Jul 24, 2023 School Board

[00:00:01]

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'LL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER ON JULY 24TH, 2023, AT 5 P.M..

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]

THEREFORE, WE WILL ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071, 551.072,

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 6 P.M..

OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE.

[3. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE]

I HAVE ASKED TRUSTEE LANNEN TO LEAD US TODAY.

WILL YOU ALL PLEASE RISE? ALLEGIANCE]PLEDGE]. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE LANNEN. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

SPEAKER THREE MINUTES.

MISS SHELTON, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER? YES. AND SPEAKERS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE WITHIN CARROLL ISD BOUNDARIES? THE FIRST SPEAKER IS PAM FRANCIS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PAM FRANCIS.

I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE FOR 20 YEARS AND I AM THE PARENT OF THREE CARROLL ISD GRADUATES.

I ALSO SERVED ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT DRAFTED THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHY I VOTED AGAINST IT IN COMMITTEE AND WHY I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST IT TONIGHT.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THE HANDBOOK, COMBINED WITH TWO OTHER POLICIES YOU ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT, WILL CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR LGBTQ STUDENTS AND WILL LEAD TO AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE EVEN WELL-MEANING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THESE MARGINALIZED STUDENTS.

THE NEW STUDENT HANDBOOK WAS MODELED ON THE TASB MODEL HANDBOOK, EXCEPT EVERY REFERENCE TO GENDER AND GENDER BASED HARASSMENT IS REMOVED.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR IF STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT BASED ON THEIR GENDER AND ANY EXAMPLES OF GENDER BASED HARASSMENT THAT MIGHT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT GENDER HARASSMENT IS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION WERE REMOVED FROM THE NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT IN BOTH THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

IN FACT, THE ONLY CLASSES PRESENTLY THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT ARE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER.

YOU'RE ALSO CONSIDERING TWO NEW POLICIES ONE THAT WOULD BAR STUDENTS FROM RESTROOMS AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITIES.

AND THE OTHER THAT WOULD PROHIBIT STAFF FROM USING GENDER AFFIRMING PRONOUNS.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM A PARENT, A TEACHER OR A STUDENT WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RAMPANT IMPROPER PRONOUN USE PLAGUING OUR SCHOOLS.

BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY, MANY PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO TOLD ME STORIES.

ABOUT HOW STUDENTS WERE BULLIED OR HARASSED BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR, THEIR RELIGION OR THEIR LGBTQ STATUS.

BECAUSE OF THE EIGHT CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOW FACING.

I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THESE STORIES, TOO.

I'M TROUBLED AS WELL BY THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

THE STUDENT HANDBOOK AND THESE NEW POLICIES WERE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON A FRIDAY AND YOU'RE NOW CONSIDERING THEM ON A.

OVER THE SUMMER. ON A MONDAY.

PERHAPS, YOU KNOW THAT THESE POLICIES WOULD NOT BE EMBRACED BY THE COMMUNITY IF THEY HAD MORE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THEM.

[00:05:04]

AND ENCOURAGED TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES.

IF YOU PASS THESE MEASURES TONIGHT, YOU WILL BE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT ONLY SOME STUDENTS ARE VALUED.

AND WHEN THE GENDER BASED BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION BEGINS AND IT WILL, YOU WILL BE PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE.

THANK YOU, MS. FRANCIS.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KENYA OULU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KENYA OLOU.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR TARRANT COUNTY CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM.

AND I DO NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST SORRY ON AGENDA ITEMS 9C THE POLICY UPDATES AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCES REGARDING TITLE IX.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONTACTED SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PRESSURE ADMINISTRATORS TO BROADEN THE LANGUAGE OF TITLE IX.

THEY DEMAND TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN TITLE IX.

THIS UNDERMINES FEDERAL LAW AND THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FOLLOWED THE MISLEADING GUIDANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THEIR 2021 NOTICE OF INTERPRETATION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON BOSTOCK VERSUS CLAYTON COUNTY IS ALSO BEING USED TO FURTHER THEIR AGENDA.

THESE BOTH HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY MISREPRESENTED, MISINTERPRETED.

IT WAS MADE CLEAR BY THE COURT THAT THIS WAS A TITLE SEVEN ISSUE THAT DID NOT APPLY TO TITLE NINE OR ANY OTHER LAW.

THE SUPREME COURT IN BOSTIC EMPHASIZED THAT SEX BASED EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CONSISTENT WITH TITLE VII WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IT EXPLICITLY REFRAINED FROM APPLYING THEIR RULING TO TITLE IX.

THIS RENDERS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S NOTICE OF INTERPRETATION AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER NULL BECAUSE IT EXPRESSLY CONTRADICTS SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT.

A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT IN TEXAS AFFIRMED THAT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ARE NOT PROTECTED CATEGORIES.

TITLE IX MUST BE READ IN THE ORIGINAL CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WAS DRAFTED IN 1972.

SEX UNDER TITLE NINE WAS UNDERSTOOD TO BE BIOLOGICAL AND BINARY.

APPLYING ANY DIRECTIVE THAT NEITHER CONFORMS TO THESE RECENT RULINGS NOR TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE NECESSITY OF RECEIVING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL BEFORE MAKING A CHANGE TO FEDERAL LAW IS ITSELF AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT.

IN THE BOSTIC CASE, THE SUPREME COURT STATED THAT THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES ARE THE ONES WHO MUST AMEND TITLE IX.

THIS MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR UNELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING FOR ELECTED, SORRY, UNELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE CONGRESS TO ASSUME CHANGES TO TITLE NINE IN THE ABSENCE OF APPROVAL TO AMEND TITLE NINE.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS INFORMATION BEFORE ACTING ON THE COERCIVE TACTICS BY ORGANIZATIONS INTENTIONALLY MISAPPLYING TITLE NINE.

THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH A POLITICAL AGENDA THAT WOULD ERADICATE TITLE IX SEX SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS.

A SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE OF THIS MISAPPLICATION INCLUDES THE EROSION OF STUDENT PRIVACY STEMMING FROM THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS TO USE SEX SEPARATED FACILITIES AND TO PARTICIPATE IN SEX SEPARATED SPORTING ACTIVITIES.

I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS AND AFFIRMS THAT THE RIGHT DECISION IS TO MAINTAIN SEX SEPARATED FACILITIES IN SPORTS AND ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT MIGHT ARISE ON TITLE IX.

I DO HAVE SOME HARD COPIES OF SOME RESOURCES, SOME CASE LAW AND A FACT SHEET AS WELL AS A TIME TIMELINE OF EVENTS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS TO YOU FOR THE BOARD.

THANK YOU, MS. OULU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS COLLEEN GOLDSTEIN.

MY NAME IS COLLEEN GOLDSTEIN, A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT FOR 23 YEARS.

I'M THE MOTHER OF THREE CARROLL GRADUATES YEARS '06, '08 AND '12.

MY COMMENTS CONCERN AGENDA ITEM 9B REVISIONS TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE QUESTION ASKING YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DID YOU FIRST CHOOSE TO BE HETEROSEXUAL? I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO HAS AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

THEY NEVER MADE A CHOICE.

IT WAS JUST WHO THEY WERE.

[00:10:01]

IT ISN'T A CHOICE.

IT'S JUST WHO THEY ARE.

I'VE BEEN AN ALLY OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SINCE 2017.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW A LOT OF WONDERFUL FOLKS.

MY CONCERN IS THE REVISIONS AND OMISSIONS TO THE SCOC APPEAR TO LESSEN OR REMOVE PROTECTIONS FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS.

MY CHILD WAS ONE OF THESE STUDENTS IN 2006 AND 2008, CHILDREN WERE NOT OUT.

IT WASN'T JUST AT SCHOOL, BUT ALSO IN THE CULTURE.

NOW THE CULTURE IS MORE ACCEPTING, BUT CARROLL SEEMS TO BE TARGETING LGBTQ STUDENTS.

I DO NOT WANT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE'S CHILD.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE'S CHILD TO BELIEVE EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIFE THAT THEY ARE AN ABOMINATION, DOOMED TO ETERNITY IN HELL.

IT TAKES A HUGE PHYSICAL TOLL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL.

MY CHILD GRADUATED IN THE TOP 10% OF THEIR CLASS, BUT THEY SAW NO FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO TELL ANYONE WHO THEY REALLY WERE.

EVEN TODAY, ADULTS FROM 2006 AND 2008 ARE STILL COMING OUT.

WHAT A WASTE OF LIFE.

CHILDREN MUST FEEL SAFE BEING WHO THEY ARE.

I'M NOT ENCOURAGING ANY CHILD TO BE LGBTQ.

IT'S NOT A CHOICE.

PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS MUST HELP CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN LGBTQ TO LEARN TO NAVIGATE THIS WORLD.

THESE CHILDREN DESERVE TO SEE A FUTURE.

ALL CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN HOW.

I'M SKIPPING THAT PART ANYWAY.

JUST HOW TO HANDLE BEING LGBTQ IN THIS WORLD.

THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

SO I'M ASKING YOU, AS TRUSTEES AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND ALL STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL ACCEPTED.

YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE STUDENTS IN YOUR CARE.

YOUR DUTY IS TO PREPARE THEM FOR BRIGHT FUTURES.

AS YOU SAY, INSPIRE EXCELLENCE.

IF YOU ADOPT POLICIES THAT MAKE THEM ASHAMED OR AFRAID, HOW CAN THEY FLOURISH? ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PRONOUNS.

HAVE PERSONS IN THE ROOM.

WHEN YOU DISCUSS LGBTQ POLICIES, YOU NEED TO HAVE LGBTQ PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. MS. GOLDSTEIN.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA ROCHA.

GOOD EVENING. I'M ALICIA BURKE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE.

FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, I HAVE THREE DRAGONS AND I DID NOT PREPARE REMARKS TODAY.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY A FEW THINGS FROM MY HEART.

I KNEW THAT NO MATTER WHAT I SAT DOWN TO WRITE, IT WOULDN'T TOP WHAT PAM FRANCIS HAD TO SAY FROM HER POINT OF EXPERTISE AS BEING ON POLICY REVIEW AND A LAWYER AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S DONE IN THIS DISTRICT.

NOR COULD IT TOP WHAT MY FRIEND COLLEEN HAS SAID IN RAISING A CHILD, A TRANSGENDER CHILD, AND KNOWING BETTER THAN ANY OF YOU SITTING THERE BETTER THAN MYSELF, WHAT THAT ENTAILS. SO THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN MANY OF YOU RAN FOR OFFICE, YOU PROMISED US A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU PROMISED US TRANSPARENCY.

BUT INSTEAD OF TRANSPARENCY, WE GET REPEATED LIKE THINGS LIKE THIS, WHERE AGENDA COMES OUT ON AN AFTERNOON GOING INTO A WEEKEND AND IT'S GOING TO BE RUBBER STAMPED ON MONDAY, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEND IT ALL OUT TO US IN STUDENT VERIFICATION TOMORROW MORNING.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, WE WERE AT CHRISTMAS BREAK.

WE HAVE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS IN OUR POLICIES.

THAT'S NOT NORMAL. THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

TRANSPARENCY. WHERE IS IT? YEAH. AND THEN ANOTHER THING I REMEMBER FROM THE CAMPAIGNS, IT WAS POLITICS TAKING POLITICS OUT OF SCHOOL.

RIGHT. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING DOWN TO AUSTIN FOR PHOTO OPS AND, YOU KNOW, COZYING UP TO POLITICIANS WITH A VERY PARTICULAR VIEW.

SO THAT'S NOT TAKING POLITICS OUT OF SCHOOL.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU IT'S VERY PRETTY MUCH WELL KNOWN THAT YOU HAVE FUTURE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS, WHETHER THAT'S LOCAL FOR CITY COUNCIL OR WHETHER THAT'S IN AUSTIN.

BUT YOUR JOB HERE ISN'T TO PAD YOUR POLITICAL RESUMES.

IT'S NOT TO SCORE SOME POINTS WITH CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY OR IN THE STATE.

THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.

YOUR JOB IS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SUFFERING.

WE HAVE TEACHERS LEAVING.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE COMMENTS FROM THESE TEACHERS SURVEYS.

[00:15:03]

AND SO INSTEAD OF SOLVING PROBLEMS, YOU'RE CREATING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT DON'T EXIST, THAT JUST CREATE MORE PROBLEMS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS FEELING LESS SAFE, STUDENTS FEELING NOT NOT REPRESENTED HERE AT SCHOOL.

OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS MAKING SCHOOL BOARD BORING AGAIN.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY BORING BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION AMONGST YOU.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY EVERYONE IS EVEN HERE.

I GUESS MS. SMITH KNOWS THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT WILL BE A RUBBER STAMP WITH LITTLE DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE'VE ACHIEVED GROUPTHINK IN OUR SCHOOL BOARD NOW, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S HEALTHY OR BENEFICIAL TO THIS DISTRICT.

SO I DIDN'T THINK I'D USE UP ALL MY TIME, BUT I HAD A LOT TO SAY.

SO I'M DISAPPOINTED AT THE ONGOING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND THE CONTINUED JUST, YOU KNOW, UNNECESSARY POLITICAL STUFF THAT MAKES OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS NOT WANT TO BE HERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. ROCHA.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARISSA MEHAN.

GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR.

LEDBETTER. AS A PARENT TO A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, I HAVE CONCERNS OF THE FORMAT AND LANGUAGE, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ON RECORD WITH THESE CONCERNS.

TO ME, THESE DOCUMENTS TONIGHT ARE NOT EXPLICIT AND LEAVES GRAY AREAS FOR SUBJECTIVITY.

I HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE GRAY AREAS IN COMPARISON OF WHAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MAY DO.

ON PAGE TEN, THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT UNDER SAFETY TRANSGRESSIONS IS ENGAGED IN VERBAL EXCHANGES THAT THREATEN THE SAFETY OF ANOTHER STUDENT OR A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE OR PROPERTY.

KIDS MAY BE JUST MARRYING WHAT THEY'VE HEARD FROM OTHER STUDENTS.

ENGAGE IN ANY CONDUCT THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS MIGHT REASONABLY BELIEVE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY DISRUPT THE SCHOOL PROGRAM.

COULD THIS BE LIKE JUMPING ON THE STAGE DURING SOMEONE ELSE'S PERFORMANCE OR RUNNING OUT OF THE BUILDING? THERE ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN CAUSE BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

IS THIS LIKE THROWING A PENCIL BAG AND UNDER MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES REPEATEDLY VIOLATE OTHER COMMUNICATED CAMPUS OR CLASSROOM STANDARD CODES OF CONDUCT? COULD THIS BE A CHILD WHO USES ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION METHOD MOST OF THE TIME AND COMMUNICATES WITH SCREAMING? IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHILD WITH DISABILITY, YOU MAY NOT THINK OF THESE ITEMS AND SEE CONCERNS FOR YOUR CHILD.

BUT I DO. AND MANY OF US DO.

AND WHILE OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE STUDENTS THEY'RE WORKING WITH NOW, NOT ALL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THEIR SERVICES AND EXPERIENCED TRAUMA THROUGH INAPPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF DISABILITIES.

THE PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 11 OF THE DRAFTED STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT RELATING TO DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IS NOW MASHED INTO ONE AREA.

THE ITEMS USED TO BE VERY CLEAR AND ITEMIZED, BUT THEY'RE NOT ANYMORE.

THE STATEMENT BELOW NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR INTENT OR A LACK OF INTENT.

AT THE TIME THE STUDENT ENGAGED IN THE CONDUCT, THE DISCIPLINE, THE STUDENT'S DISCIPLINARY HISTORY, ANY DISABILITY THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS THE STUDENT'S CAPACITY TO APPRECIATE THE WRONGFULNESS OF THE STUDENT'S CONDUCT.

SO I ASK THAT THE BOARD REQUEST FOLLOW UP ON THE DISPROPORTIONALITY OF THE DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS REQUIRED BY A LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE.

AND I ASK THAT WHEN THIS DOCUMENT PASSES, IT STANDS TONIGHT THAT YOU WILL KEEP IN MIND THE SUBJECTIVITY WILL COME INTO PLAY ON FUTURE GRIEVANCES.

JUST LIKE I ASKED AN EMAIL IN THE BOARD OF JANUARY OF 2022, I STILL ASK WHO OVERSEES THE ENFORCEMENT OF CONSISTENT AND FAIR USE OF DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND WHAT PROCEDURES DO THEY FOLLOW TO EVALUATE? PAGE 11 OF THE OLD STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT HAD A DIFFERENT LEVELS OF VIOLATIONS, A CHART AND NOW THERE ARE NO LEVELS.

THE LAST THING OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IS SUBJECTIVITY.

ON THURSDAY, I'LL HAVE A LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE PAST DUE THE REQUIRED 90 DAYS REGARDING MY SON'S REMOVAL FROM A CLASSROOM IN DECEMBER OF 2021 FOR BLOWING A RASPBERRY PLACED AN ALTERNATIVE AVERSIVE TECHNIQUE AND HIS OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION NEVER DOCUMENTED.

THIS OCCURRED EVEN WITH THE CHART IN PLACE.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW THAT THAT CHART IS GONE? LASTLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

A CURRENT PRINCIPAL, A FORMER PRINCIPAL AND EMPLOYEES HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS BEHAVIOR, YET NO REPRIMANDS WERE EVER TAKEN.

AND WHILE THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION FOR AN INCIDENT, LET ME BE CLEAR THERE IS ZERO TOLERANCE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.

THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY TOLERANCE.

IN ADDITION, GROOMING IS NOT ONCE IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK AND SHOULD BE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MEHAN. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGIE DAWKINS.

MY NAME IS ANGIE DAWKINS.

I'VE LIVED IN CARROLL FOR SIX YEARS.

I HAVE SIX SONS.

ONE GRADUATED FROM CARROLL IN 2022, AND MY YOUNGEST IS GOING INTO SEVENTH GRADE AT DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT MONTH.

I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED STUDENT HANDBOOK AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.

I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEES FOR THEIR EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THESE DOCUMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE AS PARENTS, AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS, ARE WELL INFORMED AND SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED BY THEIR GUIDELINES.

THERE ARE THOSE IN OUR DISTRICT WHO WOULD HAVE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CERTAIN CHILDREN LACK PROTECTION IN OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE CHILDREN BELONG TO A PROTECTED

[00:20:06]

IN THE PAST, MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF CLAIMS OF BULLYING.

WHAT I HAVE FOUND HELPFUL TO REMEMBER IS THAT ANYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE A CLAIM AND THAT IT IS JUST THAT A CLAIM.

BY CHOOSING TO HAVE MY STUDENT ENROLLED IN A CERTAIN SCHOOL, I AM PLACING TRUST IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH AND UNBIASED INVESTIGATION INTO THAT CLAIM.

AND AS A PARENT, I TAKE MY OWN RESPONSIBILITY.

DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES VERY SERIOUSLY, TO CORRECT MY CHILD WHEN APPROPRIATE, TO GUIDE AND TO TEACH MY CHILD TO VALUE OTHERS BASED ON THEIR GOD GIVEN WORTH, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR WHO THEY IDENTIFY AS.

I FEEL BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MY SON TO BENEFIT FROM THE TOP NOTCH EDUCATION HE IS RECEIVING IN CARROLL ISD.

I DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION.

WHEN I HEAR OTHERS WHO ALSO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LIVING WITHIN CARROLL ISD'S BOUNDARIES DENIGRATE THIS DISTRICT AND MAKE FALSE CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATION OR LACK OF PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

OUR DISTRICT HAS RISEN TO THE INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE OF BUDGET CUTS, INFLATION, ROBIN HOOD BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, STAFF TURNOVER, FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS, BACKBITING, SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM.

ET CETERA. ON AND ON.

YET THEY'VE CONTINUED TO GO ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN WITH EXCELLENCE IN THE BEST WAY THEY KNOW HOW.

I AM HERE TO CHAMPION THIS.

I AM HERE TO LEND MY VOCAL SUPPORT TO THIS BOARD AND TO THE POSITIVE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU ARE TAKING OUR DISTRICT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS DAWKINS.

THE FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING IS BRADY GOLOMB.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS BRADY GOLOMB.

I'M GOING TO BE A SENIOR THIS FALL AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH.

I'M RANKED IN THE TOP 20, AND I SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY TODAY WORKING ON COLLEGE ESSAYS.

I'M APPLYING TO A BUNCH OF THE ELITE SCHOOLS OUT OF STATE, AND NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED.

EVERY SCHOOL ASKS YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU BRING TO THEIR SCHOOL.

WHAT ABOUT DIVERSITY? WHAT ABOUT INCLUSIVITY, ET CETERA? YOU'RE MAKING IT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET ACCEPTED TO THESE SCHOOLS AND YOU'RE MAKING IT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR ALL THESE STUDENTS IN LIFE IN GENERAL.

THERE IS ALREADY SO MUCH INTOLERANCE IN SCHOOL TODAY, AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S SUPPOSEDLY AGAINST THE RULES.

IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN IT'S REMOVED COMPLETELY.

I'M ON VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY.

I'M ON VARSITY TRACK, AND EVERY DAY I HEAR HOMOPHOBIC AND RACIAL SLURS AND NO ONE EVER STOPS THEM.

