Aug 18, 2025 School Board

[00:00:04]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'LL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CARROLL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER ON AUGUST 18TH, 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 ALL PLEASE RISE? HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF, AND THE MANY BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE TRUST PLACED IN EACH OF US TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR DISTRICT.

LORD, MAY OUR ACTIONS TONIGHT REFLECT INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.

WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING OVER THIS MEETING, OUR DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY.

IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE MISS TUMMALAPALLI TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. AND NOW FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A RECOGNITION TONIGHT.

[4. RECOGNITIONS]

SPORTS MEDICINE, FIRST PLACE. MISS LOFTON, ARE YOU PRESENTING? THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT.

TONIGHT, WE'RE RECOGNIZING NETHRA IN HER ACHIEVEMENT IN HOSA.

HOSA FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CTSO THAT SUPPORTS THE HEALTH SCIENCES.

NETHRA´S A JUNIOR THIS YEAR, BUT SHE'S ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN HOSA BOTH HER FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR IN THE SPORTS MEDICINE COMPETITION.

AND IF I MAY TAKE A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN WHAT ALL ENTAILS THAT COMPETITION SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT HER ACHIEVEMENT ACTUALLY IS.

BUT IT ALL STARTS IN OCTOBER WHEN THEY DECIDE WHAT EVENT THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN.

AND THEN THEY STUDY ON THEIR OWN UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER, 1ST OF DECEMBER, IN WHICH THEY TAKE A ACADEMIC MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST, ABOUT 100 QUESTIONS OR SO OVER THAT DISCIPLINE, AREA OF SPORTS MEDICINE IN HER CASE.

FROM THERE, THE TOP TEN IN OUR REGION, OUR REGION IS ANYWHERE OR EVERY SCHOOL THAT HAS A HOSA PROGRAM, REGARDLESS OF CLASSIFICATION. BASICALLY FROM TARRANT COUNTY WEST OUT TO ABILENE, UP TO WICHITA FALLS, DOWN TO KILLEEN, WACO AREA. SO ANY SCHOOL WITHIN THAT AREA IS WHO SHE AND OUR STUDENTS ARE COMPETING AGAINST AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF CLASSIFICATION OR SCHOOL, EVEN IF IT'S A MAGNET SCHOOL.

SO IF THEY HAVE A HOSTED PROGRAM, THEY CAN COMPETE.

SO SHE'S COMPETING AGAINST ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS.

AND THEN THE TOP TEN FROM THAT GO TO THE REGIONAL OR THE AREA CONFERENCE IN JANUARY, IN WHICH THEY WILL PERFORM SKILLS RELATED TO THEIR EVENT. IN HER CASE, MAYBE TAPING AN ANKLE, DOING ANATOMICAL LANDMARKS, THAT SORT OF THING.

FROM THOSE TOP TEN, THE TOP THREE MAKE IT TO STATE WHERE THEY START ALL OVER AGAIN.

BUT NOW THEY ARE COMPETING AGAINST EVERYBODY FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND THE TOP THREE FROM THERE QUALIFIED TO GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, COMPETING AGAINST PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, CHINA, VIETNAM, ALL OVER. NETHRA HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT TO ILC BOTH HER FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR.

HER FRESHMAN YEAR, SHE PLACED SECOND AT STATE.

HER SOPHOMORE YEAR, SHE GOT FIRST AT STATE AND THEN AT ILC LAST YEAR SHE ACTUALLY PLACED EIGHTH IN THE WHOLE THING.

SO THAT'S IT'S REALLY COOL AND REALLY AWESOME FOR HER THAT SHE HAS ADVANCED THAT FAR, ESPECIALLY BEING YOUNG IN THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

[00:05:10]

SO. CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH. MISS METCALF IS ALSO HERE. SHE IS OUR CO-SPONSOR, SO.

[7. PRESIDENT'S REPORT ]

THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT, AND ITEM 8. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

SO I'LL START OFF. I HAVE FOUR ITEMS THAT I WANT TO JUST REPORT ON.

AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND START. AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AND AS PART OF OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR, THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BUDGET REDUCTION ACTION COMMITTEE, OR BRAC TIGER TEAM, TO PURSUE A SCHOOL FUNDING MEASURE THAT WOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL AND BE INCLUDED ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 BALLOT. THIS MEASURE, OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION OR VATRE, IS THE TEAM'S RECOMMENDED STRATEGY TO HELP ADDRESS OUR BUDGET DEFICIT.

THE TEAM FOUND THAT EVEN WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISTRICT COST REDUCTIONS AND EFFICIENCIES, ADDITIONAL LOCAL REVENUE WILL BE NECESSARY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND PRESERVE THE EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TEACHER STAFF COMPENSATION LEVELS, AND STUDENT SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS AND DESERVES.

THE BOARD PLANS TO DISCUSS AND ACT ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

WE HAVE ALSO SCHEDULED MULTIPLE TOWN HALLS TO SHARE ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

MORE ON THAT COMING. ALSO, WE HAVE FORMED A SECOND BRAC TIGER TEAM THAT WILL START MEETING IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL BE CHARGED WITH PRIORITIZING NEXT STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING THE BRAC´S FIVE YEAR RECOMMENDED PLAN.

PLEASE KNOW THAT LONG TERM BONDS THAT WOULD ENCUMBER OUR COMMUNITY WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR 30 TO 40 YEARS TO BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT, AND I REPEAT, IS NOT, INCLUDED IN THE BRAC´S FIVE YEAR PLAN.

WITH OUR STATE'S FLAWED PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND THUS CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE, LIKE ROOFING IN HVAC SYSTEMS, LET ALONE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.

TONIGHT, WE WILL CONSIDER PASSING A TAX RATE THAT IS LOWER THAN LAST YEAR'S RATE AND IS BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. IN FACT, YOUR BOARD HAS LOWERED THE TAX RATE SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND AS A RESULT, IS NOW ONE OF, IF NOT THE LOWEST RATE IN OUR REGION.

WE TAKE OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND WHILE WE CAN'T REDUCE THE TAX RATE ENOUGH TO FULLY OFFSET THE RISE IN PROPERTY VALUES, WE BELIEVE OUR EFFORTS TO LOWER THE TAX RATE WILL HELP EASE THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR COMMUNITY.

LASTLY, THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE PLACE 3 BOARD SEAT VACATED BY TRUSTEE DUDLEY JORDAN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSED TODAY AT 5 P.M., WITH TWO CANDIDATES APPLYING.

MANDY REECE AND SCOTT MARTINDALE. AS A REMINDER, THIS ELECTION ONLY SERVES TO FULFILL THE REMAINDER OF DUDLEY JORDAN'S TERM, WHICH IS MAY OF 2026. THANK YOU. DOCTOR GLENN.

[8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT ]

[00:10:02]

STUDENTS RETURN WITH ENERGY AND WE'VE HAD A SMOOTH START TO THE YEAR.

I'M ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR NEW CELL PHONE POLICY HAS GONE BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

WE'VE SEEN STRONG COOPERATION FROM STUDENTS, AND EARLY FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS HAS BEEN POSITIVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR INCREDIBLE TEACHERS, STAFF AND CAMPUS LEADERS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE TO ENSURE A STRONG, SUCCESSFUL START TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR. YOUR DEDICATION IS TRULY APPRECIATED.

NEXT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS SHARED BY MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE RECENT BUDGET REDUCTIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING THE DEBATE PROGRAM.

WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TO OUR STUDENTS, AND THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE LIGHTLY.

HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT THESE CUTS ARE NOT UNIQUE TO DEBATE.

EVERY PROGRAM AND EVERY CAMPUS ACROSS CARROLL ISD SAW REDUCTIONS THIS YEAR.

NO SINGLE AREA WAS SPARED FROM THE DIFFICULT CHOICES NECESSITATED BY OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL REALITY.

CARROLL ISD IS FACING A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

WHILE WE GRADUATE MORE THAN 700 SENIORS EACH YEAR, WE ARE BRINGING IN ONLY ABOUT 420 KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.

WE EXPECT TO LOSE ANOTHER 100 STUDENTS NEXT YEAR.

FEWER STUDENTS MEANS LESS FUNDING FROM THE STATE AT A TIME WHEN COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE AND STATE SUPPORT REMAINS INADEQUATE.

DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, WE ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING A BUDGET DEFICIT NEARING $4 MILLION, AND WE EXPECT IT TO GROW FURTHER NEXT YEAR IF ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NOT SECURED. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS STRATEGICALLY LOWERED THE DISTRICT'S TAX RATE, A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR A FUTURE ELECTION AND GIVE IT THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

THIS ELECTION IS NOW NECESSARY. WITHOUT IT, WE CANNOT GENERATE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR PROGRAMS, PAY OUR STAFF COMPETITIVELY AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS.

OUR BOARD IS WORKING TO CALL THIS ELECTION NOT JUST TO SAVE DEBATE OR ATHLETICS OR FINE ARTS, BUT TO PRESERVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS IN EVERY CORNER OF CARROLL ISD.

IT'S TRUE THAT THE DEBATE PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 140 STUDENTS, AND WE ABSOLUTELY VALUE THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PROVIDES.

BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT MANY OTHER TEACHERS ACROSS CARROLL ISD SERVE SIMILAR OR EVEN GREATER NUMBERS OF STUDENTS, AND THEY HAVE ALSO SEEN REDUCTIONS THIS YEAR AS PART OF DISTRICTWIDE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

THIS SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE TO ONE PROGRAM OR ONE CLASSROOM.

THANKFULLY, OUR SENIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL, MISS LEWIS, HAS MADE MULTIPLE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO WORK WITH OUR DEBATE TEACHER, MR. BROWN, TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND ADDRESS CONCERNS.

IN LIGHT OF RECENT CHALLENGES, SHE HAS IDENTIFIED ANOTHER CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO IS WILLING TO HELP WITH DEBATE 1.

IN A CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON, I CONFIRMED WITH MISS LEWIS AGAIN THAT SHE AND MR. BROWN HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.

THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR WEEKS BEHIND THE SCENES.

MISS LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP.

CARROLL ISD IS FACING DIFFICULT, DISTRICTWIDE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE SHARED SACRIFICE.

UNDERMINING TRUST THROUGH MISINFORMATION DOES NOT HELP STUDENTS OR STAFF.

IT ONLY DISTRACTS FROM THE REAL WORK AHEAD. WE MUST ALL REMEMBER ADVOCATING FOR ONE PROGRAM WHILE IGNORING THE BROADER PICTURE MEANS THAT ANOTHER PROGRAM, ANOTHER STUDENT'S OPPORTUNITY, MAY BE SACRIFICED.

WE CANNOT PIT ONE CHILD'S OPPORTUNITY AGAINST ANOTHER'S.

NOW IS THE TIME TO COME TOGETHER, NOT FIGHT OVER LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT FIGHT FOR A BETTER SOLUTION.

