Apr 17, 2025 Called Meeting / Work Session

[00:00:10]

>> LET'S START. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO

[I. CALL TO ORDER]

I AM CHRIS POTEET, BOARD PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, AND THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:06 PM.

AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION IN

[II. CLOSED MEETING]

WE WILL ALLOW A FEW MINUTES FOR ANY VISITORS AND STAFF TO EXIT THE ROOM.

>> BAKER HERE. [BACKGROUND].

>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

[III. RECONVENE IN OPEN MEETING (approximately 6:00 pm)]

HAVING TAKEN NO ACTION WHILE IN CLOSED SESSION.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL PROCEED WITH OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.

[IV. PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION]

>> YES. THANK YOU, MR. POTEET.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WELCOME OUR VISITORS.

DURING TODAY'S MEETING, SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

AS A REMINDER, SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PROTOCOL, AS NOTED ON THE ISD WEBSITE.

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

MR. EWEN BLACKMAN.

>> BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT BRANDON, PRESIDENT POTEET, EMPLOYEES, ELECTION SEASON.

NON ENGAGEMENT WHEN BY MEANS OF REFUSAL, THEN WHAT IS WROUGHT BECOMES FRAUGHT FOR THE ELECTION OUTCOMES FOR THOSE THAT DISENGAGE.

TONIGHT, YOU'LL LOOK AT SOME POLICY UPDATES.

ON 2023-2025, WE'VE CHANGED THE POLICY ON A $5,000 ASSET THAT LASTS LONGER THAN TWO YEARS TO ONE THAT LASTS LONGER THAN ONE YEAR. WHY? I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVE THAT QUESTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE OPEN GOVERNMENT TO KNOW THAT.

WE DON'T GET TO SEE THE POLICY COMMITTEES THAT DISCUSS THESE THINGS AND WHY THEY COME UP WITH THE WINNING THEY DO.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IN THE TEXAS HANDGUN HOLDER CAN HAVE THE GUN IN THEIR CAR ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, BUT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IS IT A TEXAS LICENSED GUN HOLDER WHEN TEXAS IS AN OPEN CARRY STATE? OR WHY IS IT A CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE IN ONE PARAGRAPH? JUST ONE PARAGRAPH LATER SAYS, JUST AN EMPLOYEE, HOW DO WE DELINEATE THE TWO OF THOSE? WE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THESE POLICIES ARE DONE IN CLOSED DOORS.

OPEN GOVERNMENT, THE DISINFECTANT POWER OF SUNLIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE MISSING. I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN UNTIL AT SOME POINT WE LISTEN.

LET'S TAKE A GANDER THEN AT THE PROHIBITION OF NICOTINE.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE FOLKS THAT QUIT SMOKING? DO THEY GET TO WEAR NICOTINE PATCH OR THE IN VIOLATION OF THE RULE OR CHEWING GUM? HOW DID THAT POLICY COME ABOUT TO THAT STRINGENT LEVEL WHERE WE INCLUDING MORE AND MORE THINGS, ANYTHING WITH NICOTINE CAN HAVE IT.

THOSE THINGS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE OPEN GOVERNMENT.

AT THE MAYORAL'S CANDIDATES DEBATE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR AWARD FOR OPEN TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED THAT, WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

WE DON'T GET THAT WHEN OUR ELECTED LEADERS REFUSE TO ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEY CHOOSE AND THEY PICK WHO THEY WANT TO TALK TO AND WHO THEY'LL DEAL WITH.

I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF YOU FOLKS AND SOME OF YOU REFUSE TO DEAL, AND THERE HAS TO BE A COST FOR THAT.

ON A POSITIVE SIDE THOUGH, FINE ARTS, AMAZING JOB, THESE FOLKS ARE DOING 13 YEARS IN A ROW.

BEST COMMUNITY FOR MUSIC. THAT WARMS MY HEART.

MY SON WAS A BAND KID AND OCHTRA KID.

FOUR YEARS, TAEA DISTINCTION FOR VISUAL ARTS, AMAZING STUFF.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE RAMBLERS DONATED MONEY TO MY CHARITY, TEACHERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

WE TAKE TEACHERS TO SOUTH AFRICA AND TEACH THAT MONEY WENT TO RENOVATING A SCIENCE CLASSROOM THAT'S STILL THERE TODAY 15 YEARS LATER.

THIS COMMUNITY STILL BENEFITING FROM THOSE FUNDS, AMAZING STUFF, WHICH BRINGS ME TO SPORTS, 05,700 STUDENTS THERE, THE MAC VERSUS THE LAB, MAC VERSUS LABS.

I LOVE THOSE MAX. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

LOTS OF GREAT GRASS, ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT I WAS AGAINST THEM THEN, I'M AGAINST THEM NOW, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE MAX, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE LABS THAT ARE IN DISREPAIR.

WHEN THE LAB IN SOUTH AFRICA IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WHEN I'M DRIVING A BMW, MY KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND BAREFOOT, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE SPORTS.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.

THAT COMES WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THAT COMES WITH ENGAGING THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

BUT WHEN YOU LOCK THEM OUT, THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT.

FINALLY, THE SCENARIOS TONIGHT FOR THE PAY SCENARIO THREE HAS TO BE.

HATS OFF TO SUPERINTENDENT BRANDON FOR THE CUTS THAT SHE'S DONE, THE HARD CUTS.

TO ARE DIFFICULT TO DO. TELL PEOPLE, WE NEED TO CUT YOUR JOB.

BUT SHE'S DONE THAT TO THE TEACHERS.

THE FOLKS OUT THERE CAN GET THE MONEY THAT THEY DESERVE.

WE'RE FIGHTING HARD FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOOD EVENING.

[00:05:06]

>> DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS?

>> YES. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MS. MCGOWAN.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT IN THE PUBLIC AND FOR SPEAKING THIS EVENING AS WELL.

OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN INFORMATION ITEM TO RECEIVE

[VI. Fine Arts and Athletics Program Updates]

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET.

THANK YOU, BOARD, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT OUR PRESENTATIONS.

I DID ASK ACTUALLY, THIS WAS A REQUEST THAT WE HAD LAST SUMMER FROM THE BOARD JUST TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE, A PROGRAM UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS PROGRAMMING.

REALLY, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE MINDSET SHIFT THAT EVEN HAS OCCURRED WITHIN OUR FINE ARTS AND OUR ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP TEAM AROUND EVERY PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS ABOUT GROWTH.

HOW DO WE LEAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY BETTER? HOW DO WE LEAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR BETTER? WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE OUR NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE ALL ACADEMIC, WHETHER IT'S AT THE DISTRICT, REGION OR STATE LEVEL.

WE HAVE GROWTH GOALS AROUND THAT.

THIS NUMBER THIS YEAR, HOW DO WE MOVE EACH OF OUR PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY MORE ACADEMIC, WHETHER IT'S ALL STATE OR ALL REGION.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT REGIONAL QUALIFIERS OR STATE QUALIFIERS, WE ARE LOOKING AND SETTING GOALS AROUND, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN OUR PROGRAMS? THEN ALSO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HOW MUCH AND TO REALLY QUANTIFY WHAT WE KNOW, HOW FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS, HOW IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

OUR TEAM IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHERE WE HAVE SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING TO SCHOOL.

THEY'RE COMING TO SCHOOL MORE THAN PEERS THAT MAYBE ARE NOT AS INVOLVED.

THEY ARE HAVING GPAS THAT ARE AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN MAYBE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED.

HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PROGRAM SO WE CAN ENCOURAGE MORE STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED WHILE ALSO INCREASING THE ACTUAL OUTCOMES AND THE STRENGTH OF THE PROGRAMMING.

I'M SO HONORED TONIGHT TO ASK MR. BRADFORD, HERE, AND HE'S GOING TO BE SHARING FINE ARTS AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T THERE'S ONLY FOUR MORE MONDAYS LEFT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

I ONLY HAVE JUST A FEW MORE WEEKS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF LESLIE SLOVAK AND THIS WILL BE HER LAST PRESENTATION THAT SHE DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SHE HAS SPENT HER CAREER IN RICHARDSON ISD LOVING AND SUPPORTING AND GROWING OUR KIDS.

I'M HONORED TO HAVE HER TONIGHT AS WELL TO PROVIDE HER LAST ATHLETICS UPDATE.

WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE TEAM AND LET YOU ALL TAKE IT FROM HERE AND I BELIEVE WE'RE STARTING WITH FINE ARTS. CORRECT?

>> WE ARE. GOOD EVENING BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT BRANDON.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO START WITH THE WORD I THINK LESLIE AND I AGREE UPON AS THANKFULNESS.

THANKFULNESS THAT WE ARE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES THE TWO ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE A HIGHLIGHT AND A GLIMPSE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO HEAR ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE AS WELL AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO AS A TEAM.

ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR FOLKS THAT ARE WITH US TONIGHT AND I'LL START WITH THE FINE ARTS TEAM OVER HERE THAT GETS TO HELP SUPPORT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, ARE DIRECTOR OF VISUAL ARTS, MR. MYRON STONET AND OUR COORDINATOR OF ELEMENTARY AND VOCAL MUSIC, MISS STEPHANIE MILLER.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND DOING SO MUCH WORK IN ENGAGING WITH OUR KIDDOS, ENGAGING WITH THE STAFF AND HELPING GROW THEM AS WELL.

WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU NOTICE ON THIS SLIDE, WE BORROWED THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY RELEVANT IN BOTH OF OUR AREAS AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

WE START WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS AND ATHLETICS, YOU CAN'T GET THAT.

AT HOME SCHOOL, YOU CAN'T GET THAT IN A CHARTER SETTING, YOU CAN'T GET THAT IN THE PRIVATE SCHOOL SETTING.

WHAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING AND SPECIFICALLY IN RICHARDSON ISD IS SECOND TO NONE.

OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LOVE TO CONNECT TO OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THESE PROGRAMS, CHEERING ON OUR TEAMS AND SHOWING UP AND APPLAUDING OUR SHOWCASES AND OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONCERTS AND EXHIBITIONS.

THAT'S WHY OUR COMMUNITY IT RALLIES AROUND OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS AS WELL.

THEN THE EXPERIENCES, THAT'S THE KEY TO ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS IS THAT YOU LEARN ABOUT LIFE, YOU LEARN ABOUT BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT ANYPLACE ELSE.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT THOSE ARE THE VEHICLES.

ALL OF OUR TEACHERS TEACH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AREA, BUT THOSE ARE THE VEHICLES IN WHICH THOSE TEACHERS AND COACHES AND DIRECTORS, THEY TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT LIFE AND SUCCESS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, HOW DO YOU TAKE THIS AND HOW DO YOU USE THIS TO GO AND CONQUER THE WORLD AND MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE FUN TONIGHT IS BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU, WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT DO WE PROVIDE? HOW DO WE DO THAT? NUMBER TWO IS THE CELEBRATIONS AND THOSE GROWTH GOALS THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

NUMBER THREE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD? HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR PROGRAMS FORWARD? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THAT WE'VE PUT OUT THERE FOR THEM?

[00:10:03]

THIS IS WHERE I'VE GOT TO GIVE A HUGE KUDOS TO MY TEAM OVER THERE TO MYRON AND STEPHANIE.

I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES.

WE ARE THOSE FOLKS.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PUSH INTO THE CLASSROOMS WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE KIDDOS.

THE WORK THAT MYRON DOES IN PRE K ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12TH GRADE, ALL THOSE CAMPUSES THAT HE'S GETTING TO ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO ENCOURAGE KIDDOS, BUT TO ENCOURAGE STAFF.

I DON'T KNOW OF A BETTER AREA THAT TALKS ABOUT EVERY STUDENT, TEACHER AND LEADER WILL MEET OR EXCEED THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH GOALS.

MYRON IS HELPING TEACHERS SET UP FOR THE KIDS.

HE'S HELPING ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS, AND HE'S ENCOURAGING THOSE TEACHERS WHEN THEY FALL SHORT AND WHAT THEY CAN DO BETTER.

I WOULD SAY THE EXACT SAME THING ABOUT STEPHANIE, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS THAT SHE IS COMING AROUND AFTER COVID, AND SHE'S RE ESTABLISHING WHAT THE NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE IN OUR ELEMENTARY MUSIC CLASSROOMS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR PERFORMANCE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE? HOW DO WE BRING THE COMMUNITY IN AND SHOWCASE WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WE'RE DOING IT, AND THE IMPACT THAT'S HAVING? I HAVE TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THEM AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, THE TIME THEY'RE PUTTING IN TO SEE THIS THROUGH AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY THAT MS. BRANHAM THAT ALIGNS EXACTLY WITH HER VISION YOUR VISION AS A BOARD.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP, I THINK THIS IS FUN AND BOARD, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANY PLACE ELSE THAT NOT ONLY DO LESLIE AND I GENUINELY ENJOY WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.

WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE GOT TO CHOOSE WHERE WE WERE GOING TO RESIDE, AND THEY OFFERED US THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE ROCK TO BE TOGETHER IN THE SAME SUITE.

WHAT'S FUN ABOUT THAT IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE ON THAT SCREEN IS WHAT THE BOTH OF US BELIEVE, AND IT'S WHAT OUR TEAMS BELIEVE, WHETHER IT'S MR. PITTS OR MISS SUDFORD, OR MYER OR STEPHANIE.

THE TEAM THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER IS ABOUT STUDENT FOCUS AND GIVING SUCCESS TO THOSE KIDS, AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT KIDS CAN BE INVOLVED IN BOTH OF THESE ACTIVITIES, THAT THEY CAN THRIVE.

IT'S THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT LESLIE AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT FORWARD WITH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR COACHES ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT THAT SO YOUR KIDS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

TAKE A FUN FACT CENTER ON THAT TOO THAT LESLIE HAS JUST ROLLED OFF OF THE STATE BOARD FOR THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION AS THEIR PRESIDENT.

THEN IN ANOTHER YEAR, I WILL BE THE PRESIDENT OF OUR STATE FINE ARTS GROUP.

IN A MATTER OF THREE YEARS, YOUR TWO DISTRICT LEADERS HAVE BEEN SERVING AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT IS WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED AND TO PUSH AND PROVIDE THAT TO OUR COACHES, TO OUR TEACHERS, TO OUR PROGRAMS, AND ULTIMATELY BENEFITING OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY GET THE VERY BEST OUTCOMES THEY CAN HERE IN RICHARDSON ISD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH ME PERFORM TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A SLIGHT SNEAK PEEK THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN.

>> WE CAN'T BE TOO SOFT TO START.

>> WE HAVE A RICH TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS, THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EXTRAORDINARY ARTS EDUCATORS.

THIS IS FINE ARTS AND RICHARDSON ISD. [MUSIC]

>> [APPLAUSE] THAT'S BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY MELISSA HELLER.

[00:15:09]

JUST REALLY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE THAT AND TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR KIDS ARE REALLY PROUD OF IT TOO.

EVERY TIME WE HOST SOMETHING, THEY'RE ABLE TO SHOW THAT, THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS IN ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THAT TOUCHES.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT BOND THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW AND BOND 21 THROUGH 26, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INTERESTING TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT ARE WE PROVIDING, WHAT ARE WE IMPACTING? YOU'LL NOTICE ON THERE WE TALK ABOUT INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT.

THAT RANGES ALL THE WAY FROM A KILN IN A VISUAL ARTS CLASSROOM, A DRYING RACK, DIGITAL MEDIA RESOURCES, ALL THE WAY THROUGH, UNIFORMS FOR OUR DANCE PROGRAM, SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE IN THIS BOND THAT WE'RE GETTING TO DO.

THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPACT OUR DRILL TEAM PROGRAMS, OUR BALLET FOLKLORICO PROGRAMS, AND OUR COUNTRY AND WESTERN PROGRAMS THROUGH THOSE UNIFORMS. WE'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH SOME OF OUR AUDITORIUMS. IF YOU'VE BEEN INTO RHS, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE NEW CARPET, THE NEW SEATING.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL WORK FROM WHEN IT WAS BUILT, AND SO IT IS GORGEOUS WHEN YOU SEE IT NOW.

THEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THIS IS THE KEY TO HERE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UPGRADE OUR AV SYSTEMS. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN OUR TECH THEATER PROGRAMS NOW HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN GO IN AND DO SOME REALLY COOL THINGS, AND IT'S GETTING THEM CAREER-READY SO THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE, IF THEY GO TO COLLEGE, GREAT, BUT IF THEY GO DIRECTLY INTO THE CAREER FIELD LIKE SOME OF OUR KIDS HAVE DONE, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THAT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BOND AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES UP FINE ARTS PROGRAM IN RICHARDSON ISD, YOU'LL NOTICE THOSE DIFFERENT PILLARS ON THERE OF THE BAND, CHOIR, AND ORCHESTRA, ELEMENTARY MUSIC PROGRAMS, OUR VISUAL ARTS, THEATER, AND DANCE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTATE IS THAT IN OUR DANCE DEPARTMENT, SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO, WELL, THEY JUST THINK THE DRILL TEAM.

IT'S LIKE WITH BAND, YOU THINK JUST MARCHING BAND, BUT IN OUR DANCE DEPARTMENT, SOMETHING UNIQUE HERE IS THAT WE OFFER COUNTRY WESTERN.

WE OFFER BALLET FOLKLORICO THAT'S BEING EXPANDED TO ALL FOUR OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THIS FALL.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR DRILL TEAM AND DANCE PROGRAMS FOR ABILITY-BASED FOLKS, BECAUSE NOT EVERY KID WANTS TO BE A PART OF A TEAM, THEY WANT TO LEARN TO DANCE, BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT TIME AND COMMITMENT FOR THAT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE ARTS, THIS IS OUR VISION THAT MYRON, AND STEPHANIE, AND A BUNCH OF OUR TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER, YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT IS WHAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES.

WE BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES THOSE THINGS.

ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO LEAD, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THE KEY WORD THERE, THAT THE CONSISTENCY IS EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENCE IN EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE DO.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT SOMETIMES WHEN IF YOU'RE A BASEBALL PLAYER AND YOU BAT 300, YOU'RE REALLY GOOD.

BUT IF YOU HIT 30% OF THE RIGHT NOTES AT THE CONCERT, IT DOESN'T GO AS WELL FOR YOU.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LEVEL OF MASTERY AND A LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE THAT IN THE FINE ARTS THAT'S EXPECTED.

I WENT TO HUEY LEWIS IN THE NEWS CONCERT A FEW YEARS AGO AND HE SANG 85% OF THE RIGHT NOTES.

WE STAYED FOR 50% OF THE PERFORMANCE.

I SAY THAT TO YOU IS THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE.

THERE IS A LEVEL OF MASTERY WITH OUR VISUAL ARTISTS, WITH OUR PERFORMERS, WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, IT'S EXPECTED, AND IT'S THE THING I THINK THAT WE RELISH AS WELL.

I HOPE WHEN YOU WALK INTO OUR CLASSROOMS, I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU SPEND TIME AROUND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF THAT THEY CAN SPEAK TO THIS, BUT THEY'RE PROUD OF THAT AS WELL, AND THEY'RE PROUD OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THIS RINGS TRUE.

I THINK YOU COULD TAKE THE WORD ARTS UP THERE AND YOU COULD INSERT ATHLETICS AS WELL, BUT THE TRUE PURPOSE FOR OUR STUDENTS IS NOT NECESSARILY TO CREATE MORE PROFESSIONAL FOLKS IN THAT AREA, BUT IT IS TO CREATE MORE COMPLETE HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE CRITICAL THINKERS WHO HAVE CURIOUS MINDS, BUT WHO TRULY CAN LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES, AND I THINK THAT APPLIES TO BOTH OF OUR AREAS THAT LESLIE AND I ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR ENROLLMENT AND WHERE WE'RE OUT RIGHT NOW.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO SIX, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

NOW, LET ME CLARIFY FOR YOU, THE SIXTH GRADE SIDE IS JUST THE LAKE HIGHLANDS LEARNING COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE TRACK BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY SIGN UP AND ACTUALLY ENROLL IN THE COURSES.

WITH SIXTH GRADE AT THE OTHER ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, THEY ARE OPTING INTO THOSE CLASSES, NOT NECESSARILY AS A CLASS THAT WE TRACK THOSE NUMBERS AND DATA AS CLOSELY AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, WE TRACK IT IN MY OFFICE.

THEN YOU'LL NOTICE IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE, THAT IS SPECIFICALLY ALL EIGHT OF OUR CAMPUS THAT ARE ENCOMPASSED IN THERE.

IF YOU SEE A GREEN NUMBER UNDER THE TOTALS ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE, THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE'VE SEEN GROWTH.

THE OTHER TWO NUMBERS RIGHT ABOVE THAT AT 985 AND INQUIRE 466, THOSE NUMBERS ARE HOVERING RIGHT AROUND WHERE THEY NORMALLY ARE.

IF WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT DECREASE, IT'S ONLY ABOUT 10-15 KIDS, BUT THE GREEN IS WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF INCREASE IN THERE.

YOU'LL NOTICE AT THE BOTTOM, ALMOST 4,700 KIDS ARE BEING IMPACTED IN THE ARTS IN GRADE 6, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

AS WE MOVE ON TO TALK ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR HERE.

YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS BROKEN DOWN, BUT YOU'LL SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE GREEN IS WHERE WE'VE SEEN SOME INCREASES.

THE NORMAL FONT IS IN THE BLACK YOU'LL

[00:20:03]

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, MYRON, STEPHANIE, AND I LOOK AT.

WE TALK TO OUR TEACHERS AND WE'RE ASKING AND WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, WHAT ARE YOU NOTICING, IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT IN OUR PROGRAMMING, HOW WE'RE OFFERING AND GETTING CREATIVE WITH OUR SCHEDULING AS WELL SO KIDS CAN PARTICIPATE IN MORE THINGS AS THEY GO.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE ENCOURAGEMENT.

MS. BRANHAM SAID, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? THIS IS THE POWER, THIS IS THE DATA.

YOU'LL NOTICE THIS LATER WITH LESLIE AS WELL.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE GPA OF STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT ENROLLED IN THE FINE ARTS.

YOU NOTICE THAT IT'S ABOUT THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS LESS THAN THE KIDS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THAT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN THOSE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, BUT HERE'S REAL DATA IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.

YOU NOTICE THE SAME THING FOR ATTENDANCE RATE THAT OUR KIDS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THESE AREAS ARE EXCITED TO COME TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S FAMILY, THAT'S WHERE THEY BELONG, THAT'S WHAT GETS MANY OF OUR STUDENTS OUT OF BED, AND IT'S WHAT CONNECTS THEM.

WHEN YOU WALK INTO A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS AS A FRESHMAN AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ATTACHED TO ANYTHING, THAT'S DIFFICULT, THAT'S HARD.

YOU HEAR THIS FROM SOME OF OUR KIDS, AND THE FACT THAT SOME OF THEM CAN ROLL IN THERE AS A NINTH GRADER AND HAVE 200 INSTANT FAMILY MEMBERS MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE, NOT ONLY TO THEIR SUCCESS, BUT TO THEIR SOCIO-EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AS WELL AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I APPRECIATE OUR SPEAKER EARLIER THAT TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL, BUT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT'S UNIQUE IN RICHARDSON, NOT JUST OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT OUR CITY IS OUR DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION AWARD IS ADMITTED BY THE TEXAS ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WITH WHICH OUR OWN MYRON STONET IS VICE PRESIDENT HAS SERVED ON THAT STATE BOARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR THAT WE HAVE EARNED THIS DISTINCTION.

THIS IS A CREDIT TO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS, BUT SECOND, IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SUPPORT THAT BOARDS YOU PROVIDE, MS. BRANHAM, YOUR LEADERSHIP, OUR CABINET, AND IT'S OUR PRINCIPALS ENGAGING US AND GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WILL SAY MOST OF ALL WHEN PEOPLE ASK, MAN, HOW DO YOU'LL GET THOSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR ALMOST? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY? I REALLY MEAN THAT THAT SOME COMMUNITIES THAT YOU TALK ABOUT, THEY COULD CARE LESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR THINGS, THEY DON'T CARE, THEY DON'T GO TO THINGS.

WHEN WE GET AROUND OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THINGS, MYRON, STEPHANIE, AND I ARE PRETTY QUIET BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'VE GOT IT GOOD, BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S EDUCATED, THEY UNDERSTAND, AND THEY VALUE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT DISTRICT CELEBRATIONS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW FOR OUR DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS.

OUR 13TH YEAR IN A ROW, I'M HOPING TO MAKE THAT 14TH IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THIS IS NORMALLY ONE THAT COMES OUT FOR THE BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION, SO WE'RE HOPING TO DO THAT.

BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO OTHER AREAS ON HERE THAT I THINK IS SO VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE A MODEL DISTRICT FOR THE ARTS.

WHEN I SAY THAT, JEFF, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT INFORMATION? WELL, THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT STEPHANIE, AND MYRON, AND MYSELF ARE CONTACTED BY OTHER DISTRICTS AND SAYING, HOW DID YOU ALL GET THEM TO DO THIS? HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS? HOW WERE YOUR PROGRAMS DOING THIS? WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE THE SUPPORT FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD, AND FROM OUR PRINCIPALS, AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND SOME OF THOSE BEST PRACTICES AS WELL.

BUT THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO SHOWCASE, ANY OF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THIS PROBABLY A LOT IN THE MEDIA LATELY IS THAT WE DO NOT MAKE CUTS TO THE ARTS.

I SAY THAT AS A PROUD CITIZEN, AND EMPLOYEE, AND LEADER OF THE DISTRICT THAT WE DON'T MAKE CUTS TO THE ARTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE, THEY'VE GOTTEN RID OF ELEMENTARY MUSIC AND ART ALTOGETHER.

KIDS NOW COME TO SCHOOL, BUT THEY DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY ANY LONGER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THE OVER 260 TEACHERS THAT GET TO IMPACT THESE KIDS, HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE AND VALUE WHAT YOU DO AND THE WAY YOU LIFT THAT UP AND RECOGNIZE THAT.

FINALLY, WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN ELEMENTARY WORLD.

WE HAVE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COME TO STEPHANIE AND MYRON ALL THE TIME.

THEY SAY, MAN, HOW DID YOU ALL GET PEOPLE TO AGREE TO THIS? EVERY KINDERGARTNER FIRST AND SECOND GRADER GETS TO GO TO A PLAY EVERY YEAR.

THEY GET TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND GOING AND SITTING IN A PLAY.

THEY UNDERSTAND AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE, THEY COVER THE TEAKS.

BUT THEY'RE GETTING AN EXPERIENCE BEFORE WE THROW THEM INTO THE DEEP END OF GOING DOWN TO THE WIND SPEAR OR SOMETHING AND GOING TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE THEY MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE OR UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACT.

ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT THINGS IS THAT IN THE THIRD GRADE, THEY ALL GO TO THE RICHARDSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT THE EISEMANN CENTER AND GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONY PERFORMING MUSIC THAT THEY UNDERSTAND.

YOU GET TO HEAR TCHAIKOVSKY, BUT LET'S BE HONEST, THEY GET MORE HOOKED ON THE MINIONS THEME SONG THAN THEY DO ANYTHING ELSE.

THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FOURTH GRADE, THESE KIDDOS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AN ART STUDIO OR THEY GET A CHANCE TO GO TO A GALLERY, THEY GET TO GO SOMEPLACE LIKE THE KIMBALL,

[00:25:02]

I NEVER GOT THAT WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I NEVER WALKED INTO A MUSEUM OF ANY KIND UNTIL I WAS PROBABLY IN COLLEGE AND SOMEONE FORCED ME.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF MYRON.

MYRON SEES THE VALUE IN THAT.

HE DEVELOPS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE FOLKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND THEN HE ENCOURAGES OUR TEACHERS AND SCANS IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THEM AS WELL.

