Apr 22, 2025 School Board Regular Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

THE TIME IS NOW 6 P.M. AND I CALL THE APRIL 22ND, 2025 MEETING OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.

MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? YES WE DO.

[2. ESTABLISH A QUORUM]

[3. CLOSED SESSION]

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SEE YOU IN A BIT.

THE TIME IS NOW 7:14 AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.

[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (Approximately 7:00 p.m.)]

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.

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 AND WE ASK THE SAME COURTESY IN RETURN.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM OUTBURSTS OR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

APPLAUSE IS ALWAYS WELCOME TO THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LATER IN THE MEETING.

I WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WHEN WE REACH THAT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE OPEN MEETING TO LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.

IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE EARLY, PLEASE DO SO QUIETLY AND TAKE CONVERSATIONS INTO THE HALL OR OUTSIDE THE DOOR THERE TO AVOID DISRUPTING THE PRESENTATIONS.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ABOUT THE ITEMS DISCUSSED TONIGHT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE TRUSTEES @TRUSTEES@EANES.

NET OR CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO A TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES TO MEET AND DISCUSS THINGS FURTHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED INTEREST IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS.

WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH OUR AGENDA. WE WILL START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

LET ME GET MYSELF TO WHERE I NEED TO BE. 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. WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY VETA SHAKURI FROM TROOP 72.

VETA IS A SEVENTH GRADER AT WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SHE IS A SECOND CLASS RANK IN SCOUT, WORKING ON HER FIRST CLASS, AND SHE WILL LEAD US TONIGHT IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU HANG OUT FOR A SECOND? I'M GOING TO BRING YOU A LITTLE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

[7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, BOTH ONLINE AND JOINING US TONIGHT IN PERSON.

JUST A FEW QUICK THINGS TO POINT OUT. WANT TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS EVENING, UNTIL TOMORROW, ABOUT NOON, IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIDDING FOR A PARKING SPOT RAFFLE THROUGH THE EANES EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

THIS IS ONE OF THEIR BIG SPRING FUNDRAISERS THAT GOES TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, AND THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE ONLINE ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

AND SO WE WANTED TO DRAW PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO THAT.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND, WE WILL HONOR THE LEGACY OF VALLEYVIEW ELEMENTARY.

IT'S TAKING PLACE SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM 1 TO 4 P.M.

ON THE CAMPUS AND INSIDE THE SCHOOL. A LOT OF VALLEYVIEW ALUMNI ARE RETURNING.

I THINK ALL FOUR PRINCIPALS IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HONOR VALLEY VIEW'S HISTORY, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SPECIAL AFTERNOON.

AND WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN JOIN US OR JOIN US FOR LIVE MUSIC.

A LOT OF REFRESHMENTS, MERCHANDISE FOR SALE TO COMMEMORATE VALLEY VIEW'S HISTORY.

40, ALMOST 45 YEARS, I THINK SO. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CLAUDIA MCWHORTER, WHO ORGANIZED OUR ANNUAL BOOSTER CLUB BOOT CAMP.

[00:05:02]

THEY'RE A WONDERFUL PARTNER, AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS FOR THE BOOSTER CLUBS AND THE PTO ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS NEXT YEAR. SPECIAL THANKS TO SEVERAL OF OUR STAFF WHO PARTICIPATED IN THOSE PRESENTATIONS, COVERING A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT WE KNOW ARE OF IMPORTANCE AND INTEREST TO THE BOOSTER CLUB.

SO AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THAT AND BENCHMARK BANKS AS WELL TO PUT ON THAT ANNUAL EVENT.

IT'S BECOME AN AFTERNOON THAT WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO, AND I WANTED TO THANK THE AUSTIN WESTLAKE ROTARY CLUB.

SO THEY PARTICIPATED IN A CLEANUP OF OUR CAMPUSES.

OF COURSE, DIANE HEARN IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB.

AND THE ROTARIANS TURNED OUT TO CLEAN UP BAMBOO AND OLD BRUSH FROM A VARIETY OF OUR CAMPUSES AND AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE WILDFIRE HAZARDS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE CLEANED UP OF ALL OF THIS DEBRIS.

SO, DIANE, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE ROTARY CLUB? YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP.

THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT. IT'S TURNING INTO AN ANNUAL EFFORT.

BUT OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE WORK DONE IN BETWEEN AS WELL. AND IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAMBER. SO YEAH, IT'S. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU TO THE ROTARY CLUB AGAIN, ANOTHER GREAT PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ARNETT.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

[8. OPEN FORUM]

I WANT TO EXPLAIN REAL QUICK. I DID THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES AGO.

WE ARE RUNNING TWO OPEN FORUMS DURING OUR MEETINGS NOW, AND SO IF A COMMUNITY MEMBER SIGNS UP TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA, THEY SPEAK AT THIS TIME SLOT. AND THEN IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA, YOU SPEAK AT THE LATER TIME SLOT. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND THE SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

WE WILL HAVE THREE SPEAKERS FOR THE LATER TIME SLOT.

JUST TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE WATCH THE TIME ON THE SCREEN.

AND IF WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND STOP.

IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR PREPARED REMARKS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO EMAIL YOUR FULL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AT TRUSTEES@EANESISD.NET OR A REMINDER TO WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT THE AUDIENCE OR OTHERS. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS.

SO WE ASK THAT REACTIONS TO COMMENTS BE BRIEF AND RESPECTFUL.

IF YOU PLAN TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NEED TO HEAR THAT ENCLOSED.