LET'S FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS A FUNDING MODEL THAT WORKS FOR HIGH ACHIEVING, DYNAMIC SCHOOLS LIKE CARROLL. WE ASK FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR ADVOCACY, AND YOUR SUPPORT AS WE TAKE THIS CRITICAL STEP TOWARD STABILIZING OUR DISTRICT'S FUTURE. MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S YOUR REPORT FOR AUGUST.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR GLENN, AND I COMMEND YOU AND PRINCIPAL LEWIS THERE IN THE BACK FOR WORKING HARD TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE OF, I GUESS I HEARD YOU RIGHT, THE ASSISTANT COACH, WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOMEONE TO TAKE THE PLACE OF OUR ENGLISH TEACHER.

BROWN ON MANY SOLUTIONS. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A STAFF MEMBER, AND THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE THAT COULD HELP AFTER HOURS AS

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRINCIPAL LEWIS AGAIN FOR THAT.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS. THERE ARE 27 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TONIGHT.

[5. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]

BUT I KNOW YOU'RE ALL DEBATE PEOPLE, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

SO YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME UP AND SPEAK ANYWAY, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

MISS YELTON, WILL YOU CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE? YES. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT DR. JEREMY GLENN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND GUESTS.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M A SENIOR AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH.

TODAY I WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE SOUTHLAKE YOUTH WELLNESS SUMMIT.

MY PERSONAL PASSION FOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY BEGAN AT DAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE I RECEIVED MEANINGFUL SUPPORT FROM MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR DURING A DIFFICULT TIME.

THAT EXPERIENCE INSPIRED A LASTING COMMITMENT WITHIN ME.

THIS PAST MAY, BECAUSE OF MY CONTINUED ADVOCACY, MAYOR MCCASKILL ISSUED A PROCLAMATION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN SOUTHLAKE. THAT MOMENT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME, BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF MY HEART AND WORK FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AS A GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD RECIPIENT, A DISTINCTION EARNED BY JUST 5.4% OF GIRL SCOUTS NATIONWIDE, I CREATED A PROJECT MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL CALLED PROJECT MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS.

THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, I RAISED $1,000 BY DEVELOPING AND SELLING A CALMING MUSIC PLAYLIST WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH.

ADDITIONALLY, I DIRECTED THE ASSEMBLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN 1600 STRESS RELIEF TOOLS TO STUDENTS ACROSS ALL FOUR CARROLL ISD INTERMEDIATE AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THESE EXPERIENCES REINFORCED MY PASSION FOR CONTINUING THIS WORK ON A LARGER SCALE.

BUILDING ON THAT FOUNDATION, I'M NOW ORGANIZING THE SOUTHLAKE YOUTH WELLNESS SUMMIT, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH AT EVANS HALL, WHITECHAPEL. IT WILL FEATURE INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS, EXPERT LED SPEAKER SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, COMMUNITY RESOURCE BOOTHS, FREE LUNCH AND FUN GIVEAWAYS. I'VE BEEN ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO WORK CLOSELY WITH TRUSTEE ANDREW YEAGER, WHO HAS SUPPORTED THIS INITIATIVE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AS WELL AS PRINCIPALS, COUNSELORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENSURE THE SUMMIT TRULY CATERS TO HIS AUDIENCE. THANK YOU, MISS [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COULD YOU REPEAT THE DATE FOR EVERYBODY? I'M SORRY.

I'D LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO COME IN. SEPTEMBER 6TH, WHERE AT? IT'S AT WHITECHAPEL, EVANS HALL. IN WHITECHAPEL.

SEPTEMBER 6TH. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. WHAT TIME IS IT? IT IS 6:17. NO, AT.

OH. SORRY. SORRY. SORRY. IT STARTS AT 9 A.M. AND GOES TILL TWO.

YES. AND IF SOMEONE'S WANTING MORE INFORMATION ON THIS, WHERE COULD THEY GO? I ACTUALLY HAVE POSTERS THAT I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT TO YOU GUYS, IF THAT'S OKAY.

YEAH. OKAY. IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE THEM TO BARBARA? YEAH. SHE'LL GIVE THEM TO US. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IS THERE ANY WAY AFTER THE MEETING THAT I COULD GET A PHOTO WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. YES.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER, ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY, HI. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M CAPTAIN OF WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE.

AS IT BECAME MY SPEECH IN THE WINNING ROUND OF AN INTERNATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT, I THANKED THIS VERY DISTRICT.

WHAT IS THE DEBATE CLUB? I READ IN THE CORNER OF MRS. [INAUDIBLE] SCIENCE CLASS, OR MY ELEMENTARY TEACHERS, WHO ENCOURAGED MY NERVOUS SELF TO EVEN START TALKING.

MY PARENTS WERE WILLING TO UPROOT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES IN INDIA, JUST SO THAT ME AND MY BROTHER COULD BREAK OUT OF THE VERY BUBBLES THAT HELD THEM BACK.

WHAT I WAS ARGUING ABOUT THE MORALITY OF AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH THE CFO OF BUDWEISER, OR ADVOCATING AGAINST THE EXPLOITATION OF CHILD WORKERS IN THE CONGO.

THE PRICE OF DEBATE EXTENDED BEYOND THE TOURNAMENTS OR PROGRAM ONE.

IT EXTENDED IN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WHERE I SPENT HOURS TALKING TO CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS.

BUT THE NECESSITY OF HEALTH CARE EXTENDED TO MY FAMILY BACK IN INDIA, AS I EXPLAINED THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY IN OUR LIVES.

[00:20:07]

IN ROOM 306, I MET FUTURE DOCTORS, STARTUP FOUNDERS AND SENATORS WHO MAY GOVERN THIS VERY LAND ONE DAY.

BUT NOW, WITHOUT THE FUNDING, IT COSTS $7,600 FOR MY HOPEFUL PARENTS TO HAVE HAD THEIR ONCE AWKWARD FRESHMAN DAUGHTER BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, SO SHE CAN'T SAY NO TO THE VOICES THAT IMPACTED GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES, OR TO SOULS WHO COULD HAVE HEALED MILLIONS WITH THEIR WORDS, WE STAY STUCK.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT, YOU DON'T SILENCE VOICES, YOU DESTROY. MS [INAUDIBLE], THANK YOU.

IS [INAUDIBLE] IN THE ROOM? [INAUDIBLE]?.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

A PARENT FOR 21 YEARS, AND LUCKILY, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL [INAUDIBLE] IN 2014 AND VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE ACTIVITIES. SO I BASICALLY, IN THE PAST 11 YEARS, EVERY YEAR I VOLUNTEER IN THE CHURCH IN [INAUDIBLE]. I WATCHED YOU CAN SAY, IN [INAUDIBLE], I [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THE MOST OF THE [INAUDIBLE]. YOU CAN SAY THAT, BUT ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT [INAUDIBLE] HIGH SCHOOL.

THE DEBATE TOURNAMENT IS VERY STRONG. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT'S VERY STRONG. YOU [INAUDIBLE]. MANY [INAUDIBLE] HIGH SCHOOL, THE HIGH SKILLED DEBATER.

WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE, THEY [INAUDIBLE] DON'T CONTINUE, BECAUSE COLLEGE DEBATE IS CHALLENGING COMPARED TO HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS WHY I CAME TO A MEETING, [INAUDIBLE] ONLY FOCUS ON THE [INAUDIBLE] DEBATE.

THAT IS NO, NO. BECAUSE IN [INAUDIBLE], THE COMMUNITY IS NOT RECOGNIZED YET.

[INAUDIBLE]. THE TFA IS THE 162 TOURNAMENT IN [INAUDIBLE].

HAVE 60 TOURNAMENT IN 23 2020. THANK YOU, MR..

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

THE FIRST IS [INAUDIBLE]. IS [INAUDIBLE] HERE? GOOD EVENING. SORRY. I WAS. BECAUSE THE ROOM REACHED A CAPACITY, I GUESS IT´S A REALLY POPULAR MEETING TODAY.

FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BOARD HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO TRY YOUR BEST TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS.

AS A PARENT, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

AND HERE TONIGHT, JUST TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT, I'M SURE YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE THAT [INAUDIBLE] SOME FUNDING, A CUT OF THE BUDGET AND ELIMINATING THE ASSISTANT COACH POSITION FOR THE DEBATE PROGRAM.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TEACHER STUDENT RATIO 1 TO 144, BUT IT'S ALSO THE COACH ATTENDANCE FOR THE 16 WEEKEND TOURNAMENT COURSE. WHEN THE KIDS WENT TO A TOURNAMENT, SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO STAY TILL LIKE A 12 A.M.

MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY. AND WE DO NEED SUPPORT FROM THE STAFF TO HELP THEM BECAUSE THE PARENTS LIKE ONE TIME I WAS THERE JUST WAITING FOR HER IN THE PARKING LOT FROM 8 P.M. TO 12 A.M. AND I WAS JUST WAITING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, AND IT'D BE A HUGE RELIEF IF WE COULD KNOW THAT SOMEONE INSIDE THE BUILDING TO HELP AND WATCH OUR KIDS FOR US. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO TO HELP OUR KIDS.

THANK YOU, MISS [INAUDIBLE]. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].

MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

[00:25:01]

WHEN HE JOINED DEBATE, HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS AND HE HAD GREAT GUIDANCE WITH MISS JOHNSON, WHO WAS THE ASSOCIATE COACH AND GUIDED HIM AND HELPED HIM AND NOW HE'S A CONFIDENT SOPHOMORE.

MY OTHER SON, [INAUDIBLE] IS ALSO VERY EXCITED TO GO INTO DEBATE, BUT THIS WAS KIND OF A DISAPPOINTMENT.

LIKE, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD.

I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

SO I DON'T NEED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF DEBATE IN FRONT OF YOU.

COMING FROM LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY WHERE DEBATE AND, YOU KNOW, DISCOURSE IS SOMETIMES SHUT DOWN.

IT'S NOT IMPORTANT. WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS A DEBATE.

AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE THESE KIDS. YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS ARE SHOWING UP IN SUCH GREAT NUMBERS.

IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE EMPOWERED CITIZENS WHO ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND DEBATE ISSUES WHICH ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

AND I WOULD REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO HELP WITH THIS DEBATE PROGRAM BECAUSE ALL THE PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT REALLY, REALLY HELPS US GENERATE THE CITIZENS THAT WE NEED WHO ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE AND EMPOWERED GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD EVENING.

I'M [INAUDIBLE]. I'M A PARENT OF AN INCOMING FRESHMAN DEBATE STUDENT.

AND I THINK THE TONE OF THE MEETING´S CHANGED.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, DOCTOR GLENN, I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT. ONE THING WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE SO FAR IS THE ROLE OF THE BOOSTER CLUB IN THIS SITUATION. SO THE BOOSTER CLUB WE ALL KNOW IS THERE TO SUPPORT FINANCIALLY.

AND THIS BOOSTER CLUB COMPARED TO OTHERS IN CARROLL RIGHT NOW, IS A BIT UNDERPERFORMING.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO NEED BOOSTER CLUB FUNDS.

SO I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT RAISE A TIGER TEAM OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT BOOSTER CLUBS. I'M THE TREASURER OF THE CARROLL ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB, AND WE COULD COME TOGETHER WITH THIS BOOSTER CLUB AND SHOW HOW TO RAISE SOME MONEY, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND WE'RE ALL DRAGONS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PROGRAM YOU COME FROM, WE KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF CARROLL ABOUT RAISING MONEY, AND THAT'S, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO HERE IS COME ALONGSIDE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE SOLVE IT TOGETHER.