IN FIFTH GRADE, WE DO SOMETHING IN-HOUSE THAT WE HAVE AN RSD SYMPHONY THAT WE BRING AND WE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE BAND CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA.

SOME OF YOU WERE ABLE TO HELP US OUT THIS PAST YEAR WHERE WE HAD AN INSTRUMENT RECOGNITION CONTEST.

SOME OF YOU ARE STILL A LITTLE BITTER, SO THE GOOD NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO REDEEM YOURSELF NEXT YEAR AS WE RUN IT BACK AGAIN, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND YOU'LL GET THE RIGHT ANSWER, SIR IN ADVANCE.

THEN FINALLY, IN THE SIXTH GRADE, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SEND OUR KIDS DOWN TO THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT THEY GET TO GO SEE A LIVE OPERA IN A WORLD-CLASS VENUE.

FINALLY, COMING UP IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GETTING AN INVITATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR SECOND YEAR OF FINE ARTS SIGNING DAYS AT OUR FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS, THAT OUR FINE ARTS COORDINATORS HAVE HELPED PUT TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND THE OTHER HEAD DIRECTORS.

AT ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS I SAW THE LIST LAST NIGHT, WE'VE GOT 35 KIDS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO BE ENGAGED IN THEIR ACTIVITY.

THEY MAY NOT MAJOR OR MINOR IN SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CREATE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.

SOME OTHER DISTRICT CELEBRATIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IS WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATION RATE FOR MUSIC STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE ALL REGION PROCESS.

ALSO WITH OUR VISUAL ART STUDENTS, YOU'LL NOTICE VASE.

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED UIL EVENT, IF YOU WILL.

THEY'VE GOT THAT NOT ONLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT JUNIOR HIGH, AND HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.

WE WANT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON.

WE HAD OUR LAST LEADWELL IMPACT YESTERDAY.

MS. SLOVAK AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT MS. BRANHAM'S VISION AND WORKING WITH MS. BALLAST AND HER DEPARTMENT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH FUN THAT IS.

I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOUR FACES THERE AND YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT, BUT WATCHING THE ABILITY TO IMPACT THOSE KIDS AND SEEING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO DO NOT ONLY AT THEIR HOME CAMPUSES, BUT WHAT TABITHA CHARGED THEM WITH YESTERDAY IS, NOW HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THIS? IT HAS BEEN SO INVALUABLE.

TAB, BEFORE WE GOT DONE YESTERDAY AT MY TABLE, I SAID, ON A SCALE OF I DON'T WANT TO COME TO THIS, WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GET HERE? THEY'RE LIKE, I AM SO EXCITED TO COME TO THESE THINGS BECAUSE I GET TO HEAR A PERSPECTIVE THAT I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT FELT THIS WAY, OR WAS GOING THROUGH THIS, OR DEALING WITH THAT.

KUDOS TO MS. BRANHAM FOR SEEING THAT, UNDERSTANDING IT, AND SUPPORTING IT, AS WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER WITH LEADERS ACROSS ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.

WE'LL ROLL INTO OUR CAMPUS CELEBRATIONS IN A COUPLE OF AREAS.

I WANT TO SHOT ON LIGHT ON HERE IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THIS YEAR, OUR BERKNER MARIACHI PROGRAM.

THIS WAS THEIR SECOND YEAR TO PARTICIPATE IN A UI ACTIVITY, AND REMIND YOU THIS WAS AN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB THREE YEARS AGO AND THEN IT'S AT THE STATE MARIACHI FESTIVAL, REPRESENTING RICHARDSON ISD JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, OUR COMMUNITY.

LET'S BE HONEST, IT WAS A DEMAND THAT THEY PUT FORWARD THAT THEY SAID, THIS IS IMPORTANT CULTURALLY, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE KIDS A HOME AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.

I ALSO WANT TO SHINE A LOT.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMING ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT OUR PEARCE THEATER JUST FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT THEY HAVE NOW ADVANCED THE REGIONAL COMPETITION.

THEY ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE POTENTIAL OF BEING AT STATE.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND PROUD OF THEM IN THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT FORWARD THERE.

IT IS VERY GOOD IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK MS. BRANHAM WAS ALLUDING TO EARLIER IS THAT I GOT ALL JAZZED ABOUT THIS.

WELL, I WAS SCARED AT FIRST, IF I'M BEING HONEST, I WAS SCARED.

WHEN MS. BRANHAM CAME TO ME, SHE SAID, "NOW, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?" WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIP AND GOAL SETTING, SHE HAD TO EXPLAIN DIP TO ME AGAIN.

AS SHE EXPLAINED IT TO ME, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE TALKED ABOUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES THIS WORK FOR FINE ARTS AND WHAT ARE THE MEASURABLES THAT WE COULD PUT IN PLACE THAT WE FEEL LIKE ARE FAIR? THIS WAS OUR FIRST YEAR TO EVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ROLL THIS OUT.

WHEN WE ROLLED IT OUT IN AUGUST TO OUR TEACHERS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE KEPT REASSURING THEM THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHOWCASE ALL OF THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING, BUT HAVING TANGIBLE DATA POINTS THAT WE CAN PUT OUT THERE AND REALLY ASSESS AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

IN YEAR 1, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT HERE, THIS IS WITH OUR JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC ELECTIVE.

THIS IS WHERE WE START. WE STARTED SMALLER, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THIS.

YOU SEE THE CHECK BOXES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MET OUR GOAL OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE UNCHECKED, THOSE ARE STILL WORKS IN PROGRESS OR THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED JUST YET.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY MEETING WITH OUR TEACHERS, WE'RE MEETING WITH COORDINATORS, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OUR IF WE DIDN'T MEET, WHY DIDN'T WE MEET? IS IT A JEFF PROBLEM? THE FIRST THING I WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS, DID I SET AN APPROPRIATE EXPECTATION IN YEAR 1, AND WAS IT FEASIBLE, AND IF IT WASN'T, HOW DO WE GO BACK AND MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS? THEN THE SECOND SIDE OF THAT IS, WAS IT A TEACHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP GROW THEM AND PROVIDE SUPPORTS MAYBE THAT THEY NEEDED?

[00:30:02]

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE DID THE EXACT SAME THING WITH A SLIGHT TWIST FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC ELECTIVES.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE ACHIEVED ON MANY OF THOSE, BUT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE GOING IN THERE.

WHAT WE'RE ASSESSING IS THE VERY THING I SAID ON THE LAST SLIDE IS, WHAT DOES JEFF NEED TO DO TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO GO IN AND SUPPORT THOSE TEACHERS IN THOSE PROGRAMS, AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE?

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

WE FINISHED A LOT OF OUR STATE ASSESSMENTS ACROSS THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT DIDN'T GO THE WAY WE WANTED, AND WHAT'S THE PLAN WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE? RIGHT BEFORE I CAME HERE, WE HAD A GREAT DEBRIEF OF ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T GET WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GET.

THE QUESTION I HAD FOR THEM IS, IT'S OKAY THAT WE DIDN'T GET THERE, BUT WE GOT TO HAVE A PLAN FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO GET BETTER AT THAT.

IF I'M BEING VERY VULNERABLE AND HONEST WITH YOU ALL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I ALWAYS HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY AS A FINE ARTS TEACHER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY EVER ASKED ME THOSE QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THAT FEEDBACK AND HELP ME SET THOSE GOALS.

MS. BRANHAM, I HAVE TO GIVE YOU ALL THE CREDIT ON THAT.

YOU'VE ENCOURAGED ME FOR 10 YEARS NOW, AND AS WE HAVE GONE AND AS WE'VE MOVED, WE FINALLY HAVE A CULTURE THAT I FEEL LIKE ALL ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, THAT TEACHERS ARE SEEING, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE EXPECTATION.

NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT IN TROUBLE, THAT THERE'S SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO HELP ME MOVE THERE.

I THINK THAT'S HARD, ESPECIALLY FOR VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTISTS.

WHEN YOU'VE NOT HAD A VERY DEFINED EXPECTATION, NOW WE DO, AND NOW WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AT THAT.

SOME OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AS WE GO IS, WE'RE EXPANDING THE MARIACHI PROGRAM IN THE BERKNER LEARNING COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE HIRED OUR FIRST MARIACHI DIRECTOR THAT WILL BE TEACHING AT APOLLO JUNIOR HIGH, LIBERTY JUNIOR HIGH, AND THEN TWO COURSES AT BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL, STARTING IN 25-26.

THAT WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING OUR DANCE PROGRAMS AT SOME OF OUR JUNIOR HIGH PROGRAMS. WE HAVE JUST STARTED OFFERING THAT AT PARK HILL AND NORTH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT HAS GROWN AT A RAPID RATE, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND IT TO RICHARDSON WEST JUNIOR HIGH AS WELL, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY AS THAT.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE DIP AND THE CIP, AND HELPING SUPPORT PRINCIPALS SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

FINALLY, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP SUPPORT OUR STRUGGLING TEACHERS WHEN SOMEONE HASN'T MET AN EXPECTATION OR WHEN THEY'VE RUN INTO A ROADBLOCK? AGAIN, I COME BACK TO MYRON AND STEPHANIE TAKING THEIR TIME, PULLING THE TEACHERS IN, AND PUTTING YOUR ARM AROUND THEM FIRST, TO FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM AND MOVE THEM FORWARD AS THEY GO.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS LOOK LIKE FOR THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS WHERE I WILL WRAP UP TONIGHT.

THIS IS PROBABLY WHERE I'M MOST EXCITED.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE GET TO A SPOT, BUT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WHAT ARE THE GOALS.

I WOULD SAY FINE ARTS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACADEMIC STANDARDS AS YOU DO IN SOME OF THE OTHER CONTENT AREAS.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE MAP DATA.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER MEASURING POINTS.

IF WE SAY UIL, THAT ELIMINATES THE DANCE DEPARTMENT OR THAT PUTS A HAMPER ON SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS? MYRON AND STEPH, AND I ASSEMBLED A COMMITTEE.

WE ACTUALLY STARTED THIS CONVERSATION BACK IN THE FALL.

WE ASSEMBLED A COMMITTEE, AND WE JUST FINISHED OUR THIRD MEETING LAST NIGHT.

WHAT WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO ROLL OUT VERY SOON IS WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE TO MS. BRANHAM THIS OPPORTUNITY OF A DISTRICT FINE ARTS DATA AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM.

WE HAVE STARTED TALKING TO ONE OF OUR VENDORS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SUPPORT THIS.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO OUR KNOWLEDGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SET PILLARS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT.

THOSE CHECKPOINTS, AS YOU CAN SEE UP THERE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION? ARE WE TRACKING IT AND REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO IT? THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION.

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT ONCE WE GOT THE DATA? THEN WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITH SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITY? I SAID THIS EARLIER, BUT AFTER COVID, WE HAD IMPACTS WHERE A LOT OF THINGS PULLED BACK.

WELL, STEPHANIE STARTED NOTICING WHY DIDN'T THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAVE A PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR, OR WHY DID WE HAVE AN ORCHESTRA PROGRAM THAT ONLY PERFORMED TWICE? WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT WE NEED TO SET EXPECTATIONS, AND WE NEED TO HELP OUR TEACHERS UNDERSTAND THE GOOD BEHIND THAT AS WELL.

THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE QUALITY.

WELL, HOW DO WE MEASURE THAT? LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THAT.

PART OF THIS IS AN ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF WHAT QUALITY LOOKS, FEELS SOUNDS LIKE, AND IT'S HELPING TRAIN OUR TEACHERS AND IT'S BRINGING THEM ALONG.

BUT IT'S ALSO HELPING SUPPORT OUR PRINCIPALS ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BEING A PRINCIPAL AND NOT HAVING FINE ARTS BACKGROUND, THIS IS SCARY. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

WE WANT TO BE THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT MIRRORS MAP DATA, START DATA, EOC, SO THEY CAN SEE IT, THEY CAN UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEY CAN WORK THROUGH IT.

THEN THE FINAL ONE IS, WHAT'S THE IMPACT? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DR. GIBBINS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL ABOUT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE BEING A PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS? WHAT IS THE ATTENDANCE RATE? WHAT'S THE GRADUATION RATE? WHAT IS THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CORRELATION?

[00:35:02]

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO PAUSE AND I'M GOING TO HAND THE CLICKER OVER TO MS. SLOVAK.

>> ACTUALLY, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD IF YOU DON'T MIND? PRESIDENT POTEET, WOULD YOU PREFER TO CHUNK QUESTIONS?

>> NO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND SPLIT IT IF WE COULD. CAN WE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR FINE ARTS, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND KNOCK THOSE UP.

>> THANK YOU, MR. BRADFORD, PHENOMENAL JOB AND SO MANY KUDOS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, AND AGAIN, THAT MINDSET SHIFT AROUND GROWTH.

HOW DO WE NOT ONLY RECRUIT OUR KIDS, BUT NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR TEACHERS, HOW DO WE RETAIN THEM? HOW DO WE HELP MOVE THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE AT THIS PERFORMANCE LEVEL TO THAT NEXT PERFORMANCE LEVEL? YOU ALL ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

BOARD HAPPY TO FACILITATE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YES. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.

YES, MS. HARRIS, GO AHEAD.

>> THIS IS GREAT. I LOVE IT.

I ACTUALLY LOVE THE LAST PIECE IN REFERENCE TO THE DATA POINTS BECAUSE UP UNTIL WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, I THINK, WHEN MY SON WAS IN BAND.

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT JUST THE COLLABORATION, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BUILT IN BAND, AND THE REALLY EARLY MORNINGS.

BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE THAT DATA AND LET OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY DOING OUTSIDE OF WE'RE REALLY UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND I CAN HEAR THEM PERFORMING OUT THERE IN THE MORNING.

THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT PART, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUCH HARD WORK.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> MR. EAGER, GO AHEAD.

>> AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR ISD AND THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB.

ONE LITTLE THING I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE WERE AT A CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO WE GOT TO SEE THE STATE COMPETITION FROM MARIACHI.

WHILE MY KIDS WERE IN MARCHING BAND, AND WE SPENT MANY OF EARLY MORNING, I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH OUR TRUSTEE RENTERIA TO EXPOSE TO THESE KIDS IN MARIACHI AND THE PHENOMENAL LEVEL OF TALENT THAT THOSE KIDS BROUGHT.

TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE, AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST ONE AREA, BUT FROM GOING AND SEEING THE LEVEL OF THAT COMPETITION AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER, HERE'S A REPRESENTATION FROM RISD, WHAT AN AMAZING JOB THAT THE DISTRICT AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE IDEA OF SEEING SOMETHING AND PUT INTO ACTION IS JUST ONE SMALL EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THAT WE GET THINGS DONE IN RISD.

THANK YOU. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO HIGHLIGHT IN SO MANY AREAS.

IT HAS SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON KIDS, THE FINE ARTS AND EXPOSING TO THEM EARLIER.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK, AND WE APPRECIATE CONTINUED EXCELLENCE.

>> ANY OTHER TRUSTEE? YES, MS. RENTERIA.

>> I HAVE LITTLE LEGS AND LITTLE ARMS, SO MY APOLOGIES.

YES. JUST TO ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT MR. EAGER SAID. GOSH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW MY HEART, MR. BRADFORD.

I MEAN, YOUR TEAM.

IT IS JUST PHENOMENAL WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT BOTH WITH YOU AND WITH MS. BRANHAM.

ABSOLUTELY, WHAT HE SAID IS TO JUST SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, JUST TO HAVE THAT COME TO FRUITION.

YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

IT WAS A BIG THRILL FOR ME TO BE THERE AT THE MARIACHI COMPETITION.

I DO REMEMBER THAT TIME THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT IN THIS DISTRICT.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T ALREADY KNOW, I'M A NATIVE OF SOUTH TEXAS, SO IT WAS A NORM FOR ME.

I HAD MANY FRIENDS AND I HAD SEEN WHILE I WAS IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS UP THERE, DOWN THERE.

IT WAS SEEING THE UIL COMPETITION AND SEE THOSE MANAGE WAS GREAT.

I JUST KNEW IN MY HEART THAT BECAUSE I WOULD SEE THE TALENT AND I SAW THE DEDICATION AND THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS WE HAD THAT I THOUGHT,

[00:40:01]

THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT I LOVE.

WE TALK ABOUT GROWTH, AND I KNOW TABITHA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO SEE SOMETHING AND JUST SAY, LIKE A CHECKPOINT, AND WE CAN DO THAT.

LET'S JUST DO THAT. BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY, AGAIN, WE GET INTO TALKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SOMETHING, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TOO.

ME PERSONALLY, I THOUGHT I HAD ONLY SEEN IT REALLY DEVELOP FROM A LOWER LEVEL.

BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING LIKE WITH MUSIC AND WITH ATHLETICS.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CHILDREN DEVELOP.

THEY START DOING WHEN THEY'RE EDB.

WE SEE THEM WHEN THEY'RE TWO, THREE YEARS OLD, AND THEY GO ALL THE WAY UP. MS. TIMME KNOWS THIS.

IT'S THAT YOU SEE THESE KIDS DEVELOP, AND THEN THEY EXCEL, AND THEY'RE AT THAT COMPETITIVE STAGE BY THE TIME THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

ME PERSONALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO START THERE.

YOU HAD A VISION, I KNOW IT WAS COLLABORATIVE BECAUSE IT CAME TO SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING AN INSTRUCTOR THAT HAPPENED TO BE AT A PARTICULAR CAMPUS, AND JUST EVERYTHING FELL TOGETHER.

I THOUGHT, WOW, I WAS GOING TO SEE HOW THAT WAS GOING TO WORK.

BUT IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT YES, JUST THE LOVE THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE FOR, SAY, IN THIS PARTICULAR GENRE, AND TO HAVE THE INSTRUCTORS AND EVERYTHING COME TOGETHER HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

BUT AGAIN, FOR ME, IT WAS THE GROWTH, BECAUSE I THOUGHT GREAT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN MORE THAN THREE-FOURTHS OF THIS GROUP GRADUATES, AND HOW DO WE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAIN THAT? IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW THE VISION WAS ALREADY THERE IN THE PLANNING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO ALREADY HAVE IT GROW IN APOLLO AND TO SEE THIS, AND THEN NOW TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

AGAIN, THAT GROWTH IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

TABITHA AND I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME IN THE LOWER GRADES.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECENTLY BE AT THE FIRST MULTICULTURAL FINE ARTS EVENT.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL, AND THE OTHER THING THAT TABITHA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE BUY-IN WHEN THEY'RE THAT YOUNG.

NOT ONLY FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE PARENTS.

AS MS. HARRIS AND I THINK MR. EAGER WAS SAYING, YOU START TO ESTABLISH THAT FAMILY AND THAT BOND.

ANYWAY, TO SEE OUR KIDS NOT ONLY EXCEL ON THAT LEVEL, BUT IT JUST BLEEDS INTO THE ACADEMICS, AND YOU SEE HOW WELL THEY'RE DOING.

AGAIN, I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING, AND KUDOS FOR JUST EVERYTHING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

ONE OF THE THINGS TOO I WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU AND I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH IS THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT START IN THE ELEMENTARY.

WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THANK YOU BECAUSE I THINK AGAIN, FOR ME, THAT'S JUST SUPER IMPORTANT WHEN I THINK ABOUT GETTING THOSE KIDS AND THE BUY-IN.

I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE GONE TO MANY EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES WHERE WE SEE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE DANCING AND SINGING, AND THEY JUST LOVE IT.

FOR ME FOR A WHILE, HE WAS LIKE, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SEE SO MANY INVOLVED IN THE PARENTS ALL THERE AND THEY'RE SUPPORTING? THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU JUST DON'T SEE THAT SAME CONSISTENCY UP TO HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT IT'S WONDERFUL HOW YOU GUYS ARE TYING THAT IN AND SEEING THAT GAP AND THEN FILLING IT IN.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL, ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH ELEMENTARY.

AGAIN, THE LAST THING FOR ME, I THINK SOMEBODY ALREADY ADDED ABOUT MEASURING.

I THINK THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE BRING IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

I'VE SEEN OTHER DISTRICTS THAT I THINK JUST THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE, THROW IT JUST PUT IT TOGETHER.

BUT I THINK FOR US, I THINK WE'RE A DISTRICT THAT HAS ALWAYS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, WHETHER IT BE ACADEMICS OR ANYTHING THAT WE DO.

TO CONTINUE THAT WITH THIS IS JUST AGAIN, I THINK A STATEMENT, AS MR. EAGER SAID ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. IF I CAN ADD ONE THING TO THAT.

THERE'S SO MANY OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE COME TO MYRON AND STEPHANIE, AND THEY'RE SAYING, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING THAT ENRICHMENT THING? WE GOT RID OF THAT A LONG TIME AGO.

I'M LIKE, WHY DID YOU GET RID OF IT? THEY'RE LIKE, WE COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.

THAT'S NOT US, THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S ALL SAYING WE SEE THE VALUE IN THAT, AND IT'S OUR COMMUNITY.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, OUR COMMUNITY GOES, NO, YOU'RE NOT GETTING RID OF THAT BECAUSE THAT MAY BE THE ONLY TIME THAT KID GETS THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THESE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE CUT THAT SHAME ON THEM AND GOOD ON A FOR SUPPORTING US ON.

[LAUGHTER].

>> THANK YOU, MS. RENTERIA.

MS. TIMME, GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

MR. BRADFORD, I DO HAVE FIRST OFF A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS.

I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS WHO PARTICIPATE IN IT AND HOW GREAT THAT IS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, MY KIDS ARE ON THE ATHLETIC SIDE.

WE HAVE ZERO TALENTS IN THE FINE ARTS.

[LAUGHTER] HOWEVER, I MEAN, ZERO.

[00:45:01]

WE'RE FUN, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE, BUT I WILL SAY, I THINK ONE THING WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS THEIR EXPOSURE TO THESE THINGS FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS OFFER, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY TALENTED KIDS, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SO MANY VARIED ACTIVITIES.

THEY'RE SO EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE SUCH AN APPRECIATION FORM AND SEEK THEM OUT TO BE CONSUMERS OF IT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE IN THE GOOD MEASUREMENT SIDE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

HOWEVER, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AS A PARENT THAT THEY HAVE THAT EXPOSURE TO.

I WOULD ALSO SAY TOO THAT I THINK THAT THEIR TRADITIONAL PAST THAT PEOPLE THINK OF FOR YOUR CTE COURSES AS FAR AS IS CAREERS AND WHAT DRAWS YOU TO COLLEGES OR DOING THINGS YOUR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL PIECE, BUT A LOT OF THESE KIDS, IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE EXPOSURE TO THIS, WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE FOR THEM, THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS IN THIS DISTRICT.

I HAVE SEEN SOME RENDITIONS IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS THAT, OH MY GOSH, IT'S AMAZING, AND WITHOUT GREAT TEACHERS TO DO THAT AND TO HELP THEM GROW THEIR SKILL SET, THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

CERTAINLY, DO FIND A LOT OF GREAT VALUE IN THAT.

I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, MS. BRANHAM, YOU CAN THEN WHOEVER YOU WANT TO ANSWER, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU, BUT INVESTMENT IN TEACHER PAY, I WOULD SAY IN ANY CLASS, FINE ARTS CLASS, REGULAR INSTRUCTIONAL CLASS, DO WE FIND THEY WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE TEACHERS BECAUSE OF OUR PAY AND HOW WE ADDRESSED PAY FROM THAT COMING IN AND SO THAT WE SHOULD SEE SOME BENEFITS OF THAT IN OUR PROGRAMS GOING FORWARD?

>> YES. NOW, I WOULD SAY THERE'S TWO LAYERS TO THAT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, ABSOLUTELY, OUR SALARY STRUCTURE IS ABSOLUTELY A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND MR. BRADFORD MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.

I WILL ALSO SAY DR. GOODSON DOES A GREAT JOB OF BENCHMARKING OUR STIPENDS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING A COMPETITIVE STIPEND THAT MATCHES US.

ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IS CURRENTLY WHILE WE ARE IN TWO DIFFERENT GRADE CONFIGURATIONS, A TOOL THAT OUR FINE ART STAFF IT DOES TAKE A TOLL ON OUR FINE ART STAFF, THE AMOUNT OF TRAVELING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO AS THEY GO TO THE ELEMENTARIES AND TEACH THAT SIXTH GRADE.

I STILL HEAR, AND AGAIN, OUR FINE ART STAFF HAS BEEN SO GRATEFUL FOR THE COMPENSATION, BUT THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL THAT IT TAKES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES, SO STILL DO THAT? THEY DO THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO AGAIN ENGAGE THAT SIXTH GRADE.

BUT LIKE OUR FINE ART STAFF IN THE LAKE HIGHLANDS AREA TO HEAR THEIR REFLECTIONS ABOUT NOT HAVING TO DO THAT, IT'S LIFE-CHANGING FOR THEM.

I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVEN SEE GREATER IMPACT.

>> FROM OUR SALARY SCHEDULE ONCE WE HAVE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

>> I WOULD SAY TWO. ONE THING I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST AND WE WERE LOOKING AT TRANSITIONING FOR SIXTH GRADE UP FOR LAKE ISLANDS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS GREAT WAS I TALKED TO SEVERAL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH TEACHERS, THEY'D ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE JUST CONVERSATION WITH ME, OF COURSE.

BUT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY CITED WAS FUNNY, THEY REALLY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TRAVEL AS MUCH AS THEY TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND KNOW THE KIDS AND GIVE INSTRUCTION BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT THEY HAD TO GET TO TRAVEL, LESS THAN THE TIME THEY COULD SPEND WITH KIDS TO CONNECT AND WORK WITH OTHER TEACHERS, WHICH WAS THEIR LEADING PIECE TO THAT WHICH ALSO GOES TO SHOW THE QUALITY FOLKS THAT WE HIRE.

IT WASN'T ABOUT THEIR COMFORT, IT'S ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH KIDS, BEING PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND GROWING THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WAY, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GREAT.

>> ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN GROW AND POUR INTO THEIR STUDENTS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HAVING EVERYTHING FROM THE VENUE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO TEACH ORCHESTRA ON THE STAGE OR IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL ROOM AND A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS IT.

YOU SAID THAT MUCH BETTER, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHEN WE GET A LOT OF TEACHERS THAT THEY GET FIRED UP DURING TEST AND SEASON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR KIDS.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE, WELL, IT'S OKAY, YOU KNOW THIS WAS COMING, BUT THEY SO BADLY WANT TO SEE THOSE KIDS, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THE INSTRUCTION.

I THINK THE THING THAT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME IS THEY'LL SAY, I DON'T CARE THAT I HAVE FREE TIME, I WANT KID TIME.

THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO ME.

>> I WOULD AGREE. I WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S AN ANOMALY IF THAT'S ON MY TEACHER, I HAVE HEARD THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE OTHER PIECE GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE AWARDS THAT WE HAVE, WHAT IS IT, 25 YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT COMMUNITY AWARD FOR MUSIC?

>> WE'RE HOPING FOR 14TH, BUT WE'RE ON 13TH.

>> FOURTEENTH SORRY. THERE WERE ELSE I SAW, BUT THAT WERE A COMMUNITY OF FINE ARTS OR WHATEVER THAT WAS.

BUT ANYWAY, KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALLOWING FOLKS TO COME FROM OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT COMING IN OR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS HERE, I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PIECE AT PROMOTING THE FOLKS WOULD WANT TO COME FOR THAT OR THEY'RE WANTING TO STAY FROM THAT FROM THE CONNECTIONS THAT THEY'RE MAKING THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES.

[00:50:03]

>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WHEN THEY SEE THE QUALITY OF ONE OF THE THINGS MR. BRADFORD DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT, BUT AT LEAST IN MY 11 YEARS OF BEING HERE, TO HAVE ALL FOUR OF OUR BANDS ADVANCE AT DISTRICT TO THE FINAL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT.

TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE FOUR BANDS THAT ARE COMPETING AT THAT LEVEL, AGAIN, IS A TESTAMENT WHERE WE DO HAVE FAMILIES WHO SAY, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THE MIGHTY RAM BAND OR I WANT TO MARCH WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LAKE HIGHLANDS OR ANY OF THE OTHERS.

OUR COUNTRY WESTERN,

>> AMAZING.

>> I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY OUTREACHES I HAVE FROM PROSPECTIVE PARENTS WHO THEIR KIDS SEE THAT AND THEY'RE LIKE, MY GOD.

THAT'S A DIFFERENTIATOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING THE ONE.

>> I BELIEVE PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL WAS AT THE FIFA 26.

>> YES THEY WERE.

>> UNVEILING TODAY, AM I CORRECT? THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

MY BOYS WERE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT.

>> YES, A COUNTRY WESTERN TEAM THAT GOT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME INVITATION TO PERFORM IN IRELAND.

THEY HAVE REALLY LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAMS AND AUGURATION.

WE REALLY DO CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT FAMILIES JUST WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE A PART OF.

>> I'VE GOT TO BRAG ON ONE OF OUR COUNTRY WESTERN GROUPS BECAUSE NOT ONLY THEY WENT TO A COMPETITION OR AWARDED STATE CHAMPS AT THIS COMPETITION AT BERGNER, BUT WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS INVITED TO THE FINERS ADMINISTRATORS OPENING PERFORMANCE.

THEY ALL LOOKED AT ME LIKE I'D LOST MY MIND WHEN I SAID, THIS IS THE GROUP AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT IS THAT? BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT ANY OF US ARE AWARE OF IN AMERICA THAT OFFERS THIS OTHER THAN TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY.

ALL THESE ADMINISTRATORS AT THE END, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INFLUX OF COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE, IS THAT A THING? I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

THEY WERE IN AND ON JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, BUT I JUST THINK THAT GOES TO SHOW A DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IN WHAT WE PROVIDE AND HOW WE SUPPORT THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THEN LASTLY, WHILE THEY'RE LEARNING AND WHILE THEY ARE GETTING THEIR CORE CONTENT AND ALL THEIR SUBJECT AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WORKING HARD IN THERE, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER LIFE LESSONS THAT THEY LEARN THROUGH THESE PIECES AS WELL, WHICH IS WORKING HARD, HOW TO DO HARD THINGS.

GETTING CUT FROM A SPORT SOMETIMES OR CUT OR WHATEVER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT CAN BE VERY HARD, BUT THEY CAN SEE SUCCESSES IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU ASK KIDS, WHAT DO THEY REMEMBER FROM WHEN THEY WERE IN SCHOOL, I THINK THAT THEY REMEMBER THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAVE.

I THINK THEY REMEMBER THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAVE.

I THINK THEY REMEMBER THE FINE ARTS EXPERIENCES THEY'VE HAD, WHETHER THEY PARTICIPATED IN IT OR WHETHER THEY WERE A BENEFIT OF CONSUMING THAT INFORMATION.

YOU CAN GET AN EDUCATION IN CONTENT IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

BUT THESE PIECES WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR FAMILY, WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR CONNECTIONS, WHERE YOU DO THINGS COULD NOT DO FOR BEING AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL WITH THE GROUP THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH.

I WOULD ALSO SAY TO THE TEACHERS WHO PUT IN LONG, HARD HOURS ARE THEIR NIGHTS SUPERVISING ON OFF TIME FOR COMPETITIONS.

I KNOW THAT COUNTRY WESTERN TEAM AND ALL OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS GO A ZILLION PLACES THAT IS WAY OUTSIDE THEIR DUTY, WAY OUTSIDE THEIR CONTRACT.

I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A THANKS TO THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN AND FOR THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU GUYS.

>> IF I COULD JUST ADD, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE HEARING TONIGHT REALLY DOES MOVE OUR GRADUATE PROFILE FROM BEING WORDS ON A PAGE TO BEING SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PROBLEM SOLVING, PRIORITIZING THEIR TIME AND THEIR ENERGIES.

THEY MAY HAVE TWO TESTS COMING UP, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO GET PREPARED FOR BAND REGIONALS OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND FIGURING OUT THOSE LIFE SKILLS THAT WILL FOREVER BENEFIT THEM, WHETHER IT'S IN COLLEGE OR CAREER.

ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IS ANOTHER AMAZING OUTCOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE.

>> JUST TO YOUR POINT ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW KIDS KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT, WHILE THEY'RE HERE, THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO THOSE HARD THINGS, AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITH OUR SUPPORT.

THEN, WHEN THEY LEAVE AND THEY'RE GOING ON THEIR OWN, THEY NEED TO HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME OF THAT AND THEY NEED TO HAVE FAILED.

THEY NEED TO SUCCEED, THEY NEED TO HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS WHILE OUR FOLKS ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM SO THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS NEST AND THEY GO ON THEIR WAY, THEY KNOW THEY CAN DO IT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY SEEN THEMSELVES SUCCEED, NOT SUCCEED, BE THE LEADER, BE THE SUPPORTER.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TO BEING GOOD HUMAN. THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, MS. TIMME. MS. MCGOWAN.

>> I'M SO EXCITED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF HAVING TWO KIDS UNDER BOTH OF YOUR LEADERSHIPS, AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH MY CHILDREN IS AMAZING.

[00:55:01]

I GIVE YOU A LOT OF THE CREDIT ABOUT MY KIDS BEING LEADERS THAT THEY HAVE BECOME.

MY SON WAS PART OF THE LEADWELL PROGRAMMING YESTERDAY AND IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT FEELING TO SEE AND KNOW THAT YOUR KIDS ARE LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC AND MAKE SPEECHES AND ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE DOING AT HOME.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN SCHOOL. I APPRECIATE THAT.

AS A KID GOING TO SCHOOLS HERE, I REMEMBER EXPERIENCING MADAM BUTTERFLY, WAS THE FIRST OPERA I EVER EXPERIENCED AS A KID AND I LOVED IT.

ACTUALLY, I WAS PROBABLY IN JUNIOR HIGH AND WE CRIED WATCHING MADAM BUTTERFLY.

NEVER WENT TO ANOTHER OPERA AFTER THAT, BUT THE EXPERIENCE STUCK WITH ME.

IT'S NOT THAT I DID NOT GO TO ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE OF THAT FEELING.

>> TELL ME WHEN.

>> I THOUGHT WOW, IT WAS SUCH A GREAT FEELING.

WE FELT IT, WE UNDERSTOOD.

GREAT THINGS. ANYWAY, I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAD THAT EXPERIENCE HERE IN RISD.

CHRIS YOU STILL LAUGHING? [LAUGHTER] AWESOME.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS, WITH THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN, WITH THE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND US IN SCHOOLS.

I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR KIDS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SOMETHING ELSE TO CHANNEL THESE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

SOMETIMES MY SON COMES HOME AND HE DOESN'T PLAY THE PIANO ANYMORE, BUT HE GETS ON THAT PIANO AND HE BEATS THOSE DRUMS, AND IT'S BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY NEED THAT OUTLET.

I THINK THESE PROGRAMS DEFINITELY ALSO PROVIDE THAT HEALTHY OUTLET FOR THEM.

WE KNOW THAT AS YOU JUST SHOWED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WE KNOW THAT KIDS WHEN THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES, THEIR GRADES ARE BETTER, THEY HAVE THAT FAMILY SUPPORT ALREADY IN PLACE.

WHEN WE HAVE FOUR BANDS THAT MOVED TO THE REGIONAL COMPETITION THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN OUR DISTRICT OR IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN SO MANY YEARS.

THOSE ARE COVID KIDS.

THOSE ARE KIDS THAT WERE LOCKED IN THEIR ROOMS YEARS AGO, HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME TRANSITIONING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THEY'RE NOW MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN SCHOOL, AND THAT ALSO MEANS WE'RE CLOSING SOME ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BECAUSE MY KIDS MAKING GREAT GRADES.

I KNOW THAT MEANS A LOT OF OTHER KIDS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS AS WELL.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT.

I ALSO FEEL LIKE REPRESENTATION IS CRITICAL, AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD IN THIS DISTRICT WHERE WE'VE CREATED THIS AS A PRIORITY. WITHOUT MS. [INAUDIBLE] WITHOUT YOUR PRIORITIES AND YOUR DREAMS AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR INPUT RIGHT HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, YOU WOULD HAVE MARIACHI.

I DIDN'T GROW UP WHEN WE WERE HERE AND WE HAD MARIACHI AND [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M PROBABLY SAYING ALL THIS WRONG.

I'M BUTCHERING ALL THESE WORDS.

BUT, I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY, I DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS HERE AS A KID, BUT WE DO NOW AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF REPRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT VISION.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE VISION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR BEING VERY OPEN AND BROAD AND SAYING YOW KNOW WHAT, WE CAN DO THIS, LET'S TRY IT AND LOOK AT ALL THE LIVES WE'RE AFFECTING.

WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT AND GROWTH, WE HAVE TO CHANGE AND BE FOREVER OPEN TO MAKING THOSE CHANGES FOR THE KIDS AND GIVING THEM SPACE.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE EVER NOT SUPPORTING OUR FINE ARTS PROGRAMMING IN OUR DISTRICT.

>> ME EITHER. I WANT TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT WITH LEADWELL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTE.

WE ASK STUDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, AND WE ASK THEM TO BE STUDENT LEADERS.

WE IDENTIFY THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE CAPTAINS OF A TEAM, WE ASKED THEM TO BE A DRUM MAJOR, WE ASKED THEM TO BE A STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

WE ASKED THEM TO SERVE OUR DISTRICT AND TO PROVIDE THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS IN A WAY THAT CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

BUT WE SOMETIMES DON'T TEACH THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD.

LEADERSHIP IS HARD.

EVERYONE MAY HAVE AND THERE MIGHT BE AN INNATE ABILITY TO LEAD, BUT IT HAS TO BE DEVELOPED AS A SKILL SET.

THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR PEERS, YOUR BEST FRIENDS AND PROVIDE THEM CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK OR EVEN REDIRECT THEIR BEHAVIORS.

THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO.

TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY REFLECT ON WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LEAD? EVERY DAY, WHAT DOES THAT LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE? WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A ROOMFUL OF KIDS THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY THEIR OWN WORST CRITIC.

THEY ARE HARD ON THEMSELVES.

THE EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY SET FOR THEMSELVES ARE FAR HIGHER THAN WE PROBABLY EVER WOULD.

ADDRESSING THAT PRESSURE THAT THEY PUT ON THEMSELVES.

LETTING THEM KNOW IT'S OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TIMES AS A LEADER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES WHEN YOU GET IT WRONG.

BUT HOW DO WE GROW AND HOW DO WE REFLECT? HOW ARE WE VULNERABLE? EVEN IN FRONT OF OUR FRIENDS,

[01:00:01]

THOSE AGAIN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE GOOD HUMAN, WE JUST WANT OUR KIDS TO BE GOOD HUMANS.

YES, ACADEMIC, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE GOOD HUMAN SO THAT THEY CAN USE ALL THOSE ACADEMIC SKILLS THAT THEY GAIN FOR GOOD.

THAT IS WHAT PROGRAMS LIKE LEADWELL, OUR FINE ARTS AND OUR ATHLETICS DO FOR OUR KIDS.

>> I HAVE TO SAY ONE LAST THING.

BACKING UP FOR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AMAZING JOB AT HOW YOU CHOOSE THE KIDS TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

IT'S A VERY BROAD DIVERSE GROUP OF KIDS, AND THOSE KIDS CAN TAKE THOSE SKILLS BACK.

NOT JUST ARE THEY A PART OF THIS LARGE GROUP IN THE DISTRICT, BUT THEY CAN TAKE THAT BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, TO THE BAND HALLS, TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM, PRACTICES, DRILL TEAM PRACTICES AND SHARE WHAT THEY ARE GETTING IN THIS.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, SO THAT THEY CAN GO BACK INTO THESE BUILDINGS, AND WE CAN REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

WE CAN REDUCE SUICIDE RATES BECAUSE WE HAVE AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE EMPOWERING OUR KIDS TO TAKE THAT AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CLASSMATES.

>> THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE] YES, MS. PACHECO.

>> THANK YOU. GREAT PRESENTATION.

I'M ALWAYS SO ENCOURAGED AND I LOVE TO SEE THE GROWTH, THE IMPROVEMENT, AND JUST THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, YOUR TEAM, YOU ALL DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND OF COURSE, GROWING OUR TEACHERS, TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT EXCELLENT WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.

I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE INTENTION THAT YOU TEACH OUR KIDS IN THE ARTS SPECIFICALLY IS ENORMOUS.

PRACTICING, GIVING THEM THE UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY MINUTE MATTERS, NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT WITH THEIR CRAFT, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, WHETHER IT'S ART, DANCE, A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, PRACTICING WITH MARCHING, ALL THE THINGS.

EVERY SINGLE MINUTE MATTERS, AND THAT TEACHES OUR KIDS PERSEVERANCE.

IT TEACHES THEM HOW TO MASTER THEIR TIME.

IT TEACHES THEM SO MANY OTHER SKILLS, THAT IN MATH CLASS, WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY GET UNLESS WE JUST PRACTICE A LOT.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK THEY'RE INNATE AND THEY HAVE THAT FAMILY AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE ENCOURAGING THEM.

I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I'VE SEEN IT, MY OWN KIDS WERE PART OF THE ARTS PROGRAM.

I'M NOT ARTISTIC EITHER.

THEY TRIED REALLY HARD IN MY DISTRICT AND IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

BUT I WAS A PERSON AND I SEE THIS EVERY DAY, ALL THE TIME.

ANYTIME I GO TO A PRESENTATION, ANYTIME I SEE AN EVENT, HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING, THEY'RE PERFORMING, BUT THEY HAVE FRIENDS, EVERYWHERE, PARTICIPATING AND ENCOURAGING THEM, WATCHING THEM, CELEBRATING THEM.

I KNOW MY OWN KIDS LOVE AND THEY STILL TALK ABOUT, I REMEMBER WHEN MY FRIEND DID THIS PLAY OR I REMEMBER WHEN I WENT TO SEE MY FRIEND DO THIS OR THAT.

THAT'S SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO LEARN HOW TO ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT IS DOING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE AND JUST LIKE I LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND I'M GOING TO HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT YOU ALL DEVELOP IN OUR COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, IS THE FOLKLORICAL GROUPS, BUT NOT JUST THAT, IT'S THE UNIFORMS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE AS A DISTRICT.

THAT REMOVES THAT BARRIER OF PARTICIPATION FOR SO MANY STUDENTS.

I'M SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.

I REMEMBER, IS ANOTHER STORY, I HAD TO SELL MY OWN FOLKLORICAL SKIRT AND SHIRT.

GO TO THE FABRIC STORE, PICK IT OUT, CUT IT UP, SEW IT UP.

IT WASN'T AS BEAUTIFUL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER FOLKLORICAL SCHOOLS, BUT WE DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

I JUST LOVE THAT OUR STUDENTS GET TO PRACTICE, THEY DO THE CRAFT.

THEY GET TO BE EXCELLENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT.

OUR TEACHERS ARE EXCELLENT, AND THEY LIVE UP TO THAT EXPECTATION.

I HAVE SO MUCH JOY TO KNOW THAT EVERY KID CAN LIVE UP TO THAT HIGH EXPECTATION.

WE JUST HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW THEY CAN DO IT.

THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND SAY, I CAN, I DID IT, I'M HERE.

I'M JUST REALLY, I'M THANKFUL.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CREATIVITY ON SCHEDULING.

I DID NOTICE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND FOR A TON OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

THOSE NUMBERS CHANGE AS THEY GET INTO THEIR HIGHER GRADES.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TRY TO KEEP MORE OF OUR KIDS IN THAT PROGRAMMING.

>> AM I GOOD TO ANSWER THAT. THERE'S THREE BIG CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

NUMBER 1 IS A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE NOT ENGAGED AT A YOUNGER AGE, WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, THEY'RE THINK, MAN, I GOT TO GET THE CREDIT OUT OF THE WAY.

YOU SEE THAT A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL JUMP,

[01:05:01]

IT'S FINDING WAYS LIKE BALLET FOLKLORICO, MARIACHI, ACCESS POINTS THAT THEY CAN GET TO IF THEY DIDN'T GET IT IN SIXTH OR SEVENTH GRADE.

YOU'RE NOTICING THAT NOW AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL IS THAT IN THE REST OF OUR DISTRICT, IF YOU MISS SIGNING UP FOR BAN AND ORCHARD IN SIXTH GRADE, WE DON'T OFFER THAT IN SEVENTH GRADE.

WELL, NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE THAT HEAVEN FORBID, THEY GOT IT WRONG AT THE RIPE AGE OF 12.

THEY DIDN'T PICK THE WRONG THING.

LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER SHOT.

LET'S GIVE THEM MORE ENTRY SPOTS.

LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT IF THEY PICKED WRONG IN SIX, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE? HOW DO WE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO STILL EXPERIENCE THAT? IT'S FINDING PROGRAMS, IT'S FINDING OPPORTUNITIES.

IT CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THEM.

IT'S THE FLEXIBILITY THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE SHOWING AS WELL, THAT, IF THERE'S A BARRIER THERE BECAUSE OF TRADITION OR SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY, HOLD ON A MINUTE.

WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT WORLD ANY LONGER.

HOW DO WE FIND OPPORTUNITIES? WE CAN STILL GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE AND MAYBE IT'S AFTER SCHOOL, AND THEN MAYBE THEY DEVELOP AT THEIR CRAFT AT A SPOT WHERE NOW I CAN JUMP INTO THE CLASS AND DO IT.

THERE'S MORE AND MORE TEACHERS GETTING CREATIVE WITH THAT AND PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> I ALSO WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO HAVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS WHO SO MANY OF THEM ARE GIVING UP TIME AFTER SCHOOL TO CREATE THOSE EXPERIENCES.

AGAIN, MOST OF THEM ARE GETTING A STIPEND, THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE CHOOSING TO SPONSOR A DANCE CLASS AND A DANCE TEAM.

WHETHER IT'S A STEP TEAM, IT MIGHT BE LIKE WITH THE BALLS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> THE COORDINATION AND THE TEAM PLAY.

>> MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES WHERE IT'S JUST OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE STAYING AFTER TO CREATE THIS EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THAT WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL AND IT MIGHT BE THAT IT IS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AN EXPERIENCE WHERE THERE'S A CUT OR AN AUDITION THAT THEY'RE READY FOR THAT.

THEY'VE HAD SOME BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES.

HUGE SHOUT OUT, JUST LIKE OUR SECONDARY FINE ARTS TEAM AND OUR ELEMENTARY SPECIALS TEAM, BUT ALSO THOSE TEACHERS WHO JUST POUR INTO OUR KIDS IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I LOVE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING BIG DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

SOME KIDS MAYBE THEY JUST GIVE UP A LITTLE BIT OR THEY DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND, AND NOW THEY'RE A LITTLE OLDER, MORE MATURE AND THEY'RE WILLING TO TRY AGAIN. I LOVE THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M A METRIC AND MONEY GIRL.

I APPRECIATE SO MUCH HOW YOU GUYS SHOWED US THE CLEAR FACT, HOW IT CORRELATES PARTICIPATION IN A FINE ARTS OR ATHLETICS, AND THE IMPROVEMENT IN GRADES AND IMPROVEMENT IN ATTENDANCE.

AWESOME. I KNOW WE SPEND MONEY.

IT'S NOT CHEAP TO DO THESE PROGRAMS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE SCALING THESE PROGRAMS UP, YOU'RE MOVING THEM ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

YOU'RE PROVIDING EXTRA EXPERIENCES IN OUR YOUNGER GRADES.

OUR SMALL KIDS WITH HOW TO BEHAVE, AND I'M ALL FOR IT.

THAT IS THE BEST USE OF OUR MONEY TO TEACH OUR KIDS HOW TO BE AMAZING AND GROW INTO THIS GRADUATE PROFILE. THANK YOU.

>> I CAN ADD ONE LAST THING TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. I THINK YOU'VE ALL SAID IT.

LESLIE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.

WE LIVE IN A MICROWAVE SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.

IF I DON'T GET IT RIGHT NOW WHEN I HIT THAT BUTTON, I'M OUT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU-ALL, BUT I HADN'T GOTTEN A LOT OF THINGS BY HITTING THAT BUTTON IN LIFE.

I MAY HAVE KEPT HITTING THE BUTTON AND ADD IN 30 SECONDS, BUT ALL I DID WAS BURN THE POPCORN.

THESE KIDS IN OUR PROGRAMS AND ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT STRIKING OUT.

THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT MISSING NOTES, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT IT'S OKAY TO MAKE A MISTAKE, AND THEN LET'S START OVER WITH A DIFFERENT CANVAS, BUT LET'S KEEP WORKING TOWARDS MASTERY.

LET'S KEEP WORKING TOWARDS EXCELLENCE, BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET OUT THERE IN THE REAL WORLD AND THEY FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT YET THEY FAILED.

I THINK MS. TIMME, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THEY FAILED IN A SAFE PLACE AND THEY KEPT GETTING CAUGHT.

I HATE TO USE THE ANALOGY, BUT IT'S THE CIRCUS A LITTLE BIT AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THE NETS.

WE'RE GOING TO CATCH YOU. THE TEACHER IS GOING TO CATCH YOU, WE'RE GOING TO CATCH YOU, YOU-ALL ARE GOING TO CATCH THEM.

I'M THANKFUL THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE TEACHING THEM GRIT, AND THEY'RE TEACHING THEM RESILIENCY, AND THEY'RE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WHEN THEY WALK OUT OF HERE, THEY GOT THE BEST CHANCE TO KNOW, LIFE'S GOING TO COME SWINGING, BUT I'M READY TO HIT BACK AND I WON'T GIVE UP.

>> EXCELLENT. YES. MISS RENTERIA. GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AS TABITHA WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS WERE DOING, WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AT RICHLANDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

TO SEE THOSE YOUNG LADIES, THE LITTLE CHEER SQUAD AND ALL, THEY WERE AMAZING.

WHEN I'M TELLING YOU, THEY WERE TOGETHER, THEY WERE ON TIME.

>> THEIR TECHNIQUE WAS IMPECCABLE.

THEY WERE SO GOOD, AND THESE WERE ELEMENTARY YOUNG LADIES.

I HAD TO ASK WHO WAS THEIR DIRECTOR OR WHO WAS THEIR COACH,

[01:10:03]

WHEN I ASKED HER, HOW DID YOU DO THIS OR WHEN AFTER SCHOOL.

YOU SEE THAT COMMITMENT THAT IS JUST AMAZING AND THERE'S SO MANY LIKE THAT, THAT ARE JUST SO COMMITTED AND THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY JUST LOVE IT, AND THEY WANT THESE KIDS TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND THEY WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

THEN THEY TEST THE WATERS, AND THEN THEY SEE WHAT'S JUNIOR HIGH LIKE, WHAT'S HIGH SCHOOL LIKE.

ABSOLUTELY. I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT I SAW THAT I MISS, IF I MAY.

I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT OR YOU MENTIONED THE JUNIOR HIGH DANCE PROGRAM AND HOW NOW IT'S EXTENDED TO WEST.

I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE JUNIOR HIGH DANCE PROGRAM.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW DOES THAT CONNECT OR HOW DOES IT BRANCH INTO HIGH SCHOOL?

>> WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER IT JUST YET BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THREE YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO MARIACHI AND FOLKLORICO.

THERE WAS AN APPETITE FOR THAT AND PEOPLE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

THERE WAS THE ABILITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ALLOCATION AND IT STARTED AT ONE SCHOOL.

THE PRINCIPAL SAID, I SEE A NEED, SO THAT PRINCIPAL GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEONE.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, WITH MARIACHI, IT CAUGHT FIRE.

THEN THE OTHER SCHOOL, WAIT, I WANT THAT, TOO.

PRINCIPALS AREN'T COMPETITIVE AT ALL.

THEY WERE LIKE, I WANT THIS.

THOSE PRINCIPALS AT PARK HILL AND NORTH GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, I'LL GIVE HALF.

LET'S MAKE THIS WORK.

THAT'S HOW IT REALLY GOT GOING.

THEN WITH THIS PAST YEAR WITH MR. VEGA AT RICHARDSON WEST, HE SAID, MY THEATER TEACHER CAME FORWARD, HAS A DANCE BACKGROUND AND SAID, THIS COULD BE A GREAT WAY TO HELP NOT ONLY THOSE STUDENTS THAT AREN'T ENGAGED IN SOMETHING AND DON'T HAVE SOMETHING, BUT IT ALSO SELFISHLY FOR HIM, IT HELPS WITH HIS MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DANCE BETTER AND HE'LL HAVE KIDS THAT COULD PARTICIPATE THAT MAYBE DON'T WANT TO ACT OR THEY DON'T WANT TO SING, BUT IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO DO THAT.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS AND I'M SEEING AT ALL THREE OF THOSE CAMPUSES, DANCE IS ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT IT PRICES SO MANY PEOPLE OUT.

I'M LEARNING IT RIGHT NOW AS A FATHER, AND THEY DON'T MESS AROUND WHEN THEY PUT THEM DOLLAR SIGNS UP THERE.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

WE'RE GIVING KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY AT AN EARLIER AGE BECAUSE NO LONGER IS NINTH GRADE, 14-YEARS-OLD IS MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A YOUNG CHILD COULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT NOW THEY'RE BEING ABLE TO OPEN THAT UP.

A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO THE DIRECTION OF THE PRINCIPALS AND SEEING THE VALUE IN THAT.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. I'M NOT SURPRISED AT MR. VEGA, HE'S AMAZING, BUT I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AGAIN, I'M ALL ABOUT STARTING THE YOUNGER, THE BETTER, THE QUICKER, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY SUPER.

AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT NOW ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A BALLET FOLKLORICO.

>> WE'VE PULLED THAT OFF THE GROUND AND WE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH BERGNER AND THEY'RE LIKE, LET'S DO THIS.

LET'S FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

WE DEVELOPED A PLAN TWO WEEKS AGO.

I WANTED MS. BRANHAM TO TELL YOU, BUT I GUESS I GOT TO TELL YOU INSTEAD.

I WANT HER TO TAKE THE CREDIT AND GET ALL THE EXCITEMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND AND THEY WILL START IN THE FALL AND WE'RE LOOKING, IS THAT A CLUB? IS THAT A CLASS? IT'S LEANING TOWARDS A CLASS RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'VE GOT AN INSTRUCTOR AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED LOOKING AT, WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS GOING TO BE? HOW DO WE SUPPORT THAT?

>> AWESOME. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MS. BRANHAM.

THANK YOU, MR. BRADFORD AND ALL BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE PAST THAT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT STARTS TO SET FIRE BECAUSE WE SAY, WHY DO WE ONLY HAVE THESE THREE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE? I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHYS BEHIND IT, BUT IT'S SO GREAT WHEN THERE IS A NEED, AND THERE'S A VOICE THAT'S OUT THERE AND THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERYTHING, I KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES CONSTANTLY AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THAT'S REALLY EXCITING NEWS.

I'M JUST SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

I KNOW I CAN'T WAIT TILL IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ALL THE JUNIOR HIGHS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND WE CONTINUE THIS EXCELLENCE IN THE FINE ARTS. THANK YOU.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MR. BRADFORD AND TEAM.

APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION.

MS. SLOVAK, JUST SO YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT OUT OF QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

DON'T THINK YOU'RE GETTING OFF EASY AT THE END OF YEARS.