SO DON'T SAY THAT ON THE MICROPHONE HERE. JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE CAN GO INTO CLOSED AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE OR RESPOND TO COMMENTS HERE.

WE'RE LISTENING. THIS IS OUR TIME TO LISTEN, NOT TO REACT OR ENGAGE.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION, THOUGH, MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT IF NECESSARY.

AND PLEASE, FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATIONS.

BY SPEAKING, YOU CONSENT TO THE PUBLICATION. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND WE WILL START WITH OUR ONE SPEAKER FOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING.

JEFFREY LEON AND PATTY IS THE MIC ON AND EVERYTHING? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SPRADLEY. DOCTOR ARNETT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS JEFF LEON. I'M AN EANES ISD TAXPAYER AND PARENT OF THREE YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE FORMER EANES ISD STUDENTS.

I WANT TO START TO SAY BY I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ON YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING, A FINANCIAL UPDATE, WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE 2019 BOND AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTS FOR YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT I HAVE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE COMMUNITY ATHLETIC CENTER AQUATIC FACILITY, AND ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THESE CONCERNS IN CONNECTION WITH THOSE CONTRACT DELIBERATIONS.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE A NEWS ITEM STATING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS INITIATED A TERMINATION OF ITS CONTRACTS WITH WACC AND WAQUA.

ATTACHED TO THE NEWS RELEASE ARE LETTERS FROM YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

IN ONE LETTER, THE ATTORNEY LISTS A LITANY OF WRONGDOINGS AS THE BASIS FOR THE PARTNERSHIP TERMINATION AND THE OTHER LETTER, THE ATTORNEY STATES, INCONSISTENTLY, THAT THE LEASE IS BEING TERMINATED BECAUSE THE DISTRICT REQUIRES THE FACILITY TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, APPARENTLY FROM BEFORE DAWN TO WELL AFTER SUNSET.

THE TWO LETTERS DATED ON THE SAME DATE, CITING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS FOR SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DECISION, SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE ADMINISTRATION BEFORE POSTING THEM ON THE WEBSITE.

IT LOOKS TO AN OUTSIDE OBSERVER AS IF THE DISTRICT IS NOT ACTING RATIONALLY.

I WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER OF THE 2019 BOND, WHICH PROPOSED TO BUILD AN AQUATIC CENTER THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE.

[00:10:06]

I AM IN THAT FACILITY NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES WEEKLY, AND HAVE BEEN SINCE HAVE BEEN SINCE THE FACILITY OPENED.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE POOL IN A CONDITION THAT IS UNSAFE OR UNCLEAN.

I HAVE ALSO NEVER SEEN ANY EANES SCHOOL TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATORS OR PERSONNEL AT THE FACILITY OTHER THAN COACHES DURING SWIM AND WATER POLO SEASONS. I QUESTION HOW THE BOARD COULD HAVE LEGALLY ACTED TO TERMINATE THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS OUTSIDE OF A DULY POSTED MEETING, THE SCHOOL BOARD PROMISED THE COMMUNITY A SWIM FACILITY TO SERVE BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS.

THIS IS AN ENTIRELY FEASIBLE PARTNERSHIP. MANY OF THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES OCCUR BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS.

WHEN MY WIFE AND I ATTEMPTED TO MEET WITH DOCTOR ARNETT TO DISCUSS IMPROVED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LAST YEAR BY USING THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS, OUR GRIEVANCE WAS SIMPLY IGNORED AND WE WERE ULTIMATELY FAILED TO HAVE ANY CONVERSATION WITH DOCTOR ARNETT WHATSOEVER.

I ASK YOU AS A BOARD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DECISION AND TO LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO THE VOTERS IN 2019, BEFORE ASKING THE VOTERS TO APPROVE ANOTHER BOND ELECTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THIS SECTION OF OPEN FORUM.

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.

[9.1 Monthly Financial Report and Budget Amendment(s) for the Period Ending March 31]

WELCOME, MARIA.

GOOD EVENING. OKAY. LIKE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT FOR OUR MONTHLY FINANCIALS IS AS FAR AS OUR EXPENDITURES AND TAX COLLECTIONS ARE KIND OF EXPECT. THEY ARE WHERE WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO BE AT THIS POINT.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PACKET YOU RECEIVED THIS TIME AROUND WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN USUAL. AND SO I DON'T ALWAYS POINT THIS OUT, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE REASON IT IS LONGER BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT.

SO PER CDA LOCAL WILL REQUIRE TO REPORT PROVIDE YOU WITH AN INVESTMENT REPORT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

WE, OF COURSE, PROVIDE A MONTHLY ONE EVERY SINGLE MONTH IN HERE. BUT THE ONE THAT COMES IN ON A MONTHLY BASIS IS A SHORT THREE PAGE ONE.

AND THE QUARTERLY REPORT IS MUCH LONGER. AND THEN AS FAR AS BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO APPROVE, WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS JUST FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

THERE WAS NONE THIS MONTH FOR DEBT SERVICE AND CHILD NUTRITION, AND AGAIN FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY WERE ITEMS THAT WERE SUBMITTED WITH FROM CAMPUSES AND DEPARTMENTS.

