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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
AND I CALL THE MAY 7TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO
[3. CLOSED SESSION]
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND 551.074.WE WILL RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 PM.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. SEE YOU IN A BIT.
[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]
AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOU HERE.
WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE, AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED, BEING HERE TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY, BEING HERE TO SPEAK TO US, DEPENDING ON WHY YOU'RE HERE.
WE'RE HAPPY YOU'RE HERE. JUST A REAL QUICK REMINDER THAT THIS IS A BOARD MEETING, AND THE BOARD IS HERE TONIGHT TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS ON ITS AGENDA.
THE DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO TREATING EVERYONE HERE WITH RESPECT, AND WE JUST ASK THE SAME IN RETURN.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM OUTBURST AND OTHER DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
I WILL PUT AN ASTERISK ON THAT AND SAY THAT IF YOUR STUDENT OR YOUR SPOUSE OR YOUR FATHER GETS RECOGNIZED, APPLAUSE IS OKAY.
THAT'S NOT AN OUTBURST. THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING.
WE'LL HAVE THE AGENDA UP, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT.
WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO US TONIGHT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY, AND I SAID THIS A LITTLE EARLIER.
YOU DO NOT OFFEND US IF YOU WALK OUT AFTER YOUR SECTION.
AFTER YOU GET RECOGNIZED OR YOUR CHILD OR WHATEVER GETS RECOGNIZED, IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO LEAVE.
WE JUST ASK THAT YOU DO IT QUIETLY SO THAT WE DON'T PROLONG OUR MEETING TOO MUCH.
WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY. IT'S GREAT TO SEE A FULL HOUSE AND SO MANY GUESTS THIS EVENING.
[5. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HONORING AND RECOGNIZING EACH OF YOU TONIGHT.I WANT TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING OUR NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS QUITE A LIST, ONCE AGAIN, AND WE'RE DEPARTING FROM THE NORMAL TRADITION OF ALL OF THESE STUDENTS JOINING US AT THE BOARD MEETING FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
BUT WE DO WANT TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT IN THE FALL, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMI FINALISTS IN A SPECIAL RECEPTION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT MR. RAMSEY AND HIS STAFF WILL BE PLANNING, AND THE BOARD WILL BE INVITED TO THAT.
BUT FOR NOW, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS FROM WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE RECEIVING VERY PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS TO ADVANCE TO HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER THEIR GRADUATION FROM WESTLAKE.
ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS PAST WEEK, WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSTED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONE AT WEST RIDGE, AND I KNOW THAT MILEY MAY WAS AT HILL COUNTRY.
WE APPRECIATED THE PRINCIPALS AND OUR STAFF LEADING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
SPEAKING OF ENGAGEMENT, WE ALWAYS TRY TO NOTE WHEN THE TRUSTEES HAVE TOURED FACILITIES, AND OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
ALL OF THE TRUSTEES HAVE VISITED THE WESTLAKE ATHLETICS COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL AS OUR WESTLAKE AQUATIC CENTER AND GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THOSE TWO FACILITIES AND TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR PRESENT STATE.
WE APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THOSE.
I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
THEN WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL LATIN CLUB AWARD WINNING STUDENTS.
THEY ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING AND CLAUDIA IS HELPING THEM GET BACK INTO THE ROOM.
WITH US TONIGHT, ARE THEIR TEACHERS FACULTY MEMBERS, ALAN ABBEY AND NATALIE CANNON, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE FILING IN.
ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED, WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO JOIN US BEHIND THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN GET A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH WITH ALL OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES, DR. ARNETT AND ADMINISTRATION SELECTEE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE LATIN STUDENTS OF EANES THIS YEAR.
WE'VE HAD A BANNER YEAR STARTING IN THE SUMMER WHEN ALL THREE LATIN TEACHERS TOOK THE PROGRAMS TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
WE HAD A FIRST PLACE NATIONAL TEAM THERE, AND WE HAD MANY AWARDS GIVEN OUT TO STUDENTS.
THIS YEAR, WE CAME IN SECOND PLACE IN STATE, AND WE'RE FINISHING THE YEAR HERE WITH THE NATIONAL LATIN EXAM, WHICH MAGISTRA CANNON WILL TELL YOU ABOUT.
THE NATIONAL LATIN EXAM IS ACTUALLY AN INTERNATIONAL EXAM.
IT'S TAKEN BY OVER 100,000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR IN ALL 50 STATES AND 26 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,
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INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, BELIZE, BERMUDA, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA, COLOMBIA, DENMARK, GERMANY, GREECE, HONG KONG, INDIA, ITALY, JAPAN.KENYA, KOREA, NEW ZEALAND, I WAS TRYING TO GET ALL IN ONE BREATH.
I CAN'T. RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN, THAILAND, AND THE UK.
IT COVERS SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO IN CLASS PLUS MYTHOLOGY, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS.
IT'S REALLY COOL TO HAVE SO MANY KIDS WIN SO MANY AWARDS.
WE HAD 74 KIDS GET A RECOGNIZED OR A MEDAL WINNING SCORE.
WE BROUGHT OUR GOLD MEDAL WINNERS HERE FOR YOU TONIGHT.
I AM IN MY FRENCHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM IN LATIN 2, AND I EARNED A GOLD MEDAL THIS YEAR.
>> I'M MAREN SINHA. I'M IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR AND I EARNED A GOLD MEDAL TOO.
I'M A FRESHMAN AS WELL, AND I GOT A GOLD MEDAL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RHISHA PSHAR AND I ALSO GOT A GOLD MEDAL. I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.
I'M A FRESHMAN, AND I GOT A GOLD MEDAL.
>> I'M PRIA SHAW. I'M A FRESHMAN IN LATIN 2, AND I GOT A GOLD MEDAL.
I'M A FRESHMAN IN LATIN 2 AND ALSO A GOLD MEDAL.
I'M A FRESHMAN IN LATIN 1, AND I GOT A GOLD MEDAL.
>> RIA HAS WON GOLD MEDALS ALL FOUR YEARS THAT SHE'S TAKEN THE EXAM. FIVE YEARS.
AS A RESULT, SHE GETS A SPECIAL BOOK BOOK AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL LATIN EXAM COMMITTEE.
I'M IN LATIN 4 AND I'M A JUNIOR.
>> I'M MASON FULLER. I'M A JUNIOR, AND I'M IN LATIN 3.
>> HI, I'M CASEY. I'M A SOPHOMORE, AND I'M IN LATIN 3.
>> HI, I'M SYRIA MBATY AND I'M A JUNIOR IN LATIN 4.
>> PARENTS YOU'RE WELCOME TO CLUB. COME UP HERE.
>> OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WELL, THE OTHER REASON WHY WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE THIS EVENING IS BECAUSE WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME SOME NEW MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE WANTED TO INTRODUCE THEM NOT ONLY TO OUR BOARD, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY INTRODUCING YOU TO DR. MALLORY SHACKELFORD.
I KNOW MALLORY IS HERE WITH HER FAMILY.
THERE YOU ARE, MALLORY, SO COME ON UP.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, STAND HERE, JUST RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF WHERE MILEY IS AT WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOUR SON, YOUR DAUGHTER, AND YOUR HUSBAND AS WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO US.
>> HI. I'M MALLORY SHACKELFORD, AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, WELCOME. MALLORY IS GOING TO BE THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT EANES ELEMENTARY, AND LESLIE RYAN IS HERE AS WELL TO HELP WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE HER.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT MALLORY IS JOINING US FROM OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, BUT SHE'S GOING TO BRING SO MUCH TO THE EANES ELEMENTARY CAMPUS, SO MALLORY AND YOUR FAMILY, WELCOME, AND WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
CLAUDIA MCWHORTER IS GOING TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS
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OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY AFTER WE INTRODUCE THE OTHERS.>> LET'S GET LAURA TO HAND THAT MICROPHONE.
>> THE NEXT PERSON THAT WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, AND LAURA, IF YOU'LL BE READY WITH THE MICROPHONE, JOEL CAN USE THIS, IS JOEL BARNES.
JOEL IS JOINING US AS THE NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT VALLEY VIEW, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
JOEL, DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY THAT YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT?
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET ALONG JUST FINE.
THIS IS MY NUMBER 1 FAN, MY HUSBAND JAMES, AND MY DAUGHTER AMELIA, AND MY SON COOPER.
>> GREAT. JOEL, YOU GRADUATED FROM WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> SHOW ON MY H, IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, '03.
>> YEAH. OKAY. GREAT. WELL, WELCOME HOME.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU.
>> THE NEXT INTRODUCTION THIS EVENING, IS SOMEONE WHO HAS TRAVELED A GREAT DISTANCE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT AND HAS BROUGHT A LARGE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS TOO.
THEY'RE AS EXCITED AS WE ARE, AND THAT'S LIZ EDMONSON.
LIZ IS JOINING US FROM KLEIN ISD IN THE HOUSTON AREA, AND SHE IS GOING TO BE THE NEW DEAN OF ACADEMICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, SPENT MUCH OF THE DAY THERE.
LIZ, HOW ABOUT IF YOU INTRODUCE EVERYBODY WHO IS WITH YOU TONIGHT? THERE'S THE MICROPHONE RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
HE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT COMING TO ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HERE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, KEVIN, AND THEN I ALSO BROUGHT MY PARENTS, SO MY MOM, MELANIE, AND MY DAD, MARK, AND THEN MY SISTER, SITTING BEHIND THEM, MEGHAN AND HER TWO BOYS, BO AND WILL.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME IN ALL OF MY CAREER ENDEAVORS AND SO I WANTED THEM TO BE A PART OF THIS TONIGHT.
BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY.
>> I SHOULD MENTION TOO, THAT LIZ, YOUR HUSBAND KEVIN IS AN EDUCATOR, AS WELL.
YOUR MOTHER, MELANIE, WAS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, IS THAT RIGHT? FOR MANY YEARS, AND HER FATHER, MARK, WAS A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, AS WELL. THANKS, EVERYBODY.
>> THE LAST NEW LEADERSHIP INTRODUCTION THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS EVENING IS SOMEONE THAT WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL, AND THAT IS OUR COLLEAGUE, DIANE PARKS.
DIANE IS MOVING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FROM WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IN A NEW POSITION, THAT MR. RAMSEY HAS CREATED TO BE PARALLEL TO THE DEAN OF ACADEMICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, DIANE WILL NOW BE THE DEAN OF ARTS AND STUDENT LIFE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
RETURNING TO A PLACE WHERE YOU BEGAN YOUR CAREER IN EANES ISD, IS THAT RIGHT? GREAT. DIANE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR YOU TO BE IN THAT NEW LEADERSHIP POSITION AS WELL.
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY THIS EVENING?
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL ARE HERE. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT FOR THIS EVENING.
WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER GUESTS THAT WE'LL INTRODUCE IN A FEW MINUTES LATER IN THE PROGRAM DURING ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM.
BUT FOR NOW, MR. SPRADLEY, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> IS THERE ANYONE WAITING OUTSIDE THAT SHOULD COME IN NOW? DO WE KNOW? WE'VE GOT LOTS OF ROOM.
THANKS, EVERYONE. IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
[6. OPEN FORUM]
WE HAVE SIX SPEAKERS SIGNED UP THIS EVENING AND EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.I'LL CALL YOU FORWARD WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
ONCE YOU'RE NOTIFIED THAT YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND THEN STOP.
AS A GENERAL RULE, AND LET ME EXPLAIN THIS.
I'M GOING TO READ THIS, AND I'LL EXPLAIN.
AS A GENERAL RULE, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS BY THE PUBLIC.
THIS SECTION ALSO ALLOWS FOR ANY PUBLIC COMPLAINT
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OF SPECIFIED EMPLOYEES TO BE HEARD IN BOARD AND CLOSED.I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF YOU WISH TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE BY NAME, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO A CLOSED SESSION.
SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION AND RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY MAY BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES, BUT THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE REGARDING ANY SUBJECT THAT'S NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.
SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S WEIRD BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO US BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RESPOND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.
IT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA AS A TOPIC FOR DECISION TONIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL.
BUT WE WILL LISTEN TO YOU, AND WE WILL HEAR WHAT YOU SAY.
YOU MUST KNOW THAT THE AUDIO FROM THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF THIS BOARD MEETING AND THE WHOLE BOARD MEETING IS RECORDED AND PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
IT'S ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE AND WILL BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT ALTERATION SO WHATEVER YOU SAY GETS PUT UP THERE.
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 ARE READY FOR THE FIRST SPEAKER.
BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO ASK, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION IN THE SIGN UP AND MAYBE OUR FORM IS CONFUSING, ARE ALL SIX SPEAKERS STUDENTS TONIGHT OR ARE THERE ADULTS SPEAKING? WE WEREN'T SURE ON THE SIGN UP.
IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TONIGHT, RAISE YOUR HAND, AND I WILL SEE. OKAY. ALL STUDENTS.
OKAY. THEN WE WILL START WITH AMELIA LU.
AFTER THAT, IT WILL BE BLAKE WRIGHT.
WELCOME. THANK YOU, PLEASE GO TO THAT PODIUM.
>> DO I JUST BEGIN? ALL RIGHT.
I'M AN 8TH GRADER AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I THANK THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF THE CHINESE AND LATIN PROGRAMS. THE MAIN REASON FOR CANCELING THE CHINESE LATIN PROGRAM IS THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH KIDS WHO SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS OR WHO ARE INTERESTED.
THIS ISN'T OFTEN THE CASE, THOUGH.
MOST OF THE TIME IT IS DUE TO A SCHEDULING ISSUE.
I HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE OF PICKING CHINESE OR FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND I HAD TO DROP SPEECH AS A CLASS ALTOGETHER.
MY OTHER FRIENDS HAD TO DROP IPC AS A CLASS IN ORDER TO TAKE LATIN OR TO STOP BEING IN GT TO STAY IN CHINESE.
AT HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, CHINESE, SPANISH COMPACTED, FRENCH, LATIN, IPC, SPEECH, GEOMETRY, AND GT, ALL DURING THE SAME THREE PERIODS WITH ONLY ONE CLASS OFFERED FOR SOME OF THEM.
THIS MESSES WITH SCHEDULING BY NOT ALLOWING A STUDENT TO TAKE EITHER CHINESE OR LATIN DUE TO OTHER CLASSES THAT THEIR PARENT WOULD PREFER THEM TO TAKE.
LATIN CHINESE ARE BOTH CLASSES THAT MAKE OUR DISTRICT UNIQUE.
