>> AT 6:26, WE ARE RECONVENING INTO OUR OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 STUDY SESSION.
[1.
CALL TO ORDER
][00:00:10]
LET ME GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE MEETING.MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
SO I'M GOING TO START THIS SPECIAL SESSION OF OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 WITH A WELCOME TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND TO THOSE LISTENING LIVE OR BY RECORDING.
THIS IS AN ECISD SPECIAL STUDY SESSION MEETING.
I'M KIM MCMATH SERVING AS PRESIDENT AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.
ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD MEETING.
DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I NEED TO QUICKLY COVER AS WE DO EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS FOR THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO TREATING EVERYONE HERE WITH RESPECT, AND WE EXPECT THE SAME IN RETURN.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ANY OUTBURST, ANY OTHER FORM OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
SECOND, EMERGENCY EXITS ARE IN THE BACK OF THIS MEETING ROOM.
TO THE LEFT OF THE DIAS AND ALSO BEHIND YOU.
IF THE NEED ARISES, PLEASE HEAD TO THE EXIT NEAREST TO YOU IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN YOUR INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. DOCTOR TRIGG.
[3.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
]>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. APPRECIATE THAT.
I'LL GO THROUGH THESE RATHER QUICKLY, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND TONIGHT.
BUT IF WE COULD FLASH THROUGH THESE REAL QUICK.
THE FIRST ONE, STUDENT HOLIDAY.
JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE A FOUR DAY WEEKEND COMING UP FOR STUDENTS.
WE DO HAVE A WORKDAY FOR OUR STAFF ON FRIDAY, AND THEN MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY.
SO I'M SURE EVERYONE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A LITTLE BIT OF REST AND RELAXATION.
SECONDLY, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE A SERIES OF CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS COMING UP.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED THOSE TODAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CLAUDIA FOR PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER IN TERMS OF A PRESENTATION.
IF WE HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER JOB OF PRESENTING, I THINK WE'D HAVE REALLY, REALLY SUCCESSFUL CAFES SERIES. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAVE MOST ALL THE DATES SET, AND IT'S REALLY A STATE OF THE DISTRICT REPORT AS WHAT IT IS.
AND I PERSONALLY REALLY ENJOY BEING A PART OF THAT TODAY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, CLAUDIA FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW OUR ENTIRE CABINET REALLY SHOWS UP AT THESE.
THEY NEED TO BAIL OUT THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WHEN HE CAN'T ANSWER PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION SERIES AS WELL, AND YOU CAN SEE AT LEAST THE FIRST DATE FOR THOSE.
WELL, ACTUALLY, I GUESS ALL FIVE DATES ARE THERE SO JUST KNOW AND BE AWARE THAT THAT'S ALSO AVAILABLE.
NEXT, THIS IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH.
LET ME JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, TO OUR PRINCIPALS.
I THINK THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
I THINK THEIR JOB IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT AT TIMES, BUT I ALSO KNOW HOW REWARDING THEIR JOBS ARE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THIS MONTH AND YOU RUN INTO A CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR OR A CAMPUS PRINCIPAL, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM.
I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY, THEY PROBABLY ENJOY NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT AS WELL.
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO JUST TO EMPHASIZE TO THEM HOW MUCH THEY ARE APPRECIATED, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IN TERMS OF US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL RANKED FOURTH IN THE STATE FOR COMPREHENSIVE FOUR YEAR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.
IN TERMS OF NICHE FOR 25/26, ACTUALLY, THE DISTRICT WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE, AND 11TH IN THE NATION, AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL IS RANKED NUMBER 3 IN TEXAS, ONCE AGAIN, FOR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
CHAP BAND FINISHED FOURTH IN THE BAND OF AMERICA REGIONAL COMPETITION.
THEY ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 10 NATIONALLY, AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR SPONSORS, THEIR DIRECTORS FOR ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEN, LASTLY, I MAY EMBARRASS SOMEONE HERE, BUT WE HAVE A SCOUT IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS HERE WORKING ON MERIT BADGE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND UP, PLEASE,
[00:05:01]
SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US MAYBE YOUR NAME AND WHAT MERIT BADGE YOU'RE WORKING ON?>> WELL, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE] JOIN US.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TRAY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING.
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS OPEN FORUM.
HOWEVER, TONIGHT, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM.
WE'LL MOVE THEN TO THE REPORTS SECTION OF
[5.1 Long-Range Facility planning discussion]
OUR AGENDA AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING DISCUSSION.WE ARE GOING TO INVITE UP DR. KRISTY SAILORS, AND CHRIS SCOTT. THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
>> AS THEY ARE COMING FORWARD, JUST TO SET THE STAGE FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
WE'VE PREPARED A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD DISCUSS TONIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE DISCUSSION CAN BE VERY FAR RANGING, IT MAY BE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK IN A PUBLIC FORUM ABOUT SINCE YOU ALL RECEIVED THAT REPORT BACK IN MAY OF 2025.
WE PULL UP THE POWERPOINT AND THERE WE GO, CHRISTI, CHRIS WHOMEVER, KRISTY, YOU PUT IT TOGETHER, SO WE'LL LET YOU TAKE CHARGE. HOW'S THAT?
>> SURE. I'M GOING TO START IT, AND CHRIS IS GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT.
WE WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY, MAYBE NOT THE BOARD, BUT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF WHERE WE ARE.
HOW DID WE GET HERE? WHAT'S THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE? ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IN 2024 25, THE LONG RANCH FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE ACTUALLY TOURED ALL OF OUR FACILITIES.
THEY SPENT 18 MONTHS WORKING TOGETHER, TALKING TO STAFF, TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TALKING TO STUDENTS, AND THEY ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER AND DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.
IN MAY, THEY BROUGHT THAT PRESENTATION TO YOU WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
IN JUNE, DR. ARNETTE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, AND WE PAUSED.
AUGUST, DR. TRIGG JOINED US, AND WE ARE NOW READY.
WE BELIEVE WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND AS CLOSE TO WE ARE AS FINDING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, HOPEFULLY, THAT WE NEED TO START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AGAIN. NEXT SLIDE, MICHAEL.
>> REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE TIMELINE WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I THINK INITIALLY, BACK IN MAY, WE WERE THINKING THAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT GOING TO THE COMMUNITY IN MAY OF 2026, AND WITH ALL THAT'S GONE ON, WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S REALISTIC NOW AND SO AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS.
YOU COULD GO IN NOVEMBER OF 2026, OR YOU COULD GO IN MAY OF 2027 AND THERE'S A TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH OF THOSE, AND IT'S BEST IF YOU WORK BACKWARDS FROM THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE MAY 27TH BECAUSE THAT SEEMS WE'VE ALWAYS GONE IN MAY BEFORE AND SO, ASSUMING THAT WE STILL WANT TO CONTINUE DOING THAT, THEN WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT YOU ORDERING AN ELECTION IN LATE JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY, DEPENDING ON EXACTLY WHEN THE UNIFORM ELECTION DATE IS IN MAY OF 27 IN LATE JANUARY EARLY FEBRUARY OF 2027.
BUT THEN WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND GETTING READY FOR HAVING SOMETHING READY TO PRESENT TO YOU.
KRISTY AND I HAVE NEVER DONE ONE LIKE THIS.
BEFORE, WE'VE ONLY DONE WHAT WE CALL OUR MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY BONDS THAT WE DO EVERY FOUR YEARS, AND AND WE KNOW HOW THOSE WORK.
AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND THAT'S HISTORICALLY TAKEN ALL OF THE FALL SEMESTER.
WE TYPICALLY MEET FOUR OR ACTUALLY, FIVE TIMES, SOMETIMES SIX, JUST TO PREPARE THAT MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY BOND.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN THAT AND SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, DO WE START EARLIER, OR DO WE DO MORE MEETINGS IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME? I STILL THINK THAT THIS BOND WOULD HAVE A MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY COMPONENT TO IT AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT WE NEED FIVE MEETINGS OF PROBABLY 2,
[00:10:05]
2.5 HOURS EACH TO PREPARE JUST THAT PORTION OF IT, AND THEN TO GET THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PORTION IS GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME.I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT WHAT STICKS IN MY HEAD IS PROBABLY 6-10 MEETINGS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I THINK THAT IT IS DOABLE TO DO THE WHOLE THING IN THE FALL SEMESTER PROVIDED YOU GIVE A REALLY DEFINED CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU TAKE THE BACS CONVERT THEM INTO A BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MAYBE APPOINT SOME ADDITIONAL MEMBERS FROM THE LRFPC AND THEN YOU ARE VERY DETAILED IN WHAT IT IS YOU WANT THEM TO DO.
AND LET ME SAY WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
SO IF WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LRFPC, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST BECAUSE THAT WORK HASN'T BEEN DONE YET, BUT I KNOW IT COSTS MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE AT A 12 CENT INS TAX RATE.
AND SO I THINK REALLY, WHEN I TALK ABOUT DEFINING THE SCOPE, I WOULD SAY, IF YOU FIRST TELL THE BAC, THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'VE GOT TO WORK WITH.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT IS THE TAX RATE GOING TO BE? WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH? THEN WE CAN COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND PROBABLY ALSO SAY DEVOTE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE ROOFS AND THE HVACS ON ALL OUR EXISTING BUILDINGS GOING, ALL THOSE THINGS, REPLACING ALL OF OUR MAC BOOKS AND THE TECHNOLOGY, AND THE THINGS THAT WE COME TO YOU EVERY FOUR YEARS TO LOOK AT, AND THEN SAY, TAKE THE REST OF THE MONEY AND DEVOTE IT TO DOING AS MUCH OF THIS PROJECT AS YOU CAN GET DONE.