JUST FOR SOME REFERENCE, LAST YEAR, 2024 TO 25, THE CASH INTAKE FOR THE CARROLL ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB IS ABOUT $740,000. SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS IS REAL MONEY AND WE CAN HELP THEM FIND IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT HERE AND WE JUST NEED TO HELP THEM MARKET WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE LEADERS AND THEY'RE COMING UP.

THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE NETHRA TUMMALAPALLI, [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SOUTHLAKE FROM MY SMALL SUBURB IN CHICAGO, I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT I'D STAND HERE TODAY CONFIDENTLY DELIVERING THE SPEECH AMONGST MANY OF MY PEERS THAT I'VE MET THROUGH SPEECH AND DEBATE, AND WHO I NOW CALL MY BEST FRIENDS.

I'LL BE HONEST, MAKING FRIENDS IN SOUTHLAKE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WASN'T EASY.

IT FELT LIKE EVERYONE ALREADY HAD THEIR OWN FRIEND GROUPS, AND I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE ODD ONE OUT.

FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF EIGHTH GRADE AND I STILL FELT THIS WAY.

AND HONESTLY, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE AMAZING SPEECH AND DEBATE COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTHLAKE, I'D LIKELY STILL FEEL THAT WAY.

BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, THE DEBATE DIDN'T JUST ALLOW ME TO FIND MY PASSION FOR SPEAKING AND ADVOCACY, BUT IT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND MY COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

IT NOT ONLY GAVE ME A VOICE, BUT IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO USE IT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND OTHERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR SPEECH AND DEBATE COMMUNITY HAS DONE COUNTLESS TIMES.

IT'S BEEN A PLACE WHERE FELLOW DRAGONS LIKE MYSELF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEIR PLACE AND FIND THEMSELVES.

BY CUTTING FUNDING, YOU IRREVOCABLY LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITIES STUDENTS HAVE TO DEVELOP CRITICAL SKILLS LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING.

THAT'S WHY I URGE YOU TO RETHINK YOUR DECISION, NOT JUST FOR OUR CURRENT COMPETITORS, BUT FOR THE RISING GENERATIONS OF DRAGONS WHO WILL FOREVER HAVE TO THINK TWICE BEFORE ENROLLING IN MAJOR TOURNAMENTS, WHO WILL HAVE TO SACRIFICE VALUABLE COACHING BECAUSE OUR CURRENT STAFF IS BEING OVERWORKED AND WILL INEVITABLY START TO LOSE THE MAGIC OF OUR DEBATE COMMUNITY.

[00:30:02]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M [INAUDIBLE], THE MOM OF A SOPHOMORE IN THE DEBATE TEAM, AND I THANK THE BOARD AS WELL AS MISS LEWIS FOR ALL THE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO TO REMEDY THE CHANGES IN THE COACHING STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM.

NOW, MY SON WAS A FRESHMAN LAST YEAR IN DEBATE 1, AND WE HAD NEWLY MOVED TO CARROLL ISD.

WHILE MOVING FROM OUT OF STATE, THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS WE WERE CONSIDERING BETWEEN SOUTH LAKE AND OTHER AREAS, AND DEFINITELY THE WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAMS OFFERED HERE IN CARROLL ISD WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE MOVED HERE.

AND MY SON HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN DEBATE 1, HE TOOK IT ONLY TO EXPLORE HIS INTEREST, BUT THEN GREW TO LIKING IT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF BOTH THE COACHES, COACH BROWN AND COACH JOHNSON.

AND I THINK DEBATE WE SOON UNDERSTOOD WAS A BIG UMBRELLA UNDER WHICH THERE ARE MANY CATEGORIES, MANY NUANCES THAT IF YOU HAVE A SEPARATE ASSISTANT COACH GEARED TOWARD DEBATE 1, THE KIDS TRULY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR INTERESTS LIE.

AND ALSO, AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, THE TOURNAMENTS ARE VERY LONG GOING INTO LATE HOURS OF THE NIGHT OVER WEEKENDS, SO THE COACHES DO SPEND INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF TIME THERE.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION AN INSTANCE WHERE I SAW A GREAT TEAM SPIRIT AND KINSHIP, WHEN THE DEBATE JUNIORS AND SENIORS THREW A BABY SHOWER FOR COACH BROWN LAST YEAR AND HIS WIFE, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH WARMTH AND LOVE IN THAT ROOM.

AND I SAT THERE THINKING, THIS IS WHAT A TEAM TRULY IS ABOUT, BECAUSE THEY SPOKE ABOUT NOT JUST LESSONS AND DEBATE, BUT LIFE LESSONS THEY LEARNED FROM THE COACH.

SO I THINK THAT AMOUNT OF KINSHIP CAN ONLY BE CULTIVATED IF.

HE CANNOT DO IT SINGLE HANDEDLY. HE NEEDS MORE HELP DOING THAT, AND WHILE CONSTANTLY TO BE MADE, I THINK ADEQUATE STAFFING IN ANY PROGRAM SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE HERE TODAY. I'M [INAUDIBLE], A CURRENT FRESHMAN IN THE CARROLL SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM.

SO I REMEMBER WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS OF KINDERGARTEN AT WALNUT GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED IN THROUGH MY FIRST CLASS, I KNEW CARROLL ISD ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT ME.

CARROLL ISD CARES ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS. SO NOW I JUST WANT TO PLEAD WITH YOU THAT OUR STUDENTS OF DEBATE WANT TO HAVE MORE FUNDING.

WE WANT COACH BROWN TO HAVE MORE HELP TO GROW THIS AMAZING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TODAY, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL SKILLS THAT IT TEACHES YOU, LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, WHICH CAN YOU CAN CARRY ON THROUGH COLLEGE, EVEN THROUGH LATER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN THROUGH YOUR CAREER.

60% OF HIRING MANAGERS THINK PUBLIC SPEAKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL, AND CAN EVEN BE A DEAL BREAKER.

AND SINCE THAT CARROLL ISD, I KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT SINGLE HANDEDLY THROUGH SO MANY YEARS OF BEING HERE, AND I LOVE THIS ISD SO MUCH. BUT ALSO, LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE 60%.

THIS MEANS THAT THE DEBATE PROGRAM, IF WE JUST GROW THE DEBATE PROGRAM, GIVE IT MORE FUNDING, THIS LOOKS LIKE KIDS HAVING MORE JOBS, OUR KIDS ACTUALLY SEEING GROWTH, OUR KIDS ACTUALLY SHOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY.

AND SINCE WE ALWAYS WANT OUR KIDS TO SHOW ADVOCACY.

AND AT MY TIME IN CARROLL'S SPEECH, EVEN THOUGH I'M JUST A FRESHMAN, I ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS SPEECH PROGRAM WILL CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER.

AND I REALLY WANT THIS TO GROW INTO SOMETHING BIGGER, BECAUSE EXTRA FUNDING FOR CARROLL SPEECH AND DEBATE IS EXTRA FUNDING FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE [INAUDIBLE], MRS. [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I AM A JUNIOR IN THE CARROLL SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, SPEECH AND DEBATE HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPACTFUL PART OF MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

IT HAS GIVEN ME SKILLS IN WRITING, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND CRITICAL THINKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A SPACE WHERE STUDENTS DEDICATE COUNTLESS HOURS AND SEE THAT EFFORT TURN INTO REAL GROWTH.

LAST YEAR, WITH BOTH COACH BROWN AND OUR ASSISTANT COACH, MISS JOHNSON, OUR PROGRAM HAD BALANCE.

BEGINNERS RECEIVED THE GUIDANCE THEY NEEDED, WHILE VARSITY COMPETITORS GOT FOCUSED SUPPORT TO SUCCEED AT HIGH LEVEL TOURNAMENTS.

THAT STRUCTURE IS PART OF WHY CARROLL DEBATE HAS STAYED SO SUCCESSFUL.

BUT THIS YEAR, WITH NEARLY 145 STUDENTS AND ONLY ONE COACH, THAT BALANCE IS GONE.

STUDENTS AT EVERY LEVEL WILL NOW RECEIVE LESS PREPARATION, LESS GUIDANCE, AND FEWER OPPORTUNITIES.

ON TOP OF THIS, DISTRICT FUNDING FOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS LIKE TFA STATE, TOC AND NATIONALS HAS BEEN CUT.

THESE ARE THE TOURNAMENTS WHERE CARROLL HAS CONSISTENTLY REACHED FINALS.

[00:35:04]

IT ALSO REDUCES THE EQUITY. IT MEANS OPPORTUNITY IS DETERMINED BY RESOURCES, NOT BY TALENT OR DEDICATION.

OUR PROGRAM IS AT A TURNING POINT. WE ARE WILLING TO COMMIT THE HOURS.

WE ARE WILLING TO DO THE WORK, BUT WE NEED SUPPORT THAT MATCHES THE SIZE AND CALIBER OF THIS PROGRAM.

ON BEHALF OF MY TEAMMATES, I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE LOSS OF THE ASSISTANT COACH AND THE CUTS TO TOURNAMENT FUNDING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MRS. [INAUDIBLE] IS IN THE ROOM? [INAUDIBLE] IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M A CURRENT JUNIOR AT SOUTHLAKE CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK TO WHEN I FIRST JOINED IN FRESHMAN YEAR.

IT WAS AUGUST 16TH OF 2023 WHEN I FIRST JOINED A DEBATE PROGRAM AT CARROLL.

I VIVIDLY REMEMBER WALKING INTO THE DEBATE ROOM AND BEING ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED AT MY FIRST TASK, GIVING AN IMPROMPTU SPEECH ON A TOPIC GIVEN TO US FIVE MINUTES BEFOREHAND.

AND AS YOU CAN ASSUME, IT DIDN'T GO VERY WELL.

I WAS STUTTERING EVERY THREE WORDS AND I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE DRILL TO END.

BUT COACH BROWN DOESN'T JUST GIVE UP ON HIS STUDENTS BECAUSE OF ONE BAD PRACTICE, OR BECAUSE OF ONE BAD DRILL.

HE DOES THE OPPOSITE. HE CATERS HIS TIME WORKING WITH EACH STUDENT, MAKING SURE THEY'RE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING AND ENHANCING THEIR CONFIDENCE, CRITICAL THINKING CAPABILITIES, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.

WE SEE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR DEBATE PROGRAM, COUNTLESS HOURS IN PRACTICE AND CLASS WHERE HE'S CONSTANTLY GIVING US FEEDBACK.

AND COACH BROWN DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT HE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, ISN'T A SUPERHUMAN.

CURRENTLY, THE DEBATE PROGRAM HAS AROUND 144 STUDENTS, AND EVEN WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ASSISTANT COACH, THAT JUST MEANS THAT OUR DEBATE PROGRAM IS GOING TO RAPIDLY.

THAT JUST MEANS OUR DEBATE PROGRAM AND THE SKILL OF STUDENTS IS GOING TO IMPROVE.

HOWEVER, FUNDING TO CRITICAL TOURNAMENTS LIKE TLC, TFA, AND EVEN NSDA NATIONALS ARE BEING CUT.