HAVING THEM SHOWS THE VARIETY OF LANGUAGES WE OFFER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IN FACT, MOST OF THE TIME, STUDENTS WILL PICK THEIR LANGUAGE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT SAME LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IF WE ONLY PROVIDE SPANISH AND FRENCH AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE HIGHSCHOOL WILL HAVE A LESS VARIETY OF CLASSES, AND OUR DISTRICT WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SHOW AS MUCH DIVERSITY AS WE DO NOW.
FOR ME, THIS AFFECTS NOT JUST THE FUTURE OF HILL COUNTRY AND WEST RIDGE, BUT MY OWN FAMILY.
MY SISTER WASN'T GOING TO CHOOSE AN INSTRUMENT OR SPORT IN HER 7TH AND 8TH GRADE YEAR SO SHE COULD CHOOSE A MORE DIFFICULT LANGUAGE CLASS, BUT NOW SHE CAN'T.
MY SISTER HAD ORIGINALLY WANTED TO TAKE CHINESE, BUT THAT CLASS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS CANCELED.
THEN SHE WANTED TO TAKE LATIN, DUE TO THE ADVANTAGE IT WOULD PROVIDE TO ELA AND ON THE FEW SAT QUESTIONS, AND AGAIN, THAT CLASS IS BEING CANCELED.
STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WANT TO TAKE CHALLENGING CLASSES THAT FURTHER THEM THEIR THINKING AND HELP THEM GET FURTHER IN LIFE.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND MAKE US NO BETTER THAN DISTRICTS WITH LESS FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAN US.
NOW, YOU MIGHT SAY THAT WE CAN TAKE THESE CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE THESE CLASSES EARLY.
OTHERWISE, THEY WILL LOSE THE INCENTIVE TO TAKE THESE CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL.
CLASSES LIKE LATIN AND CHINESE ARE HELPFUL TOWARDS STUDENTS AND CANCELING BOTH PROGRAMS COULD DAMAGE A LOT.
WESTLAKE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING IN SPORTS AND ACADEMICS, AND WE DON'T WANT ONE OR THE OTHER TO HAVE A LOWER STANDING.
WE ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS A SCHOOL IS TOGETHER.
WITHOUT LATIN CHINESE, TWO OF THE HARDER LANGUAGES OFFERED, STUDENTS WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE LESS RIGOROUS CLASSES, LOWERING OUR ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND RATINGS.
FURTHERMORE, SOME KIDS ARE ALREADY ENROLLED IN LATIN OR CHINESE SO CANCELING THIS CLASS MEANS THEY'VE JUST WASTED A WHOLE YEAR.
SOME KIDS IN 5TH GRADE PLANNED OUT WHAT CLASS THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE ONLY TO LEARN, THE CLASSES THEY HAD BEEN PLANNING IN THE FUTURE WOULD NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE.
IT IS UNFAIR TO EVERYONE INVOLVED TO CANCEL LATIN AND CHINESE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I ASK THE BOARD TO HEAR MY WORDS AND PLEASE RECONSIDER RETAINING THESE CLASSES.
AT LEAST GIVE US ANOTHER FOUR YEARS TO PROVE THAT THESE CLASSES ARE NEEDED, THAT STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, WE NEED THESE CLASSES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I HOPE YOU DECIDE TO RECONSIDER THE MATTER, AND I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, AMELIA. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BLAKE WRIGHT, FOLLOWED BY DYLAN SON. WELCOME, BLAKE. OKAY.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
GOOD EVENING, DR. ARNETT. MY NAME IS BLAKE WRIGHT.
I'M 11 YEARS OLD, AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AT CEDAR CREEK.
I'M ALSO IN SPANISH IMMERSION.
EVERY DAY WHEN MY OLDER SIBLINGS COME HOME, THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THEIR CLASSES, ESPECIALLY THEIR LATIN CLASSES, LATIN CLUBS AND CONVENTIONS.
THAT QUICKLY LED ME TO BECOME VERY EXCITED ABOUT LATIN.
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MY ENGLISH VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR ARE NOT AS ADVANCED AS MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT I PUT INTO SPANISH.I WANT TO BECOME A LAWYER, SO I NEED TO BE GOOD AT WRITING.
I THOUGHT STARTING LATIN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL COULD HELP ME WITH THAT.
IN FACT, I'M NOW LEARNING LATIN BY MYSELF AND WAS PLANNING TO GET INTO THE SEVENTH EIGHTH GRADE LATIN CLASS.
I NEVER THOUGHT THE DISTRICT WOULD CANCEL IT.
DR. ARNETT SAID THAT I COULD START LEARNING LATIN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'LL MAKE NO SENSE BECAUSE I WILL HAVE NO TIME TO START A NEW LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO START A NEW LANGUAGE AS EARLY AS YOU CAN.
YOU LET US START SPANISH IN KINDERGARTEN.
WHY LET US START LATIN IN HIGH SCHOOL? MY PARENTS SIGNED ME UP IN SPANISH WHEN I WAS FIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST LEARN ONE LANGUAGE.
I WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN A LANGUAGE OF MY CHOICE.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CANCELED CHINESE LAST YEAR IN LATIN THIS YEAR. WHAT'S NEXT? FRENCH? ARE WE ONLY ALLOWED TO LEARN JUST SPANISH IN THE FUTURE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL? WITHOUT MANY OPTIONS, I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE SPANISH THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARS? THE SCHOOL ALSO SAID WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENROLLMENT.
I REMEMBER THAT THE SCHOOL ALSO SAID WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENROLLMENT.
I REMEMBER THAT THE DISTRICT HAS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO PROMOTING SPANISH, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING ABOUT PROMOTING OTHER LANGUAGES.
THERE ARE EVEN OPTIONS FOR KIDS TO TEST INTO A HIGHER LEVEL OF SPANISH IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT MY PARENTS COULDN'T FIND ANY OPTION FOR TESTING HIGHER LATIN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
NOW PUTTING THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, IMAGINE ALL THE OTHER KIDS THAT WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR STORY LIKE MINE.
THAT WOULD DEVASTATE SO MANY PEOPLE AT ONCE.
I HEARD THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LATIN PROGRAM STARTED IN THE MID '90S AND HAS PARTICIPATED IN JCL AND ENJOYED HIGH RANKINGS AT THE AREA.
STATE AND NATIONAL FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
DR, ARNETT, DO YOU WISH TO BE REMEMBERED AS A SUPERINTENDENT WHO TERMINATED SUCH A WONDERFUL TRADITION AT EANES ISD IN 2024? THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, BLAKE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DYLAN SON, FOLLOWED BY PRIA SHAW.
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DYLAN SON, AND I'M A SIXTH GRADER AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT LATIN.
FIRST, I THINK LATIN IS A COOL LANGUAGE.
ONCE I KNOW LATIN ROOTS, I CAN FIGURE OUT A BUNCH OF OTHER ENGLISH WORDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS STAR TEST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE LATIN ROOT SPEC WHICH MEANS A CITY.
ALSO, LATIN IS THE BASE OF MANY OTHER LANGUAGES.
I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN SPANISH AND FRENCH SOMEDAY, BUT IN LATIN CAN DEFINITELY HELP ME WITH THAT.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES GROWING UP WAS PERCY JACKSON.
THE ENTIRE GREEK MYTHOLOGY SETS THE STAGE FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK SERIES.
I KNOW BY TAKING LATIN, I CAN LEARN EVEN MORE OF THESE AMAZING STORIES AND HISTORICAL EVENTS BEHIND THEM.
LASTLY, I KNOW THAT THE LATIN PROGRAM AT EANES CHOOSE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN SEVENTH GRADE. I WILL HAVE TO STAY WITH IT.
I WILL JUST STAY WITH THAT LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WON'T LEARN LATIN AT ALL.
I THINK LATIN IS SUCH A GOOD PROGRAM.
WE SHOULD TRY TO PROTECT IT BY KEEPING IT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I HOPE YOU WILL RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DYLAN. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PRIA SHAW, FOLLOWED BY MILEY LOU. HI, PRIA.
>> HI. I'M PRIA SHAW, AND I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE LATIN PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE OTHER STUDENTS HERE.
I'M A FRESHMAN AND I'M ENROLLED IN LATIN 2 CURRENTLY.
WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO DO LATIN, I'M LIKE, COOL LATIN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL AND FUN.
I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I LIKED HISTORY, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT LATIN WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO ACCOMPANY THAT.
I DECIDED TO ENROLL IN THE LATIN PROGRAM, BECAUSE, WHAT THE HECK, LET'S TRY IT.
I LOVED IT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE LATIN PROGRAM AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT SHOWED ME SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE BASIS OF THE LANGUAGE.
IT REALLY MAKES ME SO SAD THAT MY YOUNGER SISTER, WHO IS GOING TO BE ENTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES OR GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THE SAME THINGS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FORM THE COMMUNITY THAT I FOUND IN LATIN.
LATIN MIGHT BE A SMALL GROUP OF NERDS JUST GETTING TOGETHER AND NERDING OUT BUT WE ARE A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT REALLY MATTERS. YOU CANNOT JUDGE US BASED ON OUR ENROLLMENT SIZE WITHOUT LOOKING AT OUR SUCCESSES.
YOU SAW EARLIER TONIGHT HOW OUR ACHIEVEMENTS COULD GREATLY OUTWEIGH OUR NUMBERS.
NOT ONLY WERE WE SECOND IN THE STATE COMPETITIONS, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ATTENDING THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, WE CAN MAKE THEM GROW.
THIS IS A FEW NUMBERS ON A CHART.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE.
WE CAN SEE THIS STRONG COMMUNITY.
WE CAN SEE THE SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED.
I'M BEGGING IF YOU DO NOT CANCEL THIS LATIN PROGRAM.
WE ARE A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY.
WE WILL GET THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ROLLED UP.
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GIVE US FOUR YEARS.I SWEAR TO YOU THAT THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL LATIN CLUB IS GOING TO GO TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS NUMBER UP BECAUSE WE FOUND PEOPLE IN LATIN THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE FOUND OUTSIDE OF LATIN.
IN LATIN COMPETITIONS, WE MEET PRIVATE SCHOOL KIDS WHO HAVE SO MUCH, MORE FUNDING, AND THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH OTHER THINGS, BUT THEY'RE PRIVATE SCHOOL.
WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT IS ABLE TO COMPETE AND HAVE SUCH GOOD COMPETITIVE SUCCESS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS, WHEREAS OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE STILL JUST TAKING SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES.
LATIN IS WHAT PUTS US AT PAR WITH THESE CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
WE ARE WEST. WE ARE THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE STATE.
THE LATIN PROGRAM, KEEPS THAT RUNNING.
IT KEEPS THAT UP. GIVE US FOUR YEARS.
WE'LL CHANGE YOUR MIND. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILEY LOU, FOLLOWED BY CASEY YEE.
>> I'M GOING TO HELP HER LOWER THE MICROPHONE. ARE YOU GOT IT?
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO INTO [INAUDIBLE].
>> HI. MY NAME IS MILEY, AND I'M IN FOURTH GRADE.
AT MY SCHOOL, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM CALLED SPANISH IMMERSION, AND I'VE BEEN TAKING IT SINCE I WAS IN KINDER.
IT HAS BEEN SO FUN, AND I JUST LOVE LEARNING NEW LANGUAGES.
BUT I HEARD THAT LATIN IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL.
LATIN IS AWESOME, AND TAKING IT AWAY WOULD BE LIKE TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S GOLD.
I WANT TO KEEP LATIN BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT IT'S A DEAD LANGUAGE.
EVEN IF I CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE LEARN LANGUAGE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO AT LEAST KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO SHARE THAT DREAM.
IT'S LIKE THE GRANDPARENT TO LANGUAGES, FRENCH, ITALIAN, SPANISH, AND EVEN ENGLISH.
PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN LANGUAGES AT AN EARLY AGE OR BETTER YET LATIN AT AN EARLY AGE.
SAY THAT A HIGH SCHOOLER WANTS TO LEARN FRENCH, BUT HAS A REALLY BUSY SCHEDULE.
IF THEY LEARNED LATIN WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, THEY COULD LEARN FRENCH AND STILL KEEP THEIR SCHEDULE THE SAME WITHOUT HAVING TO MODIFY IT.
LATIN ALSO ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ACCESS A WHOLE VIEW OF LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY, AND HISTORY, AS WELL AS CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND VALUES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR WORLD.
TO ME, AND NO DOUBT, OTHERS, LATIN IS MORE THAN A LANGUAGE.
IT'S THE FOUNDATION TO CULTURAL HERITAGE, MODERN LANGUAGES AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
NOW, I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HOW A LOT AND IS THE FOUNDATION TO OTHER LANGUAGES.
BUT YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY LATIN HELPS WITH PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
WELL, LATIN HELPS WITH PERSONAL ENRICHMENT BECAUSE IT PROMOTES PERSONAL GROWTH, CULTURAL APPRECIATION, AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING.
IT ALSO ENCOURAGES MENTAL CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RICHNESS AND COMPLEXITY OF HUMAN EXPRESSION.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE LATIN CLASS AWAY.
IT HELPS SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS.
PEOPLE LOVE TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS.
HOW WOULD PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE SAME LOVE FOR LATIN EVER FIND EACH OTHER WITHOUT LATIN CLASS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
LATIN IS THE CORE TO EVERYTHING.
WITHOUT LATIN, HOW WOULD WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AS WE ARE NOW OR LEARN OUR HISTORY? LATIN IS IMPORTANT, AND STUDENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MILEY. YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU. CASEY YEE. OH, CASEY.
>> NO, HE WAS HERE EARLIER. HE WAS HERE.
>> WE HAVE TO GO ON WITH OUR AGENDA AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU ALL THE STUDENTS FOR SPEAKING.
DID A GREAT JOB. WE'RE ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE A REPORT, IT'LL BE OUR OFFICER PINNING.
DO YOU WANT TO DO AN INTRODUCTION THERE DR. ARNETT.
>> I'M HAPPY TO. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO AGENDA ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THE FIRST WILL BE AN OFFICIAL PINNING CEREMONY FOR OUR NEWLY ARRIVED OFFICERS,
[7.2 Officer Pinning]
AND WE'LL INTRODUCE THEM IN JUST A MOMENT.AS WE REFLECT BACK ON THE PINNING CEREMONY THAT OCCURRED IN MARCH, THAT WAS A VERY PROUD EVENING FOR ALL OF US.
IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE OUR CURRENT OFFICERS ON STAGE THAT NIGHT TO BE FORMALLY RECOGNIZED AND WELCOMED INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NOW TO CREATE THIS DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BECOME SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT EARLIER THIS MORNING MS. BALDASAR AND I WERE AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY FOR THEIR INSPIRATION AWARDS, AND OFFICER JUAN ZAKIUS WHO WAS RECOGNIZED THAT MORNING, AND WE ALL COMMENTED THAT HE WAS TREATED LIKE A ROCK STAR.
THE TEACHERS AND STAFF APPRECIATE HIM BEING THERE.
I THINK THAT EXEMPLIFIES JUST HOW WELL RECEIVED ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE AT THIS TIME.
[00:30:03]
SO, TONIGHT, WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO BE WELCOMING TWO NEW MEMBERS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.THEY WERE ACTUALLY WITH US AT THE MARCH CEREMONY BUT COULD NOT BE OFFICIALLY PINNED THAT EVENING BECAUSE THEY WERE STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH ANOTHER FORCE, AND THEY ARE HERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES TONIGHT.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE OFFICER SHELLY WHORTON.
SHE IS HERE WITH HER FAMILY, JOINING HER ARE JULIE TAVIN AND BRODIE, AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT THEY'RE WITH US TONIGHT AS WELL.
THEN ALSO WITH US TONIGHT IS OFFICER CHRISTOPH OBORSKI AND HIS FAMILY, LAURA AND JACKSON ARE HERE AS WELL.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW TO CHIEF GREER AND TO PRESIDENT SPRADLEY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO OFFICIALLY PIN OUR TWO NEW OFFICERS.
YEAH. OKAY. SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO HERE IS IF YOU JULIE AND BRODIE IF YOU WANT TO DO THE PINNING AND THEN JAMES WILL JUST DO THE SWEARING IN.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BADGE.
>> YEAH. I WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH.
>> I SHELLY WHORTON DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF PEACE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS. SO HELP ME, GOD.
>> CHIEF, YOU'RE OVER HERE WITH ME.
UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
LAURA AND JACKSON IF YOU WANT TO COME UP.
YEAH. WE ARE ALREADY TALKING TO COACH RESELL, YES, THAT'S IT. THERE YOU GO.
OKAY. LET'S ADMINISTER THE OATH.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
>> OF PEACE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> OF PEACE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>> WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
>> AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS.
>> LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS.
>> SO HELP ME, GOD. [APPLAUSE]
[00:35:35]
WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW MR. RAMSEY AND HIS STAFF ARE AS WELL, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU WILL DO TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LET SHELLY, JULIE, TAVIN AND BRODIE IF YOU NEED TO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ASK CHRISTOPH TO JOIN CHIEF GREER AT THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE THE NEXT PRESENTATION IN THIS EVENING'S AGENDA.
>> WELL, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS GIVE YOU ALL A LITTLE BRIEFING
[7.1 School Safety and Security Update]
ON THE DOJ REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED BACK IN JANUARY, REGARDING THE INCIDENT AT UVALDE.I BROUGHT CHRISTOPH BECAUSE HE HAS 10 YEARS AS A SWAT TEAM LEADER.
IN CASE YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO TACTICS, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE.
PLUS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH HIM FIRST.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS PRESENTATION IT'S NOT MY OPINION.
THIS IS INFORMATION THAT WAS GLEANED FROM THE DOJ REPORT.
WE WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE REPORT.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO READ THE REPORT AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
THERE'S ALSO AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT'S ABOUT 32 PAGES, BUT REALLY IMPORTANT.
I'LL GET INTO THE TOPICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SET THE STAGE.
THIS WAS AGAIN, RELEASED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT AN OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT BEFORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.
I'M GOING TO READ HERE BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME FACTS IN HERE THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT MISS ANY INFORMATION.
IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT IT'LL BE HOPEFULLY PRETTY QUICK.
ON THE MORNING OF MAY 24, 2022, THE SUBJECT ENTERED ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH AN UNLOCKED EXTERIOR DOOR, EQUIPPED WITH A HIGH POWERED RIFLE.
HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHOOTING AND WITHIN A MINUTE ENTERED CLASSROOMS CONNECTED VIA AN INTERIOR DOOR.
WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF THE SUBJECTS ENTRY INTO THE SCHOOL, 11 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM THE UVALDE CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND UVALDE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SUPERVISORS ARRIVED INSIDE THE SCHOOL.
AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO APPROACH THE CLASSROOMS, UPON TAKING FIRE, THE RESPONDERS SHIFTED FROM ENTERING THE CLASSROOMS AND STOPPING THE SHOOTING TO EVACUATING OTHER CLASSROOMS, ATTEMPTING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE SUBJECT AND REQUESTING ADDITIONAL RESPONDERS AND EQUIPMENT.
DESPITE THE SHIFT FROM AN ACTIVE SHOOTER TO A BARRICADED SUBJECT APPROACH, 911 WAS STILL RECEIVING CALLS FROM VICTIMS INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOMS. THE CHIEF OF THE UVALDE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTED OFFICERS AT SEVERAL POINTS TO DELAY MAKING ENTRY IN FAVOR OF SEARCHING FOR KEYS AND CLEARING OTHER CLASSROOMS. FORTY-EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THE SUBJECT ENTERED THE SCHOOL, HE FIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL SHOTS INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
OFFICERS MOVED FORWARD INTO FORMATION OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM DOORS, BUT STILL DID NOT MAKE ENTRY.
TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES AFTER HEARING THOSE ADDITIONAL GUNSHOTS AND 75 MINUTES AFTER FIRST RESPONDERS ENTERED ROBB ELEMENTARY, A BORDER PATROL TACTICAL UNIT OPENED THE DOOR AND KILLED THE SUBJECT.
FIVE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CHILDREN AND MANY OTHER TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AT ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IN THE END, 19 CHILDREN AND TWO STAFF MEMBERS WERE KILLED WITH AT LEAST 17 SURVIVORS PHYSICALLY INJURED.
[00:40:02]
THAT'S AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED.IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT, BUT I THINK THAT GIVES YOU A GENERAL IDEA AND HELPS US TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.
THIS REPORT IDENTIFIED SEVEN AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY THAT OCCURRED DURING THE INCIDENT.
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THREE OF THOSE.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TACTICS AND EQUIPMENT, LEADERSHIP, INCIDENT COMMAND, AND COORDINATION, AND SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THE OTHERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT THESE ARE JUST THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY AND SOME OF THE POST INCIDENT RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE OUT FOR NOW.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT TACTICS AND EQUIPMENT.
CHANGES TO POLICE TACTICS OCCURRED AFTER COLUMBINE.
IF YOU ALL RECALL, COLUMBINE, THE OFFICERS WAITED OUTSIDE BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRAINED TO DO, TO WAIT FOR THE SWAT TEAM.
THEY DID THAT. WHILE THEY WERE WAITING, PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
AFTER COLUMBINE, WE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE TRAINED, AND WE BEGAN TRAINING TO ENTER A SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THERE'S ONE OFFICER OR TWO OFFICERS OR 10 OFFICERS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO IN AND WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT.
THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN TRAINING EVER SINCE.
THE WAY THAT WE TRAIN HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS.
OF COURSE, WE'VE IMPROVED OUR TACTICS AND INITIALLY AFTER COLUMBINE, IT WAS WAIT FOR FOUR PEOPLE AND HAVE A TEAM AND THEN GO IN.
WE DON'T EVEN DO THAT ANYMORE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THERE, YOU'RE GOING IN.
AT ROBB ELEMENTARY, ALTHOUGH A GROUP OF OFFICERS INITIALLY MOVED TOWARDS THE GUNFIRE, WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED GUNFIRE THEMSELVES, THEY RETREATED AND REPOSITIONED TO A BARRICADED SUBJECT SITUATION.
THEY CHANGED FROM AN ACTIVE ATTACK TO A BARRICADED SUBJECT.
AN ACTIVE SHOOTER WITH ACCESS TO VICTIMS SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED AND TREATED AS A BARRICADED SUBJECT.
WE KNEW THERE WERE STILL VICTIMS IN THERE.
THERE WERE STILL CALLS COMING IN FROM THOSE CLASSROOMS. THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS HAS ON OUR DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ALL TRAINED TO PUSH TOWARDS AND ELIMINATE THE THREAT AND ENABLE VICTIM RESPONSE.
AS I SAID, WE NO LONGER WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO COME HELP.
IF IT'S JUST ME AND I'M THE FIRST ON SCENE, AND I'M THE ONLY ONE THERE AND THERE IS AN ACTIVE SITUATION, I'M GOING TO GO IN AND DO MY BEST TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT.
WE CONDUCT REGULAR TRAINING ON ACTIVE SHOOTER BEST PRACTICES.
IN FACT, CHRISTOPH, EVEN BEFORE HE STARTED WITH US, WAS TRAINING WITH US ON THIS SUBJECT.
HE IS, AS I SAID, A 10 YEAR SWAT TEAM LEADER, AND HE'LL BE IN CHARGE OF COORDINATING ALL OF OUR TACTICAL TRAINING MOVING FORWARD.
WE'RE ALREADY HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN REGULARLY TRAIN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE UP ON THE LATEST TACTICS AND PRACTICES.
OUR OFFICERS ARE PROVIDED ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO SUCCESSFULLY RESPOND TO A CRITICAL INCIDENT.
WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN THE UVALDE SITUATION IS THAT THERE WAS SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WAS LACKING.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE EQUIPPED OUR OFFICERS WITH EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE A THREAT SITUATION.
WE CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE NEEDS OF OUR OFFICERS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST EQUIPMENT.
IN FACT, I ATTENDED A CONFERENCE WITH CHRISTOPH LAST WEEK, THE TEXAS TACTICAL PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, WHERE ALL THE LATEST AND GREATEST EQUIPMENT WAS THERE, AND WE WILL DO THAT EVERY YEAR JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING BETTER OUT THERE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY USE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC, WHICH IS LEADERSHIP INCIDENT COMMAND, AND COORDINATION.
PART OF THE REPORT WAS THAT LEADERSHIP FROM RESPONDING AGENCIES FAILED TO ESTABLISH A COMMAND AND CONTROL STRUCTURE OR SET UP A COMMAND POST, WHICH LED TO LIMITED MULTI AGENCY COORDINATION.
WE KNOW FROM OUR TRAINING THAT THE FIRST THING TO DO IN A CRITICAL INCIDENT IS TO SET UP A COMMAND POST.
IT'S TYPICALLY DONE WHILE WE'RE ON THE WAY, WE START IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF A COMMAND POST.
[00:45:03]
THERE WAS NO FORMALLY RECOGNIZED INCIDENT COMMANDER THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT.WE ALSO KNOW THROUGH OUR TRAINING THAT THE FIRST OFFICER ON THE SCENE IS THE INITIAL INCIDENT COMMANDER IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND THEN THE INCIDENT COMMANDER BECOMES THE RANKING OFFICER ON SCENE AND THERE'S A FORMAL EXCHANGE OF THAT COMMAND STRUCTURE.
THE UVALDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CHIEF DID NOT PROVIDE APPROPRIATE LEADERSHIP COMMAND OR CONTROL AND NO OTHER LEADER QUESTION DECISIONS.
AT EANES, WE HAVE ADOPTED THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PART OF THAT SYSTEM IS THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, THAT'S A NODE OF THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
WE ARE TRAINED ON INCIDENT COMMAND AND WE TRAIN REGULARLY ON THAT PROCESS AND, IN FACT, WE'LL BE TRAINING THIS SUMMER ON INCIDENT COMMAND.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RESPONDING TO THE SCENE AND HANDLING THE THREAT, WE'VE BEEN TRAINING ON THAT FOR YEARS SO INCIDENT COMMAND IS MUCH MORE INVOLVED THAN THAT.
IT'S ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS THAT ARE RESPONDING TO THE SCENE AND HOW TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT INFORMATION BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM UVALDE, THERE WERE OFFICERS SHOWING UP WHO HAD NO IDEA THE SUSPECT WAS STILL ALIVE.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COMMAND COORDINATION.
WE SHOULD PRACTICE THOSE PRINCIPLES.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE DOING IT THIS SUMMER, IN ADDITION TO HAVING TABLETOP EXERCISES THAT WILL INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST OUR POLICE STAFF.
THEY'LL INVOLVE OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR M&O STAFF, PRINCIPALS, BECAUSE IN A SITUATION, WE HAVE TO BE A TEAM.
WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CAMPUS AS FAR AS TACTICAL RESPONSE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THE OTHER RESPONSE COMPONENTS ARE COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION TO PARENTS, REUNIFICATION, AND SO WE HAVE TO ALL PRACTICE THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT IN A CRITICAL INCIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE A ROLE.
WE DO HAVE AN ACTIVE THREAT DRILL PLAN FOR THIS SUMMER.
IT WILL NOT ONLY INVOLVE OUR OWN AGENCY AND SOME OF OUR OWN ADMINISTRATORS, BUT IT WILL INVOLVE FIRE AND EMS. OTHER LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DO OUR JOB OF GOING IN AND HANDLING THE THREAT BUT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ALSO IS THAT WE GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION TO FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE INSIDE OF A BUILDING THAT NEED IT AND WE'RE FOCUSING ON POLICE TACTICS, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO GET IN THERE AND START SAVING LIVES.
THAT'S WHY THOSE FOLKS WILL BE THERE WITH US.
WE'LL EVEN HAVE OUR DISPATCHERS.
WE'RE USING LAKEWAY AGAIN FOR OUR DISPATCH, AND WE'LL HAVE FOLKS FROM LAKEWAY HELPING US AND CONDUCTING DISPATCH OPERATIONS FOR US.
THE THIRD AREA OF CONCERN THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS SCHOOL SAFETY.
WHEN I SAY SCHOOL SAFETY, I MEAN DOOR LOCKS, DRILLS, VESTIBULES, MAINTENANCE OF THE DOORS, THAT SORT OF THING, VISITOR MANAGEMENT.
THE UVALDE ISD HAD A POLICY OF LOCKING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOORS AT ALL TIMES.
INTERIOR DOORS WERE COMMONLY LEFT UNLOCKED DURING CLASS HOURS, AND EXTERIOR DOORS WERE FREQUENTLY HELD OPEN, SOMETIMES WITH ROCKS, AND IN THIS CASE, IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE BUILDING WHERE THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, ALL OF THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED AND MANY OF THE INTERIOR DOORS WERE ALSO UNLOCKED.