AND IT IS AGAINST THE RULES.

I DO EVERY DAY TRY TO TELL MY TEAMMATES TO STOP.

IT IS NOT OKAY. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND NO ONE EVER LISTENS.

BUT I'M STARTING TO MAKE HEADWAY.

I HEAR IT LESS. MORE PEOPLE ARE ON MY SIDE.

AND BY PASSING THESE NEW CHANGES, IT WILL WIPE ALL MY HARD WORK AWAY AND MAKING MY TEAM A BETTER PLACE.

A TEAM WHERE PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED AND PEOPLE FEEL WANTED.

THESE CHANGES DO NOT BENEFIT ANYBODY, BUT THEY HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M WHITE, I'M STRAIGHT.

I'M 17 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.

I'M 17 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.

I URGE YOU TO NOT MAKE THESE CHANGES TO MY SCHOOL.

PLEASE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GOLOMB. THAT IT? OKAY. THANK YOU, MS. YELTSIN.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON THE AGENDA, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[5. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION]

LEDBETTER. YES.

THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING JIM BENNETT, III AS THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.

I MAKE A MOTION TO HIRE JIM BENNETT, III FOR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION OF CARROLL ISD.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO FURTHER ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

[6. PRESIDENT'S REPORT]

OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.

[7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SEVERAL ITEMS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW AS WE PREPARE TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR.

OUR ANNUAL STUDENT VERIFICATION PROCESS WILL BEGIN TOMORROW MORNING AT 8 A.M.

[00:25:02]

THIS IS WHERE PARENTS CAN GO IN AND REGISTER AND BUILD ACCESS STUDENT SCHEDULES ONCE THEY ARE UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE ALSO HAVE A BACK TO SCHOOL PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF OUR PARENT NIGHTS OR ANYTHING GOING ON, ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT, JUST VISIT OUR BACK TO SCHOOL ON THE WEBSITE.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TO GO THERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ALSO, EACH YEAR WE PUT OUT INFORMATION ABOUT DISTRICT COMMITTEES, AND SO THAT INFORMATION WILL GO OUT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES, YOU CAN SERVE ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN ACTION COMMITTEES.

WE HAVE OUR BOARD COMMITTEES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND ALSO OUR SITE BASED COMMITTEES ON OUR CAMPUSES.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BEING INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF THAT, WE'LL BE PUTTING INFORMATION OUT.

AND YOU CAN YOU CAN SIGN UP.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING ALL OF OUR NEW HIRES ON AUGUST THE FIRST.

IN FACT, ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS, THEY'VE STARTED THIS PAST WEEK.

WE HAVE THEM ALL TOGETHER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING TOGETHER WITH THEM.

BUT THEN STARTING NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE ALL OF OUR NEW HIRES AND THEN ALL OF OUR TEACHERS RETURN OFFICIALLY ON AUGUST THE 7TH.

BUT AS YOU PROBABLY ARE VERY WELL AWARE, MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY WORKING OR WILL BE WORKING IN THEIR ROOMS IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING ALL OF THEM AS WE GET READY TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ALSO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, WE HAVE A PROCESS ONLINE, SO THAT'LL BE UP ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER SUPPORT CISD.

SO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ALL THAT.

SO PLEASE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IF YOU WANT TO START THAT PROCESS EARLY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO THERE.

AND THEN ALSO JUST A REMINDER THAT WE WILL HAVE THE ELISE SURAMI AQUATIC CENTER DEDICATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AT 4 P.M.

ON AUGUST 21ST.

AND THEN BOB LEDBETTER FIELD DEDICATION WILL BE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 25TH AT 6 P.M.

BEFORE THE FRIDAY NIGHT GAME AT DRAGON STADIUM.

AND THEN I'VE MENTIONED ALL OF OUR STAFF STARTING.

WE ALSO BEGIN NEXT MONDAY FOOTBALL, WATER POLO, CROSS COUNTRY VOLLEYBALL, TENNIS.

ALL THAT STARTS NEXT MONDAY.

SO ALL OF OUR STAFF INVOLVED WITH THAT AND CERTAINLY ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO IT'S HERE. THE SCHOOL YEAR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SEEING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BACK ON OUR CAMPUSES ENGAGING IN THE MANY ACTIVITIES.

SO THANK YOU. MR. BRYAN THANK YOU.

DR. LEDBETTER. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS THE INFORMATION SECTION OF OUR AGENDA.

[8. INFORMATION]

DR. OR MR. JOHNSON.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BRYAN, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE INSURANCE PROPOSALS TONIGHT.

WE'LL GO OVER THE INSURANCE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

A LITTLE BIT OF THE OVERVIEW, THE INSURANCE LINES FOR BID, THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, PROPOSALS TO RECEIVE THE SUMMARY.

AND TONIGHT WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS, BECAUSE TONIGHT IS JUST PRESENTATION.

NO ACTION TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.

WE STARTED THE BID PROCESS BACK IN REALLY IN PROBABLY IN APRIL AND DEVELOPED AN RFP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR INSURANCE.

WE ISSUED THAT ON MAY 4TH, 2023.

WE GAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ANSWERS ON QUESTIONS IN THE PERIOD OF MAY 4TH UNTIL IT CLOSED ON JULY 19TH.

SO THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED SO THAT WE COULD GET TO THE BEST CONCLUSION.

AND THEN IT'S BEEN EVALUATED.

WE EVALUATED THAT ON JULY 20TH AND CONTINUE.

AND WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVALUATION TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

BUT I WANT TO UPDATE YOU GUYS ON THE RESULTS OF THE BID, THE NUMBER OF VENDORS THAT WERE INVITED TO RESPOND.

SO WE HAD 60 IN OUR DATABASE THAT WERE REGISTERED OR THAT WERE INVITED TO RESPOND.

AND THEN WE IDENTIFIED 35 ADDITIONAL VENDORS THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH SOME OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAD INSURANCE THROUGH THROUGH VARIOUS LINES. AND FROM ALL OF THAT, WE HAD SIX RESPONSE, SIX RESPONSES AND ZERO RESPONSES, REJECTED THE LINES.

WE BID EVERY LINE OF INSURANCE AT THE DISTRICT PURCHASES.

SO WE WENT THROUGH A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST PRICE AND VALUE FOR THE DISTRICT.

WE WE HAVE REAL AND BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY, GENERAL LIABILITY, LEGAL LIABILITY, AUTO CRIME, MEDICAL STUDENTS, INTERNS.

SOMETHING IS VERY UNIQUE TO CARROLL.

WORKERS COMPENSATION, STORAGE TANK LIABILITY, STUDENT ATHLETE, CATASTROPHIC AND ACCIDENT, CYBERSECURITY AND VIOLENT ACTS.

WE HAD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE WHO COULD RESPOND BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE THE BEST VENDORS POSSIBLE RESPOND TO THESE.

SO IT WAS THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED AS LICENSED AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO HAVE AN AM BEST RATING OF A- OR BETTER DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF STRONG PERFORMANCE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WRITING THE VARIOUS LINES OF INSURANCE COVERAGE AS OUTLINED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AGENTS SHALL BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE TEXAS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE PROPOSED INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNED TO HANDLE CARROLL ISD'S ACCOUNT SHALL HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE

[00:30:06]

SO THIS IS THE RESULTS OF THE SUBMISSIONS YOU CAN SEE THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE PROPERTY LIABILITY AND THE CYBER AND THE OTHER VARIOUS INSURANCE.

WE HAD FIVE RESPONDENTS.

THIS IS THE MARKET.

SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE MARKET AND YOU HAVE ALL THE ADVERTISING, ALL THE ADVERTISEMENTS, WE WE CONTACTED PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

WE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE BEST VALUE THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH AS DRIVEN BY THE MARKET.

NOT EVERYBODY QUOTED ON ALL THE INSURANCES LINES.

WE GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUOTE ON ONE OR QUOTE ON ALL OR A COMBINATION IN BETWEEN.

SO WE DID THE BEST OPEN ENDED PROCUREMENT THAT I THINK WE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE DONE.

THESE ARE THE RESULTS.

YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY IS ONLY BEEN PROPOSED BY PCAT, ITS NORTH AMERICA SOLUTIONS.

THAT'S WHO THE DISTRICT HAS HAD THEIR INSURANCE WITH THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AT LEAST THE PAST THREE YEARS, POSSIBLY BEFORE THAT.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE RESPONSES WITH WITH PCAT IS THEY WERE GOING FOR THE ENTIRE INSURANCE BUSINESS LINES WITH THE DISTRICT. AND SO THEY QUALIFIED THEIR INSURANCE THAT FOR US TO GET THE PROPERTY INSURANCE, WE HAD TO ALSO GO WITH ALL THE OTHER LINES OF INSURANCE.

SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE LIABILITY, THE EDUCATORS, LEGAL LIABILITY, AUTO, THE CYBER, ALL OF THAT IS A PACKAGE DEAL.

IT'S AN ALL OR NONE DEAL.

AND SINCE NONE OF THE OTHER VENDORS PROPOSED ON THAT, THAT'S REALLY LIMITING US AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY STATEMENT.

THIS WAS A VERY TRANSPARENT, VERY WELL ADVERTISED, VERY SOLICITED BY CARROLL ISD IN GETTING THE BEST VALUE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THAT.

IF NOT, THEN I WILL GO TO WORKERS COMP.

SO, MR. JOHNSON. YES, SIR.

GO BACK REAL QUICK. SO.

ANY REASON WHY THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT QUOTE PROPERLY? WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT PROPERTY PROPERTY IS A MARKET THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TON OF INTEREST.

YOU KNOW, NORTH TEXAS.

NORTH TEXAS HAS HAS HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE.

I SEE THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS IN DISTRICTS WITHIN NORTH TEXAS.

AND THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT UNDERWRITE THIS.

SO PCAT WITH NORTH AMERICA SOLUTIONS PROPERTY CASUALTY ALLIANCE OF TEXAS, REALLY THOSE POOLS ARE REALLY LIMITED ON WE'RE REALLY LIMITED TO POOLS ON THOSE. AND SO JUST I GUESS BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT INCREASES IN THE LIABILITY EXPOSURE, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT.

AND THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON.

IS THAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR PROPERTY PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT MARKET RATES.

IT WAS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE EXPECTED TO SEE.

YEAH. I THINK THE REALITY IS AND I THINK EVERYBODY SEES THIS PROBABLY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AS WELL, INSURANCE, PROPERTY INSURANCE IN NORTH TEXAS IS JUST CONTINUE TO GROW.

MR. JOHNSON, JUST ONE QUESTION.

OUT OF CURIOSITY, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO PIECEMEAL? YOU CAN YOU CAN'T REALLY WITH PCAT.

NO, THAT WAS WRITTEN INTO THEIR RESPONSE.

THEY EITHER GET ALL THE BUSINESS OR NONE OF THE BUSINESS.

AND SO IT LIMITS US AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.

BECAUSE OF THAT, NONE OF THE OTHERS WERE WILLING TO WRITE PROPERTY INSURANCE.

SO WE'RE PRETTY LIMITED TO TO PCAT ON THAT.

BUT WITH ALL THE OTHERS, IF YOU CHOSE TO DO SO, YOU COULD PIECEMEAL ANY ONE OR ALL PIECES ACROSS THE BOARD.

NO, NO, IT'S PCAT EVERYTHING IN THAT PCAT COLUMN, THEY SAY YOU EITHER GO WITH ALL THOSE INSURANCES AS A SINGLE PACKAGE OR WE DON'T GET ANYTHING WITH THEM.

AND THAT WAS JUST WHAT THEY TAILORED THEIR RESPONSE TO BE.

OKAY, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT PCAT WILL ONLY GO WITH ALL OF THE INSURANCES, BUT IF YOU CHOSE TO GIVE TASB ONE THING, RHSB ONE THING, INSURANCE ONE THING, LEGEND ONE THING.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? NO, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAD A PROPERTY QUOTE CORRECT.

THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. BUT FOR INSTANCE, ON LET'S JUST SAY, MEDICAL STUDENT INTERNS, SINCE PCAT DIDN'T QUOTE THAT, WE WOULD WE WOULD BE FREE TO GO WITH ANOTHER INSURER ON THAT PARTICULAR. YES.

WHERE THEY DID NOT QUOTE YES, YOU'RE CORRECT.

YES. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FROM THIS POINT? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? REALLY? I WILL BRING THIS BACK TO YOU FOR A RECOMMENDATION ON AUGUST 7TH TO SELECT ONE OF THE VENDORS THAT I JUST PRESENTED.

SO THIS ONE IS IS PRETTY LIMITED, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF WHAT I WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED WITH PCAT ONLY ACCEPTING ALL OR NONE.

[00:35:07]

THIS IS THE OTHER PART.

SO THE GROUPS OF INSURANCE THAT I JUST SHOWED YOU IS ONE GROUPING WORKERS COMP WAS NOT INCLUDED AS AN ALL OR NONE LIKE THE REST OF THE LINES WERE WITH PCA.

SO WORKERS COMP, WE HAD FOUR HAD FIVE QUALIFIED BIDS AND EACH ONE OF THEM IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU'VE GOT THE FULLY INSURED AND THEN YOU'VE GOT WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS COST PLUS.

AND SO WHAT A COST PLUS INSURANCE PROGRAM, WORKER'S COMP INSURANCE PROGRAM IS, IS WHERE YOU TAKE YOU PAY A PREMIUM.

IN THIS INSTANCE, TASB IS 89,000 COMPARED TO RHSB OF 82,000.

AND THEN YOU PAY ACTUAL CLAIMS UP TO A CEILING.

AND SO THE PCAT OF 310,000, THAT'S WHETHER YOU HAVE $100,000 IN CLAIMS OR $300,000 IN CLAIMS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY UNDER THAT INSURANCE PROPOSAL.

TASB HAS THE 89 AND THE 256 FOR AN A TOTAL OF 345,000.

RHSB OFFERS BOTH 215,000 FOR THE FULLY INSURED OR THE COMBINED FOR 403 INSURANCE.

ONE IS 184 FOR 67.

THAT IS A TURNKEY THAT THAT IS WHETHER YOU HAVE AGAIN LIMITED CLAIMS OR AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CLAIMS. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT HCDT FOR 220,000.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT OUR CLAIMS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE AVERAGED $192,000.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF FURTHER ANALYSIS.

AND THEN WHEN I COME BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST 7TH, I'LL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AND I'LL KIND OF EXPLAIN THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT.

THERE ARE ALL THE TOP LEVEL FOR THE FULLY INSURED.

THAT'S JUST BASED ON WHAT WE PROVIDED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES IS OUR MINIMUM AMOUNT OF COVERAGE THAT WE NEED.

CORRECT. AND THAT THAT MEETS THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

AND WE GAVE THEM OUR PAYROLL FIGURES AND SO THEY ALL BID ON THE EXACT SAME NUMBERS ON THE EXACT SAME THINGS YOU JUST DESCRIBED? YES, SIR. WELL, ANY OF THESE CHANGE AT ALL BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING? THEY WILL NOT. AND IS THERE ANY CHANCE THERE'LL BE ANY OTHER BIDDERS THAT WILL SUBMIT ANYTHING OR THIS IS ALL WE'LL EVER SEE? THERE WAS A DEADLINE OF JULY 19TH.

AND SO IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROCUREMENT LAW, WE CAN'T ACCEPT ANY BIDS PAST THAT POINT IN TIME.

EVEN IF YOU OPEN IT BACK UP TO EVERYONE.

IF WE OPENED IT BACK UP POTENTIALLY.

YES. AND I WILL JUST I'LL REMIND THAT THAT THE TIMELINE REALLY WE OPENED IT ON MAY EARLY MAY.

AND SO IT'S ABOUT REALLY A MINIMUM OF 30 DAY PROCESS.

AND THAT'S AFTER THE TWO WEEKS OF ADVERTISING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

MR. JOHNSON, WHEN DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE POLICIES IN PLACE? THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 1ST.

SO YEAH, THE NEXT STEP IS OBVIOUSLY BOARD MEETING AUGUST 7TH FOR ACTION ITEM NOTIFY AWARD VENDORS, BEGIN TRANSITIONING THE NEW INSURANCE IS ACTIVE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST. MR. JOHNSON? YES, SIR. IF YOU COULD GO BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES.

OKAY. WHAT CONCERNS ME, WE HAVE PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST LINE, AND WE HAVE ONE QUOTE.

YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WE CAN GET A QUOTE FROM? I MEAN, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN COME TO A DECISION WHEN THERE'S JUST ONE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT NOT ONLY CARROLL ISD IS EXPERIENCING, BUT I THINK OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS.

ONE THING YOU WANT TO I'VE GOT MR. JAMES CHARLESWORTH, WHO IS WHO IS ASSISTED ME IN THIS PROCUREMENT, SO I'LL ALLOW HIM TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD.

JAMES CHARLESWORTH CHARLESWORTH CONSULTING 12712 PARK CENTRAL DRIVE, DALLAS, TEXAS.

TO YOUR QUESTION, TO GET ENOUGH COVERAGE, INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO USE MULTIPLE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GO TO TRAVELERS AND TRAVELERS WILL PROVIDE $450 MILLION OF COVERAGE.

THEY HAVE TO ACCESS MULTIPLE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BUILD THE PROGRAM.

OFTEN THEY'LL GO TO 60 TO 70 INSURANCE COMPANIES.

AND FOR A PROGRAM THIS SIZE, THEY MAY HAVE TO USE 15 TO 20 DIFFERENT INSURANCE COMPANIES.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OPTIONAL QUOTES.

PCAT PRETTY MUCH HAS THE MARKET.

THEY'VE APPROACHED A LOT OF THOSE INSURERS, WHICH LIMITS THE OTHER'S ABILITY TO TO TO BUILD AN ADEQUATE PROGRAM.

I WILL SAY THAT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

WE LOOKED AT YOUR RATES.

WE DO MARKET FOR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NORTH TEXAS.

YOUR RATES, YOUR TERMS, CONDITIONS ARE COMPETITIVE.

THE MARKET IS VERY DIFFICULT.

HURRICANE IAN WAS $60 MILLION.

THAT REALLY SENT RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGH THE REINSURANCE MARKET.

[00:40:01]

AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE FEELING IT DOWN AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL.

IS THERE ANY REASON WE CAN'T OR SHOULD NOT OPEN IT UP FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, RECONTACT EACH OF THEM AND ASK THEM IF THERE'S ANY WAY THEY WOULD CHANGE ANY OF THEIR BID AMOUNTS.

WELL, I HAD CORRESPONDENCE THROUGH PURCHASING WITH ALL OF THEM.

NONE OF THEM INDICATED THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME OR THEY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION.

SO I WILL DEFER TO OBVIOUSLY YOU AND PROCUREMENT.

I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK IT WILL REAP ANY BENEFITS, BUT THERE'S JUST NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY OPTIONS.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE FOR US TO COME TO COMPLY WITH PROCUREMENT LAW.

WE HAVE TO DO TWO WEEKS OF ADVERTISING, WHICH WOULD GIVE A VERY LIMITED WINDOW FOR RESPONDING.

BRING IT TO YOU.

COULD WE DO IT, I GUESS, TIMELINE? YES. THE LIKELIHOOD I THINK TYPICALLY WHAT IS THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RESPOND ON ONE OF THIS VOLUME? WELL, IF WE WERE PUTTING OUT A NEW RFP, IT WOULD BE 30 DAYS.

I THINK WHAT THE BOARD MEMBER IS ASKING IS IF ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON IT MIGHT RECONSIDER BASED ON WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M INTERRUPTING EXACTLY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SOME OF THEM ARE WATCHING US TONIGHT AND THEY'LL KNOW WHERE THEY STACK UP AGAINST THEIR COMPETITION.

IF I WERE, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO WIN THE BUSINESS, I WOULD WANT A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO GET THE BUSINESS AND MAYBE THAT MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY EXPLORED THAT.

AND THAT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY.

BUT WHAT DOWNSIDE IS THERE TO SEEING IF ANYONE WANTS TO ADJUST AND RESUBMIT? LET ME LOOK INTO THAT IN THE MORNING AND GET BACK WITH YOU, IF THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MY CONCERN AS AS A RISK MANAGER WOULD BE AN ALLEGATION OF AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE GIVEN TO OTHERS SINCE THE NUMBERS ARE ALREADY KNOWN FROM THEIR COMPETITOR. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD STACK UP WITH THE LOSS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO.

I'D LIKE TO PARRY BACK TO THAT, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S NO COMPETITIVE NUMBER FOR PROPERTY.

SO, I MEAN, IF WE'RE ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION BY SEPTEMBER 1ST, WE HAD SOME GOOD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WE ARE TRYING DESPERATELY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF.

WE WANT TO PICK THE BEST DEAL IN EVERY LINE.

THIS IS NO CHOICE AT ALL.

IF WE HAVE TO HAVE PROPERTY, THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT CAME IN WITH A PROPERTY.

QUOTE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT TO TRUSTEE LANNEN'S POINT, I'D LIKE TO SEE CAN WE POSSIBLY EXTEND OUR CURRENT INSURERS PAST SEPTEMBER 1ST SO THAT WE ARE IN COVER? WE HAVE COVERAGE TO GIVE US MORE TIME BECAUSE THIS IS NO CHOICE.