WE DIDN'T EXHAUST THEM ALL ON MR. BRADFORD, IS IT A GOOD TIME TO PIVOT?

>> GOT THEM STAND FOR WHATEVER.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> THIS ONE FIRST. FIRST OF ALL, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE BOARD AND TO SUPERINTENDENT BRANHAM.

ANYTIME THAT JEFF AND I CAN COME TALK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, WE TALK ABOUT THIS IS A GREAT NIGHT.

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT THING TO BE ABLE TO DO AND JUST THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO FIRST INTRODUCE OUR TEAM, AND IT IS TRULY A TEAM.

KEVIN PITTS, OUR ASSISTANT AD, JUST INCREDIBLE LEADER, DOES A GREAT JOB OF JUST ADDING SO MUCH VALUE, SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS AND COACHES.

THEN LINDSAY LEDFORD, OUR OTHER ASSISTANT AD, WHO'S NEWLY IN THIS ROLE, ALSO DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND PE.

YOU-ALL, SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, AND SHE IS A ROCK STAR.

TRUE LEADER, AND SHE IS ALREADY JUST BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS AND MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO IN CENTRAL ATHLETICS OR IN

[01:15:03]

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR THE WAY YOU DO IT.

I DO WANT TO START WITH A VIDEO.

AGAIN, DR. HELLER, HER DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY MARSON, PUT TOGETHER THIS VIDEO, AND YOU'LL JUST SEE SOME OF OUR KIDS COMPETING AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS REAL QUICK.

I PROBABLY HIT PLAY. THANK YOU.

[MUSIC] THAT IS THE FAVORITE PART OF OUR JOB FOR KEVIN, FOR LINDSAY.

WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. WE GOT TO DO IT THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS MORNING, KEVIN WAS AT REGIONAL GOLF.

THEN THIS AFTERNOON, I GOT TO GO TO REGIONAL GOLF.

I GOT TO SEE PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL JUST OVERACHIEVE.

SOME OF THE BOYS THEY PLAYED BETTER THAN THEY'VE PLAYED ALL YEAR.

SOME KIDS THAT YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING TO SHOOT A CERTAIN SCORE.

THEY WON REGIONALS.

SIX A HIGHEST LEVEL, HEADED TO STATE 1 REGIONALS.

THEY'RE NOT ON THAT VIDEO OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT THEY WANTED AT 3:30 AND I HAD TO GET HERE.

ANYWAY, BUT THANK YOU TO MARSON, AND I THOUGHT HE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

BEFORE I GO TO MY NEXT SLIDE, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST THE BOND IMPACT.

YOU NOTICED ON THERE, THE MAX, YOU NOTICED UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, THE WEIGHT ROOM THAT'S INSIDE THE MAC.

WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE.

THESE ARE GAME CHANGERS.

THANK YOU TO TAB, WHO YEARS AGO, WHEN I CAME TO HER WITH A LIST OF THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE AT THE SIX A LEVEL SO THAT OUR KIDS ARE ENGAGED, THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR PROGRAMS, AND SHE REMEMBERS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, WE NEED A STRENGTHENED CONDITIONING COACH, FULL TIME NATIONALLY CERTIFIED.

WE HAVE FOUR. INCREDIBLE. IT'S BEEN A GAME CHANGER, NOT ONLY FOR OUR MALE ATHLETES, BUT OUR FEMALE ATHLETES, THE FEEDBACK THAT I GET, WE'RE SAFER, WE'RE STRONGER, WE'RE FASTER.

IT'S JUST BEEN A GAME CHANGER.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, BUT THROUGH THAT COMMITMENT OF EXCELLENCE AND OUR KIDS BEING PROUD, AND A STRENGTHEN AND CONDITIONING COACH WHO JUST POURS INTO OUR KIDS, IT'S ONE MORE ADULT THAT THEY CAN CONNECT WITH.

THAT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WANT TO GO TO OUR VISION.

I TRULY BELIEVE IN THIS.

I KNOW KEVIN AND LINDSAY AND I, WE LIVE THIS, WE BREATHE THIS.

A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT STAND OUT TO ME IS WE'RE COMMITTED AND JUST WANTING TO CULTIVATE WELL ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS.

YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW MANY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS WE WANT TO WIN.

I'M THE MOST COMPETITIVE PERSON I THINK IN THE WORLD AT EVERYTHING.

I WANT TO WIN AT EVERYTHING, BUT WE ARE WINNING IN ATHLETICS WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CULTURE.

YOU'RE WINNING IN ATHLETICS WHEN YOU BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL LAST FOREVER WITH THAT COACH.

A COACH CAN CHANGE A KID'S LIFE.

OUR VISION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO AFTER ATHLETICS? BECAUSE MOST KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO GO PLAY SPORTS FOREVER.

IT ENDS AT SOME POINT.

WHAT CAN THEY FALL BACK ON AND HOPEFULLY IT'S THOSE EXPERIENCES.

HOPEFULLY IT'S THOSE LIFE LESSONS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF.

THEN THE WORD STUDENT ATHLETE, I MEAN THIS AND I MEAN THIS WITH MY WHOLE HEART.

YOU ARE A STUDENT FIRST.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THE GRADES, ACADEMICS ARE FIRST, ATHLETICS ARE SECOND.

SAME THING WHEN WE HIRE COACHES.

OUR COACHES ARE FULL TIME TEACHERS.

THEY NEED TO BE GREAT IN THE CLASSROOM.

IF THEY'RE NOT GREAT IN THE CLASSROOM, THEN KEVIN, LINDSAY, MYSELF, WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THAT PRINCIPAL AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD AND YOU NEED TO BE GREAT IN ATHLETICS.

[01:20:03]

ATHLETICS STARTS IN SEVENTH GRADE.

WE DO HAVE PRE-ATHLETICS IN TWO OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THAT'S PHENOMENAL. INCREDIBLE, JUST A NEW, LEVEL OF THE FOUNDATION, BUT AS FAR AS COMPETING, WE'RE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE UIL AND IT JUST SHOWS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER.

REALLY PROUD THAT OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADD A FEW MORE THINGS LIKE B TEAM BASKETBALL.

MORE KIDS MAKE OUR TEAMS NOW IN JUNIOR HIGH.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE B TEAM, BASKETBALL PLAYERS THAT ARE NOW MAKING HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE DO NOT CUT IN FOOTBALL, WE DO NOT CUT IN TRACK OR CROSS COUNTRY AT ANY LEVEL.

IF THEY WANT TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE AND THEY SHOW UP AND THEY WORK HARD, WE'RE GOING TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM.

THEN AS YOU KNOW, IN SOME OF OUR SPORTS, WE DO HAVE TO CUT, BUT THE FACT THAT WE OFFER, FOR EXAMPLE, FIVE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, WE'RE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES, B TEAMS IN SEVENTH GRADE FOOTBALL.

I DO THINK THAT WE PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO TRY TO FIND WHAT CAN THEY EXCEL AT, WHAT CAN THEY BE A PART OF.

THEN HERE ARE OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.

THIS IS COMPARED IF IT'S GREEN, IT MEANS WE INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR.

YOU SEE A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE IT'S NOT GREEN.

IT WAS LESS THAN 10 KIDS.

OUR NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND THAT'S 2,489 INVOLVED IN ATHLETICS AT OUR JUNIOR HIGH MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THEN FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, WE SAW AN INCREASE FROM LAST SCHOOL YEAR TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR AT ALL FOUR CAMPUSES, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER 5,000 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS DISTRICT WIDE.

MY FAVORITE SLIDE, I TOLD TAB THIS EARLIER AND I KNOW JEFF ALLUDED TO IT.

IT REALLY IS. IT'S MY FAVORITE SLIDE BECAUSE WHAT WE DO MATTERS AND IT'S AN IMPACT.

STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN ATHLETICS, 87.6% GPA, STUDENT ATHLETES 90.2, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE ATTENDANCE RATE.

STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN ATHLETICS, 90.4, STUDENT ATHLETES, 93.8.

>> I HAVE A CURRENT STUDENT THAT'S AN ATHLETE AND THEN I HAVE ONE THAT'S GRADUATED, AND I KNOW IT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEM.

THEY NEED THAT MOTIVATION. THEY NEED IT.

THAT'S WHY I'M A HUGE FAN OF NO PASS NO PLAY.

YOUR GRADES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT SCHOOL, AND YOU NEED TO BE ENGAGED NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM BUT EITHER IN FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE KIDS BE CONNECTED TO SOMETHING.

I LOVE THAT SLIDE.

THIS IS A SLIDE THAT I REALLY WANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

THE UIL SETS DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS BASED ON ENROLLMENT.

WE'RE IN THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION 6A.

THAT'S OUR ENROLLMENT THAT WE TURNED IN IN THE LAST REALIGNMENT.

WHEN THE UIL REALIGNS EVERY TWO YEARS, THEY PUT YOU IN A DISTRICT.

CURRENTLY, WE'RE IN A DISTRICT WITH THE IRVING SCHOOLS AND JESUIT.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE TO GO IN THE PLAYOFFS AND PLAY SOMEONE, THESE ARE OUR OPPONENTS, AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THEIR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS? WE'RE MATCHING UP WITH ALLEN, LOOK AT THAT NUMBER.

YOU'RE MATCHING UP WITH CAPEL, LOUISVILLE, AND WE'RE WINNING A LOT OF THESE GAMES.

WE'RE GOING TWO AND THREE ROUNDS DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS, AND WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER SCHOOLS WITH A REALLY, REALLY HIGH ENROLLMENT BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION.

I THINK THAT'S KUDOS, SHOUT-OUT TO OUR COACHES WHO ARE REALLY GETTING THE MOST OUT OF OUR KIDS.

CELEBRATIONS BOARD, I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M LEAVING A FOLDER WITH LOTS OF CELEBRATIONS.

THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN BY EACH HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY WE HAVE TIME TO GO OVER ALL THESE.

BUT I WANT TO PICK OUT MAYBE ONE OR TWO BULLETS ON EACH ONE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CULTURE, BRAND NEW VOLLEYBALL COACH AT BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE HAS CHANGED THE CULTURE.

THE NUMBERS ARE UP, THE KIDS ARE HAVING FUN.

THEY'RE CONNECTED. THEY ARE WINNING.

THEY'RE WINNING ON THE COURT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO WINNING OFF THE COURT.

FIRST UIL 6A STATE PLAYOFF APPEARANCE SINCE 2017, SO SUPER PROUD OF HER.

ANOTHER ONE IS JUST, LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS FROM A STANDPOINT OF GIRLS BASKETBALL, BOYS BASKETBALL MAKING THE PLAYOFFS, SOCCER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BOYS' SOCCER HAD A COMPLETE TURNAROUND.

I THINK IT'S THE CULTURE AGAIN, NOT A NEW COACH, BUT ALMOST LIKE A RESET IN CULTURE, AND THEY'RE ONCE AGAIN WINNING BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT.

ALSO, VERY PROUD OF OUR POWER LIFTING, THAT WE CONSIDER POWER LIFTING AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY.

IT'S NOT AN ACTUAL UIL SPORT.

BUT IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT THEY CAN DO WITHIN OFF SEASON.

THEY HAD TWO REGIONAL QUALIFIERS, AND SUPER PROUD, WE HAD A STATE QUALIFIER IN WRESTLING.

THAT WAS EXCITING. THEN FOR LAKE HIGHLANDS, WE HAD ANOTHER UNDEFEATED DISTRICT FOOTBALL, BY DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, A SHOUT OUT TO COACH PASCUZZI, TO BE NAMED DAVE CAMPBELL,

[01:25:01]

IN TEXAS, IT'S JUST AT THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION TO WIN THAT AWARD IS VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.

ANOTHER GREAT YEAR IN VOLLEYBALL, THEY WERE DISTRICT AND BY DISTRICT CHAMPIONS AND A LOT OF GREAT INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AS WELL.

FOR CHRISTIAN ROADS TO BE NAMED AS A TOP 10 RUNNING BACK BY DAVE CAMPBELL, INCREDIBLE YOUNG MAN AND ATHLETE.

GO TO LAKE HIGHLANDS AGAIN, CROSS COUNTRY, 28 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT RUNNERS.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER.

THEN TO HAVE A DIVER THAT GOES THREE TIMES TO STATE.

I WISH I HAD A VIDEO OF HER DIVING.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT, BUT SHE IS SUPER TALENTED.

THEN GIRLS' GOLF HAD A GREAT YEAR, QUALIFIED FOR REGIONALS, AND THEN WRESTLING, SHOUT OUT TO OUR WRESTLERS AGAIN.

THEY SEND WRESTLERS TO STATE EVERY YEAR, SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO ATHLETES WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO PLAY GOLF IN COLLEGE.

WE HAVE SOCCER THAT NOW THEIR DISTRICT AND BI-DISTRICT CHAMPIONS.

YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE A PATTERN, LOT OF DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, LOT OF BI-DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, SO REALLY PROUD OF THEM.

THEN WE'LL GO TO PEARCE, A GREAT YEAR IN VOLLEYBALL.

MISS KENDALL TIMME WITH 1,000 CAREER KILLS AND THE MVP.

INCREDIBLE PLAYER GOING ON TO PLAY IN COLLEGE, BUT JUST THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE HAVE A KID NAMED MVP.

AGAIN, AT THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION FOR THEIR DISTRICT, COACH NANCE COACH OF THE YEAR, WAS GREAT.

CROSS COUNTRY IS INCREDIBLE SHOUT OUT TO COACH LEDFORD.

PEARCE MAY NOT FORGIVE US FOR STEALING HER AND PUTTING HER IN CENTRAL ATHLETICS.

BUT SHE WAS OUR CROSS COUNTRY COACH AND 73 ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT ATHLETES, AND BOYS AND GIRLS QUALIFIED FOR REGIONALS, DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, JUST WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND COACH THAT SHE WAS FOR THAT PROGRAM AND NOW CONTINUES TO BE IN OUR OFFICE.

ANOTHER GREAT YEAR FOR FOOTBALL FOR PEARCE.

ALL FOUR FOOTBALL TEAMS JUST HAD AN INCREDIBLE YEAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY TEAM TALENT, BUT INDIVIDUAL TALENT AND THE AWARDS.

I DO WANT TO GO BACK REAL QUICK BECAUSE THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE, DID I MISS IT?

>> SORRY.

>> ANDREW CASAGRANDE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL SAW THIS, IT WENT VIRAL, HIS RECORD. THANK YOU.

HIS RECORD OF RUNNING AT 10.08, AND THAT RECORD WAS SET IN 1989.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE, JUST AMAZING.

THEN PEARCE CHEER, 20 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT ATHLETES FOR CHEER, AND THEY FINISHED FIRST AT THEIR NCA COMPETITION.

I WANT TO GO ON TO RICHARDSON.

WHAT A GREAT YEAR IN FOOTBALL FOR THEM.

I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CULTURE SHIFT THERE, DOING A GREAT JOB, OTHER GREAT YEAR OF GOING TWO ROUNDS DEEP AT THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION.

THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TALENTED PLAYER THAT WAS MVP AND DAMIEN CROW, AND HE'S JUST FUN TO WATCH.

ALSO, VOLLEYBALL QUALIFIED FOR THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN, GIRLS BASKETBALL AGAIN, DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, BI-DISTRICT CHAMPIONS.

HAD A GREAT YEAR IN SWIMMING AND DIVING, 21 REGIONAL QUALIFIERS FOR RICHARDSON.

ALSO, RICHARDSON AND LAKE HIGHLANDS HAVE BOTH HAVE A YOUNG LADY THAT'S BEEN NAMED TO THE US YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM FOR SOCCER, SO THAT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

THEN SHOUT OUT TO RICHARDSON CHEER FOR 22 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT ATHLETES.

JUST REALLY PROUD, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS FOR OUR KIDS, BUT IT GOES BACK TO CULTURE, IT GOES BACK TO COACHES MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND THEN HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS, NOT ONLY IN ATHLETICS, BUT ALSO, JUST YOU SAW THE ACADEMIC NUMBERS TOO.

I WANT TO THANK DR. GIBBINS AND TAB FOR CHALLENGING US TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIP? WE'RE ON TRACK RIGHT NOW TO MEET A GOAL.

BY THE END OF 24/ 25, OUR SENIOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONOREES WILL INCREASE BY 15%.

REALIZE WE'RE STILL NOT REALLY FINISHED WITH GOLF, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL TRACK.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE BEFORE WE KNOW FOR SURE, BUT WE'RE ON TRACK TO MEET THAT, AND YOU HAVE TO BE A SENIOR, AND THAT'S 92 OR HIGHER.

IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

WE'RE ALSO ON TRACK TO MEET THIS GOAL.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT, I LOVE THIS ONE THAT EACH VARSITY TEAM WILL HOST AT LEAST ONE SPECIAL NIGHT DEDICATED TO OUR YOUNG STUDENTS AND MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL AND MAKE THE NIGHT ABOUT THEM, AND OUR COACHES AND PROGRAMS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

WE ALSO CHALLENGE THEM THAT EACH VARSITY TEAM WILL MAKE AT LEAST ONE VISIT TO OPEN CAR DOORS, READ TO STUDENTS, AND VOLUNTEER, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE DOING A LOT MORE THAN ONE.

YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE'RE ON TRACK TO MEET THIS GOAL, WHICH IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORES WILL INCREASE BY 10%, AND I REALLY THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEET THAT AS WELL.

SHORT-TERM GOALS. FOR ME,

[01:30:03]

BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS WRAPPING UP A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR, BUT WE'RE ALL FOCUSED.

ALL THE LEADERS IN HERE, WE'RE GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEAR.

HOW DO WE SET UP OUR KIDS FOR SUCCESS FOR NEXT YEAR? CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LEADWELL.

THANK YOU, TABITHA FOR YOUR VISION.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR GROUP CALLED SALT.

IT'S OUR STUDENT ATHLETE LEADERSHIP TEAM, BUT IT'S ONLY FOUR KIDS FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S ONLY ATHLETES.

TABS VISION WAS SO MUCH BETTER AND SO MUCH BIGGER, AND IT WAS LET'S BRING SO MANY MORE KIDS TO THE TABLE AND IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CENTRAL ATHLETICS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LEADWELL.

EMPHASIS ON SPORTSMANSHIP THROUGH THE TEXAS WAY.

THE TEXAS WAY IS AN INITIATIVE BY THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION, ADS ASSOCIATION, AND THE UIL.

IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TO TEACH SPORTSMANSHIP, THAT'S GOT TO BE THE FOCUS.

YOU CANNOT WIN AND NOT SHAKE HANDS OR DISRESPECT THE OFFICIAL OR NOT RESPECT YOUR OPPONENT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOSING EVERY TIME.

WE STRESS THIS ALL THE TIME.

I'M EXCITED THAT THIS GROUP, THE TEXAS WAY, THEY ARE GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON MAKING A PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY TAILORED FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS HIGH SCHOOL, WE'VE GOT TO START AT SEVENTH GRADE. WE HAVE TO.

WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO STRESS SPORTSMANSHIP, AND WHEN WE SEE IT CONGRATULATE.

I SAW IT TODAY ON THE GOLF COURSE.

IT WAS SO NEAT TO SEE JUST THAT EXPRESSION OF, I JUST LOST, BUT I'M GOING TO SHAKE YOUR HAND AND GREAT JOB.

THAT WAS A KID THAT'S NOT GOING TO STATE SHAKING ONE OF OUR KIDS' HANDS.

I WENT UP AND SAID SOMETHING TO HIM.

I SAID, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE SALT KIDS TO PROMOTE A SPORTSMANSHIP VIDEO BECAUSE TEXAS WAY WILL PROVIDE A VIDEO, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE POWERFUL IF IT'S OUR KIDS.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE OUR ATHLETES ON THE VIDEO SHOWING THAT TO OUR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS.

THAT WOULD BE A GOAL GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.

THEN CONTINUED SUPPORT AND EVALUATION OF PRE ATHLETICS.

THIS IS WHERE LINDSAY COMES IN.

BECAUSE OF HER DUAL ROLE AS ASSISTANT AD PLUS, SHE'S OVER HEALTH AND PE.

SHE'S REALLY FOCUSED, AND SHE'S SEEING WHAT'S WORKING IN PRE-ATHLETICS.

THE NUMBERS ARE GREAT.

KIDS ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME.

THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY TO WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE AT THE OTHER SIX SCHOOLS.

THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER, WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN IMPLEMENT RIGHT NOW.

THEN, LONG-TERM GOALS.

WE WANT TO ENHANCE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE JUNIOR, HIGH, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WHEN THEY GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY NEED TO ALREADY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE COACH, THE PHILOSOPHY, THE EXPECTATION, THEY NEED TO FILL A PART.

WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS FOCUS ON THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING SESSIONS.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH COORDINATORS.

WE HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE THERE BECAUSE, REMEMBER THEY'RE TEACHERS, AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE PULLING THEM OUT OF THE ACADEMIC SETTING ALL THE TIME TO FOCUS ON ATHLETICS.

WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE, AND WE WILL FIND THAT BALANCE.

LINDSAY ALREADY SCHEDULED, WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED ONE, WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY TO STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER AFTER A PD DAY BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THEM TEACH PE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO.

NOT ONLY DID THEY FOCUS ON HEALTH AND PE, BUT AT THE END, THEY GOT TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THEIR COORDINATOR DUTIES.

LIKE TAB SAID, WE EXPECT PEOPLE GO BE A LEADER. GO BE A LEADER.

HOW DO I DO THAT? HOW DO WE PROVIDE THEM SOME GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN STRETCH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BETTER LEADERS? WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MORE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.

WITH MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, I GET AN INSIDE VIEW OF TO PLAN THESE THINGS, AND WE DID ONE IN KATIE AND ONE IN MCKINNEY.

WE HAD OVER 100 MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH COORDINATORS THAT THEY'D SPENT A DAY TOGETHER, AND WE JUST POURED INTO THEM.

THE UIL CAME AND TALKED TO THEM.

THEY WERE IN ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

THE FEEDBACK WAS PHENOMENAL.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TEXT, EMAILS AND JUST THANK YOU IN PERSON FROM OUR COORDINATORS THAT I GOT.

THEY FELT SEEN, THEY FELT VALUED BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO MATTERS.

THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT SOMETIMES I THINK THEY THINK, WELL, I'M JUST A MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS JUST A MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH.

THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M EXCITED THAT THE ASSOCIATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE SAFETY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES AT ATHLETIC EVENTS.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM.

BUT I WANT TO BE HONEST, I THINK WE HAVE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN FRISCO AND WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD, WE NEED TO TAKE EACH INDIVIDUAL SPORT.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAYBE AN INDOOR VOLLEYBALL GAME AND A TRACK MEET.

[01:35:07]

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO? ADS ARE ALREADY DOING IT.

WE ARE ALREADY SEEING A DIFFERENCE AT AREA REGIONAL STATE.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY.

>> COACH, IF I CAN JUST ADD IN HERE TOO THAT IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR COACHES IN REMINDING BOTH OUR PARENTS AS WELL AS OUR PLAYERS THAT IN THE END, PARTICIPATING IN THIS EXTRACURRICULAR IS A PRIVILEGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A RIGHT.

>> CORRECT.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DISPLAY THAT SPORTSMANSHIP, IF YOU ARE GOING TO ALLOW YOUR EMOTIONS TO GET THE BETTER OF YOU AND ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT DO NOT REPRESENT, THE RICHARDSON ISD, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WHICH YOU HAVE A NAME ON THAT JERSEY, THEN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.

REALLY DOUBLING DOWN, MAKING SURE OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE AWARE OF THAT, BUT THEN ALSO THEN HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

>> CORRECT. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

THAT'S WHY BEFORE EVERY SEASON, I WRITE A SPORTSMANSHIP LETTER, AND WE ATTACH THE TEXAS WAY VIDEO, AND WE TALK ABOUT EXPECTATIONS, AND IT'S IN THERE.

NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE READ IT? THAT'S THE THING IS YOU SEND IT OUT, YOU HOPE THEY READ IT, BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO TELL THEM IN A PARENT MEETING, AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO SAY WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S A KID WHO IS SHOWING POOR SPORTSMANSHIP OR IT'S A FAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HARD CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND SEE THEIR CHILD COMPETE.

WE WANT THE KID TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE UNIFORM ON AND COMPETE, BUT THERE IS A STANDARD, AND WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THAT.

THEN IF THEY DON'T MEET THE STANDARD, THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES.

YES. WE'RE GOING TO BETTER PREPARE SIX GRADERS FOR SEVENTH-GRADE ATHLETICS.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW MINUTES AGO.

THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M REALLY BIG ON THE EQUITY PIECE.

NOT ALL OF OUR KIDS CAN AFFORD PRIVATE LESSONS IN CLUB AND SELECT SPORTS.

WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE BEST FOUNDATION POSSIBLE TO GO INTO THAT VOLLEYBALL TRYOUT TO GET READY FOR THAT FIRST FOOTBALL PRACTICE, THAT CROSS COUNTRY MEET. HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE NEED TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR SIXTH GRADERS? WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE SIXTH GRADERS ARE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT TWO PRE-ATHLETIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL. CURRICULUM IS GREAT.

WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, LINDSAY'S DONE A GREAT JOB.

IT'S WORKING. WE'RE GETTING GREAT FEEDBACK.

LINDSAY IS GOING TO DO, SHE'S ALREADY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PE TEACHERS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON BOARD. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE PE CURRICULUM, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO GIVE THEM MORE CONFIDENCE? WHETHER IT IS, WE'RE GOING TO TEACH YOU HOW TOSS THAT VOLLEYBALL AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW OR YOU STEP IN WITH THE CORRECT FOOT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO INTO THAT SEVENTH GRADE TRYOUT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD A LOT MORE EXPERIENCES AND A LOT MORE REPS AND WE WANT TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

EVERY KID DESERVES A CHANCE, WE WANT THEM TO COME IN WITH MORE CONFIDENCE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE OVERALL NUMBER OF ATHLETES NAMED ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT AND ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO STAY IN THE DIP, IT NEEDS TO BE A FOCUS BECAUSE THEY'RE A STUDENT FIRST.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WE DO THIS ALREADY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE CURRENT TUTORIAL OFFERINGS, WHERE CAN WE PROVIDE SUPPORT? WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS WHEN WE DO HAVE MEETINGS, COACHES SHARE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.

WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOU? DID YOU CHANGE YOUR TUTORIAL PROGRAM? IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE SOME OF OUR KIDS REALLY NEED TO BE CHALLENGED? THEY'LL STEP UP WHEN IT'S ON THE COURT OR THE SWIMMING POOL, OR THE TRACK.

BUT WHEN YOU CHALLENGE THEM ACADEMICALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO COAST A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE CHALLENGING OUR COACHES TO BE REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CHALLENGE THEM TO BRING THEIR GRADES UP, AND THEN CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.

KIDS LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK WE NEED TO PROMOTE OUR KIDS ANYTIME THEY GET AN AWARD, ANYTIME THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS WHERE THEY'RE ON AN HONOR ROLL OR ANYTHING FOCUSED ON ACADEMICS, WE NEED TO PROMOTE THAT JUST LIKE WE DO IF THEY'RE A REGIONAL QUALIFIER.

WE NEED TO REGULARLY COMMUNICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS TO COACHES, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

THAT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE DO ALL THE TIME, PARENT MEETINGS, BOOSTER CLUB MEETINGS.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THEY'RE A STUDENT FIRST.

>> THAT CONCLUDES MY PART, I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT JEFF TOUCHED ON THAT I THINK IS REALLY SPECIAL.

YOU DON'T SEE THIS IN A LOT OF DISTRICTS.

IT'S NOT ATHLETICS VERSUS FINE ARTS, IT'S ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS.

THERE IS SO MUCH RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER, THAT IT'S SO SPECIAL.

