[00:00:01]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
AND I CALL THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
[2. ESTABLISH A QUORUM]
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO
[3. CLOSED SESSION]
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, AND 551.074.WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 PM.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU IN A BIT.
[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION]
AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.GOOD EVENING. I AM JAMES SPRADLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE BOARD, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS FOR THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS ON ITS AGENDA.
THE DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO TREATING EVERYONE HERE WITH RESPECT, AND WE EXPECT THE SAME IN RETURN.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM OUTBURSTS OR ANY FORM OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
FOR THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED DURING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING, 55 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP, AND EACH PERSON WILL HAVE 1 MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR SPEAKERS WHEN WE GET TO THAT SEGMENT OF THE MEETING.
YOU ARE INVITED TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE OPEN MEETING AND LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.
WE HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING TOPICS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
WHICH WILL INCLUDE AFTER THE OPEN FORUM.
IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE THE MEETING BEFORE WE ADJOURN, PLEASE DO SO QUIETLY SO YOU DO NOT DISRUPT THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.
ALSO, PLEASE TAKE CONVERSATIONS OUT INTO THE HALL, SO YOU DO NOT DISRUPT DISCUSSIONS OR PRESENTATIONS.
I WANT TO QUICKLY MENTION THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE COULD NOT FIT EVERY ATTENDEE INTO THIS BOARDROOM TONIGHT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY.
THE FIRE MARSHAL DICTATES HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED IN THIS ROOM AT ONE TIME.
WE WILL CYCLE PEOPLE IN FROM THE LOBBY AS PEOPLE VACATE THEIR SEATS IN THE BOARDROOM.
JUST LET THEM KNOW IF YOU'RE LEAVING OR GOOD TONIGHT SO THAT THEY CAN LET SOMEONE SIT IN YOUR SEAT.
WE WILL BE MOVING TO A NEW LARGER BOARD ROOM IN 2025.
FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT CAME FROM THE BOND YOU THE VOTERS APPROVED IN 2023.
AS PREVIOUSLY EXPLAINED, FUNDS CANNOT BE USED TO PAY TEACHERS OR OFFSET OUR CURRENT BUDGET CHALLENGES.
THIS BUILDING WILL BE CONVERTED TO HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING SPACES AND WILL HOUSE STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TLC PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO HAVE IT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR AGENDA WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE JACOB YATIM, A FRESHMAN AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
JACOB IS A MEMBER OF THE TROOP 30 BOY SCOUT TROOP OR SCOUT TROOP.
HE IS A LIFE SCOUT, AND HE HAS SERVED AS SPL, AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE UPCOMING OFFICER ELECTIONS IN THAT TROOP.
THANK YOU, JACOB FOR JOINING US.
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR AGENDA TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. DOCTOR ARNETT?
[8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME THIS EVENING, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE BOTH IN THE ROOM AND VIEWING ONLINE.
I'LL BE VERY SUCCINCT IN MY REPORT THIS EVENING, BUT WANTED TO START BY MENTIONING THAT ON JANUARY THE 9TH, WHEN WE RETURNED FROM THE WINTER VACATION, WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING ALONG WITH THE CITY OF WESTLAKE HILLS A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE, AND THIS WILL BE IN REGARDS TO THE CLOSING OF CAMP CRAFT ROAD.
THAT CLOSING WILL OCCUR ON FEBRUARY THE 1ST.
WE EXPECT BASED UPON WHAT THE CITY IS TELLING US THAT THE PROJECT WILL HOPEFULLY BE COMPLETED BY JULY 31ST IN TIME FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THAT LOW WATER CROSSING ON CAMP CRAFT ROAD.
IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE IT'S CLOSED, EANES ELEMENTARY WILL HAVE ACCESS FROM THE NORTH, THE HIGH SCHOOL ACCESS FROM THE SOUTH.
WE DO REALIZE THIS IS GOING TO CREATE AN IMPOSITION AND AN INCONVENIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE OPEN HOUSE ON JANUARY THE 9TH TO BETTER EXPLAIN THE PROJECT.
THAT WILL BE AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON THE NINTH FROM 6:00-8:00 PM.
[00:05:02]
ALSO I WANTED TO MENTION AND CONGRATULATE OUR CHAPS.THEY WILL BE ADVANCING TO THE STATE SEMIFINALS.
THIS IS THE EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM HAS PLAYED IN THE FINAL FOUR.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT CONTEST AGAINST GALENA NORTH SHORE.
IT WILL BE AT LEGACY STADIUM IN KATY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH SALAZAR AND THE CHAPS, WILL BE FOLLOWING THEM CLOSELY THIS WEEKEND.
THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE THE THIRD OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TOMORROW EVENING AT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
WE DID PLAN ONE IN THE EVENING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK DURING THE DAY.
WE'VE HAD GOOD ATTENDANCE AT THE FIRST TWO, AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD IN THAT SERIES, EVEN SINCE YESTERDAY, WE DID ADD NEW INFORMATION TO THE WEBSITE, AGAIN, TRYING TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID GO BACK AND WITH OUR ARCHITECTS RE-EVALUATED ALL OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND CAPACITIES OF OUR CAMPUSES TO AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE CONSISTENT CRITERIA AND AN APPLES TO APPLES STANDARD BEING APPLIED TO ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
THAT INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE'LL BE SHARING THAT AND DISCUSSING IT IN THE COMMUNITY MEETING TOMORROW EVENING.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE TO THE TRUSTEES AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN SHOULD THE BOARD APPROVE THE BLENDING OF THE TWO CAMPUSES TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A TOTAL ENROLLMENT AT THE NEW SCHOOL OF WELL UNDER 700 STUDENTS.
WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL BE, BUT WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN STILL GET BELOW 700, AND THAT IS OUR PRIORITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AGAIN TOMORROW EVENING FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO JOIN US, AND WE'LL HAVE NEW INFORMATION EVEN TO SHARE AND TO DISCUSS AT THAT MEETING.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. ARNETT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WE WILL THEN NOW MOVE INTO OPEN FORUM.
OH, WE HAVE A VOTE. WE JUST DON'T HAVE A SLIDE.
[5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE]
BUT IT'S OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE GRIEVANCE VOTE? KIM.>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD UPHOLD THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION AT LEVEL 2, BUT ALSO GRANTING RELIEF OF ESTABLISHING NEW POLICIES AROUND STAFF REASSIGNMENTS, DOCUMENTATION, AND GROWTH PLANS, AND BETTER COMMUNICATION AROUND PROCESSES AND PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK LOOP WITH EVALUATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, KIM. MOTION BY KIM.
DO I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY DIANE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.
AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES SIX, ZERO.
[9. OPEN FORUM]
NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO OPEN FORUM.THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK THERE.
LET ME READ THIS REAL QUICK SO WE CAN GET THE LEGAL WORDING OUT OF THE WAY.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
WE HAVE 55 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM THIS EVENING.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM IN THE NUMERICAL ORDER YOU WERE ASSIGNED, AND YOU'RE ALREADY FOLLOWING THAT.
THANK YOU. PLEASE WATCH THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN.
ONCE YOUR TIME IS UP, FINISH YOUR SENTENCE, AND THEN STOP.
IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED YOUR PREPARED COMMENTS, PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING THEM TO THE BOARD VIA THE EMAIL TO THE TRUSTEES AT TRUSTEES@EANESISD.NET.
WHEN SPEAKING, YOU SHOULD DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BROOM.
AS A GENERAL RULE, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS BY THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR REACTIONS TO COMMENTS BRIEF, RESPECTFUL, AND DIRECTED AT THE BOARD, NOT THE SPEAKER.
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 ALSO ALLOWS FOR ANY PUBLIC COMPLAINT OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES TO BE HEARD BY THE BOARD IN CLOSED SESSION.
IF ANY SPEAKER TONIGHT WISHES TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT.
THE BOARD WILL HEAR THIS COMPLAINT IN 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 IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
TO SAY THIS MORE DIRECTLY, TEXAS LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM ADDRESSING YOUR COMMENTS DURING THIS SECTION OF THE MEETING.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT TO REACT OR RESPOND.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE AUDIO AND VIDEO OF THIS OPEN FORUM PORTION OF THE BOARD MEETING IS RECORDED AS PART OF THE RECORDING OF THE ENTIRE MEETING AND IS PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATION.
PERSONS WHO CHOOSE TO SPEAK IN OPEN FORUM ARE CONSENTING TO THE ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THEIR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME AND MAKING THE EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.
WE ARE READY FOR THE FIRST SPEAKER.
[00:10:01]
THE TEAM HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING PEOPLE LINED UP WITH THEIR NUMBERS TONIGHT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.MAYBE WE COULD THANK THEM REAL QUICK FOR ALL THAT WORK AND GETTING THAT DONE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AS YOU BEGIN, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE NUMBERS.
AS YOU BEGIN, JUST IF YOU'D LIKE OPTIONALLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR SCHOOL, THAT WILL NOT COUNT AGAINST YOUR ONE MINUTE TIME.
WE WILL START YOUR TIME WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SO WE WILL START.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, MUCH BETTER.
MY NAME IS SWATI AFTE AND I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM IMMEDIATELY AFTER I SPEAK.
WHEN I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM A MONTH AGO, I FELT WE WERE BEING BAMBOOZLED AND STEAM ROLLED WITH A BLEND PLAN THAT WAS RECKLESS.
TODAY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US FOR LISTENING AND FOR CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE ORIGINAL BLEND PLAN.
ALSO KNOW YOU DIDN'T PERSONALLY GO LOOK FOR THIS DATA, THE DATA TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS.
YOU RELIED ON EXPERTS TO PROVIDE DATA TO DRIVE YOUR PLAN.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE DATA YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED IS INACCURATE.
IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS CORRECTLY ACROSS FOREST TRAIL, BARTON CREEK, AND BRIDGEPOINT, FOREST TRAIL CURRENTLY HAS 93 OPEN SLOTS.
BARTON CREEK HAS 77 OPEN SLOTS, AND BRIDGEPOINT HAS 192 OPEN SLOTS TODAY.
YOU CAN'T VOTE ON A BLEND PLAN UNTIL YOU HAVE THE CORRECT NUMBERS OF WHO TO BLEND AND TO WHERE.
GET THE CORRECT NUMBERS AND THEN BLEND ACROSS BRIDGEPOINT, BARTON CREEK AND FOREST TRAIL.
FOREST TRAIL MUST BE PART OF THIS BLEND.
LET'S LET THE DATA TELL US WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SWATI. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS SELINA, AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AT BC.
EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO WEST RIDGE NEXT YEAR, IT STILL ISN'T OKAY THAT IF WE HAVE EVEN MORE PEOPLE JOIN OUR SCHOOL, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY SPACE FOR EXTRA DEATHS.
SINCE WE ARE ALREADY IN A CONGESTED AND CREDITED SPACE, THIS WILL NOT BENEFIT LEARNING.
IF ANYTHING, IT WILL DISRUPT IT.
WITH A SISTER THAT HAS FOUR MORE YEARS HERE.
WHEN SHE REACHES FIFTH GRADE, I WOULD LIKE HER TO BE PREPARED FOR WEST RIDGE.
MY PARENTS TOLD ME THAT CLASSROOMS WILL EACH HAVE 22 PEOPLE, BUT IN MY CLASS, I ALREADY HAVE 24 PEOPLE.
IF YOU'RE ADDING MORE KIDS WITH A FIXED AMOUNT OF CLASSROOMS, HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO BRING DOWN CLASSROOM POPULATIONS? ALSO KIDS HERE LOVE OUR SPECIALS, BUT WITH MORE KIDS, WE WILL ONLY GET CHANCES TO GO TO OUR FAVORITE SPECIALS ONCE EVERY FOUR DAYS.
WHEN WE ARE USED TO OUR FAVORITE SPECIALS ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS.
YOU WILL NEED TO ADD MORE SPECIAL CLASSES, BUT HOW WILL YOU DO THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPACE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS SAHANA, AND I'M IN FIRST GRADE IN BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAFETERIA.
IF WE ADD MORE KIDS, THEN THEN WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO EAT.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLASSROOMS BEING CONGESTED. LET ME TELL YOU STORY.
ONCE I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM RIGHT THE WAY BACK, AND I WENT TO ONE OF THE STALLS, AND IT WAS ALREADY OPEN.
THEN I HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER ONE AND IT WAS CLOSED.
THEN I FINALLY FOUND ONE THAT WAS OPEN.
BUT DOES IT REALLY TAKE YOU THAT TIMES TO TRY TO FIND A BATHROOM, DOES IT? [BACKGROUND]
>> THANK YOU, SAHANA. [APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO. HI. MY NAME IS BIER AFTE, AND I'M THE FATHER OF THE TWO WONDERFUL GIRLS THAT YOU JUST HEARD SPEAK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND UPDATING PLANS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK YOU RECEIVED.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO IMPLORE YOU TO DELAY THE JANUARY 14TH VOTE UNTIL YOU'VE HAD THE TIME TO DO THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE WITH THE PROPER DATA.
THIS IS A VERY BIG DECISION THAT IMPACTS HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES AND A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL THE OPTIONS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE DATA YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN HAS BEEN COLLECTED IN A HAPHAZARD MANNER.
WE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS IN ONE SCHOOL AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE REGULAR CLASSROOMS ARE MIRACULOUSLY ABLE TO BE CONVERTED TO REGULAR CLASSROOMS IN ANOTHER.
I'VE ALSO SEEN THE PLANS CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY, NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH.
I'M NOT SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW AND GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE FINALIZED PLANS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
I FEAR THERE WILL BE A LOT OF RESENTMENT AND CONTINUING FEELINGS OF BEING RAILROADED IN THIS PROCESS.
AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO DELAY YOUR VOTE UNTIL YOU'VE HAD THE TIME TO DO THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE WITH THE MOST ACCURATE DATA.
>> THANK YOU, BIER. [APPLAUSE]
[00:15:19]
>> MY NAME IS SHREYAS, AND I'M A FOURTH GRADER AT BCE.
I HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS BLEND.
FIRST OF ALL, MY WORRIES ABOUT THE TEACHERS.
WE ALREADY TALK TOO MUCH IN CLASS AND IN THE HALLWAYS.
WITH SO MANY KIDS, THE TEACHERS WILL GET STRESSED OUT.
WILL VALLEY VIEW TEACHERS COME TO BCE? WILL TEACHER FROM BCE LEAVE? IF SUCH THINGS HAPPEN, WE MAY LOSE OUR FAVORITE TEACHERS.
RESTROOMS. RESTROOMS WILL HAVE SO MANY GERMS IN THE SINK AND FOR FLUSHING BECAUSE WE ALL TOUCH THE SURFACES.
WE CANNOT CONTROL SICKNESSES DURING FLU SEASON AND ALLERGY SEASONS.
SEATS. SEATS WILL BE FULL IN THE LIBRARY.
SINCE WE GO TO THE LIBRARY, ONE CLASS AFTER ANOTHER, HOW CAN WE FIT SO MANY LIBRARY SLOTS? BUSES. DISMISSAL LINES WILL BE TOO LONG.
BUSES WILL ALSO BECOME SUPER CROWDED.
IF WE GET MORE BUSES FROM VALLEY VIEW, THE BUS TRAFFIC WILL BE TOO MUCH DURING MORNING DROP OFF.
IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE DO NOT ADD SO MANY KIDS.
PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SHREYAS. [APPLAUSE].
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHRUTHI.
I AM THE PARENT OF A WILDCAT AND A BLUE JAY WHO JUST SPOKE.
AT THE OUTSET, I WOULD LIKE TO GENUINELY THANK THE BOARD FOR PATIENTLY RESPONDING TO THE PLETHORA OF EMAILS AND QUESTIONS AS WE NAVIGATE OUR PATH TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL BLEND PROGRAM.
FIRST OFF, WITH REGARDS TO PROJECTED CAPACITIES, ARE WE DOING AN APPLES TO APPLES BETWEEN SCHOOLS? I SEE A LACK OF CORRELATION.
FOR INSTANCE, FT HAD 625 KIDS IN 2014, BUT THE PROJECTED MAX CAPACITY TODAY IS 594 UP FROM 546 A WEEK AGO.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THESE NUMBERS WERE ARRIVED AT, SINCE I'M CONCERNED THAT BCE AND VALLEY VIEW ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
SECONDLY, DISTRICT WIDE REZONING SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST LOGICAL SOLUTION TO GET TO THE MAGICAL LONG-TERM GOAL OF FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, THIS IS OFF THE TABLE FOR NOW DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO COVER THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
WHY IS THIS NEED SO SUDDEN WHEN WE KNEW THIS ALL ALONG? LASTLY, WITH VOTING DEADLINES LOOMING, THERE IS A VERY SHORT RUNWAY AHEAD, INSTILLING IN THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERLYING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
MY REQUEST TO THE BOARD, PLEASE RESENT TO MOVE OF OUR FEEDBACK AND ENGAGE IN OPEN DISCUSSIONS BEFORE VOTING.
I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY ADDING 200 MORE STUDENTS TO OUR SCHOOL IS A BAD IDEA.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE IN OUR SPECIAL CLASSES LIKE ART MUSIC AND PE.
THESE CLASSES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HELP US LEARN NEW THINGS AND HAVE FUN.
IF WE ADD MORE STUDENTS, IT WILL BE EVEN HARDER TO FIT EVERYONE IN THESE CLASSES.
SECONDLY, OUR PLAYGROUND IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED DURING RECESS.
RECESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES US A BREAK IN LETS US PLAY.
BUT SO MANY KIDS, IT IS HARD TO FIND SPACE TO PLAY SAFELY.
IF WE ADD MORE STUDENTS, THE PLAYGROUND WILL BE EVEN MORE CROWDED AND LESS FUN FOR EVERYONE.
FURTHERMORE, FROM A SAFETY POINT OF VIEW, ADDING MORE STUDENTS COULD CREATE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN AN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS AND HALLWAYS WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO EVACUATE EVERYONE QUICKLY AND SAFELY.
THIS COULD PUT ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF AT A GREATER RISK.
IN CONCLUSION, BLENDING VALLEY VIEW [MUSIC] AND BARTON ELEMENTARY, INCREASING STUDENTS BY OVER 200.
>> WELL DONE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].
I'M A CURRENT RESIDENT OF EANES ISD.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT, ONE SEVENTH GRADER IN WEST RIDGE, AND A FIFTH GRADER IN BARTON CREEK WHO JUST SPEAK.
WHILE THE DISTRICT DO RECOMMEND 1:22 TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO, THAT IS NOT A REALITY FOR OUR CURRENT FIFTH GRADER STUDENTS FOR MANY YEARS, AND WHERE FREQUENTLY THE CLASS SIZES EXCEED THIS NUMBER.
WITH THE BLEND MODEL, THE LARGER CLASS SIZES MAY BECOME THE NORM ACROSS THE GRADE.
I'M CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS PLAN ON OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
CURRENTLY BCE HAS ALSO STRUGGLES WITH A LIMITED CAPACITY IN MANY PROGRAMS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO SEEK RESPOND.
WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT, THIS ISSUE WILL ONLY WORSEN.
LAST YEAR, WE HEARD THAT ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY.
IF THAT CONVERSATION ALREADY STARTED, WHY DIDN'T WE USE THE PAST YEAR THOUGHTFULLY TO PLAN THE DISTRICT WIDE REZONING?
[00:20:05]
INSTEAD, THE DISTRICT IMPLEMENTED AN EXPENSIVE SI PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL THAT'S NOW SLATED FOR A CLOSURE.THIS DECISION FEELS VERY SHORT SIGHTED AND INSUFFICIENT.
EANES ISD HAS THE REPUTATION OF DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHICH IS WHY I STRONGLY URGE THE DISTRICT TO CONSIDER A COMPREHENSIVE REZONING PLAN INSTEAD OF A BLEND MODEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME OF A CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU, SADI. [APPLAUSE].
>> DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. ARNETT, I AM DIASO VANIN.
I WILL BE A FIFTH GRADER NEXT YEAR AND FIFTH GRADERS EAT LAST.
I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT TIME I WILL BE ABLE TO EAT LUNCH EVERY DAY AND IF OUR LUNCH BREAK WILL BE SHORTER.
RIGHT NOW, CHILDREN ONLY SIT ALTERNATE TABLES SO THAT THE JANITORS CAN CLEAN THE EMPTY TABLES SO THE NEXT GRADE CAN COME IN RIGHT AWAY.
WITH INCREASED CAPACITY, CAN WE STILL HAVE OUR LUNCH AT A REASONABLE TIME? WE STILL WANT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO EAT.
WILL OUR PARENTS STILL BE ABLE TO MEET US DURING LUNCH? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND NOT PUTTING PORTABLES ON THE PLAY AREA. THANK YOU.
>> HI. I'M [INAUDIBLE], AND I HAVE TWO KIDS AT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU YET AGAIN THAT THE CAPACITY NUMBERS FOR BCE ARE INCORRECT.
BCE HAS 27 CLASSROOMS, NOT 41, AND THE REMAINING ARE SHARED SPACES.
WE REQUEST THAT YOU REDO THE BLEND PROPOSAL IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
BOTH FT AND BCE HAVE 27 CLASSROOMS, AND SO BOTH THESE SCHOOLS, WHICH FEED TO WEST RICH, CAN PLAY AN EQUAL PART IN THE BLEND.
PLEASE CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE ON A POORLY PREPARED PROPOSAL THAT HAS CALCULATED STUFFING A TURKEY AND HAS NOT PROVIDED DETAILS ON DAILY SCHEDULE, STAFFING, TRAFFIC, ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, ET CETERA.
IF YOU INSIST ON VOTING YES TO THIS SOLUTION, PLEASE PUT A CAP ON ENROLLMENT AT THE VERY LOW SIX HUNDREDS.
WITH OR WITHOUT PORTABLES, BCE'S FINAL CAPACITY SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 90%.
THERE IS ZERO REASON FOR BCE TO SUFFER ALONE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS INIKA, AND I'M A FOURTH GRADE AT BARTON CREEK.
I HAVE A FEW REASONS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD NOT COMBINE SCHOOLS.
FIRST, IF WE COMBINE SCHOOLS, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MY SAFETY. HOW ARE WE SAFE? BECAUSE IF SOMEONE COMES LIKE A SHOOTER OR SOMETHING, THEN HOW WILL WE BE SAFE? THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD DO LOCKDOWN DRILLS BECAUSE HOW DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S LOCKS? IF THEY SEE PORTABLES, THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE'LL COME FOR.
ALSO, THE LINES IN LUNCH ARE REALLY LONG.
IF WE ADD MORE STUDENTS, THE LINES COULD BE SO LONG THAT SOME STUDENTS WON'T EVEN HAVE TIME EAT, OR THEY WON'T EVEN EVEN HAVE TIME TO BUY LUNCH.
ALSO LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SINCE I WAS LITTLE, I'VE HAD ALLERGIES.
IF I LEARN IN PORTABLES, THE STUDENTS WITH ALLERGY, IT COULD REALLY AFFECT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, INIKA. [APPLAUSE].
>> GOOD EVENING TO ALL THE MEMBERS HERE.
THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR DEDICATING THEIR PRECIOUS TIME WORKING THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULTIES.
I'M COMING TO THESE MEETINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BUT THE FIRST THING THAT I HEARD WHAT MY DAUGHTER ALSO STATED IS, BIGGEST CONCERN FOR ME IS SAFETY FOR THE KIDS IN THE PORTABLES.
WE DO ALL THESE LOCKDOWN DRILLS AND KIDS ARE OUT IN THE PORTABLES.
HOW IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO EANES ISD? I JUST CAN'T FATHOM THAT.
I HAD INITIALLY HEARD THAT IT'S FIFTH GRADERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PORTABLES, SO I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVE TO MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE MANAGED? WE EXPECT HONESTY AND 100% TRANSPARENCY IN THE CAPACITY CALCULATIONS.
WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH CONCERNS FROM THE PARENTS.
THE BOARD SHOULD ADDRESS THAT AS BEST AS THEY CAN.
I THINK IT SHOULD NOT JUST BE BCE THAT'S TAKING THE HIT.
FOREST TRAIL ELEMENTARY SHOULD ALSO TAKE THE HIT.
THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED FOR TAKING RESPONSIBLE CHOICES JUST NOT FOR FOREST TRAIL ELEMENTARY, BUT ALSO BCE, PARTICULARLY THE KINDERGARTNERS WHO ARE COMING.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE, WHICH OUR KIDS [MUSIC] [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I'M IN FIRST GRADE AT BARTON CREEK.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL I GET TO LEARN SPANISH EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL.
I LOVE LEARNING SPANISH, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE KEEP OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE I STILL HAVE SO MUCH SPANISH,
[00:25:02]
I WANT TO LEARN. THAT'S IT.>> THANK YOU, LINCOLN. [APPLAUSE].
HI. MY NAME IS ELLIE, AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW.
I AM IN A CLASS OF 26 THIS YEAR AND 25 LAST YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LEARN.
I FEEL THAT HAVING SO MANY STUDENTS IN MY CLASS HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED MY LEARNING.
IN MATH, I HAVE TO WORK EXTRA HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL, AND IT BECOMES EVEN MORE CHALLENGING TO LEARN WHEN KIDS ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING AND INTERRUPTING OUR LESSON.
MY TIME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ALMOST OVER, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO MORE STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING IN AN OVERCROWDED CLASSROOM LIKE I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ELLIE. [APPLAUSE].
I'M A THIRD GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW.
LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 24 KIDS IN MY CLASS, AND THIS YEAR, THERE'S 23.
I REALLY WANT TO DO MY BEST IN SCHOOL, AND I KNOW MY FRIENDS DO TOO, BUT IT IS HARD TO FOCUS IN OUR CLASSROOM.
MY TEACHER IS AMAZING, BUT SHE'S CONSTANTLY HAVING TO STOP TEACHING AND QUIET DOWN THE KIDS WHO INTERRUPT.
ALSO, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF ONE ON ONE ATTENTION TIME WITH OUR TEACHERS THAT THE KIDS GET WITH SMALLER CLASSES.
PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE MORE BALANCED CLASSES NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> HI. MY NAME IS VEBA BAROTH.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I KINDLY ASK YOU TO LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND.
I HAD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AT BARTON CREEK, AND I WANT THOSE YOUNGER THAN ME TO HAVE THE SAME WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD.
IF VALLEY VIEW CLOSES DOWN, YOU SIMPLY CANNOT SEND ALL OF VALLEY VIEW TO BARTON CREEK.
WITH 700 PLUS KIDS IN BCE, THE SCHOOL WILL BE ON THIN ICE.
WITH SUCH AN INCREASE OF STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS WILL NOT GET THE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED, AND THIS WILL AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN. WHAT ABOUT SPECIALS? WE ALREADY HAVE TWO ART TEACHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS.
YOU CAN'T GO AND ADD 250 KIDS TO THAT.
THE MUSIC ROOM IS NOT THAT BIG.
IT'S FULL DURING CLASS, AND IT'S BACK TO BREAKING POINT DURING CHOIR, AND SO ARE THE RISERS.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN ADD 250 KIDS TO THAT, EITHER.
OVERCROWDING ROOMS WHERE STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE FUN AND FEEL HAPPY AND RELAXED CAN MAKE STUDENTS FEEL TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
STUDENTS SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A CLASSROOM.
BUT WITH SO MANY KIDS IN ONE SCHOOL, THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
PARENTS WON'T WANT TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO A CAMPUS WITH 700 PLUS KIDS BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY ALL KNOW.
[MUSIC] THAT MANY KIDS IN ONE SCHOOL IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU, VEBA. [APPLAUSE].
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BAROTH AND I'M A PARENT OF THE ONE THAT JUST SPOKE.
SHE'S A FIFTH GRADER, AND I GOT A SEVENTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE AS WELL.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START BY SAYING, THANK YOU.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING US, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING HEARING US OUT.
SECONDLY, THE WORD DATA IS BEING USED A LOT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT AMONG THE 55 PEOPLE YOU JUST MENTIONED, 30 PLUS PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE KIDS.
IF YOU WANT DATA, THAT IS THE DATA YOU NEED TO GO AFTER.
I MEAN, THESE KIDS ON A SCHOOL NIGHT HAVE COME OUT AND MADE SURE THAT THEY SHOW UP AT WHAT, 08:10 IN THE NIGHT.
ALONG WITH THAT, THEY HAVE MADE THIS PERSONAL.
THE FACT THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE COME HERE AND SAID ABOUT CHOIR OR MUSIC, OR EVEN ABOUT RESEARCH. THE SPACE.
THESE ARE PROBLEMS THE KIDS ARE UNDERGOING DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
IF THEY ARE SO VOCAL ABOUT IT, MY DAUGHTER AND MY SON, THEY WANTED ME TO COME AND TALK ABOUT IT TODAY.
WHAT OTHER DATA THAT WE NEED? I THINK THIS IS MORE FROM GOING JUST BASED ON SCIENTIFIC DATA.
LOOK AT THE KIDS AND HEAR THEM OUT AS WELL.
PLEASE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY [MUSIC] TO GIVE AN EAR TO THEM SO YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU CAN FOR HELPING THEM OUT. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MARK, AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT BCE.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PICTURE YOURSELF AT CHICK VILLI, WAITING IN AN INCREDIBLY LONG LINE AND FEELING YOUR HUNGER GROW BY THE MINUTE.
THIS SCENARIO SERVES AS A VIVID ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT
[00:30:02]
COULD HAPPEN IN VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK WERE TO MERGE.COMBINING THESE TWO SCHOOLS WOULD LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH OVERCROWDING BEING A MAJOR CONCERN.
THE LUNCH LINES AT BARTON CREEK ARE ALREADY LENGTHY, AND IF WE HAD MORE STUDENTS, WE'D BE FACING EVEN LONGER WAVES, RESULTING IN FRUSTRATION AND DISCOMFORT FROM MANY STUDENTS.
RECESS WOULD ALSO BE ANOTHER AREA AFFECTED.
CURRENTLY, GAMES LIKE GAGA BALL OR FOUR SQUARE ARE FILLED TO CAPACITY.
INTRODUCING MORE STUDENTS WOULD CREATE CHAOS, LEAVING EVERYONE FEELING RESTLESS AND UNSATISFIED.
THIS EVIDENCE UNDERSCORES THAT THE BLENDING PLAN WOULD LIKELY FOSTER MISCHIEF UNEASE AND EVEN RESENTMENT AMONG STUDENTS.
I URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER [MUSIC] THE IMPLICATIONS OF COMBINING THESE SCHOOLS AND THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARK. [APPLAUSE].
>> THIS IS MY SISTER, OMI FROM KINDERGARTEN, AND SHE IS FROM BCE.
OMI STARTED THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM THIS FALL WITH ONLY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SPANISH ALPHABET.
NOW, THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT SHE CAN CARRY IN SPANISH.
IT'S ABOUT HER DAY TODAY AT THE SI PROGRAM.
>> MY PARENTS SAID THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
BCE DOESN'T HAVE A SPANISH IMMERSION.
BUT WE BOTH LOVE BCE AND THE SPANISH PROGRAM, SO PLEASE HELP US PRESERVE THIS LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SO THAT WE CAN STAY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALIA DILLA, AND I HAVE BEEN AN SI FOR FOUR YEARS.
SPANISH HAS HELPED ME IN A LOT OF WAYS.
ONE OF WHICH IS MY NERVOUSNESS.
I AM PROUD TO KNOW I CAN SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS EL SMITH, AND I'M IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION THIRD-GRADE CLASS AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
I WANTED TO GET UP AND SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE I HEARD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MIGHT CUT THE SI PROGRAM.
THOSE WORDS MADE ME VERY SAD BECAUSE IT HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT THE SPANISH LANGUAGE AND IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.
