[*A portion of this meeting is without audio*]
[00:00:32]
>> I'M NOT SUE. THE TIME IS NOW 07:00 P.M. AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. GOOD EVENING.
[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]
I'M JAMES BRADLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE HANS IC BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION.THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS FOR THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS LISTED ON ITS AGENDA.
AS ALWAYS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT AS WE ASK THE SAME COURTESY IN RETURN.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM OUTBURSTS OR DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR.
APPLAUSE IS ALWAYS WELCOME FOR THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED DURING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THIS MEETING.
I WILL PROVIDE MORE INSTRUCTIONS FROM REACH THAT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING TO LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.
IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE EARLY, PLEASE DO SO QUIETLY AND TAKE ANY CONVERSATIONS INTO THE HALL TO AVOID DISRUPTING DISCUSSIONS OR PRESENTATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ALL ATTENDEES WERE ABLE TO FIT INTO THE BOARD ROOM TONIGHT DUE TO CAPACITY LIMITS SET BY THE FIRE MARSHAL, ALTHOUGH WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL CYCLE PEOPLE IN FROM THE LOBBY AS SEATS BECOME AVAILABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING.
WE CONSIDERED MOVING THIS MEETING TO A LARGER LOCATION, BUT WE ARE NOT SET UP TO BROADCAST AND RECORD OUR MEETINGS FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS.
WE FELT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED A CHANCE TO VIEW THE MEETING, WHETHER LIVE OR AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION THAT WE WILL BE MOVING INTO A LARGER BOARD ROOM LATER THIS YEAR.
THIS UPGRADE IS BEING FUNDED BY BONDS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2023.
WHILE BOND FUNDS CANNOT BE USED TO PAY TEACHERS OR TO OFFSET CURRENT BUDGET CHALLENGES, THIS FACILITY WILL ADDRESS SPACE NEEDS AND ALLOW THIS CURRENT BUILDING TO BE CONVERTED INTO LEARNING SPACES FOR THE TLC PROGRAM.
A CHANGE WHICH WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRUSTEE ELLEN BALTHAZAR WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
HOWEVER, SHE IS ON VIDEO AND AUDIO.
PER TEXAS CODE, SHE IS ALLOWED TO ATTEND OUR MEETING REMOTELY LIKE THAT, AND SHE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE REMOTELY FROM THAT LOCATION.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR AGENDA WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT OF OUR DISTRICT.
UNITE, EMPOWER, INSPIRE EVERY PERSON, EVERY DAY.
WE UNITE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL.
WE EMPOWER STUDENTS, PROVIDING AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION THAT DEVELOPS CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND INDIVIDUAL TALENTS.
WE INSPIRE EACH OTHER TO LEAD PURPOSEFUL LIVES OF EMPATHY, GRATITUDE, AND COMPASSION.
PLEASE JOIN ME NOW IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, DR. ARNETT.
[7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPRADLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AUDIENCE, WELCOME.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US IN PERSON, AS WELL AS ONLINE.
I ONLY HAVE TWO THINGS THAT I'LL MENTION IN MY REPORT THIS EVENING IN AN EFFORT TO BE BRIEF.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH TRAFFIC.
THE FIRST ONE CONCERNS OUR FRIENDS AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH TECH STO, AND THEY'VE INFORMED US THAT BEGINNING THURSDAY MORNING AFTER ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL, THEY ARE GOING TO CLOSE CEDAR STREET TO ALL LEFT TURNS, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE CLOSED ROUGHLY FOR ABOUT 24-48 HOURS.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR BOTH FAMILIES AND STAFF AT BRIDGE POINT RATHER, USING CEDAR STREET.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THAT, AND CERTAINLY WE'LL BE HELPING WITH COMMUNICATION AROUND THAT AS WELL.
THE SECOND ONE IS A LONGER CLOSURE, AND THAT IS CAMP CRAFT ROAD.
COMMUNICATION ACTUALLY WENT OUT TODAY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND INFORMING THEM THAT BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1ST THROUGH JULY 31ST, CAMP CRAFT ROAD HERE JUST BELOW OUR OFFICES ARE GOING TO BE CLOSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AS THEY ADDRESS A LOW WATER CROSSING THERE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT NOT ONLY WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO EANES ELEMENTARY, AND ALL OF THE MAJOR TRAFFIC ROUTES AROUND THIS CENTRAL PART OF WEST LAKE HILLS, BUT THAT IS A WEST LAKE HILLS BOND PROGRAM.
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WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE CAMP CRAFT ROAD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE SHORT TERM, IT'S GOING TO CREATE QUITE A FEW INCONVENIENCES.IN FACT, THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE MEETING TODAY TRYING TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION AND ROUTING AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE TRAFFIC AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL AND AROUND EANES ELEMENTARY.
BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HELP EVERYBODY BE PREPARED FOR THOSE CLOSURES.
THAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY REPORT THIS EVENING, AND I'LL CONCLUDE THERE.
>> THANK YOU, DR. ARNETT. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WE WILL MOVE INTO THE REPORT SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, BEGINNING.
[8.1 Blended school commitments and budget-reduction process with timeline]
WELL, I THINK WE HAVE ONE TOPIC.DR. ARNETT AND CHRIS SCOTT ARE COMING FORWARD TO GIVE US OUR REPORT ON BLENDED SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND BUDGET REDUCTION PROCESS WITH TIMELINE.
CHRIS IS GOING TO JOIN ME IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.
BEFORE I HANDLE THE FIRST PART OF THIS PRESENTATION CONCERNING THE PROPOSED BLEND OF VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY. I DID WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. SPRADLEY.
YOU HAVE DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB OF DILIGENTLY READING AND RESPONDING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO EVERY SINGLE EMAIL WE HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS OF THOSE RESPONSES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'VE DONE IT. BUT YOUR ANSWERS TYPIFY THE TEAM OF APE PHILOSOPHY. THANK YOU.
IN THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS, WE HAVE ALSO READ COUNTLESS EMAILS FROM PARENTS WHO ATTENTIVELY REVIEWED THESE BOARD AGENDA MATERIALS AND QUESTIONS, CERTAIN WORDS, AND PHRASES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE SLIDES IN A BOARD PRESENTATION ARE NOT MEANT TO BE A CONTRACT.
THEY'RE MERELY WORDS ON A SCREEN, AND I AM PERSONALLY SORRY SOMETHING WAS INFERRED, PERHAPS THAT WAS NOT INTENDED.
NONETHELESS, AS A COMMUNICATOR, I UNDERSTAND THAT WORDS MATTER.
THEY IMPLY SOMETHING TO THOSE WHO READ THEM.
ALL THESE SLIDES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN A MOMENT AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGE A COMMITMENT TO DO SOMETHING, TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING OR NOT TO DO SOMETHING.
EVEN IF THE COMMITMENT ITSELF CONCEDES THE AMBIGUITY AND MULTIFACETED ASPECTS OF INTRODUCING CHANGE, AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT EASY.
I TOOK THE LIBERTY IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE EMAILS WE RECEIVED TODAY TO ADJUST SOME OF THOSE WORDS TO CLARIFY OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THIS REVISED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BLEND.
WITH THAT, LET'S BEGIN HERE AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS REGARDING THE PROPOSED BLEND OF VALLEY VIEW, AND BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
IN THE BOARD MATERIALS, YOU KNOW THAT WE SEPARATED THIS INTO THREE DIFFERENT PARTS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO AND THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL NOTICE A DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO UPHOLD THE EXEMPLARY EDUCATION FOR WHICH EANES ISD IS KNOWN AND RESERVE SERVICES SUPPORT AND DEDICATED SPACES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
I THINK THERE WAS PERHAPS AN INFERENCE OR AN INTERPRETATION OF THE WAY THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PHRASED OR ITS PLACEMENT IN THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS THAT WE WERE NOT MAKING A FIRM COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
WHEN, IN FACT, WE WERE SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WHEN YOU'RE BLENDING TO SCHOOLS, SPACE OBVIOUSLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDED THAT SPACE FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEM.
BUT I WANTED, IN THIS CASE, TO REITERATE, WE HAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO UPHOLD THE EXEMPLARY EDUCATION FOR WHICH WE'RE KNOWN.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO INVOLVING STAKEHOLDERS, STAFF AND FAMILIES IN THIS TRANSITION, ACKNOWLEDGING ONCE AGAIN THAT IT IS EMOTIONAL WHILE COMMUNICATING REGULARLY ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS, CHANGES, AND CHALLENGES WITHIN THE PLAN.
THERE WILL BE MANY OF THOSE TO COME OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO CREATE A NEW COHESIVE CAMPUS CULTURE.
THAT COMBINES THE TIME HONORED ATTRIBUTES AND TRADITIONS OF TWO VERY PROUD SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
THAT WORK WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY PENDING THE BOARD'S DECISION LATER THIS EVENING.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO HONOR OUR EXISTING STAFF BY PLACING THEM IN COMPARABLE POSITIONS ON THIS OR ANOTHER CAMPUS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STAFF ALL THE TIME ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF, BECAUSE CERTAINLY THEY ARE OUR MOST VALUED ASSET.
THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE COURSE OF THIS BLEND.
THIS FIRST ONE, I KNOW, HAS GENERATED A LOT OF DISCUSSION, WHY WE WOULDN'T HAVE PLACED THIS ONE ON THE FIRST ONE.
IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE COMMIT TO A CERTAIN NUMBER, WE'LL BE HELD TO THAT.
[00:10:01]
WE ARE COMMITTING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE.I CAN SAY AND SIT HERE TONIGHT THAT WITH VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY.
WE'VE RUN ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS AND SCENARIOS.
WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE ENROLLMENT ON THE NEW BLENDED CAMPUS WILL BE BELOW 700 STUDENTS.
THE CLASS SIZES WILL ABSOLUTELY BE CONSISTENT WITH ALL THOSE AT ALL OTHER EANES ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
BUT I CAN'T COMMIT TO THAT NUMBER THIS EVENING.
I CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT'S GOING TO BE 650 OR 660 OR 675.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE BELIEVE WITH A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE BELOW 700 STUDENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO ADHERE TO THAT.
WE'RE COMMITTING TO MANAGE TRAFFIC ON ADJACENT ROADS AND WITHIN THE CAMPUS TO MINIMIZE DELAYS AND DISRUPTIONS FOR PARENTS, STAFF, AND LOCAL RESIDENTS.
THE TRAFFIC STUDY THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER.
WE NOW HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT.
WE KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL CHANGES MIGHT BE ON THE CAMPUS, AND THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE'LL BE SHARING MORE BROADLY WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AS WE PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RELOCATE THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO MAINTAIN PROXIMITY, CONVENIENCE, AND TO ENSURE A CONTINUED SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
I SAY WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO, BECAUSE I CAN'T SIT HERE TONIGHT AND TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE THAT WILL BE.
WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE WE THINK THAT WILL BE IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CAMPUS TO PROVIDE THAT CONVENIENCE FOR THE STAFF AND THE FAMILIES THAT USE THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THAT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THE BLEND.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, AS A PART OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY AND OUR SURVEY OF THE CAMPUS, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE, AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN INCREASE PARKING ON THE CAMPUS TO ACCOMMODATE PERHAPS MORE CARS, WHETHER THEY BE FOR STAFF OR FOR VISITING FAMILIES.
THEN FINALLY, TONIGHT, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WILL NOT DO.
WE WILL NOT REDRAW ATTENDANCE ZONES MORE THAN NECESSARY.
TO ACHIEVE A DESIRED ENROLLMENT AT BARTON CREEK, AND WE WILL NOT REASSIGN A STUDENT'S CURRENT OR FUTURE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT REDRAWING ATTENDANCE ZONES MIGHT ENTAIL.
MANY PEOPLE FEARFUL THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO GO TO ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN.
WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE DETERMINED THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARY, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO CONTINUE IN THEIR CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN, WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR NOT WITH SOME MARGINAL REZONING THAT'S STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
WE'LL CERTAINLY BEGIN THAT PROCESS VERY QUICKLY PENDING THE BOARD'S DECISION LATER THIS EVENING.
BUT I WANTED TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY THIS EVENING OF WHAT WE WILL NOT DO.
WE WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND STAFF BY DEVIATING FROM ACCEPTED SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR ALL EANES ISD FACILITIES.
SAFETY AND SECURITY HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BLENDING THE TWO CAMPUSES.
IT HAS BEEN OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE.
WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE OR COMPROMISE THE SAFETY AND THE SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE CAMPUS OR PERHAPS LOCATED IN THE PROPOSED CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
WE WILL NOT PLACE TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS ON PLAYFIELDS, GENERAL PARKING SPACES, OR ROADWAYS.
WE HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY VERY EARLY IN THIS CONVERSATION.
THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE MADE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT PORTABLE OR TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS ON PLAY FIELDS THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THAT SPACE THAT THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON, NOR WOULD WE PLACE THOSE IN PARKING SPACES OR ROADWAYS? WE WILL NOT ADMIT NEW OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS TO BARTON CREEK.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD MANY DISCUSSIONS AND MANY IDEAS AND OPINIONS ABOUT TRANSFER STUDENTS AT BARTON CREEK.
WE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS THERE AND PROBABLY ADJUST OUR TRANSFER STUDENT PRACTICES FOR NEW FAMILIES AT BARTON CREEK IN ORDER TO CREATE THE CAPACITY.
IT IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE CAN'T COMMIT TO AN EXACT NUMBER.
BECAUSE THERE STILL ARE SOME THINGS TO BE DETERMINED, SOME OF WHICH WILL BE AFFECTED BY DECISIONS IN THE COURSE OF THIS MEETING THAT WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH CURRENT TRANSFER FAMILIES.
WE WANT TO TRY TO HONOR THEM TO THE EXTENT WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT WE WILL NOT ADMIT NEW OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS TO BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SPACE THAT IS NEEDED THERE.
THEN FINALLY, AND I WANT TO REITERATE THIS POINT.
WE WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE EXEMPLARY EDUCATION, THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION FOR WHICH EANES ISD IS KNOWN, INCLUDING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
I WANTED TO BEGIN AND END THERE THIS EVENING TO TRY TO SUMMARIZE OUR COMMITMENTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE WILL AND
[00:15:02]
WILL NOT DO IN THE COURSE OF BLENDING THE TWO CAMPUSES.THAT, I'LL STOP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER LATER IN THE MEETING REGARDING VALLEY VIEWS SPECIFICALLY, BUT PERHAPS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BLEND, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU DR. ARNETT, QUESTIONS FROM THE TRUSTEES AT THIS TIME? I HAVE A COUPLE.
I ALWAYS HAVE A COUPLE. CAN FAMILIES GENERALLY SPEAKING, AT ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FAMILIES CAN REQUEST TRANSFERS TO OTHER EANES ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
IS THAT WHAT IS THAT MAYBE BASED ON OR DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON CLARIFYING THAT?
