May 05, 2026 School Board Special Meeting

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GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 5 P.M. AND I CALL THE MAY 5TH, 2026, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER.

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

GREAT. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE

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CLOSED SESSION

WE PLAN TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM OUR REGULAR MEETINGS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING ONLINE AND IN PERSON, AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 5:32 AND WE WILL RECONVENE

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RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE EANES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

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

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS FOR THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE ON MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

AS ALWAYS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE ASK THE SAME FROM SAME COURTESY IN RETURN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ANY OUTBURSTS. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG AUDIENCE HERE, BUT NO OUTBURSTS OR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

APPLAUSE IS ALWAYS WELCOME AND WE ARE GOING TO.

FOR THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED TONIGHT DURING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, AND 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, WHICH WILL BE QUITE SOON.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE OPEN MEETING TO LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.

AND IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE EARLY, PLEASE DO SO IN THE IN THE DOORS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ON THE ITEMS DISCUSSED TONIGHT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANY TRUSTEE OR EMAIL US AT WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR AGENDA WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT AND MR.

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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

WE'RE SO EXCITED, TODAY WE LEARNED THAT OUR GIRLS GOLF TEAM BECAME STATE CHAMPIONS AT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOLF PROGRAM [APPLAUSE].

THIS IS OUR SECOND GOLF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN TWO WEEKS.

AND OUR GIRLS WERE DOWN BY A STROKE YESTERDAY AND FINISHED UP TEN STROKES TODAY TO CLAIM THE OUTRIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP IN A GREAT MATCH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. WE WILL HAVE THEM AT A FUTURE MEETING TO CELEBRATE THEM.

THANK YOU. THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND BUT NOT SURPRISING.

WE HAVE WE HAVE WONDERFUL ATHLETES AND WONDERFUL STUDENTS.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR OPEN FORUM SECTION OF OUR AGENDA TONIGHT.

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OPEN FORUM

EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

PLEASE WATCH THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND STOP.

AND IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR PREPARED REMARKS, YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL THEM TO US AT WHEN SPEAKING, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD.

THERE IS NO AUDIENCE HERE, SO THERE'S NO AUDIENCE TO DIRECT YOUR YOUR COMMENTS.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND THESE ARE THINGS I HAVE TO READ, BUT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 PROHIBITS DISRUPTION OF BOARD MEETINGS, SO WE ASK THAT REACTIONS OR COMMENTS REMAIN BRIEF AND RESPECTFUL.

AND IF YOU NEED. IF YOU WISH TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BOARD MUST HEAR SUCH COMPLAINTS IN A CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551. THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE OR RESPOND TO COMMENTS ON TOPICS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA PER TEXAS LAW.

THIS IS OUR TIME TO LISTEN, NOT TO REACT OR ENGAGE.

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

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

BY SPEAKING, YOU CONSENT TO THIS PUBLICATION.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND WE'RE READY FOR TONIGHT'S SPEAKER.

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SO THANK YOU. ASHLEY. RIGHT. ASHLEY.

YES. YES. WELCOME TONIGHT. AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON THE RECENT ELECTION.

YES. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIMER RIGHT THERE.

AND IT'S VERY BIG. ALL RIGHT. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND DOCTOR KENNEDY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT EACH OF YOU, OF YOU DEDICATES TO SERVING OUR STUDENTS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

I AM HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS POSTPONING ANY CURRENT VOTES OR MAJOR DECISIONS UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED BOARD BOARD MEMBERS ARE OFFICIALLY INSTALLED.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST ROOTED IN OPPOSITION TO ANY SPECIFIC ISSUE, BUT RATHER IN A COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, REPRESENTATION AND PUBLIC TRUST. ELECTIONS ARE A DIRECT EXPRESSION OF THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE.

WHEN NEW MEMBERS ARE CHOSEN, IT SIGNALS THAT THE COMMUNITY MAY BE SEEKING FRESH PERSPECTIVES, NEW PRIORITIES, OR A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO DECISION MAKING.

MOVING FORWARD WITH SIGNIFICANT VOTES FOR THOSE NEW REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEFORE THOSE NEW REPRESENTATIVES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, RISKS SIDELINING THOSE VERY VOICES THAT THE PUBLIC HAS JUST CHOSEN TO ELEVATE.

DELAYING THESE DECISIONS FOR A SHORT PERIOD WOULD ENSURE THAT ALL DULY ELECTED MEMBERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SHAPING OUTCOMES THAT AFFECT OUR SCHOOLS.