WE'VE TRAINED BOTH EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS ON THE NECESSITY TO KEEP ALL OF OUR EXTERIOR DOORS CLOSED AND LOCKED AT ALL TIMES AND WE'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND TALKED TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS, AND WE'VE TALKED TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND EVEN STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THOSE DOORS LOCKED, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH-SCHOOL, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW EXTERIOR DOORS SO THEY'VE GOT TO BE CLOSED AND LOCKED AT ALL TIMES, AND IF NOT, THEN THEY NEED TO BE MONITORED BY AN ADULT STAFF MEMBER.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN WAY BETTER AT THIS IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
WE'VE TRAINED PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND OF COURSE, NEW TEA REGULATIONS HAVE MANDATED
[00:50:01]
THAT WE ARE CHECKING DOORS CONSTANTLY, THAT WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE THAT THOSE DOORS ARE LOCKED ALL THE TIME, AND WE'RE DOING THAT.VESTIBULES HAVE BEEN ADDED AT ALL THE CAMPUSES TO CREATE SECURE ENTRY POINTS AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE HIGH-SCHOOL, YOU'VE SEEN THAT WE NOW HAVE THREE SECURE ENTRY POINTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME IMPROVEMENT EVEN TO THE SECURE ENTRY POINTS THAT WE HAVE THIS SUMMER.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED ONE LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING, INSTEAD OF HAVING EVERYBODY OPENING DOORS FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND WHATNOT.
WE NEED TO HAVE THEM GOING THROUGH A CENTRAL POINT, AND WE'RE DOING THAT NOW.
WE HAVE DEFICIENCIES, WE SOMETIMES, TALK TO STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHERE SOMETIMES FOLKS MAKE MISTAKES, AND WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS THEY COME.
THAT'S A REALLY GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT AND THE IMPLICATIONS TO THE DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THE INCIDENT WAS VERY COMPLICATED, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU ALL HAVE FOR US?
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WHEN THIS REPORT CAME OUT, I ASKED YOU AND DR. ARNETT, PLEASE COME AND GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THAT AND SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT WE CAN APPLY AT EANES SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW.
I THINK THE OVERARCHING MESSAGE IS WE'VE READ THE REPORT, YOU HAVE DIGESTED THE REPORT AND CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, BOTH BASED ON LESSONS LEARNED AND I SUPPOSE LAW CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
THE MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY OUT OF THIS IS, WE'RE LEARNING, AND WE AND HOPEFULLY ALL OTHER DISTRICTS ARE GETTING BETTER AT THIS.
THE TRUSTEES ARE FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, AND PROBABLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WATCHING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXPOSE EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
WE CAN'T. BAD GUYS CAN WATCH THIS STUFF, AND WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING.
CHIEF, IF YOU HEAR A QUESTION THAT YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE ANSWERING IN PRIVATE, PLEASE INDICATE THAT, REQUEST THAT WE TAKE THAT UP IN A PRIVATE SESSION LATER.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS I'M SUPPOSING LIKE SPECIFICS ON EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE, TACTICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE PLANS FOR CHANGES.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS REALLY NEED TO BE SAVED FOR CLOSED.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR FIRST QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM KIM MCMATH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND I ONLY HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THEM, BUT IT WAS FOR MY CLARIFICATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC CLARIFICATION.
IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE TRAININGS GOING FORWARD AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT INCLUDES THE ENTIRETY OF THE FORCE, NOT JUST A FEW OF THE FORCE, BUT YOUR TRAINING TOGETHER.
>> TRAINING THAT YOU WILL HAVE THIS SUMMER OR ANY TIME WILL BE THE ENTIRETY OF THE FORCE.
>> THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK I HAVE HEARD BEFORE IS THAT WHILE WE NOW HAVE THIS POLICE FORCE AND WE HAVE EVERYONE ON A CAMPUS, YOUR OFFICERS, ALL OFFICERS ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.
>> GREAT. NOT JUST FOLLOWING SOME PRESCRIPTION, BUT FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT CAMPUS AND OUR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
>> GREAT. THEN YOU DID MENTION EQUIPMENT I'M NOT ASKING FOR QUESTIONS AROUND ANY EQUIPMENT THAT YOU MAY NEED OR THAT YOU SEE BUT I THINK I'LL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, BUT I'M SURE THE ENTIRE BOARD THAT IF THERE IS EQUIPMENT THAT YOU SEE NEEDED FOR YOUR POLICE FORCE, WE WANT YOU TO BRING IT TO DR. ARNETT SO THAT WE CAN JUMP ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF.
>> PLEASE DO THAT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR HELP.
>> THANK YOU, KEN. OUR NEXT QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM HEATHER AND THEN LAURA AND THEN DIANE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REPORT AND FOR JOINING US FRESHLY AFTER BEING PINNED. I APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S A VERY SOMBER REPORT, AND I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, AND I KNOW THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RUSHED THING.
[00:55:03]
I KNOW HAVING SERVED ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THAT THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT'S GONE INTO THIS AND THE THOUGHTFUL POLICY BY THIS BOARD AS WELL.BUT I DO WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR WESTLAKE WATCH PROGRAM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT WE HAVE FOR STUDENTS TO REPORT ANY THING, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL NEVER HAVE AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS ONWARD BUT IF YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, MA'AM. WESTLAKE WATCH IS OUR ANONYMOUS-TIP PROGRAM REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND ALSO BEST PRACTICE.
WE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM WESTLAKE WATCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH STUDENTS AND WESTLAKE WATCH IS PART OF WHAT I CALL THE FIRST PHASE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, THE FOUNDATION OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND THAT'S JUST SCHOOL CLIMATE.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF SCHOOL CLIMATE IS THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO REPORT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE CONCERNING AND THEY DO USE IT, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT USE THAT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE PARENTS THAT USE IT AND WE ACT ON EVERY SINGLE TIP THAT WE GET AND SO IT'S BEEN VERY VALUABLE AND WE GET QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION FROM IT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M ALSO REALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR DISTRICT AND JUST THE RESPONSE TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDING MORE MENTAL HEALTH AND AWARENESS AROUND THAT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF ALSO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF DETERRING INCIDENTS LIKE THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR DEPARTMENT FOR BEING SO PROACTIVE AND FOR THE DISTRICT FOR BEING SO PROACTIVE TO TRY TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL SAFE SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. WE'LL GO TO LAURA AND THEN DIANE.
>> WELL, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST HAVE A COMMENT, AND IT'S JUST HALF BAKED.
BUT, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME CHANGES AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW WE DO THINGS AND CHANGE CAN OFTEN BE VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE ARE BECOMING USED TO Y'ALL VERY QUICKLY, AND Y'ALL MAKE IT VERY EASY BUT THAT WAS A HUGE CHANGE FOR US TO HAVE Y'ALL LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, Y'ALL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN OUR BOARD ROOM, ON OUR CAMPUSES, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT WAS A CHANGE AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE AND THAT WAS A HARD DECISION THAT WE MADE.
I WAS NOT AWARE I'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT OUR KIDS NEED TO FEEL SAFE.
THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN ORDER TO LEARN AND THAT HAD ALWAYS KIND OF COME ACROSS AS THIS, MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE PART OF THAT SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD IGNORED WAS THAT PHYSICAL SAFETY BECAUSE WE LIVE IN WESTLAKE AND NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE.
BUT I NOW RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A LOW-LEVEL STRESS AND CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY AND I WAS MADE AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE OF Y'ALL'S PRESENCE AND IT WAS THIS AHA MOMENT FOR ME, AND TO BE LIKE, THIS FEELS GOOD LIKE, I FEEL I FEEL GOOD HAVING THEM IN THE ROOM AND SEEING Y'ALL ON THE CAMPUS.
I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT, WHAT Y'ALL BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY IS SO MUCH AND IT'S NOT JUST THE SAFETY, IT'S THE JOY.
I MEAN, OFFICER ZAKIAS, THOSE KIDS, YOU WERE A ROCK STAR ON THAT CAMPUS, AND I GOT TO SEE ROD OVER AT EANES ELEMENTARY IN ACTION AND THEY BRING SO MUCH TO OUR CAMPUS, SO THANK YOU AND LET ME JUST WRAP IT UP BY SAYING, IT WAS A BIG CHANGE, AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD CHANGE SO AS WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR BEHAVIORS IT'S GOOD.
IT'LL BE HARD, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, AND WE'LL ALL FEEL BETTER FOR IT SO, THANK YOU.
>> YES, THANK YOU. MANY OF MY COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOUCHED ON BY HEATHER AND LAURA, BUT JUST TO ROUND THOSE OUT.
TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CHILDREN FEELING SAFE, IT'S ALSO TEACHERS WHO HAVE HEARD COMING FORWARD AND SAYING, I JUST FEEL SAFER SO THEY'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING.
[01:00:01]
WESTLAKE WATCH SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOOL.YOU MENTIONED IT'S ANONYMOUS, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR NAME IF YOU'D LIKE.
IS THAT THE VERY BEST WAY FOR SOMEONE WITH A CONCERN TO BE REACHING OUT, WHETHER IT'S, I THINK YOU SAID STAFF, YOU CAN USE IT, PARENTS, STUDENTS, OR IS THERE ANOTHER AVENUE AS WELL IF PEOPLE HAVE A CONCERN?
>> WELL, WESTLAKE WATCH IS MOSTLY ANONYMOUS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN OPTION TO PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION, BUT USUALLY PEOPLE USE IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ANONYMOUS SO WE WOULD REALLY PREFER THE INFORMATION TO COME DIRECTLY TO US BECAUSE THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND IF WE HAVE SOMETHING LATER ON, A QUESTION THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AFTER WE START INVESTIGATING THE INFORMATION, IT'S REALLY HELPFUL SO AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
KIDS DON'T ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT BUT THAT WOULD BE PREFERRED IS JUST TO GO TO ONE OF OUR OFFICERS OR AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH INFORMATION BUT WESTLAKE WATCH IS DEFINITELY USEFUL AND REALLY IMPORTANT TO THAT EQUATION.
>> IF IT'S THE EVENING TIME, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY FOR SOMEONE TO REACH OUT? TO GET INFORMATION TO YOU WITH A CONCERN WHERE THEY WANT TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE INFORMATION, I GUESS AND ON THE WESTLAKE WATCH PAGE, WE DO STATE THAT IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY THAT WE WANT THE REPORTER TO CALL 911.
>> BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE ALL MONITOR THAT, PROBABLY MORE THAN WE SHOULD BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ALL THE PRINCIPALS AND MYSELF AND ALL THE OFFICERS, WE REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND SO WE'RE ON OUR EMAILS AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT MONITORING.
BUT WE KNOW WE'RE NOT UP ALL THE TIME, AND WE DON'T GET OUR EMAILS ALL THE TIME SO IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, WE WOULD LIKE SOMEBODY TO CALL 911 BUT OTHERWISE, WESTLAKE WATCH IS A PERFECT WAY TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. WE'LL GO TO ELLEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION EITHER, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHO MOVED SO QUICKLY TO CREATE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, IT WAS THIS MEETING LAST YEAR.
IT WAS THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY LAST YEAR, THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THIS TABLE AND HAVING ANYTHING DONE IN A YEAR IN A BIG SYSTEM LIKE THIS IS PRETTY MIRACULOUS, BUT HAVING SOMETHING SO PROFOUND AND SO IMPACTFUL AND SO SUCCESSFUL ONE YEAR LATER.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND THEIR EMBRACING OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STAFF AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
CHIEF GREER, I'M ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT GREAT THINGS DON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT GREAT LEADERS AND I THINK YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE GONE EXTREMELY WELL IN THE LAST YEAR, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THE REPORT THAT YOU BROUGHT TO US TONIGHT IS VERY SOBERING AND IT CERTAINLY IS ABOUT A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, WHICH WE PRAY THAT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WILL HAVE GREAT TRAINING THAT THEY WILL NEVER NEED TO USE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THIS MORNING, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE PROFOUND EFFECT THAT THE OFFICERS HAVE WITH OUR STUDENTS ON EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS, THAT THIS MORNING WHEN DOCTOR ARNETT WAS INTRODUCING THE INSPIRATION AWARDS, AND HE DESCRIBED WHAT THE HEROES AWARD WAS ABOUT.
HE GOT TO THE WORD IN THE SENTENCE OF DESCRIBING A HERO OF SAYING, IT MAY BE SOMEBODY THAT PROTECTS YOU AND ALL THE KIDS IMMEDIATELY.
THAT WAS A GIVEAWAY. [LAUGHTER] IT WAS A TELL.
THEY TURNED TO OFFICER JUAN, BECAUSE HE MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE NOT BECAUSE HE'S EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS AND HOW HE INTERACTS WITH THEM AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO THAT CAMPUS.
I KNOW ALL OF YOUR OFFICERS DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS ACROSS ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
TO ME, THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT OUR DREAM WAS A YEAR AGO SO I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE TODAY,
[01:05:03]
AND WE ARE ABLE TO SAY, THANK YOU. GREAT JOB.>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL AS I SAID, AT THE CEREMONY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I DIDN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF.
EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT HELPED US AND MY OWN STAFF, CINDY LEE.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT HER.
IN FACT, SHE PICKED UP CHRISTOPH SHIRT TODAY.
YES, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF HELP AS YOU GUYS HAVE ALLUDED TO, THE FOUNDATION OF SAFETY ARE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE CLIMATE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN ANYTHING LIKE I JUST PRESENTED, BUT WE'RE READY TO DO IT IF WE NEED TO.
WE HOPE THAT WE ARE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE NOBODY EVER WANTS TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I AM NOT GOING TO BELABOR ALL THE WONDERFUL POINTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES MADE.
WE'RE SUPER GRATEFUL TO ALL, AND ELLEN IT IS AMAZING TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A YEAR AGO, WE STARTED THIS PUBLIC CONVERSATION AND WHEN THERE WERE FOLKS THAT WERE HIGHLY FOR THE POLICE FORCE, AND SOME THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE THOUGHT AND I THINK, MANY OF US NOW CAN'T IMAGINE US NOT HAVING OFFICERS ON OUR CAMPUSES SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD ELABORATE JUST A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR TRAINING IN THE SENSE OF YOUR TRAINING SCHEDULE, WE'RE SUPER COMFORTABLE UNDERSTANDING WHAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE REST OF OUR STAFF.
I WAS WONDERING BEYOND YOUR TRAINING THAT YOU MENTIONED THIS SUMMER, WHAT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEN I'M ALSO WONDERING YOU MENTIONED INCORPORATING ADMINISTRATION IN THOSE.
WILL YOU EVER INCORPORATE FULL STAFF AND/OR STUDENTS INTO ANY EXERCISE OR TRAINING?
>> WELL, I DON'T ANTICIPATE EVER INVOLVING STUDENTS IN THAT TRAINING.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A BEST PRACTICE.