>> CERTAINLY, IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IF THERE IS A FAMILY, IN THIS CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THEIR NEW HOME ATTENDANCE AREA WOULD BE BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
IF THEY WANTED TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE IN THE GRADE LEVEL FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD ACCOMMODATE THEM.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN REQUEST AS A PART OF THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS, WHICH WILL BEGIN IN MARCH.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WOULDN'T PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO THE OUT OF ZONE CAMPUS, BUT PARENTS COULD CHOOSE TO DO THAT.
>> CORRECT. PER BOARD POLICY, WE DO NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS, WHETHER THEY BE IN DISTRICT OR OUT OF DISTRICT, BUT THEY COULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION.
>> THANK YOU. THEN AS FAR AS NO NEW TRANSFER STUDENTS.
WHAT ABOUT YOUNGER SIBLINGS OF CURRENT TRANSFERS?
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT, AGAIN, DEPENDING UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE.
IF WE HAVE ROOM IN EXISTING CLASSROOMS AND A FAMILY IS ESTABLISHED AT BARTON CREEK, AND THEY HAVE YOUNGER SIBLINGS WHO ARE RISING TO KINDERGARTEN, SAY, AND THE FAMILY IS ALREADY THERE AS AN ESTABLISHED TRANSFER FAMILY.
THAT'S ONE THAT WE WILL EVALUATE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS DEPENDING UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE.
BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO OVERCROWD THE CAMPUS.
WE DON'T WANT TO EXCEED OUR 22-1 GUIDELINE.
IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN OUR DISTRICT, SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR BENCHMARK.
IT'S JUST A THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE CABINET AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM FOR PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE AND REALLY GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS AND LISTENING TO THE INPUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS WEIGHED IN ON THIS AND FOR THE TWEAKS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO TRY TO COME TO A PLACE THAT IS THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS.
>> ALSO, NOT A QUESTION, BUILDING ON WHAT YOU SAID, HEATHER, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
CLEARLY, YOU ALL ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS BLEND HAPPENS CORRECTLY.
I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO WANTS US TO GO FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY AS DR. ARNETT OUTLINED HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR INPUT, THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE PUT IN AND INCORPORATING SOME OF THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE CLOSING A SCHOOL, BUT WE HAVE TO.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS NEW BLEND IS GOING TO GO FORWARD WELL.
I HOPE THAT AS IT CONTINUES, THAT THERE ARE CONTINUED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, PART OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I KNOW THEY VERY MUCH WANT TO BE.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION WHEN THE MOTION IS MADE AS WELL.
I WAS JUST HOPING WE'D GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE QUESTIONS, IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
DID YOU HAVE A PART 2? IS CHRIS COMING TO JOIN US? MR. CHRIS SCOTT, CFO, EANES ISD.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN AND SOME OF THE OPTIONS WE'VE LOOKED AT.
AS YOU'VE HEARD MANY TIMES BEFORE, WE'RE FACING A DEFICIT IN THE CURRENT YEAR, BUT PROJECTING OUT, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHER DEFICITS EACH YEAR FOLLOWING.
ABSENT ANY ACTION BY THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS,
[00:20:02]
WE'RE LOOKING AT A DEFICIT NEXT YEAR, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $6.5 MILLION, WHICH WOULD PUT US BELOW OUR 25% THRESHOLD ON OUR FUND BALANCE THAT WE NEED TO STAY ABOVE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE CASH FLOW ALL YEAR LONG.WE CAME FORWARD WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
ONE OF THEM, JEFF JUST PRESENTED THE BLENDING OF THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A WHILE NOW, AS WELL AS WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED HERE IN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS ELIMINATING OR MODIFYING THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE AN ADMINISTRATIVE MOVE ON ONE OF THESE ITEMS, WHICH YOU DID NOT NEED TO APPROVE AND THAT IS TO ELIMINATE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL PLANNING PERIOD THAT SOME OF OUR SECONDARY STAFF GET IN ORDER TO COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PEERS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES.
THAT WOULD CREATE A SAVINGS ONCE SOME OF THOSE SAVINGS ARE RECOGNIZED, WHICH PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAPPEN ALL IN THE FIRST YEAR, SAME AS ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FINDING YOUR SAVINGS BY REDUCING YOUR OVERALL HEAD COUNT, AND YOU'RE ALSO COMMITTING TO NOT REDUCING COUNT, BUT ALLOWING NATURAL ATTRITION TO HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO HAPPEN.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ITSELF TO ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO FULLY IMPLEMENT.
SOME OF THESE THINGS WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT.
FOR EXAMPLE, LATER IN THE SPRING IN MAY, YOU WILL MAKE A COMMITMENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON WHAT RAISES STAFF WOULD RECEIVE FOR NEXT YEAR KEEPING IN MIND THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO SAY, WE ARE NOT GIVING A RAISE AT THIS TIME, YOU CAN, AND WE HAVE IN THE PAST, INSERT CLAUSES INTO THAT RESOLUTION, WHICH SAYS THAT YOU CAN REVISIT THAT AT A LATER TIME ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DO.
IF THINGS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IF YOU DID GO THAT ROUTE, THERE WOULD BE TIME TO UNDO IT AT A LATER TIME.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NINE COPPER PENNIES, AND I WON'T GO INTO THE FULL DETAIL OF EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT ESSENTIALLY, IT WOULD INVOLVE YOU INCREASING THE M&O PORTION OF THE TAX RATE BY NINE CENTS.
RAISING THE TAXES IN THE COMMUNITY THE DIFFICULTY WITH THAT IS THOSE NINE ADDITIONAL PENNIES WOULD BRING IN ABOUT $20 MILLION.
UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT $16 MILLION OF THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR RECAPTURE PAYMENT.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE HUGE DRAWBACK OF THE COPPER PENNIES IS NOT ONLY THAT THEY'RE RECAPTURED, BUT THEY'RE RECAPTURED AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OUR OTHER REVENUES ARE RECAPTURED.
IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION TO LOOK AT.
THAT ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MADE NOW.
ACTUALLY, I WON'T GO TOO FAR BECAUSE I THINK THAT ENTER IN A SECOND, WE'VE GOT A TIMELINE ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT DIDN'T MEET THAT $500,000 THRESHOLD THAT WE ORIGINALLY TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT AND ALSO, THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY.
THE PRIMARY ONES WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS EXPLORE INCREASING FEES ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
RIGHT NOW, WE THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, ACTUALLY, PRETTY CLOSE TO $500,000 THAT WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT SOME DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOME EXTRA MONEY.
IT'S NOT ALL GOING TO BE IN FEE.
SOME OF IT WILL BE WELL, I GUESS IT'S A FEE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A STUDENT FEE.
FEES THAT WE MIGHT CHARGE FOR RENTING OUR FACILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING.
THE VERY LAST BULLET THERE SAYS THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT NON-INSTRUCTIONAL REDUCTIONS IN EFFICIENCIES.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE DO ALL THE TIME.
I THINK WE'RE GIVING IT AN EVEN KEENER EYE THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE IN OTHER YEARS, JUST LOOKING FOR ANY PLACES WHERE WE CAN INCREASE EFFICIENCIES,
[00:25:03]
MAYBE COMBINE POSITIONS, THAT SORT OF THING TO TRY TO SAVE SOME MONEY.NOT TO SAY THAT'S INSIGNIFICANT, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST PULL A TRIGGER AND SAY, GO FIND US TWO MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE IT WON'T WORK THAT WAY BUT WE DO THINK THAT WE'LL FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES, AND WE'LL GET SOME SAVINGS THERE.
TIMELINE CONSIDERATIONS, THE THE TWO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING TONIGHT, WE PUT A TIMELINE ON FOR THIS MEETING.
IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY JANUARY 14TH IS THE DEADLINE, BUT IN ORDER FOR THESE PROJECTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WE NEED TIME TO DO IT AND THIS IS WHEN WE START LOOKING AT CONTRACTS FOR NEXT YEAR, WE START LOOKING AT OUR STAFFING NEEDS AT THE DIFFERENT PLACES.
JANUARY IS THE TIME IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S ON THERE.
LIKE I SAID, THESE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ELSEWHERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THOSE ALL YEAR LONG.
THROUGHOUT THE SPRING, WHEN WE FIND THEM, WE'LL FIND THEM.
THE DECISION ON FREEZING SALARIES, AS I MENTIONED, WILL COME IN MAY, IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE AND THE COPPER PENNIES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION UNTIL IN JUNE.
AT THAT POINT, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE OR HASN'T DONE AND IF YOU WANT TO PULL THAT TRIGGER, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT OPTION, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THAT'S ABOUT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS AND SO IF YOU SAID, WELL, WE DON'T NEED FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, WE NEED TWO MILLION DOLLARS WELL, WE CAN DO A LITTLE QUICK MATH AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S ABOUT FOUR PENNIES.
YOU'LL HAVE THAT OPTION LATER.
IT'S STILL OPEN TO YOU THROUGHOUT THE SPRING.
TONIGHT, YOU ARE CONSIDERING THESE TWO PARTICULAR THINGS, THE BLENDING OF THE TWO ELEMENTARY COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE CHANGES OR ELIMINATION OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
THESE OTHER ITEMS, WELL, I GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION BEFORE I PUT UP THE PICTURE, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIMELINE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT, WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE'RE STILL NOT QUITE TO THE $6.5 MILLION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT PROCESS AND ONE THAT NONE OF YOU WANTED TO GO THROUGH BUT HERE'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. QUESTIONS FROM THE TRUSTEES. KIM.
>> CHRIS AND DR. ARNETT AND CABINET AND ADMINISTRATION, AS HEATHER SAID, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, ALONG WITH THE COMMITTEE LOOKING AT EVERY ROCK THAT WE CAN TURN OVER.
ALSO, JUST IN A FEW SLIDES BACK, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT WHILE WE STARTED AT THE 500,000 THRESHOLD, THAT, YOU TOOK AN EXTRA LOOK AT FEES THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AS PARENTS, BUT CAN BE SPREAD AROUND AND THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING TO COUNT.
I CHALLENGE ALL OF US UP HERE.
THE BOARD DOESN'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, BUT MAYBE WE CAN SQUEEZE A FEW DOLLAR AS WELL AND NOT HAVE CERTAIN TRAININGS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HAD IN THE PAST AND LOOK AT SAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I APPLAUD WHAT ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE IN LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
I APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE LOOKING, AND I HOPE THAT WE DO OUR PART AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, KIM. ELLEN, DID YOU HAVE A HAND UP OR DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NO? OKAY.
>> NOT AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU.
>> OTHER TRUSTEES QUESTIONS? WELL, I HAVE A FEW.
CHRIS, THE LEGISLATURE CONVENED TODAY AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL TAKE UP INCREASING FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE SINCE 2019.
WHEN WOULD WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING AN INCREASE IN BASIC ALLOTMENT OR A TEACHER RAISE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
[00:30:03]
>> ABSENT ANY SPECIAL CALL SESSIONS, THEY WILL ADJOURN AT THE END OF MAY, SO COME JUNE, YOU SHOULD KNOW.
>> THANK YOU. CAN WE AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL THEN?
>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT COPPER PENNIES WILL BE ELIMINATED BY THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR?
>> YES, IT'S POSSIBLE THEY COULD BE ELIMINATED.
IT'S POSSIBLE THEY COULD PUT DIFFERENT LIMITATIONS ON HOW YOU CAN GET THEM.
>> HOPEFULLY, THEY'LL GIVE US MORE GOLDEN PENNIES AND THAT KIND.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT I WAS AT THE MEETINGS WITH STAFF AT BOTH HILL COUNTRY AND WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPTION.
I THINK WE'VE USED UP ALL THE GREAT OPTIONS, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OTHER STUFF WE HAVE TO DO TO CLOSE THIS BUDGET GAP BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE'VE PUT OUT A CALL, OR THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT OUT A CALL TO THE STAFF TO SHARE IDEAS FOR WAYS TO MAKE UP WHAT WE'RE MISSING WITH PLCS.
I KNOW THAT THE IDEAL WOULD BE TO CONTINUE WITH PLCS BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A WAY TO ALLOW FOR THAT COLLABORATION.
I TALKED TO SEVERAL TEACHERS AS I VISITED HILL COUNTRY AND WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN WEST RIDGE, WHO TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THOSE PLANNING PERIODS, AND I BELIEVE IN THAT AND I FIND A LOT OF VALUE IN THAT.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S QUESTIONING THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'VE BEEN HANDED THIS SITUATION BY THE STATE, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH IT THE BEST WE CAN.
ALSO, I BELIEVE A TRUSTEE BROUGHT THIS UP AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
WE WELCOME IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR REVENUE GENERATION IDEAS.
WE'RE LIMITED, AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CAN ONLY MAN THE LEMONADE STANDS SO MANY HOURS PER DAY, BUT WE DO, SERIOUSLY, WE ARE OPEN TO REVENUE GENERATING IDEAS, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
WE ARE TURNING OVER EVERY STONE AT THIS POINT SO WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT.
FINALLY, CHRIS, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE JUST PUNT THIS DOWN THE ROAD? WHAT IF WE JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE THIS BUDGET?
>> WELL, I ALLUDED TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND, WHICH IS REALLY JUST A BIG POOL OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN TAP AT ANY TIME THEY NEED.
FOR US, OUR FUND BALANCE IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME OF OUR TOTAL ASSETS MINUS OUR TOTAL LIABILITIES, AND MOST OF THAT IS CASH, AND WE CAN USE THAT, AND WE DO USE THAT BECAUSE OUR MONEY DOESN'T REALLY START TO COME IN UNTIL DECEMBER AND JANUARY WHICH IS WHEN OUR TAX REVENUES COME IN.
WE RELY ON THE FUND BALANCE TO GET US ESSENTIALLY FROM THE TIME WE PAY THAT RECAPTURE PAYMENT IN AUGUST UNTIL DECEMBER.
>> OVER THE YEARS, OUR FUND BALANCE HAS DECLINED.
ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION A LONG TERM KNOWS THAT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DEFICIT BUDGETS OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
EVERY TIME YOU HAVE THAT, YOUR FUND BALANCE GOES DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE NOW APPROACHING IS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE IS GETTING TO A LEVEL, THAT IF IT GOES MUCH LOWER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REAL CASH FLOW ISSUES IN THE FALL, AND MAKING PAYROLL WOULD BE DIFFICULT.
RIGHT NOW, WE ANTICIPATE THAT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, OUR FUND BALANCE AS A PERCENT OF EXPENDITURES WILL BE ABOUT AT THAT 25% LIMIT.