I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU WOULD NARROW IT DOWN EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT AND SAY, WE WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR WE WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THE BROADER THE CHARGE, THE MORE TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
NOT TO SAY THAT A BAC COULDN'T DO A MORE BROAD SCOPE OF WORK, BUT IF THERE IS A BROADER SCOPE OF WORK, AND THEY NEED A LOT MORE TIME TO DO IT.
KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND I WOULD SAY THAT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A MAY 27, IF YOU START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT CHARGE WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE SPRING, AND IF YOU CREATE THE CHARGE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR SUMMER BREAK, IN JUNE, THEN WE COULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN AUGUST AND I THINK THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOU WITH ACTIONABLE PLAN IN TIME FOR YOU TO ORDER AN ELECTION.
>> CHRIS, I THINK THERE'LL BE DISCUSSION AROUND THE TABLE ABOUT SPRING OF 27 OR NOVEMBER OF 26.
SO CAN WE JUST ASSUME THAT THAT'S ABOUT A FIVE OR SIX MONTHS DIFFERENCE, AND THEN JUST SO HANG UPS WOULD BE STARTING VERY, VERY SOON.
>> AGAIN, THE TIMELINE WOULD WORK SIMILARLY IF YOU WANTED TO CALL AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 26.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CALLED IN AUGUST OF 2026, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE YOUR WORK DONE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER OF 2026.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THEN WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT BAC IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE CHARGE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE PRETTY SOON.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU KRISTY.
SO IS THIS NOW TIME FOR QUESTIONS IN DISCUSSION? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? JOHN?
[00:15:07]
I'LL JUST START OFF BY SAYING I WOULD LEAN MAY 27, AS THE TIMELINE, I THINK WOULD MAKE SENSE.
ALSO, KUDOS TO THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PLAN THEY PUT TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT WAS A FACILITY FORWARD PLAN, MEANING TAKING A DEEP DIVE ON OUR FACILITIES, LOOKING AT THEIR NEEDS AND COMING FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BASED UPON THOSE FACILITIES, AND I APPRECIATED THAT QUITE A BIT.
I ALSO THINK BECAUSE THIS ISN'T ONLY A MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY BOND, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE EANES THAT WE WANT TO BE 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
WHEN YOU'RE DOING MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HVAC AND THE ROOF AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND YOU'RE, THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THIS BEING A BIGGER PLAN, I THINK I WOULD LIKE US AS A BOARD TO WRESTLE THROUGH, WHAT IS THAT EANES THAT WE ENVISION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NOW THAT WE'RE BUILDING TOWARDS.
WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES? WHO DO WE WANT TO BE? WHAT DO WE THINK THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE OF THE NEXT 10 YEARS, AND HOW DO WE RISE TO THAT OCCASION, AND TAKE THAT NEXT LEAP FORWARD AS A DISTRICT.
I THINK THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE TOUCHED ON THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE AS A BOARD HAVE WRESTLED THROUGH THAT.
I THINK THERE IS STILL MORE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AND ENVISION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THEN YOU HAVE TO MATCH THAT AS CHRIS SAID, WITH WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND AND WHAT MAKES SENSE.
MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT WE AS A BOARD SPEND THIS, SOME OF THIS FALL AND THE SPRING WRESTLING THROUGH THAT AND THINKING THROUGH A BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BIGGER PICTURE, WHO DO WE WANT TO BE? WHAT'S THAT VISION? THEN IT CAN BE MIRRORED WITH THE FACILITY NEEDS THEMSELVES, AND THEN THAT CAN BE A GOOD CHARGE TO GIVE TO THE COMMITTEE SO THAT THEY CAN WRESTLE WITH IT IN THE FALL OF 26 AND PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN SO THAT WE'RE READY FOR THE SPRING OF 27.
FOR ME, I WOULD LEAN MAY FOR A FEW REASONS THAT I WALKED THROUGH THERE, AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN WRESTLE THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF TAKING THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT WHO WE WANT TO BE 10 YEARS FROM NOW, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING TOWARDS THAT AND NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THE NEEDS OF THE FACILITIES, BUT ALSO FACTORING IN THE STRATEGY AND VISION AS WELL.
MY THOUGHTS THERE. THANKS AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. I'LL PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
I'LL FIRST SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SURPRISED.
IN MY HEART, I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO DO AN EARLIER BOND.
HOWEVER, I RECOGNIZE THE HUMONGOUS LIFT THAT'S INVOLVED.
BUT I'LL LEAVE IT OUT THERE. IF THERE WAS ANY WAY I THOUGHT WE CAN MAKE IT WORK WITHOUT BREAKING DOWN OUR STAFF, AND THAT WE COULD REALISTICALLY MAKE IT WORK, I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THAT, JUST LOOKING INTO THAT POSSIBILITY.
YOU MENTIONED A FEW TIMES, JOHN THAT AS A BOARD, WE NEED TO BE ASKING, WHAT DO WE ENVISION EANES TO BE? MOST DEFINITELY, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT FOR ME, I NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE.
WE HAD A VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS WITH QUITE A FEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS GIVING INPUT AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL, AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, OVER A SERIES OF YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, REALLY.
THEY CAME TO US WITH A BEAUTIFUL PLAN, WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN.
WE HAD A PARTNER IN VLK HELPING US WORK THROUGH THIS.
BUT I THINK THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING DAY BY DAY, AND WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WHETHER WE HAVE A NOVEMBER OR A MAY BOND, REALLY, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MOMENTUM.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FALL TO BE SAYING, OUR BACK, WHO ARE YOU AND HAVE THEM TALKING AND THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THAT COMMUNITY INPUT? I WANT US TO BE MAYBE USING OUR TOOLS SUCH AS THOUGHT EXCHANGE OR HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT,
[00:20:01]
BECAUSE EVEN IF WE WAIT TILL MAY, IT'S A HUGE LIFT TO GO OUT AND SAY, WE WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES AND DO SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY ROBUST THAT WE BELIEVE IN, BUT IT'S STILL A BIG ASK.WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO JUST GO TO THE POLLS AND MAYBE AREN'T ALWAYS AS INFORMED.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO INFORM EVERYBODY? THE ONE THING, I GUESS, I'LL WRAP IT UP AND SAY IS, I DON'T WANT US TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING IN THE FALL.
I WANT US TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
I WANT US TO BE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AND USING THIS AS TIME WHERE WE CAN PUT MORE INFORMATION OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, GET MORE INFORMATION BACK IN, FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS, AND HOPEFULLY SET UP OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT SO THAT THEY HAVE EVEN MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM AND HELP US WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS WHAT I THINK CAN BE A REALLY EXCITING FUTURE FOR OUR FACILITIES.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CATHERINE.
IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WHEN WE HAD THIS BIG DISCUSSION ON MAY 20TH, HAD WE HAD A BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE READY TO GO? I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE A TIMELINE FOR US TO MAKE A MAY 2026 TIMELINE AS IT IS.
SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IF WE DID THE VERY BIG PLAN.
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
EVERY CAMPUS IS BEING TOUCHED IN THE CURRENT PLAN, SO THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT IS WAITING 20 MONTHS TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S THE REST OF THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, TO MAY OF 2027.
I RECALL THAT THERE WERE THINGS IN THIS PLAN THAT WE SAID THEY WOULD SAVE ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
WITH THE CONDITION OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND THE MONEY THAT WE SEE AND THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE COST SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES FROM SOME OF THESE BOND PLANS, SOME OF THESE CAPITAL PLANS.
WHAT I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT IS BY POSTPONING FOR 20 MONTHS, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR OPERATING BUDGET? THERE'S TRADE OFFS. THERE'S NEGATIVE TRADE OFFS, POSITIVE TRADE OFFS.
WE NEED MORE TIME TO PLAN AND BE THOUGHTFUL, BUT ON THE HINDS WE ALSO NEED COST SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES.
CHRIS, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR MODELS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR OPERATING BUDGET?
>> THE BIGGEST SAVINGS IN THE PLAN THAT I SEE IS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE MOVE TO FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THAT WOULD CREATE, WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, PROBABLY A 2-3 MILLION DOLLAR OPERATING SAVINGS ANNUALLY.
THE OTHER SAVINGS THAT WE WOULD SEE AT THE OTHER CAMPUSES WOULD PROBABLY NOT, IT WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS DRAMATIC BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST MODERNIZING THINGS, PUTTING IN MORE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW THAT WERE BUILT BETWEEN THE 1960S AND, I GUESS, THE LATE 20TH CENTURY WAS OUR NEWEST ONE.
WE WOULD SEE SOME OPERATING EFFICIENCIES THERE, BUT NOTHING AS DRAMATIC AS WHAT WE'D SEE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
BY PUSHING IT OFF, WE'RE JUST DELAYING WHEN THAT SAVINGS MIGHT COME.
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TIMELINES, I SEE TOM HALLERAN SITTING BACK HERE AND HE'D KNOW BETTER THAN I DO, BUT IF WE WENT FOR A BOND ELECTION IN MAY OF 27, THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH BOTH THE DESIGN AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
THEN PROBABLY 18 MONTHS TO BUILD A SCHOOL ONCE YOU GET THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
ONCE YOU PASS YOUR BOND, YOU'RE PROBABLY 2.5-3 YEARS BEFORE YOUR FIRST FACILITY IS READY TO GO.
>> I ALSO RECALL WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING ON MAY 20TH IN THE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF POTENTIALLY TO MAKE THIS ALL ONE VERY BIG BOND FOR THE COMMUNITY, WITH ALL OF THE PLANS,
[00:25:01]
THAT THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD NEED TO BE PULLED TOGETHER, MAYBE WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLAN COMMITTEE ALSO, BUT I ALSO HEARD US DISCUSS TWO BONDS.MAYBE IT'S A BETTER STRATEGY TO SPLIT THIS UP INTO TWO.