THERE'S NOT ANY PLACE ELSE LIKE IT IN MY OPINION.

WHEN WE DO HAVE CONFLICTS WITH SCHEDULES OR WE HAVE AN ISSUE, WE WORK THROUGH IT BECAUSE WE PUT THE TIME IN AND THERE'S A MUTUAL RESPECT AND THE RELATIONSHIP IS THERE.

I'M JUST REALLY PROUD AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD THAT YOU'VE GOT TWO PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THAT RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER, AND WE ROOT FOR EACH OTHER, WE CHEER FOR EACH OTHER, AND IT'S NOT ONE AGAINST THE OTHER. THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE WE TAKE COMMENTS, AND AGAIN,

[01:40:01]

I THINK IT'S RARE WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HOLD A LEADER AND SHOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MODEL SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN LESLIE WAS HIRED AND I HAD A BLESSING TO BE ABLE EARLY IN MY TIME IN RICHARDSON ISD TO CHOOSE LESLIE, TO CHOOSE BRADFORD.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE NOT MANY FEMALE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ACROSS THE STATE.

IF YOU LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM, YOU WOULD SEE THAT IT WAS DOMINATED BY MALE COACHES AND FORMER MALE COACHES.

NOT ONLY HAS LESLIE TAKEN THE ROLE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE OUR ATHLETICS PROGRAM TO THAT NEXT LEVEL, BUT SHE HAS REPRESENTED RSD AT EVERY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP.

SHE HAS SHINED A LIGHT SO BRIGHTLY ON WHAT IT MEANS TO REPRESENT THE FIELD OF ATHLETICS AND AS A FEMALE, JUST TO DO IT BRILLIANTLY IN A WAY THAT MAKES EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, WE SHOULD FEEL SO SO PROUD.

THE THING THAT FOR ME AND EVEN ABOVE ALL OF HER TYPE, SHE'S WON EVERY AWARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MILLENNIAL, SHE'S WON ALL OF THAT.

BUT WHAT REALLY, FOR ME, IF I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT IS SPECIAL, IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT HER COMMITMENT TO SHOWING UP FOR HER COACHES AND BEING THERE AT A PRACTICE OR BEING THERE AT THE SEVENTH GRADE SATURDAY JUNIOR HIGH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

KEVIN PITTS, SAME THING.

THEIR COMMITMENT TO THAT VISIBILITY AND MAKING SURE TO YOUR POINT THAT THEY KNOW THAT SEVENTH GRADE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT MATTERED, AND YOU WERE THERE ON A SATURDAY.

YOU, IN THE JOURNEY OF YOUR CAREER, HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO OTHER KIDS AND HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH.

MANY GAMES YOU MISSED FOR ANNICA, MANY GAMES, NOT ANYMORE, BUT MANY GAMES YOU MISS FOR GADE, BECAUSE YOU LOVE OUR KIDS AS MUCH AS YOUR OWN.

IT JUST SPEAKS SO MUCH TO YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR INTEGRITY, AND YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND BIG SHOES TO FILL, AND YOU HAVE FOREVER IMPACTED I KNOW ME AND I KNOW OUR TEAM FOR GOOD, AND WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL FOR YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE LESLIE SLOVAK.

[APPLAUSE] I'M TRYING TO GET ALL MY TEARS OUT NOW BEFORE HER RETIREMENT CELEBRATION.

NOW HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, BOARD, YOU GOT TO FOLLOW THAT, SO GOOD LUCK.

I'LL OPEN UP, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ATHLETICS.

YES, MISS PACHECA.

>> I'LL GO FIRST BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T FOLLOW THAT, BUT YES, MS. SLOVAK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION.

I'VE SEEN YOU OVER ALL THE YEARS THAT MY KIDS WERE AT SCHOOL HERE IN RICHARDSON.

I SAW YOU A LOT. YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE FACES AND I'M LIKE, I KNOW WHO SHE IS.

WOW, SHE'S HERE AGAIN.

SHE'S HERE FOR THIS THING, TOO, LIKE THAT.

I DO APPRECIATE IT.

I APPRECIATE THE VISION, THE SCALABILITY OF HOW YOU'VE DONE DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING, THE MISSION TO REDUCE THAT GAP, AND ENSURE THAT MORE STUDENTS ENTER THESE ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TRY IT OUT.

THEY WANT TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOOD AT IT OR NOT OR JUST TRY TO HAVE FUN AND JOIN THEIR FRIENDS.

I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.

I LOVE THE FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THEY'RE STUDENTS.

LET'S EXCEL, LET'S BE GREAT AMAZING STUDENTS, AND THAT WILL CORRELATE INTO YOU BEING AN AMAZING ATHLETE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR LEADING THIS AMAZING TEAM, SHOWING THEM THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS MATTER, AND LIKE YOU SAY, YOU'RE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND YOU ALWAYS WANT TO WIN.

I WILL SAY, I THINK YOU'VE ALWAYS WON.

YOU'RE WINNING WITH THESE GREAT ATHLETES THAT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED THROUGH RICHARDSON.

YOU'RE WINNING BY IMPROVING PROGRAMS, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING MY OWN KIDS AND YOUR TEAM, AND I'M GOING TO MISS YOU. THANKS MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ANYONE ELSE? YES, MISS GIA.

>> I JUST WANT TO ALSO JUST TOUCH ON THE FACT THAT BOTH OF YOU TALKED ABOUT RELATIONSHIP.

LESLIE, YOU TALKED DEEPLY ABOUT THAT.

I CAN CONTEST TO THAT ALSO LIKE WHAT MS. PACHECO WAS SAYING ABOUT HER CHILDREN WITH MINE AS WELL TOO. MY SON PLAYED TENNIS.

BUT MY SON STARTED ALSO WITH PERCUSSION.

HE HAD A LOVE FOR BOTH OF THEM.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING WHEN THERE WAS NO CONFLICT IN THE SENSE OF HOW TO DO WHAT.

[01:45:03]

BUT ALSO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED AS WELL, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COACHES.

MY SON WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE TENNIS COACH THAT HE HAD.

MR. MIN KONG, AND HE WAS AT RICHARDSON.

I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH MANY SPORTS LIKE THE TENNIS, THE GOLF, MAYBE THE SWIMMING, THAT A LOT OF THESE COACHES, THEY'RE NOT FULL TIME COACHES AT THE CAMPUS.

THEY ARE PE COACHES AT ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY DO THE TRAVEL TO COME OVER HERE.

THEY HAVE THE COMMITMENT, TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT TEAM, ON THE KIDS, DO THE WEEKEND THINGS, DO ALL THE MATCHES AND SO IT'S WONDERFUL THAT EVEN TODAY AND MY SON GRADUATED IN 2020, WE STILL HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MIN KONG'S.

IF DIEGO WERE TO CALL HIM AND SAY, HEY, YOU WANT TO HIT SOME BALLS, HE WOULD BE LIKE, YEAH, LET'S GO DO IT.

I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ALL BECAUSE HE HAD A LOVE FOR TENNIS OR A CURIOSITY ABOUT IT FIRST AND THEN IT WAS DURING THAT WHOLE TIME, HIS FOUR YEARS AT RICHARDSON, THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REALLY BUILD THAT AND DO REALLY WELL.

AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT HE STILL CARRIES TODAY.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DID HAVE WAS ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR SPORTS THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT THE BIG LIKE FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND THE ONES THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

BUT HOW DO THOSE GET ESTABLISHED IN JUNIOR HIGH? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WITH MY SON, IT WAS AGAIN, LIKE ANOTHER TEACHER WHO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL AND HAD AN INTEREST IN THAT AND HAD A GROUP OF KIDS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHOW THEM.

MY SON WAS MORE PREPARED WHEN HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE HE HAD SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

HOW ARE THOSE, LIKE THE GOLF AND THE TENNIS, HOW ARE THOSE ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY STAGES BEFORE THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL?

>> RIGHT. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ESPECIALLY, IT'S REAL CHALLENGING IF THE SPORT IS NOT IN THE JUNIOR HIGHER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WE DON'T HAVE GOLF, WE DON'T HAVE BASEBALL, WE DON'T HAVE SOFTBALL, SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU TRY TO ENCOURAGE THOSE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES, YOU STILL NEED TO GO DOWN AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

THEY STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE YOUR CAMPS.

THEY DO HAVE CAMPS.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS WHERE OUR COACHES WILL GET THAT INFORMATION.

WE'VE EVEN BEEN ABLE TO SCHOLARSHIP KIDS.

IT'S AN EXPECTATION THAT WE HAVE, AND IF WE'RE NOT MEETING THAT, THEN WE DO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE JUNIOR HIGHS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COACH? HAVE THEY COME DOWN YET? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE EVERY SPORT THAT WE HAVE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN JUNIOR HIGH SO YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL.

I WILL SAY, YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL, BUT CLINICS, CAMPS, PROMOTING YOUR PROGRAM, AND TRYING TO GET KIDS CONNECTED.

I'LL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR LIBERTY JUNIOR HIGH COACHES.

THEY'VE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF TRYING TO GET SOME OF THEIR KIDS TO PLAY SVAA AND EVEN GET SCHOLARSHIPED AND WHICH IS GREAT.

SOMETIMES THE BARRIER IS THE TRANSPORTATION, UNFORTUNATELY, TO THE GAME THAT'S OFF CAMPUS ON A SATURDAY, BUT THEY'RE WORKING REALLY HARD.

I JUST APPROVED A FLYER WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DO A FREE VOLLEYBALL CLINIC.

WE'VE GOT THE COACHES WITH THEIR HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRIDGE THAT GAP? WE HAVE TO PROMOTE ALL SPORTS.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORT IS THE ONE YOUR KID PLAYS.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORT AND THEN I LOOK AT IT THROUGH THOSE LENS.

THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INTRODUCING KIDS AND GIVING THEM ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> IT'S AWESOME. WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LASTLY, WHAT I ALSO WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU, PERSONALLY, LESLIE, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN AN AMAZING LEADER.

WHAT I HAVE REALLY VALUED AND HAVE SEEN ABOUT YOU IS THE HEART THAT YOU HAVE FOR SPORTS AND FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE KIDS.

I THINK I GOT TO KNOW YOU BETTER WHEN WE'VE BEEN ON COMMITTEES, AND I KNOW WHAT STAYED WITH ME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I VALUE ABOUT YOU WAS YOUR PASSION FOR THE EQUITY OF THIS WHOLE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS RAISED ABOUT WHY ARE THESE KIDS NOT PLAYING OR WHY IS THIS DEMOGRAPHIC OF CHILDREN THAT WE SEE IN ELEMENTARY SO EXCITED, BUT WE DON'T SEE THEM PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU WERE VITAL IN GIVING US SO MUCH INFORMATION ON NOT ONLY WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE THAT BETTER, HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE? YOU WERE JUST AMAZING. WHEN I SAW JUST THE HEART THAT YOU HAVE FOR EQUITY IN ATHLETICS, IT WAS JUST LIKE, WOW, THIS IS AMAZING, AND I JUST GRAVITATED TO YOU AND I WAS SO APPRECIATIVE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT, AND HOW YOU JUST CONTINUE TO LEAVE THAT LEGACY HERE AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL AND I'M GOING TO MISS YOU AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MISS RENTERIA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES, MS. MCGOWAN.

>> MISS LESLIE. THIS ONE IS HARD.

[01:50:04]

I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST MET IN OUR DAUGHTER'S PLAY THE SAME YEAR.

THEY'RE THE SAME YEAR IN VOLLEYBALL AND YOU CHOSE MY DAUGHTER TO BE PART OF THE SALT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AS WELL, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME A SUPERHERO.

YOU TOUCHED ON THE EQUITY PIECE, AND SO MISS RENTERIA, JUST TOUCHED ON THAT A LITTLE BIT AND I THINK GROWING UP HERE, WATCHING THE PROGRAMMING AND BEING PART OF THE PROGRAMMING, AND THEN AFTER MY KIDS WENT THROUGH SCHOOL, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN INEQUITY BETWEEN THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS.

I ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH THAT BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE DRILL TEAM OR BEING A CHEERLEADER, IS A BIG DEAL.

YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT CAN'T, AND IT'S USUALLY A FINANCIAL PIECE OR THE EXPOSURE PART LIKE YOU SPOKE ABOUT.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS, HAVE WE EVER TRIED TO MAYBE PARTNER WITH SOME OF OUR CLUBS OR OUR VOLLEYBALL CLUBS? I USE VOLLEYBALL JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS MY KIDS SPORT, AND THEY START WHEN THEY'RE IN ELEMENTARY.

HAS THAT EVER BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT OR LOOKED AT DOING?

>> YES. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I KNOW SPECIFICALLY WE'VE HAD VOLLEYBALL COACHES THAT HAVE SHARED WITH ME THAT IF THEY HAVE A KID AND THE PARENT AND THEY WANT TO PUT IN THE TIME AND THE EFFORT, AND IT'S FINANCIAL IS THE BARRIER, I KNOW FOR A FACT, WE HAVE COACHES THAT REACH OUT TO THOSE CLUB DIRECTORS BECAUSE CLUBS WILL SCHOLARSHIP KIDS.

NOW, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRYOUT PROCESS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT'S COMPETITIVE, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN SCHOLARSHIPED.

I THINK SVAA PROBABLY DOES THE BEST JOB OF SCHOLARSHIPING A LOT OF OUR KIDS.

IT GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT, I THINK WHEN IT GETS TO THE CLUB LEVEL BECAUSE OUR COACHES WILL ASK. GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THERE'S A FORMER PIERCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER THAT COACHES FOR A CLUB AND I'M WATCHING A PARK HILL VOLLEYBALL GAME AND SHE'S LOOKING AT THIS KID AND SHE'S LIKE, SHE'S SO ATHLETIC, DOES SHE PLAY CLUB? I'M LIKE, I'M NOT SURE.

SHE'S LIKE, CAN I MEET THE COACH? I'M LIKE, SURE AND I INTRODUCE THEM AND THEY EXCHANGE EMAILS, AND THAT KID IS NOW PLAYING AT PREMIERE PLAYING CLUB VOLLEYBALL, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN OFFER FOR SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE COACH IS WILLING TO LISTEN AND THE CLUB COACH AND THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH OR THE JUNIOR HIGH COACH ARE COMMUNICATING.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT. IT IS HAPPENING.

I THINK IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES, SO YOU DON'T REALLY SEE IT A LOT OF TIMES, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.

>> THAT'S A GREAT STORY AND I BELIEVE THAT. I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS WORK, ESPECIALLY THAT PART OF THIS WORK.

I HOPE YOU STAY IN THIS FIGHT WITH US.

I HOPE THIS IS NOT A GOODBYE, BUT IT'S A SEE YOU LATER, AND YOU'LL STILL BE AROUND FOR EXPERT ADVICE.

WHAT ABOUT OUR DANCE PART? I KNOW THAT'S MORE OF THE FINE ART SIDE, BUT LIKE OUR DANCE SCHOOLS.

ANY PARTNERSHIPS THERE?

>> WE'LL GO TO BRADFORD ON THAT, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO ADDRESS TOO.

JUST SATURDAY, CASON IS PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL.

OF COURSE, OUR TEAM IS COACHED BY A WESTWOOD COACH.

HE'S PLAYING A RICHLAND TEAM OF WHICH WE FIND OUT THAT THAT RICHLAND TEAM IS BEING COACHED BY TWO TEACHERS.

TWO FEMALE TEACHERS ARE POURING INTO THIS GROUP OF 12 FOURTH GRADE BOYS AND GIVING THEM AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT ORGANIZED BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL.

AGAIN, OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES ARE RECOGNIZING AND BELIEVING AND CREATING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT A CERTAIN READ LOOKS LIKE, IT'S NOT WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING SEVENTH GRADE FOOTBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.

I WILL SAY THE SAME THING WITH CHEER, AND AS A FORMER CHEER MOM, THERE ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, CHEER ATHLETICS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT AS WE IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT HAVE THAT PROPENSITY, THAT THEY DO SCHOLARSHIP FOR COMPETITIVE CHEER PROGRAMS. THERE'S ALSO BRIDGE PROGRAMS WHERE MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON A COMPETITIVE CHEER TEAM BECAUSE IT IS ALL CONSUMING.

BUT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN CHEER.

THEY DO HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY SCHOLARSHIP OUR STUDENTS FOR THAT.

THEN DO YOU WANT TO HIT DANCE?

>> ACM IS REDEFINING WHAT THAT MAGNET LOOKS LIKE AND GOING TO BE A FINE ARTS MAGNET.

WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH TEXAS BALLET, THAT'S RIGHT OVER OFF COIT.

[01:55:01]

WELL, THEY'LL PUSH INTO OUR SCHOOLS AS AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TO HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP AND WORK WITH THEM AND THEN I ALSO SIT ON THE AT&T PERFORMING ART CENTER COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARD.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO PEOPLE WITH THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, WHAT WOULD Y'ALL DO OR WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND? WHEN WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME OF THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE COULD GO TO AND WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING BEING ABLE TO ENCOURAGE THAT AS WE GO.

>> THAT'S AWESOME. I LOVE IT, AND THAT'S ENOUGH SAID THERE.

I'LL JUST FINISH UP BY SAYING, YOU MENTIONED GRIT AND RESILIENCE, AND THAT'S WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT TODAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THESE ARE THE BUILDING AND STRUCTURE BLOCKS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS IN KIDS LIVES. JUST A QUICK STORY.

VERY POOR KID THAT WENT THROUGH ALL LAKE HOLLAND SCHOOL, GRADUATED FROM LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ALL STAR BLUE CHIP FOOTBALL PLAYER.

GOT A FULL RIDE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, CAME OUT.

IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND IS NOW HOSTING AND TRAINING KIDS IN LAKE HIGHLANDS FOOTBALL CAMPS.

SOME, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HAVE TO BE SCHOLARSHIPED BECAUSE HE COMES FROM THAT.

I SAY THAT AND SHARING THAT STORY BECAUSE THAT'S THE PRODUCT OF LAKE HIGHLANDS AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO CREATE HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES HERE THAT WE BREAK THE CYCLE.

WE BREAK THOSE CHAINS AND WE CREATE THOSE EXPERIENCES, SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MCGOWAN. LET'S GO, MS. TIMME, MISS RENTERIA, THEN MR. EAGER.

>> [LAUGHTER] MAN, THERE'S SO MANY. THERE WAS A FLURRY OF HANDS.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE'LL START WITH MS. TIMME.

>> I'M GOING TO START WITH THANK YOU, LESLIE FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR SPORTS AND RICHARDSON.

I'VE KNOWN YOU SINCE YOU WERE A BABY COACH.

I KNOW YOU'VE KNOWN MY PARENTS LONGER.

YOU STILL TAKE CARE OF MY DAD AND HE'S A HOT MESS, AND SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS IN THAT TOO, BUT ALSO TOO IN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE SUPER INTENTIONAL ABOUT HIRING COACHES, ESPECIALLY OUR ATHLETIC COORDINATORS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHO CHAMPIONED BOTH SPORTS AND APPRECIATE THE SPORTS OF THE WOMEN AND THE MEN, AND ALSO TO WORKING WITH THOSE TEAMS IN THE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR COACHES SHOW.

LISTEN, KIDS, SOMETIMES THAT'S GOING TO GET THE BEST OF THEM, THEIR EMOTIONS, BUT REALLY WORK WITH THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO CORRECT THAT.

THEY CAN'T BE PERFECT, BUT WE WANT THEM TO LEARN FROM THAT AND THAT THEY WILL POUR INTO THOSE KIDS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT TO USE YOUR WORD, IT'S INTENTIONAL, AND IT'S INTENTIONAL IN WHO YOU HIRE.

I CANNOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR THAT AS MY KIDS DID NOT HAVE ANY FINE ART GENES AND THERE WE HAVE A FEW ATHLETIC GENES, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHERE THEY HAVE FOUND A LOT OF THEIR PASSION AND SUCCESS.

I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.

ONE PROGRAM YOU DIDN'T MENTION THAT I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU MIGHT EXPAND ON A LITTLE BIT IN HOW WE INVOLVE KIDS.

THERE IS A CHEER PROGRAM THAT HAS PARTNERS IN THERE FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND ABOUT HOW WE PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY WITH THAT?

>> YES, IT'S THE PARTNERS PE PROGRAM.

I WILL SAY THIS WHEN I FIRST STARTED COACHING 30 YEARS AGO AT BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL, I TAUGHT THE PARTNERS PE CLASS AND IT WAS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY.

THAT PROGRAM TO ME IS JUST DEAR TO MY HEART.

THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE I THINK OUR KIDS GET MORE OUT OF BEING PARTNERED WITH A KID WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM, DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES OF THEM OR THE MENTAL CAPABILITIES, BUT WE HAVE INCREDIBLE TEACHERS.

I KNOW LINDSAY WILL BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CARRYING ON THAT BECAUSE KELLIE SELLERS HAD THAT HEART TOO THAT, THAT PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE GREAT KIDS WHO WANT TO BE IN THAT PROGRAM.

AS A FORMER TEACHER OF THAT PROGRAM, THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING THAN WATCHING THAT AND SOMETHING THAT WE DO THAT MIRRORS THAT IS OUR BRIGHT STAR TRACK MEET THAT'S COMING UP IN MAY.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE AND ANOTHER GREAT VISION BY OUR LEADER, MS. BRANHAM.

THEN I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, WHO'S DOING THE BULK OF THAT WORK IS KEVIN PITTS AND HIS HEART FOR KIDS.

IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK AND SO MANY PEOPLE HELPING BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THE BEST PART OF IT IS WHEN YOU SEE OUR KIDS HELPING ANOTHER KID, OR THEY'RE GOING TO RACE BESIDE THEM OR THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THEY WANT TO DO THAT EVENT AGAIN.

I FEEL LIKE THAT TRACK MEET IS A CARRYOVER OF WHAT THAT PARTNERS PE CLASS IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT ALL KIDS AND PROVIDING AN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL KIDS.

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT'S DEAR TO ME.

I KNOW LINDSAY AND I'VE TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT IT AS SHE'S NEW IN THIS ROLE, BUT I KNOW IT'LL BE A FOCUS FOR HER AS WELL TO CONTINUE JUST THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THAT PROGRAM.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY TOO, I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT

[02:00:02]

FOR OUR PARENTS, OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO MAY WANT TO DO THAT AND MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THEIR KIDS PERFORM LIKE MAYBE MY KID DOES.

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SEEKING OUT WAYS TO INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS FROM ALL LEVELS.

THAT IS A LEGACY PIECE I KNOW THAT YOU LEAVE AND SO I'M CERTAINLY SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THIS ROLE.

AND I HAVE LOVED WATCHING YOUR DAUGHTER PLAY.

ANIKA, PLAYED VOLLEYBALL.

IT WAS SOMEONE THAT KENDALL LOOKED UP TO AND SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.

THAT'S JUST A MINOR THING OF HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.

I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT TOO ABOUT HOW MUCH SPORTING EVENTS IN OUR FINE ARTS ARE COMMUNITY EVENTS. THEY BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU THINK ABOUT YOU'VE GOT YOUR ATHLETES ON THE FIELD, YOU HAVE YOUR BAND MEMBERS WHO ARE PLAYING, YOU HAVE YOUR CHEERLEADERS WHO ARE THERE, YOU HAVE SO MANY GROUPS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER.

AGAIN, AS COMMUNITY, WE GET TO WATCH THEM PERFORM.

YOU HAVE PAST FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR YEARS.

I'LL SAY MY DAD AGAIN, BEING ONE OF THEM, LOVES TO COME TO A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU'LL SEE HIM EVERYWHERE.

BUT HE LOVES TO COME TO [OVERLAPPING].

>> [INAUDIBLE] SHOWING.

>> MY GOSH. BUT HOW WE GET OUR SENIORS TO COME IN? THEY'RE SUPPORTING OUR KIDS, THEY'RE SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT AND WHILE I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS COST LOTS OF MONEY AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN SEE PLACES WHERE THEY WOULD GO, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S VALID.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WHO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR KIDS, OUR FAMILIES, THE EDUCATION.

I CAN SAY THAT MY KIDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO THAT, AS DREW WAS PLAYING IN SOME OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENTS, BUT REALLY EVEN JUST MOST RECENTLY WITH SOME OF HIS THINGS.

BUT WHEN HE WAS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND IT WAS COVID, AND IT WAS WEIRD AND IT WAS WHATEVER, AND THE SECOND YEAR THEY HAD TO CANCEL THE FIRST YEAR, BUT WE CAME BACK AND WE FOUND RIBBONS ALL OVER EVERYWHERE FOR DREW BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WAS SUPPORTING HIM, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY HERE IN RICHARDSON.

WHEN HE IS OFF AND NOT PLAYING, HE WANTS TO COME BACK HERE BECAUSE THIS IS HIS COMMUNITY.

HE GOES OUT AND HE SEES ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO'VE CHEERED HIM ON FOR AGES.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN KIDS' LIVES.

THE COACHES DO. I DO WANT TO SHOUT OUT A COUPLE OF COACHES.

YOU LOOK AT IN JUNIOR HIGH, COACH CRUZ AND COACH SMITH AT PARK HILL.

COACH SMITH IS A GREAT MATH TEACHER AND A GREAT COACH.

HE INVESTS IN THESE KIDS AND HE'S THE COOL GUY TEACHING MATH, AND HE IS.

COACH CRUZ WALKING AROUND WITH HIS TOOTHPICK IN HIS MOUTH.

BUT THAT HE KEY CONNECTS WITH SO MANY KIDS.

MY KIDS STILL STALK HIM WHEN THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THEY LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

COACH LAMBERT, WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AT PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT HE'S BROUGHT AROUND IS AMAZING.

HE DRIVES THAT BUS ALL THE TIME FOR OTHER SPORTS, NOT JUST HIS.

SUCH A GREAT HIRE. MARC JOHNSON, BASKETBALL COACH, STILL WORKS OUT MY KIDS WHEN THEY COME HOME.

THEY SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH THEM, NOT JUST IN SCHOOL, BUT AFTER AND NOT JUST WITH MY KID, BUT WITH KIDS WHO AREN'T IN SPORTS.

COACHES MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THESE PROGRAMS DO, WHETHER IT BE BRINGING THEM ALL TOGETHER UNDER ONE EVENT OR ALL OF THE EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR KIDS HAVE.

BUT ALSO TOO EVEN MORE THAN THAT, TEACHING OUR KIDS HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A GREAT BRAIN AND TO EXERCISE THAT, BUT THEY NEED TO EXERCISE AND MOVE THEIR BODY TOO.

HAVING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND WAYS TO LET OFF STEAM AND TO BE HEALTHY IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AS WELL.

I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AS A BOARD, I HOPE WE DO AND SEE HOW MUCH THE ENGAGEMENT OF THAT HELPS WITH ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS BECAUSE FINE ARTS, ELECTIVES, CLUBS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS MATTER TO OUR KIDS.

THANK YOU GUYS BOTH REALLY AND LESLIE IN THIS PARTICULAR PART FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> MS. TIMME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS THE COOLEST THING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S MATCHED EVERYWHERE, IS THE AMOUNT OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WE HAVE AT THOSE GAMES.

NOW, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REIN IT IN.

BUT THEY HAVE SPIRIT LEADERS THAT CREATE THE THEMES FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DRESS UP JUST TO GO TO THE GAME AFTER SCHOOL.

THAT AGAIN, THOSE ARE MEMORIES THAT JUST WILL STAY WITH THEM AND IT CREATES THAT EXPERIENCE THAT AGAIN MAKES THEM WANT TO STAY AND BE A PART OF RISD, [OVERLAPPING] WANT TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.

