Aug 04, 2025 School Board Special Workshop

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT GOOD AFTERNOON WE'LL CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER ON AUGUST 4TH, 2025 AT 5 P.M.

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

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

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

WILL YOU PLEASE RISE? HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY SEEKING YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS.

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 ASK FOR YOUR PROTECTION OVER OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY BEGIN A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN US FOR 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.

NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

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

PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE ALL RIGHT OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.

MS. SHELTON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SPEAKING TONIGHT? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MS. SHELTON. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 5, WHICH IS CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON OUR PERSONNEL REPORT.

[5. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PERSONNEL REPORT]

I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE, THANK YOU. WE LOVE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO COME [LAUGHTER] SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO LOCK THEM OUT.

TRUSTEE BRYAN, OR PRESIDENT BRYAN, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PERSONNEL REPORT AS PRESENTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT. TRUSTEE LANNEN. I AM VERY PROUD AND PLEASED THAT WHAT WE'RE PASSING TONIGHT WILL INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN STIPENDS FOR SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO HAVE MASTER'S OR DOCTORATE DEGREES.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND WE'VE HAD TIGHT BUDGETS, BUT WE WANT TO BE A SCHOOL OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS EXCELLENCE. AND I THINK THIS WILL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT'S NOT A HUGE INCREASE, BUT IT IS AN INCREASE AND IT ALIGNS US A LITTLE BETTER WITH OTHER DISTRICTS.

SO I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS BOARD AND BE SUPPORTING AN INCREASE TO THOSE STIPENDS.

THANK YOU TRUSTEE LANNEN. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

SO WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE. AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THAT.

TRUSTEE LANNEN THANK YOU. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

[6. PRESIDENT'S REPORT]

I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON TWO MEANINGFUL EVENTS THAT MARKED A STRONG AND INSPIRING START TO THE YEAR.

FIRST, OUR ANNUAL CONVOCATION WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF HELD THIS MORNING WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM WAS VERY HIGH AS WE GATHERED TO CONFIRM OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND TO EACH OTHER.

IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF COME TOGETHER IN SUCH A POSITIVE AND UNIFIED WAY, FOCUSED ON THE SUCCESS OF EVERY STUDENT. FROM THE MESSAGES OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CELEBRATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES, THE CONVOCATION SET THE TONE FOR A YEAR OF PARTNERSHIP, INNOVATION AND STUDENT CENTERED EXCELLENCE.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO DOCTOR GLENN. THANK YOU, DOCTOR GLENN, FOR HIS GENUINE REMARKS AND VISION.

[00:05:01]

SECOND, THIS PAST THURSDAY, WE HOSTED AN OPEN HOUSE FOR OUR NEW LITTLE DRAGONS DAYCARE, A PROGRAM CREATED TO SUPPORT THE DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO SERVE OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THE OPEN HOUSE GAVE OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY A FIRST LOOK AT THE NURTURING, ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WE'VE CREATED FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR CISD FAMILY.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE SMILES OF PARENTS AND STAFF AS THEY EXPLORED THE NEW SPACE.

MET WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BE LEADING THE PROGRAM.

THIS INITIATIVE REFLECTS OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN AND SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

NOT JUST PROFESSIONALLY, BUT PERSONALLY. AND WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THIS RESOURCE TO THOSE WHO GIVE SO MUCH TO OUR DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR GLENN, FOR BRINGING THIS IDEA TO REALITY IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BOTH EVENTS UNDERSCORE THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE TALENT AND HEART OF OUR EDUCATORS, AND OUR DISTRICT'S DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

AS WE BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THESE POSITIVE MOMENTS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT PROMISES TO BE ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL YEAR HERE AT CARROLL ISD.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 7, OUR INFORMATION SECTION OF THE AGENDA ITEM 7.1, WHICH IS CONSIDER A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MOU FOR CARROLL

[7. INFORMATION]

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHLAKE METHODIST HOSPITAL.

THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE OUR 52 SENIOR BIOTECH STUDENTS WITH WEEKLY HANDS ON CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING.

THIS WORK IS A RESULT OF DIMINISHING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY AVAILABLE TO OUR CMA SENIORS.

AS OUR CMA PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW WITH 75 INCOMING CMA FRESHMEN STUDENTS.

WE MUST DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE THAT OUR CMA PROGRAM IS KNOWN FOR.

BEGINNING THIS FALL, STUDENTS WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO SOUTHLAKE METHODIST EACH DAY EACH TUESDAY DURING THEIR BIOTECH COURSE, ROTATING THROUGH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY ROOM, ICU, OPERATING ROOM, RESPIRATORY THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, ANESTHESIA, AND MORE. WITH THE POTENTIAL ACCESS TO LABOR AND DELIVERY AS WELL, OUR BIOTECH TEACHER, MS. KARINA METCALF, WHO IS JOINING US THIS EVENING AND WILL BE ON SITE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS MONITOR ATTENDANCE AND ALIGN EXPERIENCES WITH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS. THIS IS A DEFINING EXTENSION OF OUR PROGRAM'S MISSION, COMBINING RIGOROUS ACADEMICS WITH REAL WORLD EXPOSURE TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COMPETITIVE HEALTH CARE PATHWAYS. TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, OUR BOOSTER CLUB IS ALSO PROVIDING CUSTOM DRAGON SCRUBS TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONALISM AND SCHOOL PRIDE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE HOSTING OUR CAREER DAY AT THE HOSPITAL FOR GRADES 9 THROUGH 11, OFFERING A PREVIEW OF SENIOR ROTATIONS AND HELPING STUDENTS VISUALIZE THEIR PATH IN HEALTHCARE.

AT ITS CORE, THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPS CONFIDENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PURPOSE.

IT TURNS CLASSROOM LEARNING INTO REAL PREPARATION FOR POST-SECONDARY GOALS.

WITH SOUTHLAKE METHODIST HOSPITAL AS OUR PARTNER.

WE ARE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES AND SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR CARROLL MEDICAL ACADEMY STUDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

MS. METCALF AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU, MS. HENNING. THIS IS THIS IS PRETTY COOL DEVELOPMENT.

THANKS TO METHODIST SOUTHLAKE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I THINK MAYBE YOU SAID THIS, BUT I MISSED IT.