BUT I ALSO HEARD VERY RECENTLY A DISCUSSION OF THREE BONDS.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
WE'RE TO DISCUSS STRATEGY AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BEST PLANS FOR THE DISTRICT, AS WE SEE IT IN THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY THAT SAVES OPERATING DOLLARS, THAT FUTURE PROOFS OUR DISTRICT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT 1, 2, OR THREE BONDS, WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE?
HERE I'M SPEAKING JUST FOR ME.
I'M NOT GIVING ANYONE ELSE'S OPINION, BUT I TEND TO THINK OF IT AS THE ELEMENTARY IS A STANDALONE SYSTEM OF BOND.
I WOULD SAY, YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ELEMENTARIES IN ONE BOND.
THE WAY THE PLAN WAS PUT TOGETHER, THERE'S INTERACTION, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU'VE GOT TO STAGE THOSE THINGS.
I THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU COULD PERHAPS DO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MAYBE START SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUFF TO PREPARE FOR STAGE 2.
BUT I WOULD THINK IT PROBABLY NATURALLY BREAKS INTO TWO BONDS.
PROBABLY NOT THREE, BUT POSSIBLY THREE.
BUT, AGAIN, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT DESERVES A LOT OF DISCUSSION AMONGST YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CATHERINE? THANK YOU, CATHERINE. ANY OTHER LAURA?
>> I DEFINITELY THOUGHT SOMEBODY FROM THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE WAS GOING [LAUGHTER] TO TALK BEFORE ME.
I'VE JUST BEEN ENJOYING LISTENING TO MY FELLOW TRUSTEES, ASKED VERY INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE CHRIS YOUR RESPONSES.
LET'S SEE. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT I SAID BACK IN MAY WHEN WE HAD THIS PRESENTATION.
IT WAS A PHENOMENAL PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PUT AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF HOURS ON IT.
OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY EXCITING FOR EVERYBODY.
EVEN IF WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO DIFFERENT BONDS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS TO GO INTO IT.
CLAUDIA, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MARKET THIS LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS.
WE HAVE TO SHOW HOW THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY MEMBER, EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN DO IT, AND I'M CONFIDENT THEY'LL SUPPORT US.
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
I DON'T SEE THAT WE'VE LOST MOMENTUM.
WE WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE THINKING THAT WE COULD GET IT DONE IN MAY OF 26.
NOVEMBER BOND IS NOT MY FAVORITE. I DO NOT PREFER IT.
DESPITE HAVING RECENTLY HEARD THAT THERE ARE SOME ARGUMENTS OF WHY NOVEMBER IS A GOOD TIME TO PASS EDUCATION BONDS.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY, MY BELIEF IS THAT MAY IS REALLY THE BEST TIME.
I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE MAY 27 BOND AS FAR AS TIMING.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT HOW WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHERE THE MAINTENANCE COMPONENT OF THAT WOULD FALL INTO.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT ONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, SO MOST LIKELY A MAY 27 BOND.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW.
JUST THAT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, ABOUT THE FUTURE, WE DIDN'T REALLY GET TO TALK ABOUT THAT MAY PRESENTATION.
MAYBE WE CAN BRING THAT BACK AND MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND HAVE A STUDY SESSION AROUND THOSE, SO WE CAN REALLY GET INTO THAT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR YOU ALL RIGHT NOW. NO QUESTIONS.
[00:30:02]
>> ON THE M&O PORTION OR THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY PORTION.
WHEN WE PASSED THE 23 BOND, TYPICALLY, WE WILL SET UP THOSE PROGRAMS ON A FOUR YEAR CYCLE.
WE WENT WITH A FIVE YEAR CYCLE ON THAT ONE THINKING THAT THERE COULD BE SOME INTERACTIONS, AND WE MIGHT NOT BE READY TO GO.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOOD OUT TO 2028, BUT NOT BEYOND THAT.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION, CHRIS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
YOUR LITTLE TIMELINE THAT YOU SHOWED US OF HOW WE GOT WHERE WE WERE IN MAY, AND WHERE WE ARE NOW DEFINITELY CHANGED EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WILL HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT COMING IN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SUPERINTENDENT IS SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
ANY DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THIS LONG RANGE PLAN WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND IS THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT, WHICH A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO HANG ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
>> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE TUNING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME OR RECENTLY STARTED TUNING IN THE BAC, THAT WE CALL IT A BAC, B-A-C, BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WISE BOARDS LONG BEFORE US SET UP.
AND I THINK IT SAVES THIS BOARD A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE WE BRING IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DIVE DEEP INTO THE ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO A BOND AND CONSIDER A LOT OF STUFF AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER WHAT ULTIMATELY COMES TO US AS A PROPOSAL.
AND WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO TWEAK THAT, AND WE DO.
IT'S TRULY GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE BOARD.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE LONG RANGE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE'S WORK AND ALL THE THOUGHTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THAT, AND TOM MAYLER'S WORK ON THAT AS WELL.
I HEAR THE DESIRE BY THE TRUSTEE.
I HEAR THIS THING, I'VE HEARD IT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, OF LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
LET'S GO. AND I AM VERY MINDFUL OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS DON'T GET CHEAPER.
AND THE LONGER WE PUSH THIS OUT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THESE THINGS BECOME.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BALANCE THAT AGAINST RUNNING A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS, AND I THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY INPUT ON THAT.
FOR ONE, I LOVE THE IDEA OF SAVING OPERATING COSTS, BUT I COULD NEVER SUPPORT THE IDEA OF MOVING FROM FIVE ELEMENTARIES TO FOUR WITHOUT FULLY VETTING THAT IN THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING A LOT OF INPUT INTO THAT AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO WHAT I'M THINKING IS AND HELP ME TALK THROUGH AN IDEA OR A POSSIBILITY, BUT SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ABOUT.
YOU BROUGHT UP CHRIS, THE ELEMENTARY BOND, FEELS LIKE MAYBE IT STANDS ON ITS OWN IN A WAY.
AND THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY BOND IS UNIQUE FROM A BIG CONSTRUCTION BOND.
AND THEN THAT LEAVES THE SECONDARY, PLUS MAYBE OTHER FACILITIES THAT WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER DOING.
WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING MULTIPLE BACKS? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING A BACK THAT FOCUSES ON EACH OF THESE ELEMENTS? IF IT ISN'T THREE BONDS, AND MAYBE IT DOESN'T END UP BEING THREE BONDS, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ENOUGH WORK THAT YOU COULD RUN A COUPLE OF BACKS.
NOW, I REALIZE I'VE JUST CREATED A TON OF WORK FOR YOU ALL.
AND THAT IS THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL THAT WORK, WHETHER YOU'RE DOING IT IN ONE BATCH OR THREE, I THINK.
THE OTHER PART THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THERE IS, I BALANCE THE IDEA OF MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT BAC OR BAC OR LAURE FACILITY PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THEIR WORK.
AND I DO WANT THEM TO CONTINUE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE BALANCE THAT AGAINST.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
AND IF WE JUST KEEP RUNNING THE SAME COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEES OVER AND OVER AND OVER, WE MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO THE DISCUSSIONS AND GET THEM INVOLVED ON THIS LEVEL.
AND SO SPLITTING THE BAC FEELS LIKE IT HAS OTHER BENEFITS AS WELL, OR HAVING MULTIPLE BACS.
AND SO I'M WONDERING WHERE I'M ALSO HEADED WITH THIS, AND I'LL LET YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND STAB ME LATER FOR EVEN SUGGESTING IT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO START WORKING IN NEXT AUGUST, SEPTEMBER TOWARD A MAY 27 BOND, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU RUN THAT AS ONE BAC.
[00:35:04]
ONE BAC BUILDING A $90 MILLION BOND OR $120 MILLION BOND.AND IF WE'RE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT TIMELINE WORKS.
SO, I GUESS, ULTIMATELY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS EITHER OR START WORKING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, LIKE SPRING LATEST AND SOONER, IF WE CAN.
AND MAYBE RUN MULTIPLE BACS IF THAT HELPS IN ANY WAY. I'D SUPPORT THAT.
AND I DO LEAN TOWARD A MAY 27 BOND.
SO THAT'S MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT THERE.
>> I THINK WE COULD LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF WE SPLIT IT UP INTO MULTIPLE BONDS, I THINK WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT IS WE GO OUT IN 2027, START THOSE PROJECTS, AND MAYBE WE COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND 2030 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A WHOLE NEW BOND OR A WHOLE NEW BAC TO BE LOOKING AT THE NEW PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING, AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, ONE THING THAT WE COULD DO, WE ALREADY HAVE A SITTING BOC.
WE COULD CHARTER THEM IN THE SPRING, BEFORE YOU'VE MADE ALL YOUR DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE LFPC RECOMMENDATIONS AND SAY, WE WANT YOU TO CHARTER IN THE SPRING, AND LOOK AT THOSE PROJECTS ON THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY, KNOCK THAT OUT.
AND SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOOKING AT THE LRFPC RECOMMENDATIONS.
I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IF WE STRETCHED OUT THE BACK WORK FOR THE LRFPC RECOMMENDATIONS, SPRING, SUMMER BREAK, FALL, NOT THAT WE WOULD LOSE MOMENTUM, BUT THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE DID THAT, BUT YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I.
BUT I THINK IF YOU DIVIDED THE WORK LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT MAKES SOME SENSE.
>> AND JUST FOR CLARITY, TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, IF WE'RE AIMING FOR A MAY 2027 BOND, WE CALL FOR THAT BOND.
WE HAVE THE DETAILS OF THAT BOND WORKED OUT IN IS IT JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME FRAME? IT'S NOT.
WE'RE NOT STILL WORKING SPREADSHEETS AND CHANGING NUMBERS.
>> YOU HAVE TO ORDER THE ELECTION IN LATE JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY, AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHEN THE UNIFORM ELECTION DATE FALLS.