IF WE THEN TOOK $6.5 MILLION OUT OF THAT, WE WOULD FALL FAR BELOW 25%, AND WE WOULD START TO HAVE THOSE CASH FLOW ISSUES THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT SETS THIS ISSUE APART FROM THE DEFICIT BUDGETS THAT WE'VE FACED IN PAST YEARS IS THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A CUSHION TO FALL BACK ON AS WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
>> THANK YOU. I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO IS NOT A FAN OF THE PLCS GOING AWAY AT ALL.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
IS THERE A CHANCE THAT IF WE DO GET HELP FROM THE LEDGE THAT MAYBE WE COULD BRING PLCS BACK IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM.
>> IN FACT, THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE IN 2011, THE DISTRICT HAD TO REMOVE THE PLC PERIOD BECAUSE OF VERY SIMILAR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
IN TIME, THE PLC PERIODS DID RETURN WHEN WE HAD MORE REVENUES TO RELY ON, AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT AT LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW, IT'S, UNFORTUNATELY, A DRASTIC MEASURE TO TAKE.
THEN, CHRIS, YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THE FUND BALANCE,
[00:35:04]
BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO US, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE FUND BALANCE WORKS AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE STATE-REQUIRED FIRST RATING AND BOND CAPACITY AND ALL OF THE OTHER FUND THINGS THAT WE NEED IT FOR.>> SURE. KWE HAVE AN ANNUAL RATING OF OUR FINANCE BUSINESS OFFICE, IT'S CALLED SCHOOLS FIRST FINANCIAL INTEGRITY RATING SYSTEM OF TEXAS.
ONE OF THE CRITERIA ON THERE IS YOUR FUND BALANCE ABOVE 25%.
WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY LOSE POINTS ON THAT, AND OUR RATING ON FIRST WOULD GO DOWN IF WE GO BELOW THAT 25%.
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH IS OUR CREDIT RATING.
OBVIOUSLY ON A PERIODIC BASIS.
WE ISSUE DEBT IN THE FORM OF BONDS, AND WE ARE RATED BY A CREDIT AGENCY.
WHEN WE TAKE ON DEBT, IT'S NOT LIKE TAKING OUT A MORTGAGE WHERE YOU GO AND SHOW THEM YOUR PAYSTUBS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
THEY TAKE A HOLISTIC LOOK AT YOU AND THE RATING AGENCIES ASSIGN A RATING TO YOUR CREDITWORTHINESS, BECAUSE OUR BONDS ARE INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS, AND THEY'RE PURCHASED BY MUTUAL FUNDS AND BANKS, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BUILD UP THEIR ASSETS.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT IF I'M BUYING THESE BONDS, AM I GOING TO BE REPAID? RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD BOND RATING.
WE HAVE AAA WITH ONE AGENCY AND A AA WITH THE OTHER.
WHENEVER WE SELL OUR BONDS, WE HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND GUARANTEE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GO OUT WITH THE STATE RATING, WHICH IS AA, WHICH OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THAT IS INVESTMENT GRADE.
HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN YOUR BONDS LOOK AT THAT UNDERLYING RATING, WHICH IS THE AA OR THE AAA THAT WE CARRY, AND USE THAT TO HELP THEM MAKE THE DECISIONS ON WHICH SCHOOL BONDS THEY WANT TO BUY.
IF WE START OUR FUND BALANCE GOES DOWN, AND IN FACT, WE WERE DOWNGRADED FROM AA PLUS TO AA AT ONE POINT BECAUSE OUR FUND BALANCE HAD BEEN DECLINING.
BUT IF WE WENT BELOW THAT 25%, I WOULD EXPECT BOTH OF THEM TO DOWNGRADE US AGAIN.
THE PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN OUR BONDS, WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THEIR CREDIT RATING IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT HAD BEEN.
WE'LL STILL BUY THEIR BONDS, BUT WE WANT A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.
IT WOULDN'T BE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, WE STILL HAVE THAT AAA RATING FROM THE PSC.
BUT IT WOULD NOTICEABLY IMPACT THE DESIRABILITY OF OUR BONDS AND HENCE THE ULTIMATE ALL-END INTEREST RATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP PAYING ON THEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE AS FIDUCIARIES OF THE DISTRICT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE KEEPING ALL THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. HEATHER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANKS, JAMES. YOU MENTIONED HOW YOU HAD ATTENDED MEETINGS AT HILL COUNTRY AND THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I ATTENDED THE HIGH SCHOOL MEETING ALONG WITH YOU AND ALSO A MEETING AT WEST RIDGE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE MEETINGS THAT YOU HAD THE TEACHERS PRESENT WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE PLC DECISION.
LIKE YOU HEATHER, I WAS PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS WHEN IT FIRST CAME UP.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF E-MAILS COME THROUGH VOICING CONCERNS.
BUT I DID WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT IN THOSE MEETINGS, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS SOME TENSION BETWEEN DIFFERENT TEACHING GROUPS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD THE WORD EQUITY USED.
THIS ISN'T A PERFECT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HERE.
MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE, I HOPE OF MORE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE, AND CAN RE-ESTABLISH TIME FOR TEACHERS TO PLAN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE HAD BEFORE AND MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE INPUT FROM TEACHERS NOW AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS NEXT YEAR AND TAKE THAT AND CARRY IT INTO A BETTER PLC SITUATION IN THE FUTURE.
BEING PRESENT IN THOSE MEETINGS, I KNOW IT WAS TOUGH FOR YOU TO STAND UP THERE AND GIVE THAT MESSAGE.
I SAW YOU AND MOLLY, TAKE A LOT OF TOUGH QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS, UNFORTUNATELY.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING WHAT WAS A TOUGH DECISION AND
[00:40:02]
COMMUNICATING IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.>> THANK YOU, DIANE. WE'LL GO BACK TO HEATHER.
>> SORRY. THIS ISN'T THAT QUESTION EITHER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, THANK OUR AP MICROECONOMICS CLASSES, WHO DID A PHENOMENAL JOB OF GOING THROUGH ALL THESE OPTIONS, AND THEY ALSO HELPED PUT THINGS ON THE TABLE AND TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS THAT COULD HELP THE DISTRICT.
THAT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO GET TO SEE OUR STUDENTS ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS.
THEN ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OUR FEATHER DUSTER, WHO'S BEEN COVERING ALL OF THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR STUDENTS FOR PROVIDING THE STUDENT VOICE AND ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE WHY WE'RE HERE, SO THANK YOU.
>> THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY BOARD CAREER IS BEING QUOTED IN THE FEATHER DUSTER, AND I'VE GOT THAT I DON'T HAVE IT FRAMED.
I'M KIDDING, BUT I DID ATTEND THOSE. HEATHER, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.
I DID ATTEND THE ECONOMICS CLASS PRESENTATIONS.
THERE WERE SOME REALLY FRESH REVENUE-GENERATING IDEAS THAT CAME OUT AS WELL THAT I PASSED ALONG TO DOCTOR ARNETT AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THOSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, TRUSTEES? THANK YOU, CHRIS.
>> IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
[9. OPEN FORUM]
WE HAVE 39 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
SPEAKERS WERE ASSIGNED A NUMBER BASED ON THE ORDER THEY COMPLETED THE ONLINE SIGNUP FORM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM IN THE NUMERICAL ORDER WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN.
SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT GIVE THEIR ASSIGNED NUMBERS TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ONLY THOSE WHO SIGNED UP ONLINE MAY SPEAK TONIGHT.
ADDITIONALLY, SPEAKERS CANNOT YIELD TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS UP TO ONE MINUTE TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS. NO MORE.
PLEASE WATCH THE TIME OR ON THE SCREENS.
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND STOP.
IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR PREPARED REMARKS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO E-MAIL YOUR FULL COMMENTS TO TRUSTEES AT EANEISD.NET.
WHEN SPEAKING, DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE OR OTHERS, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS.
WE ASK THAT REACTIONS TO COMMENTS REMAIN BRIEF AND RESPECTFUL.
IF YOU WISH TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BOARD MUST HEAR SUCH COMPLAINTS IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.
THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE OR RESPOND TO COMMENTS ON TOPICS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA PER TEXAS LAW.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO LISTEN, NOT REACT, OR ENGAGE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATION.
BY SPEAKING, YOU CONSENT TO THIS PUBLICATION.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
WE ARE READY FOR THE FIRST SPEAKER.
TO TONIGHT'S SPEAKERS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, AND IF YOU WISH WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL, THIS TIME WILL NOT COUNT AGAINST YOU.
WE WILL BEGIN THE TIME AFTER YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF. SORRY, LAUREN.
>> MY NAME IS LAUREN AMADOR, AND I AM THE PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY AND A SEVENTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE STAND HERE TODAY WATCHING AS VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY FACES AN UNCEREMONIOUS CLOSURE, A DECISION THAT SHOWS A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR OUR CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT HAS POURED YEARS OF HARD WORK AND MONEY INTO THE SCHOOL.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE PROMISED BY THE BOARD THAT THERE WOULD BE A REINVESTMENT IN VALLEY VIEW, EXPANDING SPANISH IMMERSION, OPENING IT BACK UP TO TRANSFERS, FOSTERING GROWTH.
PARENTS INVESTED NEARLY $50,000 ON CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN OUR 2023 BOND MONEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SPENT ON OUR CAMPUS.
INSTEAD, WE ARE MET WITH THE NEWS THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE BUILT IS BEING ERASED WITHOUT THE RESPECT AND TIME THIS TYPE OF DECISION DESERVES.
BUDGET SHORTFALLS IN TEXAS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SIX YEARS, AND YET YOU PRETEND THIS IS AN EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO SHOVE A QUICK FIX DOWN EVERYONE'S THROATS AND MINIMIZE ANGER.
WE'LL REMEMBER THIS AT THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD VOTE.
WE WILL REMEMBER THIS TRY TO PASS YOUR NEXT BOND.
>> CHRIS AMADOR, I'M THE PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW AND A SEVENTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE.
LET'S BE PERFECTLY CLEAR HERE.
THERE WILL BE A VOTE LATER THIS EVENING.
HOWEVER, THE DECISION WAS MADE A LONG TIME AGO.
THIS IS PURELY FOR BOARD OPTICS AND TO CHECK A BOX.
TO MY FELLOW PARENTS AND OTHERS AFFECTED BY THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HOLD THESE INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE CRAMMED INTO TRAILERS ON A CAMPUS,
[00:45:04]
NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS AMOUNT OF STUDENTS.IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS NOT INTENDED TO SUPPORT THIS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT YOU WILL DISRUPT YOUR DAYS.
HOLD THESE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE THAT DON'T HAVE CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL, DON'T HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL, AND DON'T EVEN RESIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REMEMBER THAT THIS BOARD IS MAKING A DECISION TO DISRUPT THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'D RATHER NOT PISS OFF THOSE LIVING EAST OF 360 AND NORTH OF B CAVES.
REMEMBER WHEN IT'S ELECTION AND BOND APPROVAL TIME, THAT THIS BOARD PRIORITIZED THE EASY PATH OVER THE SAFETY, WELL-BEING, AND EDUCATION OF YOUR CHILDREN. I SEE MY TIME.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KELLER AMADOR.
I'M A FORMER VALLEY VIEW STUDENT, AND I WANT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL IS AN AMAZING PLACE WITH STAFF AND TEACHERS, SORRY, THAT MADE IT AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO LEARN AND MAKE FRIENDS.
MY BROTHER, HIS FRIENDS, AND THE OTHER STUDENTS AT VALLEY VIEW DO NOT SERVE TO NOT BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE COACH ANDERSON TEACHING BASKETBALL.
SING HI TO MR. JOHN IN THE HALLWAY OR SING SONGS WITH MISS HATCH.
YOU CAN'T MOVE THESE STUDENTS TO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND TAKE AWAY THESE EXPERIENCES THAT I WAS ABLE TO HAVE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KASH BOMAN.
AND I WENT TO VALLEY VIEW, AND I HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER IN VALLEY VIEW.
VALLEY VIEW IS A SPECIAL PLACE WITH TEACHERS THAT CHANGE LIVE.
LIFES. MISS SGOLMAN INSPIRED ME TO BE A WRITER, COACH ANDERSON AND ATHLETE AND MISS STARLING, MORENO AND ABER TO BE BRAVE.
TOO MANY MORE TO MENTION IN ONE MINUTE.
TAUGHT US ALL TO BE KIND WHILE PROVIDING US A SUPERIOR EDUCATION, THE BEST EDUCATION.
A TRULY SPECIAL PLACE LIKE THIS DOES NOT DESERVE THIS.
SUCH A PROSPEROUS DISTRICT LIKE EANES, ME AND MY FRIENDS ARE WONDERING WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND THINKING, THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY. THANK YOU.
I'M A SIXTH GRADER AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WANTED TO BE HERE BECAUSE THE SPANISH VERSION PROGRAM MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.
MOST OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES ARE AROUND SPANISH MERSION.
I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED LEARNING SPANISH, WHICH MADE ME FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO MEMORIES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I'VE USED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
MY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GREAT, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
RESEARCH FROM THE GENT UNIVERSITY IN BELGIUM SUGGESTS THAT CHILDREN HAVE AN EASIER TIME LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE BEFORE THEY REACH THE AGE OF 12.
STARTING TO LEARN A LANGUAGE AT A YOUNG AGE IS REALLY BENEFICIAL.
I REALLY HOPE THAT YOUNGER GRADES WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS MY SEVENTH YEAR IN THE SPANISH EMERGENT PROGRAM, AND IT MAKES ME FEEL SAD THAT OTHER STUDENTS AND ANS MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREAT EDUCATION THAT I RECEIVED.
THANK YOU. PLEASE CONSIDER KEEPING SPANISH URGENT.
>> HI. I'M MARLO OSWALD, A FOURTH GRADER AT BCE.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TONIGHT.
I'VE BEEN IN SPANISH EMERGING AT BCE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HOW MUCH SI HAS TAUGHT ME.
SPANISH IS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DESERVE TO EXPERIENCE.
IT'S THE SECOND MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD.
WITH A GOOD SPANISH BACKGROUND, I COULD ALSO STUDY SPANISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE IN COLLEGE, OR I COULD TRAVEL ABROAD AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
SPANISH CAN HELP US COMMUNICATE WITH MORE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT WITHOUT SPANISH EMERGING, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS.
PLEASE LET US KEEP OUR SSI PROGRAM.
>>, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US AGAIN.
I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER, MARLO, WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM AND A FIRST GRADER AT BC IN THE SI PROGRAM.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME TRUSTEES WHO WANT TO ELIMINATE SI AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO USE THIS BUDGET CRUNCH AS PRETEXT TO FINALLY GET RID OF IT.
BUT THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS, DO YOU NEED TO ELIMINATE SI? IF IT'S TRULY JUST ABOUT THE BUDGET, THEN YOUR DECISION SHOULD BE EASY.
