May 05, 2025 School Board Special Workshop

[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WE'LL CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER ON MAY 5TH,

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

AND WE PROMISE WE WILL BE HERE PROMPTLY, RIGHT AT SIX TO START THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 6 P.M..

OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS THE OPENING PRAYER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE, WILL YOU ALL PLEASE RISE?

[3. OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE]

BLESS THIS MEETING AND GRANT US CLARITY AND COMPASSION AS WE WORK FOR THE GOOD OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY. HELP US TO LISTEN WITH OPEN MINDS, SPEAK WITH KINDNESS AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY, ALWAYS STRIVING TO SERVE WITH YOUR GRACE. LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE THREAT AT OLD UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LAST FRIDAY ENDED SAFELY FOR ALL. WE GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR PROTECTION OVER STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

IN MOMENTS OF FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY, YOU WERE PRESENT, GUIDING AND SHIELDING OUR COMMUNITY.

LORD, WE ASK FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION OVER ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.

IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE? 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.

AND NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

NOW FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH.

INTERNATIONAL WATER SAFETY DAY. MR. RAMEY HAS ELECTED TO MOVE HER PRESENTATION TO OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING ON 519.

SO WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS RECOGNITIONS.

[5. RECOGNITIONS]

AND, MR. NICHOL, ARE YOU HERE TO PRESENT? YES, SIR.

PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE THE CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2025, SALUTATORIAN AND VALEDICTORIAN.

MR. WILSON, ELECTED NOT TO ATTEND THIS EVENING AND HAS ASKED THAT I ASSIST IN RECOGNIZING THESE TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS FROM A GRADUATING CLASS OF 726.

SO IF OUR STUDENTS IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND COME UP HERE AND JOIN ME AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU GUYS INDIVIDUALLY. OUR CLASS OF 2025 SALUTATORIAN IS MR. LEONARDO ZHAO. LEO EARNED A GPA OF 106.891.

HE'LL BE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, WHERE HE PLANS TO STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE.

MR. LEO ZHAO. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] IN OUR CLASS OF 2025 VALEDICTORIAN MISS KATA GUNTUR, KATA ACHIEVED A GPA OF 106.980.

SHE WILL BE ATTENDING TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

KATA GUNTUR. CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:05:35]

MR. GOODMAN, ARE YOU PRESENTING? OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

TRUSTEES. PRESIDENT BRYAN. DOCTOR GLENN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US BACK AGAIN TO CELEBRATE WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I DO WANT TO SAY ON APRIL 26TH, 109 OF THE BEST TEAMS IN TEXAS DESCENDED ON GRANITE SHOALS, TEXAS, JUST WEST OF MARBLE FALLS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, ALWAYS WHERE THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IS.

AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DAY. WE'VE GOT, OF COURSE, OUR OTHER TEAMS REPRESENTED REALLY WELL.

WE HAD UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, A FEW OF THEM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.

WE THEY GOT 22ND OVERALL IN THE STATE. WE GOT MARCUS WARREN BACK THERE.

WE HAVE KATIE [INAUDIBLE] BACK THERE. SHE GOT 19TH OVERALL IN CHICKEN.

I HOPE I DON'T MISS PEOPLE, BUT WE DO HAVE ALSO FOR OVERTIME BARBECUE.

MISS KYLIE CAME OUT TO SUPPORT, SO THEY REPRESENT IT VERY WELL.

WE ALSO HAD ON THE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN TEAM, THE RED TEAM.

THAT WOULD BE WHO GAVIN WHO FINISHED FIFTH OVERALL WITH A TROPHY FOR RIBS.

WOW SO. [APPLAUSE] SO THE RED DRAGONS AND THE BLUE DRAGONS FINISHED, FINISHED 22ND AND 24TH OVERALL, RESPECTIVELY. SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SHOWING FOR ALL OF US.

BUT IN THE END IT WAS OG BARBECUE. THAT'S THE OTHER GUYS, OG BARBECUE THAT LANDED THREE OF THEIR CATEGORIES IN TOP TEN IN THE STATE. MEMBERS OF OG ARE PRESTON INOUYE, OUR BRISKET KING OVER THERE.

PRESTON, HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE. WE'VE GOT CRUZ PEREZ, CRUZ IS OUR BEAN PERSON. GETTING RESPECTABLE WITH BEANS. OUR FIRST CALL OF THE EVENING, WHICH WAS THE CAVEAT TO THE WHOLE THING, WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THAT WAS A FIRST PLACE OVERALL IN TEXAS IN DESSERT.

AND THAT WAS MADE WITH HER FIRST PLACE TROPHY IN DESSERT BY MISS DARIAN KAWHI RIGHT HERE.

THEN HERE CAME EIGHTH PLACE OVERALL IN CHICKEN BY MISTER RYAN VU.

ROUNDING OUT A WONDERFUL SIXTH PLACE OVERALL IN RIBS BY CADEN ROBERTSON.

[APPLAUSE] AS ALL THIS IS HAPPENING, OUR MINDS ARE BLOWING.

I HAVE TO SAY, UP HERE WITH ME THIS IS TODD YOUNG HE HELPED. HE DOES MUSIC ON DRAGON STADIUM FOR ME.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER DOING PA WORK OUT THERE FOR A WHILE. ALSO HELPS ME DO THIS TEAM BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF ANYMORE, SO HE HELPS ME. THANK YOU TO TODD YOUNG FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] SO I'M JUST HONORED. I'M SO PROUD OF THEM.

I CAN'T I WISH I COULD PUT INTO WORDS WHAT THIS DAY IS LIKE.

YOU SEE SOME PICTURES OF THEM RIGHT AFTER THEY GOT THEIR CALLS. WHAT THEY GO THROUGH ON THIS DAY, IT IS A HARD, HOT, LONG DAY UP AT 330. WE HAD TO GET UP AT 330 THAT DAY AND GO UNTIL WE DIDN'T GET HOME TILL MIDNIGHT THAT NIGHT, AND THEY PUT EVERYTHING THEY HAVE INTO THIS. IF I COULD DESCRIBE TO YOU THE PASSION THAT THEY DO THIS WITH, THAT THEY COOK WITH EVERY DETAIL. THEY'VE GOT TWEEZERS, THEY'VE GOT BRUSHES, THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING MAKING THIS STUFF THE BEST THEY CAN DO.

AND IT IS SO HUMBLING TO WATCH THEM DO THAT. AND BUT THEN TO SEE THEM GET REWARDED LIKE THIS IS PHENOMENAL.

AND TO BRING HOME A RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION TITLE, WHICH IS A STATE TITLE IN TEXAS FOR THEIR BARBECUE.

THAT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE IN OUR FOURTH YEAR. SO WE'RE REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, I JUST LIKE TO DO MY THANK YOUS.

THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY HERE, THE BOARD. DOCTOR GLENN MY WIFE DOES ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE WITH BARBECUE TEAM.

[00:10:06]

I GOT TODD YOUNG, I GOT CHEF NICK LEONARDI. ALSO HELPS US OUT.

WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO RUN FOUR TEAMS DURING THIS ALL DAY BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CAT HERDY GOING ON. BUT ALL WE REALLY DO IS TRY TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS ON TASK.

THAT'S REALLY OUR ONLY JOB WHEN WE GET TO THE STATE LEVEL LIKE THAT.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THAT. THANK YOU TO THESE KIDS.

AND WE'RE JUST REAL PROUD OF YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS STATE TITLE.

I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M GLAD THAT MISS DARIAN WAS HERE TONIGHT.

OUR FIRST PLACE, I KEEP CALLING HER JUST A DESERT ASSASSIN.

SHE IS JUST. THIS IS HER THIRD FIRST PLACE THIS YEAR IN DESERT AT ALL THE REGIONALS.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR REGIONAL TROPHIES. THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING. THEIR RIBBONS, THEIR FIRST PLACES. WELL, SHE IS GOING TO GO HOME TONIGHT AND PREPARE AS A COUPLE OF US ARE GOING TO GO TO FOX FOUR NEWS STUDIO IN THE MORNING FOR HER TO DEMONSTRATE HER AWARD WINNING CHEESECAKE.

SO. I'M VERY PROUD OF HER. THE WHOLE TEAM. AND SO LOOK FOR THAT ON FOX FOUR NEWS, I GUESS. HOPEFULLY I'LL KNOW WHEN IT COMES OUT AND I CAN PUBLISH THAT. HEY, CAN WE GIVE IT UP FOR THEIR LEADER, KEN GOODMAN? GOOD JOB. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD RECOGNITION FOR OUR CARROLL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR SUPPORTING SUCCESS.

MR. NICOLE, I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT.

YES, SIR. PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CARROLL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR SUPPORTING SUCCESS, ALSO KNOWN AS CLASS, WAS CREATED TO GIVE RESIDENTS A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT OUR DISTRICT.

ESTABLISHED IN 2008, THE VISION OF CLASS IS TO BUILD THE MOST HIGHLY INFORMED SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN TEXAS.

THIS YEAR'S CLASS COHORT INCLUDED 33 ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY EXPLORED VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. THEY SHADOWED CAMPUS PRINCIPALS, TOURED OUR STEM CENTER, TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO FINE ARTS AND CTE PROGRAMS. THEY ALSO MET WITH A BOARD PANEL, GAINED INSIGHT ON THE LONE STAR CUP, AND VISITED SOME NEWLY RENOVATED ATHLETIC FACILITIES.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE THIS GROUP PARTICIPATE, AND WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT AND ENTHUSIASM THIS EVENING.

WHILE SOME MEMBERS WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE THOSE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE RECOGNIZED.

SO, CLASS MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

[00:15:26]

BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT UP.

[8. PRESIDENT'S REPORT]

AND THEN I'LL HAVE A SHORT STATEMENT TO READ AFTER HIM, AND THEN WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

DOCTOR GLENN. OH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR TURNING OUT TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS. I APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND ADVOCACY.

IT DOES MEAN A LOT TO OUR TRUSTEES AND OUR STAFF TO SEE YOU HERE.

ALSO TO OUR PARENTS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATED. SO I WILL I'LL BEGIN WITH A FEW COMMENTS ON ISSUES THAT I KNOW ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE TONIGHT. FIRST, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A THREAT AT OLD UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON FRIDAY THAT LED TO THE EVACUATION OF THE CAMPUS.

ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SAFE AND THE DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO MAYOR SEAN MCCASKILL, POLICE CHIEF CASEY, AND ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING FIRST RESPONDERS FROM THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND JOHN FIKE, REAGAN O'QUINN AND THE STAFF AT OLD UNION FOR HANDLING THE EVACUATION EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

THEY MANAGED A COMPLEX SITUATION WITH CARE AND PROFESSIONALISM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE WILL USE THIS AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY AND DEBRIEF SOON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CAMPUS LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM TO IDENTIFY WAYS WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN. SECONDLY, TO THE REASON I SEE A LOT OF YOU HERE TONIGHT.

BOTH MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF REMAIN PRINCIPALS OF CARROLL HIGH AND CARROLL SENIOR HIGH, AND BOTH HAVE CONTRACTS IN EFFECT THROUGH THE END OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND WILL REMAIN IN THEIR CURRENT POSITION IN THE DISTRICT.

PROCEDURALLY, THE DISTRICT WILL CONSIDER THE RENEWAL OF THEIR CONTRACTS, ALONG WITH THOSE OF OTHER STAFF AT A FUTURE MEETING.

FINALLY, GRADUATION. IT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 23RD, AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT THE STUDENT CEREMONY THIS YEAR WILL BE MORE STUDENT LED. OUR ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING MR. WILSON, HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS CEREMONY SINCE THE FALL.

IN FACT, BOTH MR. WILSON AND I WERE AT THE STADIUM TODAY, ALONG WITH OTHER DISTRICT STAFF MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE EVENT.

THE PLAN IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, THAT BOTH MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF WILL BE ON STAGE SHAKING HANDS, CONGRATULATING STUDENTS AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS.

MR. WILSON WILL HAVE THE MICROPHONE LAST TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS AND DISMISS THE CLASS OF 2025.

IN ADDITION, I KNOW THAT HE IS LOOKING INTO MAKING VIDEOS AND HAS SOME OTHER THINGS PLANNED THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY ON, AND WE HOPE THAT SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES WILL MAKE THE EVENT MORE ENJOYABLE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, DOCTOR GLENN.

PERSONNEL MATTERS ARE ALWAYS SERIOUS. WE UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS INVOLVED.

PLEASE KNOW THAT BOTH THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT TREAT ANY PERSONNEL MATTER WITH THE UTMOST CARE.

WE STRIVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS AND GUIDED BY WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE BOUND LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY NOT TO DISCUSS OR DISCLOSE SPECIFIC PERSONNEL ISSUES.

THAT'S NOT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. IT'S A MATTER OF RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF PRIVACY AND PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE HEAR YOU. WE ARE EMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD ACROSS THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST 72 PLUS HOURS. WE ARE NOT DISCONNECTED. WE HAVE RESPONDED TO EVERY EMAIL AND RETURNED EVERY PHONE CALL TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. IN FACT, EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD IS A PARENT OF A CURRENT OR FORMER CARROLL ISD STUDENT.

WE LIVE HERE. WE ARE INVESTED HERE. AND WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING OF THIS DISTRICT.

JUST LIKE YOU, WE WE REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED US, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES YOU ASKED US TO BRING TO THIS BOARD. THOUGHTFUL GOVERNANCE, FACT BASED DECISION MAKING, LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND A CLEAR FOCUS ON WHAT'S BEST

[00:20:03]

[6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

WE'VE GOT LET'S SEE. WE'VE GOT 54 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TONIGHT, SO WE WILL GIVE EACH SPEAKER TWO MINUTES.

PLEASE BE REMINDED TODAY'S MEETING OF THE BOARD IS A SPECIAL MEETING, AND THEREFORE ALL SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THOSE THAT ARE GERMANE TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. HOWEVER, FOR TONIGHT ONLY, WE WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND ALLOW COMMENTS REGARDING MR. WILSON, MISS BENHOFF, MR. MARKLEY, MR. BURCHFIELD AND OR MR. MURPHY. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO REFERENCE THE BOARD MEETING PROTOCOLS, IN PARTICULAR BULLETS TWO AND FOUR, WHICH STATE APPLAUSE, HECKLING, BOOING AND VERBAL DISTURBANCES OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO APPROACH OR GO BEHIND THE BOARD DAIS AT ANY TIME UNLESS INVITED TO DO SO BY A BOARD TRUSTEE OR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW APPLAUSE TONIGHT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN KEEP THAT AWAY FROM YOU GUYS. SO IF YOU WANT TO APPLAUSE AFTER EACH SPEAKER, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. BUT PLEASE, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL FOR THE NEXT SPEAKER THAT COMES UP TO THE PODIUM.

FURTHER, IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOARD POLICY, IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS DISRUPT THE MEETING BY FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE BOARD PROTOCOLS.

A VERBAL WARNING WILL BE GIVEN BY ME. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE ROOM.

ALSO, AS A REMINDER, VERBAL ATTACKS OF A PERSONAL NATURE AGAINST TRUSTEES, RSD STAFF, STUDENTS OR OTHER CITIZENS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED OR TOLERATED.

LASTLY, LET IT BE KNOWN TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.042 PREVENTS TRUSTEES FROM RESPONDING TO A PUBLIC COMMENT INQUIRY OF A SUBJECT MATTER NOT ON THE AGENDA, UNLESS A STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY OR RESUSCITATION OR RESUSCITATION. HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU DO? RECITATION.

RECITATION. THERE YOU GO. OF EXISTING POLICY IS GIVEN IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY.

OKAY, MISS SHELTON, WE'RE READY FOR OUR FIRST SPEAKER.

THANK YOU. AND SPEAKERS TONIGHT PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE WITHIN CARROLL ISD BOUNDARIES WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, I WILL ANNOUNCE YOUR NAMES IN GROUPS OF THREE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD AS I ANNOUNCE THEM.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CHRIS UNDERWOOD. HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRIS UNDERWOOD AND I DO LIVE HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

I'M HERE WITH DEEP CONCERN AND SINCERE DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE DISTRICT'S DECISION NOT TO RENEW THE CONTRACTS OF FOUR DEDICATED LEADERS, COACHES MARKLEY AND BIRCHFIELD, AND PRINCIPALS BENHOFF AND WILSON.