>> AND THAT'S MY CONCERN AROUND STARTING IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR, AND I BELIEVE THAT BACS HAVE HAD A CHALLENGE BUILDING JUST THE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY PART OF THAT IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
THAT'S WHY I GET IT THAT IF WE STRETCH IT OUT TOO LONG, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY.
BUT IF WE FULLY WANT TO VET THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT MAYBE HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, IF WE'RE DOING ROAD SHOWS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND SHOWING PEOPLE PICTURES AND CONCEPTS AND GETTING PEOPLE READY FOR THAT MAYBE THAT'S HAPPENING BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING INPUT ON THIS PROCESS IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEFORE, IS MY THOUGHT.
>> HISTORICALLY, WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN BAC MEETINGS, WHERE THE COMMUNITY WOULD COME.
AND THAT'S FOR YOUR MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY BONDS, AND I SUSPECT THAT THAT WOULD BE TENFOLD WITH THE LRFP RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'D DO THEM.
THIS MIGHT NOT BE A BIG ENOUGH SPACE.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO DO THOSE MEETINGS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, JAMES? THANK YOU, JAMES.
>> SO MY FIRST QUESTION, I GUESS, IS THEN, IF WE CALL FOR A BOND IN FEBRUARY OF '27, IF WE WERE GOING TO DO NOVEMBER OF '26, WHEN WOULD WE CALL?
>> SO I GUESS THE OTHER QUESTION IS, DO WE STILL HAVE THE LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE SET UP, OR DID THEY DISMANTLE?
>> I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY READY TO GO, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD ANY ADDITIONAL MEETINGS SINCE THEIR PRESENTATION TO YOU IN MAY.
>> I GUESS SO AFTER LISTENING TO EVERYONE HERE AND THINKING ABOUT
[00:40:02]
IT AND BUILDING ON OUR CURRENT CHALLENGES AND THEN OPPORTUNITIES.LOOKING AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE A COUPLE SCHOOLS WE HAVE TWO THAT FEED INTO ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT ARE VERY FULL, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE THAT FEED INTO THE OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT ARE NOT FULL.
AND SO HOW DO WE RIGHT SIZE THAT OR PROTECT THOSE STUDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE BOARD? AND HOW LONG DO WE WAIT? SO IF WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR RECENT ENROLLMENT AND CREATING EMS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE, WOULD IT BE BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS TO START TALKING ABOUT THE ELEMENTARY CONSTRUCTION SOONER THAN LATER? I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PLAN IN THE LONG RANGE THAT I REMEMBER, WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DEEMING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL AROUND THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF, LIKE, A PARKING GARAGE OR DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT MAYBE RE LOOKING AT THAT AGAIN TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS ARE RIGHT NOW AND OUR FACILITY NEEDS TO RECONSIDER THAT BECAUSE HAVING THAT LARGER SCHOOL AT THE CEDAR CREEK SITE, WHERE WE COULD MOVE STUDENTS INTO A FOUR BUILDINGS OR EVEN JUST REALLY RECONSIDERING AND REVISITING OUR BOUNDARY LINES.
IF WE ARE GOING TO PROCRASTINATE THIS FOR A WHILE AND LOOK INTO IT AND GET ALL THE DETAILS DONE, MAYBE WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE BOUNDARIES THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THIS ELEMENTARY LEVEL ARE GETTING THE SAME EXPERIENCE, AND THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SIZED TO THE RIGHT CAPACITY, I GUESS.
ALSO, I LIKE THE ABILITY OF ADJUSTING THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY'RE FLEXIBLE.
ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE A BIGGER SCHOOL, IT MIGHT NOT BE FULL AT ONE TIME, BUT IT COULD EXPAND TO DO THAT.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ISDS THAT ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW ARE BUILDING BUILDINGS THAT ARE MADE TO EXPAND OR RUN EFFICIENTLY WITH LESS STUDENTS.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO, ONCE AGAIN, LIKE DIANE SAID, JUST ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE TO START SOONER THAN LATER, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M THINKING.
>> KELLY, JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A BOND SOONER RATHER THAN LATER OR EFFORTS?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT A BOND SOONER THAN LATER.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, TO TALK ABOUT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND HOW WE WANT TO USE THIS FALL TIME PERIOD AND THE LRFPC.
THAT COMMITTEE, I THINK, IS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THEM WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND HELP OUT WITH THE BAC PROCESS.
BUT SOME OF THEM ARE READY TO STEP BACK AND NOT PARTICIPATE ANYMORE.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR US. I THINK THERE'S SOME THAT ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT, EAGER TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND AN INTERESTING IDEA, JAMES, ABOUT MAYBE MULTIPLE BACS OR MAYBE SUB BACS WITHIN, BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE LIFT, AGAIN, A LOT OF DETAILS, AND WE WANT TO GET THE DETAILS RIGHT.
I'M CURIOUS. I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AT CONFERENCES ABOUT GROUPS, LIKE WHAT TOM DID WITH US, HELPING PLAN OUT WHAT THIS VISION MIGHT BE FOR THE DISTRICT, GROUPS THAT THEN COME IN AND WORK ALONGSIDE THE DISTRICT TO HELP WITH THIS NEXT STEP OF THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, GOING ON THE ROAD SHOW, AND REALLY USING OUR TIME WISELY SO THAT WE HAVE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOND POSSIBLE WHEN WE GET TO WHETHER IT'S MAY.
AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO TOTALLY RULE OUT NOVEMBER, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES.
SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE THINKING ABOUT ONE THAT WE KNOW.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES AND HOW CHALLENGING THEY CAN BE.
SO MAYBE REALLY DIGGING IN AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHERS SO THAT WE FEEL AS CONFIDENT AS WE CAN ABOUT WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH AND HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GROWTH, AND THEN THE FLEXIBLE SIZING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
SOME OF THE BUILDINGS, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY BUILD THEM BIGGER, BUT YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF ADDING ON LATER.
SO MAYBE IF OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THINGS CHANGE A LITTLE YOU TWEAK OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, YOU COULD ADD MORE.
BUT HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE WORDS THAT WE'VE LATCHED ONTO.
SO YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DECIDE HERE.
[00:45:07]
MAYBE IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION, BUT AT SOME POINT, REALLY MOVE FORWARD, TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF WHEN WE'RE DECIDING ON A COMMITTEE, MAYBE OPENING IT UP TO MORE PEOPLE.I WOULD SUPPORT THAT IDEA, AND THEN FIGURING OUT THE TIMELINE OF OR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEAR TERM.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I'LL GIVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
AS TO THE TIMELINE, WHILE I AGREE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT THIS MAY, WHICH IS IMPROBABLE, OR EVEN NOVEMBER, I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT A NOVEMBER ELECTION, A BOND ELECTION GETTING LOST IN STATE NATIONAL ELECTIONS.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS LOOKED AT MAY AS OUR TIME FOR ELECTIONS.
I WEIGH THAT WITH PERHAPS THE FATIGUE OF AS CATHERINE SAID, MAY '27 IS A LONG WAY AWAY.
HOWEVER, I END UP ON MAY '27 BECAUSE, HAVING SERVED ON A COUPLE OF BAC AND BACS, I KNOW THAT, AS TEAM MEMBERS, WE DO SOME WORK, BUT ADMINISTRATION DOES A LOT OF WORK.
AND JAMES, TO YOUR POINT HAVING BEEN ON $100 MILLION BOND BAC IS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING NOW.
>> I WOULD LOOK AT FURTHER AWAY.
HOWEVER, NOW I'LL GET TO LEAF PACK AND THE CURRENT BACK HAVE THOSE PEOPLE, I OWE A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO.
THEY'VE DONE A TON OF WORK, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT MOMENTUM.
DIANE, TO YOUR POINT, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO PUSH THEM OUT, AND I DON'T WANT TO FATIGUE THEM OR LOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY SIGNED UP FOR A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, NOT A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM, AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM IF WE PUSH IT OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD WITH A BACK AT THIS POINT.
EVEN IF WE SLOW IT, IF WE CAN SLOW BOAT, THE MOMENTUM.
I KNOW THAT EARLY ON, THERE WERE SOME INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER ANYONE THAT WANTED TO STAY ON THE CURRENT BACK, ANYONE THAT WANTED TO STAY ON THE LEAF PACK AS A COMBINED.
NOW THAT WE'RE PUSHING IT OUT A YEAR OR MORE, I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO OPENING IT UP TO NEW PEOPLE.
MAYBE CHRIS AND KRISTY, YOU WEIGH IN ON BIG BACK OR MULTIPLE BACKS.
BUT IF WE KEEP A BIG GOING FORWARD GROUP, WHICH WOULD MAYBE BE MY VOTE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES WITHIN THAT GROUP, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, BUT WHEN DR. ARNETTE WAS HERE, THERE WERE SOME THOUGHTS THAT HE HAD SHARED WITH ME.
CHRIS, I THINK YOU WERE PART OF THE DISCUSSION WHERE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN FOCUSED AS TRADITIONALLY THE AMINO OLD BACK CURRENT BACK WOULD MAYBE FOCUS ON THE AMINO PORTION OF IT.
WHILE PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING FROM THE LEAF PACK STREAM WOULD FOCUS ON MORE STRATEGIC.
THEY'RE BOTH BRINGING WHAT THEY'VE WORKED ON IN THE PAST.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOTH GROUPS WORKING ON THE LEAF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOTHING ELSE THAT THE LEAF PACK DEVELOPED THE RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THEIR INPUT IS GOING TO BE VALUABLE TO A BAC, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY WANT THEM TO DEVELOP IT AND TO EVALUATE WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS GOING TO BE, THAT'S GOING TO GO BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I THINK IT MIGHT BE WISE TO HAVE A GOOD PORTION OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WASN'T CONNECTED TO THE LRFPC.
>> YOU'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE OPPOSITE OF DON'T STAY IN YOUR LANE, SWITCH LANES.