SO NET EFFECT ON THE ON THE FUND BALANCE IS ZERO.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS. KIM. MARIA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THIS ISN'T REALLY A QUESTION ON THE QUARTERLY REPORT, BUT IN LINE WITH THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND JUST CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY, ARE THERE ANY THINGS THAT THE BUSINESS OFFICE OR YOUR OFFICE IS DOING DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF MONITORING OUR INVESTMENTS? WE'RE STILL PRETTY MUCH KEEPING THEM IN THE LOCAL POOLS, THE INVESTMENT POOLS.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY MOVED MUCH OUTSIDE OF THAT.

WE HAVE MET WITH OUR INVESTMENT CONSULTANT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. SO.

RIGHT. AND I EXPECT THAT ANSWER THAT WE WOULDN'T MOVE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING, YOU KNOW PRUDENT INVESTMENT OF OUR RESOURCES.

BUT IN TERMS OF JUST MONITORING THE INVESTMENT AND, AND WHAT WE MAKE AND THE INVESTMENTS OR THE INTEREST ITSELF. IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU'RE GETTING ADVISED TO DO? NO, NOT AT THIS POINT. OKAY. THANK YOU, DIANE.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW ON THE SPOT, BUT I WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE. WITH RESPECT TO THE 20 2023 BOND, MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH THAT BOND.

WE PUT THAT BOND TOGETHER WITH ANTICIPATED COSTS, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE COSTS GO UP.

WE HAVE UNCERTAINTIES. I'D JUST BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING AT SOME POINT MAYBE SEEING A REPORT YOU KNOW, ARE THERE UNEXPECTED COSTS IN THERE? ARE WE ON TRACK? ARE THINGS LOOKING GOOD FOR OUR SPENDING WITH THE 2023 BOND? YOU KNOW, TO COMPLETE EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. SO FAR, WE ARE COMING IN AT AND BELOW BUDGET ON MOST OF OUR PROJECTS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS YET. HOWEVER WE ARE STARTING IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE IN GENERAL TO SEE SOME

[00:15:02]

SO WE'RE TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT THOSE AND OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT OUR CONTRACTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE LEGAL.

AND SO FOR THE WE'VE NOT BEEN HIT WITH MANY YET, BUT I EXPECT THAT AS THESE, THESE DUTIES START ADDING UP THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME HIGHER PRICES ON A LOT OF ITEMS. WELL, THANK YOU. I'M SURE YOU'LL KEEP US INFORMED AS YOU, AS YOU LEARN MORE.

THANK YOU. AND WE'LL ALSO GET AN UPDATE FROM THE BOC SOON ON JUST HOW THEIR MEETINGS HAVE GONE AND PROGRESS ON OVERSIGHT OF THE OF THE BOND. ANY OTHER. OH, HEATHER.

YEAH.

SO.

YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF CHRIS HAS HEARD ANYTHING ELSE.

WE DON'T TYPICALLY HEAR THOSE. THE APPEALS WILL GO TO THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, NOT TO US. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY GAVE US OUR ESTIMATE, THEY ARE PROJECTING A LARGER DROP DUE TO APPEALS AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

SO WE'RE HOPING THEY'RE WRONG ON THAT, BUT I SUSPECT THEY MIGHT BE RIGHT.

THE TREND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN MORE DECREASES DURING THE APPEALS PROCESS THROUGH BOTH INFORMAL AND FORMAL MEANS. GREAT, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MARIA. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ANNUAL BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION REPORT,

[9.2 Annual Board Member Continuing Education Report]

UNDER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE. COMPLETING REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION EACH YEAR OF SERVICE IS A BASIC OBLIGATION AND EXPECTATION OF ANY SITTING BOARD MEMBER. AS BOARD PRESIDENT, I AM REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF EACH MEMBER WHO HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIRING CONTINUING EDUCATION HAS EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OR IS DEFICIENT IN MEETING THE REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION.

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING ARE MEASURED AS OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THE TRUSTEE'S ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT, OR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS OR HER PREVIOUS TRAINING, AS APPLICABLE.

THERE ARE SEVEN TRAINING AREAS FOR BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION.

LOCAL DISTRICT ORIENTATION. ORIENTATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.

POST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.

TEAM BUILDING ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION.

EVALUATING STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SETTING GOALS.

IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING ABUSE, TRAFFICKING, AND OTHER MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.

AS OF APRIL 22ND, 2025, TRUSTEES JAMES SPRADLEY, KIM MCMATH, LAURA CLARK, KELLY MARWELL, HEATHER SHEFFIELD, ELLEN BALTHAZAR AND DIANE HEARN HAVE MET AND EXCEEDED ALL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.

GOOD JOB BOARD. ALL RIGHT. NEXT AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS THE 2025-2026

[9.3 2025-26 Calendar updates]

GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE. NOPE. THERE WE GO. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL THE 25-26 CALENDAR REVISIONS. THE BOARD ALREADY VOTED TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR.

AND SO THE START AND END DATE ARE THE SAME. BUT WE'VE MADE SOME REVISIONS JUST TO ALLOW FOR SOME MORE SOME ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TIME.

AND SOME OF THIS WAS IN DIRECT RELATION TO US NEEDING TO TAKE AWAY THE SECOND OR THE PLC PERIOD FOR THE CORE CLASSES AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, AND THEN ALSO JUST REALIZING THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DIDN'T HAVE THAT TO BEGIN WITH.

[00:20:03]

SO ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'VE DONE AND THIS IS THE STUDENT CALENDAR.

AND THESE WILL ALL BE POSTED ONLINE AND UPDATED AFTER THIS EVENING'S MEETING.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR BOTH SEMESTERS IS WE'VE ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL HALF DAYS OR EARLY RELEASE DAYS AND ONE ADDITIONAL FULL DAY THAT WILL BE DEVOTED TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE STUDENT CALENDAR FOR 25-26, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TWO EARLY RELEASE DAYS NOW.

