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[00:00:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE CALL MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I AM REGINA HARRIS, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

WE DO HAVE QUORUM PRESENT AND THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:01 P.M..

[II. ENTER CLOSED MEETING]

THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE TO A CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS.

WELCOME TO THIS CALLED MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THIS BOARD HAS BEEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS AND IS RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION AT 6:06 P.M., HAVING TAKEN NO ACTION WHILE IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

HOWEVER, MISS PACHECO WAS FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER TODAY AND IS UNABLE TO JOIN US IN THIS MEETING, SO WISH HER WELL.

THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION MS.

[IV. PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION]

RENTERÍA. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS FOR PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THE AGENDA ITEMS? WE DO MS. HARRIS.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. HARRIS. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WELCOME OUR VISITORS.

SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON AGENDA RELATED TOPICS OR NON AGENDA RELATED TOPICS AT REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS, AT WORK SESSIONS OR OTHER CALLED MEETINGS PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. SPEAKERS HAVE 3 MINUTES TO PRESENT COMMENTS UNLESS THE TIME OF ALL SPEAKERS HAS BEEN REDUCED DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

IN ADDITION, A DIGITAL TIMER WILL PROJECT ON THE SCREEN AND WILL COUNT DOWN A SPEAKER'S FROM 3 MINUTES TO ZERO.

SPEAKERS MAY REFER TO THE SCREEN FOR THEIR REMAINING TIME.

A COPY OF THE BOARD'S PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING THE BOARD ALSO IS LOCATED ON THE TABLE IN THE FOYER.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WATCHING THE VIDEO.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.

SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON AGENDA RELATED TOPICS OR NON AGENDA RELATED TOPICS AT REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS, AT WORK SESSIONS OR OTHER CALLED MEETINGS.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. A PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD BEFORE THE MEETING TO INDICATE HE OR SHE WISHES TO SPEAK.

CARDS ARE LOCATED IN THE FOYER OF THE AUDITORIUM AND COMPLETED CARDS MUST BE PLACED IN THE DESIGNATED BOX NO LATER THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN.

SPEAKERS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE WRITTEN MATERIALS TO THE BOARD SHOULD ATTACH THEM TO THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT CARD.

A STAFF MEMBER WILL PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS TO THE BOARD.

PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH THE HORSESHOE AREA DURING COMMENTS.

THE BOARD WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DIALOG WITH THE SPEAKERS.

THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE OR MAKE A DECISION ON ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

A SPEAKER MAY COMPLETE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT CARD FOR EACH MEETING.

EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 3 MINUTES, UNLESS THE TIME OF ALL SPEAKERS HAS BEEN REDUCED DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

A SPEAKER MAY NOT TAKE THE TIME OF ANOTHER SPEAKER.

SPEAKERS WHO SPEAK THROUGH A FOREIGN LANGUAGE OR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TIME.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO PRESENT FORMAL COMPLAINTS.

THE BOARD WILL ONLY CONSIDER FORMAL COMPLAINTS THAT REMAIN UNRESOLVED AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED THROUGH PROPER ADMINISTRATIVE CHANNELS AND WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE AGENDA. THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL STATE THE SPEAKER'S NAME AND COMMENT TOPIC OR TOPICS AS IDENTIFIED ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT CARD.

A SPEAKER SHOULD APPROACH THE PODIUM AT THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM WHEN HIS OR HER NAME IS CALLED.

EACH SPEAKER SHOULD CLEARLY STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND THE RISD SCHOOL OR SCHOOLS THE SPEAKER'S CHILDREN ATTEND OR HAVE ATTENDED BEFORE BEGINNING TO COMMENT.

THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL KEEP THE TIME FOR EACH SPEAKER.

A SPEAKER MUST PROMPTLY END HIS OR HER COMMENTS WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME HAS ELAPSED.

NOT YIELDING THE PODIUM AS WELL AS REMARKS OR OTHER CONDUCT THAT DISRUPT THE MEETING ARE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

VISITORS AND STAFF MUST LISTEN QUIETLY DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STAFF OR MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE TO CLAP, CHEER, BOO, DISPLAY BANNERS OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT.

PERSONS WHO DISRUPT THE MEETING WILL BE CAUTIONED TO OBSERVE MEETING RULES.

ANY PERSON WHO PERSISTS IN ENGAGING IN DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.

A PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS CONSENTING TO THE ONLINE PUBLICATION OF HIS OR HER COMMENTS.

A COPY OF THE PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS LOCATED ON THE INFORMATION TABLE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE AUDITORIUM.

[00:05:11]

SPEAKERS. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AT THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. RANDY BLANKENSHIP, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON WELCOME NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

I THOUGHT THE TOPIC WOULD GET YOU EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS RANDY BLANKENSHIP AND I WISH TO THANK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

TOPIC WELCOME NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

I WISH TO WELCOME MISS TABITHA BRANUM AS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF THE RICHARDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU WILL FIND MY CHALLENGE.