I FEEL THAT SPANISH IMMERSION HAS MADE ME FEEL VERY LUCKY TO SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND ASK YOU, PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE SI PROGRAM BECAUSE STUDENTS ENJOY LEARNING TO SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE, AND I THINK THAT IT'LL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ALL OF OUR FUTURES.
>> DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. ARNETT, I'M SARNA RAJ PANDIN.
YOUR BASIC PREMISE FOR CHOOSING BC TO BE BLENDED WITH VALLEY VIEW WAS THAT BCE IS AT 63% CAPACITY, AND IT'S UNDERUTILIZED WHILE FOREST RAIL IS AT 92% CAPACITY AND CANNOT ACCOMMODATE A BLEND.
BUT TIME AND AGAIN, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PARENT IN THIS ROOM HAS SHOWN YOUR CAPACITY CALCULATION TO BE GLARINGLY INACCURATE AND INSULATING FOREST TRAIL FOR SOLVING ANY PROBLEM, IF MY PREMISE IS INCORRECT, IF MY BASIC ASSUMPTION IS WRONG, I WOULD GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND REDO EVERYTHING.
BUT INSTEAD, YOU'RE PROPOSING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING WHERE ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE WERE FLAWED.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I REQUEST YOU TO DEFER THE VOTE AND REDO YOUR BLEND PROPOSAL WITH THE RIGHT MATH AND REDO IT BY INCLUDING ALL THE NEARBY SCHOOLS, BC, FOREST RAIL, AND VALLEY VIEW.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE SOLUTION IS FAIR TO ALL THE ES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR. ANA.
[00:35:02]
I READ THIS BOOK THAT SAID, IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, YOU SHOULD SPEAK UP.FIRST, IF WE HAVE MORE KIDS IN THE CLASS, THE LUNCH LINES WILL BE SUPER LONG.
WE WILL HAVE LESS TIME TO EAT, AND IT MAKES ME FEEL RUSHED.
SECOND, OUR RESTROOMS ONLY HAVE TWO STALLS.
WE HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO USE THE BATHROOM, AND IT TAKES AWAY FROM OUR RECESS TIME.
SOMETIMES WE EVEN SKIP GOING TO THE BATHROOM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT.
THIRD, WE NEED MORE CLASSROOM SPACE.
IN FIRST GRADE, WE HAD 24 STUDENTS IN OUR CLASS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM ON THE CARPET, AND OUR TEACHERS WERE REALLY BUSY.
LASTLY, I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR PLAYGROUND.
WE'LL GET TOO CROWDED IF MORE KIDS COME TO OUR SCHOOL.
WE MIGHT BUMP INTO EACH OTHER AND GET HER, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE BEING IN SECOND GRADE.
WE ONLY HAVE 18 KIDS IN OUR CLASS, AND WE GET TO LEARN A LOT WITH MRS. RYAN.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. [APPLAUSE]
>> DEAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR. ARNETT.
MY NAME IS NISHAN VARGAA, AND I'M A PARENT OF THE SECOND GRADER WHO JUST SPOKE AND AN INCOMING KINDERGARTENER.
WE UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL DISTRESS FACING OUR DISTRICT AND ARE OPEN TO FINDING THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION WITH MINIMAL INCONVENIENCE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY AND A CLEAR ROAD MAP FROM THE BOARD AND THE TRUSTEES.
OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES DEPEND ON IT.
THE CAPACITY CALCULATIONS SEEM LIKE THEY'VE BEEN MADE TO TAILOR-FIT THE NARRATIVE TO BLEND WITH BARTON CREEK.
IF WE TRULY HAVE THE CAPACITY, THEN WHY DO WE NEED PORTABLES? THE WORD SHOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL AFTER JANUARY AND NOT TIED TO THE PORTABLE PURCHASING REQUIREMENT.
THE BLENDING PLAN SHOULD CONSIDER NOT JUST CLASSROOM SPACE, BUT ALSO ESSENTIAL FACILITIES LIKE A GYM, CAFETERIA, RESTROOMS, AND PLAYGROUNDS.
OVERCROWDING THESE SPACES IS NOT A VIABLE SOLUTION.
WE ARE HEARTBROKEN BY THE SHORT NOTICE GIVEN BETWEEN THE PROPOSAL AND THE VOTE.
AS PARENTS, WE DESERVE BETTER COMMUNICATION AND MORE TIME TO RESPOND TO THESE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
THE CURRENT ROAD AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY CONCERNING, WITH THE PROPOSED 50% INCREASE IN STUDENT POPULATION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE ADEQUATE.
IF WE CANNOT COMMIT TO THIS NOW, THE BLEND PROPOSAL SHOULD DO MORE CAMPUSES, GIVING PARENTS A CHOICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. TARDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M SMIRTHI, THE MOTHER OF NANA, WHO JUST SPOKE, AND I HAVE AN INCOMING KINDERGARTENER, AS MY HUSBAND SAID.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER BLENDING ALL SCHOOLS THAT FEED INTO WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A MORE BALANCED SOLUTION.
BC CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE 594 STUDENTS.
I'M LEAVING THE TWO LARGE CLASSROOMS FOR GT AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I BELIEVE WE NEED AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE EXACT NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND REWORK THE CURRENT PLAN.
THE MATH DOESN'T SEEM TO ADD UP.
I FEEL THE NUMBERS ARE SKEWED.
ADDING SMALL CDC CLASSROOMS, AN ART ROOM, AND GT ROOMS, TO MAKE BC APPEAR AS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SEEMS UNFAIR.
ADDITIONALLY, HAVE WE CONSIDERED TEACHER INPUTS? IF WE RUN THE CLASSROOMS AT FULL CAPACITY, THEY WILL BE BURNT OUT, AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WILL SUFFER.
I FEAR FAMILIES WHO SPECIFICALLY CHOSE INS FOR SMALLER CAPACITY AND INTIMATE SETTINGS MAY SEEK ALTERNATIVES LEADING TO FURTHER REDUCTION OF FUNDS FOR OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SMIRTHI. [APPLAUSE]
>> [SPANISH] HI. I'M GRACE TROY, AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE AT WEST RIDGE.
I WENT TO BC FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, AND I LOVED IT.
YOU MIGHT WONDER HOW MUCH SPANISH KIDS REALLY LEARN IN THE PROGRAM.
I WASN'T SURE EITHER UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED TO ARGENTINA FOR THE YEAR.
AT FIRST, IT WAS HARD, BUT THEN I REALIZED HOW MUCH SPANISH I KNEW.
I MADE GOOD FRIENDS WENT ON A THREE-DAY TRIP WITH MY FIELD HOCKEY TEAM AND EVEN COMPETED IN THE ARGENTINE NATIONAL MATH OLYMPICS, ALL IN SPANISH.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT YEAR WITHOUT THE SPANISH I LEARNED AT BC.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TRANSLATING SPANISH.
IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN [SPANISH] THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAM.
I HOPE THAT MY BROTHER AND SISTER GET TO FINISH IT.
>> THANK YOU, GRACE. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN TROY, PROUD DAD TO GRACE,
[00:40:01]
AND ALSO I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AT BCE AND A RISING KINDERGARTENER NEXT YEAR.THE SI PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE BUILT HAS GIVEN MY DAUGHTERS MORE THAN JUST A SECOND LANGUAGE.
IT'S OPENED THEIR MINDS TO OTHER CULTURES AND WAYS OF THINKING AND PREPARED THEM TO THRIVE IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY.
SECOND, WHILE MANY OF US DISAGREE WITH THE $600,000 PRICE TAG ATTACHED TO SI, THE BOARD HAS ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO SIGNIFICANTLY CUT THE COSTS OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM BY REDUCING IT TO ONE SECTION AND ADOPTING THE 9010 MODEL.
ONCE PHASED IN, THOSE CHANGES WILL BRING SI COSTS WELL BELOW THE CURRENT PROJECTED 600,000 AND ALSO BELOW THE $500,000 THRESHOLD THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING.
INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING SI, PLEASE ALLOW TIME FOR THE COST-SAVING MEASURES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ADOPTED TO PHASE IN AND TAKE FULL EFFECT.
LASTLY, AS A QUERNY DAD AND BC PARENT, I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR NEW COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THE ENROLLMENT AT BCE BELOW 700.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US ABOUT OUR SIZE CONCERNS.
PLEASE STAY MINDFUL OF CLASS SIZE AND TEACH YOUR ATTENTION.
LET'S ENSURE THAT WE PRESERVE WHAT MAKES EANES SPECIAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. [APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL BRIGHTMAN.
I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH AND I COULD NOT IMAGINE A DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO ALLOW MY SIBLINGS IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AGAIN.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SYDNEY MADISON BRIGHTMAN.
I'M 5 YEARS OLD, AND I AM IN KINDER WITH MISS CRUSOE.
IN SPANISH IMMERSION AT EANES ELEMENTARY, I AM LEARNING A LOT AND WANT YOU TO COME SEE ME AND MY FRIENDS AT OUR CLASS HOLIDAY CONCERT, ON DECEMBER 18 AT 9:45 A.M. DO NOT TAKE AWAY SPANISH IMMERSION.
>> THANK YOU, SYDNEY. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE THAT CONCERT ON OUR BOARD CALENDAR.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ZACKIE BRIGHTMAN, AND I AM IN THIRD GRADE IN SPANISH IMMERSION AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND I AND MY FRIENDS WORK REALLY HARD EVERY DAY WITH OUR TEACHERS TO LEARN.
WE STARTED DURING COVID, AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO LET US FINISH WHAT WE STARTED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ZACH. [APPLAUSE]
>> MY NAME IS SOMAYA BRIGHTMAN.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MY THREE KIDS WHO ARE ALL ON SPANISH IMMERSION, AND YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME COUNTLESS TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVEN-PLUS YEARS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE COLLECTIVELY AS A DISTRICT, HAVE DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO WORK ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BENEFITS, INCLUDING THE CHANGE TO THE 9010 MODEL THIS YEAR.
IT IS TIME TO STOP PUTTING THIS PROGRAM ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
THE PROGRAM IS ALREADY A SUCCESS DESPITE ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES EVERY YEAR.
THERE ARE NO OTHER PROGRAMS IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT BENEFIT AS MANY KIDS AS SI.
WHY CUT A PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS SO MANY FOR DE MINIMUS COST SAVINGS, IF ANY? THANK YOU.
>> HI, ALL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
AS I'VE TOLD MOST OF YOU, I SUPPORT A BLEND, BUT A BLEND THAT HAS BEEN FULLY PLANNED FROM ALL ASPECTS.
THE QUESTION THAT HASN'T BEEN ANSWERED IS THAT IF YOU INCREASE THE STUDENT POPULATION OVERNIGHT, HOW IS EVERYTHING ELSE BESIDES THE CLASSROOM BEING ADDRESSED FROM TRAFFIC, SAFETY, SHARED FACILITIES, GT, AND ESPECIALLY SPECIAL EDUCATION? THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT YOU AND THE COMMUNITY IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.
THEY'VE COME TO YOU IN THE 11TH HOUR WITH A HALF-BAKED PLAN AND A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET DEFICIT, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION.
BEFORE YOU VOTE, I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT TWO THINGS.
SHOW US THE PLANS, SHOW US THE NUMBER, SHOW YOU THE ALTERNATIVES, THE GRIP CREDENCE, THE PROMISES THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THIS.
LIKE WE ASK OUR STUDENTS, SHOW US YOUR WORK, SHOW US YOUR THESIS.
AND ALSO, PLEASE JUST PUT A CAP ON ENROLLMENT, LOWER THAN 640.
[00:45:04]
THAT'S ALL WE ASK. THANK YOU.>> OKAY, HI THERE. I'M A LITTLE BIT SICK.
JULIANNE MCKNIGHT, I HAVE THREE OR TWO KIDS AT BRIDGEPOINT ELEMENTARY AND A RISING KINDERGARTENER NEXT YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR ADVOCATING FOR ELEMENTARY PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT.
ELEMENTARY FAMILIES ARE THE FUTURE OF EANES, AND WE HAVE FELT LITTLE SUPPORT IN MANY OF THE DECISIONS BEING MADE FOR US.
PLEASE KEEP SPANISH IMMERSION SAFE FOR A FEW YEARS SO WE CAN SEE HOW THE NEW 9010 MODEL DOES FOR CURRENT KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AND ONES AFTER THAT.
IT DEFINITELY MAKES ME NERVOUS HEARING THE SOLUTION TO OUR BUDGET PROBLEM IS TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.
WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO CLOSE MORE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES IF WE ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE TO CURRENT RESIDENTS AS WELL AS TRANSFERS UNTIL MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL.
ALSO, THE BARTON CREEK COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE EVERY STUDENT IN THE TEACHER'S PERSPECTIVE TO HEART WHILE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
I JUST HOPE WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, JULIANNE. HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KRISTIN GLICKMAN, AND I'M A BP EMUM. DOES THE CLOCK START NOW? OKAY. I HAVE TWO STUDENTS AT BRIDGEPOINT, ONE TRADITIONAL AND ONE IN SPANISH IMMERSION.
I'M RELIEVED THAT THE BOARD IS RESPONDING TO PARENTS' CONCERNS, THANK YOU, AND MOVING TOWARD AN APPROACH THAT WOULD BLEND AND MODESTLY REZONE ALL OF THE WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER SCHOOLS.
I THINK REZONING WOULD MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTE STUDENTS AMONG THOSE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT CURRENTLY MATRICULATE TO WEST RIDGE.
I DO ASK THAT THIS BE DONE THOUGHTFULLY.
CAREFULLY WITH CONTINUED PARENT ENGAGEMENT WHILE PRIORITIZING ELEMENTARY STUDENT SAFETY AND LEARNING.
VALLEY VIEW STUDENTS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AT BARTON CREEK AND FOREST TRAILS AND AN IN-DISTRICT TRANSFER PREFERENCE.
SPANISH IMMERSION SHOULD ACCORDINGLY BE CARRIED OVER TO FOREST TRAILS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE OFFERING OF SPANISH IMMERSION AT ALL OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THESE STEPS WOULD HELP BALANCE THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ACROSS THE CAMPUSES, RETAIN TRANSFERS, WHICH IS A WIN-WIN, AND ENABLE STUDENTS AT ALL EANES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
I HAVE TWO KIDS AT BRIDGEPOINT, AND MY YOUNGEST WILL BE JOINING HOPEFULLY IN TWO YEARS.
THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH MISMANAGEMENT WITH SPANISH, AND IT'S UNFAIR HOW THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN TREATED.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A CHANGE TO THE 9010 PROGRAM.
WE'VE HIT BUMPS ALONG THE WAY, BUT MANY OF US HAVE STUCK WITH THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE PROS OUTWEIGH THE CONS OF EXPOSURE TO DUAL LANGUAGE AT A YOUNG AGE.
COMING UP WITH THE MAGNET SCHOOL PLAN, BUT NO PLAN ON HOW TO EXECUTE IT, ACCEPTING A SEGREGATED CLASS TO KEEP THE PROGRAM.
THEN WE SEE SI US GET HIGHER ENROLLMENT AT VALUE, EVEN WHEN IT WAS STATED LAST SUMMER THAT YOU WOULD NEVER ACCEPT TRANSFERS JUST TO FILL ANOTHER CLASS, AND YOU DID EXACTLY THAT.
NOW WE'RE AT THE SAME PLACE THAT YOU WERE TWO YEARS AGO WITH NO ANSWER ON WHAT TO DO WITH VALLEY VIEW.
YOU NEED TO STOP USING SPANISH AS A TOOL TO TRY AND SOLVE OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
LET THE NINES, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL SEE DOWN THE ROAD THIS PROGRAM IS SELF-SUFFICIENT, THRIVING WITH HIGHER ENROLLMENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF IT.
GIVE THE SI PARENTS A CHANCE TO HELP IT IF IT'S REALLY A FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
BUT EVERY TIME IT'S STATED TO BE FINANCIAL, WE ASK HOW WE CAN HELP, LESSEN THAT BURN AND WE HEAR NOTHING.
YOU ALSO NEED TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A REAL LOOK AT WHAT YOU WERE DOING WITH THIS BLEND.
LEAVING IT ALL TO BARTON CREEK ISN'T THE ANSWER. THANK YOU. THANK.
I'M A SIXTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I WENT TO BARTON CREEK FOR SIX YEARS, AND THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT I NOTICED.
ONE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE LUNCH ROOM WAS ALREADY OVERCROWDED, AND IT GOT SO BAD THAT AT A POINT, I HAD TO WAIT IN LINE FOR 20 MINUTES, AND I ONLY GOT TO EAT FOR 10 MINUTES.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH THIS WILL INCREASE IF THERE WILL BE 200 MORE STUDENTS ADDED.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE SMALL FIELD, WHICH WE HAD TO SPLIT BETWEEN MULTIPLE SPORTS.
THIS WOULD CAUSE FIGHTS, AND SOMETIMES THE FIELD WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN AWAY.
THERE'D BE LOTS, MORE PROBLEMS IF THERE WAS MORE STUDENTS ADDED TO BARTON CREEK.
[00:50:04]
THIS COULD ALSO HURT THE TEACHERS BECAUSE WHENEVER IT IS ALREADY CHAOTIC IN THE CLASSROOMS, AND WITH SIX OR SEVEN STUDENTS IN EACH CLASSROOM, THE TEACHERS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.I'M IN SECOND GRADE, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY SPANISH IMMERSION TEACHERS BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE MY TEACHERS, AND THEY'VE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SAY A LOT OF THINGS IN SPANISH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED HOW TO SAY IN SPANISH IS HOY ESTOY FELIZ.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY MY SPANISH TEACHERS.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE A SECOND GRADE AND BCE AND ALSO A PRE-K AND THE CDC.
I'VE BEEN ENJOYING OUR BCE JOURNEY HERE AND I FEEL BILL, THIS IS A VERY LOVELY AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
I WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE QUICK TURN AROUND AND ALL THE RESPONSES TO THE E-MAILS, QUESTIONS WE HAD BEFORE.
I THINK THERE ARE STILL MANY CONFUSIONS AROUND.
I'M LOOKING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO FROM THE BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ADD A REVIEW PROCESS AND DISCLOSE THE REVIEW PROCEDURES BEING DONE OR PLANNED TO BE PERFORMED BEFORE YOU MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A BLEND COMMITTEE BEING FORMED, INCLUDING SOME PARENTS FROM BCE AND VALLEY VIEW AND TEACHERS.
HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE BLEND COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INVOLVED CURRENTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, CAN THEY VOTE? CAN THEY DISCUSS? CAN THEY REJECT ANY PROPOSALS, PLANS, PLANES AND ADMINISTRATIONS.
JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PARENTS FEEDBACK AND TEACHERS FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ERIN.
I'M JODY, AND I'M A BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY PARENT AND A PATTERSON ROAD RESIDENT.
I SPOKE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT MY CONCERNS THAT MY NEIGHBORS AND I SHARE REGARDING THE TRAFFIC AROUND THE SCHOOL AND ITS ASSOCIATED DANGERS.
IN AUGUST OF 2021, MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY DETAILED THESE SAME CONCERNS TO THE THEN BCE PRINCIPAL, AND HIS CONCERNS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NO SOLUTIONS WERE DEEMED AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.
DESPITE SUGGESTIONS LIKE WIDENING PATTERSON ROAD WITH THE COUNTY AND COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER OFFICIALS, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THREE YEARS.
TRAFFIC ALSO IMPACTS THE NEARBY SCENIC BLUFF AND BARTON CREEK WEST, NEIGHBORHOODS, AS WELL AS DRIVERS ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE CONGESTION ON PATTERSON.
WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS AND BE INFORMED OF SUCH AT PUBLIC FORUMS SUCH AS THIS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND DISTRICT WIDE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MAXIMILIANO MARTINEZ, AND I HAVE A FIRST GRADER, SPANISH IMMERSION AT BCE, AND A INCOMING 4-YEAR-OLD FUTURE BLUE JAY.
WE WERE AT A DISTRICT TRANSFERS.
WE SPEND OVER 3.5 HOURS A DAY DRIVING OUR CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
WE WOULD GLADLY DO THAT FOR YEARS BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS WORTH IT.
OUR CHILD THRIVES IN THE PROGRAM.
WE OFTEN SEE FAMILIES SPEAKING SPANISH, AND IF YOU EVER SEE PEOPLE GIVE NASTY FACES LIKE, OH, THAT FAMILY.
WELL, MY CHILD, SHE JUST LOVES IT.
WE RECENTLY WENT TO THE ZOO, AND SHE HEARS FAMILY SPEAKING SPANISH, AND SHE JUST LIGHTS UP.
SHE LOOKS UP AT ME IMMEDIATELY AND SWITCH OVER TO SPANISH.
SHE JUST LOVES IT. THIS PROGRAM IS GOOD FOR OUR KIDS.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
IF ONE OF THE TOP DISTRICTS IN THE NATION BECAUSE THE PROGRAM, IT SENDS A MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT BILINGUALISM AND EARLY LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, IS NOT IMPORTANT.
MY CHILD CAME HOME LAST WEEK SAYING THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO STAY AT HER SCHOOL UNTIL FIFTH GRADE.
WE HAVEN'T TOLD HER ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
IT'S DEVASTATING THAT SHE'S ALREADY BEING TOLD AT SCHOOL THAT SHE WON'T GET TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR.
I PRODUCE SI AND SHE GETS SENT TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
I'M NOT SURE THE SACRIFICES WILL BE WORTH IT. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I'M SARAH BEAUREGARD.
[00:55:03]
I HAVE A FIRST GRADER, MADELINE IN SPANISH IMMERSION AT BCE, AND SHE LOVES IT.I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF DISSOLVING, OR SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTING THE CURRENT SI PROGRAM STRUCTURE BY MOVING OUR CHILDREN IN SI TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND HER SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
SPANISH IMMERSION NEEDS TO REMAIN INTACT AT BCE AND AT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED.
THE DISTRICT HAS PROPOSED THAT ELIMINATING THIS PROGRAM WOULD SAVE 600 K IN COST.
HOWEVER, THERE'S BEEN NO QUANTIFICATION OF THE RESULTING REVENUE LOSS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT DUE TO FAMILIES MOVING THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF EANES AS A RESULT.
BASED ON AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY OF SI FAMILIES AND ENS WITH A 31% RESPONSE RATE, THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED THESE RESULTS AS WELL.
30% OF CURRENT SI FAMILIES WOULD MOVE THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF EANES IF SI WERE ELIMINATED.
IF OUTERS WERE APPROVED, THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES TO 66%.
QUANTIFYING IN TERMS OF LOST REVENUE AT THE CONSERVATIVE END, BASED ON THE BASIC ALLOTMENT PER STUDENT AND THE AVERAGE EEF DONATION PER SI FAMILY, RESULTS IN A LITTLE OVER $1,000,000 PER YEAR OF LOSS REVENUE TO EANES.
AT THE HIGHER END, IT'S 2.2 MILLION.
CUTTING OR SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTING SI DOESN'T SAVE THE DISTRICT $600,000.
IT'S A MINIMUM 400 K REVENUE LOSS IN YEAR 1, WITH 1.2 TO 2.2 REVENUE LOSS IN YEARS TO AND BEYOND.
THIS IMPACTS OUR EVERYONE IN OUR DISTRICT AND OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS AND REPUTATIONAL RISK FOR OUR DISTRICT. T.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LINDSEY EAST.
AT THE MOST RECENT COMMUNITY MEETING, I ASKED ABOUT SPACE FOR PULLOUT SERVICES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE RELATED SERVICES.
THE RESPONSE I WAS GIVEN WAS THAT THESE SPACES ARE DETERMINED BY THE PRINCIPAL, AND THAT THERE'S ALWAYS EXTRA SPACE AT A SCHOOL.
I CAN TELL YOU CATEGORICALLY, THIS IS NOT TRUE.
I'VE BEEN A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OVER A DECADE.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN A CLOSET OUTSIDE AT A PICNIC TABLE, AND IN A HALLWAY.
CURRENTLY, THE BCE SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WORKS IN A CLOSET.
ASKING A PRINCIPAL, GIVING A PRINCIPAL AN OVERCROWDED SCHOOL, AND THEN ASKING THEM TO FIGURE IT OUT IS SETTING THEM UP FOR FAILURE AND JUST NOT RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE INCONSISTENCIES AND INACCURATE DATA THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD WITH THIS CURRENT BLEND PLAN.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CHANGE IS HARD, BUT CHANGE CAN ALSO BE COMPASSIONATE.
IT CAN BE FAIR, AND IT CAN BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR STUDENTS.
DON'T DO THIS VOTE UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE ADEQUATE INFORMATION.
I'M THE PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW AND A SEVENTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE.
I'M URGING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED BLEND OF VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY FOR THE 2025/26 SCHOOL YEAR AND TO REASSESS THE ZONING FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FEEDING INTO WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR BETTER YET FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO ENSURE EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS.
VALLEY VIEW HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, WHILE BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY IS THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE.
TO MERGE THESE SCHOOLS WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, MAKING IT DISCRIMINATORY IN MULTIPLE WAYS.
TWO SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF A DISTRICT-WIDE SHORTFALL.
BOTH VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK ZONE COMMUNITIES ARE PROJECTED TO GROW MORE THAN OTHER CAMPUSES, ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT'S OWN DEMOGRAPHIC REPORTS FROM FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE DECISION IS BEING RUSHED AND RISKS DEEPENING INEQUITIES UNDER THE GUISE OF MINIMIZING ANGER WHILE ALSO PROPOSING A NEW $2 MILLION TO $300 MILLION BOND TO BE PASSED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> HI. MY NAME IS MARLO OSWALD.
I'M A OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFER, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE SPANISH EMERGENT PROGRAM SINCE KINDERGARTEN.
MY BROTHER MALCOLM IS IN FIRST GRADE AT BCE, AND HE'S ALSO IN THE SI PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER NAMED RIMI WHO WILL BE IN KINDERGARTEN NEXT YEAR.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS I WANT TO SAY TONIGHT.
FIRST, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT BCE BEING CROWDED, BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU'LL LET MY SISTER COME TO BCE FOR KINDERGARTEN NEXT YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFERS.
SECOND, MY CLASSMATES AND I LOVE SI SO MUCH, AND I REALLY HOPE YOU'LL LET US KEEP LEARNING SPANISH.
LAST YEAR, I MET A GIRL AT THE PARK WHO ONLY SPOKE ONLY SPANISH, AND I COULD TALK WITH HER AND PLAY WITH HER BECAUSE OF SI.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE.
THIRD, I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL MY CLASSMATES AND TEACHERS DON'T GET BROKEN UP.
I'M WORRIED THAT IF YOU GET RID OF SI, THEN LOTS OF MY FRIENDS WILL GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND ALL THE TEACHERS I LOVE WILL LEAVE.
[01:00:03]
I HAVE THREE KIDS AT BARTON CREEK, ONE WHO RECEIVES SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND TWO WHO ARE NEUROTYPICAL AND DO NOT.
I'M ADVOCATING TODAY FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS.
THE STRENGTH OF ANY SCHOOL LIES IN ITS DEDICATED EDUCATORS YET YOUR CAPACITY MODEL INCLUDES ESSENTIAL SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE ROOMS AS POTENTIAL CLASSROOMS. THESE ROOMS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.
THEY ARE VITAL FOR DYSLEXIA SUPPORT, GT, LIFE SKILLS, BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION, READING INTERVENTIONS, AND MODIFIED INSTRUCTION.
CURRENTLY, THE SPEECH THERAPIST IS WORKING OUT OF A CLOSET.
THIS OMISSION IS CREATING SIGNIFICANT ANXIETY FOR PARENTS WHO KNOW THEIR CHILDREN RELY ON THOSE RESOURCES.
FURTHERMORE, IT RISKS VIOLATING FEDERAL LAWS SUCH AS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY EDUCATION ACT IDEA, WHICH MANDATES FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION, FAITH IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT LRE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR TEACHERS? HOW DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO FEEL? IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT EVERY TEACHER WILL HAVE A JOB.
THEY NEED ASSURANCE OF DEDICATED SPACES TO PERFORM THEIR WORK, MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO NAVIGATE THESE CHANGES AND A COMPETITIVE RAISE TO REFLECT THE VALUE. THANK YOU.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN SPANISH IMMERSION AT EANES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A SECOND GRADER IN THE 50/50 MODEL, AND A KINDERGARTNER IN THE 90/10 MODEL.
THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE BENEFIT FOR MY KIDS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF AND PROTECT IT FOR THE FUTURE.
WHAT EXCITES ME MOST IS THE NEW 90/10 MODEL, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD FOR THE PROGRAM.
THIS MORE EXTENSIVE IMMERSION APPROACH ACCELERATES LANGUAGE ACQUISITION BY ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BE FULLY SURROUNDED BY THE LANGUAGE, MAKING IT FEEL LIKE A NATURAL PART OF THEIR EVERY DAY LEARNING.
I HAVE ALREADY WITNESSED A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF COMFORT AND FLUENCY IN MY KINDERGARTNER.
THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE SUCH A HUGE LOSS TO CONSIDER ELIMINATING THIS PROGRAM NOW.
TAKING IT AWAY WOULD NOT ONLY DEPRIVE CURRENT STUDENTS OF THESE VITAL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS, BUT IT WOULD ALSO DIMINISH THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF OUR DISTRICT TO NEW AND EXISTING FAMILIES.
MANY FAMILIES CHOOSE OUR DISTRICT, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
IF IT WERE ELIMINATED, WE WOULD LIKELY SEE A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT.
THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF MONTHS FROM THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS NOT BEING ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE CURRENT PROPOSALS.
>> I'M MARCELL AND I HAVE A FIRST GRADER AT BCE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDRESSING SO MANY OF OUR CONSTANT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO TO HELP THIS SITUATION AND ALL THE MEETINGS ALL HAVE PROVIDED FOR US.
I'M UP HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING BECAUSE IT IS FRUSTRATING TO FEEL LIKE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN MISLEADING.
WE KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT BCE HAS A HIGHER CAPACITY FOR MORE KIDS THAN FOREST TRAIL, BUT IT SEEMS THE WAY CAPACITY WAS CALCULATED AT THE TWO SCHOOLS WAS DIFFERENT.
THERE MIGHT BE PERFECTLY GOOD REASONS FOR NOT REZONING TO OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK EXPLAINING MORE ABOUT THESE REZONING ISSUES WOULD HELP US ALL BETTER UNDERSTAND.
I SAID THIS LAST TIME, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE SO OPEN FOR MORE STUDENTS WHEN MY SON'S FIRST GRADE CLASS AT 23 STUDENTS IS THE LARGEST FIRST GRADE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I AM NOT AGAINST VALLEY VIEW MERGING WITH BCE, IF THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE ALL DO THAT EVERYTHING IS LOOKED AT ACCURATELY AND FAIRLY. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRIAN GREGG.
I HAVE A KINDERGARTNER CURRENTLY IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AT VALLEY VIEW.
I'M HERE TO URGE THE CONTINUATION OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM IS CRUCIAL FOR THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BILINGUAL EDUCATION LEADS TO ENHANCED MEMORY, SUPERIOR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, AND BETTER MULTITASKING ABILITIES.
THESE COGNITIVE BENEFITS DIRECTLY TRANSLATE INTO IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CORE SUBJECTS, SETTING UP OUR STUDENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE OUR DISTRICT, BRINGING WITH IT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT HELPS ALLEVIATE BUDGET SHORTFALLS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSAL TO CONSOLIDATE VALLEY VIEW INTO BARTON CREEK.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SUCH DECISIONS, I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER BALANCING THE BURDEN OF CONSOLIDATION ACROSS MULTIPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING FOREST TRAIL AND BRIDGEPOINT.