WE'VE ADDED ONE ON SEPTEMBER 17TH AND ONE ON DECEMBER 10TH FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE A FULL DAY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR NOVEMBER 10TH. SO THOSE THREE DAYS WILL BE EITHER EARLY RELEASE OR A HOLIDAY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND THEN ON THE SECOND SEMESTER, JANUARY 28TH AND FEBRUARY 25TH ARE THE EARLY RELEASE DAYS.

AND APRIL 27TH WOULD BE THE FULL DAY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR STAFF.

AND SO THOSE TWO EARLY RELEASE DAYS AND THE 27TH ARE DAYS OFF FOR THE STUDENTS OR EARLY RELEASE FOR THE STUDENTS.

WE DID A THOUGHT EXCHANGE WITH OUR STAFF AND GOT FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY WERE THINKING, IN TERMS OF HOW MANY DAYS THAT WE COULD ALLOW FOR THIS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TIME. WE SUBMIT A WAIVER TO THE STATE THAT GIVES US AN ADDITIONAL 2100 MINUTES THAT CAN BE DEVOTED SPECIFICALLY TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. SO WE WILL APPLY THAT WAIVER TO THIS CALENDAR.

ADDITIONALLY, JUST BECAUSE OF OUR OUR LENGTH OF DAY, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MINUTES.

WE HAVE ALSO BUILT INTO THE CALENDAR SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS.

SO IF WE HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO MAKE THAT UP EITHER.

SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING SURE WE MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES, EVEN BEING ABLE TO ADD THESE ADDITIONAL DAYS.

THE DAYS REALLY ALIGN WITH KIND OF LIKE BENCHMARKING OR SPECIFIC TIMES THAT THE TEACHERS FELT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND DO A BIG DATA DIVE OR TOWARD THE END OF THE SEMESTER SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT A CURRICULUM AND ALIGNMENT FOR SECOND SEMESTER.

SO WE DID A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL PREPARATION FOR LIKE, WHEN THESE DAYS WOULD BE TO BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR THE STAFF.

WE DID NOT POLL THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT DAYS THEY FELT WOULD BE BEST FOR THIS BECAUSE WE REALLY NEEDED THIS TO BE BEST FOR THE STAFF. AND SO THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS WAS.

AND SO WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO DLT AGAIN. WE BROUGHT THIS LAST WEEK.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY REAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP AT THE DLT MEETING.

AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE KIND OF UNDERSTOOD, IN LIGHT OF WHERE WE ARE WITH TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME FOR OUR TEACHERS.

THAT THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO ADD TO THE CALENDAR.

SO THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM BECAUSE THE CALENDAR WAS ALREADY ADOPTED.

WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT ADOPTING A NEW CALENDAR. WE'RE JUST ADJUSTING THE ONE WE HAVE.

THANK YOU MOLLY. ANY QUESTIONS TRUSTEES. HEATHER.

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE DLT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS A ROBUST COMMITTEE FULL OF CONVERSATION.

AND I KNOW HAVING SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE IN THE PAST HALF DAYS, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THEM.

I DON'T LOVE HALF DAYS, AS YOU KNOW, WORKING PARENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS. IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THE EDUCATORS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM PLANNING PERIODS.

AND SO WE'RE THINKING THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO STUFF AT THEIR CAMPUS AND OR PLC TIME OR.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. BOTH. YEAH, IT KIND OF DEPENDS.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE FOREST TRAIL ALIGNED WITH EARLY RELEASE, IT ACTUALLY HELPS IMMENSELY BECAUSE NOW THOSE TEACHERS COULD ACTUALLY GET TOGETHER IN PERSON AND MEET, OR THEY COULD DO SOMETHING VIRTUALLY, OR THEY COULD JUST BE ON THEIR CAMPUS.

AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE EARLY RELEASE, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE KIND OF CAME TO A COMPROMISE EARLY, EARLY RELEASE FOR THE ELEMENTARY DOES TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING.

THE HIGH SCHOOL LIKE EARLY RELEASE BECAUSE THEY SAID SPECIFICALLY THE TEACHERS, THEY LIKE TO SEE THEIR KIDS EVERY DAY.

AND SO WE KIND OF HAD TO COME TO A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPROMISE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE TWO EARLY RELEASE AND ONE FULL.

GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ELLEN AND THEN LAURA.

MOLLY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS THOUGHTFUL REPORT.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW THE CHOICE OF DAYS WAS ALIGNED WITH THE DATA AND PLANNING REQUIREMENTS.

I KNOW THAT YOUR STAFF, SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, HAS DONE SO MUCH WORK TO IMPROVE OUR PLC

[00:25:01]

HOW WILL HAVING DAYS LIKE THIS, HOW WILL THOSE MATERIALS BE MODIFIED? OR WILL THEY STILL BE ABLE TO BE USED? DO YOU ANTICIPATE? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. ALL THE TOOLS CAN STILL BE USED.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY A CHANGE, ESPECIALLY FOR SECONDARY CORE WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO MEET MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK IN A PLC.

SO SOME OF THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF WHAT HOW MUCH THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH.

BUT GIVEN NOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME BIGGER CHUNKS OF TIME, YOU KNOW, IT'LL JUST BE THE CADENCE WILL BE DIFFERENT, BUT THE WORK WILL BE THE SAME. GREAT, BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK TO GET THOSE TOOLS IN PLACE.