IF WE WERE A STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANIES, THAT MAY BE AN OPTION.

THESE PROGRAMS LIKE PCAT, TASB AND OTHER POOLS, THEY HAVE A SET DATE FOR ALL THEIR MEMBERS.

SO EXTENDING GETTING A ONE MONTH TO MONTH POLICY EXTENSION FROM SOMEBODY LIKE PCAT OR TASB OR ANY OTHER POOL IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION. IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT PCA THEN HAS ALMOST A MONOPOLY ON THE PROPERTY INSURERS AROUND THE STATE OR NORTH TEXAS OR WHEREVER THEY'RE PULLING FROM, AND NONE OF THESE OTHER GUYS, IF THEY EVEN HAD A CHANCE, WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPETE BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY AROUND THAT'S NOT IN THIS PCAT POOL.

IS THAT RIGHT? I WANT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT I SAY, BUT I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.

OKAY. WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF PCAT? IF THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE? AND I JUST FIND IT VERY ODD THAT THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A QUOTE FOR PROPERTY THAT WE NEGOTIATE WITH THEM AND SAY, WE'RE INTERESTED IN YOUR PROPERTY, BUT WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN ALL OR NOTHING PACKAGE.

THE BEST NEGOTIATOR THERE.

WELL, I THINK THE STRUGGLE IS THAT TO GO BACK TO THE BID, THE BID SPECS, THEY'VE RESPONDED TO THE BID SPECS AND THEY QUALIFIED THAT IN THEIR RESPONSE.

SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO BACK AND LET THEM CHANGE WHAT THEY'VE RESPONDED TO BECAUSE THEN YOU'D HAVE TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS AS WELL.

SO WE'RE LIMITED TO THEIR TO THEIR RESPONSE.

MR. JOHNSON, I ALSO WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO REOPEN, I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING IF WE DID REOPEN.

DOES THAT OPERATE AS A REJECTION OF THESE OFFERS? YES, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE.

SO THEY WOULD BE OFF THE TABLE.

REMIND ME AGAIN HOW WE GET PROPERTY INSURANCE RIGHT NOW.

HOW WE GET IT. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WITH THIS SAME GROUP.

SAME GROUP WITH THIS SAME GROUP.

AND YOU SAID IT WAS ABOUT IT WAS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR.

THE PREMIUMS KNOW THE PREMIUMS INCREASE.

AND IT WAS VERY MUCH WHAT WE SAW IN THE MARKET ACROSS THE BOARD.

[00:45:03]

THEY DID. THEY THEY DID GIVE US A BETTER DEAL THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING NOW.

NO INCREASE THE REQUIREMENTS.

RIGHT. AND SO WHEN I SPOKE TO THE PCAT REPRESENTATIVE EARLIER TODAY, HE SAID ACTUALLY, I GUESS THREE YEARS AGO THAT HE I GUESS IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS BEFORE I GOT HERE IS THEY WERE WILLING TO QUOTE PROPERTY ONLY FOR THAT YEAR, THREE YEARS AGO.

AND COMING FORWARD, THEY SAID THAT ANY FUTURE SUBMISSIONS THEY WOULD INCLUDE EXACTLY AS THEY PRESENTED NOW.

SO IT WAS AN ALL OR ANYTHING.

AND I THINK WHAT THEY DO IS THEY ADJUST EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE RATES SO THAT THEY LOOK AT IT AS A PACKAGE.

AND SO IF YOU'RE MAKING MONEY OFF OF X, THEN YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO REDUCE Y.

WELL, ONE LAST QUESTION.

IN INDUSTRY, I KNOW COMPANIES CHOOSE IN SOME CASES TO SELF-INSURE ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THEIR RISK.

I DON'T KNOW IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR GOVERNMENTS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

DO CAN EITHER OF YOU COMMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELF-INSURE ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? YES, SIR. I MEAN, YOU YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELF.

WE DON'T SEE IT FOR DISTRICTS YOUR SIZE SPECIFICALLY IN PROPERTY BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE 400 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF PROPERTY FOR LIABILITY. GENERALLY, WE DON'T SELF INSURE, WE JUST TAKE HIGHER RETENTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR YOUR EDUCATORS LEGAL LIABILITY.

I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE DEDUCTIBLE IS.

WE DID ASK FOR HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES TO REDUCE SOME OF THAT COST, BUT NO OTHER OPTIONS WERE GIVEN EVEN THOUGH WE ASKED FOR THEM.

SO SELF INSURANCE IS ALWAYS IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR WORKER'S COMPENSATION WITH JUST PAYING THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND PAYING YOUR OWN CLAIMS WITH A CAP.

THERE'S JUST UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR LIABILITY PIECE.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PREMIUM THERE TO TO MAKE TAKING THAT KIND OF RISK WORTHWHILE, IN MY OPINION.

I KNOW I SAID ONE LAST QUESTION, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK ONE LAST ONE.

IS THIS JUST INSURANCE FOR ONE YEAR? THE PCAT PROGRAM IS A THREE YEAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY COMMITMENT, BUT THAT'S A THREE YEAR.

IT'S NOT A THREE YEAR RATE GUARANTEE.

WE CAN'T THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE THEIR PREMIUMS. SO OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH THEM.

WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

THERE MIGHT BE A PENALTY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY PCAT IF THEY CAN SHOW US THAT THEY GAVE US DISCOUNTED PRICING BASED ON A THREE YEAR DEAL.

WE WOULD HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THAT.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE STILL NEED TO GET BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING WHY WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT, B, CONSIDER ACQUISITION OF POLICY FOR LOCAL K-12, FOR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR AUTISM GRANT COUNSELING CURRICULUM, AP, SPANISH TEXTBOOK AND AP TEST PREPARATION LICENSES.

MS. BONNER? PRESIDENT BRYAN, DR.

LEDBETTER AND TRUSTEES.

CARROLL ISD WAS AWARDED THE AUTISM GRANT FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM IN DEVELOPING ACADEMIC READINESS SKILLS EVENTUALLY.

SORRY. ADDITIONALLY, CORE ESSENTIALS CURRICULUM PROMOTES KINDNESS, RESPECT AND LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENTS.

CARROLL ISD HAS ADOPTED CORE ESSENTIALS AS IT IS MANDATED CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

CISD CAMPUS COUNSELORS USE THIS CURRICULUM FOR GUIDANCE LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE CURRENT AP SPANISH TEXTBOOK LICENSE HAVE EXPIRED.

WE NEED TO RENEW THE LICENSES FOR BOTH THE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE PROGRAMS. AND LASTLY, IN ORDER TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A KINESIOLOGY AND CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM.

TEXTBOOKS ARE REQUIRED.

FUNDING WILL COME FROM CTE FUNDS.

SO. DR.

BONNER. YEAH. I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE AUTISM GRANT FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

WHO IS THAT FOR? OKAY, SO THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ARE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED UNDER SPECIAL EDUCATION.

THEY ARE PRIMARILY FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM.

HOWEVER, THEY CAN ALSO BE USED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND THE CURRICULUM WILL BE THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WILL BE USED IN OUR SELF-CONTAINED CENTRALIZED PROGRAM LOCATIONS.

IS THE CURRICULUM TRAINING IT ENCOMPASSES.

IT ENCOMPASSES PARENT SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION, DATA COLLECTION ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT, CAMPUS STAFF TRAINING FOLLOWING THE USE OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SUPPORT IN CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS AND PARAPROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN

[00:50:06]

SO WHAT WE BUILT IN WAS SO THAT WE COULD PAY PARAS TO PAY THEM OUTSIDE OF THE WORKDAY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND INCREASE RETENTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

GOING BACK IN THE TIME MACHINE A FEW MONTHS, I KNOW WE WERE REALLY EXCITED WHEN YOU JOINED US.

GOSH, IT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE DOING.

IS THIS AUTISM GRANT SOMETHING NEW TO THE DISTRICT OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OR.

SO THE AUTISM GRANT IS NEW TO CARROLL ISD.

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A NEW GRANT COMPETITIVE GRANT WITH TEA.

WE ACTUALLY ENTERED INTO THIS GRANT WITH A CONSORTIUM OF DISTRICTS.

A DISTRICT REACHED OUT TO OUR COORDINATOR OF BEHAVIOR SUPPORT AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN APPLYING THE GRANT FOR THE GRANT.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, THIS GRANT IS TYPICALLY AWARDED TO DISTRICTS WHO WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S TYPICALLY THEY WANT TO HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER DISTRICTS AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF PROMOTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY WHEN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, DISTRICTS ARE AWARDED THIS GRANT.

THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE INNOVATION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISS BONNER.

ITEM 8C THE 2023-2024 BUDGET UPDATE AND RELATED LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

MR. JOHNSON.

SO TONIGHT I'LL GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND SOME OF THE TAX COMPRESSION AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY.

RECAP ON BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

I WANT TO KNOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE AND THROUGH THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT.

ALWAYS WANT TO REVISIT THE BUDGETARY ASSUMPTIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY GERMANE TO THE CONVERSATION.

PRELIMINARY 2023, 24 BUDGET WHERE WE ARE ON THAT AND THEN OPTIONS TO ADDRESS AND BALANCE THE BUDGET, LONG TERM ANALYSIS AND CONSIDERATION, THEN SUBSTITUTE PAY.

SO MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE TAX COMPRESSION.

THAT'S BEEN KIND OF THE HOT TOPIC.

AND SO ON JULY 13TH, THEY PASSED LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDED TAX REDUCTION, SENATE BILL TWO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND HJR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARE REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION THAT ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE 18 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF.

SO SENATE BILL TWO SPENDS $12 BILLION ON A 10.7 CENT REDUCTION IN DISTRICTS.

TIER ONE TAX RATE SUBJECT TO THE STATUTORY 90% FLOOR.

AND SO AS WE LOOK AT TAX RATE, WE PUT IT IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, RIGHT? IT'S $1.2188 RIGHT NOW PER $100 OF PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUE.

SO WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS REDUCING THAT BY $0.10 AND REALLY ON A ON ABOUT $1 MILLION HOME.

AND THAT IS PROBABLY NOT EXACTLY THE AVERAGE.

BUT I THINK FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES IT'S EASIEST TO DO SOMETHING WITH ROUND NUMBERS ON THAT.

SO WHEN THEY INSTITUTE THAT $0.10 REDUCTION FROM $1 TO 21, YOU GO TO $1 1118 THAT PROVIDES ABOUT $1,000 IN TAX REDUCTION, $1,070 ON THAT MILLION DOLLAR HOME.

THEN WE LOOK AT THE COMPRESSION.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY CONTINGENT ON VOTER APPROVAL OF A HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION TWO.

SO, MR. JOHNSON, JUST A QUICK POINT ON THAT.

CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THAT DOES ANYTHING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS? IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THE COMPRESSION IS CONTINGENT ON VOTER APPROVAL OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION TWO, WHICH EXEMPTS THE STATE'S APPROPRIATIONS NEEDED TO PAY FOR IT FROM STATE SPENDING LIMITS.

THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS THE OTHER THING THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONTENTIOUS TOPICS BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

SO THEY LANDED ON RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 40,000 TO 100,000.

SO AN ADDITIONAL $60,000 ON THAT AND PROVIDES FOR A HOLD HARMLESS BOTH ON THE M&O AND INS SIDE.

SO WHEN M&O IS YOU GET LESS TAXES, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING WITH A HOLD HARMLESS IS THEY MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT YOUR FUNDING.

TO MR. BRYAN'S POINT, THIS IN A NUTSHELL, DOESN'T IMPROVE OUR BOTTOM LINE FINANCIALLY, BUT IT DOES DO THINGS FOR TAXPAYERS.

AND WHAT IT DOES DO FOR CARROLL ISD IS THAT IT MAKES US IT ALLOWS US TO SEND BACK LESS TO THE STATE.

SO I THINK THERE ARE BENEFITS FROM IT, BUT IT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE DISTRICT.

WE DO NOT GET AND I PUT THAT ON THE BOTTOM DOWN HERE IS THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED TO DISTRICTS AS A RESULT OF THIS LEGISLATION.

SOME HAVE SAID YOU YOU PAY LESS RECAPTURE.

WE PAY LESS RECAPTURE BECAUSE WE COLLECT LESS ON THE FRONT END.

[00:55:02]

AS A STATE. RIGHT.

AND SO THEY'RE SAYING THAT, OH, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO OVER COLLECT BY A SMALLER PERCENTAGE.

CORRECT. SO THEY'RE NOT GIVING US OUR MONEY BACK, CORRECT? RIGHT. GOT IT. CORRECT.

YES. AND SO THERE WERE ALSO APPRAISAL LIMITS DURING THE THE SESSION.

SENATE BILL TWO CREATES A THREE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A 20%, DOESN'T LET THE APPRAISED VALUE GO UP BY MORE THAN 20%.

BUT THAT'S NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY.

SO THE MAJORITY OF WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED OBVIOUSLY IS BENEFICIAL TO HOMEOWNERS, BUT THEY ALSO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL.

WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER REALLY THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE WAY WE'VE REDUCED COSTS.

IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

SO FROM SPRING OF 21 TO JULY OF 2022, APPROXIMATELY $814,000 WAS REDUCED IN STAFFING COST VIA THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND DISTRICT DEPARTMENT. SO A YEAR AGO, DIAL BACK NOT LAST YEAR, BUT THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO THAT HAS BEEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO BRING IT BACK UP BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE TO ADDRESS OUR BUDGET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS.

AND FOR 23-24, WE ENGAGED MOAT CASEY, HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MOAT CASEY, AND FROM THAT WE DID SOME STAFFING EFFICIENCY.

WE SET STANDARDIZATION THAT SAVED APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MILLION.

WE ALSO HAD VACANCIES.

WE HAD POSITIONS WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED, BUT WE JUST CHOSE TO NOT FILL THOSE POSITIONS AND WE REDUCED THOSE THAT $600,000.

ALSO THROUGH MOAT CASEY, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WE DO SOME THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN SOME OF THE PEERS.

SO WE REMOVED PLC AND TIMING PERIODS, GRADES FIVE THROUGH EIGHT FOR $900,000.

SO THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF THE ACTIVITIES, I THINK THIS DISTRICT HAS SHOWN A GREAT DEAL OF PROACTIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE BUDGET BY DOING THE THINGS ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WITH ADMINISTRATION.

AND THEN DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE, ALL OF THE WORK WITH CASEY, ALL OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE INTERNALLY IS ABOUT $3 MILLION.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

AND SO, MR. JOHNSON? YES, SIR. TO BE CLEAR, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AMAZING THINGS TO REDUCE COST.

AND YOU JUST TOLD US THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP US THIS YEAR, BUT FRANKLY, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP US THE LAST THREE YEARS EITHER.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU TOOK SOME OF THE DRAMATIC ACTIONS THAT YOU DID SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS A DISTRICT.

SO WE'VE BEEN MAKING EVERY CUT, I THINK, POSSIBLE FOR THREE YEARS NOW SO WE CAN BALANCE OUR BUDGETS.

BUT EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE ALL DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP US OUT.

AND NOT JUST US.

EVERY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A CLIFF COMING.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE INCREASES IN COSTS AND GIVE SALARY INCREASES AND AND NOT HAVE ANY HELP FROM THE STATE AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP MONEY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THIS LAST YEAR.

IT'S THE LAST THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

CORRECT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THESE ARE SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE DISTRICT HAS HISTORICALLY CARRIED ON THE BOOKS AND PROBABLY FILLED.

BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE EVALUATION OF WHAT WE CAN DO LESS OF OR DO WITH LESS OF THIS IS THE POSITIONS THAT WE ELIMINATED THAT JUST HADN'T BEEN FILLED DURING THE TIME PERIOD.

WE'RE EVALUATING THEM.

LONG TERM PLANNING EFFICIENCY.

SO WE ALSO, THROUGH THE MOAT CASEY STUDY, LOOKED NOT ONLY AT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT NOW, BUT WE ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS.

AGAIN, COMPARING US TO TWO SIMILAR DISTRICTS.

AND SO THE ELIMINATION OF GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 TEACHER TEAMING PLC PERIODS, THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN DONE YET, BUT THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER COULD CONSIDER, AND THAT WOULD SAVE APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION.

SO THAT CREATES A CONFERENCE PERIOD EVERY OTHER DAY ON THE BLOCK SCHEDULE.

ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IS TO REMOVE THE BLOCK, GO TO TRADITIONAL EIGHT PERIOD DAYS FOR GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 AT CHS AND CSHS CREATES A CONFERENCE PERIOD DAILY BUT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL LOGISTICS STUDY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, EVALUATE AND QUANTIFY SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO.

SO, MR. JOHNSON, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO? AGAIN, SO IF YOU'RE ELIMINATING THE GRADES NINE THROUGH 12, TEACHING TEAMING, THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY REMOVING THE BLOCK, CORRECT? SCHEDULING, CORRECT.

BECAUSE YOU'RE KEEPING THE EXTRA PERIOD.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON AN EIGHT PERIOD DAY.

FOUR PERIODS EVERY.

SO EACH DAY IS FOUR PERIODS.

SO RIGHT NOW, OUR 9 TO 12, THEY HAVE A CONFERENCE PERIOD EVERY DAY.

SO THEY HAVE 90 MINUTES, ONE FOR PLC TIME, ONE FOR PLANNING.

SO IF WE REMOVE THAT AND THEY PICK UP AN EXTRA CLASS PERIOD, THEN THEY WOULD BE TEACHING BASICALLY SEVEN OF THOSE EIGHT PERIODS.

SO THEIR CONFERENCE PERIOD WOULD ONLY BE EVERY OTHER DAY.

AND SO A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HAD TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS THEN TRANSITION BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT AS A TEACHER NOT TO HAVE A CONFERENCE PERIOD EVERY DAY.

[01:00:02]

SO OBVIOUSLY OUR DESIRE WOULD NOT TO BE TO DO ANY OF THIS.

THESE ARE JUST ITEMS ON THE TABLE THAT WE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCIES IN THE EVENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US FINANCIALLY.

RIGHT. OKAY. SO DR.

LEDBETTER, I THINK I RECALL THAT WE ARE UNIQUE IN OUR DISTRICT IN THAT WE DO HAVE TWO CONFERENCE PERIODS, AS YOU JUST DESCRIBED, AND MOST OTHER IN FACT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAVE TWO CONFERENCE PERIODS.

ARE THERE ANY. SO THERE ARE SOME.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY THE ONLY UNIQUE TO THAT STANDPOINT.

THERE ARE SOME THAT STILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SOME TYPE OF MULTIPLE CONFERENCE ROOMS. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR JUST TO WITH RESPECT TO OUR TEACHERS, I MEAN, CERTAINLY THAT EXTRA CONFERENCE PERIOD, IT'S NOT JUST A CONFERENCE PERIOD THEN FOR THEM TO PLAN AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. IT IS TRULY SPENT AND PLANNING WITH OTHERS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS ON TEACHERS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT WITH ATTENDING OUR MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT DIFFERENT MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE A PART OF.

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS BURDEN IN TERMS OF PAPERWORK THAT TEACHERS NOW HAVE TO TAKE ON.

AND SO IT IS A BENEFIT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE BENEFITS OF BEING IN CAROLINA THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE THAT WAY FOR YEARS.

AND OUR DESIRE IS TO KEEP THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SUCH A YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING IT 5-8 WAS WAS NOT A PLEASANT DECISION NOR TAKEN WELL BY OUR TEACHERS AND RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TREMENDOUS BURDENS PLACED UPON THEM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST TWO CONFERENCE PERIODS.

IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF WHAT THEY ARE ASKED TO DO THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE TO DO EVEN BEYOND THE DAY INTO THE EVENING AND ON WEEKENDS AND SO MANY OTHER DISTRICTS WHO DON'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THEIR TEACHERS ARE DOING IT EITHER BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL OR ON WEEKENDS.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT OF OUR TEACHERS, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND TO BE FAIR, I KNOW OF ONE OTHER THING THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE OFFER THE TWO CONFERENCE PERIODS.

I BELIEVE YOU'VE TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO CAMPUSES, IN MANY CASES, THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE TO TRANSFER FROM ONE CAMPUS TO ANOTHER CAMPUS TO TEACH CLASSES ON BOTH CAMPUSES.

THEY USE THAT SECOND CONFERENCE PERIOD TO GET BETWEEN CAMPUSES AND BE PREPARED FOR THEIR NEW CLASS.

AND THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, TOO.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE IS PROBABLY SOME OF THAT TRAVEL FOR TEACHERS.

BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, TOO, IS BECAUSE WE OFFER SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPUSES.

IF YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THAT BLOCK SCHEDULING, THEN THAT CREATES A, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSPORT OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY BETWEEN CAMPUSES TOO, IS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO I'M NOT CERTAIN HOW MUCH OF THE SAVINGS YOU REALIZE BECAUSE WE WOULD PROBABLY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WENT TO AN EIGHT PERIOD DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUILD THOSE COURSES INTO THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL OR THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.

YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL OR STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL DURING THEIR OFF PERIODS.

SO THOSE ARE ALL THE REASONS THAT WE'VE HELD BACK ON EVER DOING THIS, AND WE MAY NOT EVER DO IT.

WE JUST WE KNOW IT'S AN OPTION.

ABSOLUTELY. YES, SIR.

MR. JOHNSON, WE'VE DISCUSSED AND I APPRECIATE DR.

LEDBETTER TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF OF BLOCK SCHEDULING.

WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS, I CAN'T HELP BUT LEAN IN AND SAY, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A PRICE TAG OF POTENTIAL SAVINGS ON THESE FURTHER STUDY LINES? HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THOSE BEFORE DECEMBER, BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME.

BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IT SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, THEN YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MASTER SCHEDULING AND AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE ON A TIME LINE THAT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO TO PUT.

I WON'T SAY A RUSH ON IT, BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT REALLY BY DECEMBER, BY THE FIRST SEMESTER'S END SO THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE CHANGES THAT WE'VE GOT A TIME LINE, A RUNWAY TO DO THAT. SO ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN HOUSE OR ARE YOU GOING TO NEED SOME HELP WITH THAT? PROBABLY HAVE TO CONFER WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE TEAM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR BEST APPROACH ON THAT WOULD BE.

THE ONE THAT STRIKES ME IS REALLY INTERESTING IS CONSOLIDATION OF CAMPUSES.

I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK ABOUT WHAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE CONSOLIDATION, SO IF YOU ELIMINATED A CAMPUS, THEN YOU ELIMINATE ALL OF THE THE STAFF THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH KIND OF RUNNING THE CORE OF THOSE FACILITIES.

RIGHT. PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, NURSES, COUNSELORS, LIBRARIANS.

AND THAT THAT CONSOLIDATION CAN CAN BE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL IN SAVINGS.

DR. LEDBETTER CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU BELIEVE BLOCK SCHEDULING IS SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL EIGHT DAY PERIOD AND WHY WE'RE TRYING NOT TO GO AWAY FROM FROM BLOCK SCHEDULING? WELL, I THINK I'LL TALK AND THEN WE MAY HAVE MS. PETTY MAY WANT TO COMMENT AS I PUT HER ON THE SPOT.

BUT NO, I THINK JUST IN BIG IN BIG PICTURE, KIND OF A BIG VISION LOOKING AT BLOCK SCHEDULING, IT ALLOWS OUR TEACHERS TO DO SO MUCH MORE FROM AN INSTRUCTIONAL STANDPOINT.

TO ME, IT IS WHAT IT'S MORE OF A COLLEGE ATMOSPHERE.

[01:05:01]

AND SO FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE 90 MINUTES IN A CLASSROOM, I MEAN, LET'S TAKE A SCIENCE CLASS, FOR INSTANCE, YOUR TEACHER CAN DO SOME DIRECT INSTRUCTION, THEY CAN DO SOME COLLABORATIVE WORK, AND THEN THEY CAN BREAK OFF AND DO A LAB ALL IN THAT CLASS PERIOD.

WHEN YOU HAVE 45, 50 MINUTE CLASS PERIODS, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME FOR SET UP, TAKE DOWN FOR FOLLOW UP.

AND SO I JUST BELIEVE ACADEMICALLY IT'S THE BEST APPROACH FOR US TO UTILIZE.

AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY CARROLL HAS STAYED WITH IT FOR SO LONG, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SOME BUDGET SITUATIONS.

AND I THINK IT'S FOR ME, ACADEMICALLY, IT'S THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF TO REACH OUR STUDENTS.

SO. MS. PETTY? IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SAID? ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, OUR AP PROGRAM.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR ADVANCED ACADEMICS PROGRAM.

AND THOSE COURSES ARE VERY IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO GET THOSE COURSES TAUGHT IN A 45 MINUTE CLASS.

90 MINUTES IS MORE OPTIMAL FOR THAT.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AT THE RIGOR OF OF THE COGNITIVE ASSIGNMENTS THAT WE ARE GIVING, IDEALLY IT'S TO STAY ON A BLOCK.

ATTENDANCE ZONE BALANCE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE CAN POSSIBLY GET SOME EFFICIENCIES BY BY REDISTRIBUTING.

STUDENTS CONSOLIDATION ON CAMPUS.

MR. YEAGER IS STILL GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN BUS ROUTE REDUCTION.

SO CARROLL IS UNIQUE FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THEY TRANSPORT A GREAT DEAL OF THEIR STUDENTS.

AND SO COST ANALYSIS, WE PERFORM SOME OF THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM SOME MORE COST ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT BREAK EVEN ANALYSIS.

I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT SOME POINT.

SO THOSE ARE THE TOP THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS FIRST SEMESTER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR OR LOOK AT WAYS TO AGAIN BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND REDUCE COSTS AND HOPEFULLY WELL, WITH THE GOAL TO NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT INSTRUCTION AND BUDGETARY ASSUMPTIONS.

REVENUE. I KNOW THIS IS NOT NEW.

KIND OF LIKE TO REVISIT IT.

I'M GOING TO USE THE SAME AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PAID ON.

WE'RE NOT PAID ON ENROLLMENT. I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.

JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT.

SO 7,945 IS WHAT WE HAD THE TIER TWO ENRICHMENT TAX RATE THIS YEAR.

WE WERE ABLE TO ADOPT A SIX PENNY FOR THE DISASTER NEXT YEAR.

IT GOES BACK TO THE FIVE.

WE DID MODESTLY OR MODERATELY INCREASE THE TRANSPORTATION AND CHILD NUTRITION REVENUE HAD A MINOR REDUCTION IN INTEREST INCOME.

AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN A BOOM WITH THE INTEREST INCOME BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SEE WITH THE ECONOMY AND THE OVERNIGHT RATE, THE FED RATE THAT IS PROJECTED TO GO DOWN, THE REBATE ON THE BUILD AMERICA BONDS IS PROJECTED TO GO DOWN AND OTHERS RIGHT NOW WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT OTHER REVENUE.

BUT RIGHT NOW FOR BUDGETARY PURPOSES, I'VE CONSIDERED THAT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT YEAR ON BUDGETARY ASSUMPTIONS.

SO AGAIN, 100% STAFFING LEVEL IN 23-24.

AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE SPENT RELATIVE TO BUDGET ON THE ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.

THAT'S THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW TO REDUCE BUDGET REALLY AS I ANTICIPATE THE ACTUAL BEING LESS THAN BUDGET.

SO WE INCREASED. MR. JOHNSON? I'M SORRY. YES, SIR.

SO I ASK THIS EVERY TIME.

ARE YOU SO YOU'RE ASSUMING THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS 100% STAFFING LEVEL, KNOWING THAT WE NEVER REACH 100% STAFFING LEVEL? SO WHEN YOU BRING US THE BUDGET TO APPROVE, IS THAT GOING TO BE AUGUST 7TH? IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT ONE IS AUGUST 7TH.

SO AUGUST 7TH, IS THAT GOING TO BE THE FINALITY OF YOUR ANALYSIS? AND YOU'LL COME IN WITH SOMETHING LESS THAN 100% AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS FROM ONE OF THOSE LATER SLIDES.

WE INCREASED UTILITIES.

YOU KNOW, EARLY ON, I THINK IT WAS PRETTY APPARENT THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE UTILITY MARKET, WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH UTILITIES, SOME OUT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT CONTINUES TO GO UP, WE KIND OF TRIMMED THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND I THINK PROBABLY CAN TRIM IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND WE'VE GOT AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UTILITIES HERE ON ANOTHER SLIDE BUDGETED INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY.

SO THINGS WE'VE DONE WITH BOND DOLLARS, WE'RE NOW MOVING BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WHAT WE'VE PAID FOR OUT OF THOSE FOR MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, RENEWALS, SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAVE HISTORICALLY COME OUT OF BONDS.

THOSE NOW ARE COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

THOSE MOVED OVER.

MR.. JOHNSON CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN? BECAUSE I THINK THAT EVEN SOME OF OUR TRUSTEES, INCLUDING ME, ARE JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE TRI-COUNTY CO-OP AND IS THAT ARE ALL 11 CAMPUSES PLUS THIS EDMOND BUILDING, IS IT HALF THAT? IT'S ABOUT IT'S ABOUT HALF.

ARE WE TIED TO THIS? TRI-COUNTY YES.

AND LET ME THAT YES, I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

ABOUT HALF OF OUR FACILITIES ARE ON TRI-COUNTY AND UTILITIES.

ELECTRICITY CAN BE COMPETITIVELY PROCURED.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

TRI-COUNTY HAS WHAT THEY CALL A SOLE SOURCE.

SO WE CAN'T GET FOR THOSE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS THAT ARE IN THE TRI COUNTY AREA.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO PROCURE.

SO OUR HANDS ARE TIED ON SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING THOSE COSTS IS BECAUSE AS THEY INCREASE RATES, WE CAN'T SAY, NEVER MIND, WE'RE

[01:10:06]

YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE FACILITIES THAT ARE ON THE TRI-COUNTY METERS.

THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT DID I HEAR YOU SAY ABOUT 50%, ABOUT 50% OUR CAMPUS.

SO WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL, 50% OF OUR FACILITIES IN TERMS OF ELECTRICITY AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

YOU CANNOT CONTROL THOSE.

YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE THE COST PER KILOWATT HOUR.

NOW, THE USAGE WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT USAGE.

BUT NO, WE CANNOT CONTROL THE COST PER KILOWATT HOUR.

THOSE RATES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

THOSE RATES WITHOUT WITHOUT ANY COMPETITION.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. ALMOST DOUBLE IN SOME INSTANCES.

OKAY. MR. JOHNSON, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR A YEAR, BUT I'M CURIOUS, HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY OR WAS IT COMPETITIVE AT SOME POINT? IT'S I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

I TALKED TO A PREVIOUS CFO FROM HERE WHO'S NOW AT KELLER.

HE AND I TALKED QUITE A BIT, AND THEY'RE THEY'RE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE, RIGHT.

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SOME OF THOSE METERS AND WE KIND OF KIND OF QUIZZED THEM ON THAT AND SAYS THEIR SOLE SOURCE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

NOW, WE DID MEET DR.

LEDBETTER AND I DID MEET WITH TRI COUNTY, GOSH, I GUESS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD ANTICIPATE A REDUCTION OF AT LEAST 8%.

WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE DIFFERENT PLANS, MAYBE GEARED TOWARDS NONPROFIT OR GOVERNMENTAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS LIKE SCHOOLS ARE.

WE'LL GET BACK WITH THOSE, SEE WHERE THEY LANDED ON THAT.

BUT BY AND LARGE, WE'RE JUST VERY LIMITED.

AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME, I SUSPECT.

THANK YOU. AND THE BUDGET INCLUDES AND OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ZERO BASED BUDGETING.

I THINK DR. DR.

LEDBETTER HAS GOTTEN MORE OF A ZERO BASED EDUCATION THAN MAYBE HE WANTED TO, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE.

SO WE LOOK AT EVERY PENNY, EVERY LINE, EVERY EVERY ITEM THROUGH BOTH A FINANCIAL LENS AND PROGRAMMATIC LENS.

AND SO I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE EXERCISE AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRIM THROUGH THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE NOT INCLUDED SALARY INCREASES HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED, INCREASE IN SUBSTITUTE PAY RATES HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THAT WHEN I COMPARE WHAT WE SPEND ON FACILITIES BUILDING MAINTENANCE GROUNDS, THOSE THINGS AND COMPARE US TO THE PEER SPEND, WE SPEND PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY LESS.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

AND THAT'S SOMEWHERE IF WE LOOK AT THE AVERAGE OF THE PEERS THAT WE HAD ON OUR STAFFING STUDY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE SPEND VERSUS WHAT THEY SPEND, WE SPEND ABOUT $1 MILLION LESS.

SO I THINK REMIND ME WHERE WE ARE ON THE CONTRACT WITH PUTTING TOGETHER OUR CAPITAL PLAN.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT WITH THE ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER? I THINK WE'VE GOT THAT MEETING EITHER TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY, SO I'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU GUYS ON ON AUGUST 7TH.

BUT I'VE GOT A NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.

HE AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ALREADY STARTED TODAY.

WE'VE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.

AND SO WE'RE DEFINITELY PUTTING THAT ON THE FRONT BURNER AND WE'LL GET THAT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. IS THAT GOING TO BE PART OF I MEAN, IS THAT YOU BRIEFING US OR DO YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER THAT IS GOING TO DIRECT THIS GROUP? OR HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK OR IS THAT GOING TO BE THROUGH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE? WELL, THE STRATEGIC ACTION TEAM HAS DONE REALLY THE BULK OF THE WORK.

SO WHEN WE PRESENTED, WE WORKED WITH THE STRATEGIC ACTION TEAM, MET WITH THOSE, MET WITH THAT TEAM TWO WEEKS AGO, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCOPE AND GOT THEIR INPUT ON SCOPE.

AND SO FROM THOSE MEETINGS, FROM A COUPLE OF THOSE MEETINGS, I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO FORMULATE WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT APPROACH, RIGHT.

AND THE VARYING SCOPES.

AND SO AS WE LOOK AT BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITIONAL SCOPE AND THEN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A SCALED BACK SCOPE.

I THINK THE GOAL REALLY IS NOT NECESSARILY THE MAINTENANCE TYPE THINGS THAT ARE TRADITIONAL WITH BONDS.

THIS IS NOT GEARED TOWARDS A BOND.

THIS IS FOR THE SOUNDNESS OF OUR FACILITIES AND FOR US PLANNING OVER THE 1-5, 6-10 AND 10-20 YEAR PLAN.

SO AND THIS THIS ARCHITECT KNOWS THAT THIS IS NOT A FREE FOR ALL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PASS A BOND ANY TIME SOON.

CORRECT. AND THEY ARE VERY CLEAR ON THAT.

BUT I WILL HAVE OUR NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TALK ABOUT SCOPES AND GIVE YOU GUYS OPTIONS ON THE EXTENSIVENESS OF THE SCOPE.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD PLAN ON HOW TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND WHAT I'VE PUT IN HERE IS THE BUDGET THAT I THINK YOU'VE SEEN.

THIS WILL CHANGE. IT WILL NOT CHANGE MATERIALLY.

OUR POSITION REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE.

ON THE 22-23 TO THE 22-23 PROJECTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT A BALANCED BUDGET.

WE LOOKED AT REALLY THE CHANGES FROM THE BUDGET TO THE PROJECTIONS.

SO THE OUTCOME WE'RE LOOKING TO BE UP MARGINALLY IN OPERATING REVENUE.

THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE INTEREST INCOME THAT HAS OFFSETTING WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH SOME OF THE LOSS OF 88 ON THE EXPENDITURES.

WE'VE GOT A $90 MILLION BUDGETED EXPENDITURE ADOPTION.

WE'RE RIGHT AT ABOUT 3% BELOW THAT.

AND SO AS I TALK ABOUT VARIANCES, I TALK ABOUT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER, THEY'LL CHANGE, RIGHT?

[01:15:07]

THIS SPEND IS ABOUT 3%.

SO AS WE LOOK TO THE NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.

JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, WE CAN ADOPT, YOU KNOW, AN $89 MILLION.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $89 MILLION.

IT'S A LOT OF VARIABLES.

AND SO I THINK WHY DON'T WE ADOPT A $86 MILLION.

$86 MILLION.

WOULDN'T THAT GET US? YEAH. TO GET US THOSE NUMBERS.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE BRACKETS AT THE BOTTOM.

YES, YES, YES, I WILL WORK ON THAT.

BUT BUT.

AND AGAIN, ON THE NEXT TIME, WHAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS I'LL REFRESH OUR REFRESH, BECAUSE THIS DATA WAS AS OF MARCH 29TH AND I'VE WORKED WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM.

AND AS YOU HAVE TURNOVER, I THINK TO ME, I LIKE TO HAVE THE MOST RECENT DATA SO THAT WE HAVE THE BEST NUMBERS.

WE KNOW WHAT THE VACANCY POSITIONS ARE AT THAT POINT AND IT JUST GIVES ME WHEN I SEE THE VACANCY POSITIONS, I CAN GAUGE PRETTY GOOD WHAT I THINK, WHAT I EXPECT THE OUTCOME.

DR. LEDBETTER AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT AFTER WE ADOPTED AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING REALLY PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THAT.

AND SO I'LL REFRESH THE NUMBERS.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE ON THIS IS AND I'VE WORKED WITH CASEY ON ON THE FINANCES BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AT CARROLL BECAUSE OF THE TIFF AND THE RECAPTURE, THE RECAPTURE RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT AT ABOUT $37 MILLION IN CHANGE.

BUT WHEN WE SEE COMPRESSION, WHEN WE SEE THE THINGS THAT I DESCRIBED ON THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, THEY WILL ISSUE THEY WILL PROVIDE NEW MODELS, NEW FUNDING MODELS THAT WILL ADJUST TO THE NEW LEGISLATION.

AND WE'LL SEE A DROP IN THAT NUMBER.

NOW, THE BOTTOM LINE, THE 85, 717, I DON'T EXPECT TO CHANGE MATERIALLY, BUT WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS, IS THE LOCAL REVENUE DROP DOWN.

THE RECAPTURE DROP DOWN.

BUT THE NET OPERATING REVENUE, I DON'T ANTICIPATE TO CHANGE, NOT MUCH.

SO 3.6, $3.3 MILLION IS IN IN THE IF WE IF WE COMPARE THAT TO THE 22-23 PROJECTIONS THAT AGAIN I DID THESE MID-YEAR, BUT I'VE DONE THEM SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN.

THEY ALL VARY BUT THEY DON'T VARY IN A WAY THAT MAKES ME GO, WE REALLY NEED TO PRESENT NEW INFORMATION, RIGHT? SO, MR. JOHNSON, I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALL YOUR ASSUMPTIONS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ASSUMPTIONS IS ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE ENROLLED, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH MONEY WE GET TO KEEP.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE PROJECTING AND PLANNING ON A CERTAIN NUMBER.

WE MAY HAVE MORE. WE MAY HAVE LESS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE KNOW WHAT OUR ENROLLMENT IS, THEN WE KNOW HOW MUCH MORE, HOW MANY MORE TEACHERS WE NEED TO TEACH MORE STUDENTS OR HOW MANY FEWER STAFF WE NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER STUDENTS.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG VARIABLE, RIGHT? IT'S A HUGE VARIABLE. IT'S HUGE.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO PREDICT BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, IF YOU COME IN WITH FEWER STUDENTS, WELL, YOU'VE GOT TEACHERS ON CONTRACT, SO YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT POINT. RIGHT.

AND CLASSES ARE SET.

AND ONE OTHER POINT, JUST TO REITERATE, I REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING IS BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPENING AND YOU PLAN FOR THAT COST FROM THE DAY YOU OPEN THE POSITION FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU MAY NOT FILL THE ROLE FOR TWO WEEKS OR TEN WEEKS BECAUSE YOU'RE RECRUITING SOMEBODY.

AND SO AS THE YEAR CONTINUES AND YOU DON'T FILL A ROLE FROM DAY ONE, YOU'RE SAVING SOME MONEY AND YOU'RE MAKING A YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE YEAR BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T FILLED A ROLE OR TEN ROLES OR 20 ROLES OR WHATEVER, CORRECT? YES, SIR. WHERE DO WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW WITH OUR STAFFING FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR? HAVE WE FILLED ALL THE ROLES THAT WE EXPECT? OR THERE'S THAT CERTAIN NUMBER OF ROLES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT OFF HAND.

DR. SMOLSKIS, DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? WE CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT TO YOU.

I THINK IT'S I MEAN, CERTAINLY WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FILL SEVERAL POSITIONS.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OPTIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, DR.

LEDBETTER AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR CONSULTANTS IN AUSTIN THAT INDICATE ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IS A IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY SOMETIME IN OCTOBER.

NOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP OUR 2324 BUDGET, BUT IT MIGHT HELP THE 24-25 BUDGET.

SO THAT'S ON THE TABLE.

FURTHER EVALUATION AND CONSIDERATION OF A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION.

WE LOOK AT THE TIER TWO PENNIES.

WE'RE AT FIVE TIER TWO PENNIES.

IF THE BOARD CHOSE, IT WOULD REQUIRE ADOPTION OF THAT RATE AND THEN THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO HOLD OR APPROVE A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION.

SO I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

AND SINCE THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE GOVERNOR AND OUR FOLKS IN AUSTIN AND OUR TARRANT COUNTY JUDGE ALL PASS MAJOR TAX CUTS FOR INDIVIDUALS.

[01:20:03]

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK, BUT I DON'T THINK THE TIMING IS RIGHT, RIGHT NOW TO GO OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SAY WE WANT TO INCREASE YOUR TAXES.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY ROLL THAT BACK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO, SUCH AS YOUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS SALE OF REAL ESTATE.

SO, MR. BRYAN, I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND I KNOW AND I WANT MR. JOHNSON TO CONFIRM ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE VERY LITTLE HOPE OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOING ANYTHING IN SPECIAL SESSION FOR THIS NEXT YEAR. BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT NEXT YEAR THEY WILL DO SOMETHING.