CONCENTRATING ALL STUDENTS INTO ONE SCHOOL LEAD TO OVERCROWDING AND COMPROMISE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION.
BY SPREADING STUDENTS ACROSS SEVERAL SCHOOLS, WE CAN MAINTAIN A BALANCED AND SAFE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS REGARDING THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION TO PREVENT OVERCROWDING AT ANY ONE SCHOOL.
[01:05:01]
>> HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HEATHER, AND I'M A PARENT OF A BELLEVUE SPANISH IMMERSION KINDERGARTNER.
I HAVE THREE CONCERNS TO ADDRESS TONIGHT.
FIRST, I'M CONCERNED BY THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
WE NEED REGULAR BUDGET UPDATES TO ENSURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR SERVES OUR STUDENTS' BEST INTERESTS.
THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ACTION UNTIL THIS YEAR.
SECONDLY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLISHED CAPACITY NUMBERS FOR BARTON CREEK.
THEY'RE INCORRECT AND WILL LEAD TO AN OVERCROWDING AND UNFIT AND UNSAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS AND STAFF WHO DESERVE BETTER PLANNING AND FORESIGHT FROM THIS BOARD.
LASTLY, I WANT TO URGE THE BOARD TO KEEP THE SI PROGRAM INTACT AS THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE COGNITIVE BENEFITS OF ENHANCING PROBLEM SOLVING, MEMORY, AND ATTENTION.
MOREOVER, THIS PROGRAM IS A DRAW FOR FAMILIES CONSIDERING MOVING INTO OUR DISTRICT AND CUTTING IT WOULD REDUCE FUTURE ENROLLMENT AND PUSH OUT OUR CURRENT FAMILIES WHO ARE INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO SOLVING OUR BUDGET ISSUES.
MY ASK IS THAT YOU CONSIDER BROADENING THE BURDEN OF THIS BLEND TO INCLUDE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SO THAT THIS IS MORE EQUITABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MOVING FORWARD, I URGE THE BOARD TO COMMIT TO TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION AND TO RESTORE THE TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES.
I AM AN ARCHITECT WITH A PASSION FOR DESIGN AND FOR PLANNING.
I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO FUTURE BCE STUDENTS, AN INCOMING KINDER.
I HAVEN'T STARTED YET. I'M JUST INTRODUCING MYSELF. THANK YOU.
TWO FUTURE BCE STUDENTS, ONE INCOMING KINDER AND ANOTHER THAT WOULD JOIN IN 2029. I'M READY.
AS I'VE EXPRESSED TO SOME OF YOU IN PERSON AND ALL OF YOU VIA EMAIL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE BLEND K-5 CAPACITY NUMBERS FOR BCE ARE NOT CORRECT.
BCE HAS 27 CLASSROOMS, NOT 41, AND IT'S OPERATING AT 87% CAPACITY, NOT 66.
PLEASE CORRECT THE NUMBERS AND LET THE CORRECT NUMBERS GUIDE YOU IN MAKING AN EQUITABLE DECISION.
FOREST TRAIL AND BARTON CREEK ARE COMPARABLE IN SIZE AND CAPACITY, AND EQUALLY EQUIPPED TO RECEIVE AND WELCOME BELLEVUE STUDENTS.
A BROADER BLENDED COMMUNITY ACROSS TWO CAMPUSES HAS SEVERAL BENEFITS.
IT DIMINISHES THE RISK OF OVERBURDENING ONE SCHOOL.
IT KEEPS STUDENTS TOGETHER ON THEIR JOURNEY TO WEST RIDGE, AND INCLUDING FOREST TRAIL AND THE BLEND HELPS FUTURE PROOF ITS DECLINING ENROLLMENT, WHICH LAST YEAR WAS THE HIGHEST AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE AT EANES ISD.
MY NAME IS SANJEEV GOKLAY, AND I HAVE ONE CHILD WHO'S CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, AND ONE WHO WAS A FORMER BLUE JAY, WHO'S MOVED ON TO WEST RIDGE.
I'M EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE SCHOOL.
MY WIFE AND I ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BEHIND THE SUDDEN PLAN TO COMBINE TWO SCHOOLS AND THE OVERALL DIRECTION THAT THE DISTRICT WANTS TO TAKE MOVING FORWARD.
OTHERS HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT THE ISSUES WITH THE BLEND AND HOW THE SCHOOL CAPACITIES ARE NOT BEING CALCULATED ACCURATELY.
WHY IS FOREST TRAIL NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION AS IT'S ONE OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT'S GOING TO FEED INTO WEST RIDGE? WE NEED AN EXPLANATION ON WHY THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.
FROM THE DEMOGRAPHIC REPORTS, WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THERE'S ANNUAL GROWTH BOTH IN BCE AND BELLEVUE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
HOW IS THE DISTRICT USING THE DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT TO DIRECT ITS DIRECTIONS? WHY DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO COMBINE TWO [MUSIC] SCHOOLS INTO THE SAME FOOTPRINT OF A SMALL CAMPUS THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE GROWING STUDENT POPULATION?
>> YES. HI. I'M MAGGIE ADAMS, AND I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AT BELLEVUE, A STUDENT AT WEST RIDGE, AND A STUDENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE ONLY COST SAVINGS THAT'S COMING FROM THIS PLAN, WHY I WOULD BE DOING THIS IS THAT TEACHERS, CAFETERIA WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, AND OTHERS, MOST LIKELY AT BELLEVUE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.
BUT DR. ARNETT HAS MADE STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA, AND OTHERWISE, THAT THERE WON'T BE A REDUCTION IN FORCE. WHICH IS IT? TO GET TO A $2 MILLION SAVINGS,
[01:10:02]
LET'S JUST SAY AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $80,000.YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 25 OR MORE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS.
DO WE REALLY THINK THAT THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE VOLUNTARILY? OR IN A SCHOOL THE SIZE OF VALUE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF OF THE STAFF NOT HAVING A JOB GOING FORWARD? ARE WE TAKING STEPS TO RETAIN TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE AMAZING AND THAT WE WANT TO RETAIN, OR ARE WE JUST SAYING WHOEVER QUITS QUITS? THAT ISN'T THE WAY THAT A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOULD APPROACH HIRING OR FIRING, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR TEACHERS.
WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT BELLEVUE WOULD BE USED FOR NEXT YEAR.
IS IT JUST GOING TO SIT PROLONG [MUSIC] GOING TO ONE SCHOOL AND THESE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOB.
>> WE'RE DONE WITH OPEN FORUM.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK TO STRETCH OUR LEGS.
WE'LL COME BACK IN EIGHT MINUTES AT NINE O'CLOCK.
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL THEN.
WE WILL RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT.
[10.1 Long Range Facility Planning Committee update]
WE'RE JOINED BY HOLLY KNOLLE AND CORK BOYLE.I WANT TO DO A LITTLE INTRODUCTION REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GET STARTED INTO THIS EXCITING ADVENTURE INTO LONG RANGE PLANNING.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE AND PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THE BOARD ANTICIPATED THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD FACE GROWING FINANCIAL PRESSURES DUE TO DECLINING STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THE GOAL HAS BEEN TO NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH A SERIES OF STRATEGIC ACTIONS THAT WOULD ENSURE THE DISTRICT'S LONG TERM STABILITY WHILE ALLOWING FOR A SOFT LANDING.
UNFORTUNATELY, UNEXPECTED CHANGES TO THE STATE FUNDING FORMULAS LAST SUMMER ACCELERATED THESE CHALLENGES, FORCING THE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS MORE QUICKLY THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
WHILE THE URGENT ACTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE COMING WEEKS ARE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS, THEY ARE PART OF ONE STEP IN A SERIES MEANT TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FORWARD LOOKING STRATEGY TO SECURE OUR DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL HEALTH FOR THE LONG TERM.
THIS IS WHERE THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE.
WITH ENROLLMENT DECLINING, WE MUST ALIGN OUR FACILITIES WITH OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY.
MANY OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW THEIR AGE.
THROUGH BOND FUNDING, WE HAVE MAINTAINED THEM WELL, BUT THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THESE FACILITIES WERE BUILT.
MODERN LEARNING DEMANDS SPACES THAT SUPPORT TODAY'S TEACHING METHODS AND STYLES, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL TO ASSESS HOW OUR FACILITIES CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS.
IN ADDITION TO CREATING MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, WE MUST ENSURE OUR FACILITIES OPERATE AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS INCLUDES DESIGNING CAMPUSES THAT MINIMIZE OPERATING COSTS WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY AND SECURITY.
AS THREATS GROW MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED, WE MUST ENSURE OUR CAMPUSES ARE EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES AND PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
THE PURPOSE OF THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE IS TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO SET OUR DISTRICT ON A PATH TO LONG TERM SUCCESS.
COMPRISING CITIZENS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT, THIS COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH EVALUATING OUR FACILITIES, AND IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MEET BOTH THE EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT FOR DECADES TO COME.
TONIGHT'S REPORT IS PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES OF UPDATES LEADING TO THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR.
BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT REPORT, THE BOARD WILL CONVENE A BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN EVALUATING THE FINDINGS AND CRAFTING A PROPOSED BOND PACKAGE.
THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S FINAL RECOMMENDATION EXPECTED IN EARLY 2026 WILL FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR A PROPOSED BOND TO BE PRESENTED TO VOTERS FOR APPROVAL IN MAY OF 2026.
WITH THAT SAID, I TURN IT OVER TO CRAIG AND HOLLY TO UPDATE THE BOARD ON THE COMMITTEE'S PROGRESS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
>> ARE WE ADVANCING THIS? THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT. WELL, HELLO. I'M HOLLY KNOLLE.
I AM THE CO -HAIR WITH CRAIG OF THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE AS JAMES SAID.
WE WANTED TO START BY JUST REMINDING YOU WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE.
YOU ALL OBVIOUSLY PICKED THIS COMMITTEE BASED ON AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT WAS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY ALSO.
THIS COMMITTEE REPRESENTS INDIVIDUALS WITH A BROAD SET OF EXPERIENCES AND SKILL SETS, BUT ALSO PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFILIATED WITH EVERY SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT, EVERY CAMPUS, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
MANY ARE CURRENTLY STILL PARENTS IN MULTIPLES OF THE CAMPUSES,
[01:15:02]
AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO ALUMS OF WESTLAKE AND OF OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.IT'S A REALLY GREAT, VERY BROAD GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
HEATHER AND DIANE, THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING OUR BOARD LIAISONS.
THEN TOM OLLER, WHOSE NAME YOU CAN SEE THERE, HE IS OUR APPOINTED LIAISON FROM BLK, WHICH IS THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH.
WE SPENT JANUARY THROUGH MAY OF THIS YEAR.
OUR FIRST MEETING WAS IN JANUARY.
PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON FACT FINDING.
THE REASON FOR THAT WAS THAT THE CAMPUS COMMITTEES AND OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WERE STILL DOING THEIR WORK AND WRAPPING UP THEIR PRESENTATION.
WE REALLY DIDN'T BEGIN TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LEVEL CONCEPTS UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
JANUARY THROUGH MAY OF LAST YEAR, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME FOCUSED ON WHAT OUR PURPOSE WAS, WHAT OUR FOCUS WAS, AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROCESS TO COME UP WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.
I INCLUDED THAT QUOTE ON THERE THAT IS FROM OUR CHARTER.
IT IS THE FIRST BULLET POINT OF THE CHARGE SECTION OF THE CHARTER, AND I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THE PORTION WHERE IT SAYS THAT WE'RE ASSESSING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF DISTRICT FACILITIES, ALIGNING WITH EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS BY INCORPORATING INPUT FROM THE CAMPUS COMMITTEES.
THAT REALLY IN A NUTSHELL IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE FACILITIES, THE STATE OF THE FACILITIES, AND HOW THEY CAN BE ALIGNED WITH YOUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS, WHICH ARE YOUR EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS THAT YOU ALL VOTED ON.
WITH COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS, COMMUNITY IDEALS, BUT THEN ALSO TAKING INPUT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES.
THOSE INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS COMMITTEES WERE MADE UP OF PARENTS OF STAKEHOLDERS, OF TEACHERS, OF ADMINISTRATORS, AND IN SOME CASES, WITH THE OLDER STUDENTS OF STUDENTS ALSO.
THEY WERE VERY THOROUGH CAMPUS FOCUSED COMMITTEES.
[LAUGHTER] IN THAT JANUARY TO MAY MEETINGS, WE ALSO DID A PRETTY DEEP DIVE ON DISTRICT FINANCE.
CHRIS SCOTT CAME TO TALK TO US.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING THROUGH BUDGETS AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE OF M&O DOLLARS AND INS DOLLARS AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE LONG TERM DISTRICT STRATEGY OF USING INS DOLLARS SMARTLY TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES ON THE M&O SIDE AND TO MITIGATE M&O EXPENSES WHERE POSSIBLE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT DEMOGRAPHICS A LOT, WE'RE WORKING WITH BLK, WHO'S THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY FACILITY CAPACITIES ARE, AS WELL AS HOW THE DEMOGRAPHICS CAN AFFECT FUTURE FEEDER PATTERNS.
WE ALSO RECENTLY RE-LOOKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, AND I THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH YOU ALL, IF NOT, UNDERSTANDING HOW TRANSFER STUDENTS ARE INCORPORATED IN THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS, AND AS FAR AS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, TEN YEARS OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACILITIES, UNDERSTANDING IF WE'RE BUILDING FACILITIES TO ALSO ACCOMMODATE A GROWING TRANSFER STUDENT POPULATION OR IF WE REALLY NEED OUR FACILITIES TO FIRST AND FOREMOSTLY AFFECT OUR ORGANIC STUDENT POPULATION.
WE STARTED THAT MOST RECENTLY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT ON IN THE NEW YEAR.
WE HAVE TOURED. STARTING IN AUGUST, ONCE THE CAMPUS COMMITTEES HAD FINALIZED THEIR REPORTS, WE STARTED OUR TOURING.
WE HAVE TOURED EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS.
THESE TOURS WERE VERY DETAILED.
EACH CAMPUS WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE REALM OF A TWO-HOUR TOUR.
THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE BROKE INTO TWO PARTS, SO WE HAD TWO 2-HOUR TOURS, AND WE TOURED THEM WITH PRINCIPALS, FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF YOUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND WE TOURED EVERYTHING.
WE LOOKED INTO FOOD PREP STATIONS IN THE BACK OF THE CAFETERIA.
WE SAW INTO ALL THE CLOSETS, ALL THE STORAGE.
WE SAW ALL THE LOCKER ROOMS, EVEN THE ONES, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE.
IF I NEVER SET FOOT IN A BOYS MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCKER ROOM AGAIN, I WILL BE A VERY HAPPY PERSON.
WE REALLY LOOKED INTO EVERYTHING.
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND WALL.
WE ALSO HAD AN ONGOING Q AND A AS THE TOUR WAS UNFOLDING SO THAT
[01:20:02]
PEOPLE COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FACILITIES AND THE NEEDS.I PUT THIS ON HERE JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME COMMON OBSERVATIONS.
HOW WE EDUCATE KIDS HAS OBVIOUSLY CHANGED A LOT SINCE MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT, AND THERE ARE, OVER AND OVER CERTAIN COMMONALITIES THAT WE SAW.
ONE OF THEM CERTAINLY WAS MORE BATHROOMS, MORE BATHROOM SPACE, MORE COLLABORATIVE WORK SPACE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
IN GENERAL, ALMOST ALL OF OUR SCIENCE LABS TEND TO BE UNDERSIZED.
THAT'S TRUE ALSO OF MOST OF OUR GYMS AND OUR COURT SPACES.
EVERYBODY NEEDS BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW AND MORE PARKING, AND EVERY CLASSROOM NEEDED MORE STORAGE.
THAT'S JUST VERY TOP LEVEL, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CRAIG BOYLE.
I THINK I'VE MET MOST OF YOU ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT ARE ON THE BOARD, BUT NOT EVERYONE.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH EANES ISD, START TO FINISH, ARE NOW IN COLLEGE, TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE A CABOOSE FIRST GRADER AT BARTON CREEK CRUISE IN SPANISH IMMERSION.
THEY SAY IT MAKES YOU YOUNGER. IT DOES NOT.
[LAUGHTER] TO HAVE A CLEAR IDEA. IT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.
WE KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE DISTRICT FROM EVERY ANGLE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AT EVERY SCHOOL, BOTH FROM A COMMITTEE STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO FROM A PARENT STANDPOINT.
WE'VE INTERACTED WITH OUR TEACHERS, WE'VE INTERACTED WITH OUR PRINCIPALS.
WE VALUE AND SEE WHERE THIS LONG RANGE COMMITTEE HAS ADDED DIVERSITY FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND ALL CORNERS OF THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S BEEN ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL FOR S'S CO CHAIRS TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT SUMMARIES LIKE THIS TO YOU, AND ALSO TO DISCUSS WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS COMMITTEE.
THAT IS, WE'VE MET NOW FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF, GATHERING DATA, LOOKING AT THINGS, TOURING CAMPUSES, AND NOW IT IS TIME TO TURN THE PAGE A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TO WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO.
CAN I SHARE WITH YOU JUST ONE PICTURE HERE? THIS IS NOT, FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THESE, A COMPREHENSIVE DIAGRAM OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
WE ARE SHOWING SOME THINGS THAT THE LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE HAS MET ABOUT AND LOOKED AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND I'M USING THE HIGH SCHOOL AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT TO SHOW WHAT A CAMPUS DESIGN MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
WHAT ARE SOME NEEDS AT EACH CAMPUS? THE HIGH SCHOOL IS A NICE PLACE TO SEE THAT JUST BECAUSE IT IS BIG.
WE KNOW SOME OF THE NEEDS THERE.
WE'VE WORKED WITH TOM MILLER AND WITH VLK TO GET SOME OF THESE IDEAS PUSHED ACROSS.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE THINGS HERE AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE BECAUSE OF HOW SMALL IT IS ABOUT WHERE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL COULD HAVE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT IS, YOU'LL SEE REDUCED BUILDING FOOTPRINTS, MORE OUTDOOR AND LEARNING AND GREEN SPACES, INCREASED NATURAL DAYLIGHT TO THE CORE OF THE BUILDING.
IMPROVED ACCESS FOR PUBLIC SPACES LIKE THE LIBRARY, FOR SHARED COMMUNITY USE, FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS LIKE THAT, EXPANDED FINE ARTS PROGRAMS, INCREASED GYM SIZE, ATHLETIC TRAINING SPACES, EXPANDED CTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, IMPROVED PARKING AND TRAFFIC FLOW, WHICH I KNOW IS NOT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AT ALL AT WESTLAKE, AND A MORE VISIBLE BUILDING WITH VISITOR PARKING FOR THOSE AT VISITOR SCHOOL AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION.
A FOOTPRINT OF A BUILDING LIKE THIS OR FOOTPRINT OF A CAMPUS LIKE THIS REALLY OPENS UP THE IDEAS NOW OF WHAT MAKES EANES, EANES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT MAKES IT SO THAT WE AREN'T LOOKING AT A LARGE HIGH SCHOOL BUILD, WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN AN EANES HIGH SCHOOL? THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT HAVE TO DO SPECIFICALLY WITH WHAT IS THE FLAVOR OF OUR DISTRICT? HOW CAN WE BRING THAT INTO A NEW BUILD WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE THINGS? WHEN WE LOOK AT EXAMPLES OF THIS OR OTHER CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, WE DO IT WITH THE EYE OF HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO EANES' VISION? HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO WHAT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO ATTEND AND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE? THIS IS A CALENDAR LAYOUT OR A TIMELINE LAYOUT OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS ACCOMPLISHED UP TO THIS POINT.
YOU'LL SEE WE'RE NEARLY TOWARDS THE END OF 2024.
WE ARE AT THE END WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS REMAINING.
ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH LAST YEAR AND INTO THIS YEAR CAN BE SEEN MORE OR LESS ON THAT GRID.
YOU'LL SEE THE DARKER BLUE BOXES THERE, THOSE ROYAL BLUE BOXES SHOW CAMPUS FINDINGS, WHAT WE'VE MET WITH ON COMMITTEES.
WHAT HOLLY MENTIONED WAS, THOSE CAMPUS TOURS WERE GREAT.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE ADDED DURING THOSE CAMPUS TOURS WAS A DISCUSSION AROUND THOSE CAMPUS COMMITTEES.
WHAT WAS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS SAW AS THEIR NEEDS AND AS THEIR WANTS? WHAT ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT THOSE CAMPUS COMMITTEE SAW AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDRESSED, WHEN WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY REDESIGNING OR WORKING WITH THOSE CAMPUSES FOR UPDATES.
[01:25:06]
THOSE TOOK PLACE ALL LAST YEAR AND THROUGH THOSE VISITS.AS WE LOOK IN DECEMBER AND MOVING FORWARD INTO 2025, THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE REALLY WANT TO BREAK OFF INTO SUBCOMMITTEES NOW AND ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU'LL SEE OUR COMMITTEE OF 17 NOW.
17 NOW BREAK UP INTO THREE SMALL SUBCOMMITTEES SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER GRASP ON THOSE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR THOSE CAMPUSES.
WE'LL THEN RECONVENE AS A LARGER COMMITTEE TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH, MORE OR LESS IN THERE AND BRING THOSE IDEAS TOGETHER FOR HOPEFULLY SOME FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN APRIL TO BE PRESENTED IN MAY.
THAT'S MORE OR LESS WHERE THE COMMITTEE STANDS.
SOME INFORMATION THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR IN THOSE COMMITTEES IN THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES, WILL BE DEMOGRAPHIC UPDATES AND REVIEWING THAT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PLAN AROUND WHEN WE LOOK AT SCHOOL CAMPUSES OR A POTENTIAL BOND IN THE FUTURE.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO THE LARGER COMMITTEE BEFORE WE PRESENT.
AS THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES FINISH UP THEIR TASKS WITHIN THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES, AND THEN WE RECONVENE.
THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED.
ONE OF THOSE IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION THAT IS RECONSTRUCT OR RENOVATE? OUR CAMPUSES, EACH ONE, NO MATTER HOW NEW, NO MATTER HOW USEFUL, NO MATTER HOW OLD NEEDS TO HAVE THESE TWO QUESTIONS AT LEAST EVALUATED.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS FIVE OR 10 ISSUES MORE OR LESS THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND THOSE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
WHAT'S OUR LIST AND WHAT'S OUR PRIORITY THERE? OUR FINAL CONCEPT LAYOUTS.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH VLK PRETTY CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT DO THOSE CAMPUSES LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THOSE CAMPUSES TO BE DONE? WHICH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST IN OUR MINDS.
THEN HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO OUR OVERALL DEMOGRAPHIC LAYOUT WITHIN THE CAMPUS? THEN WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE ALL OF THAT, AT LEAST DISCUSS IT AMONG OUR COMMITTEE.
WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE THE LOGISTICS AROUND THOSE CONSTRUCTION PIECES. HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S A LARGE MOVING PIECE, MULTIPLE MOVING PIECES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THEN ADDITIONAL TOPICS WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A REVENUE GENERATING POSSIBILITY WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
HOW CAN WE USE SOME OF OUR CURRENT PROPERTY AND CURRENT CAMPUSES TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE REVENUE TOWARDS THE DISTRICT SO THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT FURTHER OPTIONS WITHIN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. FEEDER PATTERNS, RIGHT SIZING THE DISTRICT, THAT FOOTPRINT, ACCORDING TO THOSE CAMPUSES, CHANGES TO THE CDC AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TASKS AHEAD AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE STILL DO, THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE'VE GATHERED ENOUGH INFORMATION WHERE THIS FORMAT, THESE SUBCOMMITTEES SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME PRETTY CLEAR ANSWERS ON A RECOMMENDATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE WANTED TO SHARE THOSE THINGS WITH THE BOARD AND OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT FOR TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR US ON THE PROGRESS OF THE COMMITTEE OR THINGS THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED OR HAVEN'T ADDRESSED, AND OR OUR THOUGHTS ON THOSE.
NUMBER 2 IS, ASK THE BOARD FOR ANY FURTHER DIRECTION WITH THAT INSIGHT NOW TO WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
>> THANK YOU, CRAIG AND HOLLY.
QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR FEEDBACK OR INPUT? KELLY.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. ONE THING I NOTICED TODAY WITH THE KIDS SPEAKING OUR STUDENTS SPEAKING TO US.
THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUTDOOR SPACES, TOO, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KEEP IN MIND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE KIDS SEEM TO REALLY VALUE.
THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT LUNCH LINES, WHICH I KNOW HOLLY AND I ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH AT CEDAR CREEK, AS WE WERE VERY FULL, AND OUR KIDS HAD TO FIGURE THAT OUT, AND THEY DID.
BUT RETHINKING THOSE LUNCH LINES AND STUFF SO THE KIDS CAN MOVE AROUND AND GET THROUGH THAT FASTER.
THEN THE ROOMS FOR SPECIAL SERVICES.
I KNOW WE HAD TO, LIKE, AT CEDAR CREEK, WE HAD TO TAKE A LOT OF CLOSETS IN DIFFERENT SPACES AND RETHINK EVEN OUR LIKE, SECURITY OFFICERS AND WHAT I WOULD TECHNICALLY USED TO BE THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A CLOSET, BUT HE MADE IT REALLY SPECIAL.
SO JUST RETHINKING ALL THOSE SPACES FOR THAT.
THEN I LOVE HOW THEY DID A LOT OF SAFETY UPGRADES TO OUR CAMPUSES, BUT KEEPING THOSE SAFETY UPGRADES OF MINE, TOO.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
>> WELCOME, AND THANK YOU FOR THE YEAR AND A HALF.
YOU ALL HAVE HAD QUITE THE ADVENTURE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S RIGHT.
>> FOR THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE INVESTED.
[LAUGHTER] I DO HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.
[01:30:04]
HOLLY, YOU SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT THE CAMPUS-CENTRIC NATURE OF THE INPUT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN.I'VE SEEN THESE PROCESSES GO BEFORE.
IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES OF BEING CAMPUS-CENTRIC IS THAT YOU TEND TO GET FEEDBACK THAT IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THE USAGE IS OF THE FACILITY TODAY? IN OTHER WORDS, YOU LOOK AT IT AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE A MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME PRETTY MAJOR CHANGES.
WHAT, IF ANY, NEW OR DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS USING OUR SET OF BUILDINGS DID THE COMMITTEE TALK ABOUT OR CONSIDER?
>> WE HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS A RECOMMENDATION, ANYTHING YET.
WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY HAD I THINK ALL IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE WHEN WE GO INTO SUBCOMMITTEE, AND IF THAT MEANS THAT A SCHOOL ISN'T SOMEWHERE THAT IT SHOULD BE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LOOK AT.
I THINK WE VIEW THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU OWN, AS DISTRICT PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, WE REALLY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ANYTHING YET.
I THINK THAT WILL REALLY BE IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE WORK THAT WE DO.
>> I'M SORRY, CRAIG, YOU'RE GOING TO ASK.
>> I JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE SPOILED, TOO, BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES FROM A LONG RANGE PLANNING SITUATION WITH A BIT OF A BLIND EYE.
THAT IS THAT WE CAN SAY, WE KNOW IT'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOW, BUT IF IT WAS A PIE IN THE SKY, WHAT COULD THIS CAMPUS LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD THIS BECOME? THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE A BIG TIME NOW. YOU GOT YOUR OWN MICROPHONE? WHAT CAN I SAY?
>> WITH THAT IN MIND, WHEN WE HAVE APPROACHED EACH CAMPUS, WE HAVE TRIED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BLANK SLATE THOUGHT TO IT.
THAT IS, WHAT IS THAT THIS CAMPUS COULD BE BEST USED FOR.
I MEAN, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS BUILT TO BE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A LOT OF TIMES.
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE AREN'T SECTIONS OF THAT SCHOOL THAT WE COULD CONSIDER USING IN DIFFERENT WAYS OR THAT WE DON'T REARRANGE POTENTIALLY SOME SCHOOLS THAT FIT ONE FOOTPRINT.
WHAT DOES THAT FOOTPRINT HAVE TO REMAIN THE SAME FOR ANOTHER CAMPUS?
>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED, BECAUSE I THINK SINCE THIS IS LONG RANGE, I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING THE NEXT 5-50 YEARS.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY CLEAN SLATE AT LEAST FROM A BRAINSTORMING STANDPOINT, AND SEE WHERE THAT MIGHT LEAD US.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S THE TINS IN BETWEEN, DO WE PLAN FOR OUR ORGANIC OR RESIDENT POPULATION OR INCLUDING TRANSFERS, AND IF SO, AT WHAT LEVEL AND THAT SORT OF THING? HAS THE COMMITTEE TALKED AT ALL ABOUT PROGRAM OPTIMIZATION AS AN ENROLLMENT GOAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE ARE THE SWEET SPOTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS THAT WE CAN EFFICIENTLY SPREAD OUR COST TO MAINTAIN OR TO ESTABLISH OR TO CONTINUE THE DEEP AND BROAD PROGRAMMING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? TO ME, THAT IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION, AND IT MIGHT NOT FIT EXACTLY WITH EITHER THE ORGANIC OR THE TRANSFER QUESTION.
BUT IS THAT PART OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, WE HAVE JUST STARTED SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ON WHAT IDEALLY, IF WE ARE BUILDING A BRAND NEW SCHOOL, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO WE WANT THAT TO ACCOMMODATE? BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE HAVE LARGER HAVING LESS SCHOOLS GOING FORWARD AND NOT OBVIOUSLY NEXT YEAR, BUT IN THE RANGE OF A 10 YEAR PLAN, BUT THAT ARE LARGER, YOU'RE MORE EASILY ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE PROGRAMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE KIDS TO FILL THE CLASSROOM.
BUT THAT AGAIN, IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T HASHED OUT YET AND WE'LL BE HASHED OUT IN SUBCOMMITTEES.
THINKING IS THAT YOU BUILD SCHOOLS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND THE STUDENTS THAT YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE IN 10 YEARS, AND THAT RELYING ON TRANSFERS TO BACKFILL THAT IN OR RELYING ON TRANSFERS TO PAY THE WAY IS NOT REALLY A RELIABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING PER SE,
[01:35:01]
BUT THAT AT LEAST AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE BUILDING LARGER SCHOOLS NOW FOR THAT VERY REASON, NOT ONLY FOR EFFICIENCY OF FROM A MONETARY PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO JUST THAT A LARGER SCHOOL THAT IS BUILT WITH THAT CAPACITY CAN HAVE MORE PROGRAMS AND CAN OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND RIGHT SIZE THE CLASSROOMS.>> RIGHT. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCIES, BUT THERE ALSO ARE THINGS LIKE SPAN OF CONTROL.
EVEN NUANCES THAT ARE MAYBE VERY EANES LIKE OUR SPECIALS ROTATION AND HAVING TWO FULL TEACHERS VERSUS ONE AND A HALF AND THE INEFFICIENCY THAT THAT PROVIDES.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SWEET SPOTS THAT I HOPE THAT WE LOOK INTO OUR PROGRAMMING TO SEE WHERE THOSE POINTS ARE.
AND THAT MAY GIVE US A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IN LOOKING AT IT.
MY THIRD QUESTION, CRAIG, I WAS FASCINATED WHEN YOU SAID THAT CLEARLY, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES EANES, EANES.
I WAS WONDERING HOW YOU DEFINED THAT.
DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT? [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S WHAT EANES IS. IT'S NOT MY ANSWER.
IT'S ALL OF OUR ANSWER TOGETHER.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION.
THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THAT AND HOW DO YOU SAY WHAT IS EANES? IS IT AN OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN? IS IT A FOOTPRINT THAT LOOKS LIKE EANES ELEMENTARY? IS A FOOTPRINT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN ALLEN, TEXAS, THE NEW STADIUM THEY BUILD THAT SEATS 587,000 PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT EANES IS ANY OF THOSE ONE PARTICULAR THINGS, BUT WE CAN'T LEAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS OFF THE TABLE WHEN WE CONSIDER IT.
MY WIFE AND I REDID OUR KITCHEN. THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO.
THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE WENT TO LOOK AT OUR BRAND NEW SPACE, AND WE WERE SO EXCITED WAS REALIZE, OH, NO, WE DIDN'T BUILD THE PANTRY THE RIGHT WAY.
THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND YOU DO IT AGAIN.
WHAT WE AS A COMMITTEE WOULD LOVE TO DO IS SAY, WHAT IS EANES? WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE? WHAT DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PROGRAMS 10 YEARS FROM NOW THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY RUN THAT WE WILL WANT TO.
WHEN WE BUILD A SCHOOL, WHEN WE REDESIGN A SCHOOL, WHEN WE UPDATE OUR POPULATIONS AND OUR SCHOOLS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST NOT TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HOW MUCH PANTRY SPACE DID WE MISS OUT ON? EANES ISD, FOR US, AS A COMMITTEE, FOR ME, FOR MY KIDS, IS THAT THERE'S BEEN OPTIONS AT EVERY CORNER FOR THEM TO PURSUE WHAT THEY WANT, WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF OUR GUIDELINES GIVEN TO US BY THE STATE.
WITHIN THOSE OPTIONS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES, OUR DISTRICTS, OUR STAFFING OUR ZONING, FIT THOSE OPTIONS FOR OUR KIDS GOING FORWARD.
IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER, BUT WE AS A COMMITTEE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW FOR THOSE OPTIONS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, AT LEAST RECOMMEND THOSE.
>> WELL, IF YOU ALL COULD GET THAT ON PAPER, WE COULD BOTTLE IT.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU, ALLEN WE'LL GO TO HEATHER.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU TWO FOR TAKING ON THIS BIG JOB OF BEING CO CHAIRS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO A HUGE THING, AND REALLY TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND TO WORK WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CAMPUS COMMITTEES BECAUSE THEY REALLY DID.
I GOT TO GO AND WATCH A COUPLE OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
IT WAS SO INTERESTING TO JUST SEE THEM WORK THROUGH THEIR CURRENT SPACE, WHAT THEY LOVE, WHAT THEY HATE, WHAT THEY NEED, WHAT THEY DON'T NEED.
REALLY JUST SEE THEM BE THOUGHTFUL AND GET TO DREAM BIG ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN CURRENTLY THINK ABOUT OR CAN'T THINK ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE.
THEN I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE GIVING SO MUCH TIME, I MEAN, SO MUCH TIME TO VISIT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
TO HAVE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
I KNOW THAT THOSE AREN'T STOPPING JUST IN OUR MEETINGS.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE THAT IS ENGAGING.
ALSO, THESE ARE OPEN MEETINGS, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE LISTENING TO THEM, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I'LL PUT IT OUT THERE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO TO THEY'RE SUPER EXCITING AND FUN.
I'M A NERD. I THINK THAT THEY'RE FUN. MAYBE YOU WOULD, TOO.
BUT IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN AND TO ALLEN'S POINT LIKE, THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT AN SECRET SAUCE IS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE, AND IF WE WANT SOME NEW INGREDIENTS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR OR NOT.
I KNOW THAT IT'S A WEIRD TIME TO BE DISCUSSING IT.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANTED TO BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT VALLEY VIEW AND A POTENTIAL BLEND.
[01:40:01]
OBVIOUSLY, THE STATE FORCED OUR HAND TO RUSH A PART OF THAT.HOWEVER, AND I KNOW THAT THE OTHER PARTS OF IT STILL FEEL SLOW.
BUT AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES HAVE INPUT AND ALL OF THESE THINGS. I'M HERE FOR THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO BITE MY TONGUE IN THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BECAUSE AS THE LIAISON, I'M NOT THERE TO REPRESENT THE BOARD, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE AT AN OPEN MEETING, I CAN SAY HOW I FEEL, SO WATCH OUT.
I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A BIT MORE INPUT ON ATS, NOT JUST IN ITS CURRENT SPACE, BUT WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES? WHAT ARE WE NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT WE COULD DO WITH THAT SPACE.
I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMITTEE ABOUT MAYBE ADDING SOME REVENUE GENERATION AND SOME JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT ATS.
THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. LIKE THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
I KNOW, OUR SCIENCE CLASSROOMS, WE'VE SEEN THEY ARE UNDERSIZED, THEY'RE OLD.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT POSSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE THERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF KIDS WHO ARE ALREADY TAKING OPPORTUNITIES IN HOSSA AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES, AND SO.
HOWEVER WE CAN EXPAND THAT IS GREAT AND NOT JUST HOSSA BUT ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
CRAIG, YOU MENTIONED LIKE THE LACK OF SUNLIGHT, AND I SEE THAT AS A MENTAL HEALTH THING, AND IT'S NOT EVEN THAT IT'S LIKE WE NEED TO INCREASE IT.
WE JUST NEED SOME WINDOWS IN A LOT OF PLACES BECAUSE IT'S BETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEE SUNLIGHT AND NOT BE IN A CAVE ALL DAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LITTLE THING, BUT IT IS A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE JUST NEED TO IMPROVE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, FRANKLY.
I THINK THAT JUST IMPROVING OUR CAMPUS, AND I KNOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
BUT I ALSO PUT SAFETY IN WITH THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING SITUATION, ALSO TONIGHT, WE'VE HEARD OTHER TIMES CONCERNS ABOUT PATTERSON ROAD.
I'VE SEEN OTHER SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL WHERE MY KIDS WERE BEFORE, WHICH I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, WAS ON A BUSIER STREET, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REBUILD THAT CAMPUS AND BACK IT UP SO THAT YOU COULD WEAVE CARS OFF THE MAIN ROAD, CREATED MORE PARKING, CREATED A SPACE FOR THE CARS TO ZIGZAG IN A SAFE MANNER.
I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK I'VE SAID IT TO A MILLION PEOPLE, LIKE, I THINK WE MIGHT BE THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT WERE LIKE, PLEASE BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.
OUR KIDDOS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ARE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PARK.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SILLY AT THIS POINT.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, REVENUE GENERATION IS A HUGE ONE.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO, BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, WE ARE A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE ARE BOUND BY THE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE STATE PUTS ON US.
HOWEVER, WE CAN INCREASE FUNDING ON OUR OWN, I'M HERE FOR.
I'M OPEN TO ANY COMMUNITY IDEAS THAT COME OUR WAY.
AGAIN, SOME OF THESE THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE AGREED UPON BY THE BOARD AND SOME, BIGGER DECISIONS, MAYBE NOT.
MAYBE SOME OF THEM WILL BE PROGRAMMING THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO, BUT I'M OPEN TO ANY COMMUNITY INPUT SO THAT THIS BOARD AND THAT COMMITTEE HAVE ALL OF THE THOUGHTS FROM OUR ENTIRE COMMITTEE OR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, EXCUSE ME.
BECAUSE I DO WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FEELS REALLY GOOD ABOUT.
AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A BOX CHECK.
WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR PARTICIPATION AND IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK.
I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS EVEN SAT THROUGH MY LONG TALK ON THIS TONIGHT, BUT ALSO FOR EVERYBODY JUST DOING THE WORK. THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. WE'LL GO TO KIM.
>> I WILL REITERATE MY THANKS TO THE TWO OF YOU, TO THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE, TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE HELPED THE COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY INPUT AND STAFF INPUT AS WELL.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TO ANY OF THESE MEETINGS, BUT I LOOK AT YOUR UPDATES.
[01:45:03]
I LOOK AT THIS NEXT PHASE OF GOING INTO SUBCOMMITTEES AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEES WILL DO. HOW DO YOU? THAT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE CONTRADICTORY TO PIE IN THE SKY.CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU SEE THE SUBCOMMITTEES GOING OUT AND DOING THEIR TASKS AND THEN COMING BACK TO THE FULL COMMITTEE AND MAYBE WRAPPING IT UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS IN A FULSOME WAY.
>> YEAH THE PIE IN THE SKY AND THAT WAS A GOOD ANALOGY TOO, AND IT REALLY IS WHERE THE COMMITTEE STARTED AS A WHOLE, LAST YEAR, AND THAT WAS THAT WE DID SAY FROM DAY 1, LET'S LEARN AND SEE WHAT OUR DISTRICT HAS TO OFFER.
LET'S LEARN AND DISCUS WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL WE COULD BRING TO THE DISTRICT THROUGH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS? THAT PIE IN THE SKY HAS NOW BEEN SLICED AND PUT IN THE OVEN FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND WE'VE BAKED IT.
NOW IT'S TIME WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO SEND OUT A COUPLE OF THOSE SLICES AND TO WORK ON IT.
IT IS CONTRADICTORY IN THE SENSE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE TOO HYPER FOCUSED ON CERTAIN ASPECTS, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO THINK BIG AND TO THINK BROAD.
BUT NOW THAT WE'VE NARROWED DOWN THAT, BIG, THINK BROAD INTO THOSE SMALLER SUBCOMMITTEES, THEY REALLY GO FORWARD WITH A MANDATE THAT THE COMMITTE AS A WHOLE HAS ALREADY NARROWED DOWN.
WE'RE FINE TUNING SOME THINGS, AND I THINK THAT SUBCOMMITTEES ARE A GREAT WAY TO FINE TUNE BECAUSE A COMMITTEE OF 17 PEOPLE WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS.
AFTER JUST A FEW HOURS A NIGHT, IT'S HARD TO FOCUS IN ON JUST WHAT WE NEED FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS OR FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE STARTED BIG, AND NOW WE'RE TO THIS POINT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, I THINK. IT PUTS US IN A GOOD SPOT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE THEMSELVES ASKED THAT QUESTION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
I COULD TELL THERE WAS SOME RELUCTANCE TO GO INTO SUBCOMMITTEES BECAUSE, IF YOU GOT PLACED ON THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, YOU STILL WANTED TO BE THERE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT TO CRAIG'S POINT, WE REALLY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND SO BEING ABLE TO DO A DEEPER DIVE AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE LEVEL WILL HELP US GET THROUGH THAT.
THE PLAN IS TO BE FULLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH COMMITTEES.
EVERYONE HAS ALREADY ASKED, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT I'M UPDATED.
THAT WHEN WE RECONVENE IN MARCH AND APRIL AND THEN HOPEFULLY FINALLY VOTE.
THE DECISION WILL BE MADE AS A FULL COMMITTEE, BUT THE SUBCOMMITTEES CAN THEN PRESENT THAT EVERYONE WILL STILL BE A LITTLE BIT IN THE LOOP AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
I THINK SO FAR, THE GREAT THING, HAS BEEN, FOR THE MOST PART, WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY LARGE DIFFERING OF OPINIONS IN GENERAL, THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SO FAR HAVE ALL SEEMED TO BE APPARENT TO THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE.
IT SEEMS OBVIOUS AT LEAST GENERALLY THE DIRECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.
THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY WILDCARDS.
MAYBE IF WE START TALKING ABOUT MOVING A SCHOOL FROM HERE TO THERE, IT MIGHT.
BUT I THINK AS LONG AS WE DO OUR RESEARCH AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT HAND TALKING TO THE LEFT, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE JUST A BETTER WAY TO GET MORE WORK DONE FOR YOU ALL AND TO HAVE A MORE REFINED RECOMMENDATION.
>> CONCLUSIONS HAVE FELT VERY NATURAL TO THIS POINT, WHICH IS NICE. ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME.
WE'VE ALL GOTTEN TO THE SAME POINT BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE WHEN IT LOOKS AT A SCHOOL DESIGN OR A POTENTIAL ZONING ISSUE OR A DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT, ALL THINGS HAVE STARTED TO NATURALLY COME TO THEIR CONCLUSIONS, WHICH IS NICE VERSUS FORCED.
>> GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT LEADS TO, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
THE MORE I HEAR ABOUT IT, THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT IT, THE MORE IT REITERATES THE SERVICE THAT ALL ARE DOING TO US.
THEN THAT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST, THAT YOU LOOK TO DO IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
IS THAT ENOUGH TIME? WE WANT THIS TO BE EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO SUCCESSFUL.
IS THAT A REALISTIC GOAL TO HAVE? I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT UP HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT.
BUT I WOULD HATE TO HAVE A TIMELINE THAT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR YOU TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A COMMITTEE.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT BY MAY, WE WILL HAVE SOME VERY ROBUST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU ALL.
THE PIECE THAT REMAINS A QUESTION MARK FOR, I THINK, EVERYONE, AND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT AS A COMMITTEE IS HOW THE PRIORITIES RELATE TO THE LOGISTICS RELATE TO THE DOLLARS.
[01:50:05]
I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOSTLY, MY OPINION AND CRAIG'S, I THINK, TOO, IS TO ALWAYS HAVE I MEAN, THE PLAN AND THE GOAL OF WHAT WE WANT SHOULD NOT BE TAMPERED OR TONED DOWN BECAUSE OF LOGISTICS.BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT LOGISTICS AREN'T IMPORTANT.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO START WITH IS WHAT THE PLAN SHOULD BE.
WHAT SHOULD WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO.
THEN WHAT IS THE PRIORITY SAY OF WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL VERSUS A DIFFERENT SCHOOL? THAT PRIORITY, WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A RUBRIC OR A SCORING SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PRIORITIZE THAT WITHOUT BEING TOO PERSONAL ABOUT IT.
BUT A LOT OF THAT WOULD BE WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF THE CLASSROOMS? WHAT ARE THE CONDITION, THOSE ARE FACILITY RELATED QUESTIONS.
I THINK IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO OR AT A MINIMUM, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME WITH YOU WITH A PLAN AND A LIST OF PRIORITIES.
THEN EITHER THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE AND I THINK SOME SENSE OF LOGISTICS, BUT THEN WHATEVER THIS BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR WHETHER THE FUTURE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS STILL TALKING TO THE LONG RANGE PLANNING FACILITY COMMITTEE.
ONCE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE AFFIXED TO A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS, THEN THE THREE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
MAYBE IF THERE'S TWO PRIORITY AS, BUT NOT ENOUGH MONEY, THEN WE HAVE TO REASSESS WHAT REALLY IS THE PRIORITY.
>> AFTER TOURING THE SCHOOLS AND LISTENING TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND US AND OUR KIDS AT SCHOOLS, THERE'S A BIT OF URGENCY, AND THAT'S OKAY.
I THINK WE DON'T WANT THE OLD PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS, WHERE WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT COMMITTEE FOR A LONG TIME AND STUCK WITHOUT ANY ACTION.
THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE WORLD CLASS, AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
I THINK THE LARGER GOAL OF THIS COMMITTEE IS TO OFFER THOSE OVERARCHING SUGGESTIONS OR THOUGHTS.
IT IS NOT THAT AN OUTLET NEEDS TO BE THREE FEET AWAY FROM A DOOR.
THAT'S NOT WHERE WE WANT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS, BUT WE CAN AND WE HAVE IN SOME MEETINGS.
BUT SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE PRESENT OR THAT WE HOPE TO PRESENT IN MAY, WILL GIVE THE BOARD ENOUGH OF A COMMUNITY IDEA OR ENOUGH OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS LOOKED AT TO MAKE SOME APPROPRIATE DECISIONS.
I THINK MOVING FORWARD. WE KNOW THAT A BOND IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN THIS AS JAMES OUTLINED IN THE BEGINNING.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT BOND, WE WANT TO HAVE REASONS FOR THE BOND, NOT JUST ISSUING ONE BECAUSE WE THINK IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY FOR SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO HAVE CONCRETE REASONS, AND I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE A LOT OF THOSE CONCRETE REASONS.
>> THEN, I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT YOU HAVE, WHAT'S IT CALLED IT'S NOT CALLED A CHARTER. IT IS THE CHARTER.
YOU HAVE THE CHARTER. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I KNOW WE HAVE THIS TIMELINE, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED DIFFERENT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF DIRECTION OR IN TERMS OF RESOURCES, ANYTHING YOU COULD ASK FOR.
>> I WISH THAT I COULD GIVE THAT.
>> I THINK AS WE BREAK INTO SUBCOMMITTEE AND REALLY DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THESE DEMOGRAPHICS, ONGOING FEEDBACK ABOUT RIGHT-SIZING THE DISTRICT AND HOW AND YOUR OPINION OF WHAT THAT IS IS VERY VALUABLE TO US.
I THINK THAT'S ONE WHERE THAT'S A MINI LAYERED QUESTION, THAT ISN'T JUST A DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTION.
IT'S ALSO A FINANCIAL QUESTION.
IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH WHERE YOUR VISION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 10 YEARS IS.
MORE I THINK ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK THAT WE COULD GET ON THAT PORTION OF IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
>> THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN GREAT SO FAR.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT EVERY WAY.
THE COMMUNITY, AS WE AREN'T IMMUNE TO, TALKS ABOUT THESE COMMITTEES AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD PLANS AND WHAT WE PLAN.
WE'RE OFTEN A LITTLE TAKEN BACK BY SOME OF THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT YET.
SOME OF WHAT WE HOPE THE BOARD CONTINUES TO DO, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITHIN OUR COMMITTEE IS TO DISPEL MYTHS AND RUMORS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPEN AND VERY MUCH ALLOWING COMMUNITY INPUT INTO THESE DECISIONS.
THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S COMMUNITY INPUT,
[01:55:01]
BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE ITSELF IS MADE UP FROM MEMBERS ALL OVER THE EANES ISD COMMUNITY.THOSE DECISIONS CAN COME AS A WHOLE, OR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL COME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ANYTHING THAT'S CHISELED INTO STONE AT ANY TIME, BUT I DO THINK THAT THEY WILL REFLECT THE IDEAS OF WHAT WE HOPE EANES ISD WOULD BE IN THE NEXT 10-15, 20 YEARS.
>> THE OTHER THING TOO THAT I JUST THOUGHT OF, THE REVENUE-GENERATING COMPONENT OF THIS IS VERY BROAD.
SO FAR, WHAT WE'VE REALLY TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE, FOR THE MOST PART, NOT ENTIRELY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, HAS JUST BEEN LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
WHAT WOULD ANOTHER PERFORMING ART SPACE LOOK LIKE AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL? COULD THAT BE RENTED? IF WE'RE RIGHT-SIZING OUR COURTS SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE A RENTAL REVENUE FOR BASKETBALL COURTS, MAKING SURE THAT IF THERE'S A NEW BASKETBALL COURT, THAT THERE'S AN APPROPRIATE ENTRY FOR AN ENTITY THAT'S RENTING IT ON A SATURDAY AND THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO WALK THROUGH A SCHOOL.
THAT'S THE STUFF THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.
WE'VE JUST STARTED ALSO SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ON WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE CDC COULD LOOK LIKE, AND IF THAT COULD BECOME A REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL, AS WELL AS THE CTE PROGRAM.
BUT THESE ARE ALL, AGAIN, VERY IN THE SKY IS NOT THE RIGHT, BUT THEY'RE VERY BROAD TOPICS.
IF THERE ARE OTHER REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT PURSUING THAT ARE OUT OF THE BOX OR THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY BACK ON THAT.
>> THOSE WOULD BE IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO BOND AS WELL, BECAUSE PASSING A BOND FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, NEEDS TO INVOLVE THE ENTIRE EANES ISD COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THOSE THAT HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL.
WHEN WE OFFER COMMUNITY OPTIONS, AND WE SAY REVENUE GENERATING, BUT THAT IS INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY A LOT MORE, SAYING, HEY, I CAN RENT OUT THIS COURT AT THIS TIME OR THIS PAC OR BE ABLE TO USE THIS SPACE IN A PARK OR AN OPEN FIELD, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL HELP A COMMUNITY SEE WHERE WE WANT TO GO AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO DIANE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, SO FAR FEELING ALL THESE QUESTIONS, I DON'T HAVE ANY HARD QUESTIONS FOR YOU. STAY PUT.
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THESE MEETINGS FOR THE LAST YEAR WITH YOU.
I'LL REITERATE THE THANK YOU. THE HUGE.
THANK YOU TO THE TWO OF YOU FOR LEADING THIS REALLY WELL-CHOSEN GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I THINK I'VE SAID THAT TO THE BOARD BEFORE.
IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING MIX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER.
YOU'VE HEARD HOW NATURAL NOT CONCLUSIONS, BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION, BUT NO ONE'S IN DISAGREEMENT ULTIMATELY OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS.
PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT EVERYONE'S THINKING ALIKE IN THIS COMMITTEE.
HEATHER, YOU SPOKE A LOT TO SOME OF THE ESPCS.
IT'S JUST EXCITING TO SEE SOME OF THE IDEAS COME ALIVE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THE FLEXIBILITY OF THESE FACILITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DESIGNED SO THAT WE CAN GO INTO 10, 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND BE MAKING SMART DECISIONS FOR NOW, BUT ALSO DECISIONS THAT ALLOW US TO ADAPT IN THE FUTURE.
THE WAY THIS COMMITTEE HAS OPERATED HAS IMPRESSED ME.
WE ALL STARTED OFF LOOKING AROUND GOING, OKAY, HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK.
WE KNOW WE'VE HAD ENVISIONINGS IN THE PAST THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK, BUT IT DIDN'T MAYBE COME TO FRUITION THE WAY MANY HAD HOPED.
I THINK THAT WAS A BUILDING BLOCK FOR US TO GET TO HERE.
I JUST I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS COMMITTEE'S DOING AND THE PROGRESS THAT IT'S MAKING, AND YOUR QUESTION ABOUT, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE IS A VERY VALID ONE, BUT I HAVE NO CONCERN BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE SEEN TAKE PLACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO ALSO TALK ABOUT IS, AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TOUCH ON THIS IS JUST COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SUBCOMMITTEES, MAKING SURE THAT IDEAS [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS GUY IDEA STILL ARE GENERATED AND DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED.
BUT THEN COMMUNICATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEN RECEIVING INPUT BACK IN.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO THINK OF HOW DO WE BEST DEVELOP THAT AS WE GO ALONG.
BECAUSE PASSING A HUGE BOND IS NOT A SMALL TASK, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
ONE THING I MEANT TO SAY AT THE TOP IS, I THINK WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT LEADS HERE.
THEY DEMONSTRATED THIS ALREADY THIS EVENING, HOW YOU ALL COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER SO WELL.
THE LAST THING I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IS THIS POINT ABOUT REVENUE GENERATION IS A REALLY VALID ONE.
THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
[02:00:01]
WE'VE HEARD SOME REALLY NEAT IDEAS PUT FORTH, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN EXPECT THIS COMMITTEE TO COME FORWARD WITH.SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE FOCUSING TO HELP SUPPORT THIS COMMITTEE AS THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED A FULL BOARD TO BUY IN AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEVELOP THE RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT'S THE SMART DIRECTION TO GO. WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS REAL QUICK.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE LAST TIME THAT A BOARD SAT UP HERE AND THOUGHT ABOUT BUILDING A BRAND NEW CAMPUS.
FOR REFERENCE, IT WAS PROBABLY WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT.
TOY STORY WAS A BRAND-NEW MOVIE.
DVDS WERE A COOL NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE WERE USING TO WATCH MOVIES, AND COOLIO HAD THE NUMBER ONE HIT THAT YEAR.
I CAN'T WAIT TO LISTEN TO COOLIO'S CHRISTMAS ALBUM ON MY WAY HOME.
THE THING THAT STRIKES ME IS THE SELFLESS SERVICE THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS DOING.
THE CHANGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY WON'T BENEFIT THE KIDS, A LOT OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS KIDS.
PROBABLY WON'T BENEFIT THE KIDS OF MANY PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD.
BUT AND YET YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT IN THESE HOURS AND TAKE ON THIS TASK TO SERVE A FUTURE GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE EANES ISD COMMUNITY, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I LIKE THAT WE HAVE GRADS ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT WE WERE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT WHEN WE CHOSE THIS COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES EANES EANES, I THINK IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO KNOW, HOPEFULLY, IT'S A GRAD.
ADDITIONALLY, I THINK THAT PARENTS WHO'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 20, 30, 40 YEARS ALSO KNOW, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN CALL UPON THAT KNOWLEDGE AND DEPTH.
I THINK ABOUT ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WAS HELD IN A RECENT MEETING ABOUT EANES ELEMENTARY, AND I THINK THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM, WHO AT ONE POINT, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CHANGED THEMSELVES LITERALLY TO THE BUILDING RATHER THAN EVER EVEN TALKING ABOUT, CHANGING A THING OVER THERE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO MAKING MAJOR CHANGES THERE YET, BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO LISTEN.
I THINK THAT THAT GOES IT SHOWS THE ABILITY OF THIS COMMITTEE TO THINK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS MENTIONED NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NOW, I WILL SAY THAT PROBABLY IF YOU ASK THIS BOARD, IF THEY HAD A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF EANES ISD, YOU'D HEAR SEVEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE THERE'D BE A WAY TO BLEND THEM, BUT I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT THIS COMMITTEE DOES IS GOING TO HELP VALIDATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT THINK WE KNOW IN ADDITION TO HELPING US SEE THINGS THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY SEE.
SIMILAR TO ELLEN, I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO NEW CONFIGURATIONS.
IF WE GO BACK TO 1995, AND SOMEBODY'S CONSIDERING BUILDING THE SIXTH CAMPUS, AND THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT THAN 2024 'S SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO THAT THINKING.
IN GENERAL, I THINK ABOUT FRICTIONLESS SCHOOLS.
I DON'T WANT A TEACHER TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STORAGE SPACE.
I DON'T WANT TEACHER TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEY HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND UP A STAIRWAY AND AROUND A CORNER TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THOSE FRICTIONLESS APPROACHES.
BUT THEN I THINK BEYOND THAT, WE GET TO WHAT'S THE MORE? I'VE SAID IT BEFORE UP HERE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO DRIVE, LITERALLY, DRIVE BY BRAND NEW BUILDINGS TO GET TO WORK HERE.
WE'VE SEEN THROUGH SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT VOK HAS MADE, JUST ON VISION IDEAS, AND IT'S REALLY SHOWN US THINGS THAT WE'RE JUST LIKE WOW.
IF WE CAN DO THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS MOVE YOUR ROBOTICS CLASSROOM RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGHLIGHT AND SHOW THAT OFF AND SPARK THAT INTEREST.
GOING BEYOND FRICTIONLESS AND FUNCTIONAL IS WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE IT SPECIAL? WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE IT EANES? AS FAR AS YOU ASKED FOR SOME GUIDANCE, I THINK, HOLLY ON, THE IDEA OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT SIZE? I THINK ABOUT I TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S A TRUSTEE IN THRALL ISD.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WAS BUILT MANY YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW ONE.
THEY HAVE 300 STUDENTS IN THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE BUILDING ONE FOR 850.
I LOVE THE OPTIMISM THERE, AND MAYBE THEY WILL GROW UP INTO THAT DISTRICT.
BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO THINK ABOUT SPREADING OUT A LITTLE BIT, AT LEAST IN THE EARLY YEARS.
JUST BECAUSE WE BUILD AN 850-PERSON CAMPUS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE EXPECT TO SHOVE ALL THOSE HALLS FULL WITH 850,
[02:05:03]
BUT IT WOULD GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY IF WE WANTED TO GO THAT WAY.I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BUILD IT FOR OUR EANES ISD EXPECTED POPULATION, AND I INCLUDE IN THAT THE CHILDREN OF OUR STAFF.
I THINK THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT SIZE.
THEN I THINK THAT WE USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IN EMPTY SEATS IF WE HAVE 20 STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM, AND WE'VE GOT A ROOM FOR ANOTHER ONE OR TWO, WE CAN TAKE A TRANSFER TO FILL THAT IN.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GO.
I DO WANT TO THANK. I KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST ONE COMMITTEE MEMBER HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON THE VIDEO AS WE APPROACH 10:00 P.M.
THE LAST THING I HAD FOR YOU WAS, AND I THINK KIM MAY HAVE STARTED TO HEAD DOWN THIS DIRECTION, BUT ANYTHING YOU NEED FROM US, AND INCLUDING IF YOU NEED NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I THINK YOU SHOULD FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND CALL ON SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR EXPERTISE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO BRING IN.
IF YOU WANTED TO BRING IN SOME MORE ALUMNI TO TALK TO YOU OR EVEN BRING IN ELEMENTARY KIDS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.
I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ALWAYS ENJOY HEARING FROM STUDENTS.
YEAH. WE MAY NEED MORE GAGA BALL SPACES.
YEAH. OTHER THAN THAT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.
I'M SORRY. I GOT TO BE PRETTY LATE TONIGHT.
WE DO APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN VERY SOON. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE THE DEI ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE.
[10.2 Board Strategic Priority: Safe and Inclusive Communities a. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee update b. Assessment & Care Team update]
REAL QUICK, WHILE WE'RE TRANSITIONING, NOTE THAT WE'VE MOVED ITEM B HERE, THE ASSESSMENT AND CARE TEAM DATE.WE'VE MOVED THAT ONE OUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND GETTING OUT OF HERE BEFORE 11:30 OR 12.
DIANE PARKS AND DOCTOR MONI PAI JOIN US TONIGHT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
NO. JUST KIDDING. HERE WE ARE AGAIN.
WE'LL JUST GIVE YOU GUYS A QUICK LITTLE UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR SO FAR.
THAT'S ALL. NOT A TON TO SHARE, BUT WE'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE CLUE. OH, AND AT ONE POINT.
>> ACTUALLY, SO WE'LL SHARE A REFLECT A LITTLE AND THEN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NOW AND A LITTLE LOOKING AHEAD.
ACTUALLY, IN ORDER TO BEFORE I LOOK BACK, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT NOW.
BECAUSE THIS PAINTS A PICTURE OF WHERE WE STARTED WITH OUR FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW FOLKS.
EVERY RED NAME YOU SEE THERE IS NEW TO US THIS YEAR.
WE SPENT THE MAJORITY, ACTUALLY, ALL OF THE FIRST MEETING, JUST CATCHING FOLKS UP, LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW WHERE IN THE WORLD WE'VE BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND PARTICULARLY WHERE WE HAVE BEEN LAST YEAR, AND WHERE WE LEFT THINGS OFF.
THE BIGGIE'S LAST YEAR, AS YOU GUYS, I'M SURE RECALL, IS WE REALLY WORKED HARD ON HAVING DEVELOPING SOME A RESOURCE HUB, A PLACE TO SHARE RESOURCES.
WE HAD ALL OF OUR EQUITY TEAMS FROM EACH CAMPUS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH CAMPUS COME TO MEETINGS AND SHARE WITH US.
WHERE WE LEARNED A TON ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ON CAMPUSES.
WE ALSO HOSTED THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS EVENT IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS WE CALLED IT ONE COMMUNITY ONE NIGHT MANY VOICES.
GOOD JOB MONIQUE ON THAT TITLE.
THEN OUR DATA SUBCOMMITTEE REALLY DUG INTO A FEW QUESTIONS FROM THE CLIMATE SURVEY OF 2022 THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO THE WORK OF OUR COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING, AND NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
>> NOW, IT'S FIND TURN. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY?
>> AS YOU ALL KNOW, I LOVE DATA.
I WAS PART OF THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE.
LAST YEAR, WE MENTIONED THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SENSE OF BELONGING AND SAFETY AND PROMISED YOU, WE WOULD DO SOME ANALYSIS ON THAT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, AND WE DO HAVE A DRAFT OF THAT.