I THINK IT CAN BE TRAUMATIZING FOR STUDENTS SO AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF DOING THAT.
I THINK THE MORE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE CAN TRAIN, THE BETTER, ESPECIALLY ON TOPICS LIKE STOP THE BLEED, CPR.
THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SUBJECTS THAT WE CAN START TEACHING STAFF MEMBERS NOW AND OF COURSE, OUR STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL.
THEN AS FAR AS THE TRAINING SCHEDULE, COINCIDENTALLY, CHRISTOPH AND I ARE MEETING LATER THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT JUST THAT.
WE'RE NOW UP AND RUNNING, AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIT IN ALL OF THIS TRAINING WITHOUT COMPROMISING SAFETY ON OUR CAMPUSES, THAT INVOLVES SHOOTING AND OTHER TACTICS THAT WE NEED TO STAY UP ON AND TRAIN REGULARLY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS AND JUST LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR DESIRE TO SHIELD OUR STUDENTS FROM ANYTHING UNNECESSARILY TRAUMATIC FOR THEM.
>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. I WONDER IF WE MIGHT IN THIS VERY SOBERING CONVERSATION ON MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER NOTE.
I WONDER, OFFICER BORSKI, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF BEING AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, HAVE YOU BEEN WELCOMED IN ANY INTERESTING EVENTS OR OBSERVATIONS YOU WANT TO SHARE?
>> YES. EVERYONE'S IN VERY WELCOMING, SUPER FRIENDLY.
THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN UNIFORM JUST BECAUSE I DID PICK THEM UP TODAY.
I'VE JUST BEEN WALKING AROUND AND INTRODUCING MYSELF, JUST WEARING A NORMAL IN SHIRT AND JUST LEARNING THE LAY OF THE LAND.
IT'S A LARGE CAMPUS WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING, LOTS OF CUTS THROUGH IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC, AND CHIEF'S BEEN GREAT.
HE'S BEEN CHECKING ON ME PRETTY MUCH DAILY YEAH, WE'VE HAD A FEW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A SEMI CRISIS EVERY DAY, BUT NOTHING THAT RISES TO THE SCALE THAT ANYBODY ELSE NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED IN.
THERE'S JUST LITTLE THINGS HAPPENING EVERY DAY, AND YOU JUST TAKE THEM IN STRIDE THE PRINCIPAL STAFF AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ARE SUPER SUPPORTIVE, AND THEY'RE SO QUICK TO ESPECIALLY WITH THESE WESTLAKE WATCHES, AND JUST ALL THE OTHER INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAMS YOU'LL HAVE IN PLACE.
I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED AND TO SEE I GET THEM AS WELL AS SOON AS I COME OUT OF THE OFFICE, THEY'RE ALREADY WALKING, AND THEY HAVE THAT STUDENT IDENTIFIED, AND IT MIGHT BE A MENTAL HEALTH THING,
[01:10:03]
OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING, JUST A CITY POLICY VIOLATION THAT THEY'RE SUSPECTED OF, BUT THEY'RE QUICK TO ACT, AND IT'S BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN PLACE.I THINK THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING HOPEFULLY, FROM WHAT I HAD NO IDEA ANY OF THE STUFF EXISTED, SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE TO MONITOR WHAT STUDENTS ARE DOING AND THINGS ON OUR CAMPUS, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THE DISTRICT DOING ANYMORE ON THAT PART.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE, JUST TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE UVALDE INCIDENT.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS CASE IS A LACK OF CONFIDENCE.
THOSE OFFICERS WERE MET WITH A THREAT AND DIDN'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD PUSH THROUGH THAT AND END THAT THREAT.
IT'S MY GOAL AS PART OF THE TRAINING STAFF IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE AND KNOW THEIR EQUIPMENT THAT THEY CAN WIN THAT FIGHT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE THEY FOUND YOU A LITTLE TINY BROOM CLOSET LIKE THEY HAVE AT OTHER CAMPUSES? IF THEY HAVE, BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO PRANK THOSE WAY HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY STAFFED BY THE DEPUTIES SO AFTER THE CONTRACT IS OVER, THEN I'LL BE MOVING IN.
>> WELL, WELCOME WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
ANY PARTING THOUGHTS OR WORDS, CHIEF?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE TO US, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, ON THE NIGHT OF THE CEREMONY.
I KNEW WHAT YOUR VISION WAS, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE TRUSTED ME TO IMPLEMENT THAT VISION, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF, VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION SECTION OF THE MEETING.
WE'LL WELCOME MILEY MAY FOR A DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN DISCUSSION.
[8.1 Discuss District Improvement Plan]
WELCOME, MILEY. THANK YOU.>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MATT SAT IN THAT CHAIR.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANY SLIDES.
WE'LL JUST LOOK AT WHERE IT SAYS, DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
'CAUSE ALL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU.
AS YOU PROBABLY LOOKED AT THE DIP THIS YEAR, YOU THOUGHT, WELL, THIS LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT.
IT'S MUCH MORE CONDENSED AND ONLY HAS CERTAIN SECTIONS.
I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS I THINK THAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT YOU GUYS BEGAN, AND THEN WE PARTNERED WITH YOU ON IS REALLY A VERY ROBUST DOCUMENT THAT THEN DIDN'T NEED US TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE AND MORE TO IT BUT WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THERE IS A THROUGH LINE STARTING WITH THE BOARD PRIORITIES THROUGH THE DIP, AND THEN YOU'LL END UP SEEING IN THE SIP ON CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS AND THAT WE ACTUALLY NEEDED TO ADDRESS.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DIP NOW, INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY WHO'S ON CABINET HAVING A PART, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL PIECES THAT COME FROM THE BOARD PRIORITIES.
ONE IS THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE REALLY SPECIFICALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND VERY FOCUSED ON MORE A YEARLY BASIS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE IN A DIP THAT DOESN'T REALLY MATCH A BOARD PRIORITIES DOCUMENT.
WE ALSO OFTEN ARE GETTING AUDITED, WHICH IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING NOTHING WRONG, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE PRACTICE ON HOW WE'RE USING OUR FEDERAL FUNDS.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE THE USE OF YOUR FEDERAL FUNDS IS THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS THAT ARE SHOWN IN THE DIP AND SO IT'S REGULARLY REQUIRED THAT THEY'LL SAY, TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR TITLE 1 FUNDS, AND WE'LL SHOW THEM THROUGHOUT IN THE DIP.
THERE IS A REASON TO ALSO HAVE A DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN ALONG WITH THE BOARD PRIORITIES, BUT WE DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE DIP TO BE THE SAME EXTENSIVE DOCUMENT THAT HAD BEEN IN THE PAST IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN THE SIPS ARE ALL FINISHED, THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS, THEY'VE REALLY TAKEN JUST THESE INSTRUCTIONAL PRIORITIES AND PICKED 3-5 OF THOSE TO BE THEIR FOCUS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE 42 GOALS, YOU'RE NOT REALLY ABLE TO MONITOR AND FOCUS ON THOSE SPECIFICALLY.
LOOKING AT THE DIP AND YOU'LL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU'LL JUST SEE HOW WE'VE TAKEN THINGS FROM THE FIRST BOARD PRIORITY,
[01:15:02]
SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND HIGHLIGHTED VERY SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.YOU HAVE THINGS SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE PLC PROCESS.
WE'VE TALKED BEFORE, WE'RE SENDING 100 STAFF MEMBERS TO THE PLC CONFERENCE IN AUSTIN OVER THE SUMMER.
AND SO, OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FIGURING OUT, IF YOU SEND 100 PEOPLE TO SOMETHING, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF THAT? AND HOW CAN WE MEASURE THAT AND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS A SUCCESS AND THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT? WE STILL WANT TO HAVE OUR FOCUS AROUND ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CAREER EXPLORATION, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT AND REACHING TO DIFFERENT ENTITIES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS POST-SECONDARY COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT WITHIN OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT FOR THEM.
YOU'LL SEE A PARTICULAR GOAL ON THE DIP AROUND MAKING SURE WE HAVE TRAINING OR EDUCATION FOR OUR PARENTS AROUND HIGHER EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE REQUIRED ELEMENTS IN THE DIP AND SO WE DO A LOT OF THAT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, HELPING OUR PARENTS.
WE ALL KNOW THE FAFSA THIS YEAR, IF YOU WERE TRYING TO APPLY TO COLLEGE WAS A DISASTER [LAUGHTER].
HELPING OUR PARENTS AS BEST WE CAN.
I HAVE TALKED TO YOU PRIOR ABOUT THE SA EQUITY PLAN THAT WE ARE ON THIS YEAR, SPECIFICALLY AROUND TRYING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP WITH OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND THAT WE NOTICED IN SOME OF THE WORK WE DID THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE STUDENTS NEW TO EANES ISD, WE FIND, THOSE COMING INTO US MAYBE THIRD GRADE TO EIGHTH GRADE WHO DIDN'T START WITH US STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT BOTH OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION, BUT ALSO FOCUSING ON THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE NEW TO INS.
AND THEN, WE HAVE SOME ITEMS AROUND INTERVENTION, WORKING WITH OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT TO IMPROVE OUR EARLY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS. I THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH THIS.
IT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY PROUD OF IN THE DISTRICT, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE TO LOOK AT THOSE STUDENTS.
YOU'LL NOTICE ON 3C AND 3D JUST SOME DIFFERENT THINGS AROUND OUR EMERGENT BILINGUAL POPULATION AND OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS AND THOSE ARE TIED AGAIN DIRECTLY TO SOME OF OUR FEDERAL FUNDING, SHOWING THAT WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN USING THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE ARE GIVEN.
LOOKING AT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF SERVICE, BUT LOOKING AT EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM TO RUN, WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING OUR RESOURCES THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE AND THEN OUR UNIFIED AND JUST INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES WE CELEBRATE EVERYTHING IN EANES.
I WOULD SAY THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS JUST BEEN AMAZING WITH THE EXPLOSION OF ALL OF OUR UNIFIED SPORTS, ROBOTICS, THE BEST BUDDIES WHO GET TO COME AND HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS ONCE A YEAR AT THE MEETING, THE WALK.
IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY AMAZING TO SEE AND I WOULD SAY THAT, I CAN ALMOST SAY THE GOAL OF INCLUSION IN OUR DISTRICT WITH OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES HAS BEEN MET.
I MEAN, IT IS SO INTEGRATED NOW IN SO MANY THINGS THAT IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND SO THAT REMAINS ONE OF OUR GOALS.
THEN I MENTIONED TO YOU ALL BEFORE AROUND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND THAT'S AGAIN, SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR.
I DID A LITTLE CHECK BEFORE I CAME THIS MORNING WHEN I TALKED TO YOU GUYS IN APRIL, WE WERE AT 4.6% WITH CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND TODAY WE'RE AT 8.4%.
WE HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED BECAUSE I MENTIONED, WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS THAT WERE ON THAT BORDERLINE, AND THEN OVER SPRING, MISS A FEW MORE DAYS, AND YOU GET INTO THAT MORE THAN 17 ABSENCES A YEAR, SO DEFINITELY STILL A MESSAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDING SCHOOL WHENEVER YOU CAN.
THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE DIP IS AROUND SAFE AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS.
THE GOAL AROUND MAKING SURE THAT OUR CURRICULUM BOTH EMPHASIZES
[01:20:03]
THE PRINCIPLES OF UDL AND DEI IS EMBEDDED INTO THAT FIRST GOAL, AND WE'RE DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB ACTUALLY CAST, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES THE PRINCIPLES AND THE WORKAROUND UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING IS FINALIZING HOW THOSE TWO ELEMENTS, UDL AND DEI ARE EMBEDDED, AND THEY'RE UPDATING THEIR UDL GUIDELINES THAT REALLY JUST NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THEY'RE NOT SEPARATE.YOU DON'T LOOK AT UDL AND YOU LOOK AT DEI.
YOU LOOK AT PRINCIPLES THAT INCORPORATE BOTH OF THOSE ELEMENTS, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE KIND OF ALREADY BEEN DOING, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF ON THAT.
THEN YOU'LL SEE A FEW VERY SPECIFIC THINGS AROUND BULLYING PREVENTION COMMITTEES AND POLICIES AROUND BULLYING.
THOSE, AGAIN, ARE REQUIRED ELEMENTS FOR THE DIP.
THINGS WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AUDREY AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD THIS YEAR WITH THE PRINCIPALS, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE VERY ALIGNED PROCESSES FOR DOCUMENTING OUR BULLYING, DOING INVESTIGATIONS, AND MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS AND STUDENTS FEEL THAT WHEN THEY EXPRESS A CONCERN, IT'S GETTING HEARD AND IT'S GETTING INVESTIGATED AND HANDLED SERIOUSLY.
THEN THE LAST TWO GOALS AROUND VOICE FOR COUNSELING AND THEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.
AGAIN, WE STRESS THE IMPORTANCE ENOUGH.
YOU GUYS BROUGHT IT UP WHEN THE OFFICERS WERE HERE TODAY THAT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS FOREFRONT WITH OUR TEAMS. THE DIP, LIKE I SAID, IT'S MUCH SMALLER.
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF DOCUMENT, BUT I THINK LEANER AND MEANER IS MAYBE NOT MEANER.
BUT LEANER IS A GOOD DOCUMENT AND A GOOD WAY TO A GOOD WAY TO MOVE FORWARD SO OPEN TO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR ANYTHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU, MILEY. THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS BACK LIKE THIS.
I DID WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, SAY, WELL, I SEE A COUPLE OF PIECES.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING WHY IT IS SMALLER BECAUSE LAST YEAR IT WAS 10 PAGES AND THIS YEAR, IT'S THREE PAGES.
>> I THINK YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING THAT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS WERE CABINET, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAD A LOT OF HAND IN DRAFTING THIS.
WHO ELSE WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER?
>> MAINLY MY TEAM, SO THE CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT TEAM WERE REALLY THE MAIN DRIVERS IN THIS DOCUMENT.
>> THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM WAS NOT AT ALL INVOLVED THIS YEAR, LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN, I GUESS, IN THE PAST?
>> NO, BECAUSE THAT WAS REALLY THE BOARD PRIORITY DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MORE DETAILED.
WHERE YOU SEE MOST OF CABINET IS IN THIS DOCUMENT AND WHERE YOU SEE MY DEPARTMENT IS SPECIFICALLY IN THIS DOCUMENT.
>> MILEY, IT WAS REVIEWED BY THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM.
>> AT THEIR APRIL 15TH MEETING, SO THEY DID GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT.