IS IT ALL CMA STUDENTS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS? IT'S ONLY OKAY AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TRUSTEES FOR MORE QUESTIONS.

BUT CAN WE GET A SET OF SCRUBS FOR THE TRUSTEES? [LAUGHTER]. I WANT A SET OF SCRUBS AS WELL [LAUGHTER] AND WE SAID WE WANT TO WEAR SCRUBS ON TUESDAYS.

ABSOLUTELY. EXACTLY ALL RIGHT OKAY THANK YOU.

I'LL OPEN UP. YEAH THANK YOU MS. HENNING YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS PERHAPS A NEED FOR MORE.

OR LET ME SAY INTERNSHIPS IS IN THE RIGHT WORD? YES, SIR. EXPERIENCES. YOU'VE GOT THE COMMUNITY HERE LISTENING, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NEEDS? THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AWESOME 52 STUDENTS, BUT THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS IN CMA.

SO WHAT BEYOND YOUR YOU KNOW, NEED LIST THAT YOU COULD COMMUNICATE TO US?

[00:10:03]

BUT SINCE POST-COVID, IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO HAVE STUDENTS GO INTO THOSE MEDICAL OFFICES FOR LIABILITY PURPOSES.

AND SO THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THAT INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SOME OF THOSE PROVIDERS WERE ONLY ABLE TO ACCEPT ONE, MAYBE TWO STUDENTS FOR SIX HOURS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

SO THIS PROVIDES AN EXPOSURE TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND THAT CLINICAL SETTING ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GREAT COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT TO PARENTS.

I COULD SEE IF THERE IS A NEED. WOULD YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW? SO RIGHT? CALLING ALL PHYSICIANS PARENTS, RIGHT, ETC.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR BOOSTER CLUB.

THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENTS THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN VETERINARIAN OR DENTAL ORTHODONTICS, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT ARE IN THAT FIELD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SOME OF THOSE FIELDS THAT MAYBE THE HOSPITAL CAN'T PROVIDE.

WE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPE IN HOPES TO HAVE A SIMILAR AGREEMENT WITH THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS.

YEAH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT.

MY OWN DAUGHTER WAS IN CMA AND WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE GOT TO DO ONE OF THE INTERNSHIPS AND BECAUSE OF HER EXPERIENCE, JUST FOR ONE SUMMER. IT LITERALLY HAS GIVEN HER THE PATH THAT SHE WANTS TO TAKE WITH HER CAREER AND BECAUSE OF THAT ONE INTERNSHIP. AND SO I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE OFFER, YOU KNOW, INTERNSHIPS THROUGH CMA AND THE CARROLL BUSINESS ACADEMY, TOO. SO I'M GLAD TRUSTEE YEAGER BROUGHT IT UP.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT ARE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY OR ANY KIND OF BUSINESS.

IF YOU CAN OFFER INTERNSHIPS TO OUR STUDENTS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DISTRICT AND OFFER THOSE.

IT COULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES. SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, MAKE US AWARE OF THOSE.

TRUSTEE LANNEN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MS. HENNING? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT MOVING ON TO ITEM 7.2.

CONSIDER AN ORDER CALLING A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION TO BE HELD BY CARROLL ISD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025, MR. PARK.

CAN EVERYONE SEE THE SLIDE? THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN, TRUSTEES. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS MONUMENTAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.

I WILL DISCLOSE THAT THIS PRESENTATION WAS UPDATED TODAY BASED ON SOME NEW INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT LITTLE CAVEAT, I WILL BEGIN. ALL RIGHT SO I'LL GO OVER THE CURRENT CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACING OUR DISTRICT FINANCIALLY. AND THEN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS VATRE OPPORTUNITY DOES FOR US.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION.

SO OUR CURRENT CHALLENGES. SO THIS YEAR THAT WE JUST WRAPPED UP WERE EXPECTING TO BE UP TO A $5 MILLION DEFICIT OPERATIONALLY THIS YEAR.

SO WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS NOT ONLY ON OUR DEPARTMENTAL AND CAMPUS OPERATIONAL BUDGET SIDE, BUT ALSO PAYROLL AS WELL. AND SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY TOUGH DISCUSSIONS THIS SPRING, YOU KNOW, GO INTO THIS SUMMER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING A BALANCED BUDGET BEFORE YOU WHICH WE DID BACK IN JUNE.

ONE THING THAT OUR EFFICIENCY AUDIT THAT I WILL DISCUSS NEXT BOARD MEETING BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WAS THAT CARROLL, AS WE EXPECTED WERE AMONG THE LOWEST FUNDED IN THE STATE PER STUDENT.

THAT AUDIT SHOWED THAT WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY $11,034 PER STUDENT, VERSUS THE STATE AVERAGE OF OVER $13,000 PER STUDENT. SO MR. PARK I WANT TO STOP YOU THERE REAL QUICK, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION ON THIS BULLET POINT.

AND THAT IS DUE TO LEGISLATION AND OTHER RULES.

CARROLL ISD HAS TO SPEND, AND WE DO SPEND $11,034 PER STUDENT.

[00:15:06]

CORRECT? YES. THIS IS TOTAL, YOU KNOW, ALL OUR LOCAL REVENUES PLUS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DONATIONS WE HAVE.

THIS IS. RIGHT. OPERATIONALLY, THIS IS THE REVENUE PER STUDENT THAT WE WHEREAS THE STATE PROVIDES US ABOUT $8,300 PER STUDENT.

CORRECT STUDENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THAT'S REVENUE THAT'S NOT COMING FROM THE STATE.

IT'S COMING FROM. IT'S NOT COMING FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S COMING FROM US ASKING PARENTS TO SPEND EXTRA SO THAT WE CAN SPEND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT IS REQUIRED UNDER LAW.

CORRECT IF WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY REVENUE WISE, FOR OTHER STUDENTS, THE AVERAGE STUDENT IN THE STATE, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH A LITTLE OVER $2,000 PER STUDENT, MORE PER YEAR. IN TIMES 8000 STUDENTS. THAT'S LIKE $16 MILLION? CLOSE TO. THAT RIGHT? $1.6 MILLION. $1.6 MY DECIMAL IS IN THE WRONG SPOT [LAUGHTER].