IT ALSO HELPS BUILD CONFIDENCE AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE WITH FULL AND CURRENT REPRESENTATION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS PRESSURES TO ACT QUICKLY AND KEEP THINGS MOVING. HOWEVER, A BRIEF PAUSE NOW CAN PREVENT CONCERNS LATER ABOUT LEGITIMATE LEGITIMACY, TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSIVENESS. TAKING THIS STEP SHOWS A COMMITMENT NOT TO JUST EFFICIENCY, BUT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS MESSAGE THE SENSE OF STUDENTS AS WELL.

OUR SCHOOL TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PARTICIPATION AND RESPECTING THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS BY WAITING FOR THE NEW BOARD TO BE SEATED. YOU MODEL THOSE VALUES AND ACTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION ON THIS REQUEST.

THANK YOU ASHLEY. IS THERE ANYONE OUT IN IN THE HALLWAY BY ANY CHANCE? OKAY. I MEAN, WE CAN IF SOMEONE COMES IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, WE CAN ALWAYS ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK AT OPEN FORUM.

AND, AND THERE'S A PRECEDENCE FOR THAT. AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. ASHLEY. AGAIN AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION AND ACTION PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

AND ITEM NUMBER 7.1 IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE 2026 2027 CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GENERAL COUNSEL,

[7.1 Request to approve 2026-27 contract recommendations for General Counse...]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION BY KELLY.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE ALL MATTERS RELATED TO CONTRACT RENEWALS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: GENERAL COUNSEL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AND PRINCIPALS.

I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY KELLY AND A SECOND BY JOHN.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS FROM THE BOARD? JOHN, THIS IS REALLY. JUST A COMMENT. IN THE LAST WEEK, I'VE GOTTEN A FEW QUESTIONS ON THE CONTRACTS AND AND QUESTIONS AROUND WHY WE PULLED IT FOR, YOU KNOW, TO DELAY IT FOR A WEEK TO DISCUSS.

I DID APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOU KNOW, MORE TIME TO REVIEW THE CONTRACTS AND TO LOOK AT IT AND FOR ME TONIGHT, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS I VIEW ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD IS TO HIRE A GREAT SUPERINTENDENT.

AND THEN YOU LOOK TO THAT SUPERINTENDENT TO BUILD HIS OR HER TEAM AND TO.

AND THEN YOU HOLD THAT SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU SUPPORT THEM, AND YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY REACH THE GOALS. BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU LET THAT SUPERINTENDENT BUILD HIS OR HER TEAM. AND SO TONIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT.

I HAVE FULL FAITH IN SUPERINTENDENT KOENNECKE AND THE TEAM HE'S BUILDING, AND FULLY SUPPORT HIM AND BELIEVE HE IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF MAKING THE DECISIONS HE NEEDS TO SURROUND HIMSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO REACH THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN EANES.

AND SO EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF THAT.

THANK YOU JOHN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THOSE ONLINE? THOSE TRUSTEES ONLINE? GREAT. JOHN, I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT YOU SAID.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT TRUSTEES ROLES ARE AND, AND THE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR ROLES, AS YOU KNOW, ARE VERY FEW.

AND WE, PASSED THE BUDGET, WE SET PRIORITIES AND WE HIRE A SUPERINTENDENT.

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SO I YOU I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. AYE, AYE. THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. OUR SECOND DISCUSSION ACTION ITEM IS SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

[7.2 Second reading and possible adoption of Board Operating Procedures upd...]

I MOVE THAT. WE APPROVE THE AMENDED BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AS EDITED.

OKAY. DO WE NEED TO. NO? OKAY. SO THERE HAS BEEN WHAT WERE THE. WELL, THE AMENDMENTS WEREN'T POSTED.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED EDIT VOTE ON THAT AND THEN VOTE ON THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I MEAN, WE, WE CAN CLARIFY THE MOTION IN JUST A MINUTE.

SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM CATHERINE? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY CATHERINE AND A SECOND BY JOHN.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DIANE. THANK YOU. WELL, THOSE LISTENING MIGHT RECALL THAT I DID PROPOSE CHANGES.

I PROVIDED THOSE TO THE TRUSTEES RECENTLY, AND JAMES HELPED ME DRAFT A VERSION THAT DESCRIBES A METHOD BY WHICH WE WOULD USE SOMETHING A BIT OF A HYBRID METHOD TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE.