THIS IS MORE THAN PERSONNEL CHANGES. THIS IS A SIGNAL TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING? OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, COACHES MARKLEY AND BIRCHFIELD SAW IMPROVEMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY BUILT A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, TEAMWORK AND HEART.

THEIR MOTTO, FIVE FOR ONE, MEANT EVERY PLAYER PLAYED FOR EACH OTHER AND TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.

MY SON LUCAS, WHO PLAYED UNDER BOTH COACHES, MY SON LUCAS, PLAYED UNDER BOTH COACHES AT THE END OF SEASON BANQUET.

HE SAID COACH BURCHFIELD BELIEVED IN HIM SO MUCH WHEN HE WAS EMOTIONAL AND UNCERTAIN WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND ABOUT COACH MARKLEY, LUCAS SAID IT WAS ONE OF HIS BEST SEASONS OF HIS LIFE.

IN FACT, COACH MARKLEY INSPIRED HIM SO MUCH THAT HE WANTS TO BECOME A COACH HIMSELF. THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT WE SHOULD BE PRESERVING, NOT DISCARDING. IF THIS DECISION WAS INFLUENCED BY COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTENSITY ON THE SIDELINES, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE CONTEXT.

WITH SMALLER TEAMS, TIGHTER BENCHES, AND CLOSER FANS, THEY COACH UNDER A SPOTLIGHT.

THEIR EVERY WORD, EMOTION AND MOVES ON FULL DISPLAY.

BUT THAT PASSION WASN'T EGO, IT WAS INVESTMENT.

THEY POURED EVERYTHING INTO THEIR PLAYERS. THIS PATTERN OF LOSS ISN'T LIMITED TO ATHLETICS.

CHRISTINA HAS SERVED IN NEARLY EVERY CAPACITY OVER 13 YEARS.

SHE WAS THE JACK OF ALL TRADES. SHE STEPPED IN WHEREVER CISD NEEDED STRONG LEADERSHIP.

AND RYAN WILSON WITH 23 YEARS OF SERVICE, HE'S LOVED BY TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

MR. WILSON ONCE SAID THAT HANDING A SENIOR THEIR DIPLOMA WAS THE ULTIMATE RUSH, BECAUSE HE KNEW HE HAD PLAYED A PART IN THEIR JOURNEY.

THAT'S SOMEONE WHO LEADS WITH HEART. THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS ARE PILLARS IN OUR DISTRICT. THEY SHOWED UP, THEY GAVE THEIR BEST AND THEY MADE AN IMPACT.

AND CARROLL ISD, WE SAY WE INSPIRE EXCELLENCE.

FROM WHERE MANY OF US STAND, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE NOT INSPIRING EXCELLENCE. WE'RE DISCARDING IT. IF THIS DECISION IS FINAL, I JUST WANT YOU IN THE DISTRICT TO KNOW THAT THESE FOUR LEADERS MADE A LASTING AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS AND STAFF THEY SERVED. THEY MAY HAVE NOT PLEASED EVERYONE, BUT THEY LED WITH HEART. THEY SHOWED UP WHEN IT MATTERED AND THEY NEVER STOPPED TRYING. LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT WE STAND FOR AND LET'S BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE CULTURE WE'RE CREATING.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE DAN DICKINSON, ANGELA SCHILSKY, AND RAY SIMONE.

[00:25:02]

MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM SOUTHLAKE AND MR. WILSON DID HAND HER, HER DIPLOMA.

MY SON IS A JUNIOR. HE'S CURRENTLY IN BAND AND IN CHOIR, AND I'M A PROUD PARENT AND VOLUNTEER OF BOTH PROGRAMS. I'M A LITTLE WORRIED, AND I'M JUST EXPRESSING MY WORRY TO THIS BOARD AND ALSO TO THIS ADMINISTRATION OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY ON THE QUICK DECISIONS OF REMOVING, POSSIBLY REMOVING IN THE FUTURE TERM, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, STAFF THAT HAVE A LEGACY WITH THIS DISTRICT. THEY KNOW THE TRADITIONS. AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO SAY THAT THOSE TRADITIONS, LIKE THE PREVIOUS PERSON MR. WILSON, HAS SHOWN UP TO EVERY SINGLE CHOIR EVENT.

HE SUNG WITH THE CHOIR. HE'S SHOWED UP TO THE BAND.

THEY'VE HELD PROPS FOR US. HIM AND MISS BENHOFF HAS HELD PROPS FOR US IN WINDY CONDITIONS.

THEY'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND. WE WOULD BE A DISTRICT THAT'S WORSE OFF WITHOUT THEM IN IT.

OUR FAMILY LOVES SOUTHLAKE. EVEN BEFORE WE MOVED HERE, WE WERE SEARCHING IN TEXAS FROM A PLACE WE JUST MOVED CROSS COUNTRY.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR A PLACE IN TEXAS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY RELOCATE. SOUTHLAKE BECAME THAT PLACE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE TRADITIONS, THE EXCELLENCE AND THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION QUALITY THAT YOU GUYS BRING, THE ARTS, THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND STUFF, ESPECIALLY WITH ROCKETS. MY DAUGHTER ACTUALLY, NOW SHE'S AN ENGINEER.

SHE'S LOOKING AT GRADUATING, HOPEFULLY WITH AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, MECHATRONICS, THEY CALL IT.

AND SO THIS SPURRED THAT THEY HAD A ROCKET PROGRAM AT CARROLL.

IT'S NO LONGER ANYMORE. SO SHE GOT IT RIGHT AT THE RIGHT TIME.

COUPLE SECONDS LEFT. PLEASE BE TRANSPARENT IN YOUR DECISION.

MR. WILSON, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANGELA SHULSKY. I AM A WESTLAKE RESIDENT, BUT MY HOME IS ZONED INTO CARROLL ISD.

WE CHOOSE TO SEND OUR KIDS TO SOUTHLAKE SCHOOLS.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, A COLLEGE FRESHMAN, A SOUTHLAKE SENIOR, AND A SIXTH GRADER AT DURHAM.

THERE ARE MANY CONCERNING RUMORS CIRCULATING, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD FORCING OUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND LIMITING STUDENT SPEAKERS AT GRADUATION. I WANT TO ASK THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WHY YOU CHANGED THE RULES, AND THIS YEAR, THE CLASS PRESIDENT AND STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO GIVE SPEECHES AT GRADUATION.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE IN YEARS PAST, AND IT CHANGED THIS YEAR.

WHY? TO ME, THIS IS CENSORSHIP AT ITS FINEST.

I HAVE A 2024 AND 25 DAUGHTERS. MY OLDER TWO CHILDREN CAME THROUGH THE CARROLL MEDICAL ACADEMY.

I AM A PHYSICIAN AND AN MD RADIOLOGIST. I HAVE LOVED VOLUNTEERING AND BEING A MENTOR TO MANY OF THOSE CMA STUDENTS.

MANY OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND LOTS OF PARENTS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, DEVASTATED BY THESE RUMORS THAT THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT ARE FORCING OUT OUR BELOVED PRINCIPAL AND MINIMIZING HIS INVOLVEMENT IN GRADUATION.

THEY'RE ALSO DEVASTATED BY THE CUTS TO THE FINE ARTS PROGRAMS LIKE CHOIR AND FIRING OF THEIR BELOVED BASKETBALL AND SWIM COACHES.

THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HAS PLAYED A VERY INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MY DAUGHTERS.

TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM. HE'S A ROLE MODEL WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE TO CARROLL ISD, HAVING JUST HAD A DAUGHTER GRADUATE IN 24, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE RAPPORT THAT HE HAD WITH THE STUDENTS.

HE KNOWS ALL OF THEIR NAMES, CONNECTS WITH THEM, AND MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.

THIS YEAR, MR. WILSON AND THE SENIOR CLASS COUNCIL PLANNED AND EXECUTED THE FIRST EVER SENIOR TALENT SHOW WITH OVER 25 SENIORS PERFORMED TO A PACKED AUDITORIUM.

MR. WILSON BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE WITH HIS RENDITION OF SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY. I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS AUDIO AS FROM THAT EVENING AS A TESTAMENT OF THIS BELOVED PRINCIPAL.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAY SOMMODADY. I AM A RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE SERVANT LEADERSHIP, MAN OF UNWAVERING INTEGRITY, VISIONARY, COMPASSIONATE, DECISIVE, INSPIRING.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WORDS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN I'M ASKED TO DESCRIBE RYAN WILSON.

MY FAMILY'S BEEN BLESSED WITH HAVING KNOWN THE WILSON FAMILY FOR OVER TWO DECADES, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THREE KIDS GO THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP HIS LEADERSHIP

[00:30:02]

NO OTHER MAN. NO OTHER MAN. WOULD I ENTRUST MORE THAN RYAN WILSON TO GUIDE MY KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL AS THEY GREW UP INTO YOUNG ADULTS? A GREAT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A THRIVING SCHOOL COMMUNITY LIKE SOUTHLAKE.

THEY SET THE TONE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, DISCIPLINE, AND STUDENT WELL-BEING.

UNDER RYAN'S LEADERSHIP, I SEE TEACHERS BEING SUPPORTED.

I SEE STUDENTS FEEL THAT THEY ARE SEEN, AND I SEE PARENTS HAVING BUILT HUGE TRUST IN THE SCHOOL AND IN THE SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY.

RYAN IS NOT JUST AN ADMINISTRATOR. HE INSPIRES GROWTH.

HE FOSTERS INCLUSION AND HE DRIVES RESULTS. WHEN MY WIFE, BETH TOLD ME THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS CONSIDERING REMOVAL OF RYAN WILSON, I LITERALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE RYAN HERE IN SOUTH LAKE.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING TRULY WOULD BE A COLOSSAL MISTAKE IN MY MIND.

DO NOT THINK THAT PARENTS, PARENTS OF SOUTHLAKE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS ARE NOT WATCHING CLOSELY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

REMOVING A GREAT PRINCIPAL MAN LIKE RYAN WILSON RISK DESTABILIZING THE VERY DRAGON CULTURE THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL. WHEN YOU HAVE A LEADER WHO LISTENS, WHO LEADS WITH INTEGRITY AND DELIVERS RESULTS, YOU FIGHT TO KEEP THEM HERE. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE TREVOR BOWEN, CAROLINE SMITH, AND DANA SMITH.

HELLO THERE. MY NAME IS TREVOR BOWEN. I DON'T LIVE IN SOUTHLAKE.

MY MOM'S A TEACHER. I AM A FRESHMAN AT CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL.

I PLAYED ON THE FRESHMAN BASKETBALL TEAM. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW THE COACHES OF THIS PROGRAM HELPED ME GROW AND DEVELOP MY GAME, AND GROW AS A PERSON. COACH BURCHFIELD CONSTANTLY STRIVED TO HELP ME IMPROVE AS A PLAYER.

WHEN I DIDN'T TRY MY HARDEST OR GIVE ALL MY EFFORT, HE WAS THERE TO LET ME KNOW IF I WANT SUCCESS, I HAVE TO WORK FOR IT. EVEN WHEN I WAS OUT SICK FOR A WEEK, HE CHECKED UP ON ME, WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH.

HE IS NOT ONLY A COACH BUT A MENTOR. COACH MARKLEY IS AN AMAZING LEADER.

THE FIVE FOR ONE CULTURE HE IS BUILDING TEACHES US HOW TO STICK TOGETHER WHEN THINGS GET HARD.

WITHOUT HIM, I'M WORRIED FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR PROGRAM.

HE WAS COACH OF THE YEAR. PLUS WE WON OUR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN OVER 20 YEARS AND WE WERE ECSTATIC FOR OUR FUTURE.

PLEASE RECONSIDER THEIR CONTRACTS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THESE COACHES AREN'T JUST PEOPLE AND COACHES. THEY'RE FAMILY TO US. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS CAROLINE SMITH AND I HAVE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE MY WHOLE LIFE.

I AM A JUNIOR INVOLVED IN STUDENT COUNCIL AND A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM.

AS MANY AS AND MANY OTHER GROUPS ON CAMPUS. EACH MORNING AS I DRIVE INTO SCHOOL, MR. WILSON GREETS ME WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE AS HE DIRECTS TRAFFIC INTO THE SENIOR HIGH PARKING LOT.

DIRECTING TRAFFIC IS A THANKLESS JOB, AND HE PROBABLY HAS MANY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO, BUT HE DOES IT WITH GRACE AND HUMILITY, RAIN OR SHINE.

AND THAT'S HOW HE TAKES ON EVERY ROLE AS PRINCIPAL AT OUR SCHOOL.

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND KIND TO EACH AND EVERY STUDENT AND FACULTY MEMBER HE ENCOUNTERS.

HE MAKES THE SENIOR HIGH, THE EXEMPLARY CAMPUS THAT IT IS.

DURING MY FRESHMAN YEAR, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC EVENT IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE THAT GREATLY IMPACTED THEM AS WELL AS OUR FRIEND GROUP.

AFTER FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED, MRS. BENHOFF TOOK THE TIME TO MEET WITH US AND GENUINELY LISTENED TO WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH.

TO THIS DAY, THREE YEARS LATER, SHE CONTINUES TO SEEK US OUT AND CHECK ON US.

NOT BECAUSE THIS IS HER JOB, BUT BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE CISD STUDENTS SHE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH.

MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT MR. WILSON AND MRS. BENHOFF.

THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION THAT ALLOW OUR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES TO THRIVE.

WITHOUT THEM, MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WILL SUFFER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

PROUD MOM MOMENT. SORRY. JUST GIVE ME A SECOND.

MY NAME IS DANA SMITH, I LIVE IN SOUTHLAKE. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE.

I'M THE PROUD MOM OF TWO CISD GRADS AND A RISING SENIOR.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS CISD FAMILIES AND TEACHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT MR. WILSON IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. HE IS CISD. HE'S AN AMAZING HUMAN AND LEADER.

[00:35:02]

THE MOST APPROACHABLE PERSON ON THE PLANET THAT'S COMING FROM A KID.

PUTS ALL STUDENTS FIRST. NO SOUTHLAKE CARROLL WITHOUT THIS, WITHOUT MR. WILSON. HE'S THE KIND OF EDUCATOR WE SHOULD NAME A BUILDING AFTER.

BEST PRINCIPALS THAT TEACHERS HAVE EVER WORKED FOR.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. HUNDREDS OF CURRENT TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND ALUMNI FAMILIES.

WHEN I READ ALL OF THIS, I THINK HE IS THE EPITOME OF THIS DISTRICT.

AND OUR MOTTO IS EXPECT EXCELLENCE AND PROTECT THE TRADITION.

THIS IS WHY WE ALL MOVED HERE. FOR EDUCATORS LIKE THIS, LIKE MR. WILSON. THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS YOU WOULD SAY ABOUT SOMEBODY WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION TO RE-UP THEIR CONTRACT COME SPRING.

HAVING MS. BENHOFF AND MR. WILSON IN OUR SCHOOLS IS THE BEST FOR OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSETS, OUR CHILDREN. THEY INSPIRE TEACHERS. THEY LEAD AND SUPPORT THEM.

THEY RUN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AND YOU.

THESE PRINCIPALS ARE REACH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND ACCEPT THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.

HIGH SCHOOL IS HARD, BUT IT'S A LITTLE EASIER FOR OUR KIDS WITH THESE TWO PRINCIPLES WALKING OUR HALLWAYS. YOU ALL WERE ELECTED TO THE BOARD, BUT YOU ARE NOT ELECTED TO RUN SOME OF OUR MOST TREASURED ADMINISTRATORS OUT OF TOWN.

THE WAY THE PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN TREATED THIS YEAR IS EMBARRASSING, HORRIFYING, AND APPALLING.

IT GOES AGAINST THE FACE OF EVERYTHING THIS DISTRICT REPRESENTS.

DESPITE THE WAY THE SENIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL WAS TREATED THIS YEAR, HE DID NOT.

HE DID HIS JOB LIKE HE HAS IN THE PAST WITH THE BIGGEST SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE IS THE TYPE OF ADMINISTRATOR WHO WILL WORK WITH YOU AND COLLABORATE WITH YOU TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. AS A SIDE NOTE, DO NOT CENSOR OUR CHILDREN. SENIOR GRADUATES WHO HAVE LEADERSHIP ROLES DESERVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND SPEAK LIVE IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

THAT IS WHAT THE STUDENT BODY DESERVES AND WANTS TO HEAR. AND IF YOU LISTEN TO OUR STUDENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN THINGS LIKE ACCEPTANCE.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE ERIC HUGHES, ADAM BUZEK, AND BILL FRIEND.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ERIC HUGHES. I LIVE IN THE SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY.