SO AGAIN, ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE FACING IS THAT WE ARE IN A STATE OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

SO WHICH MEANS YEAR OVER YEAR THAT WE ARE LOSING FUNDING FROM THE STATE THAT JUST BASED ON THAT STUDENT DECLINE AND PROJECTED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL HAVE 131 LESS STUDENTS THAN THIS PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE JUST CLOSED.

WHICH MEANS JUST START, YOU KNOW, ZERO DAYS OF SCHOOL AND WE WILL ALREADY HAVE $1.1 MILLION LESS IN FUNDING THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT YOU KNOW, EVERY DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST FACING HIGH RATES OF INFLATION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND THEN ALSO THE 2024-25 TEACHER PAY SCALES, THE COMPARISON CHARTS.

WHAT WAS PUBLISHED BY YOU UEA FOR 2024-25. AND IT SHOWED THAT CARROLL ACROSS ALL YEARS, 00, 1 TO 5, 6 TO 10, 15 PLUS, 20 PLUS SHOWED THAT CARROLL ISD WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDIAN TO THE THIRD QUARTILE IN IN TEACHER SALARY AVERAGES.

COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS HERE.

SO KIND OF PAINTS A GOOD PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE.

SO WE HAVE EXHAUSTED HB2 SUMMARIZING HOW HAS THAT DONE FOR US.

IT WAS TOUTED AS THE LARGEST SCHOOL FUNDING BILL IN TEXAS HISTORY.

THE TEACHER RETIREMENT RETENTION ALLOTMENT. I'M SORRY.

THE TEACHER RETENTION ALLOTMENT ADDED ABOUT $4.2 BILLION OF THAT $8.5 AND THE IMPACT TO US WAS THAT WE WILL BE PASSING THROUGH AN APPROXIMATE AMOUNT, $2.4 MILLION FOR TEACHER SALARY INCREASES.

AND THEN THE REST OF HB2 WILL NET US ABOUT $1 MILLION IN FUNDING INCREASE.

HOWEVER, THAT'S ALREADY NEGATED FROM THE STUDENT LOSS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR SO.

RIGHT SO, MR. PARK SO OUT OF THE $8.5 BILLION EXTRA AND UNPRECEDENTED MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM OUR FRIENDS DOWN IN AUSTIN, WE ESSENTIALLY NET ZERO. IS THAT CORRECT? HERE AT CARROLL ISD? CORRECT. OKAY. YEP AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST YOU KNOW, THIS, WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS THAT DID EXPERIENCE COMPRESSION WITH THE NEW MCR FORMULAS WITH HB2.

WE WOULD REDUCE $.0116 FROM LAST YEAR'S MCR OF $.6169 TO THIS YEAR.

CURRENT YEAR AT $.6053. AND THAT MR. PARK IS MANDATED BY THE STATE? CORRECT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY OVER THAT PORTION OF THE TAX RATE CORRECT. THAT IS BEFORE THE PENNIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US LOCALLY HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

OKAY. SO GOING TO THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE AT HAND.

WE COULD EXERCISE THIS VATRE TO ADD THREE GOLDEN PENNIES, AS THEY SAY, TO THE ENRICHMENT TAX RATE TO EXERCISE OUR

[00:20:05]

I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT YOU KNOW, AS MANY TIMES AS I CAN.

AND THAT WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY $3.6 MILLION.

AS EVIDENCED BY OUR EFFICIENCY AUDITORS IN THE REPORT.

THAT WOULD ADD $3.6 MILLION ANNUALLY. TO OUR M&O REVENUES.

THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE. AND LET'S BE CLEAR THAT'S AN ESTIMATE IS PROPERTY VALUES GROW.

THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW OVER TIME AS WELL.

SO $3.6 COULD EASILY BECOME $3.8 $4 $4.5 AS VALUES.

AND WHAT IS A VERY I GUESS VOLATILE DISTRICT AS FAR AS HOUSING PRICES AND PROPERTY PRICES AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, THESE NUMBERS GROW AS WELL.

CORRECT? CORRECT WE ARE ABOVE THE 96 PERCENTILE IN PENNY YIELD GOLDEN PENNY YIELD. AND SO AS THESE AS OUR TAX BASE GROWS OUR M&O REVENUE WOULD GROW WITH THAT.

AND SO YOU KNOW, TO CAPTURE THOSE PENNIES WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY CRITICAL FOR US GOING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO ADD REVENUE TO OUR OPERATIONS. AND WE WOULD WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE.

YOU KNOW? AND SO WE WILL BE PROPOSING AN ADOPTION OF $.9294 AT THE UPCOMING BOARD MEETING. AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE $.6053 TAX MCR SET BY THE STATE.

PLUS, NOW WE ARE GOING FOR THE EIGHT ENRICHMENT PENNIES.

AND SO OUR M&O WOULD SIT AT $.6853 AND ON THE I&S SIDE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GET BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

AND SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE WILL BE SETTING OUR I&S TAX RATE AT $.2441, WHICH IS A $5.07 CENT REDUCTION ON THE I&S SIDE. SO JUST TO SHOW YOU A GRAPH OF OUR TAX HISTORY OVER THE PAST DECADE TEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT $1.395, BOTH M&O AND I&S COLLECTIVELY, AND IN THE 2022-23 YEAR WE'RE AT $1.2188.

AND SO WE'VE ALMOST DROPPED $0.30 SINCE FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND WE'LL BE PROPOSING A RATE OF $.9294 FOR ADOPTION.

FROM YOUR OFFICE ABOUT TAX RATES BACK IN LIKE, 70S AND 80S.

AND THIS IS BY FAR A HISTORICALLY LOW LEVEL SCHOOL TAX RATE FOR OUR DISTRICT.

I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT MOST OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRUSTEE LANNEN, JUST A YEAR OR SO AHEAD OF US. SINCE 2021. SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2021-2022 WHERE IT STARTS THE AMOUNT OF REDUCTION THAT THIS BOARD. I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE.

HAS REDUCED IS REALLY UNPRECEDENTED AND CERTAINLY THE LOWEST EVER IN SOUTHLAKE IN CARROLL ISD.

AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO BY THIS YEAR, GOING BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH WE WILL VOTE ON NEXT BOARD MEETING FOR THE SECOND. IF WE VOTE FOR IT, IT'LL BE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WHICH MR. PARK, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN ISDS, DO YOU TYPICALLY SEE IS THAT NORMAL THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? NO IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT PHENOMENON TO ACHIEVE SO.

RIGHT SO THIS BOARD IS EXTREMELY AWARE OF OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD IS GOING TO PROPOSE A VATRE THAT INCREASES THE M&O RATE WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE. NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

AND JUST TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY THAT $.9294 IS $.9294 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY. CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY.

LET ME JUST INTERJECT ONE THING. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LOOK AT LOWER TAX RATE AND THEY ASSUME LOWER TAX RATE MEANS LESS REVENUE OR LESS MONIES THAT WILL COME INTO THE DISTRICT.

AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BY LOWERING THE TAX RATE.

[00:25:04]

AND SO BY MAKING THE SHIFT ON THE I&S SIDE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING GOOD STEWARDS TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

WE STILL WE'LL GIVE THE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT DEFEASANCE TO PAY DOWN DEBT.

BUT ON THE M&O SIDE, THE REINVESTMENT THERE TRIGGERS AN ELECTION THAT HAS TO BE RATIFIED BY VOTERS, BUT THAT ULTIMATELY COULD YIELD AS MUCH AS $4 MILLION IN REVENUE, WHILE STILL SEEING THE LOWEST TAX RATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT.

AND SO ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE'RE DOING, DOCTOR GLENN, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. IS THAT NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS AUGUST 18TH, WE'RE GOING TO SET THE TAX RATE FOR 2025-26.

CORRECT? WE'RE GOING TO SET THE TAX RATE. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY QUESTION COME NOVEMBER WHETHER TO VOTE OR NOT VOTE FOR THE VATRE.

THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE SET WHETHER YOU VOTE YES OR WHETHER YOU VOTE NO.

SO WHAT YOU WILL BE VOTING YES FOR IS EITHER $3.5 TO $4 MILLION THAT CARROLL ISD GETS TO KEEP IN THE M&O SIDE, OR $3.5 TO $4 MILLION THAT CARROLL ISD HAS TO SEND BACK TO THE STATE TO SEND TO PLACES LIKE LA JOYA AND OTHER AREAS THAT OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT EDUCATIONAL.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO TRUST US THAT WE WILL REDUCE OR INCREASE THE TAX RATE IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS THING. WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO VOTE NEXT MEETING ON A TAX RATE.

SO THE REAL VOTE IS GOING TO BE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO KEEP $4 MILLION, OR WHETHER WE WANT TO SEND THAT $4 MILLION BACK TO THE STATE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN PREVIOUS YEARS. OKAY, I KNOW THE COMMENT ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE TAX BILL VERSUS TAX RATE CAME UP A SECOND AGO. SO THIS SLIDE WILL KIND OF ILLUSTRATE THAT A LITTLE BIT.

SO JUST BECAUSE YOUR TAX RATE IS GOING DOWN DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOUR TOTAL TAX BILL WOULD GO DOWN.

THE VALUES INCREASING, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF DICTATES YOU KNOW, WHAT THE TOTAL VALUE IS GOING TO BE.

BUT THIS SLIDE HERE, IT JUST KIND OF PROVIDES AN ESTIMATION ON A $1 MILLION HOME.

SO IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THE YEAR THAT WE JUST CONCLUDED WITH THE $100,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

A TAXPAYER HERE COULD EXPECT TO PAY AROUND $8,656 ON THEIR ON THEIR I&S TAXES.

IN THIS NEXT YEAR EVEN WITH THE THREE ADDITIONAL GOLDEN PENNIES AND THE $140,000 HOMESTEAD, YOUR TAX BILL FOR THE I&S TAXES WOULD BE $7,993, WHICH IS A $663 DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR. AND SO THIS HOUSE BILL 2 AND THE $140,000 HOMESTEAD THAT WILL BE VOTED ON IN NOVEMBER AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

SO AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER. SO LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE WAS $.9617.

AND THIS YEAR WILL BE DROPPING $.323 TO $.9294.

MR. PARK, IF YOU COULD KEEP THIS SLIDE HERE FOR A MOMENT.

THERE ARE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL PROPERTY OWNERS HERE IN THIS BOARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND YOU HEAR THIS, AND THAT IS PEOPLE ARE BEING TAXED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT THING ABOUT TEXAS IS THE GREAT PHENOMENAL GROWTH WE'RE HAVING.

BUT WE ALSO SEE WITH GROWTH COMES THE PROPERTY VALUATIONS GOING UP.

AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THIS IN TARRANT COUNTY.

THAT'S GREAT. IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT. BUT TRULY IT'S GOING UP FASTER THAN WE CAN REDUCE TAXES.

SO I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW. AND THIS SLIDE AND IF YOU GO BACK ONE MORE INTO PRESIDENT BRYAN'S COMMENT AND THOSE OF US WHO CAME ON THE BOARD IN 21, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

AND IF THIS SLIDE ISN'T GOING IN THAT DIRECTION, THE PAIN PEOPLE WILL FEEL WITH THE COMBINATION OF BASICALLY A STATIC TAX RATE OR EVEN ONE THAT MIGHT GO UP. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES GOING UP, WE WOULD BE HEARING IT EVEN MORE IN SOUTHLAKE.

SO I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT YEAH, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE HOMES.

BUT WHAT YOU GET. YOU GET THE THE BEST EDUCATION YOU CAN FIND OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE.

AND YOU REALLY DO GET MAYBE ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES OF ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY.

AM I RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH WE'LL BE WE'LL BE FOR SURE CLOSE TO THE LOWEST IN TARRANT COUNTY.

[00:30:05]

YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE ONE POINT, YOU KNOW, 1.3, 1.6 TAX RATES.

I MEAN, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE IT AS AFFORDABLE TO LIVE HERE AS POSSIBLE.

$.92 IS AMAZING YEAH, RIGHT IT IS $3.6 TO $4 MILLION OF M&O REVENUE IN THIS FIRST YEAR.

THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE. AND THAT'S JUST NECESSARY TO EVEN GET TO OUR BALANCED BUDGET THAT WE, THAT WE ADOPTED THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BOTTOM LINE.

NEXT ONE THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, HOUSE BILL 2 TOOK CARE OF TEACHERS, BUT LIKE YOU SAID THIS MORNING THAT 25% OF OUR STAFF DID NOT GET ANYTHING.

AND SO IT WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A MUCH, MUCH NEEDED INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF.

I WANT TO JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT, TOO.

AND I SAID IT THIS MORNING AT CONVOCATION, AND THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING SALARIES OF ALL STAFF, TEACHERS AND STAFF AT 95% OR ABOVE MARKET AVERAGE.

AND SO THERE'S TWO MEASURES THAT IS GOING TO HELP US HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THERE, AND THAT IS IF WE CAN GET THIS VATRE PASSED IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN IF WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE SALE, WHICH WE HAVE PRETTY HIGH CONFIDENCE NOW THAT WE WILL ON OUR SURPLUS PROPERTY, THAT WE CAN PUT IN A HIGH YIELD ACCOUNT AND EARN INTEREST, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF EXPECTATIONS EVERY SINGLE YEAR OF EXPECTED PAY RAISES IN LIEU OF HAVING TO RELY ON IN WEIGHT ON OUR LEGISLATORS EVERY TWO YEARS IN AUSTIN TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, PACKAGE TO PAY OUR, OUR TEACHERS.

SO IT BUILDS EXPECTATIONS. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE, DOCTOR GLENN YOU, MR. PARK, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS TO GET OUR FINANCES BACK IN ORDER TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE THINK THAT WE CAN BE DEFICIT FREE, WHICH IS A GOAL THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED YOU GUYS TO COME WITH A BALANCED BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WHICH WE WILL NEVER PASS A DEFICIT BUDGET AGAIN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU TWO HAVE DONE.

MAKING THIS HAPPEN, I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN EASY AND YOU'VE BEEN GETTING DIFFERENT NUMBERS EVERY DAY EVEN SINCE WE MET THIS AFTERNOON.

YOU GOT NEW NUMBERS, WHICH WERE GOOD, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH OUR DEFICIT REDUCTION.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. AND LASTLY, IF APPROVED YOU KNOW, IT WOULD PROTECT AND MAINTAIN ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY OFFER THAT MAKE CARROLL ISD WHAT IT IS AND, YOU KNOW, AND SO YOU KNOW, IF THE VATRE DOES NOT PASS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS RIGHT? YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW? IN CARROLL ISD, WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY UNIQUE SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT THE DISTRICTS OUR SITES TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE.

ONE OF THEM IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FIVE FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE SITTING AROUND 8,000 STUDENTS DON'T HAVE FIVE LANGUAGES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO OFFER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ADVANCED MATH CLASSES. YOU DON'T TYPICALLY SEE ALGEBRA 3 AT A LOT OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS OR HIGH SCHOOLS FOR THAT MATTER.

AND SPEAKING OF HIGH SCHOOLS, HAVING A HIGH SCHOOL AND A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IS A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE.

SCIENCE LABS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL PULL OUT G/T, PULL OUT CARE PROGRAMS, ALL HUGE ADVANTAGES PROGRAMS THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY'RE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR DISTRICT SPECIAL.

AND WHEN OUR BRAC COMMITTEE MET, THEY PLACED HEAVY EMPHASIS ON PROTECTING PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE AN A-RATED DISTRICT. WE'RE ONE OF THE TOP DISTRICTS IN THE NATION.

CERTAINLY HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE TOP DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

AND WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR PROGRAMS, THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT WE OFFER THAT MAKES US GREAT.

SECOND TO THAT IS THOSE TEACHERS THAT ARE POURING IN TO THOSE KIDS IN THOSE CLASSES.

AND SO TAKING CARE OF THOSE TWO THINGS WAS A PRIORITY OF THE BRAC COMMITTEE.

THESE FUNDS, IF RATIFIED BY VOTERS ENSURE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS AND TEACHERS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE LONG HAUL.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR GLENN. SO IN SUMMARY AGAIN, THE $3.5 TO $4 MILLION THAT WE WOULD GENERATE ON THE M&O SIDE.

THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TAXPAYERS, JUST THE LOWER TAX RATE.

YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE GOING DOWN BY THAT THREE AND A QUARTER CENTS TO $.9294.

YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO BE HISTORIC LOWS FOR THIS DISTRICT SO.

[00:35:05]

AND THE TIMELINE TO THE, TO ELECTION DAY. SO WE ARE RIGHT NOW HERE AT THIS AUGUST 4TH MEETING, PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ON AUGUST 18TH, AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WE WILL ADOPT OUR TAX RATE, AND THEN WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE ORDER FOR ELECTION.

AND THEN ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD, THEN SEPTEMBER THROUGH OCTOBER THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND ADMINISTRATION WILL BE HOLDING SEVERAL KEY COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS IN VARIOUS FORMATS.

AUGUST EARLY VOTING STARTS LATE OCTOBER AND THEN PRETTY QUICKLY SOON AFTER THAT.

IS ELECTION DAY. SO WITH THAT TRUSTEES, I'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. PARK TRUSTEE BOTTOM. MR. PARK, JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I THINK I HEARD THIS IN THE PAST.

WHEN IT DOES GO ON THE BALLOT, DOES IT SAY THIS WILL BE A TAX INCREASE? LIKE, DOES THAT LANGUAGE HAVE TO BE ON THE BALLOT? YES CORRECT. PER LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE IT WILL SAY THAT IT IS A TAX RATE TAX INCREASE.

BUT AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS AN EDUCATION PIECE THAT LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT THAT, LET'S LOOK AT THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT. I THINK THIS IS A TAX RATE INCREASE IN BOLD LETTERS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR BONDS.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND WE WILL HAVE THE EXACT LANGUAGE THAT VOTERS SEE ON THE BALLOT AT OUR AUGUST 18TH MEETING AND PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU SO YOU CAN VIEW IT.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ON A BOND IS THE SAME AS WHAT'S ON A VATRE.

SO IT IS GOING TO HAVE A LANGUAGE SPEAKING TO TAXES.

