE THE NEAREST EXIT TO YOU, WE HAVE ONE IN THE BACK AND WE HAVE ONE UP HERE IN THE FRONT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING/ WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR AGENDA.
FIRST WE'LL START WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[5.1 Superintendent's Report]
>> MR. BRADLEY. THANK YOU. WELCOME EVERYBODY.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING, ESPECIALLY ONCE SUMMER VACATION HAS BEGUN.
IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE LIKE THIS.
I'M GOING TO ASK MRS. CAROL REESE FROM WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO OVERSEES OUR DESTINATION IMAGINATION PROGRAM [APPLAUSE] TO COME FORWARD.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BEGIN WITH STUDENT RECOGNITIONS AND YOU HAVE A FEW THIS EVENING. WE TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> HI EVERYBODY. I'M CAROL REESE AND I AM THE EANES COORDINATOR FOR THE DESTINATION IMAGINATION PROGRAM.
WE ARE SUPER DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DESTINATION IMAGINATION PROGRAM IN EANES AND ABOUT SOME OF OUR AMAZING PARTICIPANTS.
DI, DESTINATION IMAGINATION IS AN INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROGRAM THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY IN GRADES K THROUGH 12.
TEAMS OF UP TO SEVEN KIDS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SELECT AN OPEN-ENDED LONG-TERM CHALLENGE FROM A FIELD OF SIX POSSIBLE CHOICES AND THEN CREATIVELY SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
THE RESULTING SOLUTION AFTER MONTHS OF WEEKLY MEETINGS IS COMPLETELY THEIRS.
NO SUGGESTIONS OR PHYSICAL HELP OF ANY KIND FROM ADULTS WOULD BE PERMITTED.
THEIR SOLUTION IS PRESENTED IN A SKIT FORM AT THE COMPETITIONS LOCALLY, AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND IF THEY ADVANCED THEN ALSO AT THE GLOBAL FINALS LEVEL, WHICH WAS IN KANSAS CITY THIS YEAR.
EACH CHALLENGE REQUIRES KIDS TO INCLUDE ELEMENTS OF TECHNICAL AND THEATRICAL CREATIVITY IN VARYING AMOUNTS DEPENDING ON WHICH CHALLENGE WAS THE FOCUS THAT THEY SELECTED.
IN ADDITION, KIDS ARE ASKED TO SOLVE WHAT'S CALLED AN INSTANT CHALLENGE, WHICH IS ON THE DAY OF COMPETITION, A PANEL OF JUDGES WILL PULL THE KIDS INTO A ROOM AND ASK THEM TO COLLECTIVELY SOLVE A SHORT CHALLENGE THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ON THE SPOT.
THIS USUALLY SHOWCASES THEIR TEAMWORK AND THEIR CREATIVE THINKING QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY GET IT THAT YOU CAN PRACTICE AND REHEARSE.
BUT IN AN INSTANT CHALLENGE YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT JUST ON THE FLY.
ANYWAY, DI PROMOTES HIGHER LEVEL THINKING, CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING.
IT'S A WONDERFUL MEANS FOR TEACHING KIDS THE BENEFITS OF TEAMWORK.
STUDENTS LEARN VALUABLE TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND ALSO HOW TO WORK WITHIN A BUDGET.
AS THEY'RE HELD TO STRICT TIME LIMITS FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND TO FINANCIAL LIMITS FOR THEIR SOLUTIONS.
ALL OF THESE SKILLS SERVE THEM SUPER WELL IN THEIR ADULT LIFE AS THEY FACE CHALLENGES IN THE REAL-WORLD AT WORK, AT SCHOOL, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
EANES IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE TRULY INCREDIBLY CREATIVE KIDS WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY.
WE HAD SIX TEAMS ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE COMPETITION.
ONLY FIVE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND STATE BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, AND SO LET'S CONGRATULATE FIRST BRICK LEAFS DANCING ALPACAS FROM WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] CAN YOU GUYS COME ON UP? THESE ARE ONLY PARTIAL TEAMS IN SOME CASES BECAUSE THE KIDS IT'S SUMMER AND SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY GONE.
YOU CAN COME STAND RIGHT UP IN HERE MAYBE.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME, IS DANA HARMONS WONDERLAND WINNER TEAM HERE?
[00:05:04]
YEAH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE.[APPLAUSE] THIS TEAM WAS FROM HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH ONE STUDENT FROM WEST RIDGE JOINING.
THEY DID THE CATEGORY CALLED FLIP THE SCRIPT, WHICH WAS A FINE ARTS CHALLENGE FOR THE MIDDLE LEVEL.
GREG'S TEAM LEGIT FROM WEST RIDGE IN THE IMPROV CATEGORY, [APPLAUSE] COME ON DOWN, CALLED SHOWDOWN.
LEAH ROGERS DI DOLPHIN TEAM FROM WEST RIDGE AND THE TECHNICAL ENGINEERING CATEGORY, PIECE-BY-PIECE. COME ON DOWN.
[APPLAUSE] BECAUSE LEAH ROGERS FELT LIKE IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE TEAM SHE HAD TWO.
SHE HAD A SECOND TEAM CALLED SIMPLY TO BANANA BRAINS FROM FOREST TRAIL IN THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING CATEGORY, THEY DID THRILL RIDE, COME ON DOWN.
[APPLAUSE] LASTLY, NEW ONES DI DREAM TEAM FROM BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY IN THE ELEMENTARY FINE ARTS CATEGORY, FLIP THE SCRIPT, COME ON DOWN.
[APPLAUSE] THIS TEAM FROM BRIDGE POINT, THEY ADVANCED ALL THE WAY TO GLOBAL FINALS.
THEY PLACED FOURTH IN THE WORLD.
[APPLAUSE] JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THEY PLACED FIRST IN THE WORLD FOR THEIR INSTANT CHALLENGE PERFORMANCE.
[APPLAUSE] WHILE THEY WERE AT GLOBAL FINALS, I HAVE TO SAY THEY DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE OSCAR WINNER, WRITER AND DIRECTOR FROM EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE.
WHO WAS A DI PARTICIPANT WHEN HE WAS A KID.
I THINK HE TURNED OUT TO BE A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE.
I WAS EXCITED TO HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM HIM MYSELF.
ANYWAY, WE CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON INCREDIBLE CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THIS YEAR.
I HOPE YOU ALL ARE COMING BACK TO DO DI AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL TO THE EANES DISTRICT AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANKS. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PHOTOS WITH THE BOARD, MISS REESE.
>> TURN AROUND AND COME STAND RIGHT BEHIND THE BOARD MEMBERS.
[BACKGROUND] PARENTS, YOU CAN COME FORWARD IF YOU'D LIKE AS WELL.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE].
>> BEFORE MRS. REESE GETS TOO FAR AWAY, WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HER.
SHE IS NOW THE RECIPIENT OF THE OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD FROM DELTA KAPPA GAMMA, WHICH IS THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KEY WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.
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[APPLAUSE]>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE, I WAS TOTALLY GRATIFIED AND HUMBLED BY IT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHAPS BASEBALL TEAM.
THEY NOW ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT.
THEY PLAY FRIDAY EVENING AT DEL DIAMOND IN ROUND ROCK.
IF THEIR GOOD LUCK HOLDS OUT, THEY'LL PLAY AGAIN ON SATURDAY AT 4:00 PM, ALSO AT DEL DIAMOND.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COACH AND THE CHAPS.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S NOT BEST OUT OF THREE, THAT IS SUDDEN DEATH.
>> THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. ARNETT.
[5.2 Eanes Education Foundation Annual Report]
WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT, DANA DELORENZO AND HOLLY NOEL.BY THE WAY, IF YOUR SECTION IS DONE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE.
YOU DON'T OFFEND THE BOARD IF YOU LEAVE, IT'S FINE.
JUST JUST DO IT QUIETLY, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DANA DELORENZO AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
>> I'M HOLLY NOEL AND I AM THE CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT.
>> MY NAME IS JENNY AGHAMALIAN, AND I'M THE INCOMING PRESIDENT FOR EEF.
>> EACH YEAR EEF SEEKS FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE DONORS TO PROVIDE AND SUSTAIN DISTRICT-WIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE WITHIN EANES ISD.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GIVE IN THIS DISTRICT, OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS TO FIND EDUCATORS AND STAFF POSITIONS WHO ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WHO CREATE VALUE BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND VITAL PROGRAMS IN OUR DISTRICT.
SINCE 2004, EEF HAS GRANTED OVER 30 MILLION TO FUND MORE THAN 625 TEACHERS FOR EISD.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE IMPACT OF EEF OVER THE YEARS AND WE VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY FAMILIES AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE ADDRESSING THE FUNDING GAP OUR DISTRICT FACES EVERY YEAR.
>> JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD ANOTHER INCREDIBLE YEAR.
WE WANT TO SPECIFICALLY THANK OUR INCREDIBLE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, SPECIFICALLY OUR TEACHER FUND CHAIRS, MARGO GOLF AND KRISTIN JARRETT, AND OUR GALA CHAIRS, KASIE BOON AND ANGELA MCCOWN.
THEIR WORK AND TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO EEF IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR.
THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS YEAR'S GIFT.
ALSO THIS YEAR, DURING OUR GALA, WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND THE EEF BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED TO DESIGNATE EVERYTHING RAISED IN OUR PADDLES UP SESSION OF OUR GALA TO GO DIRECTLY TO YEAR-END TEACHER GIFTS.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU SHORTLY, WE ALSO GRANTED OVER $240,000 INTO YEAR-END GIFTS FOR EVERY SINGLE EDUCATOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[APPLAUSE] THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EANES ISD. NOW, FOR THE BIG NEWS.
I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ON BEHALF OF 162 LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CORPORATE SPONSORS, AND OVER 2,100 EANES ISD FAMILIES, THAT WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THE DISTRICT WITH A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,650,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING EDUCATORS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR DONORS IN MAINTAINING THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF FUNDING OVER 50 TEACHING POSITIONS IN EANES ISD, AND CONTINUING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
[00:15:01]
ALL THE EDUCATORS AND FOR THOSE WHO TRULY VALUE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY.THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
>> DO YOU WANT THE BIG CHECK NOW? [LAUGHTER] IS IT NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]?