>> I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU MEANT THE LEADERSHIP LIKE CABINET. SORRY. YEAH.
>> I WAS REFERRING BACK ALSO TO OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND TRYING TO DRAW LINES BETWEEN THAT AND THIS.
I NOTICED IT'S NOT ALWAYS A ONE PER ONE IN THOSE ACTIONS THAT WERE IN THE PRIORITIES.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT TO BRING OVER AND WHAT NOT TO BRING OVER? IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU THOUGHT, WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS YEAR? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS?
>> YEAH, IT REALLY WAS OUR BIG INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S 100 OTHER THINGS YOU DO.
BUT AGAIN, WHAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE COULD MEASURE AS A TEAM.
WE WANTED TO PUT IN THIS DOCUMENT, AND THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO HOLD OURSELVES REALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> YOU USED THE WORD MEASURE, AND THAT GETS ME TO MY LAST QUESTION. I THINK IT'S MY LAST QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THESE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND THOSE TWO FAR RIGHT COLUMNS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LEADING MEASURES AND LAGGING MEASURES AND METRICS.
THE COLUMN HERE ON THE FAR RIGHT IS CALLED MEASURE AND EVALUATION.
I'M LOOKING THROUGH THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION HERE.
BUT IT LEAVES ME SOMETIMES WONDERING, ARE THESE THE ACTUAL THINGS THAT ARE THE METRICS? I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE GO IN AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE, WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS? IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, LET SAYS SIGN IN SHEETS IN THE FIRST BOX? WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION?
[01:25:02]
I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THESE ARE MORE LIKE TOOLS INSTEAD OF MEASUREMENTS IS MY COMMENT.I'M VERY INTERESTED IN BEING ABLE TO I WOULD ASSUME LOOK AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND LIKE YOU SAID, SEE HOW WELL WE DID AND KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MEASURING PER SE.
>> YEAH. THE FORMATIVE IS MORE AS WE'RE GOING ALONG.
THINGS LIKE THE SIGN IN SHEETS OR AN AGENDA.
WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE, WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE PLC MEETINGS, WHO'S ATTENDING? MAKING SURE WE'RE JUST TRACKING AS FORMATIVE.
BUT THEN IF YOU'LL LOOK AT SUMMATIVE, SO 50% OF THE PLCS WILL DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY BASED ON A SIG.
A SIG IS THE MEASUREMENT TOOL THAT WE'RE USING THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE IS OUR 50%.
FOR THE FIRST YEAR, WE WANT 50% OF OUR TEAMS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SPECIFIC PROFICIENCY LEVEL.
THE FORMATIVE IS REALLY JUST CHECKING IN TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY IS DOING, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE AREN'T COMING TO THE MEETINGS, IF THE PLC AGENDA THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS IN IT, AND YOU'RE NOT DISCUSSING THAT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROFICIENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THOSE ARE THE MEASUREMENT TOOLS TO THEN GET TO AN OUTCOME.
SOME OF THESE ARE DEFINITELY MORE MEASURABLE THAN OTHERS.
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THAT'S MAYBE HARDER TO MEASURE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY KIDS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.
SOME OF THE MEASUREMENTS ARE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO DO, BUT WHERE WE COULD, WE TRIED TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE AROUND DECREASING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, MAKING SURE THAT WAS LESS THAN 10%, TRYING TO USE REALLY QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION.
BUT WE DO HAVE AND YOU'LL SEE THE MEASURES, EACH ONE IS FORMATIVE AND THEN SUMMATIVE, WHERE FORMATIVE IS AS YOU'RE GOING ALONG, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHERE ARE WE?
>> I DEFINITELY DID NOTICE THAT IN THE SUMMATIVE, IT SEEMED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE A METRIC.
IN 2A, I GUESS, THE THIRD ROW ACROSS INFORMATIVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, CAREER DAYS AND CAREER FAIRS IS THAT, ARE WE MEASURING HOW MANY OF THOSE WE'RE DOING? ARE WE MEASURING HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE WITH DIFFERENT CAREERS THERE? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR? THAT WE'RE HAVING ONE OR WHAT ARE WE MEASURING?
>> THAT ONE, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WANT TO HAVE A SURVEY FOR STUDENTS, SO SOME PROGRAM EVALUATION TO SEE, YOU HAD ALL THESE ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR, WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF THAT? THEN, SO OUR SUMMATIVE IS REALLY MORE THE STUDENT INPUT.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT, BUT I DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING OR THESE HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND THE CAREER FAIR REALLY MADE ME MORE INTERESTED IN THAT CAREER.
I ACTUALLY HEARD THAT AT THE CLT AT HILK.
THE STUDENTS SAID, AT THE CAREER FAIR, WHEN PEOPLE JUST TALKED TO ME, IT WASN'T AS EXCITING AS WHEN I GOT TO ACTUALLY TAKE APART, A PLASTIC BRAIN AND SOMEBODY EXPLAINED THE PARTS TO ME.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE FAIRS AND EVERYTHING, WHAT IS IT THAT'S ENGAGING FOR THE STUDENTS? YES, IT IS MORE THE FORMATIVE.
ARE WE HAVING THEM? ARE WE DOING THEM? MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING, BUT THEN THE EVALUATION PIECE IS WHAT DID THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY GAIN FROM THAT? THEN TAKING THAT TO TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER THE NEXT YEAR?
>> ARE WE DOING THINGS LIKE MEASURING HOW MANY KIDS ATTEND? ARE THERE ANY OTHER ACTUAL NUMBERS THAT COULD BE FILLED IN HERE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE QUANTIFIABLE IN ANY OF THE FORMATIVES I GUESS, OR DO YOU THINK THAT JUST A CHECKBOX FOR YES, WE DID THE CAREER DAY IS REALLY GOOD ENOUGH FOR SAYING THAT WAS OUR GOAL WE DID THAT, THAT WAS OUR TOOL? I LOVE THAT YOU HAVE A PROGRAM EVALUATION BASED ON STUDENT INPUT THERE.
>> I THINK FOR MOST OF THE CAREER DAYS, THE STUDENTS, IT'S YOU'RE EXPECTED TO ATTEND, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BRING DIFFERENT CAREERS.
BUT AT SOME POINT TOO, QUANTITY ISN'T ALWAYS QUALITY.
>> YOU HAVE TO ALSO DECIDE, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO DO WITH THAT. IT'S A LITTLE VAGUE.
I GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BUT FOR US IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING.
AGAIN, YOU WRITE IT IN THE DIP, THE CAMPUSES SEE IT.
THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO THAT TOO.
IT'S AGAIN, A WAY TO HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL JUST ADD. I MADE A NOTE.
WELL, OFFICER GREER WAS SPEAKING BECAUSE IT PROMPTED ME TO THINK OF
[01:30:05]
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE A METRIC COULD INFORMATIVE, POTENTIALLY BE HELPFUL.HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO GET AS MUCH STAFF TRAINED AND STOP THE BLEED AND CPR AS POSSIBLE.
I GUESS THAT'S THE STUFF THAT'S EASILY MEASURABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO KNOW THAT NUMBER AND BEING ABLE TO COME AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
WHEREVER THERE'S SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TO BELABORING TO MEASURE.
IT'S JUST FANTASTIC TO ABLE TO SEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. WE'LL GO TO HEATHER.
>> THANK YOU. TO DIANE'S POINT, I'M ALL FOR MEASURING THINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL, BUT IF IT'S JUST A NUMBER TO HAVE A NUMBER, THAT IS NOT MY GOAL.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE GETTING EDUCATED AND SERVED IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE AND THAT OUR STAFF FEEL SUPPORTED.
I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN ANYONE WITH MORE NUMBERS IF IT'S NOT MEANINGFUL.
ANYWAY, I DO WANT TO JUST POINT OUT THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU SAID.
>> OUR ENTIRE PROCESS WAS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
WHILE THE WHOLE THING STARTED BECAUSE WE CAME UP WITH OUR BOARD GOALS AND PRIORITIES, THEY ARE FOR US AND FOR THE DISTRICT STAFF TO COME UP WITH THE DIP AND THEN THE SIP AND THEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT AS A SIGNAL TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR VALUES AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US AS A BOARD AND THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS AND WORK ON.
I WAS REALLY SHOCKED AT SOMETHING RECENTLY WHERE SOMEONE WAS LIKE, WE HAVEN'T EXPLORED THE STETSON REPORT SINCE 2020.
ALL OF THIS WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN STEMMED FROM THAT.
THEN THE FACT THAT, SPED WAS NOT DOCUMENTED IN BOLD AND THE LIGHTS AND BLINKING THAT PERHAPS WE HAD FALLEN DOWN ON MAKING THAT A PRIORITY, WHICH IS NOT THE TRUTH.
I KNOW THE COMMUNITY CAN'T SEE THIS, BUT 3B, 3E, 3F, 3G PLUS PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE DIP, REALLY DOES IMPACT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I KNOW, YEARS AGO, WE IMPLEMENTED A CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE.
YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH. I SEE THAT IN THIS DIP.
THE FACT THAT, AT THE TOP OF EVERY PAGE, IT SAYS, SUCCESS FOR ALL.
THAT'S HUGE. I THINK THIS IS GOOD, AND I USUALLY PICK THESE APART.
I DO MISS ODDLY THE LITTLE STATE ICON THAT TELLS US WHAT'S MANDATORY AND THEN WHAT IS OURS.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S WEIRD BUT I DO MISS THAT OR SOME LITTLE NOTICE TO US, LIKE THIS ISN'T OURS.
WE HAVE TO PUT THIS IN. I WILL ADMIT THAT MY OWN CHILD WAS ABSENT A FEW DAYS BECAUSE SHE WAS SICK.
>> ALL GOOD. WE WANT OUR KIDS TO STAY HOME IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ABSENT MORE THAN 17 DAYS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN ANYTHING IS WRONG.
IT JUST MEANS, YOU MISS A LOT OF SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU CAUGHT UP.
>> LUCKILY, IT WASN'T 17 DAYS, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE DON'T HELP A LOT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A PROBLEM AND THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK THAT YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK HERE TO PUT US ON THE PATH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I DO BECAUSE YOU'RE COMPLEMENTING SPECIAL EDUCATION, I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MATT ZEMO AND THE WHOLE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T GIVE THAT TEAM A SHOUT OUT.
>> THANK YOU, MILEY. WE'LL GO TO JEN.
>> MILEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS, AND THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
IT'S INTERESTING LISTENING TO THE TWO OF YOU.
I THINK I FALL SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF Y'ALL.
I'VE ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOYED THIS PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S STREAMLINED A LOT OF THINGS FOR BOTH THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND I HOPE THAT THE NEW BOARD GOING FORWARD WILL CONTINUE THIS, AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO, GIVE IT A FAIR SHOT.
INTERESTINGLY, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE SEEN THIS MUCH NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT IN A DIP AND I THINK THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN LACKING, FRANKLY, FOR US, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
I AGREE WITH DIANE THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE I'M LIKE, MAYBE WE COULD PUT A NUMBER ON THAT BUT I ALSO SEE THAT, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING NEW THAT YOU'RE TRYING OR A NEW GOALS BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THOSE PLACES WHERE THERE IS
[01:35:02]
OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR TO REFLECT BACK THAT YOU CAN GO ANOTHER STEP FORWARD AND PUT NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ON SOME MORE OF THESE, AND TO JUST CONTINUE THIS PROCESS OF US REALLY TRYING TO MEASURE OUR OUTCOMES A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFECTIVELY.>> THAT'S MY TWO CENTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE IT SAYS, GROWTH FROM BASELINE.
I NEED A BASELINE BEFORE I CAN DETERMINE MY GROWTH GOAL, BUT THAT SHOULD BE WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON THAT BASELINE. ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, JEN. ANY OTHER BOARD? DO YOU WANT TO, LAURA?
I THINK THAT IT WAS A CHANGE FOR US, CHANGE IS HARD, CHANGE IS UNCOMFORTABLE.
I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT ONCE TONIGHT.
THIS SEEMS SO MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE TO ME.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT THE ONE LAST YEAR WAS 10 PAGES, THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING IT DOWN TO THREE PAGES AND HOWEVER MANY 20 ITEMS OR HOWEVER MANY IT IS, IT'S LESS THAN THAT IT'S 15, I THINK, WILL ALLOW ALL OF US TO KEEP THOSE AT THE FRONT OF OUR MIND AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL REACHING THESE GOALS NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THEM NARROWED DOWN A LOT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THE LITTLE TEXAS, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THE ONES.
I THINK IT'S AN OLD HOUSE HB3, IT WASN'T THIS ONE, BUT IT WAS THE ONE BEFORE THAT REQUIRED IT.
BUT YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT JUST SO WE KNOW, AND WE CAN ANSWER WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS US WHAT OUR HB3 GOALS ARE, AND WE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY, MILEY ROSEY.
>> SORRY, I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE.
>> NOW I'M GOING TO ADD A FEW MORE BULLETS REAL QUICK.
>> LET'S GO. I'M READY [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT IN THE DISCUSSION OF THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE ADOPTED THIS YEAR, THIS IMPROVED PROCESS FOR HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT OUR GOALS AND THE DIP AND SUCH.
NEXT JANUARY, WE'LL DO OUR SUMMIT AGAIN, WE'LL DO OUR BOARD SUMMIT AND THE PLAN IS NOT AT THIS POINT TO, BY ANY MEANS, WIPE OUT AND START FROM SCRATCH ON OUR BOARD PRIORITIES, BUT WE'LL BE TURNING THE KNOBS A LITTLE BIT AND MAYBE DIALING THINGS IN A LITTLE BIT AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE THINK ABOUT AND THIS DOESN'T EXACTLY GO TO MEASURES BUT IT DOES IN A WAY IS, THAT'LL BE MID YEAR THROUGH THE YEAR WHEN WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THOSE AGAIN AND WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT VALUE WE CAN TAKE OUT OF WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? WHAT ARE SOME KNOBS WE MIGHT NEED TO DIAL A LITTLE BIT AND THINKING ABOUT THAT AND SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AS WE ENACT THE DIP AND THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS THAT WE START THINKING ABOUT, HOW WILL THAT FEEDBACK BUBBLE BACK TO THE BOARD ABOUT, HERE'S A LITTLE KNOB YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TURNING SO JUST OFFER THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MILEY.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO A DISCUSSION OF THE CREATION OF
[8.2 Discuss Creation of Public Facility Corporation]
A PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION WITH CHRIS SCOTT AND SAMANTHA RACHLIN.>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT OR I WOULD HAVE SAID ROCKLIN, MAYBE, BUT RACHLIN FROM HUNTON ANDREWS AND KURTH.
