[I. CALL TO ORDER ]
[00:00:09]
>> [NOISE] GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. THIS IS GREAT.
WE FEEL LOVED AS SOON AS WE WALKED UPSTAIRS ACTUALLY, AND EVEN MORE THAT WE'VE COME DOWN HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MS. TIMME COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AND THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:04 PM.
DR. HELLER, WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE? YOUR MIC IS NOT ON, DR. HELLER.
PRESIDENT HARRIS, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM, AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR PLEDGE READERS FOR THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE BOY SCOUT TROOP NUMBER 890, FROM LAKE HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE HAVE MR. THOMAS PETRINI, MR. JASPER WILKINS, MR. AUSTIN OLDREDY, AND MR. FINN WILLIS, WHO ARE GOING TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES THIS EVENING.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE TEXAS PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. DR. HELLER.
PLEASE JOIN THE BOARD HERE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COLLEAGUES,
[I.B. Announcements / Communications ]
IT IS NOW TIME FOR RECOGNITION. DR. HELLER.>> YES. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD INVITE OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE HORSESHOE, AND AS WE DO EVERY MONTH AT OUR REGULAR MEETING, WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS TO RECOGNIZE STAFF AND STUDENTS THAT HAVE DONE SOME EXCEPTIONAL THINGS IN THE DISTRICT AND IN THE CLASSROOM.
[NOISE] IF YOU HAD NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE POSTERS IN AND AROUND THE AUDITORIUM THIS EVENING, IF YOU HAVE DRIVEN PAST ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND READ A SPECIAL MESSAGE ON A MARQUEE, JANUARY IS BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, AND WE ARE GOING TO KICK OFF OUR RECOGNITIONS AND APPRECIATIONS THIS MONTH TO HONOR OUR VERY OWN RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
JANUARY IS, AND EVERY JANUARY IS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH, AND RICHARDSON ISD IS CELEBRATING OUR TRUSTEES FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR DISTRICT.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH IS FORWARD TOGETHER, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE COLLABORATION AMONG SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS.
OUR TRUSTEES ARE SELFLESS VOLUNTEERS WHO SPEND LONG HOURS WORKING TO ENSURE EVERY RICHARDSON ISD STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW.
WE WANTED TO SHARE A VERY SHORT VIDEO THAT CELEBRATES OUR VERY OWN ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES THROUGH THE STUDENT'S EYES, SO WHY DON'T YOU ALL TURN AROUND AND TAKE A LOOK HERE UP ON THE SCREEN? I CAN SEE BRIAN IS CHECKING ON THE SOUND.
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>> [MUSIC] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
NOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BORING? BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THESE PEOPLE ARE ANYTHING BUT BORING.
THEY MAY NOT WEAR SUPERHERO CAPES OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOOT WEB OUT OF THEIR HANDS, BUT TRUST ME, THEY DO HAVE SUPERPOWERS.
>> [NOISE] I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:01 PM.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY. THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE TODAY IS SCHOOL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.
>> OH, MAN, I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT ALL YEAR.
CAN'T WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE FIRST?
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO PLAYGROUNDS.
>> CAN WE GO ON THE SLIDE FIRST?
>> GUYS, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO, WE DON'T PLAY ON THE EQUIPMENT, BUT WE DO GET TO APPROVE THE FUNDING.
>> WELL, I GUESS THAT'S COOL. [LAUGHTER]
>> LET'S GET BACK TO BUSINESS.
LET'S DIG INTO BUDGETS AND STAFF. [NOISE]
>> WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE? [LAUGHTER]
>> MAYBE IT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENS, BUT OUR TRUSTEES MAKE SURE TO GET THINGS DONE.
THEY SPEND LONG HOURS AT MEETINGS, POURING OVER BUDGETS AND POLICIES ALL IN THE NAME OF GIVING EVERY STUDENT THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, RISD TRUSTEES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION FOR THE RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY.
>> HAPPY SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
>> I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS OF APPRECIATION.
>> I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE WORDS TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE FOR THIS TEAM OF SEVEN.
TOGETHER WE'RE A TEAM OF EIGHT.
I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT AND THEY WILL THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF THIS TRITE CONCEPT.
BUT IT REALLY IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN FUNCTION.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE A TEAM OF EIGHT.
THESE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS ARE MY THOUGHT PARTNERS, THEY'RE MY SUPPORTERS.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHEN I AM REALLY TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH A COMPLEX PROBLEM, THEY ARE THERE TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU? WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS? I HAVE THE MOST AWESOME PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH SEVEN PEOPLE WHO DO IT UNSELFLESSLY.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH FOR THEMSELVES OTHER THAN TO LEND THEIR WISDOM AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR BELIEF AND THEIR VISION FOR WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS.
I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT WE SPEND PROBABLY MORE TIME TOGETHER AS A TEAM THAN WE DO SOMETIMES WITH OUR OWN FAMILIES.
TO OUR FAMILIES, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE EACH OF THEM A NOTE BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY IN THIS MONTH, THIS IS AS MUCH ABOUT CELEBRATING EACH OF YOU.
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S A THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE HOPEFULLY NOT UNTIL TOMORROW, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE.
THAT IS A TIME WHEN I KNOW THEY'RE NOT WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT THAT IS A TIME WHEN THEY ARE MISSING VITAL TIME THAT IS SO PRECIOUS AND OUR TIME IS NOT INFINITE.
YET YOU GIVE SELFLESSLY AND YOU SACRIFICE, WHETHER IT IS THEM NOT BEING AT A GAME, OR MAYBE THEY'RE MISSING A PRACTICE OR MAYBE YOU HAVE TO PICK UP AN EXTRA COUPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE SUPPORTING 37,000 KIDS.
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THEM.
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THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THEM TO DO WHAT THEY DO SO OUR TEAM CAN DO WHAT WE DO.THAT IS TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY.
WE'VE HAD A JOURNEY TOGETHER THIS PAST YEAR.
I'M JUST FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING BY OUR SIDE AS WE NAVIGATED THESE WATERS AND WE ARE IN SUCH A GREAT PLACE.
I SHARED WITH YOU EARLIER, ONE OF MY WORDS FOR THIS YEAR IS HOPE.
I HAVE SUCH HOPE AND BELIEF ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LOVING OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE RICHARDSON ISD TEAM, WE LOVE YOU, WE CELEBRATE YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU NOT JUST THIS MONTH BUT EVERY MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE THEIR FAMILIES HERE AND I JUST WOULD LOVE FOR EACH OF YOU TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY.
IF YOU WANT TO EACH COME OVER HERE AND INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY AND JUST SHARE WHO THEY ARE AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LOVE TO SHARE BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR ALL OF YOU.
>> GET THE MIC. THERE YOU GO. GOOD, YOU GOT THE MIC.
>> I'LL GO FIRST. YOU ALL HAVE TO STAND UP, EVEN CALEB.
SO THIS IS MY TIME TO EMBARRASS HIM.
[LAUGHTER] BUT NOW MY DAUGHTER WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, I WISH.
SHE'S AT A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PRACTICE AND TEAM DINNER, SO SHE HAD THAT.
BUT THIS IS MY WIFE CHRISTI, AND MY SON CALEB, WHO'S A SIXTH GRADER OVER AT MOSS HAVEN.
YEAH, THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I COULDN'T PUT ALL THIS TIME AND ENERGY AND EMOTION INTO THIS WORK WITHOUT THE BACKUP FROM THEM.
I APPRECIATE THEM TAKING TIME TONIGHT.
>> I'M DEBBIE RENTERIA AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY FAMILY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I COULD DO NOTHING, EXACTLY WHAT TABITHA SAID.
NOTHING THAT I DO, EVERYTHING THAT I DO.
THEY KNOW MY HEART, THEY KNOW MY PASSION, AND IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SUPPORT ME THROUGH EVERYTHING.
I COULD NOT DO WHAT I DO HERE WITHOUT THEIR JUST ENDLESS AND CONTINUOUS AND LOVING SUPPORT.
[APPLAUSE] AGAIN, IF YOU LIKE ANYTHING ABOUT ME AND WHAT I DO, HE'S THE OTHER HALF OF THAT.
HE'S AWESOME. THEN MY DAUGHTER PALOMA.
[APPLAUSE] SHE IS THE PERFECT REFLECTION OF WHAT WE DO.
IF YOU LIKE JUAN OR DEBBIE, [LAUGHTER] THEY GOT THAT.
YEAH. BUT AGAIN, I'M SO GRATEFUL.
I'M SO LUCKY THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTEND HER STAY FROM SCHOOL AND SHE'S ABLE TO BE HERE WITH US AND CELEBRATE.
THEN OUR SON DIEGO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE.
HE HAD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND HE'S UP IN NEW MEXICO.
WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT THIS DISTRICT.
I'M JUST SO THANKFUL TO EVERYONE.
AGAIN, EVERYTHING HERE I JUST MADE. MY HEART IS FULL.
ESPECIALLY TO THESE TWO PEOPLE WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS RACHEL MCGOWAN AND THIS IS MY PRECIOUS FAMILY HERE.
I NEED A LITTLE MORE HELP, GUYS.
I BROUGHT A LOT OF FAMILY [LAUGHTER], I NEED A LOT MORE SUPPORT.
THIS IS MY MOTHER, JIMMY [INAUDIBLE].
THIS IS MY HUSBAND, LUKWON MCCLELLAN, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP.
HE IS OUR RISD DJ IN EVERY EVENT.
WE'RE BOTH LAKE HIGHLANDS GRADS, I HAVE SAY.
[APPLAUSE] THIS IS MY COUSIN [INAUDIBLE].
SHE IS A HARD WORKING DISD WHAT? NON-PROFIT OWNER AND SERVES KIDS AND HAS BEEN SERVING KIDS FOR MANY YEARS IN DISD.
THIS IS MY PRECIOUS PIERCE MCCLELLAN.
[APPLAUSE] SHE'S NOT YET PART OF OUR RISD FAMILY, BUT SHE STARTED SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
MY OTHER TWO KIDDOS ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE A 21-YEAR-OLD, SHE'S SERVING TONIGHT.
MY 14-YEAR-OLD IS AT HOME, A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER TONIGHT. SO THEY'RE NOT WITH US.
ANYHOW AGAIN, LIKE MY OTHER TRUSTEES SAID, I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT ALL OF YOU ALL. I AM GRATEFUL.
[00:15:02]
I'M NOT GOING TO STAY HERE BECAUSE I'LL CRY. ANYWAY, I LOVE YOU ALL.>> THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MY FAMILY.
MY HUSBAND JORGE, WHO ALSO IS MY BETTER HALF, AND HE LIVES WITH ME.
SO EVERYBODY THANK THIS GUY, [APPLAUSE] FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK.
THEN MY SON IVAN, WHO IS NOW A SENIOR HERE AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
HE'S HERE. [APPLAUSE] HE SUPPORTS ME A LOT, GIVES ME IDEAS OF WHAT I SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, HOW TO MAKE THE VISION HAPPEN FROM A SCHOOL KID.
THAT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND SHE IS A BERKMAN GRADUATE, AND WE'RE HERE IN RICHARDSON.
I THANK EVERY SCHOOL FOR THE SUPPORT.
I THANK MY FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME READING AND THINKING AND MY BRAIN PROBABLY, I HOPE I DON'T TALK IN MY SLEEP, BUT MAYBE I DO.
BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GO THROUGH IT AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT THAT. [LAUGHTER] NOW I'M ERIC EAGER, AND THIS IS MY WIFE, BRENDA EAGER [APPLAUSE] THIS IS GOING TO SOUND REPETITIVE, BUT SHE IS THE ROCK BECAUSE THIS IS A REWARDING, CHALLENGING, TIME CONSUMING.
ALL THE COMPONENTS YOU WOULD THINK.
IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF SUPPORT AND SHE'S THERE.
LET ME BORROW THE TIME AND SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY WITH MY FELLOW TRUSTEES AND I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT HER.
THEN WE HAVE TWIN SONS, THE OTHER 20-YEAR-OLD AND THEY'RE AT TEXAS TECH AND SO GUNS UP.
AND THEY WERE AN ARTISTIC FAMILY OR KIDS WENT FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
BRIAN IS A RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR, WE'RE GOING TO AGE OURSELVES, BUT WE'VE BEEN HERE VERY LONG TIME AND I COULDN'T DO ALL THIS WITHOUT HER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT SUPPORT AND ROCK BECAUSE AGAIN, WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT EACH OTHER.
[APPLAUSE] REGINA HARRIS, LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'M REGINA HARRIS.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, WHICH IS TO RECOGNIZE MY SPECIAL PERSON THAT I BROUGHT TONIGHT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR ME AND JUST BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER.
WE REALLY DID GO THROUGH SOME WATERS [LAUGHTER] IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE MADE IT AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
WE BECOME CLOSER AS A TEAM AND WE ARE FOCUSED AND I AM INTENTIONAL [LAUGHTER].
LITTLE SECRET THING WE GOT GOING ON HERE.
I WANTED TO THANK TABITHA, SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN AND THE REST OF HER TEAM FOR DOING THIS FOR US.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T GET TO DO, IS TO SHARE WITH OUR LOVED ONES WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO.
OR TO EVEN BRING THEM INTO THIS AUDITORIUM TO LET THEM SEE WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.
BUT AS I WAS GETTING DRESSED TODAY, I WAS REALLY SO EXCITED.
I RAN INTO MY MOM'S ROOM AND I WAS LIKE, I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE WHERE I GO ON THURSDAY NIGHTS.
I DON'T WANT TO GET EMOTIONAL.
[APPLAUSE] MY MOM HAS BEEN ON THIS BOARD OF TRUSTEE JOURNEY WITH ME SINCE DAY ONE.
SHE WALKED MORE MILES DURING MY CAMPAIGN THAN I DID.
SHE SHOULD PROBABLY BE SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THAT HORSE SHOE BECAUSE SHE WORKED HARD FOR ME AND I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
I HAVE A SON THAT IS 19, THAT IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION [LAUGHTER].
BUT I KNOW AS A MOM, I UNDERSTAND THE LOVE THAT SHE HAS FOR ME NOW BECAUSE I HAD IT FOR MY SON.
SHE HAS SUPPORTED ME FROM DAY ONE ON THIS JOURNEY, AND EVERY NIGHT WHEN SHE KNOWS I'M HERE REALLY LATE AT NIGHT WONDERING WHEN AM I GOING TO GET HOME.
I INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO MY MOM.
THANK YOU, MOM FOR SUPPORTING ME AND FOR BEING HERE [APPLAUSE].
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE WERE ALL
[00:20:09]
COMING IN AND SETTLING IN THE BOARD AND IT HAD AT THEIR PLACE ALL AMAZING WAYS THAT OUR CAMPUSES AND OUR CENTRAL TEAM SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT.JUST A FEW, WE HAVE CAMPUS POSTERS OF APPRECIATION.
EACH TRUSTEE HAS THREE BOOKS THAT ARE BEING DONATED IN THEIR HONOR TO VARIOUS CAMPUS LIBRARIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
AND I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART.
THE RHS CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS BAKED A VARIETY OF MINI DESSERTS AND THEY LOOK AMAZING.
IF WE'RE HERE SUPER LATE, YOU CAN HAVE ONE AS A SNACK.
THE VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT AT JJ PEARCE WORK WITH THEIR STUDENTS TO DESIGN AND CREATE A MUG FOR EACH OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE HAVING YOUR MORNING COFFEE TOMORROW MORNING TO WAKE UP AND TO TRY TO GET READY FOR THE DAY AFTER A LONG NIGHT, YOU HAVE THAT.
RISD PRINT SERVICES DESIGNED AND CREATED A UNIQUE PEN AND PENCIL HOLDER.
THERE'S ALSO A BASKET FOR EACH OF YOU THAT INCLUDES LETTERS AND CARDS AND TRINKETS AND TOKENS OF APPRECIATION.
OUR CAMPUSES, OUR TEAM, OR 5,700 EMPLOYEES.
WE SEE YOU AND WE THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
YES, AUDIENCE. LET'S JOIN ONE MORE TIME AND AROUND OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES [APPLAUSE].
WE DO HAVE A FEW OTHER RECOGNITIONS.
WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE STAFF AND STUDENTS THAT HAVE DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM RECENTLY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE.
FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE LAURA BELLEN.
SHE IS ONE OF OUR CTE TEACHERS AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
LAURA WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS A TECH TITANS OF THE FUTURE HIGH-SCHOOL FINALISTS.
TECH TITANS IS A FOREIGN THAT LEVERAGES THE REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY TO COLLABORATE, SHARE, AND INSPIRE CREATIVE THINKING THAT FUELS TOMORROW'S INNOVATIONS.
TECH TITAN MEMBERS INCLUDE THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT CREATE TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS THAT EMBRACE, NURTURE AND LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND THEY'VE BEEN A HUGE PARTNER OF RICHARDSON ISD.
RECENTLY, LAURA, A STEM AND CTE ARCHITECTURE TEACHER AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, WAS NAMED A TECH TITAN OF THE FUTURE.
THE FIRM'S ANNUAL AWARDS AIM TO GIVE NORTH TEXAS CHANGEMAKERS, DOERS, INNOVATORS, ADOPTERS, AND EXECUTE A WELL-DESERVED VISIBILITY FOR THE WORK THEY DO.
CONGRATULATIONS LAURA [APPLAUSE].
IF THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED WOULD AFTER YOU GET TO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK GROUP PICTURE.
I'M GOING TO ASK LAURA AND NOT TO GO TOO FAR BECAUSE WE ARE NOW GOING TO INVITE UP HER ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDENTS, SO IF THEY WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
BECAUSE THEY WERE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS A FIRST-PLACE WINNER WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
IMPACT AWARDS WERE PRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS FIRST PLACE AWARD WAS GIVEN TO OUR RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDENTS.
THEY WERE GIVEN $5,000 TO GO TOWARDS THE PROJECT'S CONSTRUCTION BUDGET.
WE HAVE A FEW OF THE STUDENTS HERE THIS EVENING, DAMIEN AGUILAR, CAROLYN FALLON, AUSTIN HAMILL, AND ASIA HERODINE.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF THESE STUDENTS.
AND LAURA BELLEN IS THEIR TEACHER AND INSTRUCTOR [APPLAUSE].
IT MUST BE A GOOD NIGHT TO BE IN EAGLE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER STUDENT GROUP FROM RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THE AUTOMOTIVE STUDENTS WHO RECENTLY
[00:25:03]
PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTH TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS ASSOCIATION CONTEST.THREE OF OUR AUTOMOTIVE STUDENTS, WE HAVE JESSE ALUA, SAMUEL METZINGER, AND RICARDO CAPPUCCINO COMPETED IN THE NORTH TEXAS AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION CONTEST AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY RECENTLY.