>> YEAH. I WAS GOING TO ASK THE BOARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES, HEATHER.
>> YOU GUYS KEEP KILLING IT AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE.
YOU GUYS DO SO MUCH AND THIS IS SUCH HARD WORK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT EEF DOES JUST TO MAKE THIS THE DISTRICT THAT WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATORS WE HAVE AND YOU GUYS HELP WITH THAT.
>> I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS THAT YOU ALL ARE FABULOUS, AND IT'S THE FACT THAT 2,100 DONOR FAMILIES, SO IT'S NOT JUST THE AMOUNT, IT'S THE BREADTH AND HOW YOU ENGAGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU COMMUNICATE WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S THE KIDS.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD MY THANKS.
I THINK THE OTHER TRUSTEES SAID IT BETTER THAN I COULD, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND EEF DOES AND THE COMMUNITY DOES.
I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE 2,100 FAMILIES, THE CORPORATE SPONSORS, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF YOUR STAFF UP THERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY JUST DO A YEOMAN'S JOB OF SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL.
>> JUST TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY SAID.
I KNOW YOU WORK TIRELESSLY AND IT'S JUST MISSION-DRIVEN.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND EVERYONE ELSE'S HEARTS, THANK YOU. YOU MAKE THIS EXCELLENT.
>> IF I COULD SAY TOO, THANK YOU FOR THE COLLABORATION, HOW MUCH WE ENJOY WORKING WITH YOUR BOARD AND YOUR STAFF.
I THINK THE WORN PATH FROM THIS BUILDING TO THE ROCK HOUSE IS INDICATIVE [LAUGHTER] OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.
>> I WOULD JUST WRAP UP AND THANK YOU AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT AND CLOSED IS WHEN WE DO OUR WORK FOR THE CHILDREN, WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT, WE DO REALLY GOOD THINGS.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE FACT THAT IT'S GROUNDED IN OUR TEACHERS AND OUR CHILDREN.
THAT'S WONDERFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR US ALL.
I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S DO A PICTURE WITH THE BIG GIANT CHECK.
>> IF THERE ARE ANY EEF BOARD MEMBERS, OR INCOMING BOARD MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PICTURE, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT.
[00:20:25]
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU EEF FOR YOUR WORK AND THE CHECK.
WE WILL MOVE NOW TO OUR SCHOOL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, SSHAC ANNUAL REPORT.
[5.3 School Safety and Health Advisory Council (SSHAC) Annual Report]
MOLLY MAE, LORI, LEE, AND MIRIAM.[LAUGHTER] THE SLIGHT FLIP BEFORE I COULD READ IT. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH A LITTLE TIMELINE OF SSHAC AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHEN WE STARTED IN 1995, THAT WAS BY SENATE BILL 1.
WE'RE GOING STRONG TODAY IN 2023.
BUT YOU CAN SEE IN 2000 WE HIGHLIGHTED A FEW THINGS, 2001, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT TO FORMALIZE SSHAC AND EXPAND ITS DUTIES TO INCLUDE RECOMMENDING POLICIES, CURRICULUM, AND STRATEGIES FOR HEALTH EDUCATION.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES THAT CONTINUE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT ALWAYS CHARGE SSHAC WITH VARIOUS AREAS TO LOOK AT.
ONE MORE, I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER] IN 2021, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER WITH SENATE BILL 9, WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE CHILD ABUSE, FAMILY VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL GROUP THAT A COMMITTEE OF SSHAC THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE WITH OUR HELP OF OUR CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT.
WALK THROUGH THE ROLES OF SSHAC, PROGRAM PLANNING, PROMOTION, FISCAL IMPLICATIONS OF ACTIVITIES, COLLABORATION WITH THE DISTRICT AND STATE AGENCIES.
WE'RE A LIAISON WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
EVERY YEAR WE COME HERE AND WE GIVE THIS FINAL SSHAC REPORT.
BUT WE ALSO LIKE TO TRY TO UPDATE YOU AS WE'RE GOING ALONG AND HAVE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME UP, AND THEN EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND QUALITY CONTROL.
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING. IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR NOW WITH OUR FACES, IS THIS OUR THIRD TIME PRESENTING?
>> THIRD TIME PRESENTING TO YOU THIS YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL YEAR, AND THANKS INITIAL TO OUR OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE, WHO WE ARE FORTUNATE NOW TO HAVE A [LAUGHTER] BOARD MEMBER WHO WAS ON OUR COMMITTEE AND TO YOUR AMAZING STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS WORK, AND TO OUR STUDENTS WHO, AS YOU'LL SEE LATER ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WORK THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.
THERE IT IS, OUR WESTLAKE WATCH.
IT WAS ONE OF THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT WE'VE ASSIGNED OUR STUDENTS TO RE-BRAND THE QUICK REPORT.
AS YOU CAN SEE NOW, WESTLAKE WATCH IS KNOWN TO EVERY STUDENT ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND IT REALLY NORMALIZES REPORTING, AND WE WANTED IT TO BE SOMETHING FRIENDLY, SOMETHING THAT CATCHY, AND ALSO THAT PEOPLE FEEL IT'S SAFE PLACE TO REPORT.
WHAT WE'VE ALSO ALONGSIDE WHAT WE DID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HAD SOMETHING UNIQUE THIS YEAR IS SUBCOMMITTEES.
WE HAD FOUR SUBCOMMITTEES, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HUMAN SEXUALITY, STAFF AND WELLNESS, NUTRITION.
WITHIN THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES, WE HAD MEMBERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO THESE COMMITTEES BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND THEY'VE DONE SOME GOOD WORK GIVING THE LIMIT AT TIME THEY'VE HAD AND ALSO THEIR WORK AND RECOMMENDATION WITHOUT A BUDGET, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING CREATIVE.
ONE THING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FORTUNATELY HAPPENING IN THE UPCOMING YEAR FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS, IT WAS ACTUALLY A STUDENT IDEA-DRIVEN.
IS HOW TO MAKE STUDENTS FEEL INCLUDED, ESPECIALLY NEW COMERS INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
ONE SUGGESTION WAS TO SYNCHRONIZE THE CLUB MEETINGS INTO THE OVERALL WESTLAKE CALENDAR.
ANY STUDENT IS FREE AT THAT DAY, THERE'S A CLUB OF INTEREST THEY CAN WALK IN AND JOIN A CLUB, AND PERHAPS IF IT'S A MATTER OF INTEREST, THEY CAN GROW INTO IT.
THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING VERY INNOVATIVE, SIMPLE, DOESN'T COST ANYTHING, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S JUST A SENSE OF BELONGING IN COMMUNITY.
AS YOU'LL REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR, THE HUMAN SEXUALITY CURRICULUM, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT PART.
STAFF WELLNESS IS JUST REALLY THINKING OF SIMPLE NOTE CARDS, AND THAT'S REALLY JUST TRYING TO THINK OF SIMPLE, CREATIVE, EFFICIENT WAYS IN HOW TO REALLY THANK AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF ARE DOING ON ALL LEVELS AND NUTRITION AS WELL.
[00:25:02]
I THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD PATIENCE IN CHANGING THE NUTRITION THAT IS BEING DELIVERED ON OUR CAMPUSES.IT'S JUST BEEN VERY INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING, AND THE WORK IS TO BE CONTINUED ON THAT END.
>> SOME OF THE OTHER WORK WE DID WAS IT'S REALLY KEEPING SSHAC INVOLVES IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM.
WE TALKED TO THEM A LOT ABOUT SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SOME OF THE SSHAC MEMBERS ATTENDED THAT, AND THE SAME WITH OUR CAFE SERIES ON DEI.
WE KEPT THEM ABREAST OF OUR PRESENTATIONS AROUND FENTANYL GOT THEIR INPUT ON THAT.
JUST THOSE TOPICS THAT COME UP THAT REALLY RELATE TO THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE REALLY AWARE, THEY'RE CONDUITS FOR PUBLICITY OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF TIMES TALKING UP THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, MAKING SURE THEY'RE REALLY AWARE, GETTING THEIR INPUT, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ALIGNED WITH THOSE PARTICULAR TOPICS THAT COME UP THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>> FOLLOWING ON THAT IN TERMS OF THE TOPICS AND WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND EVERYTHING IS REALLY, BEFORE WE EVEN PRESENT OR RECOMMEND SOMETHING, WE AS A COMMITTEE, WE REVIEW IT, THEN WE'LL SEND OUT INFORMATION THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS AND MEDIUMS TO THE PARENTS.
SOME OF THESE PRESENTATIONS THAT WORK DELIVERED AND AS WE'RE TALKING, STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE PARENTS CONSENT TO SOME OF THESE PRESENTATIONS.
WE'VE HAD THREE GREAT PRESENTATIONS THIS YEAR.
WE WERE REALLY UPDATED ON THE CHANGES THAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR CAMPUSES, AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES BY BRAD SHIELDS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THAT WILL IMPACT THE DISTRICT AND US SPECIFICALLY OUR SSHAC IN OUR DUTIES.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE'RE ASSIGNED BY THE LEGISLATIVE AND WE DO LEGISLATE TO WHAT WE'RE ASSIGNED TO DO.
BUT ONE OF THE GREAT PRESENTATION THAT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REALLY WATCH AND TO READ, I THINK WE HAVE IT ON THE WEBSITE, IS THE REUNIFICATION PROCESS.
THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, JEFFREY CHEN.
IT'S A VERY IMPACTFUL PRESENTATION THAT I THINK THAT IT'S WORTHWHILE FOR US, HOPEFULLY TO IMPLEMENT IN THE FUTURE AND FOR EVERYONE TO LEARN ABOUT THAT TOPIC, WHICH IS, WE NEVER KNOW.
THAT WAS REALLY A GREAT PRODUCT THAT WE'VE HAD FROM OUR ONE OF OUR SSHAC MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.