YOU WILL FIND MANY CHALLENGES AWAITING YOU.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT QUALITY, HONEST AND REFRESHING PERSONNEL SURROUNDING YOU TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THOSE MOMENTS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. UPHOLDING THE HONORED POSITION YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SCRUTINIZED IN.

I WILL BE HERE IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND GIVING SOLUTIONS AS I HAVE IN THE PAST.

MY PRESENCE AND PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE ENDEAVORS WILL BE LIKE THE PAST.

IF YOU OR YOUR TEAM RESOLVE PROBLEMS, YOU WILL FIND APPRECIATIVE PARENTS AND GRATEFUL COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, IF YOU AND THE BOARD CONTINUE TO DISMISS EVERY TOPIC AND CLAIM BROUGHT FORWARD, YOUR TIME WILL BE MET WITH TURBULENCE AND STRUGGLES.

IN CLOSING, I WISH YOU ABOARD, WELCOME YOU ABOARD AS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND WISH YOU WELL IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

IF YOU EVER NEED AN HONEST WORD, YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON ME AND MY FRIENDS TO OBLIGE WILLINGLY.

WITH RESPECT AND A WHOLE LOT OF HONESTY.

I WARMLY WELCOME YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BLANKENSHIP. ONE OF MY BETTER TIMES.

THANK YOU, SIR. MS. HARRIS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU, MS. RENTERÍA.

OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM IS TO CONSIDER THE HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT.

[V. A. Human Resources Report]

MRS. BRANUM.

THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. THIS IS A REGULAR ROUTINE ITEM THAT WE BRING FORWARD.

HOWEVER, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE QUICKLY HIRING STAFF TO BE READY FOR AUGUST 16TH.

AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE CONTRACTS APPROVED BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT IS ON THIS LIST.

DR. GOODSON, IS THERE ANY OTHER CONTEXT YOU WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THIS ITEM? NO. OTHER THAN THAT, IT INCLUDES TEACHERS AND ALL EMPLOYEE TYPES ON THE LIST.

THANK YOU, DR. GOODSON.

AND SO WITH THAT, I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE LIST AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU. MS. BRANUM, IS THERE A MOTION.

SO MOVED. THANK YOU, MR. POTEET. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

THANK YOU, MISS TIMME. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION BY MR. POTEET. A SECOND BY MISS TIMME.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.

MOTION PASSES SIX ZERO.

RIGHT NOW FOR THE ACTION ITEM THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

[V. B. Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Employment Contract and Employment of Tabitha Branum as Superintendent]

TEXAS LAW REQUIRES A 21 DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A CONTRACT MAY BE ENTERED INTO WITH THE LONE FINALIST FOR SUPERINTENDENT. AS THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, THE BOARD NAMED MRS. TABITHA BRANUM AS THE LONE FINALIST ON JULY 18TH.

WE ARE NOW PERMITTED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO CONSIDER HER CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE RICHARDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IS THERE A MOTION? WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. AREN'T YOU? HOW ABOUT SO MOVED? THANK YOU. MR. EAGER.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MS. RENTERÍA. THERE IS A MOTION BY MR. EAGER. A SECOND BY MS. RENTERÍA. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, COLLEAGUES? MR. POTEET. WHY DID YOU LOOK AT ME? I DIDN'T EVEN RAISE MY HAND.

I MEAN, IS THIS JUST REPUTATION AS A PUT A MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF ME? SO, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO STATE HOW PROUD I AM TO SUPPORT THIS DECISION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK I'VE VALUED WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MS. BRANUM OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

WE'VE SEEN HER IN A LOT OF ROLES IN A YEAR, SO NOT TYPICAL THAT MANY, BUT SHE HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE FUTURE.

[00:10:02]

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS NEXT YEAR HAS.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE BEYOND THAT.

AND I WILL SAY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, YOU EARNED THIS SUPPORT YOU EARN TO THIS ROLE AND RISD WILL BE PROUD TO HAVE YOU.

SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES.

MISS TIMME.

I, AS WELL AS MR. POTEET, AM THRILLED FOR THIS TONIGHT.

I THINK YOU ARE THE PERFECT PERSON FOR FOR THIS POSITION GOING FORWARD.

I THINK YOUR LACK OF EGO AND YOUR SELFLESS LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT THAT YOUR STAFF HERE WHEN WE ANNOUNCED IT BROKE INTO HAPPY TEARS, TOLD US ALL THAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW.

AND I THINK THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE EASIEST THING I EVER SUPPORT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO ON THE BOARD.

SO I THINK WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND THRILLED TO CALL YOU SUPERINTENDENT.

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

MR. EAGER. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADD TO THAT, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY, VERY LUCKY.

THE FUTURE IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT.

OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND TEAM ARE JUST VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME AND YOU'RE GOING TO IMPACT A LOT OF KIDS LIVES. SO THANK YOU.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO MAKE THIS MOTION.