THERE WERE 43 MAN TEAMS FROM ACROSS NORTH TEXAS AND AS FAR EAST AS LONGVIEW.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS FROM TARRANT, DALLAS, COLLIN, AND ELLIS COUNTIES.
THE EVENT WAS HELD OVER TWO DAYS, AND THEY HAD TO COMPETE IN VARIOUS STATIONS.
I CAN TELL YOU I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM HAVING THESE STUDENTS DO ANY WORK ON MY CAR.
OUR KIDS WERE ASSIGNED TO A FIVE STAR FORD OF DALLAS SERVICE MANAGER, MR. JERRY THOMPSON, WHO WORKED WITH HIM AND HIS MASTER TECHNICIANS IN THE SHOP TO LEARN THE FORD SERVICE INFORMATION IN DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR OUR STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN THIS COMPETITION.
THEIR EXPECTATIONS WERE TO FINISH IN THE TOP 20, OUR STUDENTS EXCEEDED THAT GOAL AND FINISHED NINTH, IN ONE OF TWO OF THE DALLAS COUNTY AND COLLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS TO FINISH IN THE TOP 10.
[APPLAUSE] I WANT TO BE SURE AND RECOGNIZE MR. MARK MASTER, THEIR TEACHER, THANK YOU.
AGAIN, JERRY THOMPSON, SERVICE MANAGER FROM FIVE STAR FORD OF DALLAS.
I WILL TELL YOU COMMUNITY CTE IS ALIVE AND WELL HERE IN RICHARDSON ISD, CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] AS WE DO EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE A COUPLE RISD BELIEF AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR STAFF.
ORTIZ IS ELIZABETH CELIS HERE? I'D LIKE TO INVITE ELIZABETH TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[APPLAUSE] EACH MONTH WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A STAFF AND STUDENT THAT HAS BEEN NOMINATED, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WAS ON ELIZABETH'S NOMINATION FORM.
SHE'S A PARAPROFESSIONAL OVER AT THE MASS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY MAGNET CAMPUS.
A KEY QUALITY IN BUILDING TRUST AND A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE IS KNOWING THAT SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP FOR YOU.
ELIZABETH SHOWS UP FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF EACH DAY.
AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL IN OUR CDC CLASSROOM, SHE EXPERIENCES CHALLENGES ON A DAILY BASIS, YET SHE SHOWS UP EACH DAY WITH A SMILE AND A CAN-DO SPIRIT.
IF THERE IS AN EVENING EVENT AT MST, SHE SHOWS UP READY TO HELP ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT HER COLLEAGUES.
EACH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A CAMPUS OR STAFF RECOGNITION WHETHER IT'S AFTER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, ELIZABETH IS ALSO SHOWN UP TO CHEER ON THE SCHOOL AND HER PEERS.
AS YOU CAN TELL SHE SHOWS UP READY TO SERVE HER STUDENTS WELL EACH DAY.
SHE ENCOURAGES THEM, CELEBRATES THEM, AND TRIES DAILY TO BRING A SMILE TO HER STUDENTS FACES.
HER STUDENTS CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON HER TO SHOW UP FOR THEM READY TO GIVE HER ALL.
MST IS BLESSED TO HAVE YOU, ELIZABETH, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS CHOOSING TO SHOW UP FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
[APPLAUSE] THE NEXT STEP PERSON THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IS MS. KELLERSON SNOTTY, KELLERSON.
[APPLAUSE] LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HER PEERS SUBMITTED.
THE LITERACY AND INTERVENTION TEAM WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE KELLERSON FOR THE BELIEF STAFF AWARD.
KELLERSON SHINES HER POSITIVE LIGHT ON EVERYONE SHE MEETS.
THE TEAM REFERS TO THIS AS THE KELLERSON EFFECT.
SHE WORKS HARD TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL AS IF THEY CAN SUCCEED AT ANYTHING WHILE MAKING LITERACY COME ALIVE WITH OUR LITERACY INTERVENTIONIST.
SHE BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE FEELS A WARMTH AND ENERGY THAT MAKES ALL OF US FEEL THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
KELLERSON IS SUCH A POSITIVE LIGHT THAT WHEN CANCER RETURNED THIS SCHOOL YEAR, SHE DID NOT MISS A BEAT WITH MAKING SURE THE LITERACY INTERVENTIONISTS HAD THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO HELP OUR STRUGGLING LEARNERS.
WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND DEDICATION THAT KELLERSON GIVES TO EACH OF US ALL WHILE FACING HER OWN STRUGGLES.
WE ARE BETTER PEOPLE AND A STRONGER TEAM FOR GETTING TO EXPERIENCE THE KELLERSON EFFECT, AND I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
[APPLAUSE] FINALLY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF STUDENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AS RISD BELIEVES AWARD RECOGNEES.
IS KENYA MORA AND MS. SOFIA PEREZ FROM AIKEN ELEMENTARY, ARE YOU HERE THIS EVENING? [APPLAUSE] KENYA AND SOFIA
[00:30:02]
WERE SHOWN SOMETHING BY ANOTHER STUDENT THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE AT SCHOOL.THIS TEACHER WOULD NEVER HAVE FOUND OUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEIR BRAVERY AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY, WHEN THEY CAME TO THIS TEACHER IN PRIVATE AND REPORTED TO HER WHAT THEY HAD SEEN, WHICH WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE CAN NOT BE MORE PROUD OF KENYA AND SOFIA FOR THEIR COURAGE TO SPEAK UP AND SAY SOMETHING TO A TRUSTED ADULT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE, CONGRATULATIONS SOFIA, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. NEXT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. JACK MOORE WHO'S IN SIXTH GRADE AT PRESTONWOOD ELEMENTARY.
JACK, IF YOU COULD COME ON DOWN, I'D LIKE TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING.
DON'T YOU LOOK DAPPER, SIR? [LAUGHTER] JACK IS A SIXTH GRADE STUDENT, PRESTONWOOD THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, HE HAS TRULY SHOWN UP AS AN UPSTANDER IN OUR BUILDING.
JACK STANDS UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS KIND.
HE DOES NOT DO SO IN A WAY THAT SHOWS OFF OR BOSSES OTHERS AROUND, RATHER HE WILL LEAD TEACHERS OR HIS COUNSELOR KNOW IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING THAT IS UNKIND OR NOT RIGHT.
HE STANDS UP FOR NOT ONLY HIS FRIENDS, BUT HIS CLASSMATES AND EVEN HIS TEACHERS.
IN THE CLASSROOM JACK LEADS BY EXAMPLE.
HE WORKS HARD, PARTICIPATES, AND CONTINUOUSLY PUSHES HIMSELF TO GROW IN HIS ACADEMICS.
IF HE SEES CLASSMATES WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING EXPECTATIONS, HE KINDLY GUIDES THEM OR SHOWS THEM WHAT TO DO.
IF HE IS GROUPED WITH OTHERS, HE WILL ALWAYS HELP AND LEAD HIS TEAM NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.
JACK, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE STANDING UP HERE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME AWESOME THINGS.
JACK WAS ALSO RECENTLY BUDDIED UP, BY THE KINDERGARTEN STUDENT AND A THIRD GRADE STUDENT AT PRESTONWOOD.
THE THIRD GRADE STUDENT THAT HE WAS BUDDIED UP WITH RECENTLY LOST A FAMILY MEMBER.
JACK'S BUDDY LOVES TO SEE HIM AND WAS SO EXCITED TO BE PARTNERED WITH HIM.
ON THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING BREAK, WHICH WAS THE MONDAY BACK-TO-SCHOOL AFTER JACK'S BUDDY LOST A FAMILY MEMBER, JACK HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH HIS BUDDY AND HE HAD A HUGE SMILE ON HIS FACE.
THEY BOTH LOVE SOCCER AND JACK ALWAYS REACHES OUT TO TALK TO HIM AND BE THERE FOR HIM.
JACK IS A LEADER, IF YOU CAN TELL, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAMPUS AND WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF THE YOUNGER STUDENTS IN OUR BUILDING.
CONGRATULATIONS JACK, [APPLAUSE] WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
PROUD OF ALL OF OUR KIDDOS AND STAFF.
WE HAVE ONE MORE, IS JEILYN LARA COTO HERE, COTO? THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS JEILYN AND SHE IS IN EIGHTH GRADE AT RICHARDSON NORTH JUNIOR HIGH, AND I'D LIKE TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY SHE IS BEING RECOGNIZED.
JEILYN NOTICED A NEW STUDENT AND HIS PARENTS AT THE BUS STOP BEFORE SCHOOL.
SHE COULD TELL HE WAS NEW AND DIDN'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH AND THAT HIS PARENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM GOING OFF ALONE ON HIS FIRST DAY.
SHE EXPLAINED THE BUS SYSTEM TO THE PARENTS AND THAT SHE WOULD HELP THEIR SON MAKE IT TO THE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE AT SCHOOL.
SHE RODE THE BUS WITH THE NEW BOY, AND TRUE TO HER WORD, DELIVERED HIM SAFELY TO THE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE.
THAT WASN'T WHERE IT ENDED THOUGH, NEXT SHE TRANSLATED EVERYTHING FOR THE COUNSELOR AND NEW STUDENT.
THIS ENSURED THE COUNSELOR KNEW HIS INTERESTS AND HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE SOME ELECTIVES OF HIS CHOOSING.
NEXT, SHE HELPED HER COUNSELOR GIVE THE NEW STUDENT A TOUR.
SHE WAS VERY DETAILED ON THE TOUR AND PROVIDED MORE INFORMATION THAN HER COUNSELOR HAD EVER SEEN A STUDENT GUIDE PROVIDE BEFORE.
SHE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, IF YOU COULDN'T TELL TO HELP A NEW STUDENT AND HIS FAMILY.
SHE WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED.
HER COUNSELOR COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE WAY SHE REPRESENTED HER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] BEFORE WE CONCLUDE OUR RECOGNITIONS, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM LEADERSHIP RICHARDSON CLASS OF 38 THAT ARE VISITING THIS EVENING AND OBSERVING THE MEETING.
IF YOU ARE HERE FROM LEADERSHIP RICHARDSON, IF YOU CAN WAVE OR STAND, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RICHARDSON ISD.
THEN FINALLY FOR THE STAFF AND PARENTS AND FAMILY THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
[APPLAUSE] IF YOU'RE FAMILY MEMBER, [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE OUR RECOGNITIONS AND APPRECIATIONS FOR THIS MONTH.
[00:35:09]
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN, TO EXIT THE AUDITORIUM IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
MOM, I'M GOING TO WALK OUT WITH YOU.
[LAUGHTER] LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ALL BACK.
[II. PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION ]
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.MR. POTEET, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANY PERSONS WHO WOULD WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD?
THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WELCOME OUR VISITORS.
WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WATCHING THE VIDEO.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.
SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON A GENDER-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. PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE AN ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM BY SIGNING UP AT THE DESIGNATED REGISTRATION LINK ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, BEGINNING WHEN THE MEETING AGENDA IS POSTED THROUGH 12:00 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING.
PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK, MUST COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM IN FULL TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SPEAK, AND BE PRESENT WHEN THEIR NAME IS CALLED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION TO MAKE THEIR OWN COMMENTS.
ANY REGISTERED SPEAKER WHO IS ABSENT FROM THE MEETING AT THE TIME THEIR NAME IS CALLED FORFEITS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THAT MEETING.
SPEAKERS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE WRITTEN MATERIALS TO THE BOARD SHOULD PROVIDE NINE COPIES TO AN RISD STAFF MEMBER PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH THE HORSESHOE AREA OR CONFERENCE TABLE DURING COMMENTS.
THE BOARD WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
THE BOARD CANNOT DELIBERATE OR MAKE A DECISION ON ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
A SPEAKER MAY REGISTER FOR ONE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH MEETING.
EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE 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 A 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 FORM.
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.
A DIGITAL TIMER WILL PROJECT ON THE SCREEN AND WILL COUNT DOWN A SPEAKER'S TIME FROM THREE MINUTES TO ZERO.
SPEAKERS MAY REFER TO THE SCREEN FOR THEIR REMAINING TIME.
SPEAKERS WHO SPEAK THROUGH A FOREIGN LANGUAGE OR A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TIME.
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 PERSIST 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 RISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES WEBSITE.
>> AS A REMINDER, SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PROTOCOL AS NOTED ON THE RISD WEBSITE.
ATTACKS OF A PERSONAL NATURE AGAINST TRUSTEES, STAFF, STUDENTS, OR OTHERS BY NAME OR UNIQUE TITLE ARE NOT ALLOWED.
SPEAKERS, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AT THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.
>> MY NAME IS SHANICE HAWKINS.
MY KIDS GO TO RICHARDSON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.
[00:40:01]
IN RISD, WE HAVE A SAYING, ALL MEANS ALL.AS EMPLOYEE FOR 14 YEARS, GRADUATED FROM RISD, IT IS HEAVY WITH A HEART I MUST ADDRESS UNPROFESSIONALISM I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO.
MY MOTHER'S CURRENTLY STILL WORKING IN THE DISTRICT, 25 PLUS YEARS.
THIS IS A DISTRICT WHERE THE STAFF MEMBERS, MYSELF INCLUDED.
SO ONE OF MY SONS ATTEND RICHARDSON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY, WHERE I WAS A STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE.
WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO VISIT MY SON, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SECRETARY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ME WITH MY BADGE.
EVERY TIME I GO IN THE SCHOOL, I GOT TO SHOW A DRIVER LICENSE.
SHE WAS THERE WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL THERE.
MY MOTHER'S A SUPERVISOR OF CUSTODIAN AT THE SCHOOL AS WELL.
I ADVOCATE FOR MY BOYS AS A SINGLE MOTHER.
BY NATURE I GET AGGRESSIVE WHEN I TALK, BUT I'M REALLY SWEET.
TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, THEY WON'T UNDERSTAND.
INSTEAD OF REFUSING, I'VE BEEN CALLING ON MEETINGS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
MY SON BEEN WITH THE SAME TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL.
I GOT TO SIT WITH THE TEACHER, TALK WITH THE TEACHER FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS.
IT GOT TO ANOTHER LEVEL WHERE MY KID DROPS SOME NOODLES ON HIM AND THEY PUT A CPS IN MY LIFE.
IT WAS THE WORST THING EVER TO GO THROUGH IN THIS PAST WEEK OF WORKING AT THE SCHOOL. LET'S SEE.
I'M SPEAKING UP BECAUSE IF THEY CAN TREAT FELLOW EMPLOYEES THAT WAY, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW SOME PARENTS ARE BEING TREATED.
WE TREAT EVERYBODY WITH LOVE, RESPECT, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING IT.
IT'S JUST A REFLECTION OF RISD AS A MOTHER, AS A PARENT, I FEEL TARGETED EVERY TIME I STEP IN ONE SCHOOL I WORKED WITH.
I THEN LEFT CUSTODIAN, GOT DISRESPECTED THERE.
I'M WITH MCKINNEY-VENTO NOW, WHICH I LOVE IT, I PRAISE IT.
I LOVE EVERY KID I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT'S LIKE AFTER ASKING SO LONG FOR HELP, YOU NEVER GET HELP UNTIL YOU HAVE TO STAND UP AND DO IT YOURSELF.
IT TOOK ME TO A POINT WHERE I'M TIRED.
THERE'S NOT MORE TRYING SO I GOOGLED AND I ASKED FOR HELP.
I FELT AT TIME SOMETIMES A MOTHER NEEDS TO BE HEARD.
GETTING TREATED FOR STUFF THAT WASN'T TRUE, FALSE ALLEGATIONS, IT WAS THE WORST THING EVER THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH OVER THE PAST WEEK, THINGS COMING OVER FROM YEARS. [NOISE]
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MR. RANDY BLANKINSHIP.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RANDY BLANKINSHIP.
I WISH TO THANK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A THEORY IS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT A FACT IS? DO YOU KNOW THAT A THEORY IS NOT A FACT? WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT WANTS TO BELIEVE MANKIND IS SURROUNDED BY SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, MANKIND HAS LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND CONTINUES TO ASK QUESTIONS.
LOOK AROUND, YOU'LL SEE SOCIETY INCLUDING EDUCATORS AND MUSEUMS PRESENTING THEORIES AS IF THEY'RE FACTS.
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE BIG BANG THEORY OR THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION AS BEING A FACT, LET ME PRESENT TO YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ATOM.
ONCE WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ATOM, WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, THE MANY THEORIES WILL FALL TO THE WAYSIDE AS ILLOGICAL, IMPOSSIBLE, AND NON-SCIENTIFIC.
HOW MANY EDUCATORS KNOW THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM IS A THEORY? THE THEORY THAT THE ATOM IS MADE OF THREE PARTICLES.
IN THE CENTER OF THE ATOM IS A NUCLEUS COMPRISED OF PROTONS AND NEUTRONS, AND A CONSTANT MOTION AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE NUCLEUS IS YET ELECTRONS.
THE IDEA THAT THE ATOM IS A PRODUCT OF RANDOM CHANCE IS ILLOGICAL.
THE ATOM HAS NO POWER TO DUPLICATE ITSELF, IT HAS NO LIGHT PRODUCING QUALITIES.
ROCKS, WATER, AND BIOGAS, HAVE NO LIFE PRODUCING QUALITIES.
ATOMS HAVE NO ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER IN PRESCRIBED FASHION TO POSSESS OR GIVE LIFE, JUST LIKE THE MOON.
[00:45:03]
NOW, FOR LIFE SUCH AS PLANTS, BIRDS, FISH, ANIMALS, AND MANKIND, THEY HAVE A LIFE CODE IN THEM TO LIVE, GROW, AND MULTIPLY.THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN ONLY COME FROM THE CREATOR.
SCIENCE CANNOT ANSWER HOW LIFE OBTAINED LIFE INSTRUCTIONS, BUT FURTHERMORE, LET'S ADD INTELLIGENCE, THOUGHTS, ANALYZING, AND LANGUAGE.
AGAIN, ALL OF THIS PLUS TALENTS AND ABILITIES ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR.
THEY JUST DON'T HAPPEN OUT OF EVOLUTION.
MY PURPOSE ON THIS IS THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE OUR EDUCATORS IDENTIFY TO THE STUDENTS WHAT THEORIES ARE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SCIENCE GROUP.