AND THE FRAMEWORK AND THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED FOR OUR STAFF IS INVALUABLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY IN BRINGING THOSE THINGS ALONG.

YEAH. AND THEY'LL STILL HAVE SOME TIME. THEY'LL STILL BE PLC TIME AT EVERY LEVEL.

IN ADDITION TO THESE, TO THESE DAYS. GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ELLEN. LAURA. THANK YOU, MOLLY, I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF TO WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PLCS.

I'M SURE THOSE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS, WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS SCHEDULE.

REMIND ME THE DLTS. DO WE HAVE DO OUR BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENTS SIT ON THE DLT? IT'S A COMBINATION OF PEOPLE. SOME. IT'S JUST CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES.

AND SO SOME OF THEM ARE, I THINK, IN THE BOOSTER CLUB, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

SO WE DO HAVE COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE ON DLT, PARENTS AND STAFF ON.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I REMEMBERED. SO EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GO OUT AND PULL ALL THE PARENTS, WE DID HAVE PARENTAL INPUT FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UP TO HIGH SCHOOL.

ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, REMIND ME, DO I FEEL LIKE WE NORMALLY APPROVE CALENDARS TWO YEARS OUT? OUR, AND IT'S ODD BECAUSE IT'S I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IT'S 26-27.

ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE SAME TYPE OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR THAT YEAR AS WELL? I WOULD IMAGINE SO. WE'LL SEE THOSE NEXT TIME AROUND.

YES, BECAUSE I DO. DON'T WE APPROVE TWO YEARS AT A TIME? YOU DO? WE DO. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF FOCUS.

YEAH. AND JUST ON THIS ONE YEAR, BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME CHANGES AND ALSO KIND OF SEE A LITTLE BIT HOW THIS WORKS AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE FLOW OF THIS TO SEE WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LAURA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. COULD I SAY SOMETHING, MR. SPRADLEY? I WANT TO THANK MOLLY AND HER TEAM AND THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL REGRETTED HAVING TO ELIMINATE THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY PERIODS FOR OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

BUT THIS WAS A COST NEUTRAL AND VERY CREATIVE WAY TO TRY TO GIVE BACK PLANNING TIME FOR ALL TEACHERS AT ALL LEVELS.

SO TO MOLLY AND HER TEAM'S CREDIT, WE'VE PROVIDED AN AVENUE NOW FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TO ALL BENEFIT FROM COLLABORATIVE PLANNING TIME, WHEREAS NOT ALL OF THEM HAD THAT PREVIOUSLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT. AND SORRY IF I COULD JUST MENTION ONE MORE THING.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO BE WORKING WITH LIKE EASY-CARE AND MAYBE SOME CAMPS TO TRY TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS THAT DO WORK, TO HAVE SOME AVENUE FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME ACTIVITY FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MOLLY. HANG ON. DON'T GO TOO FAR.

I'M STILL HERE. WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR DISCUSSION ACTION SECTION.

[10.1 Request to Approve District Improvement Plan]

MOTION. HEATHER. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPT THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS PRESENTED FOR THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR.

SECOND. MOTION BY HEATHER. SECOND BY ELLEN. MOLLY.

SO. YES. SO I PRESENTED THE DRAFT DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, AND I RECEIVED SOME INPUT FROM DIANE SPECIFICALLY AROUND SOME OF OUR MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION. AND SO YOU'LL SEE, ACTUALLY, IN THAT THAT LAST COLUMN, I DID CHANGE SOME OF THE WORDING.

AND THEN I TRIED TO, IN A COUPLE PLACES STRENGTHEN SOME OF THE MEASUREMENT CRITERIA.

I WAS A LITTLE, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF A DIP ARE PRETTY COMPLIANCE RELATED.

[00:30:02]

I DID GO BACK AND KIND OF REVIEW AND WHERE IT, IT WASN'T.

I TRIED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE MEASUREMENT.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE FORMATIVE DOES TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE LESS MEASURABLE EVALUATION TECHNIQUES.

BUT THEN THE SUMMATIVE REALLY, WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING WE COULD MEASURE. SO THERE WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM WHAT I PRESENTED TO YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY. AND THEN THIS ALSO WENT TO THE DLT LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DIP.

THANK YOU. MOLLY. DIANE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, WE HAD AN EXCHANGE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO MY INPUT AND HELPING ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

AND I THINK I COMMUNICATED TO YOU, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT'S NOT WRITTEN DOWN IN THIS DIP. SO I, I AGAIN, APPRECIATE THAT YOU PUT SOME EFFORT INTO TWEAKING IT A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER TRUSTEE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. MOLLY. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON THE APPROVED DISTRICT OF INNOVATION AMENDMENTS.

[10.2 Request to Approve District of Innovation Amendments and Implement the Same Amendments to Policies FDA (Local) and DP (Legal)]

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY KELLY. AUDREY. ONLY IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES. HEATHER. WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE POLICY COMMITTEE REVIEWED, OR WAS THIS JUST A RECOMMENDATION BY YOU. NO, THE POLICY COMMITTEE DID REVIEW IT.

AND PER OUR PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION, ALSO, THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS GONE LOOKED AT IT TWICE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE STAFF THAT WE NEED TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR KIDS.

SO THANK, YOU. ANY OTHER TRUSTEE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

WE WILL. NOW. I NEED A MOTION ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[11. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA]

SECOND. MOTION BY LAURA. SECOND BY ELLEN. TRUSTEES.