AND THIS STRONGLY REDUCED. BUT EXTRA HELP IS NEEDED.

AND CUTTING THIS CRUCIAL FUNDING HURTS STUDENTS WHO HAVE GROWN AND THRIVED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE FOUND THEIR CONFIDENCE AND VOICE THROUGH THIS INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY, LARGELY THANKS TO THE HELP OF OUR COACHES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE]. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], A JUNIOR, AND IN MY THIRD YEAR OF THE SOUTHLAKE CARROLL SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM. DEBATE FORMS A WAY OF THINKING THAT CANNOT BE NURTURED ELSEWHERE.

TEACHING HOW TO EVALUATE A MULTITUDE OF PERSPECTIVES AND RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

I'M SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THESE SKILLS ARE NOTHING SHORT OF ESSENTIAL FOR THE REAL WORLD.

HOWEVER, THE LACK OF FUNDING RESTRICTS THIS. WHETHER THAT BE THE ACCESS TO TOURNAMENTS OR THE CAPACITY TO COACH ALL DEBATERS, FROM AN ASSISTANT COACH THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS DEBATE ON A DEEP LEVEL, WITH THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF OUR FUNDING AND THE LACK OF A PROPER ASSISTANT COACH, THE IMPLICATIONS I DISCUSSED BEFORE ARE HEAVILY IMPACTED AND NOT FEASIBLE.

THROUGH FUNDED AND SUPPORTED TOURNAMENTS, I HAVE MET AND COMPETED WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD, GAINED CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION AND CONFIDENCE FROM THE ACTIVE SUPPORT AND TOURNAMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM.

I DEVELOPED THE SKILLS TO HAVE A VOICE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO HAVE CONFIDENCE.

DEBATE FUNDING HELPS GENERATE THE SUCCESS AND IT HAS IN THE PAST WHETHER IT WAS WINNING NATIONALS A FEW YEARS AGO OR WINNING A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR.

THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE IN SPEECH AND DEBATE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS DURING MY PAST THREE YEARS, WITH THE LARGEST DEBATE CLASS IN HISTORY, WITH A RATIO OF 145 STUDENTS TO ONE COACH, WITH A POSSIBLE ASSISTANT COACH NOT EVEN BEING PROPER AND ABLE TO ASSIST AT THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR STUDENT BODY, THIS LANDSCAPE CANNOT SUPPORT THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF POTENTIAL TALENT.

THIS SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. I URGE YOU ALL TO RECONSIDER YOUR CHOICES OF FUNDING AND THE ASSISTANT COACH EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM.

DON'T PUT AN EXTREME PRICE TAG ON THESE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES.

ALLOW DEBATE COACHING TO ACTUALLY BE EFFICIENT. PLEASE SUPPORT SPEECH AND DEBATE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OH. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, DOCTOR GLENN AND FELLOW CITIZENS.

IT WAS JUST 14 MONTHS AGO. I WAS FIRST HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT CELL PHONE USE.

THE LAW CLEARLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

HOWEVER, MY ENTHUSIASM IS VERY MEASURED. IN THE FIRST WEEK, VIOLATIONS WERE MET WITH WARNINGS INSTEAD OF THE FORMAL DOCUMENTED POLICY OF

[00:40:01]

ANOTHER KEY ISSUE IS TEACHER´S CONFIDENCE. I HAVE HEARD THAT SOME TEACHERS ARE NOT YET SURE HOW IT WILL BE SUPPORTED, THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT AND ARE HESITANT, RIGHT WHEN A STRONG, CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT IS NEEDED. TEACHERS MUST KNOW ADMINISTRATION WILL STAND FIRMLY.

POINTING TO A POSTER IS NOT ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S WHY TRANSPARENCY MATTERS.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT IS ESSENTIAL.

REGULAR SHARING OF THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS GIVES PARENTS A CLEAR BASELINE TO KNOW THAT IT'S BEING WORKED.

ASKING FOR AN OPEN RECORDS REPORT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO KNOW IF THIS IS BEING ENFORCED.

SURE, I URGE THE DISTRICT TO ENFORCE.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER COMES HOME AND SAYS.

[INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BRYAN, SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR GLENN, AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I SERVE AS THE SPEECH CAPTAIN ON OUR VARSITY DEBATE TEAM. TODAY, I'D LIKE TO WALK YOU THROUGH A WEEKEND IN THE LIFE OF OUR COACH, ANTHONY BROWN. THIS IS A TOURNAMENT WEEKEND.

ALL WEEK, COACH BROWN HAS BEEN RUNNING PRACTICES, REGISTERING STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS READY. BY FRIDAY, HE'S COORDINATED WITH THE SCHOOL, TOLD US WHERE TO BE, AND MADE SURE WE CAN ALL GET THERE.

AS WE ARRIVE, HE GREETS THE 80 OF US COMPETING THIS WEEKEND AND SENDS US OFF WITH WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

THEN HE HEADS TO HIS ROUND, WHERE HE IS SCHEDULED TO JUDGE FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

AFTERWARDS, HE MAKES HIS WAY BACK TO HIS STUDENTS AND HELPS THEM PREPARE FOR THE ROUNDS THEY'LL FACE NEXT.

HE GETS A MESSAGE. A ROOM IS MISSING A JUDGE.

HE ALERTS THE TOURNAMENT AND SPENDS 20 MINUTES FINDING ANOTHER JUDGE TO COVER.

THEN HE GOES BACK TO JUDGE ANOTHER ROUND. THIS ONE LASTS THREE HOURS.

THEN IT'S BACK TO HIS STUDENTS, WHO'VE IN THE MEANTIME COMPETED TWO MORE ROUNDS WITHOUT HIM, NEEDING MORE PREP AND MORE ASSISTANCE. A DECISION WAS MESSED UP BY AN UNFAIR TECHNICALITY.

HE HAS TO APPEAL THE TOURNAMENT FOR OVER AN HOUR TO GET IT OVERTURNED.

WHEN HE'S DONE, HE'S JUDGING AGAIN, AND THEN PREPPING OVER AND OVER UNTIL IT'S MIDNIGHT.

AT 8:00 THE NEXT MORNING, HE STARTS AGAIN. ALL DAY.

THE WHOLE WEEKEND. 15 WEEKENDS A YEAR. I ASSURE YOU.

JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE AT CARROLL, OUR PROGRAM IS EXCELLENT, BUT WE CANNOT UPHOLD THAT TRADITION IF WE LACK THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LET US BE EXCELLENT.

WE HAVE THE TALENT, WE HAVE THE SKILL, AND WE HAVE THE WORK ETHIC.

WHAT WE NEED IS RESOURCES. WHAT WE NEED IS YOUR SUPPORT.

AS LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I IMPLORE YOU, HELP US BE EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I KNOW THAT MANY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE FACING CUTS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WHY DEBATE AND THE ASSISTANT COACH POSITION IN PARTICULAR, ARE SO MEANINGFUL TO STUDENTS LIKE ME.

WITH OVER 100 STUDENTS, OUR COACH CAN'T POSSIBLY BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE, ESPECIALLY AT TOURNAMENTS WHERE HE'S JUDGING.

HAVING AN ASSISTANT COACH MEANT WE ALWAYS HAD SOMEONE TO GUIDE US, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T LEFT ON OUR OWN.

THAT SUPPORT NOT ONLY MADE THE PROGRAM STRONGER, BUT ALSO GAVE OUR COACH MORE TIME TO WORK WITH US INDIVIDUALLY.

AND SINCE OUR ASSISTANT COACH WAS ALSO AN ENGLISH TEACHER, THE IMPACT REACHED BEYOND DEBATE AND INTO THE CLASSROOM AS WELL.

AND LOOK, I KNOW MANY OTHER TEACHERS ARE ALSO LOSING FUNDING, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER TEACHERS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP AND SUPPORT.

BUT COACH BROWN ONLY HAS HIMSELF. FAMILIES SUCH AS MINE MOVED TO SOUTHLAKE BECAUSE OF ALL OF ITS STELLAR PROGRAMS, ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS AND DEBATE IS SUCH A BIG PART OF THAT REPUTATION.

IF THIS POSITION AND OTHER FUNDING ARE CUT, IT BECOMES MUCH HARDER TO MAINTAIN THE EXCELLENCE THAT MAKES PEOPLE CHOOSE SOUTHLAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY TEAMMATES, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THESE CUTS AND HELP US PRESERVE WHAT MAKES CARROLL SO SPECIAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I SERVE AS THE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE CAPTAIN FOR OUR SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM.

I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN AND EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU GUYS FOR MONTHS.

YET THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT THIS TEAM HAS RECEIVED FROM THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR HAS LEFT ME SPEECHLESS AND WITHOUT WORDS, BECAUSE I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHAT A SLAP IN THE FACE IT IS TO ALL OF SOUTHLAKE, OR TO ALL OF SOUTHLAKE´S HARD WORK,

[00:45:05]

WE ARE ONE COACH DOWN AND REGARDLESS OF ANY CURRENT SOLUTIONS, WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THAT POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE, FORCING US TO PAY OVER $4,000 PER STUDENT IN TRAVEL FEES BY NOT COVERING TOURNAMENT COSTS MAKES THE ACTIVITY I KNOW AND LOVE IMPOSSIBLE.

THIS BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT ONLY UIL COMPETITIONS WILL BE SUPPORTED, BUT THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION THAT UIL COMPETES AT IS SUBSTANDARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DON'T FORCE THIS TEAM TO GO FROM REGULARLY WINNING INTERNATIONAL AND STATE TITLES AT DOZENS OF TOURNAMENTS EVERY YEAR, TO SITTING ON THE SIDELINES AT THE TWO UIL TOURNAMENTS THAT OCCUR EVERY YEAR.

DOCTOR GLENN, YOU CANNOT PREACH EQUALITY AND ALL AND URGE US TO NOT SPEAK FOR OUR DYING PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS FAR FROM RESOLVED.

DEBATES HAS TAUGHT ME TO FIND MY VOICE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, SO WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR PROGRAM.

MAKE THE CHANGES WE DESERVE. REMEMBER, PROTECTING EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION MEANS PROTECTING SPEECH AND DEBATE AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OUR CARROLL SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN MORE THAN EXTRAORDINARY.

AND AS A LIFELONG DRAGON, I KNOW EXCELLENCE WHEN I SEE IT.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE A SIGN THAT OUR SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM.

WE WE DON'T JUST FOSTER EXCELLENCE. WE ENSURE THAT THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS THAT WE LEARN IN THIS PROGRAM ARE CARRIED ON TO THE REST OF OUR LIVES. SPEECH AND DEBATE IS NOT JUST ONE OF THE LARGEST PROGRAMS AT OUR SCHOOL.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE NATION.

FOR ME, THESE SUCCESSES ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL. WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE PROGRAM, I HAD NEVER SPOKEN IN FRONT OF MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE BEFORE.

BUT AS SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, I SPOKE AT CONVOCATION IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS.

THAT SORT OF TRANSFORMATION FROM BEING VOICELESS TO BEING A LEADER HAS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SPEECH AND DEBATE HAS PROVIDED ME.

BUT TODAY, STORIES LIKE MINE ARE AT RISK. OUR TEAM HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 140 STUDENTS, YET WE HAVE LESS FUNDING AND LESS RESOURCES THAN EVER BEFORE.