THE ATOM, BIG BANG THEORY OF EVOLUTION, AND IF IT COMES UP TOO, WHICH IS GREAT, HAVE THEM DISCUSS IT, WHY IT IS A THEORY.
WE SEE IN MUSEUMS, WE SEE IT ON TV, WE SEE IT IN THE MEDIA, EVERYWHERE THINGS ARE PRESENTED AS IF IT'S A FACT, BUT IT'S NOT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH KNOWLEDGE.
[LAUGHTER] TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THAT AN ATOM, THAT WE KNOW WHAT IS IN AN ATOM, NO.
THE CLOSEST WE CAN COME TO IS A SAPHERE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THAT SAPHERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BLANKINSHIP.
>> SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ESTEEMED EMPLOYEES, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME BACK, BACK TO THE FUTURE.
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.
I'VE USED THAT QUOTE BEFORE, ATTRIBUTED TO CHURCHILL, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S IN THE BIBLE AND OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXTS SUCH AS THE QUR'AN, THE BHAGAVATA OR THE TORAH ALL HAVE THE SIMILAR ADMONISHMENT.
NOTE THAT IN THIS CASE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN WOULD BE US, THE DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL BOARD, GIVEN MONEY TO SPEND TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS, BE GIVEN A LOT, 500 MILLION, YOU'LL SEE THAT LATER TONIGHT, OR HALF A BILLION, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
THE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY, OUR MONEY, $4,000 JUST FOR ME LAST YEAR, SHOULD BE OPEN AND FOR ALL TO HEAR.
I FEAR THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY BACKROOM BRIEFINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE IN POINT, THE BOND COMMITTEE WHERE THEY MET TO DISCUSS THE $100 MILLION BEFORE WE HAD SHORTFALL, WAS A CLOSED MEETING.
I ASKED TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT JUST TO OBSERVE IT, I WAS DENIED.
ONLY A FEW PEOPLE SHOWED UP, 12 PEOPLE FROM THAT COMMITTEE.
BUT WHEN YOU DO THINGS IN SECRET LIKE THAT, THAT DOESN'T BUILD TRUST.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO SAY, HEY, WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
SUNLIGHT IS THE ULTIMATE DISINFECTANT, BUT NEON LIGHT IS A GOOD PESTICIDE.
BUT ALAS, WHEN MY SUNSHINE COMES ALONG, IT'S SHROUDED IN BUREAUCRACY AND EMAIL CHAINS.
IF YOUR CALCULUS IS TO THINK THAT PERHAPS I'LL JUST DISAPPEAR OR SCALP BACK, THEN YOU'RE VERY MISTAKEN.
I'M HERE FOR A LONG TERM. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR LONG TERM.
PLEASE LISTEN, PLEASE BE OPEN.
DON'T HAVE SECRET MEETINGS, DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS AND SHROUD THEM IN MYSTERY AND LIKE YOU COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND HAVE THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE THE LAST BUDGET, I WENT OVER THAT PRESENTATION, A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION BY MR. PATE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT SOME OF THAT STUFFS LIKE BUDGET 101, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE FINANCE DEGREES.
SHOULD WE NOT MAKE A VIDEO OF THAT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR 30 MINUTES AND WE CAN JUST WATCH THAT AND GET SCHOOLED UP ON HOW BUDGETS WORK AND THEN COME TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE NITTY-GRITTY, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS? LIKE THE FACT THAT 88 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO PAYROLL, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN OTHER DISTRICTS.
WE'VE ADDED 700 PEOPLE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, FAIR ENOUGH, 45 POSITIONS IN THE ADMIN BUILDING.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY.
I'VE ASKED MULTIPLE BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT FOR SOME REASON THEY'RE SHY AWAY FROM THOSE AND DON'T WANT TO GET DOWN AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND ANALYZE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ANALYZING HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND HOW THAT RELATES TO OR DOESN'T RELATE TO ACHIEVEMENT IN THOSE SCHOOLS.
I'M STILL WAITING SIX MONTHS LATER FOR THAT DATA FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
I WON'T NAME THEM AT THIS POINT, BUT PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE, ON ACCOUNT THAT THIS IS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH.
TWENTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS ON THE BUDGET THERE IN CONTRACTED SERVICES LIKE ENGAGED TO LEARN, GROUP-THINK, ARE WE GETTING FOLKS THAT WE OUTSOURCED IN THE GELS WE SHOULD BE DOING.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT GREATLY, BECAUSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED, AND WE ARE EXPECTING.
MS. [INAUDIBLE] CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
[00:50:01]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TO SPEAK.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR VOICE.
[III. CONSENT / CONFIRMATION AGENDA ITEMS ]
OUR NEXT ACTION ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.DOES ANYONE WISH TO PULL ANY CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> THANK YOU, MR. EAGER. IS THERE A SECOND?
THERE IS A MOTION BY MR. EAGER, A SECOND BY MR. POTEET.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS TO REVIEW GIFTS, MRS. BRANUM.
[IV.A. Consider Gifts ]
>> THANK YOU, BOARD. ACTUALLY, THIS MONTH WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION AS WE DID NOT RECEIVE A GIFT THAT IS OVER $5,000.
HOWEVER, I DO JUST AGAIN, WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PTAS AND BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND PARENTS THAT GAVE SO GRACIOUSLY TO OUR CAMPUSES.
WE DID HAVE OVER $18,500 THAT WERE DONATED TO OUR CAMPUSES THIS MONTH.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BRANUM. OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN ACTION ITEM TO CONSIDER
[IV.B. Consider 2023-2024 Academic Calendar ]
ADOPTING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC CALENDAR. MS. BRANUM?>> THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. BEFORE I GET INTO THE CALENDAR, I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE AND TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE AROUND THE HORSE SHOE BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, HE'S GOING TO BE LEADING IT.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AS THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF.
WHILE HE IS NEW TO THIS ROLE, HE IS NOT NEW TO RICHARDSON ISD AS HE WAS HERE PREVIOUSLY SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUCHNER LEARNING COMMUNITY, AND WE WELCOME HIM BACK AND EMBRACE HIM IN THE ROLE AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND ON THIS HORSESHOE.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. MICASO.
[APPLAUSE] AS EVERYONE KNOWS, AND I DO HAVE THE T-SHIRT READY TO PASS ON TO MR. HASO THERE IS NO PERFECT CALENDAR.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD AND TO DEVELOP A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, PROPOSED CALENDAR FOR THE 23, 24, AND THE 24, 25 SCHOOL YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK MS. PACHECO FOR HER WORK ON AND SERVING AS OUR BOARD MEMBER ON THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF HER CONTRIBUTION TO THAT GROUP.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK SOME OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF, OUR CAMPUS STAFF.
DEFINITELY WE HAD COMMUNITY AND PARENTS THAT WERE ON THERE AS WELL.
IT WAS A REALLY STRONG COLLABORATIVE PROCESS IN WHICH THEY QUICKLY LEARNED TOO THAT THERE IS NO PERFECT CALENDAR.
JUST TO REFRESH OUR COMMUNITY, AS WHY MAYBE IT IS MUCH MORE CHALLENGING TO DEVELOP THE PERFECT CALENDAR THAN WHAT WE CAN ALL IMAGINE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WITH HOUSE BILL 2610, WE SHIFTED TO HAVING A REQUIRED NUMBER OF SCHOOL DAYS TO THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF MINUTES IN A SCHOOL YEAR IN ORDER FOR US TO RECEIVE FULL FUNDING.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE 75,600 MINUTES.
ONE DAY OF INSTRUCTION PER TEA IS 420 MINUTES UNLESS WE HAVE AN EXTENDED BELL SCHEDULE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE MINUTES THAT ARE AT EACH OF OUR SCHOOL LEVELS.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE 174 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE ONE ADJUSTMENT FOR 23, 24 AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IN A MINUTE, WITH 13 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR EXCHANGE DAYS IN THE CALENDAR FOR OUR TEACHING AND PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF.
AS PER TEA RULES, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL CANNOT BE BEFORE MAY 15TH, AND WE DO BAKE INTO THE CALENDAR TWO BAD WEATHER DAYS, WHICH ALLOW US IF WE HAVE TO BE OFF OF SCHOOL FOR EXTREME WEATHER AND IT IS NOT DECLARED A SOME NATURAL DISASTER THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, WE WILL USE AS BAD WEATHER DAYS TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED MINUTES.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT YES, WE DO HAVE LIMITATIONS IN WHEN WE CAN START AND WE CAN END SCHOOL.
WE ARE DISTRICT OF INNOVATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES PAST SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THEN RE-ESTABLISHED ALMOST A YEAR AGO NOW, THAT WE ARE CONSIDERED A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION WHICH ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME LOCAL FLEXIBILITY, TO REALLY ADAPT TO THE CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF RICHARDSON ISD.
AGAIN, I'VE SHARED THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING.
AGAIN, THERE'S JUST A WHOLE LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST AS EASY AS WHERE WOULD EVERYONE LIKE A BREAK AND LET'S PUT A HOLIDAY THERE.
[00:55:03]
IT IS A LOT OF CONSIDERATION AROUND BALANCING OF THEIR SEMESTERS.THERE ARE UIL REGULATIONS AROUND WHEN OUR ATHLETES AND OUR FINE ARTS OUR BANDS CAN START PRACTICE.
WE HAVE OVER 3,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN DALLAS COLLEGE CLASSES.
JUST ALL OF THOSE CALENDARS AND ALL OF THOSE LIMITATIONS ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
AT THE LAST MEETING I PRESENTED TO YOU IN A AND B CALENDAR.
WE POSTED THOSE ON THE WEBSITE AND WE TOOK IN FEEDBACK THROUGH LET'S TALK.
OVERALL, THERE WAS GENERAL CONSENSUS AROUND THAT THEY LIKED THE CALENDAR.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT AS FEVERISH AS IT WAS A YEAR AGO, IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN WE POSTED THE CALENDARS.
I BELIEVE WE HAD 26 VOTES FOR CALENDAR A AND WE HAD 10 VOTES FOR CALENDAR B. I HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT THEY OVERALL, LIKED THE CALENDAR.
I PROBABLY RECEIVED ABOUT 55 OTHER SUBMISSIONS AROUND THE CALENDAR.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC VOTE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
IT WAS REALLY WE WANT TO SEE WINTER BREAK EARLIER OR WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SPRING BREAK MOVE BACK A WEEK, OR WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A THREE, DAY FIRST WEEK VERSUS, IT WAS MORE OF SPECIFIC FEEDBACK AND NUANCES OF THE CALENDAR THAT BEST MET THE NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY.
I HEARD A LOT FROM STAFF AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT STAFF PROBABLY HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON A COUPLE OF EDITS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE CALENDAR.
WE ORIGINALLY HAD IN THE CALENDAR THAT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY WOULD BE IN THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY OR COMING BACK TO THE WINTER BREAK IT WAS GOING TO BE ON A FRIDAY.
I WILL TELL YOU STAFF DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT AND THEY WERE VERY OPEN AND HONEST WITH THEIR FEEDBACK THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY FELT LIKE WAS CONDUCIVE TO STARTING WITH THE SECOND SEMESTER OFF IN A POSITIVE WAY AND THEY ASKED IF WE COULD REALLY CONSIDER HAVING THAT STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY ON JANUARY 8TH AND THEN HAVING THE STUDENTS RETURN ON JANUARY 9TH.
I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS A VERY LOUD AND THEY WERE UNITED IN THAT REQUEST.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CALENDARS AND THIS FINAL DRAFT THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU IS YOU ALL ESTABLISHED A NORTH STAR GOAL.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE INFORMATION BEING SHARED WITH THE STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT NORTH STAR GOAL BUT IT'S ANCHORED AROUND GROWTH AND ENSURING EVERY STUDENT, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY LEADER ACTUALIZES AT LEAST A YEAR'S WORTH OF GROWTH.
AS I WAS REALLY PROCESSING THAT ESPECIALLY OVER THE WINTER BREAK AND READING THE FEEDBACK AND I READ THE FEEDBACK AND I RESPONDED TO EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY MEMBER AND EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER, I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE VALUE AND SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO CREATE TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE TO GIVE TEACHERS THE TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO KEEP GROWTH AT THE FOREFRONT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU IN BOTH YEARS OF THE CALENDAR IS WE HAVE INTRODUCED, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US, THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS WHO HAVE DONE IT.
WE JUST HAVE NOT DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME IN RSD.
BUT WE'RE INTRODUCING AN ACTUAL PARENT TEACHER STUDENT CONFERENCE DAY.
ON NOVEMBER 6TH AND NOVEMBER 7TH, YOU WILL SEE THOSE NOTED ON THE CALENDAR.
NOVEMBER 7TH IS ALWAYS WITH THE ELECTION DAY.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS INSTEAD OF HAVING THE NOVEMBER 6 AS A STUDENT AND STAFF HOLIDAY, I HAVE PUT IN A CONFERENCE DAY.
THE PRINCIPALS AND THE TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO FLEX SOME OF THEIR CALENDAR.
IF A PARENT NEEDS TO MEET AT NIGHT, THEY CAN.
MAYBE A LATE ARRIVAL ON ONE DAY, BUT FOR SOME FAMILIES WHO WANT TO COME IN DURING THE DAY, THEY CAN HAVE THAT BUT IT'LL BE A TIME WHERE WE CAN SIT ACROSS FROM ESPECIALLY AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
THEY CONSIDER ACROSS FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PARENTS AND THEY CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, MAP DATA.
IT'LL BE THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.
I CAN REVIEW REPORT CARD, I CAN SHARE, HERE'S WHERE I'M SEEING CHILD'S STRENGTHS, HERE'S WHERE I'M SEEING SOME AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, HERE'S PARENT HOW YOU CAN HELP ME.
WITH THAT WE HOPE OUR STUDENTS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT CONFERENCE AS WELL WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE HELPING TO LEAD THAT CONFERENCE AND SHARE WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR GROWTH GOLD JOURNEY.
THIS, I WILL TELL YOU OUR PRINCIPALS CABINET WAS ON THE ZOOM WHEN I INTRODUCED THIS AND SHARE THIS.
IT WAS RECEIVED WITH JUST A RAVE APPRECIATION FOR GIVING TIME.
[01:00:05]
SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES DO DO THIS, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO IT A COUPLE OF HOURS AT NIGHT AND THEY TRY TO CARVE OUT DIFFERENT TIME TO DO IT.SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES PAY FOR SUBS.
BUT WE KNOW SOMETIMES GETTING SUBS IS HARD AND SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUBS FOR TEACHERS TO DO A CONFERENCE DAY.
PROVIDING THIS TIME WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A BIG STEP IN MOVING FORWARD IN EQUIPPING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS TO HELP REACH OUR NORTH STAR GOAL.
WITH THAT, BASICALLY, I BRING FORWARD TO YOU OUR CALENDAR FOR 23, 24.
NOW, YOU ALL KNOW I'M VERY HONEST WITH YOU.
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING WE HAD TO GIVE UP ON THE 23, 24 CALENDAR THAT OUR STAFFS IN THE PAST HAVE EXPRESSED THEY DON'T LOVE IF THEY DON'T LOVE HAVING A FIVE, DAY FIRST WEEK.
THEY USUALLY LIKE TO HAVE THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL BE A LITTLE BIT SHORTER JUST BECAUSE IT'S A TIME WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING THE STAMINA OF THE STUDENTS RETURNING BACK AFTER A SUMMER BREAK, ALSO FOR TEACHERS AND FOR ALL OF US.
BUT OVERALL, IT WAS A MUCH MORE POSITIVE CHANGE ALLOWING TEACHERS TO COME BACK ON THAT MONDAY, JANUARY 8TH AND HAVE A STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY INSTEAD OF HAVING IT ON THAT FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF BREAK.
THEY FELT LIKE THAT CONCESSION WAS WORTH IT AND KNOWING THAT IT'S A ONE, YEAR THING.
IN 24, 25 CALENDAR, WE'RE ABLE TO RETURN BACK TO A FOUR, DAY FIRST WEEK.
I THINK EVERYONE FELT LIKE IN THE END, THIS OVERALL WAS AS CLOSE TO A REALLY GOOD CALENDAR.
NOT PERFECT, BUT A REALLY GOOD CALENDAR AND ONE THAT REALLY ALIGNS EVEN BREAKS WITH SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
THOSE WHO MAY HAVE KIDS IN OTHER DISTRICTS, THERE ARE SOME ALIGNMENT IN MOST OF OUR AREAS AROUND US AS WELL.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AROUND THE CALENDARS.
THIS WOULD BE TWO SEPARATE ACTION ITEMS, AND SO I GUESS I NEED TO RECOMMEND THAT FIRST BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS.
I GET EXCITED ABOUT THE CALENDAR AND I'M MORE EXCITED, I THINK BECAUSE IT'S THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT.
WITH THAT, I DO PROPOSE AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE 23, 24 CALENDAR AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY MS. PACHECO. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU MS. RODRI. YOU SOUNDS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THERE.
I THINK WE ARE A LITTLE [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW WE ARE VERY FAR APART.
THERE IS A MOTION BY TRUSTEE PACHECO, A SECOND BY TRUSTEE RENTERIA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE TIME TO SPRING BREAK CAVEAT OR THE 24, 25?
>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE 23, 24.
BUT FOR THE 2024, I CAN GO AHEAD AND FOR ANY CALENDAR THAT I EVER BRING FORWARD TO YOU FOR ADOPTION [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW WE'LL KEEP IT CLEAN, WILL PUSH THAT QUESTION TO THE NEXT [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO WE KNOW THAT THE DALLAS COLLEGE SPRING BREAK IS THE WEEK AS PRESENTED ON THE 23, 24 CALENDAR SO THAT ONE WHEN WE WOULD NOT EVER HAVE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR 23, 24 CALENDAR.
>> MR. POTEET, ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR QUESTION? HE WAS JUST IN THOUGHT MODE I WANT TO MAKE SURE. MS. PACHECO.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THE CALENDAR AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND THE FEEDBACK.
I THINK THIS CALENDAR LOOKS GREAT.
I HOPE IT'S AMAZING AND ALMOST PERFECT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CONFERENCE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PRODUCTIVE TIME FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES AND OUR TEACHERS.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN THERE. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON TRUSTEE PACHECO AS WELL TO STATE THAT THE PARENT, TEACHER CONFERENCE IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER.
I LOVE IT, I APPRECIATE IT, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO SEE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.
THERE IS A MOTION BY MS. PACHECO, A SECOND BY MS. RENTERIA. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES 6, 0. THANK YOU BOARD.