DIANE. YES I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICALLY THE REQUEST TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF CANVAS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FROM THE 2023 BOND, AND I DON'T OBJECT TO THIS AT ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE RECEIVED A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT IN BY THE DISTRICT TO EVALUATE THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT PURCHASE. AND I KNOW THAT DOCTOR SELLERS HAS CAN SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

AND IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE HER JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH US AND THE COMMUNITY TO LET US UNDERSTAND HOW MANY STAKEHOLDERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? YEAH. CHRISTY, ARE YOU PREPARED TO PERHAPS ADDRESS THE BOARD? SHE'S COMING. THANK YOU.

THIS WAS A YEAR LONG REVIEW. THE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MADE UP OF 24 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HAD A REPRESENTATION OF PARENTS AND K-12 TEACHERS.

ADMINISTRATORS AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS EVALUATED FIVE DIFFERENT LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. THEY WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING NON-NEGOTIABLES, GOING THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND DEMOS WITH THE VENDORS IDENTIFIED.

TWO, THAT WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS.

WE TOOK THOSE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY DID THE WORK WITH THE CAMPUS STAFF.

SO THOSE TWO PLATFORMS, CANVAS AND SCHOOLOGY, WERE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE TEACHERS, AND WE ACTUALLY TOOK THOSE TO THE CAMPUSES.

[00:35:07]

THEY COULD SET UP LESSON PLANS. THEY COULD DO GRADE BOOKS.

THERE WERE MOCK STUDENTS IN THERE. THEY COULD ASSIGN QUIZZES, THEY COULD DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO GIVE US ACTUAL LIVE FEEDBACK.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE? WHAT DIDN'T YOU LIKE? THERE WERE QUESTIONNAIRES IN THERE.

THERE WERE FOLLOW UP SURVEYS JUST TO GIVE A REAL HANDS ON EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

WE HAD A RUBRIC THAT SAID, IF THIS, THEN THIS.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE? YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE THE NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR YOU? WE HAD A SPECIFIC SET OF MUST HAVES. YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A NICE TO HAVE.

YES, WE THIS WAS REALLY NICE, BUT THIS WAS WHAT? THESE WERE DEAL BREAKERS. SO BOTH SYSTEMS PERFORMED WELL.

BUT AT THE END, THE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOCUS GROUP, AND THE TEACHER FEEDBACK MADE THE DECISION.

WE. THIS WAS NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHOICE. I DIDN'T VOTE, DOCTOR ARNETT DIDN'T VOTE.

CABINET DIDN'T VOTE. CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION TEAM DIDN'T VOTE.

THE TEACHERS VOTED, AND THE TEACHER SELECTED CANVAS.

SO WE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION WITH THAT SPECIFIC VENDOR.

AND THAT WAS THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. SO THAT'S WHAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU.

BASED ON TEACHER SELECTION. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT.

BOTH SYSTEMS WERE THE PRICE WAS COMPARABLE. THE PRICE IS FIVE YEARS.

IT WAS UNDER WHAT WE PROJECTED THAT IT WOULD BE.

IT'S ALIGNED WITH THE BOND DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE PROJECTED WITH THIS PRICE.

AS IS, WE CAN GET ALL OF THE ADD ONS AND ALL OF THE TEACHER SUPPORTS THAT WE NEEDED.

SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE 24 OVER SEVEN CHAT SUPPORT.

THEY'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO HAVE TUTORIAL VIDEOS 24 OVER SEVEN ON DEMAND.

SO IF I HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING ON A SUNDAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I MAKE THIS WORK? THEY CAN DO THAT AT THEIR WHENEVER IT SUITS THEM.

THEY'RE ALSO WE WERE ABLE TO AFFORD THE BUILT IN VIDEO EDITOR.

SO IF I HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO WAS USED TO USING A SPECIFIC RESOURCE THAT HAD A BUILT IN QUIZ GENERATOR THAT YOU COULD WATCH A VIDEO, AND THEN IN ONE MINUTE IN, YOU WANTED TO ADD A QUIZ OR A QUESTION TO TEST FOR.

DOES DID YOU GET THE CONTENT? YOU CAN DO THAT IN THIS SPECIFIC SYSTEM.

SO BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER BUDGET, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD THAT FEATURE FOR SOME OF THE TEACHERS.

SO WE FELT LIKE THIS PRODUCT WAS THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK AND THAT WE MET THE TEACHERS WHERE THEY WANTED IT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE MADE THIS DECISION, TEACHER RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WE COULD MEET THEM WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR SANDLER. ANY QUESTIONS? DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION? NO. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I THINK SHE REALLY ILLUSTRATED HOW MUCH INPUT WENT INTO THIS.

AND IT IT'S REALLY GOING TO TAKE US INTO THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

I'VE USED THIS SOFTWARE MYSELF AS A GRADUATE STUDENT AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT IMPLEMENTED.

THANK YOU. HEATHER. MY COMMENT IS ON GAGGLE. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE ARE RENEWING THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS REALLY HELPED WITH THE STUDENT WELLBEING AND DIGITAL SAFETY AND HAS CAUGHT SOME THINGS BEFORE THEY BECAME ISSUES.

AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE HAVE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT TOO.

AND TO THE WHOLE TEAM WHO MONITORS IT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SALEM.

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR SECOND OPEN FORUM. WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.