>> THEN WE CAME TO YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS YEAR AROUND CURRICULUM RESOURCES, AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE DATING VIOLENCE CURRICULUM AND THAT WAS PRESENTED AT BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, AND THEN OUR QUAVER HEALTH AND PE THAT WE HAVE JUST ADOPTED, AND OUR PE TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TRAINED ON THAT THIS SUMMER.
THOSE WERE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT OUR COMMITTEE DID IN THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ON THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THOSE RESOURCES AND THEN ALSO TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT PROCESS.
>> ONE OF OUR GREATEST MEETINGS AND I'M PLEASED THEY'RE HERE IN CELEBRATION AND EVERY MAY, THAT'S OUR FINAL MEETING, IS A CELEBRATION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WE INVITE TO ATTEND.
THIS YEAR WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, AND WE ALSO HONORED OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.
STUDENTS WERE HONORED, CERT STUDENTS, HOST AS STUDENTS WERE HONORED AS WELL.
IT'S JUST REALLY A SMALL SIGN OF APPRECIATION OF THANKING EVERYONE FOR THEIR WORK AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AND KEEPING OUR DISTRICT SAFE AND WELL.
THAT SAID, THIS IS ONE OF OUR PICTURES OF, IT'S NOT A REALLY FULL COMMITTEE, BUT A REPRESENTATION OF OUR COMMITTEE WHO LASTED THAT LONG.
I THINK I WAS ONE OF OUR LONG MEETINGS.
THEY WERE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SNAP THE PICTURE RIGHT THERE, AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE ON THIS WORK FOR YEARS TO COME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TRUSTEES, ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, ELLEN.
>> AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR A JOB EXTREMELY WELL DONE.
I CAN REMEMBER WHEN SSHAC WERE FIRST FORMED, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY WERE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO.
BUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS HAS BECOME SO IMPORTANT TO US.
YOUR WORK AND THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF YOUR WORK REFLECT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
[00:30:06]
WE ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY VOICE AND REPRESENTATION THAT YOU BRING, AS WELL AS THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE.SSHAC HAS DEFINITELY EARNED ITS REPUTATION AS A GO-TO PART OF OUR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK.
[LAUGHTER] OBVIOUSLY, I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I'M SORRY I WON'T BE IN THE FUTURE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL DO NEXT YEAR.
YOU MENTIONED THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE STUDENTS AND DURING THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE SSHAC I'VE SEEN IT GROWN AND I KNOW THAT YOU VERY PURPOSEFULLY MADE THAT HAPPEN AND IT MADE A BIG IMPACT, I THINK.
I JUST CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT HEARING THAT STUDENT VOICE IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE WAS THE ONE THAT I WAS ON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF THE WORK THAT COMES OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE, SHE WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA THE ONE STUDENT I'M THINKING ABOUT AND SHE'LL BE HERE NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> LIKE I HAD SAID THIS BEFORE BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THE EXTRA S IN SSHAC, [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE MOST PLACES JUST HAVE THE SHAC AND WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AS USUAL TO HAVE THE SCHOOL SAFETY HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU ALL.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AGAIN.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO REALLY QUICK SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RE-BRANDING.
JUST LIKE THIS YEAR I WAS OUT AT WEST RIDGE LAST WEEK AND WAS WALKING IN THE EMPTY HALLS AND SAW QUITE A FEW OF THOSE POSTERS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE GRAFFITI ON THEM.
[LAUGHTER] THEY WERE RESPECTED AND I THINK WE ALL FEEL BETTER KNOWING ABOUT THAT PROGRAM BEING THERE IN THE PUBLICITY AND THE BRANDING THAT IT'S GOT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT. THANKS TO THE WHOLE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN OUR COMMITTEE IN ATTENDANCE.
OUR MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE DATES TO BE DETERMINED ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME. THANK YOU.
WHEN WILL YOU HAVE MEMBERS THAT TURNOVER? IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN BEING ON THE SSHAC, WHO DO THEY CONTACT, WHAT'S THE PROCESS?
>> GREAT QUESTION. WE WILL BRING THE LIST TO YOU GUYS IN PROBABLY AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED THEY CAN CONTACT ME, MOLLY MAY, MMAY@EANESISD.NET.
>> AT OUR LAST MEETING IN APRIL, WE ALSO PASSED OUT A SIGNING SHEET WHOEVER IS INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THE WORK, AND I BELIEVE EVERYONE SAID YES.
>> JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY, YEAH.
>> THAT'S REALLY TELLING AS WELL.
THEY WANT TO CONTINUE ON THAT WORK.
>> THAT'S GREAT, THANK YOU. OPEN FORUM.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
[6. OPEN FORUM]
WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE 4-3 MINUTES TO SPEAK.I'LL CALL YOU FORWARD WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
THERE WILL BE A TIMER ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.
ONCE YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND THEN STOP.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE NO REASON TO SUSPECT THIS WILL HAPPEN BUT IF ANY SPEAKER REFUSES THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED A DISRUPTION OF THE BOARD MEETING AND WE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION AND RESUSCITATION OF RECITATION.
I GUESS RESUSCITATION [LAUGHTER] MIGHT BE NEEDED TOO IF I DON'T.
OF EXISTING POLICY MAY BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES, BUT THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE REGARDING ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE AUDIO OF THIS OPEN FORUM PORTION OF THE BOARD MEETING IS RECORDED AS PART OF THE RECORDING OF THE ENTIRE MEETING AND IS PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATION.
PERSONS WHO CHOOSE TO SPEAK IN OPEN FORUM ARE CONSENTING TO THE ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THEIR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME AND MAKING THE EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.
WE'RE READY FOR OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS ANDREA MARWA.
>> I HAVE NOW SPOKEN AT SEVERAL OF THESE MEETINGS ON THE ISSUE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY AND FOR THE MOST PART, I'VE FELT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.
OUR SCHOOL SHOULD BE SAFER MEANS CAN BE THE LEADER IN THE STATE FOR SAFETY, YET NOTHING SEEMS TO REALLY BE MOVING FORWARD EXCEPT POSSIBLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS MADE ME REALLY WONDER WHY WE'RE NOT DOING LITERALLY EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE KIDS.
THE BOND, WHY WAS ONLY 1.4 MILLION BUDGETED FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY,
[00:35:04]
AND SIX MILLION WAS BUDGETED FOR SOLAR PANELS? WHY WAS 1.4 MILLION BUDGETED FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY AND $7 MILLION FOR OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND SURFACES? WON'T THAT $6 AND $7 MILLION BE BETTER SO PROTECTING OUR KIDS? DON'T GET ME WRONG. I HAVE MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLAR PANELS, BUT NOTHING SHOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT BUT THAN PROTECTING OUR KIDS.
WHY WEREN'T THEY FUNDED AS SUCH? WHILE I AGREE THAT HAVING AN ARMED TRAINED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ON CAMPUS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND NOT A MARSHALL WITH 80 HOURS OF TRAINING EVEN IN THE INTERIM, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT SIMPLY HAVING A GUN ON CAMPUS DOES NOT MAKE A CAMPUS SAFE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BY SAYING THIS, I'VE BEEN COMING OFF AS TOO POLITICAL, BUT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
A GUN ON CAMPUS WILL BE HELPFUL, BUT IT WON'T GIVE THE KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND THE TOOLS TO SURVIVE THE FIRST SHOTS OF THE SNIPER ATTACK.
A GUN AT CAMPUS WILL BE HELPFUL, BUT IT WON'T STOP THE FIRST BULLET PENETRATING THROUGH UNPROTECTED WINDOWS.
A GUN ON CAMPUS WILL BE HELPFUL, BUT IT WON'T PROVIDE KIDS WITH CONCEALMENT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE DURING A THREAT.
WHILE WE HAVE MADE STEPS IN FORTIFYING OUR BUILDINGS, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.
I IMPLORE THE SPORT TO REMAIN OPEN-MINDED TO FUNDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES ON OUR CAMPUSES, ESPECIALLY ON THE PLAYGROUNDS.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK IN EVERY WISH WE HAD DONE MORE, BECAUSE SIMPLY HAVING A GUN ON CAMPUS DOES NOT MAKE OUR CAMPUSES SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREA. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER RICK.
>> I'M JENNIFER RICK. YOU GOT IT RIGHT.
MY NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS IN INTER-ELEMENTARY SPANISH IMMERSION.
MY FOUR YEAR OLD JUST COMPLETED TWO YEARS AS A PEER MODEL IN THE ECSE PROGRAM.
I HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I ATTENDED EANES SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATION.
EANES HILL COUNTRY IN WESTLAKE.
I BECAME AN ATTORNEY, I MARRIED AN ATTORNEY, WE BOTH BECAME BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEN PARENTS.
TOGETHER, WE DECIDED TO MAKE WESTLAKE HOME FOR OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
I'M HERE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE EANES SI STUDENTS IN THE WESTLAKE CLASS OF 2032.
THIS GROUP MUST HAVE TWO CLASSES NEXT YEAR.
CONSIDER THE RISK WITH AN OVERFILLED CLASSROOM DURING AN EMERGENCY.
IN CRISIS, EVERY SECOND COUNTS.
TWENTY NINE STUDENTS CRAMMED INTO ONE CLASS DELAYS THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS PACE TO EVACUATE OR QUIETLY HIDE IN A LOCKDOWN.
MY STUDENTS AND OTHERS IN THIS GROUP LIVE WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES.
YOU'RE ENDANGERING THEIR LIVES BY PLACING THEM IN A CLASS WHERE ONE TEACHER MIGHT NOT NOTICE A CHILD HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION IN THE CROWD.
CONSIDER THE WELFARE OF OUR TEACHERS.
WHEN TOO MANY STUDENTS RELY ON ONE TEACHER, THAT TEACHER CAN'T PROVIDE ATTENTION TO EACH STUDENT.
LET'S GIVE OUR TEACHERS A STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE TWO SI CLASSES PER GRADE AT EANES.
THE CLASS OF 2031 HAS TWO, AND THE SIZES OF THE CLASSES AT 2033 AND BEYOND ALL PROVE THAT EVERY YEAR THERE WILL NEED TO BE TWO FOURTH-GRADE SI CLASSES.