THE DISTRICT'S OWN MEMO SHOWS THAT SI BRINGS IN NEARLY AS MUCH AS IT COSTS.
IN JUST THE PAST MONTH, THIS COMMUNITY HAS RAISED ALMOST $1 MILLION IN EF COMMITMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM IF IT CONTINUES.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY TEACHERS AND ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO HONORING EXISTING STAFF, AS YOUR PRESENTATION SAYS, THEN FIRING FOR SI TEACHERS AND CUTTING THE SALARIES OF THOSE THAT REMAIN IS FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THAT GOAL.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY STUDENTS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM THEM DIRECTLY.
IF THERE'S NO REMAINING BUDGETARY JUSTIFICATION TO ELIMINATE SI, IT HURTS TEACHERS, AND IT WOULD HURT STUDENTS.
PLEASE PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND KEEP THE SI PROGRAM INTACT.
[00:50:06]
>> MY NAME IS SARAH SHARPLESS.
I HAVE A KINDERGARTNER AT VALLEY VIEW, A FOURTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW, A SEVENTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE, AND A FRESHMAN AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
VALLEY VIEW IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR SOME OF OUR DISTRICT'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN.
VALLEY VIEW SERVES THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SPECIAL ED STUDENTS OF ANY ELEMENTARY IN THE DISTRICT.
BARTON CREEK IS THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE ELEMENTARY IN THE DISTRICT.
THE PLAN TO BLEND THESE SCHOOLS ADDRESSES A DISTRICTWIDE BUDGET ISSUE, BY UNFAIRLY TARGETING TWO COMMUNITIES THAT DESERVE PROTECTION AND EQUITY.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IT FEELS DISCRIMINATORY.
WE VOTED FOR YOU BECAUSE WE BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD LEAD WITH FAIRNESS AND A CAPACITY FOR CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.
SHOW US YOU VALUE THESE CHILDREN, THEIR TEACHERS, AND OUR COMMUNITIES' TRUST IN YOU.
DO BETTER BECAUSE WE WILL REMEMBER THIS DECISION WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE AGAIN.
PLEASE DON'T CLOSE VALLEY VIEW.
I HAVE A SEVENTH GRADER IN WEST RIDGE AND A FOURTH GRADER IN VALLEY VIEW.
WE MOVED OVER HERE BECAUSE OF MY HUSBAND.
I DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AT ALL.
MY HUSBAND INSISTED THAT MY KIDS WILL GO TO EANES BECAUSE THE EANES BOARD HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL THEIR CHILDREN.
HE INSISTED THAT NO, EANES IS THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE CAN TRUST THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS WITH THEM, AND THAT IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE.
FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, I WAS IN DEPRESSION.
I CRIED, BUT WE ARE STILL HERE BECAUSE WE LOVED VALLEY VIEW.
MY DAUGHTER, WHENEVER SHE WOULD COME BACK FROM SCHOOL, SAID, CAN I JUST GO AND STAY IN VALLEY VIEW THE WHOLE NIGHT? SHE LOVED IT SO MUCH.
AND I TRUSTED THE BOARD AS WELL, BECAUSE I TRULY THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY CHILD.
BUT THE LAST FEW MEETINGS I HAVE ATTENDED, THESE DECISIONS DO NOT MAKE ME FEEL THAT.
CLOSING A SCHOOL SHOULD [MUSIC] BE THE LAST OPTION, NOT THE FIRST.
YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. LOOK INTO IT.
>> THANK YOU, MANSI. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS LAUREN STEVENSON.
I HAVE A FOURTH AND A FIFTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS TONIGHT.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD, PLEASE STEP DOWN.
IF YOU CAN'T SET ASIDE YOUR OWN BIAS OR EGO, PLEASE STEP DOWN.
IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND CHALLENGE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, PLEASE STEP DOWN.
THE FOCUS MUST BE ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND THE FAMILIES OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL AGENDAS.
LEADERSHIP REQUIRES COMMITMENT TO THE GREATER GOOD, AND THAT MUST REMAIN THE TOP PRIORITY.
YOU KEEP REMINDING US THAT CHANGE CAN BE CHALLENGING.
HOWEVER, THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU HOW CHANGE IS INTRODUCED AND MANAGED IS EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE SIGNIFICANT.
THE DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE AND CONDESCENDING RESPONSES FROM BOTH THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT ONLY PATRONIZING, BUT DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING, SO WE WILL SEE YOU ALL AT THE BALLOT BOXES.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN TROY, FATHER OF A SIXTH GRADER AT WEST RIDGE, A FOURTH GRADER AT BCE, AND A RISING KINDER.
PLEASE KEEP THE SI DISCUSSION FOCUSED PURELY ON FINANCES.
THE PROGRAM IS BEING REVIEWED TO SAVE MONEY, BUT NO COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW HAS BEEN DONE.
PLEASE DON'T END IT BASED ON INCOMPLETE PROGRAMMATIC INFORMATION.
PARENTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE MOTIVATED AND WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THAT'S WHY 277 FAMILIES PLEDGED $915,000 OVER THREE YEARS IF THE PROGRAM CONTINUES.
THESE DONATIONS ARE ON TOP OF WHAT WE ALREADY GIVE TO EEF.
ALSO, YEAR 1 AND 2 OF THE PLEDGES ARE DUE IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH MEANS WE'LL RECEIVE $600,000 BEFORE THE END OF 2025, WHICH WILL COMPLETELY OFFSET THE COST OF SI THIS YEAR FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THESE PLEDGES GIVE YOU TIME.
THEY ALLOW YOU THE TIME TO MAINTAIN THE SI PROGRAM NEXT YEAR, WITHOUT INCREASING THE DEFICIT WHILE WE BUILD A LONG-TERM FINANCIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC STRATEGY.
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO SAY YES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI, THERE. MY NAME IS DINA MASSA.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO'S IN THIRD GRADE AT VALLEY VIEW.
I HAD A PLAN SCRIPT THIS EVENING THAT I'VE DECIDED
[00:55:03]
NOT TO GO OFF OF JUST BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED.FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE THAT YOU'VE DONE TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY SCRIPTED, AND IT'S REALLY SAD TO ME.
IT'S PROVEN THAT YOU ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET A POINT ACROSS, WHICH WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I'D LIKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW A CFO CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP HIS JOB WHEN HE CONTINUES TO DO A FAILED BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER COMPANY THAT ALLOWS THAT.
DR. ARNETT, I'M WELL AWARE THAT YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS PLAN TO CLOSE THESE SCHOOLS AND TO DO THESE THINGS WHEN YOU TOOK THIS POSITION, BUT YET HERE WE ARE ACTING LIKE IT'S A RUSH THING THAT HAS TO BE DONE DUE TO THE BUDGET.
I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY FALSE.
IT'S A SAD WAY FOR YOU TO MANAGE THIS DISTRICT AND FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO LIE TO US AND MAKE US FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE WHEN WE KNOW GOOD AND WELL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WELL PLANNED, AND OUR CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STAFF AT VALLEY VIEW SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER TAKEN CARE OF THAN WHAT THEY'RE BEING TAKEN CARE OF NOW.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO SAY IT.
>> THANK YOU, DINA. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS JENNY BARTHOLOMEW, AND I HAVE ONE CURRENT VALLEY VIEW STUDENT AND TWO FORMER VALLEY VIEW STUDENTS.
HAVE YOU LEARNED THE LESSON THAT LIES, DECEIT, LACK OF PROPER DUE DILIGENCE, AND GAS LIGHTING ONLY ENRAGE A COMMUNITY? YOU PROMISED US THAT YOU WOULD KEEP VALLEY VIEW OPEN, YET IT SEEMS YOU MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL YEARS AGO WHEN MS. DUSEK MOVED.
THE EANES COMMUNITY DESERVES TRANSPARENCY AND TRUTH.
OUR FAMILY CHOSE EANES OVER THE SHINY BUILDINGS OF HIGHLAND PARK, THE MODEL FOR YOUR BOND BECAUSE THE HEART OF EANES AND VALLEY VIEW IS SUPERIOR.
WE FOSTER AND DEVELOP HONEST INDIVIDUALS, COMPASSIONATE, CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT THINKERS WHO BECOME LEADERS.
IF YOU CLOSE OUR SCHOOL, NOW WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO OUR CHILDREN HOW THE HIGHEST POSITIONS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE BOARD, CHOSE THE EASY ROAD AND COMPLETELY LACK THE COMPASSION, DEDUCTIVE REASONING, AND LEADERSHIP WE STRIVE TO CREATE IN OUR STUDENT BODY.
WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR CHILDREN STAND WITH US TODAY TO SHARE THEIR VOICE AND SUPPORT THE [MUSIC] [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE, WE BEG YOU, UPHOLD YOUR WORD, AND PLEASE KEEP VALLEY VIEW OPEN.
>> THANK YOU, JENNY. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. I'M MAGGIE ADAMS. I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AT VALLEY VIEW AND TWO FORMER VALLEY VIEW STUDENTS.
THE BOARD AND THIS PROCESS HAS LOST A LOT OF TRUST, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID OR ALLUDED TO.
THE SPEED WITH WHICH THIS DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED AFTER TELLING VALLEY VIEW THAT WE HAD MORE TIME LAST YEAR, ALLOWING BOND MONEY AND PARENT MONEY TO BE PUT INTO VALLEY VIEW, IS FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT, OR IT'S EXTREMELY DUPLICITOUS IF IT IS TO BE USED FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL'S BENEFIT, SUCH AS A STAGING SCHOOL.
WHEN THE NUMBERS ARE PUT OUT, YOU SEEMED UNEDUCATED ON THE BASIC FACTS OF SPACE, ETC, AND UPON LEARNING OF THEM FROM MOSTLY THE COMMUNITY, YOU SEEM TO NOT REALLY CARE THAT MUCH.
SAYING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE SPED IS ILLEGAL, AS YOU SEEM TO HAVE REALIZED.
[LAUGHTER] IT SEEMS THAT YOU'VE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO EDUCATE YOURSELVES ON WHAT PLCS ARE, AT LEAST AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING OR HOW TEACHERS USE THEM OR IF THEY WANT THEM.
I BET ALL OF THE TEACHERS THAT GET RECOGNIZED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT USE THEIR PLC PERIODS, AND I'M WONDERING IF THEY'RE PLANNING ON STAYING IN EANES.
I HAVE THREE KIDS AT VALLEY VIEW, A KINDERGARTNER, A THIRD GRADER, AND A FIFTH GRADER.
I'VE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED SEVERAL CORPORATE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, AND THEY WERE ALL UGLY.
THERE'S ALWAYS A PUSH TO COMMUNICATE HARMONY AND WHAT'S BEST.
BUT REALLY, SOMEONE'S ALWAYS GETTING EDGED OUT.
IN THIS CASE, IT FEELS LIKE A HOSTILE ACQUISITION AT VALLEY VIEW, WITH A LOT OF DISCOMFORT AHEAD.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFICULT DECISION-MAKING FOR US PARENTS, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE EVEN HAVE DECISIONS TO MAKE.
OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE BEING WRONGFULLY FORCED INTO THIS SITUATION.
PLEASE SHOW US THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE WHOLE ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY AND SHOW US THAT THERE ARE BETTER AND MORE THOUGHT OUT SOLUTIONS.
PLEASE, DO NOT CLOSE VALLEY VIEW.
STOP TRYING TO USE A TINY BAND AID ON THIS BIG WOUND THAT IS GOING TO BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE FOR THE REST OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A SECOND GRADER AND A FOURTH GRADER.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE YOU MADE THE CHANGE ABOUT MOVING SPECIAL EDUCATION TO THE COMMITTED COLUMN TODAY, BUT HONESTLY, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A BUNCH OF EMAILS FROM OUTRAGED PARENTS TO GET YOU TO SEE THAT THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE.
[01:00:01]
COMPLEX NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS ISN'T FRONT OF MIND WHEN MAKING A SLIDE DECK, HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENT THAT THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED IN MAKING DECISIONS DURING THIS BLEND? I'M ASKING THIS BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO TAKE ALL OF OUR EANES, ELEMENTARY STUDENTS INTO ACCOUNT.DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL STUDENTS AND DO THE HARD WORK OF DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT FOCUSING ON UPSETTING THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
>> HI, THERE. I'M JENNYANNE MCKNIGHT.
I HAVE A SECOND GRADER AND A THIRD GRADER AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY BOTH IN THE SI PROGRAM.
PLEASE DO NOT ELIMINATE THE SPANISH MOTION PROGRAM AT EANES.
THE SPANISH MOTION PROGRAM HAS TRULY IMPACTED SO MANY FACETS OF OUR DISTRICT IN POSITIVE WAYS.
IT KEEPS FAMILIES IN EANES THAT MAY CHOOSE PRIVATE SCHOOL OVER PUBLIC, HELPING OUR ENROLLMENT FROM DECLINING EVEN MORE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
IF YOU ARE TRULY CUTTING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF FUNDING, OUR PLEDGE SHOULD IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION SIGNIFICANTLY WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.
ALSO, WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE AMAZING CHANGES THAT 9010 WILL DO FOR THE PROGRAM.
PLCS CAN COME BACK, BUT IT'S DRASTICALLY HARDER TO REINSTATE SI.
DON'T MAKE CHOICES WE CAN'T WALK BACK.
I'D LIKE TO QUOTE MRS. BALZER AGAIN, FROM THE 2019 BOARD MEETING.
"IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONSISTENTLY HAS BEEN A DESIRE AMONG PARENTS IN OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN THE DESIRE FOR MORE DIVERSITY.
I CANNOT FATHOM HOW WE WOULD WALK AWAY FROM A PROGRAM OF DIVERSITY NOW THAT WE HAVE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JENNYANNE [APPLAUSE].
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ADAM WOODS, AND I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY SOME VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
MY YOUNGEST IS FIRST GRADE, ALDEN.
WE'VE GOT AMBROSE IN FOURTH GRADE AND HIS BUDDY, HARRISON, IN FOURTH GRADE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME BRING THEM HERE TONIGHT.
THESE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN YOUR SCHOOL AND THAT LOVE VALLEY VIEW.
AT THE END OF 2018, WE LOST OUR HOMES IN THE MALIBU FIRES.
WE WERE DISPLACED FOR OVER A YEAR.
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE FOUND THE CUERNAVACA COMMUNITY IN VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY, THAT IT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR US.
NOW, WE DON'T JUST CALL VALLEY VIEW A SCHOOL.
AMBROSE STARTED IN KINDERGARTEN IN COVID, AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW HOW AMAZING THIS SCHOOL WAS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN ON THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE AND ALSO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN AND ENTREPRENEUR, I KNOW THERE'S MANY WAYS TO RAISE FUNDS AND OUR DISTRICT HAS SO MANY RESOURCES AND CREATIVITY.