WE'RE FINALIZING BECAUSE EVERY TIME I THINK IT'S READY, I FIND SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO FIX.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK LAST YEAR'S DATA SUBCOMMITTEE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM, THEY AGED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN GRADUATED THEIR REMAINING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS, AND A COUPLE, YOU KNOW, ALSO HAD TO MOVE ON JUST BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES.
BUT DESPITE THEM OFFICIALLY BEING DONE, THEY MET IN JULY WITH ME TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
[02:10:04]
WE HAD IDENTIFIED SOME KEY QUESTIONS, BUT THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY PERSON DECIDING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUMMARIZE THIS IN A CONCISE MANNER FOR ALL OF YOU ALL WHO DON'T WANT TO SPEND HOURS SING AT DATA.WHAT WE DID IS AGREE ON SOME BENCHMARKS.
WHAT WE DECIDED IS THAT ANYTHING OVER 80% AGREEMENT IS A STRENGTH OF THE DISTRICT AND SOMETHING WE WANT TO APPLAUD AND CELEBRATE ANYTHING BETWEEN 79 AND 60% IS SOMETHING TO MONITOR.
WE'RE NOT SAYING IT'S AN ISSUE, BUT JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
THEN ANYTHING BELOW 60% IS AN AREA WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO GROW.
GIVEN TIME CONSTRAINTS, I'LL FOCUS ON THE TWO EXTREMES, THE AREAS THAT WE SEE AS GROWTH, AND THEN ALSO THE AREAS WHERE WE THINK THERE'S ROOM TO GROW.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE AT OUR FIRST GRAPH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS VERY SURPRISING IS THAT FEELINGS OF SAFETY OR STRENGTH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OVER 80% OF PARENTS STUDENTS AND STAFF AGREE THAT STUDENTS ARE SAFE AT SCHOOLS.
THEN TEACHERS SEEM TO DIVERGE FROM PARENTS, THOUGH, AND STUDENTS IN THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS WITH PERSONAL PROBLEMS. ONE THING THAT CAME UP WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS IS THE WORDING OF THE QUESTIONS FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORDING OF THE QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO USE MORE SIMILAR WORDING MOVING FORWARD.
90.3% OF STAFF AGREE THAT OUR SCHOOL HAS SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO ASSESS HELP WITH A PERSONAL PROBLEM.
IN CONTRAST, PARENTS AND STUDENTS WERE ASKED, THERE IS A TEACHER, COUNSELOR, OR OTHER STAFF MEMBER AT SCHOOL THAT I OR MY CHILD CAN TALK TO ABOUT PERSONAL PROBLEMS. ONLY 47.3% OF STUDENTS AGREED WITH THIS STATEMENT.
THUS SUGGESTING BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH ADULTS ON CAMPUS IS AN AREA THAT THE DISTRICT CAN IMPROVE IN.
NEXT, WE LOOKED AT SENSE OF BELONGING.
THE MORE GENERAL QUESTION OF SENSE OF BELONGING WE SEE IS 86.3% OF PARENTS AGREE THAT THEIR CHILD FEELS A SENSE OF BELONGING WHILE 74.7% OF STUDENTS FELT, WE'RE STILL ON THE SAME GRAPH.
WE MOVED ON. NEVER MIND. I WENT FAST.
THANK YOU, DIANE. YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'RE ON SENSIBLE LONGING. YOU'RE ON THE NEXT GRAPH. YOU GOT IT? YOU WENT TWO OVER. JUST TO REPEAT, 86.3% OF PARENTS AGREED THEIR CHILD HAS A SENSE OF BELONGING WHILE 74.7% OF STUDENTS STATED THEY FELT A SENSE OF BELONGING.
HOWEVER, WHEN STUDENTS WERE ASKED ABOUT TREATING EACH OTHER WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT, THE LEVEL OF AGREEMENT WAS LOWER SUGGESTING THIS IS AN AREA THE DISTRICT CAN GROW IN.
ONLY 59.8% OF STUDENTS AND 68.8% OF PARENTS AGREED THAT STUDENTS TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS.
THEN MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
I COULD GO BACK, GO BACK. NEVER MIND. I TEACH MI.
IN ADDITION, TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE ASKED ABOUT PERSONAL CONNECTIONS ON CAMPUS.
A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS, 84.3% AGREED THEIR SUPERVISOR KNEW THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL, WHILE ONLY 66.4% OF STUDENTS AGREED THEIR TEACHERS KNEW THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
IT JUST CONNECTS TO THE EARLIER GRAPH LOOKING AT HAVING SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN TALK TO WHEN THEY HAVE A PERSONAL ISSUE.
WE REALLY THINK HELPING STUDENTS FORM CONNECTIONS WITH STAFF WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THEIR OVERALL WELL BEING.
>> NOW, YOU CAN MOVE ON. THANK YOU.
>> WHILE, THE FIRST TWO GRAPH FOCUSED ON STUDENTS.
THE LAST GRAPH EXAMINES PARENTS AND STAFF'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE SCHOOL CLIMATE.
87.4% OF PARENTS SAID THEY FELT WELCOMED ON CAMPUS, AND 77.7% OF STAFF AGREED THEY FELT CONNECTED AND IMPORTANT ON CAMPUS.
ANOTHER SAFETY QUESTION RELATED TO SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY FROM STAFF PERSPECTIVE THAT IS POSITIVE.
WE HAVE 73.9% OF PARENTS BELIEVE THE SCHOOL SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND EMERGENCY PLANS ARE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE.
IN THAT CATEGORY, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE THAT JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
IT WASN'T THAT THEY DISAGREED, THEY JUST DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
THEN WE HAVE AN EVEN LARGER PERCENTAGE OF STAFF, 95% AGREE THEY FELT SAFE AT SCHOOL.
LIKE I SAID, I WILL SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE MOVING FAST.
FORTUNATELY, MY KIDS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO PUT THEMSELVES TO BED, SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
ALTHOUGH KNOWING JOSIE, SHE WILL BE WAITING FOR ME.
THAT'S MY YOUNGEST. IF YOU'VE EVER MET HER, YOU'D UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.
DIANE'S LAUGHING BECAUSE SHE USED TO BE HER PRINCIPAL.
BASED ON THAT, WE AS A COMMITTEE, AND SO WHAT WE DID IS THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE HAD THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE.
THE GROUP OF US, I SHALL ALSO NOTE THAT TWO NEW MEMBERS, BRAN I11 WAS RETURNING JENNIFER, THE WEST RIDGE STAFF REP. SHE JOINED THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE THIS YEAR, AND THEN KIM AGUILAR, WHO'S A NEW BCE REP,
[02:15:01]
JOINED THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE, AND SO IT'S BEEN HELPING WITH FINALIZING THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.BUT WE BROUGHT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OVERALL COMMITTEE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, OUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN AWESOME.
THEY'VE REALLY PROVIDED SOME HELPFUL FEEDBACK ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEY'RE LIKE, NOPE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
WELL, WE'LL NEVER GO FOR IT. WE REALLY TRIED TO HONE IT.
WE ALSO TRIED TO KEEP IT VERY BROAD, ACKNOWLEDGING, AS WE'VE TOLD YOU MANY TIMES BEFORE, THAT EVERY CAMPUS IS DIFFERENT AND WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE ON EACH CAMPUS SHOULD VARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT CAMPUS.
WE KEPT THEM VERY BROAD WITH THE IDEA THAT EACH CAMPUS WOULD TAILOR IT TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
YOU WANT TO KEEP TALKING OR? GOT YOU. I KEEP GOING?
>> FIRST ONE IS ABOUT BUILDING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.
WHILE THE GENERAL SENSE OF BELONGING IS RELATIVELY HIGH FOR THE DISTRICT, STUDENTS STILL REPORT A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THEM AND STAFF WITHIN THE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.
THIS AREA WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE AGREEMENT AND HIGHLIGHT STUDENTS, LIKE I SAID, NEEDED THAT CONNECTION.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND DISTRICT TEACHERS AND STAFF TO CONNECT IN A MORE INFORMAL WAY.
THAT'LL LOOK DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VERSUS THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT DEFINITELY HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM.
YOU WANT TO ADD ON TO THAT, DON? I'LL KEEP GOING.
NEXT ONE, WE'RE GENERALLY CALLING LESSONS, AND I LOVE THAT THAT'S A PICTURE OF ME UP THERE, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY FROM OUR ONE COMMUNITY ONE NIGHT MEETING.
THE NEXT ONE IS LESSONS AND CIVILITY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING NOT ONLY IN K-12.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS WELL.
THAT GETS BACK TO ONLY 59.8% OF STUDENTS, PLUS REPORTING THAT CLASSMATES TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS.
SO MAYBE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL, WE'LL HAVE THE COUNSELORS IN COUP MORE REMINDERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY, AND RESPECT.
ONE OF THE THINGS OUR STUDENT REPS ON THE COMMITTEE SAID, IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THEY NEED EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND SO REALLY HAVING MORE ACTION AND BEHAVIORAL BASED ON THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
THEN AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, THEY REALLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN ANY LESSONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OR ACTIVITIES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO BUILD THAT, WORKING WITH STUDENT COUNCIL AND OTHER STUDENT ORGS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL APPROACHES THAT WILL WORK FOR THEM.
>> YEAH, I JUST HAVE OUR KIDS INPUT ON PARTICULARLY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THESE LESSONS IN CIVILITY HAS BEEN FASCINATING.
THEY'RE REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH THINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL INSTEAD OF "LAME".
>> THEN THE LAST THING WE RECOMMEND IS TRACKING OUR PROGRESS.
A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.
WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR RE-ADMINISTERING THE SURVEY, AND THIS TIME DOING IT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WILL RECALL.
ORIGINALLY, THE STAFF SURVEY WENT OUT IN APRIL OF 22, SO THAT WAS DOING IN '21-'22 SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEN THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS SURVEY WENT OUT THAT FALL, SO THAT WAS IN THE '22-'23 YEARS.
WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING SENSITIVELY NOW IS EARLY SPRING 2026, THE IDEA BEING THAT STUDENTS WILL HAVE A SEMESTER UNDER THEIR BELT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRANSITIONING TO A NEW SCHOOL, AND THAT WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
ALSO, SOME OF THE THINGS THESE TABLES, LIKE SOME OF THE NUMBERS WHERE LAURA, WE DIDN'T POINT OUT, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE SO MUCH SINCE THEN, LESSON CAST COMING IN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR TEACHERS.
WE JUST REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MARK THAT PROGRESS.
FOR US, THIS IS REALLY A BENCHMARK, AND NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE HOW WE PROGRESS.
I THINK AS A COMMITTEE, TOO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT KIND OF SEEING HOW MUCH WE PROGRESS.
ALSO ADVOCATING FOR USING THE SAME WORDING FOR KEY QUESTIONS.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SAY, IS THIS SIMILAR CLOSE ENOUGH? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
LAST TIME THAT YOU ALL REACHED OUT TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON QUESTIONS, AND I ADVOCATE DOING THAT AGAIN AND MAKING SURE ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD SPEND TIME ON IS MAKING SURE THE KEY QUESTIONS ARE SIMILARLY WORDED ACROSS DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.
THEN WE NEED A HIGHER RESPONSE RATE BECAUSE THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MAKE COMPARISONS.
WE DIDN'T LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
WE DIDN'T LOOK AT SPECIFIC GROUPS BECAUSE THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH NUMBERS, AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT MAYBE THROUGH INCREASED MARKETING AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO KIND OF GET OUR RESPONSE RATE UP SO WE CAN DO DIG MORE DEEPLY INTO SOME OF THOSE RESULTS.
>> WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
[02:20:04]
GO INTO GETTING A HIGH RESPONSE RATE.IF YOU END UP WITH A DILEMMA OF ASKING ENOUGH QUESTIONS TO KNOW ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO KNOW, BUT ASKING TOO MANY, SO PEOPLE GET TIRED OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND DON'T ANSWER THEM ALL OR SAY, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT, PERIOD.
THERE'S, TO BE CONTINUED AS FAR AS EXACTLY WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
BUT THE IDEA OF HAVING A BENCHMARK EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEARS IS A GOOD THING.
NOW. IN THE MEANTIME, I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY FIGURING OUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN MUCH MORE INFORMAL WAYS, JUST STANDING IN THE COMMONS, WALK IN THE HALLS, GOING IN CLASSROOMS. THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF FEEDBACK THAT WE USE TO KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING, RANGING FROM THOSE EXTREMELY INFORMAL THINGS TO YOU GUYS HEARD MOLLY AND HEIDI TALK LAST TIME ABOUT SOME MORE IN BETWEEN THIS EXTREMELY INFORMAL TO THIS VERY FORMAL CLIMATE SURVEY.
THEY'VE ALSO SOUGHT FEEDBACK THAT WAY.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF FEEDBACK MECHANISMS, BUT WE DO SEE THE VALUE IN HAVING A PERIODIC, MORE FORMAL SEEKING OF INFORMATION.
>> I THINK WE HAVE MORE SLIDE, DON'T WE?
>> WE DO. WE DO HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE.
THIS YEAR, LOOKING AHEAD, IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING AND SPREADING.
YOU'VE HEARD THE WORD CONNECTIONS MULTIPLE TIMES.
BUT OUR COMMITTEE AGREED THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE ONE COMMUNITY, ONE NIGHT, MANY VOICES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A DATE LATE JANUARY.
I'M AFRAID TO SAY IT OUT LOUD, SPECIFICALLY, PUBLICLY JUST YET.
BUT LATE JANUARY, AS SOON AS WE GET BACK FROM THE BREAK, WE'LL SEND OUT A SAVE THE DATE BEFORE WE LEAVE.
THEN AS SOON AS WE GET BACK, WE'LL START REALLY SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHEN THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT.
WE'LL HAVE THE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERNS AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND WE'LL BREAK BREAK ROOMS INTO SMALL GROUPS HAVING CONVERSATION AROUND GUIDING QUESTIONS.
WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE WITH CONNECTIONS AS FAR AS OUR EQUITY TEAMS COMING TO THE COMMITTEE, SHARING WHAT'S GOING ON ON EACH CAMPUS WHICH IS LEADING INTO THIS SECOND BULLET OF ENHANCING CONNECTIONS.
WE STILL WILL HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO REALLY CONNECT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT EACH SCHOOL? BECAUSE THERE'S GREAT THINGS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD.
IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE HURTING CATS SOMETIMES TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.
THEN ALSO, WE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT BROADENING THE REACH OF TRAINING.
OUR STAFF HAS HAD A GREAT DEAL OF TRAINING AND A VARIETY FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES.
ONE OF THE ONES THAT I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER IS THIS WHOLE IDEA OF HAVING A TRAINING BASED ON TALKING THROUGH DIFFICULT SCENARIOS.
LOTS OF CAMPUSES HAVE DONE THAT WITH THEIR STAFF, AND I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN OUR KIDS.
WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WHY DON'T WE DO THAT WITH KIDS? I WAS LIKE, H, GREAT.
WE SHOULD. THEN A PARENT SAID, HELLO, WE SHOULD DO IT WITH PARENTS, TOO., YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRO BROADEN THAT REACH.
WE I THINK HAVE TALKED LONGER THAN WE INTENDED TO.
DON ARE YOU GOING DONE? ANYTHING ELSE? JUST GOING BACK TO THE ENHANCING CONNECTIONS.
YES, HAVING THE EQUITY TEAMS VISIT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, ESPECIALLY THE NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS IDENTIFY IS THEY COME AND THEN THEY'RE GONE.
/ WE'RE WORKING ON HAVING TO IDENTIFY LIAISON FROM OUR COMMITTEE TO THESE EQUITY TEAMS SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND CONNECT THEM WITH DIFFERENT CAMPUSES AS NEEDED.
IT SEEMS MORE OF AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP AND NOT YOUR YEARLY VISIT TO THE DI ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT IS PART OF OUR ENHANCING CONNECTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> LET'S GET LATE CHECK. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE COMMITTEE CO CHAIRS BEFORE, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AT THIS EVEN LONGER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON
[02:25:02]
THESE INITIATIVES BECAUSE THESE ARE SO IMPORTANT REALLY TO ALL OF OUR PEOPLE, STAFF, STUDENTS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK AND FOR STAYING SO LATE TONIGHT.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT VERY BRIEF. IT IS SO INTERESTING THE SURVEY DATA AND A LITTLE ALARMING.
I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND I AM SO CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT DATA SAYS BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW, WE HAVE A WE'VE DONE A LOT OF STUFF SO I'M REALLY CURIOUS.
I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY LIKE MY TEACHERS KNOW ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT BROKEN DOWN BY MAYBE NOT GRADE LEVEL, BUT AT LEAST ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S TOUGHER WITH YOUNGER KIDS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOUNGER KIDS REALLY, THEY'RE, GETTING TO KNOW THEMSELVES, BUT, I DO LOVE AND HAVING HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, I SEE IT.
I SEE THAT MY SON CAN BE A TOTAL GOOF BALL WITH SOME OF HIS TEACHERS BECAUSE HE FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.
THEN MY DAUGHTER SHE'LL BE LINED TO ONE CLASS JUST TO HANG OUT BECAUSE SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE THERE.
I THINK AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHY MR. RAMSEY FEELS SUPER STRONG ABOUT NOT HAVING BLOCK BECAUSE OF THOSE CONNECTIONS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SECRET SAUCE, AND I'M USING THAT TERM ALL THE TIME NOW, BUT SORRY.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SECRET SAUCE, BUT, HOW DO WE ROLL THAT DOWN? GRADE LEVELS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
HOLY SMOKES. LESSONS IN CIVILITY.
I THINK OUR CIVILIZATION AS A WHOLE RIGHT NOW IS NOT EXACTLY EXEMPLIFYING THE BEST EXAMPLES OF CIVIL DISCOURSE.
I WORK WITH PEOPLE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND THEY CAN'T EVEN GET IT TOGETHER TO PICK A SPEAKER.
THE THINGS, THE BULLYING THAT I'M SEEING FROM ADULTS THAT WE ELECT TO REPRESENT US AT THE STATE LEVEL IS DISGUSTING.
I'M SURPRISED THAT IT IS YOU IMPACTING OUR KIDS, UNFORTUNATELY.
HOWEVER WE CAN MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR, AND HOWEVER WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS DO FEEL SUPPORTED AND LEARN HOW TO HAVE CIVIL DISCOURSE AND IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AND HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER IN A SAFE SPACE, I'M ALL FOR IT.
I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF OPENING THAT UP TO PARENTS AND STAFF AND COMMUNITY, WHATEVER, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
REALLY, THOSE WEREN'T QUESTIONS.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT THINGS, AND I THINK YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND THE COMMITTEE NEW AND FORMER.
>> THANKS, HEATHER. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE STUDENT SURVEY ONLY GOES TO THE SECONDARY STUDENTS.
IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE, WE WOULD HAVE TO THINK THROUGH THAT PART OF IT BEING THEY'RE VERY ADVANCED, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE TIME FOR OUR FIRST OR SECOND GRADERS TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONSIDER.
DO WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO OUR FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS? WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION OR DO WE WANT TO DO FOCUS GROUPS WITH THEM? BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY GET A SENSE OF WHERE THEY ARE, BUT CURRENTLY THE DATA IS JUST BASED ON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
>> THEN WE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, BUT THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER, WE'LL GO TO KELLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
I HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENCE AS WELL, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FUN THINGS COME OUT OF IT, INCLUDING HAVING A MENTEE THIS YEAR, CLAIRE JARO.
SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT CULTURAL IQ AND THAT WAS HER GOAL FOR OUR DISTRICT.
SHE APPROACHED IT WITH THIS MENTOR MINDSET, WHERE THE BIG KIDS WERE GOING TO TEACH THE LITTLE KIDS CIVILITY.
SOMETIMES, YOU FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT WHERE THE BIG KIDS COULD USE THE LESSONS AS CIVILITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN YOU LEARN IT, AND THEN YOU TEACH IT TO SOMEONE, I FEEL LIKE IT REALLY REINFORCES IT.
I LOVED HER IDEA OF HAVING OUR BIG KIDS LEARN CIVILITY AND THEN INTRODUCE IT TO THE LITTLE KIDS.
I ALSO FELT LIKE I REALLY LIKED YOUR DISCUSSION OF HARD CONVERSATIONS VERSUS CIVIL CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SIMILAR AND THEY DO JUST HELP YOU DEVELOP THOSE SKILLS TO REALIZE ONCE YOU GET INTO A HARD CONVERSATION, THERE ARE CIVIL WAYS TO EITHER GET OUT OR AGREE TO DISAGREE.
[02:30:03]
I ALREADY HAVE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AND SO, EVEN WITH MY MIDDLE SCHOOLER, BECAUSE THAT'S, I THINK WHERE WE GET INTO A LOT OF HARD CONVERSATIONS.I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, I REALLY DO SEE IT.
I ALSO SEE OUR OFFICERS DOING A LOT OF HELP WITH CIVILITY WITH THE STUDENTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND HELPING MANAGE THAT.
ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK IS THAT WHEN I TOURED THE HIGH SCHOOL, I SAW THESE BIG BANNERS EVERYWHERE WITH THE COUNSELORS ON IT, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT KEPT REMINDING YOU, HEY, AND IT WAS THEIR FACES, WHICH IS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE I EVEN FELT THEM LIKE SMILING AT ME AND SAYING, HEY, YOU GOT SOMETHING GOING ON, I'M HERE.
I SEE YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT IN MY OPINION, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF MENTAL SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS AT THAT AGE.
I REALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME SIMILAR STUFF, BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
>> I KNOW THAT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HILL COUNTRY, [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SPENT AS MUCH TIME THERE, BUT AT WEST RIDGE, THEY DO THEY'RE NOT BIG LIKE THE ONES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THERE ARE FLYERS WITH THEIR FACES AND A QR CODE FOR HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM ALL OVER CAMPUS.
AT LEAST THEY WERE LAST YEAR, AND I'M PRETTY SURE I SAW THEM THIS YEAR, TOO. I HEAR YOU.
THE VISIBILITY, AND HONESTLY, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST WITH THIS MIDDLE GRAPH HERE, OUR STAFF SAYS, WE'VE GOT ALL THIS SUPPORT, AND WE DO.
WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS AVAILABLE FOR KIDS, BUT CLEARLY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING SURE KIDS REALIZE THEY'RE THERE.
WE'RE TRYING, AND WE'LL NEVER, YOU ALWAYS DO THE BEST YOU CAN, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> WELL, AND THIS YOU SAID WAS A 2022 SURVEY.
I SEE IT HAPPENING, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. WE WILL GO TO KIM AND THEN DIANE.
>> I'LL FOLLOW UP ON REALLY, THE SURVEY CLIMATE SURVEY RESULTS AND THEN THE LESSONS IN CIVILITY.
I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH OTHER ADMINISTRATORS WHERE I WILL WALK THE HALLS, AND I WILL SEE PLENTY OF THINGS, AND THOSE TEENAGERS JUST DON'T.
THEY DON'T SEE THEIR EYES AREN'T DEVELOPED OR SOMETHING.
[LAUGHTER] BUT TO GET TO THE POINT AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LESSONS IN CIVILITY, DIANE, I THINK IT WAS YOU THAT SAID, COULD YOU GET SOME ACTION AND BEHAVIOR BASED EXAMPLES? WE'VE ALL SEEN AS ADULTS, HOW TRAININGS WORK FOR ADULT MINDS, ARE THERE EXAMPLES FROM EITHER OF YOU ON HOW TO GET TO EFFECTIVE WITH SOME STUDENT INPUT TO EFFECTIVE ACTION AND BEHAVIOR BASED LESSONS AND CIVILITY THAT MIGHT SINK IN THAT THEY MIGHT SEE?
>> I THINK ACTUALLY KELLY'S IDEA OF PEER MODELING IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THIS AGE, THEY'RE NOT REALLY LISTENING TO THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES, THEY'RE LISTENING TO THEIR PEERS.
HAVING PEERS THAT THEY RESPECT AND LOOK UP TO MODEL THIS, I THINK WOULD BE CRUCIAL, AND ALSO HAVING THEM INVESTED IN WHATEVER IS CREATED, SO IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S BEING IMPOSED UPON THEM WILL ALSO HELP IT BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS THE APPROACH THEY'RE TAKING.
IT'S NOT THE STAFF DOING THE TRAINING, IT IS THE STAFF, THAT TRAINS THE STUDENTS WHO ARE A PEER MODELS, AND THEN THEY GO IN AND SHARE IT.
IT'S OFTENTIMES THE LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THAT'S WHY I SAY PEOPLE THAT THEY RESPECT.
WE NEED TO GET BUY IN FROM THE STUDENT POPULATION.
THAT'S ONLY BY WORKING WITH THEM DIRECTLY IN THE CREATION AND ALSO IN THE SHARING OF THIS.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ONE TIME TRAINING IS NEVER EFFECTIVE, SO THAT IS TRUE FOR ADULTS.
THAT IS TRUE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.
MAKING SURE WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING.
I THINK ONCE THAT'S DONE, AND THAT JUST BECOMES A PART OF OUR CULTURE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS, I NOW HAVE A SOPHOMORE, SO I'VE BEEN IN HERE A WHILE, AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT I USED TO SEE THE FIVE YEARS AGO THAT I JUST DON'T SEE ANYMORE.
I SEE THE STUDENTS CORRECTING EACH OTHER T, THAT'S NOT COOL, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
[02:35:02]
BEFORE THEIR EYES WOULD GLAZE OVER HIM, THEY DIDN'T SEE IT.HAVING MORE OF THAT AND HAVING THOSE WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE QUIET, HAVING THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO INTERVENE IN THOSE SITUATIONS, I THINK WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> ALONG THE LINES OF STUDENTS TEACHING STUDENTS, THAT'S LITERALLY RIGHT AT THE END OF OUR LAST WESTLAKE EQUITY TEAM MEETING, THAT'S WHAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT, AND THEN, WE RAN OUT OF TIME.
THAT'S WHERE WE'LL PICK THINGS UP NEXT TIME.
>> GREAT. THEN ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION, WHEN WE BOTH OF YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SURVEY, SHOULD WE DO A SURVEY DOWN THE ROAD AND THOSE KEY WORDS TO TIE IN AND GET A BIG PICTURE FROM ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS? I'M SURE THERE'S AN ART, AND THERE'S A SCIENCE TO THAT.
DO WE RELY ON OUR INTERNAL RESOURCES, OR DO WE GO TO EXTERNAL RESOURCES OR MAYBE HOW DID IT WORK BEFORE AND IS THERE A WISH LIST OF HOW TO PUT A SURVEY TOGETHER?
>> NO. I CAN STAND IT. IT'S FINE.
NO, I DO SURVEYS ALL THE TIME.
YES, I'M SORRY THAT'S WHAT I DO.
>> OTHER PART OF MY LIFE. YES. THERE'S MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.
I MEAN, GIVEN BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE TO CREATE OUR SURVEY.
THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO HAVE THAT SKILL SET THAT'D BE WILLING TO DO IT.
WE CAN TAKE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
MY FAVORITE APPROACH IS THERE ARE ONES THAT ALREADY EXIST, AND SO A LOT OF THOSE ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR USE, AND WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT YOU ALWAYS WANT TO TAILOR IT TO YOUR SCHOOL AND TAILOR THAT LANGUAGE.
SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE REWORKED, AND THEN, I SAID, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO COME UP WITH A SURVEY, AND I WON'T GO DOWN THE PATH ABOUT, BUT I WILL, JUST FOR A MINUTE.
BEAR WITH ME. ALSO HOW WE ORGANIZE THE SURVEY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE STUDENTS DO FALL OFF AS DO PARENTS AND EVERYONE.
YOU WANT TO HAVE THOSE KEY QUESTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SURVEY.
WE KNOW THESE ARE THE 20 QUESTIONS, HOPEFULLY NOT 20.
LET'S SAY TEN TO 15 QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT ANSWERED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AT THE BEGINNING.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT MORE RELIABLE.
FOR CONSISTENCY'S SAKE, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CARRY OVER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM 22.
WE CAN SAY, LOOK, WE'VE GONE UP 10% OR LOOK, WE'VE GONE UP 15 BUT THEN SOME OF THOSE OTHER ONES, WHERE THE WORDING IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, WE NEED TO JUST LET IT GO AND MOVE ON IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION IS JUST TO RELY ON THE COMMITTEE AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS EXPERTISE TO HELP YOU IN THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE SURVEY.
>> THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO DIANE.
>> THANK YOU. LOTS OF INTERESTING DATA THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED.
ONE OF MY QUESTION, ONE OF MY FIRST QUESTIONS WAS ABOUT THE SURVEY DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING SOME OF THAT. I'M CURIOUS.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL WOULD BE AN IDEAL REGULARITY AT WHICH WE PUT THE SURVEY OUT?
>> I WOULD SAY TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM X, SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR STUDENT POPULATIONS ARE CHANGING, THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SCHOOLS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON, AND WE COULDN'T NECESSARILY DO IT, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT WAIT MORE THAN THREE YEARS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SURVEYS.
ALSO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IS MAKING THE DATA AVAILABLE SOONER SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE IT AND BEGIN WORK.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME PRELIMINARY WORK DONE WITH THE SURVEY, AND YOU ALL BE YOU'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT FOR THESE DEEP DIVES, LIKE MAKING THE DATA AVAILABLE BECAUSE I THINK IT TOOK THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET A HOLD OF ANY PART OF THE DATA.
THAT'S SO WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS TO YOU LAST YEAR IF WE HAD THOSE MONTHS BACK.
JUST MAKING SURE FROM THE GET GO, WE'RE RUNNING TWO AND WHEN AND SPEEDING UP THAT PROCESS, BUT I WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DO EVERY YEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST GET TIRED SO I WOULD SAY TWO TO THREE.
>> IS THERE ANY VALUE OF DOING A PRETTY SHORT SURVEY, MAYBE IN BETWEEN THE 2-3 YEARS?
>> THAT'S CALLED A PULSE SURVEY.
THOSE ARE USUALLY LIKE FIVE QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE LIKE FIVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY YEAR, SOMETHING STUDENTS COULD FILL OUT WHILE THEY'RE WAITING IN THE CAFETERIA LAND. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU COULD DO EVERY YEAR, BUT I WOULD DO THAT AS A PULSE SURVEY AND MAKE SURE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ARE CLEAR.
[02:40:02]
THOSE, LIKE I SAID, ARE USUALLY NO MORE THAN FIVE QUESTIONS.>. THANK YOU. IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR YEARS IF WE WAIT UNTIL 2026 BETWEEN THAT APRIL 2022 SURVEY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SAID, WE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL SOME CHANGE HAD HAPPENED, AND NOT DO SOMETHING IN 2025.
IS THAT CONCERNING YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR YEARS IN BETWEEN?
>> WE COULD DO IT AT THE END OF 2025.
>> I'M ALSO THINKING JUST OF SOME OF THE DECISIONS AND THE UNCERTAINTY THAT'S HAPPENING.
WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO IT WITHIN, AND WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH IT.
I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE WAS LAST TIME THAT OUR COMMITTEE HAD ONE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE SURVEYS.
WE HAD ONE SESSION BECAUSE IT WAS GOING OUT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
IF WE WANT A GOAL OF THE END OF NEXT SEMESTER, I'M SORRY, I THINK IN COLLEGE TERMS, BUT, LET'S SAY APRIL, DON'T WANT TO WAIT TILL MAY BECAUSE NO ONE'S FILLING OUT A SURVEY IN MAY.
I THINK THAT IS FEASIBLE IF WE START WORKING ON IT.