>> LET ME JUST SAY, WHILE ALTHOUGH IMPORTANT FOR SURE AND I'M NOT GOING TO DOWNPLAY THAT, BUT IF YOU ASK MY KIDS WHAT THEY REMEMBER ABOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, IT IS NOT THE STAAR TEST THAT THEY TOOK, IT'S NOT SOME OF THE PAPERS THAT THEY DID, ALTHOUGH IMPORTANT, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

BUT THE MEMORIES AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE IN THE STANDS CHEERING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO WELL, KIDS CHEERING FOR THEM AND JUST BEING A PART OF FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS OR BEING WATCHING THESE SWIMMERS THAT GO TO STATE, WATCHING THE WRESTLING TEAMS, CHEERING ALL, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM PROUD TO BE AT THIS SCHOOL

[02:05:02]

>> MS. HARRIS? [LAUGHTER] SORRY.

>> YOU DID IT AGAIN.

>> ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU BETTER BE GLAD I REALLY LOVE MY FRIEND OVER HERE, SIR.

[LAUGHTER] I FEEL REMISS BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO SPEND THIS MUCH TIME WITH YOU.

BECAUSE LIKE TRUSTEE TIMME, WE DON'T HAVE A LITTLE ATHLETIC BONE IN OUR BODY OR IN OUR FAMILY, SO WE GRAVITATE A LITTLE BIT MORE OVER TO THE ARTS OVER HERE.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT YOU, WHAT I LOVE TO SAY ABOUT YOU IS THAT YOU REALLY ARE THAT FAMILIAR FACE.

EACH AND EVERY TIME I SEE YOU WHEREVER I AM, MS. PACHECO SAID, IT'S LIKE, THERE'S A FAMILIAR FACE.

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? WE BOND.

WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP EVEN AT THE RANGERS GAME. [LAUGHTER].

>> YES.

>> OUR FAMILIES WENT TO THE RANGER GAMES AND WE GO TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND WE TURN AROUND, THERE SHE IS AND WE'RE LIKE, YAY. THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

BUT I'M GOING TO MISS YOU.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR FACE, I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR LOVE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR RICHARDSON ISD.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. [LAUGHTER] MR. EAGER?

>> GOT IT.

>> AS MY FELLOW TRUSTEE, THE EAGER BOYS DIDN'T HAVE AN ATHLETIC BONE ON THEIR BODY, BUT THEY DID FIND THEIR HOME IN BAND.

THE IMPORTANCE THAT EACH KID FINDS A HOME AND THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND THE IMPACT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THOUSANDS AND JUST THOUSANDS OF KIDS, GENERATIONS OF KIDS BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE TEAM'S LEADERSHIP.

A, THANK YOU FOR THAT DEDICATION BECAUSE THERE WAS SACRIFICES.

GREAT LEADERS, AS YOU POINT OUT, YOUR FAMILY HAD TO SACRIFICE.

HOPEFULLY, THEY WERE THERE SUPPORTING AND THEY KNEW THAT YOU WERE DOING THAT, THAT THEY WERE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU WERE SUPPORTING SO MANY OTHER KIDS.

A, WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR LENDING YOU TO SO MANY OF OUR KIDS.

>> I WILL.

>> BECAUSE THAT'S DEDICATION.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO FILL YOUR SHOES AND HAVING YOU IN ONE DISTRICT FOR ALL THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU AND WE CONTINUE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD.

THE KEY THING IN FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS IS GETTING YOUR KIDS LIFE-READY.

IT'S THAT SAFETY NET. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? NOW, IT'S HARD LESSONS THEN WHEN YOU GET CUT OR YOU LOSE THAT GAME, BUT THAT'S LIFE.

IT'S GETTING KIDS LIFE-READY AND THAT'S THE IMPACT YOU HAVE, SO THE LEADERSHIP THEY'RE HAVING.

THEN I WANT TO SHARE MY OWN STORIES ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OF RISD WITH FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS.

GO TO A PEP RALLY AND NO KNOCK AGAINST OUR WEST TEXAS FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHT DISTRICTS, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY THE FOOTBALL TEAM BUT THE FINE ARTS.

EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY IS THERE CHEERING FOR EVERYBODY AND YOU JUST DON'T SEE THAT IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

NOTHING AGAINST FOOTBALL, I LOVE FOOTBALL, A BIG FAN, BUT A LOT OF CASE IS THEY'RE THE SHOWCASE AND THE OTHER KIDS DON'T SHOWCASE.

HERE, EVERYBODY SHOWCASE AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT.

THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND YOUR LEGACY IS GOING TO CONTINUE ON.

THE ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE IS THAT NOW THAT WE'RE COMING UP TO SIXTH GRADE, THE REST OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE IN REGARDS TO HELPING OUR KIDS WITH EXPOSURE TO FINE ARTS AND HAVING THAT NEXT LEVEL OF ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET EXPOSED? CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE?

>> YES. DEFINITELY FOR ATHLETICS, THE FOUNDATION STARTS A YEAR SOONER.

THE FOUNDATION INSTEAD OF IT BEING SEVENTH GRADE, THEY GET A BASE FOUNDATION OF CONFIDENCE, OF LEARNING PHILOSOPHY, TECHNIQUE, LANGUAGE.

THEY GET TO START BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COACHES.

THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING TO THEM ABOUT GRADES AND WHY GRADE ARE GOING TO MATTER WHEN YOU'RE IN SEVENTH GRADE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T PASS, YOU DON'T GET TO PLAY.

THEY GO INTO SEVENTH GRADE IN AUGUST WITH MORE CONFIDENCE FOR THE VOLLEYBALL TRYOUT.

A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE SIX GRADERS HAVE NEVER TRIED OUT FOR ANYTHING AND A LOT OF OUR KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD NO AND THEY HAVEN'T FAILED VERY OFTEN.

[02:10:01]

WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS ARE READY AND GOING IN WITH CONFIDENCE? THAT'S WHAT THE CURRICULUM FOR SIX-GRADE PRE-ATHLETICS. THEY'RE LIFTING WEIGHTS.

NOW, THEY'RE NOT LIFTING A TON OF HEAVY WEIGHTS, SOMETIMES IT'S BODY WEIGHT, BUT THEY'RE MOVING, THEY'RE GETTING STRONGER, THEY'RE GETTING MORE CONFIDENT, AND THEY'RE LEARNING THE SKILLS FOR THESE DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT WE OFFER IN THE JUNIOR HIGH FOR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH.

I JUST THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUR KIDS MORE CONFIDENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PLAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LEVEL IN THOSE TEAM SPORTS ESPECIALLY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HIGHER LEVEL OF VOLLEYBALL.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HIGH LEVEL OF FOOTBALL IQ, BASKETBALL BECAUSE THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THAT AND THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO GAIN MORE CONFIDENCE AS THEY GO IN TO SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THEN I KNOW OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE NOT TO WAIT FOR THE OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE SOME OF THESE CONCEPTS BACK TO THE SIXTH GRADE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, MS. HARRIS.

>> I JUST WANTED TO TAP ON JUST ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ON AND IT'S ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE TODAY.

THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN YOU SAID THAT, TEACHING IT TO OUR KIDS, WHAT I'M HOPEFUL IS THAT THOSE KIDS CAN TEACH IT TO THEIR PARENTS.

>> YES. THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

I'M SO EMBARRASSED FOR OUR KIDS WHEN AN ADULT HAS TO BE ESCORTED OUT OF A GAME AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART.

I'VE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE A KID CAME UP AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR PARENT.

WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER AND THAT'S WHY THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES AND YOU DON'T GET TO STAY.

WE'LL GIVE A WARNING, BUT IF THERE'S A PATTERN OR IT GETS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THEN THERE WILL BE A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO COME TO THIS EVENT.

JUST BECAUSE YOU BUY THAT TICKET, DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO SCREAM PROFANITY.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF OFFICIALS AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES, THEY'RE HUMAN.

I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD GO OFFICIATE A GAME BEFORE YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO START SCREAMING.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? MS. MCGOWAN.

>> JUST BASED ON WHAT SHE'S SAYING ON THE SPORTSMANSHIP PIECE AND YOU MENTIONED REALLY THE PARENTS AND BEHAVIOR AT SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

I JUST HOPE WE REALLY DO HOLD TRUE TO OUR STANDARD IN OUR DISTRICT NO MATTER HOW MUCH OUR KIDS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR TEAMS. JUST HOLD TO THE STANDARD.

NO MATTER IF THEY'RE STARTING PLAYERS, HOLD TO THE STANDARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MS. SLOVAK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

AS A CURRENT ATHLETE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, THAT'S A JOKE.

[LAUGHTER] IT FELT FLAT.

>> IT'S LIKE WHAT'S MORE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE.

BUT LET'S NOT FORGET SHE HAS AN EIGHTH GRADER AS WELL.

SHE'S LEAVING THIS ROLE, BUT SHE'S NOT LEAVING RISD.

SHE'LL BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

>> NOT LEAVING.

>> WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER. I'M SURE.

MR. BRADFORD, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

>> NR TEAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM. [APPLAUSE] WITH THAT, MS. BRANHAM, IF WE COULD MOVE UP OUR BREAK, THAT WE WENT A LITTLE LONGER ON THAT.

BEFORE WE GET INTO COMPENSATION DISCUSSION, IT'S 8:22 RIGHT NOW IF YOU CAN BE BACK AT 8:30.

IS EIGHT MINUTES TO AGGRESSIVE.

LET'S GO. PLAN ON BEING HERE AT 8:30. WE'LL CONTINUE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START, PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.

OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS AN INFORMATION ITEM TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON

[VII. 2025 - 2026 Budget and Compensation Presentation]

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET.

I'M GOING TO SHARE THE AIR THIS EVENING WITH MR. PAD AND DR. GOODSON.

JUST QUICKLY AS WE GO THROUGH THE SLIDES.

JUST AGAIN, WANT TO ANCHOR, AND I THINK WE HEARD THIS IN OUR TEAM OF EIGHT TRAINING AROUND REALLY THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

THE BUDGET IS PUTTING RESOURCES AND DOLLAR SIGNS TO OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

TONIGHT, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE AS A TEAM OF EIGHT CAN DO IS DETERMINE HOW WE ARE GOING TO COMPENSATE OUR STAFF AND HOW WE CAN USE THAT TO RECRUIT.

THE BEST OF THE BEST, BUT ALSO, I WOULD SAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, RETAIN OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CONTINUE TO STAY IN RICHARDSON ISD AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AS WE GO THROUGH THAT, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE THE ONE AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS THAT WE DO THAT.

I THINK, MS. TIMME, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THOSE SPECIFIC NAMES, I WILL SAY CHRIS WHEN SHE'S ACTUALLY DROVE HOME TONIGHT FOR

[02:15:06]

WHAT ARE THOSE TEACHERS THAT WERE SO INFLUENTIAL TO HER AND HELPED HER BE PREPARED FOR HAVING THE BEST COLLEGE EXPERIENCE SHE COULD HAVE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CLASSROOMS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT MEANS LOOKING AT COMPENSATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

REMEMBER, IT TAKES 5,700 EMPLOYEES TO DO WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILD NUTRITION STAFF, OUR BUS DRIVERS WHO ARE SOMETIMES THAT FIRST INTERACTION, OUR SDSS WHO RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULD SEE THEM ROCK IN ENROLLMENT, AND HOW THEY ARE CONNECTING WITH PARENTS AND MAKING SURE OUR PARENTS ARE ENROLLING RIGHT NOW SO THAT THEY ARE READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION, YES, FOR OUR TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, NURSES, AND LIBRARIANS, WHAT WE TYPICALLY CALL T TYPES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE STAY COMPETITIVE SO THAT WE'RE RECRUITING THE BEST STAFF ACROSS THE BOARD.

AS WE GO INTO SOME REMINDERS, Y'ALL THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND AS WE SHARE NUMBERS, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE ARE SHARING WITH YOU IS BASED UPON WHAT WE KNOW UNDER CURRENT LAW RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO TRY TO CREATE ANY HERE'S WHAT WE THINK COULD HAPPEN.

IF THIS BILL OR THIS BILL, THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH SAUSAGE MAKING THAT STILL HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT NEW MONEY OR WHAT NEW REVENUE MIGHT BE COMING INTO THE DISTRICT.

REALLY, I HOPE THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE ANCHOR AND THAT YOU WILL ANCHOR YOUR FEEDBACK.

IF RICHARDSON ISD DOESN'T RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE STATE, HOW DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD? HOW DO WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE OUR RESOURCES TO ADDRESS STAFF COMPENSATION? ALSO, JUST WE ARE PRESENTING TO YOU A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, AND SO WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE FIRST AND FOREMOST, LIKE WE'RE NOT MAKING AN OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.

WE ARE WANTING TO THROW OUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MODELS AROUND COMPENSATION.

WE ARE JUST WANTING TO SHARE WHAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH THIS, AND YOU ALL PROVIDE US FEEDBACK ON THAT.

ALL OF THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

OUR AGENDA, REALLY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT WE KNOW, DOING SOME BENCHMARK, REVIEWING, WHAT WOULD IT COST? WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK AROUND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE IF WE MOVED FROM THE BOTTOM QUARTILE OF HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND INCREASE THAT CONTRIBUTION, WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF COST.

WE'RE BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT RAISE SCENARIOS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD.

WE ARE SHARING WITH YOU THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO DECREASE THE BUDGET BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE.

BUT ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING MORE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.

WE NEED TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SERVED APPROPRIATELY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, WE NEED IN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS AND OTHER BUDGET INCREASES.

THAT'S OUR AGENDA, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO I BELIEVE DR. GOODSON.

>> YES. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BRANHAM GOOD EVENING, BOARD.

WHAT DO WE KNOW SO FAR? NOT A WHOLE LOT.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, AS SUPERINTENDENT BRANHAM SAID, IT IS STILL VERY EARLY, AND WE BELIEVE MOST DISTRICTS ARE TAKING A VERY CAREFUL APPROACH BEFORE THEY COMMIT TO A NEW COMPENSATION PACKAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO WAITING FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT FARTHER ALONG AS WELL.

WHAT WE DO KNOW SO FAR IS THAT FOR GARLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING WITH STARTING SALARY OR A PAY INCREASE, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PUBLISHED A SIGNING BONUS OR STIPEND OF $10,000 FOR SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND A $5,000 SIGNING BONUS FOR EVALUATION STAFF, THOSE WOULD BE DIAGNOSTICIANS OR LICENSED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

PLANO JUST LAST WEEK CAME OUT WITH THEIR STARTING TEACHER SALARY FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT'S GOING TO BE 62,200, AND THEY ARE PLANNING A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.

THEN WE ARE AWARE THAT DISD IS COMMUNICATING $64,000 AS A STARTING TEACHER SALARY.

AGAIN, REMEMBER, THEY USE A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE FOR THEIR PAY INCREASES THEIR TEACHER EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN JUST A PARTICULAR PERCENT.

>> WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT RACE.

ROCKWALL HAS COME OUT WITH THEIR NEW HIRE AND SIGNING BONUSES FOR SLPS, LSSPS, DIGS, ETC AS WELL AS A STARTING SALARY OF THAT $70,000 FOR SOME OF THOSE ITINERANT POSITIONS AS WELL.

[02:20:02]

>> WE ARE REGULARLY LOOKING THROUGH WEBSITES, CONTACTING OUR COLLEAGUES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

WE'RE GOING AND LOOKING AT BOARD MEETING VIDEOS AND LOOKING AT AGENDAS TO SEE WHEN AND WHERE ANOTHER DISTRICT IS HAVING ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT COMPENSATION.

WE ARE STILL ACTIVELY DOING THAT.

AS SOON AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL BE SURE TO BRING THAT TO YOU.

AS WE LOOK AT STARTING TEACHER SALARY, AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SHARE, UNFORTUNATELY.

THESE WERE THE DISTRICTS THAT I SHARED WITH YOU LAST YEAR AS WE WERE LOOKING AT REDOING, RESTRUCTURING ALL OF OUR TEACHER SALARY STRUCTURES.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, ALL WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT FOR 25-26, PLANO HAS COMMUNICATED A STARTING TEACHER SALARY OF $62,200.

AS MS. BRANHAM MENTIONED, AS WE STARTED LOOKING AT COMPENSATION PLANNING, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN THE CONVERSATION.

ONE IS THAT TYPICAL CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH YOU BEFORE REGARDING TEACHER TYPES, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS, AND NURSES, AS DEFINED BY TEA.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION LOOKING LIKE IT IS WITH A COUPLE OF PARTICULAR BILLS, WE ALSO WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR JUST TEACHERS ONLY AS OPPOSED TO ALL T TYPES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO SO THAT IF WE NEED TO POTENTIALLY RECOMMEND A DIFFERENT APPROACH, WE CAN BRING THAT TO YOU.

>> BUT ON THE HOUSE SIDE, AT THE LAST MINUTE, THEY MADE A CLARIFICATION THAT ANY COMPENSATION INCREASE AND A REQUIREMENT FOR A COMPENSATION INCREASE WITH THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE COULD BE APPLIED FOR ALL T TYPES, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, NURSES, AND LIBRARIANS.

HOWEVER, THE SENATE SIDE, IT IS SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FOR TEACHERS ONLY.

IT'S BASICALLY CLASSROOM TEACHERS OF RECORD.

THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING THAT FORWARD SO THAT Y'ALL ARE AWARE DEPENDING UPON, AGAIN, NOW WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND IF THEY GO TO COMMITTEE ON THAT, POTENTIALLY WHICH ONE AND HOW THAT MIGHT MOVE FORWARD COULD IMPACT, AGAIN, HOW WE THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR COUNSELORS NURSES AND LIBRARIANS VERSUS CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

>> THE OTHER GROUPS THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP IN MIND, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH YOU ON THIS BEFORE ARE AS YOU CONSIDER THE TEACHER PAY INCREASES AND T TYPES, YOU ALSO CONSIDER THE NON T TYPES, AND THAT BASICALLY INCLUDES EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT INCLUDES CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATORS, CENTRAL PARAPROFESSIONALS, CHILD NUTRITION, LITERALLY EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION IN THE DISTRICT.

THEN THE OTHER PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS LOOKING AT NEW TEACHER SALARY.

THEN AS WE'VE DONE WITH YOU BEFORE, IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE MAY BE EMPLOYEE JOB TYPES THAT REQUIRE A BENCHMARK ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE MAYBE THE SALARY STRUCTURE OR THE SALARY RANGES HAVE FALLEN BELOW THE MARKET, AND WE'RE NEEDING TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO MR. PAYTON.

HE'LL TALK ABOUT THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

>> THIS IS A REPEAT OF THE SLIDE THAT YOU SAW AT THE LAST MEETING.

IT IS OUR CURRENT 24-25 PREMIUMS FOR TRS ACTIVE CARE, THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION AND THE EMPLOYEE PORTION OF THE PREMIUMS FOR THE F PLANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE, AND JUST AS A REMINDER OF THE ACTIVE CARE TO THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

TRS IS NOT ALLOWING NEW PARTICIPANTS TO JOIN THAT PLAN.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SUCH LOW PARTICIPATION RATES AS PEOPLE MOVE OFF OF THAT, RETIRE OR SELECT OTHER PLANS, THEY CAN'T GET BACK ON THAT ONE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT.

I EXPECT JUST LIKE OTHER PLANS IN THE PAST, TEA WILL EVENTUALLY JUST SAY, EVEN IF YOU'RE ON IT, YOU'RE NOW OFF BECAUSE PARTICIPATIONS DROP SO MUCH.

>> JUNE 3RD IS MUCH LATER THAN IT NORMALLY IS, AND THAT IS AGAIN BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BILLS THAT WOULD PUSH MORE MONEY INTO TRS TO BASICALLY PUT A CAP OF HOW MUCH THEY COULD INCREASE INDIVIDUAL DUES LIKE TO CAP IT AT 10%.

THAT ANYONE'S HEALTH INSURANCE OVER A YEAR COULD ONLY GO UP BY 10% THAT'S PART OF THE WHY.

WE'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL JUNE 3RD.

>> REMEMBER, A FEW YEARS AGO, TRS NOW SETS RATES ON A REGIONAL BASIS AND SO WE'VE GOT TO LET THEM DO JUMP THROUGH ALL THEIR HOOPS SO THEY CAN GIVE US AN ANSWER, YES, I WILL BE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION ON JUNE 3RD TO WHAT THEY DO.

THE NEXT SLIDE HERE IS JUST AGAIN, THE 24-25 CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE AREA, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ON TRS ACTIVE CARE OR IF THEY'RE SELF FUNDED, AND JUST A REMINDER THAT ABOUT LITTLE OVER 60% OF OUR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRICT'S HEALTH CARE.

THEN THE COST, WE MODELED INCREASING

[02:25:03]

THEN IF WE TOOK IT TO FROM 313 A MONTH TO 375, A LITTLE OVER $2.9 MILLION FOR THE YEAR FOR THAT MONTHLY INCREASE.

JUST AS A COMPARISON, EACH 1% RAISE IS ABOUT $3.4 MILLION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

>> JUST TO NOTE AS WE GO THROUGH THESE SCENARIOS.

IF AT ANY OF THE SCENARIOS, AND ONE, WE SPECIFICALLY LOWERED, FOR EXAMPLE, POTENTIALLY THE PERCENT OF A RAISE INCREASE, AND WE FIGURED IN, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF WE INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTION.

BUT LET'S SAY FOR ANY OF THE SCENARIOS, LET'S DO A 3% ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE.

BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO INCREASE THE BENEFIT FOR INSURANCE, THAT WOULD BE THE COST.

PRETTY MUCH, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FROM 313-350, YOU JUST NEED TO ADD THAT 1.75 TO ANY ONE OF THE SCENARIOS TO UNDERSTAND POTENTIALLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AGAIN, JUST TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE IMPACTING 61% OF EMPLOYEES NOT 100%, AND THIS IS NOT A PART OF TRS ELIGIBILITY.

JUST WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PRIORITIZING OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, WE KNOW OFTENTIMES OUR EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE A RAISE AND NOT FEEL AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT BECAUSE INSURANCE RATES GO UP.

BUT ALSO, IF WE PRIORITIZE THAT, THERE ARE SOME RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT AS WELL.

>> I WOULD JUST REAL QUICKLY ADD, I NOTICED SEVERAL OF YOU WRITING NUMBERS.

I ASSUMED WRITING NUMBERS DOWN.

WE HAVE A SUMMARY SLIDE TOWARDS THE END THAT HAS ALL THE RAISE OPTIONS DR.

GOODSON IS GOING TO PRESENT WITH THIS HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE AT THE BOTTOM, SO WE'VE SUMMARIZED IT ALL IN ONE SPOT FOR YOU.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW SCENARIOS.

AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST PRELIMINARY NUMBERS AND HONESTLY, AS MS. BRANHAM, SAY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY TO PUT A FEW THINGS TOGETHER JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT AND EVENTUALLY DECIDE LATER ON.

BUT ONE POSSIBILITY IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT A 2.5% PAY INCREASE FOR ALL TEACHER TYPES, AND THEN UPDATE OUR STARTING TEACHER SALARY TO $61,700.

THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 700 RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 61,000.

PART OF WHAT WE WOULD IMPLEMENT FOR THE TEACHER TYPES AND THEIR PAY RAISE IS THEY WOULD GET 2.5% OF THEIR CURRENT SALARY OR WHATEVER THE NEXT CORRESPONDING STEP IS, WHICHEVER ONE IS HIGHER.

I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT MEANS AS WE GO TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, BUT JUST REMEMBER, IT'LL BE 2.5% OR THE NEXT STEP, WHICHEVER ONE GIVES THEM THE GREATER INCREASE.

THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO ALSO INCLUDES A 2.5% PAY INCREASE FOR ALL THE NON T TYPES.

AGAIN, BASICALLY ALL EMPLOYEES IN THIS SCENARIO WOULD GET A 2.5% PAY INCREASE AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL THERE.

THIS WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS, AND WE HAVE A FEW SLIDES LATER THAT WILL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THOSE IDENTIFIED GROUPS.

AGAIN, IN THIS SCENARIO, STARTING TEACHER SALARY WOULD BE 617.

WE WOULD STILL LEAVE THE $500 INCREMENTS BETWEEN EVERY STEP FROM 0-10 YEARS AND THEN MAINTAIN $1,000 INCREMENTS FOR EVERY STEP 10 YEARS AND UP.

BASICALLY, THIS IS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

STARTING TEACHER AT 617 WITH THE $500.

AGAIN, IF WE DID, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE A 20 YEAR TEACHER WHO IS MAKING A DIFFERENT SALARY, THEY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE ON THIS STEP YET.

BUT THEN WHAT WE WOULD SAY IS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR SALARY, APPLY A 2.5% PAY INCREASE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF THIS NUMBER AT NUMBER 20 IS HIGHER, THAT'S THE NUMBER THEY WOULD GET.

THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE WOULD TAKE.

I'M JUST STRESSING ON HERE WITH MY LITTLE ASTROS ON THE SIDE BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES FOLKS WILL WATCH OR LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION AND THEN START TO MAKE OTHER ASSUMPTIONS AND WE WANT TO JUST REMIND PEOPLE, IS REALLY THIS IS NOT THE PLAN FOR GIVING RAISES.

THIS IS JUST THE WAY FOR US TO LOOK AT NEW TEACHER STARTING SALARIES AND THEN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT RAISES.

>> ANOTHER SCENARIO WOULD BE TO TAKE THAT SAME APPROACH REALLY AND YOU COULD APPLY A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR TEACHER TYPES.

WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS WE WOULD START OUR NEW TEACHER SALARY AT $62,000.

A $100 INCREASE FROM WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WOULD BE FOR ALL TEACHER TYPES AND YOU CAN SEE THE COST THERE AT 7.2 MILLION, ANOTHER 3% FOR ALL THE NON T TYPES.

AGAIN, IN THIS SCENARIO, ALL EMPLOYEES GET A 3% PAY INCREASE.

FOR THE TEACHERS, IT WOULD BE 3% OR THE NEXT STEP, WHICHEVER ONE IS GREATER, AND THE OVERALL COST OF 10.3 MILLION.

SAME THING WITH THE INCREMENTS.

STARTING TEACHER SALARY WOULD JUST BE AT 62,

[02:30:03]

AGAIN, WE WOULD STILL BE MAINTAINING THAT VERY STELLAR RECOGNITION OF EXPERIENCED TEACHERS WHO WANT TO COME AND WORK IN RISD BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU OUR EXPERIENCE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS EVEN AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK FOR SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, THIS IS STILL SETTING THE MARK FOR HIRING EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

OTHER DISTRICTS ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN TRY TO CATCH UP TO WHAT YOU AS A BOARD APPROVED GOING INTO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY MADE A DIFFERENCE.

SCENARIO 3 IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU DIFFERENT IDEAS OR POSSIBILITIES.

IN THIS SCENARIO, RATHER THAN FOR TEACHER TYPES, RATHER THAN HAVE A PARTICULAR FLAT PERCENTAGE PAY INCREASE.

ONE OPTION YOU COULD DO IS WE COULD GO AHEAD AND ADJUST THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE.

WE WOULD START NEW TEACHERS SALARY AT $63,000.

WE WOULD ADJUST ALL THE STEPS ON THAT CHART THAT I'LL SHOW YOU HERE IN A SECOND, AND THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, WE'LL LOOK AT ALL OF OUR CURRENT TEACHERS, LOOK AT THEIR COMPLETED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND THEN WE WOULD PUT THEM ON ON THAT PARTICULAR STEP ON THE CHART.

IT A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND THEN WHAT WE CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT IS IF THERE HAPPENED TO BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A TEACHER MIGHT ALREADY BE ABOVE THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING THEM DOWN TO THE STEP.