MY FAMILY AND I MOVED HERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 FROM PHILADELPHIA.

WE'RE HUGE BASKETBALL FANS. FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS, I'VE MADE MY LIVING AS A BASKETBALL COACH, ONE AS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH, A JUNIOR COLLEGE COACH, DIVISION ONE ASSISTANT.

AND FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS, I'VE BEEN AN ASSISTANT COACH IN THE NBA.

I JUST FINISHED MY SECOND YEAR WITH THE DALLAS MAVERICKS.

THAT BY NO MEANS MAKES ME AN EXPERT ON BASKETBALL, BUT I THINK IT GIVES ME THE QUALIFICATIONS TO TELL YOU WHAT A GOOD BASKETBALL COACH IS.

MY SON AJ AND I, MY OLDEST, WHO'S IN THE FIFTH GRADE, MY YOUNGEST SON, RYAN, WE ENTRENCHED OURSELVES IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, MR. MARKLEY AND MR. BIRCHFIELD. WE WENT TO PRACTICES, WE WENT TO GAMES, WE WENT AND SHOT WHENEVER WE COULD BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT LOVES BASKETBALL, IS LEARNING TO LOVE BASKETBALL, AND NEEDS TO GET BETTER AT IT. AND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH BASKETBALL.

FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE HERE, FOR THE PARENTS ARE HERE.

LIKE I SAID, MY SONS ARE IN THE FIFTH AND SECOND GRADE, BUT THOSE THOSE GUYS DID SUCH A GOOD JOB.

AND THE WAY THEY WERE USHERED OUT AND NOT RENEWED, THAT THEY WERE TOLD ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON THAT THEY HAD BY FRIDAY TO TURN IN.

THEIR RESIGNATION IS JUST NOT RIGHT. AND WE'RE REALLY LOSING OUT ON THESE TWO GUYS, BEING ABLE TO COACH OUR KIDS.

AND MY SON, WHO'S DREAM ONE TIME WAS TO PLAY IN THE NBA.

HIS NEXT DREAM WAS I WANT TO STAR AS A FRESHMAN AT SOUTHLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN I WAS A KID, AND MY DAD WOULD YELL AT ME, HE WOULD SAY ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THE ONE THING HE WOULD SAY THAT ALWAYS GET TO ME, HE'D SAY, ERIC, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU.

WELL, WHOEVER MADE THIS DECISION ABOUT THESE BASKETBALL COACHES, YOU SHOULD BE REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN YOURSELF. [APPLAUSE] ADAM. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS ADAM BUCZEK.

I AM A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT SINCE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING THREE LIFELONG DRAGONS FROM PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

I'VE GOT MY LAST WHO'S A RISING JUNIOR SHORTLY.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING THEM THRIVE THROUGH CARROLL ISD AND PLAY SPORTS IN MULTIPLE SPORTS ALL THROUGH MY KIDS.

I WILL TELL YOU BY FAR, WITHOUT EVEN CLOSE DISCUSSION, THE MOST THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY THREE CHILDREN HAS BEEN MY SON THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH COACH MARKLEY AND BURCHFIELD. I'M LOOKING AT MAKING A DECISION FOR THE COACH, AND I'M NOT TELLING YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR JOB, BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

I WOULD BE SAYING, ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL HONORABLY WITH INTEGRITY? ARE YOU? ARE YOU HELPING THESE YOUNG BOYS? YOU KNOW, PREPARE FOR THE REAL WORLD WHEN THEY GET OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

[00:40:05]

IT SMELLS. AND WHEN SOMETHING SMELLS, I THINK THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN THIS SITUATION.

AND IF THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT'S DRIVING THIS, IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

WE GET A TEXT ON THURSDAY EVENING THAT THEY'RE GONE WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING OR DISCUSSION.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTING THE CONSTITUENTS. WELL, WE ARE THE CONSTITUENTS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR SONS, OUR BOYS AND THESE FAMILIES ARE CONSTITUENTS. NOT ONE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW ALL OF THE PARENTS.

I ASSURE YOU, IF YOU GO GET A TAKE A FIRSTHAND WITNESS OF WHAT OUR BOYS WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE UNDER THESE COACHES, IT WOULD BE 100%. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO SAY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME DISGRUNTLED, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISGRUNTLED, BUT IT WILL BE A VAST SUPERMAJORITY, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY OF FAVORABLE OUTCOME WITH YOUR OPINION AND FEEDBACK.

FEEDBACK WITH THESE COACHES, WE'RE PUTTING A HUGE KICK ME SIGN ON OUR BACK.

IF WE IF WE SHOW THESE GUYS THE DOOR AND DON'T LET THEM COME BACK.

AND AS FOR MR. WILSON, IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

I CANNOT SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE BEFORE ME. HE IS A TOP NOTCH PERSON, AND I'M ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED FOR CARROLL TO LET THESE PEOPLE GO.

THANK YOU.

BILL FRIEND IS THE NEXT SPEAKER. IS HE HERE? THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE JAMES TUCKER, JACK BERGNER, AND JANGO HOLLINGSWORTH.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JAMES TUCKER.

MOVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO. I'VE GOT FOUR LITTLE DRAGONS.

I'M HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR COACH DAVID MARKLEY.

SOMEBODY THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW. I'VE COACHED HIS KIDS IN DRAGON YOUTH SPORTS, AND THEY ATTEND THE SAME SCHOOLS WITH SOME OF MY KIDS.

COACH MARKLEY IS A GREAT HUSBAND. HE'S A FATHER.

HE'S A SON, AND HE'S A BROTHER. I BELIEVE THE RESULTS ON THE COURT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT HERE'S A FEW FACTS ABOUT HIS TIME AT SOUTHLAKE.

THE TEAM HAD THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE IN A DECADE.

THEY HAD BACK TO BACK 20 WIN SEASONS, HAD 20 ALL DISTRICT ACADEMIC KIDS, SEVEN ALL STATE ACADEMIC, AND HE WAS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR. I'M SURE YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THAT.

FROM MY VIEW, IN THE LIMITED TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WHAT MAKES SOUTHLAKE SPECIAL ARE THE VALUES, THE EDUCATION, AND THE LIFE LESSONS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES OUR CHILDREN.

THESE ARE UNDERPINNED BY PRINCIPLES OF EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY, BOTH OF WHICH COACH MARKLEY EXEMPLIFIES.

WHAT ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE WARRANTED HIS DEPARTURE? THE WAY COACH MARKLEY HAS BEEN TREATED IS NOT FAIR, AND IT IS NOT RIGHT.

COACH MARKLEY IS A GOOD COACH, BUT HE IS A BETTER PERSON.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS JACK BERGNER. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I WAS ON BOTH THE FRESHMAN BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL TEAMS THIS YEAR.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE FRESHMAN AND VARSITY BASKETBALL COACHES.

BEING ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM THIS YEAR WAS GREAT. EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GET AS MUCH PLAYING TIME AS I HAD HOPED, I MADE THE MOST OF MY TIME ON THE COURT, AND I LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS ABOUT OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD TEAMMATE.

DAILY PRACTICE WITH JV AND VARSITY PLAYERS AND EXPOSURE TO ALL PROGRAM COACHES WAS ALSO GREAT FOR MY DEVELOPMENT, AND I HAD A GREAT OR LOTS OF MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AS COOL AS IT IS TO BE A TWO SPORT ATHLETE, IT HAS ITS CHALLENGES.

THE VARSITY COACH CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED MY PLAYING BOTH SPORTS WHILE CONTINUING TO GUIDE MY BASKETBALL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.

HIS ADVICE AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN HUGE FOR ME.

LIKE MANY OF MY TEAMMATES, I WAS SURPRISED BY THE BOARD'S DECISION NOT TO RENEW THE COACH'S CONTRACT.

BOTH COACHES HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCED MANY ATHLETES, INCLUDING MYSELF.

THIS DECISION DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AND IS A SHAME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

IS MR. HOLLINGSWORTH HERE? YES, MA'AM. HELLO. MY NAME IS ERIC. I'M CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE KNOWN MR.

[00:45:06]

EVERY MORNING WHEN STUDENTS DRIVE INTO SCHOOL, MR. WILSON IS THERE TO GREET THEM AND DIRECT TRAFFIC. THIS MORNING IT WAS POURING RAIN AND HE WAS STILL OUT THERE IN A TRENCH COAT DOING HARD WORK.

IF YOU GET RID OF COACHES MARKLEY, COACH MURPHY, MR. WILSON AND MRS. BENHOFF, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DO YOU SEND TO THE FACULTY AND THE FUTURE PEOPLE YOU'D LIKE TO HIRE TO REPLACE THEM? WHO WOULD WANT TO COME TO A DISTRICT THAT DISRESPECTS ITS FINEST EMPLOYEES AND FACULTY? [INAUDIBLE] I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYBODY ELSE BETTER THAN MR. WILSON TO FILL THE SHOES AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE YOU ALL BRING HIM BACK.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE JARED BATES, VICKI KELLY AND ASHTON TATE.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, GUYS FOR LETTING US TALK.

I DO NOT LIVE HERE. I CAME HERE IN 2010. I TAUGHT AT DAWSON CARROLL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL FROM 2010 TO 2021.

IN 2010 I WALKED INTO DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL. DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EDUCATION, I THOUGHT I DID.

GOT INTERVIEWED BY MR. WILSON. I WENT HOME THAT DAY AND TOLD MY WIFE THAT I JUST LANDED MY DREAM JOB.

AND I WAS RIGHT. I LOVED EVERY DAY HERE. HE'S THE BEST OF THE BEST.

AND IF YOU ASK ME, I BELIEVE HE IS LITERALLY A MOUNT RUSHMORE OF CARROLL TYPE PERSON.

THANK YOU. I WENT ON TO WORK WITH CHRISTINA AT CMS AND SHE'S THE BEST.

THE BEST. SHE'LL TELL YOU WHAT SHE THINKS, WHETHER YOU WANT TO HEAR IT OR NOT. AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S THE BEST. BUT I WANT TO USE MOST OF MY TIME TO TALK ABOUT COACH MARKLEY.

I WAS ON THE BASKETBALL STAFF BEFORE WHEN HE CAME IN.

HE ALLOWED ME TO STAY THAT SPRING AND COACH WHEN HE COULD HAVE JUST SAID, HEY, NO, THANKS.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR. OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS.

I WAS KIND OF A CONSULTANT FROM A DISTANCE. YOU KNOW, HE PICKED MY BRAIN.

I GOT TO WATCH. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO ALL THE KIDS WERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GAVE MY INPUT. AND THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO A GAME, I REALIZED, MAN, THIS GUY IS INTENSE. HE IS LOUD. AND IF THE REASON HE'S GOING TO BE LET GO IS BECAUSE OF HIS SIDELINE BEHAVIOR.

THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK MYSELF IS, WOULD I WANT MY SIX AND EIGHT YEAR OLD KIDS TO BE COACHED BY HIM? AND THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY YES. WOULD I ENJOY HIM RAISING HIS VOICE AND YELLING AT MY KIDS? THE ANSWER IS NO, I WOULD NOT. I WOULDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

BUT WHAT I WOULD HATE A LOT WORSE IS A COACH WHO DOESN'T HOLD MY KIDS ACCOUNTABLE, WHO DOESN'T EXPECT THE MOST OF THEM.

THE BAND WON A PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS. I KNOW, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT DONE WITH WITH THE STAFFS. WE WERE HERE WITH AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT DEALING IN FACTS. I WOULD JUST LOVE TO KNOW THE FACTS INVOLVED FOR LETTING THAT MAN GO.

HE'S A GOOD MAN. HE DESCRIBED THIS AS HIS DREAM JOB AND HE DESERVED TO BE TREATED BETTER.

IS VICKY DAN KELLY HERE? VICKY DAN KELLY.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR GLENN.

MY NAME IS VICKI KELLY, AND I'M A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT SINCE 2012 AND A PROUD MOTHER OF THREE DRAGONS, ONE OF WHICH IS A SENIOR GRADUATING IN THREE WEEKS.

I'M HERE TODAY AFTER RECEIVING AN EMAIL BY THE ADMINISTRATION PURPORTING TO ADDRESS THE MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING ABOUT THE FIRING OF THE SENIOR HIGH'S PRINCIPAL AND HIGH SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL. AT FIRST, I WAS RELIEVED TO READ THAT THE RUMORS WERE NOT TRUE, BUT I REALIZED THE LETTER FAILED TO SAY WHETHER THE PRINCIPALS WILL NOT FIRE OR DISMISSED WILL CONTINUE THEIR PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND CONTRACTS RENEWED.

THE LETTER DID NOT COME FROM THE PRINCIPALS THEMSELVES, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SUCH AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO CORRECT ANY MISINFORMATION. IT LEFT OUT SALIENT INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE PRINCIPALS WILL GIVE OUT DIPLOMAS ON MAY 23RD.

MY FAMILY HAS KNOWN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SINCE MY DAUGHTER WAS SEVENTH GRADE IN DALLAS IN 2019.

HE IS LOVED AND ADMIRED BY HIS STUDENTS, STAFF MEMBERS AND REGARDED AS A VALUED MEMBER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HE REPRESENTS THE INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

THEY ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR DRAGON TRADITION.

I SAY ALL THESE TRUTHS ABOUT OUR PRINCIPAL WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE TO SAY, IF EVER THERE IS A TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO DO YOUR JOB, THE TIME IS NOW. THERE'S NEVER A DECISION MADE THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO RIGHT AND TO DO BETTER.

IF THESE PRINCIPLES CAN NO LONGER SERVE THEIR PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND HAVE THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED, THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY BEEN FIRED AND DISMISSED.

[00:50:01]

THIS DISTRICT CANNOT AFFORD THIS LOSS. TO BE SURE, THESE PRINCIPALS CANNOT BE REPLACED.

THEY ARE THE TRADITION, AND I AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT WANT TO PROTECT.

I HOPE ONE OF YOU, AT LEAST THAT ARE SITTING UP THERE, SHARE MY GOOD OPINION AND WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO RAISE THE RED FLAG.

I PRAY THAT OTHERS ON THE BOARD WILL FOLLOW AND STAND WITH YOU.

YOUR ACTION MARKS THE CHANGE THAT THIS DISTRICT NEEDS TO RIGHT ITS COURSE AND PROTECT THE TRADITION FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU.

ASHTON TATE. HI, MY NAME IS ASHTON TATE. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, SO PROTECT THE TRADITION. THE PHRASE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

MY GRANDPA WAS THE SECOND GRADUATING CLASS OF CARROLL.

SO TRULY, THIS COMMUNITY MEANS A LOT TO ME. I'M A SENIOR THIS YEAR.

THROUGHOUT MY FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS IN MARCHING BAND, A FOOTBALL TRAINER, AND A GIRLS BASKETBALL MANAGER.

THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS, MR. WILSON HAS SHOWN UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN STATE, OUT OF STATE, DAY AND NIGHT, ALWAYS WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE.

I HAVE NEVER ONCE IN ALL FOUR YEARS HEARD ANY BAD COMMENT ABOUT HIM.

ALL I'VE HEARD IS THAT HE IS AMAZING, KIND, JOYFUL, AND ENCOURAGING.

HE TRULY CARES ABOUT HIS STUDENTS. HE HAS HELPED ME WITH SO MUCH THAT TRULY HAS CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

THERE ARE MANY RUMORS THAT NONE OF US TRULY KNOW THE DETAILS ABOUT, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS THAT THE SENIOR CLASS LOVES MR. WILSON, AND IF HE ISN'T ABLE TO HAND US OUR DIPLOMAS AND TAKE PICTURES AT GRADUATION, IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE DISAPPOINTING TO SO MANY OF US.

I'VE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE MOMENT OF WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE AND HEARING CLASS DISMISSED FOR SO LONG, AND WE ALL WANT MR. WILSON TO BE A PART OF THIS SUBSTANTIAL MOMENT THAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MADELINE RIO, HEATHER TABOR, AND CATHERINE SCRUGGS.