I JUST WOULDN'T SO I WOULD SAY IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I'LL BE THREE YEARS THEN FROM THE APRIL 1, I WAS NOVEMBER FOR THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T DO IT BEFORE NOVEMBER AGAIN IN THE FALL BECAUSE YOU WANT THOSE NEW STUDENTS TO FEEL LIKE, YES, I HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE.
WE DON'T WANT NEW STUDENTS TO BE LIKE, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, OR IF THEY MADE THAT TRANSITION, ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE KNOW TRANSITIONS CAN BE HARD FOR ALL STUDENTS SO WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE SETTLED AND NOT DEALING WITH THAT FIRST TWO MONTHS OF LIFE'S HARD, AND THEREFORE, MY SCHOOL'S HARD.
I WOULD SAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW, I'M ALWAYS DOWN FOR A GOOD SURVEY, BUT, LET US KNOW.
I KNOW. I'M SORRY. I'M A DATA NERD.
THAT'S WHY HEATHER AND I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN ALONG.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW, JUST LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL START WORKING ON IT IN JANUARY.
OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T DO IT ANY EARLIER THAN NOVEMBER IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
JUST TO GIVE THEM TIME TO SETTLE THE NEW STUDENTS, THE TRANSITION YEARS.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YOU'RE SAYING YOU WOULD START WORKING ON SOMETHING IN JANUARY FOR US AND HAVE IT READY BY APRIL. INTERESTING.
>> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE DECISION IT REALLY IS, BUT I'M ALL FOR THAT [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU.
>> ACTUALLY LAUGHING AT ME BECAUSE SHE KNOWS I'LL BE LIKE AT HOME, LIKE, THERE YOU GO, FIRST DRAFT. HOW MANY QUESTIONS DO YOU WANT?
>> WITH THIS BEING YOUR DAY JOB, DO YOU HAVE SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO INCREASE OUR RESPONSE RATE? I MEAN, CERTAINLY NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE DESGGREGATED DATA, BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, WE REALLY WANT TO GET THAT NUMBER UP SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE DATA IN MORE DETAIL.
>> BECAUSE ALL WE HAD ACCESS TO IS LIKE THE PDFS, WHICH MAKES IT VERY CHALLENGING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO FILL IT OUT DURING CLASS TIME, THAT'LL HELP YOU WITH CLASS PARTICIPATION.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL DO INCENTIVES, YOU CAN DO THE COMPETITION BETWEEN SCHOOLS.
THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT MARKETING THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET IT DONE WITH PARENTS, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEIR KIDS GET IF YOU FILL OUT THE SURVEY.
IF X% OF PARENTS FILL IT OUT, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS, THAT'LL MOTIVATE MORE PARENTS TO DO IT.
THE OTHER KEY IS MAKING SURE IT'S NOT TOO LONG BECAUSE SOMETIMES PARENTS WILL OPEN IT UP, OR PEOPLE IN GENERAL WILL OPEN IT UP AND SEE HOW LONG IT IS AND SAY, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS, SO DOING THAT AS WELL.
>> THE SURVEYS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO LOOK AT.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS WHERE THERE JUST YOU CAN'T PUT THOSE OUT THERE.
NO ONE'S GOING TO READ THOSE. WOULD YOU ADVISE THAT WE JUST GET RID OF STUFF LIKE THAT AND KEEP IT ALL?
>> I THINK IT'S USEFUL TO HAVE ONE, BUT, YES, THE NUMBER OF OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS CAN BE VERY PROBLEMATIC.
IN GENERAL, I RECOMMEND LIMIT IT TO ONE OR TWO OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU DO WANT THAT WAYS TO IMPROVE.
ONE THING THAT DID COME OUT IS SOMETIMES THE OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS WERE ONLY PRESENTED IF PEOPLE GAVE I THINK THE DISTRICT BELOW A B OR SOMETHING.
IT WASN'T AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY PARENT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
IT'S LIKE, YES, MY KNEES WERE MET, BUT JUST BECAUSE MY NEEDS WERE MET, DOESN'T MEAN THE PROCESS COULDN'T BE IMPROVED.
I WOULD RECOMMEND DOING THAT ONCE.
THERE'S AI THAT'LL CODE IT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY.
THERE'S WAYS YOU CAN DO IT, BUT DEFINITELY NO MORE THAN TWO, PREFERABLY ONE OPEN ENDED QUESTION AT THE END WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> AS MUCH AS I LOVE DATA, TOO, I LOVE YOUR POINT, DIANE, ABOUT THE ANECDOTE DATA THAT YOU GET EVERY DAY.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT PULSE THAT YOU CAN SENSE ON THE CAMPUSES.
[02:45:05]
WE ABSOLUTELY CAN'T DISCOUNT THAT AS OUR DAY IN DAY OUT DATA COLLECTION THAT'S GOING ON BY THE STAFF AND PARENTS AT HOME AND ALL OF THAT.LOOKING AT YOUR CHARTS, I WAS BLOWN AWAY AT HOW SOME OF THESE SAFETY QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE TEACHERS, WERE SO HIGH.
THAT THERE IS SOME DISCREPANCY BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS AT HOME.
IT'S THE TEACHERS WHO I WOULD WANT TO SEE BE THE HIGHEST BAR, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES CLOSEST TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS ARE, SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN.
IT'S JUST THAT SOMEHOW GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO PARENTS, SO THAT THEY FEEL EVEN BETTER ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SECURE SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO REALLY TRY TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME AT US.
I GUESS THAT LEADS TO A QUESTION OF THESE GRAPHS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, THEY'RE IN OUR BOARD PACKETS.
IF PEOPLE DIG INTO THE BOARD PAGE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THESE, BUT DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR PUTTING THESE ONTO YOUR DEI WEBSITE? OR I KNOW YOU'RE STILL WORKING ON YOUR REPORT.
HOW IS THIS DATA GOING TO BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH STAFF, WHOEVER MIGHT BE INTERESTED, TRYING TO PUSH IT OUT?
>> YOU LOOKING AT ME? ONCE IT'S FINALIZED, I'M FINE WITH IT BEING SHARED ON THE WEBSITE.
>> WE'LL POST THE REPORT AND MAYBE SOME [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT WE'VE SHARED.
I MEAN, NOT OTHER COMMITTEES I'VE BEEN ON, WE CAN POST IT.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THE GRAPHS OUT THERE, TOO, SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO OPEN UP.
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LENGTHY [LAUGHTER].
>> OH, NO. I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF.
THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I LOVE 20 PAGES.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT AND HOPEFULLY TRYING TO GET WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THANKS FOR SHARING HOW YOUR COMMITTEE'S OPERATING, THE LIAISONS THAT YOU HAVE BETWEEN YOUR EQUITY COMMITTEE AND TRYING TO GET THEM, THOSE CONTACTS ON THE CAMPUSES, COORDINATING WITH YOUR COMMITTEE MORE.
YOU'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK BETTER, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE CIVIL DISCOURSE? I GUESS THAT LEADS TO THE ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD, WE HAVE THIS DATA AND YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PLANS FOR WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO ACT ON THIS? ANYTHING WE CAN PUT OUT THERE, MAYBE ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? HOW ARE WE REACTING TO THIS SO THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T DO SURVEYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE'S GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEM? IF WE CAN JUST CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT MESSAGE OUT AS WELL, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> YOU TWO ARE SUCH ROCK STARS IN THIS AREA.
I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A FABULOUS USE OF DATA, PARTICULARLY IN AN AREA THAT OFTEN GETS ACCUSED OF BEING SOFT AND GUSHY AND NOT MEASURABLE.
I THINK THIS IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
>> IT'S A DOOR ALARM [LAUGHTER].
THAT TO HAVE DATA AND BE ABLE TO SEE MEASURABLE RESULTS OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER TIME, I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT.
I'M THRILLED TO THINK THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPEAT IT, PARTICULARLY IF WE GET ON A THREE-YEAR CYCLE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THOSE BENCHMARKS.
BECAUSE 2022 WAS STILL, I THINK, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A LOT OF COVID WEIRDNESS, AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF PURPOSEFUL STAFFING, I'M LOOKING AT THE HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAFF FEELING LIKE THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES AND STUDENTS NOT BEING SO AWARE.
I DO THINK WE WILL SEE SOME CHANGES, BUT WE MAY SEE FALLOUT IN OTHER PLACES, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.
BUT I DO THINK IF WE CAN GET ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE, THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THIS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE RESULTS AND CAN HAVE THE DIRECTION THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GAIN FROM THIS. GREAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN. ANY OTHER? I GUESS KIM WENT OUT AND KNOCKED THE ALARM OFF OR SOMETHING THERE.
MY KEY TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT MEANINGFUL IS BETTER THAN LAME [LAUGHTER].
I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
[02:50:06]
>>WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION ACTION.
>> YEAH, MARIA HAS BEEN HERE ALL NIGHT.
[10.3 Monthly financial report and budget amendment(s) for the period ending November 30, 2024]
SOMETHING WE HAD MENTIONED BEFORE WAS THAT WE HAD NO TAX COLLECTIONS BECAUSE TAX NOTICES HADN'T GONE OUT.
THOSE TAX NOTICES WENT OUT AND WE DID SEE SOME MONEY COMING IN.
NOT A LOT, BUT WE'LL SEE IT PICK UP DEFINITELY IN DECEMBER.
THEN AS FAR AS BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE HAD BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND NONE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE OF THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND.
WHEN WE COME BACK IN FOR JANUARY'S BOARD MEETING, WE'LL HAVE OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT, SO THAT'LL BE THE ONE THAT HAS CHANGES ON ALL THE LINES TO GET THEM UPDATED FOR ACTUAL DATA AT THAT POINT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> MORE OF A COMMENT, AND I KNOW IT'S LATE, SO I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I KNOW WITH ALL THE STATE TAX COMPRESSION, AND EVEN WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOWERING THE TAX RATE, THAT IT SEEMED LIKE ASSESSED VALUES DESPITE THE MARKET SEEMING WEIRD.
ASSESSED VALUES SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE UP IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S MORE OF AN OBSERVATION.
AND SOMEONE WAS LIKE, DID THE DISTRICT RAISE TAXES? NOP. WE DID NOT.
DO WE LOWERED THEM, AND EVEN THE STATE, COMPRESSED, AND SO IT WAS AN INTERESTING THING WITH THE TAXES THAT I'VE SEEN AND HEARD, SO JUST MAKING THAT NOTE THAT IT WASN'T US, WASN'T OUR FAULT.
>> THE OVERALL TAX INFLATION OF ASSESSED VALUES WAS NOT VERY BIG.
IT'S PROBABLY VERY SPOTTY WHERE PEOPLE SAW SIGNIFICANT INCREASES.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE SAW VERY LITTLE OR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROBABLY ACTUALLY SAW DECLINE.
>> I THINK IT WAS PEOPLE WHO SOLD THEIR HOUSE AND THEN BOUGHT.
ALSO, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR HOUSES LOCKED IN AND PURCHASED FROM SOMEONE OVER 65 AND THAT'S A BIG WAKE UP WHEN YOU GET THAT NEW TAX BILL.
I THINK THAT WAS PART OF IT, TOO.
>> NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO A REQUEST TO APPROVE.
[11.1 Request to approve school calendars for 2025-26 and 2026-27]
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO START HERE? I NEED A MOTION, AND THEN WE'LL START ASKING, MOLLY.THEY'RE LOOKING. GOING TO GET A MOTION.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR ACADEMIC CALENDARS FOR THE '25/'26 SCHOOL YEAR AND '26/'27.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU.
>> I MOVED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE 2025/2026 AND 2026/2027 ACADEMIC CALENDARS AS PRESENTED.
>> MOTION BY HEATHER, SECOND BY KELLY.
NOW WE WILL DISCUSS IT. MOLLY.
>> JUST VERY QUICKLY, THE CALENDAR ADOPTION PROCESS.
OUR DRAFT CALENDARS ARE SHARED WITH DLT AND THE CAMPUS PRINCIPALS AND THEN THE CAMPUS PRINCIPALS TAKE THIS BACK TO CLT, CAMPUS STAFF.
I'M SORRY THIS FALL, WE TYPICALLY TRY TO DO TWO ACADEMIC YEARS AT A TIME, IF WE CAN.
AFTER ABOUT I THINK TWO MEETINGS, WE THEN BROUGHT THEM BACK FOR VOTES, AND THE DLT VOTED ON THE OPTIONS.
WE GO WITH MAJORITY RULE DETERMINING THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, I COME AND PRESENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADOPTION.
THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION COLLABORATES WITH THE DEI COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE NO HOMEWORK NIGHTS.
THE BOARD DOESN'T ACTUALLY VOTE ON NO HOMEWORK NIGHTS, THAT'S NOT PART OF THAT, BUT WE DO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED COMMUNITY INPUT ON THOSE NO HOMEWORK NIGHTS.
A LOT OF THOSE DO ALIGN WITH HIGH HOLY NIGHTS FOR DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, SO WE TRY TO HONOR THAT.
YOU DO HAVE SOME OTHER EVENTS SUCH AS THINGS LIKE PROM THAT WEEKEND THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL ASKS FOR.
THERE'S A FEW WEEKENDS LIKE THAT YOU'LL SEE.
THEN AFTER THE BOARD ADOPTS THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR, THEN HUMAN RESOURCES WORKS TO FINALIZE THE STAFF CALENDARS.
[02:55:03]
IF THE CALENDARS ARE ADOPTED TONIGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE THE STAFF CALENDARS BEFORE WINTER BREAK OR SOON THEREAFTER.THIS IS JUST A QUICK VIEW OF THE '25/'26 CALENDAR THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH OUR WEDNESDAY MIDDLE OF THE WEEK START IN AUGUST.
YOU'LL SEE THIS CALENDAR LOOKS REMARKABLY LIKE THE CALENDARS FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH REALLY PRETTY MUCH THE FOLLOWING THE EXACT SAME SCHEDULE, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS, AND THEN YOU SEE THE END DATE THERE ON MAY 22ND, WHICH IS RIGHT BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE KEY POINTS, LIKE I MENTIONED, IT'S VERY SIMILAR, WE CONTINUE THE MIDWEEK START.
WE HAVE, EXCUSE ME, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, TRIED TO ALIGN SPRING BREAK WITH AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THEN OTHER LOCAL DISTRICTS [NOISE]. SORRY.
>> I'M GOOD. WE BELIEVE THAT FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT IS WHERE SPRING BREAK SHOULD FALL.
WE WERE ACTUALLY WAITING ON THE '25-'26 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR TO SEE WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WOULD PUT THAT SPRING BREAK IN THERE.
THE '26-'27 CALENDAR, THE FIRST SEMESTER LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO HOW THE OTHER PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE GONE.
REMEMBER, ALSO, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE CALENDARS, THE REASON THEY LOOK THE WAY THEY DO, WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUT OUR SEMESTERS, AND SO LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A QUESTION OF WHY DON'T WE START LATER OR WHY AS FAR AS IN AUGUST? WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TWO SEMESTERS, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN YOU HAVE SEMESTER-LONG COURSES, THAT THOSE ARE EQUITABLE FOR EACH SEMESTER.
WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS CALENDAR IS YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A HOLIDAY RIGHT AFTER SPRING BREAK, AND THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE A GOOD FRIDAY, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A DAY THAT WE DO HAVE OFF IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE THEN ADDED A DAY OFF IN APRIL TO JUST AGAIN BALANCE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SCHOOL DAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEN WE ACTUALLY GET OUT THAT YEAR A WEEK BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT UNTIL MAY 31ST, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DEBATE WITHIN THE DLT AND DISCUSSION.
SOME PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO KEEP IT AT THAT WEEK.
OTHER PARENTS HAD TALKED ABOUT HAVING AN EXTRA WEEK OFF OF SCHOOL MEANS AN EXTRA WEEK TRYING TO FIND SUMMER CAMPS, AND SO WE WENT A LITTLE BIT BACK AND FORTH.
BUT ENDING ON MAY 21ST, ACTUALLY, IS ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, YOU HAVE YOUR MID-WEEK START.
THERE WILL BE A ASTERISK ON THIS PARTICULAR CALENDAR JUST SAYING THAT SPRING BREAK MAY CHANGE.
AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION FOR '26 AND '27, WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE SPRING BREAK JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALIGNED, BUT THE BOARD CAN ADOPT IT AS IS.
WE THINK THAT SPRING BREAK, WHERE WE HAVE IT, WILL BE WHERE SPRING BREAK SHOULD BE, BUT THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF UNKNOWN FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
>> IS UT SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT WE DON'T TRY TO ALIGN SPRING BREAK WITH IT ANYMORE?
SOMETIMES THEY'VE GONE A LITTLE BIT BACK AND FORTH.
A LOT OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO ALIGN WITH ACC BECAUSE THEY HAVE DUAL CREDIT COURSES.
BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR STAFF HAVE STUDENTS IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE TRY TO HONOR THAT, SO THAT'S THE PATTERN.
WE GO WITH MORE SO THAN LOOKING AT UT, WHICH IS WHAT WE USED TO DO IN THE PAST.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED THAT.
BUT, GOSH, I'M LOOKING AT AUGUST 12TH, THAT JUST SEEMED SO DARN EARLY.
WAS THAT ALSO PART OF THAT CONTROVERSIAL DECISION? ARE PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH STARTING THAT EARLY IN AUGUST? [OVERLAPPING] IT KEEPS CREEPING FORWARD.
>> IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT KEEPS CREEPING UP.
>> BUT THEY HAD THE OPTION TO SHIFT IT A WHOLE WEEK, AND THEY DIDN'T.
>> THE SPACE FOR THE WEEK IS AT THE END OF MAY, AND YOU NEED IT IN THE FALL SEMESTER.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. IF YOU HAD PUSHED THE START AS PART OF THAT, YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONDENSING FIRST SEMESTER, AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE BALANCED SEMESTERS.
[03:00:02]
IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF WE HAD THAT PLAY, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T THIS YEAR.BUT REALLY, IT JUST CAME DOWN TO, WERE WE GOING TO TRY TO ADD A FEW MORE DAYS IN TO GET US TO MAYBE GO TO MAYBE THE WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY OF THAT LAST WEEK BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY? PEOPLE JUST WOULD RATHER GET OUT EARLIER.
THAT WAS THE CONSENSUS ANYWAY.
>> I GUESS CONSENSUS WORKS. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S HOW DLT ROLLS ANYWAY AROUND CALENDARS.
>> THANKS, DIANE. OTHER QUESTIONS, TRUSTEES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, 6, 0.
[11.2 Continuation of Budget discussion]
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ACTION IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP DISCUSSION.THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE AN ACTION.
IS IT IN CONSENT? DO WE HAVE A CONSENT?
>> IT'S A CONSENT AGENDA. I KNOW.
>> BEFORE CHRIS STARTS, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE STAYED WITH US VERY LATE THIS EVENING, I'M SURE, FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTIVENESS AND INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY BEFORE CHRIS BEGINS, THE PURPOSE OF THIS BUDGET FOLLOW-UP IS A CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
WE THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD YOU CLEARLY REGARDING ONE OF THOSE, BUT CHRIS IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS AGAIN THIS EVENING JUST SO WE CAN BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN WHAT INFORMATION YOU NEED, AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE THAT YOU WANT TO FOLLOW WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VOTING ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND TAKING ACTION AS EARLY AS JANUARY.
WITH THAT, MR. SPRADLEY, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SAY.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO VOTE ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK THIS WAS IN A MEMO RECENTLY TO VOTE ON A COUPLE OF THESE ACTIONS IN EARLY JANUARY.
JANUARY 14TH IS OUR FIRST MEETING THERE.
IDEALLY, TRUSTEES, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MAKING THAT VOTE, LET'S BE SURE THAT WE GET THAT OUT ON THE TABLE TONIGHT.
CHRIS MAY HAVE THE INFORMATION HANDY THAT HE COULD SHOW US, AND AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU'VE GOT A PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND WE CONTINUE TO GET INFORMATION THAT WE'VE ALREADY REQUESTED.
THAT'S THE PLAN AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> GOOD EVENING. IT'S BEEN A LONG ONE.
JUST TO GO OVER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAD THESE GUIDELINES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD FOR YOU, AND HERE'S THE LIST.
YOU'LL NOTE THAT I ACTUALLY REMOVED ONE OF THE THINGS OFF THE LIST, AND I MOVED IT TO ANOTHER POINT IN THE PRESENTATION.
THAT HAD BEEN THE SECOND BULLET POINT, WHICH WAS TALKING ABOUT NAMING RIGHTS FOR PRIMARILY SPORTS FACILITIES, BUT OTHER DISTRICT FACILITIES.
WE STILL THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORTH PURSUING, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE THINGS, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN PULL THE TRIGGER AND SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WITH THAT ONE, YOU CAN PULL THE TRIGGER, AND SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN IN A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OR TWO YEARS OR SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE.
WE DIDN'T THINK IT REALLY FIT HERE, BUT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF HOW THAT MIGHT WORK.
WE'VE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY, WHY ARE YOU ONLY TALKING ABOUT $500,000? THE REALITY IS WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BELOW $500,000.
HERE'S WHERE I'M SHOWING THAT REVENUE OPTION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, INVESTIGATING NAMING RIGHTS.
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY DOING, WHICH WE DON'T NEED YOU TO PULL THE TRIGGER, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ADMINISTRATIVELY.
THAT IS LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT OUR RENTAL FEES, LOOKING AT THE FEES THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH COMMUNITY ED, THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, AND ALSO LOOKING AT PARTICIPATION FEES THAT WE CHARGE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT THOSE.
IN FACT, I THINK THE MODELS THAT I'M SHOWING YOU LATER TONIGHT INCLUDE THOSE.
[03:05:01]
WE THINK THAT THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER ARE PROBABLY WORTH ABOUT $450,000, BUT WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT WE MIGHT FIND WAYS TO INCREASE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.I WILL STATE THAT THE ONE THAT'S LOOKING AT THE PARTICIPATION FEES WILL NOT BE A POPULAR ONE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A POPULAR FEE.
IN FACT, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I DID A SURVEY.
WE'RE THE ONLY DISTRICT AROUND THAT HAS THAT PARTICULAR FEE.
ALL OF US WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT HAVE A CANNED RESPONSE WHEN WE GET INQUIRIES ABOUT IT, WHICH ALWAYS COME IN THE FALL WHEN WE ASSIGN THOSE FEES.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS NOT POPULAR, BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HASN'T CHANGED IN A LONG TIME.
IT'S BEEN SET AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND SO IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT TIME TO LOOK AT IT.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE PUT TO US AND WE WANT TO ANSWER THOSE.
THOSE ARE, WHICH BUDGET OPTIONS REQUIRE A BOARD VOTE, AND WHEN DO WE NEED AN ANSWER ON THOSE? WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE THINGS AND SPELLED IT OUT AS CLEARLY AS WE COULD.
LOOKING AT THE ADOPTING OF THE NINE COPPER PENNIES, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LEANING TOWARDS RIGHT NOW OR THAT'S THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE, BUT IT'S STILL OUT THERE AND IT'S STILL A POSSIBILITY.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE BOARD PASSING A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION, SAYING THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING COPPER PENNIES AHEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH I BELIEVE STARTS THE SAME DAY AS THE JANUARY 14TH MEETING.
THAT WAS TO LOCK IN THE CURRENT RULES BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THOUGHT THAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT COME IN AND CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, AND THEY MIGHT CHANGE THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER THE NEW RULES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE.
BUT USING THE CURRENT RULES, IF WE JUST ASSUME THAT, IF YOU DON'T DO THAT AND WE MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE'S NO CHANGE TO HOW THIS WORKS IN LAW, THEN OUR TIME LIMIT IS JUNE.
IF YOU LET US KNOW IN JUNE, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TIME TO MAKE THIS MOVE.
THE STEPS WOULD BE, OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO GET AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT LIKE WE DID LAST TIME.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE DID THAT, WE DID EFFICIENCY AUDIT IN THE SPRING, WHICH IS THE IDEAL TIME FOR SCHOOL AUDITORS TO DO AN ADDITIONAL AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR LESS BUSY TIME.
IF WE TRY TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE SUMMER, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO USE OUR REGULAR AUDITORS TO CONDUCT THAT, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO CAN GET THAT COMPLETED IN THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PINCH POINT.
BUT OTHERWISE, IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW BY JUNE, THEN YOUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE IN AUGUST, AND THE REST OF THAT COULD FALL IN PLACE STILL IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THAT WAY.
THE BLENDING OF THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WE REALLY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DECISION BY JANUARY ALONG WITH AN IDEA OF WHICH OF THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS TRYING TO REDUCE THE STUDENT POPULATION YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.
FOR TWO REASONS, ONE OF THEM IS JUST SO THAT WE HAVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE NEED TO ORDER AND GET IN PORTABLE CLASSROOM BUILDINGS IF WE NEED TO DO THAT.
SEVERAL OF THESE THINGS, INCLUDING BLENDING OF THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, THE PLC PERIODS, IF YOU CHOOSE TO ELIMINATE THE PLC PERIODS.
IF WE LOOK AT SOME OTHER STAFF REDUCTION THAT'S DOWN THERE, WE WANT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE ONCE WE GET INTO THE SPRING SEMESTER, THAT'S PRIME HIRING TIME.
IF WE ARE REDUCING STAFF IN THESE AREAS, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW THAT INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR NEW STAFF TO FILL THEM, THAT WE CAN REASSIGN STAFF TO FILL SPACES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
SAME IDEA WITH THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, LET US KNOW AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT'S THE WAY THAT YOU'RE GOING.
FREEZING OF THE SALARIES, I THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER THE SAME CRITERIA WHERE YOU NORMALLY MAKE THAT DECISION, WHICH IS IN MAY.
HISTORICALLY, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION IN APRIL WITH LAURIE AND SOMETIMES ME, GIVING YOU OPTIONS ON WHAT YOU COULD LOOK AT.
THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN MAY AND ASK FOR YOU TO MAKE A DECISION.
[03:10:03]
I THINK WE WOULD STILL WANT TO DO LIKE WE DID, EVEN IF YOU DECIDE WE ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE SALARIES.I THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO GIVE YOURSELF WIGGLE ROOM AND PASS A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO, AFTER THE FACT, GIVE A RAISE IN THE FALL, DEPENDING ON WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WE WOULD STILL WANT A RESOLUTION IN MAY JUST AS WE ALWAYS DO.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADS-UP ON WHAT THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS LOOK LIKE.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE NO-INTERVENTION PROJECTION.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT I SHOWED YOU BACK IN OCTOBER.
I HAVE MADE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT IF YOU'LL LOOK DOWN HERE.
OUR FUND BALANCE PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR HAS GONE UP A LITTLE BIT EVEN THOUGH OUR DEFICIT HASN'T CHANGED.
THAT'S BECAUSE AFTER THAT OCTOBER, THEN WE FINISHED OUR AUDIT, AND I ADJUSTED WHAT OUR ACTUAL ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS.
IT WAS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WHAT I WAS PROJECTING WHEN I CREATED THAT PRESENTATION IN OCTOBER.
THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE WIGGLE ROOM THAN WHAT WE HAD BEFORE, WHICH IS NICE.
I WILL SAY THAT ONCE MARIA HAS COMPLETED THE ANALYSIS OF ALL THE NEW DATA ON WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY WHERE OUR PAYROLL IS COMING IN FOR THIS YEAR, THAT WE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY SEE SOME CHANGE IN THAT $3.3 MILLION PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR.
IT MIGHT GO UP A LITTLE BIT, MIGHT GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S ALSO THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, WE'VE GOT SOME UNCERTAINTIES THAT THERE'S MONEY COMING, BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THE TIME FRAME, AND THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOLAR REBATES THAT ARE COMING FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, WHICH ARE GOING INTO THE M&O BUDGET.
WE'VE BUDGETED FOR SOME PERCENTAGE OF THOSE REBATES TO HIT THIS YEAR AND SOME PERCENT TO HIT NEXT YEAR.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, OUR PROJECTS ARE GETTING COMPLETED MUCH FASTER THAN AUSTIN ENERGY IS GIVING US THE GO AHEAD TO TURN THEM ON, AND WE'VE NOT GOTTEN ANY OF OUR REBATES IN YET.
IT MIGHT BE THAT MORE OF THOSE REBATES END UP HITTING NEXT YEAR RATHER THAN THIS YEAR, AND THAT WILL SHIFT THINGS AROUND AND HOW THE END OF YEARS LOOK, BUT IT WON'T REALLY IMPACT OUR BOTTOM LINE AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU TWO DIFFERENT ONES.
THE FIRST ONE SHOWS YOU WHAT THE BUDGET LOOKS LIKE WITH THE BLEND, WITH THE ELIMINATION OF PLC PLANNING PERIODS AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND WITH THOSE FEE INCREASES THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
THANK YOU, DIANE, FOR POINTING OUT THAT I HAD A MATH ERROR IN THERE AND I FIXED THEM.
YOU SEE THAT HERE RATHER THAN WHAT YOU SAW IN YOUR PACKET EARLIER.
>> WITH THOSE THREE THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE YOU SEEM TO BE LEANING TOWARDS, THAT PUTS US ON A PATH TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES JUST UNDER 25% AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IN THE STEADY-STATE CASE.
THEN, OF COURSE, LOOKING OUT AT THE LATER YEARS, WE'VE STILL GOT AN ISSUE, AND SO IF THAT'S THE EXTENT OF WHAT WE DO, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE COMING BACK AND LOOKING AT THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AGAIN.
WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER LOOK AT, WHAT IF WE DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE ON THE LIST OTHER THAN THE COPPER PENNIES? THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HERE.
BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT I'VE NOT SHOWN ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS.
ONE OF YOUR OPTIONS WERE ADDITIONAL FTE CUTS AND I DIDN'T SHOW THAT, SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME EFFICIENCIES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THAT ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THOSE THAT WE MIGHT FIND WITH THE PLC, BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO ELIMINATE THE PLC PERIODS, THEN THAT'S GOING TO REALLY LIMIT HOW MUCH EFFICIENCIES WE CAN FIND IN OTHER PLACES BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE WOULD FIND NATURALLY ARE GOING TO COME THERE IN THAT PLC.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF EXTRA, BUT I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAT WE CAN GET FROM ADDITIONAL FTE FINDING.
THIS MODEL DOES NOT SHOW THAT, BUT LOOKING AT IT, AND, OF COURSE, IT ALSO INCLUDES A 0% CHANGE IN SALARY AND BENEFITS,
[03:15:04]
BUT IT DOES SHOW A PROJECTED DEFICIT NEXT YEAR OF A MILLION DOLLARS RATHER THAN $6.3 MILLION, WHICH IS A PRETTY HEFTY CHANGE.IT ALSO SHOWS US ENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH A FUND BALANCE PERCENT OF 27% ABOVE THAT 25% THRESHOLD AND THE '26/'27 YEAR IS BELOW THE 25%, BUT IT'S NOT THAT FAR BELOW.
I'M NOT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T ACT IN 2025, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE END OF THESE EXERCISES.
THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS, AS JEFF POINTED OUT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FROM US IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE IN JANUARY? I'LL SEND THEM TO YOU WHEN I GET BACK TO MY DESK.
>> WE WASN'T ON MICROPHONE. THE QUESTION WAS, ELLEN WOULD WANTED TO GET THE CORRECTED SLIDES.
THERE WERE SOME CHANGES IN THE SLIDES AFTER THEY WERE SENT TO THE TRUSTEES EARLIER, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE NEW SLIDES.
>> AFTER THE BOARD PACKET WAS POSTED, SO WHAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE HAS BEEN CORRECTED NOW AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS HOW TO GET THE CORRECTED NUMBERS.
>> THE QUESTIONS BEFORE US HERE YOU'VE SEEN.