WE WOULD JUST CONSIDER A POTENTIAL EITHER A FLAT RATE OR A SMALLER PERCENTAGE INCREASE SO THAT THEY DO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE GETTING A PAY INCREASE, BUT OVERALL, THE ENTIRE CHART WOULD BASICALLY SHOW WHERE TEACHERS WOULD GO AND THEN WE LOOK AT THOSE OTHER CAVEATS.

THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION COULD INCLUDE A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR NON T TYPES, AND THEN THAT'S THE TOTAL COST.

>> REALLY WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO PRESENT TO YOU IS A MORE CONSERVATIVE OPTION.

THEN WE HAVE THAT AGAIN, YOU ALL HAVE REALLY SET THE STANDARD LAST YEAR OF YES, WE REALLY DOUBLED DOWN ON TRYING TO RETAIN OUR VETERAN TEACHERS, BUT WE ALSO DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE MARKET FOR NEW TEACHERS.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T STAY STAGNANT AT 61.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE PLANO AND DALLAS THAT HAVE ALREADY COME FORWARD, AND SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHER DISTRICTS WHO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.

THAT FIRST SCENARIO BRINGS US TO 617.

THE SECOND SCENARIO BRINGS US TO 62.

THEN WHEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT AND TO LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT HOUSE BILL AROUND FUNDING YOU HAVE TO SPEND 40% OF YOUR PROJECTED REVENUE INCREASE IN REVENUE ON COMPENSATION FOR T TYPES.

FOR EXAMPLE, 40% OF WHAT OUR POTENTIAL, THIS IS ALL POTENTIAL, ESTIMATED REVENUE WOULD BE AROUND $9 MILLION.

FOR EXAMPLE, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW OUT A SCENARIO.

IF WE RECEIVE $24 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, MR. PATE WAS ABLE TO CALCULATE THAT THE PERCENT THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD HAVE TO BE SPENT JUST ON T TYPE RAISES WOULD BE NINE MILLION. THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> YES. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO MODEL AND PREPARE.

WHAT COULD IT LOOK LIKE IF THAT IS POTENTIALLY WHAT REVENUE THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD.

>> AGAIN, WE WOULD START AT 63,000 AND KEEP THE SAME INCREMENTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

BUT AGAIN, IN THIS SCENARIO, SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO LET'S GO TO THE 15-YEAR MARK.

FOR NEW HIRES COMING IN, IT WOULD BE 73,000.

AGAIN, STILL VERY MUCH ABOVE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT 71,000 FOR A 15 YEAR PERSON COMING INTO THE DISTRICT.

WHAT WE WOULD DO, AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE CALCULATION OR HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE NECESSARILY, BUT WHAT WE KNOW WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IF THIS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD IN ANY WAY IS, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AND LOOK AT EVERY TEACHER TYPE, TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THEIR SALARIES, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE MAKING NOW, APPLY THIS PARTICULAR MODEL TO THEIR SALARY AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE COULD SEE? DO WE HAVE ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT ACTUALLY, AGAIN, THEY'RE MAKING WELL ABOVE THIS? WE WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS? DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE RAISE IS MUCH, MUCH SMALLER? WE WOULD HAVE TO CALCULATE THAT.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO THAT LEVEL OF ANALYSIS YET, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A FEW OUTLIERS AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE OVERALL.

>> THAT WAS THE SAME THING LAST YEAR.

>> IT WAS, ABSOLUTELY.

>> TO THE ENTIRE SALARY SCHEDULE.

[02:35:02]

IF I WAS A 16 YEAR TEACHER LAST YEAR WITH RICHARDSON ISD AND I RETURNED, IT WOULD BE LIKE A $3,000 INCREASE.

THAT 0-10 IS CLOSER TO THAT $2,500 MARK, 10 PLUS IS CLOSER TO THE $3,000 MARK.

AGAIN, STILL MAKING SURE WE DO NOT INTRODUCE COMPRESSION INTO THE SALARY SCHEDULE.

>> AS WE LOOK AT MARKET ADJUSTMENTS, THOSE IDENTIFIED GROUPS OF EMPLOYEE TYPES, WE CONTINUE TO BENCHMARK LITERALLY ALL YEAR LONG.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, AS PART OF OUR DIP, WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO THAT AS WELL.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THESE ARE SOME OF THE IDENTIFIED JOB CLASSIFICATIONS WHERE THEY ARE THE FARTHEST BEHIND THE MARKET.

AGAIN, WHEN WE SAY THE MARKET, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME JOB TYPES IN OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND US THAT WE LOSE PEOPLE TO, THE DISTRICTS THAT WE COMPETE THE MOST AGAINST.

THEN IN SOME CASES, EVEN COMPARING TO THE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY FOR A JOB CLASSIFICATION WHERE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALTOGETHER.

PART OF OUR APPROACH HERE IS TO NOT ONLY IDENTIFY THE GROUPS FARTHEST BEHIND, BUT THEN TO TRY TO APPLY A MARKET INCREASE, THAT GETS US CLOSER TO EITHER THE AVERAGE OR MAYBE IN SOME CASES, A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE, A LITTLE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

THESE PARTICULAR IDENTIFIED GROUPS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, FOR ONE EXAMPLE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, THEY DEFINITELY ROSE TO THIS LEVEL OF CONVERSATION, BUT IT WAS THE NATURAL DOMINO EFFECT OF THE TEACHER PAY SCALES BEING INCREASED THE WAY THAT THEY WERE.

WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS MAKING A LOWER DAILY RATE THAN SOME OF THE TEACHERS THEY SUPERVISE.

IT HAPPENS, IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO EXPLAIN TO AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW WHEN WE ARE BOLD, LIKE WE WERE WITH A TEACHING SCALE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, IT IS VERY LIKELY. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE.

WE JUST MADE SURE THAT WE LET EVERYBODY KNOW, WE ARE NOT DONE BENCHMARKING.

THESE ARE THE GROUPS THAT WE FOUND COULD USE MORE ATTENTION, IF YOU WILL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, LSSPS, DIETS, THERAPISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, CAMPUS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS, INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS, INCLUDING PRE-K, AND THEN WE HAVE A SEPARATE GROUP FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AS RESOURCE, AND SELF CONTAINED SECTIONS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A NEED TO REVIEW OUR BUS DRIVERS AND BUS MONITOR POSITIONS.

IN THIS CASE, THESE PARTICULAR DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR BUS DRIVER, THE 388,000 WOULD EQUATE TO AN INCREASE OF THE HOURLY RATE BY 250 AND THAT WOULD TAKE THEM TO $24 AN HOUR.

BUS MONITORS WOULD EQUATE TO A $2 INCREASE PER HOUR, WHICH TAKES THEM TO, I BELIEVE 15, 54.

I CAN GO BACK AND CONFIRM THAT, BUT THEN THE LICENSE HFA PLUMBER ELECTRICIAN HOURLY RATE WOULD INCREASE TO, I BELIEVE, 25, 49 AN HOUR, BUT I'LL BE SURE TO CONFIRM THAT FOR YOU AS WELL, BUT THE OVERALL COST OF MAKING THESE INCREASES, ALL OF THOSE IN PARTICULAR WOULD BE $1.6 MILLION.

EXCUSE ME, MISS BRANDON WENT OVER THIS ALREADY, JUST WAITING FOR THE SAUSAGE TO BE MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO GIVE US GUIDANCE ON EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO.

JUST LIKE BACK IN YOUR ADOPTING THE 2019, 2020 BUDGET COMING OUT OF HOUSE BILL 3.

WE HAD LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE BUDGET THAT YOU ADOPTED THAT ALLOWED US TO GO BACK AND ADJUST SALARIES BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF HOUSE BILL 3 AT THE TIME, WE WOULD DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE WITH LEGISLATIVE GUIDANCE, YOU MAY SEE SIMILAR TYPE OF LANGUAGE ADDED TO THE BUDGET WHEN WE ADOPTED ON JUNE 5TH.

THEN HERE IS JUST A MULTI YEAR REVENUE ONLY PROJECTION BASED ON CURRENT LAW, AND YOU HAVE THE 24, 25 ESTIMATE, SO 24, 25, THAT IS MY MOST RECENT ESTIMATE FOR REVENUE.

THE THREE LINES THERE AT THE BOTTOM ARE THE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BUDGET FOR REVENUE RECAPTURE AND THEN NET REVENUE.

THEN I'VE CARRIED IT FORWARD IN THE MULTI YEAR FORMAT.

AGAIN, UNDER CURRENT LAW.

WE KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I WOULDN'T HANG YOUR HAT TOO MUCH ON THIS AT THIS POINT, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU THIS INFORMATION AS A STARTING CONVERSATION.

YOU CAN SEE THE NET REVENUE ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW FOR 24 25,

[02:40:03]

THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS COMING FROM THE OF A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT AS ANTICIPATED FROM THE DEMOGRAPHERS, WE'VE EXCEEDED THE DEMOGRAPHERS PROJECTIONS ON ENROLLMENT FOR THE YEAR.

THEN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS AS MISS BRANDON MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL ALLOCATED POSITIONS THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD FOR THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR TO SERVE OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, ADDITIONAL SPED TEACHERS, SPED PROFESSIONALS, AND SOME CENTRAL LAW OR SOME CENTRAL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PROFESSIONALS, OUR LSSPS, DIAGNOSTICIANS, SLPS, THEN EIGHT ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS FOR OUR PRE-K PROGRAM EXPANSION, AND TO TEACHER COACH POSITIONS, AND THEN ADDITIONAL STAFF AND SUPPORT RELATED TO THE OPENING OF THE LITTLE RAMS WILDCATS CHILD LEARNING ACADEMY, FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THEN TWO BILINGUAL TEACHER POSITIONS, ALL OF THAT TOTALING JUST OVER $5.6 MILLION.

>> JUST TO NOTE ON THIS LIST, WHERE WE POTENTIALLY HAVE THE ABILITY IF THE BOARD SAYS, NO, WE CAN'T ADD ALL THOSE POSITIONS.

THE 14 CENTRAL SPED AND THE 28, CENTRAL PARAPROFESSIONALS? THOSE REALLY ARE BASED UPON STUDENTS THAT A, WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED AND B LEAVING A FEW SEATS IN EACH SPECIAL PROGRAM AT EACH OF THE LEVELS FOR NEW STUDENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THESE ARE NOT REALLY AN EXTRAVAGANT OR A WANT.

THESE ARE WE HAVE TO.

THE SEVEN CENTRAL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE POSITIONS? I WOULD SAY PRETTY CLOSE TO HAVING TO HAVE THEM.

WE ARE AT RISK, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR COMPLIANCE DEADLINES AROUND EVALUATIONS AND GETTING THOSE DONE IN A TIMELY WAY AND PLACING STUDENTS APPROPRIATELY, WE DO RISK SOME COMPLIANCE ISSUES THERE.

THE FOUR PRE-K PROFESSIONALS AND FOUR PRE-K PAIR PROFESSIONALS.

THESE ARE ADDITIONAL PRE-K CLASSROOMS THAT WE'RE OPENING.

IF RIGHT NOW WE ARE ABLE TO SEAT EVERY 4-YEAR-OLD STUDENT THAT QUALIFIES AS WELL AS WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANTS PRE-K FOR TUITION.

WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL PRE-K FOR EITHER COMMUNITY TUITION AND OR WE'RE ADDING MORE THREE SECTIONS.

IT REALLY IS THE BOARD.

DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EXPANDING PRE-K 3S AND 4S, OR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF FUNDING, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO HOLD OFF ON? AGAIN, THOSE EIGHT POSITIONS, ARE NOT HAVE TO.

THOSE ARE JUST WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND PRE-K. OUR TWO TEACHER SLASH COACHES.

THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY AT LAKE HIGHLANDS AND JJ PIERCE.

WE ARE SEEING A TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WANT TO PLAY SOCCER AND WANT TO PLAY BASEBALL.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN OFFERING ADDITIONAL TEAMS. AGAIN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SAW THE DATA AROUND STUDENT OUTCOMES, BUT SAFELY, WE CANNOT ASK OUR COACHES TO COACH MORE PLAYERS AND MORE TEAMS WITH THE CURRENT NUMBER OF COACHES WE HAVE.

THIS WAS A REQUEST THAT OUR ATHLETICS TEAM BROUGHT FORWARD.

THE LITTLE RAM WILDCAT UNLESS THE BOARD MAKES A DECISION TO NOT OPEN THAT.

THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

THEN OUR COMMITMENT WITH OUR TWO WAY DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, AND THEN AN INCREASE IN OUR BILINGUAL STUDENTS.

AGAIN, THOSE TWO POSITIONS WE NEED TO STAFF THOSE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR BILINGUAL STUDENTS.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT SOME CONTEXT AROUND WHAT POSITIONS MIGHT HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IF THE BOARD SAYS, HEY, WE NEED TO TRY TO CUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

>> THEN OUR NON-PERSONNEL INCREASES, FORTUNATELY, NOTHING PARTICULARLY LARGE THERE.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY OF THOSE INCREASES, BUT WE DO HAVE A FEW OUR GENERAL LIABILITY AUTO CYBER SCHOOL BOARD LIABILITY INSURANCE CONTINUES TO GO UP, NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION TEACHER REGISTRATION.

WE KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR CITIES ARE INCREASING THEIR WATER UTILITY RATES, OUR TRANSLATION INTERPRETATION SERVICES.

[02:45:03]

OUR AED PADS AND BATTERIES.

WE BUY THE AEDS THEMSELVES OUT OF BOND FUNDS, BUT THE BATTERIES AND THE PADS ARE CONSUMABLES, AND SO WE BUY THOSE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND IT'S TIME TO DO THOSE SARS BILLING.

WE EXPECT INCREASES THERE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

THEN OUR DCAD JUST ADOPTED THEIR BUDGET AND TOLD US WHAT THEIR FEE INCREASE FOR US IS, IT IS FORTUNATELY JUST $20,000, AND THEN OUR COST OF OUR STUDENT ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE IS GOING UP, TOTAL OF A LITTLE OVER $430,000.

>> AS FAR AS BUDGET DECREASES GO, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT, ELIMINATING SOME CENTRAL POSITIONS.

THIS IS NOT A RIFF.

THIS IS REORGANIZATION, POSITIONS THAT ARE BECOMING VACANT, BUT IT IS NOT A RIFF.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M VERY CLEAR THAT THAT IS NOT A.

SOME CHANGE UP IN SOME OF OUR STIPENDS, CAMPUS STAFF EFFICIENCIES WITH THE CHANGES ADOBE, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO LOWER OUR UTILITY AND MAINTENANCE COSTS THERE.

WE'RE ELIMINATING A COUPLE OF SOFTWARE PROGRAMS, CONVOCATION T SHIRTS.

WE'RE GETTING RID OF OUR, EXCUSE ME, [LAUGHTER] I SAW THAT.

COPPER LINE TELEPHONES.

WE'RE FINALLY PHASING ALL OF THOSE OUT, AND SO WE'LL HAVE A REDUCTION OF TELEPHONE COST, GETTING RID OF THOSE AND ELIMINATING SOME PARTICIPATION IN SOME PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THEN ON ANOTHER SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE A PROPOSED INCREASE IN OUR CHILD LEARNING ACADEMY AND PRE-K TUITION, REALLY A REVENUE, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY REVENUE INCREASE, WE JUST PUT IT AS A COST SAVINGS SINCE IT WILL HELP US ON THAT SIDE.

ALL THAT TOTALS ABOUT $2.3 MILLION.

THEN HERE ARE THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASES FOR THE CHILD EARNING ACADEMY AND PRE-K PROGRAMS. OFF THE TOP, YOU HAVE THE EMPLOYEE TUITION CURRENT AND PROPOSED TUITION RATES.

ALL OF THE RATES ON HERE ARE $50 A MONTH INCREASE, WHETHER IT'S THE EMPLOYEE CHILD LEARNING ACADEMY, EMPLOYEE PRE-K, OR THE COMMUNITY TUITION PAID PRE-K AT THE VARIOUS TIERS THAT WE CHARGE DEPENDING ON FAMILY STATUS.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S A $50 A MONTH INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY SLIDE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

YOU'VE GOT THE RAISE SCENARIOS, THE COST OF THAT.

YOU HAVE THE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS THAT DR. GOODSON WENT OVER, THE PERSONNEL INCREASES, THE NON PERSONNEL INCREASES THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED, THOSE BUDGET DECREASES, AND A NET INCREASE IN OUR COST UNDER EACH OF THOSE SCENARIOS, AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION NUMBERS.

TRY TO SUMMARIZE EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE FOR YOU ON THAT SLIDE.

>> IF WE CAN STOP RIGHT THERE BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET.

THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD REALLY LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK AND TO GET SOME GUIDANCE.

WE STILL HAVE SOME NUANCES TO WORK OUT FOR ANY OF THESE SCENARIOS.

WE DID NOT WANT TO FULLY DO THAT UNTIL WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

DO YOU WANT US TO TAKE A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH IN BRINGING FORWARD A COMPENSATION PLAN? DO YOU LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH SCENARIO 3 AND WANT US TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT ONE? IS THERE ANYTHING? WE REALLY OPEN THIS UP FOR UNDERSTANDING THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD STOPPING PLACE TO DIGEST SOME OF THIS.

BOARD MEMBERS, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS HERE.

MS. TIMME, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF HARD WORK. LET ME START WITH THAT.

A LOT OF MULLING AROUND A LOT OF NUMBERS TO COME UP WITH A LOT OF SCENARIOS.

THAT IS A THANKLESS JOB SOMETIMES, BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPTIONS.

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HAVE WE SEEN, AND MAYBE IT'S ME, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ALL MY QUESTIONS MIGHT BE ME IS THE ISSUE.

LET ME START WITH THAT. HAVE WE SEEN THE NUMBERS FROM THE PAY RAISES THAT WE GAVE THE LAST TIME AS FAR AS HOW IT'S IMPACTED RETENTION? THE EXPERIENCE TEACHERS, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I KNOW WE SAW PARTS OF IT.

[02:50:01]

>> YES, MA'AM. WE BROUGHT THAT FORWARD IN THE HR PRESENTATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, OUR TURNOVER, WE REDUCED IT FROM 17% DOWN TO 13%.

WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF VETERAN TEACHERS 10 PLUS, I BELIEVE IT WAS BY 4% AND 3%.

WE DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ZERO TO FIVE YEAR TEACHERS.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

>> I THINK DR. GOODSON IS PULLING UP THE SLIDE SO YOU CAN QUOTE ME.

>> THAT'D BE GREAT.

>> WE SAW AN INCREASE WHERE WE WANTED TO IN VETERAN STAFF.

WE SAW A DECREASE IN NEW AND OUR TURNOVER SIGNIFICANTLY WENT DOWN.

>> SORRY. I'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE.

ON SLIDE 20, MAYBE MY MATH NOT WORKING VERY WELL.

AGAIN, I TOLD YOU IT MIGHT BE ME.

BUT IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS, ON THIS ONE, IT'S WHERE WE GET TO WHATEVER THE STARTING SALARY IS, BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD 500 OR 1,000, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE?

>> YES. FOR EXAMPLE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IF I'M A RETURNING TEACHER?

>> CORRECT.

>> LAST YEAR, I'M A BRAND NEW TEACHER.

I MADE $61,000 AS A ZERO YEAR TEACHER.

THEN NEXT YEAR, I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE TO 63,500, AND IT WOULD BE A $2,500 RAISE.

IF YOU GO UP TO 18 YEARS, LAST YEAR ON OUR SALARY SCHEDULE FOR A 17-YEAR TEACHER, THEY MADE 73,000.

THIS YEAR, ON THIS PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOW HAVE 18 YEARS, THEY WOULD GET 76, IT WOULD BE A $3,000 RAISE.

>> I GUESS WHERE MY QUESTION WAS GOING IS, I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE LOOKED AT LIKE WHATEVER CAUSED THAT COMPRESSION PREVIOUSLY.

BECAUSE FOR ME, IT WAS WE WERE ALWAYS UPPING THE SALARY AND NOT HITTING THE COMPRESSION ON THE BACKSIDE.

ON THIS ONE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE WE ACTUALLY ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

THE OTHER TWO SCENARIOS, COMPRESSION WOULD HIT.

>> WHEN WE WORKED THROUGH THESE, WE WERE VERY CAREFUL TO SET A STARTING TEACHER SALARY.

KEPT THE SAME STRUCTURE WE'VE HAD, THE 500 BETWEEN EACH STEP 0-10, 100 BETWEEN EACH STEP 10-11 AND ON, AND WE DID NOT INTRODUCE NEW COMPRESSION.

WE WERE VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID NOT INTRODUCE NEW COMPRESSION IN ANY OF THESE.

>> I THINK WHAT MS. TIMME IS SAYING IS EVEN IF THAT'S THE NEW TEACHER SCHEDULE, IF WE'RE ONLY GIVING 2.5%.

>> CHRIS, IF YOU WOULD GO BACK TO NUMBER 1.

>> YOU ARE YOU ARE SHRINKING.

>> SORRY, GO TWO SLIDES AFTER THAT.

>> YES.

>> YES. THERE. THERE'S A $700 INCREASE THERE, BUT A 2.5% RAISE FOR 61,000.

IF YOU'RE MAKING 61,000 THIS YEAR, LET ME CALCULATE IT OUT.

>> 62,220.

>> 62,220. WE MADE SURE THAT THAT FIRST YEAR THE ZERO YEAR THIS YEAR GOING TO 62,220, THAT IS STILL MORE THAN $500 ABOVE THE 617.

WE'RE KEEPING THAT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ZERO.

>> BUT THE FIRST YEAR WOULD BE MAKING 62,200.

>> YEAH. WE WEREN'T GOING TO PLACE IF YOU'RE ZERO THIS YEAR MAKING 61.

>> RIGHT. BUT I THINK THIS IS WHERE MS. TIMME IS GOING.

IF I'M A BRAND NEW TEACHER AND I MAKE 61,000, IF WE JUST GIVE THAT 3% FLAT RAISE, WHICH IS WHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TEND TO FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS HAMSTER WHEEL, THEN I WOULD MAKE 62,200.

CORRECT. I'M A VETERAN TEACHER AND I'M ONLY MAKING $20 MORE.

>> YOU'RE A ONE YEAR TEACHER.

>> BOTH ONE YEAR TEACHER.

>> RIGHT. BECAUSE I MADE 62,200.

>> A ONE YEAR TEACHER THAT SPENT THEIR ZERO YEAR HERE WOULD MAKE 62,220.

IF WE HIRED A TEACHER IN WITH ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE, THERE WOULD BE A $20 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

>> WHAT DOES IT DO FOR A 20-YEAR TEACHER?

>> LET ME FIND IT.

[02:55:02]

>> WE DON'T THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THEY WILL ASK.

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M ASKING REALLY.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> I'VE GOT A SPREADSHEET WHERE I ACTUALLY CHECKED EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T INTRODUCE NEW COMPRESSION.

>> I JUST THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK WE WANT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE A LOT, BUT IF WE KEEP THE SAME METHODOLOGY OVER TIME, THERE'S POTENTIAL THAT YOU'RE RIGHT BACK IN THIS BOAT HAVING TO REDO IT, AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO HAVE TO REDO IT, IF WE CAN DO THAT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S REALLY WHERE SCENARIO 3, JUST THAT CLARITY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

>> YES.

>> TO ME, SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO SCENARIOS AND SCENARIO 3 IS THERE IS A METHODOLOGY AROUND COMPRESSION AS WELL THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

>> YES.

>> WHICH APPEALS TO ME BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SET UP ANY FUTURE BOARDS, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TEACHERS PAYING THE PRICE FOR THE FACT THAT WE WOULD PICK SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T ADDRESS THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A PIECE FOR THAT.

ALSO TOO, IN THOSE NUMBERS, I THINK YOU SAID THIS, BUT I MISSED IT.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S 40% FOR SALARIES, THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT'S COMING THIS WAY IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, T TYPES, NOT, MAYBE NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN SOME OF THESE FIGURES WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL COSTS, CORRECT, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE STATE'S PORTION OUT IN THE TOTALS?

>> THIS IS ALL BASED ON CURRENT LAW.

>> THAT'S CORRECT THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> YES.

>> WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME RELIEF IN TEACHER SALARY.

WHEN WE PUT ON THE SUMMARY SLIDE AND IT SAYS 18 MILLION, WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE IT WILL BE LESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> DEPENDING ON HOW THE FUNDING COMES OUT FROM THE STATE.

THIS WOULD BE MAX IF NOTHING WAS DONE.

>> BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE BILLS ALL HAVE FUNDING.

>> THEY HAVE SOME OF IT.

>> YES.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM ARE GOING TO REQUIRE IT GO TO SALARY.

>> 100%.

>> THEN NOT COMPENSATION.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I'M CERTAIN ABOUT.

>> I ASSUME, JUST TO BE SURE WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPENSATION AND SALARY REQUIREMENT THAT WE THINK THAT'S COMING OUT OF THAT POTENTIALLY?

>> YES. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE 75%?

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY THE 40%. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE IN THE PAST, IT'S BEEN COMPENSATION, BUT NOW IT'S SPECIFIC TO SALARY.

>>> NOW IT'S SALARY ONLY.

>> CORRECT.

>> YES. THAT AGAIN, CHANGES SOME OF THIS AND WHAT IT ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE, BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS SALARY AND NOT COMPENSATION.

THEY SPECIFICALLY CHANGED THAT WORD.

IN THE PAST, YOU COULD HAVE USED OTHER BENEFITS.

>> HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION.

>> HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE, SOME OTHER BENEFIT.

BUT YEAH, COMPENSATION PACKAGE VERSUS SALARY NOW.

>> THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

IN THE PAST, HAD THE BOARD MADE A DECISION, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION FROM THAT 313-350, IN THE PAST, WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CREDIT FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF THE FUNDING BILL TO USE THAT TOWARDS, SEE, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE PAYING OUR TEACHERS MORE, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE PAYING OUR STAFF MORE.

IN THE BILLS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, IT IS TRULY SALARY, AND WE WOULD NOT GET CREDIT AND COULD NOT USE THAT TOWARDS MEETING THAT REQUIREMENT FOR THAT FUNDING BILL.

THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION WHEN YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU WANT TO PRIORITIZE OUR FUNDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS INFORMATION HERE, THAT IS JUST THE EXPENSE SIDE.

IT'S JUST THE COST OF THE RAISE.

IT DOESN'T REFLECT ANY POTENTIAL NEW REVENUE THAT WOULD HELP US ON REDUCING THE DEFICIT.

>> THIS IS REALLY WORST CASE SCENARIO.

>> YES.

>> YES. BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S JUST LOOKING AT THE COST INCREASES, NO REVENUE PROJECTION THERE.

>> BUT KNOWING THAT SOME IS PROBABLY GOING TO COME OUT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LAND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, JUST FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING THAT'S GOING TO GO TO COMMITTEE.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> RIGHT. I DIDN'T WANT TO CONFUSE THE ISSUE WITH WEIRD REVENUE CALCULATIONS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE COST SIDE RIGHT NOW, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.

>> I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT AS A BOARD WE'RE UNDERSTANDING THAT'S NOT A REAL 18, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME RELIEF IN THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF WE MISS THE MARK TOO MUCH, YOU MISS AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE DON'T WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY FROM THAT.

YOU ASKED FOR FEEDBACK.

JUST MY $0.02 ON THAT, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING COMPRESSION IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY AND NOT IN A WAY WE'RE POTENTIALLY CAUSING THAT BACKUP BECAUSE REALLY IN THE END THE TEACHERS ARE THE ONES WHO PAY FOR THAT, AND I THINK WE WANT TO SUPPORT HAVING THE BEST TEACHERS IN THERE IN OUR CLASSROOMS. JUST MY FEEDBACK IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND WHAT WE CAN ON RAISES VERSUS COMPENSATION BECAUSE WE HIT THE MOST AMOUNT OF TEACHERS THAT WAY.