THE WORST DECISION YOU CAN MAKE IS TO FORCE ONE CLASS, HOPING THAT SOME FAMILIES ARE SO DISHEARTENED AT THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED THAT THEY LEAVE THE PROGRAM.
YOU COLLAPSED TWO SI CLASSES INTO ONE LAST YEAR TO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND THAT WAS THE WRONG DECISION.
YOU LOST SOME FAMILIES TO PRIVATE SCHOOL FOREVER FOR THAT POOR TREATMENT, INCLUDING WESTLAKE ALUMNI.
I SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH YOU BEFORE MY CHILD STARTED KINDERGARTEN COMMITTING TO THE SI PROGRAM.
YOU CAN HONOR YOUR COMMITMENT BY CONTINUING TWO CLASSES OF SI HERE.
FAMILIES FROM EVERY SI SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND WATCHING.
AS OUR PARENTS OF INFANTS AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN LIVING IN WESTLAKE WHO PLAN TO ENROLL IN SI, ALL EYES ARE ON YOU AND YOUR DECISION REGARDING THESE EANES CLASS.
WILL THESE THRIVING SPANISH IMMERSION STUDENTS BE TREATED AS WELL AS THE NON-SPANISH CLASSES OR WILL YOU DEMEAN THESE CHILDREN BY FORCING THEM INTO ONE OVERCROWDED CLASS? YOU ALL SAW THE SAME ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THAT I DID AT YOUR MAY MEETING.
IF YOU TOTAL PROGRAM IS QUITE LITERALLY THE FUTURE OF THIS DISTRICT.
ENROLLMENT NUMBERS SHOW THAT EVERY SPANISH IMMERSION INCOMING KINDER CLASS IS FILLED TO CAPACITY WITH WAITLIST.
MEANWHILE, NON-SPANISH CLASSES ARE DWINDLING AND WILL BE ALL A BIT EMPTY IN THE COMING YEARS.
THE ANSWER HERE IS BOTH OBVIOUS AND SIMPLE.
THERE MUST BE TWO SI CLASSES FOR THE EANES CLASS OF 2032.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. OUR NEXT SPEAKER THIS EVENING WILL BE CORA DUNNIGAN, SPEAKING ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION.
>> GOOD EVENING. [NOISE] I COME BEFORE THIS BOARD TONIGHT WITH AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF FRUSTRATION, SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS ARTICULATED BY THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME.
THE FRUSTRATION BEGINS WITH THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO COME
[00:40:03]
HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE EMAIL I SENT TO EVERYONE REGARDING MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AT BRIDGE POINT WENT COMPLETELY IGNORED.I DIDN'T EXPECT AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER, BUT AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUES THAT I'VE RAISED WOULD HAVE BEEN A START.
WITH THAT SAID, I WILL REITERATE THE POINTS THAT I MADE IN MY E-MAIL HERE.
MY SON, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER BOYS, HAVE REQUESTED TO LEAVE THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND GO INTO THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.
I PERSONALLY MADE MY REQUESTS BACK IN FEBRUARY AS I SAW MY SON WAS STRUGGLING WITH THE LANGUAGE AND IT WAS AFFECTING HIS LEARNING.
IT WAS NOT SOMETHING MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK LIGHTLY, BUT WE KNEW IT WAS BEST FOR OUR SON.
A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE WERE INFORMED THAT HE, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER RISING FOURTH-GRADE BOYS, WERE TOLD WE WERE ON A WAIT LIST TO GET INTO THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. TO SAY I WAS STUNNED WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
I SPOKE ABOUT THIS WITH OUR PRINCIPAL, I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN E-MAIL TO DR. ARNETT, AND I FINALLY SENT AN E-MAIL TO YOU ALL.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.
THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE LAST MEETING WERE INACCURATE AND DO NOT REFLECT THE DILEMMA FACING OUR SCHOOL.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY EMAIL TO YOU, I LEARNED THAT AT LEAST FOUR RISING FIRST GRADE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THEY CANNOT LEAVE THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AT THIS TIME.
THE CURRENT NUMBERS FOR THE THREE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS ARE 22, 21, AND 21.
IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME WHY OUR BOYS HAVE NOT BEEN PLACED IN THESE CLASSES TO DATE, WHICH WOULD BRING THE NUMBERS TO 23,23, AND 22.
THAT IS TWO CLASSROOMS WHICH WOULD HAVE ONE EXTRA STUDENT.
IN REVIEWING DISTRICT WIDE NUMBERS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS CLASSROOMS THAT HAVE 23 STUDENTS.
AS YOU ARE AWARE IT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS ACKNOWLEDGED, AMES HAS AT LEAST 29, PERHAPS TO DATE, IN THEIR SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
WE WOULD ONLY HAVE TWO CLASSES WITH ONE EXTRA STUDENT.
WE WERE TOLD TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE ENROLLMENTS LOOK LIKE FOR THE FALL.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? OR NEW FAMILIES WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT WHO MIGHT POTENTIALLY JOIN, AND WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE PRIORITY? WHAT ABOUT ANY TRANSFER STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE RISING FOURTH-GRADE CLASS.
ALL DUE RESPECT TO THOSE FAMILIES, WHY DO THEY GET PRIORITY? FINALLY, AND THIS IS THE CRUX OF MY FRUSTRATION.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU PUT MY CHILD IN AN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASS.
I DON'T SAY THAT SARCASTICALLY.
I SAY THAT TRULY WITH THE GREATEST SENSE OF FRUSTRATION.
WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO ASK THAT MY CHILD BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH BECAUSE HE'S STRUGGLING SO MUCH IN SPANISH, SHOULD NOT BE A BIG ASK.
[NOISE] STUDENTS WERE PRIORITIZED WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT MY CHILD WILL ALSO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES IF HE IS NOT ALLOWED INTO THE TRADITIONAL CLASS.
WE DIDN'T SIGN A CONTRACT IN WHICH WE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM FOR FIFTH GRADE.
IN FACT, WE DIDN'T EVEN SIGN A COMMITMENT LETTER THIS YEAR FOR THE 2023 - 24 SCHOOL YEAR.
IF I RECEIVED THAT, I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT KNOWING WHERE MY SON WAS GOING AT THAT POINT.
>> PLEASE WRAP UP HERE. TIME IS UP.
>> I'M NOT DEMANDING ANOTHER TEACHER.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OTHER CLASSROOMS BURSTING AT THE SEAM.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT WITH THOSE FOUR CHILDREN AND THE NUMBERS THAT ARE, WHAT THEY ARE AT THE BRIDGE POINT CLASS, THAT THEY'D BE PLACED IN THE TRADITIONAL CLASS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER TONIGHT WILL BE JOE ELLEN SMITH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M JOE ELLEN SMITH.
I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TONIGHT TO PUBLICLY THANK THE BOARD, MR. TRIMBLE, STAFF, DR. ARNETT, FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS AND OTHER FAMILIES COMMENTS, LAST BOARD MEETING REGARDING THE RISING FOURTH-GRADE SPANISH IMMERSION CLASS AT AMES ELEMENTARY, AND SPECIFICALLY MY TWO KIDS, EVELYN AND JAMES CONNIUS.
MR. TRIMBLE RECENTLY SHARED THAT IVY AND JAMES WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FOURTH GRADE SPANISH IMMERSION CLASS, AND WE ARE VERY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR SI JOURNEY WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND THE BELOVED AMES ELEMENTARY.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LITTLE MORE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING WHAT THAT COHORTS LEARNING SPACE MAY LOOK LIKE.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE STAFF TO CREATE EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF THE INCOMING FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE 29 SPANISH IMMERSION KIDS.
THERE'S A COMMITTED GROUP OF PARENTS HERE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR REHEARING US AND FOR BEING HERE TO LISTEN TO PARENTS WHO ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE PROGRAM.
[00:45:01]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS CONCLUDES OPEN FORUM FOR TONIGHT.
[7.1 Increasing Law Enforcement Presence on Campuses 1. Second Reading of Board Policy CKE(LOCAL)]
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION TOPIC IS INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE ON CAMPUSES.>> WE'RE GOING TO ASK ALICE AND COLLINS, OUR GENERAL COUNSEL AND JEREMY TREMBLE, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS AND PLANNING TO COME FORWARD.
BEFORE ALLISON BRIEFLY STEPS THROUGH REVISIONS TO THE POLICY THAT YOU FIRST REVIEWED AT YOUR PREVIOUS MEETING, I'VE ASKED JEREMY IF HE WOULD RECAP RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE LEGISLATURE PASSING HOUSE BILL 3 SINCE YOU'RE MAY 23RD CONVERSATION.
ALSO TO SUMMARIZE HOW THE NEW LAW PENDING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE WOULD AFFECT OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
JEREMY, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON HOUSE BILL 3, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SCHOOL SAFETY.
AS YOU KNOW THAT PASS THROUGH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, AND IT'S SITTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
THE GOVERNOR HAS THREE OPTIONS.
TO SIGN IT, TO VETO IT, OR JUST LET THE TIME LAPSE AND IT BECOMES LAW.
BUT UNDER THE PROPOSED LAW THAT IS ON HIS DESK.
I'M GOING TO REFER TO BOARD, BUT ALSO DISTRICT.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE AS A DISTRICT THAT AT LEAST ONE ARM SECURITY OFFICER IS PRESENT DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS ON ALL DISTRICT CAMPUSES.
WHEN WE TALK SECURITY OFFICERS, THEY MUST BE A SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICER, A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, OR A COMMISSION PEACE OFFICER THAT IS EMPLOYED AS SECURITY PERSONNEL.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THE DISTRICT COULD DETERMINE THAT IS UNABLE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING OR DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE PERSONNEL THAT MEET THAT REQUIREMENT AS A SCHOOL PEACE OFFICER.
THAT COMES WITH SOME WORK THOUGH, BECAUSE IF THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE, THEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE BOARD, WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
THAT PLAN MAY BE PROVIDING A SECURITY OFFICER IN THE FORM OF A SCHOOL MARSHALL OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE OR OTHER OFFICER THAT IS CONTRACTED THROUGH THE DISTRICT.
BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN TRAINING REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET AS AN EMPLOYEE OR A CONTRACTED SECURITY PERSONNEL.
THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE.
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT BILL MAY LEAD THE DISTRICT AND ALL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DETERMINE WHAT NEXT STEPS ARE.
>> JEREMY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING HB3?
>> DID YOU MENTION THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING WITH HB3?
>> ALL OF IT? THE FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE TIED IS GOING TO BE $10 PER STUDENT BASED ON ADA.
THEN THERE'LL BE $15,000 ALLOCATED PER DISTRICT CAMPUS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY THAT $10 PER ADA IS A WHOPPING INCREASE OF ONLY $0.28.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVING ALL BUT $0.28 OF THAT, AND THIS IS A LARGE, UNFUNDED MANDATE.
>> THANK YOU. IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE LAW, IT DOES GO INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST FOR THE '23 '24 SCHOOL YEAR.
>> IT'S REALISTIC FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> WAS THERE A TIMELINE IN WHICH WE HAD TO GET THIS FORCE BUILT OUT OR HAVE THESE OFFICERS OR MARSHALL'S OR WHATEVER IN PLACE ON THE CAMPUSES?
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE.
SEPTEMBER 1 IS WHEN THIS GOES INTO EFFECT.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE GRACE PERIOD THAT WILL BE ALLOWED.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT SEPTEMBER 1ST, IT WILL BECOME LAW.
>> ALLISON IS GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE REVISIONS TO THE POLICY AND HELP US ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY STILL HAVE.
BUT BEFORE SHE DOES, I WANT TO THANK ALLISON, JEREMY, SEVERAL OTHER ADMINISTRATORS WHO MET FOLLOWING THE BOARD'S LAST SESSION TO INCORPORATE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU SUGGESTED.
OUR EFFORT WAS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE BOARDS AND THE PUBLIC'S INPUT TO THE EXTENT WE FELT WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVELY FEASIBLE AS WE LOOK TO POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION.
AS WE DO WITH EVERY BOARD POLICY, WE CONSIDER WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICY WILL LOOK AND FEEL LIKE TO THE STAFF WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT IN THIS DOCUMENT.
[00:50:01]
WE'RE PROUD OF IT.WE BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD HAS CHALLENGED US TO CODIFY SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MONUMENTAL FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'VE ALSO BELIEVED THAT THIS POLICY STANDS APART IN A POSITIVE WAY FROM EVERY OTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POLICIES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.
THAT SAID, THIS POLICY'S COMPREHENSIVE NATURE MAY ALSO MAKE PARTS OF IT SOMEWHAT COMPLEX TO ADMINISTER.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BEFORE ALLISON WALKS YOU THROUGH IT.
THE EXPECTATIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES IN THIS POLICY ARE ABOVE WHAT MOST OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL LIKELY REQUIRE.
HONESTLY, THEY'RE FAR ABOVE WHAT WE EVEN REQUIRE OF OUR TEACHERS.
BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS MUST BE AN EXCEPTIONAL POLICY BECAUSE WE ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE.
I WANT YOU TO BE MINDFUL WITH US OF SOME THINGS WHERE COGNIZANT COULD ADD TO THE ALREADY EXTENSIVE LIST IN THIS POLICY WHICH WE THINK WILL HAVE TWO POSSIBLE CAUSAL EFFECTS.
ONE IS ADDITIONAL LAYERS AND STIPULATIONS COULD MAKE THE POLICY EVEN MORE ONEROUS TO ADMINISTER, AND BECAUSE IT IS MORE STRENUOUS AND IT REPRESENTS A HIGHER STANDARD THAN MOST OTHER AGENCIES OR SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES, IT COULD DISSUADE HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEACE OFFICERS FROM WANTING TO WORK IN EANES ISD.
GIVEN THE PASSAGE OF HB 3, TIME AND TALENT ARE OF THE ESSENCE.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE POLICY PROPOSED TONIGHT CROSSES EITHER OF THOSE THRESHOLDS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AND CONTEMPLATE.
WELL, WE WANT THE POLICY TO BE EFFECTIVE AND WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK ALLISON COLLINS TO WALK US THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS IN THE REVIEW OF THE POLICY.
>> THANK YOU. DR. ARNETT. WOULD YOU MIND PULLING UP THE VERSION THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY? I APOLOGIZE TO THE COMMUNITY AND AS I REFERENCED IN AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD TODAY.
THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME AND EVEN THIS AFTERNOON IT CHANGED WITH SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM A TRUSTEE.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY WANT THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE COGNIZANT OF ALL PERSPECTIVES ON THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STAFF, AND ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'VE READ EVERY EMAIL, HEARD EVERY COMMENT AND COMMENTARY THAT'S BEEN GIVEN ON THE POLICY.
I HOPE YOU SEE THOSE CONVERSATIONS REFLECTED IN HERE.
I HOPE YOU SEE THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING REFLECTED IN THIS POLICY BECAUSE WE WORKED VERY HARD TO BE RECEPTIVE AND OPEN AND RESPONSIVE TO YOUR CONCERNS.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY, I WILL GO THROUGH THE ONE DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAD FROM THE POLICY THAT WAS POSTED IN THE BOARD PACKET AND THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
DR. ARNETT, WILL YOU MOVE TO PAGE 4? I'LL JUST POINT OUT THIS ONE CHANGE AND THEN I'LL WALK THROUGH THE POLICY IN GENERAL. PAGE 4 RIGHT THERE.
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WE HAD A VERY NICE DISCUSSION RECOGNIZING THAT YOUR BOARD POLICIES, YOUR STUDENT HANDBOOK, YOUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, ARE VERY CLEAR IN PROTECTING STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM ALL TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTED CATEGORIES.
THIS UNDER STATE LAW, THE FIRST VERSION OF THIS POLICY JUST SAID PROHIBITION AGAINST RACIAL PROFILING.
TO RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT'S EFFORTS IN EXPANDING THAT PROTECTION, WE DID ADD THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE THAT'S NOT IN RED IN THE FIRST SENTENCE.
THEN TODAY WE ADDED LANGUAGE REFERENCING THE BOARD POLICIES, DIA, WHICH IS EMPLOYEE FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION, AND FFH, WHICH IS STUDENT FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION, RETALIATION, AND HARASSMENT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY BECAUSE THOSE POLICIES GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT WHAT EACH OF THOSE PROTECTED CATEGORIES ENCOMPASS AND DIFFERENT QUALITIES THAT MIGHT FALL UNDER THOSE PROTECTIONS.
WE DEFINITELY WANTED, NOT ONLY OUR OFFICERS BUT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THOSE POLICIES WORK TOGETHER.
THIS POLICY PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY TYPE OF PROFILING AND THE PROTECTIONS YOU ALREADY HAD IN PLACE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION.
THAT IS ONE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE TODAY.
AS YOU SAW IN THE BOARD PACKET THOUGH, WE POSTED THE FULL REDLINE VERSION, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE CAN SEE THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE PRETTY MUCH IN EVERY SECTION.
I THINK MOST NOTABLY, WE ADDED A PURPOSE AND GOAL STATEMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE FELT WAS VERY INDICATIVE OF THE DISTRICT'S APPROACH.
[00:55:05]
WE MADE A REFERENCE TO THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND WE DID ADD A REFERENCE IN THAT SECTION IN THE BOTTOM PARAGRAPH THERE AT THE END.ANY OTHER APPLICATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED AS LAW AS HOUSE BILL 3 GETS EXAMINED, WHAT CAMPUSES MAY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OFFICER VERSUS NOT.
WE WANTED THE POLICY TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW THERE.
SOME THINGS HERE HAVE JUST MOVED AROUND.
JEFF, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE 2.
WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION LAST TIME ABOUT THE DUTIES OF PEACE OFFICERS.
THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS ARE REALLY TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS, VISITORS, ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL PROCESS OF THE DISTRICT FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE HERE ON THE WEEKEND RUNNING A FACILITY OR SOMEONE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AT SCHOOL.
THEN ASSISTING IN THE APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISTRICT POLICIES.
THEN THE SECONDARY DUTIES WOULD BE THOSE UNRELATED TO SCHOOL BUSINESS THERE PRIMARILY, THE TYPICAL DUTIES OF A PEACE OFFICER THAT WE HAVE LISTED THERE.
WE WANTED TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW REALLY, THESE OFFICERS ARE FOCUSED ON THE WORK THEY'RE DOING HERE IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT WOULD BE THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS.
WE DID FLESH OUT THE DUTIES OF THE PEACE OFFICERS THERE YOU SEE IN 2A, ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO IN TERMS OF ROUTINE STUDENT DISCIPLINE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS BUT WE STILL DO WANT THEM TO BE INVOLVED AS WE'VE REFERENCED IN SOME MENTORING, WHICH OUR SRS ALREADY DO, AND THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CONVERSATIONS WHICH OUR SRS AND SAFETY DIRECTORS ALREADY DO.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE POLICY, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT HERE ON THE SCREEN IN THE RED LINE VERSION, BUT ONLINE YOU SAW A LOT OF RED IN THE TRAINING SECTION, WHICH WE HOPE WE'RE RESPONSIVE TO THE BOARD'S NEEDS.
WE REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT BEING REALISTIC ABOUT OUR TRAINING EXPECTATIONS.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF TRAINING THAT THE PEACE OFFICERS AND THE SECURITY OFFICERS CAN DO BEFORE THEY ASSUME THEIR DUTIES ON CAMPUS.
WE'VE LAID THAT OUT IN OUR FIRST SECTION HERE.
PRIOR TO ASSUMING DUTIES, WITH OUR EXPECTATION IS YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THIS DONE.
BUT WE DO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THIS TRAINING IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
THEN YOU SEE IN THE NEXT SECTION, WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THEIR START WITH THE DISTRICT, WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU'LL COMPLETE, THE SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND THEN ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM.
IF IT CAN BE DONE BEFORE 180 DAYS, THAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL.