MS. MCGOWAN.

NO. MS. RENTERÍA. SO YEAH, I'M LIKE, WELL, RACHEL SAID, YOU GO AHEAD.

SO. SO I WILL.

NO. FOR ME, I THINK I SHARED ALREADY MANY TIMES THAT THE SENSE OF GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE JUST SO MUCH GRATITUDE.

I'M SO GRATEFUL.

FIRST OF ALL, TO OUR SEARCH FIRM, TO OUR ODC.

I CALLED A SHORT ODC SEARCH FORM.

MR. RAMIREZ WAS OUT THERE.

AGAIN THEY HAVE BEEN THEY WERE JUST PHENOMENAL.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE GUIDANCE AND THE DIRECTION AND THE HELP THAT THEY GAVE US IN HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES.

I'M SO, SO GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DID IT.

WE ABSOLUTELY DID IT.

WE WORKED HARD.

WE STAYED COMMITTED.

WE STAYED STEADFAST ON WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

AND EVEN THROUGH THE SUMMER AND FAMILY VACATIONS AND MEETING EVERYTHING THAT WE DID, WE WERE JUST TOTALLY COMMITTED.

AND TO DOING THIS RIGHT AND HAVING THIS PROCESS BE WHAT IT IS THAT IT'S GREAT.

AND THEN ALSO JUST I'M SO, SO GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO WHO ATTENDED OUR TOWN HALLS, WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR SURVEYS, FOR EVERY PERSON WHO JUST REALLY BROUGHT FORTH THEIR THEIR VOICE AND GIVING US THEIR INSIGHT ON WHAT THEY WANTED FOR THIS DISTRICT. AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOT THE ABSOLUTELY BEST PERSON, BEST FIT FOR OUR ISD.

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

I FEEL VERY BLESSED.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME, AWESOME YEAR.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AWESOME YEAR AS WELL.

I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

YOU BRING AN ENERGY TO THIS DISTRICT THAT I'VE NOT SEEN IN A REALLY LONG TIME.

THE TEACHERS ARE EXCITED, THE KIDS ARE EXCITED, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY IS EXCITED.

AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AND HOW YOU GUYS AND THE FIRM PULLED OUR COMMUNITY IN TO MAKE THIS DECISION EASIER FOR US ULTIMATELY.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN THE HOURS AND GETTING READY TO DO THIS REALLY, REALLY HARD WORK.

SO GOOD LUCK.

WE GOT YOUR BACK. I'M SO SORRY, MS. HARRIS. I FORGOT ONE THING. I DID WANT TO THANK TABITHA'S FAMILY FOR BEING HERE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HIRE A SUPERINTENDENT, YOU DON'T JUST HIRE THE ONE PERSON YOU HIRE.

THE WHOLE GROUP HAS TO HELP AND SUPPORT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

I KNOW THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY PROUDER THAN THE BOARD UP HERE, IT WOULD BE YOU GUYS.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ALLOWING YOUR MOM TO AND YOUR WIFE TO TO LEAD OUR DISTRICT.

AND WE ARE ALREADY PROUD OF HER FOR THE JOB SHE'S DONE.

BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL BE EXPONENTIALLY BETTER AND THAT THIS WHOLE DISTRICT WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR HER SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO.

SO WITHOUT FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID, SO ABSOLUTELY DITTO TO EVERYTHING THEY'VE SAID.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I'VE KNOWN TABITHA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

BUT WHEN I TELL YOU, WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH HER HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE.

SHE KNOWS THIS DISTRICT LIKE THE BACK OF HER HANDS.

SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS DISTRICT.

[00:15:02]

SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING THE WORK DONE.

SHE IS ABSOLUTELY A WORKHORSE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT.

I'M JEALOUS OF IT SOMETIMES.

NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER THAT I AM JUST ABSOLUTELY HONORED, HONORED TO BE SITTING HERE NEXT TO HER IN THIS ROLE AS PRESIDENT, BECAUSE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH HER. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER AND SHE'S GOING TO MAKE SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

WE HONOR YOU TONIGHT AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE THIS MOTION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. EAGER. A SECOND BY MS. RENTERÍA. ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS 6-0 MOTION PASSES.

[APPLAUSE] . THIS MEETING IS ACTUALLY ADJOURNED AT 6:22 P.M..

HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO SAY WE WILL NOW TRANSITION TO THE WELCOME RECEPTION FOR OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, MRS. TABITHA BRANUM IF YOU ARE STAYING FOR THE RECEPTION, PLEASE REMAIN SEATED OR IF YOU ARE IN THE FOYER, PLEASE COME ON IN TO THE AUDITORIUM FOR SOME BRIEF REMARKS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RECEPTION.

TRUSTEES. IF YOU ALL WOULD JUST JOIN ME AT THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM.

WE WILL BEGIN THE RECEPTION IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.