TODAY, I'M ASKING YOU TO REMEMBER WHAT'S AT STAKE.

A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T JUST WIN TROPHIES BUT CHANGES LIVES.

SPEECH AND DEBATE GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO STAND HERE TONIGHT.

GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO STAND AT CONVOCATION.

AND IT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO STAND ON THE FINAL STAGE OF MULTIPLE TOURNAMENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT, IT CAN CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT GIFT TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER STUDENTS, BUT ONLY WITH YOUR SUPPORT, IF THAT´S POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MISS [INAUDIBLE].

THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS IN ORDER ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

HELLO, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]AND I'M A CITIZEN HERE IN SOUTHLAKE FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE.

AND I GREW UP IN TARRANT COUNTY AS WELL, IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS EVEN YOU KNEW ABOUT SOUTHLAKE FROM WHEN I WAS A KID IS THERE IS AN IMMENSE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

AND SOUTHLAKE WAS GOOD AT EVERYTHING. AND THE DEBATE PROGRAM IN ANY OTHER PROGRAM IS NO DIFFERENT.

YOU MOVE TO SOUTHLAKE BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A GREAT COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FROM THE PRINCIPAL, MISS LEWIS. AND I'M JUST REALLY ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER AND A SOLUTION.

IT MAY BE IMPERFECT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE SHOULD ALL BE HAPPY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A DIRECTION.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE ARE FOUR WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THIS ROOM.

IF YOU'RE A WORLD CHAMPION, STAND UP AND DEBATE.

BUT FOUR OF THEM, ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR AND THEN TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT, THEY WERE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

THAT'S A LEVEL OF SUCCESS THAT'S VERY HARD TO COME BY, AND IT REQUIRES YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT. THANK YOU GUYS.

GOOD EVENING. I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE THE DEBATE PROGRAM THE STAFFING RESOURCES REQUIRED TO KEEP THE PROGRAM RUNNING AT A STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL OF COMPETITIVENESS.

I'M A PARENT OF THREE DRAGONS, TWO ARE IN DEBATE, AND I HAVE DONATED TO CEF.

LAST YEAR, MY STUDENT WAS A FRESHMAN IN DEBATE 1.

THEY HAD A HEAD COACH AND A PART TIME COACH. IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN MY STUDENT CAME HOME AND SAID THAT THEY RAN OUT OF SPEAKING TIME IN CLASS,

[00:50:02]

THIS YEAR, I COME TO HEAR THAT WE HAD NO SOLIDIFIED COACH.

ASSISTANT COACH WENT FOR 140 STUDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO DRAW TO ATTENTION THAT THE PROGRAM GREW IN SIZE AND SUCCESS.

NOW ADD WORLD CHAMPIONS, AND WE ARRIVED TO UNDERSTAFFING COACHING.

IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND I ASKED FOR SOME TRANSPARENCY AND WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY THIS HAPPENED.

SO, YOU KNOW, SCRAMBLING TO FIND A TEACHER, AGAIN, MISS LEWIS AND THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR FINDING, AS [INAUDIBLE] SAID, AN IMPERFECT SOLUTION. BUT I'M HOPING THAT YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND AT THIS POINT, FROM ALL WE'VE HEARD, THAT WE NEED 2 OR 3 TEACHERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN DEBATE TO TRULY SUCCEED.

THE STUDENTS FROM THIS PROGRAM ARE BEING ACCEPTED INTO THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES IN THE NATION, FROM IVY LEAGUE SUCH AS HARVARD, STANFORD, YALE, THE LIST GOES ON ALL THE WAY TO ELITE HONORS PROGRAMS AND STATE SCHOOLS.

AND THAT'S REALLY HARD TO ACHIEVE FROM A TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL AND PROBABLY GOING TO GET HARDER.

SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE STATS AND ACCEPTANCES THAT ARE BRINGING YOU HIGHLY MOTIVATED FAMILIES WHO EXPECT ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

I KINDLY REQUEST EACH OF YOU TO IGNITE THE DRAGON WITHIN YOU, TO PROVIDE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS AND LONGEVITY OF THIS AWARD WINNING TEAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME.

I KNOW YOU HEARD FROM EVERYONE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BORE YOU WITH THE NUMBERS.

I DO HAVE A CHILD WHO'S A JUNIOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE KIDS AND MY CHILD AS A SELFISH MOTHER, I REQUEST YOU PLEASE SUPPORT THE DEBATE AND THE SPEECH PROGRAM.

WE HAVE ONE COACH, COACH BROWN. HE HAS A YOUNG BABY.

HE HAS A FAMILY. HE'S ONE PERSON FOR MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, 140 KIDS GROWING UP TO BECOME 180 IN NUMBER.

SO YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT, PLEASE SUPPORT US AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], AND [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M A SENIOR AT SOUTHLAKE CARROLL.

I SERVE AS THE CAPTAIN OF PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TODAY I'M HERE TO HELP REPRESENT MORE THAN 140 STUDENTS WHO ARE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED DEBATE, THE PROGRAM WAS MUCH SMALLER.

WE HAD A FEW DOZEN STUDENTS, WHICH WASN'T EVEN A FRACTION OF THE SIZE OF THE PROGRAM TODAY.

BUT ONE THING HAS NEVER CHANGED, AND THAT'S THE PASSION AND THE ENTHUSIASM OF EVERY STUDENT WHO WALKS INTO THAT CLASSROOM.

EVERY DAY, WE ALL COME READY TO LEARN, TO IMPROVE, AND TO CARRY THE SKILLS WE GAIN AND DEBATE INTO THE REAL WORLD BEYOND THESE COMPETITIONS.

BEHIND EVERY SPEECH OR ARGUMENT IS NOT ONLY THE EFFORT WE'VE PUT IN, BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL WITH EXCELLENCE.

BUT THIS YEAR, OUR PROGRAM HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT CUTS.

OUR FUNDING WAS REDUCED AND WE LOST ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT COACHES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE BURDEN OF FINANCING TOURNAMENTS IN THE POSTSEASON HAVE FALLEN ONTO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, TOTALING OVER $4,000 PER STUDENT. FOR MANY, THAT MEANS CHOOSING BETWEEN COMPETING AND AFFORDABILITY, LIMITING ACCESS TO THE VERY OPPORTUNITIES THIS PROGRAM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE.

DEBATE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER EXTRACURRICULAR. IT TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY, PROJECT CONFIDENCE AND VIEW SITUATIONS FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.

CUTTING OUR RESOURCES ALSO REDUCES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

I TRULY HOPE YOU WILL CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM, AND HELP US MAKE THIS DISTRICT PROUD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HI SOUTHLAKE BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M CURRENTLY A DEBATER FOR THE SOUTHLAKE DEBATE TEAM.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR MONDAYS TO COME HERE AND HEAR OUT THE DEBATE PROGRAM.

IF YOU TOLD ME LAST YEAR THAT I'D BE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, I'D SAY YOU'RE CRAZY.

BUT DEBATE HELPED ME COME OUT OF MY SHELL AND BECOME MORE CONFIDENT, ENOUGH TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FUNDING TOWARDS OUR PROGRAM TODAY.

NOW LET'S ADDRESS THE TOPIC AT HAND. DEBATERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCCESS.

CUTTING FUNDS AND DRIVING UP COSTS FOR TOURNAMENTS JUST PUSHES PEOPLE AWAY FROM DEBATE AND RUINS THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITIVE DEBATERS WHO HAVE PUT YEARS OF PREPARATION INTO GETTING WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. WE'VE JUST SEEN THE LARGEST INFLUX OF FRESHMEN JOINING DEBATE, BUT WE DON'T NEARLY HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO SEE THAT POTENTIAL MATERIALIZE.

IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT SUCH A LARGE PROGRAM THAT WE CAN CATER TO EACH STUDENT'S NEEDS AND DEVELOP A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER THE GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF YOUNG DEBATERS.

BUT INSTEAD, WE SAW OUR ASSISTANT COACHING ROLE GET REMOVED.

[00:55:02]

WE ARE A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CARROLL DRAGON.

MORE FUNDS MEANS MORE STUDENTS WHO CAN BECOME CONFIDENT, WHO CAN COMPETE ON THE BIGGEST STAGES, WHO CAN, WHO CAN RECEIVE AMPLE INSTRUCTION, AND WHO CAN ENJOY THE ACTIVITY THEY LOVE WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT GRUELING COSTS.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT, AND I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE FUNDING TOWARDS THE DEBATE PROGRAM TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE FINAL SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING IS [INAUDIBLE].

PRESIDENT BRYAN, TRUSTEES, DOCTOR GLENN. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I THINK THESE STUDENTS ARE PRETTY DARN IMPRESSIVE.

I KNOW IT'S ONLY THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, BUT I GIVE THEM ALL A PLUSES IN SPEECH AND DEBATE FOR THE WEEK.

THEY REALLY EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF THE PROGRAM AND ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE TONIGHT.

BUT THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS INVESTING AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME AND THANKFULLY, HAVING AN EXTRAORDINARY COACH WHO'S WILLING TO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM, AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FROM THAT NERVOUS FRESHMAN WHO IS HIDING IN THE BATHROOM AT A DEBATE TOURNAMENT, TURNING THAT SAME KID INTO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DEBATER.

AND THAT'S A TRUE STORY THAT JUST HAPPENED RECENTLY.

SO THESE KIDS COME A VERY LONG WAY IN THEIR SHORT TIME.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT THAT STARTS NEXT WEEK, AND IT WAS A SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT THE COACHING POSITION NO LONGER EXISTED WHEN WE GOT TO THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES WE WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR.

GLAD TO HEAR MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING TO DO SOME FUNDRAISING.

I LOVE THAT $730,000 NUMBER. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SHOOT FOR THAT.

I'M ALL FOR THAT, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED EVERYONE PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND HELPING US REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR CARROLL, BECAUSE I KNOW THEIR HEART IS IN IT AND THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THE WORK FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE].

ANY MORE SPEAKERS? THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND GET A PICTURE WITH MS. [INAUDIBLE], AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 6:59 P.M..

OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 6., WHICH IS CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[6. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

EXCUSE ME, ANDREW. EXCUSE ME, FOLKS WE'VE STARTED THE MEETING BACK, SO IF YOU PLEASE QUIETLY EXIT, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE.

YEAGER. YEAH. PRESIDENT BRYAN, I AUTHORIZED THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO REAL ESTATE CONTRACT FOR THE PROPERTY AS PRESENTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE YEAGER.

OKAY. SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THE PRESIDENT´S REPORT AND SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9.,

[9. PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS 2025-2026 PROPOSED TAX RATE ]

AT THIS TIME, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS DECLARED OPEN, AND I WILL ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE US THROUGH A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE 2025-2026 PROPOSED TAX RATE. MR. PARK. PRESIDENT BRYAN, DOCTOR GLENN, TRUSTEES.

GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO TAKE US THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2025 TAX RATE FOR THE 25-26 FISCAL YEAR. SO JUST TO RECAP A QUICK TIMELINE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

THE DISTRICT RECEIVED ITS CERTIFIED LOCAL VALUES FROM THE CHAIR IN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON JULY 25TH.