WE SHOULD USE THESE TO FIND A SOLUTION AND GENERATE THE FUNDS NEEDED NOT TO DISPLACE TEACHERS, CHILDREN, AND A COMMUNITY TO SAVE MONEY.
CUTTING COST IS NOT THE ANSWER.
CUTTING COSTS BY DISPLACING PEOPLE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
WHAT ARE WE [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC] SHOWING AS A DISTRICT AND WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN IF WE CHOOSE DISPLACEMENT OVER SOLUTIONS THAT PROPERLY VALUE AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY? [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS MELINDA, AND I HAVE TWO KIDS AT VALLEY VIEW AND ONE AT WEST RIDGE.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A COUPLE OF QUICK EXAMPLES OF WHY IT'S HARD FOR ANY PARENTS AND STAFF AT VALLEY VIEW TO TRUST ANY COMMITMENTS, PLANS, NUMBERS, AND PROMISES THAT IT WILL SOMEHOW ALL BE OKAY THAT WE ARE GIVEN BY THIS BOARD.
ON THE SEPTEMBER 5TH, '23 BOARD MEETING, DR. ARNETT SAID, "AS YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, WOULDN'T YOU JUST MOVE ALL OF THE VALLEY VIEW STUDENTS TO BARTON CREEK?" POTENTIALLY, BARTON CREEK IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THOSE STUDENTS WITHOUT OTHER MODIFICATIONS OR SOME OTHER SHIFT IN ENROLLMENT.
IF WE WERE TO SIMPLY COMBINE VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK, WE WOULD HAVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THOSE CHILDREN.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL BOND ISSUE.
IT WOULD TAKE TIME. IT WOULD TAKE YEARS TO ACHIEVE THAT.
THE NEXT DAY ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, AT THE VALLEY VIEW PARENT MEETING, DR. ARNETT SAID, "THE IDEAL CAPACITY OF ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT IS BETWEEN 80-85%.
MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS CAN ACCOMMODATE SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF 600 STUDENTS, WHICH MEANS A HEALTHY ENROLLMENT WOULD BE AT APPROXIMATELY 500 STUDENTS FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
BRIDGE POINT IS THE ONLY EXCEPTION, [MUSIC] ITS MUCH LARGER BUILDING.
IT CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MELINDA. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI. MY NAME IS KAREN MYERS.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT EANES ELEMENTARY IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, ONE IN SECOND GRADE IN THE 50-50 MODEL, AND ONE IN KINDERGARTEN IN THE AMAZING 90-10 MODEL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I DO NOT ENVY THE DECISIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE TONIGHT, BUT I ASK YOU, WHAT LEGACY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE ON EANES?
[01:05:02]
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR? IS IT FOR FOREVER ELIMINATING THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM THAT POSITIONS EANES AT THE FOREFRONT OF AMERICAN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND ATTRACTS AND RETAINS FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO VALUE BILINGUALISM? THE 90-10 MODEL IS WORKING.MS. MARWELL, MS. SHEFFIELD, MS. MCMATH, MR. SPRADLEY, EXCUSE ME.
I GOT THERE. ALMOST. [LAUGHTER] MS. CLARK, MS. HEARN, AND MS. BALTHAZAR, ON THE SCREEN.
I REALLY ASK THAT YOU PLEASE KEEP [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC] THANK YOU.
>> HI. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE GLICKMAN.
I'VE GOT TWO LITTLE ONES AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY, SECOND GRADE AND KINDER.
ON BEHALF OF THE GLICKMAN FAMILY, THANK YOU, DR. ARNETT, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE GREATER EANES ISD COMMUNITY FOR CREATING A SUPERB SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
IT DRAWS PARTICIPATION FROM FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATES AND WITHIN TEXAS.
DESPITE FACING CHALLENGES, THE SI PROGRAM HAS GROWN LEANER YET STRONGER SINCE 2019, AND YOU HAD THE FORESIGHT TO TRANSITION THE 50-50 MODEL TO THE EVIDENCE BASED 90-10 MODEL, AND IT'S EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THIS BUDGET SHORTFALL, YOUR CAN DO SI PARENT COMMUNITY HAS REMARKABLY RAISED $915,000 IN FIRM PLEDGE DONATIONS TO EEF IN JUST ONE MONTH'S TIME.
PLEASE DELAY TONIGHT'S VOTE TO ALLOW THE CHAMPION OF SPANISH IMMERSION, WHO'S ON THIS BOARD, BUT CAN'T BE WITH US IN PERSON.
PLEASE DELAY THAT VOTE TO ALLOW HER TO BE WITH US FOR A FULL DISCUSSION.
[MUSIC] I THINK RELAY THE THOUGHTS ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION THAT WE KNOW THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN PERSON.
>> CHRISTY CARDINS. I HAVE A SECOND GRADER AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE COME HERE TO TALK TO ABOUT TODAY.
TWO QUITE QUICK POINTS, GIVEN MY TIME CONSTRAINTS HERE.
MANY DISTRICTS, EVERY DISTRICT IN TEXAS HAS THIS CHALLENGE.
YET LANGUAGE PROGRAMS PERSIST OVER 200 IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ALONE, INCLUDING AUSTIN ISD.
I HATE TO SEE US FALL SHORT OF THE SERVICES THAT OUR PRIMARY COMPETING PUBLIC DISTRICT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE.
I WON'T LINGER HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PARENTS HAVE LARGELY RESOLVED THIS.
MY SECOND POINT IS ON PERSPECTIVE IN THE FUTURE.
I HOPE THAT WE DO NOT MISS THE FOREST FOR THE TREES HERE.
WE FIND OURSELVES AT A UNIQUE MOMENT IN HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO AUSTIN.
THE LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA ARE PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND INTO TEXAS AND SPECIFICALLY TO WEST LAKE HILLS.
I BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WAS EVER A MOMENT TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDING IS NOW.
>> HI. MY NAME IS CAROLINA MOLANO, AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.
OKAY. ONE AT TCE IN FOURTH GRADE, SORRY, AND ONE IN HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SIXTH GRADE.
TODAY, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE SI PROGRAM AND WANT TO FOCUS ON HOW TO PROPERLY FUND ITS SUSTAINABILITY WHILE CONSIDERING BUDGET CHALLENGES.
I AM HERE TO BEG YOU TO CONSIDER THE AMAZING SPANISH IMMERSION COMMUNITY THAT IS WILLING TO INVEST WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM AND MAKE IT RIGHT.
THE SPANISH IMMERSION, $950,000 PLEDGE TO RECEIVE LAST WEEK TO ADDRESS BUDGET GAPS IS YET ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY.
TALK ABOUT REVENUE-GENERATING IDEAS, JAMES.
WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN PARENTS AND EDUCATORS COME TOGETHER.
TOO MANY TO SHARE IN THIS SHORT TIME.
IMAGINE WHAT IT COULD BE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS PRIVILEGED TO BE BACKED UP BY HIGHLY EDUCATED AND FINANCIALLY SAVVY PARENTS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE WORKED SO HARD IN THIS PROGRAM.
LET US BE NEARING ZERO OF THE AMAZING OUTCOMES THAT WORKING TOGETHER CAN BRING. THANK YOU.
[01:10:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATHERINE JONES.
I HAVE FOUR STUDENTS AT BPE, A FIFTH GRADER, A SECOND GRADER, AND TWO KINDERGARTENERS.
MY KINDERGARTENERS AND MY SECOND GRADER ARE IN SI.
MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 2023 DUE TO MY HUSBAND'S JOB, AND WE SPECIFICALLY MOVED TO EANES BECAUSE OF SI.
OUR SECOND GRADER HAD STARTED IN SI AT ANOTHER SCHOOL IN THE 9010 PROGRAM.
KWHEN HE TOOK HIS FIRST MAP TEST, IT WAS IN SPANISH IN KINDERGARTEN, AND HE GOT THIRD PERCENTILE.
BY THE TIME WE LEFT THAT SCHOOL, HE WAS TESTING IN SPANISH AT THE 85TH PERCENTILE.
THAT IS WHAT A 9010 PROGRAM CAN DO, AND THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE EANES FOR SI AND HAVE PLACED OUR KINDERGARTNERS INTO THE 9010 PROGRAM.
I JUST WANT TO CITE SOME STATISTICS FOR YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SPANISH.
AS OUR SWEET LITTLE STUDENT HAD RIGHTLY NOTED, THERE IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON LANGUAGE IN THE UNITED STATES IS SPANISH.
THE SPANISH POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES IS GROWING AT A MILLION PEOPLE PER YEAR.
WAS A STUDY AT MIT THAT SHOWED THAT STUDENTS, IF THEY'RE GOING TO ACQUIRE NATIVE FLUENCY IN LANGUAGE, THEY NEED TO START THAT LANGUAGE BEFORE AGE 10.
WHILE OFFERING LANGUAGE TO STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL IS GREAT, THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE FLUENCY.
IF WE WANT TO DO THAT FOR STUDENTS TO START NOW.
I'M A SPANISH IMMERSION PARENT.
I HAVE TWO SONS IN THE PROGRAM AT BRIDGE POINT ELEMENTARY, ONE IN FIRST GRADE, AND ONE IN THIRD.
SINCE ENTERING THE PROGRAM FOUR YEARS AGO, ITS EXISTENCE HAS BEEN PUT INTO QUESTION REPEATEDLY, ALWAYS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, I MIGHT ADD.
THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM HAVE VERY THOUGHTFULLY AND DELIBERATELY COMMITTED TO BEING IN IT AND STAYING IN IT FOR THE DURATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE TUNE OF SIGNING A CONTRACT STATING SO.
WE HAVE COMMITTED TO IT PASSIONATELY, AND THE UNFAIRNESS THAT ITS EXISTENCE HAS COME INTO QUESTION YEAR AFTER YEAR CANNOT GO UNSTATED.
IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PROGRAM AND SIMPLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
THIS YEAR, THE REASON GIVEN FOR PUTTING THE PROGRAM BACK INTO QUESTION IS THE BUDGET.
THE FAMILIES WHO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM HAVE RALLIED TOGETHER TO PLEDGE ALMOST $915,000 IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, A TESTAMENT TO THE VALUE WE ALL PLACE IN THE PROGRAM FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR THE DISTRICT AT LARGE.
WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT IT WILL BE KEPT AND THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, SPENDING OUR VAST TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE, INVESTING IN MAKING OUR PROGRAM GREAT, AND NOT CONSISTENTLY HAVING TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT ALIVE. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I'M CHRISTINE CURRY.
I HAVE TWO FIRST GRADERS AT BARTON CREEK IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND THEN A THIRD GRADER IN THE TRADITIONAL SIDE AT BARTON CREEK.
FOR YEARS, WE HAVE FACED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN THIS DISTRICT DUE TO A LACK OF FORESIGHT AND ACTION.
OUR ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED BY NEARLY 700 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER THE PAST DECADE.
YET WHERE WAS THE PROACTIVE PLANNING TO ADDRESS THIS? I'M GLAD MY FIRST POINT I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT AROUND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION NOT BEING COMMITTED TO IN THIS DISTRICT.
I WILL JUMP TO MY SECOND POINT.
SI. THE FINANCIAL COST-SAVING DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MARRED BY POLITICS AND NOT SOUND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.
ELITE DISTRICT ATTRACT FAMILIES BY OFFERING ELITE PROGRAMS LIKE SI, AND ITS ELIMINATION WILL DRIVE MORE FAMILIES OUT OF OUR DISTRICT.
WE ARE ALREADY LOSING FAMILIES TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT AN ALARMING RATE.
THESE SCHOOLS ARE GROWING RAPIDLY WITH LONG WAIT LISTS AND MANY OF THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE EXPANDING DEMAND.
THESE FAMILIES ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY SEE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.
IF THIS DECISION TONIGHT IS BASED ON FINANCIALS, THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALMOST $1 MILLION TO EEF NEGATES THAT ARGUMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EVANNA SILVA, AND I HAVE A EIGHTH GRADER IN HILL COUNTRY AND A SOPHOMORE IN WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE PAIN MY FAMILY IS LIVING THROUGH DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF TRUSTEE MARVEL AND HER CAMPAIGN MANAGER KIM TAYLOR CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
THEY CONSPIRED TO DEFAME MY HUSBAND, AARON SILVA, SPREADING LIES TO THOUSANDS OF VOTERS.
IN JUNE, WE FILED A LAWSUIT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
MARVEL HAS ADMITTED IN COURT TO DOWNLOADING AND SPREADING THESE LIES FROM ANONYMOUS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS.
MARVEL LIED, STATING THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW KIM TAYLOR HAD ALTERED AND POSTED THE POISONOUS DOCUMENTS FOR HER CAMPAIGN.
KIM TAYLOR HAS ADMITTED IN COURT TO OWNING THE ANONYMOUS ACCOUNTS, STATING A FREE SPEECH RIGHT TO SMEAR OTHER PARENTS.
FREE SPEECH? PRETTY DISGUSTING.
[01:15:03]
HOW CAN TWO MOTHERS DO IT TO ANOTHER FAMILY? MISS MARVEL, YOUR ACTIONS WERE ETHICALLY AND MORALY BANKRUPT.YOU VIOLATED THE ENTIRE CODE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES.
YOU EVEN VIOLATED THE IN STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
MISS MARVEL, YOUR ACTIONS PROVE YOU'RE UNFIT TO SERVE, AND I'M CALLING FOR BOTH SIDE.
OTHER PARENTS WILL ALSO BE CALLING FOR YOU TO STEP DOWN.
YOUR PRESENCE ON THE BOARD IS CAUSING DIVISION.
>> IT JUST SHOWS, MISS SALE. SHOW YOU CARE.
>> MY NAME IS KATHERINE WALKER.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT, TWO AT BRIDGE POINT AND ONE AT HILL COUNTRY.
YOU HAVE HEARD OTHER PARENTS' CONCERNS TONIGHT ABOUT THE THREAT OF VOUCHERS, THE LOSS OF COMMUNITY TRUST, A REQUEST FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT INEQUALITY, ABOUT A DISPARATE AND DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON ELEMENTARY FAMILIES.
I HAVE TO SAY THIS CALLS TO MIND THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A TITLE SIX CONCERN WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.
SPECIFICALLY, THE BLEND CAMPAIGN, THE BLEND TO MERGE OUR TWO MOST DIVERSE CAMPUSES.
SPANISH IMMERSION IS A DIVERSITY ENDEAVOR BY OUR SCHOOLS.
BACK ON OCTOBER 22, AT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING, I ADVISED THE DISTRICT THAT THIS WASN'T THE WAY TO GO ABOUT COST-CUTTING.
I DISCUSSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT COST CUTS AND A BREAK-EVEN POINT ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES, WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY BE A MORE EQUITABLE WAY TO LOOK AT THIS.
I STAND READY TO HELP WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE.