BUT THAT'S IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE COURSES ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. WE DON'T PUT THEM ON.
THEY'RE STATE-WIDE COURSES PUT ON BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY'RE SCHEDULED ONLY EVERY SO OFTEN, AND SO WE HAVE TO GIVE THE OFFICERS TIME TO COMPLETE THAT REQUIREMENT AND THE 180 DAYS COMES FROM STATE LAW, SO I WAS CONSISTENT WITH THAT HERE IN THIS POLICY.
THEN OF COURSE, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE'S ANNUAL AND ONGOING TRAINING THAT THERE'LL BE DOING ALL THE TIME AND WE CAN ASK THEM TO DO THAT AS NEEDED AT OUR CONTROL BECAUSE THERE ARE EMPLOYEES.
WE DO HAVE AN ADDITION HERE IN THE MIDDLE REQUIRED OATH AND BOND THAT OUR OFFICERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO POST THAT BOND AND TAKE THE OATH THAT THEY WILL FAIRLY AND PARTIALLY PERFORM ALL THEIR DUTIES, SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR SECTIONS HERE.
WE DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE PROHIBITION AGAINST PROFILING, AS I JUST DISCUSSED FROM OUR LAST CONVERSATION.
THEN AS WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE POLICY, YOU'LL SEE IF WE GO DOWN ON PAGE 7.
THE TRAINING SECTION FOR THE INTERIM SECURITY OFFICERS MIRRORS, WHAT YOU SAW FOR THE PEACE OFFICERS, SO THEIR TRAINING THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE PRIOR TO THEIR STARTING DUTIES ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SAFETY TRAINING PROVIDED BY A QUALIFIED HANDGUN INSTRUCTOR, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, THE DISTRICT TRAINING.
DOWN SOME MORE, THE NEXT PAGE. THANK YOU.
THEN WE DID MAKE A REFERENCE HERE IN NUMBER 3 AS WE DISCUSSED, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE LAW, THE PEACE OFFICERS HAVE TO FOLLOW.
OUR STAFF HAS ALREADY DONE A LOT OF LEGWORK FINDING OUT THEY KNOW THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT USES, THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AT AUSTIN ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LAKE TRAVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT USES.
OUR BUS DRIVERS GET ROUTINE MEDICAL EXAMS, SO WE WOULD PROBABLY USE THAT SAME PROVIDER.
THEY'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT LOGISTICALLY HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT REQUIREMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE BOARD.
THEN YOU ALSO SEE HERE THE SAME EXACT TRAINING WITHIN 180 DAYS, THAT SAME EXACT SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRADING AND THE ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE, THE SAME COURSES WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THEN AGAIN, ALSO ANNUAL AND AS-NEEDED TRAINING, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT REALLY FLESHING OUT THE TRAINING FOR THOSE SECURITY OFFICERS, TRYING TO MAKE IT MIRROR THE PEACE OFFICERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I HOPE YOU SEE HERE THAT WE AGREED WITH THAT AND FORMALIZED THAT IN POLICY.
[01:00:06]
THEN AT THE END, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT SOME NOTABLE ADDITIONS.IN THE COMPLAINT POLICY WE DID FLESH OUT THE IDEA OF AN INFORMAL COMPLAINT VERSUS A FORMAL COMPLAINT.
YOU SEE HERE THE INFORMAL COMPLAINTS CAN BE FILED REALLY ANYWAY, THIS IS JUST SORT OF A, DO YOU HAVE A CONCERN AND BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THOSE WILL ALL BE INVESTIGATED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, WHICH IS NOT PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THEN YOU HAVE A CHECK ON THAT PROCESS.
FORMAL COMPLAINTS FOLLOW A PROCESS SET OUT IN STATE LAW WHERE THOSE COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE IN WRITING AND INVESTIGATED FORMALLY THROUGH OUR GRIEVANCE PROCESS THAT WOULD BE HANDLED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AT LEVEL 1, THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE AT LEVEL 2, AGAIN, OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SO AN OUTSIDE LOOK AT THAT.
THEN THE BOARD AT LEVEL 3, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD BE OVERSIGHT OF THAT DEPARTMENT AND REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINT.
WE DO HAVE IF YOU KEEP GOING DOWN JEFF, A NEW ADDITION TO THE POLICY THAT OUR STAFF WAS VERY HAPPY TO ADD.
IF YOU WOULD KEEP GOING DOWN TO TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING.
WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE BOARD AND I HOPE THIS IS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR CONCERNS.
SOME REPORTING ABOUT THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES, SOME INITIAL THINGS LAID OUT DATA POINTS THAT WOULD BE REPORTED, BUT AGAIN, A REFERENCE TO ANY OTHER DATA THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WE CAN REQUEST BE SHARED.
THOSE REPORTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
AGAIN, REPORTS WOULD BE MADE TO THIS BOARD AND CERTAIN COMMITTEES.
OF COURSE, WE CAN ADD ANYTHING TO THAT LIST THAT YOU WANT, BUT THESE ARE THE COMMITTEES THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD LAST TIME.
THEN WE ADDED A STATEMENT AT THE END ABOUT ADOPTING THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM AND NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR HOW TO HANDLE EMERGENCY.
IN TERMS OF CHAIN OF COMMAND IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS, THIS IS A CLEAR STATEMENT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS THAT WE FOLLOW THE SAME SYSTEM YOU FOLLOW.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD POLICY, HONESTLY. IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT AND WE HOPE IT MEETS THE BOARDS CONCERNS AND THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS.
BUT ALSO IS LIKE DR. ARNETT SAID, A WORKABLE POLICY THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN ALSO BE PROUD OF AND THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT CAN BE PROUD OF AS IT REPRESENTS WHAT THEIR DEPARTMENT MEANS AND WHAT THEY STRIVE TO DO FOR THE DISTRICT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU ALLISON AND JEREMY.
I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME QUESTIONS FROM JEN WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK.
SHE STARTS WITH STRIKE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 1 WHERE IT SAYS EQUITABLE COVERAGE OF CAMPUSES DEPARTMENT SIZE.
HERE, SHE SAYS STRIKE AT LEAST FROM THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS TO BE EMPLOYED PER CAMPUS.
WE HAVE AGREED TO TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE AT EACH OTHER CAMPUS.
YOU POINTED OUT THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT.
IF THE LAW CHANGES, WE CAN REVIEW AND APPROVE NEW WORDING.
IF THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES MORE OFFICERS ARE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, THEY SHOULD BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT AN OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS TOPIC IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
FINALLY, HB3 STATES THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS FOR EACH CAMPUS.
DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE'S REQUESTING THERE? I'M CURIOUS IF THIS IS A BOARD AGREED TO KIND OF THING, IS THIS SOMETHING WE ALL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH? NODS OR?
>> AGAIN, IF I'LL JUST PROVIDE SOME COMMENT AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING.
THAT LANGUAGE WAS PUT IN THERE FOR FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW THE POLICY TO CHANGE IF THE DEPARTMENTS NEEDS CHANGE.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS LANGUAGE AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S DRIVING THE COMMENTS, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS AS GIVING A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO ADMINISTRATION IN THIS WORDING BECAUSE WE'RE SETTING THIS BY BUDGET.
I SEE WHERE SHE'S COMING FROM.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, AND I DO THINK THAT I WOULD HATE TO BE PROHIBITED BY POLICY LANGUAGE SHOULD WE DECIDE AS A BOARD ACTION OR AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT WE AGREE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET.
I GUESS I'M NOT AS CONVINCED THAT THAT'S A NEEDED CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU, KIM. ANYONE ELSE THOUGHTS? LAURA.
[01:05:08]
>> I'VE LOST WHERE I WAS. YEAH. I DO AGREE WITH KIM ON THIS, IT'S WE ARE DETERMINING THE MINIMUM COVERAGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE AT THE CAMPUSES, AND THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT SHOULD WE WANT TO CHANGE IT AT A LATER DATE, IT WOULD BE A BOARD DECISION AS THAT SAYS, BOARD POLICY.
>> THANK YOU LAURA. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ELLEN PLEASE.
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.
I GUESS I'M MISSING THE POINT.
SHE'S PROBABLY YELLING AT THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
NO, JEN, I KNOW YOU DON'T YELL.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT. SAYING WORDS TO THE SCREEN.
I COULD SEE JEN'S POINT HERE THAT THE BOARD SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN GUIDANCE ON WE WANT ONE OFFICER PER CAMPUS AND TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I WOULD HATE TO GET DOWN THE ROAD A PERIOD OF TIME AND HEAR THAT THERE'RE TWO ACTUALLY AT THIS SCHOOL OR THE DISTRICT HAS MADE A DECISION ON A DIFFERENT NUMBER, AND THE BOARD HAD NO AWARENESS OF THAT.
AGAIN, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKING ON THIS RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE AND THE BOARD SIDE, I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THIS POLICY HAS TO STAND UP FOR WHEN WE'RE GONE, WHEN THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE SITTING IN OUR SEATS EXCEPT YOU, ELLEN, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT HAS TO STAND UP FOR WHEN BECAME MATT ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY.
I JUST, I THINK THEREBY KNOWS WHAT, WHAT OUR INTENTION IS, BUT THEY NEED TO SEE IT IN WRITING IS ANOTHER THOUGHT THERE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'D BE COMING FROM ON THIS ONE.
>> BUT AS LAURA SAID, THIS JUST SETS THE MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE STATED REPEATEDLY, SO TAKING OUT THE AT LEAST.
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THE CONCERN HERE IS, THE ADMINISTRATION COULD DECIDE TO PUT TWO OR THREE OR FOUR AND THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD.
>> BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THE WORDS AT LEAST. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, IF YOU SAY ONE, IT'S ONE.
ONE MEANS ONE, AT LEAST MEANS ONE OR MORE.
>> WHICH IS WE'RE SAYING WE WANT AT LEAST ONE OR MORE.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO DEBATE IT, IT'S FINE.
WE'RE OKAY LEAVING THE LANGUAGE AS IT IS NOW.