THANK YOU, SAMANTHA AND CHRIS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
PER THE DISCUSSION ITEM, I WAS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PFCS, PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR CREATION, THEIR PURPOSE.
I KNOW YOU'LL ALL HAVE A MEMO IN FRONT OF YOU.
I WAS JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS HERE ON THAT MEMO.
A PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT'S CREATED BY A SPONSORING GOVERNMENT ENTITY IN THIS SITUATION, EANES ISD AND THIS PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION HAS BROAD POWERS OVER PUBLIC FACILITIES, GO FIGURE.
[LAUGHTER] BASICALLY, CHAPTER 303 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AUTHORIZES THE CREATION AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ONE OF THE SPONSORING ENTITIES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO CREATE THESE ENTITIES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF ONE OF THESE ENTITIES IS TO FINANCE FACILITIES SUCH AS, ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS, EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS, TEACHER HOUSING IS A COMMON ONE NOWADAYS BUT BASICALLY, WE WOULD PRESENT TO YOU ALL A RESOLUTION.
ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE SOME BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
WE WOULD BRING THOSE TO YOU ALL,
[01:40:03]
YOU WOULD APPROVE THEM, AND THEN WE'D MOVE TO FILE THE ARTICLES WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT WOULD CREATE YOUR PFC, VERY SIMPLE PROCESS, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.THE BOARD OF THE PFC WOULD BE THE SAME BOARD AS THE DISTRICT AND IF YOU WANTED, YOU'D HAVE OFFICERS LIKELY SIMILAR OFFICERS AS THE DISTRICT SO IT'D BE KIND OF A MIRROR ORGANIZATION, BUT THE PURPOSE OF WHICH WOULD BE TO HOLD TITLE TO LAND, LIKE I SAID, FINANCE FACILITIES LEASE TO EITHER THE DISTRICT OR ANOTHER ENTITY, THE PROPERTY OR THE FACILITIES.
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE PFC, BUT THE MOST COMMON STRUCTURE WE SEE IS THE PFC WILL HOLD TITLE TO LAND AND THEY'LL LEASE THEM BACK TO THE SPONSOR AGAIN, THE SPONSOR IS THE DISTRICT IN THIS EXAMPLE.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT, KIND OF A QUICK RUNDOWN, KIND OF REPEATING THE MEMO, SUMMARIZING IT A LITTLE BIT.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU ALL HAVE IN MIND QUESTIONS, ANYTHING SPECIFIC?
>> I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? SURE. THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION ACTION IS NOT ON THIS AGENDA BECAUSE THIS IS A STUDY SESSION SO THIS IS A DISCUSSION OF THIS TOPIC TONIGHT.
BOARD, WHO WOULD LIKE TO START WITH QUESTIONS?
>> HERE'S THE THING. THE COMMUNITY HAS TO BE HAVING 1,000 QUESTIONS IN THEIR MINDS RIGHT NOW.
THE BACKGROUND IS, WE DISCUSSED THIS AND CLOSED AN HOUR AGO FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AND ASKED SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF BIGGER PICTURE QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO ASK ABOUT THIS, WE'LL START WITH JEN.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION'S FOR CHRIS.
CHRIS, AS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, COULD YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS COULD BE USEFUL TO OUR DISTRICT AND WHY IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO PURSUE.
>> SURE. WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE IMPETUS FOR HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AT ALL IS OUR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR STAFF MEMBERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS PARTNERING WITH SOME ORGANIZATION THAT WILL PERHAPS PURCHASE OR BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO OUR STAFF AND THIS WOULD AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRUCTURE THAT IN A WAY THAT'S RELATED TO THE DISTRICT, BUT NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE DISTRICT.
IT COULD ALSO BE USED IN OTHER WAYS BUT OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT COME UP THERE ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE DISTRICT, WE'LL LOOK AT THOSE AND EVALUATE THEM, AND OF COURSE, THE ULTIMATE DECISION WOULD BELONG TO THE BOARD BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE'RE REALLY MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE STAFF HOUSING ISSUE.
>> MINE IS NOT REALLY A QUESTION.
IT'S MORE OF A COMMENT THAT I KNOW THAT LAKE TRAVIS IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THIS.
I THINK IT WAS AT THEIR LAST BOARD MEETING THAT THEY DISCUSSED IT, AND I THINK THEY'RE TAKING ACTION AT THEIR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE LOOKING AT PFCS SPECIFICALLY FOR STAFF HOUSING BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK INTO. THANK YOU.
>> I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH LAKE TRAVIS CFO ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND THEY'RE CREATING THEIR PFO FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.
>> THIS IS ALLOWS PFCS TO ABLE TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AND THEN LEASE IT TO THE DISTRICT SO THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE PROPERTY.
CORRECT? CAN YOU ALL PLEASE TALK US THROUGH HOW THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM A BOND THAT WE GO AFTER, A VOTER APPROVED BOND.
>> A VOTER APPROVED BOND OBVIOUSLY, YOU WOULD HAVE AN ELECTION.
VOTERS WOULD APPROVE IT, THEN YOU WOULD GO OUT AND ISSUE THE BONDS, YOU'D HAVE AN UNDERWRITER.
YOU'D ISSUE THE BONDS, YOU'D PLEDGE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ON THE I&S SIDE.
THAT WOULD BE PLEDGED AS GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT TO REPAY THOSE BONDS.
YOU WOULD RAISE TAXES IF YOU NEEDED TO.
[01:45:02]
HOPEFULLY, YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO.OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT COME INTO PLAY.
IN THIS SITUATION, IF YOU WERE GOING WITH A TYPICAL STRUCTURE, WHICH, AS YOU MENTIONED, WAS THE PFC WOULD BUY THE PROPERTY AND BUILD THE FACILITY OR JUST BUY A FACILITY THAT ALREADY EXISTS, AND THEY WOULD LEASE IT TO THE DISTRICT, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PLEDGE YOUR I&S SIDE TAXES.
THERE WOULD BE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAXES THAT YOU'D BE PLEDGING THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES TO A LEASE AGREEMENT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.
ESSENTIALLY, THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION WOULD GO OUT.
THEY WOULD ISSUE BONDS, HAVE AN UNDERWRITER, UNDERWRITER WOULD GIVE THEM MONEY.
THEY WOULD TAKE THAT MONEY, USE IT TO BUILD THE FACILITY BY THE PROPERTY, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER CHAPTER 303 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THEN THEY WOULD ALSO IN TANDEM, HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT OR THE SPONSORING ENTITY.
THOSE LEASE PAYMENTS WOULD MIRROR THE DEBT SERVICE THAT'S BEING PAID BY THE PFC TO THE UNDERWRITER.
THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS THAT EXTRA LAYER OF THE LEASE AND THE DIFFERENT SECURITY BEHIND THE BONDS.
>> HOW WOULD THAT BE BENEFICIAL TO US? WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR US?
>> TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT AT ALL RECOMMENDING THAT WE PUT AT RISK OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FUNDS.
THERE ARE OTHER STRUCTURES, INCLUDING PARTNERING WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ASSUME THE RISK, ISSUE THE BONDS.
FOR US, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS PROVIDE THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO ISSUE THE BONDS, BUT THE DISTRICT ITSELF WOULD NOT BE AT RISK FOR REPAYING THE BONDS.
WE WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE IN PLEDGING M&O FUNDS TO REPAY BONDS.
>> WHEN WE GO OUT FOR VOTER APPROVED BONDS, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LEAD TIME FOR THAT.
IT'S USUALLY AT LEAST A YEAR, USUALLY ABOUT 18 MONTHS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WELL, YES. IN THAT CASE, A BIG PORTION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY NUMBER 1, DECIDING WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE BOND, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CALL AN ELECTION, WHICH TAKES SOME TIME TO HAVE THE ELECTION.
THEN ONCE THE ELECTION IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THEN YOU WOULD STEP INTO THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF SELLING THE BONDS.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE PROJECT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE OF CALLING AN ELECTION AND SO IT WOULD SPEED UP.
YOU'D BE ABLE TO DO IT FASTER THAN WHAT YOU COULD OTHERWISE.
>> IF THAT WOULD ALLOW US SOME FLEXIBILITY, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO BE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE AND MAYBE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MIGHT OTHERWISE MISS. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE'LL GO TO KIM AND THEN JEN.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY AND I'M CLARIFYING FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT WE WOULD SET UP AND SO I'M NOT ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO RIGHT NOW WITH THAT NONPROFIT, BUT THE DISCUSSION ACTION IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS AND THEREBY LAW THAT WE WOULD DO THAT.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PFC IN EANES IN THIS GOVERNMENT ENTITY? WHAT IS REQUIRED, I GUESS, BY LAW, BUT ALSO WHAT WOULD THE TACTICAL OBJECTS OR THE TACTICAL PROCESS THAT WE MIGHT TAKE IF WE WANTED TO UTILIZE THE PFC? ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS IN LAW IN TERMS OF NOTIFYING OUR COMMUNITY? NUMBER 1, BUT THEN ALSO, HAS THERE BEEN THOUGHT PUT TO THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD DO? AGAIN, WE'VE DEVELOPED A LONG PROCESS AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PROJECTS AND VOTER APPROVED BOND.
BUT HOW WOULD THIS BE DIFFERENT?
>> SURE. THE PFC HAS BROAD POWERS TO DO A NUMBER OF PROJECTS.
ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WE WOULD HAVE RESOLUTION, BYLAWS, ALL THAT.
[01:50:05]
THE PFC WOULD BE CREATED.THEN AT THAT POINT, IF THE PFC DECIDED, AND AGAIN, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I'M VERY CLEAR, THE BOARD OF THE PFC IS THE BOARD OF THE DISTRICT.
THE PFC ALSO IS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY THE DISTRICT'S BOARD.
SO THERE'S NOT A SEPARATE BOARD ABLE TO TAKE ACTION INDEPENDENT OF THE DISTRICT OR THE BOARD OF THE DISTRICT'S WISHES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ON THAT EARLIER.
ESSENTIALLY, IF THE BOARD OF EANES ISD DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO GO OUT AND ISSUE PFC BONDS AND DO SOME LEASE REVENUE TRANSACTION, POSSIBLY WITH ANOTHER ENTITY AND USE THOSE REVENUES TO REPAY BONDS FOR STAFF HOUSING.
IF THAT WAS THE PLAN, THE BOARD OF EANES ISD WOULD NEED TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ESSENTIALLY SAYING, WE WANT OUR PFC TO ISSUE BONDS.
THE BOARD OF EANES ISD WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ACTION PRIOR TO ANY ACTION THAT THE PFC COULD TAKE.
FROM THERE, YOU WOULD GO ON A TYPICAL TRANSACTION PROCESS.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
YOU'D HAVE A UNDERWRITER TYPICALLY, YOU'D HAVE THE FA, AND YOU JUST GO LIKE YOUR NORMAL BOND PROCESS.
BUT THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE THIS BOARD COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING, WE WANT TO HAVE OUR PFC DO X, ANYTHING, NOT EVEN JUST ISSUE BONDS, ANY ACTION THAT THE PFC IS WANTING TO TAKE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE SPONSOR AUTHORIZATION FIRST AND THE DISTRICT IS THE SPONSOR.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK IT DOES. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND.
I'M HEARING YOU SAY THE BYLAWS OF THE PFC SHOULD WE ESTABLISH IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT ANY PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO BE PASSED BY THIS BOARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. NOT JUST THE BYLAWS, BUT THE LAW.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE WOULD REQUIRE THAT.
>> AND THAT WAS THE SECOND QUESTION.
SO THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THAT IS A PUBLIC DISCUSSION.
>> FOR ANY PROJECT AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE OFF SITE IN A WAY.
THEN, I GUESS, THEN FROM A TACTICAL STANDPOINT, AND I DON'T KNOW, CHRIS, IF YOU'VE THOUGHT THROUGH THIS WOULD IDENTIFYING PROJECTS BE SOMETHING THAT ADMINISTRATION WOULD DO AND THEN BRING IT TO THE BOARD OF THE PFC, WHICH IS ALSO THE BOARD OF EANES ISD?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT PROCESS FULLY YET.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FOUNDATION AS AN OUTSIDE GROUP, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AS FAR AS INTERNALLY, I THINK WE'VE GOT OUR EYES AND OUR EARS OPEN, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING FORMALIZED GOING ON TRYING TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS.
I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS AN END CASE TYPE OF THING.
LAURA USED THE WORD NIMBLE, AND I THINK THAT WHAT I HEAR IS THAT THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MOVE IN WAYS THAT WE HADN'T REALIZED THAT WE COULD MOVE SHOULD THERE BE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS NONPROFIT.
>> YES. THAT'S WHY IT WAS CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE LEGISLATURE WANTED TO GIVE, IT'S NOT JUST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT'S CITIES, COUNTIES, AND A FEW OTHER EXCEPTIONS.
THEY WANTED TO GIVE THESE ENTITIES THE ABILITY TO CREATE THIS SEPARATE ENTITY THAT CAN ACT QUICKLY AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESSES THAT ARE LAID OUT, AND Y'ALL UNDERSTAND, IT CAN BE THE LEGISLATURE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLLOW THEM ALL, BUT THE PFC IS ALLOWED THESE BROAD POWERS THAT GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUICKLY TAKE ACTION WITH SPONSORING BOARD APPROVAL FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED AND THAT THE SPONSORING ENTITY SEES AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT.
>> WE'LL GO TO JEN AND THEN DIANE.
>> THANK YOU. I ASKED SEVERAL OF MY QUESTIONS AND YOU ANSWERED THEM. THANK YOU.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE ACTION THAT MAY BE BEFORE US IN AN UPCOMING MEETING.
THE ACTION IS ONLY TO CREATE THE PFC, CORRECT? WE ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION ON ANY PROJECT.
[01:55:01]
CHRIS, I ASSUME YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO BRING AT THIS POINT.>> WE DON'T. THERE IS NOTHING SPECIFIC AND THERE MAY NOT BE FOR SOME TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
LIKE LAURA SAID, THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT QUICKLY, TO BE FLEXIBLE, GIVES THE DISTRICT A BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE OTHERWISE.
I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY APPEALING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ISSUING BONDS WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.
THE BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND BE VERY, VERY MINDFUL OF THE BUDGET, OF THE PROJECT THAT WE TAKE ON IF AND WHEN THEY EVER DECIDE TO DO IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO US. THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LOVE TO JUST MAKE TWO QUICK POINTS THAT I BRUSHED BY EARLIER.