>> MY NAME IS ALFIA ADELLE, AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT EANES ELEMENTARY.
IF YOU VOTE FOR THESE CUTS, LET ME PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU OF THE DISTRICT IN 18 MONTHS.
FIRST, WE'RE LIKELY TO LOSE MORE MONEY THAN WE SAVE BECAUSE YOUR PROJECTIONS DID NOT INCLUDE THE LOSS OF REVENUE FROM FAMILIES LEAVING THE DISTRICT OR THE LOSS OF DONATIONS FROM THOSE FAMILIES.
WHEN INCLUDED, SI ALONE IS LIKELY TO NET AT A NEGATIVE $276,000.
SECOND, BARTON CREEK WILL BE OVERCROWDED AND WILL BE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WON'T SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN RECAPTURE THROUGH A COPPER PENNY SWAP OR A $200 MILLION MEGA BOND TO FIX A PROBLEM WE CREATED.
ENROLLMENT PLUMMETS, BUT OUR FIXED COSTS REMAIN.
TEACHERS WILL HAVE LESS SUPPORT FROM FEWER FAMILIES, LESS DONATIONS, AND FEWER VOLUNTEERS.
DRIVING DOWN PATTERSON ROAD WILL BE A DAILY REMINDER TO FAMILIES OF THEIR ANGER.
YOUR TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY WILL BE FURTHER ERODED AND WILL FACE THE LARGEST CAPITAL PROJECT IN EANES HISTORY WHILE PRIMARY EDUCATION SUFFERS.
INSTEAD, VOTE NO AND TASK THE LONG RACH PLANNING COMMITTEE WITH A VETTED PLAN CONSOLIDATING SIX ELEMENTARY TO FOUR.
WELL AHEAD OF THE NEXT BOND REQUEST. UNLESS SPEAKER.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM OF THE AGENDA.
[10.1 Discussion and possible action to approve a resolution for closing Valley View Elementary School]
WE WILL TAKE UP OUR FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION FOR CLOSING VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY.>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PASS THE RESOLUTION TO CLOSE VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS PRESENTLY FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-5.
>> MOTION BY LAURA. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY KELLY.
ANY COMMENT FROM THE BOARD? HEATHER.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HEAR ALL OF YOU, AND NO ONE WANTS THIS.
I AM PERSONALLY SORRY THAT WE ARE HAVING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.
I APPRECIATE, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TO THE TABLE AND HAS REALLY TRIED TO BRING EVERYTHING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE.
I AM ANGRY, FRANKLY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR NOT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, AND YOU CAN SAY THAT IT'S OUR MISMANAGEMENT, BUT FRANKLY, WE HAVE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET FOR YEARS, AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO UNDERFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CONTINUE TO PUT UNFUNDED MANDATES ON OUR DISTRICT.
[01:20:03]
THAT IS THE ISSUE HERE.FACE YOUR BLAME AT THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BRINGING ALL THEIR IDEAS TO GET REVENUE.
LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T WANT THIS, BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR DISTRICT FOR THE LONG TERM AND TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION WE POSSIBLY CAN FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO SERVE ON THE LONG-RANGE FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE.
I HAD HOPED, AS I SAID LAST YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT VALLEY VIEW, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PARENTS FROM VALLEY VIEW THAT SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A ROLE IN WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FUTURE, ALSO.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I DO THINK THAT THAT COMMITTEE WILL ASK THE FULL COMMUNITY TO STEP FORWARD TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THE EANESISD THAT WE WANT AND NEED FOR THE FUTURE.
>> ELLEN, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP?
I TOO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HIGH ANXIETY AND THE DISRUPTION THAT PEOPLE FEEL AT THIS POINT.
I DO THINK THAT THE BLEND OF TWO SCHOOLS, TWO OF OUR WONDERFUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL BE OKAY.
IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT NOW, BUT IT WILL BE OKAY.
I'VE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS TWICE ONCE MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ONCE WHEN MY YOUNGEST CHILD WAS BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES.
IT DIDN'T FEEL GOOD, BUT IT DOES WORK.
IT DOES CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HOPE WE WILL ALL EMBRACE.
FOR A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE, BARTON CREEK WAS BUILT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL FOR THE BARTON CREEK WEST AND THE CARNEVACA NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN THE DAY.
AND THE RESIDENTS FROM BOTH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS AS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL, MANY OF THEM ARE STILL THERE.
WHEN THE VALLEY VIEW STUDENTS WERE MOVED OUT OF BARTON CREEK 27 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD BE MOVED BACK.
THEY WOULD GET TO COME BACK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN SOON.
WELL, 27 YEARS LATER, IN SEVERAL GENERATIONS PAST, IT'S A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUT THE EMOTIONS WERE JUST AS HIGH.
I APPRECIATE HOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED SO HARD ON SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS PROBLEM.
ANYTHING THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, THEY HAVE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THE BEST POSSIBILITIES ARE.
MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED ARE QUITE FRANKLY ISSUES THAT OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS FACE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, LUNCH LINES, THE PICKUP PATTERNS, THAT SORT OF THING.
EVERY YEAR, OUR ADMINISTRATORS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WITH THEIR STUDENT POPULATION TO DO IT BEST FOR THAT YEAR.
I DO HAVE FAITH IN THEIR EXPERIENCE TO OPTIMIZE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
I AM THRILLED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE ENROLLMENT.
THAT ANY REZONING WILL HONOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS BALANCED AND NOT LET THIS DO SOMETHING THAT LONG-TERM WOULD REALLY AFFECT THAT.
I AGREE THAT NEW TRANSFER SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED, BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BARTON CREEK, PARTICULARLY, HAS HAD MANY TRANSFER FAMILIES WHO ARE HIGHLY ENGAGED, AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE.
I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY IN ALL THE VARIOUS FACETS AND ALL FACETS AND ALL THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, QUITE FRANKLY, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I REALLY HOPE GOING FORWARD THAT WE CAN USE THAT ENERGY TO SEE THE VISION OF AN EXCITING NEW ADVENTURE OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUCCESS WITH A NEW SCHOOL COMMUNITY,
[01:25:06]
AND THESE COMMUNITIES REUNITED.>> THANK YOU ELLEN. WE'LL GO TO KIM.
>> I THINK BETWEEN ELLEN AND HER HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, AS WELL AS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR OVER THREE MONTHS NOW SINCE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC FORUM EARLY IN OCTOBER ABOUT ALL OF THE DIVERGING FACTORS THAT CAME TO MAKE EVERY YEAR'S EVERY YEAR'S BUDGET CHALLENGE, BUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CHALLENGE EVEN EXACERBATED.
AS HEATHER OUTLINED. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, LOOK WE'RE A STATE FUNDED INSTITUTION.
AS DR. ARNETT HAS SAID MANY TIMES, AS WE'VE ALL SAID, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANGE TO THE BASIC ALLOTMENT IN SIX YEARS.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAD OTHER FACTORS THAT CAME INTO PLAY TO RESULT IN A $6.5 MILLION DEFICIT.
I COME FROM A BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I COME FROM A BUSINESS BACKGROUND.
WE'RE A PUBLIC EDUCATION ENTITY, AND WE CAN'T RIDE THIS OUT.
AS OUR CFO, CHRIS SCOTT, JUST POINTED OUT TO US, THERE ARE SO MANY CONSEQUENCES OF GOING INTO A DEFICIT MODE.
THEY HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES. I POINT THIS OUT.
WE'VE SAID THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I'M NOT TRYING IN ANY WAY TO INSULT ANYONE.
BUT WE'RE UP HERE AS TRUSTEES, HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION THAT NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO MAKE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE GOING FORWARD.
WHAT I HEAR, WHAT I HAVE HEARD OVER THE LAST MONTH, IN THE FORM OF EMAILS, IN THE FORM OF CONVERSATIONS, IN THE FORM OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GET UP AND TALK TO US IN PUBLIC FORUM IS A WHOLE LOT OF PAIN.
IN GOING BACK AND IN REVIEWING WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST MANY MONTHS.
I WENT BACK TO OUR OCTOBER 8TH PRESENTATION WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION SAID, THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF HARD DECISIONS TO ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PAIN.
WHAT I HEAR FROM YOU IS THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OUTSIDE OF ADDRESSING WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO DO.
WE CANNOT GENERATE MONEY OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HAS CHALLENGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH MORE AVENUE OF REVENUE AND THEY'VE RISEN TO THE OCCASION.
WE HAVE HAD THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE RAISED YOUR HAND TO VOLUNTEER TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND HOW WE MIGHT MAKE A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR YOUR STUDENTS, AND YOU'VE DONE IT.
I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION, COMMENTS, CRITICISMS, AND CHALLENGES.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PAIN.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FRUSTRATION.
YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DON'T.
I DO FEEL LIKE AS A FIDUCIARY, AS AN OFFICIAL THAT HAS LOOKED AT THIS DECISION FOR QUITE A WHILE THAT IN MY MIND, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO A BETTER SOLUTION FOR OUR STUDENTS IN A BLENDED COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AS A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN THIS, ALSO LOOK AT THE PRESENTATIONS THAT TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS DO.
WE HAD A PRESENTATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ON HOW OUR GRADUATES GO OUT IN THE WORLD, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO COLLEGE, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO TEXAS A&M PATHS PROGRAM, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO A NON-COLLEGE BOUND CAREER.
[01:30:02]
AND I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS BETTER AND WE'RE GOING TO SURPRISE OURSELVES IN HOW WE MANAGE THIS PROCESS.>> THANK YOU, KIM. WE'LL GO TO KELLY AND THEN LAURA.
>> WHEN THIS ALL STARTED, AND THEY SENT US THE SLIDES AND I SAW THE 560 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WE WERE DOWN OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I COULD SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
I KNOW WE AREN'T TRYING TO PICK ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT'S A WHOLE CAMPUS WHEN YOU ADD THAT UP.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE FRUSTRATED.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE MAD, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAD, AND I'M OKAY EVEN TAKING THAT ON. I GET IT.
BUT WE'RE DOWN 560 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO FILL THE GAP WITH TRANSFERS AND DO OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT WAS THE REAL BAND AID.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FILL THESE SPOTS, AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO PAY YOUR TAXES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD FOR EVERYTHING.
I WOULD BEG YOU AS A NURSE AND AS A NURSE WHO'S WORKED IN YOUR SCHOOLS TO APPROACH THIS WITH A GROWTH MINDSET.
IF YOU'RE NOT READY AND YOU'RE MAD AND SAD, I GET THAT.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO IT TODAY.
BUT EVENTUALLY, OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING US AND THEY'RE LISTENING, AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE FEAR, AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL THE SUPPORT AND TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE GROWN UPS AND WE ARE HERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO.
WE'VE SET OUR PRIORITIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND WE HAVE OUR MISSION TO GUIDE US, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
BUT I KNOW YOU'RE NOT READY YET, AND I KNOW YOU'RE MAD, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME, GIVE ME A CALL.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE CHILDREN.
>> WE HAVE AMAZING PARENTS THAT HAVE GIVEN US SUPPORT AND HAVE GIVEN ADVICE, AND I WANT THAT TO KEEP COMING, AND I WANT US TO DO THIS TOGETHER.
>> A LOT HAS BEEN SAID TONIGHT AND I HAD PUT TOGETHER SOME COMMENTS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THEM.
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE FOR US TO SAY.
WHAT I WILL OFFER TO YOU ALL IS MY TIME.
LARGE GROUPS, THIS IS NOT THE FORUM TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
WE NEED TO SIT AND WE NEED TO HAVE COFFEE TOGETHER.
YOU ALL HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
YOU KNOW HOW TO REACH OUT TO ME.
THERE'S PLENTY OF YOU OUT THERE TODAY THAT I HAVE MET WITH AND I HAVE HAD COFFEE WITH SO I OFFER YOU MY TIME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET AND DISCUSS AND SCREAM, YELL, CRY AT ME, SEND ME AN EMAIL.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. WE'LL GO TO DIANE.
>> I'VE ALREADY SAID A FEW COMMENTS, BUT I JUST WANT TO WRAP UP HERE.
THERE ISN'T MUCH MORE TO BE SAID, BUT I AM ALSO OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS, AND THE SENTIMENT THAT I PUT OUT EARLIER ABOUT REALLY WANTING THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THIS BLEND GOES FORWARD.
I TRUST THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE THE BRIDGE IN BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION SO LEAN ON US, REACH OUT TO US, IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS.
IF YOU DON'T SEE THINGS PROCEEDING IN THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILDREN, TALK TO US. WE CARE.
I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE OUT THERE THINKS THAT WE CARE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE CARE AND I CARE.
PLEASE, A DECISION IS BEING MADE TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE BLEND SO REACH OUT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
[01:35:03]
LIKE DR. ARNETT SAID, I'VE READ A LOT OF EMAILS.I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY. I DIDN'T COUNT.
I THINK I HAVE ABOUT 35 WAITING FOR ME TO RESPOND TO THIS EVENING.
WOW, I DON'T THINK I'LL GET TO IT TONIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHEN WE END.
BUT IN READING ALL OF YOUR EMAILS AND PUTTING TOGETHER RESPONSES THAT ADDRESSED YOUR SPECIFIC CONCERNS HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID, TO PROCESS WHAT YOU SAID.
OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU HAD SAID.
WE ACTUALLY GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.
WE DIDN'T HAVE BUT FOUR OR FIVE EMAILS OVER THE BREAK, GAVE ME TIME TO THINK ABOUT MY THOUGHTS ON THIS.
I PUT TOGETHER SOME THOUGHTS TONIGHT.
YOU PUT TOGETHER GREAT EMAILS TO ME, AND I WANT TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS BACK WITH YOU.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE EMOTIONS TIED TO THIS DECISION.
VALLEY VIEW AND BART CREEK ARE MORE THAN SCHOOLS.
THEY ARE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES THAT REPRESENT YEARS OF RELATIONSHIPS, TRADITIONS, AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
I KNOW THIS CONVERSATION WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ALL OF US BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
THE PROPOSAL TO BLEND THESE TWO SCHOOLS IS BASED ON TWO KEY PRIORITIES, ENSURING FINANCIAL STABILITY AND MAINTAINING THE EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF EDUCATION WE EXPECT FOR EVERY STUDENT IN EANES ISD.
EANES ISD IS FACING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES DUE TO DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND INEQUITIES IN STATE FUNDING.
KEEPING UNDER UTILIZED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPEN IS AN INEFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.
BY CONSOLIDATING CAMPUSES, WE CAN REDUCE COST AND REINVEST THOSE SAVINGS INTO CORE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET.
IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING WHAT MAKES EANES ONE OF THE TOP DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS PROPOSAL IS DRIVEN BY OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
A BLENDED BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY WILL PROVIDE THE SAME EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION AS ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS WILL COLLABORATE, INNOVATE, AND MAINTAIN THE HIGH LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT WE EXPECT IN EANES ISD.