>> WELL, I THINK YOU NEED BOTH.
I THINK THE LRFPC VETERANS ARE GOING TO BRING IN KNOWLEDGE THAT ONLY THEY HAVE, AND THAT'S VALUABLE, AND THE BOC MEMBERS BRING IN JUST THE COMMON SENSE AND HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT IN,
[00:50:06]
AND EVALUATE, AND JUST JUMP IN AND DO THAT HARD WORK, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN HONOR BOTH OF THOSE.>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW WE DON'T REALLY HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA TO A POINT BACK.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PULLING THAT COMMITTEE TOGETHER, GOING BACK TO THE CURRENT BACK, GOING BACK TO LEAF PACK, GETTING AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND THEN HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT OPENING IT UP TO FILL IN SOME SLOTS, AS A SUGGESTION OF NEW SLOTS.
TO LAURA'S POINT OF SETTING UP THE FUTURE FOR SUCCESS, SETTING UP THE DISTRICT FOR SUCCESS, AND KNOWING THAT WE'VE GOT CHANGE COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AGAIN, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE WE BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM, WE PULL THAT COMMITTEE TOGETHER, AND THEN ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY 4-6 WEEKS, WE'RE HAVING MORE CONTINUOUS EITHER STUDY SESSION OR REGULAR UPDATES, SO THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION VERY QUICKLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING TO LOOK AT A CHARGE AND TO REALLY FOCUS THAT BALK BACK.
I SEE SOME BENEFIT IN PUTTING A COMMITTEE TOGETHER NOW IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, SO THAT WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, THAT SUPERINTENDENT CAN INFLUENCE AND HELP US AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THOSE WOULD BE MY SUGGESTIONS. DON.
>> I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, MAYBE TO ANSWER DIANE'S QUESTION ABOUT, REALLY, WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION FOR TONIGHT? AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, NUMBER 1, WE FELT THERE WERE QUESTIONS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND REALLY NOTHING VISIBLE HAS HAPPENED SINCE MAY.
WE WANTED TO GET THIS ON AN AGENDA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GIVE YOU ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST WEIGH IN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.
THERE WAS NO INTENTION ON OUR PART TO HAVE ANY WELL, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE AGENDA, ANY VOTE OR ANY DIRECTION IF I SAY, AND I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT REALLY WELL.
I THINK WE HAD TWO THINGS DOWN THERE.
WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF A BACK.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BACK IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE, AND MORE THAN LIKELY WE'D BE USING THOSE FOLKS AND ADDING PEOPLE FROM THE ON LONG-RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND I THINK WE'RE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE GOT YOUR FEELINGS IN TERMS OF TIMELINES.
CHRIS AND KRISTY, BUT IF I JUST SUMMARIZE IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER IS WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE MOMENTUM, REALIZING THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, AND SO IT MAY NOT HAPPEN QUITE AS QUICKLY AS YOU'RE HOPING.
MY TAKEAWAY IS THAT WE NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY OF 27TH SEEMS TO MAKE THE MOST SENSE.
THIS IS THE TIMELINE INVOLVED.
THIS IS HOW WE ENVISIONED STRUCTURING BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND WE TIE ALL THIS TOGETHER SO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK WITH, AND THEN YOU ALL CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND DECIDE, DO YOU WANT TO TWEAK THAT PLAN? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? BUT I THINK IT'S LOUD AND CLEAR THAT IT'S REALLY GOOD WE HAVE THIS TONIGHT, AND THAT YOU NEED FURTHER DISCUSSION, AND WE CAN COME BACK AND HELP STRUCTURE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS THING GOING AND DO IT THE WAY THAT YOU ALL WANT IT TO HAPPEN. THOSE WILL BE MY COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TRIGG, THANK YOU, CHRIS, THANK YOU, KRISTY.
WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO OUR BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[5.2 Board committee reports]
WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS AGENDA ITEM IN A WHILE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE UPDATES ON VARIOUS SUBCOMMITTEES.WOULD FINANCE AND PERSONNEL LIKE TO START? I'M GOING TO HEAR FROM CATHERINE.
>> YES, THANK YOU. OUR FINANCE AND HR SUBCOMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH.
I'LL SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THAT TOPIC BECAUSE THAT WAS MY BIRTHDAY.
THAT WAS A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
[00:55:01]
WE HAVE SOME NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL.IT'S A COMBINATION OF CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TWO TRUSTEES, SO THAT WAS CHRIS SCOTT AND LAURIE LEE AND CHAD BURNETT, DIANE HEARN, AND MYSELF ON THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALIF ADILLA, CHRIS GRAMMER, COURTNEY POWERS, CHRISTI ROME, AND GRANT STANIS, AND DR. TRIGG ALSO ATTENDED.
THE COMMITTEE HAD A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION BOTH ABOUT REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES AND LARGE CATEGORIES OF COST SAVINGS IDEAS AND COST EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING AGAIN LATER THIS MONTH.
WE'RE NOW IN OCTOBER, AND CHRIS WILL BE PRESENTING THE IDEAS COMING FROM THE COMMITTEE IN LATE OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, CATHERINE, AND THANK YOU FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC, AND TRUSTEE MEMBERS.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE IS THE LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE.
DIANE, ARE YOU GIVING THAT REPORT?
>> SURE. I'LL SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT I KNOW KELLY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE TASBI, SPACING OUT THE NAME OF IT.
I'LL JUST SAY VERY BRIEFLY THAT WE'VE MET ONCE, JOHN TROY AND KELLY MARWLL, AND MYSELF AND DR. TRIGG ALSO JOINED US IN A CONVERSATION, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE INTERIM IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
WE THINK WE MAY HAVE WRAPPED UP THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT THERE EVEN COULD BE ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO REALLY ENGAGE WITH BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR LEGISLATORS OVER THE COURSE OF THE INTERIM SESSION SO THAT WE CAN JUST BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE IN HELPING GUIDE LEGISLATION IN THE 90TH, WHICH STILL IS A YEAR AND A HALF OFF, BUT IT'LL GO BY QUICKLY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND WE WANT TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHAT THOSE SHOULD BE.
IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN SOME HIGH-LEVEL CONVERSATIONS AT THIS POINT, BUT WE DO PLAN TO DIG IN SERIOUSLY.
>> I WAS ALSO GOING TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE TEXAS ED CON THAT DIANE, LAURA, AND MYSELF ATTENDED.
WE WENT TO MULTIPLE SESSIONS THAT WERE ABOUT TEACHER RETENTION, BUDGET OPTIMIZATION, SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION, AND DECLINING ENROLLMENT, PURPOSE-DRIVEN STUDENT OUTCOMES, STRATEGIC FACILITY PLANNING, TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION, AND SO MUCH MORE.
A LOT OF THESE ARE PRESENTED BY DISTRICT TEAMS OF ADMINISTRATORS AND TRUSTEES AND SO IT WAS JUST AN HONOR TO BE THERE AND TO LISTEN TO THE EXPERIENCES ACROSS THE STATE AND HOW SIMILAR THEY ARE TO US AND THE CHALLENGES, AND THEN THEY WOULD SHARE THEIR IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND IT'S JUST SUCH AN EMPOWERING SESSION, I FEEL LIKE.
THEN WE ALSO HAD THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY, AND I WAS VERY HONORED TO ATTEND THAT.
THERE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WHAT OF BEING A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE AND ADVOCATING, AND THE BIG THING WAS, OUR ADVOCACY IS FOR THE TEXAS SCHOOL CHILDREN, FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE, FOR FUNDING LEVELS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS, AND FOR SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE HOW WAS REQUESTING A BIENNIAL BASIC ALLOTMENT ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS COVERING INFLATION COST AND INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS, AND THEN EMPOWERING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH THAT LOCAL GOVERNANCE.
THEN OUR WHY WAS BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF TEXAS IS IN OUR CLASSROOMS RIGHT NOW, AND OUR STUDENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND THE SUCCESS OF TEXAS TOMORROW IS BEING PREPARED BY OUR EDUCATORS TODAY.
IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT EVENT FOR ALL OF US TO ATTEND.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. NEXT ON MY LIST, AT LEAST, IS POLICY AND LEGAL.
CATHERINE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THAT?
>> I WANT TO SAY WE ACTUALLY CANCELED OUR LAST.
>> CATHERINE AND I ARE THE TRUSTEES ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE MEETING IN TWO DAYS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE MEETING VERY SOON.
>> I GUESS THIS IS A TRICK QUESTION? [LAUGHTER].
[01:00:01]
>> LET ME BAIL HIM OUT. WE ARE WAITING UPON THE TASBI POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THEY WERE NOT READY, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DID CANCEL THE LAST MEETING. RIGHT, AUDREY?
>> THEY'RE ALSO STILL NOT READY.
>> THEY'RE STILL NOT READY, SO WE'LL HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT IF WE'RE GOING TO MEET IN TWO DAYS.
>> GOOD. WE ALSO HAVE JOHN TROY IS GOING TO REPORT ON EEF AND ACTING AS LIAISON TO EEF.
>> YES. WELL, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AT EEF.
THEY'VE OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF THE ANNUAL TEACHER FUND.
THAT'S HAPPENING ON ALL THE CAMPUSES.
YOU SHOULD BE GETTING YOUR ANNUAL TEACHER FUND LETTER IN THE MAIL, SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY RECEIVED IT AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD.
THERE IS A BIG DRIVE THIS YEAR.
EEF IS FOCUSING A LOT ON TRYING TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, AND SO TRYING TO DRIVE THAT RATE UP ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, SO EXCITED FOR THAT DRIVE.
EFF IS ALSO TRYING OUT A FEW NEW THINGS THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS THE EANES LEGENDS LUNCHEON.
A LITTLE BIT ON THE WHY BEHIND THAT.
IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO ATTEND GALA.