AND I HOPE FROM ALL THE NOISE THEY GET FROM ALL THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR TO CHANGE OUR BASIC ALLOTMENT.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY THIS YEAR BUT NEXT YEAR, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PENNIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

THEY DON'T EXPIRE UNTIL AFTER NEXT YEAR.

SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESSENTIALLY WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH TAXES.

AND AND I THINK ALL YOUR NUMBERS ARE SHOWING SOME OPTIONS TO US ABOUT HOW WE GET BY FOR ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THANK YOU. AND SO AS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE OPTIONS ARE A POSSIBLE SALE OF REAL ESTATE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT. AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP REVENUE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE OBVIOUSLY SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON.

IT'S VERY COMPLEX AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

THE OPTION TO REDUCE THE PAYROLL BUDGET FOR ANTICIPATED UNDERSPENDING AGAIN, WE'RE AT ABOUT 3% THIS YEAR IN POTENTIALLY IN THAT RANGE FOR NEXT YEAR.

REDUCE THE UTILITY BUDGET FOR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH A NEW PROGRAM.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAM, AGAIN, I HIRED A NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.

AND REALLY ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS WE TALKED A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT, BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

HE HAS ACTUALLY DRAFTED A JOB.

AND WHAT I ANTICIPATE IS BRINGING FOR YOUR APPROVAL THAT POSITION.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT PERSONALLY MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT I'VE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS WHEN YOU INSTITUTE ONE OF THOSE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. SO WHEN I SAY NEW PROGRAM, THAT'S SPECIFICALLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE INCREASING UTILITIES, I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOING TO RATCHET DOWN AND BE VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE, COMFORTABLE BUT CONSERVATIVE ON THE ENERGY USAGE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.

THE ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP FOR FACILITIES.

THAT IS AN OPTION. WE'LL OPEN THAT.

THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY ON THE FRONT, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY WITH ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN THAT REGARD, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO USE IT FOR SPECIFIC USES, PRIMARILY CAPITAL, BECAUSE THAT THOSE ARE BOND FUNDED FACILITIES.

AND THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE IRS PROVISIONS.

SO WHAT I WHAT I ALSO PUT UP HERE IS AS THE BOARD CONSIDERS A PROPERTY SALE VERSUS VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION, I THOUGHT I'D DO A LITTLE BIT OF PROS AND CONS.

AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE LOOK AT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY OPEN EYED ON ON HOW WE PROCEED, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S IMPACTS DEPENDING ON ON SOME OF THE OUTCOMES.

SO ONE OF THE PROS THAT I LISTED FOR USING THE SALE, WE'VE GOT THAT PROPERTY ON ON NORTH CARROLL IS IT GIVES US MORE TIME, TO YOUR POINT, TRUSTEE LANNEN, AND MORE TIME TO WAIT ON THE ON THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT.

SO AGAIN IF THEY HAPPEN IN OCTOBER, LIKE WE'VE UNDERSTOOD IF THEY MADE SOME IMPACT THEN THEN I THINK THAT TIMING IS PROBABLY BETTER THAN THAN THE [INAUDIBLE], RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S HARD TO ENVISION TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, TRUSTEE LANNEN, IS THAT WITH THREE YEARS OF NOT INCREASING IT, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE IN THE STATE HONESTLY IS SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD HOW YOU DON'T WITH OUR INFLATION, OUR RECORD INFLATION, OUR RECORD INCREASE OUR CHALLENGES, KEEPING TEACHERS HIRING TEACHERS AND NOT GIVING US MORE MONEY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THAT, NOR DO I THINK ANYBODY DOES.

SO GIVES MORE TIME FOR THAT TO GET RECTIFIED.

IT ALSO GIVES US TIME TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, ALLOW FOR INPUT ON PROGRAMS. SO ON A COUPLE OF SLIDES, SEVERAL SLIDES BACK, WE TALKED ABOUT OPTIONS.

AND AS WE FLESH THOSE OPTIONS OUT, PUT DETAILS TO THEM, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

HERE'S HOW WE OPERATE NOW.

HERE'S HOW WE WOULD OPERATE IF WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING BASED ON A LACK OF FUNDING.

NON RECURRING REVENUE ALLOWS US TO NOT RAISE TAX RATES FOR THE SHORT TERM.

SO IF WE WERE TO SELL THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR US TO OPERATE FOR A YEAR OR TWO WITHOUT HAVING TO INCREASE THE TAX RATES.

IT DOES NOT PUT US IN A FINANCIAL BIND.

RIGHT NOW. OUR PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 31.2% OF THE BUDGET THAT I'M THAT I'M SHOWING TONIGHT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 114 DAYS IN FUND BALANCE.

WE NEED 75. SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE ON FUND BALANCE.

WE'VE GOT ROOM IN THE FUND BALANCE TO STAY FINANCIALLY VIABLE AND SOLVENT.

[01:25:02]

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONS, BECAUSE ANY TIME I'VE GOT A PRO, I WANT TO BE REAL, JUST, YOU KNOW, TRANSPARENT WITH WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, INCREASED OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES, WITH NON SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCES.

WE DID THAT IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT BACK INTO THE FUND BALANCE.

AND SO WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY RELEASE COMPLETELY RELY ON THAT.

IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY FUND, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE PLAN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE EARLIER SLIDES THAT THAT THAT THAT COULD BE AN OPTION OR THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE UNKNOWNS WITH THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT.

AND SO PRESIDENT BRYAN WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO COME BACK ON THE I CAN'T HAZARD TO GUESS WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO SAY EVERYTHING IS GREAT OR YOU NEED TO DO THIS, THIS AND THIS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WITH SCHOOL FUNDING AND SCHOOL FINANCE, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE UNKNOWNS.

BUT WE'RE WORKING TO SHORE THOSE UP AND GET THOSE AT A POINT WHERE I CAN INFORM THE BOARD SUFFICIENTLY.

AND SO AS WE LOOK AT WHAT IFS, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE WHAT IFS.

SO 23, 24 AND THEN 24, 25 THAT THAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR, 25, 26, WE WOULD SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR AND JUST BASED ON THE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT I'VE DONE TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ON THE NEXT SLIDE ABOUT PAY INCREASES FOR SUBSTITUTES.

2425 I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW, AND IN TALKING WITH WITH SOME OF THE BOARD OFFICERS, IT'S PROBABLY NOT REAL.

DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE THAT AT SOME POINT THERE WON'T BE A TEACHER PAY RAISE.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO NOT GIVE TEACHERS PAY RAISES.

SO I FACTORED THAT IN. THAT'S A BOARD DECISION, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IN DOING MY WHAT IFS, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO PUT CONTEXT IN THERE FOR THAT.

THE REDUCTION IN REVENUE INTEREST IN ADA, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT INTEREST INCOME.

AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE MODELS, WE LOOK AT THE BLOOMBERG PROJECTION ON ONE OF THE LAST PRESENTATIONS I DID IN JUNE.

IF WE HAVE THAT COUPLED WITH THE DECREASE IN ADA, THEN WE'VE GOT A COMPOUNDING EFFECT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASING POTENTIALLY INCREASING EXPENDITURES.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY OFFSETTING OR REDUCING REVENUE.

SO I THINK AGAIN, THAT'S A $5 MILLION SWING, 24-25, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND I PUT NUMBERS IN THERE AND THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF BASIS.

I THINK THE IDEA REALLY IS WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON MORE AND WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WE AS THE BOARD DECIDES HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED.

YOU KNOW, I PUT, YOU KNOW, MORE PAY INCREASES FOR 25, 26.

AND I KIND OF I KIND OF REDUCED REVENUE FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL STATE FUNDING INCREASES.

AGAIN, I THINK YOU CANNOT EXPECT SCHOOLS THAT ARE THE 38TH LOWEST FUNDING PER STUDENT IN THE NATION TO TRY TO ABSORB MORE WITHOUT GIVING US MORE MONEY. YOU KNOW, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A SOAPBOX THAT I GET ON IS WE ALL WE ALL KNOW WHERE CARROLL ISD IS ON THE PERS FUNDING, STATE AND LOCAL.

WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM. SO HOPEFULLY THROUGH ALL OF THOSE THOSE EFFORTS WITH WITH OUR FOLKS IN AUSTIN, WE CAN GET SOMETHING.

SO AND THEN I FACTORED IN ADDITIONAL EFFICIENCIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO STUDY TO BECOME AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN.

THOSE WILL BRING TO THE BOARD KIND OF LIKE SOME OF THE IDEAS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

AND SO EVEN EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE POSITIVES IN THERE, YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE CUMULATIVELY AND WE STILL HAVE A CHALLENGING FINANCIAL POSITION.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE PESSIMISTIC, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT UPWARD TREND UNTIL WE START GETTING MORE HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGING TIMES.

AGAIN, WE'RE IN GREAT FINANCIAL SHAPE, NO DOUBT.

BUT I THINK GOING FORWARD, I THINK WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT I JUST PRESENTED.

NOW WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTE DAILY RATE COST INCREASE.

WE HAVE A 77% FILL RATE.

THAT BECOMES A CHALLENGE IN KEEPING CLASSROOMS FILLED AS WE HAVE ELIMINATED SOME OF THE OFF PERIODS ARE USING EXISTING STAFF TO FILL.

THAT BECOMES REALLY SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA PLANNING PERIOD AND A LOT OF THOSE WENT AWAY, THEN OUR POOL ON DOING THAT.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE AT $80 AT OUR BASELINE.

WE KNOW THAT REALLY MOST OF OUR PEERS AND I SHOWED THIS ON THE LAST PRESENTATION, MOST OF OUR PEERS ARE AT $100 OR ABOVE.

AND SO TO BECOME COMPETITIVE AND KEEP THOSE CLASSROOMS FILLED, WE THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY NECESSARY.

WE KNOW THAT THAT AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO CHALLENGE OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO KEEP MINDFUL, OBVIOUSLY, OF WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE DO THAT.

MR. JOHNSON, CAN YOU JUST GO BACK? YEAH. I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ON THIS.

I'M USED TO LOOKING AT HOURLY RATES AND AND WEEKLY MONTHLY ANNUAL RATES, BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH LIKE DAY RATES VERY MUCH. I KNOW THAT'S HOW WE PAY SUBSTITUTES.

WHAT NUMBER OF HOURS DO SUBSTITUTES TYPICALLY WORK? IS IT FOUR OR 5 OR 6? MS. WATERMAN, IF A SUBSTITUTE WORKS FOUR HOURS A DAY OR LESS, THEY ARE PAID AT THE HALF OF THE DAILY RAT?.

IF THEY WORK MORE THAN FOUR HOURS UP TO THE MAXIMUM, THE 7.5 HOURS A DAY THAT OUR STAFF WORKS, THEN THEY'RE PAID THE FULL DAILY RATE.

[01:30:03]

THAT'S FOR NON-DEGREED.

OKAY. AND JUST WHEN WE COMPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME AGAIN WHAT THE.

WHAT ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ARE PAYING, A SUBSTITUTE, LET'S SAY, FOR THE FULL DAY.

AND SO I WOULD KNOW BY ADDING 15 OR $20 TO IT HOW WE COMPARE.

MS. WATERMAN, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ON AVERAGE, WE ARE ABOUT $20 A DAY BEHIND ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS IN ALL CATEGORIES OF SUBSTITUTES.

SO WHETHER IT BE A DAY TO DAY SUBSTITUTE AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL OR A LONG TERM CERTIFIED TEACHER SUBSTITUTE, WE ARE APPROXIMATELY $20 A DAY BELOW IN ALL CATEGORIES. OKAY.

AND WHEN DO WE NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION? I'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU ON THE AUGUST 7TH.

IT'D BE NICE TO JUST SEE I CAN BRING THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS AND HOW WE WOULD COMPARE IF WE GAVE 15 OR 20 OR WHATEVER.

ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. JOHNSON, ARE WE HAVING TROUBLE FILLING ALL THE SUBSTITUTE SPOTS THAT WE NEED? CURRENTLY, WE ARE.

WE HAVE ABOUT A 77% FILL RATE.

SO ABOUT 23% ARE GOING UNFILLED.

AND AGAIN, AS WE LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR, WE'VE REDUCED SOME OF THE AVAILABLE PERIODS.

THAT'S ONLY GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT WORSE.

WELL, AND MR. JOHNSON, I KNOW FROM ASKING A SIMILAR QUESTION PRIVATELY THAT YOU GUYS POINTED OUT TO US THAT IN MANY CASES WE OFFER TEACHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN A CLASS AND BE A SUBSTITUTE AND THEY GET EXTRA PAY FOR THAT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY LIKE DOING THAT AND THEY WANT TO DO THAT, AND IT GIVES THEM THE CHANCE TO EARN MORE MONEY.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER FOR WHERE WE NEED SUBSTITUTES BY USING TEACHERS TO FILL IN.

IS THAT CORRECT? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT REAL SURE AFTER AFTER THE UNFILLED WHAT WHAT SUCCESS RATE WE'VE HAD IN DOING THAT.

DR. LEDBETTER, DO YOU.

YEAH, I THINK A LARGE MAJORITY OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE BEING FILLED BY STAFF BECAUSE WE DO WE DO COMPENSATE THEM DURING THAT EXTRA TIME.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THEY'RE, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, OUR CLASSES ARE NOT LEFT UNCOVERED.

WE HAVE TEACHERS. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

WE SAY 23% UNFILLED.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT. WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT ARE HELPING ASSIST WITH THAT.

I MEAN, THEY ALWAYS HAVE AN ADULT IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEM, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS BEING COVERED BY STAFF.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD IS A LOT OF THOSE WERE INTERMEDIATE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH 5 TO 8 WHICH WE'VE ELIMINATED THAT.

TIME. SO IT'S GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR TEACHERS TO COVER THOSE CLASSES.

THAT'S WHY THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN ASSESSMENT.

MR. JOHNSON, IF YOU COULD BACK UP A COUPLE OF SLIDES WHERE WE SHOWED THE EFFECT OF REAL PROPERTY SALES, I BELIEVE IT WAS $4 MILLION.

THAT WAS A PARCEL OF LAND.

IT WAS THE OLD ISD BUILDING AND ITS ACREAGE, I BELIEVE, WAS FOUR.

IT WAS RIGHT AT FOUR. YES.

SO ABOUT $1 MILLION AN ACRE, RIGHT.

WE HAVE SOME VERY LARGE PARCELS.

FOUR TIMES THAT.

FIVE TIMES THAT. CORRECT.

THE AMOUNT OF A PROPERTY SALE COULD BE VERY LARGE.

CORRECT. OKAY.

I'M JUST TAKING THAT VALUE THAT WE GOT BEFORE.

RIGHT. THAT NOT ONLY COULD POSSIBLY BUY US TIME AND TELL OUR LEGISLATIVE FRIENDS FIGURE OUT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SCHOOLS FUNDED.

RIGHT. BUT IT ALSO COULD BE A SOURCE OF INTEREST BEARING MONEY AS WELL.

VERY TRUE. VERY TRUE.

IT COULD BE A COMPOUNDING EFFECT.

TO YOUR POINT, WE'D HAVE AN A+++ FUND BALANCE WHEN WE, IN RATING.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN I DON'T KNOW RECENTLY, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN JUST A ONE HIT FOUR MILL, RIGHT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY. YES, SIR.

THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT THE BOARD HAS TO TAKE THAT NEGATIVE THREE DOWN TO ZERO ABSENCE, OTHERS OPTIONS.

AND SO ON. NEXT STEPS, WE'VE GOT A BOARD MEETING ON AUGUST 7TH BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND I'LL UPDATE AND REFRESH THE DATA OR REFRESH IT FROM BOTH.

BOTH A NEW REVENUE MODEL SIDE AND A NEW STAFFING MODEL SIDE.

SO I'LL BRING YOU REALLY PROBABLY WHAT WILL BE CLOSE TO THE FINAL NUMBERS THAT I EXPECT TO BRING TO YOU ON.

AUGUST 21ST WHEN WE ADOPT A BUDGET RECEIPT OF CERTIFIED VALUES.

THAT ACTUALLY CAME TODAY AT ABOUT 430 THIS AFTERNOON.

SO I'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.

TEXAS TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY APPROVAL OF MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE BY AUGUST 1ST.

SO I'VE GOT TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

OUR TIER ONE IS DETERMINED BY STATE, AND I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THAT, BUT ON A TWO TIERED SYSTEM, THE MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE, THE STATE FUNDING FORMULA DETERMINES THAT.

[01:35:07]

AND THEN THE BOARD MEETING ON AUGUST 21ST FOR BUDGET ADOPTION IN THE PUBLIC HEARING HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THAT.

AND THEN AFTER BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS, THE BOARD CAN CHOOSE TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE AT THAT POINT.

MR. JOHNSON, CAN YOU JUST GO BACK ONE SLIDE? IT OCCURRED TO ME.

NOT THAT SLIDE. THE OTHER ONE.

THE ONE THAT SHOWS THE SURPLUS.

OKAY. RIGHT THERE. OKAY.

SO IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT I GUESS CONVENIENTLY OR IRONICALLY, THE VERY AMOUNT THAT WE ARE OVER WE'RE IN SURPLUS BY IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING WE WILL BE IN DEFICIT BY.

AND I REALIZED THAT MR. YEAGER JUST MADE A POINT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SELL PROPERTIES, AND I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT PLANNING ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THE POINT IS WE'VE ALREADY SOLD THE PROPERTY.

LAST YEAR THEY GAVE US A SURPLUS WHICH WILL COVER OUR DEFICIT NEXT YEAR IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT WILL COVER THE DEFICIT.

BUT I THINK IF YOU'RE ASKING IF WE CAN PUT THAT NUMBER BACK INTO THE PNL, THE REVENUE, WE CAN'T BECAUSE THAT COLLAPSES INTO FUND BALANCE.

SO I UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT I'M NOT ASKING IF WE CAN BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

OKAY. I'M ASKING IF BECAUSE WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE SOLD A PROPERTY LAST YEAR, WE'LL HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO COVER A DEFICIT IF WE NEED TO.

THAT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY. YES, SIR.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BUT WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON BALANCING OUR BUDGET ON A DEFICIT BUDGET, BALANCING OUR BUDGET ON THE FUTURE SALE OF PROPERTY.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND SO ONE THING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO WITH THE TAX RATE, BECAUSE AS I GO THROUGH AND I TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND THINGS THAT I'M REQUIRED TO DO ON THIS SLIDE, SO I'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH A CALCULATION FOR THE TRUTH AND TAXATION.

NO NEW REVENUE RATE. I'M SURE YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

THAT IS A PRETTY COMPLEX CALCULATION AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE BOARD ANTICIPATES DOING, REALLY WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO GOING FORWARD.

WE DON'T ADOPT THE RATE TONIGHT, BUT IF THE THOUGHT IS THAT THAT'S NOT WHERE THE BOARD WANTS TO GO, THEN I NEED TO KNOW THAT SO THAT AS I PREPARE THOSE CALCULATIONS, AS I PREPARE THE NOTICE FOR THE PUBLIC NOTE, FOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, THEN I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO AS FAR AS WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO THE PROPERTY OR, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY PUT UP, I GUESS, THE VADER OFF INTO SOME OTHER FUTURE YEAR SO THAT I CAN SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THE MCR BASED ON THE STATE AND THE FIVE ENRICHMENT PENNIES FROM THE. IS THAT GENERALLY I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ARGUMENT WITH THAT.

YEAH, I SUPPORT THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY? HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT IF YOU DON'T HAVE.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AND PUT IT INTO SIMPLE TERMS FOR ME.

GREAT, GREAT BRIEFING.

THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR EXPENSES, OUR REVENUE IS DOWN, OUR EXPENSES ARE UP.

THE OUTLOOK IS MODERATE TO TERRIBLE FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE.

BUT WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY BALANCE SHEET.

CORRECT. AND PART OF THAT SURPLUS THAT WAS GIVEN OR THAT WE EARNED LAST YEAR THAT GOES INTO THE FUND BALANCE THAT WAS IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION MANAGING THE DAY TO DAY.

YOU ALL CUT A LOT OF EXPENSES OUT OF THE BUDGET.

YOU MANAGED VACANCIES APPROPRIATELY.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT.

THANK YOU. GREAT JOB.

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. I DO THINK THE SURPLUS, OUR BUDGET THAT WE THAT WE RETAIN IT.

IT BELONGS TO THIS DISTRICT.

IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.

AND IF THAT'S AN OPTION TO DO THAT FIRST, THEN I WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT ABOVE RAISING TAXES.

EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHTY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE, DISCUSSION ACTION NINE, A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2023 2024 GRADING GUIDELINES, MS.

[9. DISCUSSION / ACTION]

GOOD EVENING, DR. LEDBETTER.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO FOR THE CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2023, 2024 GRADING GUIDELINES.

AS WE LOOK AT HOW THE PROCESS GOES, ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS, WE START PLANNING FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR.

WE DO THIS WITH THE ACADEMIC PLANNING GUIDE.

WE DO THIS WITH THE GRADING GUIDELINES.

SO WHAT WE DO IS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR IS WE GO THROUGH THIS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS GO OVER THIS WITH THE TEACHERS.