WE ARE ALSO DEEPLY COMMITTED TO CAMPUS SAFETY.
BARTON CREEK WILL MEET THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS FOR SAFETY THAT WE HAVE SET ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THE WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS IS A TOP PRIORITY, AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY PROVIDES A SECURE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BLENDING TWO SCHOOLS CAN FEEL LIKE LOSING PART OF WHAT MAKES EACH UNIQUE.
BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT ERASING HISTORY.
IT'S ABOUT BRINGING TWO PROUD COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO BUILD SOMETHING STRONGER.
WE WILL HONOR THE TRADITIONS OF BOTH VALLEY VIEW AND BARTON CREEK, WHILE CREATING A NEW SCHOOL IDENTITY THAT REFLECTS THE BEST OF BOTH.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL APPROACH THIS PROCESS WITH CARE AND TRANSPARENCY.
THE BOARD WILL RECEIVE MONTHLY UPDATES, AND WE WILL KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED ABOUT THE TRANSITION, ENSURING IT REMAINS ON TRACK AND FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.
CHANGE IS NEVER EASY BUT OUR FOCUS MUST REMAIN ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT, PROVIDING A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT IN EANES ISD.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BLEND, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT UPHOLDS OUR HIGH STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION AND SAFETY WHILE HELPING ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WE FACE.
A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
THE BOARD WILL NOW VOTE ON THE MOTION.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES 7,0.
THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
[10.2 Discussion and possible action regarding the future of the Spanish Immersion program]
THE SECOND ITEM ON OUR AGENDA RELATED TO SPANISH IMMERSION.>> JAMES, MAY I MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE.
>> I'VE GOT A MOTION FROM KELLY RIGHT NOW ELLEN.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DISCONTINUE THE SPANISH IMMERSION FUTURO PROGRAM BEGINNING WITH THE 2025-'26 SCHOOL YEAR.
>> MOTION BY KELLY, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> MOTION BY KELLY SECOND BY LAURA.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. ELLEN.
>> I'D LOVE TO HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION CONSIDERED THAT WOULD TABLE THIS ISSUE SINCE OVER $900,000 HAS BEEN PLEDGED.
[01:40:06]
IT REALLY IS NO LONGER A FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THIS LIST IF THERE IS A PROGRAMMATIC EVALUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.THAT IT GIVES US TIME TO DO THAT AND TO REALLY EXAMINE THE SUCCESS OF THE 90:10 MODEL THAT IS THE CULMINATION OF THE IDEAS AND INPUT AND EVOLUTION OF A PROGRAM OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
WE AREN'T EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF THAT, BUT ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED PROGRAMMATICALLY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THAT.
IT ALSO WOULD GIVE US ADDITIONAL TIME TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT THAT THE FAMILIES MADE TO US.
THEY MADE A COMMITMENT TO US, AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT WE CONSIDER IT AS A COMMITMENT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN COMPLETE THEIR COURSE OF STUDY.
ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION, AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT?
CAN I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION?
>> YES, YOU CAN INTRODUCE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE SECONDED, AND THEN WE WOULD DISCUSS AND VOTE ON IT.
>> I INTRODUCED A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I MOVE TO TABLE THE DISCONTINUATION OF SI BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL PLEDGES OF OVER 276 SI FAMILIES THAT TOTAL OVER $900 WHICH NEGATES THE ECONOMIC DOWNSIDE IDENTIFIED BY THE DISTRICT.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY ELLEN. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> MOTION BY ELLEN SECOND BY KIM.
>> EEF HAS NOT RECEIVED THESE FUNDS, CORRECT?
>> I BELIEVE THE COMMITMENT IS IF THE BOARD AGREES TO SI FOR NEXT FALL, THE FIRST PAYMENTS ARE DUE MID FEBRUARY, PERHAPS FEBRUARY 15 AND SO WE ARE WITHIN SHOUTING DISTANCE OF HAVING THOSE ACTUALLY IN HAND.
>> HOW MUCH WAS THE FIRST PAYMENT?
DID WE GET THAT AGAIN? [BACKGROUND]
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $200,000.
THAT'S A PLEDGE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IN HAND.
WHILE I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT, IT ALSO THIS WON'T COVER THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO PAY.
>> I BELIEVE BOTH OF THE FIRST TWO PLEDGES ARE DUE IN 2025 SO THAT IT WOULD COVER.
>> THE COST OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR OR SI.
>> IT WOULD ONLY COVER ONE YEAR, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IT AFTER THAT, CORRECT?
>> I THINK CERTAINLY THAT THE SUPPORT OF THESE FAMILIES WOULD BE FORTHCOMING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
>> I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AND FRANKLY I'VE LOOKED FOR HELP AT THE LEDGE TO GET FUNDING FOR SPANISH IMMERSION BECAUSE OTHER DISTRICTS LIKE AUSTIN ISD DO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THEIR SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS THAN WE DO, AND THEY ARE FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DUAL LANGUAGE ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS AMAZING.
I WISH WE HAD THAT FUNDING, AND THAT WE COULD PROVIDE IT AT THE SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING.
I HAVE TRIED, AND I KNOW THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED TO TRY TO FIND OTHER COMMUNITIES TO BAND TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER DISTRICT THAT EVEN HAS A SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE LIKE OURS, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE LIKE US.
I STILL STRUGGLE WITH THE FUNDING PIECE OF THIS, BUT I DO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY STEPPING UP AND DOING WHAT THEY CAN.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GO AHEAD KIM.
>> I THINK SO I WILL SECOND ELLEN'S SUBSTITUTE MOTION. SHOULD IT FAIL?
[01:45:05]
I WILL NOT VOTE AGAINST CUTTING.WE'LL NOT VOTE AGAINST CUTTING SPANISH IMMERSION GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT IN OUR EVOLUTION OF SPANISH IMMERSION, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STARTS AND STOPS.
WE HAVE NOT YET, AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SAID, THAT ARE INVESTED IN SPANISH IMMERSION.
WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE FULL RESPONSE FROM THE 9010 PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAKE, SHOULD WE VOTE TO KEEP SPANISH IMMERSION, THERE'S STILL AN ASPECT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OR THERE IS STILL THE ABILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO STREAMLINE THIS PROGRAM AND TO NOT HAVE THE ROBUST FOR ELEMENTARIES THAT THEY HAVE.
I THINK THAT BASED ON THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND THE PLEDGES, THE FINANCIAL PLEDGES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD A COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT MAY LIMP ALONG, LIKE IT HAS SOME PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT'S DONE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE SPACE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE A YEAR FROM NOW OR EVEN TWO YEARS FROM NOW, AND THAT MIGHT PUT THOSE FAMILIES IN THE SAME FRUSTRATED SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN NOW.
BUT I'M WILLING TO BET ON GIVING THIS A LITTLE MORE AIR.
DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY AS A PUBLIC FUNDED INSTITUTION TO BASE BUDGET DECISIONS ON PLEDGES? IS THERE A PRECEDENT FOR THAT?
>> WE DO BUDGET EVERY YEAR TO RECEIVE A DONATION FROM EEF.
IN A SENSE, YES, WE DO ANTICIPATE GETTING DONATIONS. IS THIS NOT WORKING?
>> WE DO ANTICIPATE GETTING DONATIONS.
WHEN I'M MAKING THE BUDGET, I DON'T TYPICALLY GO MUCH BEYOND WHAT EEF IS INDICATING WE'RE GOING TO BE FOR THE YEAR.
BUT I GUESS A QUALIFIED YES ON THAT THAT WE DO SOMETIMES LOOK AT THAT.
WHEN EEF IS DONATING OR MAKES THE DONATION CHECK OF APPROXIMATELY AS LAST YEAR, TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO THE DISTRICT, IS THAT A REAL CHECK WITH REAL MONEY, OR IS THAT BASED ON A PLEDGE?
>> WHEN THEY MAKE THE DONATION, IT'S WHAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY COLLECTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> JAMES, IS DANA IN THE ROOM, DANA DELORENZO? SHE'S SENDING ME INFORMATION TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED EARLIER, BUT I CAN'T BE ON MY DEVICE IN THE MEETING AND GET THOSE TEXTS.
>> SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.
>> I WAS JUST ASKING IF DANA DELORENZO WAS IN THE ROOM.
I BELIEVE SHE HAS THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED EARLIER.
HOW DO WE COLLECT IF THERE'S A FAILURE TO PAY WHEN THE PLEDGE IS DUE?
>> YEAH, GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT ANSWER.
I THINK THAT'S UP TO EEF TO ANSWER NOT FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THEY STRONG ARMY INTO DONATING MONEY THAT THEY'VE PLEDGED, I THINK THAT IT'S A RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP.
I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO DONATE THE MONEY ONCE THEY'VE PLEDGED IT.
>> JUST HAVING SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF MULTIPLE NONPROFITS, I KNOW THAT I'VE RECEIVED PLEDGES THAT THE COMMITMENTS WERE NOT MADE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT POWER OR WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO COLLECT THOSE FUNDS IF THERE WAS A FAILURE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PAY WHAT THEY HAD PLEDGED.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BASE A BUDGET DECISION ON THAT MONEY.
[01:50:07]
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE TRUSTEES BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? DIANE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT AS WE ARE CONTINUING FORWARD, I THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ME OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HAVING TEACHERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS OUR CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COSTS OF SPANISH IMMERSION, THERE ARE COSTS FOR STIPENDS.
THERE ARE COSTS FOR CURRICULUM.
WE'VE SEEN THOSE ACCOUNTED FOR.
BUT THERE'S ALSO COSTS THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH.
PERHAPS THIS IS GETTING TO WHAT ELLEN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMMATIC EVALUATION.
BUT I HAVE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SEEN A BUNCH OF EMAILS COME THROUGH WE HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE STAND UP IN OPEN FORUM SPEAK SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION.
I BELIEVE THAT SPANISH IMMERSION HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR SO MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I DO BELIEVE THAT.
BUT WE ALSO HEAR FROM SO MANY PARENTS WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE STANDING UP HERE, QUITE FRANKLY, SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS NEGATIVELY HAD ON THEIR CHILDREN IN OTHER CLASSROOMS THAT DON'T HAVE A SPANISH IMMERSION CURRICULUM IN THEM.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TEACHER RETENTION.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DELIVERING AS THE EANES PRODUCT IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT OUR CORE COMPETENCY BEGINS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, IN EVERY CLASSROOM.
I HAVE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM SO MANY QUITE FRANKLY, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS THAT QUESTION WHETHER WE CAN TRULY GIVE THE EDUCATION THAT WE WANT TO ALL CHILDREN IN EVERY CLASSROOM WITH THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE LOOKING ACROSS THE HALLWAY OR DOWN THE HALLWAY, WHO ARE WORKING IN A WAY THEY FEEL IS HARDER BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CHALLENGING CLASSROOMS, THEN SOMEONE WHO IS GETTING A STIPEND THAT BUMPS THEIR PAY HIGHER THAN THEY GET.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE TEACHING PROFESSION IS UNDERVALUED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
WE GIVE 87% OF OUR BUDGET TO STAFF.
WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN THERE.
I HATE THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE THEORETICALLY HAD THE BASIC ALLOTMENT BEEN INDEXED TO INFLATION, WE WOULD HAVE $11 MILLION MORE.
WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
THIS HAS WASTED SO MUCH OF OUR TIME, AND HAS DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M SADDENED AND I'M INFURIATED.
BUT WE ARE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW, NEEDING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH MONEY.
I'VE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
I'VE DRANK SO MUCH COFFEE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE WHO'S SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
BUT WHEN I SIT BACK AND I'VE HAD THIS RUNNING IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD FOR MONTHS, LITERALLY MONTHS.
WE DIDN'T GIVE VERY MANY EMAILS OVER THE COURSE OF THE HOLIDAY, BUT IT HAS BEEN RUNNING IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.
I HAD A WRITTEN THING I WAS GOING TO READ, AND I'M TOUCHING ON POINTS OF THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT SPANISH IMMERSION, IT SHOWS THAT I REALLY HAVE TRIED TO THINK ABOUT THIS FROM ALL SIDES.
I HAVE, AND I SEE PEOPLE SHAKING THEIR HEADS.
I CAN'T WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
UNFORTUNATELY. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE ON COMPLETELY POLAR OPPOSITE SIDES OF THIS OPINION, QUITE FRANKLY, AND A LOT OF THEM AREN'T VOICING THEIR OPINION, AS I SAID.
WELL, I WILL CONTINUE AND JUST SHARE THAT THAT IS, WE HAVE HEARD EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY MINDED, AND WE CANNOT ABSOLUTELY IS VERY TOUGH TO SIT HERE AND HEAR PEOPLE PLEDGE MONEY AND KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS ADDITIONAL COSTS BEYOND IT,
[01:55:04]
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MONEY IF IT WERE TO COME IN AND PUT IT INTO OUR DISTRICT IN A MANNER THAT REALLY HELPS COVER THE COST OF SPANISH IMMERSION, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT IT HAS PRESENTED IN OTHER CLASSROOMS. I'LL STOP THERE.>> THANKS, DIANE. I JUST WANT TO REAL QUICK, GO OVER THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IN FRONT OF US, AND WE ARE DEBATING THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
WE WILL VOTE ON WHETHER WE ACCEPT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR NOT.
IF WE ACCEPT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, IT BECOMES THE MOTION, AND THE PREVIOUS MOTION GOES AWAY.
IF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS VOTED DOWN, WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION MEANS THAT IT REPLACES THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
A VOTE OPPOSED MEANS THAT WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
JUST CLARIFYING THAT FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE HERE.
I OPPOSE TABLING THE VOTE ON SPANISH IMMERSION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES CLARITY NOW.
WE HAD SEVERAL PARENTS GET UP AND TALK TO US TONIGHT ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN LIMBO FOR YEARS, AND THAT'S TRUE.
FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN I STARTED ON THE BOARD, WE WERE DEBATING THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.
IT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
I THINK THAT WE AS A BOARD OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE A STANCE, WHETHER IN FAVOR OR AGAINST SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE WE STAND.
PUSHING A DECISION TO AN UNKNOWN FUTURE DATE DOESN'T SERVE ANYONE, AND ONLY ERODES TRUST AND OUR ABILITY TO MAKE TOUGH, NECESSARY DECISIONS.
TONIGHT IS THE TIME TO ACT, PROVIDE CLARITY AND MOVE FORWARD WHATEVER THE OUTCOME.
I WILL OPPOSE THE MOTION, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUBSTITUTING THE MOTION SAY AYE.
WE WILL RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
THE MOTION MADE BY KELLY TO ELIMINATE THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
DISCONTINUE. SORRY. DISCONTINUE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORDING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME?