BUT I THINK IT'S IN TERMS OF LIKE PERCENTAGES AND HOW MUCH FUNDS ARE BEING YIELDED TO A DISTRICT.

SO CALLED THERE ARE CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS THAT CHANGE WHEN YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW OPENLY.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS, BUT ONCE THAT'S CALLED IN OUR NEXT MEETING, CAN YOU JUST INFORM THE PUBLIC? AND I'M SURE THAT OUR STAFF AND FACULTY WILL BE TRAINED ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT SAY.

YES AND SO AS A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE ON DISTRICT TIME YOU CANNOT USE DISTRICT RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE OR USE ANY LANGUAGE THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE ELECTION IN, YOU KNOW, POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY AND SO MR. BRADY IN THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE WE'LL HAVE INFORMATION THAT GOES OUT AND WE WILL SPEAK WITH EVERY UNIT OF STAFF REPRESENTATION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE UNDERSTANDS THE DO'S AND DON'TS ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT SAY ONCE THE VATRE IS CALLED.

AND NOT ONLY IS IT THIS APPLIES TO EVERY ELECTION, NOT JUST THE VATRE.

SO WE'LL ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR TRUSTEE AND SO MR. PARK IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IT IS ELECTIONEERING TO USE DISTRICT TIME OR RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE FOR A PROPOSITION OR A PERSON. MR. BRADY ACTUALLY HELPED US SET UP TRAINING, ETHICS TRAINING FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

HE AND MR. NICKEL TWO WEEKS AGO. AND SO WE ARE ACTUALLY COORDINATING A COMMUNICATION THAT WILL GO OUT TO ALL STAFF PROBABLY IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, RIGHT AFTER YOU GUYS IF THIS BOARD DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CALLING FOR VATRE THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT TRUSTEE YEAGER PARK. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 8, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION ACTION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.

[8. DISCUSSION/ACTION]

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN, TRUSTEES, I AM HERE TONIGHT SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.

IT PUTS US ONE YEAR AHEAD. SO WE'VE GOT THIS SCHOOL CALENDAR AND WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR THE FOLLOWING ONE.

CAN I JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. YOU KNOW, GETTING A YEAR AHEAD OF THIS.

[00:40:04]

AND I'VE HEARD I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD, TOO, THAT IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

PEOPLE CAN PLAN. PEOPLE PLAN HERE WAY IN ADVANCE.

SO THANK YOU, MS. PEDDY. THANK YOU YOUR TEAM WORKED SUPER HARD ON IT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER THAT'LL BE THE PRACTICE OF THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LET FAMILIES KNOW THAT'S GREAT. WONDERFUL. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR AS PRESENTED BY MS. PEDDY. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MS. PEDDY. PERFECT. MOVING ON TO 8.2, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF UPDATES TO 2025-26 GRADING GUIDELINES.

MS. PEDDY. YES, WE HAVE ADDED TWO COMPONENTS TO OUR GRADING GUIDELINES FOR AN UPDATE.

WE HAVE ADDED THE HOMEWORK GUIDELINES FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

WE ALSO ADDED AND UPDATED OUR ESL PORTION. THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO THE GRADING GUIDELINES.

SO WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THAT TONIGHT. OKAY.

AND I MOVE THAT THE NEW GRADING GUIDELINES AS PRESENTED FOR 2025-2026 AS PRESENTED BE APPROVED.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0 THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT MOVING ON TO 8.3.

CONSIDER A LOCAL BOARD POLICY RELATED TO PARTICIPATION OF HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN IN UIL ACTIVITIES.

MR. NICKEL. PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I'M HERE TO VISIT ABOUT SENATE BILL 401 THAT I TALKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

WHERE I GUESS PREVIOUSLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE PARTICIPATION OF HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR UIL ACTIVITIES.

NOW, WITH NEW LEGISLATION, IT SAYS THAT BASICALLY SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE TO ADOPT POLICY TO NOT HAVE THAT IF THEY WISH TO NOT PARTICIPATE.

OTHERWISE, BY DEFAULT, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO PARTICIPATE IN HAVING HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN YOUR UIL ACTIVITIES.

THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT WE HAVE GIVEN TO YOU FOR REVIEW, AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. I MOVE JUST ONE. TRUSTEE LANNEN. SOMETHING THAT WE COVERED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND JUST TO RECONFIRM, I KNOW THAT IN YEARS PAST WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS POLICY BEFORE, BUT ONLY RECENTLY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURES MOVEMENT, HAVE WE ACTUALLY GOTTEN, I BELIEVE, SOME FUNDING.

SO IF OR WHEN HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN UIL SPORTS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT WILL COME WITH $1,500 PER STUDENT THAT PARTICIPATE? PER STUDENT PER ACTIVITY AND THOSE ARE STACKABLE.

SO IF A STUDENT COMES IN AND PLAYS, LET'S JUST SAY VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL AND RUNS TRACK.

THEN YOU WOULD SEE $1,500 TIMES THREE SO $4,500 FOR THAT CHILD.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE SOME IMPACT TO OUR DISTRICT FINANCIALLY.

AND I'M ALSO GLAD TO KNOW THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND IF IT IS A BIGGER IMPACT THAN WE EXPECTED, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN EVERY YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT PERMANENT, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE WE ONLY CONSIDER IT ONCE EACH YEAR FOR THE YEAR THAT FOLLOWS.

SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SOME HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN UIL SPORTS.

AND I KNOW ONE OTHER THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FOR THE LAST TIME PRESENTED THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CLARIFIED AS IT WAS ASKED OF ME, IF STUDENTS ARE NOT RESIDING IN THE DISTRICT, WOULD WE BE COMPELLED TO HAVE THOSE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE.

AND NO, WE WOULD NOT. AND THAT'S PART OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WE RECOMMENDED FOR YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, MR. NICKEL. AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'VE MADE THE DISTRICT MADE AND WE'RE CONSIDERING A PRETTY RESTRICTIVE POLICY.

THAT REALLY ONLY ALLOWS THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE EITHER RESIDING PARENTS THAT ARE RESIDING IN CARROLL ISD BOUNDARIES OR RESIDING IN THE BOUNDARIES THAT WE HAVE APPROVED FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT, AND NO EXCEPTIONS.