WE HAD TO SUBMIT OUR LOCAL PROPERTY VALUE STUDY TO TEA TO OBTAIN OUR MAXIMUM COMPRESSOR RATE FROM THE AGENCY.

ON AUGUST 8TH WHICH IS TEN BUSINESS DAYS BUT BEFORE TODAY'S DATE, WE PUBLISHED THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE TAX RATE. AND THEN HERE WE ARE TODAY TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED RATE THAT I'M ABOUT TO DISCUSS.

[01:00:08]

THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE MCR SET BY THE STATE.

PLUS THE EIGHT ENRICHMENT TIER TWO PENNIES THAT WE ARE SEEKING, AND THEN AN INTEREST IN SINKING RATE OF 24 TO 41.

AS I MENTIONED, SO THE STATE HAS COMPRESSED OUR MCR FROM 6169 TO 6053, WHICH WAS A DROP OF 1.1 CENTS. AND THAT WAS JUST BASED ON OUR TAXABLE VALUE INCREASE OF ABOUT 4.45%. AND THEN THE TIER TWO ENRICHMENT PENNIES.

WE ARE SEEKING AN INCREASE OF $0.03 THERE. AND THEN OUR I&S SIDE, WE ARE DROPPING 5.07 CENTS FOR A TOTAL DECREASE OF OUR TAX RATE FROM LAST YEAR AT 3.23 CENTS.

SO JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE HISTORY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AGAIN, AS YOU SEE, WE ARE DECREASING OUR TAX RATE 3.23 CENTS THIS YEAR, FROM A FOUR CENT DECREASE LAST YEAR.

AND SO OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE DROPPED OUR TAX RATE.

THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT IS 33, ALMOST 34 CENTS LOWER SINCE FISCAL YEAR 22.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE WILL BE PROPOSING A TAX RATE THAT IS BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

AND I WILL GO BACK GO THROUGH THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO, MR. PARK. JUST A QUICK QUESTION. BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW.

THAT IS, HOW COMMON IS IT FOR AN ISD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PASS A TAX RATE THAT IS BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, NOT JUST ONCE, BUT TWO YEARS IN A ROW? IS THAT PRETTY COMMON? NO, IT'S A PRETTY CHALLENGING FEAT TO TO ACCOMPLISH JUST JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY TAX RATES GROW AND AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WITH, WITH THE FUNDING MECHANISMS RIGHT NOW.

AND SO YOU KNOW, IT IS A COMMENDABLE ACTION, BUT BY THE BOARD TO, TO YOU KNOW, PLACE, THAT KIND OF FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. AN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE ACTUALLY MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT GENERATING, THROUGH OUR TAX PURPOSES, NEW REVENUE OVER WHAT WE GENERATED LAST YEAR.

CORRECT? CORRECT. ESSENTIALLY, IT TAKES LAST YEAR'S VALUES.

AND YOU TAKE THE PERCENTAGE FROM THIS YEAR'S VALUES, AND THEN YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 100 TO GET WHAT, THE TAX RATE WOULD BE TO GENERATE THE SAME LEVEL OF REVENUE DID LAST YEAR.

SO. OKAY. AND THEN JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE WILL BE THE LOWEST IN CARROLL ISD'S HISTORY.

SO JUST A LITTLE TABLE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WE TEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT THE TOTAL TAX RATE OF OF ALMOST 1.4 CENTS.

AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO TO 92, 94. AND SO THAT'S QUITE A SIGNIFICANT DROP, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I MEAN, THIS IS A REALLY TELLING BAR CHART. MR. PARK FROM WHEN I GOT ON THE BOARD IN 2021, WE'RE AT 1.2686.

WE'RE NOW PROPOSING YOU'RE PROPOSING AT 0.92, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT DROP OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THIS REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE HOW SERIOUS THIS BOARD TAKES THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, AND WHILE OUR PROPERTY VALUES CONTINUE TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY EACH YEAR MAINLY BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CONSISTENTLY THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO LOWER THIS TAX RATE THAT, INCIDENTALLY MAKES UP ABOUT 65% OF THE ENTIRE PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR A CITIZEN IN SOUTHLAKE IS TREMENDOUSLY SIGNIFICANT.

AND WE APPRECIATE DOCTOR GLENN AND YOU, MR. PARK, FOR COMING IN AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US, THIS BOARD AND THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE TAX BURDEN IS REDUCED AS MUCH AS WE CAN, KNOWING THAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES CONTINUE TO GET SKY HIGH.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. SO HERE'S THAT JUST JUST THE CALCULATION OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

SO AS I MENTIONED, YOU TAKE LAST YEAR'S AND YOU DIVIDE IT BY THIS YEAR'S TAXABLE VALUE.

AND THEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY 100 AND YOU GET THE RATE.

AND SO THE RATE CAME OUT TO 929418. AND SO WE WILL BE YOU KNOW, 16

[01:05:08]

SO AND THEN THIS IS OUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION, WHICH CAME OUT TO 0.8994. AND SO BY ADOPTING A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.9294, WHICH IS $0.03 HIGHER THAN CURRENT YEARS VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. THAT WILL BE THE MECHANISM THAT WILL TRIGGER THE ELECTION.

YEAH. SO JUST TAKE A SECOND AND LET ME TAKE A SECOND AND EXPLAIN THIS.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A DISTRICT IS WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE INVEST OUR MONIES.

WE ARE LOWERING THE TAX RATE OVERALL YEAR OVER YEAR.

HOWEVER, AS WE REDUCE THE I&S SIDE, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX RATE M&O AND I&S.

AS WE REDUCE THAT I&S SIDE $0.03, WE'RE LOOKING TO GAIN SOME OF THAT BACK ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE.

AND I WISH OUR FRIENDS THAT THAT SPOKE AT THE MEETING EARLIER HAD STAYED BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD WITH, WITH OUR TRUSTEES TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY LOWERING THE TAX RATE, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT WILL GO BEFORE VOTERS THAT WILL GENERATE ABOUT $4 MILLION IN FUNDING WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DECREASING THE TAX RATE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR BRAC WORKED VERY HARD ON.

I SEE MEMBERS OF OUR BRAC COMMITTEE IN THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S A THOUGHTFUL, PURPOSEFUL STRATEGY THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS.

AND SO AS OUR BOARD STRATEGICALLY STARTED IN 2021, LOWERING THE TAX RATE, KNOWING THAT THE DAY WOULD COME WHERE WE'D HAVE TO GO TO VOTERS AND WITH CONFIDENCE, SAY, TRUST US TO CONTINUE TO LOWER YOUR TAX RATE BECAUSE WE NEED THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE.

AND THE ONLY REASON WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO DO THIS RIGHT, DR.

GLENN, MR. PARK, IS BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR BOND FUNDS.

IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN DEFEASING DEBT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND THAT HAS GIVEN US ROOM WITHIN OUR TAX RATE TO BE ABLE TO LOWER IT, $0.05 TO BE ABLE TO STILL CONTINUE TO LOWER OUR TOTAL EFFECTIVE RATE TO LOWER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IN THE HISTORY OF CARROLL ISD.

SO IT'S THE GOOD WORK OF THIS BOARD AND OUR DISTRICT LEADERS THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

AND YOU KNOW, WHILE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE ARE ASKING THEIR COMMUNITIES TO ENCUMBER DEBT 30 TO 40 YEARS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING OFF OUR DEBT. AND YOU'RE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE DOLLAR.

AND TRUSTEES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON TONIGHT, ANOTHER DEFEASEMENT. AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT WORD, JUST THINK OF IT LIKE YOUR HOME MORTGAGE. IF YOU WANT TO PAY A LITTLE MORE ON YOUR MONTHLY MORTGAGE SO THAT YOU CAN PAY IT OFF IN A IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT OUR TRUSTEES ARE DOING.

THEY'RE PAYING IT OFF. THEY'RE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. THEY'RE TRYING TO TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OF THE DEBT.

THE DISTRICT IS I GUESS, PUT IN PLACE OVER, OVER MANY YEARS.

RIGHT? YEAH. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

THANKS. I'M SUPPOSED TO READ SOMETHING I KNOW I AM.

OKAY AT THIS TIME. I'LL RECOGNIZE ANY SPEAKERS WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY SPOKEN EARLIER DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

OKAY. THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2025-26 TAX RATE FOR THE 2025-26 FISCAL YEAR.

THE HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TEN.

[10. PUBLIC HEARING TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF EFFICIENCY AUDIT ]

AT THIS TIME, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS DECLARED OPEN, AND I WILL ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

MR. PARK. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

THIS TIME I'M HERE TO DISCUSS OUR EFFICIENCY AUDIT FINDINGS.

SO THE PURPOSE OF AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT. THIS WAS PLACED BACK IN 2019 WITH THE 86 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UNDER HOUSE BILL THREE THAT REQUIRED THE DISTRICT TO UNDERGO AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT. PRIOR TO HOLDING THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OR RATIFICATION ELECTION.

AND SO, SO YOU KNOW, OUR TASK AS A DISTRICT WAS TO HIRE A FIRM TO, TO DO THESE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES.

THAT WILL PROVIDE A SET OF INFORMATIONAL STATISTICS THAT KIND OF RANK US WITH, WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE LIKE US. SO WE ELECTED TO HIRE WHITLEY PENN TO PERFORM THIS AGREED UPON PROCEDURES. CELINA CERECERES WAS OUR PARTNER IN CHARGE.

[01:10:05]

SO THE GUIDELINES ARE SET BY THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD.

AND THEN JUST OUR, OUR INPUT AS WELL AS THE AUDITOR'S INPUT, WE SELECTED THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TO BE OUR PEER DISTRICTS FOR THIS AUDIT. SO JUST SOME STATISTICS TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE. SO BASICALLY ESSENTIALLY THIS AUDIT REALLY CONFIRMED THAT THAT CARROLL ISD IS ONE OF THE LOWEST REVENUE PER STUDENT DISTRICTS IN THE STATE. AND OUR LOCAL M&O TAX REVENUE.

WE ARE SITTING AT ABOUT $7,500 PER STUDENT WHILE OUR PEER DISTRICTS RAISE $8100.

AND THE STATE. OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DISTRICTS GET GET HELP FROM RECAPTURE DISTRICTS LIKE US.

THEY'RE REVENUE PER STUDENT WITH THE LOCAL REVENUE IS $4500.

HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL REVENUES, WE ARE SITTING AT $11,000 PER STUDENT WHILE OUR PEER DISTRICTS GENERATE ABOUT 11 FIVE, AND THEN THE STATE IS AT OVER $13,000 PER STUDENT.

ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE, BECAUSE WE GENERATE SO LITTLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, REQUIRED OR WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO, TO SPEND $11,600 PER STUDENT. WHEREAS OUR PEER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE THEY'RE WELL OVER $12,000 PER STUDENT. APPAREL AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES.

WE'RE AT ABOUT 77%. AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, THIS WAS BASED AUDITED ON A TEN MONTH YEAR.

AND SO SOME OF THOSE FULL TIME SALARIES MIGHT, MIGHT NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEEN CALCULATED AT THE 12 MONTH RATE.