AND AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS EVERY YEAR, WE ALWAYS SEE WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE WORDING OF OUR GRADING GUIDELINES.

AND SO IT TRULY IS A GROUP EFFORT.

I MEAN, OUR OUR STAFF PLAYS A ROLE.

[01:40:01]

OUR COMMUNITY PLAYS A ROLE.

EVERYONE HAS A VOICE IN HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS A BETTER DOCUMENT? SO TONIGHT, WHAT I AM BRINGING FORTH TO YOU WITH THESE GRADING GUIDELINES REALLY FOR THE MOST PART, THESE ARE SIMPLY SEEKING THE MORE CLARIFYING TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE. AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE TEACHERS OR THE PRINCIPALS HAVE ASKED FOR US TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC IN THE DETAILS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.

SO YOU WILL SEE THOSE THOSE ARE IN RED.

AND WE ARE ALSO BRINGING FORWARD OUR AI PHILOSOPHY.

AI HAS TAKEN OVER AND AI IS NOT GOING AWAY.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO AS A DISTRICT IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY.

SO WHAT WE DID IN APRIL AND MAY, WE REALLY STARTED EDUCATING OUR STAFF AND OUR PRINCIPALS ON WHAT IS IT? WHAT CAN THIS DO? WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES TO IT? WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES TO IT? AND WE SO THIS ENTIRE SUMMER WE HAVE TRAINED OUR ADMINISTRATORS, WE'VE HELD MULTIPLE SESSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FULL WITH OUR STAFF IN THESE SESSIONS. AND WE HAVE GONE OVER I AGAIN HAS SOME VERY POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT IT.

WE DO NOT, HOWEVER, WANT IT TO BE USED AS A TOOL FOR PLAGIARISM.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR TEACHERS.

AND AS IT SAYS IN OUR PHILOSOPHY, WE WILL BE SITTING VERY CLEAR GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS.

WE WILL TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO USE THIS TOOL APPROPRIATELY, WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THIS TOOL SO THAT THEY KNOW WE WANT YOU TO USE IT. IT'S A GREAT TOOL TO USE TO HELP BRING UP CREATIVITY, TO HELP BRAINSTORM, TO HELP COLLABORATE.

BUT IT IS NOT A TOOL TO BE USED FOR PLAGIARISM.

SO THOSE ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WE HAVE HAVE ADDED TO THE 2324 GRADING GUIDELINES.

WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THAT, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I JUST HAD TWO QUICK COMMENTS.

HAVING TAUGHT UP AT UNT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TOOL THAT FACULTY USED.

IT'S NOW ACTUALLY MANDATORY IN THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH I TAUGHT TO RUN PAPERS THROUGH FOR PLAGIARISM, AND NOW I THINK IT CAN PICK UP SOME AI.

DO WE HAVE SUCH A TOOL? THAT'S, WELL, WE DO HAVE TURNITIN.COM.

THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF OUR STAFF CURRENTLY USES.

WHAT IS THAT? SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? IT'S CALLED TURNITIN.COM.

IT'S A PLAGIARISM.

IT'S A PLAGIARISM.

IT CAN IT CAN GAUGE HOW MUCH IT ASSUMES THAT THE PAPER IS PLAGIARIZED.

THE THINGS THAT WE ARE FINDING OUT WITH YOUR CHATGPT, WITH YOUR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS.

EVEN EVEN YOUR PLAGIARISM SITES CAN'T CAN'T ACCURATELY DEPICT HOW MUCH OF THE PAPER WAS PLAGIARIZED.

SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF.

THAT'S WHY THIS IS CRUCIAL TO HAVE IN THERE DURING THIS TIME TO GO OVER WITH OUR STAFF UP UNTIL PROBABLY MAY, I WOULD SAY THAT OUR TEACHERS HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.

WE'VE SHOWN THEM HOW THEY CAN USE THIS IN THEIR CLASSROOM, HOW THEY CAN HELP.

THEY CAN USE THIS TOOL TO HELP PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY CAN USE THIS TOOL TO HELP WRITE TEST QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW TEST QUESTIONS.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO WRITE TEST QUESTIONS.

THIS TOOL CAN HELP YOU DO THAT.

WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THESE.

THIS IS A GREAT TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP YOU.

HOWEVER, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EVERYONE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THIS IS NOT TO PROMOTE PLAGIARISM IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION.

SO IN THE OLD FASHIONED I'VE HEARD THIS FROM MY MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, WHO'S IN COLLEGE, AND THAT IS THE EMPHASIS ON A LOT MORE IN CLASSROOM WORK. I THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THE OLD BLUE BOOKS.

YOU GOT IT. YOU WROTE IT.

IS THERE? ARE THERE STRATEGIES LIKE THAT THAT OUR STAFF WILL BE EMPLOYING? YES. YES, WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT.

WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT AS A GROUP.

WE WILL BE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP RETREAT, SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PRINCIPALS, PARTICULARLY OUR FIVE THROUGH 12 PRINCIPALS.

WE WANT CONSISTENCY IN WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORTH, WHAT OUR GUIDELINES ARE.

THEY NEED TO BE CONSISTENT.

I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKE, K-12, BUT DEFINITELY WHEN YOU START GOING INTO YOUR CONTENT SPECIFIC AREAS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THESE ARE OUR EXPECTATIONS AND THEY WILL NOT VARY.

I HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT LESSON PLANS, MS. PETIT. YES. AND THERE WAS A RED LINE CHANGE THERE.

SUCH ITEMS FROM SHALL TO COULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.

I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I THINK THROUGH YOUR TRAINING OF MYSELF AND OTHERS IS THAT THE TEAKS, WHICH ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ARE THEY NOT THINGS THEN IN STAAR TESTS AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE TAKE THEM AND SOME DON'T, BUT IF THERE WAS A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM

[01:45:09]

SO IT COULD.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A WIDE VARIETY OF CLASSES WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES.

THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THE TEKS.

THEY FOLLOW THE COLLEGE BOARD FRAMEWORK.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR YOUR, YOUR ADVANCED CLASSES, WE DO INCLUDE THE TEAKS, BUT WE ALSO INCLUDE PARTS OF THE COLLEGE BOARD FRAMEWORK AS WELL, SINCE THOSE CLASSES WOULD BE FEEDING INTO THAT.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THEN, MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE SO PROUD OF GREAT STAAR TESTS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME VARIATION IN THE COMING YEAR? YES. PARTICULARLY ENGLISH OR WHAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD YOU SAY? I WOULD SAY USUALLY WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT AT AT.

AT AREAS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY ALL AREAS.

THE STATE PROVIDES TEKS IN EVERY CONTENT AREA THAT YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW.

NOW SOMETIMES WITH THOSE TEKS WILL DO IS THEY WILL SPIRAL.

SO LET'S JUST TAKE ENGLISH AS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

WHILE THE TEKS MAY BE TAUGHT IN ONE GRADE LEVEL, IT MAY NOT BE MASTERED IN THAT GRADE LEVEL.

SO IT WOULD SPIRAL TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL AND TO THE NEXT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO IN THIS, THAT WHILE IT MAY NOT BE, IT WOULD BE INTRODUCED, BUT MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY MASTERED AT THAT LEVEL.

ALL RIGHT, MISS.

I THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE GUIDELINES, HONESTLY, WAS WHEN OUR DISTRICT PUBLISHED IT TO US LAST WEEK.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS CURIOUS.

HEY, DO YOU KNOW, HAVE OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS SEEN THIS? AND AS YOU DESCRIBED, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS TO INVOLVE THEM IN THE DISCUSSION AND THE REVIEW.

AND I HAPPEN TO SEE OR TALK TO A COUPLE OF PRINCIPALS THIS WEEKEND.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, ASK THEM HOW DID HOW DID THE REVIEW GO AND WHAT'S THEIR FEEDBACK AND WHAT DO THEY THINK? AND AT LEAST THE THREE THAT I TALKED TO ALL FULLY SUPPORT THIS, ALTHOUGH THEY POINTED OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME SOME THAT WANT TO BE HARSHER GRADERS AND SOME THAT WANT TO BE LIGHTER GRADERS, THAT GENERALLY THE CONSENSUS FROM THEIR VIEWPOINT WAS THAT THEY ALL SUPPORT THESE GUIDELINES. AND WOULD THAT BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHY YOU'RE PRESENTING IT? SO THAT IS VERY ACCURATE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I MET WITH THE PRINCIPALS THE VERY FIRST TIME, THEY WERE THEY WERE THEY WANTED TO BETTER CLARIFY WHAT THIS EXACTLY MEANT, BECAUSE WE WANT CONSISTENCY.

SO WHAT WE WERE SEEING BEFORE, DEPENDING ON BUILDING PHILOSOPHIES, THEY MIGHT NOT THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE COULD INTERPRET IT, HOWEVER THEY WANTED TO INTERPRET IT.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THIS IS HOW AS AS A DISTRICT, K-12, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSISTENCY, NOT JUST IN A SCHOOL, BUT ALL THE SCHOOLS. ABSOLUTELY.

SO IF ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE USING THE SAME GUIDELINES, IT DRIVES MORE CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. MISS PETTY.

I LIKE THE ALIGNMENT ON PAGE TEN WITH THE MAKEUP WORK WHERE IT'S TALKING ABOUT EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS.

SO I LIKE THAT Y'ALL MADE THAT CHANGE IN THERE.

SO THAT ALIGNED WITH ALL THE CAMPUSES FOR THE KIDS.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS AN AREA THAT WE DISCOVERED WHEN WE WERE MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPALS THAT NOT ALL OF OUR STAFF HAD THE SAME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT TERMINOLOGY MEANT.

SO WE HAD TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD.

THIS IS THIS IS WHAT THIS MEANS WHENEVER WE'RE USING SCHOOL RELATED ABSENCES.

THANK YOU. A REALLY GREAT DOCUMENT.

IT'S EASY TO READ VERY WELL WRITTEN.

AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE IN TERMS OF.

PERFECT FOR SETTING CONSISTENCY.

I LOVE HOW YOU ADDRESSED AI.

WE'RE NOT SHYING AWAY FROM IT.

WE'RE GOING TO EMBRACE IT.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY, SO MIGHT AS WELL GET ON BOARD.

I LIKE HOW YOU ADDRESSED ACCOMMODATIONS AND SOME OF OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE THOSE, BECAUSE ALL TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THOSE EXIST AND THEY MAY HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT NEED ACCOMMODATIONS. SO VERY WELL WRITTEN.

I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION.

OKAY. THERE'S A REFERENCE TO A SEVEN DAY GRACE PERIOD UNDER THE UIL GRADE REQUIREMENTS.

IS THAT A UIL DEAL OR IS THAT SOMETHING FROM OUR POLICY? I BELIEVE THAT'S UIL. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I FIGURED IT WAS I THINK I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE PERSONALLY, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

AND THEN I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT TUTORIALS.

OKAY. WE REFERENCED TUTORIALS.

DO WE ACCOMMODATE TEACHERS? DO WE DO WE REIMBURSE OR DO WE COMPENSATE TEACHERS? IS THAT INCLUDED IN OUR PRODUCTIVE TIME CALCULATIONS? IT IS NOT. IT IS.

SO TEACHERS DO THAT OUT OF DURING A TEACHER'S WORK DAY.

[01:50:03]

MISS SMITH TUTORS ON MONDAY WEDNESDAY FROM 8 TO 830 SO THAT THEY COULD GO IN AND GET GET HELP IF THEY NEEDED IT.

NOW, IF THE CHILD, ON THE OTHER HAND, CAN'T GO DURING MISS SMITH'S TUTORIAL, TIMES WILL HAVE OTHER OTHER TEACHERS THAT TEACH THE SAME CONTENT AREA THAT WOULD HAVE OTHER AVAILABLE TUTORIAL TIMES.

SO THAT CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO ANY TEACHER THAT TEACHES THAT GRADE LEVEL AND THAT CONTENT AREA AND GET TUTORIALS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE MORNING OR IT'S IN THE AFTERNOON.

OKAY. OKAY.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION? MOVE TO PROVE THE SECOND HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU, MISS PETTY.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NINE.

BE CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL.

2023-2024. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK.

DR. SMOLSKIS IS GETTING READY.

I WOULD LIKE TO READ JUST A SHORT STATEMENT IN THIS REGARD.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS THEY SPENT WORKING ON THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND HANDBOOK.

WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICULARLY THANK THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, MR. FRED STOVALL, AND THE ADMINISTRATION LEAD DR.

TAMMY SMOLSKIS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE COMMITTEE.

WE HEARD TONIGHT AND MANY OF US HAVE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS OVER THE WEEKEND FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOICING THEIR CONCERN WITH THE DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING HARASSMENT AS DEPICTED IN POLICIES D AND F LOGO IN PAGES 46 AND 47 OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK NOT BEING INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS AND DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.

TO BE CLEAR, THE DEFINITIONS OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT RECOMMENDED IN THESE POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 37.001B2, AND TEXAS PENAL CODE SECTION 42.07 AND ARE INCLUSIVE OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT AND INCLUDE ALL OF THE FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASSES.

AS FOR POLICY, CS AND FI LOCAL, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS PERTINENT PRIOR TO SCHOOL STARTING TO CLARIFY WHERE THIS BOARD STANDS IN TERMS OF ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF OUR TEACHERS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ON PRONOUN USE AND THE BOARD'S POSITION ON MAINTAINING SEPARATE RESTROOMS, LOCKER ROOMS AND OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES.

DR. SMOLSKIS FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BRYAN AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CHANGES TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

FIRST, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, AS A REMINDER AS A PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

GOAL ONE. IT WAS AN ACTION ITEM TO SEPARATE THE STUDENT HANDBOOK AND THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND TO USE THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT AND MAKE IT FAIR AND CONSISTENT FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

THAT SAID, THE COMMITTEE HAS MET FAITHFULLY EACH WEEK OR BI WEEKLY TO FINISH READING OVER 147 INDIVIDUAL PAGES TOTAL TO BRING TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN ADDITION, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES OCCURRED AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED JUST RECENTLY. SO STARTING WITH THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 114.

HOUSE BILL 114 REQUIRES A STUDENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DAEP IF THE STUDENT POSSESSES USES OR IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OR SELLS, GIVES OR DELIVERS MARIJUANA, THC OR AN E-CIGARETTE TO ANOTHER PERSON WITHIN 300FT OF SCHOOL PROPERTY.

SO BASICALLY, ANY STUDENT CAUGHT WITH A VAPE, THAT IS A MANDATORY PLACEMENT AT DAEP.

IN ADDITION, THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT ALSO REFLECTS THAT IF THE DAE IS AT CAPACITY AND A STUDENT WHO DOES COMMIT AN OFFENSE RELATED TO MARIJUANA, THC OR E-CIGARETTES, THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY AS A CAMPUS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO PLACE THE STUDENT IN RECESS UNTIL THERE IS A PLACE AVAILABLE TO PLACE THE STUDENT AT DP TO FINISH THEIR PLACEMENT.

SO THAT IS REFLECTED IN YOUR DOCUMENT.

IN ADDITION, HOUSE BILL.

DR. SMOLSKIS? REAL QUICK ON THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL IN ON OUR CAMPUSES.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARENTS, KNOW EVERY DETAIL OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING CAUGHT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT? SO TOMORROW IS OUR FIRST DAY OF LEADERSHIP.

AND IF THIS TWO DOCUMENTS ARE APPROVED, WE WILL BE TRAINING OUR PRINCIPALS TOMORROW ON THESE NEW UPDATES.

[01:55:02]

SO THEY WILL BE UPDATING ALL OF THE STUDENTS.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, WE WILL BE COMMUNICATING TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR FAMILIES ABOUT THESE CHANGES.

ALSO, IN ADDITION, KEEP IN MIND THAT DURING THE ANNUAL STUDENT VERIFICATION PROCESS, PART OF THAT PROCESS IS THAT FAMILIES DO REVIEW THE HANDBOOK AND THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AS A PART OF THE ANNUAL STUDENT VERIFICATION PROCESS.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO POINT OUT THE CHANGES DURING THAT PROCESS? YES, SIR, ABSOLUTELY.

SO CONTINUING TO SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES IN THE STUDENT CODE.

HOUSE BILL 3928 AMENDS CHAPTER 37 TO REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO A STUDENT'S PARENT OR PERSON STANDING IN PARENTAL RELATION TO THE STUDENT ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR REQUESTING A FULL INDIVIDUAL AND INITIAL EVALUATION OF THE STUDENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

BOTH WHEN A STUDENT IS WHEN A STUDENT IS PLACED AT DAEP.

SO WE HAVE TO OFFER FAMILIES AND FOR A FULL EVALUATION FOR MANDATORY PLACEMENT.

SO THAT WILL BE THAT'S BUILT INTO OUR NEW DAEP PROCESS.

NOW, SENATE BILL 37 AMENDS CHAPTER 37 TO UPDATE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO HAZING OR PLANNED HAZING.

AND UPDATE.

HOUSE BILL 1427 EXPANDS THE OFFENSE OF HARASSMENT UNDER PENAL CODE 42.07 TO INCLUDE MAKING OBSCENE, INTIMIDATING OR THREATENING TELEPHONE CALLS OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS FROM A TEMPORARY OR DISPOSABLE TELEPHONE NUMBER PROVIDED BY AN INTERNET APPLICATION OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS.

AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE GLOSSARY UNDER THE DEFINITION OF HARASSMENT.

THOSE ADDITIONAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED THERE AS WELL.

SO I'M GOING TO SWITCH GEARS AND MOVE TO THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

AND AGAIN, I JUST REALLY WANT TO REITERATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS DONE.

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF THEM FOR THE WORK THERE.

SO THAT SAID, THERE ARE SOME AREAS THERE I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WAS RECENTLY UPDATED AT THE LAST LEGISLATION.

THIS WILL BE UPDATED ON OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK ALIGNS WITH OUR EFA AND EFB REGULATIONS AND SO THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT CHANGE IN THE HANDBOOK.

THERE IS A NEW EXEMPTION FOR COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AND THAT IS THAT A STUDENT DURING HIS OR HER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR MAY BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL FOR TWO DAYS TO VISIT A PROFESSIONAL AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S WORKPLACE TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS THE CAREER THE STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN.

SO BASICALLY, IF A STUDENT CHOOSES TO DO THAT, THOSE WOULD BE TWO ADDITIONAL EXCUSED ABSENCES.

THE STATE DID UPDATE IN MINIMUM ITS MINIMUM STANDARDS TO PREVENT BULLYING.

THE DISTRICT MUST PROVIDE RESEARCH BASED CURRICULUM TO TEACH TO OUR STUDENTS ABOUT HOW TO RECOGNIZE, REPORT AND ADDRESS BULLYING THROUGH PREVENTION EFFORTS.

THE PLAN FOR US IS TO DECIDE ON THE CURRICULUM AND BRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND BRING A PROPOSAL TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT A LATER TIME.

THE HANDBOOK ALSO HAS AN UPDATED SECTION ON DRESS CODE AND CELL PHONES AND PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR THE DRESS CODE.

THE COMMITTEE LISTENED TO THE FEEDBACK FROM THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE NEW HANDBOOK DOES INCLUDE WHAT STUDENTS MUST WEAR AND MAY NOT WEAR.

AND I ENCOURAGE AGAIN THROUGH THE PROCESSES OF THE COMMUNICATION, THAT THROUGH THE ASV THAT WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS, OUR PARENTS TALK, READ THOSE SECTIONS AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THAT'LL BE ALSO A PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION BACK TO SCHOOL PLAN AS WELL.

THE NEW HANDBOOK ALSO UPDATED THE CELL PHONE OR, AS WE HAVE DETERMINED FROM THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE AND AGAIN, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE SOLICITED FROM TEACHERS PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY.

AGAIN, THE PARENTS SHOULD REVIEW THAT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES IF A STUDENT VIOLATES THE POLICY.

AND IN THE IN THE CONSEQUENCES, THERE IS A MONETARY AMOUNT IF THE DEVICE HAS BEEN COMPENSATED.

AND I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT THAT MONEY DOES GO BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND INSTRUCTIONAL FUND.

OTHER INFORMATION THAT WAS UPDATED IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK DOES INCLUDE THE NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT.

AND IN ADDITION, HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO ALIGN WITH FEDERAL STANDARDS UNDER TITLE NINE.

I WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT ANY CHANGES TO THE GENDER BASED HARASSMENT IS PROTECTED UNDER SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THE TITLE NINE LAW.

CISD WILL KEEP ALL STUDENTS SAFE FROM DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IT'S NOT IN THERE, BUT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE BECAUSE THIS CAME OUT JUST RECENTLY THAT PER HOUSE BILL 1416, I'D LIKE TO ADD IN THAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY MAY ELECT TO REMOVE THEIR CHILD FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION.

SO WE USED TO KNOW IT AS HOUSE BILL 4545.

IT IS NOW HOUSE BILL 1416.

[02:00:02]

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO HANDBOOKS, AND I CAN MOVE RIGHT INTO THE POLICIES.

LET'S LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE? DR. SMOLSKIS? I JUST HAD A FEW QUICK POINTS TO MAKE.