[IV.C. Consider 2024-2025 Academic Calendar ]
I WAS REALLY PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I JUST SHARED IS CONSISTENT WITH THE 24, 25 CALENDAR.I RECEIVED NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FOR THE 24,, 25 CALENDAR.
IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY PROBABLY AS CLOSE TO A PERFECT CALENDAR AS YOU CAN GET.
[01:05:02]
EVERYONE FELT LIKE IT WAS A REALLY A STRONG REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THEY WOULD HOPE TO SEE ANY CALENDAR.PLEASE NOTE I DID THE SAME THING REGARDING A CONFERENCE DAY.
BEFORE ELECTION DAY, INSTEAD OF THAT BEING A HOLIDAY FOR ALL, THAT IS NOW A STUDENT TEACHER AND PARENT CONFERENCE DAY.
MR. POTEET ALLUDED TO THIS A MOMENT AGO.
THE ONLY CAVEAT FOR THE 24, 25 CALENDAR.
AGAIN, WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THIS OUT EARLY.
WE KNOW HAVE MANY PARENTS WHO DO LIKE TO PLAN AHEAD FOR VACATIONS AND SUMMER CAMPS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THE ONLY CAVEAT I HAVE TO THIS PROPOSED CALENDAR IS THAT DALLAS COLLEGE HAS NOT RELEASED THEIR SPRING BREAK FOR 2025.
I MAY HAVE TO BRING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BOARD THIS COMING FALL, DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME IF DALLAS COLLEGE DOES NOT HAVE A SPRING BREAK THAT TYPICALLY FALLS IN THE SAME WEEK.
I USED THE WEEK THAT THEY TYPICALLY SCHEDULE THEIR SPRING BREAK, BUT IF THEY DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I MAY HAVE TO BRING AN AMENDMENT FORWARD TO THE BOARD.
WITH THAT, I DO ASK THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE 24, 25 CALENDAR AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BRANUM. THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION ON THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. POTEET IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, MR. EAGER. THERE IS A MOTION BY MR. POTEET, A SECOND BY MR. EAGER. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MS. PACHECO.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE CALENDAR, I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT.
CAN YOU, MS. BRANUM, EXPLAIN TO US WHY WE HAVE THE SPRING BREAK CAVEAT AND WHY WE'RE WAITING ON DALLAS COLLEGE.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE OVER 3,000 STUDENTS ACROSS OUR FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN A VARIETY OF DALLAS COLLEGE COURSES, AND WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY THAT OUR BREAKS UNLESS IT'S JUST THEY DO SOMETHING THAT IS JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ORDINARY, WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO SUPPORT THAT OUR BREAKS A LINE THAT WAY OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THOSE COURSES, IF THEY'RE OFF WITH US, THEY ARE OFF WITH DALLAS COLLEGE AS WELL, AND THERE'S NO INTERFERENCE OR CONFLICT BETWEEN ANY HIGH SCHOOL COURSES THAT THEY'RE TAKING IN A COLLEGE COURSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> I WANT TO THANK MR. POTEET AND THE STRATEGY AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND POSTING THESE ON THE WEBSITE IN THE LET'S TALKS CHANNELS.
WE WILL BEGIN TO PUBLICIZE THIS INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF SO THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR PLANNING, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, AND BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> ARE WE OKAY? YEAH. WE DO HAVE A SPOT HERE FOR A BREAK.
WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK RIGHT NOW? WOULD YOU LIKE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD? [BACKGROUND] LET'S MOVE IT.
[IV.D. Strategic Plan Update ]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN. MS. BRANUM?>> I CAN ACTUALLY TURN OVER TO DR [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I AM EXCITED TO PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE THIS EVENING.
THE WORK HAS BEGUN TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLAN 2023.
WE HAD TWO FULL DAYS EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO OUR COMMUNITY ON SOME UPCOMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS HAVE A CHANCE FOR SOME QUESTIONS, A Q&A, AND ANY REFLECTIONS FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS, MR. EAGER, MS. HARRIS, AND MR. POTEET WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
JUST AS A REMINDER, WE SHARED THIS GRAPHIC PREVIOUSLY AND WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO UPDATE IT THIS SPRING TO INCLUDE THE TRUE NORTH GOAL, BUT JUST SHOWING WHERE THE STRATEGIC PLAN FITS IN OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS AS A DISTRICT IN A LEARNING ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT WILL INFLUENCE NOT ONLY OUR ANNUAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLANNING, OUR CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND ACTION PLANS, AS WELL AS ULTIMATELY OUR BOARD GOALS AND STUDENT OUTCOMES.
ALL OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS VERSION VERSUS 2017 IS VERY MUCH GROUNDED IN OUR GRADUATE PROFILE, AND THE DISTRICT DESIGN COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK SPENT A LOT OF TIME GETTING GROUNDED IN THE PROFILE, UNDERSTANDING HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED LAST SPRING, LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FEEDBACK THAT WAS SHARED AS PART OF THE SURVEY AS PART OF THE FEEDBACK AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS.
BUT THIS IS REALLY ALSO A ROADMAP FOR US WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
[01:10:03]
THE ACADEMIC SUCCESSES THAT WE ASPIRE AND DREAM UP FOR OUR STUDENTS.BUT ALSO HOW ARE WE REALIZING THE GOALS AND ACTUALIZING THE OUTCOMES WE HAVE FOR THIS ADOPTED GRADUATE PROFILE.
JUST A QUICK REVIEW OF THE DESIGN MODEL THAT WE'RE USING AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ENGAGED TO LEARN, AND YOU CAN SEE I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF GREEN CHECK MARKS NEXT TO A COUPLE OF THE ACTUAL PROCESSES.
WE'RE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY IN AFTER COMPLETING NOT ONLY THE ENGAGE PHASE, BUT THE DESIGN DAYS EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND THEN WHAT'S COMING UP IN OUR ROADMAP AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND BE READY TO PRESENT TO YOU STRATEGIC PLAN 2023 LATER THIS SPRING.
I'VE SHARED THIS PLANNING OVERVIEW DOCUMENT WITH YOU PREVIOUSLY AS WELL BUT EACH OF THESE EVENTS AND TASKS PLAYS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVERALL PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO YOU, AND EVERY MONTH THROUGHOUT THIS SPRING, WE ARE WORKING NOT ONLY AS A DISTRICT DESIGN TEAM, BUT THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE WORK, AS WELL AS WORKING LATER IN THE SPRING WITH OUR DISTRICT AND CAMPUS LEADER TEAM.
I'M GOING TO DIG INTO SOME OF THESE EVENTS AND TASKS NOW TO SHARE SOME CELEBRATIONS AS WELL AS REMINDERS OF WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHAT WE HOPE TO DELIVER TO YOU LATER THIS SPRING.
MONDAY AND TUESDAY, THERE WAS A DISTRICT DESIGN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE OF 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MET FOR TWO VERY FULL DAYS.
I KNOW MY HEAD WAS FULL AND TIRED, [LAUGHTER] TUESDAY NIGHT AS WE REFLECTED ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE, IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO HAVE NOT ONLY OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE ROOM, WE HAD PARENTS, STUDENTS, THE STUDENT VOICE WAS SO AWESOME AROUND THE WORK, AS WELL AS DISTRICT STAFF, OF COURSE, OUR BOARD MEMBER'S SUPPORT, SOME CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF MAKING UP THIS GROUP OF 50 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS AND WHAT THIS GROUP DID FOR TWO DAYS, BUT LOOKING AT NOT ONLY THE SURVEY FROM LAST SPRING AS PART OF THE GRADUATE PROFILE, THE FOCUS GROUPS AND SUMMITS THAT WERE HELD TO GATHER INPUT ON WHAT ARE THOSE ASPIRATIONS AND DREAMS THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY LEAVE AND GRADUATE AND WALK THAT STAGE IN RISD, THAT WAS ALL COMBINED INTO A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE DATA SOURCES THAT THIS TEAM LOOKED AT AND EVALUATED.
THEY ALSO UNPACKED THE BELIEFS, WORKED ON A CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT TO GROUND THE WORK IN ADDITION, AS I MENTIONED, TO UNPACKING THE GRADUATE PROFILE AND THEN LOOKING AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT DATA SOURCES THAT REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT, EVERYTHING OF COURSE FROM STUDENT DATA, CTE PROGRAMMING DATA, OUR VARIOUS REPORTS, OUR STATE ASSESSMENT, AND LOCAL MAP DATA REPORTS TO SHOW HOW WE'RE DOING ACADEMICALLY AND WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GROW STUDENTS.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT DATA REPORTS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO THIS GROUP THAT THEIR TABLE TEAMS DUG INTO THAT LED THEM TO DO WHAT'S CALLED A SWOT ANALYSIS, WHERE THEY EVALUATED THE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS FOR THE DISTRICT, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO USE THIS DATA TO GUIDE THIS NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN? WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO AND WE SEE AS A STRENGTH? WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL THINGS THAT MAY BE A WEAKNESS, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ON OUR RADAR? WHAT ARE MAYBE SOME PROGRAMS OR THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO LET GO OF SO WE CAN MAKE SPACE FOR NEW WAYS OF MAKING SURE AND ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GRADUATE AND BE THEIR BEST SELVES AFTER THEY LEAVE RICHARDSON ISD? THEN THAT SWOT ANALYSIS LED INTO THE IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH THEN, AND THESE ARE ALL PROTOCOLS THAT THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ENGAGING IN, AND IT REALLY IS SOME VERY THOUGHTFUL HARD WORK, REALLY HAVING TO SET ASIDE MAYBE A LOT OF PERSONAL IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
THEN THAT LED US INTO THE DRAFT OF SOME PRELIMINARY STRATEGIC GOALS, AND THAT WAS REALLY WHAT WE LEFT WITH BY THE END OF THE DAY ON TUESDAY.
AGAIN, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE I'M SO PROUD OF THE STUDENTS THAT WERE REPRESENTED.
WE HAD EIGHT HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS,
[01:15:02]
TWO FROM EACH OF OUR FEEDER PATTERN HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WERE REPRESENTATIVE, 9TH, 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADERS, AND SO WE HAD SOME UNDERCLASSMEN THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PLAN AS WELL AS SOME UPPERCLASSMEN WHO WERE SHARING THEIR REFLECTIONS AND VOICE.IT WAS SO POWERFUL TO HAVE THEM IN THE ROOM.
>> I WANT TO ADD JUST REAL QUICK FOR JUST A MOMENT, SORRY, DR. HELLER.
>> I THINK THESE PROTOCOLS RIGHT HERE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE ASK A QUESTION AROUND, WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE INTERNALLY TO FACILITATE A STRATEGIC PLAN, WHY DO WE USE A CONSULTANT? I HAD BEEN TRAINED BY CAMBRIDGE, BY THE BILL COOKE, I'M A CERTIFIED STRATEGIC PLAN FACILITATOR I, HAVE FACILITATED FOR OTHER DISTRICTS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY A LOT OF TIMES A DISTRICT OR ANY ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRY WILL SOMETIMES USE SOMEONE EXTERNAL IS REALLY ILLUSTRATED IN THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE.
WHEN YOU WERE DOING A SWOT ANALYSIS, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CRITICAL OPPORTUNITIES, IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE INTERNAL TO SOMETIMES TAKE OFF THE FILTER, SOMETIMES TAKE OFF THE BIAS THAT YOU HAVE, AND BE WILLING TO REALLY TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT GUILTLESS AUTOPSY OF WHERE YOU ARE AND BE WILLING TO OWN AND BE OKAY WITH, HEY, WE HAVE SOME AREAS WHERE WE'RE NOT DOING SO GREAT.
WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE FACILITATING, YOU TEND TO WANT TO DEFEND AND BE DEFENSIVE, MAYBE SOMETIMES NOT EVEN ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION OR PUSH THE THINKING BECAUSE IN THE END IT'S YOUR BABY, AND MAYBE SOMETIMES I MIGHT SAY SOMETHING BUT DON'T CALL MY BABY UGLY, AND SO I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AND SOMETHING THAT WE DID HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND, WE NEEDED TO BRING SOMEONE IN WHO COULD REALLY ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND US NOT BE THREATENED BY IT.
IT'S OKAY TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE TRUE NORTH STAR THAT YOU ALL HAVE CREATED FOR US IF WE'RE NOT HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT THIS MOMENT.
I REALLY WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT TO EVERYONE BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S NOT AN EXPENDITURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT, IS THIS REALLY GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO WHERE WE'RE GOING? I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE THAT MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE BECAUSE THEY DID PUSH OUR THINKING.
THEY DID CHALLENGE OUR THINKING OVER THE COURSE OF THESE INITIAL FIRST TWO DAYS AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY WIDE PROCESS.
I SHARE WITH YOU A SAMPLE OF ONE OF THE FINAL DRAFTS OF THE STRATEGY GOALS THAT WAS DEVELOPED, AND IT WAS AROUND EQUITABLE FACILITIES.
ALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WILL BE SAFE, CURRENT, AND FACILITATE ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF, I BELIEVE, A TOTAL OF SEVEN DIFFERENT GOALS THAT THIS TEAM LANDED ON IN A DRAFT FORM BY THE END OF TUESDAY AFTERNOON, AND THAT WILL NOW GUIDE OUR WORK FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AS WE TAKE THIS WORK THAT THE DESIGN TEAM DID BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT AND FEEDBACK.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME VISUALS FROM THE TWO DAYS.
IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING THE WORK ON TWITTER, HOPEFULLY, YOU SAW SOME OF THE TWEETS OF THE GROUP.
AGAIN, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TEAM, VERY COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS, VERY OPEN TO THE PROCESS AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY.
THEY ARE REALLY GREAT GROUP AND APPRECIATE ALSO YOU ALL, CHRIS, REGINA AND MR. EAGER FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THE PROCESS THIS WEEK AS WELL.
AS I MENTIONED AND AS WE STARTED TO COMMUNICATE LAST WEEK, WE'RE NOW MOVING INTO A PHASE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEEK FEEDBACK ON THE INITIAL WORK THAT WAS DONE EARLIER THIS WEEK BY THE DESIGN TEAM.
WE STARTED COMMUNICATING LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE TWO UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES THIS MONTH THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE OUT THROUGH ALL OF OUR CHANNELS AND WITH OUR CAMPUSES.
WE WILL BE HAVING SOME COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES, THESE ARE GOING TO BE IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES FOR UP TO 60 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
A TOTAL OF 120 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON JANUARY 24TH, EITHER DURING A DAYTIME SESSION OR AN EVENING SESSION, CAN COME.
THEY ARE GOING TO WORK THROUGH A PROTOCOL AND LEARN ABOUT THE DESIGN TEAMWORK, WHERE WE LANDED AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND CRITIQUE.
PLEASE NOTE ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK THAT IS BEING COLLECTED AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WILL BE GOING BACK TO THIS SAME DESIGN TEAM IN MARCH WHEN THEY RECONVENE TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK OVER THE COURSE OF THREE CREATE DAYS.
IN ADDITION TO THE IN-PERSON SESSION ON THE 24TH ARE THE TWO SESSIONS,
[01:20:03]
THERE'S ALSO A VIRTUAL PROGRESS MEETING.TWO ZOOM SESSIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HOST.
AGAIN, IF A PARENT OR COMMUNITY MEMBER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE UP A DAY OR A FEW HOURS, THEY CAN HOP ON A QUICK ZOOM CALL AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A PROGRESS REPORT AND GET INFORMATION AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AS WELL IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT.
THEN, HERE IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING OUT A BIG CALL OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTH.
AS WE NOW TAKE THOSE SEVEN STRATEGIC GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO ASK AND CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES.
THESE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE GOING TO BE COMPRISED, AGAIN OF INTERNAL STAFF, PARENTS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BUSINESS, ADDITIONAL BUSINESS, PARTNERS WHO WANT TO HELP UNPACK EACH OF THOSE PROPOSED GOALS.
THEN, WHAT ARE THE METRICS AND SUGGESTED ACTIONS THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE TO REALIZE THAT GOAL OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? WE ANTICIPATE HUNDREDS OF STAFF AND COMMUNITY GETTING TO PARTICIPATE ON A STRATEGIC PLANNING METRIC TEAM.
IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN STRATEGIC PLANNING 2017, I WOULD EQUATE THIS TO THE STRATEGIC ACTION TEAMS. IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT NAME BUT THE PURPOSE REMAINS THE SAME.
THOSE TEAMS ARE GOING TO BE LED BY SOME OF US HERE IN THE HORSESHOE ON CABINET AND OTHER DISTRICT LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO PROVIDE FACILITATION TO IDENTIFY AGAIN, THE METRICS AS WELL AS SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT GOAL AS PART OF STRATEGIC PLAN 2023.
THOSE FIRST MEETINGS ARE GOING TO START UP THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AND EARLY MARCH.
BECAUSE ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK THEN WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DESIGN TEAM.
AS I MENTIONED, THEY ARE GOING TO RECONVENE IN MARCH OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS THEN TO DIG IN AND CREATE THE ACTUAL PLAN AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GET THEN COMPRISE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN 2023.
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE GETTING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
ONCE THE TEAM MEETS AGAIN IN MARCH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT AND WE HAVE DATES IDENTIFIED IN APRIL AS WELL FOR THOSE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO VISUALLY WALK YOU THROUGH LOTS HAPPENING EVERY WEEK AND EVERY MONTH AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THE SPRING SEMESTER.
DIGGING INTO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING METRICS THAT I EQUATE TO WHEN I SERVED ON THE STRATEGIC ACTION TEAM AS PART OF STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2017, IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP IDENTIFY SPECIFIC TO A GOAL, METRICS AND ACTIONS THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO CONSIDER SO THAT WE CAN REALIZE THAT GOAL.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVEN HUNDREDS OF MORE STAFF AND COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
THIS IS ALSO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE THOSE SYSTEMS, PROCESSES OR STRATEGIES THAT NEED TO EXIST OR MAYBE BE LET GO OF AND WE RECONSIDER A NEW WAY SO THAT WE CAN REALIZE THESE NEW PROPOSED GOALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD AS PART OF STRATEGIC PLAN 2023.
WHEN THE DESIGN TEAM COMES BACK IN MARCH FOR THREE DAYS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE THEN DIGGING IN AND DELIVERING ON THESE FOUR ARTIFACTS; LEARNING INNOVATION FRAMEWORK, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS FROM THOSE DIFFERENT METRIC TEAMS AND GET THOSE ALL COORDINATED INTO A FIVE-YEAR TIMELINE PLAN AND THEN ALSO DEVELOPING A LEARNING INNOVATION FRAMEWORK.