HI, MY NAME IS MADDIE ROWELL AND I'M A SENIOR AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M THE HISTORIAN FOR THE CHOIR DEPARTMENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE THEATER DEPARTMENT. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISCONTENT WITH THE DIRECTION THE DISTRICT IS GOING, AND MY SUPPORT FOR THE FINE ARTS PROGRAMS IN THIS DISTRICT.

AS A SENIOR, I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FUTURE EDUCATION OF MY PEERS AND FELLOW CHOIR CLASSMATES, AND I FEAR THAT IS AT RISK. TODAY. SITTING IN CHORALE ALONGSIDE MY COMMUNITY AND CLOSEST FRIENDS, I RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO OUR CHOIR DEPARTMENT IS BEING FORCED INTO RESIGNATION.

OUR TEACHER HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY UPHELD THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR, POP GROUP GSM AND HELPED MANAGE THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR AT THE SAME TIME.

WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP, THERE WOULD BE NO PROGRAM TO FEED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR.

THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY END CARROLL CHOIR AND THE FINE ARTS REPRESENTATION.

REPRESENTATION AT OUR DISTRICT. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING THE DEPARTMENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT IS UNHEARD OF THAT A SIX DAY DISTRICT HAS ONLY ONE HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTOR AND NO MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS. FOUR YEARS AGO, CARROLL BOASTED FOUR CHOIR DIRECTORS AND A ROBUST CHORAL DEPARTMENT.

NEXT YEAR, THE POSSIBILITY OF CHOIR EVEN EXISTING WAIVERS AS WE ONLY HAVE ONE DIRECTOR.

AS THE STUDENT BODY, WE DO NOT STAND FOR THIS.

MAINTAINING MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS WITH ONE TEACHER WORKING BOTH CAROL AND DAWSON, IS WHOLLY NECESSARY TO MAINTAINING THE HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND THE EXCELLENCE OF THIS DISTRICT. HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER TABOR. I'M A SOPHOMORE AT CARROLL AND I AM PROUD TO SAY I'M A PART OF THE CARROLL CHOIR DEPARTMENT AND THE CARROLL THEATER DEPARTMENT. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ARTS MY WHOLE LIFE, AND MY MOM IS CURRENTLY THE OFFICIAL COSTUME DESIGNER FOR BOTH CHOIR AND THEATER.

THESE FINE ARTS PROGRAMS ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH BEING TOLD THEY ARE UNDERFUNDED BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T BRING IN BRING IN AS MUCH MONEY AS OTHER PROGRAMS DO.

IT SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE TO SAY THAT CHOIR DOES NOT SUPPORT ITSELF OR GAIN ATTENTION FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THIS YEAR, CARROLL CHOIRS HOSTED THE SOUTHLAKE SHOWDOWN, WHICH WAS A SHOW CHOIR COMPETITION IN WHICH SCHOOLS FROM MULTIPLE STATES COMPETED.

THE COMPETITION DREW 3000 PEOPLE TO PERFORM AND WATCH SHOWS AND ABOUT $30,000 IN REVENUE.

THE EXCUSE THAT CHOIR DOES NOT GET THE SAME ATTENTION FROM OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM AS SOME OF OUR SPORTS PROGRAMS,

[00:55:04]

WE ASK THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD REEVALUATE WHAT CHOIR MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY REAPS FROM CONTINUING THE PROGRAM.

KEEP MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR ALIVE. I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROVISIONAL AND TERM CONTRACTS FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FACULTY AND WHY IT MATTERS.

PROVISIONAL CONTRACTS ARE GIVEN TO NEWER TEACHERS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR FEWER THAN THREE YEARS. THESE CONTRACTS CAN BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT A SPECIFIC REASON, OFTEN UNDER THE JUSTIFICATION THAT THE EMPLOYMENT WAS SIMPLY WASN'T WORKING OUT.

CURRENTLY, MANY OF OUR TEACHERS ON PROVISIONAL CONTRACTS HAVE NOT HAD THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED.

TERM CONTRACTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE FOR TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR A LONG PERIOD. THESE CONTRACTS CAN ONLY BE CANCELED UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS MISCONDUCT. BUT THAT LEADS TO A SERIOUS QUESTION HOW CAN A DISTRICT REMOVE A TEACHER ON A TERM CONTRACT WITHOUT OFFICIALLY FIRING THEM? THIS IS WHERE REASSIGNMENT COMES INTO PLAY. REASSIGNMENT IS WHEN A TEACHER IS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT POSITION, OFTEN ONE THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS DESIRABLE. IN SOME CASES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES MAY BE ALSO RESTRICTED TO THE POINT THAT THEY FEEL FORCED TO RESIGN, EFFECTIVELY BE PUSHED OUT WITH ANY FORMAL CAUSE FOR DISMISSAL.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS AND HOW IT CAN AFFECT THE TEACHERS WHO SHAPE OUR EDUCATION. [APPLAUSE] HI, MY NAME IS KATIE SCRUGGS. I'M A SENIOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A CURRENT MEMBER OF CARROLL CHOIRS.

I HAVE BEEN IN CHOIR SINCE FOURTH GRADE, STARTING WITH THE CAROL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHOIR, THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL CHOIR, AND THE CAROL MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR. THE RECENT NEWS OF THE CAROL MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR BEING ELIMINATED DEEPLY UPSET ME.

WITHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR, I WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND MY WAY INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR COMMUNITY, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE THIS AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE BY MY SIDE.

THE MAJORITY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE COME TO THIS CHOIR FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, AND THE FORCED RESIGNATION OF OUR CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT TEACHER WILL DESTROY THE YOUTH CHOIR PROGRAM IN THIS DISTRICT.

I URGE YOU TO REVERSE THIS DECISION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE ONE DIRECTOR RUNNING SIX SEPARATE CHOIRS ON THREE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, AND I THINK THIS IS A REASONABLE TASK IS ABSURD.

OUR WONDERFUL ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WAS ALREADY STRUGGLING TO DO THE JOB OF TWO PEOPLE BY RUNNING BOTH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS, IN ADDITION TO HELPING WITH THE FRESHMAN CHOIR. THIS DECISION MEANS THE END OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, ULTIMATELY CREATING A DOMINO EFFECT AND ENDING THE HIGH SCHOOL CARROLL CHOIRS DEPARTMENT. ALMOST EVERY OTHER ACTIVITY IN THIS DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, TRACK, YOU NAME IT, HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDER GROUP THAT TRAINS THE FUTURE FRESHMEN OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS.

THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THIS DISTRICT'S REGARD FOR ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND ITS FINE ART PROGRAMS IS DISHEARTENING AND DISAPPOINTING.

CHOIRS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AT CARROLL, AND WITHOUT A MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT, THIS TRADITION WOULD CEASE TO EXIST. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT OFFICIALLY CUT BY FORCING THE ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER IN A RESIGNATION, THE DEPARTMENT IS CUT WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO ACTUALLY SAY THE WORD. I BEG YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS AND UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MANISHA JASWAL, POORVI AALA AND ALEC KNIGHT.

HI, I'M MIKE JASWAL AND I'M THE FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE CARROLL CHOIRS DEPARTMENT NEXT YEAR, AS WELL AS HISTORIAN OF THE THEATER STUDENT BOARD.

I WAS A DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR KID AND AN OLD UNION ELEMENTARY CHOIR MEMBER.

LISTENING ABOUT THE FORCED RESIGNATION OF MY ASSISTANT CHOIR DIRECTOR OR MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR IS EXTREMELY TROUBLING, AND I HOPE TO CHANGE YOUR MINDS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT.

AS A LIFELONG CAROL CHOIR STUDENT, I CAN VOUCH FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT CHOIR HAS HAD ON ME AND HOW THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT IS UNJUSTIFIED.

MANY OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE SIMILAR STUDENT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, AND ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE TWO COACHES OR TEACHERS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THIS BOARD OR ADMINISTRATION. SIMILARLY, MONEY WAS SPENT ON REFURBISHING LOCKERS FOR OTHER SPORTS THIS YEAR, BUT MONEY SPENT ON CHOIR IS CURTAILED AND CLOSELY WATCHED.

THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT ITS SINGERS AND ARTISTS FEEL VALUED.

CARROLL CULTURE IS MADE UP OF ALL STUDENTS. THIS INCLUDE CHOIR, KIDS AND ARTISTS.

IF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT DISAPPEARS, SO DO WE, AND SO DOES THE CORE OF CARROLL CULTURE.

PROTECT THE TRADITION BY PROTECTING MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US TODAY.

TRADITION IS NOT JUST ATHLETICS. IT IS ALSO OUR SINGERS AND OUR ACTORS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] , AND I'M A CURRENT SOPHOMORE AT CARROLL ISD.

I SERVE AS THE CARROLL CHOIR AS A SOPHOMORE REPRESENTATIVE THIS YEAR.

I'M ALSO A DEDICATED MEMBER OF CARROLL MEDICAL ACADEMY'S PROGRAM.

[01:00:04]

WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM, AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR CURRENT STAFF HAS PUT INTO IT.

I HAVE BEEN A PART OF CARROLL ISD'S FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT SINCE FOURTH GRADE, FROM BAND TO VISUAL ARTS AND CHOIR, AND HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL OF THEM, FROM SHOWING UP FOR US AT REHEARSALS, SHOW CHOIR COMPETITIONS AND UIL PERFORMANCES AT HOME IN TEXAS, AS WELL AS ON THE ROAD IN IOWA AND ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA.

OUR DIRECTORS HAVE REALLY SHOWN UP FOR US AND TRULY DESERVE TO BE APPRECIATED.

THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY AND A SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED.

OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE STRUGGLING. WE REQUEST YOU TO RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE AND RECONSIDER THE REDUCTION AND REASSIGNMENT OF STAFF MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER KNOWING THE VALUE OF OUR ARTS DEPARTMENTS AS STUDENTS OF CARROLL ISD.

WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.

WE TRULY APPRECIATE THEM AND ARE DISHEARTENED TO SEE THE TERMINATION OF OUR BELOVED TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CONTRACTS, AS WELL AS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

HI, I'M ALEC KNIGHT. I'M A FATHER, A FORMER DRAGON DAD.

MY KIDS STARTED IN KINDERGARTEN, AND I'VE GOT TWO FRESHMEN, ONE AT ALABAMA AND ONE AT A&M.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE DRAGON BARBECUE TEAM.

KEN GOODMAN AND HIS TEAM DESERVE TONIGHT'S RECOGNITION.

I FIND IT IRONIC THAT CISD OFFERED ZERO FINANCIAL SUPPORT OTHER THAN VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION FOR THIS TEAM.

NO SOCIAL. THE DISTRICT DID NOT OFFER ANY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT THEM WINNING THEIR RESERVE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP OR THE RESERVE CHAMPIONSHIP OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND DARIAN IS A STAR AND SHE WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT'S AND THERE WAS OVER 147 TEAMS IN THE BARBECUE LEAGUE, AND THEY MANY TEAMS RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR THEIR TEAMS AS THEY VALUE CTE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE CISD IS AS COMMITTED TO CTE AS OTHER DISTRICTS.

IT'S TIME TO HIRE A FULL TIME CTE COORDINATOR AND HAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL GO OUT AND GET GRANTS TO BUILD THE PROGRAM EVEN STRONGER.

IT'D BE AMAZING TO OFFER CNA CLASSES FOR ALL ANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO PURSUE MEDICAL, YOU KNOW, MEDICAL SCHOOL OR BE A PA, PT OR NURSING SCHOOL.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS GRADUATION. I'M DISTURBED TO LEARN THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT WILL BE HANDING OUT DIPLOMAS.

WE'RE A DISTRICT THAT VALUES TO PROTECT THE TRADITION.

AND HOWEVER, I THINK I THINK RYAN WILSON SHOULD BE HANDING OUT THE DIPLOMAS BECAUSE HE KNOWS THOSE PRINCIPALS BY NAME.

THIS IS NOT A PHOTO OP FOR FUTURE POLITICAL GAIN OR I PRAY IT'S NOT A POLITICAL PHOTO OP.

GIVE THE PRINCIPAL IN FRONT OF. DON'T PUT THE PRINCIPALS IN THE CORNER OFFERING HIGH FIVES.

FINALLY, AS YOU SEE TURNOUT FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPALS.

DO NOT BECOME THE NEXT GM, NICO HARRISON. AND LEARN FROM AND LEARN FROM.

LEARN FROM THE LUCAS TRADE. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR SIMILAR FIRE NICO SO AND SO CHANTS ECHO THROUGH DRAGON STADIUM AT GRADUATION OR AT THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

DO THE RIGHT THING AND RENEW THEIR CONTRACTS.

WE REMEMBER WHEN DOCTOR EXPERIENCE BIG BUCKS AND HIRING INEXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

HE FILLED PRINCIPAL JOBS WITH YES, MEN LIKE SEAN AND PJ.

WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MEGA KADIYALA, AMY GESSNER AND SEAN UNGER.

GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD. TODAY I WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER, MEGA KADIYALA, WHO UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BE HERE DUE TO THE BROADWAY DALLAS MUSIC THEATER COMPETITION.

HI, MY NAME IS MEGA KADIYALA AND I'M A SENIOR AT CARROLL ISD.

I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF CARROLL CHOIRS, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE DISTRICT'S TREBLE CHOIR, ALL STATERS. I CAN ATTEST TO THE IMPACT THAT CHOIR HAS HAD ON ME, AND THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THIS PLACE HAS PROVIDED ME.

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, CAROL CHOIRS HAS BEEN MY LONGTIME HOME.

WHETHER I WAS RUNNING A CAPPELLA REHEARSALS OR ATTENDING SHOW CHOIR DANCE SECTIONALS, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT INCLUDED IN THE SPACE AND WELCOMED.

SITTING IN CLASS TODAY AND HEARING THAT MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IS BEING FORCED TO RESIGN FROM THIS DISTRICT WAS SHOCKING AND DISAPPOINTING.

OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JUGGLES THREE DIFFERENT JOBS AT ONCE AND MANAGES THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAM, WHICH FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR.

WITHOUT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, THERE WOULD BE NO HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAM.

SO MANY SINGERS WOULD NEVER FIND THEIR PEOPLE AND NEVER STUMBLE INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM.

THAT OPENED UP A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR ME.

THE ELIMINATION OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION IS EQUIVALENT TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT AND THE END OF CHOIR AT CARROLL ISD.

[01:05:02]

IF THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT PROTECTS TRADITION, THEY WILL PROTECT THE LEGACY OF CHORAL MUSIC AND MAINTAIN A DIRECTOR POSITION FOR CARROLL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS.

THERE MUST BE AT LEAST ONE DIRECTOR TO RUN THE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAMS. THE ARTISTS AT CARROLL DESERVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THIS DISTRICT STUDENTS DESERVE A DEPARTMENT TO CALL.

STUDENTS DESERVE A DEPARTMENT TO CALL HOME REGARDLESS OF THEIR GRADE LEVEL OR NUMBERS TO JUSTIFY IT.

CHOIR DESERVES A PLACE AT CARROLL. MAINTAIN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CHOIR POSITION AND REINSTATE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS SINCE THE CLASS OF 2025. CARROLL CHOIR.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY GESSNER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTRACT RENEWAL OF MR. WILSON AND MRS. BENHOFF. I'M A PROUD PARENT OF TWO CARROLL DRAGONS, A 2021 GRADUATE AND A CURRENT JUNIOR AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING DOCTOR GLENN FOR PROVIDING CLARIFICATION THAT BOTH MR. WILSON AND MRS. 'S CONTRACTS ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE THROUGH THE 20 2526 SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEY WILL REMAIN IN THEIR CURRENT ROLES AT THEIR SCHOOLS AS THEIR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THROUGHOUT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, GIVEN THE CONCERNS CIRCULATING IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THESE CONTRACTS, I FELT IT NECESSARY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING AS AN ACTIVE PARENT OF OVER 17 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT.

I'VE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO WITNESS CARROLL ISD STAFF, AND IN PARTICULAR MR. WILSON, IN ACTION AT FOOTBALL GAMES, COMPETITIONS, SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND AS A CHAPERON ON MULTI-DAY TRIPS.

WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT MR. WILSON IS HIS GENUINE CONNECTION TO THE STUDENTS, NOT JUST WITH THOSE WHO ARE HIGHLY VISIBLE OR INVOLVED, BUT WITH EVERY STUDENT. HE SEES THEM. I'VE WATCHED HIM WALK THROUGH THE HALLS AND APPROACH STUDENTS WHO WERE SITTING ALONE TO CHECK ON THEM, TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE OKAY. I'VE ALSO SEEN HIM TAKE THE TIME TO SIT WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS OF STUDENTS DURING FIELD TRIPS, TO GET TO KNOW THEM PERSONALLY, TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY ARE VALUED.

THIS KIND OF COMPASSION AND ENGAGEMENT FOSTERS THE CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND SUPPORT THAT WE STRIVE TO UPHOLD AT SISD.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW SPECIFIC EXAMPLES THAT STAND OUT.

AT THE 2023 UIL COMPETITION, I WATCHED MR. WILSON PERSONALLY HIGH FIVE OVER 250 CARROLL BAND STUDENTS TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AND WITH ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT, UNTIL THE VERY LAST CHILD PASSED THROUGH.

AND AT THIS YEAR'S PERFORMANCE, WHERE THERE WERE WINDS OF OVER 50MPH, HE WAS THE FIRST TO RUN DOWN FROM THE STANDS TO HELP HOLD PROPS AND PROTECT STUDENTS.

AND OUR PERFORMANCE TO SECURE STATE. AS A HIRING MANAGER, I KNOW IT'S RARE TO FIND LEADERS WITH A COMBINATION OF EXCELLENCE, INTELLIGENCE, EMOTIONAL AWARENESS, AND PASSION FOR THEIR WORK.

I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS THAT THIS. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

THAT THIS ORGANIZATION RECONSIDER THE CONTRACTS OF MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SEAN UNGER. I CURRENTLY DO NOT LIVE IN SOUTHLAKE, BUT I DO ATTEND CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM A JUNIOR PART OF CARROLL CHOIRS, AND AS A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN SINGING AND IN THE CHOIR DEPARTMENT SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EVEN BEFORE I MOVED TO TEXAS, I FEEL THAT THE CHOIR HAS GIVEN ME A HOME AND A PLACE TO BE MYSELF, AND BEING A PART OF SUCH A COMMUNITY, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE CURRENT ISSUES.

TODAY I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT A MATTER THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH ABOUT. THIS YEAR, CARROLL CHOIRS HAD THREE STUDENTS ACHIEVE SPOTS IN THE TEXAS ALL STATE CHOIR.

THIS WAS A HISTORIC NUMBER FOR OUR SCHOOL THAT WE WOULD.

THIS WAS A HISTORIC NUMBER FOR OUR SCHOOL THAT WE HAVE NOT OBTAINED IN A DECADE.

NONE OF YOU WOULD KNOW THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THAT FAILED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD OR OUR DISTRICT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, 70,000 SINGERS START THE AUDITION PROCESS, WHICH SPANS FROM SEPTEMBER TO JANUARY EACH YEAR.

THERE ARE FOUR AUDITIONS WITH BRUTAL CUTS EACH ROUND, AND ONLY 1800 SINGERS END UP EARNING A FINAL SPOT IN TEXAS ALL-STATE CHOIR.

THAT IS ONLY A 2% SUCCESS RATE, AND FOR OUR CHOIR TO HAVE THREE MEMBERS REPRESENTING CARROLL ISD THIS YEAR AT TMEA WAS QUITE LITERALLY AMAZING.

IT WAS UTTERLY DISCOURAGING TO WATCH THE DISTRICT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS ACHIEVEMENT, AND STAND BY WATCHING OTHER STUDENTS AND GROUPS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. COMPLISHMENTS SUCCESS IN THE ALL STATE PROCESS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SKILLS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR.

TRAINING STARTS AT A YOUNG AGE, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO RECONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF CHORAL CHOIRS PROGRAM NOT JUST AT THE HIGH SCHOOL,

[01:10:05]

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE EMILY LUND, AVA GILBERT, AND JEFF HO.

MY NAME IS EMILY LUND AND I AM A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT AND I HAVE FIVE DRAGONS.

I'M ALSO CURRENTLY THE BOOSTER PRESIDENT FOR THE CHORAL CHOIRS.

I DITTO MANY OF THE COMMENTS REGARDING WILSON AND AS A CHOIR MOM AND BELLE MOM.

I HAVE SEEN THAT THEY ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE FINE ARTS.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR'S POSITION, AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, HAS REDUCED TO JUST ONE.

ONE PERSON TO RUN SIX CHOIRS ON THREE CAMPUSES, PLUS REHEARSE AN AFTER SCHOOL SHOW CHOIRS.

SOME PARENTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM DOCTOR GLENN SAYING ENSURING THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAM WOULD STILL BE THERE.

HOW LOGISTICALLY COULD THAT POSSIBLY HAPPEN? I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD BE ALL THOSE PLACES AT ONE TIME.

LET'S BE HONEST, EXPECTING ONE PERSON TO CARRY THE LOAD OF THREE CAMPUSES AND SIX GRADE LEVELS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

WE CANNOT ATTRACT OR RETAIN QUALITY EDUCATORS UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.

THERE'S NO OTHER 6A DISTRICT WITH ONE DIRECTOR FOR GRADES SEVEN THROUGH 12.

NOT TO MENTION THAT GRADES FIVE AND SIX CHOIR WAS ALREADY CUT TWO YEARS AGO.

OUR CHOIR BOOSTERS AND OUR BROADER CHOIR FAMILY HAVE INVESTED TIME, RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND BUILD THIS CHOIR.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM HAS STARTED TO GROW, AND WE HAD OUR SOUTHLAKE SHOWDOWN WITH OVER 3000 PEOPLE AS OTHER STUDENTS, REFERRED TO AS A MASSIVE SUCCESS THAT PUT OUR DISTRICT ON THE MAP FOR SHOW CHOIRS.

WITHOUT A SECOND DIRECTOR. THESE EXTRA PROGRAMS. SHOW CHOIR. SPECIAL EVENTS. THEY JUST DISAPPEAR.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR ITSELF? YOU CAN'T HAVE A PROGRAM WITHOUT A TEACHER THAT CAN BE ON A CAMPUS TO CONNECT WITH KIDS.

AND IF WE LOSE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PIPELINE, HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR TO GROW? PLEASE VALUE. WE'VE ALREADY LOST MISS HEIZER.

PLEASE. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AVA GILBERT. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOUTHLAKE CARROLL CHOIRS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

I AM A FREQUENT WORSHIP LEADER AT WHITE'S CHAPEL IN SOUTHLAKE, AND NEXT YEAR I WILL BE ATTENDING TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TO MAJOR IN MUSIC EDUCATION WITH A CHORAL EMPHASIS. THAT BEING SAID, CHOIR HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE PERSON WHO I AM TODAY AND THE CAREER THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO PURSUE.

WHEN I HEARD THAT THE CHOIR PROGRAM WAS BEING CUT IN HALF AT SOUTHLAKE, I WAS DEVASTATED.

HOW COULD THE SCHOOL THAT I HAD THOUGHT SUPPORTED ME FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY TO A MONTH BEFORE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SHOW? SO LITTLE CARE TO THE THING I LOVE MOST. CHOIR IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR SCHOOL.

STUDENTS NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN USE THEIR VOICE, HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE.

CHOIR PROVIDES JUST THAT. I KNOW TO YOU ALL PROGRAMS LIKE CHOIR MUST JUST BE NUMBERS AND DOLLAR SIGNS, BUT YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THE JOY FILLED KIDS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR THIS YEAR.

THEY WERE SO FULL OF PASSION, TALENT, AND EXCITEMENT, AND I WAS SITTING THERE THINKING THROUGH THEIR WHOLE SET HOW AMAZING IT WILL BE WHEN THEY FEED INTO OUR HIGH SCHOOL GROUP. MUSIC EDUCATORS, LIKE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DIRECTOR ARE A BLESSING TO OUR SCHOOL.

SHE HAS WORKED SO HARD TO BRING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND WATCHING THE LOVE AND CARE THAT SHE HAS TOWARDS HER JOB HAS KEPT ME INSPIRED AND EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF MUSICIANS MYSELF.

WATCHING HER FORCED RESIGNATION PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT THAT COULD BE ME.

FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, IN MY OWN TOWN, AT THE SCHOOL I GREW UP IN, GETTING MY POSITION AS A CHOIR DIRECTOR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED JUST BECAUSE THE PRIORITIES ARE SO FAR FROM THE ARTS. WE NEED SUPPORT. WE NEED ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE THAT A PROGRAM LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR IS UNNECESSARY AND UNNEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

JEFF HO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER. IS HE HERE? THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE NANCY D'AMICO, MARCUS NGUYEN, AND ELIZABETH JANNING.

[01:15:12]

OH, THERE SHE IS. SHE'S COMING.

HI, MY NAME IS NANCY D'AMICO. I AM A RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE, AND I HAVE TWO CARROLL DRAGONS.

AND I'M SPEAKING BECAUSE TWO OF MY KIDS HAVE MRS. WILSON, WHICH IS MR. WILSON'S WIFE FOR MATH, AND SHE'S PHENOMENAL.

SHE TEACHES GEOMETRY AND ALGEBRA AT CMS. OUR TEACHERS AND COACHES AND CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS ARE THE BACKBONES OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY THEY BUILD ON CAMPUS AMONG STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IS WHAT MAKES DRAGON CULTURE WHAT IT IS.

AT A TIME WHEN OUR DISTRICT IS STRUGGLING TO NAVIGATE DECLINING ENROLLMENT, LACK OF STATE FUNDING.

THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND LEADERSHIP OF DECADES DEVOTED BY OUR HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE FACE OF THESE CHALLENGES. IT WILL BE THE DEDICATION OF SERVANT LEADERS LIKE MR. WILSON, WHO ARE BELOVED BY ALL THAT CAN BEST GUIDE US AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS.

NOT ONLY WILL THIS DEPARTURE OF AMAZING CAMPUS LEADERSHIP DEEPLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD.

THE BIGGEST HARM IS THE DAMAGE THAT WILL BE DONE TO CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS AND STAFF.

OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE NOW QUESTIONING HOW CAN SUCH LOVED COACHES, CHOIR TEACHERS, BAND DIRECTORS, PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR SO MANY BE FORCED OUT BY THIS BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT? OUR TEACHERS ARE WATCHING AND YOU ARE TELLING THEM LOUD AND CLEAR, WE DO NOT VALUE EXCELLENCE.

IF CISD IS NOT SAFE FOR AMAZING LEADERS LIKE RYAN WILSON, IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM EITHER.

IS MARCUS WYNN HERE? ELIZABETH CHANNING.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH CHANNING. I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

I HAVE ONE DRAGON GRADUATE AND I HAVE TWO DRAGONS CURRENTLY.

AND BEFORE I SPEAK, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I AM SPEAKING ON MY PERSONAL BEHALF.

I AM NOT REPRESENTING ANY ORGANIZATION I AM CURRENTLY OR EVER BEEN AFFILIATED WITH, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY. THAT'S THE REAL REASON I'M HERE, IS TO TELL YOU A STORY.

AND ON MY WAY IN, I ACTUALLY SAW MANY OTHER CURRENT AND FORMER PTO PRESIDENTS, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS PTO PRESIDENT AT DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL A FEW YEARS AGO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF RYAN WILSON. AND WHILE I WAS THERE, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I COULD TELL YOU THAT AS A PTO PRESIDENT THAT YOU SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE.

AND THERE'S ONE STORY THAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME.

AND THAT STORY WAS MR. WILSON NOTICED AND RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER THAT THERE WAS A STUDENT WHO WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THEIR BASIC NEEDS HAPPEN.

AND WHAT MR. WILSON DID WAS HE WORKED EVERY SINGLE AVENUE HE COULD TO MAKE SURE THIS STUDENT'S BASIC NEEDS WERE MET SO THAT HE COULD COME TO SCHOOL OR SHE I DON'T EVEN KNOW AND LEARN. AND ONE OF THE AVENUES HE WORKED WAS HE CAME TO PTO AND ASKED US HOW COULD WE SUPPORT.

SO WE HOOKED HIM UP WITH A FAMILY THAT WAS WILLING AND ABLE TO GIVE THAT KID SUPPORT.

AND IT WASN'T ONE TIME. THIS KID WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH TWO YEARS AT DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND MR. WILSON MADE SURE THAT EVERY MONTH THAT THAT DELIVERY HAPPENED AND THAT THAT KID CAME TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN.

THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME.

THAT IS THE KIND OF LEADER THAT I WANT MY STUDENTS AND ALL OF THESE STUDENTS TO SEE.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE PRESTON HALL, JENNIFER HALL, AND JAMIE HANDY.

[01:20:08]

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE PRESCHOOL IN 2011, AND CARROLL ELEMENTARY AND I HAVE BEEN TO SIX, AND I HAVE BEEN TO SIX CAMPUSES. I'M IN, I AM A PART OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN CARROLL ISD.

I AM VERY SAD TO HEAR NEWS THAT MRS. BENHOFF AND MR. WILSON MAY NOT BE RETURNING. MRS. BENHOFF HAS HELPED ME THE PAST TWO YEARS EVEN WHEN THINGS WERE HARD FOR ME. ONE DAY SHE SAT ON THE FLOOR OF MY CLASSROOM WITH ME FOR OVER 20 MINUTES WHEN I NEARLY PASSED OUT AT SCHOOL.

SHE SAT WITH ME AND HELPED ME FEEL CALM. SHE ALWAYS SAID HI TO ME AND CARED ABOUT ME.

I SEE MR. WILSON SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO THE SENIOR HIGH.

LAST WEEK HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS EXCITED FOR ME TO BE AT HIS SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.

THEY BOTH CARE ABOUT ME. MY TEACHERS AND MY TEACHERS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ME AND HOW THE SCHOOL YEAR GOES.

WITHOUT GREAT LEADERS LIKE MRS. BENHOFF AND MR. WILSON, WE COULD LOSE OUR GREAT TEACHERS. PLEASE LISTEN TO ALL OF US WHO WANT THEM TO STAY AND WHO KNOWS HOW GREAT THEY ARE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER HALL AND I'M PRESTON'S MOM, AND I'M ALSO THE MOM TO HIS TWIN BROTHER LUKE AND HIS LITTLE SISTER AVERY.

I AM ALSO ONE OF THE DIRECTORS TO PROTECT TEXAS FRAGILE KIDS, A GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT WHO ADVOCATES AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR OUR MEDICALLY FRAGILE AND DISABLED POPULATION LIKE PRESTON. I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE 17 YEAR JOURNEY OF HAVING A MEDICALLY FRAGILE AND DISABLED CHILD, THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING UP WHEN WRONGS ARE OCCURRING.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. EVEN WHEN YOU'RE TIRED AND EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT CONVENIENT.

LIKE PRESTON SAID, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT SINCE 2011.

WE SPECIFICALLY MOVED HERE FOR PPCD AT CARROLL ELEMENTARY.

I'M A GRAPEVINE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND WE CHOSE HERE.

I'M HERE IN HOPES OF CONVINCING MRS. BENHOFF AND MR. WILSON TO STAY AFTER THIS FIASCO DIES DOWN IN OUR DISTRICT, COMES TO ITS SENSES, AND YOU ALL OFFER THEM A CONTRACT.

AGAIN, HAVING STRONG AND BELOVED LEADERSHIP IS HOW WE RETAIN AND HIRE AMAZING TEACHERS.

THAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT TASK IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE WE'RE IN.

I WAS ON CAMPUS THE DAY PRESTON NEARLY FAINTED IN CLASS.

THAT CLASS HE WAS IN. HE HAD NOT HAD A TEACHER FOR MULTIPLE WEEKS AND WAS PRETTY UPSET.

AND THAT PLAYED INTO THIS ISSUE. I WALKED IN TO FIND MISS BENHOFF SITTING ON THE GROUND NEXT TO PRESTON, COMFORTING HIM. SHE SAT WITH HIM FOR OVER 20 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM HOME, AND I HAVE WATCHED HER AS A FRONT OFFICE VOLUNTEER CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF MANY STUDENTS, AND SHE KNOWS THEM BY NAME.

WE WERE SUPER EXCITED FOR MR. WILSON TO BE HIS TRANSITION AND TRANSITIONS ARE HARD WHEN YOU'RE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

IT'S EXTREMELY HARD. AND HE'S READY AND HE KNOWS PRESTON AND HE'S READY FOR HIM.

AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO FILL THESE POSITIONS.

BUT SPECIAL ED IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PLACE, AND WE NEED LEADERS WHO KNOW OUR KIDS TO SPEAK UP AND FIND TEACHERS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.

AND WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING, AND WE'VE HAD MASSIVE TURNOVER IN SPECIAL ED, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO US AND MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF, PLEASE CONSIDER STAYING.

WE NEED YOU. I HAVE ONE THING LEFT TO SAY. COACH MURPHY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR FAMILY AND SPECIFICALLY FOR MY SON, LUKE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BELIEVING IN HIM AND PICKING HIM UP WHEN HE NEEDED MOST. AND WE ARE GOING TO BE GREATLY. YOU ARE GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED.

DEAR BOARD, MY NAME IS JAMIE HANDY. MY HUSBAND, TRENT AND I ARE SOUTHLAKE AND CISD RESIDENTS AND PARENTS TO FIVE DRAGONS CLASS OF 2018 2020 2022. THIS YEAR 2025 AND 2029. ADDITIONALLY, I'M A LICENSED TEXAS SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER WHO WORKS AS A SUBSTITUTE AT ALL OF THE CAMPUSES IN OUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH SCHOOL AND SENIOR HIGH WHERE MY KIDS ARE.

THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE HERE AT CISD IS MAGICAL, BUT IT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING IN THE WATER.

THE MAGIC IS OUR ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND COACHES WHO WORK TIRELESSLY, AS WE HAVE ALL HEARD ON OUR STUDENTS BEHALF.

AND THE RESULT IS THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE THE CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BACKBONE OF OUR PROPERTY VALUES.

THE CONTRACT NON-RENEWALS ARE A TRADE DOWN. PURE AND SIMPLE.

EXCELLENCE TO MEDIOCRITY. MAGICAL TO MUNDANE.

[01:25:03]

THIS CUTESY LEGALESE AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH NO COMMUNICATED PLAN OF ACTION FORCES US TO ASK, WHAT IS MOTIVATING THIS? WHO IS AT THE HELM AND WHO IS DRIVING THE SCHOOL BUS AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING? I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE, THE TAXPAYERS, ARE TO WHOM YOU ANSWER THE STIFLING OF FREE SPEECH AT OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THEIR PEERS, REMOVES THE MAGIC OF GRADUATION.

THE SHARED ANECDOTES, MEMORIES, AND WISDOM FOR THESE STUDENTS SHOULD BE SPOKEN FREELY.

AND I WILL CONCLUDE WITH SHEL SILVERSTEIN'S POEM SMART.

MY DAD GAVE ME $1 BILL BECAUSE I'M THE SMARTEST SON, AND I SWAPPED IT FOR TWO SHINY QUARTERS BECAUSE TWO IS MORE THAN ONE.

AND THEN I TOOK THE QUARTERS AND TRADED THEM TO LOU FOR THREE DIMES. I GUESS HE DON'T KNOW THAT THREE IS MORE THAN TWO.

JUST THEN ALONG CAME OLD BLIND BATES, AND JUST BECAUSE HE CAN'T SEE, HE GAVE ME FOUR NICKELS FOR MY THREE DIMES.

AND FOUR IS MORE THAN THREE. AND I TOOK THE NICKELS TO HIRAM COOMBS DOWN AT THE SEED FEED STORE, AND THE FOOL GAVE ME FIVE PENNIES FOR THEM. AND FIVE IS MORE THAN FOUR.

WE DESERVE WISDOM, NOT SMARTS. DON'T TRADE AWAY OUR MAGICAL $1 BILL, SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STAFF FOR FIVE SHINY PENNIES OR WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE BARBARA JOHNSON, CAROLYN CONLEY, AND MICHELLE MOORE.

MY NAME IS BARBARA JOHNSON. I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO DRAGONS AND THE GRANDMOTHER OF THREE DRAGONS.

MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE FOR ALMOST 41 YEARS.

LAST WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT OUR BELOVED HIGH SCHOOL SWIM COACH, COACH MURPHY OF 20 YEARS, WAS REASSIGNED.

WHEN I READ THIS WEEKEND'S EMAIL THAT TOLD SOUTHLAKE NOT TO BELIEVE THE RUMORS THAT WE SHOULD TRUST THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE OPEN, HONEST COMMUNICATION, I THOUGHT, OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME OPEN, HONEST COMMUNICATION AND I AM STILL WAITING.

COACH HALL OF HONOR RECIPIENT MURPHY HAS BUILT A SWIM DIVE POWERHOUSE IN SOUTHLAKE, INCLUDING 15 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THERE ARE SO MANY SWIM, SWIM TROPHIES AND SUCH A TINY TROPHY CASE THAT THE TROPHIES ARE PILED IN LIKE BOOKS ON A BOOKSHELF, SOME LYING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. WHEN OUR OLDEST GRANDCHILD WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, HE BEGAN SWIMMING WITH COACH OF ENDLESS NUMBERS OF ALL AMERICANS MURPHY ON THE SUMMER SWIM TEAM TIGER SHARKS. WHEN HE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, HE ASKED COACH MURPHY, 14 TIME TEXAS SWIM COACH OF THE YEAR. WHEN I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL, WILL YOU BE MY SWIM COACH? AND COACH RESPONDED, YES, I WILL. NEXT MONTH, OUR GRANDSON WILL START HIS 10TH SUMMER WITH COACH'S INSTRUCTION, AND IN AUGUST, HE WILL START HIS FRESHMAN YEAR OF SWIMMING.

LAST WEEK, ON THE WAY HOME FROM A BASEBALL PRACTICE.

MY HUSBAND TOLD OUR GRANDSON THAT THE SWIM COACH WOULD NOT BE HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWIM COACH, AND HE ASKED, WHY GRANDPA? I WOULD HAVE ANSWERED BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUALS THINK THEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TEAM.

AND OF COURSE, MONEY, MONEY TALKS. WE APPLAUD COACH MURPHY'S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUNG ATHLETES, HIS DEDICATION, HUMILITY AND PATIENCE. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

WE NEED OPEN, HONEST COMMUNICATION. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY.

[APPLAUSE] IS KAREN CAROLYN CONNELLY HERE? HI, GUYS. MY NAME IS CAROLYN CONNELLY. I'M A HISPANIC CONSERVATIVE, SINGLE MOTHER AND PROUD DRAGON PARENT.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO SAY THIS WITHOUT GETTING EMOTIONAL. I'VE BEEN A DRAGON PARENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS PERSONNEL. I MOVED HERE FROM CALIFORNIA SEEKING A BETTER EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR MY SON, WHICH I FOUND MYSELF DRAWN BY CARROLL ISD'S TOP RATED REPUTATION.

I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE, WHILE ADJUSTING TO A NEW COMMUNITY WASN'T EASY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE QUALITY EDUCATION WAS WORTH THE LEAP.

I WAS AWARE OF THE PAST CONCERNS, LIKE THOSE RAISED IN THE SOUTHLAKE PODCAST AND RECEIVED MUCH REPROOF FROM FAMILY MEMBERS.

BUT I TRUSTED THAT DECISION ANYWAYS. WHAT MAKES A SCHOOL EXCEPTIONAL IS NOT RANKINGS.

[01:30:02]

OUR TEACHERS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE THE HEART OF CARROLL ISD.

BUT THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT CLIMATE, PARTICULARLY THE ADMINISTRATION'S TREATMENT OF ITS EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF, IS DEEPLY CONCERNING. STAFF MORALE IS DECLINING.

I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. IN AN EFFORT TO BE CLOSE TO MY CHILD, I TOOK A JOB IN A CISD DEPARTMENT AFTER MY STUDENT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. OUR COWORKERS AND OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS AND SUPPORTIVE DURING THIS CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT TIME FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT THAT TRADITION.

THAT'S THE TRADITION THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.

ME AND MY KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL. TALENTED TEACHERS, COLLEAGUES AND LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MY KIDS DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH DURING THIS TIME AT CISD, ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT BY CHOICE.

PAY FOR SUPPORT ROLES REMAINS BELOW THAT OF NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS LIKE GCISD, DESPITE SOUTHLAKE'S WEALTH AND RECORD OF PAY SCHEDULE LISTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.

MANY JOINED CISD FOR ITS HIS PRESTIGE AND PROMISE, OFTEN AT A PAY CUT.

BUT. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS LIKE MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF. COACH MURPHY'S AND OTHERS FACE INIQUITY.

HOW ARE WE TREATING THOSE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS? I'M SORRY I RAN OUT OF TIME, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS TRULY MORE OF A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAN A BUDGET CRISIS TO US, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILY. I BASICALLY PAY TO BE CLOSE TO MY SON AND TO WORK HERE BECAUSE I'M NOT GETTING PAID TO DO MY REAL JOB. I'M BEING WITH MY SON AND WITH THESE STAFF MEMBERS, AND THEY ARE EXCELLENT.

AND I HATE TO SEE THEM GO. AND WE ALL DO, AND WE ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR GLENN AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE MOORE. I'VE CALLED SOUTHLAKE HOME FOR OVER 19 YEARS, AND I'M A PROUD MOM OF TWO DRAGON GRADUATES.

I SERVED ON THE CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM 2015 TO 2023.

DURING THAT TIME, I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF DECISIONS WE MAKE, DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS DISTRICT. I NEVER IMAGINED I'D BE BACK IN THIS BOARDROOM, MUCH LESS ON THIS SIDE OF THE MICROPHONE.

BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I CARE TOO MUCH TO STAY SILENT.

I BELIEVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NON-RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS FOR SOME OF OUR MOST BELOVED AND DEDICATED EDUCATORS. THESE AREN'T JUST NAMES ON THE LIST.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE POURED THEIR HEARTS INTO OUR SCHOOLS, BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS AND INSPIRED OUR STUDENTS.

I'VE SEEN THEIR COMMITMENT FIRSTHAND MENTORING, ENCOURAGING, AND SHOWING UP DAY AFTER DAY FOR OUR KIDS.

SO I HAVE TO ASK, IS THIS BOARD ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS? ARE YOU ENSURING THAT PERSONNEL DECISIONS ARE BASED ON FACTS AND SUBSTANCE, NOT DRIVEN BY RETALIATION AGAINST THOSE WHO'VE SPOKEN UP OR MADE DIFFICULT CHOICES WHEN REPRIMANDS OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OCCUR? ARE YOU AS A BOARD BEING GIVEN THE FULL STORY? THE EVIDENCE? THE RATIONALE? ARE YOU MAKING SURE THESE ACTIONS ALIGN WITH DISTRICT POLICY, DUE PROCESS, AND THE ETHICAL STANDARDS WE OWE TO EVERY EMPLOYEE? AND BEYOND THAT, ARE YOU CONSIDERING WHETHER POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, REAL OR PERCEIVED, ARE UNFAIRLY INFLUENCING DECISIONS ABOUT WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES? OH GOSH, I'M RUNNING OUT. WE WON'T ALWAYS AGREE POLITICALLY, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE LENS WE USE TO JUDGE THE VALUE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO OUR CHILDREN. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SHOULD ALL WANT THE SAME THING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN? I'M JUST ASKING YOU JUST TO LOOK CLOSELY, TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

THE TRUST OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE REPUTATION OF THIS DISTRICT, THE RETENTION OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS DEPEND ON IT.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE NIKKI STOVALL, JANA THOMPSON, AND SARAH BEAGLE.

[01:35:03]

MOTHER OF THREE DRAGONS. I'LL GET THROUGH IT.

ONE KINDER GRAD AND TWO CURRENTLY AT CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M A PROUD WIFE OF A TEACHER AT CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL WHO WORKS DIRECTLY FOR CHRISTINA BENHOFF AND REGULARLY INTERACTS WITH RYAN WILSON WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT AROUND.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT MAKE SOUTHLAKE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, AND I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT THE GLUE THAT IS HOLDING IT TOGETHER RIGHT NOW ARE THE TIRELESS STAFF IN THIS DISTRICT THAT OFTEN CAN'T OR WON'T SPEAK OUT, BUT HAVE SHOWN UP TODAY REGARDLESS OF PERSONAL RISK BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND THAT SAYS MORE THAN I CAN EVER SAY TO YOU HERE TODAY.

EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT PROTECTING THE TRADITION. THESE TWO ARE THE TRADITION.

WE MUST FIERCELY PROTECT CRITICAL STAFF THAT ARE NOT ONLY WORKING THEIR HEARTS OUT AND DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL IMPACTS AND OUTSIDE RESULTS THAT ARE KEEPING AND ATTRACTING TALENT TO THIS DISTRICT. THESE ARE NOT POSITIONS ON A SPREADSHEET.

THESE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS ARE IRREPLACEABLE.

AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BUILT A CULTURE OF INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, RESPECT AND ACTION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ACTIONS BECAUSE WORDS DON'T REALLY MATTER, MY COLLEGE FRESHMAN SAID YESTERDAY.

AND WILSON BOTH DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF BEING PRESENT FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

THERE WASN'T A SINGLE DAY I WAS ON CAMPUS WHERE I DIDN'T SEE THEM.

MY DAD BEING ABLE TO HAND ME MY DIPLOMA AS A SPECIAL MOMENT THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.

RYAN WILSON SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME TRYING TO FIND EVERY SINGLE CARROLL ISD STAFF SENIOR PARENT LAST YEAR, RIGHT UP TO THE DAY OF GRADUATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL THAT WANTED THAT OPPORTUNITY, HE ADDED.

AND THE REACTIONS AND CELEBRATIONS ON STAGE LEFT MANY OF US IN TEARS.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT AND IT MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT TO THOSE INVOLVED, THE IMPACT WAS ENORMOUS AND LIFELONG MEMORIES WERE MADE.

THESE LITTLE THINGS BUILD A CULTURE AND THAT CULTURE IS NOT QUANTIFIABLE.

CHRISTINA RUNS THE CASH REGISTER. DURING LUNCHES, SHE HELPS RUN PICK UP LINES.

MY DAUGHTER'S AN EMERALD BELLE. BENHOFF HAS BEEN AT EVERY TRYOUT, EVERY MAJOR PERFORMANCE, AND HAS CHAPERONED THIS BEDAZZLED TEAM NEAR AND FAR MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A CRUISE AND COMPETITION IN SAN MARCOS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN ATTEND, WHERE RYAN WILSON ALSO SHOWED UP TO CHEER THEM ON.

I'VE JOKINGLY ASKED MY HUSBAND IF BENHOFF AND WILSON ARE TRIPLETS. THEY ARE WALDO, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. CRITICAL STAFF AND SERVANT LEADERS 30 PLUS YEARS OF THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO THIS DISTRICT AND ARE BELOVED BY TEACHERS, STAFF, STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE NOT REPLACEABLE.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE'VE STRUGGLED TO AGREE ON THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT I HOPE WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THIS AND THAT THE ACTIONS FOLLOWING TODAY REFLECT IT.

HI, MY NAME IS JANA THOMPSON AND MY HUSBAND JEFF AND I MOVED HERE ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO FROM DALLAS BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS.

WE WANTED TO RAISE OUR KIDS IN THE EMERALD CITY.

SADLY, WITH HOW SOME OF OUR MOST BELOVED ADMINISTRATORS ARE BEING TREATED, WE NOW FIND OURSELVES SAYING IT'S THE SCHOOLS AND THE TOXIC POLITICS THAT MIGHT MOVE US OUT OF SOUTHLAKE. YESTERDAY, OUR PASTOR, JOHN MCKELLAR, GAVE A MESSAGE AT SENIOR SUNDAY AT WHITE'S CHAPEL.

IT WAS KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING. FOR US, THE MAIN THING ISN'T LEGAL, LEGAL, LANGUAGE, OR BEING TECHNICALLY CORRECT THROUGH CREATIVE SEMANTICS.

IT'S OUR KIDS AND HOW WE TREAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

WE SUPPORTED AND VOTED FOR MANY OF YOU, BUT YOU ARE VEERING OFF COURSE.

HERE ARE OUR ASKS. KEEP CHRISTINA BENHOFF IN PLACE AND EXTEND HER CONTRACT THROUGH 2027.

BEING A TEENAGE GIRL IN HIGH SCHOOL IS HARD. IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE SMART, STRONG WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AND SHE IS AMAZING.