THE TYPICAL STRUCTURE THAT I MENTIONED WITH PLEDGING M&O REVENUES IS NOT VERY COMMON ANYMORE.
BUT ANOTHER STRUCTURE THAT IS BECOMING MORE COMMON WITH NOT JUST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH FACILITIES ISSUES AND JUST BUDGETING ISSUES IN GENERAL, IS FINDING AN OUTSIDE PARTNER, LIKE CHRIS MENTIONED, AND HAVING THE PFC PARTNER CONTRACT WITH THIS OUTSIDE PARTNER AND ONLY USING REVENUES FROM THIS PROJECT TO PAY BOND PROCEEDS.
IN THAT SITUATION, THE DISTRICTS CREDIT, ANY KIND OF TAXES, COLLATERAL, NOTHING WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT TRANSACTION.
THE PFC WOULD JUST BE A VEHICLE TO WORK WITH THIS OTHER PARTNER TO FACILITATE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE ANY M&O DOLLARS SPARE, NEITHER NOR DOES ANY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
A TOPIC FOR THIS BOARD FOR YEARS HAS BEEN, HOW DO WE INCREASE REVENUE? THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT NOT ONLY INCREASE REVENUE, BUT MIGHT BE A BENEFIT TO OUR STAFF, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> THE ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS JUST THAT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE TOPIC TODAY OF CREATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO HAVE THESE PFCS CREATE THEM.
NEVER USE THEM. USE THEM ONCE, USE THEM FREQUENTLY.
JUST BECAUSE YOU CREATE IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE OBLIGATED IN ANY WAY TO EVER DISCUSS THIS AGAIN.
THERE'S NO COST. IT'S AN OPTION THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTED GOVERNMENTALS TO HAVE, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING OPTION FOR US.
YOU ALREADY MADE THE POINT AS DID JEN AND KIM AS WELL.
THIS FIRST STEP REALLY ISN'T COMMITTING US TO ANYTHING.
WHAT IT DOES OPEN UP IS FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOW WE STRUCTURE THAT.
THAT'S WHEN THE REALLY MEATY CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO COME IN.
WE WILL BE VERY DILIGENT IN THAT.
I'M EXCITED TO TAKE THIS FIRST STEP AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG IN AND HOPEFULLY DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR TEACHERS AND MAYBE FIGURE OUT OTHER WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE BECAUSE WE NEED IT. THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS, THIS MAY BE A QUESTION MORE FOR YOU, BUT WHAT IS GENERALLY THE COST OF THIS TYPE OF BOND VERSUS OUR NORMAL BOND?
>> WELL, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, WHEN WE ISSUE BONDS IN THE NORMAL WAY, WHEN WE GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND VOTE, THEN WE ISSUE THOSE BONDS AND WE PLEDGE OUR I&S TAX RATES TO IT.
IN FACT, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO SET A TAX RATE HIGH ENOUGH TO PAY THOSE BONDS.
IT GIVES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMFORT TO THE BUYERS OF THE BONDS.
ON TOP OF THAT, THOSE BONDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND GUARANTEE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO SELL THOSE AS AAA RATED BONDS, HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING FOR A BOND.
WE GET EXTREMELY GOOD RATES WHEN WE SELL THOSE BONDS.
IF WE WERE TO PARTNER, PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON EXAMPLE HERE WITH THE FOUNDATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE THAT TYPE
[02:00:03]
OF BOND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PLEDGING TAX FUNDS TO PAY THOSE BONDS BACK.THEY WOULD ISSUE A REVENUE BOND OF SOME SORT.
THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING WE ARE GOING TO PAY THESE BONDS BACK WITH THE FUNDS THAT COME IN FROM LEASING OUT THESE APARTMENTS THAT WE EITHER BOUGHT OR BUILDING.
THAT'S A RISKY PROPOSITION, AND THAT'S GOING TO COME AT A HIGHER TAX RATE.
THE BOND BUYERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO BUY THOSE AT THE LOW INTEREST RATE THAT WE CAN SELL OUR TAX GUARANTEED BONDS FOR.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE US SELLING THOSE BONDS.
IT WOULD BE ANOTHER ENTITY SELLING THOSE BONDS.
I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT OUR FUNDS AT RISK, AND THIS VEHICLE GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT CAN BE DONE WHERE, YES, THERE ARE RISKIER BONDS, BUT IT'S NOT OUR RISK.
>> THANK YOU. JUST BOTTOM LINE, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE MAIN WAY THIS PROCESS IS DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR BONDS THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IS THE TIMING AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO VOTER ELECTION.
>> THE LACK OF HAVING TO GO THROUGH AN ELECTION TIME TABLE GIVES US THAT TIMING FLEXIBILITY.
BUT A DOWNSIDE IS THAT THE COST OF THOSE BONDS WOULD PROBABLY MAYBE MUCH HIGHER BECAUSE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> OF COURSE, ANOTHER ISSUE WOULD BE THAT BY TAKING IT OFF OF OUR PLATE, AND OF COURSE, IT'S POSSIBLE, YOU COULD GO TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, WE WANT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE VOTERS MIGHT VOTE FOR THAT, AND THEN WE WOULD ISSUE THAT TYPE OF BOND.
BUT IF WE DO THAT, THEN THAT IS TAKING AWAY SOME OF OUR BOND CAPACITY, AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT AN EXTREMELY LOW I&S TAX RATE.
BY WORKING WITH THE FOUNDATION THROUGH A PFC, ANY ACTIONS THAT THEY'RE TAKING THERE ON THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE IS NOT IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING ON THE I&S SIDE THAT WE WANT TO DO LATER.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THANK YOU.
FROM ALL OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT, I HEAR NOTHING THAT SAYS TO ME THAT THERE IS RISK IN ESTABLISHING A PFC.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT?
ESTABLISHING IT, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
NO. THIS IS A LEGALLY AUTHORIZED FINANCING VEHICLE, AND NOT JUST FINANCING.
THERE ARE OTHER FUNCTIONS OF IT, FOR OUR PURPOSES, WE'RE DISCUSSING FINANCING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTED TO GIVE AS AN ALTERNATE FINANCING VEHICLE, AND JUST CREATING IT DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE DISTRICT TO USE IT.
>> TO JEN'S POINT, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO ON MAY 21ST, IT'S A PRETTY LOW RISK PROPOSITION.
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE SCRATCHED THROUGH WITH A RED LINE BECAUSE EVERYONE KEEPS ASKING THEM BUT IS A PFC, IS THIS CONCEPT NEW? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT RECENTLY CAME INTO EXISTENCE?
>> NO. IT'S BEEN AROUND MAYBE 30 YEARS.
I HAVE THE STATUTE HERE, IT PROBABLY HAS THE YEAR.
>> IT USED TO BE MORE POPULAR, AND THEN IT FELL OUT OF POPULARITY.
IT JUST EBBS AND FLOWS I THINK WITH THE COMPRESSION OF M&O TAXES IN THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS, JUST THE TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE I WAS DESCRIBING EARLIER THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT INTERESTED IN HAS BECOME LESS COMMON IT'S NOT FEASIBLE WITH THE LIMITED M&O TAXES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT IN.
>> GOT YOU. THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERTY, DO THEY HAVE TO BE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES?
THEY WOULD NEED TO BE WITHIN THE SPONSORS BOUNDARIES.
YES. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? MAKING SURE.
>> THEN, SUPPOSE WE HAD A PIECE OF LAND THAT WASN'T BEING USED NOW, IT'S OWNED BY THE DISTRICT, COULD THAT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PFC DEVELOPMENT KIND OF THING?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YES. THE PROPERTY CAN BE TRANSFERRED BETWEEN THE TWO.
I MEAN, THE PFC IS ESSENTIALLY AN EXTENSION OF THE DISTRICT SO ANYTHING THE PFC CAN
[02:05:02]
DO OR THE DISTRICT CAN DO WITHIN THE REALM OF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION, THE PFC WOULD BE ABLE TO DO AS WELL.>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ISSUING BONDS TO PAY THE DEBT TO DO THESE, ONCE THAT DEBT IS PAID, THESE BONDS ARE PAID OFF.
>> IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE WAY THIS IS STRUCTURED IN A TYPICAL LEASE PURCHASE TRANSACTION AT THE END OF THE TERM OF THE LEASE, AND THE TERM OF THE LEASE IS GOING TO MIRROR THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE BOND SO 20, 30 YEARS IS A TYPICAL TERM OF BONDS.
AT THE END OF THE LEASE, THE LESSEE, OR THE DISTRICT IN THE SITUATION, THE PROPERTY WOULD GO BACK TO THEM.
>> THEN REAL TACTICALLY SPEAKING AND MAYBE, CHRIS, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
IF A COMMUNITY MEMBER CAME TO US RIGHT NOW AND SAID, I'VE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY 30 YEARS I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S VALUED AT $10 MILLION, I'D LIKE TO SELL IT TO YOU FOR $5 MILLION IF WE CAN CLOSE THIS WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
COULD THE DISTRICT DO THAT TODAY? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE JUST $5 MILLION SITTING AROUND $10 MILLION SITTING AROUND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES?
>> WE DON'T. WITH A PFC IF THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER APPROACHED US WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE COULD I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST WE COULD ACT ON THESE BONDS AND SUCH I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YET TO BE DETERMINED.
BUT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE PRESENTED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE WANTED TO OWN AND USE FOR SOME PURPOSE, WE COULD ACT MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
LET ME REVERSE THAT AND SAY, WE WOULD HAVE TO SAY NO TODAY BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE PASSING A NORMAL INS BOND, WHICH IS A MULTI MONTH AT THE VERY LEAST PROCESS IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND IF A PERSON WANTED US TO KNOW, THEY HAD A TAX REASON OR SOMETHING THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET IT OFF OF THEIR BOOKS, WE JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
NO MATTER, IF IT'S A $50 BILLION PROPERTY, THEY'RE OFFERING US FOR 5 MILLION, WE COULDN'T DO IT.
>> I THINK THAT GOES TO THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE SPEED THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT WITH A REAL EXAMPLE.
ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS THIS AS WE GET INTO THIS DEEPER IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LOVE THE IDEA.
I'M VERY HESITANT TO BECOME THE LANDLORDS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND I THINK ABOUT ALL THE, I DON'T WANT DR. ARNETT'S PHONE RINGING BECAUSE SOMEONE FOUND A ROACH IN THEIR KITCHEN OR SOMETHING.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE REALITY OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, IS IT? THERE WOULD BE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT WOULD RUN THIS PROPERTY THAT SITS BELOW THE PFC OR I DON'T MEAN BELOW BUT IN THE HIERARCHY OF THINGS, WE WOULDN'T BE NECESSARILY IN THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS YOU COULD SET IT UP CERTAINLY, WE COULD BECOME MANAGERS OF A PROPERTY.
I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS AREA OF EXPERTISE, AND WE'D PROBABLY WANT TO FIND A MANAGEMENT GROUP THAT THAT IS THEIR EXPERTISE.
>> EXCELLENT. THAT SORT OF BEGS THE QUESTION, IT FEELS LIKE THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO RUN AT SOME LEVEL, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE WORK IN ORDER TO DO A PFC TO DO THESE DEALS TO ANALYZE THESE DEALS.
I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE'S NO ONE IN THIS BUILDING WHO'S SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR SOME WORK TO COME THEIR WAY.
I'M ASSUMING WE'RE ALL VERY BUSY.
WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT ON THE EXTRA WORK LOAD THAT THIS COULD CREATE IF WE START PURSUING SOME OF THESE THINGS?
>> I THINK THAT'S A MAIN REASON WHY WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE FOUNDATION IS BECAUSE THEY WOULD TAKE ON THOSE ROLES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THOSE EXTRA ROLES OF MANAGING APARTMENTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DO ANYWAY AND SO AS FAR AS EXTRA WORK ON THE DISTRICT, I THINK IT WOULD LOOK ON OUR SIDE, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE USED TO DOING, WHICH WOULD BE THE FINANCING SIDE OF IT.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, AND WE DO IT ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS AND AS FAR AS ACTUALLY RUNNING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF HOUSING COMPLEX, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK THAT YOU'RE RIGHT THAT WOULD BE HANDLED OUTSIDE OF US.
>> IF I COULD ADD TO THAT I THINK WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS, WHETHER THEY BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR OTHERWISE THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF GENERATING REVENUE TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES, EITHER OF OUR OWN OR OF A PARTNER MANAGER.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT AND REVENUE ADDITIONALLY TO PAY THESE BONDS, AS WELL.
I MEAN, IDEALLY, THERE'S NOTHING COMING OUT OF OUR MMO THERE'S NOTHING HITTING OUR BOOKS,
[02:10:04]
AND WE ARE EFFECTIVELY PURCHASING AN ASSET THAT IN THE LONG RUN WILL BELONG TO THE DISTRICT ONCE THAT'S PAID OFF.IT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THE RIGHT DEALS AND SUCH BUT YEAH.
I THINK THAT IT GOES BACK TO THE BOARD MAY NOT BE US AT THE TIME THAT THIS COMES ABOUT, BUT THE BOARD, THE ELECTED TRUSTEES WOULD BE MANAGING THIS AND LOOKING OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LOOKING OUT FOR OUR DISTRICT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BOARD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THAT CONCLUDES THE DISCUSSION SECTION OF THE MEETING AND WE ARE HEADING TOWARD ADJOURNMENT HERE.
THE TRUSTEES WILL BE MEETING FOUR TIMES IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
ON MAY 15, WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING THAT WILL BE THE MEETING WHERE WE CERTIFY THE VOTE
[9. UPCOMING MEETINGS]
FROM THE ELECTION AND THEN THAT'LL BE REAL QUICK IT'LL BE A TWO MINUTE MEETING.>> MAY 21ST IS A REGULAR MEETING THE AGENDA WILL BE POSTED FRIDAY BEFORE.
MAY 28, IS A TEAM BUILDING SESSION WELL, LET ME GO BACK TO MAY 21ST WE'LL BID FAREWELL TO OUR LONGTIME COLLEAGUE, DON'T GET ME STARTED AND WE WILL SWEAR IN A NEW ONE WHO'S IN THE ROOM.
ON MAY, 28TH, WE WILL HAVE A TEAM BUILDING SESSION, A THREE HOUR STATE REQUIRED TRAINING SESSION FOR THE BOARD AND THEN JUNE 4TH WILL BE OUR NEXT STUDY SESSION.
THEN JUNE'S FULL OF COOL SLI TRAINING AND LTSP TRAINING SO WITH THAT, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT 9:19 PM. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.