A GALA IS NOT EVERYBODY'S SEEN, AND SO THE EEF IS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO BRING THEM FORWARD AND GET THEM ON BOARD WITH DONATING TO OUR GREAT SCHOOLS AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA BEHIND THE EANES LEGENDS LUNCHEON WAS TO HAVE THAT MORE DURING THE DAY, PERHAPS TO REACH A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.
HONORARY, THAT'S ON OCTOBER 22ND, AND THAT'S HONORING SIX INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO EMBODY EANES EXCELLENCE.
THERE'S A CATEGORY FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI, ONE FOR LIFETIME EDUCATORS, AND ONE FOR GOLDEN SHAPS.
TWO ON EACH CATEGORY, SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THEN, IN ADDITION TO THE LUNCHEONS, SO THE LUNCHEONS THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE HOMECOMING.
>> IN ADDITION, THERE'S ALSO AN ALUMNI TAILGATE ON OCTOBER 24.
THERE ARE CAMPUS TOURS AND TOURS OF THE EANES HISTORY CENTER ON THE 25TH.
IT'S A LOT OF COOL OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER, AND KEEP THEM ENGAGED.
THEN I'D SAY, THE OTHER THING, SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY FOCUSED ON INCREASING PARTICIPATION.
I ALSO, EEF IS ALSO LOOKING AT HOW CAN THEY CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE DISTRICT, WHILE ALSO TIGHTENING UP EXPENSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE GALA, THEY CHANGED HOW THEY APPROACHED THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, AND HAVE ALREADY SAVED QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THIS YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU TRY TO RAISE MORE FOR OUR DISTRICT, IT'S NOT ONLY REVENUE GENERATION, IT'S ALSO HOW CAN YOU TIGHTEN UP EXPENSES.
BECAUSE THAT RESULTS IN MORE FUNDS COMING TO THE DISTRICT AS WELL.
A LOT OF COOL STUFF HAPPENING AT EEF, AND THE NEXT BIG THING IS THAT LEGENDS LUNCHEON ON THE 22ND.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU EEF, AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO LEGENDS LUNCHEON.
I ALSO HAD ON THIS LIST CONFERENCES.
I KNOW WE JUST TALKED THROUGH THE CONFERENCE.
DIANE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR EL TASB SESSION? I KNOW YOU ATTENDED IT.
>> YEAH, SURE. I'LL SAY A FEW WORDS THERE, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING CALLED LEADERSHIP TASB.
JAMES IS AN ALUMNI OF THAT, AS IS LAURA, AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE PAST ON OUR BOARD.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
WE KICKED IT OFF THE FEW DAYS BEFORE, THE TEX-E CONFERENCE DOWN IN HOUSTON, AND DURING THAT TIME, I GOT TO MEET THE 31 OTHER TRUSTEES FROM ACROSS THE STATE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING.
WE'RE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND HOW TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE FROM JUST A WIDE VARIETY OF SIZES OF DISTRICTS, AND DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS.
EVERYONE HAS UNIQUE CHALLENGES, AND WE SHARE MANY, THOUGH, AS WELL.
WE GOT TO HEAR FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEAKERS ON LEADERSHIP TOPICS.
I WON'T GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE PRACTICES, AND HOW WE CAN JUST BE THE BEST TRUSTEES WE CAN BE.
WE DID GET TO VISIT PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE FOR OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHERE WE GO TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.
WE DID GET TO VISIT A COUPLE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
THAT WAS REALLY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, AND WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE ONE OF THEM HAPPENED TO BE RUN BY A SUPERINTENDENT WHO DOCTOR TRIGG IS VERY FRIENDLY WITH.
DOCTOR ROOSEVELT NEVINS, WHO WON THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD.
THEN ALSO THEIR BOARD WAS RECOGNIZED BY HEB AS BOARD OF THE YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
INSPIRING DISTRICT, VERY HYPER GROWTH,
[01:05:01]
AND DOING SOME VERY UNIQUE THINGS WITH AN INNOVATIVE SCHOOL DAY THAT I'VE SHARED WITH SOME.THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEARNING BEST PRACTICES, AND MAYBE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DOING, SO LEARNING FROM OTHER TRUSTEES, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
LAST THING, I'M ON A LITTLE COMMITTEE OF EIGHT. WE OUGHT TO BREAK UP.
WE'RE DOING PROJECTS, AND SHOCKINGLY, I CHOSE THE FINANCE PROJECT.
[BACKGROUND] AS DID LAURA LAST YEAR, I GUESS.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS? THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
WE'LL CONCLUDE THE BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
[5.3 Board Strategic Priority: Finance, Facility, and Asset Management Part...]
WHICH IS OUR BOARD STRATEGIC PRIORITY, WHICH IS FINANCE, FACILITY AND ASSET MANAGEMENT.PART 1 OF 2. WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME DOCTOR KRISTY SAILORS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY BACKUP. THANK YOU KRISTY.
>> MICHAEL'S GOING TO DRIVE THE SLIDES FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
HE'S GOT ME. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE.
THIS ISN'T EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THIS IS JUST THE THINGS THAT WE FELT ALIGNED WITH THE SPECIFIC BOARD PRIORITY.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THESE ARE ALL OF YOUR BOARD PRIORITIES, AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WITH THESE SPECIFIC SLIDES, EFFICIENCY, OPTIMAL USE OF LIMITED RESOURCES, WHICH WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR CONSTRUCTION.
WE DON'T BUILD NEW BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW.
WE REMODEL WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE COMPLETED FOUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS THIS PAST SUMMER, THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY.
WE DID SOME REMODELING THERE, SEE THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER THERE AS WELL.
THE LEARNING CENTER, TLC, ADULT TRANSITION SERVICES OR ATS, AND THEN CENTRAL ADMIN, WHERE YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW. ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
I HAVE SOME WHOOPS. THERE YOU GO.
THERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE CHANGES.
JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME BIG BUCKET ITEMS FOR EACH OF THOSE.
AT TLC, WE WENT FROM FIVE CLASSROOMS TO EIGHT CLASSROOMS. WE ADDED A SCIENCE ROOM AND AN ART ROOM, AND THEN A VERY LARGE COMMON SPACE FOR THE STUDENTS, INCLUDING SOME SMALL BREAKOUT AREAS FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT QUIET TIME, SMALL GROUP TO WORK TOGETHER, JUST SPACE TO SPREAD OUT.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT BUILDING, AND THEY WERE IN THERE BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
AT ATS, WE EXPANDED THE KITCHEN.
THE KITCHEN NOW HAS APPLIANCES OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES.
THERE'S GAS APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRIC APPLIANCES THAT ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO HAVE A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES IN A KITCHEN, SO WHEREVER THEY GO, WHEREVER THEY LIVE, WHATEVER THEIR FUTURE LEADS FOR THEM, THAT THEY WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO FUNCTION, AND OPERATE WITH THOSE APPLIANCES.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED AN APARTMENT FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN THOSE INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS. THAT'S THERE.
IT'S INCLUDING A BED, AND A SHOWER, AND A SMALL KITCHEN, AND APPLIANCES THEY HAVE TO CLEAN.
WE MODIFIED THE RECEPTION AREA AT TLC, EXCUSE ME, AT ATS, TO LOOK MORE LIKE A BUSINESS OR WORLD LIKE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
THERE'S A MOCK TIME CLOCK, A PLACE FOR THEM TO CHECK IN, WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO START THEIR DAY, PUT THEIR THINGS UP AND START THEIR WORK.
AT BARTON CREEK, WE ADDED STAFF BATHROOMS THAT WERE MUCH NEEDED.
WE ADDED THE LEARNING STUDIOS.
WE COMPLETED THE OVERFLOW PARKING LOT AREA.
WE REPLACED SOME OF THE DUCKING, SOME OF THE FENCING, AND SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THERE.
FOR THE CDC THAT'S ALSO PLACED AT BARTON CREEK, WE ADDED THE STUDIOS.
WE GAVE THEM A VERY LARGE STORAGE SET FOR ALL OF THE TOYS, AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE.
IT'S ADJACENT TO BLUE JAY HOLLOW.
WE ADDED THE TODDLER PLAY AREA, THE CANOPY WAS INSTALLED THIS WEEK, AND THE FENCING IS GOING UP THIS WEEK AS WELL.
THEY WILL HAVE INDEPENDENT PLACE FOR JUST THE TODDLERS TO GO.
THEN WE PROVIDED THEM SIDEWALK ACCESS TO BLUE JAY HOLLOW, SO THEY COULD TAKE THE STUDENTS IN THE CARTS TO THE PLAYGROUND.
THEN AT TLC, WE ALSO ADDED THE COMPUTER AREA FOR THE STUDENTS TO STUDY, TO DO THEIR PROJECTS, TO WHATEVER THEY NEEDED TO DO, AND THAT'S IN THE BACK OF THE LARGE COMMON SPACE, AS WELL AS ANOTHER AREA WITHIN THE BUILDING.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE NEXT THING THAT WE DID WAS WE COMPLETED THE SOLAR INSTALLATION.
WE HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON ALMOST ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.
[01:10:04]
THE ENTIRE PROJECT, THERE ARE OVER 8,500 SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED ON OUR CAMPUSES.WE DON'T HAVE THEM AT THE DOCK.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM AT THE AQUATIC CENTER FOR OBVIOUS REASONS AT THE AQUATIC CENTER BECAUSE OF THE SPECIALIZED ROOF.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM HERE, AND WE DIDN'T PUT THEM AT 601 OR TLC, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT TIME.
CAN WE GO BACK AND ADD THEM AFTER THE FACT? WE CAN, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO INVEST IN, BUT RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE THE ONLY ACTUAL BUILDINGS THAT DON'T HAVE SOLAR PANELS.
THEN WE HAD JUST FOR THE 25-26 YEAR, THE SOLAR REBATES WAS 1.4 MILLION.
WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE GOT ANY OF THE REBATES THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET, SO THAT WAS A PLUS FOR US.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WAREHOUSE AND FIXED ASSETS.
THIS HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR US FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE HAVE REDONE ALMOST EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE PUT GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS IN PLACE.
WE'VE HAVE NEW PROCEDURES THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING.
WE ARE ON PREPARING RIGHT NOW FOR AN AUCTION TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE.
THE AUCTION WILL ALSO CONTINUE AFTER THE INITIAL AUCTION, AND WE WILL HAVE A WEBSITE THAT POSTS THE ITEMS THAT ARE FOR SALE, SO THAT ANYBODY CAN SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE.
THEY CAN PURCHASE THAT AT ANY TIME THROUGH THE AUCTION COMPANY THAT WE'RE USING, SO THAT IT'S ALL DONE THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.
MOST RECENTLY, AND I HAVE TO HAND IT TO CHRIS SCOTT, STAFF.
KASEY MODDE, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING.
SHE HAS IMPLEMENTED AN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, IN OUR STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, OUR PURCHASINGS MODULE THAT TIES DIRECTLY TO OUR PURCHASE ORDERS.
AS SOMETHING IS INVENTORIED, ASSET TAGGED, IT DIRECTLY TIES TO THE PURCHASE ORDER, THE FUND THAT IT CAME FROM.
WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE DETAILS.
YES, LAURA, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.
KASEY HAS WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS TO HELP GET US TO WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO BE.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT WORK. ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING FOR US.
WE HAD IN EANES ISD OVER 10,000 PAPER MAPS.
THE MAPS WERE, SOME WERE OLDER THAN I AM, AND THAT'S OLD.
SOME OF THEM WERE BIG, SOME OF THEM WERE ROLLED.
SOME OF THEM WERE THE FLAT, SOME OF THEM WERE IN DRAWERS.
WE HAD PALETTES OF MAPS THAT WHEN THE STAFF NEEDED SOMETHING, WHEN A CONTRACTOR NEEDED TO MAKE A REPAIR, THE STAFF WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PALETTE OR BOX OR DRAWER IT MIGHT BE IN TO GO AND FIND THOSE MAPS.
WE DECIDED LET'S BE MORE EFFICIENT.
LET'S SAVE EVERYBODY SOME TIME.
LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAVE.
WE DIGITIZED OVER 10,000 MAPS.
ANYBODY WHO NEEDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM CAN SEARCH THE FOLDER.
WHAT YEAR DO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PLUMBING AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL? WE CAN TELL YOU.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN THOSE MAPS FROM THE PAPER ARCHIVES TO THE PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, THE TOPOGRAPHY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SECURITY.
WHEN A VENDOR NEEDS SOMETHING, WE KNOW WHERE TO GO, AND IT'S A RELATIVELY QUICK TURNAROUND.
WHAT WE FOUND BEFORE THIS, IT WOULD BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE WE COULD GET BACK WITH A CONTRACTOR BECAUSE WE HAD TO FIND THE PHYSICAL MAP, COPY IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE OUR ORIGINAL AWAY, AND GIVE IT TO THEM.
SWITCHING IT UP TO SAFE AND PHYSICAL ONLINE ENVIRONMENT.
CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY STAFF IMPLEMENTED ABNORMAL SECURITY, WHICH IS AN AI APPLICATION THAT GOVERNS OUR EMAILS.
ALL OF THE STAFF AND THE STUDENT EMAIL ACCOUNTS.
IT RESIDES ON THE SERVER, AND IT LITERALLY SCANS USING AI TECHNOLOGY, EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING TO AN EANES ISD EMAIL ACCOUNT.
IT LOOKS AT THE SENDER, THE IP ADDRESS, IT LOOKS AT THE QR CODES, IF THERE'S A QR CODE, THE ATTACHMENTS, THE LINKS, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EMAIL.
IF IT FINDS SOMETHING THAT IT CONSIDERS MALICIOUS, IT QUARANTINES IT.
YOU NEVER KNOW YOU GOT THAT EMAIL.
IT STAYS IN QUARANTINE UNTIL WE CAN LOOK AT IT, AND DO A RESPOND TO IT.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BAD GRAPHICS, BUT I'LL SHOW YOU.
WE IMPLEMENTED IT IN THE LATE FALL EARLY SPRING OF 24-25.
[01:15:01]
THE GRAPHIC ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THAT IT GOVERNS 27,000 PLUS EMAIL ACCOUNTS.NOW, THIS IS OUR DISTRIBUTION GROUPS.
THIS IS ANYBODY WHO HAS AN EMAIL IN EANES, AND TO DATE, I JUST LOOKED EARLIER, IT'S AT 163,000 STOPPED ATTACKS.
IN MY WORLD, THAT MEANS IT'S 163,000 TIMES WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SEND A PHISHING EMAIL OUT TO STAFF SAYING, DO NOT CLICK, DO NOT RESPOND OR TO MEDIATE ANY DAMAGE THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE DONE BY ACTUALLY CLICKING ON SOMETHING.
THE GRAPHIC IN THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN IS 30 DAYS OF BUSINESS THAT WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IF THIS APPLICATION HADN'T BEEN RESIDING ON OUR EMAIL SERVICE.
07,449 AT STOPPED ATTACKS IN 30 DAYS.
I RAN IT EARLIER, AND WE WERE AT 10,000 STOPPED ATTACKS SINCE AUGUST 1.
COMICALLY, EVERYBODY ASSUMES THEY'RE COMING FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THEY ARE NOT.
09,000 PLUS OF THEM COME FROM THE UNITED STATES, SO BLOCKING, AND CLOSING IPS, AND PORTS AND DON'T ALLOW ANY EMAIL FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS OR OTHER COUNTRIES.
THAT'S NOT WHERE OUR PROBLEMS ARE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE IT ON EVERYTHING. ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED GOGUARDIAN, WHICH IS OUR NEW WEB FILTER.
WE IMPLEMENTED THAT LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD FOR US AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING TRENDS.
WHAT ARE THE KIDS TRYING TO GET TO, WHAT IS IT? WHERE ARE THEY GOING? WHAT ARE WE INADVERTENTLY BLOCKING THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BLOCK? HOW CAN WE HELP EXPEDITE THE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TEACHERS AND FOR THE STAFFS? WE CAN GET REAL TIME ANALYTICS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY THRESHOLD SETS OR TRIGGER POINTS WHEN IT'S ESCALATED TO A SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATOR.
IF A STUDENT IS TRYING TO ACCESS SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T ACCESS, AND IT IS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF OUR TRIGGER POINTS.
IT WILL ESCALATE, AND I WILL GET A NOTIFICATION.
THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS WILL GET A NOTIFICATION, AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION.
IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC TOPIC THAT STUDENTS ARE TRYING TO RESEARCH, THEY GET A POP UP AUTOMATICALLY FROM THE SYSTEM BASED ON WHATEVER TOPIC THEY MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THAT SAYS, THIS HAS BEEN FLAGGED, AND IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, TRYING TO SWAY THEM FROM NOT USING OUR DEVICES FOR THOSE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS.
>> NEXT SLIDE. ALSO, PART OF OUR CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR, THE EDTECH TEAM, FRED BENITEZ AND HIS TEAM EXPANDED OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOPICS, EITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE TO COVER THINGS LIKE CYBERSECURITY, ONLINE SAFETY, REMINDING EVERYBODY JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD SECURITY AWARENESS AND DATA GOVERNANCE.
NEXT SLIDE. THEN SAY PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS.
WE ROLLED OUT STUDENT ID BADGES AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE MADE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WOULD WANT TO WEAR THE BADGES TO THE BEST OF THEIR.
AS MUCH AS THEY COULD BY TYING IN THE EXTRA FUNCTIONALITIES.
THEY CAN GET THEIR MEALS WITH THEIR BADGE.
TRANSPORTATION WAS THE BIG ONE.
IF I NEEDED TO PRINT SOMETHING, I COULD DO THAT ON A SPECIFIC COPY MACHINE AT THOSE CAMPUSES.
I CAN CHECK OUT LIBRARY BOOKS WITH MY BATCH.
IT'S A VISUAL THAT SAYS THIS STUDENT IS A CHILD THAT BELONGS HERE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE EXTRA FUNCTIONALITY.
TALKING TO THE CAMPUS PRINCIPALS, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA WORK THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE ON THE CAMPUS STAFF BECAUSE THE STUDENTS FORGET THEIR BADGES.
WE HAVE POLICIES AND PROCESSES IN PLACE.
THEY GET A YELLOW STICKER, THAT IT'S A TEMPORARY BADGE.
THERE'S A WHOLE SYSTEM THAT THEY FOLLOW.
IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE EXPECTED.
WE THOUGHT ORIGINALLY, THE KIDS WOULD FORGET THEIR BADGES, BECAUSE IT'S JUST PART OF BEING A KID, AND YOU FORGET STUFF ALL THE TIME.
IT HAS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE STAFF AT THE CAMPUSES, THEY DID AMAZING.
IT WAS A ROCKY START, BUT I WAS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TODAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AND I SAW KIDS WEARING THEIR BADGES.
I WASN'T THAT BIG A DEAL TO THEM.
[01:20:02]
THE LAST PART OF THIS IS WE HAVE, EFFECTIVE TODAY.WE'VE EXPANDED DOOR ACCESS CONTROL TO WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE IN GROUPS OR CLUBS THAT PRACTICE BEFORE SCHOOL OR AFTER SCHOOL.
THEY CAN OPEN UP A DESIGNATED DOOR, BAND DOOR, ATHLETIC DOOR, WHEREVER THEY ARE, WHATEVER GROUP THEY'RE WITH AT A DESIGNATED TIME, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL, SO THAT NOBODY'S PROPPING THE DOOR OPEN, WAITING FOR THEIR TEAMMATES OR WAITING FOR THE REST OF THE GROUP TO SHOW UP.