THEY CALL IT A LIF PROTOCOL, WHICH WILL REALLY BE THE LENS WITH WHICH THE CLASSROOM TEACHER ON OUR CAMPUSES ARE GOING TO APPROACH THE WORK SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR LEARNING DESIGN, PERHAPS THROUGH A NEW LENS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF STRATEGIC PLAN 2023 AND THE GRADUATE PROFILE.
IMPORTANT TO THIS WORK IS WHAT HAPPENS TOWARDS THE LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER, WHICH IS AFTER THE DESIGN TEAM COMES TOGETHER IN MARCH, IS WORKING WITH DISTRICT LEADERS AND CAMPUS LEADERS IN APRIL AND MAY SO THAT WE CAN START ACTUALIZING OUR YEAR 1 PLANS FOR THE '23, '24 SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR A CAMPUS PRINCIPAL WHO'S STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THEIR CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THEY NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT REFLECTING ON AS THEY BEGIN TO DEVELOP THEIR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES.
WE WILL BRING TO YOU ACTION PLANS AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROPOSAL THAT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED
[01:25:04]
TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU AT THE BOARD WORKSHOP IN MAY FOR CONSIDERATION AND ACTION FOR ADOPTION AT THE JUNE MEETING.ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ENGAGED TO LEARN AS A FACILITATOR IS THE RESPONSIBLE ROLLOUT.
THERE ARE TRAPPINGS THAT DISTRICT AND CAMPUS STAFF ARE GOING TO ENGAGE IN TO HELP SUPPORT THAT YEAR 1 AND BEYOND.
REALLY LOOKING AT THE ROI, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DELIVER ON WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS US TO DO AS IT ALIGNS WITH OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN AND THERE WILL BE THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING WITH PRINCIPALS AND DISTRICT LEADERS.
AGAIN, JUST TO SUMMARIZE, THESE ARE THE DELIVERABLES THAT ARE STILL COMING AS PART OF THE PLAN.
THIS WILL ALL BE PACKAGED AS A DOCUMENT FOR YOU TO REVIEW AS AN INFORMATION ITEM AT THE MAY MEETING AND HAVE SOME TIME TO PROCESS.
THEN TENTATIVELY, WE WOULD BRING FORWARD AT THE JUNE MEETING FOR ACTION AND ADOPTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK OVER THE SUMMER TO IMPACT OUR DISTRICT AND CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANNING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
WE SHARED THIS PREVIOUSLY AND I CAN'T PERSONALLY THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR CONTINUED ROLE IN CHAMPION THE PROCESS, APPRECIATE YOU.
RECOMMENDING COMMUNITY AND PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE, PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THEM ON OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE THE SPRING.
ENCOURAGING THAT PARTICIPATION, PROMOTING THAT AWARENESS AND BEING SURE THAT THEY CAN GET CONNECTED WITH ANY OF US ON STAFF IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS SO WE CAN PROCESS WITH THEM.
AS MENTIONED, I KNOW THE DESIGN TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO BRINGING AN OVERVIEW OF THE FINALIZED COMMUNITY-DEVELOPED STRATEGIC PLAN TO YOU IN MAY.
WITH THAT, I WOULD ALSO JUST USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE RECENTLY UPDATED THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WEBSITE ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE, AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE ANCHORING AND DOCUMENTING THIS JOURNEY THROUGHOUT THE SPRING.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON WE WILL BE POSTING THE MEETING MINUTES FROM MONDAY AND TUESDAY AND OTHER ARTIFACTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATING WITH OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROCESS.
WITH THAT, I WOULD TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL REFLECTIONS FROM ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD PARTICIPATED EARLIER THIS WEEK OR FROM SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM.
>> THANK YOU. DR. HELLER. BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MS. MANCHURIA?
>> IT'S JUST MORE OF A COMMENT.
DR. HELLER, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION, IT WAS GREAT, AND SHE DEFINITELY EXPRESSES EXACTLY THE GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S PARTICIPATED IN THIS.
TO MY TWO COLLEAGUES, THREE, MS. HARRIS WAS THERE TOO, BUT ALSO MR. POTEET AND MR. EAGER FOR COMMITTING TO THAT AND JUST BEING THERE THOSE TWO DAYS.
I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE, BUT FOR OUR PARENTS, I KNOW FOR ME, I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THAT ARE DOING THIS.
BECAUSE THIS IS WORK THAT TAKES A LOT OF COMMITMENT, AND FOR THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE WORKING DAYS.
YOU TAKE TIME OFF WITH NOT ONLY OUR COLLEAGUES THAT DO THIS, BUT FOR OUR PARENTS, OUR STUDENTS WHO STEPPED OUT OF CLASS.
I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING UP, SO THANK YOU.
WOULD ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE COMMITTEE LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? MR. POTEET.
>> SURE. I APPRECIATE THAT, MS. MANCHURIA, I ECHO THAT.
I GOT THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS HERE FOR TWO DAYS, WHICH WAS REALLY JUST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WAS ALSO ENLIGHTENING.
BUT CONSIDERING THEIR STAKEHOLDERS LIKE A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA, THEN PROVIDING INPUT INTO THIS IS CRITICAL, I THINK FROM A RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE, NETWORK OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES, DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER HAD A REPRESENTATIVE THERE I WORKED WITH.
THERE WERE OTHERS IN THAT, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THEM INVOLVED.
SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS, AND I KNOW WE HAD A GOOD CROSS-SECTION OF STUDENTS.
DID WE HAVE JUNIOR, WAS AT 10TH GRADE THROUGH 12TH GRADE I THINK?
>> WE ACTUALLY HAD A FRESHMAN.
>> GETTING THEIR INPUT AS ADULTS, SOMETIMES YOU SECOND GUESS THE VALUE IN THAT BASED ON A LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN LIFE.
BUT THE PERSPECTIVE IS UNIQUE AND DIVERSE AND IT'S RELEVANT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THIS SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT.
[01:30:05]
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ENGAGED TO LEARN, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I KNOW WAS STRESSED EARLY ON WAS THAT THEY WERE A FACILITATOR.THEY ARE A FACILITATOR AND WE STRESS THAT THIS IS OUR PLAN, OUR PROCESS.
THIS IS RISD, BUT WE NEED THEIR HAND IN GUIDING AND FACILITATING THIS AND THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT AND I COULD CATCH THEM ECHO THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND COMMENTS WHICH MADE ME UNDERSTAND THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE STRESS WAS IN THAT SO TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, MS. BRANUM.
ALSO JUST ON THEIR PART, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THESE ARE NOT JUST GENERALISTS THAT COME IN.
THESE WERE EDUCATORS THAT I THINK THEY BOTH HAD 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND I LOOKED IT UP IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS SO IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S FACILITATING, HAVE THAT LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE IN YOUR INDUSTRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH AND RESONATE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION THAT WAS GOING ON SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS VALUABLE, GETTING THAT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY UNDERSTOOD IT WAS OUR PROCESS.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS WE FOCUS ON THE GRADUATE PROFILE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTOOD WHERE WE, I DON'T REMEMBER IF WE BRIEFED OUT THE NORTH STAR AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER AS A BOARD TO GET THAT BEFORE, DID WE?
>> THA'LL BE COMING TOWARD ME.
>> THAT'S COMING UP. BUT I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF PLANNING PREP THAT CAME UP WITH THE NORTH STAR AND WILL EXPLAIN IT LATER.
BUT IT WAS A VERY FOCUSED IMPERATIVE OF HOW WE WERE GOING TO DRIVE THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WE'VE GOT MISSION, WE'VE GOT VISION, WE'VE GOT GRADUATE PROFILE.
WE WANT TO WRAP THIS ALL UP INTO A LASER FOCUS.
THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS AND END.
THEY'LL ALL BE INCLUDED, THEY'LL ALL BE RELIED UPON AS WE GO DOWN THIS PATH.
BUT I'M EXCITED WHEN WE SHARE THAT AND HOW WE ARRIVED AT THE NORTH STAR BECAUSE THAT WAS REPEATED BOTH MONDAY AND TUESDAY QUITE A BIT WHICH I APPRECIATED SEEING AND I KNOW WILL CONTINUE AS WE GO FORWARD.
YES, IT WAS TWO EXHAUSTING DAYS, BUT IT WAS TWO VALUABLE DAYS, AND THE VALUE AND THIS IS THE EXERCISE ITSELF A LOT OF TIMES AND I THINK THAT WAS TIME WELL SPENT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> TO ALL THOSE ASPECTS, BUT I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THE 2007 DESIGN TEAM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SOME OF THE ACTION TEAMS. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT IS SO ENCOURAGING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE SIT TOGETHER IN A ROOM, AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT IT WAS SO ENCOURAGING TO SIT IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALL WITH JUST THE MISSION AND THE IDEA OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR KIDS BE READY TO SUCCEED IN THE WORLD AND HAVE ALL THAT JUST PULL THIS TOGETHER WITH THAT COMMON THEME? I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE IN THAT ROOM AND TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT HAPPENING.
I WAS GOING TO SAY I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS AND JUST THEIR FEEDBACK AND THEIR CONFIDENCE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GRAY HAIR PEOPLE IN THERE, AND THEY WERE NOT SHY ABOUT OFFERING.
THEY HAD A FEW JUST AHA MOMENTS FOR US OLDER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND SO IT WAS JUST VERY ENCOURAGING.
THEN THE THING THAT I WOULD STRESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THE VIDEO OUT IN THE AUDIENCE, IS THAT IF YOU CAN MAKE THE TIME, GET INVOLVED.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON OUR LIFE, BUT MAN, IF YOU CAN SQUEEZE IN AN HOUR OR TWO, IT IS SO IMPACTFUL FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE I CAN GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE FROM THAT 2017 PLAN.
IT WENT FROM FACILITIES DOWN TO A FACILITIES COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSION POINT, AND SIXTH GRADE TRANSFORMATION CAME OUT OF A VERY SMALL GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEN WENT TO ANOTHER GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SITUATION THAT'S GOING TO HELP GENERATIONS OF KIDS, ALL FROM AN IDEA THAT WAS SPARKED FROM A STRATEGIC PLAN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A COMMITTEE.
THOSE ARE THE TRANSFORMATIONAL TOPICS
[01:35:04]
AND IDEAS AND THOUGHTS THAT CAN COME FROM BEING INVOLVED.BY ALL MEANS, IF YOU CAN FIND THE TIME AND I'M PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, PLEASE BE THERE, PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK, AND I WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT.
AND THE THING ABOUT IT TOO, THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO GUIDE OUR DISTRICT ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IT'S GOING TO DICTATE AND GIVE US GUIDANCE ON WHERE DO WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO GUIDE US TO WHERE WE WANT TO DO FOR ALL OUR KIDS.
AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME.
WAITING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE TEAM THAT GETS IT DONE SO THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. I WOULD JUST FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL.
IT WAS TWO VERY ROBUST DAYS FULL OF GREAT INFORMATION.
ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WHAT I REALIZED THOSE TWO DAYS IS THAT EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM IS TRYING TO GET TO THE SAME POINT.
EVERYONE WANTS THE BEST FOR RISD AND THEY WANT RISD TO BE THE DISTRICT OF CHOICE.
THAT'S WHY EVEN THOUGH WE ALL HAD SOME DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET THERE, WE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS, WE RESPECTED EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THIS PERSON, THIS PERSON, THIS PERSON AND THIS PERSON ALL WANT THE SAME THING.
IT WAS FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING UNTIL 04:00 IN THE AFTERNOON SO YES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING, WE APPRECIATE IT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM ANYONE? MS. POJECO?
I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT PARTICIPATED AND SPEND ALL THOSE HOURS REALLY CREATING A GOOD VISION AND DESIGN OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS FOR RISD AND FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.
I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE GET INSPIRED BY THIS AND SEE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INPUT.
WE DO REACH OUT AND WE WANT EVERYONE HERE TO HELP US MAKE THIS DISTRICT THE BEST DISTRICT.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS DID THIS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL THESE RESULTS AND I JUST HOPE WE HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION FOR ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS COMING UP. THAT'S IT. THANKS.
>> ONE REAL QUICK ADD-ON IF I COULD.
WE ADD FACILITATORS, WE HAD 50 PEOPLE ON THE TEAM BUT I WANT TO THANK DR. HELLER AND HER STAFF BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN LIVING AND BREATHING THIS FOR MONTHS NOW AND THEY'RE NOT DONE.
NONE OF US ARE DONE. THIS IS THE START OF THE REAL HEAVY LIFTING AND SO I KNOW THEY WERE IN THE BACKGROUND DOING A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ALL WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH AND NOW WE START THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PROGRESSION SO IT'S A LONG PATH FOR HER AND HER STAFF.
WHEN WE HIRE A FACILITATOR, WE'RE RUNNING IT, SHE'S RUNNING IT, SHE'S PLANNING IT, AND SHE'S GETTING HELP FROM SOMEBODY THAT WE BROUGHT IN SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND EFFORTS FOR THAT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE JUST A SHOUT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DID PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
I KNOW OF ONE PARTICULARLY THAT IS A NEW MAMA WHO JUST HAD A NEWBORN BABY WHO HER MOTHER-IN-LAW BRING BABY TO THE PARKING LOT SO SHE COULD FEED BABY SO THAT SHE COULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS, AND THAT IS HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE KNOW THAT AS BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE THOSE PARTICIPANTS THERE, AND WE JUST THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
>> JUST THANK YOU. IT WAS A PHENOMENAL TWO DAYS.
WE HAVE EVEN GREATER THINGS AHEAD WHERE THE WORK IS NOT DONE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HOPE THE COMMUNITY HEARD THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK BELIEVE IT OR NOT WAS NOT DONE BY THE 50 PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM.
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IS WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER HERE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO INVITE THOSE COMMITTEES TO
[01:40:01]
COME TOGETHER AND DIG INTO EACH OF THOSE STRATEGIES THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THOSE 50 PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE EXCITEMENT HAPPENS.THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO SEE HOW THE NORTHSTAR THAT THE BOARD HAS GENERATED IS GOING TO BECOME POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S THE EXCITING PART.
TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF.
IT'S HARD TO BE GONE FROM YOUR CLASSROOM AND TO CREATE SUB PLANS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND SO I THINK OUR STAFF THAT WAS THERE, OUR PRINCIPALS THAT WERE THERE, AND AGAIN OUR STUDENTS OFTEN WERE THE ONES THAT PUSHED THE WORK FORWARD, SO I CELEBRATE THEM. THANK YOU DR. HELLER.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON PLANNING FOR
[IV.E. 2023-2024 Budget Discussion ]
THE 2023/2024 BUDGET. MS. BRANUM.>> THANK YOU AND MR. PATE IS GOING TO HELP LEAD THIS CONVERSATION.
WE DID A DEEP DIVE INTO PLANNING FOR '23/'24 BUDGET.
WE DID WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEVEL SETTING ON THE BUDGET.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE MS. PACHECO AND MS. MCGOWAN, THEY JOINED THE BOARD BASICALLY AS THEY WERE ADOPTING THIS '22/'23 SCHOOL YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW OF A BUDGET PROCESS THAT IS ANY MORE COMPLEX THAN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY, BUT THE FORMULAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CREATES IN ORDER TO FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE FEDERAL FUNDING, GRANT FUNDING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN PLANNING FOR A BUDGET, MAKE THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN ADOPTING THE BUDGET VERY COMPLEX.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE GOING IN AND STARTING TO DO THE DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO RIGHT SIZE OUR BUDGET, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS IN THE SAME PLACE WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHAT COMPRISES OUR BUDGET.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS IS MADE EVEN MORE COMPLEX BECAUSE IT IS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE KNOW ALREADY THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND THE TRUTH IS WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THOSE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS ARE WELL INTO MAY, MAYBE EVEN JUNE WHEN THOSE THINGS GET MODELED.
TONIGHT IS REALLY ABOUT THAT LEVEL SET.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THIS, PLEASE STOP THIS AT ANY POINT IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. PATE, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BRANUM. AGAIN, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, TO ME, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THIS WAY RIGHT NOW IS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TERMINOLOGY THROWN AROUND AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT [NOISE] OUR BOARD, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF HAS THAT LEVEL SET, HAS THAT FOUNDATIONAL BASIS AS WE HEAR THE LEGISLATURE START TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND OUR LEGISLATORS SESSION STARTED TWO DAYS AGO.
[NOISE] IT WILL BE OVER RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE BOARD IS ADOPTING THIS BUDGET, AND SO TO ME IT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO GO THROUGH.
THESE ARE BASICS. IT'S SCHOOL FINANCE 101, REVIEW OUR '22/'23 ADOPTED BUDGET, THE POINT WE'RE STARTING FROM.
FIRST OFF, WE'LL JUST START WITH SOME SOURCES OF DISTRICT FUNDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO START OUT WITH IS SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTING WE UTILIZE FUND ACCOUNTING, IT IS NOT THE SAME WAY AS CORPORATIONS WORK.
[NOISE] WE HAVE A SPECIFIC SET OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOLLOW.
THAT WORKS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
WE UTILIZE FUND ACCOUNTING WHICH IS DEFINED AS A SELF-BALANCING SET OF ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE SEGREGATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES.
YOU CAN THINK OF THOSE FUNDS AS BEING THE VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES OF A LARGE CORPORATION LIKE GENERAL MOTORS, CHEVROLET, BUICK, CADILLAC, AND GMC.
WHILE THEY'RE SIMILAR TO THAT, IT IS STILL NOT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
SOME FUNDS HAVE A PROFIT MOTIVE OR ACCUMULATED PROFIT AND SOME ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED BECAUSE OF THE BASIS OF ACCOUNTING TO LOSE MONEY.
YOU'VE GOT THE GENERAL FUND OR OPERATING FUND WHERE OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION'S TAXES ARE DEPOSITED AND WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR STATE FUNDING FLOWS THROUGH THAT AND WE'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON WHAT GOES THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND IN A MINUTE.
HERE, YOU HAVE THE DEBT SERVICE FUND WHICH IS THE FUND WHERE OUR INTEREST AND SINKING FUND TAXES ARE DEPOSITED.
AGAIN, WE'LL GO INTO THAT ONE IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FROM IT.
[01:45:01]
THAT IS THE FUND WHERE OUR BOND PROCEEDS ARE DEPOSITED.CONTRARY TO SAY, CORPORATE ACCOUNTING AND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS THOSE BOND PROCEEDS REPRESENT REVENUE.
AS WE SPEND THOSE BOND PROCEEDS, THOSE ARE EXPENSES.
YOU'LL SEE, WE SELL BONDS, WE HAVE REVENUE ONE YEAR.