>> VERSUS HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> VERSUS HEALTH INSURANCE OR OTHER COMPENSATION THAT WOULDN'T BENEFIT 100% OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

>> YES, MA'AM. GOT YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO IMPACT AS MANY TEACHERS AS WE CAN, TEACHERS, NON TEACHERS, NON T-TYPE STAFF IN THE MAXIMUM WAY WE CAN.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> HITTING THAT THROUGH SALARIES 100% VERSUS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS.

WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD NOT BENEFIT EVERYBODY AND WHEN WE'RE MAKING SOME CHOICES,

[03:00:02]

>> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES, MS. MCGOWAN.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION AND IT MAY BE JUST ME, BUT IT MAY BE THE SAME QUESTION.

WILL THIS RAISE, WILL THE SCENARIO 3?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> WILL THAT ELIMINATE THE SCENARIO THAT YOU GAVE US THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL COULD BE PAID LESS THAN, YOU GAVE A SCENARIO OF THAT AND I JUST COULDN'T EVEN.

WOULD THAT RIGHT SIZE THAT SCENARIO THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?

>> REAL QUICK, SCENARIO 3, THE BIG SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN SCENARIO 1, 02, AND 3 IS OVERALL A PERCENTAGE RAISE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

IN THE FIRST ONE, IT'S EITHER 2.5% FOR TEACHERS OR T TYPES, LET ME BE CLEAR, T TYPES, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, 3% FOR T TYPES AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, CHANGE THE ENTIRE COMPENSATION THE SALARY SCHEDULE IN A 3% RAISE.

>> THAT THERE DOES NOT FIX ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SLP DIAGS.

WHAT DOES IS THE LINE AROUND MARKET ADJUSTMENTS, IT PULLS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, SLP DIAGS.

IF THE BOARD ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, IT PULLS THEM CLOSER TO BENCHMARK.

PART OF WHAT, AGAIN, WE VERY MUCH VALUE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THEM.

BUT PART OF WHAT THE BOARD HAS SAID IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IN THIS TIME OF A TEACHER SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE THE VERY BEST TEACHERS AND THAT WE INCENTIVIZE THEM FOR STAYING IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO OUR MARKET ADJUSTMENTS ALLOWS US TO STAY COMPETITIVE, PULLS US CLOSER TO BENCHMARK, IF NOT A LITTLE BIT ABOVE BENCHMARK, BUT IT DOESN'T PUT US, FOR EXAMPLE, NUMBER 1.

OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WON'T BE BEING PAID, NECESSARILY THE FIRST IN THE REGION, BUT IT DEFINITELY MAKES US MORE COMPETITIVE.

CHRIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THERE.

>> THAT'S IT. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE IT'S COVERED AS A MARKET ADJUSTMENTS PIECE.

>> BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BEING PAID LESS THAN A TEACHER.

SO ACTUALLY, WE COULD.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'M JUST GOING TO USE AND I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY.

I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF OUR TEACHERS AT LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAVE INCREDIBLE LONGEVITY IN THAT BUILDING.

SO BASED UPON WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE SALARY SCHEDULE AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO HERE, IF YOU HIRE A BRAND NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WHERE WE START AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY, NOT AN INCREASE IN THEIR DAILY RATE.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WORKS MORE DAYS.

THEY MIGHT SEE A BUMP IN THEIR INCREASE BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING MORE DAYS, BUT THEY MAY NOT SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEIR DAILY RATE BETWEEN WHAT THAT LONG TIME 32 YEAR PLUS TEACHER IS MAKING VERSUS WHAT THAT DAILY RATE IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.

THIS MARKET ADJUSTMENT WOULD HELP INCREASE THAT DAILY RATE FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, BUT I COULD NOT PROMISE YOU THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A COUPLE OF TIMES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHERE THAT BRAND NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MIGHT BE.

>> I WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM A YEAR TEACHER EITHER, VERSUS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

I JUST NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. THAT'S ALL.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE PIECE ABOUT THAT.

I BELIEVE WHEN WE WERE TALKING LAST YEAR THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT USED TO BE TRUE IS THAT IF YOU WANTED TO INCREASE YOUR ABILITY FOR INCOME, YOUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO GO INTO ADMIN.

AND SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU TYPICALLY WANTED TO DO, BUT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME.

AND I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE WANT TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR INCOME TO MAKE GOOD SALARIES AND BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPACTFUL THEY ARE.

WE ALSO ALLOWING THOSE WHO WANTED TO GO ON A NEW JOB JOURNEY TO ALSO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM OR IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, BUT NOT ALLOWING ADMIN TO BE THE ONLY OPTION FOR A CAREER PATH, IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO BRING BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT BALANCE WITH THAT MARKET ADJUSTMENT.

>> YES, MS. PACHECO.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION, YOUR SCENARIOS, AND WE'LL FOLLOW BACK UP WITH MS. TIMME.

[03:05:04]

I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE MORE.

I KNOW THAT JUST BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING, IT IS TRUE.

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS.

WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THE CHOICE BASED ON THEIR GOALS AND CAREER FOCUS, TO STAY AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER OR MOVE IN ADMINISTRATION VERSUS MAKING IT A HARD DECISION JUST BECAUSE OF FUNDING.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT I SEE THE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS. HOPE WE COULD DO MORE.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER VARIABLES, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FIX SOME OF THESE THINGS NOW AND JUST SET IT STRAIGHT FOR THE FUTURE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AFFECT AS MANY EMPLOYEES AS WE CAN WITH THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE.

>> THANK YOU, MS. PACHECO. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? YES. MR. EAGER.

>> SCENARIO. I AGREE.

I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP SAYING THAT RETENTION RATE, AVOIDING.

THE PRECEDENT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T FALL INTO THAT COMPRESSION AGAIN TIMME COMMENTARY IS THAT WE BEGIN TO SET THAT STANDARD [INAUDIBLE] AGAIN.

I GUESS IT'S JUST BECOME A MUSCLE HABIT THAT EVERY THAT BECOMES A STANDARD IN RISD.

THE COUPLE OF THINGS.

I GUESS THE 3% AND THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THAT THE INFLATION RATE IS 2.4-2.8%.

THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER.

WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN JUST TO GIVE A KEEPING UP WITH THE INFLATION NUMBER.

CLEARLY AN ADVOCATE FOR THE SCENARIO 3.

I WOULD ALSO BE CURIOUS AS WE GET THROUGH THIS, THE RETENTION RATES.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COST SAVINGS FROM RETRAINING. THERE'S OTHER THINGS.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE A MULTI YEAR TREND, BUT THOSE RETENTION RATES WILL START TO PAY OFF IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT GOING, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS AND IT'S REWARD TEACHERS, KEEP THE STUDENT OUTCOMES IS THE FOCUS, HOW YOU DO THAT, GREAT TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

BUT THE ONLY CHALLENGE WE HAVE AND JUST FUNDING IS THAT THIS IS AN $18 MILLION INCREASE.

WELL, THAT'S A COMPOUNDING EFFECT SO THAT WHEN THE STATE COMES IN, LET'S SAY THE STATE GIVES US 18 MILLION.

NEXT YEAR, WE'RE UPSIDE DOWN, 18 MILLION.

NOW, GUESS WHAT? THIS IS NOTHING NEW IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SOMEHOW FOR DECADES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

I'D RATHER BET ON THE STUDENT OUTCOME.

IF SOMEHOW MR. PACHECO CAN FIND THAT MONEY TREE IN HIS BACKYARD SOMEWHERE.

>> NO, I THINK YOU MAKE A VERY VALID POINT.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO REMIND OUR BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE HEARING THIS IS THAT WE STILL DO HAVE OTHER FUNDING LEVELS THAT WE COULD PULL IF WE HAVE TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, PENDING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE STILL HAVE PENNY SITTING OUT THERE FOR A POTENTIAL VATRE. I'M NOT RECOMMENDING THAT.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT IN THAT MOMENT.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, IF WE DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING, THAT IS A LEVER THAT WE CAN PULL.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT OUR SECONDARY SCHEDULE MODEL.

IF THE BOARD CHARGES US WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, OUR SECONDARY TEACHERS HAVE A CONFERENCE PERIOD AND THEY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY PERIOD.

PLEASE KNOW, I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THIS, BUT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY THE TUNE OF SIX TO SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE THAT BOTH OF THOSE PLANNING PERIODS.

IF WE GOT TO A PLACE WHERE AGAIN, WE HAVE TO PULL LEVERS FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS STILL AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO.

WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE CONTINUED TO SAY, CENTRAL OFFICE LOOK FOR MORE AND MORE EFFICIENCIES.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE,

[03:10:01]

>> BUT FOR THOSE WATCHING, HOPEFULLY THAT YOU AND THE ENTIRE BOARD HERE HAS DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO OBVIOUSLY.

>> [OVERLAPPING] A MILLION DOLLARS, OF COURSE.

>> WELL, THE PROJECT RIGHT SIDE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF, WHILE THAT IS PAINFUL, THAT MONEY IS GETTING POURED BACK IN TO COMPENSATING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE BEST TEACHER TO KEEP THE BEST TEACHERS BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN THE BEST STUDENT OUTCOMES.

FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT I'D RATHER BET ON.

>> THE TWO.

>> THAT THEY GET REWARDED AND THE RETENTION AND OTHERS AND EXTRA PAINTINGS WE FIND ELSEWHERE.

WELL, IF WE GOT TO DO BAKE SALES, WE'LL DO SOME BAKE SALES.

>> AS LONG AS THEY MEET OUR NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES.

>> WE'LL DO VEGETABLE SALES.

[BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR A LOT OF HARD WORK, MR. PACHECO.

THESE ARE COMPLICATED SCENARIOS. THANK YOU.

>> YES, MR. HARRIS?

>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, ALSO, JUST TO FIGURE BACK ON MY COLLEAGUES.

I'M ALSO LOOKING AT SCENARIO 3.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS FOR US TO KEEP UP THAT MOMENTUM THAT WE HAD WHEN WE MADE THE BIG BOLD DECISION FOR OUR TEACHERS.

WE DIDN'T BACK DOWN.

I DON'T WANT TO BACK DOWN NOW.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO CONTINUE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, STAY THE PATH, AND LET OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF NOT THAT THEY'RE SUPER IMPORTANT TO US.

THEY MEAN A LOT TO US AND WE NEED THEM.

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THEM. SCENARIO 3.

>> THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

YES. MS. HARRIS. [INAUDIBLE]

>> YES. ALSO AGREE.

I THINK THAT IN LOOKING ALL OF THIS AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE SCENARIOS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE DETAIL.

THIS IS SUPER COMPLEX.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK AND SEE, AND IT'S JUST LIKE A MOVING TARGET.

IT JUST SEEMS ONCE I FIGURE OUT WHAT I THINK SOMETHING MEANS, I THINK IT CHANGES AND THEN I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

[OVERLAPPING] BUT THE SAME, I HAVE TO DO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO ALREADY SAID.

I THINK, FOR ME, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AS MS. HARRIS SAID.

I THINK WE TOOK A BOLD MOVE.

I THINK IT SHOWED THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF AND THAT WE BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY DO AND THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE COMPENSATED.

I THINK IN THE LAST YEAR, I THINK THE ONES THAT WERE OUT AND CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT HERE, MS. BRANNON, BUT LIKE THE DIAGNOSTICIANS THAT [OVERLAPPING] THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT.

>> THEY RECEIVED THE 3% RAISE, BUT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING WE KNEW THEY WERE BEHIND BENCHMARK AND WE'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO BRING THEM CLOSER TO BENCHMARK.

>> THIS WILL HELP THAT. I THINK FOR ME THAT WAS SUPER IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT I WOULD ALSO GO MORE IN THE DIRECTION OF INCREASING TOWARDS THE SALARY OF ALL EMPLOYEE.

BECAUSE I THINK WHEN I SEE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, IF THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGER IMPACT, THAT'S THE ONE THAT I WOULD FAVOR BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE, IT'S REALLY HARD, AS YOU WERE SAYING, TO DECIDE WHICH ONES WE NEED AND WHICH ONES WE DON'T, IN THE LONG RUN, WE NEED EVERYBODY IN ORDER TO REALLY DO OUR WORK WELL, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT, STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE, THIS IS WHERE WE NEED IT TO.

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO [INAUDIBLE].

AGAIN, ALL OF OUR INCOME OR ALL OF OUR TRUST, EVERYTHING AND BEING SURE THAT ALL OF THESE PROFESSIONALS ARE COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

YES, FOR ME, IT WOULD BE SCENARIO 3 WOULD BE ONE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE MORE ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. RENTERIA, MS. PACHECO?

>> I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADD, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ON THE NON-PERSONNEL INCREASES, AND PERSONNEL INCREASES.

YOU WERE SAYING, WELL, WE HAVE THESE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND PRE KINDERGARTEN PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS.

THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS A MAYBE OR I WOULD NICE TO HAVE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE EARLY YEARS.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS. ABSOLUTELY, THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A MAYBE OR WE COULD WONDER IF IT'S OKAY TO NOT HAVE IT, I THINK IT'S A NECESSARY THING TO HAVE.

>> FOR THAT. I ALWAYS JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AND WE HAD TO, WE COULD NOT EXPAND, BUT AGAIN, WE SO BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAMMING OF OUR PRE K.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

[03:15:02]

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INCREASES FOR THE LEARNING ACADEMIES AND PRE K FEES, $50.

I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO FIND $50.

I WAS A SINGLE MOM AND I GET IT.

BUT IT'S ONLY $50 AND THE RATES WE OFFER AND HAVE FOR EMPLOYEES ARE AMAZING.

I WISH I HAD HAD THAT.

OUR COMMUNITY PRE K, AGAIN, WE HAVE HIGH DEMAND.

WE NEED TO INCREASE. YES, MA'AM.

CLASSROOM SIZES WE NEED, OBVIOUSLY THE PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND TEACH OUR KIDS.

AGAIN, THAT RATE, EVEN WITH A $50 INCREASE, I WOULD DO THAT EVERY DAY ALL DAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEE, THAT'S WHY AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMPENSATION SCHEDULE DOES HELP PROVIDE FOR, WHERE THAT INCREASE IN THOSE FEES DOESN'T HIT QUITE AS HARD BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.

>> YES, MS. MCGOWAN?

>> DO WE KNOW WHAT, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TRS INCREASE WE GET I GUESS, MAYBE SEE WHAT THE TEACHERS OR WHAT EVERYONE IS ACTUALLY HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN, WHAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS?

>> OH, SURE, WE CAN SEND [BACKGROUND].

I WAS BACK ON THAT SLIDE. WE DID INCLUDE IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT THERE.

IF I'M ON ACTIVE CARE HD AND IF I'M EMPLOYEE ONLY, WHICH YOU CAN SEE, GO OVER 1,000 THAT ARE DOING EMPLOYEE ONLY, IT COSTS THEM EACH.

THAT'S THEIR MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION OF $200.

>> EMPLOYEE, THE FAMILY ACTIVE IS 1432.

WE'RE CONTRIBUTING 313?

>> YES.

>> THAT'S INSANE.

>> THAT'S SICK.

THE OTHER THING. SORRY, I JUST CAN'T EVEN FATHOM IT. SORRY.

>> YES, I'M AGREEING WITH MS. PACHECO.

THESE ARE NON-NEGOTIABLES.

LIKE EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID HERE, THESE ALLOCATED POSITIONS, MAYBE WE COULD FIND SOME ROOM IN THAT.

DO WE HAVE A WAITING LIST, AND I'M SURE WE DO.

WAITING LIST FOR THE LITTLE RAN WILDCAT LEARNING ACADEMY ALREADY?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD AND FINAL DAYCARE, WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE.

WE'RE NOT FULLY THERE, BUT WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO SEED EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES SIX WEEKS THROUGH TO ALMOST THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

>> THEY'RE READY. THEY'RE SIGNING UP.

>> OH, IT'S FOUR.

>> THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW. THAT IS LIKE NON-NEGOTIABLE.

>> WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD IN MAY, A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO UPDATE YOU ON THE CHILD LEARNING ACADEMIES AND THE IMPACT, AS MUCH AS WE CAN CORRELATE TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND HOW WE ARE RETAINING SOME OF OUR TEACHERS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND INVESTED IN THE CHILD LEARNING ACADEMIES. THAT WILL BE COMING IN MAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AGAIN, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I TOO AGREE.

I THINK WE NEED TO GO THE MOST AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK SOMEBODY HAD THE WORD EARLIER TONIGHT, CLARITY, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SEEK AND WILL HELP WITH THIS CALCULATION.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SOMEBODY MENTIONED KEEPING MOMENTUM OF, AND I THINK WE THREW DOWN THE GAUNTLET ON THE CULTURE THAT WE WANT TO BUILD AND WHAT WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR AS A DISTRICT.

I TOO WANT TO KEEP THAT CULTURE BUILDING, AND WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ADDING POSITIONS, BUT IF YOU DON'T ADD POSITIONS, YOU TALK ABOUT WORKLOAD INCREASING, AND I SEE PEOPLE'S WORKLOAD, THAT GOES COUNTER TO SOME OF THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD.

YOU CAN PAY THEM EXTRA DOLLARS, BUT IF YOU KEEP PILING ON TOP OF THEM, THE WORKLOAD, THAT CULTURE GOES DOWN THE DRAIN.

THAT'S THAT BALANCE THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN AS WELL.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE DOLLARS, IT'S THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND STUFF.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT INTO THIS, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT PRETTY CLEAR GUIDANCE ON WHAT DIRECTION WE NEED TO DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATING IN.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUICK MORE SLIDES JUST TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD IS BROUGHT ALONG.

>> EXCUSE ME, THIS PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE PAID LUNCH PRICE FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

IT'S 25 CENTS AT ALL SCHOOLS.

THIS DOES NOT IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND.

IT ONLY IMPACTS CHILD NUTRITION, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD RIGHT NOW WHILE WE WERE GOING TO RELEASE.

>> THIS DOES NOT IMPACT IN TERMS OF IF I QUALIFY FOR FREE LUNCH, I STILL QUALIFY FOR FREE LUNCH?

>> CORRECT. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT PIECE OTHER THAN IT KEEPS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO CHARGE FOR MEALS.

[03:20:02]

I DON'T KNOW HOW ACCURATE IT IS, AND WE WILL BRING YOU AN UPDATE AS THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

ALSO, I DO KNOW I JUST CHECKED MY EMAIL AND RECEIVED THE RUN FOR THE VERSION OF HOUSE BILL 2 THAT JUST PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE, AND THE ESTIMATE ACTUALLY IS FOR US NOW IS $20 MILLION, NOT $24 MILLION.

I NEED TO STUDY THAT.

I JUST LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM LINE NUMBER FOR THE INCREASE AND DON'T REALLY KNOW ALL OF WHAT THAT IS.

>> THAT ALSO IS BASED UPON IF WE LOSE AS MANY STUDENTS AS THE DEMOGRAPHER PROJECTED.

>> YES. THAT IS BASED ON DATA THAT I HAD TO SUBMIT TO TEA BACK IN DECEMBER BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THE DEMOGRAPHER REPORT FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND SO THAT WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE.

IT'S JUST A GAUGE TO SEE WHERE THINGS ARE HEADED.

>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE POLLYANNA AND I DON'T WANT TO TRY TO MISLEAD ANYONE.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S OTHER FUNDING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SAFETY AND SECURITY.

NOT ALL FUNDING IS COMING JUST FROM THE SENATE OR HOUSE FUNDING BILLS.

THERE ARE OTHER ALLOTMENTS OUT THERE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING.

AGAIN, AS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE BILL THAT WILL PROVIDE US OUR FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S STILL GOT TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THE POSITIVE IS THERE IS APPARENTLY SOME DESIRE TO INCREASE FUNDING.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY FOR ME IN THIS, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU UPDATED.

THEN OUR BUDGET CALENDAR, I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT TO YOU.

THAT IS JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

NONE OF THOSE DATES HAVE CHANGED.

WE STILL HAVE TO GET TO JUNE 2ND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS AND TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WILL ADD ONE THING AND SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED IT EARLIER ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE CALCULATIONS AND ALL THAT.

DR. GOODSON AND I BOTH HAVE GREAT PEOPLE WORKING FOR US.

ALLISON'S HERE TONIGHT, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HELP US PUT THESE NUMBERS TOGETHER, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT BOTH OF OUR TEAMS SUPPORT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, MR. PAGE, DR. GOODSON, AND THE TEAMS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR LEADING US DOWN THIS JOURNEY.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW

[VIII. Review and Discuss Board Policies]

MS. BRANHAM, MS. MCGOWAN, I'LL LET YOU READ THE INDIVIDUAL TITLE OF EACH ONE AS YOU GO THROUGH THEM.

>> THANK YOU. JUST AS A REMINDER AND WE HAVE THIS INTRODUCTION EACH TIME WE DO THESE POLICIES FOR ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING, THAT THE WAY THAT WE DO OUR POLICY REVIEWS, THEY MAY COME FROM A BOARD MEMBER, THEY MAY COME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, CHANGES BECAUSE OF COURT CASES OR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS.

WE DO THIS INFORMATION PRESENTATION TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN IT IS NOT GOING TO BE VOTED ON, IT WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

I'M GOING TO GO TO ACTUALLY CAA FIRST, WHICH IS OUR FISCAL MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, FINANCIAL ETHICS POLICY.

PART OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ARE FOR FORMATTING PURPOSES SO THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

THE CHANGES THAT ARE THERE ARE TO BRING THE POLICY IN ALIGNMENT WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE DISTRICT'S CURRENT PRACTICES, AND THE CHANGES ARE ON PAGE 3 AT FEDERAL AWARDS DISCLOSURE, AND THAT TEXT THERE IS JUST UPDATING THAT TEXT TO ALIGN WITH UPDATED RULES ON FEDERAL GRANTS, THAT'S FOUND IN THE FEDERAL CODE OF REGULATIONS, AND THOSE BECAME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 AND ARE REFLECTED IN THE LEGAL,

[03:25:06]

ANY QUESTIONS THAT MR. PAGE CAN ANSWER.

THE NEXT ONE IS CDA LOCAL OTHER REVENUES AND INVESTMENTS.

THE PARTICULAR REVISIONS HERE REFLECT REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.

SPECIFICALLY, THE SECTION ON SELLERS OF INVESTMENT ON PAGE 4 IS RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION TO SPECIFY WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE, AND IT IS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES WITH DISTRIBUTORS OF INVESTMENT POOLS MUST BE REGISTERED WITH THE TEXAS STATE SECURITIES BOARD, HAVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION, AND BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

IN THAT SAME PARAGRAPH, YOU'LL ALSO SEE THAT DISTRIBUTORS OF INVESTMENT POOLS MUST BE REGISTERED IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RULEMAKING BOARD.

AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH HAVE THE PROPER CREDENTIALING.

IN ADDITION, OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE SOME OUTDATED TERMINOLOGY, THERE IS SOME REPETITIVE LANGUAGE AND JUST REORDERING OF SOME OF THE SECTIONS.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE ADDITION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS AS ONE OF THE ALLOWABLES FOR INVESTMENTS.

THAT IS BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY THIS BOARD UPDATED THE CHART ON PAGE 7 TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL PAPER AS ONE OF THE ALLOWABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS.

AGAIN, CATCHING THIS POLICY UP WITH PREVIOUS CHANGES.

CFB, ACCOUNTING INVENTORIES.

THIS REVISION HERE, AGAIN, WE ARE ALIGNING THE POLICY WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS IN OUR CURRENT PRACTICES AT THE CAPITALIZATION CRITERIA SECTION.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO UPDATE THE THIRD BULLET TO REFLECT A USEFUL LIFE, ESTIMATED AT ONE YEAR OR MORE WHEN DETERMINING IF AN ITEM WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS A CAPITAL ITEM.

AGAIN, THAT IS PART OF THE STANDARD PRACTICE.

>> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].

>> THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE. BOARD POLICY DH LOCALS, OUR EMPLOYEES STANDARD OF CONDUCT.

THE BOARD MAY RECALL THAT WE DID RIGHT AFTER THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST US WITH OUR SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, AND WE DO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE WEAPONS ON OUR CAMPUSES, AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY ON PAGE 1, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THOSE CHANGES AREN'T SHOWING UP THERE, BUT IT'S ON PAGE 1, UNDER WEAPONS PROHIBITED.

JUST ADDING THAT THE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ABLE TO HOLD TO HAVE WEAPONS ON OUR CAMPUSES IN OUR DISTRICT FACILITIES.

ALSO ON PAGE 3, THE PROVISIONS ADDRESSING TOBACCO AND E CIGARETTES ARE BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE A BROADER LANGUAGE AROUND NICOTINE PRODUCTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY INCLUDE TOBACCO, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COVERING ALL OF THOSE TYPE OF PRODUCTS, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION DURING THE COMMENTS.

IF YOU WILL SEE THE LANGUAGE IN THE POLICY CLEARLY ALLOWS FOR AN EXCEPTION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SMOKING CESSATION PRODUCT USE.

EHB LOCAL CURRICULUM DESIGN, SPECIAL PROGRAMS. AGAIN, THESE REVISIONS ARE BASED ON UPDATED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE RULES, ADDRESSING DYSLEXIA AND RELATED DISORDERS, SPECIFICALLY, INCLUDING REFERENCES TO THE STATE DYSLEXIA HANDBOOK AND OUR COMMITTEE DECISIONS.

UPDATING THAT LANGUAGE THERE.

[03:30:04]

THERE WERE SOME CHANGES MADE TO THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, AS WELL AS THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE AND TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.

SOME ON PAGE 2, UNDER REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THERE'S A NEW SUBSECTION THAT IS GOING TO BE ADDED.

OR ORAL REPORTS, AND THAT REFLECTS THOSE CHANGES TO THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, THAT ANY ORAL REPORTS OR THAT ARE MADE HAVE TO BE RECORDED.

THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.

ALSO ON PAGE 3, WHERE WE HAVE MAKING A REPORT, THAT IT CLARIFIES THAT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE STATES THAT REPORTING INDIVIDUALS MUST PROVIDE THEIR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN MAKING A REPORT.

BUT ALSO BEING CLEAR THAT THE IDENTITY OF THAT PERSON WHO MAKES THE REPORT STILL HAS TO BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME FORMATTING CHANGES AS WELL TO AGAIN MAKE SURE IT IS ACCESSIBLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THEN POLICY GKA, COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PREMISES.

JUST LIKE WE CHANGED OUR DH POLICY RELATED TO LANGUAGE AROUND THE ELECTRONIC VAPORIZING DEVICES.

IT'S THE SAME CHANGE HERE.

IF YOU LOOK UNDER PROHIBITIONS, TOBACCO AND E-CIGARETTES, AGAIN, ADDING THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S BROAD ENOUGH TO COVER THOSE ITEMS AS WELL.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? MS. MCGOWAN?

>> I HAVE ONE REALLY QUICK QUESTION.

ON THE E-CIGARETTES, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER POLICY THAT MENTIONS I THINK [OVERLAPPING].

>> DH.

>> YEAH. ARE WE MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY INCLUDED IN THE HB6, THEY JUST PASSED THE HB6, AND THEY SAID THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE.

>> NO. THAT'S SPECIFIC TO STUDENT DISCIPLINE, IT DOES NOT RELATE TO EMPLOYEES.

>> THIS IS ALL RELATED TO EMPLOYEES. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MCGOWAN. MS. BRANHAM, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF, OUR VISITORS, AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

IT IS 9:52 PM AND

[IX. CLOSED MEETING]

THE BOARD IS RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION AT 11:24 PM HAVING TAKEN NO ACTION WHILE IN CLOSED SESSION.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 11:24 PM ON APRIL 17, 2025.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.