THAT LITERALLY, WE FINISHED THIS WEEK.
IT WAS AT THE REQUEST AFTER OUR PILOT LAST SUMMER WITH THE BAND KIDS.
IT WAS GREAT. WE COULD USE WHAT WE NEEDED TO.
NOBODY GOT IN TROUBLE FOR PROPPING DOORS.
WE PARTNERED WITH BK, BRETT KELLY, THE SECURITY OFFICERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAID, WHAT'S REASONABLE? FOR HOW LONG? CAN WE DO MORNING PRACTICES? SOME OF OUR KIDS PRACTICE VERY, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AS YOU KNOW, AND CAN WE DO AFTER HOURS UNTIL THIS POINT? NOTHING IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENT ACCESS ON THE WEEKENDS, ON THE HOLIDAYS.
IF THERE'S NOT SCHOOL, IT AUTOMATICALLY THEY CAN'T GET INTO THE BUILDING.
IT'S JUST AT THOSE DESIGNATED TIMES.
WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR THAT MOVING FORWARD.
THE COACHES UNDERSTAND, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS UNDERSTAND.
BUT I GUESS THAT'S KUDOS TO THE PILOT BECAUSE IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH THAT THEY WANTED US TO DO IT FURTHER.
NEXT SLIDE. THAT'S EVERYTHING.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR.
SAILORS. BOARD, TRUSTEES, THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. DR. SAILORS, REAL QUICK.
MAYBE YOU'VE ANSWERED THIS BEFORE.
IS ALL OF THE SOLAR CONNECTED TO THE CITY NOW? ARE WE ON GRID, SO TO SPEAK?
>> BARTON CREEK IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WE'RE WAITING ON.
BARTON CREEK HAS FINISHED TWO OF THE INSPECTIONS.
WE NEED ONE MORE, AND THEN WE'LL BE READY TO GO.
>> GREAT. THEN MAYBE THIS IS CHRIS, ANY IDEA OF WHAT PERCENT OF OUR ENERGY IS NOW PROVIDED BY SOLAR?
>> NO, YOU'RE FINE. MICROPHONE TROUBLE.
>> IT'S PRELIMINARY NUMBERS, BUT THROUGH THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE ARE ABOUT HALF ON OUR ELECTRIC BILL, WHAT WE WERE LAST YEAR.
>> THAT'S AMAZING. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> DIANE. WERE YOU FINISHED? I'M SORRY.
DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. DIANE. THANK YOU, JAMES. DIANE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
YOU MADE IT VERY CLEAR HOW IMPORTANT THE SECURITY SOFTWARE IS AND HOW MUCH IT REALLY HAS SAVED US RANSOMWARE, ALL THESE OTHER RISKS WE KNOW THAT ARE INVOLVED.
SOFTWARE ISN'T FREE, THOUGH AND I CERTAINLY THINK IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT, BUT AT SOME POINT, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT FINANCES AND HOW WE DON'T GET ENOUGH FUNDING.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE COSTS NOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
IF WE CAN MAYBE JUST START TO THINK ABOUT, WHAT ARE ALL OF THESE COSTS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE PAYING FOR.
I JUST WANT TO PLANT THAT SEED IN YOUR MIND BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A GREAT TOPIC FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM OTHER TRUSTEES?
SAILORS, ALONG THE LINES OF THE COST THAT WE ARE SPENDING ON THAT CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE, ARE WE ALSO ABLE TO MONETIZE OUR SAVINGS? YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY INVASIONS THAT WE'VE STOPPED AND ALL OF THE CLICKS THAT WE'VE STOPPED.
BUT WE'RE SAVING MAN HOURS AND DOING THAT AS WELL.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO QUANTITATIVELY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR SOFTWARE?
>> THAT WOULD BE HARD TO PREDICT, BECAUSE EVERY FISHING, EVERY SPAM, EVERY MALICIOUS LINK, QR CODE, OR WHATEVER, IF A STAFF MEMBER OR A STUDENT WOULD RESPOND TO IT,
[01:25:01]
THE DAMAGE IS DIFFERENT, AND OUR RESPONSE IS DIFFERENT BASED ON WHAT TYPE OF ATTACK IT WAS.OTHER THAN MY TIME, STRESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TEACHER CALLING ME CRYING BECAUSE SHE DID SOMETHING, AND NOW WE HAVE TO CHANGE HER PASSWORD, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I CAN JUST SAY, I CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON IT, OTHER THAN THE IT STAFF'S TIME, THE STRESS AND THE WORRY FROM THE TEACHERS.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS THERE AND IT'S COVERING AND AND THEN THEY'VE LEARNED THOSE WHO FELL FOR SOMETHING ONCE, NOW OR, LIKE, MY NEW BEST FRIENDS. THEY GET AN E MAIL.
THEY ARE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
KRISTY IS IT, OKAY/I THINK THAT I CAN'T PUT $1 AMOUNT ON ANY OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE WE'VE DONE VERY WELL, AND OUR STAFF HAVE LEARNED HOW TO BE SAFE ONLINE.
SORRY, I CAN'T PUT $1 AMOUNT ON. MILLION DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU, WOULD BE ABLE TO, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF COSTS.
>> YOU'VE SAVED A LOT OF COSTS IN THAT.
JOHN, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I FORGET TO LOOK IN THE CORNER.
>> ALL GOOD ON MY END. THANK YOU.
SAILORS. I APPRECIATE THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE FROM THE REPORTS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA INTO
[6.1 Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) Board of Directors nomination...]
THE DISCUSSION ACTION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA TONIGHT.OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM IS ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ACTION? LAURA.
>> SORRY, I NEED TO MAKE SURE I WAS ON THE RIGHT PAGE.
I MOVE THAT THE NIST BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONSIDER AND NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD.
>> I HAVE A MOTION. AND WE'RE NOMINATING CANDIDATES, BUT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE CANDIDATES OR WILL WE TALK ABOUT THAT DISCUSSION? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> A SECOND MOTION FROM LAURA AND A SECOND FROM KELLY.
LAURA, DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS CANDIDATES AND ANY NOMINATIONS?
>> YES, I'D LOVE TO. JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
THE ROLE OF THE TCAD BOARD IS BASICALLY OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNANCE, JUST LIKE OUR BOARD.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING THE CHIEF APPRAISER, APPROVE THE TCAD BUDGET, CONTRACTS, AND SET POLICY.
THEY ENSURE THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT FULFILLS ITS RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN ANNUAL APPRAISAL ROLE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO CANDIDATES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE.
BOTH OF THESE LADIES ARE CURRENTLY ON THE TCAD BOARD.
ONE OF THEM IS DEBBIE CARTWRIGHT.
SHE'S CURRENTLY THE VICE CHAIR.
SHE IS THE RETIRED MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY WITH EXPERIENCE IN LAND USE AND PROPERTY TAX.
THE OTHER ONE IS BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE LONGEST SERVING TCAD BOARD MEMBER AND IS A COMMERCIAL REALTOR.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE ACTUALLY REQUIRE A AUDREY WORD. [LAUGHTER] SORRY.
WE WE REQUIRE A RESOLUTION FOR THIS.
THE MOTION ACTUALLY WILL BE TO ALLOW KIM TO EXECUTE THE RESOLUTION NOMINATING DEBBIE CARTWRIGHT AND BLANCO ZEMO GARCIA AS OUR NOMINEES FOR THE TCAD BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM OTHER TRUSTEES? JOHN? I SEE A HEAD SHAKING.
DO YOU WANT TO AMEND A MOTION?
I MOVE THAT THE NCISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALLOW AUTHORIZE [LAUGHTER] KIM MCMATH [LAUGHTER] SORRY.
TO EXECUTE A RESOLUTION NOMINATING MS. CARTWRIGHT AND MISS ZAMORA GARCIA FOR THE TCAD BOARD.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM LAURA AND A SECOND FROM KELLY ON THE AMENDED MOTION?
[01:30:08]
THAT WAS ODD. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED MOTION?OUR NEXT DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[7.
ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA
]DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? KELLY?>> THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM KELLY.
>> MY BAD. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM KELLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION FROM KELLY AND A SECOND FROM DIANE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM WHEN I READ ABOUT THAT.
IT HAD TALKED ABOUT A DAILY RATE FOR THAT PROGRAM.
>> WE DO. THE RATE CHANGES DEPENDING ON IF YOU HAVE A MANDATORY OR DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENT AT JJAEP.
>> IF WE HAVE A STUDENT THAT'S PLACED IN THIS PROGRAM.
WE ARE THEN PAYING $400 APPROXIMATELY A DAY FOR THAT STUDENT'S EDUCATION.
ARE WE STILL RECEIVING THE SAME ALLOTMENT, OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT.
>> THEY'RE CONSIDERED ENROLLED.
THEY'RE STILL ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT.
BUT YES, WE ARE PAYING IT IS EXPENSIVE.
I WILL NOTE THAT THE CHAPTER 37 REFORM OF THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID EXPAND WHAT IS MANDATORY JJ PLACEMENT, WHICH HELPS WITH THAT COST.
I BELIEVE THE 400 AND SOME ODD DOLLARS IS FOR DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS, WHICH IS LARGELY WHAT THAT CONTRACT IS OVER.
FOR MANDATORY PLACEMENTS, IF IT'S THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT LAST YEAR, IT WAS LIKE 80 SOMETHING DOLLAR A DAY.
IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER, BUT WE STILL EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR MANDATORY PLACEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION BY KELLY AND A SECOND BY DIANE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
[8.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
]WHICH ARE OCTOBER 21, AND OCTOBER 28 OF 2025 HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING.AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE AS TRUSTEES INTO
[10.
CLOSED SESSION
]CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.072, 551.072, 5 51.074, 551.0821 AND 551.071.WE WILL RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION TO CLOSE AT A LATER TIME.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.