IF WE DON'T SELL BONDS THE NEXT YEAR, YOU'LL ONLY HAVE EXPENSES.
ON PAPER, THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND IS LOSING MONEY, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
WE SOLD BONDS TO BUILD A SCHOOL.
SELL THE BONDS, WE GET THE CASH.
AS WE BUILD THAT SCHOOL WE SPEND THAT CASH, AND ULTIMATELY IF WE DIDN'T SELL ANY MORE BONDS, IT WOULD GO AWAY.
THE FUND WOULD GO AWAY, IT WOULD GO TO ZERO.
WE SPENT THE MONEY ON THE PROJECTS THAT THE PUBLIC APPROVE THE BONDS FOR.
SOME FUNDS, AGAIN, OPERATE IN A WAY THAT'S CONTRARY TO WHAT WE NORMALLY THINK A BUSINESS WOULD OPERATE UNDER.
OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE USE TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT REVENUES.
THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THOSE ARE A CHILD NUTRITION FUND THAT IS CONSIDERED A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AS WELL AS OUR TITLE 1 AND OUR IDEA B GRANTS.
THOSE ARE OUR TWO BIGGEST GRANTS.
ALL OF THOSE ARE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, AND THEN WE HAVE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
THOSE FUNDS EXIST TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE OTHER FUNDS OF THE DISTRICT.
FOR INSTANCE, THE PRINT SHOP AND OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND.
IT WAS THAT SELF-INSURED FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION AND SO THAT FUND EXISTS TO BILL OUR VARIOUS FUNDS FOR WORKERS COMP, IT PAYS THE CLAIMS. WE DO HAVE STOP-LOSS INSURANCE IN THERE, BUT IT IS A BUSINESS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE REST OF THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS, IT'S OUR OWN KINKO'S THAT WE RUN IN HOUSE THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT.
[NOISE] STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR THREE FUNDS, AND THAT IS THE GENERAL OR OPERATING FUND OR DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND.
IN JUNE WHEN YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET, THAT IS THE BUDGET YOU'RE ADOPTING FOR.
IT'S NOT THE TOTAL OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, IT'S JUST THE ONES OUR BOARD ADOPTS THE BUDGET FOR, YOU DON'T ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, ALL OF OUR OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, AND OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
THIS SLIDE HERE, THE PIE CHART IS THE 2022/23 REVENUE BUDGET FOR THE THREE ADOPTED FUNDS.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE REVENUE CATEGORIES IN MORE DETAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT LOCAL REVENUE REALLY IS WHAT FUNDS THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS THE BULK OF HOW STUFF IS PAID FOR IN RSD, AND THAT IS MONEY GENERATED PRIMARILY FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
[NOISE] YOU DON'T ADOPT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS, SO THAT'S NOT IN THERE BUT SO THIS WOULD PRIMARILY THEN BE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
STARTING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO A SPECIFIC GROUP OF STUDENTS.
FOR THE THREE ADOPTED FUNDS, THE REVENUE UNDER FEDERAL FUNDS IS PRIMARILY OUR NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM REVENUE, SO THAT IS THE MONEY THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVES FROM THE FREE LUNCH PROGRAM AND THE COMMODITIES THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT IS SCHOOL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES REVENUE THAT IS RECORDED IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT OUR STAFF PROVIDE TO OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.
THEN THERE'S AN INDIRECT COST THAT IS [NOISE] CHARGED TO OUR FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THAT COVERS THINGS LIKE HUMAN RESOURCES, PAYROLL, PURCHASING, FINANCE, ALL OF THOSE OVERHEAD DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE STILL PROCESSING THE PAYROLL FOR OUR GRANT FUNDED STAFF OR ONBOARDING THEM AND RECRUITING THEM AND ORDERING THE SUPPLIES, DOING THE BIDS FOR THAT, ALL OF THAT IS COVERED THROUGH THE INDIRECT COST RATE THAT WE CHARGE.
FEDERAL FUNDS CANNOT BE USED TO REPLACE STATE OR LOCAL DOLLARS TO FUND A PROGRAM THAT'S DEFINED AS SUPPLANTING, AND MOST, IF NOT ALL OF OUR FEDERAL GRANTS HAVE A PROHIBITION AGAINST SUPPLANTING.
THEN OUR FEDERAL GRANT REVENUES HAVE RESTRICTIVE SPENDING REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE.
WHEN OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS PRESENT THE AUDIT REPORT, PART OF THEIR WORK,
[01:50:05]
NOT JUST TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES, BUT THEY DO SPECIAL PROCEDURES RELATED TO OUR FEDERAL GRANTS AND THEY AUDIT OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR SPENDING ON FEDERAL GRANTS.THE STATE FUNDING IS PRIMARILY FOR THESE THREE FUNDS.
THE FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF STATE FUNDING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.
THE STATE FUNDING IS MEANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, REGARDLESS OF PROPERTY WEALTH, RECEIVE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL ACCESS TO SIMILAR REVENUE PER STUDENT AT SIMILAR TAX EFFORT, AND WE'LL LOOK AGAIN AT THAT STATEMENT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY HERE IN A MINUTE.
STATE FUNDING IS BASED ON THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE EACH DAY ALL YEAR.
IT'S ALSO BASED ON A VARIETY OF STUDENT ATTRIBUTES, INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE RECEIVING DYSLEXIA SERVICES, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN BILINGUAL PROGRAM SERVICES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE IN ATTENDANCE EVERY DAY IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 3RD GRADE, AND THEN THEY'RE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STATUS.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER STUDENT ATTRIBUTES, BUT THESE ARE THE PRIMARY ONES THAT IMPACT STATE FUNDING.
AGAIN, ON THE PROPERTY WEALTH PER STUDENT, THAT IS THE TAX BASE DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
THE LOWER THE WEALTH PER STUDENT, THE MORE STATE FUNDING A DISTRICT GETS, AND THE HIGHER THE WEALTH PER STUDENT, THE LESS STATE FUNDING A DISTRICT GETS.
AGAIN, ALL OTHER FACTORS BEING EQUAL, AS LOCAL PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE, THE DISTRICT RECEIVES LESS FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF REPEAT, BUT AGAIN, I JUST REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL HAVE THIS FOUNDATION GOING INTO, ESPECIALLY THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE BUDGET PROCESS.
ANOTHER WAY I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE STATE FUNDING IS THE FORMULAS DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE GLASS OR THE DISTRICT'S ENTITLEMENT.
AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON THE BASIC ALLOTMENT, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE DISCUSSED A LOT DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS, THE STUDENT'S CHARACTERISTICS, OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNDING NOT ON A PER STUDENT BASIS, SUCH AS OUR TRANSPORTATION ALLOTMENT, TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT, AND THE DISTRICTS TAX EFFORT.
AS LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES AND STATE FUNDING ARE COMBINED TO REACH THE ENTITLEMENT OR FILL THE GLASS, LOCAL REVENUE IN EXCESS OF THE ENTITLEMENT IS RECAPTURED; THAT PART THAT WOULD SPILL OVER OUT OF THE GLASS IF YOU ARE POURING WATER IN THERE AND THAT RECAPTURE IS SENT TO THE STATE.
[NOISE] ROBIN HOOD OR RECAPTURE.
YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR THE CHAPTER 48 AND 49 BEING DISCUSSED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THOSE CHAPTER 48 AND 49 ARE SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.
CHAPTER 49 DISTRICTS ARE DISTRICTS THAT PAY RECAPTURE TO THE STATE, THEY DO NOT RECEIVE STATE FUNDING.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE A HIGHLAND PARK ISD.
YOU'VE ALSO GOT CHAPTER 48 DISTRICTS.
THEY DON'T PAY RECAPTURE, THEY DO RECEIVE STATE FUNDING, AND AN EXAMPLE THAT WOULD BE GARLAND ISD.
THEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DISTRICTS IN THE MIDDLE LIKE RICHARDSON, WHICH ARE GAP DISTRICTS.
WE DO PAY SOME RECAPTURE BASED ON OUR TAX RATE, BUT WE ALSO DO RECEIVE SOME STATE FUNDING.
AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE WEALTH PER STUDENT.
LOCAL TAX EFFORT IS THE SAME AS PROPERTY TAXES OR AD VALOREM TAXES.
YOU HEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE SAME THING.
IT'S THE ONLY TEXT THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS COLLECT.
UNLIKE CITIES, THEY COLLECT SALES TAX, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND PROPERTY TAXES.
OFTENTIMES YOU'LL SEE THAT A CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE IS LOWER THAN A SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE THOSE OTHER TAX REVENUE SOURCES.
THE DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT SETS THE MARKET VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT, THE COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, THAT IS NOT A DECISION MADE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THEN EACH YEAR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADOPT TWO TAX RATES WHICH MAKE UP THE TOTAL TAX RATE.
YOU'VE GOT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE IS DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND, ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE M&O RATE AND THE INTEREST AND SINKING OR I&S RATE AND THAT TAX REVENUE IS DEPOSITED INTO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
[01:55:08]
A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OR M&O TAX RATE.IT FUNDS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT, FUNDS SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, FUNDS SALARIES FOR STAFF SITTING AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
IT FUNDS UTILITIES, ELECTRIC, WATER, THE INTERNET, BUS REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE ON OUR BUSES, FUEL FOR OUR BUSES, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES.
FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN THIS WOULD EQUATE TO THINGS LIKE THEIR UTILITY BILL, THEIR CAR MAINTENANCE AND FUEL CLEANING SUPPLIES, OTHER LIVING EXPENSES THAT WE ALL PAY FOR TO RUN OUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS.
ON THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND SIDE, THOSE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED JUST TO PAYING FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON BONDS AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS AND ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT.
IT CANNOT BE USED FOR SALARIES, UTILITIES, OR OTHER DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD BE LIKE ANY OTHER LOAN PAYMENT THAT ONE OF OUR CITIZENS WOULD MAKE, WHETHER THAT WOULD BE A HOME MORTGAGE, VEHICLE LOAN, FURNITURE FINANCING, ANY DEBT THAT THEY HAVE, BE SIMILAR TO THAT.
FOR OUR LOCAL TAX EFFORT, THIS YEAR, THE '22 '23, SCHOOL YEAR, OUR M&O TAX RATE IS KEPT AT 96.46 CENTS AND THAT CAP ADJUST ANNUALLY BASED ON PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH, AND AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THE STATE SETS PART OF THAT POST HOUSE BILL 3.
THE STATE DETERMINES THE MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE, AND THEN THERE'S AN AMOUNT ON TOP OF THAT THAT IS VOTER APPROVED.
WHEN WE HAD OUR TRE BACK IN 2018 THAT ADDITION IS ON THAT MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE THAT WAS COMPRESSED THAT VOTER APPROVED AMOUNT WAS ALSO COMPRESSED DURING HOUSE BILL 3.
IF WE WANTED TO RAISE THE RATE BEYOND THIS CURRENT CAP OF 96.46 CENTS WE CAN ONLY GO UP TO 99.63 CENTS AND THAT WOULD AGAIN REQUIRE US TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS FOR NOW WHAT IS CALLED A VAT RE AND THERE ARE 3.17 CENTS REMAINING IF THE DISTRICT WAS TO EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS FOR THAT.
ON THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND SIDE THERE, THE TAX RATE IS EFFECTIVELY CAPPED AT 50 CENTS.
WE WENT INTO THAT DURING THE BOND ELECTION PROCESS, AND SO THERE'S NOT A HARD CAP, BUT IT REALLY IS EFFECTIVELY A HARD CAP, AND I'LL BE GLAD GOING INTO THE WEEDS ON THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT I WILL NOT BORE YOU WITH THAT TONIGHT.
VOTERS DO NOT DIRECTLY APPROVE THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND TAX RATE, BUT THEY AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO ISSUE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BONDS DURING THE BOND ELECTION PROCESS.
[NOISE] THE DISTRICTS TAX RATE AT THIS POINT, THE M&O TAX RATE IS 96.46 CENTS, THE INS RATE IS 35 CENTS.
THE TOTAL TAX RATE IS $1.3146.
THIS IS THE LOWEST M&O TAX RATE IN 30 YEARS, AND IT ALL IS BASED ON THE SCHOOL FINANCE FORMULAS, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, SINCE HOUSE BILL 3, IT HAS BEEN PUSHING THE M&O RATE DOWN AND IT'S OUR LOWEST OVERALL RATE IN SEVEN YEARS.
THE GOALS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN HOUSE BILL 3 ARE ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THEY WANTED.
IT IS MOVING THE TAX RATE DOWN.
THERE ARE SOME PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS.
THE STATE MANDATED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE TAX BILLS THAT WENT OUT IN OCTOBER WAS MOVED UP TO 40,000.
THAT WAS INCREASED FROM 25,000 FOR THIS YEAR.
THE DISTRICT STILL OFFERS THE LOCAL OPTIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
IT IS 10 PERCENT, BUT NOT LESS THAN $5,000.
RICHARDSON IS ONE OF ONLY THREE DISTRICTS IN DALLAS COUNTY THAT'S STILL PROVIDE A LOCAL OPTIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THE OTHER TWO ARE DALLAS AND HIGHLAND PARK ISDS.
TO RECAP, THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING FOR THE SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AS PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, THE TAX RATE GOES DOWN, THE TAX REVENUE GOES UP, STATE REVENUE GOES DOWN, RECAPTURE PAYMENTS GO UP, AND WE GET THE SAME STATE AND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE MIDDLE BUT THE NEXT PAGE IS REALLY THE BASIC CONCLUSION.
FUNDING ONLY INCREASES WHEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INCREASE.
[02:00:03]
[NOISE] THIS IS THE MULTIYEAR FORECAST WITH A LITTLE ADJUSTMENT AND I'LL WALK THROUGH THAT IN A SECOND.BUT THIS IS FROM THE JUNE MEETING WHEN THE BOARD ADOPTED THE BUDGET, AND WHAT I HAVE UPDATED HERE IS THE ACTUAL FOR FISCAL YEAR '21 '22 TITLED THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THEN THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED IN THE COLUMNS '22 '23, AND FORWARD IS THE ENDING FUND BALANCE.
I WALKED WITH THE MATH FORWARD.
WHEN I KNEW WHAT THE FINAL ACTUAL ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS, THE MATH JUST WORKS ACROSS THERE.
WE ADOPTED A BUDGET IN '22 '23 WITH A $25.9 MILLION DEFICIT.
THINK ABOUT THAT NUMBER FOR A MINUTE.
KEEP THAT 25.9 MILLION IN MIND AS WE LOOK TO THIS NEXT SLIDE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT 88 PERCENT OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS PAYROLL COST, $345 MILLION.
THE NEXT LARGEST AREA AT SEVEN PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IS PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACTED SERVICES, AND OVER ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU CAN SEE THE PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACTED SERVICES IS $28.6 MILLION.
THINKING ABOUT THAT NOW IN RELATION TO THE 25.9 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
WE CANNOT CUT PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACTED SERVICES ENOUGH TO ELIMINATE THAT DEFICIT.
WE HAVE TO PAY THE UTILITY BILLS, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY RECAPTURE, AND WE WILL HAVE TO PAY DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR CALCULATING THE VALUE OF PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT.
ARE THERE SOME OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACTED SERVICES ITEMS IN THERE THAT THE DISTRICT CAN AND SHOULD EVALUATE? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE REST OF THIS ACROSS THERE, THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OR SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE, EXCUSE ME, IN ANY DISTRICT'S BUDGET IS PAYROLL.
THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR SPENDING IS.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN, AS WE LEVEL SET AND WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT WE UNDERSTAND IF WE CUT ALL SUPPLIES AND MATERIAL, ALL OTHER OPERATING, THAT DOES NOT COVER THAT $25.9 MILLION.
ON THAT CHEERY NOTE, [LAUGHTER] LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET CALENDAR HERE, JUST AGAIN POINT OUT, TWO DAYS AGO THE LEGISLATURE RETURNED IN SESSION.
JUST BECAUSE MY DEPARTMENT HANDLES IT AT OUR FEBRUARY 16TH BOARD MEETING, JUST A REMINDER THAT THAT IS THE BOARD MEETING WHERE WE WILL CALL THE MAY 6TH BOARD ELECTION AND THE FILING PERIOD OPENS JANUARY 18TH AND CLOSES FEBRUARY 17TH.
I DID NOT PUT THOSE IN THE CALENDAR, BUT JUST THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO GO AHEAD AND REMIND EVERYONE OF THAT, AND WITH THAT, I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST WANT TO WRAP IT UP IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BOW BEFORE WE TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, TONIGHT WAS THE LEVEL SET.
WE WILL BE REALLY ON A 10 MEETING JOURNEY.
AT A MINIMUM 10 MEETING JOURNEY BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH.
WE HAVE A NORTH STAR GOAL THAT YOU-ALL HAVE CREATED.
WE HAVE A CURRENT STATE, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL UNITED AROUND.
WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE PRIORITY FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON, WHICH IS COMPENSATION, AND HOW DO WE ENSURE AN ADEQUATE COMPENSATION WHERE WE CONTINUE TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT ATTRACTS AND RETAINS OUR HIGH-QUALITY STAFF.
WHAT IS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT GOING TO BE TO KEEP US COMPETITIVE WITH OUR BENCHMARK DISTRICTS? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCUSS THEN HOW DO WE EITHER A, GENERATE THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO MEET THAT COMPENSATION PRIORITY AND INCREASING REVENUE MEANS REALLY ULTIMATELY, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT GETTING MORE STUDENTS INSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS? SECOND PART OF THAT IS HOW DO WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AS AN ORGANIZATION? WHERE DO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET LEANER BUT NOT SACRIFICE THE SUPPORTS AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE TO OUR CAMPUSES? WE HAVE DONE A STAFFING STUDY WHICH HAS IDENTIFIED AND AROUND 12 POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE COULD BECOME MORE EFFICIENT,
[02:05:06]
AND THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE WILL BE HAVING IN THE NEXT 10 WEEKS, GRAPPLING.EACH ONE OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES DOES HAVE CONSEQUENCES TO IT.
THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS IF WE ARE TO MAKE CERTAIN CUTS IN CERTAIN PLACES, THERE ARE SACRIFICES THAT COME WITH THOSE CUTS. IS IT ALL NEEDED? YES. BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE ORGANIZATION WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE CUTS? WE ALSO HAVE A SALARY STUDY WHICH WILL HELP REALLY INFORM THE PRIORITIES OF THAT COMPENSATION.
TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION IS NOT THE HARD WORK.
TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION IS RECOGNIZING EVEN, AND I DO BELIEVE AND I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO US.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE WORK TO DO TO A, GET MORE STUDENTS INTO OUR DOORS AND B, BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.
WE WILL WORK AS A TEAM, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, YOU ALL IN THE NEXT 10 WEEKS TO GRAPPLE WITH REALLY THOSE TWO BIG CONCEPTS TO GET AT A FINAL BUDGET IN THAT YOU WOULD ADOPT IN JUNE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE HORSESHOE? MR. POTEET?
>> COUPLE OF AND I KNOW THERE'S THE LEVEL SET, BUT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE WORTH REPEATING AND GETTING IN OUR HEAD NOW FOR EVERY MEETING.
BUT I THINK WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS YOUR EXCEL SPREADSHEET CHART, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECTIONS OVER FUTURE YEARS, REVENUE IS DECLINING.
EXPENDITURES ARE INCREASING, THEY'RE DIVERGING THE WRONG DIRECTION.
JUST EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT'S SHOWN THERE IN NUMBERS AND PROJECTIONS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO TACKLE.
JUST SOMETHING TO POINT OUT, I LOOK AROUND ON NUMBERS LIKE THIS AND SEE WHAT RELATIVE NUMBERS THAT ARE BETWEEN CELLS AND STUFF.
BUT OUR DEFICIT, BASICALLY OUR CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE FOR EACH YEAR IS EQUAL TO DOUBLE OUR RAISES.
THAT'S BASICALLY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT PROJECTIONS GOING FORWARD.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO MEASURE SOME RELEVANT FOR THAT DEFICIT, THAT'S FROM A SCALE SIZE, THAT'S SOMETHING TO USE AS A COMPARISON.
IT HITS HOME, MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE REAL IN UNDERSTANDING THAT DEFICIT MAGNITUDE.
THE QUESTION I DO HAVE AND I KNOW THIS WILL BE A DEEPER DIVE LATER, BUT ESSER SUPPLANTING AND ESSER POSITIONS.
PROJECTIONS STARTING NEXT YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE.
AS WE'RE FOCUSED ON GROWTH FOR THESE STUDENTS, WE HAVE RELIED ON A LOT OF ESSER POSITIONS OVER THE LAST 2,3 YEARS OR WHATEVER.
GENERAL, WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE AN IMPACT AND HOW DO WE MITIGATE SOME OF THAT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE LESSER POSITIONS GOING FORWARD?
>> I THINK THAT IS A BIG QUESTION AND I WILL TELL YOU, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH AND PROCESSING AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT DO WE DO MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK YOU HEARD TONIGHT EVEN WE CELEBRATED A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN HELPING TO SUPPORT THAT LITERACY AND INTERVENTION TEAM AND THAT MATH AND INTERVENTIONIST THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, WE'VE SEEN SOME GROWTH AS A RESULT OF THAT.
HOW DO WE CAPTURE THAT AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU YET ON THAT.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST AT OUR BIG 12 CAMPUSES, WE NEED THOSE INTERVENTIONISTS ON THOSE CAMPUSES.
THOSE WERE BUILT INTO THE BUDGET PRIOR TO ESSER.
THOSE ARE IN THE BASELINE BUDGET, THOSE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HOLD ONTO.
THEN IT'S GOING TO BE TAKING WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT? WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INTERVENTIONISTS? WE HAVE OTHER TITLE FUNDED POSITIONS AND HOW DO WE TAKE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED WITH THE INTERVENTIONIST ROLE AND APPLY IT TO THAT TITLE POSITION.
WHEN I SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE GRAPPLING OVER THE NEXT 10 WEEKS, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING BE BRINGING TO YOU.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE SAY THAT WE NEED TO HELP CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EVEN THE NORTH STAR GOAL, AS WELL AS THAT CONTINUED ACCELERATION.
WHAT IS IN THE END GOING TO BE THAT BIGGER PRIORITY AND HOW DO WE LOOK AT FUNDING MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
THOSE ARE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING.
WE KNOW EVERY ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES HAVE
[02:10:02]
THEIR TWO ESSER FUNDED POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON REALLY ALSO SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE TEACHER READING ACADEMY.WE ARE WORKING IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND OUR PRINCIPLES.
I'VE ALREADY BEGUN TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT MOVING FORWARD NEXT YEAR, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CHOOSE SEEDS.
THESE ARE HIGHLY TRAINED, AMAZING EDUCATORS THAT I'M SURE WILL HAVE A PIC OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
THOSE POSITIONS WE KNOW WE WILL BE ABSORBING AND WE WILL NOT BE BRINGING FORWARD A PLAN FOR YOU TO TRY TO CARRY THOSE FORWARD.
MOST ALL OF OUR K3 TEACHER SHOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR TEACHER READING ACADEMY AND FINISH THAT.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS A GOOD TIME TO TRANSITION THAT ROLE.
>> ONE OTHER THOUGHT REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR BACK.
AS I LOOK AT THAT CHART AGAIN, AS YOU TALK TO THE ESSER POSITIONS, WE'RE PROJECTING ELIMINATING POSITIONS THROUGH.
WHAT'S THE TERM I'M LOOKING FOR? JUST RETIREMENTS [OVERLAPPING].
>> REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S THROUGH ATTRITION [OVERLAPPING] EVERY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAS IT.
WE NEED THEM IN RICHARDSON ISD AND WE WILL FIND THEM A ROLE WHERE THEY KNOW THEY CAN THRIVE.
>> AS WE LOOK AT PROJECTED ATTRITIONS GOING FORWARD THAT MAY CHANGE BASED ON HOW WE DECIDE ON OUR ESSER POSITIONS AND ROLLING THEM INTO A MORE DIRECT HIRE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
ANYWAY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AT LEAST HAVING THEM THERE'LL BE SOME DEEP DIVES INTO THE NUMBERS ON THIS.
>> I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THERE'S SOME PRACTICAL AND I THINK THIS RECENT ONE REALLY HIT ME AND I EVEN SHARED IT WHEN WE RECENTLY HAD AND INVITED THE LEGISLATORS TO THE TABLE.
BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT FOR EXAMPLE, OUR BASIC ALLOTMENT REALLY HASN'T BEEN CHANGED IN FOUR YEARS.
YET WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED INFLATION.
IN DECEMBER WE GET THE COST OF WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ENSURE THE DISTRICT WE HAVE TO PAY INSURANCE JUST LIKE YOU DO FOR YOUR HOME.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A NATURAL DISASTER AND WE HAVE TO ADD ACTIVE SHOOTER INSURANCE TO OUR PLAN, OUR PREMIUM WENT UP $1 MILLION.
THAT'S 15 TEACHER ALLOCATIONS.
THAT IS ONE-SEVENTH OF THE REVENUE THAT WE NEED TO COVER JUST A BASIC TWO-AND-A-HALF TO THREE PERCENT RAISE.
THAT IS JUST AN INSURANCE ALONE, THAT IS NOT IN THE FUEL COST.
EVERYTHING THAT WE PURCHASED TO RUN THE DISTRICT, WE'VE SEEN THE SAME INFLATION THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS.
THAT CHALLENGE IS ABSOLUTELY REAL.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE WE KNOW WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE OR WHETHER IT'S MAYBE WITH SOME OF OUR CONSULTING FEES.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE'VE ALREADY MADE OVER $1 MILLION IN THOSE CUTS.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LAST YEAR THROUGH ATTRITION, WORKING HARD TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN ALREADY GET MORE EFFICIENT.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT ROAD AND I THINK THAT SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT TO WHEREVER POSSIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CAPTURE THOSE FUNDS AND USE THEM TOWARDS THE PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED.
>> SORRY, THIS INTERESTS ME A LOT HERE, BUT IT'S GOOD THAT WE BROUGHT UP AUSTIN AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
PUTTING OUR FAITH IN WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THERE DURING THE SESSION IS PROBABLY NOT THE MOST SOLID PLAN GOING FORWARD.
BUT I THINK WE'RE NOT ALONE, WE'RE NOT UNIQUE.
WE'VE GOT PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S GARLAND, MESQUITE, PLANO, THAT ARE IN SIMILAR FINANCIAL SITUATIONS.
I TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT IS, AS MR. PATE MENTIONED, THE REVENUE IS DRIVEN BY STUDENT POPULATION.
WE'RE AT A PRETTY STATIC FORECAST.
YOU'RE IN FRISCO PROSPER SELENA, YOU'RE DOING NOTHING BUT GO UP.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THERE, BUT A LOT OF US THAT ARE MORE STAGNANT BUILT OUT WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME PROBLEM.
THE BASIC ALLOTMENT, WHAT I'M HEARING IS REALLY THE TARGET THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING DOWN THERE TO TALK TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THAT AND AMONG THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE AND HAVE TOLD LIZ AND YOURSELF, I'VE VOLUNTEERED TO GO DOWN THERE HOWEVER MANY TIMES AS WE NEED.
BUT THAT'S A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.
IT'S NOT JUST A ONETIME, HEY, LET'S GIVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE A RAISE IN THE NEXT YEAR, THEY'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS SUSTAINABLE RELIEF OR HELP OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
[02:15:03]
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S TYPICALLY GIVEN FROM AUSTIN.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FIGHT FOR.
I THINK WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES DOWN THERE, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THEY CAME OUT THIS MONDAY, I GUESS WITH THE NEW NUMBERS, $32 BILLION SURPLUS.
YOU NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE GET IN LINE HOLDING THE HANDOUT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT AND I THINK EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY IN AUSTIN.
I HOPE IT'S A PRIORITY IN AUSTIN, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT ALONE.
WE GOT TO DO IT AS A TEAM WITH PEERS.
ANYWAY, LOT MORE DISCUSSION AROUND THAT AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. POTEET. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? MR. EAGER.
WE HAVEN'T HAD TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT ALL THIS MOVEMENT AND NUMBERS BACK-AND-FORTH STATE COMPRESSION, ALL THAT, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO, WE GET THE SAME AMOUNT PER STUDENT REGARDLESS.
I GUESS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT FOUR YEARS AGO, BUT DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH OF AN ADJUSTMENT THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, WAS IT SIGNIFICANT OR WAS IT?
>> THE BASIC ALLOTMENT INCREASED $1,020 FOUR YEARS AGO.
>> OKAY. SO NOW OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INFLATION AND OTHER COSTS AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EXPENSES.
BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I'M GOING TO HAVE AND TRY AND POINT OUT IS THE FACT, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMPENSATION AS COMPARED TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS? HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO BEING EVEN COMPETITIVE WITH THE COMPENSATION?
>> WE ARE BEHIND. WE WERE VERY TRANSPARENT IN THE CONVERSATION LAST YEAR OUR BEGINNING-YEAR TEACHER SALARY IS AT 57,000.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR BENCHMARK DISTRICTS AROUND US ARE SITTING AT 60,000.
THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF WE KNEW WE COULDN'T ADJUST THAT NUMBER AS HIGH AS WE WANTED TO, AND SO WE TRIED TO LEVERAGE AS MANY EXTRA DOLLARS AS WE COULD TO PROVIDE STIPENDS TO TRY TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
BUT I THINK I HAVE TOLD EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER ON OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WE WON'T BE HAVING A BUDGET MEETING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A LIST OF WHAT ARE THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO ADD OR YOU WISH THAT YOU COULD ADD BECAUSE OUR ONLY FOCUS AND OUR ONLY PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE COMPENSATION AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT.
I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHY TEACHERS, I GIVE THAT TEACHER BENCHMARK, BECAUSE OF COURSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM IS PARAMOUNT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN OTHER AREAS, OUR TRADES GROUPS.
WHILE WE HAVE BONDS THAT ARE WORKING TO TRY TO BRING THOSE MORE UP-TO-DATE THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE 50 AND 60 YEARS OLD.
WHEN WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PLUMBING LIKE WE DID OVER THE BREAK AND WE HAD 15 CAMPUSES WHERE THAT WE HAD BROKEN PIPES AND WE HAVE A TRADE SCREW THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING WHAT THE MARKET IS PAYING AND THEY'RE STAYING WITH US BECAUSE THEY'RE LOYAL AND THEY BELIEVE IN THIS WORK AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT AT SOME POINT, THE DRAW TO MOVE TO THE MARKET WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET COMPENSATED FOR WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE THAT HELP KEEP OUR CAMPUSES RUNNING SO THEIR KIDS CAN FOCUS ON LEARNING AND OUR STAFF CAN FOCUS ON TEACHING.
I KNOW THAT WAS PROBABLY MORE THAN YOU ASKED FOR, BUT THE COMPENSATION GAP IS REAL AND THAT'S WHY THAT WILL REALLY BE THE ONLY FUNDING PRIORITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE NEXT 10 MEETINGS.
>> BASICALLY WE HAVE CHALLENGES FROM JUST COMPENSATION.
THE OTHER THING TOO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 88 PERCENT EXPENDITURE, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SO LEAN AS WE CAN ON EVERY OTHER EXPENDITURE.
IF YOU TIGHTEN SOME PERCENTAGE, THE OTHER PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO GET BIGGER IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO IT MAY STAND OUT THAT, THIS NUMBER OF PAYROLL IS HIGHER.
WELL, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE SQUEEZING EVERY EXPENSE WE CAN EVERYWHERE ELSE TO GET THAT AS TIGHT AS WE CAN.
THEN I GUESS THE OTHER THING TO LOOK AT IS IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND AS MY FELLOW TRUSTEE MS. PORTIA HAVE BEEN WORKING DOWN ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT IN AUSTIN AS WELL.
IT SEEMS TO BE A CONSENSUS THAT OUR LEGISLATORS ARE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE THAT A LOT.
BUT AND I THINK MS. BRANUM HAD POINTED OUT, A SMALL PERCENTAGE RAISE FOR OUR TEACHERS RIGHT NOW.
[02:20:05]
RIGHTFULLY THEY DESERVE IT.THEY'RE WORKING HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS IN THERE.
IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO BE A TEACHER THESE DAYS BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS MAKING IT MORE AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO COME WORK IN THAT ASPECT.
BUT EVERY ONE PERCENT RAISE WE CAN CHEW UP WHATEVER AMOUNT THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE IS GOING TO GET CHEWED UP PRETTY QUICKLY.
JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR OUR TEACHERS AND IT'S RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? I DON'T ACHIEVE IT BUT RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE COSTS HAS GONE THROUGH ROOF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER FOR OUR TEACHERS ADMINISTRATION OR STAFF EITHER.
SO WHATEVER COSTS THEY GIVE US THE EXPENSES ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE EXORBITANT FROM JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE WORLD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN BUT JUST MAKE SURE TO BE TALKING TO OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN, MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
MAKE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE THAT EDUCATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND RICHARDSON AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.
I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX ON THAT BUT I THINK WE'LL MAKE SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS.
AS FAR AS PROGRAMMING GOES, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PIE CHART IS THAT UNDER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PART OF THE PROGRAMMING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE SERVICE BUSINESS.
SO THE MAJORITY OF EVEN THE COST OF ANY SERVICE OR PROGRAM THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS IS PRIMARILY IN PERSONNEL.
BUT SOME PROGRAMS ARE MORE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY INTENSIVE THAN OTHERS.
CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IS OFTEN A MORE EXPENSIVE, NOT NECESSARILY MORE EXPENSIVE OVERALL, BUT MORE SUPPLY INTENSIVE.
YOU CAN'T TEACH WOODWORKING WITHOUT LUMBER TO MAKE STUFF OUT OF.
WHEREAS WE CAN TEACH SOCIAL STUDIES, FOR INSTANCE, WITHOUT THAT LEVEL OF CONSUMABLE SUPPLIES.
IT REALLY DEPENDS THROUGH THERE.
THAT SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS ALSO INCLUDES SUPPLIES TO THAT'S WHERE FUEL IS FOR THE BUSES, THAT'S PARTS TO KEEP THOSE VESSELS, NEW TIRES THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE ON OUR BUSES AND THE REMAINING MAINTENANCE VEHICLE FLEET, PENS, PENCILS FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF IN THE CLASSROOMS; COPY PAPER.
COPY PAPER IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGER SUPPLY ITEMS AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT AS WELL.
FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE DO NEED TO ADVOCATE AND WE NEED TO PROMOTE THAT AND GET PEOPLE OUT TO DOING THAT BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD FOR US; AND PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE.
OUR TEACHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE, TO HAVE INSURANCE, TO PAY THEIR DEDUCTIBLES AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND HAVE SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
WE NEED TO DEFINITELY BE IN AUSTIN.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AGREE WITH YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ALSO DIDDLE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES BOTH MR. EAGER AND MS. MCGOWAN JUST SAID, I THINK WITH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT JUST STARTED, WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY THAT COMES FORWARD.
WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GET INVOLVED AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE CAN JUST ALSO REACH OUT AND DIDDLE WHAT THEY JUST SAID IN THE SENSE OF HAVING EXPERIENCED IN WORKING WITH THE STATE.
I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPERATIVE THAT YOU CALL, YOU WRITE, YOU DO WHATEVER YOU CAN IF YOU CAN GO TO AUSTIN.
BUT DURING THESE SESSIONS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT AS AGAIN A COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO UPHOLD AND DO THE BEST FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THAT THIS IS THE TIME THAT AS PARENTS OR AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE REALLY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND DO THAT.
GO TO AUSTIN, LIKE MR. POTEET SAID.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POWER IN JUST VERY QUICKLY MAKING THAT PHONE CALL, LEAVING A MESSAGE OR JUST WRITING THAT NOTE.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE USE OUR POWER TO VOTE AND I THINK THAT WE ALSO,
[02:25:04]
WHOEVER IS REPRESENTING US, THAT WE MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN THE SENSE OF WHAT IT IS JUST TO EVEN LISTEN TO US AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE WANT.WE DO THAT LOCALLY, WE HAVE THAT LOCAL CONTROL AND DO THAT LOCALLY.
BUT ALSO, NOW'S THE TIME TO GET SUPER INVOLVED AND TO NOT FORGET AND TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MS. RENTERIA. ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? GOOD?
>> THANK YOU, MR. PATE. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
[IV.F. Legislative Update ]
OUR NEXT ITEM, LAST ITEM IT'S NOT REALLY OUR LAST ITEM, GOT ONE MORE.I'VE ASKED MS. MORSE TO PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE.
ONE WAY SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT. [LAUGHTER]
>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO UPDATE US ON.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD. THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME HERE, BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU JUST HAD IS SO NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND MS. RENTERIA, I LOVED WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED.
