[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]
[00:00:06]
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I'VE ASKED TRUSTEE YEAGER TO LEAD US TODAY.
WILL YOU ALL PLEASE RISE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
AND JOIN ME, PLEASE, IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MS. YELTON. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
NEXT ITEM AND ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION FOR ITEM FOUR.
[4.A. Consider for Approval Resolution Authorizing Certain Expenditures of Available Fund Balance Funds]
FOR A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTAIN EXPENDITURES OF AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE FUNDS.AND I WILL START OUT WITH READING THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS.
WHEREAS THE CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, CARROLL ISD HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND STAFF FOR ITS STUDENTS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF AVAILABLE PUBLIC FUNDS.
AND. WHEREAS, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WISHES TO PROVIDE CARROLL ISD EMPLOYEES A ONE TIME PAYMENT TO SUPPORT COST OF LIVING INCREASES AND AS AN INCENTIVE FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY OF CARROLL ISD.
AND. WHEREAS, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANTICIPATES THAT CARROLL I-S-D WILL UTILIZE FUNDS FROM THE AVAILABLE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO ALLOW FOR A ONE TIME COST OF LIVING SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION INCENTIVE PAYMENT TO ALL ELIGIBLE CARROLL ISD EMPLOYEES, CONSISTING OF ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO WORK AT LEAST 20 HOURS IN A WORK WEEK AND ALL PART TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SCHEDULED SCHEDULED TO WORK LESS THAN 20 HOURS IN A WORK WEEK, EXCLUDING SUBSTITUTES AND STUDENT WORKERS.
AND. WHEREAS, A PUBLIC SCHOOL PURPOSE WILL BE SERVED BY THE PAYMENT OF A ONE TIME COST OF LIVING SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVE RETENTION PAYMENT TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND ENHANCE EMPLOYEE MORALE AND SERVE AS AN EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD, THAT THE FINDINGS AND RECITALS IN THE PREAMBLE OF THIS RESOLUTION ARE FOUND TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT AND HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED.
AND THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF A ONE TIME COST OF LIVING SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION INCENTIVE PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000 TO ALL ELIGIBLE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO WORK AT LEAST 20 HOURS IN A WORK WEEK IN A PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 TO ALL ELIGIBLE PART TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO WORK LESS THAN 20 HOURS IN A WORK WEEK, EXCLUDING SUBSTITUTES AND STUDENT WORKERS.
AND THE PAYMENT OF THIS ONE TIME SUPPORT AND INCENTIVE PAYMENT WILL BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES, INCENTIVIZING CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT AND THE PAYMENT OF THIS ONE TIME SUPPORT AND INCENTIVE PAYMENT IS EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON THERE BEING SUFFICIENT MONIES TO SUPPORT THE PAYMENT OF THE ONE TIME SUPPORT AND INCENTIVE PAYMENT, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS AS DETERMINED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, THIS PAYMENT SHALL SHALL NOT BE PAID.
AND THE BOARD FINDS THAT A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND A BENEFIT TO THE CARROLL ISD EXISTS IN THE PAYMENT OF THIS ONE TIME SUPPORT AND INCENTIVE PAYMENT AND A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE PLACED IN THE MEETING MINUTES OF THE CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
FURTHER DISCUSSION. I'LL START OUT WITH A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP.
[00:05:04]
AND THE WORD WILL PROBABLY GET BACK TO THE CAMPUS BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET THERE.MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID NOT PROVIDE ANY INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE, AND THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR PROMISE TO USE A PORTION OF THE STATEWIDE SURPLUS FOR A TEACHER RAISE OR BONUS.
THEREFORE, WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS MORNING TO SPEND A LARGE PORTION OF OUR 60 SURPLUS FROM THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR ON WELCOME BACK BONUSES. WE APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS IN THIS DISTRICT TO MAKE THIS DISTRICT SO SPECIAL.
AND I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS.
TEACHERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF A ISD AT CARROLL.
SO I FOR ONE, AS THROUGH MY MOTION SHOWS, I'M GOING TO BE PROUD AND HONORED TO TO SEND AND EXTEND THIS THESE FUNDS TO TEACHERS, BOTH FULL TIME AND PART TIME.
BUT I CAN SAY IN ALL HONESTY THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THIS BOARD HAS TO PUT FUNDS BACK INTO OUR TEACHERS AND KEEP THEM RETAIN THEM AND HELP THEM WITH THE COST OF LIVING. WE'RE GOING TO FIND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO CAPITALIZE ON THEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY FOR EXCELLENCE.