[12. OPEN FORUM FOR TOPICS NOT ON THE AGENDA]

PLEASE WATCH THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN. WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND STOP. IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR PREPARED REMARKS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO EMAIL YOUR FULL COMMENTS TO TRUSTEES@EANESISD.NET.

A QUICK REMINDER TO DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT THE AUDIENCE.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS, SO WE ASK THAT REACTIONS AND COMMENTS REMAIN BRIEF AND RESPECTFUL.

A QUICK REMINDER IF YOU'RE NAMING A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT, PLEASE NOTE WE NEED TO HEAR THAT ENCLOSED.

SO JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL GO INTO CLOSE TO DO THAT.

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 TO REACT OR ENGAGE.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT IF NECESSARY.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE WITHOUT ALTERATION.

BY SPEAKING, YOU CONSENT TO THIS PUBLICATION.

[00:40:01]

WE'LL GO IN THIS ORDER, BY THE WAY. BOAZ. AND THEN ALICIA, AND THEN STEFAN.

SO. BO ASNUR. I'LL GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE. IF I'M SAYING THAT WRONG, PLEASE.

YOU'RE SAYING IT CORRECTLY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALREADY GREAT.

OKAY. I PREPARED SOME STATEMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF YOU OVER EMAIL ALREADY, SO THANKS FOR THE RESPONSES.

MY NAME IS BO ASNUR. I'M A RESIDENT AND A TAXPAYER IN THIS DISTRICT.

I'M A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG, RELATIVELY WELL-BEHAVED, PROUD CCE EAGLES.

AND ONE FUTURE ONE. BOTH ARE WHITE CAP SWIMMERS AND WERE MEMBERS OF THE EANES AQUATIC FACILITY THROUGH THE WAQUA MEMBERSHIP.

I'M ALSO ONE OF THE 475. I THINK MORE SIGNATORIES, FOUR OF WHICH ARE FORMER OLYMPIC SWIMMERS FROM THE AUSTIN AREA AND DISTRICT FAMILIES WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL FACE BECAUSE OF A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WHICH THE DISTRICT CHOSE AND WAS SUPPOSED TO OVERSEE THAT FACILITY, THE TERMINATION OF THE WACC AND THE WAQUA AGREEMENTS HAVE WIDESPREAD NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THIS COMMUNITY. I'LL FOCUS TONIGHT ON WAQUA, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH AS THE DISTRICT IS WELL AWARE, SELLS MEMBERSHIPS AS IS ALLOWED BY THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE DISTRICT AT A ONE TIME PERPETUAL LICENSE OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 7000, DEPENDING ON THE FAMILY. THESE CAN BE PURCHASED BY FAMILIES, SO THEY CAN USE THE FACILITY AND ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN THE SWIM PROGRAMS AND THE DIFFERENT AQUATIC OPPORTUNITIES THERE. ADDITIONALLY, WE PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1200 AND $1400 PER YEAR.

THE CONCEPT OF THE MEMBERSHIP EXISTS BY RIGHT IN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND WAQUA IN SECTION 8.01 OF THEIR OF YOUR CONTRACT WITH THEM.

THAT SAME RIGHT IS REFERENCED IN THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AQUA AND US AS MEMBERS.

IT'S ALSO ITEMIZED IN THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THE DISTRICT RECEIVES FROM WAQUA.

AS BOTH MONTHLY LICENSING FEES AND MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FEES.

THESE FEES ACCOUNT FOR CLOSE TO 40% OF THE REVENUE THAT THAT FACILITY GENERATES.

AS YOU'RE ALSO WELL AWARE, TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE AND AQUA PUTS IN JEOPARDY THE SWIM PROGRAMS, THE AQUATIC PROGRAMS THEMSELVES, THE WHITECAPS AND THE ANGELFISH, WHICH AS A LIFELONG SWIMMER COMPETITIVE SWIMMER, ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER PROGRAMS NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS RUN BY OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS AND NATIONAL LEVEL ATHLETES.

THE TERMINATION ALSO TERMINATES THEIR EXISTENCE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ASK THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR YOUTH, YOU MEET WITH THEM, WITH THOSE TEAM MEMBERS, THE COACHES, AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS FOR CONTINUITY OF THE PROGRAMS. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 30% OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF THE FACILITY.

IT ALSO PUTS IN JEOPARDY THE DISTRICT SANCTIONED LICENSED MEMBERSHIPS THAT WE PAID FOR.

THE PAYMENT, THE THOSE MEMBERSHIPS, PLUS THE ANNUAL FEES FOR THIS YEAR AMOUNT TO CIRCA $1.8 MILLION OF OUR TAXPAYER OF TAXPAYERS PERSONAL MONEY.

BY TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT, YOU TERMINATE US AS WELL.

IT'S NOT IN OUR IN OUR INTEREST TO INTERVENE WITH THE ONGOING DISPUTE BETWEEN WAQUA AND THE DISTRICT.

IT'S OUR INTEREST TO SOMEHOW FIND A CREATIVE, I THINK, CREATIVE AND COST NEUTRAL SOLUTION THAT DOCTOR ARNETT MENTIONED EARLIER TO, TO ALLOW FOR CONTINUITY OF THE SERVICES AND CONTINUITY OF USE BY THE COMMUNITY OF THE FACILITY.

I'VE EMAILED YOU. YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.

WE'D LOVE TO TALK AND FIND A GOOD WAY FORWARD.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OLIVIA. PLEASE SAY YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME.

IS IT? THANK YOU. IT'S DILLA. DILLA. THAT'S OKAY.