I'M HOPING THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING WOULD BE WILLING WHEN THERE IS LEGISLATION FOR US TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING THAT YOU WILL MAKE THOSE CALLS.
I KNOW FOR A FACT FROM LEGISLATORS THAT WHEN THEY START GETTING CALLS FROM PEOPLE THEY NEVER HEARD FROM BEFORE, THEY DO LISTEN, THEY DO BECOME CONCERNED, AND SO AS WE CAN RALLY OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL CAN RALLY IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND GET PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED DOWN IN AUSTIN THAT WILL BE SO HELPFUL.
SO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THAT SUPPORT.
I KNOW WE WILL BE DOWN THERE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.
I'M JUST WAITING TO SEE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GO DOWN THERE FOR.
FOR RIGHT NOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH.
I WILL TELL YOU OUR SENATOR NATHAN JOHNSON HAS FILED A BILL TO INCREASE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT OVER $1,000, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR THINGS.
I DO THINK WE WILL HAVE AN INCREASE IN THE BASIC ALLOTMENT.
I THINK THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOME REQUIREMENTS OF THAT TO PUT TOWARDS TEACHER SALARIES.
I'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, BUT NOBODY IS WILLING YET TO PUT A PENCIL TO IT.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE BECAUSE THERE ARE WATER ISSUES, THERE ARE GRID ISSUES, THERE ARE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN THE STATE.
WHILE WE ARE SO LASER-FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE, THEY ARE HAVING TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL, AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OUR TURN AND KNOW THAT WE WILL BE READY TO AIM FIRE WHEN WE'RE READY TO GO.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY REPORT, BUT HOPEFULLY I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO WAS READ TO YOU.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WAS ELECTED DADE PHELAN AND HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES, AND I WANTED TO JUST GO OVER THOSE WITH YOU BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS A KEY TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE FIRST BILLS THAT THEY FILE.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT WAS TAX RELIEF AND HE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT RUNAWAY APPRAISALS.
MR. PATE, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT THAT WAS PART OF IT.
HE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE, HE TALKED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
HE TALKED ABOUT COMMON OBLIGATIONS FOR THE WHOLE CITIZENRY THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED, ROADS, WATER, HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, AND ENERGY.
HE SAID, EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOLS AND EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS, SO THAT WAS ON HIS LIST AND THAT MADE ME HAPPY.
HE WANTED TO STAND UP FOR THE CHILDREN OF TEXAS, NOT ONLY IN EDUCATION BUT TRAFFICKING, VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS, WHICH AGAIN ADDRESSES SCHOOL SAFETY, SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW THEY CAN LIMIT WHAT THEY SEE AS DAMAGING TO CHILDREN AND THEN HE TALKED AGAIN ABOUT SAFER SCHOOLS MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGES.
HE SAID THAT'LL BE A TOUGH CONVERSATION.
I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SCHOOL SAFETY DOLLARS ALLOTTED TO SCHOOLS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I KNOW IN A LETTER THAT WE SENT BOB HALL, OUR SENATOR IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE DISTRICT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHANGE IN SAFETY SCHOOL ALLOTMENT FROM $9.72 TO SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $100 AND THINGS THAT WE WOULD SPEND IT ON.
I DO KNOW TOO, THAT WHEN WE ASK FOR MONEY, WE NEED TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT WILL SPEND IT ON.
WE CAN'T JUST SAY INCREASE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT AND IT'S OBVIOUS, AND I KNOW MR. POTEET, YOU SAID IT, EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IN TEXAS IS IN THE SAME POSITION WE'RE IN.
PROBABLY I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH SOMETHING THAT CHRISTY ROME,
[02:30:02]
WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS SCHOOL COALITION, AND THE COALITION IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN RECAPTURE, BUT I THOUGHT THESE THINGS WERE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW AND JUST TO GET ON THE RECORD.SHE SAID AND I SUMMARIZE, BASED ON COMPTROLLER HUGGERS PROJECTIONS WHICH HE JUST GAVE THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS ARE POISED TO REDUCE STATE SPENDING FOR THE FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT'S MONEY FOR EDUCATION BY $4.3 BILLION IN THE '22, '23 BIENNIUM, DUE TO HIGHER THAN EXPECTED PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.
THAT MEANS THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE LESS FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE LOCAL TAXPAYERS PROVIDED MORE.
IT WASN'T THAT THE PIE WAS GOING TO GET ANY SMALLER, IT JUST MEANT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE FILLED MORE WITH LOCAL TAXES RATHER THAN STATE FUNDS.
IF YOU GUYS CAN REMEMBER, IT WAS AROUND HOUSE BILL 3, THAT WE REALLY TRIED TO STRESS TO THE STATE, YOU'RE ONLY PAYING 37 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING, AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS.
I THINK IT WENT UP TO AS HIGH AS 43 PERCENT, BUT IT HAS FALLEN BACK AGAIN.
THIS IS A RESULT OF WHAT SHE SAID.
A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF THAT REDUCTION TO THE FSB IS PAID FOR BY HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED RECAPTURE RATES, AND SHE SAYS, RECAPTURE, WHICH UNTIL THIS YEAR HAD NEVER BEFORE EXCEEDED $3 BILLION STATEWIDE, IS NOW PROJECTED TO REACH 5 BILLION IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FIGURES FROM THE COMPTROLLER.
THIS IS AN ENORMOUS BURDEN ON SCHOOLS AND TAXPAYERS THAT TEXAS ELECTED LEADERS HAVE IGNORED FOR FAR TOO LONG.
THE STATE OF TEXAS IS TAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR AWAY FROM TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PADDING THE STATE SURPLUS WITH THOSE DOLLARS.
WE'RE COLLECTING IT, WE DON'T GET IT, THE STATE GETS IT, THEY SAY, YES, WE'VE GOT A SURPLUS.
THESE ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF A LARGER PROBLEM.
THE STATE IS RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES RATHER THAN STATE REVENUE TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SIGNIFICANT STATE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WILL RESTORE THE BALANCE TO THE SYSTEM, HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF RECAPTURE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BETTER MEET STUDENTS' NEEDS.
THOSE ARE, TO ME, GOLDEN AND REALLY IMPORTANT WORDS THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL COMMUNICATE TO OUR LEGISLATORS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT RECAPTURE IS OUT OF CONTROL, FOR US IT'S 15 TEACHERS, FOR AUSTIN IT IS PROBABLY 500 TEACHERS.
WE WON'T BE LEADING THAT BATTLE.
BUT IT IS TIME FOR US TO GET THE MONEY EITHER FOR OUR TAXPAYERS OR INTO OUR BUDGET SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SLICE OR DICE OR DO ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO GOING FORWARD SO WE CAN PAY OUR TEACHERS A GOOD PERCENTAGE.
WITH THAT, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO BILL TO JUMP ON YET, AND UNTIL THE COMMITTEES ARE FORMED AND START HEARING LEGISLATION, WE'LL JUST HOLD OURSELVES EXCITED TO GO WHEN IT'S READY TIME. YES, SIR?
>> MS. MORRIS, LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT, SO I CAN JUST BOIL THIS DOWN, IS THAT, IF THE STATE KEPT THE SAME PERCENTAGE LIKE A DOLLAR CAME IN, AND WE SAID $0.40 WENT TO EDUCATION.
AS THE REVENUE WENT UP, THEN THE PIE WOULD GET BIGGER.
>> THE PIE FOR EDUCATION WOULD GET BIGGER?
>> PIE EDUCATION WOULD GET BIGGER.
IF YOU JUST KEPT THE NUMBER, THE PERCENTAGE THAT WENT TO EDUCATION CONSISTENT, YEAR IN, YEAR OUT, THE PIE WOULD GET BIGGER.
>> DUE TO PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH, CORRECT?
>> PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH. BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND HERE AND WHAT I'VE SEEN AND LOOKED AT THE DATA BEFORE, IS THAT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS THAT, I'M JUST THROWING NUMBERS OUT.
LET'S SAY IT'S A BILLION DOLLARS IN EDUCATION, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS EACH YEAR INSTEAD OF THE PIE GETTING BIGGER, THEY PAD OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT, THE LOCAL TAX GOES UP, THEY REDUCE THE AMOUNT THE STATE CONTRIBUTES.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A BILLION DOLLARS CONTINUING TO BECOME A LONG, BUT THE PIE SHOULD BE GETTING BIGGER BUT IT'S NOT.
THEY'RE SIPHONING OFF THAT MONEY AND SHIFTING IT OVER INTO OTHER EXPENDITURES. DO I GET THAT RIGHT?
>> YES. BASICALLY, YOU DO, RIGHT, MR. CRAIG, YEAH.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT, BUT YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
WHEN THEY COLLECT MORE AND THERE ARE RECAPTURE IS MORE BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL STUCK AT THE BASIC ALLOTMENT, EVEN IF YOU'RE IN AUSTIN OR IF YOU'RE HERE, LAREDO, AMARILLO, PAMPER, WHEREVER WE'RE ALL AT THAT 61, 60 I THINK OR 61, 20.
IF YOU COLLECT MORE THAN THAT, IT GOES BACK IN RECAPTURE,
[02:35:02]
AND THEY JUST PUT THAT BACK IN THAT PIE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT GOES TO EDUCATION.>> IF IT SPILLS OVER THEY TAKING IN MONEY THAT IS BEING COLLECTED FOR EDUCATION, THAT SHOULD BE GOING INTO EDUCATION, IS BEING PUT INTO A PIE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT BECOMES PART OF THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE MOVING THOSE FUNDS.
>> OKAY. THEY'RE TAKING MONEY THAT SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU WRITE YOUR CHECK, I WRITE MY CHECK TO RISD FOR TAXES, AND RISD JUST TAKES PART OF MY CHECK, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE OF US TOGETHER.
THEN THE REST OF IT GOES DOWN AND RECAPTURE, WHICH GOES INTO THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND.
>> MR. POTEET, LET ME MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THIS TOO.
THAT WHEN I WRITE MY CHECK TO RISD, IT'S NOT LIKE WE GET IT, IT GOES TO THE STATE FIRST IN FUNDING.
>> WE COLLECT THE TAXES, SO WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR CHECK, SOMEBODY OVER HERE IN THE ANNEX DEPOSITS THAT CHECK, WE GET THE MONEY, BUT THE FUNDING FORMULA WORKS IN SUCH A WAY, AND THAT'S WHY THE STATE ALSO, THEY DON'T PAY US ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THEY EXPECT TO OWE US UPFRONT.
WE SETTLE UP LATER IN THE YEAR.
IN FACT, FISCAL YEAR '22, WHICH ENDED JUNE, 30TH OF '22, WE DON'T SETTLE UP UNTIL THIS COMING SUMMER, UNTIL SUMMER OF '23.
WITH THE STATE BECAUSE THEY WAIT TO KNOW HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WE COLLECTED.
THEN WE SETTLE UP IN OUR CASE, VERY LIKELY, THEY'LL SEND US A BILL [BACKGROUND] AND THEY'LL REDUCE WHAT THEY PAY US FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
>> OKAY. WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OFF TRACK. [LAUGHTER]
>> THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS JUST FOR THOSE WATCHING AND UNDERSTANDING WHY YOU SHOULD BE CALLING AUSTIN IS THAT THE PIE SHOULD BE GETTING BIGGER AND THIS WILL NOT BE AS BIG AN ISSUE AND RE-CAPTURE.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR FRIENDS IN PLANO OR RIDING A SIGNIFICANT, I KNOW TRUSTEES UP THERE AND THEY'RE SPENDING A HUGE AMOUNT.
>> MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> ANOTHER REASON TO CALL OUR FRIENDS IN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AUSTIN IS PAYING ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS BACK TO THE STATE.
MAKES OURS LOOK LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
BUT TO US AGAIN, IT'S 15 TEACHERS, AND THOSE TEACHERS MATTER FOR EVERY KID.
>> AS AN EXAMPLE, AUSTIN'S CHECK FOR A BILLION DOLLARS OR CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE STATE.
THAT IS CLOSE TO THE SIZE OF HOUSTON ISDS GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
JUST THAT NUMBER BLOWS ME AWAY, BY THE WAY, BUT IT'S PROPOSED THAT IT'S AN AUSTIN, I GUESS.
BUT I DO ASK ON THE LEGISLATIVE STUFF, WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHO'S CHAIRING, THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES, WHEN DO WE EXPECT THOSE APPOINTMENTS TO TAKE PLACE, SO WE KNOW WHO'S LEADING THAT CHARGE?
>> I THINK IT WAS TODAY WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THEIR COMMITTEE REQUESTS, AND THEN SPEAKER PHELAN AND HIS TOP LEADERSHIP WILL GET TOGETHER AND DIVVY UP THE COMMITTEES AND SELECT THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME SPEAKER, YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AS THE TIME BEFORE.
I KNOW YOU'RE GIVING ME THAT LOOK.
NOT ALWAYS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.
THERE'S A BIG PUSH BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MAJORITY, THERE'S A BIG PUSH TO ONLY HAVE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ARE DEMANDING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT SPEAKER PHELAN WILL GO FOR THAT.
LAST TIME, HE APPOINTED A DEMOCRAT CHAIR OF THE HOUSE PUBLIC ED COMMITTEE TEAM ALMOST EVERYBODY'S SURPRISE.
THAT IS THE ONE BIG COMMITTEE IN QUESTION THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS, WILL CHAIRMAN DUTTON REMAIN CHAIR OF THE HOUSE PUB ED COMMITTEE OR NOT? THAT SHOULD HAPPEN. YOU ASK ABOUT TIMING, SORRY, I THOUGHT THAT OTHER STUFF.
THAT WILL HAPPEN PROBABLY TOWARDS THE END OF JANUARY, THE 1ST TO FEBRUARY, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH PRE-WORK HE'S ALREADY DONE ABOUT THIS, WHICH HE MAY HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME PRE-WORK ON IT.
I KNOW THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED.
THE SENATE, IT WON'T TAKE THEM ANYTIME TO DO THIS AND THEY'LL GET STARTED ON BILLS IMMEDIATELY.
PLUS, THERE'S ONLY 31 OF THEM.
IT'LL BE THE FIRST PART OF JANUARY AND WE PROBABLY WON'T BE HEARING BILLS UNTIL MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY. YES, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU, MS. MORRIS, FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION.
AS MUCH AS I SUPPORT THE STUDENT ALLOTMENT INCREASE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THE RECAPTURE.
I'VE MENTIONED THAT I THINK TO A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES, I'M LIKE, WHY DON'T THEY CHANGE THAT? I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY OUR COMMUNITY GETS INVOLVED, TALKS, EMAILS AND CALL THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND HELP US IMPROVE ON THAT BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER.
[02:40:06]
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, TEXAS CAN'T FIX BRIDGES, ROADS, AND WATER PROBLEMS IF WE DON'T HAVE AN EDUCATED GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO GROW UP AND BE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN FIX THESE PROBLEMS. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> LET'S TELL THEM ALL. [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH SOME INFORMATION ON PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL, WHO TO REACH OUT TO YOU? IS THAT GOING TO COME LATER?
>> WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW ON THE WEBSITE WHO REPRESENTS US.
BUT I THINK WHEN WE'LL ASK THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IS WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR.
THERE'S A BILL NUMBER THAT GOES TO IT AND SOME POINTS THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM.
I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE CAN JUMP IN THERE AND GIVE OUR OPINIONS AND INFORM OUR LEGISLATORS AS TO HOW THINGS WILL IMPACT US.
>> WE'RE WORKING ON IT NOW BY TELLING THEM THAT YOU ALL KNEW AND WE TOLD THEM WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
FORTUNATELY, AND I THINK I SAID THIS AND I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE, CHRIS, YOU DID TOO, THE PRIORITIES FOR ALMOST ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALMOST ALL THE SAME.
INCREASE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TEACHER RETENTION AND SCHOOL AND SAFETY.
THOSE THREE THINGS ARE REALLY BIG ISSUES.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE TO OUR LEGISLATORS DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW IS PROPERTY TAX.
I HEAR IT FROM EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY'LL PROBABLY DO ANOTHER EXEMPTION, INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
I'VE HEARD FROM ANYWHERE FROM $60,000-$100,000 BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT YET IN WRITING TO SAY YES, THIS IS GOOD OR HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE FORMULAS, WHICH IS SOMETHING MR. PATE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.
AS SOON AS WE KNOW, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW AND THEN WE CAN SPREAD THE NEWS AND ASK FOR PEOPLE TO CALL.
>> SOUNDS GREAT. WE WILL ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT YOU IN THAT IN GETTING THE NEWS OUT.
>> YES. THANK YOU. MAKES A DIFFERENCE, IT DOES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS BOARD? GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NOW THIS TRULY IS OUR LAST ITEM.
[IV.G. Intruder Detection Audit ]
OUR NEXT LAST ITEM IS A INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT REPORT. MS. BRANUM.AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD WHEN WE HAVE HAD AN ANNOUNCED INTRUDER AUDIT.
MS. HAYES, WILL YOU SHARE THE FINDINGS OF OUR LAST AUDITS?
>> YES. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM. GOOD EVENING BOARD.
SINCE OUR LAST MEETING IN DECEMBER, WE'VE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVED UNANNOUNCED AUDITS FROM THE STATE.
WHITE ROCK ELEMENTARY AND AIKEN ELEMENTARY BOTH RECEIVED AUDITS AND CAME OUT WITH NO FINDINGS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AND EXPECT TO DO THIS KIND OF REPORT EVERY MEETING.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE LIKE THOSE KIND OF REPORTS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO, BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE JUST LIKE TO WRAP UP OUR MEETING.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY SAY MOST OF US HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE PTA REFLECTIONS, WHICH IS AN AWESOME EVENT EVERY YEAR THAT THE PTA HOST.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND SEE ALL OF THE MAGNIFICENT ART WORK AND JUST ALL OF THE REFLECTIONS FROM OUR STUDENTS HERE IN RICHARDSON ISD.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR MS. MCGOWAN WHO PROVIDED OUR BOARD UPDATE DURING THAT TIME.
WE THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS.
THEY CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED YOUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF.
THANK YOU ALL BACK THERE, AND OUR VISITORS, MY COLLEAGUES, FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
[V. CLOSED MEETING ]
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL TAKE A BRIEF BREAK AND THEN ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND SECTION 551.076, SECURITY DEVICES.THANK YOU EVERYONE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
>> THE BOARD IS RETURNING INTO OPEN SESSION HAVING TAKEN NO ACTION IN CLOSED SESSION.
[VI. RECONVENE in Open Session ]
[02:45:02]
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 10:50 P.M. ON JANUARY 12, 2023.[APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.