KEEP RYAN WILSON IN PLACE AND EXTEND HIS CONTRACT THROUGH 2027 OR BEYOND IF YOU'RE SMART.

LET MR. WILSON AT GRADUATION HAVE HIS SPEECH AS HE HAS IN THIS PAST. HE SHOULD SHAKE HANDS WITH OUR SENIORS AND BE IN ALL THEIR PHOTOS, NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT. ANYTHING ELSE FEELS OUT OF STEP AND FRANKLY, SELF-SERVING.

MR. WILSON SHOULD LEAD THE GRADUATION AGENDA AND LET STUDENTS WRITE THEIR OWN SPEECHES.

ANYTHING LESS IS CENSORSHIP. LASTLY, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR ASSISTANT HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR POSITION AND WORK TO BUILD THE CHOIR AND THEATER PROGRAMS, NOT DESTROY THEM. DOCTOR GLENN, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN YOUR POSITION IN YOUR ROLE FOR A FULL YEAR YET.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, POSITION IS ONE THING, BUT BEING A DRAGON AND UNDERSTANDING AND EARNING OUR TRUST IS ANOTHER.

THANK YOU.

SARAH BEAGLE IS NOT PRESENT. SO THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE CARRIE SCARMONT, JAY CHANG, AND CHAD BEDWELL.

[01:40:06]

TONIGHT, RYAN WILSON HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A SERVANT LEADER, BUT I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ON THE BOARD ALSO THINK OF YOURSELVES AS SERVANT LEADERS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. ONE FACET OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS THE INTEGRITY TO ADMIT WHEN YOU'VE MADE A MISTAKE.

AND WE ARE ALL HERE LETTING THIS. I'M SORRY. WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID THAT A MISTAKE IS GOING TO BE MADE ABOUT OUR PRINCIPALS. RYAN WILSON AND CHRISTINA BENHOFF WERE AFRAID THAT THEY MIGHT LEAVE US BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE THAT THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE GOING TO MAKE.

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT BEING A SERVANT LEADER IS THAT AS A SERVANT LEADER, YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO FIX YOUR MISTAKES.

YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO SEEK FORGIVENESS FOR MISTAKES.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU DO THAT, THIS COMMUNITY WILL FORGIVE YOU.

SO FIX IT. LIFE IS HARD. IT'S HARD FOR Y'ALL. IT'S HARD FOR PARENTS. IT'S HARD FOR STUDENTS.

IT'S HARD FOR TEACHERS. WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT.

WHAT WE ALL CRAVE IS STABILITY. WILSON AND PROVIDE THAT STABILITY IN OUR DISTRICT WITH THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE DOING IS DESTABILIZING TO STEAL A PHRASE THAT I SAW IN THIS DISCUSSION IN THE DISCOURSE ABOUT THIS MESS.

WE ARE GOING TO GO FROM A DESTINATION DISTRICT TO A DESPERATION DISTRICT.

EVERYONE IS HERE BECAUSE THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT CARROLL ISD.

THAT'S WHY Y'ALL ARE HERE. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. THAT'S WHY ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE. ONE PERSON WHO CARES MORE ABOUT CARROLL ISD PROBABLY THAN ALL OF US IS NOT HERE.

AND THAT'S RYAN WILSON. YOU SHOULD SIGN HIM TO A LIFETIME CONTRACT IF YOU CAN.

WILSON AND WILL LAND ON THEIR FEET. THEY'RE GIFTED ADMINISTRATORS. OUR DISTRICT WILL NOT LAND ON ITS FEET WITH THEIR DEPARTURES.

WE DO NOT WANT TO WAKE UP IN AUGUST WITH SOMEONE FROM GRANBURY AS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL.

I'M JOKING, BUT I'M NOT. MR. WILSON, BUT I HAVE A PERSONAL REASON TO ADORE MR. BENHOFF. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LONG STORY ABOUT HER GIVING MY SON A RIDE, SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE UP THE STAAR TEST DURING THE SUMMER. BUT I WILL LET THE NEXT PERSON SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JAY CHANG AND I'VE BEEN ATTENDING CISD SCHOOLS FOR TEN YEARS.

I'M A JUNIOR AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CARROLL DRAGON BAND LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY.

I'VE HAD MR. WILSON SINCE MY TIME AT DAWSON, SO I KNOW THE KIND OF LEADER HE IS.

ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE REMOVAL OF MR. WILSON IS THE CONTINUED WELL-BEING OF CERTAIN STUDENT GROUPS ON CAMPUS.

OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS ADVOCATED FOR BANNING LGBTQ BOOKS AT GRANBURY AND WAXAHACHIE ISD.

AND HE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DALLAS OBSERVER, QUOTE, I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE, BUT THERE'S NO PLACE FOR IT IN OUR LIBRARIES.

WELL, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, WHETHER YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR NOT, AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, MANY OF MY PEERS IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ AND DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED AS DRAGONS, BUT ABOVE ALL, AS HUMANS. MR. WILSON HAS ALWAYS SET ASIDE WHAT HE MAY PERSONALLY BELIEVE, WHICH HE HAS NEVER SHARED WITH ANY STUDENT TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS IN HIS CARE.

HE GREETS EVERYONE WITH A SMILE, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY COME FROM, BECAUSE TO HIM, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THE HAPPINESS OF HIS STUDENTS.

I'M CONCERNED THAT WITH THE HISTORY OF THIS BOARD, YOU WILL CHOOSE SOMEONE TO REPLACE HIM WHO WILL SHUT DOWN PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE GSA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ONLY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH WHO, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, HAVE A 20% SUICIDE RATE NEARLY TWICE AS HIGH AS THAT OF AN AVERAGE TEEN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR ACTIONS AFFECT REAL KIDS.

WE ARE NOT ABSTRACT CONCEPTS OR STATISTICS, BUT PEOPLE WHO WILL REMEMBER WHO MADE OUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WORTHWHILE AND WHO CAST US OUT BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS WE CANNOT CHANGE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, BOARD. MY NAME IS CHAD BEDWELL. I'VE BEEN A SOUTHLAKE WESTLAKE RESIDENT SINCE 2007.

FATHER, A PARENT OF TWO DRAGONS, ONE CLASS OF 22, THE SECOND.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING THE STAGE IN A FEW WEEKS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO IS, IS HAVING THAT INDIVIDUAL GREETING FROM MR. WILSON. WE WERE BOTH, BOTH KIDS WENT THROUGH DAWSON AND PRINCIPALS.

AND SO I THINK EVERYBODY HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF COMMUNICATING THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO, I THOUGHT WAS VERY TIMELY.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE ANY OF THIS AND, YOU KNOW, 17 YEARS SO THAT THAT MEANS IT'S SUBSTANTIAL.

[01:45:03]

GOAL NUMBER ONE, CURRICULUM, STUDENT SKILLS, THE GPA OF OUR VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN, UNBELIEVABLE. CHECK. STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE UNDERSTAND THESE TIMES CALL FOR CHALLENGES WITH SCHOOL FUNDING.

I THINK PROPER EDUCATION AND AND LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

RIGHT. STUDENT WELLNESS, CRITICAL. THAT'S GREAT.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP GOALS. WHAT MAKES THIS DISTRICT THE TRADITION THAT EVERYBODY HAS MOVED HERE FOR KNOWS GLOBALLY. IT'S THE PEOPLE. IT'S THE HUMAN CAPITAL, RIGHT? SO THAT'S OUR STAFF. THAT'S OUR ADMINISTRATION.

AND SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, PRINCIPAL WILSON IS THE EPITOME OF BEING A DRAGON.

I AGREE WITH THAT. SO JUST A FEW OF THE COUPLE OTHER THINGS JUST FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

TECHNOLOGY, OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FINANCE AND OPERATIONS.

YOU'RE EXTREMELY LIMITED RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SCHOOL THE WAY THAT SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

RIGHT. EDUCATING, GETTING THAT OUT THERE WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS TURNOUT IS DUE TO POOR COMMUNICATION.

LET'S DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. AND I HOPE WHEN YOU GO YOU SAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? LET'S GO.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE PEYTON NICHOL, JONATHAN DODDRIDGE, AND MARISSA GOTTLIEB.

HELLO, MY NAME IS PEYTON NICHOL. I'VE BEEN A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT MY WHOLE LIFE.

I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR, AND NOW I'M A FRESHMAN AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY.

I GOT HOME FROM COLLEGE YESTERDAY, AND I CAME HOME TO WHAT I CAN DESCRIBE AS A NIGHTMARE.

REGARDING THE TWO ADMINISTRATORS THAT YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY FORCING OUT OF THE DISTRICT, I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS HOW DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED I AM.

YOUR JOB AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS IS TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE STUDENTS, TO CULTIVATE A SAFE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, NOT TO PUSH AN AGENDA.

HIGH SCHOOL IS A VULNERABLE TIME. EVEN THE SIMPLE TASK OF NAVIGATING ADOLESCENCE IS DAUNTING.

SO HOW CAN YOU CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IF YOU ONLY CARE TO PUSH YOUR BELIEFS BY REMOVING BELOVED PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY, YOU'RE SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT YOU DO NOT CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF YOUR STUDENTS. I'VE BEEN AT CARROLL MY WHOLE LIFE.

SOME OF MY MOST POSITIVE MEMORIES IN HIGH SCHOOL INVOLVED THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF MR. WILSON AND MRS. BENHOFF. AS A STUDENT WHO WORKS PRIMARILY IN THE FINE ARTS, IT IS VERY EASY TO FEEL DISCOURAGED FROM THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT.

BY REMOVING BY REMOVING STRONG, STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE FINE ARTS AND STAFF MEMBERS SUCH AS RACHEL HEISER, YOU ARE FURTHER DISCOURAGING THE CULTIVATION OF YOUNG ARTISTS. SOUTHLAKE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SPORTS, AND YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT. YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS NEGLECTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO ERASE THEM.

SINCE MY TIME AT CARROLL, I'VE SEEN SIX CHOIR DIRECTORS DWINDLE INTO ONE.

IF YOU'RE NOT PLACING VALUE IN THE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO TRULY SUPPORT AND LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, THEN WHERE DO YOUR PRIORITIES LIE? WHAT'S NEXT? IS IT TO BAN BOOKS, TO DISMISS QUEER IDENTITIES? TO BAN CRITICAL RACE THEORY? TO CUSTOMIZE CURRICULUM TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR SHALLOW MINDED BELIEFS? IF THIS IS IF THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF PRODUCTION, I SUGGEST YOU TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

I AM DISGUSTED AT HOW YOU HAVE MANAGED TO TURN CHILDREN'S LIVES AND EDUCATION INTO A POLITICAL SPECTACLE.

I MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY YOUR ACTIONS, BUT THERE ARE 700 STUDENTS ALONE IN YOUR GRADUATING CLASS WHO ARE.

THANK YOU.

HEY, Y'ALL. MY NAME IS JONATHAN DODDRIDGE. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST 22 YEARS.

WE HAVE THREE KIDS THAT WENT THROUGH SCHOOL, K THROUGH 12.

MY WIFE ALSO IS A NURSE, AND SHE SUBSTITUTES AS NURSE SOMETIMES FOR THE SCHOOL.

SHE, IN FACT, WAS AT OLD UNION LAST WEEK DURING THE BOMB THREAT.

WHEN SHE GOT HOME, SHE SAID, DID YOU SEE ALL THE STUFF ABOUT THE BOMB THREAT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SHE SAID BOMB THREAT. AND I SAID I DIDN'T GET THE CALL.

SHE SAID, WE'RE NOT IN THE DISTRICT ANYMORE LIST.

AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL FOR BECAUSE FOR 20 YEARS WE GOT ALL OF THE PING MESSAGES.

I SAY THAT ALL NOT TO TALK ABOUT ME, BUT TO SAY WE CARE ABOUT SOUTHLAKE.

I DO AGREE WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR TODAY.

YOU GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU HAVE SOME WONDERFUL LEADERS THAT ARE JUST CROWN JEWELS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT, YOU KNOW, I CHALLENGE YOU TO REALLY LOOK AT YOUR DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE, THE PROCESS OF MAKING YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO BETTER.

WHEN I HIRE SOMEBODY WITH WORK, I ASK THEM, WHAT IS YOUR JOB AND YOUR JOB?

[01:50:06]

AND I KNOW YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU CARE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN YOU HAVE A COACH FROM THE DALLAS MAVERICKS TALKING ABOUT A COACH LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS ABOUT HIRING AND FIRING YOU KNOW, COACHES, I THINK THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WOULD NOMINATE OR RECOMMEND AND YOU GUYS MAKE DECISIONS.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME OF THE COACHING DECISIONS YOU ALL HAVE MADE. AND I CHALLENGE YOU.

DON'T PUSH AN AGENDA. DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR STUDENTS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR PROPERTY VALUES.

CARROLL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CROWN JEWEL OF THIS AREA.

LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARI GOTTLIEB, AND I'M, I HAVE THREE YOUNG DRAGONS.

AND I'M ALSO GOT TO BE PART OF THE CLASS PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

THAT PROGRAM WAS AMAZING. EVERYONE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN IT.

IT GAVE REALLY GOOD INSIGHT INTO HOW THE DISTRICT RUNS, BUT IT ALSO MADE CLEAR TO ME THAT THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. AS PART OF THE CLASS PROGRAM, I GOT TO SHADOW PRINCIPAL BENHOFF FOR THE DAY, AND I GOT TO WATCH HOW ALL OF THE STUDENTS WOULD HIGH FIVE HER IN THE HALLWAYS.

SHE KNEW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM BY THEIR NAME, AND SHE BROUGHT SO MUCH ENERGY, AND YOU COULD JUST SEE THAT SHE BUILT SO MANY STRONG, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. IT WAS SO INSPIRING AS A PARENT TO SEE THE TYPE OF HEART THAT SHE PUT INTO HER JOB, AND IT WAS THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT EVERYONE, EVERY PARENT, HOPES THAT THEIR CHILD WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE.

AND SO THIS IS WHY THE DECISION TO NOT RENEW HER CONTRACT, AND THAT OF PRINCIPAL WILSON AND OTHER BELOVED COACHES AND AN ASSISTANT CHOIR DIRECTOR, HAS SHAKEN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S WHY EVERYONE IS HERE TONIGHT.

SO MY CHILDREN ARE YOUNG STILL. THEY HAVEN'T ATTENDED THESE SCHOOLS, THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

BUT YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE ABOUT THE WAY THAT THESE LEADERS HAVE INSPIRED GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE.

AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT WHEN THESE EDUCATORS ARE REMOVED WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY.

IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO US THAT POLITICS, AND NOT THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS, ARE WHAT'S DRIVING THE DECISIONS.

WE SAY WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT WE CAN'T CLAIM THAT, WHILE ALSO SIDELINING THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THIS SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE.

WE CAN'T BE A DESTINATION DISTRICT IF OUR STRONG LEADERS AND OUR TOP TEACHERS DON'T FEEL VALUED.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRUST THAT'S ALREADY BEEN LOST, AND MY HOPE IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO REBUILD IT, IT WILL START WITH HONESTY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE COURAGE TO PRIORITIZE WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS OVER ANY OTHER AMBITIONS.

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE JEFF THOMPSON, BEN MAHON, AND MARISSA MAHON.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JEFF THOMPSON. SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT FOR 20 YEARS.

BOY, YOU GUYS HAVE STIRRED THE BEEHIVE, OR LET'S CALL IT THE DRAGON HIVE TONIGHT.

I AM VOLUNTEERING MY TWO MINUTES TO GIVE AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SOME TEACHERS WHO HAVE PREPARED SOME COMMENTS THAT DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT IN FEAR OF RETALIATION.

AND SO I'M GOING TO USE MY TIME TO SPEAK FOR THEM.

I THINK THAT RYAN WILSON IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE, THAT THAT'S A CULTURE THAT'S NOT VERY CONDUCIVE TO WHAT WE STAND FOR.

SO THE FIRST TEACHERS RIGHTS, WHEN CHRISTINA MOVED HERE, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TEACHING MATH AND COACHING WITH HER.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE IN BOTH.

WHILE I TRIED TO NAVIGATE TEACHING AND COACHING.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE BIG LIFE THINGS WEDDINGS, CHILDREN, NEW JOBS.

AND SHE CAME TO THE RESCUE ON FRIDAY WHEN OLD UNION AND MYSELF NEEDED HER.