SO PRESIDENT BRIAN I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY GIVE OUR TEACHERS SOME MONEY.
I KNOW THAT IT'S WELL DESERVED AND PROBABLY OVERDUE.
I'VE HEARD AND I UNDERSTAND THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO BE MEETING AGAIN IN OCTOBER.
AND I KNOW THAT WE WERE HOPEFUL WHEN THEY WERE MEETING EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT THEY WOULD INCREASE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT AND WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO I BELIEVE THE REASON THEY'RE GOING TO MEET IN OCTOBER IS TO, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING AND POSSIBLY ABOUT INCREASING THE BASIC ALLOTMENT.
I KNOW LOTS OF SCHOOLS ARE HOPING AND MAYBE EVEN EXPECTING THAT SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE BASIC ALLOTMENT, I ASSUME THAT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN TALK ABOUT TEACHER PAY AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ON BASE SALARIES, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I THINK THAT'S WHAT TEACHERS ARE CURIOUS ABOUT.
THEY WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, CAN WE DO ANYTHING ON BASE SALARIES? WILL THAT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ONCE AGAIN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO FROM A BASE SALARY STANDPOINT? YES, ABSOLUTELY. TRUSTEE LANE AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD THAT IT'S IMMINENT, THAT SEPTEMBER THE LEGISLATURES ARE GOING TO GET BACK TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS.
IN WHAT CAPACITY? I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS SENT ON AN AGENDA YET, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS BOARD REALLY NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT IF THEY DO CHANGE AND GIVE US SOME MORE FUNDING. GETTING BACK UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT BONUS AND SALARY INCREASES.
ONE OTHER COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE HAS TO DO WITH HOW THIS AMOUNT THAT WE'RE AWARDING EQUATES TO A PERCENTAGE BASIS.
AND I WONDERED HOW IT COMPARED.
AND I LOOKED AT THE PERCENTAGES.
IT BASICALLY RANGES BETWEEN 2.7 AND 6.6% OF PEOPLE'S BASE SALARY, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY THEY EARN. SO I KNOW OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN IN THE 3%, MAYBE AS HIGH AS 4% RANGE.
AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO SOMETHING MORE LATER, IT'LL EVEN BE BETTER.
SO WE'RE KIND OF BY GIVING THIS LUMP SUM, WE'RE ALMOST GUARANTEEING THEM, AT LEAST IN THE RANGE OF 2.7 TO 6.6 WITH AN AVERAGE OVER 3%, YOU KNOW, GUARANTEED TO EVERYONE.
[00:10:07]
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THIS.AND ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CHATTER IN SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHY IS THE BOARD MEETING? AND I KNOW THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO SURPRISE OUR TEACHERS WITH A CHANCE TO GIVE THEM SOME MONEY JUST BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THEM.
SO I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND WHY WE WAITED UNTIL NOW TO OPENLY TALK ABOUT THIS.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REAL QUICK.
YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND IT WILL IMPACT THE NEXT GENERATION.
AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CALLING THAT I CAN THINK THAT I CAN THINK OF.
I REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE TEACHER THAT I HAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, MOST OF MY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD ON ME.
I STILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM TODAY.
THANK THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE FACEBOOK AND BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S DEMONSTRATIVE OF HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THEY'VE HAD ON ME AND THAT INCLUDES SROS ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CALLING.
AND OUR TEACHERS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DIDN'T DO THIS FOR THE MONEY.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER OCCUPATIONS YOU COULD HAVE COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO.
BUT YOU'RE YOU'VE CHOSEN THIS PATH.
AND WE'RE JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US AND THE COMMUNITY, AND WE VALUE YOU.
IT'S BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
WE'VE HAD SURGING COSTS ACROSS EVERY COST ELEMENT, AND THAT'S HIT EVERYONE.
AND SO FOR ME, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO TO DO THIS THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT.
GIVE A ONE TIME OR A BONUS, IF YOU WILL.
I DO THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE WE'LL HAVE TO REVISIT SOME OF OUR OCCUPATIONS SPECIFICALLY.
SOME OF THOSE OCCUPATIONS HAVE HAD BIGGER COST INCREASES THAN OTHERS.
FOOD SERVICE WOULD COME TO MIND.
STILL A RACE TO TO COMPETE FOR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS.
AND THERE ARE OTHER OCCUPATIONS AS WELL.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT WE LOOK AT THOSE EACH OF THOSE OCCUPATIONS, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE AND AND FAIR TO THOSE EMPLOYEES. LASTLY, I THINK THERE IS SOME SOME CONFUSION SPECIFICALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHAT OUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO GET PAID THIS YEAR. SO THERE'S THIS CHATTER ABOUT THEY'VE SIGNED CONTRACTS.
THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID.
CAN CAN THE ADMINISTRATION KIND OF ADDRESS THAT AND LET US KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR THEM SO THAT WE CAN CLEAR UP ANY OF THAT CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY? CERTAINLY SO, DR.
SMOLSKIS, YOU MAY WANT TO JUMP IN THERE, BUT BUT AS OF AS OF RIGHT NOW, AND CERTAINLY OUR YOU KNOW, AS IT AS IT PLAYS OUT EACH YEAR DURING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IS WHEN COMPENSATION IS CONSIDERED.
BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD AT THIS POINT.
SO RIGHT NOW, THEIR SALARY IS THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.
SO THAT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DECREASE.
BUT HOPEFULLY THIS IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, THEN THEN THAT WOULD HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.
YEAH. SO, CAROL, YEARS AGO TRANSITIONED MORE TO A HIRING SCHEDULE.
AND SO REALLY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT STEPS, YOU'RE ZERO ONE, TWO, THREE.
I MEAN, THAT'S STRICTLY FOR HIRING, FOR BRINGING PEOPLE IN.
ANY ADJUSTMENT TO SALARY THEN IS BASED ON WHAT THE BOARD DOES IN TERMS OF INCREASES.
[00:15:02]
THE BOARD ANY FLEXIBILITY IN IN PAY SO THAT THAT WENT AWAY YEARS AGO.AND IT'S STRICTLY BASED ON WHAT THE BOARD APPROVES AS PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
SO DOCTOR LEDBETTER, DOES THE CONTRACT ITSELF ACTUALLY STATE THE SALARY? NO, IT'S JUST FROM THE SCALE THAT GETS PUBLISHED.
IS THE SCALE ACTUALLY PUBLISHED? SO WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE A TEACHING SALARY SCHEDULE.
SO LIKE IF YOU GO FROM YEAR FIVE TO YEAR SIX, YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT INCREASE EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S THAT SALARY SCHEDULE IS WHAT WE HIRE PEOPLE AT.
THAT KIND OF GIVES US A RANGE OF WHERE WE BRING PEOPLE IN.
IF I GO FROM YEAR FIVE TO YEAR SIX, BUT THAT LOCKED DISTRICTS IN TO, YOU KNOW, 1.2 MILLION, WHATEVER THE INCREASE WAS, DEPENDING ON YOUR SIZE OF YOUR STAFF, THAT WOULD LOCK YOU IN TO THAT INCREASE EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE FINANCIAL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, DR.
LEDBETTER. I JUST WANT TO ALSO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE ARE, MYSELF INCLUDED TRUSTEES HERE, OUR PRESIDENT AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY LOBBYING OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, GIVING THEM THE VERY TALKING POINTS THAT WE PUT IN THAT LETTER THAT'S AVAILABLE STILL TODAY ON OUR WEBSITE OF ALL THOSE EXPENSES THAT HAVE INCREASED.
AND WE ARE TALKING TO THEM PROBABLY ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND EMPHASIZING THOSE.
SO I HOPE I'M NOT OUT OF STEP.
BUT WHEN WE CAN, TO BE GENEROUS WITH THOSE THAT MAKE THIS DISTRICT RUN.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO EXCITING.
I WROTE A LITTLE LETTER FOR OUR TEACHERS, SO I KNOW THIS IS GOING OUT TO ALL STAFF, BUT I WANTED TO I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT SPECIAL FOR OUR TEACHERS IN A BRIDGERTON FASHION.
WE KNOW IT'S HARD, YET YOU DO IT WILLINGLY AND WITH A CHEERFUL HEART.
IT IS A DAILY SACRIFICE THAT YIELDS ONE OF THE HIGHEST REWARDS.
WE TRUST OUR KIDS IN YOUR CARE DURING THE DAY WITHOUT FEAR.
YOU TREAT OUR KIDS AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN.
SEEING YOUR FACE IS THE REASON WHY MANY OF OUR KIDS WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL EACH MORNING.
YOU INSPIRE, IMPRESS, EDIFY, AND EXHORT YOUR STUDENTS TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE.
YOU WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THE WEIGHT OF YOUR JOB LOOK EASY AND FUN.
YOU ARE THE REASON C-I-S-D IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER HIGHEST RANKING DISTRICTS IN THE NATION.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE A DRAGON.
WELL SAID. AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING THIS MORNING.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.
WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 9:19 A.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.