AND SO AND THAT'S BELOW OUR PEER DISTRICT AVERAGE OF ABOUT 80.5% EXTRACURRICULAR.

WE WE SPEND 4.6 OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES, 4.6%.

AND THAT'S ABOVE OUR PEER DISTRICTS BY BY 1.1%.

I THINK THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO JUST HOW GOOD OUR OUR ACADEMIC EXTRACURRICULAR AND ALSO OUR ATHLETIC EXTRACURRICULAR.

YOU KNOW, HOW DEEPLY THEY GO INTO EVERY PLAYOFF RUN, YOU KNOW, EVERY STATE AND NATIONAL COMPETITION THAT WE YOU KNOW, HAVE HAVE BEEN FUNDING IN THE PAST. AND SO THAT JUST SPEAKS TO THE EXCELLENCE THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE, OVER THE, YOU KNOW, YEARS. AND SO AND THEN ALSO ONE MORE HIGHLIGHT IS OUR PLANT AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY EXPENDITURES, 12.7% OF EXPENDITURES. BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD A BOND IN, IN, YOU KNOW, ALMOST A DECADE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST HAVING TO TO WHAT WOULD HISTORICALLY BE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THROUGH A BOND ELECTION OR SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORCED TO KIND OF PATCH THOSE UP USING M&O DOLLARS.

AND SO. WE USE ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR M&O FUNDS TO COVER WHAT MAY BE.

YEAH. GENERAL GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR FOR ALL THE BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT, I THINK ONE THING THAT'S THAT'S WORTH NOTING HERE, THAT DELTA THAT 11 SIX TO THE 12, TWO OF OUR PEER DISTRICTS ASSUMING THE SAME ENROLLMENT OF THOSE PEER DISTRICTS, WHICH I KNOW THEY FLUCTUATE JUST LOOKING AT THE LIST YOU PROVIDED.

BUT BUT ASSUMING THE SAME ENROLLMENT, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 8 MILLION MORE DOLLARS.

SO YOU KNOW, JUST AS WE TALK ABOUT, LIKE, THE, EQUITY WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM, IT DEFINITELY TARGETS DISTRICTS LIKE CARROLL.

AND CERTAINLY WE'RE AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE WE DON'T GET A LOT OF THOSE MULTIPLIERS THAT THAT THE STATE TENDS TO INCENTIVIZE.

AND I LIKE TO PUT ON ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS ON THIS PAGE, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP LOCAL M&O TAX REVENUE.

SO BECAUSE WE HAD TO PAY AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY BACK TO THE STATE IN THE FORM OF RECAPTURE OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MILLION THIS YEAR, WE ONLY GET TO KEEP 74, 52 PER STUDENT OF THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE BRING IN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND BECAUSE OF US OFFERING SO MANY PROGRAMS AND YOU KNOW, THE CURRICULUM AND EVERYTHING WE DO EXTRA IN THIS DISTRICT, AND WE HAVEN'T CUT REALLY ANYTHING SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO LIMP ALONG TO SEE IF OUR LEGISLATORS WOULD DO SOMETHING IN

[01:15:03]

WHERE DOES THAT $4,000 COME FROM? IT COMES FROM BOOSTER CLUBS.

IT COMES FROM, YOU KNOW, FUND RAISERS. IT COMES FROM PARENTS.

IT COMES FROM COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU KNOW, WE AND I APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, THE DEBATE TEAM COMING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THEIR PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, BUT THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

WE ARE HANGING ON BY A STRING. AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE GREAT PROGRAMS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER.

IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH $4,000 A STUDENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE PUTTING A VATRE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, WHICH WILL NET US AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION THAT WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE.

THAT WILL BE WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP HERE IN THE IN THE DISTRICT AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABOUT TO, YOU KNOW, VOTE ON THE TAX RATE HERE IN A SECOND.

BUT IF WE VOTE IN FAVOR FOR THAT TAX RATE THAT LEAVES OUT ANY QUESTION COME NOVEMBER OF OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO RAISE TAXES BECAUSE THE VOTERS APPROVED A VATRE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN PASSED AND IT'S LOWER IT'S THE LOWEST IT'S EVER BEEN IN CARROLL ISD HISTORY.

SO I THINK THOSE TWO NUMBERS ARE TELLING NUMBERS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY POST AND TALKING POINTS.

AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND SAY, WELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO COME UP WITH THE $4,000 A STUDENT DEFICIT THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW? AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD IS TRYING TO DO, ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE BUDGET REDUCTION ACTION COMMITTEE.

AND THAT IS COMING UP WITH WAYS THAT WE CAN AND GENERATE EXTRA REVENUE WITHOUT HAVING TO CUT SIGNIFICANTLY PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM AND KEEP KEEP OUR SALARIES, KEEP OUR TEACHERS, KEEP OUR STAFF UP IN THAT 95% OF MARKET VALUE IN TERMS OF SALARY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS THIS GRAPHIC, MR. PARK. AND LAST SLIDE. JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS. YOU KNOW, DESPITE OUR, OUR FUNDING CHALLENGES YOU KNOW, AND OUR KIND OF LIMITED ABILITY TO FUND EVERYTHING WE DO, YOU KNOW, WE STILL PRODUCE, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC RATINGS IN THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WERE RATED AS A AND THEN AND THEN OUR YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS JUST GOT PUBLISHED YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK FOR, FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A'S AGAIN FIRST READING CONTINUES TO TO BE SUPERIOR WITH A RATING.

AND OUR ATTENDANCE, YOU KNOW, DESPITE IT GOING DOWN A PERCENT OR TWO OVER, YOU KNOW, SINCE SINCE COVID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL VERY HIGH COMPARED TO THE STATE AND OUR PEERS.

AND SO AND I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING AGAIN. AND, DOCTOR GLENN, MAYBE YOU CAN JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ON THIS.

AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTENDANCE RATE.

I MEAN, JUST JUST 1% INCREASE TO 96.7 NET'S US WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS? YEAH, CLOSE CLOSE TO $1 MILLION. AND I KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT TRUSTEE BOTTOM SPOKE ABOUT A LOT WHEN WE WERE DOING TAKE ACTION DRAGONS IS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO GENERATE FUNDING BECAUSE WE ARE FUNDED BASED ON ATTENDANCE, NOT ON ENROLLMENT, IS MAKING SURE THAT THAT OUR KIDS COME TO SCHOOL.

AND SO, YEAH, IF WE WERE ABLE TO TO SHIFT THAT NUMBER TO TO 96.7, THAT WOULD BE NEARLY $1 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

THANK YOU. NOW, THAT'S MY SHAMELESS PLUG. PLEASE TAKE YOUR VACATIONS.

I'M ALWAYS GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY DURING SPRING BREAK DURING CHRISTMAS.

PLEASE DO NOT PLAN YOUR VACATIONS. YOU KNOW WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.

BECAUSE WE TAKE A HIT EVERY TIME YOUR CHILD IS OUT OF SCHOOL.

WE ABSOLUTELY TAKE A HIT. SO AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TOO.

WE PUT THE CALENDAR TOGETHER SO FAR IN ADVANCE SO THAT PARENTS CAN PLAN.

WELL AND IF YOU'LL RECALL, SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THERE IS STAFF FUNDING THAT IS ALSO NOW TIED TO ATTENDANCE.

SO OUR ABILITY TO PAY SOME OF OUR COUNSELORS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER STAFF BEYOND OUR TEACHERS, AGAIN, IS TIED TO ATTENDANCE. WE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY NEED KIDS IN CLASS.

WE CAN'T HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW, LEAVING AND STARTING SCHOOL A MONTH LATER THAN IT ACTUALLY STARTS.

GOOD POINT. WITH OUR ENROLLMENT DECLINING, IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUTS MORE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE ON MAXIMIZING EVERY DOLLAR THAT THAT WE ARE ALLOTTED TO GET. BUT, YOU KNOW, DUE TO ATTENDANCE.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT.

UP FOR OTHER DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MR. PARK.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL RECOGNIZE ANY SPEAKERS WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY SPOKEN EARLIER DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT. ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RESULTS OF THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

[01:20:01]

THANK YOU, BOARD. TRUSTEE YEAGER. NOW WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

AND I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT AS PRESENTED.

SECOND MOTION. AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MR. PARK. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 11 11.1. CONSIDER 2025 2026 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK,

[11. INFORMATION ]

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BRYAN AND DOCTOR GLENN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE 2025 2026 STUDENT HANDBOOK AND CODE OF CONDUCT FOR YOUR REVIEW. WE BRING THIS BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

WE WORKED WITH T FOR RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE LATEST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND WE'VE ALSO MADE SOME STANDARD UPDATES AS FAR AS NAMES, DATES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO GET UPDATED FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE REGARDING THE HANDBOOK OR CODE OF CONDUCT.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. NICKEL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO 11.2. CONSIDER DRAFT 2025 2026 EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.

MISS KIBODEAUX. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE 2025 2026 EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.

THIS UPDATE IS BASED ON THE MODEL PROVIDED BY T WHICH INCLUDES REVISIONS THAT REFLECT KEY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES THROUGH THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS. HOUSE BILL 4623. THE LIABILITY FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND FAILURE TO REPORT.

SENATE BILL 571 REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE.

THAT CHANGE MOVED FROM REPORTING FROM 48 HOURS TO NOW 24 HOURS HAS TO BE RECORDED.

AND DID MAKE SOME UPDATES TO OUR TRIBAL POLICY AND.

YEAH. OKAY. SO IS IS OUR POST DISTRICT TRAVEL POLICY NOW INCLUDED FOR, LIKE, OUR ACADEMIC AND OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS? YES. OKAY. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE SIGNING OFF ON.

IS THAT THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT HAS KIND OF JUST OCCURRED THIS EVENING, I REALLY WANTED TO LOOK INTO SEE, YOU KNOW, EVALUATE.

WE WERE KIND OF GETTING SOME FEEDBACK THAT THIS BOARD FOCUSES ON ATHLETICS AND FUNDS ATHLETICS MUCH HIGHER THAN OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. SO I DID A LITTLE ANALYSIS TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT IS IN FACT TRUE.

SO THE BOARD OR THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO FUND ALL SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. ABSOLUTELY. ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES LIKE 100%.

100%. AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT. BUT WHEN THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THEY MAKE IT TO PLAYOFFS AND WHATNOT.

THAT IS PART OF A POST DISTRICT TRAVEL POLICY.

YEAH. AND SO THAT'S UIL AS WELL. OKAY. SO FOR FOR SO THAT I'LL INCLUDE UIL.

BUT THEN ANY OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL THAT IS NOT UIL.

SURE. AND YEAH WE DO HAVE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME YOU'LL HAVE LIKE THE DECA, WHICH IS, WHICH IS LIKE A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION FOR STUDENTS.

AND THEY'LL GET THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A TRIP TO, LET'S SAY DISNEYLAND AND, OR THE BAND WILL GO TO DISNEY OR TMEA AND SO YOU WE GET A LOT OF, WE GET A LOT OF TRIPS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE, WHICH IS OUR RECOGNIZED STATE COMPETITIONS FOR ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS AND ACADEMICS.