>> WHERE TO START. I COULD TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS I SEE IN THIS PROGRAM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD THOSE, SO I WON'T GO OVER THOSE.
BUT TO ME, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SERVE ALL OF OUR KIDS AND HOW WE DO SUCH A GOOD JOB OF KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND KIDS ON THE AP AND GIFTED END OF THINGS.
BUT WE VOICE CONCERN OVER, WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE KIDS IN THE MIDDLE? TO ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT HAS BEEN UNDERRATED IN THE SI PROGRAM, THAT IT WAS A OPTIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT ANY STUDENT COULD PARTICIPATE IN.
FOR SOME KIDS, THIS WAS THEIR THING, AND IT IS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING THAT EXPANDS THEIR WORLD AND THEIR ABILITY TO THINK IN NEW WAYS.
BUT GRANTED, IT WAS A NEW THING.
IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND CHANGE IS ALWAYS VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR FOLKS.
PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT SI HAS BEEN SCAPEGOATED AND BLAMED FOR ISSUES THAT ARE COMMON TO ALL PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY NEW ONES THAT ARE INNOVATIVE AND CHANGE AGENTS.
I STILL WANT TO BE AN INNOVATIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DON'T SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND QUALITY IMPROVE ON AN ONGOING BASIS, THE WAY THAT ANY INNOVATIVE PROCESS DOES.
I ALSO THINK IT'S SCAPEGOATED AND BLAME FOR A LOT OF ISSUES THAT CAME UP WITH COVID.
THERE NEEDED TO BE A LOT OF THINGS TO BLAME.
I BELIEVE SI TOOK THE BRUNT OF THAT.
BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN DO HARD THINGS, AND WE CAN DO HARD THINGS WELL.
I'M ALSO STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND NOT TAKING THEM AWAY.
I'VE GOTTEN CONFIRMATION FROM DANA THAT THE $600,000 IS DUE IN 2025.
[02:00:06]
THERE IS A WAY TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AND ALLOW THE 9010 MODEL TO PROVE TO US OR NOT THAT IT IN FACT SOLVES THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.I REALLY THINK TO WALK AWAY AT THIS POINT IS A VERY SERIOUS MISTAKE FOR US TO MAKE AND ONE THAT WILL HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR US.
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN. WE'LL GO TO LAURA.
>> I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO REFERENCE MY COMMENTS FOR SPANISH IMMERSION.
BUT FIRST, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER WAS, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO ALL OF THIS THAN WHAT WE CAN COVER IN THIS FORMAT.
I KNOW I HEAR Y'ALL TALKING TO US., WE CAN'T RESPOND TO YOU.
WE WANT TO RESPOND TO YOU, BUT WE REALLY CAN'T.
ONCE AGAIN, I AM OFFERING YOU MY TIME.
I WILL ABSOLUTELY WILL MEET WITH YOU.
I CAN'T RESPOND TO ALL. SEND ME AN E MAIL, AND I WILL MEET WITH YOU.
NOW IF Y'ALL WILL ALLOW ME TO SPEAK BECAUSE THIS IS OUR TIME TO GET TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
IN DECEMBER 2019, I STOOD AT THE BACK OF THE SHOP COURT.
THAT BOARD MEETING WHERE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME FORWARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FUTURO PROGRAM.
SOME SUPPORTED IT, SOME DID NOT.
BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THEN, AND IT'S STILL VERY CLEAR TODAY THAT THERE IS A VERY STRONG SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE FUTURO PROGRAM, FOR THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, AND THAT IT HAS CONTINUED TO REMAIN A PRIORITY.
I SEE SOME OF YOU ALL HERE TODAY THAT WERE THERE SPEAKING BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THE PROGRAM BACK IN 2019.
BUT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE THEN, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.
AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE ACTUALLY CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT THE FINAL STRAIN THAT THIS PROGRAM COULD HAVE ON THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND THOSE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAVE DEEPENED.
WE VALUE THIS PROGRAM, BUT IT COMES WITH INEFFICIENCIES AND NOT JUST FINANCIAL INEFFICIENCIES.
IT COMES WITH INEFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE CORE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LEDGE, AND I MEAN, JUST A REMINDER LAST TIME WE GOT MONEY WAS 2019, IT WAS A BIG YEAR FOR US.
WE HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING SINCE THEN, BUT WE'VE HAD A 20% INFLATION RATE.
WE STILL HAVE THE SAME MONEY THAT WE HAD IN 2019, BUT OUR COSTS ARE 20% MORE THAN WHAT THEY WERE THEN.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING TO MANY FAMILIES.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY AT ALL.
I UNDERSTAND THE PRIDE, HOPE, AND DREAMS, TIED TO THIS PROGRAM.
BUT ULTIMATELY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EVERY STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT, AND WE MUST ENSURE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR ALL, AND THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? KELLY.
>> I WAS PART OF THE CEDAR CREEK GROUP THAT CAME AND SPOKE IN ESTABLISHING A SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED IT, I ALWAYS WILL.
BUT TONIGHT AND NOW, I HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR STUDENTS.
I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF HOMEWORK.
I'VE VISITED WITH ADMINISTRATORS.
I'VE TALKED TO YOUR TEACHERS, I'VE TALKED TO YOUR STUDENTS, TALKED TO PARENTS, I'VE TALKED TO OTHER DISTRICTS.
THEY'RE AROUND INVESTMENT, INEFFICIENCY, AND INCONSISTENCY.
UNDER INVESTMENT, TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM GREAT, WE HAVE TO HIRE AND COMPETE WITH STIPENDS FOR THE BEST TEACHERS.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DIFFICULT.
[02:05:02]
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN COST, AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT FOR EXCELLENCE.THE 9010 IS GOING TO REQUIRE ATTENTION TO DEVELOP.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE OVERSIGHT, AND WE JUST CLOSED A SCHOOL.
WE HAVE A BLEND WE NEED TO WORK ON.
I WAS ON THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR MANY YEARS AND THERE WE DISCUSSED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WE EVALUATED PROGRAMS, THE INTERESTS IN THE PROGRAMS, THE ENROLLMENT OF PROGRAMS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS.
LAST YEAR, MIDDLE SCHOOL LOST ITS LATIN PROGRAMS, AND WE LOST A FINE ARTS DIRECTOR POSITION, AND WE REALOCATED THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM WENT FROM 44 TO 22.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEMAND.
MY INEFFICIENCIES, WE HAVE ABOUT AN AVERAGE 20% ATTRITION RATE.
WE'VE HAD DECREASED ENROLLMENT IN THOSE.
WE CAN'T BACK FILL, AND IT'LL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO BACK FILL A 9010 PROGRAM.
WE CAN'T CHARGE TUITION OR FEES, AND PARENTS DURING INTERVIEWS HAVE PREFERRED TO BE AT THEIR HOME CAMPUS AND WITHIN GOOD REASON.
AGAIN, WE CLOSED A SCHOOL TONIGHT, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE, IT SAID THAT THE STUDENT TEACHER RATIO WAS THE NUMBER ONE IN THE TOP 50 DISTRICTS OF WHAT THEY FOUND TO BE PART OF THEIR SUCCESS.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE CAMPUSES TO MAINTAIN THAT WITH THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM THERE.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR STUDENT FEES.
WE KNOW THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PLANNING TIME, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET AN EXTRA CLASS.
WE CLOSED A SCHOOL, DO WE KEEP A PROGRAM THAT COSTS 300-$500,000 A YEAR, KNOWN COST, BUT THERE'S UNKNOWNS.
THERE'S INCONSISTENT LEARNING AMONG THE STUDENTS.
THE PROGRAM HAS CREATED A DIVIDE IN THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
IT'S NOT LIKE AN ELECTIVE OR AN EXTRA CURRICULAR SUPPLEMENT TO A STUDENT, IT'S CREATED AN ACTUAL DIVIDE.
THERE'S A SOLID DIVIDE IN TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS RIGHT NOW.
THE SIX YEAR ATTRITION CREATES A DISPARITY IN THAT 22:1 RATIO AS WELL.
WHAT ARE WE LOSING? WHAT DO WE DO REALLY WELL THAT MAKES US NUMBER 1? IT'S A LONG GAME.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE CULTIVATE CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, ADAPTABILITY.
IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WATCH MY KIDDOS, INDEPENDENCE AND IDENTITY, AND IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, I GET TO WATCH MY OLDEST CULTIVATE TALENT, PASSION, AND ACADEMICS FOR THOSE FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
I WANT US TO REALLY LOOK AT OUR MISSION, AND REMEMBER, WE UNITE EMPOWER AND INSPIRE EVERY PERSON EVERY DAY.
I WILL STAND BY IT. I SUPPORTED IT.
I ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL LOVE THE IDEA OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM, BUT I HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL STUDENTS, AND I CANNOT SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? ELLEN.
>> AGAIN, I THINK THE 9010 PROGRAM IS A FRESH START, AND I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE AREN'T LOOKING AT IT WITH FRESH EYES, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OLD EXPERIENCES AND OLD NUMBERS AND OLD WAYS OF LOOKING AT THIS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPROVED WITH 9010, AND WE AREN'T GIVING THAT A CHANCE TO GO FORWARD.
BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TO THE SI COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY OF AN ELEMENTARY PROGRAM AND AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
QUITE FRANKLY, USUALLY, PEOPLE DON'T GET REAL WOUND UP AND
[02:10:03]
ADVOCATE POSITIVELY ASKING AND BEGGING FOR AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM.TO ME, THAT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE, AND I HAVE APPRECIATED THAT SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
FOR SEVEN YEARS, VIRTUALLY EVERY MONTH, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE SI COMMUNITY, FROM PARENTS, FROM GRANDPARENTS, FROM THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES IT WAS SPEAKING AT A BOARD MEETING.
THE INPUT WE HAVE GOTTEN, AND THE ADVOCACY WE'VE GOTTEN ON THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE MOST THOUGHTFUL, HEARTFELT AND INDIVIDUALIZED ADVOCACY I HAVE EVER SEEN ON ANY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN BEFORE THIS BOARD.
NEVER WAS THERE A FORM LETTER, AND NEVER WERE THERE TALKING POINTS.
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.
REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE GOES, I WANT TO SAY YOUR KIDS WILL BE FINE.
THEY WILL RECEIVE AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION.
THEY WILL BE FINE, AND THEY WILL BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND THE EXPOSURE TO A BROADER WORLD THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT THEM AT AN EARLY AGE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT AND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ELLEN. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU COULD HEAR ON YOUR AUDIO, BUT THERE WAS APPLAUSE IN THE ROOM HERE.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER TRUSTEE COMMENTS, I'LL SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS THAT I JOTTED DOWN, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT FOR YOUR PASSION AND DEDICATION TO EANES ISD.
THIS EVENING, WE FACED ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS WE'VE HAD TO MAKE AS A BOARD, THE FUTURE OF THE SPANISH IMMERSION OR FUTURO PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BROUGHT VALUE AND PRIDE TO MANY, BUT ALSO SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO OUR DISTRICT.
WHEN SPANISH IMMERSION WAS PILOTED AND LATER EXPANDED, IT WAS SEEN AS AN INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITY.
IT PROMISED TO ENRICH STUDENTS, EDUCATION, AND ATTRACT TRANSFER FAMILIES TO HELP STRENGTHEN OUR FINANCIAL POSITION.
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM, SOMETIMES RELUCTANTLY, BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN ITS POTENTIAL.
BUT TODAY, WE ARE FACING A VASTLY DIFFERENT REALITY.
EANES ISD IS GRAPPLING WITH A SERIOUS FINANCIAL CRISIS.
STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH INFLATION WHILE OUR COSTS, WHICH ARE DRIVEN LARGELY BY OUR COMMITMENT TO GIVING OUR TEACHERS ANNUAL RAISES THEY DESERVE, HAVE RISEN YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THE GAP BETWEEN FUNDING AND EXPENSES HAS PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE WE MUST MAKE PAINFUL BUT NECESSARY CHOICES TO ENSURE THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STABILITY.
AS JIM COLLINS WRITES IN GOOD TO GREAT, GREAT ORGANIZATIONS SUCCEED WHEN THEY FOCUS ON THEIR "HEDGEHOG CONCEPT", WHAT THEY ARE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT, WHAT THEY CAN BE BEST AT, WHAT DRIVES THEIR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.
SPANISH IMMERSION HAS MANY STRENGTHS.
IT ENRICHES LEARNING, FOSTERS CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND HAS BROUGHT NEW FAMILIES INTO OUR DISTRICT.
BUT IT ALSO CREATES INEFFICIENCIES IN STAFFING, ADDS SIGNIFICANT COSTS, DOES NOT SERVE OUR STUDENTS EQUITABLY.
THESE CHALLENGES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ARGUE THAT SPANISH IMMERSION ALIGNS WITH OUR DISTRICT'S CORE STRENGTHS AND FINANCIAL REALITY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION OF SI FAMILIES WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO RAISE FUNDS AND ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE A PROGRAM'S SUSTAINABILITY DEPENDENT ON DONATIONS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT AS THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THIS PROGRAM, DONATIONS WILL FADE.
JUST LAST YEAR, WHEN 9010 MODEL WAS INTRODUCED, WHICH YOU HOLD UP AS SUCCESSFUL, BROUGHT THREATS FROM PARENTS TO STOP DONATING TO EEF IF THIS CHANGE WAS MADE.
AS HARD AS IT IS, WE MUST PLAY THE CARDS IN FRONT OF US.
THE CARDS WE FACE TODAY SHOW A DISTRICT IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS, WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FUNDING THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM OR PROVIDING WELL DESERVED RAISES TO OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
I AM NOT WILLING TO TRADE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DISTRICT FOR A PROGRAM THAT SERVES ONLY A FRACTION OF OUR STUDENTS.
[02:15:01]
DIVERTING RESOURCES IN THIS WAY IS NOT A CHOICE, I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE.FOR THESE REASONS, I WILL VOTE TO DISCONTINUE THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM.
THIS IS NOT A DECISION I MAKE LIGHTLY.
I HAVE SEEN THE VALUE IT BRINGS TO MANY, BUT I ALSO KNOW WE MUST FOCUS ON OUR CORE STRENGTHS AS A DISTRICT.
BY MAKING THIS DIFFICULT DECISION, WE CAN ENSURE THAT EANES ISD CONTINUES TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES FIVE TO TWO.
THE LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS ON OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM WAS TABLED EARLIER TONIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? LAURA.
[11. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA]
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVES THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
>> MOTION BY LAURA, SECOND BY HEATHER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES 7, 0.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS.
[12. UPCOMING MEETINGS]
WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 28.WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON FEBRUARY 11 AND A BOARD WORKSHOP ON FEBRUARY 14.
THE BOARD STANDS ADJOURNED AT 9:16.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.