ANY LOOKING FOR TRUSTEE QUESTIONS, REQUESTS, CLARIFICATIONS.
DIANE'S ABOUT TO RAISE HER FINGER.
WE'LL GO TO DIANE AND THEN KIM.
>> THANKS, CHRIS. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO JUMP IN HERE.
YOU TOUCHED ON QUITE A FEW THINGS.
ONE OF THE FIRST THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THE NAMING RIGHTS AND HOW THAT TIMELINE MIGHT JUST BE FURTHER OFF.
THAT WAS A QUESTION I POSED BEFORE.
HOW QUICKLY COULD WE DO THIS? IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS.
I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
WHAT IS THE SOONEST TIME FRAME IN WHICH WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING SOME REVENUE IN FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> WE PROBABLY FIRST NEED TO REVISIT THE POLICY WITH THE BOARD.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE A CONVERSATION THIS SPRING.
I THINK EEF IS POISED TO PARTNER WITH US IN PURSUING NAMING RIGHTS DEPENDING UPON WHAT THAT POLICY LOOKS LIKE.
WE WILL CERTAINLY TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO EXPLORING ANY INTEREST IN NAMING RIGHTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING FORMAL RIGHT NOW TO PROPOSE, BUT ONCE THE POLICY IS IN PLACE, HOPEFULLY, WE COULD PURSUE THAT MORE QUICKLY.
>> HAS EXEC OR ANYBODY TALKED ABOUT HOW QUICKLY WE MIGHT PUT THAT ON OUR AGENDA FOR LOOKING AT THE POLICY?
>> FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST, MORE THAN LIKELY.
>> TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY PUT IN OUR EQUATION AT ALL IN ANY WAY?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST PULL THE TRIGGER AND WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MENTIONED A CHUNK OF MONEY, I THINK, $450,000 THAT YOU'RE ESTIMATING AS AN INCREASE IN WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING IN FROM RENTAL FEES, PARTICIPATION, USE FEES?
>> WHAT MIGHT CHANGE BETWEEN THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, BUT WHAT PERCENT INCREASE IN FEES ARE WE THINKING TO GET TO THAT NUMBER?
>> ON RENTAL FEES, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 25%, AND ON THE PARTICIPATION FEE, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE OF $100.
RIGHT NOW IT'S AT $275, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT 375.
>> IT IS SOMETIMES THE CASE IN MARKET DYNAMICS.
YOU INCREASE YOUR PRICE AND PEOPLE STOP BUYING YOUR PRODUCT.
IS THERE ANY DECREASE IN RENTAL DEMAND?
I THINK THE DEMAND IS REALLY STRONG.
>> THERE IS NO PARKS DEPARTMENT IN WESTLAKE HILLS.
HISTORICALLY, OUR PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN THAT, YES, WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE RENT, AND YES, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY ON IT, BUT WE PURPOSELY NOT TRIED TO MAXIMIZE HOW MUCH MONEY WE MAKE FROM THOSE THINGS.
[03:20:07]
THIS IS A BIT OF A CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY TO GET MORE OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE.HONESTLY, I THINK WE COULD DOUBLE OUR RATES, AND WE WOULD PROBABLY STILL BE ABLE TO STAY RENTED PRETTY MUCH FULLY.
I DON'T FEEL PARTICULARLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, [LAUGHTER] SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS MOVE, EVALUATE IT.
LIKE I SAID, HISTORICALLY, WE'VE INCREASED TO TRY TO MATCH INFLATION, AND WE MIGHT CHOOSE TO AFTER THIS YEAR, STILL INCREASE HIGHER THAN INFLATION, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT AT 25%.
I'M STILL EVALUATING THE WHOLE IDEA.
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE 25% INCREASE, AND I THINK WE'LL NEED TO REALLY DO SOME TALKING AND REALLY LOOK AND EVALUATE NEXT YEAR ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.
IF WE END UP IN A GOOD PLACE BASED ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DO, THEN I WOULD PROBABLY PAUSE ON MORE AGGRESSIVELY INCREASING THOSE RATES IN FUTURE YEARS.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY WANTS TO INCREASE RATES, OF COURSE, BUT AS YOU ALSO MENTIONED, NONE OF US REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF EVADER.
BY INCREASING THESE RATES, THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO KEEP ALL THAT MONEY IN OUR DISTRICT, SO IT'S JUST BRINGING 100% INSTEAD OF THE 20% FROM EVADER.
MY LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH SPANISH IMMERSION, AND YOU'VE GIVEN US A BALLPARK NUMBER.
I ASKED BEFORE, WHAT'S UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT? WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CHALLENGING THAT NUMBER.
CAN YOU ELABORATE MORE ON THAT?
ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO GRAB MY COMPUTER.
WE HAVE HAD THIS QUESTION AT A NUMBER OF OUR PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS ABOUT WHERE THIS CAME FROM, AND SO WE WANTED TO GO IN AND DO AN ANALYSIS BECAUSE THE FIRST ANALYSIS WAS REALLY A SIMPLISTIC IDEA, AND THAT WAS THAT WE WOULD JUST STOP THE PROGRAM.
ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM WOULD BE REDISTRIBUTED TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THE SAVINGS WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STIPENDS THAT WE'RE PAYING THOSE TEACHERS, NO LONGER HAVING TO PAY FOR THE SPANISH LANGUAGE MATERIALS, AND THEN ALSO THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE GENERATED.
IN THE CASE THAT WE WOULD NEED FEWER TEACHERS, AND IN THIS INITIAL SCENARIO THAT WE RAN, THAT WAS A SAVINGS OF FOUR TEACHERS WITH THOSE ASSUMPTIONS THAT I GAVE YOU EARLIER.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE STUDENTS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO LEAVE, AND SO WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOME WAY TO LOOK AT IT, AND WHAT WE CHOSE TO DO WAS TO SAY, LET'S TAKE ALL OF OUR OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS 78, WHICH IS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS, SO IT'S A VERY TRANSFER INTENSIVE PROGRAM.
WE SAID, "IF ALL OF THOSE OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFERS CHOSE TO LEAVE, WHAT HAPPENS?" WE MODELED THAT, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS NOW WE HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL LINE, WHICH WAS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE WOULD LOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE, AND THAT NUMBER WAS A LITTLE UNDER $600,000, SO 78 KIDS, A LITTLE UNDER $600,000 THAT WE WOULD LOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE KIDS.
THEN WE WENT IN AND RE-EVALUATED WHAT OUR EFFICIENCY SAVINGS WOULD BE, AND WE CAME UP WITH A NUMBER.
BECAUSE THESE WERE 78 KIDS, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE, WE COULD GO IN AND RECALCULATE THOSE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS, AND WE CAME UP WITH A NUMBER OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 11 AND 16.
[03:25:03]
IF WE LOOK AT THE 11 NUMBER, SO WE'D NEED 11 FEWER TOTAL TEACHERS, OR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 11 AND 16.WE CALCULATE IT WITH A RANGE BECAUSE SOME OF THAT IS ESTIMATION ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GROWTH.
THE HIGHEST EFFICIENCY WAS 16, THE LOWEST WAS 11.
THE HIGHEST EFFICIENCY ACTUALLY CREATED A SCENARIO WHERE WE ACTUALLY SAVED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN WHAT WE DID UNDER THE BASELINE SCENARIO.
THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE KIDS ARE GOING TO LEAVE, BUT THE LOWER SCENARIO WHERE WE HAD 11 FTE SAVINGS ENDED UP IN A TOTAL POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF ABOUT JUST UNDER $500,000, SO IT WAS ABOUT $80,000 DIFFERENCE FROM THE BASELINE SCENARIO.
YES, THERE IS A CASE WHERE WE LOSE STUDENTS WITH THIS.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE OVERALL, IT WOULD IMPACT THE SAVINGS A WHOLE LOT.
IN SOME CASES, WE MIGHT LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
IN SOME CASES IN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SAVINGS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S STILL IN THAT $600,000 NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> CAN I JUST CLARIFY? CHRIS, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU DID THE FIRST ANALYSIS, THAT THE DELTA WAS FOUR TEACHERS, SO I'M CONFUSED WITH HOW YOU GOT FROM 4-11.
>> BECAUSE WE MODELED WITH ADDITIONAL 78 KIDS LEAVING THE PROGRAM, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME ADDITIONAL TEACHER EFFICIENCIES.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU, CHRIS.
>> I WANT TO PASS, BUT [LAUGHTER] I GUESS MY QUESTION BACK, JAMES, BEFORE I GO TO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO CHRIS.
I CAME IN WITH A DIFFERENT ASSUMPTION OF WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE, AND I SOMEHOW GOT AN IDEA THAT WHAT ADMINISTRATION NEEDED FROM US WAS BASELINE ON WHERE WE ENDED UP INDIVIDUALLY AS VARIOUS OPTIONS.
I CAN'T EVEN SPEAK THEM. FADING. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, IS THAT CORRECT OR AM I JUST COMING UP WITH THAT?
>> YOU SAID JAMES. IS IT TO ME ARE YOU ASKING?
>> I'M ASKING FOR THE PROCESS.
JAMES, THE PROCESS, MAYBE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO CHRIS AND TO JEFF.
>> THE FIRST PART OF THAT, WHERE WE ENDED UP, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DO YOU MEAN ON THE DISCUSSION ON NOVEMBER 11, WHERE WE SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FOLLOWING THINGS AND MAYBE NOT WITH THE OTHERS? I DON'T THINK WE ELIMINATED ANYTHING OFF THE LIST THAT NIGHT.
[NOISE] THOSE ITEMS ARE STILL ON THE TABLE, BUT WE DO HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE VOTING ON A COUPLE, AND WE'RE PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON THE OTHERS.
THE QUESTION HERE TONIGHT IS, WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU CAN VOTE ON JANUARY 14?
>> THEN MY QUESTION TO MAYBE JEFF, ARE YOU SEEKING IN ADDITION TO WHAT I MAY NEED IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN ORDER TO VOTE IN JANUARY? DO YOU WANT AT THIS POINT, AN IDEA OF WHERE INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES ARE HEADED? I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M THERE YET, AND PROBABLY THAT'S THE SAME FOR OTHER TRUSTEES, BUT THIS IS NOT A CHECK IN ON WHERE WE STAND.
>> IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THESE, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER MONTH TO GO.
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE LAST MONTH.
[03:30:02]
IF I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A HOLIDAY COMING IN THERE.BUT I THINK THERE'S MORE INFORMATION TO COME.
JEFF WAS ALSO SHAKING HIS HEAD. NO.
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE HEARD IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, IS NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING A BETA AT THIS TIME.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE CAN ONCE AND FOR ALL, REMOVE THAT FROM CONSIDERATION.
AS CHRIS SAID, ONCE WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS OR TRANSPIRES IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE CAN ALWAYS BRING THAT BACK FOR CONSIDERATION IN JUNE.
BUT AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WANT US TO TAKE THAT OFF THE LIST, THEN THAT AT LEAST REMOVES ONE ITEM.
THEN I THINK THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS STILL ON THE LIST THAT YOU DO WANT US TO SERIOUSLY PURSUE OR CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY AS YOU PREPARE FOR JANUARY THE 14.
>> THAT'S FINE. THEN I'LL GIVE MY COMMENTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I'LL START WITH SAYING THANK YOU TO ADMINISTRATION FOR LOOKING AT THE PRIOR SLIDE, WHICH IS OPTIONS BELOW THE 500 K. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US TO SEE TRUSTEES AND THE COMMUNITY AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD BULLET POINT ON THAT SLIDE AT OPTIONS BELOW 500 K, WHILE THEY DON'T REQUIRE A TRUSTEE VOTE OR A BOARD VOTE, AND THERE IS SOME PAINT ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
I THINK THAT IT IS PAIN THAT THE COMMUNITY, I HOPE, WILL UNDERSTAND.
GOING BACK TO THEN JUMPING UP A SLIDE ON THE PREVIOUSLY, AND SO BEFORE I MOVE TO THAT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT ARE BELOW 500 K BECAUSE IF YOU'VE GOT FOR IT OR 250 K THEN THAT CAN MAKE UP 1 MILLION.
I DON'T WANT TO GET DOWN IN THE WEEDS, BUT I THINK THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ARE DIGGING DEEP ON THESE THINGS AND NOT JUST IN GIANT TRANCHES.
GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE OF THE PREVIOUS PRESENTED OPTIONS JUST REAL QUICK.
ON THE BLEND, I DO BELIEVE THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE A MONTH AGO THAT WAS INTERESTED IN EVEN PURSUING THE VADER ALTHOUGH HOLDING MY NOSE.
UNLESS I HEAR DIFFERENTLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR VADER.
IT'S NOT A GOOD DEAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ON THE BLENDING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS THAT THERE'S QUESTIONS ON SOME OF THE PROPOSALS AND THE USE OF THE CLASSROOM SPACE IN BCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET IN PRESENTATIONS SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
>> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THOSE ANSWERS, AND WE CAN PRESENT IT TO YOU.
>> GOOD. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE THERE'S ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING TOMORROW, AND HOPEFULLY THERE CAN BE SOME CLARITY AROUND THAT.
GREAT. ON THE PROFESSIONAL, THE PCL QUESTIONS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS, WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED AND GRANTED, I'M NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M NOT AN EDUCATOR.
BUT IT WAS PRESENTED AS A VERY LARGE, A LARGE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS, BUT ALSO AS A GENERAL PCL.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE PLC IN TERMS OF MORE GENERAL TEACHING, AND SPED PLCS.
I HAVE SEEN THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM EDUCATORS THAT ASK AND GIVE US DETAIL ABOUT HOW PLC SPED.
MIGHT WORK, AND PLC SPED MIGHT WORK DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER COURSE WORK.
IF THERE IS DETAIL THAT WE COULD GET TO EDUCATE US ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN HOW PLC IS USED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD PREFER TO LOOK AT THAT AT A DEEPER DIVE.
[03:35:01]
>> I CAN SENSE MOLLY MAY SENDING ME A MENTAL IMAGE HERE AND SHE WANTS TO CLARIFY THAT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES ARE THE WAY THAT WE DELIVER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
THAT'S TRUE AT ALL LEVELS OF OUR SCHOOL, AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, NO MATTER WHAT SUBJECT YOU'RE TEACHING.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A CERTAIN SUBGROUP OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE A DAILY TIME SET ASIDE TO DO THAT.
WHEREAS EVERYONE ELSE STILL PARTICIPATES IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THAT SET ASIDE TIME TO DO IT.
THEY MAKE TIME TO DO IT AS A PART OF THEIR OTHER PREPARATION TIME OR AFTER SCHOOL.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE STILL BEING DONE BY ALL THOSE OTHER GROUPS THAT DON'T HAVE A PLC PERIOD.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IN A WAY CREATING EQUITY AMONGST EVERYBODY, SO NOBODY HAS THE PLC PERIOD, BUT EVERYBODY WOULD STILL BE A PART OF A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AND WOULD STILL BE DOING THAT TYPE OF WORK.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE EXPLANATION ON PLCS.
I THINK THAT WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I UNDERSTAND THE EQUITY ARGUMENT ABOUT IT.
WHAT I STILL NEED INFORMATION AROUND IS HOW THOSE CARVED OUT PLC TIME PERIODS WORK DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF EDUCATORS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE WRITING IN TO THE BOARD ARE EXPLAINING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, MAYBE PERSONALLY FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN HOW PLCS ARE USED IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF EDUCATORS.
IT'S NOT REALLY A FINANCIAL QUESTION, BUT IT'S MORE AN UNDERSTANDING AROUND THE PLC TIME THAT IS GIVEN TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON.
THEN I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION IS, IF MORE QUESTION IS MAYBE TO CHRIS, MAYBE TO JEFF, ON I KNOW THAT THE JANUARY 14 BOARD MEETING IS THE FIRST ONE AFTER WE RETURNED FROM BREAK.
DO WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL GET THIS INFORMATION IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE WEEKS SO THAT IT IS NOT COMING IN RIGHT BEFORE A QUICK BREAK THAT VERY FIRST MEETING BREAK.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT ANOTHER MONETARY QUESTION, BUT IT'S MORE A PROCEDURE QUESTION.
>> WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU TAKE A BREAK TOO.
I WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ROUND THE CLOCK AND HAVE GENERATED ALL SORTS OF DATA.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SEND US, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.
I DON'T MIND THREE INCH BINDERS, BECAUSE I THINK WELL, NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP ME UNDERSTAND IT, BUT IT ALSO HELPS ME BE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND IT.
I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION WE GET, THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN SHARE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S JUST A PLETHORA OF NUMBERS FLYING AROUND, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO HAVE SOME REPOSITORY WHERE COST SAVINGS SUGGESTIONS AND REVENUE COULD BE DEPOSITED FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE OTHER IDEAS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
I UNDERSTAND WHY WE TOOK THIS APPROACH BECAUSE WE NEED THINGS THAT ARE BIG AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY NEXT FALL.
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM SAYING WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET X PERCENT, AND HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT THIS PROCESS OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
[03:40:01]
BUT I THINK NOW THAT WE ARE PERHAPS NEEDING ADDITIONAL IDEAS AND MAY ALWAYS NEED ADDITIONAL IDEAS, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FORESEEABLE FUTURE, GETTING IDEAS ON THAT.FOR EXAMPLE, USUALLY TRANSPORTATION IS ALWAYS LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE.
BUT WE HADN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
PLEASE, DON'T QUOTE ME AS SAYING THAT.
BUT THAT'S AN AREA THAT IS TYPICALLY LOOKED AT AS A COST REDUCTION OPTION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IN TERMS OF REVENUE GENERATION, BOY, WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT THERE'S STILL PROBABLY ANOTHER IDEA OUT THERE.
THE BEST IDEA FROM THIS PAST WEEK IS THAT IF WE HAVE THE VALLEY VIEW BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT RATHER THAN QUASI MOTH BALLET FOR A YEAR, GO HARD WITH A 4-YEAR-OLD PRE K PROGRAM.
WE COULD DO ONE YEAR, BASIS FOR THE YEARS THAT WE NEED UNTIL WE NEED IT AS A SWING SCHOOL OR OTHER SPACE.
THAT'S WHERE WE MAKE OUR MONEY IN OUR CDC PROGRAM.
WHY NOT CAPITALIZE ON THAT? THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE GENERATION THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET.
A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHARE THOSE IDEAS AND PUT THEM IN A SYSTEM.
SECONDLY, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS IS PROCESS, IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE REDUCING THINGS IS, I DO THINK THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF TRUST AT THIS POINT, PROBABLY BECAUSE SO MANY DIFFERENT NUMBERS ARE BEING TOSSED AROUND.
WHENEVER YOU TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, THEY ARE SO SENSITIVE, WE ALL TEND TO TALK IN GENERALITIES, AS OPPOSED TO SPECIFICS AND THAT GETS FRUSTRATING.
AGAIN, I THINK, TO THE EXTENT THAT I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK, IF WE COULD SEE THOSE NUMBERS, THINGS LIKE THE ELEMENTARY CAPACITY, THE CORPORATE SPACES THE SIZE OF THE CAFETERIA, THE NUMBER OF GYMS, THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
WE KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE AT BARTON CREEK BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE AT OTHERS.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE VERY HELPFUL TO GET CORPORATE CAPACITY NUMBERS.
I KNOW WE'VE CALCULATED THE COST OF OPERATING SCHOOLS, BUT THAT ANALYSIS IS PROBABLY WHAT A YEAR OLD NOW.
IF THERE ARE ANY SUBSTANTIAL UPDATES TO THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
ALSO, I'D LOVE TO SEE A STAFFING RATIO BETWEEN OUR CAMPUSES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
BUT WHEN WE'VE HAD TO DO BUDGET REDUCTIONS IN THE PAST, THAT'S THE HARDEST THING TO DO IS TO REDUCE YOUR STAFF EQUITABLY ACROSS CAMPUSES.
I'D LOVE TO SEE A RATIO IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THE NEWEST DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.
IT MAY BE THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA HADN'T CHANGED, BUT WE'VE CHANGED.
I KNOW OUR ENROLLMENT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE PROJECTION WAS.
IF WE COULD LOOK AT WHAT THE DEMOGRAPHER WAS SAYING AND WHERE WE CAME IN THIS YEAR AND WHERE THE ANOMALIES ARE, AND IF WE'VE GONE BACK TO THE DEMOGRAPHERS, WHICH I ASSUME WE HAVEN'T SAID, EXPLAIN THESE TO US, WHAT RESPONSE? WHAT DO THEY KNOW THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO KNOW? I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT TRANSFER STUDENTS, IN DISTRICT, OUT OF DISTRICT, AND EMPLOYEE, AND WHERE ARE THEY? WHICH CAMPUS ARE THEY ON? WITH THE IN DISTRICT, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? I MEAN, ARE THERE SOME ALREADY SOME CROSS PATTERNS IN THE DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW.
FOR EXAMPLE, KNOWING HOW MANY VALLEY VIEW AREA FAMILIES ARE ALREADY AT BARTON CREEK IS A GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION TO HAVE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT TRENDS WE CAN IDENTIFY.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW SPECIFIC OPTIONS OF HOW THE BLEND POPULATION WOULD BE UNDER 700.
I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS WE CAN GET THERE, AND I'M BETTING THAT A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THAT.
AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START TALKING SPECIFICS SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW THOSE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE AS MANY POINTS OF COMPARISON,
[03:45:03]
PARTICULARLY ACROSS ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES AS POSSIBLE.I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION FROM YOU ON THE SI ANALYSIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE NUMBERS.
I'M ASSUMING THAT WE AREN'T COUNTING STIPENDS FOR TEACHERS WE WON'T HAVE IN THE FUTURE WITH THE NINE E 10 MODEL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I CAN'T MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK THE SAME WAY.
YOU'RE THE MATH GUY, AND I'M NOT, BUT I WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL THAT.
>> THE STIPEND FIGURE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM A LIST OF ALL OF THE CURRENT TEACHERS AND AN ACTUAL NUMBER.
WE DON'T WANT TO RELEASE THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH EVERYBODY'S NAMES ON IT, BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU A REDACTED DATA.
>> SINCE WE'RE DOWN TO ONE SECTION PER CAMPUS, AND EVEN DOWN TO FOUR SECTIONS NEXT YEAR RATHER THAN FIVE KINDERGARTEN SECTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE MYSELF THAT, YES, WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE ACCOMMODATED FOR BOTH THE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS THE EFFICIENCIES WE HAVE PUT INTO THAT PROGRAM.
>> IF I GET THOSE THINGS, I'LL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I REALIZE THAT IF I'M ASKING FOR THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE, BUT MY GUESS IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN EFFORT.
THE TRANSFER DATA, MOLLY, I BELIEVE THAT WAS A PART OF YOUR SNAPSHOT REPORT IN NOVEMBER.
ELLEN, THE CAPACITY DATA BY CAMPUS, INCLUDING EVERYTHING DOWN TO SQUARE FOOTAGE OF CAFETERIAS, NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
THAT IS NOW ON THE BLEND WEBSITE.
>> THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING, WE POSTED THAT INFORMATION, AND IT'S ON THERE.
THEN THE BLEND SCENARIOS, THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD IN MY WEEKLY REPORT OVER THE WEEKEND WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WOULD GET THE POPULATION DOWN BELOW 700 STUDENTS.
>> I KNOW THAT, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THAT.
>> I GUESS I'M CLARIFYING OUR TRUSTEES ASKING FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO YOU, OR ARE YOU ASKING FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO EVERYONE?
>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON JANUARY 14.
NOW, I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO ASK THAT THE COMMUNITY BE AWARE OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE USING TO VOTE ON. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> WE'RE IN THIS GRAY AREA OF, IF YOU GIVE US THINGS, BUT WE CAN'T EXPLAIN WE CAN'T BE HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
I GET CONFUSED WITH WHAT'S OFFICIAL.
>>I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE MARKED ANYTHING AS CONFIDENTIAL.
IN FACT, MOST OF WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED OR DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT HAS ALREADY BEEN REQUESTED THROUGH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TOO.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, AND WE'LL POST ALL OF IT ON THE WEBSITES AS WELL SO THE PUBLIC CAN CONSUME IT AS WELL.
>> WITH THE TRANSFER STUDENTS, I DON'T THINK THE IN DISTRICT TRANSFER PATTERNS, I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT.
IT'S AVAILABLE, BUT IT WASN'T IN THE REPORT THAT YOU.
AS THINGS ARE POSTED TO THE BLEND WEBSITE, IF THE BOARD COULD GET A QUICK HEADS UP THAT THIS IS BEING POSTED, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION BEING OUT THERE, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
BUT IF THERE'S ONLY SO MANY HOURS BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 14, WE NEED TO BE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A BOARD MEMBER NEEDS THAT INFORMATION VERSUS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT INFORMATION.
I KNOW IT'S A FINE LINE, AND I GET IT.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME FOR THEM TO PREPARE INFORMATION.
THE OTHER THING IS, TRUSTEES, IF YOU GET AN EMAIL FROM DR. ARNETT OR USUALLY THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM.
THERE'S SOMETHING ATTACHED LIKE A MEMO FROM CHRIS, PLEASE JUST EMAIL DR. ARNETT AND SAY, CAN I SHARE THIS? IS THIS READY FOR PUBLICATION? SOMETIMES IT'S AN ALERT ON AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S GOING TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY LATER,
[03:50:05]
AND HE SAYS, I'M SENDING IT TO YOU TO PREVIEW.IN THAT CASE, OBVIOUSLY, LET HIM LET THE ADMINISTRATION SHARE THAT.
BUT IF IT'S A MEMO WE RECEIVED THIS WEEKEND, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE TO GO BACK AND SAY, CAN I SEND THIS OUT? THAT'S ALLOWED.
I MEAN, UNLESS IT'S MARKED CONFIDENTIAL SPECIFICALLY, I WOULDN'T BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT, BUT THOSE THINGS ARE HE MADE IT CLEAR TO US OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THEY WERE BEING PROVIDED VIA INFORMATION REQUESTS.
I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO HOLD BACK TOO MUCH THERE.
I DO AGREE THAT THE PROPER ULTIMATELY, THE PROPER AVENUE IS TO COME FROM THE DISTRICT, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CANNOT SHARE.
WE'LL GO TO HEATHER AND THEN KELLY.
>> THANK YOU. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT, BUT I KNOW AT THE LAST MEETING, I ASKED IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO A SURVEY FOR OUR FAMILIES.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, MAYBE IF THERE IS SOME ROOM AT OTHER CAMPUSES, AND I KNOW THAT'S TOUGH, TOO BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING.
BUT IS THERE A WAY TO SURVEY? I KNOW IT CHANGES DAILY TOO.
LIKE, I'VE HEARD IF THE LEARNING STUDIOS ARE HERE, I'M SENDING MY KIDS ELSEWHERE.
I'VE HEARD IF SPANISH IMMERSION IS REMOVED FROM BARTON CREEK, I'M GOING TO DO THIS.
I KNOW THAT, PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THEIR MIND BASED ON THE WAY THAT YOU'RE UPDATING THINGS, WHICH I APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING.
BUT I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME WAY THAT WE COULD SURVEY FAMILIES TO SAY, THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TRUST IT OR DON'T? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
>> WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT?
>> JUST TO HELP US FIGURE OUT THE THE AMOUNT OF KIDDOS THAT WE WOULD HAVE AT THE SCHOOL.
SOME OF IT IS YOU KNOW, LIKE I'M THINKING, IF THE PARENT IS USED TO GOING TO WORK AND THEY'RE AT VALLEY VIEW NOW, BUT THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE AT FOREST TRAIL OR ANOTHER SCHOOL WHERE WE HAVE A SMIDGE OF SPACE? I DON'T KNOW. IT'S LATE. I'M REALLY.
>> WE WOULD MAKE A FINANCIAL DECISION BASED ON A NON BINDING SURVEY, WHICH I'M EXPLAINING.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS, I THINK AND SO MAYBE IT'S A BAD IDEA.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH 47% OF PEOPLE SAYING SOMETHING?
>> BUT THAT'S MY DECISION ON THAT.
>> I GET THAT. BUT STILL, I'M CURIOUS.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE PLC, WHAT KIM WAS SAYING, I DO STILL HAVE SOME STRONG FEELINGS ON THAT ONE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE KIDS TO TALK ABOUT AND MORE TEACHERS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS WITH.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING THAT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT IS NEW INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IN REGARD TO SPECIAL EDUCATION IN PLCS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT FURTHER CONSIDERATION ON THAT.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M VERY TIRED.
>> I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL EVEN MAKES SENSE.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I FEEL LIKE THE QUESTIONS ARE COMING AT YOU ALL THE TIME AND YOU'RE ANSWERING AND YOU'RE REANSWERING, AND YOU'RE RECALCULATING.
I JUST REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE QUESTIONING, LIKE, WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT BELOW 500,000? I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD LOOKED AT THEM, YOU JUST WERE TRYING TO BE FOCUSED ON THIS BIGGER PICTURE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALSO PUTTING THIS OUT, BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY EVERYBODY, LIKE INCREASING RENTAL FEES AND THE STUDENT PARTICIPATION FEES, JUST SO PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THEY'RE LIKE, NO, LOOK AT THESE OTHER THINGS, THAT THESE ARE ALL IMPACTING US, AND OUR EXPENSES AS A PARENT.
BECAUSE WHEN A RENTAL FEE INCREASES AND YOUR KIDS IN A SPORT, THAT'S GOING TO PASS ON TO YOU.
AS PEOPLE WERE SAYING, LOOK AT THESE OTHER PLACES, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, IT'S AFFECTING US ALL AROUND.
THE OTHER CONCERN I HAD WAS THAT A LOT OF PARENTS WERE LIKE, OH,
[03:55:01]
WE'LL JUST GET RID OF THE PLCS, BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE A NO BRAINER.THAT SEEMS EASY. BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WERE REALLY THINKING THAT THROUGH.
NOW ALL THE PARENTS SAID IT, YOU KNOW, ONLY SOME.
BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED THE EMAILS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM EDUCATORS THAT GAVE US INSIGHT ON HOW THEY USE THAT TIME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE SCIENCE TEACHER SHARED ABOUT HOW THEY USED IT TO SET UP THEIR LABS.
I LIKED HOW THE MATH TEACHERS SAID THEY CREATE NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS IN THEIR LESSONS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT MATTER TO EVERY KID.
IT'S NOT A SIMPLE THING TO JUST LET GO OF BECAUSE IT'S $2 MILLION.
IT WILL IMPACT TIME, AND TIME IS PRECIOUS.
JUST REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING AT ME SAYING, THAT GO TO THE PLCS.
IN MY OPINION, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES I HAD PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PAUSE WITH.
MY ONE QUESTION IS, BECAUSE I WENT TO THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING.
I SAW A NEW SLIDE THAT IT LOOKED LIKE WITH THE BLEND, MAYBE YOU GUYS ARE, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT REPETITIVELY OVER AND OVER.
MAYBE YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT REZONING.
>> YES. IN FACT, AT THE LAST BLEND COMMITTEE MEETING, WE DID AN EXERCISE WITH THE EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LOOK AT SCENARIOS TO GET THE ENROLLMENT UNDER 700.
I WON'T SAY REZONING, I'LL SAY A SMALL TARGETED REZONING IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WAS PART OF THE MIX THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S CLEARLY A REFLECTION OF WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION BY THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW THAT'S MORE ADDITIONAL WORK.
BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. WE'LL GO BACK TO HEATHER.
>> SORRY, I SAID I WAS TIRED AND I REMEMBERED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, AND I KNOW THEY'RE ALREADY OUT THERE, BUT I REALLY DON'T LOVE IT.