NOT ONLY DO HER KIDS GO THERE, BUT MY DAUGHTER DOES TOO.

AND SHE STEPPED UP AND TOOK CARE OF THINGS WHEN SHE WAS CALLED IN A SPLIT SECOND.

DURING THOSE TIMES, AND EVEN DURING THE REUNIFICATION PROCESS, SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER COWORKERS AND OUR FAMILIES.

I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR HER QUICKLY HELPING ME GET MY DAUGHTER, ANOTHER TEACHER WRITES.

[01:55:03]

ALL PRINCIPALS ARE ON A TWO YEAR CONTRACT AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THEY HAVE LAST YEAR'S CONTRACT THROUGH THE END OF NEXT YEAR, THEY ARE NOT PROMISED CONTRACTS AFTER THAT SINCE THERE WERE FEWER POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR PRINCIPALS.

THEY HAVE TO START LOOKING NOW, OR BE LEFT, OR BE LEFT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVANT LEADERS. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING THEIR NEEDS OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS OVER THEIR OWN NEEDS. THEY WORKED ENDLESS HOURS AND MANY TIMES TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT NO ONE ELSE MAY NOTICE.

I HAVE SEEN MR. WILSON TRIMMING TREES, PAINTING DOORS, CLEANING SIDEWALKS, AND MS. BENHOFF STEPS IN ANYTIME THERE IS A NEED. LOSING THEM WOULD BE A GREAT LOSS TO THIS DISTRICT.

PLEASE RECONSIDER.

MY NAME IS BEN MAHAN. I AM A THIRD GRADER AT ROCKENBAUGH ELEMENTARY AND LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT.

I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT MY CAMPUS LEADERSHIP IS.

MY PRINCIPAL IS SOMEONE I CAN GO TO IF I NEED HER.

SHE LISTENS TO ME WHEN I WANT TO TALK TO HER, SUPPORTS ME AND CARES.

SHE MAKES ALL STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE, SAFE AND WELCOME.

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE PERFECT. OF COURSE, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS MAKE MISTAKES BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HUMANS.

CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS THAT APPRECIATE THEIR PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPALS, COACHES, AND TEACHERS LIKE I DO.

I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THE GOOD PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT, SUPPORT THEM AND GIVE THEM COMPASSION AS THEY DO FOR US AS KIDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARISSA MAHON, MOM OF TWO DRAGONS, PROUD RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT FOR 33 YEARS AND A CARROLL GRAD.

PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SINCE COVID MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE NAVIGATED AS A COMMUNITY IN A DISTRICT.

WE OPERATED BY LEGACY KNOWLEDGE KEPT IN PEOPLE'S HEADS, NOT ON PAPER.

WE HAD TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS THAT HAD BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS, BUT IT'S NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW. WE'VE MADE MUCH PROGRESS THROUGH DEVELOPING POLICY PROCEDURES, AND YET THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. CAMPUS LEADERS HAVE HAD TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THESE CHANGES THROUGH A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY ABYSMAL BUDGET SHORTFALLS FROM THE STATE. AS PARENTS, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE GRACE AS WE NAVIGATE A TURNOVER OF ENDLESS EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, COORDINATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, SUPERINTENDENTS AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW HARD THAT HAS BEEN TO WORK IN A DISTRICT WHERE THE EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH AND THINGS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE OUR EDUCATORS GRACE IN A TIME LIKE THIS.

THEY ARE CONSTANTLY AIMING FOR MOVING TARGETS.

BUT NEVER FORGET THE PRIORITY IS THE KIDS. THERE ARE LITERALLY TEACHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING BUT REFUSE TO LEAVE THEIR KIDS.

TEACHERS WHO ARE AFRAID TO BE HERE BUT THEY LOVE OUR KIDS.

IF WE SUDDENLY CHANGE OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATORS WITH A HEAVY FIST, THEY WILL TAKE IT AS A SIGN FROM GOD TO GO ELSEWHERE IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES DUE TO AN EVOLVING SYSTEM. I ASK, WHAT TRAINING HAVE WE GIVEN, ALONG WITH COACHING AND FIDELITY CHECKS TO ENSURE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OR BEST PRACTICE AND EFFECTIVE IF PERSONNEL ACTIONS TOOK PLACE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AS A BOARD HAS A BOARD DEEPLY REVIEWED THE POLICY OR PROCEDURES VIOLATED THOROUGHLY.

I AM TO ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICT TO COMMUNICATE HONESTLY WITH DETAILS, BECAUSE THE EMAILS THAT WE GOT AT 8 A.M.

ON SUNDAY, IT JUST WAS NOT CLEAR AND CONCISE AS WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO ENFORCE HERE.

REGARDLESS, I HOPE EDUCATORS WILL STICK WITH US TO HAVE COMFORT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM KNOWLEDGE, THE COURAGE, THE HEART TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AT ALL COSTS.

PLENTY OF DISTRICTS NEED EDUCATORS, BUT IT IS OUR MOST VALUED EDUCATORS, LIKE MR. WILSON AND MRS. BENHOFF, FOR GIVEN THE GIFTS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT MATTER MOST IN OUR DISTRICT AND THE KIDS.

MR. WILSON AND MISS BENHOFF ARE LEGACY TEACHERS THAT WE DREAM OF, AND THE ONE THAT I WANT MY KIDS HAVING.

THANK YOU.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FINAL SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING IS MACY WHITSON.

[APPLAUSE] GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES AND FELLOW STUDENTS.

MY NAME IS MACY WHITSON, AND I'M A STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT AND A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY EMERALD BELLES.

I HAVE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE MY WHOLE LIFE. MISS BENHOFF HAS BEEN ON EVERY BELLE'S TRIP, ALWAYS SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT US.

SHE CONNECTS WITH EACH STUDENT AND HER WARM SMILE IN THE HALLWAY TRULY BRIGHTENS MY DAY.

MR. WILSON BRINGS UNMATCHED ENERGY TO PEP RALLIES AND IS OUT EVERY MORNING IN THE PARKING LOT,

[02:00:03]

PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS FEEL LIKE HOME ARE BEING LET GO WITHOUT REASON OR EXPLANATION.

AS STUDENTS, WE NOTICE IT'S CONFUSING, FRUSTRATING, AND HONESTLY, IT'S SCARY.

WE'RE TAUGHT ABOUT FAIRNESS AND RESPECT IN CLASS, BUT THOSE VALUES HAVE TO BE SHOWN IN ACTION, TOO. I'M NOT HERE TO DISRESPECT ANYONE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT US DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH HONESTY AND DIGNITY.

SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE BE MORE OPEN, MORE FAIR, AND MORE TRANSPARENT.

LET'S SHOW OUR STUDENTS WHAT DOING THE RIGHT THING REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY, BY KEEPING THESE HEAD LEADERS.

IF YOU CAN'T FULLY DISCLOSE ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO HEAR TO US AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY KEEPING AWESOME, COMPASSIONATE, LOVING, STUDENT FOCUSED LEADERS AND THEIR ROLES.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

AND WE'LL TAKE A QUICK RECESS AND WE'LL COME BACK TO CONTINUE OUR AGENDA.

SO THANK YOU. HAVE A SAFE EVENING. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 8:19 P.M.. WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

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

YES, PRESIDENT BRIAN, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE PERSONNEL REPORT AS PRESENTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECOND. HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 6 TO 0. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE YEAGER.

OKAY, MISS DODGE, YOU'RE UP. ITEM NUMBER NINE.

[9. INFORMATION]

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE MY AWESOME TEAM, THE CHILD NUTRITION HEROES.

WE HAD OUR CELEBRATION THIS PAST FRIDAY, MAY 2ND, AND WE WENT AROUND AND ACKNOWLEDGED ALL OF THEM AND GAVE THEM A REALLY AWESOME CARROLL CHILD NUTRITION T-SHIRT AND ROSE AND GAVE THEM.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL MY TEAM THAT I THINK YOU'RE AMAZING AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT EVERYBODY EVERY DAY GRINDING HARD.

SO MY TEAM IS MADE UP OF A SECRETARY AND A MENU SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL 11 MANAGERS, 35 FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, AND I HAVE ABOUT THREE VACANT FTES, BUT THEY'RE BEING FILLED AS WE SPEAK.

SOME OF THE NEW MENU ITEMS WE TESTED THIS YEAR WAS CHEESE TORTELLINI, WHICH WAS A HIT.

CHICKEN MOZZARELLA MEATBALLS WITH HOMEMADE CHEESY NOODLES AT GRADES K THROUGH EIGHT.

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN. FRESH MUFFINS AT ALL GRADES.

WE HAVE PANINIS NOW AT GRADES SEVEN THROUGH 12, ACAI BOWLS WHICH ARE A HIT.

AND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE DID A NEW SPECIAL WITH GYRO WITH FRESH TZATZIKI SAUCE AND FRIES.

AND THEN AT THE SENIOR HIGH A PHILLY CHEESESTEAK.

SO THOSE ARE PRETTY AWESOME NEW MENU ITEMS. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF MY MANAGERS ALSO AT THE, EXCUSE ME AT THE COFFEE BAR WE NOW WE TRIED A HOLIDAY PUMPKIN SPICE FRAPPUCCINOS ALONG WITH GREEN TEA, CHAI FRAPPUCCINO, HOT FROZEN CHOCOLATE, PINK DRAGON LEMONADE, AND THOSE YUMMY AWESOME SELLERS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME AWESOME PICTURES OF THE WONDERFUL QUALITY THAT WE SERVE EVERY DAY.

SOME TOP FAVORITE PLATE LUNCH ITEMS THAT WE DO.

NUMBER ONE RINGS IN WITH SPAGHETTI DAY. THEN A SECOND WOULD BE MEATBALLS WITH PENNE.

OUR BREAKFAST FOR LUNCH, CHICKEN NUGGET DAY OF COURSE CHEESEBURGERS, ORANGE CHICKEN AND PIZZA.

SO THOSE ARE OUR TOP FAVORITES AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE PARTICIPATION AT OUR PLATE LUNCH.

IS IT ORANGE CHICKEN STILL THE FAVORITE? IT IS ATOP, ALL OF THESE ARE NECK AND NECK.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL TOP. BUT NOT SOGGY WAFFLES, NOT SOGGY WAFFLES, RIGHT? YEAH, WE DO FRENCH TOAST STICKS ALONG WITH THE TURKEY SAUSAGE.

THE KIDS. IT'S A HUGE SELLER. IT'S AMAZING. THEY LOVE IT.

SO OUR AVERAGE PLATE LUNCH PARTICIPATION IS AROUND 2200 MEALS PER DAY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT 343,000 PLATE LUNCHES SERVED SO FAR.

AND SURPRISINGLY, WE HAVE SO MANY EXTRA ENTREES THAT WE SERVE.

SO WHEN THE KIDS COME THROUGH THE LUNCH LINE, THEY ASK FOR EXTRAS WHILE THEY'RE THERE.

SO REALLY, THEY'RE GETTING THEIR PLATE LUNCH, PLUS AN EXTRA ENTREE AND OUR A LA CARTE.

OF COURSE, WE DO A LOT OF THAT AND OVER A MILLION ITEMS SERVED SO FAR.

THAT'S CRAZY. THE NEXT SLIDE IS REGARDING EQUIPMENT REPAIRS.

[02:05:02]

WE HAVE 170 WORK ORDERS THIS YEAR. AND SO FAR AT THIS SNAPSHOT IT WAS 152 SERVING DAYS.

SO THAT JUST SHOWS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE STRUGGLE EACH DAY WITH SOMETIMES THINGS BREAKING DOWN.

SO WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT VENDORS THAT COME IN AND TAKE CARE OF US.

BUT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE STRUGGLE WITH.

THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THREE EQUIPMENTS.

ONE WOULD BE THE COMBI OVEN. WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THAT ROCKENBAUGH A DOUBLE WARMER AT ROCKENBAUGH AND THEN A WARMER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO THEN WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THANK YOU, MS. DODGE. THANK YOU. NODDED. BUT I DO WANT TO BRAG ON MISS DODGE.

FIRST OF ALL, A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHEN CARROLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WENT DOWN, THEIR GAS WENT DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SHE WAS QUICK TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS, I THINK YOU BROUGHT IN CHICK FIL A ONE DAY AND MAYBE PIZZA ANOTHER DAY TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE HOT LUNCH, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE GAS IN THE KITCHEN, WHICH WAS AWESOME.

AND THEN ON FRIDAY WHEN WE HAD 300-400 KIDS FROM OLD UNION IN THE GYMNASIUM HERE DURING REUNIFICATION, PROBABLY ABOUT TWO HOURS IN, KIDS WERE GETTING A LITTLE ANTSY AND SHE SHOWED UP WITH A BOX OF SNACKS AND FOOD TO GIVE THE KIDS.

AND THAT CALMED THINGS DOWN UNTIL WE COULD GET THEM ALL HOME. SO SHE'S A ROCK STAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST A QUICK ONE. I KNOW WE HAD SOME OF THAT EXTRA BOND MONEY.

DID WE GET EVERYTHING ADDRESSED OR WE DID WITH THE COMBI OVEN.

AND WE'RE WORKING ON QUOTES STILL FOR THE OTHER TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

AND WE WILL BE EXPLORING THAT. YES. THEN YOU ALSO GOT SOME SORT OF LIKE REGISTER OR SOMETHING.

OH THAT'S RIGHT. YES. BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE WITH THE WINDOWS 11 WE HAD, WE WERE FORCED TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE NEW POINT OF SALES. AND THOSE ARE GETTING READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT WHEN SCHOOL IS ENDING.

SO WE HAVE THOSE. YES. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR STICKING AROUND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS 9.2.

CONSIDER EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER 11 CONTRACT.

MR. PARK. PRESIDENT BRIAN, TRUSTEES, DOCTOR GLENN.

GOOD EVENING. I'LL BRING A INFORMATION REPORT TO YOU.

FOR THE RENEWAL OF OUR REGION 11 EDUCATION SERVICES.

COOPERATIVE SERVICES CONTRACT FOR 25-26. THE REGIONAL REGION TEN EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER PROVIDES VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR DISTRICT, INCLUDING TEAMS VARIOUS TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS LIKE ON DATA SUITE AND SOME, SOME TECH SUPPORT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THE CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR, IT WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY THE SAME AS THIS YEAR.

IT'S A $3,000 INCREASE FROM THIS YEAR'S PRICE OF ABOUT $97,000.

BUT WE ARE ADDING ONE ADDITIONAL THING. THEY HAVE A SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY THING THAT INCLUDES THE REQUIRED THREE YEAR ANNUAL SAFETY SECURITY AUDIT. AND SO THAT THAT IN ITSELF WOULD BE MUCH OVER THE PRICE OF THIS INCLUDED IN, IN THIS YEAR'S CONTRACT. SO THE TOTAL PRICE THIS YEAR WILL BE $100,882 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS FOR MR. PARK. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. DISCUSSION, ACTION 10.1, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL REAL ESTATE CONTRACT WITH ROXANNE TAYLOR,

[10. DISCUSSION/ACTION]

MR. GLENN, DOCTOR GLENN. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. TRUSTEES, AS YOU KNOW, WE DECLARED THE OLD SIS PROPERTY AS SURPLUS.

EITHER OUR LAST MEETING, YOU APPROVED FOR BROKERS TO BE OFFICIAL VENDORS FOR THE DISTRICT.

AT THIS TIME. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A AN ACTION ITEM TO CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR REAL ESTATE CONTRACT A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT WITH ROXANNE TAYLOR WITH ENGEL VOLKERS AS THE BROKER FOR THE CARROLL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL PROPERTY.

THIS DECISION IS AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, SO THERE IS NO ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION.

AND PRESIDENT BRYAN, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANY DELIBERATION OR VOTE ON THIS.

MY HOUSE IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE WITH ENGEL AND VOLKER, THOUGH I WILL STILL BE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT, SO NO RUMORS START ON THAT. SO NOTED. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE BOTTOM.

ALL RIGHT. CAN I GET A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE REAL ESTATE CONTRACT WITH ROXANNE TAYLOR ENGEL AND VOLKERS FOR THE CARROLL FOR THE FORMER CARROLL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL PROPERTY. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

ALL RIGHT. IF NO OBJECTION, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 8:28 P.M..

THANK YOU, BOARD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.