IF ONE PERSON IS NOMINATED FOR AN OFFICE, WE WOULD DO A YAY OR NAY VOTE, AND THEN IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON WERE NOMINATED FOR AN OFFICE, WE WOULD DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. AND THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE EDITS PROVIDED TO THE TRUSTEES.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO. I'D LIKE A LITTLE GUIDANCE IN HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROPERLY DO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

CAN WE JUST CLARIFY? DIANE, WE'RE JUST YOU WERE JUST CLARIFYING ONE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE REGARDING OFFICER ELECTIONS, NOT THE ENTIRE SLATE AND ADOPTION OF ALL THE PROCEDURES JUST FOR ANYBODY LISTENING.

CORRECT. THANK YOU DIANE. THANK YOU DIANE. AND THAT WOULD BE THE AMENDMENT TO THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. THAT WAS POSTED.

YES, YES. I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THERE WAS. WELL, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR YOUR AMENDMENT? CERTAINLY. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE EDITED BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE THE VERBIAGE THAT I PROVIDED TO TRUSTEES VIA EMAIL.

OKAY. SO I HAVE A MOTION ON AN AMENDMENT PROVIDED BY DIANE TO TRUSTEES.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY CATH. SORRY, A MOTION BY DIANE AND A SECOND BY CATHERINE.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? I THINK BECAUSE NOBODY CAN SEE, NO ONE CAN SEE WHAT DIANE PROPOSED VIA EMAIL. SO MAYBE JUST ONCE AGAIN TO DESCRIBE.

MAKE SENSE WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING? CERTAINLY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ADD BEYOND WHAT I ALREADY DESCRIBED, BUT A A ROLL CALL VOTE, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IS WHERE EACH TRUSTEE, IF THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOMINATED, IS CALLED ON TO PROVIDE A NAME OF WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S DESCRIBED IN THESE EDITS. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, JOHN? AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THE WHATEVER WE VOTE ON TONIGHT THAT WILL BE POSTED AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE FINAL VERSION. SO IF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND REVIEW IT.

THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

EXACTLY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER. JAMES. THANK YOU.

YEAH, JUST JUST TO I HELPED DIANE WRITE THE WORDING ON THIS.

JUST TO CLARIFY, IN THE PAST WE DID THIS VIVA VOCE VOTING, WHICH WAS SORT OF YOU COULD GET A NOMINEE.

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AND IF THERE'S ONLY ONE NOMINEE, WELL, IT'LL BE A SIMPLE YAY NAY, JUST LIKE WE DO ALL THE OTHER VOTES.

SO NOT MEANT TO COMPLICATE A LOT OF THINGS. JUST TO CLARIFY HOW WE DO THINGS WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE NOMINEES AND IT'S YEAH, SO LEAVE IT THERE THAT THAT'S THAT'S JUST TO HELP CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING.

GREAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE PROVIDED BY DIANE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE UPDATE TO THE BOARD OPERATING.

SORRY. THE EDITS TO THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE UPDATE.

SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. THE AMENDMENT TO THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

AND NOW, ON THE FLOOR, WE HAVE A MOTION BY CATHERINE AND A SECOND BY DIANE.

SURE, I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. ON THE SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.

ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS BY THE TRUSTEES? JAMES OR LAURA.

READY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT I DID YOU NOT SECOND.

NOT AT FIRST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY CATHERINE AND A SECOND BY JOHN.

I WAS I WAS GETTING PEOPLE CONFUSED. ON THE SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE.

WE'VE NOW HAD NO DISCUSSION. AND THAT MOTION IS SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION IS ON THE FLOOR.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATE AS POSTED.

AYE. AYE. THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO. WE NOW HAVE UPCOMING MEETINGS.

WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR. OH WELL, WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME IN AND OPEN FORUM OCCURRED A MINUTE AGO.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE OUT THAT HAD SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM? OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AHEAD? I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW YOU.

DO YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE? YES, SURE. YEP.

JUST HADN'T MENTIONED. [INAUDIBLE] JUST SPEAKING TO HER LIKE THIS OR.

YEAH. JUST TURN IT UP. TURN IT OFF. RIGHT. OKAY.

SO DO I START NOW? JUST ONE SECOND. OH, OKAY.

SO SINCE YOU WERE NOT HERE SINCE YOU WERE NOT HERE A MINUTE AGO WHEN I ANNOUNCED OPEN FORUM, WHAT YOU WILL HAVE IS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD.

WHAT YOU'LL DO IS ADDRESS US. I'M GOING TO READ IT JUST JUST SO THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

YOUR TIME IS UP HERE. VERY BIG. SO WE PLEASE WATCH THE TIMER ON THE SCREENS WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. AND AND AND COMPLETE YOUR YOUR COMMENTS.

IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR PREPARED COMMENTS, YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL THEM TO IF, WHEN SPEAKING, DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE OR TO ANYONE ELSE.

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

IF YOU WISH TO NAME A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE IN A COMPLAINT, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE MUST, AS THE BOARD, WE MUST HEAR THAT IN CLOSED SESSION AND. AND THAT'S REQUIRED BY TEXAS LAW AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551. WE CANNOT, AS A BOARD, DELIBERATE OR RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS ON TOPICS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

AGAIN, PER TEXAS LAW, THIS IS OUR TIME TO LISTEN, NOT TO ENGAGE IN THIS CLARIFYING INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED BY OUR SUPERINTENDENT IF IF NEEDED. AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PORTION OF OUR MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND IT IS PUBLISHED ON OUR OUR BOARD WEBSITE

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AND WITH THAT, WELCOME, MR. WELCH. YOUR TIME CAN START.

OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO MY NAME IS JAMES WELCH. I'VE LIVED IN EANES FOR ABOUT 30, 38 YEARS.

I'VE GOT TWO KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, ONE IN HILL COUNTRY ONE IN BRIDGEPOINT.

AND AS A RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS THAT JUST TOOK PLACE, I, I BECAME AWARE OF CERTAIN ISSUES THAT I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF BEFORE, SORT OF BRUSHING UP ON SOME OF THE FACTS. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN AN ELECTION, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES VOTED IN.

AND THE FIRST POINT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP IS 3 OR 4 POINTS THAT I THINK AFFECTED SOME OF THE CHANGES ON THE MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD AND WHO THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE GOING TO BE. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LOT OF DETAILS, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK, THE DIRECTION OF WHERE THE BOARD IS FOCUSING.

I FOUND IT EXTREMELY DISTURBING TO LEARN THAT WE HAVE RUN A BUDGET DEFICIT FOR SO MANY YEARS.

IN A SIMPLISTIC SENSE, I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT WE ALL PAY IN PROPERTY TAXES AND I KNOW WHAT A STRAIN THAT IS ON A LOT OF FAMILIES.

AND TO LEARN THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE DISTRICT IS IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS OR HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I WANT TO BRING UP A POINT THAT I THINK IS KEY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO MY KIDS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM AT SCHOOL, IT'S, IT'S THEIR TEACHERS.

IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE SCHOOL, IT'S NOT THE FACILITIES, IT'S THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR TEACHERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, EANES HAS A REPUTATION FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE COUNTRY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING UP THE POINT AND URGE THE BOARD TO MAKE IT AN ABSOLUTE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TO RECRUIT AND PAY TEACHERS ABOVE WHAT ANY OTHER DISTRICT IS DOING. WE SHOULD HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS AND WE SHOULD PAY THEM THE MOST.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD COME BACK AND SAY, OH, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. MY ANSWER TO THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE AN EXPENDITURE PROBLEM. IT'S WHERE WE CHOOSE TO SPEND THE MONEY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR A $900 MILLION BOND.

NOW EVERY PARENT I'VE TALKED TO IS NOT FOR IT.

I'LL TELL YOU, I'M PERSONALLY NOT FOR IT. BASED ON THE FOLLOWING, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.

AND IF WE'RE RUNNING A DEFICIT AND WE DON'T HAVE OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER, WHY WOULD YOU BORROW? OR WHY WOULD ONE BORROW $900 MILLION? THAT'S ALMOST $1 BILLION WHEN WE HAVEN'T GOT OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER.

AND NUMBER ONE, WHY WOULD WE BORROW MORE MONEY WHEN WE CAN'T PAY OUR TEACHERS ENOUGH? AND WHY WOULD WE SPEND THAT MONEY ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN FIRSTLY, RECRUITING THE BEST TEACHERS? AND MY POINT IS, THE TEACHERS COME FIRST. EVERYTHING COMES AFTER THAT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD TEACHERS, FAMILIES WON'T WANT TO SEND THEIR KIDS HERE.

AND THE PRODUCT, THE EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT THAT COMES OUT, IT WON'T BE THERE.

THE BUILDINGS DON'T TEACH, TEACHERS TEACH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. WELCH. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW CONCLUDING OUR MAY 5TH SPECIAL MEETING. WE HAVE UPCOMING MEETINGS ON MAY 12TH,

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

AND AT THIS TIME AT 5:55 P.M., WE ARE GOING TO STAND ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.