NEXT, WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD EISD POLICE FORCE HAVE OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY? I KNOW THERE'S A SECTION IN HERE THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES PROPERTY THE SCHOOL OWNS, AND THE ABILITY FOR THE POLICE TO LOOK OVER THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES OR OUT OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, BUT I THINK IT WAS DURING THE ASSASSIN GAME THAT THEY PLAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD THIS REPORT THAT A KID HAD PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO SHOOT UP SOMETHING OR OTHER, AND PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE.
THAT'S OFF OF SCHOOL PROPERTY, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD THAT BE HANDLED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR HOW WOULD THAT BE HANDLED, AND MORE BROADLY THAN JUST ANY CASE LIKE THAT?
>> SURE, AND ANOTHER TRUSTEE HAD THAT SAME QUESTION.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN PEACE OFFICER DUTIES.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONCE YOU'RE A COMMISSIONED PEACE OFFICER, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND MAYBE EVEN THE OBLIGATION, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING, PERHAPS TO ACT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT FROM THE EXPERTS.
THE JURISDICTION, SO THAT WOULD BE JUST STANDARD STATE LAW FOR PEACE OFFICERS.
IF YOU'RE A PEACE OFFICER AND YOU'RE IN DALLAS AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, STATE LAW GUIDES HOW YOU HANDLE THAT.
THAT'S NOT ANY AUTHORITY THAT YOU CAN CHANGE IF YOU COMMISSION THEM AS PEACE OFFICERS.
HERE, WE WOULD BE GRANTING JURISDICTION TO THE OFFICERS FOR ALL OF OUR PROPERTY, LEASED OR OWNED FOR OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE OFF OUR PROPERTY, LIKE AT A SCHOOL EVENT AT ANOTHER DISTRICTS FOOTBALL GAME.
WE WOULD SEND THEM TO WELFARE CHECKS AT HOUSES IF WE NEED TO FOR STAFF OR STUDENTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT'S AUTHORITY.
THEY MAY ACT AS TRUANCY OR ATTENDANCE OFFICERS AND GO HOME AND CHECK ON THINGS.
IF WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT A STAFF MEMBER, WE MAY SEND THEM TO SOUTH AUSTIN TO GO CHECK ON THAT STAFF MEMBER BECAUSE WE'RE PROTECTING THAT PERSON WHO'S WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY, AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM AND HOPING THAT THEY'RE OKAY.
WE COULD GRANT THEM AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE DISTRICT BUSINESS OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY, BUT WITHIN THEIR AUTHORITY AS DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS.
[01:10:02]
WE COULDN'T SAY GO WORK ACL, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THEY'RE COMMISSIONED TO DO HERE FOR DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS.AGAIN, I CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION TO YOU ON JUST STANDARD PEACE OFFICER DUTIES, WHILE, EITHER OFF DUTY OR IN ANOTHER LOCATION, WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU AT A LATER DATE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT THAT TOPIC? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE LAST QUESTION, AND THEN GET YOUR HANDS READY.
IS THERE A PROCESS FOR THE REVIEW OF A COMPLAINT BY AN EXTERNAL PARTY IN THE EVENT THAT WAS NECESSARY? MAYBE NOT A PARENT, NOT A STUDENT.
>> WHAT I THINK, ACTUALLY, WHEN ANOTHER TRUSTEE HAD THE QUESTION, WOULD THERE EVER BE A PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT WHO WOULD REVIEW A COMPLAINT ON ONE OF OUR OFFICERS? THERE ARE DEFINITELY ARE PROCESSES IN STATE LAW, AND THROUGH [INAUDIBLE] FOR DOING THAT.
COMPLAINTS CAN ALSO BE REVIEWED BY CITY GOVERNMENTS AND AT THE FBI AND THE RANGERS, IF WE EVER NEEDED TO ENGAGE AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR, WE COULD, FOR EXAMPLE, A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CHIEF OF POLICE WOULD LIKELY BE INVESTIGATED BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERHAPS AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR, BECAUSE THE CHIEF WHO WOULD NORMALLY INVESTIGATE A COMPLAINT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT INVESTIGATE HIS OR HER OWN COMPLAINT.
IN ADDITION TO THE PROCESSES THAT ARE ALREADY IN STATE LAW AND UNDER STATE ADMINISTRATIVE RULE, WE WOULD RECOGNIZE, LIKE WITH ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE, THAT THERE MAY BE MOMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE A THIRD PARTY, AND THAT'S ALREADY WITHIN YOUR POLICY AND HANDBOOKS LIKE FOR ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REAL QUICK, AT LEAST TO COMMENT, YOU'RE RIGHT THAT WE DO HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE APPROVE A BUDGET NUMBER AND ADMIN DECIDES HOW TO SPEND THAT.
IT ISN'T LIKE THE BUDGET HOLDS THE POLICE TO A CERTAIN NUMBER BY THE WAY.
THAT'S NOT THE GOVERNING FACTOR THAT WOULD SET THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PER CAMPUS.
QUESTION OR COMMENTS? QUESTIONS ON THE WHOLE THING.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE OPEN, THE WHOLE THING.
WHO WANTS TO START? HEATHER, PLEASE.
>> I THREW A LOT AT YOU WITH THIS ONE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ADDED AND CHANGED IN THE POLICY AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW.
I CAN'T SAY THAT I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH IT LAST TIME, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION STUFF.
AGAIN, I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW, SO THANK YOU.
>> I DID PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION TO HEATHER ON THAT PROCESS THAT I CAN SEND TO THE ENTIRE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S GO TO KIM, AND THEN, ELLEN.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND I THINK THAT I BROUGHT IT UP AT OUR LAST MEETING, BUT IN THE COMPLAINT PROCESS AND THEN IN THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE ADDED ON THE REPORTING PROCESS, WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE THERE IN PLACE? NOT SO MUCH FROM THE POLICY ITSELF, BUT THROUGH LAW TO PROTECT PRIVACY OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN SOMEONE IS DEALING IN A PUBLIC MANNER WITH COMPLAINTS AND ANY TYPE OF PUBLIC REPORTING, WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS SO THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. ANY PUBLIC REPORTING IN THIS DOMAIN WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME EXACT RULES AS WE DO ANY PUBLIC REPORTING IN ANY OTHER DOMAIN.
THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY FEDERAL LAW, THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT THAT VERY STRICTLY DICTATES THAT WE CANNOT SHARE ANY PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENTS TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THEIR PARENTS, SO PUBLICLY IN A BOARD MEETING OR INADVERTENTLY AS YOU'RE JUST TALKING TO SOMEONE.
THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A NAME AND A GRADE IN A SCHOOL, IT COULD BE ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD IDENTIFY A STUDENT AT ALL.
IF WE JUST HAD, SAY, ONE TICKET IN A YEAR, WE WOULD NOT SAY THERE WAS ONE TICKET FROM WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS A BOY IN 10TH GRADE FOR THIS OFFENSE, BECAUSE SOMEONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO THAT IS.
JUST LIKE JEREMY, I WORK WITH HIM ON HIS ENROLLMENT REPORTS TO TRY TO NOT IDENTIFY STUDENTS.
WE REALLY WORK HARD WHEN WE'RE PUBLICLY PRESENTING ANYTHING TO NOT VIOLATE FERPA AND IMPLICATE ANY STUDENT'S PRIVACY.
IT WOULD BE THE SAME EXACT HERE.
I WOULD WORK WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE OR WHOEVER'S GIVING THE REPORT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE.
IF THERE IS INFORMATION THAT THE BOARD WOULD NEED THAT CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD CONFIDENTIALLY IN CLOSED SESSION OR THROUGH A MEMO, BECAUSE THAT COULD NOT BE PUBLICLY PRESENTED.
>> WE WORK ON THAT EVERY YEAR. YOU WILL SEE THAT IN SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT WE ADDED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS.
WE ADDED IN SOME FERPA CONFIDENTIALITY TRAINING FOR THAT EXACT REASON.
ALSO, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO STUDENTS, THE OFFICERS HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF, I'M TRYING TO MITIGATE A SITUATION OR HELP
[01:15:02]
A RELATIONSHIP OR TALK TO SOMEONE OR TALK TO THIS STUDENT.THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN THOSE DEALINGS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, [OVERLAPPING]. WE'LL GO TO ELLEN AND THEN LAURA.
>> DR. ARNETT, YOU SAID YOU WERE REALLY PROUD OF THIS POLICY, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU WELL SHOULD BE.
IT IS EXTREMELY WELL DONE, AND VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMENTS, AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS AND THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE RIGHT VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE SOMETIMES WHEN TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR YOU TO TAKE WHAT WE ALL WERE TRYING TO SAY AND MAKE IT INTO A USABLE POLICY, I THINK IT IS ALSO EXTRAORDINARILY REFLECTIVE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH HERE.
I WANT US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE.
MY FAVORITE SENTENCE IN THE WHOLE POLICY IS THAT THE DISTRICT RECOGNIZES THAT A WELL-ROUNDED APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY MUST ALSO INCLUDE SUPPORTING STUDENT WELL-BEING.
BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, AND SERVING AS ADVOCATES FOR STUDENTS TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.
I THINK THIS DOCUMENT WILL GUIDE TO THE FORMATION OF THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT ALSO ENHANCES THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT SENTENCE YOU JUST READ, COUPLED WITH THE SEPARATING OUT THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS INTO THE PRIMARY DUTIES AND SECONDARY DUTIES, REALLY SIGNALS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEPARTMENT WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE HERE.
>> THANK YOU ALL. THIS [LAUGHTER] HAS BEEN AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
EVERY TIME I READ THIS, THERE'S JUST A LOT.
IT'S A VERY ROBUST POLICY, AND [INAUDIBLE] I HOPE THAT IT IS NOT TOO MUCH.
I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T HINDER THE ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO PROCEED.
JUST ONE LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING THING ALLISON IS, AND MAYBE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT, BUT ON PAGE 3 AND THEN PAGE 7, WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITHIN 180 DAYS OF COMMISSIONS, THAT NUMBER 1, AND WE'RE REFERENCING CODE, THEY START OFF DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I'LL CLEAN THAT UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THE SPECIALIZED EDUCATION THREW ME OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE OF COURSE, THOSE THINGS THAT WE WOULD WANT THEM TO BE TRAINED FOR, OFTEN IT'S NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS OR STUDENT SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT THIS IS AMAZING.