YOU, AND I THINK PRESIDENT BRYANT ALREADY HE BROUGHT UP THAT ALL THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE HANDBOOK PROHIBITS ALL DISCRIMINATION FOR ALL FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASSES.

AND JUST JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING ONLINE.

THE FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASSES THAT THAT EXISTS.

WHEN A FEDERAL STATUTE CREATES A CLASS OF PERSONS THAT IS PROTECTED BY THAT STATUTE FROM DISCRIMINATION, FROM DISPARATE, YOU KNOW, FROM DISPARATE TREATMENT. SO THOSE FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASSES ARE RACE, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY AND AGE. NOW BECAUSE NONE OF OUR STUDENTS ARE OVER THE AGE OF 40.

AGE DOESN'T REALLY APPLY TO OUR STUDENTS.

SO BUT AND THEN TEXAS STATE LAW ALSO CREATES THOSE SAME PROTECTED CLASSES AND ADDS IN RELIGION.

SO OUR CODE OF CONDUCT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON ALL THOSE BASES.

IN OTHER WORDS, ON ALL BASES OF FEDERAL AND STATE PROTECTED CLASSES.

IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? YES, SIR. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND THE PREVIOUS CODE OF CONDUCT ALSO PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION ON ALL THOSE BASES.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

OKAY. SO BOTH THE PREVIOUS CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON ALL FEDERAL AND STATE PROTECTED CLASSES.

THAT IS CORRECT. SO THERE'S NO CHANGE THERE? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.

AND IN TERMS OF BULLYING AND HARASSMENT.

THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT.

IT PROHIBITS BULLYING AND HARASSMENT OF ANY STUDENT FOR ANY REASON.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO AND THAT WOULD NECESSARILY INCLUDE BULLYING A STUDENT ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND THOSE IN ADDITION TO TO ANY OTHER REASON, WHETHER WHETHER THAT STUDENT IS IS POOR OR RICH OR TALL OR SHORT. ANY REASON? IN OTHER WORDS, THIS PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT DOESN'T ALLOW OUR STUDENTS TO BE BULLIED FOR ANY REASON.

IS THAT RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE PREVIOUS CODE OF CONDUCT HAD THE SAME PROTECTIONS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. SO THERE'S NO CHANGE THERE.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND IT PROVIDES PENALTIES IF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS VIOLATED.

IT PROVIDES PENALTIES, YOU KNOW, RANGING FROM CONSULTATION TO, YOU KNOW, LOSS OF PRIVILEGES ALL THE WAY UP TO AND INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, DAP AND EXPULSION, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE BULLYING OR HARASSMENT FOR ANY REASON.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND, AGAIN, THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR THAT.

IF A PARENT OR A STUDENT IS NOT PLEASED OR NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DISCIPLINARY, THE RESULT OF THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND THE FIRST LEVEL OF APPEAL YOU WOULD SPEAK WITH YOUR TEACHER AND THEN TO THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION AND THEN INTO THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS. YOU HAVE A LEVEL ONE WHICH WOULD BE HANDLED AT THE CAMPUS, A LEVEL TWO, WHICH WOULD GO TO SOMEONE AT ADMINISTRATION.

OFTENTIMES YOU AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE PARENT OR STUDENT COULD COULD APPEAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOARD IN A LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE.

YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.

EXCEPT THAT OUR NEW STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, BASED ON THE POLICY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, IS THAT ALL LEVEL ONES WILL START AT THIS LEVEL WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND STUDENT SERVICES.

AND THEN I WOULD TAKE UP THE LEVEL TWO.

OKAY. YEAH, THE PREVIOUS ONE, THE ONLY CHANGE TO THAT PROCESS WAS THE PREVIOUS WE START WITH OUR LEVEL STARTED AT THE CAMPUS AND THIS ONE WE'VE ELEVATED A LEVEL? THAT IS CORRECT. YES, SIR. SO SO IN IN ADDITION WE'VE ADDED AN EXTRA LEVEL OF APPEAL.

YES, SIR. IN EFFECT.

AND SO AND THAT APPEALS PROCESS EXISTED IN THE PREVIOUS CODE OF CONDUCT AND EXISTS IN THE PROPOSED CODE.

[02:05:02]

SO AS FAR AS PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENTS, FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS, IN MY READING OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS THAT IT PROVIDES THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION, EVEN HEIGHTENED AND HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF PROTECTION IN THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT AS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS CODE OF CONDUCT.

IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL? YES, SIR, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE HAVE VERY SYSTEMATIC STATEWIDE RECOGNIZED SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY TAKING CARE OF ANY REPORTS OF BULLYING OR HARASSMENT.

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THEY JUST NEED TO REPORT IT.

WE INVESTIGATE EVERY REPORT VERY SERIOUSLY.

DR. SMOLSKIS, WE HAVE SEEN YOUR AWARDS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THE STATE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE IN THIS CODE OF CONDUCT THAT IF YOU WERE A DRAGON PARENT, A DRAGON STUDENT, THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR WORRY THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE PROTECTED? NO, SIR, NOT AT ALL.

SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

OKAY. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.

I KNOW THEY HAVE MET TIRELESSLY TO GET THIS DOCUMENT DONE ALL THE WAY INTO ALMOST WHERE WE'RE ABOUT TO START SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION, THIS FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU AND MS. BONNER, BECAUSE I KNOW MISS BONNER SERVED ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE AS WELL, OR IS STILL CURRENTLY SERVING.

AND, MS. BONNER, CAN YOU SHARE WHY YOU WERE ASKED TO SERVE ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE IN THE HANDBOOK AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED BY SECTION 504 AND SPECIAL EDUCATION? YES, I CAN ANSWER BOTH OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

SO I WAS ASKED TO SERVE ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE AS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT ANY POLICY CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WERE ALIGNED WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE SECTION 504 AND IDEA.

IN REGARDS TO STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AS IT RELATES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES UNDER SECTION 504 OR SPECIAL EDUCATION, BOTH ARE PROTECTED CLASSES. THAT MEANS THAT IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT THAT MAY RESULT IN A CHANGE OF PLACEMENT, BOTH SECTION 504 AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE HAVE A MANIFESTATION DETERMINATION REVIEW PROCESS.

IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT A STUDENT WOULD RECEIVE A PLACEMENT AT SUCH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A DAEP, OR IF THE STUDENT HAS HAD BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A TEN DAY REMOVAL, HOWEVER, COULD CUMULATIVELY REACH TEN DAYS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.

ANY TIME A STUDENT IS REFERRED TO A DAEP, WE ARE NOTIFIED WHEN THEY'RE IN THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS SO THAT IF THE DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT A STUDENT WILL GO TO A DAP PLACEMENT, WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND ARDS BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE BASED ON A STUDENT'S DISABILITY.

IF THE STUDENT IS, THEN WE WORK WE WORK WITH THE THE CAMPUS TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO CONDUCT THE MDR.

WE PROVIDE CONSULTATION.

IF THEY ARE UNSURE IF THE STUDENT IF THE DISABILITY IS A MANIFESTATION, IF THE BEHAVIOR IS A MANIFESTATION OF THE STUDENT'S DISABILITY. WE SUPPORT THE CAMPUS IN SERVING THE STUDENT AT THE CAMPUS TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP STUDENTS SAFE WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY.

IF IT'S NOT A MANIFESTATION OR IF IT'S A MANDATORY PLACEMENT UNDER THE THREE CRITERIA THAT IS ESTABLISHED IN LAW, THEN WE SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO AND FROM THE DAEP.

AND WE HAVE STAFF WHO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHILE THEY ARE AT THE DAEP.

IF IT'S STUDENTS WHO AREN'T BEING SENT TO A DAP, BUT MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, PERSISTENT MISBEHAVIOR, WE WORK WITH THEM TO CONDUCT FBAS AS NEEDED, PROVIDE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS.

WE HAVE TWO BCBAS ON STAFF NOW WHO WILL WORK TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED IN BOTH OUR RESOURCE AND INCLUSION AND OUR SELF-CONTAINED SETTINGS TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY MAYBE TO HAVE A BEHAVIOR THAT COULD BE DISRUPTIVE BUT IS ALSO A MANIFESTATION OF THEIR DISABILITY.

YES, YES, YES.

[02:10:02]

WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT WHEN IN DOUBT, PRINCIPALS CALL ME.

AND SO BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY COORDINATORS, WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN ALL SITUATIONS AND ARE ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAMPUSES WITH ANY NUMBER OF OF, OF THINGS. AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T RESULT IN A STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION, BUT THEY STILL WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIOR.

MS. BONNER, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

EARLIER THIS EVENING, WE HEARD FROM A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND THEIR CONCERN WAS ABOUT INAPPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE FOR SPED STUDENTS.

GIVEN YOUR ROLE IN CREATING THIS PROCESS, THIS CODE OF CONDUCT HANDBOOK AND WHATNOT, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN SUCH AS THAT PARENT SHARED INAPPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE FOR SPED STUDENTS? OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS OR OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

I BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE DISABILITY IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

JUST BECAUSE A STUDENT ACTS IN A CERTAIN WAY DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCIPLINE THAT STUDENT IN THE EXACT SAME WAY.

WE DISCIPLINE STUDENTS WITHIN A FRAMEWORK ALONG ALL OF STUDENTS ARE DISCIPLINED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK.

THAT IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.

WE DO, HOWEVER, LOOK AT THE DISABILITY AND CONSIDER MAYBE WE CONSIDER THE SOCIAL OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF A STUDENT WHO MAY RESULT IN A BEHAVIORAL, YOU KNOW, A DISCIPLINE INCIDENT OR JUST A CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR.

WE LOOK AT THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE LEVELS AND AGAIN, I AM FULLY CONFIDENT THAT PRINCIPALS ARE GOING TO CONTACT US IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, A PRINCIPAL WHO HAS MADE A DECISION ON A STUDENT WHO MIGHT NOT BE CUT AND DRY WHERE THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME.

YEAH. DR. SMOLSKIS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE APPROVING AND ADOPTING AND SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE NONDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE.

SO I'M GOING TO READ WHAT I READ IN THE POLICY ITSELF, AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS THE DEFINITION THAT WE ARE GOING WITH IN BOTH THE HANDBOOK AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT.

SO CARROLL ISD DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, AGE, DISABILITY OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROHIBITED BY LAW IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THAT'S THE DEFINITION THAT I THINK WE'RE APPROVING.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S THE SAME EXACT WORDING IN THE HANDBOOK AS WELL AS THE CODE OF CONDUCT, CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND I KNOW WE HAVEN'T YET TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER POLICIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER LATER, BUT I THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO MENTION AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT EXACT SAME DEFINITION WILL ALSO BE IN THE DIA LOCAL AND THE FH LOCAL, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. FOR THE PROTECTED CLASSES? THAT IS CORRECT. SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US IS A NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE'RE STANDARDIZING THE DEFINITION ACROSS ALL OUR POLICIES THAT NOT ONLY APPLY TO STUDENTS BUT APPLY TO STAFF.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND ONE OF THE COMPELLING REASONS THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY ADDED RELIGION BACK AFTER ONLY GOING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEFINITION ONE YEAR AGO IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT.

AND THE LEGALLY PROTECTED CLASSES THAT WE LIST FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR, THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF US TONIGHT, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BRYAN, THAT THIS DEFINITION ACTUALLY ALIGNS WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE DEFINITIONS AND LIST OF PROTECTED CLASSES, CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND I THINK WE HEARD FROM YOU THAT SPECIFICALLY TITLE NINE SAYS THAT SEX DISCRIMINATION INCLUDES GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS UNDER IT'S CLASSIFIED UNDER THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNDER TITLE IX.

[02:15:01]

SO, IN EFFECT, SEX DISCRIMINATION IS, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, THE SAME AS GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION.

THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.

SO IT REALLY BOTHERS ME, HONESTLY, THAT WE'VE HAD A FEW OF OUR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT TO FEEL THAT ANY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD DOES NOT PROTECT AND VALUE EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN OUR DISTRICT.

AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD WE HAVE DUE PROCESS.

WE HAVE ALL THE PROTECTIONS WE CAN HAVE IN PLACE, AND WE WANT TO PROTECT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.

SO IT IT REALLY BOTHERS ME THAT THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT WOULD FEEL THAT WERE NOT LOVING AND CARING OF EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

I APPRECIATE THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS MET FOR, I THINK, MONTHS.

I'M NOT. IT'S BEEN A FULL YEAR, SIR.

OKAY. FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES I THINK I SAW A LIST OF IT SOMETIME AGO.

PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, NURSES, MAYBE.

THE HEAD OF THE COMMITTEE IS A LAWYER HIMSELF.

I KNOW IT HAS PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM AT LEAST ONE PERSON THAT WAS ON THE COMMITTEE TONIGHT WHO TOLD US THEY WERE ON THE COMMITTEE.

THAT HAS CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

BUT I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE IS SUPPORTING AND RECOMMENDING THE CHANGES THAT YOU GUYS ARE BRINGING BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT, AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND I GUESS THE LAST THING IS I KNOW FROM TALKING TO A FEW LAWYERS MYSELF AND FROM VISITING WITH YOU THAT THE DISTRICT HAS SOUGHT THE ADVICE OF ATTORNEYS THAT ACTUALLY ADVISE THE DISTRICT ON LEGAL TOPICS AND THEY FULLY SUPPORT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED.

AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE AND TO CONFIRM HOW MUCH WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM ALL THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VERY WELL SAID, TRUSTEE LANNEN.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DO. DRESS CODE.

I ACTUALLY. PAGE 52.

YEAH, WELL, YEAH. 51 AND 52.

YES. I AGREE WITH I DO AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE DRESS CODE CHANGES.

IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE STRUGGLE FOR GIRLS TO HAVE SHORTS OR A SKIRT THAT GOES DOWN TO THEIR FINGERTIPS BECAUSE EVERY ONE IS BUILT DIFFERENTLY.

SOME HAVE LONG ARMS, SOME HAVE SHORT ARMS. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS GOING TO KIND OF GIVE AN EVEN LINE ACROSS THE CAMPUSES? I KNOW YOU CAN'T HAVE A RULER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE GIRLS THAT ARE WEARING CHEERLEADING UNIFORMS, DRILL TEAM UNIFORMS THAT DEFINITELY DO NOT HIT BELOW THE FINGERTIPS.

AND I'M THINKING NO ONE SELLS SHORTS OR SKIRTS BELOW THE FINGERTIPS THAT WOULD LEAD THE GIRLS TO EITHER SWEATS OR JEANS, WHICH WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL IN THIS HEAT. SO IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT WOULD CHANGE THAT TO EITHER MID-THIGH OR FIST, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE? IS THERE ANY TALK AMONG THE COMMITTEE TO CHANGE THIS PARTICULAR PORTION OF THE DRESS CODE? IT WAS IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP, AND WE DIDN'T GO INTO EXHAUSTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

I DO KNOW THAT WHAT WE ALWAYS TRAIN PRINCIPALS IS REASONABLE.

WHAT IS REASONABLE IF IF THE IF THE ITEM IS DISTRACTED TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, IS IT REASONABLY DISTRACTED OR IS IT GROSSLY DISTRACTED? I THINK IS KIND OF WHERE IT GETS INTO.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT GRAY IN CERTAIN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT WOULD A REASONABLE PERSON DO IN THAT SITUATION? SO THAT'S SOMETHING IF THE BOARD DECIDES FOR US TO ADJUST THAT WE CAN ADJUST THAT LANGUAGE TO, SAY, MID THIGH OR THIGH.

AND I THINK WE HAD IT. TRUSTEE STACY, I HAD SEVERAL MOMS REACH OUT TO ME ON THIS SUBJECT AS WELL, SAYING IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.

AND I THINK OUR POLICY PREVIOUSLY WAS KNUCKLES, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY.

KNUCKLES. KNUCKLES, RIGHT.

KNUCKLES. YEAH. WHICH EVERYBODY SEEM TO BE OKAY WITH.

I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE DAUGHTERS MYSELF.

RIGHT? IT'S HARD TO FIND CLOTHING THAT IT'S DIFFICULT.

YOU'RE RIGHT. SO AM I HEARING? I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO RESTRICTIVE PROPOSED CHANGES TO.

NO, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE GRAY.

BUT ALSO IT'S LEFT FOR SUBJECTIVITY.

IT IS GRAY. AND IF WE'RE PUTTING IT IN THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND WE'RE ASKING FOR NO SUBJECTIVITY, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK THIS OUT AND

[02:20:04]

AND IT MAY SAY IT MIGHT SOUND MINOR, BUT IT'S NOT MINOR BECAUSE THIS IS PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL.

I MEAN, WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THEY GOING TO FIND THIS KIND OF STUFF? AND NO STORES SELL THIS THESE LINKS FOR GIRLS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A GENERIC CLAUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THEY JUST NEED TO BE COVERED.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE JUST TAKE THAT OUT AS A PROPOSAL.

YOU KNOW, I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE THE POLICY REVIEW.

AND THAT KEEP IN MIND, TOO, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED WHEN WE DEVELOPED THAT CAME FROM OUR STAFF AS TO WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH AS WELL.

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? HEY, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON THIS SUBJECT, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHEN WE HAD THE OLD KNUCKLE POLICY VERSUS THE LENGTH OF A FINGER POLICY, LIKE I ASSUME WE APPLY COMMON SENSE WHEN WE DO.

YES. COACHING, I GUESS KIDS ON WHAT THEY CAN WEAR AND WHAT THEY CAN'T WEAR.

I DON'T, I MEAN, IT SEEMS DIFFICULT TO BE SO PRESCRIPTIVE WHEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT HEIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF FINGERS AND KNUCKLES AND IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO APPLY A HARD, FAST RULE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO APPLY COMMON SENSE WHEN YOU NEED TO APPLY COMMON SENSE.

AND WE CAN.

I'VE SEEN LANGUAGE WHERE WE SAY THAT THEY CAN WEAR SHORTS, PROVIDING THAT THEY ARE COVERED IN ALL ASPECTS, YOU KNOW, MEANING BUTT CHEEKS AREN'T HANGING OUT OR CERTAIN OTHER BODY PARTS ARE NOT VISIBLE.

I SAY JUST CHANGE FINGERTIPS TO KNUCKLES AND KNUCKLES.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD. IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS HAD BEFORE? THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR. OKAY, SO WE'RE JUST LEAVING IT THE SAME.

BACK TO KNUCKLES. KNUCKLES.

I WILL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT AND ADJUST.

I ALSO WANTED TO SAY IN THE ON PAGE 12 IN THE HANDBOOK THAT I APPRECIATED THE PARENTAL RIGHTS ON THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, WHERE IT STATED THAT IF A STAFF MEMBER WAS GOING TO HAVE LIKE ONE ON ONE COMMUNICATION, LIKE IF A COACH WAS GOING TO HAVE ONE ON ONE COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF THEIR ATHLETES, THAT THEY HAD TO GET PARENTAL APPROVAL TO BE ABLE TO TEXT THAT ONE.

AND THEN THAT PARENT HAD TO BE ON ALL COMMUNICATION.

SO I LOVED THAT.

AND THIS WAS PROBABLY IN PLACE ON PAGE 16.

BUT I ALSO LIKE THAT THE PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE TEACHING MATERIAL.

AND THEN ONCE A TEST HAS BEEN TAKEN AND THEY GET THE GRADE BACK, THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO THE PARENT HAS A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE TEACHER TO ACTUALLY GO OVER THAT TEST.

THAT IS CORRECT.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ON PAGE 82, IN REGARDS TO PRAYER, IT SAYS EACH STUDENT HAS A RIGHT TO PRAY INDIVIDUALLY, VOLUNTARILY AND SILENTLY, OR TO MEDITATE IN SCHOOL IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DISRUPT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

SO WE'RE SAYING THEY CAN'T PRAY OUT LOUD.

AND WHY WOULD THAT BE? THEY CAN PRAY. THEY CAN PRAY SILENTLY.

THEY CAN PRAY OUT LOUD. THEY CAN PRAY.

THEY CAN PRAY. IT JUST SAYS SILENTLY.

WHY IS IT SO RESTRICTIVE? I THINK THAT SECTION FROM WHAT I RECALL IS DURING THE MOMENT OF SILENCE, THAT'S WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO DO.

OR IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY OR IF A STUDENT WANTS TO PRAY, THEY CAN.

WE CAN WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT STUDENT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO PENALIZE A STUDENT FOR PRAYING OUT LOUD.

NOT AT ALL. OKAY. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR.

OKAY. PAGE 82.

DR. SMOLSKIS BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF, I GUESS, CELLULAR PHONE USE.

I NOTICED IN MOST OF THE CASES WHERE CELL PHONES WERE MENTIONED, THEY CHANGED IT TO, I THINK, ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

AND I GUESS I CAN GUESS WHY THAT'S SO, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT DEVICES OTHER THAN CELL PHONES LIKE, YOU KNOW, IPHONES, I MEAN, LIKE IWATCHES AND OTHER IPADS AND EVERY KIND OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT YOU CAN USE.

IS THAT THE REASON THAT THEY CHANGED THE CELL PHONE? YES, THAT IS CORRECT. STUDENTS CAN TEXT AND THE WATCH DID COME UP.