I KNOW THAT PARENTS WANT ALL THE INFORMATION ON, CLASS SIZES AND ALL THAT, BUT I DON'T LOVE HAVING OUR CAMPUS MAPS ON THE WEBSITE AT ALL FOR SAFETY CONCERNS.
I JUST GOING TO SAY THAT AGAIN. THEN I HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO ME ALSO ABOUT THE BLEND WEBSITE AND SPECIFICALLY THE BLEND ESTIMATED SAVINGS, AND THE AUXILIARY TITLE.
IT'S A TEACHER NURSE LIBRARIAN, ALL OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND THEN AUXILIARY.
CAN YOU CAN YOU HELP CLARIFY WHAT AUXILIARY IS FOR THE PEOPLE?
>> AUXILIARY ARE THE HOURLY EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR SECRETARIES AND YOUR AIDES.
CAFETERIA WORKERS IF THEY'RE A PART OF THAT, CUSTODIANS, ET CETERA.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. I HAD A COUPLE OF NOTES I TOOK WHILE PEOPLE WERE TALKING.
THIS IS MAYBE MY LEAST FAVORITE, AND IT REMAINS MY LEAST FAVORITE BASED ON WHAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM EDUCATORS.
IT'S JUST REINFORCING WHAT I THOUGHT MIGHT BE THE CASE.
I DON'T LOVE HEARING THE WORD EQUITY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLCS, BECAUSE I THINK THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS ARE VARIED.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS WAS GETTING TO.
I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
JUST SAY EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE THE SAME.
NO ONE NEEDS TO HAVE PLCS DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME.
I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EXACTLY, AND WE ARE LEARNING MORE FROM EDUCATORS, HOW THEY'RE USING THESE AND WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE SPECIAL SAUCE AND THE EXCELLENCE THAT IS OUR DISTRICT.
IF WE HAVE TO GO DOWN THIS ROUTE, I'M REALLY JUST HOPING THAT WE CAN NOT DO A BLANKET, GET RID OF PLCS, BUT BE SOMEWHAT THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT IF IT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HEAR THAT SOME TEACHERS AREN'T USING THEM.
IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO DIG INTO THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE JUST MOST VALUED AND HAVING THE MOST IMPACT FOR SOME OF OUR REALLY TALENTED.
I MEAN, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS WORK SO HARD, BUT WE'RE HEARING FROM SOME REALLY HIGHLY REGARDED TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND THAT CONCERNS ME.
ABOUT THE BLENDING, I'VE HEARD THERE'S A TRANSPORTATION STUDY THAT'S GOING ON.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETE OR WHEN IT MIGHT BE COMPLETE,
[04:00:01]
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR REPEATEDLY FROM PARENTS ABOUT THIS BLEND CONCERN, AND FROM PEOPLE I KNOW WHO LIVE ON PATTERSON WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT ANYMORE IS I GUESS THEY JUST LIVED WITH IT FOR YEARS ALREADY.THEY'RE IMAGINING THIS 20 MINUTES WINDOW THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN LEAVE THEIR HOUSE BECOMING MORE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
HAVE WE BEEN TALKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNTY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IN THE PAST, MAYBE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATIONS.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT, HOW SOON SOME SOLUTIONS COULD BE PROVIDED THERE.
THEN, JUST QUITE FRANKLY, WE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I HAVEN'T FELT THE NEED TO VISIT THE BLEND WEBSITE, AND I'M REALIZING I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE VERY OBVIOUSLY FROM ANY OF THE SCHOOL WEBSITES FOR THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
IS IT A EASY URL AS THE CHAT BOT.
>> I INCLUDE A LINK IN A LOT OF THE EMAIL REPLIES I SENT.
>> THE UPDATED CAPACITY STUDY.
>> I WAS JUST ON THERE, SO MAYBE I'M BLIND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
MY LAST THOUGHT HERE IS TO THE POINT THAT YOU WERE MAKING WHERE WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO US THAT WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT IT WAS REQUESTED IN OPEN RECORDS.
IF THAT COULD BE PUT INTO THE BLEND WEBSITE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS JUST SAYING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS HERE BECAUSE I ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED, [LAUGHTER] I HAVEN'T BEEN PROSING THIS WEBSITE.
BUT ANY INFORMATION THAT WE ARE GETTING, I WOULD LOVE TO JUST BE PUT RIGHT ON THIS BLEND WEBSITE.
TRANSPARENCY IS WHAT WE HEAR REPEATEDLY, AND I THINK THAT WOULD GO TO HELP ADDRESS THAT. THANK YOU.
>> SO THE MEMO IS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR AP MICROECONOMICS CLASSES BECAUSE THEY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB OF GOING THROUGH AN EXERCISE OF ASKING US ALL QUESTIONS, BRINGING IN EXPERTS, AND THEN TELLING US WHAT THEY THOUGHT.
THAT WAS REALLY COOL THAT WE GOT TO HEAR OUR REALLY SMART STUDENTS ASK REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER, AND I WAS JUST REALLY IMPRESSED BY THAT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO BED WITHOUT THANKING THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND FOR THEIR AMAZING TEACHER.
WHO PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS ALSO.
EVEN THE FEATHER DUSTER, STUDENTS CAME AND COVERED IT, AND WE HAD STUDENT MODERATORS.
IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. SO THANK YOU TO THEM.
>> ANY OTHER TRUSTEE QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I CREATED MY LIST OF QUESTIONS YESTERDAY, BUT I'M STILL FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE VADER OPTION FOR JUNE WOULD BE AFTER WE SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES NOT TO DO TO HELP US.
THAT EXISTS OUT THERE AS AN OPTION FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HOPEFULLY NEVER HAVE TO DO BUT COULD, BASED ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES.
MAYBE AT THAT POINT, IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T AND THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF US, WE MAY HAVE A MORE COMPELLING STORY TO TRY TO SELL THE VADER, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A FAN.
THE OTHER THING IS, ON ITEM NUMBER 2, THERE, THE BLEND.
SOMEONE ASKED ME THIS ON FRIDAY AND I DIDN'T ANSWER IT CORRECTLY, NOW I REALIZE THERE'S A RESOLUTION, AND THEN THE OTHERS ARE BOARD ACTION.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ACTION AND A RESOLUTION? TAKE THOSE TWO HANDS THERE.
>> A RESOLUTION IS A FORMAL DOCUMENT THAT USUALLY I DRAFT AND THAT YOU SIGN,
[04:05:04]
WHEREAS BOARD ACTION IS SOMETHING YOU'LL VOTE TO PASS A RESOLUTION.SO SOMETHING MORE FORMAL THAT LIVES AND IT'LL GIVE GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S REQUIRED AT TIMES BY TEA.
>> TO PASS THAT, THE MOTION WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE RESOLUTION FOR BLAH, BLAH.
IT'S NOT I RESOLVE, OR I MOVE.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT ON ANOTHER DAY.
>> BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED BY TEA.
>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I THINK WE CONSTANTLY GET ASKED, AND I'VE SEEN THIS IN EMAILS A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS, WE TALKED ABOUT A PARTICIPATION FEE, BUT WHY DON'T WE CHARGE A PARTICIPATION FEE FOR SPANISH IMMERSION?
>> WE CAN CHARGE A PARTICIPATION FEE FOR AN EXTRACURRICULAR EVENT, BUT NOT FOR A CURRICULAR PROGRAM, AND THIS IS A CURRICULAR PROGRAM.
>> WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE DO CHARGE A PARTICIPATION FEE?
>> OBVIOUSLY, ALL SPORTS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, CHOIR, BAND, GUARD, CHEERLEADING, HIGH LINE, IT'S PRETTY WIDESPREAD, CHOIR.
>> I'VE PAID MANY OF THOSE. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD HAVE RETIRED A FEW MONTHS EARLIER IF IT WEREN'T FOR PARTICIPATION FEES.
I THINK I ASKED A QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT GOT ON THE FORM OR NOT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT HISTORICALLY, IF A STUDENT HAS LEFT SPANISH IMMERSION AND LEFT THAT PROGRAM, 50% HAVE HISTORICALLY STAYED IN THE DISTRICT JUST TRANSFER STUDENTS.
IF A TRANSFER STUDENT HAS LEFT SPANISH IMMERSION, HISTORICALLY, 50% OF THE TIME, THEY HAVE STAYED IN THE DISTRICT AND GONE INTO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONES WHO LEFT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY LEFT BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES MOVED.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT HALF OF THE ONES WHO LEFT THE PROGRAM STAYED IN EANES ISD AND WENT INTO A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.
COULD YOU MODEL YOUR NUMBERS? YOU'VE DONE THE NONE OF THEM LEAVE AND ALL OF THEM LEAVE.
BUT MORE REALISTICALLY, HISTORICALLY, WE'VE SEEN HALF OF THEM STAY.
COULD WE LOOK AT A NUMBER WITH HALF OF THEM STAYING?
>> IT'S NOT A SURVEY. IT'S HISTORICAL DATA.
MODELING IS WITH THE 78 STUDENTS, WE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE, AND SO IF WE SAY HALF OF THEM LEAVE, WHICH HALF LEAVES COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE ACTUAL STAFFING EFFICIENCY THAT WE COULD ACHIEVE. WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
>> THANK YOU. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING.
HAVE WE GIVEN ANY MORE THOUGHT TO ANOTHER WAY TO OFFER SPANISH IF WE DIDN'T HAVE AN IMMERSION PROGRAM?
>> WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
PRIOR TO WHEN WE HAD SPANISH IMMERSION, WE HAD SOME SPANISH COMMUNITY ED CLASSES.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S CLEARLY NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A FULL DAY IMMERSION PROGRAM, BUT WE DID HAVE THAT IN THE PAST, AND WE COULD OFFER IT AGAIN.
>> ANYTHING TO ADD THERE, DR. ARNETT?
>> FOR AN AFTER SCHOOL TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM PERHAPS THROUGH COMMUNITY HEAD.
>> LIKE A REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITY?
>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP OR I'VE SEEN RECENTLY WAS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE COST PER STUDENT PER CAMPUS.
I THINK WE SHOWED THIS LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT VALVE BEING THE MOST COST INEFFICIENT PER STUDENT CAMPUS.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE SAME AS THE COST PER STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT.
MEANING IF WE TAKE OUR TOTAL EXPENSES AND DIVIDE IT BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, WE GET TO A NUMBER, AND THAT'S THE COST PER STUDENT.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CAMPUS, I ASSUME YOU TAKE OUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL COST.
>> EXACTLY. WHEN I RUN THOSE NUMBERS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXPENSES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED DISTRICT WIDE.
NOT TO GO TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS, BUT WHEN WE ARE CODING THINGS IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, THERE'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ORGANIZATION CODE.
[04:10:01]
EVERY SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN ORGANIZATION CODE.SOME DIFFERENT PROGRAMS HAVE THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION CODE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGH SCHOOL IS 001.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE 101 THROUGH 106.
WHEN WE RUN THOSE REPORTS, WE RUN THOSE REPORTS AND LOOK AT JUST THE EXPENSES THAT ARE CODED TO THAT CAMPUS.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THINGS LIKE UTILITIES, SOME M&O TYPE EXPENSES, WHICH ARE CODED TO WHAT'S 999, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYTHING.
>> I THINK I SAW FROM YOU RECENTLY THAT YOUR CURRENT ESTIMATED COST TO EDUCATE A STUDENT IN EANES ID IS $11,700.
>> I GET IT, THAT MAYBE IT COSTS MORE TO EDUCATE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAN A SI STUDENT THAN A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT. I DON'T KNOW.
>> BUT ACTUALLY, AS I'M THINKING ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE HIGH.
I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS MORE LIKE 9,500, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
>> THE OTHER THING IS THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOUR ACCOUNTING STIPENDS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS, HOW DO WE SAVE $6.3 MILLION NEXT YEAR? I UNDERSTAND THAT OVER TIME, THIS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT SETTLING INTO PERHAPS ONE SECTION PER GRADE AT EACH OF FOUR CAMPUSES OR FIVE DEPENDING ON VALUE OF YOU.
BUT NEXT YEAR, WHEN I LOOK AT NEXT YEAR, TRYING TO SAVE $6.3 MILLION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT HOW MANY TEACHERS WILL BE TEACHING IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU SHARE THOSE NUMBERS WITH US.
LOOK, IS EVERY SINGLE TEACHER WHO HAS A PLC SPENDING FIVE HOURS OR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS PER WEEK, FIVE PERIOD TIMES A WEEK DOING PLC WORK? I DON'T KNOW. I'VE HEARD, MAYBE NOT.
I DON'T KNOW. WHAT IS THAT RIGHT NUMBER? DO THEY NEED AN HOUR A WEEK? DO THEY NEED TWO? SOME TEACHERS MAY NEED 3-5.
I DON'T HAVE ANY VISIBILITY INTO THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EQUITY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED EQUITY, BUT ONE WAY TO GET TO EQUITY IS TO GIVE EVERY TEACHER A PLC. THEN YOU'VE GOT EQUITY.
WE DON'T CARE IF IT'S EFFICIENT OR NOT, WE JUST GIVE EVERYBODY A PLC BECAUSE IF IT'S GOOD FOR 54% OF OUR SECONDARY TEACHERS, WHY IS IT NOT GOOD FOR 100%? THAT'S ONE OPTION. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT YOU TO DO THE MATH, BUT MAYBE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE.
THAT'S PROBABLY ANOTHER $2 MILLION COST.
IF PLCS ARE A GOOD THING, AND IF THEY HELP TEACHERS, THEN EQUITY, IN MY MIND, IS EVERY TEACHER HAS ONE OR NONE DOES.
IF IT'S A GOOD THING, THEN WHY DOESN'T EVERY TEACHER HAVE IT? THAT'S MOVING THE WRONG WAY ON THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
I WOULD LOVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATE TO PLCS IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT.
WE HEARD THAT WHEN WE WERE AT HILL COUNTRY.
THERE WERE SOME TEACHERS WHO SAID, I GET IT THAT WE MAY NEED TO DO THIS.
COULD WE DO THIS OTHER THING INSTEAD? IT'D BE INTERESTING.
AGAIN, MAYBE THAT COMES BEFORE JANUARY 14, BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE IS, COULD WE GET A LIST OF EVERY DISTRICT AROUND US THAT HAS PLCS?
>> PLC PERIODS, I BELIEVE NO OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND US HAVE THEM.
>> NONE. IS THERE ANY EQUIVALENT? BECAUSE THERE WAS A TEACHER AT HILL COUNTRY THAT REFERENCED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLC BUT THEY HAVE THIS OTHER THING.
ARE YOU AWARE OF ANYTHING EQUIVALENT?
>> I'M NOT AWARE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE MIGHT KNOW. WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
>> THAT'D BE GREAT. THE OTHER THING IS, IN TALKING ABOUT A SURVEY TO FIND OUT WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE, CAN PEOPLE SELF SELECT? PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO AN END DISTRICT TRANSFER? IF I'M ZONED TO BARTON CREEK, AND I'M REALLY WORRIED THAT PORTABLES ARE A TERRIBLE THING.
SPEAKING PERSONALLY, BOTH OF MY SONS WENT TO SCHOOL IN PORTABLES, AND THEY ARE BOTH SUCCESSFUL ENGINEERS.
IT WORKS. BUT IF I'M AFRAID THAT MY KID GOING TO A PORTABLE IS A BAD THING, CAN I APPLY FOR A TRANSFER IN THE DISTRICT?
>> IN DISTRICT TRANSFERS ARE ALWAYS AN OPTION.
I THINK OUR GENERAL THOUGHT ON THAT IS THAT IF PARENTS WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF BARTON CREEK TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL,
[04:15:02]
IF THERE IS ROOM FOR THEM, THEN THAT'S A WIN FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT ENROLLMENT DOWN SOME.I THINK WE WOULD WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE THAT WORK IF PARENTS WANTED TO DO THAT.
>> IF EVERY CHILD RODE THE BUS, WHAT TRAFFIC PROBLEMS WOULD WE HAVE AROUND ON PATTERSON ROAD?
>> MUCH BETTER. DO WE PROHIBIT KIDS FROM RIDING THE BUS?
>> WE DON'T. WELL, SO TRANSFER KIDS, OBVIOUSLY, WE DO NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION.
BUT KIDS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, IF THEY WANT TO RIDE, THEY CAN.
>> I'M SPEAKING AS A PERSON WHOSE SPOUSE TOOK HIS CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER RODE THE BUS.
BUT PARENTS ARE SELF-SELECTING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
>> WELL, I THINK TO ELLEN'S POINT TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT.
SURPRISINGLY, IT DOESN'T REALLY SAVE THE DISTRICT THAT MUCH MONEY IF WE WERE TO ELIMINATE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS THAT WE MUST PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO.
ON TOP OF THAT, IF THERE WERE NO TRANSPORTATION, IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO EVEN GREATER GRIDLOCK AROUND ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
[BACKGROUND] SO ELLEN IS RIGHT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT BELOW THAT $500,000 THRESHOLD, BUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THE MONEY THAT WE WOULD SAVE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THE WHOLE TEAM, WHO I KNOW WORKED OVER THE WEEKEND TO UPDATE NUMBERS AND ARE WORKING LONG HOURS TO UPDATE THESE NUMBERS.
AGAIN, TRUSTEES, THE GOAL IS TO GET TO, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE A VOTE ON JANUARY 14? ELLEN.
>> WELL, THIS DOESN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT ANYWAY.
IF WE FORWARD TO I THINK THREE SLIDES, PAGE 54 IN OUR PACKETS.
I'M SORRY. IT'S WITH THE BLEND PLC PERIODS AND FEE INCREASES, THAT ONE.
I'LL JUST GO ON RECORD AS SAYING, I CAN LIVE WITH THIS.
IT'S NOT ZERO, BUT THERE WILL BE VARIANCES.
WE'VE HAD ENOUGH NEGATIVE VARIANCES THIS YEAR TO LAST US FOR A WHILE.
THERE'S USUALLY SOME POSITIVE VARIANCE IN THE CALCULATION, AS CHRIS MENTIONED, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL BE AT LEAST A SMALL ADJUSTMENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
SO IF WE CAN STAY WITHIN ROUNDING UP TO 25%.
>> I THINK WITH SOME OF THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN BE ADDED IN, I COULD LIVE WITH THIS SCENARIO.
>> I THINK THAT WAS CHRIS' INCLINATION IN CREATING THAT SLIDE.
>> I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO HIM THAT I'M WITH YOU.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF THESE EBBS AND FLOWS.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE HAD ALL THE NEGATIVE EBBS.
THAT RARELY HAPPENS, AND I'M WILLING TO BET THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A POSITIVE VARIANCE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.
>> ANY OTHER TRUSTEE THOUGHTS?
>> AS A CORPORATE BUDGET PERSON, I'M NOT OKAY WITH THAT AT ALL.
I LOOK AT THAT 5.1 AND THAT 6.5 MILLION LOOMING OUT THERE, AND I HOPE THAT WE GET SOMETHING FROM THE LEGISLATURE, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THAT NUMBER A HECK OF A LOT LOWER.
WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE AS TRUSTEES.
I DON'T WANT TO BE BACK HERE IN A YEAR WITH THE COMMUNITY SAYING, YOU NEVER TOLD US OR PEOPLE SAYING, WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE ACTION WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE? THAT 22.9 MILLION FUND BALANCE RARELY GOES UP.
I BELIEVE IT'S GONE UP ONCE OR TWICE BY $100,000 IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD. BUT WE CAN GET THAT.
>> HOW MANY MILLIONS HAS IT GONE UP?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY RECORDS, BUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THAT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A MILLION.
I DON'T WANT TO DEFER YOU FROM SAYING THAT THIS IS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE BACK HERE DOING THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
[04:20:01]
BUT ABSENT ACTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN, MAYBE NOT NEXT YEAR, BUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE TWO YEARS. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.>> WE DO HAVE THE VADER OPTION IN JUNE.
IF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF WE HAVE A POISON PILL, WE CAN STILL TAKE.
>> I THINK ON THIS ONE, WE'VE HEARD AT LEAST FOUR TRUSTEES TONIGHT SAY PLC IS NOT A FAVORABLE OPTION.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN JANUARY, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER TWO MILLION.
WE GOT TO GET TO THE POINT ON JANUARY WHERE WE REALLY SHARPEN THE PENCIL AND GET DOWN TO WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT DECISION, PLEASE GET ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, ELLEN, AND THEN KELLY.
>> I THINK THIS WAS SAID AS AN ASIDE AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WITH CLARITY HOW MANY MINUTES OUR SECONDARY STAFF HAS FOR LUNCH, BECAUSE THAT'S AN UNUSUAL TIME BENEFIT THAT OUR STAFF HAS AS WELL.
I BELIEVE IT'S A 50-MINUTE LUNCH, AND THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS ANYTHING OVER 30 MINUTES FOR LUNCH CAN BE CONSIDERED PLANNING.
THEY HAVE THREE OPPORTUNITIES, TWO FULL PERIODS AND ONE HALF PERIOD.
THAT IS A VERY GENEROUS SUPPLY OF TIME THAT NO ONE ELSE IS DOING.
I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS ADMINISTRATIVELY TO OPTIMIZE OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OUR PLC WORK WITHOUT THE EXPENSE.
>> WE'LL GO TO KELLY AND THEN HEATHER.
>> I DO WANT TO GO FURTHER TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH I DON'T LOVE THE PLCS BEING ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, I DO FEEL LIKE IN ANY GOOD, RESPONSIBLE PROGRAM, IF IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP NOTICING THAT SOMETHING ISN'T BEING UTILIZED CORRECTLY, I DO THINK IT IS BEST TO REALLY EVALUATE THAT.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT TEACHERS WEREN'T SAYING TO US, DON'T CUT OUR PROGRAM, THEY WERE SAYING, WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, HERE'S HOW I USE IT.
IF I CAN'T USE IT IN THIS WAY, CAN YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THESE TWO OR THREE OPTIONS? I FOUND THAT TO BE REALLY GENEROUS.
I WILL DO AN OUTLINE OF THOSE TO BRING THOSE UP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT OFFICIALLY, JUST AS A REMINDER.
BUT THE TEACHERS' EMAILS WERE REALLY COMPELLING, AND THEY DID GIVE ADDITIONAL IDEAS OF HOW THEY COULD USE TIME TO MEET. IT WAS GREAT.
THAT BEING SAID, I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW PARENTS REACH OUT TO ME, PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR COMMITTEE, LIKE AS WHEN I DID A BOOSTER CLUB POSITION.
THEIR QUESTION FOR ME AND THEIR CONCERN FOR ME WAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AND WE'RE TALKING SO CASUALLY IN THEIR OPINION ABOUT THIS PLC CHANGE AND REMOVING THIS PLANNING PERIOD FOR TEACHERS THAT AFFECTS SIXTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING LUNCHES OR HOW THEY USE THEIR TIME.
WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING STUDENT FEES FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT THEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT COSTS MONEY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL THAT ONLY BENEFITS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT JUST GOT EVEN SMALLER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, I'M GOING TO TAKE AWAY THIS TEACHER PLANNING TIME AFFECTING SIXTH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO INVEST 500+ DOLLARS A STUDENT PER YEAR OUTWARDLY ON ONE SUBSET OF STUDENTS FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT OR HELP ANY OTHER STUDENTS, THERE'S PARENTS OUT THERE THAT ARE REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.
THESE PARENTS OR PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPER INVOLVED IN EEF THAT I HAVE NOTICED ARE NO LONGER INVOLVED.
THEY'RE FRUSTRATED, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
NOW WHEN THEY SEE SLIDES THAT SAY, HEY, GUESS WHAT, TOO, AS WELL AS SPENDING MONEY ON THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM, WE, TO COMPENSATE FOR A BUDGET DEFICIT, WILL NOW BE INCREASING YOUR STUDENT FEES.
YOUR CHILD AND BAND WILL NOW COST YOU THIS MUCH MONEY ADDITIONAL,
[04:25:04]
BUT WE'LL STILL BE PROVIDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN IN THE SUBSET GROUP.IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SELL THAT.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME VERY SERIOUS SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF WE'RE SENDING THAT MESSAGE.
WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING THESE THINGS, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE OPTICS OF THIS AS WELL AND WHO IT'S AFFECTING AND HOW BROADLY WE'RE BROADCASTING THAT EFFECT.
I'M ONLY SAYING THIS AS A PERSON WHO LOVES AND SUPPORTS LANGUAGE IMMERSION, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOT LISTEN TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THIS SET OF LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED.
I JUST HAD TO SPEAK AND SAY THAT ON THEIR BEHALF.
>> MISS KELLY. LET'S NOT GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD OF DEBATING THE DIFFERENT TOPICS.
I'M GUILTY, BUT LET'S AGAIN, GO BACK TO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE VOTE IN JANUARY, AND I'LL GO TO HEATHER, AND THEN I'LL GO TO DIANE.
>> I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THIS.
I THINK OUR PLCS ARE ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP, OR SOME VERSION.
IF THERE'S SOME CHANGES, I GET THAT.
BUT THAT'S OUR RETENTION AND THE WAY THAT WE ARE STILL ABLE TO ATTRACT NEW STAFF FOR SIX THROUGH 12.
AND THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN IF WE ARE FACED WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GIVE RAISES, AND I'M NOT TOUCHING LUNCH.
I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER WHERE I HAD TO PUT THE FOOD IN THE MICROWAVE AND RUN TO GO HELP KIDS THROUGH THE LINE, NO.
>> YOU'RE DEBATING THE POINT OF PLC.
>> NO, I'M JUST BRINGING TO THE POINT THAT IT IS AN ATTRACTION AND RETENTION.
>> BUT THAT'S AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF IT THAT WE WILL DISCUSS IN JANUARY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE JANUARY?
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, AND THEY'RE BOTH RELATED TO QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO HEAR STAFF ANSWER, AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING STAFF VOLUNTARILY COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT PLCS.
MY QUESTION IS, HAVE WE ACTIVELY GONE OUT AND ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE ELIMINATION OF PLCS AND THEIR IDEAS? WE HAVE HAD SOME GROUPS COME FORWARD.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT PROACTIVE REACH THERE HAS BEEN OUT TO THAT COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR, HOW DO WE BEST MOVE FORWARD IF WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS? IT BUILDS ON SOMETHING I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT I THINK THE TEACHERS ARE THE BEST SUITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
THEN WITH RESPECT TO SPANISH IMMERSION, WE HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST THAT THIS PROGRAM ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR CURRENT FEEDBACK ON WHAT IMPACT THOSE TEACHERS ARE FEELING FROM THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, CREATING WHAT WE HAVE HEARD ARE INEQUITIES OR IMBALANCES ACROSS CLASSES.
WE'VE HEARD INFORMATION IN THE PAST.
I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM TEACHERS, ARE THEY STILL FEELING THIS CONCERN IN THE CLASSROOMS? BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.
>> WOULD IT BE OKAY? I APOLOGIZE FOR BELABORING THIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOW WELL INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING, AND I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAFF WHO ARE STILL HERE.
I'LL PROBABLY SEE SOME OF YOU AGAIN TONIGHT AT THE NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING.
BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I HAVE A RUNNING LIST HERE, THE INFORMATION THAT TRUSTEES HAVE ASKED FOR.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY.
COST OF OPERATING EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS PER CAMPUS.
LATEST DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, REVENUE GENERATION IDEAS, OR A REPOSITORY FOR THOSE IN DEPTH TRANSFER DATA SHOWING ORIGIN SCHOOLS.
THE PLCS SPED IMPLICATIONS AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT OTHER DISTRICTS OFFER PLCS.
THE CAPACITY DATA UPDATED BY CAMPUS RELATED TO THE BLEND CONVERSATION.
AN ANALYSIS OF STAFF MINUTES FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH 12, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE LUNCH QUESTION AND HOW THAT CONNECTS TO THE PLCS.
[04:30:01]
THE BLEND POPULATION SCENARIOS, WHICH IS THAT SUMMARY DOCUMENT THAT WE'LL GLADLY PROVIDE AND POST.THE SPANISH IMMERSION COST ANALYSIS SCENARIOS, WHICH I THINK IS THE MEMO THAT CHRIS HAD GENERATED.
THEN, IF POSSIBLE, TEACHER FEEDBACK ON SPANISH IMMERSION AND THE PLCS.
I MISSING ANYTHING? THAT'S MY RUNNING LIST.
BUT I THINK WHAT I ALSO HEARD, AND I APPRECIATE IS, WHATEVER WE GATHER HERE FOR THE TRUSTEES TO CONSIDER, WE ALSO NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AS WELL SO THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION AND KNOWS ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROCESS.
WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER HAD A BOARD MEETING ON A WEDNESDAY.
YES, WE HAVE. I NEED A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[12. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA]
KIM, WILL YOU MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE?>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
>> MOTION BY KIM, SECOND BY HEATHER.
ANY DISCUSSION? COPY MACHINES PERHAPS?
>> COFFEE MACHINES ARE HILARIOUS, THOUGH.
>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
NUMBER 1, YAY ON THE ATS KITCHEN AND INTERIOR RENOVATION AND EXPANSION.
THE BATS WERE ASKING US ABOUT THAT AND THE OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL, SO THAT LOOKS GREAT.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME BARTON CREEK AND VALLEY VIEW THINGS ON THERE, AND I'M WONDERING, HOW FAST ARE WE MOVING INTO THAT, OR IS THIS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE? BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE SOME THINGS WE'RE CONSIDERING, AND I JUST NOTICED SOME NEW WINDOWS AND BARRIER STAIRWELLS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO GET UP TO CODE.
>> DR. SAYERS IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
I THINK THE BARTON CREEK PROJECT, IF I RECALL, THOSE ARE THE STAFF RESTROOMS, WHICH WE WOULD DO ANYWAY.
>> STAFF RESTROOMS. KINDERGARTEN RESTROOMS.
>> THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH A SUMMARY OF THOSE PROJECTS, BUT THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE '23 BOND MONIES THAT WERE DESIGNATED.
>> CAN YOU VOTE WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, OR DO YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS ONE, OR WHAT DO YOU WANT?
>> I CAN VOTE WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION.
>> KIM, DO YOU HAVE A [INAUDIBLE]
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THE SAME THING IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE PULLED SO THAT WE COULD VOTE.
>> I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF SINCE THIS IS A PURCHASE OF APPLE PRODUCTS, AND I WORK FOR APPLE, SO I WILL NOT VOTE ON THIS ONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> IF IT DOESN'T PASS THEN WE'LL PULL THAT ITEM AND TRY AGAIN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>> THE CONSENT AGENDA IS BROKEN INTO TWO SLIDES, AND IT'S ON THIS ONE.
>> DR. ARNETT, KRISTIE JUST SENT SOME INFORMATION OF THAT.
>> SHE MUST BE WATCHING AT HOME.
[LAUGHTER] MOLLY, I'LL LET YOU READ WHAT SHE HAS SENT YOU.
>> SORRY, LET ME GET WHERE WE ARE.
SHE SAID, THE BARTON CREEK BATHROOM IS FOR BOND 2023.
THEN THERE'S A SAFETY STAIRWELL AT VALLEY VIEW THAT NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED OR FIXED OR SOMETHING.
THAT'S FOR A STAIRWELL AT VALLEY VIEW.
THOSE ARE THE TWO PROJECTS. JUST COMPLETING.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND, AND A PHONE EXPLANATION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IN ABSENTIA?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.
[04:35:01]
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES FIVE IN FAVOR WITH ONE ABSTENTION. ANYTHING ELSE?
[13. UPCOMING MEETINGS]
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS, JANUARY 14 REGULAR MEETING AND JANUARY 28 REGULAR MEETING.THE BOARD WILL NOW STAND ADJOURNED AT? WHAT IS IT? 12:26.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.