I THINK THAT IT ALLOWS THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUTTING INTO PLACE A TEAM OF OFFICERS THAT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR OUR DISTRICT.
I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY REFLECTIVE OF THE DISTRICT VALUES. THANK YOU ALL.
THIS HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND I LOVE THE DETAIL AND THE TRAINING AND THE ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT DETAILS.
I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE VOICED CONCERN THAT IF WE MAKE IT SO STRINGENT THAT OFFICERS OR RETIRED OFFICERS MIGHT NOT WANT TO COME WORK FOR EANES, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE DR. ARNETT THAT THROUGH CONVERSATIONS PERHAPS THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH BK AND MATT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, THAT THIS ISN'T A CONCERN WE HAVE HAD THIS MORNING [LAUGHTER] THAT IF WE CAN'T FILL THESE SPOTS, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO DO.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAID YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
>> WE ARE COMPETENCE IN THIS POLICY AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT DOES REFLECT A MANAGEABLE APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING A POLICE FORCE.
>> ALL RELEVANT STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF THIS AND GAVE IT A GREEN LINE.
>> TO YOUR POINT, DIANE, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE BILL THAT THEY BASICALLY GIVE YOU SOME TIME AND IF YOU CAN'T FILL THOSE, YOU DON'T IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO APPOINT A MARSHALL OR A GUARDIAN YOU CAN ACTUALLY I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TERM,
[01:20:02]
BUT BASICALLY SUBMIT A WAIVER THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT AND IF YOU HAVE PROOF THAT YOU HAVE A POSTING FOR A JOB AND HONESTLY, I'M FINE WITH THAT.I DON'T WANT TO CUT CORNERS AND HIRE SOMEONE WE DON'T SEE FIT FOR OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE WE ARE DIFFERENT SO I'M OKAY WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE SPELLING OUT OF INTERIM BUT ONE THING THAT I'M NOT SURE OF IS HOW LONG CAN SOMEONE BE INTERIM BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING THEM WE SAY WITHIN 180 DAYS YOU HAVE TO DO TRAINING.
WILL THAT BE SPELLED OUT IN THE POLICE REQUIREMENTS OR REGULATIONS OR POLICY.
IS THAT THE WORD POLICY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY OR DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT HERE? IT DOESN'T SOUND INTERIM IF IT'S SIX MONTHS OR LONGER.
>> THE INTERIM SAFETY SECURITY OFFICERS WILL ONLY BE IN PLACE UNTIL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONED.
THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN HERE IN CASE THE T COLD GETS AN INFLUX OF REQUESTS TO COMMISSION A PEACE DEPARTMENT AND IT TAKES SIX MONTHS INSTEAD OF THREE, WHICH WE'RE ANTICIPATING.
TOTALLY RECOGNIZE YOUR CONCERN WE JUST WERE MIRRORING THE WORDING BECAUSE WE DO WANT THEM TO GET A SCHOOL-BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE, WHICH THE STATE GIVES THEM 180 DAYS TO DO.
WE JUST USE THAT WORDING, BUT OUR THOUGHT IS THAT THEY WOULD ONLY BE IN THIS POSITION UNTIL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONED AND THEN WE WOULD NO LONGER BE HIRING FOR THAT POSITION.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT, AND AGAIN, I GO BACK TO I THINK PEOPLE IN THE ROOM KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS THAT SAYS WHAT YOU JUST SAID THAT INTERIM GOES AWAY WHEN WE GET A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S NOTHING INTERIM COULD PERPETUALLY GO ON AND ON, AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
MAYBE WE NEED INTERIM TO GO ON UNTIL WE'VE HIRED THAT OFFICER OR FOUND THAT PERSON OR MAYBE THE INTERIM PERSON.
>> I GUESS ACTUALLY, I SHOULD CORRECT MYSELF.
PROBABLY DR. ARNETT NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONED AND FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE FIVE OFFICERS, WOULD YOU STILL WANT, WHILE SOME OF THE SECURITY OFFICERS ARE FINISHING UP THEIR TRAINING OR SOMETHING TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE ON AS SECURITY OFFICERS UNTIL THEY'RE COMMISSIONED AS PEACE OFFICER.
THERE MAYBE SOME TRANSITIONING IN THERE BUT TO YOUR POINT, IT IS NOT SPELLED OUT IN HERE, BUT THE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD AND THE PROPOSAL FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THE INTERIM SECURITY OFFICERS ARE INTERIM, FOR THAT REASON IT WOULD BE TO GET US STARTED WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH SOME ADDITIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND THEN WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONED AND FULLY UP AND RUNNING, THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER BE HIRING FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
>> THAT WON'T PREVENT ME FROM VOTING FOR THIS BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED LANGUAGE THERE TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T FOREVER HAVE INTERIM OFFICERS, THAT THE INTENTION IS TO HAVE PEACE OFFICERS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GO BUT I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS, COMMENTS? PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M UNDERSTANDING THE CONVERSATION, I DO HAVE SOME CLEANUP, JUST THAT ONE LITTLE THING, CLEAN UP.
IT'S REALLY NON SUBSTANTIVE SO I DON'T THINK IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WOULD NOT REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE MOTION.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER SPECIFIC WORDING YOU WOULD LIKE CHANGE THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT WOULD NEED TO BE IN THE MOTION WHEN SOMEONE MAKES IT.
>> IT'S FAIR TO POINT OUT THAT WE REVIEW POLICIES LIKE THIS PRETTY REGULARLY, AND IF WE NOTICE SOMETHING THAT'S MISSING OR NEEDS TO BE ADDED, WE CAN DO THAT IN AN UPCOMING MEETING.
>> THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
>> NO, NOT AT ALL, AND I THINK YOU COULD EVEN REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANNUAL REVIEW, AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, JAMES, YOU COULD ALSO REVIEW THE REQUEST.
AT SOME POINT WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UP AND RUNNING, YOU COULD EVEN REVISE THE POLICY TO TAKE THE SECURITY OFFICERS OUT AND YOU WOULD TAKE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS SECTION OUT.
>> WE'VE GOT ALL THREE OF THESE APPROVED FOR THE INTERIM, AND THEN ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND YOU CAN AMEND THE POLICY, DELETE THOSE SECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELLEN.
>> I JUST WANT TO, THIS IS SOMEWHAT ANECDOTAL, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE CIRCLES OF SECURITY THAT WE TRIED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CAMPUSES.
I WAS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON AND INTERACTED WITH ONE OF THE SECURITY GUYS AND THEY HAVE GREAT NEW SHIRTS THAT HAVE WHS SECURITY ON THEM AND I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE THAT BECAUSE IT NOW GIVES THEM ALMOST A UNIFORM LOOK WHICH TO ME IT CREATES A PRESENCE IN EVERY LITTLE BIT THAT WE CAN DO, I THINK HELPS.
[01:25:03]
WHOSE EVER IDEA THAT WAS WAY TO GO.>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, JEREMY, THANK YOU, ALLISON [APPLAUSE] WE WILL
[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
NOW MOVE INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA PORTION OF THE MEETING.>> I MOVE. WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
>> IS THAT A SECOND? MOTION BY ELLEN, SECOND BY HEATHER.
I WOULD JUST GOING TO CALL OUT THE, ELLEN THIS IS THAT EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR THAT YOU ALWAYS TELL US ABOUT WHERE WE GET TO VOTE ON SEWER LIFTS STATIONS.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THIS ISN'T A QUESTION, SO I DIDN'T PULL THE ITEM, BUT I AM SO GLAD WE ARE PUTTING IN BACKUP GENERATORS OUR SEWER LIFTS STATION [LAUGHTER] AFTER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FROM THE BOND.
>> FULLY SUPPORT THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS APPROACH TO SEWER LIFTS STATIONS ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES.
>> JEREMY, THE FURNITURE FOR THE LIBRARIES, WHAT CAMPUSES ARE THESE FOR?
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED THAT 60 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION FOR EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION DONATION.
[9.1 Accept Eanes Education Foundation Donation]
DO I HAVE A MOTION? LAURA?>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACCEPT THE EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION DONATION IN THE MOUNT OF $2,650,000 [APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS A SECOND. THAT WOOHOO QUALIFIES AS A SECOND.
>> MOTION BY LAURA, SECOND BY ELLEN WITH A WOOHOO.
>> JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AMAZING FOUNDATION TO DO THIS GREAT WORK FOR OUR KIDS.
>>I SECOND THAT. THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAS WORKED SO HARD AND THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATES IT.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT WE DON'T TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED.
WE KNOW THAT YOU START EVERY YEAR OVER AND WORK HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> THIS IS ONE WHERE THE BOARD CAN BE ACCUSED OF ALL VOTING THE SAME WAY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT ITEM IS AN ACTION ON INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE ON CAMPUSES, ELLEN.
[9.2 Second Reading and Adoption of Board Policy CKE(LOCAL)]
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE BOARD POLICY CKE LOCAL AS PRESENTED, AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF THE EANES ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT IN GRANTING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DESIGNEES THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY.
>> I HAVE A MOTION DO I HAVE A SECOND FROM LAURA? MOTION BY ELLEN, SECOND BY LAURA.
>> SORRY, ONE MORE TIME. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO ALLISON AND TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO THIS POLICY.
WE WERE NOT EASY TO WORK WITH ON THIS ONE, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MOTION AND SECOND, SO LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, TEAM.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
[10. UPCOMING MEETINGS]
WE HAVE A JUNE 12TH TEAM-BUILDING SESSION FOR THE TRUSTEES, JUNE 20TH REGULAR MEETING AND HAD NO MEETINGS IN JULY.I GO TO AUGUST 8TH SPECIAL MEETING. HAPPY SUMMER.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT.
WE WILL ADJOURN AT, WHAT TIME IS IT?
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.