AND SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE THAT ARE GOING OUTSIDE, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE GIVEN ALL THE PRINCIPALS A BUDGET ALLOCATION AND THEY CAN DISPERSE THAT AS THEY SEE FIT. SO SO THERE MAY BE THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THEIR BUDGET TO HELP DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEY MAY CHOOSE TO FULLY FUND ONE PROGRAM. THEY CAN, I GUESS, EXPLAIN THAT TO THEIR TEACHERS.

YOU KNOW, WE DO GIVE THEM THAT AUTONOMY AS CAMPUS LEADERS.

OR THEY MAY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FUNDING OUR COACHES SO KIDS AREN'T HAVING TO FUNDRAISE TO PAY FOR COACHES TO GO ON THESE TRIPS.

OR THEY MAY SAY, LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PAY PARTIAL BECAUSE I HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

BUT BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT BUDGET ALLOCATION THEN EITHER BOOSTER CLUBS OR FAMILIES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR COST.

[01:25:04]

IS THE DISTRICT ALLOCATED $140,000 TO OUR ACADEMIC RELATED TRAVEL? SO YOU JUST NAMED THEM LIKE BAND, BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, DECA, SPEECH AND DEBATE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THE DISTRICT ALSO ALLOCATED EQUAL AMOUNT $140,000 TO OUR 15 DIFFERENT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, THEY DID GO OVER SOME.

THEY SPENT $147,000. BUT OUR ACADEMIC TRAVEL, THEY SPENT $291,000.

SO MORE THAN TWICE OF WHAT WAS ALLOCATED. SO IF THE QUESTION IS ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OR ATHLETICS? IT'S ACADEMICS 100 PERCENT. THE ANSWER IS OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AND I JUST WANT TO ENSURE, AS WE'RE KIND OF MANAGING OUR BUDGETS AND TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR EXPENSES AND, YOU KNOW, STAYING WITHIN BOUNDARIES, THAT EVERYBODY IS SIGNING OFF ON THAT POLICY, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE PROUD TO DO THAT. AND WE ARE A DISTRICT THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON GIVING KIDS EXPERIENCES.

WE'RE JUST AT A POINT FINANCIALLY WITH A $4 MILLION DEFICIT WHERE IT'S HARD TO PAY FOR EVERY EXPERIENCE.

AND SO IT'S REASONABLE THAT YOU GO TO BOOSTER CLUBS, IT'S REASONABLE THAT YOU GO TO PARENTS AND SAY, AND YOU KNOW, I'LL SPEAK. YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT MYSELF, MY SON WAS ASKED TO GO RUN IN UTAH WITH COACH LEONARD.

AND SO WE WROTE A CHECK SO THAT HE COULD RUN IN UTAH THIS SUMMER WITH COACH LEONARD.

HE'S A CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNER. AND SO IT'S REASONABLE THAT THAT A COACH MAY COME TO A PARENT AND SAY, YOU HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE, YOU HAVE TO PAY A FEE. I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PROGRAMS ARE KIND OF USED TO HERE IN CARROLL.

SOME APPARENTLY OR NOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LINKING THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD POINTS TRUSTEE BOTTOM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. THANKS MR. KIBODEAUX. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12. 12.1 CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF AN ORDER CALL AND A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4TH,

[12. DISCUSSION/ACTION ]

THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME. HERE TO SEEK APPROVAL OR FOR THE BOARD TO CALL THE NOVEMBER 4TH VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. PARK. I MOVE PRESIDENT BRYAN AND BOARD TO APPROVE THE ORDER, CALLING A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025. SECOND MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU, MR. PARK. NEXT UP IS ITEM 12.2. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL.

ON AN ORDER DIRECTING THE DEFEASANCE OR REDEMPTION OF CERTAIN OF CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OUTSTANDING UNLIMITED TAX BONDS ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE SLIDES WERE PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING, BUT SO IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN JUNE, WE ADOPTED A BUDGET THAT WAS BASED ON AN ASSUMED I&S TAX RATE OF 2748. AND SO THAT WAS WE WERE BUDGETED TO GENERATE 39.5, APPROXIMATELY A MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE COLLECTIONS. SINCE THEN, WE JUST APPROVED A RATE OF 24, 41.

AND SO THE ESTIMATED REVENUE GENERATION FROM THAT TAX RATE ON THE I&S SIDE WILL BE A LITTLE LOWER AT 36.5 MILLION. AND THAT INCLUDES THE LOCAL COLLECTIONS.

AND THEN ALSO OUR I&S HOLD HARMLESS FROM THE STATE AND THEN AND THEN DELINQUENT TAX PENALTIES AND INTEREST FROM, PRIOR YEARS. THE DEFEASANCE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IS, IS UP TO $10 MILLION. I HAD A SLIDE THAT SHOWED OUR OUTSTANDING DISTRICT BONDS AS OF JUNE 30TH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING THIS SLIDE, IS THAT SLIDE NOT AVAILABLE? SORRY. NO, NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AS OF JUNE 30TH, WE HAD AROUND 215, $216 MILLION OUTSTANDING DEBT. AND SO A DIFFERENCE OF $10 MILLION A YEAR WOULD WHAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COME OUT WITH A WITH WITH A BALANCED BUDGET ON THE I&S SIDE? AND, AND OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, US CAPITAL WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING QUITE HEAVILY ABOUT WHAT STRATEGY WOULD, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE US THE HIGHEST NET PRESENT VALUE, INTEREST SAVINGS AS WELL AS GENERATE

[01:30:06]

AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE WHEN YOU DECIDE WHICH YEAR OF, OF BONDS TO CALL. AND SO SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT EXERCISE.

SO, ONE SCENARIO THAT THAT US CAPITAL PROVIDED TO US ON A $10 MILLION DEFEASANCE USING JUST 2026 THROUGH 2030 MATURITIES. SO A $10 MILLION DIFFERENCE WOULD NET A PRESENT VALUE INTEREST SAVINGS OF OVER $800,000. AND SO, IF YOU RECALL, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I BELIEVE WE ARE CLOSE TO ABOUT 15 OR $16 MILLION OF PRESENT VALUE INTEREST SAVINGS FOR OUR TAXPAYERS ON THE $45 MILLION DEFEASED DEBT THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD CONTINUE THAT TREND OF OF JUST BEING BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH, WITH THAT, WITH THAT OUTSTANDING DEBT. AND SO THAT WOULD SET US UP WELL FOR, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY, ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE BOND CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF, OF EVEN LOWERING OUR TAX RATE, $0.05.

SO EVEN DESPITE VOTING TO LOWER THE I&S RATE BY FIVE PENNIES.

WE'RE STILL ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DEFEASEMENT OF OUR BONDING.

YES, SIR. AND AND YOU KNOW THAT. I MEAN, I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS YOU KNOW, THE MAX CAPACITY WE HAVE CURRENTLY IS STILL OVER 300,000, $300 MILLION THAT THAT WE COULD CALL YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD TO. AND SO YOU KNOW, LEAVES US IN A, IN A GREAT CAPITAL SITUATION ON OUR I&S SIDE.

EXCELLENT. SO THE NEXT STEPS IS JUST TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO DEFEASE UP TO $10 MILLION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS THROUGH THIS YEAR AND OUR BOND COUNSEL TO YOU KNOW, DETERMINE WHAT THAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS AND THEN ALSO EXECUTE THE, THE TRANSACTION WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES TIME. EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. PARK. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FROM MR. PARK.

TRUSTEE YEAGER. I WISH WE HAD THAT GREAT SLIDE.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S GOOD TRUST US, FOLKS. WE'LL SEND IT OUT TOMORROW MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO DEFEASEMENT IT'S OUR FAVORITE WORD AROUND HERE. I MOVE PRESIDENT BRYANT AND TRUSTEES THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE ORDER AS PRESENTED FOR CASH TO DEFEASEMENT OF BONDED DEBT PREPARED BY BOND COUNSEL.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MR. PARK. NEXT UP IS ITEM 12.3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, INCLUDING ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY.

PRESIDENT BRYANT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. DOCTOR GLENN, I'M PRESENTING TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL.

THE 3.6 ACRES AT 601 SILICONE DRIVE. THIS PROPERTY MUST BE DEEMED SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED WITH ADVERTISING FOR SALE. THANK YOU, MR. MOONEY.

ANYBODY HAVE A USE OF IT, I GUESS. OKAY, GOOD.

PRESIDENT BRYAN AND TRUSTEES, I MOVE THAT THIS BOARD APPROVE THE ACTION ITEM AND RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE PROPERTY SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADVERTISE THE PROPERTY FOR SALE. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, MR. MOONEY. AND JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY LOCATED ACROSS FROM DRAGON STADIUM.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND LANNY MOONEY ACTUALLY FINDING THAT AS HE WAS GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT PROPERTIES FOR THE DISTRICT AND RECOGNIZING THAT THAT WAS ONE THAT COULD BE DEEMED SURPLUS. SO THANK YOU. GOOD WORK.

MR. MOONEY. THANK YOU, MR. MOONEY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP ITEM 13, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[13. CONSENT AGENDA ]

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BASEBALL BOOSTERS. YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS HAS BEEN SO MUCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF BOOSTER CLUBS. WE HAD A GENTLEMAN, COME SPEAK AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND WE HAD MANY STUDENTS PASSIONATELY ASK FOR FUNDING.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT AVENUE TO HELP THAT GREAT SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM THAT WE DO HAVE.

[INAUDIBLE] IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, AND THAT IS THAT THE BASEBALL TRIP THAT OUR BASEBALL TEAM WILL BE MAKING TO ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, THIS COMING FEBRUARY AND COMING BACK ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY.

THIS IS A FUNDRAISING BASEBALL TRIP, I SHOULD SAY.

IT IS BEING COMPLETELY FUNDED BY THE BASEBALL BOOSTERS.

[01:35:01]

THANK YOU. MY NEXT DONATION, PRESIDENT BRYAN AND BOARD IS FROM THE DRAGON CHEER BOOSTER CLUB, ANOTHER GREAT CLUB THAT DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.

AND THANK YOU. I SEE WE SEE ACTUALLY A CHECK COMING RIGHT NOW TO US.

[LAUGHTER] WE APPRECIATE THIS IS HAPPENING LIVE.

AND THAT IS A DONATION OF $40,000. AND THAT PURPOSE IS THANK YOU.

THE DRAGONS, YOUR COACHES AND CHOREOGRAPHERS.

WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THAT PROGRAM.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. AND LASTLY, PRESIDENT BRYAN AND BOARD THE NTN PARENT CLUB.

WE KNOW THAT'S OUR CLUB SWIM PROGRAM HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

$15,000 DONATION. VERY GENEROUS. THIS WILL FUND PURCHASE OF A NEW SCORE BOARD AT THE AQUATICS CENTER, THE ELISE CERAMI AQUATIC CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

GREAT NTN GROUP. PRESIDENT BRYAN. JUST GREAT EXAMPLES OF BOOSTER CLUBS HELPING OUT OUR DRAGON KIDDOS.

EXACTLY RIGHT. TRUSTEE YEAGER AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

NO OBJECTION. WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 7:38 P.M..

THANK YOU. BOARD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.