BEYOND THAT SO WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS. WE HAVE AN APPLICATION PROCESS.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU APPLY DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. MR. NICKEL. ALL RIGHT, SO WE AND I BELIEVE THAT DOCTOR GLENN, ONCE YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS EACH YEAR YOU WILL BRING THAT TO THE BOARD.

[00:45:01]

LET'S GET THE GUIDELINES OUT THERE QUICK SO FAMILIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPT IN.

THE START OF SCHOOL IS THE DEADLINE FOR THESE FAMILIES TO DECIDE THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON A SHORT TIMELINE, JUST LIKE WE ARE.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, RILEY DODGE HERE AND HIS TEAM PROVIDED REALLY GREAT INPUT AS WE HELPED BUILD THESE GUIDELINES. ALSO, KEN JOHNSON, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF BANDS PROVIDED GREAT INPUT AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THOSE GENTLEMEN FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID TO HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER, I HAD TWO CONCERNS THAT SO MY CONCERN WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BREAKING ANY UIL RULES OR REGULATIONS WITH TOO MUCH TRAINING TIME.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AGREEING TO FOLLOW UIL POLICIES AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO FOLLOW OUR COACHING POLICY. SO I'M ASSUMING ONCE A STUDENT ENROLLS THAT THEY'RE KIND OF GOING UNDER OUR COACH'S GUIDELINES, AND THEY'RE DOING THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM SO THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME OVERSIGHT AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR PROGRAM AT RISK. YES THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH IN THOSE GUIDELINES, TRUSTEE BOTTOM I APPRECIATED TOO, WE SEE THE IT SAYS THE STUDENT MUST BE MEETING THE UIL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. SO JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE HOMESCHOOL DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN BE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE PASSING GRADES. YOU HAVE TO BE JUST LIKE YOU WERE A STUDENT HERE AT CARROLL.

AND THE OTHER THING, BECAUSE IT'S COME UP IN THE PUBLIC BEFORE ABOUT COSTS. AND I'M GLAD, TRUSTEE LANNEN, YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. SO $1,500 PER SPORT OR ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT COULD BE THINGS LIKE ROBOTICS OR OTHER UIL ACTIVITIES, BUT ALSO ANY FEES THAT ARE ATTACHED. BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS DO HAVE ADDITIONAL FEES.

AND THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY THOSE ANY OTHER STUDENT IN THE ACTIVITY. SO THE EXPECTATION FROM THE COACH WILL BE YOU'LL BE AT PRACTICE DURING THE CLASS PERIOD.

YOU'LL BE AT PRACTICE AFTER SCHOOL. YOUR PARENTS WILL ATTEND ALL THE AFTER-SCHOOL MEETINGS.

I THINK THE POLICY IS VERY CLEAR. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

THEY'LL COMPLY. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER ATHLETE THAT ATTENDS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE.

AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COACH.

TRUSTEE BOTTOM. THAT SAID, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE LOCAL POLICY RELATED TO THE PARTICIPATION OF HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN IN UIL ACTIVITIES FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR. SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU, MR. NICKEL. NEXT UP, MR. NICKEL. CONSIDER LOCAL BOARD POLICY REGARDING STUDENT CELL PHONE USE.

YES I'VE VISITED WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WE HAVE MADE A FEW MORE REVISIONS BASED ON SOME INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT FROM TEA.

BEFORE, WHENEVER I VISITED, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIGUITY, DEPENDING UPON THE DISTRICT, ABOUT HOW THEY WERE VIEWING.

BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE POLICIES TEA HAS SINCE COME OUT AND SAID THAT YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND THEY JUST GAVE US A FEW PARAMETERS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE FOLLOWING. WE'VE WRITTEN THAT INTO THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU.

ALSO TO INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT HOW DEVICES WOULD NOT BE SEARCHED WHENEVER THEY, IF ANYTHING IS TAKEN UP.

AND I KNOW THAT WAS A CONCERN. AND SO I HAVE THAT FOR YOU TODAY TOO FOR RECOMMENDATION.

I JUST WANT A FEW COMMENTS. AND THAT IS THAT SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS POLICY, WE ARE SAYING THAT THE PROPERTY OR OF THE DISTRICT INCLUDES THE SCHOOL BUS. YEP. YEP, THAT IS CORRECT.

SO ESSENTIALLY IT'LL BE BELL TO BELL WHILE IN THE BUILDINGS AND WE DID ADD THE SCHOOL BUS.

ONE GOOD THING ABOUT AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO MR. NICKEL. HE DID A GREAT JOB NOT ONLY COMMUNICATING WITH TEA AND OTHER DISTRICTS, BUT WE PUT TOGETHER WHAT I THINK IS A VERY SENSIBLE POLICY.

YOU KNOW, IN SOME ASPECTS, I THINK IF THE STATE LEFT IT TO LOCAL CONTROL, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW AS INTENDED, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE GREAT KIDS, WE HAVE COMPLIANT KIDS. BUT WE'RE ALSO ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WE'RE PREPARING KIDS TO BE FUTURE READY.

AND THEN WE ARE HAMSTRUNG FINANCIALLY BY OUR LEGISLATURE.

AND SO AND SO MAYBE THEIR TRUE INTENT OF EVERYTHING IS WE HAVE TO KIND OF REVIEW OUR FINANCES AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE KEEPING PARTS OF BYOD. BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO BROWBEAT KIDS OVER A CELL PHONE POLICY,

[00:50:04]

AND I ALSO WONDER WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR OUR TEACHERS DAY TO DAY.

HOW OFTEN THEY USE CELL PHONES, HOW OFTEN I USE MY CELL PHONE.

AND AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD RESET FOR ALL OF US.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK. BUT I THINK WE DO IT WITH WITH COMPASSION, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE KIDS WARNINGS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT THE ACTION. AND IF WE EVER REPEAT OFFENDERS WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE KIDS REMOVED FROM CLASS OR PUT IN OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION OR DAEP.

WE JUST WANT TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE PARENT AND THE STUDENT TO LOOK THIS IS A STATE RULE.