GREAT. HI. MY NAME IS AIDAN DILLA, AND I'M 11 YEARS OLD.

I GO TO EANES ELEMENTARY AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY FRIENDS MICHAEL, MASON, LUCA, JAMES CARTER, JT KRISHNA AND MYSELF. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THE DISTRICT HAD MADE LATELY.

THEY HAVE DIRECTLY AFFECTED ME AND MY FRIENDS TOO.

I'M IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AND MY CLASS WAS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO STAY IN IT.

BUT WHY DID MY LITTLE WHY WASN'T MY LITTLE SISTER ALLOWED? SHE WON'T GET TO FINISH THE PROGRAM. SHE ALSO USED TO GO TO WACC FOR TUMBLE TECH.

BUT THEN THE DISTRICT ENDED THAT CONTRACT TOO.

AND NOW THERE'S A PLAN TO CLOSE OUR SCHOOL, EANES ELEMENTARY.

THAT'S THREE BIG THINGS, AND WE LEARNED ABOUT ALL ABOUT THEM THIS YEAR.

AT HOME, MY DAD TAUGHT ME ABOUT CONTRACTS. WE EVEN MADE REAL ONES FOR CHORES AND HELPING MY PARENTS SO I COULD EARN MONEY.

BUT I'M ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEND 15% OF WHAT I EARN.

MY MOM SAID THAT'S CALLED HAVING A BUDGET. SHE SAID YOU ALWAYS NEED A PLAN IN A BUDGET, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN END A BIG CONTRACT LIKE THE WACC ONE, WITHOUT A CLEAR PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER. WHERE ARE THE KIDS SUPPOSED TO GO? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LEAGUES THAT USE IT? MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES THERE TOO,

[00:45:01]

MY MOM SAID IT WAS CONVENIENT. ALSO, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE IN THE WACC CONTRACT.

IT SAYS THAT IF THE DISTRICT CANCELS THE AGREEMENT EARLY, IT MIGHT HAVE TO PAY BACK MONEY FOR PARTS OF THE BUILDING THAT HAVEN'T DEPRECIATED YET.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU COULD OWE A LOT OF MONEY? MAYBE MILLIONS? IF THAT HAPPENS, WOULDN'T IT MAKE THE BUDGET EVEN WORSE? COULD THAT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO CLOSE MY SCHOOL EVEN SOONER? YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO CUT PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT WAS 6 MILLION IN DEBT.

NOW, AFTER THESE CUTS, IT'S 7 MILLION IN DEBT.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HELPED. AND NOW YOU'RE ALSO POSSIBLY PLANNING TO GET OUT OF A CONTRACT AND PAYING LAWYERS.

IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO KIDS LIKE ME AND MY FRIENDS AND MY SISTER.

SHE LOST HER SI CLASS, TUMBLE TECH CLASS, HER TUMBLE TECH CLASS AT THE WACC, AND IF EANES ELEMENTARY CLOSES, SHE'LL LOSE HER SCHOOL TOO. LIKE MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE DECISIONS, YOU NEED A PLAN.

SO PLEASE CAN YOU JUST MAKE A REAL PLAN AND SHARE IT WITH ALL OF US? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM STEFAN.

ON. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS STEFAN, AND I HAVE A SON IN SIXTH GRADE AT HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND I REACHED OUT TO ALL OF YOU VIA EMAIL OVER THE WEEKEND.

SO I THINK I ALREADY EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THE IMPACT THAT THE CLOSURE OF THE AQUATIC CENTER COULD HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. THAT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE DETAILED.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY OPEN ENDS. SO I HOPE THAT AFTER THIS MEETING, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN, EVERYBODY IS SORT OF PUZZLED OR FEELS LEFT OUT DRY SINCE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THE END OF JULY WHEN, ACCORDING TO YOUR PRESS RELEASE, THE FACILITY HAS TO BE BASICALLY CLEARED BY THE CLUBS.

SO YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A TRANSITION. SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IS THERE ANY ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THE KIDS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT AFTER AUGUST 1ST, THEY CAN STILL CONTINUE TO SWIM OR DO SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING OR PLAY WATER POLO, OR IS IT ALL OVER? FOR MANY OF THEM, THEY PRACTICE SIX TIMES A WEEK.

SWIMMING IS A VERY TRAINING INTENSIVE SPORT. IF THEY DON'T GO INTO THE WATER EVERY DAY, THEY CAN FORGET ABOUT GOING TO THE COMPETITION.

SO THEY WILL NEED TO KNOW FAIRLY SOON. DO WE NEED TO LOOK FOR A NEW CLUB OR WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? I MEAN, SWIMMING IS QUITE POPULAR THESE DAYS, AND THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO GET INTO ANY OTHER CLUBS RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME CLARITY TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT YOUR MOST RECENT DECISION TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH JEFF, WHO ACTUALLY MEANS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE OTHER POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

SO I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT THIS, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY IF YOU FOLLOW UP AND REALLY CLARIFY THAT THE WALL CONTINUE TO THE OTHER CLUBS CONTINUE AFTER AUGUST 1ST, THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEFAN. OKAY. PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF UPCOMING MEETINGS ON MAY 6TH.

[13. UPCOMING MEETINGS]

BOTH OF THOSE RIGHT? YEAH. THERE'S NO ASTERISK ON THE FIRST ONE.

THOSE WILL BOTH BE HELD HERE AT CEDAR CREEK. AND WITH THAT, THE BOARD IS MOVING BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.