THE WRIST DEVICE DID COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE DISCUSSION.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WE CHANGED IT TO PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

I ALSO NOTICED ON THE SUBJECT OF USE OF PHONES, THAT CERTAIN GRADES, I THINK, UP TO HIGH SCHOOL CANNOT USE THE PHONE AT ALL DURING THE DAY, INCLUDING THE PERIODS BETWEEN CLASSES AND LUNCH.

THEY CAN ONLY USE IT UP TO THE START OF SCHOOL AND AFTER THE END OF SCHOOL.

AM I CORRECT ON THAT? EACH GRADE LEVEL IS DIFFERENT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WITHOUT MEMORIZING IT ALL, BUT I BELIEVE FROM K THROUGH FOUR, THERE'S NO NO DEVICES AT ALL.

[02:25:07]

THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

AND THEN THE MIDDLE THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEFORE SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL AND AT LUNCHTIME OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TEACHER IF THEY'RE UTILIZING IT AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL.

I RECALL THAT THAT WAS DISCUSSED ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAME POSITION THAT'S APPLIED FOR THE LAST YEAR.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PENALTIES FOR THE USE OF THE PHONES DURING PERIODS WHEN IT'S NOT ALLOWED.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW IT WENT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

DID THAT POLICY AND POSITION WORK PRETTY WELL IN THE LAST YEAR? AND I KNOW THERE'S FINES IF IT DIDN'T WORK AND I'M TRYING TO REFLECT ON THE DATA THAT I WOULD PULL FOR YOU ALL WHEN WE DID DATA REPORTS.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WE DID HAVE A FEW CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS, BUT AS FAR AS HEARING FROM THE PRINCIPALS IN TERMS OF HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH EITHER CONFISCATING THE DEVICE OR HAVING TO RETURN OR MULTIPLE OFFENSES, I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT OUR KIDS ARE REALLY THEY'RE REALLY GOOD WHEN THEY'RE TOLD NOT.

THEY PUT IT UP FOR THE MOST PART, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

SO ON PAGE 50, THE DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE, PUBLISHED MATERIALS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS, ALL GRADE LEVELS.

WE HAVE TWO SECTIONS. WE HAVE NON SCHOOL MATERIALS FROM STUDENTS AND THEN NON SCHOOL MATERIALS FROM OTHERS.

AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SINCE THIS IS A STUDENT HANDBOOK, WHO ARE? WHO WOULD BE THE OTHERS? SO WHICH PART? IT'S NOT STUDENTS.

AND THIS IS THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

WHO ARE WE TALKING TO? IT JUST SAYS FROM OTHERS.

SO IS THAT FOR REQUESTING? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE PAMPHLETS DISTRIBUTION OF? OKAY, SO IF THERE'S AN OUTSIDE ENTITY THAT WANTS TO BRING IN A PAMPHLET TO DROP OFF AT THE WHAT THEY WANT TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE.

SO LET ME THINK OF SOMETHING I JUST DIDN'T.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF OUT OF PLACE.

ANYTHING NOT RELATED TO SCHOOL? WE HAVE TO. YEAH, THEY HAVE TO GET PERMISSION TO DO ALL OF THAT.

SO WE JUST DON'T HAVE PAMPHLETS SHOWING UP ON CAMPUSES AND THEN WE'RE DISTRIBUTING THEM OUT TO EITHER STAFF OR STUDENTS.

THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO.

RIGHT. JUST TRYING TO THINK OF ONE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, I'D GET THE GIRL.

NOT A BIG DEAL. YEAH, I KNOW.

GIRL GUIDES BACK IN THE DAY USED TO COME WITH THEIR PAMPHLETS, AND WE USED TO HAVE TO.

THEY WANTED US TO GIVE THOSE TO KIDS.

THAT'S OTHERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.

SMOLSKIS? OKAY.

CAN I GET A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK WITH AMENDED CHANGES. AND THAT WOULD BE THE LENGTH OF SKIRTS, DRESS CODE TO RETAIN KNUCKLES AND ALSO BEST PRACTICES OF COMMON SENSE.

AND SECONDLY, PER PRESIDENT BRYAN, THAT PRAYER IS ALLOWED BOTH SILENTLY AS WELL AS SPOKEN.

SECOND. GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 6 TO 0.

THANK YOU, DR. SMOLSKIS.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 9C.

CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OF POLICY UPDATE 121 IN LOCAL POLICY CHANGES CS, DIA, FFH AND FI.

OKAY, SO THIS IS A QUICK SUMMARY, BUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU FOR UPDATE 121 HAVE BEEN MOVED TO BETTER LOCATION WITHIN THE MANUAL AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REMOVE THE TERM DESIGNEE FOR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO OVERSEE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.

AS FAR AS LOCAL POLICY AND FI, THESE ARE ADDED NEW POLICIES.

CSE POLICY IS THE USE OF THE LOCKER ROOM AND BATHROOMS AND REFLECTS THE EXPECTATION THAT STUDENTS USE THE FACILITY OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX.

THE FEE POLICY ADDRESSES THE IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS, AND THE DISTRICT SHALL NOT COMPEL DISTRICT PERSONNEL OR OTHER STUDENTS TO ADDRESS OR REFER TO STUDENTS IN ANY OTHER MANNER THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE SPEAKER'S CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS.

AND THEN FINALLY, BOTH FFH AND DIA ARE ALIGNED WITH THE POLICY REVIEWS DECISION FOR DISCRIMINATION.

THE STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION AND AGAIN IN FFH ALSO WAS UPDATED TO ALIGN TO THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY SEXUAL HARASSMENT AS DEFINED BY THE TITLE NINE FEDERAL LAW.

AND THIS INCLUDES ANY GENDER BASED HARASSMENT TO BE PROTECTED UNDER SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND TITLE NINE LAW.

OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.

DR. SMOLSKIS, BECAUSE I HAD A FEW JUST COMMENTS ON THE THE THE POLICY REGARDING PRONOUN USAGE PREVIOUSLY CARELESSLY.

[02:30:02]

AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. BUT THE THE PRACTICE THAT FOLLOWED WAS THAT IT LEFT IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL'S REQUEST TO USE A CERTAIN PRONOUN.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES, SIR.

AND THIS NEW POLICY, IT ESSENTIALLY CODIFIES THE PRACTICE WHILE IT SAYS WE WE WILL NOT REQUIRE STAFF TO PROMOTE OR ENCOURAGE OR REQUIRE THE USE OF A REQUESTED PRONOUN, IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT A TEACHER OR ANOTHER STUDENT FROM AGREEING TO USE SOMEONE'S REQUESTED PRONOUN.

CORRECT. THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND IT.

YES, SIR. AND SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CODIFIED IN A IN A FORMAL POLICY THE PREVIOUS PRACTICE THAT CISD FOLLOWED.

RIGHT. THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME.

YES. SO SO THERE'S NO CHANGE.

THERE'S NO TAKING AWAY OF ANY RIGHTS.

WE'RE JUST FORMALLY CODIFYING IN A FORMAL POLICY WHAT WE FOLLOWED IN AN INFORMAL PRACTICE.

THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. TRACY JORDAN AND I'LL JUST ADD TO POLICY FI, THE MORE I READ THIS, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF IT IS JUST WHAT TRUSTEE JORDAN SAID, AND THAT IS TEACHERS AREN'T PROHIBITED, AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA FROM USING THE PRONOUN, BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO USE IT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.

SO IT'S THERE. WE'RE PROTECTING THEIR FREE SPEECH, RIGHT? TEACHERS DO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, BUT THERE ARE TWO WORDS IN HERE THAT I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY THEY'RE IN HERE OR WHY THEY WOULD APPLY TO THIS POLICY KNOWING THAT WE'RE JUST CODIFYING, YOU KNOW, THE LAW IS PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THAT HAS THOSE TWO WORDS HAVE REALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS POLICY.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD JUST BE, SAY DISTRICT STAFF SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF PRONOUNS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT'S OR OTHER PERSON'S BIOLOGICAL SEX.

IF WE WERE TO LEAVE, PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE IN THERE, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS CONDONE.

SO SHALL NOT PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE, CONDONE OR REQUIRE.

I JUST THINK IT CONFUSES THINGS.

IF YOU LEAVE THOSE TWO WORDS IN THERE.

AND MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE JUST TO ELIMINATE THOSE AND STICK WITH WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO, WHICH IS NOT REQUIRE USE.

I AGREE WITH THAT. OKAY. WITH THAT.

PRESIDENT BRYAN. OKAY, NOTED.

AND THEN, DR. SMOLSKIS, IN REGARDS TO THE BATHROOMS, HAVEN'T WE ALWAYS HAD A PRIVATE RESTROOM THAT ANY STUDENT CAN GO USE IN THE NURSE'S OFFICE IF THEY WOULD LIKE PRIVACY? THAT IS CORRECT. SO, DR.

SMOLKIS, ON THAT, I ACTUALLY ASKED SOME PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS THE SAME QUESTION.

AND I KNOW THAT THOSE EXIST IN MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S NOT THEY'RE NOT ALL ACCESSIBLE BY STUDENTS, BUT THEY CAN BE USED THAT WAY.

CORRECT. SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO GO TO THOSE NEUTRAL BATHROOMS? THAT IS CORRECT. WE WOULD MAKE AN ACCOMMODATION.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

SO I'VE BEEN HERE A YEAR, SO I WOULD ASSUME SO.

BUT THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN BEST PRACTICES FROM MY EXPERIENCE.

YES. SO WE'RE JUST PUTTING BEST PRACTICE IN WRITING IN POLICY.

AND I'LL JUST READ IT. IT SAYS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE FOR ANY PERSON SEEKING PRIVACY, I.E.

SINGLE USER RESTROOM.

ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO ACCOMMODATIONS SHALL BE HANDLED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRIVACY.

THAT IS CORRECT. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS? YES, SIR. AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

DR. SMOLSKIS, I WAS CURIOUS TOO, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS REGARD.

AND SO FOR THOSE FEW PRINCIPLES THAT I ASKED, HAS THERE BEEN AN ISSUE, A PROBLEM? I ACTUALLY DID HEAR THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT IN THE LAST YEAR AND.

AS I GOT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT INCIDENT, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS SHARING WITH ME THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT TOLD ME THAT THIS TYPE OF A POLICY WOULD HELP PROTECT STUDENTS IN THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED.

AND SO WITHOUT GETTING ANY DETAIL, GETTING INTO ANY DETAILS, IT SEEMED HELPFUL TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF A POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE

[02:35:09]

OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSIDERED CHANGES FOR POLICY.

UPDATE 121 AND LOCAL POLICY CHANGES CS, DIA.

FFH AND F1 WITH THE AMENDED CHANGES PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT BRYAN.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU, DR. SMOLSKIS.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NINE D.

CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 007-23.

MR. JOHNSON. AND ANNUALLY WE ARE.

OKAY. ANNUALLY WE'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE A PAYMENT TO TIA FOR RECAPTURE THAT IS BASED ON TIA CALCULATIONS.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ABOUT.

SO WHAT I'VE GOT BEFORE YOU IS AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DROVE THAT INCREASE IN IN THE RECAPTURE PAYMENT, OUR TAX COLLECTIONS WENT UP AND OUR ADA WENT DOWN. AND AS WE KNOW, WHEN TAX COLLECTIONS GO UP AND OUR ADA, ADA DOES THE OTHER, THEN IT INCREASES THE RECAPTURE.

SO TIA'S NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OURS, I THINK PROBABLY $1 MILLION.

THAT SAID, I'M ASKING FOR BUDGETARY BUDGETARY AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT TO TIA.

I MADE THE AMENDMENT A NET ZERO.

SO WE'VE GOT A BALANCED BUDGET BEFORE INCREASE FOR THE INCREASED TAX COLLECTIONS AND THE INCREASE ACTUALLY THE INCREASED INTEREST, THE INCREASED PAYMENT, AND THEN I DECREASED OR OFFSET SOME OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT MY PROJECTION SAYS.

WE WON'T SPEND 100% OF THOSE BUDGETARY FUNDS TO KEEP THAT KIND OF CONSISTENT WITH A BALANCED BUDGET AND JUST DO IT KIND OF CONSISTENTLY.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO PAY THE $38 MILLION IN ON AUGUST 15TH.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSER TO 37, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EITHER SIDE OF THAT.

I'LL KNOW AS I FINALIZE THE TAX COLLECTIONS AND FINALIZED THE CALCULATION.

BUT BASICALLY I'M REDISTRIBUTING FUNDS INCREASING SO THAT I CAN MAKE THAT PAYMENT ON AUGUST 15TH.

SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY JUST GIVING YOU PERMISSION TO PAY OUR RECAPTURE TO THE STATE AND ALIGN OUR BUDGET.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T APPROVE THAT? IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. CAN WE KEEP THAT $38 MILLION? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

DO YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS EVER NOT APPROVED TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO THE STATE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THEM? I HAVE NOT. I'VE HEARD RUMBLINGS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR NOT.

SO. SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, IF YOU ALL CAN APPROVE THAT I CAN MAKE THAT PAYMENT, NOT GO TO JAIL.

REGRETTABLY, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 007 DASH 23 AS PRESENTED BY MR. JOHNSON. SECOND MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON.

DON'T GO TO. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM 9E, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL.

DRAGON STADIUM REPAIRS.

COACH, GOOD EVENING.

I THINK IT'S ODD THAT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR RECAPTURE WAS ZERO SEVEN.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU IN FRONT OF YOU HAVE AN UPDATED SYNOPSIS OF DRAGON STADIUM WAS BUILT IN 2001.

WE HAVE NOT REALLY HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL CHANGES OR UPDATES REPAIRS TO THAT SINCE 2001.

WE'VE TAKEN THIS IS KIND OF A PHASE ONE OF POSSIBLY PHASE THREE THAT WE WERE KIND OF HOPING TO DO WHEN WE INQUIRED XFL.

AND SO ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GENERATING, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY $150,000 FROM THE XFL RENTAL, WE'RE LOOKING TO USE SOME OF THAT MONEY, NOT ALL, BUT USE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO REPAIR OR UPDATE WITH JUST SIMPLY PAINT, CARPET AND VINYL TILE.

BASICALLY, EVERYWHERE THAT YOU SEE ON THE THREE PHASES OF THE COACHES OFFICES DOWNSTAIRS, THE MEDIA DECK MEDIA AREA.

AND THE THIRD LEVEL KIND OF KIND OF GIVE IT A LITTLE FACELIFT FROM 2001.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

IN TERMS OF A RECOMMENDATION FOR TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF THAT THROUGH ATHLETIC MONEY, OUR BUDGET MONEY THAT WE'RE CAPTURED AT THE END OF THE

[02:40:10]

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A GRADUATION AUCTION THAT ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BID ON THAT THROUGH A FUNDRAISER FOR ATHLETICS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO USE A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THAT AS WELL TO PAY FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED ANYTHING THAN $62,000.

TO DO THAT. I HAD I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE GRADUATION AUCTION MONEY.

YES, SIR. AND HOW MUCH? YOU'RE JUST SAYING A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS? YEAH, JUST A COUPLE THOUSAND.

IT'S A DE MINIMIS AMOUNT.

JUST CURIOUS, THOUGH, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE XFL FUNDING THIS, THE MONEY THAT WAS GOING WE GAVE YOU A COMMITMENT THAT WE WOULD ALLOW YOU TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AT THE STADIUM.

RIGHT. THE EXPECTATION FOR THE AUCTION PROCEEDS WAS THAT WAS THERE ANY.

ANY EXPECTATIONS SET FOR WHERE THAT MONEY WAS GOING OR WHAT WOULD GO INTO A GENERAL FUND? YEAH, NO. SO WE USE THAT AS AN ATHLETIC FUNDRAISER.

WE'VE DONE IT FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND BASICALLY ALL THAT MONEY, IT'S KIND OF AN ACTIVITY MONEY FOR OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

NOW, WHAT WE DO WITH THAT IS WE DO LIKE OUR COACHES MEETINGS.

WE MIGHT DO COACHES RECOGNITION, WE DO WE MIGHT BRING IN A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COACHES.

WE ALSO USE IT FOR TRAVEL.

AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A FUN THAT WE USE PRIOR TO LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO USE SOME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE THE MONIES THAT GET CABC GENERATES FOR US, WE DON'T GET THAT RIGHT AWAY.

OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO GENERATE SOME FUNDS AND GIVE THEM TIME TO CREATE SOME FUNDS.

SO OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM WILL BE TRAVELING AND WE'LL USE WE'LL KIND OF USE THAT MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT.

AND THEN AND WHEN AND CABC GENERATES ENOUGH MONEY, THEN THEY'LL PAY US TO KIND OF GIVE US BACK THAT ACTIVITY MONEY.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY A LITTLE BIT OF SEED MONEY TO HELP YOU OUT WITH.

YEAH. AND WE USE IT FOR REPAIR.

WE USE IT FOR REPAIR ON THE BASEBALL FIELD OR ACTUALLY IN THE GYM.

IF WE WANTED TO PUT A POSTER OR A SIGN OR WHATEVER, THAT MAY BE JUST A SMALL LITTLE, REALLY, AND WE USE A LOT FOR TRAVEL.

WE NEED TO USE IT FOR TRAVEL AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. NONE OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S PRIVATE DRIVING RANGE.

UNFORTUNATELY, NO, SIR, IT'S NOT.

YOU HAVE A PRIVATE DRIVING RANGE? YEAH, I THINK WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE THAT IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS MONEY IS NOT COMING FROM TAXPAYER DOLLARS. NO.

WELL, WE HAVE A BUDGET WE'VE USED.

WE HAVE A STADIUM REPAIR BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE SOME OF THAT FOR TO UPGRADE OR REPAIR SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE.

BUT WE BUDGET FOR THAT EVERY YEAR.

WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO HOLD ON TO THAT THIS YEAR, HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET TO A POINT WHERE WE COULD USE SOME OF THIS AND BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AS SIMPLE AS PAINTING AND CARPET AND VINYL.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING FANCY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

IT'S JUST TO TRY TO PUT A LITTLE FACELIFT ON IT.

SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, CAN YOU LET US KNOW IF THESE FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PAY TEACHER SALARIES? WENT THROUGH THROUGH THIS MONEY.

THE THE MONEY GOES BACK TO GENERAL FUND, I BELIEVE.

SO THAT WOULD BE A, SO YES I'M GETTING THE YES, I'M GETTING THE HEAD NOD, HOWEVER.

HOWEVER, OUR IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE AND WE CANNOT NEGLECT THOSE BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE THE XFL TO COME BACK.

YES, WE HAVE HAD SOME OTHER PROVIDERS TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITIES.

AND TO BE FAIR, WHEN WE STARTED THIS.

THIS WAS ABOUT A TWO YEAR PROCESS TO GET THE XFL TO PARTNER WITH, I GUESS.

AND I WENT TO DR.

LEDBETTER, AS WELL AS MR. BRYAN, ABOUT, HEY, LOOK, IF WE DO THIS, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WEAR AND TEAR IN OUR PLACE.

CAN WE PUT SOME MONEY BACK? AND REALLY, ALL I ASKED FOR WAS 30,000.

30%. EXCUSE ME? 30% OF WHATEVER THE REVENUE IS TO BE PUT BACK IN THE STADIUM AND THE REST WOULD GO TO THE GENERAL FUND AND USE IT HOW YOU WISH FOR SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

IS THE XFL COMING BACK NEXT YEAR? YES, SIR. AND COACH KEESLER GOING BACK TO MEETINGS.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE THESE ARE THE TYPE OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND NEW REVENUE FLOWS THAT WHEN THAT MONEY FROM XFL, BECAUSE OF THAT THINKING GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, I MEAN, EVERYBODY WINS.

RIGHT? RIGHT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND KEEP COMING WITH MORE GREAT IDEAS, PLEASE.

IT WORKED OUT GREAT. I GOT TO GIVE A COMMENT.

[02:45:02]

EXCUSE ME, WHO WORKS IN MY OFFICE.

SHE'S DONE A REALLY AMAZING JOB OF KEEPING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND WORKING THROUGH THEM.

AND IT IT DOES ADD A LOT TO HER JOB.

AND I DO APPRECIATE WHAT SHE DOES.

THAT'S GREAT. DOING GREAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CAN I GET A MOTION? THAT SAID I MAKE A MOTION AND THAT IS THE APPROVAL OF REPAIRS TO DRAGON STADIUM WITH FUNDS FROM A PORTION OF XFL AND GRADUATION AUCTION AS PRESENTED BY COACH KEESLER.

SECOND MOTION IN A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 6 TO 0.

LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[10. CONSENT AGENDA]

I DO. PRESIDENT BRYAN, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE GOOD FOLKS AT JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO.

THEY'RE MAKING A DONATION, IN-KIND DONATION OF $8,629.50.

PURPOSE OF AUGUST TEAM BUILDING, BUS TRANSPORTATION TAGS, REFLEX SITE LICENSE RENEWAL.

AND IT'S WITH OUR GREAT PTOS WHO DO A WONDERFUL JOB THAT REALLY DO HELP US, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES AS WE'VE SEEN WITH OUR BUDGET.

MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

AND I MAKE A MOTION TO CONCLUDE THIS EVENING'S MEETING.

SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 6 TO 0.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 8:46 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.