WE'RE TRYING TO COMPLY. WE WANT THE FOCUS TO BE ON INSTRUCTION, AND WE THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH THIS COMMON SENSE APPROACH.

THAT WILL BE OUR POLICY MOVING FORWARD. I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THAT STANCE ON THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR. IMPLEMENTING THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH ON OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMIN, AND ALL OF US. SO I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE. IT'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE END YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US CAN AGREE, YOU KNOW, SCALING BACK KIDS ON DEVICES.

IT JUST. I DO SYMPATHIZE A LITTLE BIT HAVING OLDER KIDS KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS PART OF THAT EDUCATIONAL GENERATION THAT PUSHED KIDS TO GET ON DEVICES EARLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT WAS BEST. AND HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, TWO DECADES LATER SAYING YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE WENT TOO FAR WITH IT. AND SO FOR OUR ELEMENTARY KIDS, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD THING.

BUT FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS [LAUGHTER], YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE BEING TOLD, USE YOUR PHONE IN CLASS, PULL YOUR PHONE OUT IN THE HALLWAY, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, GET ON YOUR PHONE AT LUNCH, LISTEN TO YOUR AIRPODS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE OKAY WITH THOSE THINGS.

AND NOW TO TAKE IT AWAY. AND FOR THAT ACTION TO COME OUT OF AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF WORK WITH THE KIDS.

BUT FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE GREAT KIDS. AND LIKE I SAY, I THINK WE CAN GET THIS DONE AS INTENDED BY OUR LEGISLATURE, BUT DO IT PROACTIVELY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE YES. JUST QUESTION SORRY. YEAH. BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THE BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE.

THAT WAS ONE PIECE. AND I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND ALSO WITH TEA TO SEEK CLARIFICATION.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE AS LONG AS WHATEVER WE DO WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, IT KIND OF DISABLES THAT INSTANT MESSAGING THAT THEY CAN MESSAGE BACK AND FORTH ON THEIR COMPUTER.

SO WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

SO YEAH, THAT, [LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, I READ TEA'S YOU KNOW, THEIR I GUESS MODEL POLICY.

AND SO WE MET WITH OUR TECH TEAM AND, AND YES, WE'RE GOING TO LET KIDS KNOW AS PART OF THE BYOD THAT NEEDS TO BE DISABLED.

BUT SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THIS POLICY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IS WE HAVE LIKE BRILLIANT KIDS HERE AND EVEN ON THE DEVICES THAT WE GIVE THEM, THE LAPTOPS AND CHROMEBOOKS WE GIVE THEM, WE HAVE KIDS THAT WILL ACTUALLY GO OUT AND DESIGN AND BUILD THEIR OWN WEBSITE AND THEY'LL BUILD MULTIPLE WEBSITES AND THEY'LL SHARE THAT WEBSITE, AND THEY WILL USE OUR DEVICES TO GO IN AND LOG ON TO THAT WEBSITE.

AND IF THEY WANT A MESSAGE OR PLAY GAMES, THEY WILL DO THOSE THINGS.

AND WE WILL TRY AND CATCH UP AND BLOCK THOSE WEBSITES AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM ARE SUPER SMART.

IT'S A GAME TO THEM. AND THEY AND THEY FIND WAYS IN THEIR CREATIVE.

SO IN THE EVENT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW WE HAVE WE HAVE RULES IN PLACE.

WE HAVE PENALTIES IN PLACE. BUT I DO THINK IT'S FOR THE STATE TO SAY LIKE BYOD.

AND IF IT'S A DISTRICT OWNED DEVICE, EVERYTHING CAN BE BLOCKED.

THE TRUTH IS, KIDS WILL FIND THEIR WAY AROUND IT, WHETHER IT'S A DISTRICT OWNED DEVICE OR WHETHER IT'S THEIR OWN DEVICE.

AND SO WE SET THE EXPECTATION, WE SET THE RULES.

WE ASK KIDS TO FOLLOW THE RULES. AND I THINK WE HAVE COMPLIANT KIDS AND THOSE THAT BREAK THE RULES.

YOU KNOW? WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO PUNISH THOSE.

AND FOR TESTING PURPOSES THOUGH, THEN THEY WILL BE ON SOMETHING WHERE THEY CAN'T INSTANT MESSAGE EACH OTHER? SO FOR TESTING, YOU KNOW, STATE REQUIRES THAT THEY'RE TESTED ON DISTRICT OWNED DEVICES.

AND SO WE'LL DO THAT I GUESS THEIR ACT AND SAT THAT MAY BE THEY TEST ON DISTRICT OWNED DEVICES AS WELL. NO NO NO PERSONAL SO THEY CAN BYOD ON ACT AND SAT SO AND AGAIN AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SAID.

YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AGO BEFORE ALL THIS TOOK PLACE.

THE REASON WE SHIFTED TO BYOD AND WE'VE ALWAYS KIND OF QUESTIONED WHY KIDS CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TAKE A STATE ASSESSMENT ON THEIR OWN DEVICE WHEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE ACT AND SAT, WHICH SEEMS TO BE LIKE A HEAVIER WEIGHTED TEST FOR THEIR FUTURE. THEY COULD USE THEIR OWN DEVICE FOR THAT, BUT THEY CAN'T FOR STAAR.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES YES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT POLICIES IN PLACE.

WE'RE FOLLOWING WITH WHAT OUR LEGISLATION STATED AND THAT WE'RE.

YEAH AND SO SHORT ANSWER TO THAT YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SMART KIDS AND THERE ARE WORKAROUNDS.

[00:55:06]

BUT TO SAY WE'RE JUST GOING TO SCRAP THE BYOD POLICY BECAUSE KIDS MAY BE ABLE TO INSTANT MESSAGE ON A COMPUTER, THEY CAN DO THAT ON A DISTRICT DEVICE. THEY'RE SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BYOD. WE'RE GOING TO SET THE POLICY IN PLACE.

AND IF THEY DO IT, THAT'LL BE A VIOLATION OF THE RULES LIKE ANYTHING ELSE WOULD.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL HANDLE IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY ANYTHING FURTHER? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CISD PERSONAL DEVICE POLICY AS PRESENTED BY MR. NICKEL. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MR. NICKEL. NO OBJECTION WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 6:56 P.M.

THANK YOU BOARD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.