[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE CALLED MEETING OF THE
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.I'M CHRIS POTEET, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
MS. MEGAN TIMME WILL NOT BE JOINING US TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, AND THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:03 PM.
AT THIS TIME, WILL YOU PLEASE RISE TO BEGIN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? WE WOULD NOW LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR THE FAMILIES ACROSS TEXAS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE RECENT FLOODS.
OUR HEARTS ARE ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOVED ONES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN GRIEVING, GREAT LOSS OR CONNECTED TO OTHERS THAT ARE GRIEVING THAT GREAT LOSS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES ONE OF OUR OWN, AN RISD STUDENT WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE.
WHANE NAYLOR WAS A STUDENT AT LAKE HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY.
HER COMPASSION AND JOY WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED.
AS WE REFLECT, MAY THIS SILENCE BE A SPACE FOR COMPASSION, STRENGTH, AND UNITY WITHIN OUR RISD COMMUNITY.
LET US PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT NOW.
>> PRESIDENT POTEET, IF I MAY, ALSO, WE ALSO HAD AN APOLLO TEACHER WHO SERVED AS A COUNSELOR AT CAMP MYSTIC, AND THANKFULLY, SHE IS SAFE, BUT ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRAUMA, AND JUST OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HER AND HER FAMILY AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT.
THEREFORE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
[III. ACTION / INFORMATION ITEMS]
THAT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR MCKENNA VENTO DISCIPLINE, MS. BRANUM.>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IMPROVEMENT PLAN, REALLY THE ENTIRE '24, '25 SCHOOL YEAR AND HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED AROUND THIS PLAN.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE DID NOT DO IS BRING IT FORWARD TO THE BOARD TO TAKE ACTION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST DO BEFORE WE CAN SUBMIT THE FINALS REALLY COMPLETION TO SAY, YES, WE HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
DR. GIBBONS, ARE THERE ANY DETAILS OR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THE THING THAT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PLAN OF ACTION THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS ACTUALLY IS ALSO BEING TAKEN CARE OF ITSELF AS A PART OF HOUSE BILL SIX AND THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH LEGISLATION.
EVEN THE FACT THAT WE WERE UNDER THIS IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, WE WOULD NOT BE IN NEEDS OF IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE NO LONGER IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO.
WITH THAT, I DO ASK THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR MCKINNEY VENTO DISCIPLINE?
>> THANK YOU, MS. PACHECO. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU. MS. HARRIS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ACTION ITEM OR ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THANK YOU.
THAT IS SIX TO ZERO THAT MOTION PASSES.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN INFORMATION ITEM TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE, MS. BRANUM.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, BOTH THOSE THAT ARE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, THOSE THAT ARE SITTING OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO NOT ONLY IMPLEMENT A BOND WHEN IT'S PASSED, TO ALSO DO THE PLANNING AND THE PREPARATION WHEN WE KNOW ONE MIGHT BE UPCOMING.
THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO GET US TO THIS PLACE.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL WE ARE AND THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN, WHERE FOR THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS, OUR DISTRICT HAS HAD A BOND THAT WE HAVE
[00:05:01]
BROUGHT FORWARD TO OUR COMMUNITY ALMOST EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND THESE BONDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE FACILITIES AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.THEY CONTINUE TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO SHOW HOW MUCH THEY LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE DO IN RICHARDSON ISD.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE COMMITTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE BRING FORWARD TO THIS BOARD REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AS I SAY ALL THE TIME, WE RECOGNIZE RICHARDSON, ISD IS NOT MY DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE COMMUNITIES DISTRICT, AND THEY'VE ELECTED SEVEN AMAZING TRUSTEES TO SET THAT VISION AND THAT MISSION, AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME TO HELP EXECUTE THAT.
THIS COMMUNITY GROUP HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS WORK FOR OVER SIX MONTHS, MEETING ON A REGULAR BASIS, HAVING REALLY MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS, RECOGNIZING THAT IF THEY COULD, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO INCLUDE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE A DISTRICT THAT IS NOW CELEBRATING IT'S 112TH BIRTHDAY WITH FACILITIES THAT HAVE AN AVERAGE AGE OF OVER 58 YEARS.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST TO MAKE THIS A DISTRICT THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE ONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MS. HAYES.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HER THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE LEADING THIS PROCESS, AND IF THIS MOVES FORWARD AND IF THE BOARD APPROVES FOR US TO CALL A BOND, MS. HAYES IS GOING TO BE KIND OF OUR POINT PERSON THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR HER.
SHE HAS THAT LONGITUDINAL EXPERIENCE AND THAT HISTORY, AND I KNOW SHE IS GOING TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE REALLY JUST THE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE WE NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY MOVE FORWARD.
MS. HAYES, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM.
I LOVE DESCRIPTIONS WITHOUT SAYING SHE'S OLD, SO I APPRECIATE.
I HAVE LONGITUDINAL HISTORY, SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
TONIGHT, I'M THRILLED TO PRESENT TO YOU SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR BOND STEERING COMMITTEE.
OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY SINCE BACK IN MARCH TO PUT TOGETHER ALL THE NECESSARY DATA TO UNDERSTAND IT, TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THIS IS A VERY INQUISITIVE TEAM.
WE HAD 62 FOLKS THAT STARTED OUT THAT SAID THEY WANTED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
IN THE END, WE HAVE 52 THAT MADE REGULAR APPEARANCES AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND OVER HALF SHOWED UP FOR FINAL VOTES, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT AFTER WORKING THROUGH AND HAVING OUR FIRST-EVER TIMELINE OF A BOND BEING THE SUMMERTIME.
THIS IS THE NEW TIMELINE FOR THE DISTRICT.
ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES WERE MET.
TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO LET EACH OF THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY EACH HAVE A COMPELLING STORY AND ARE VERY PASSIONATE, AND THEY CAN DO FAR BETTER THAN I CAN BY JUST SHARING NAMES.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE SEVEN THAT REPRESENT THE 52.
BEFORE YOU START A MAN, COME ON UP.
OTHER MEMBERS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WOULD STAND AS WELL, IF YOU WERE PART OF THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE, WE HAVE BLANK AND MARK WITH US.
[APPLAUSE] HERE TO SUPPORT WE'VE ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO COME TO THE AUGUST 8 MEETING IF THEY CAN SO THAT THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED IN THE REGULAR FRONT MEETING.
SO HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF THEM HERE.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA.
>> WELCOME. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING.
I DID THE SAME THING TO MS. HAYES THIS EVENING. I KNOW.
IT'S MORNING SOMEWHERE. BEFORE I GET STARTED, AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR HAVING US.
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF THAT SUPPORTED US THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WHO ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS. WE HAD A LOT OF THEM.
I THINK WE PROBABLY STILL HAVE SOME, AND THEY ARE STILL ANSWERING THEM WHEN THEY COME IN.
I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF AND GET US STARTED WITH BOND HISTORY.
I AM A MOM OF THREE RICHARDSON, HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING COMMUNITY STUDENTS.
I HAVE AN INCOMING OR RISING EIGHTH GRADER AT MISWOOD JUNIOR HIGH AND THEN A RISING FIFTH GRADER AND SECOND GRADER AT SPRING CREEK ELEMENTARY.
I AM NOT FROM THE RICHARDSON COMMUNITY, BUT I LIKE TO SAY I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD. I WORK IN EDUCATION.
I SEE LOTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND I CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT IN MY MIND, IT'S THE ABSOLUTE BEST DISTRICT TO HAVE MY KIDS IN.
I WOULD NOT CHOOSE ANYWHERE ELSE TO PUT THEM.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M GOING TO DIVE INTO BOND HISTORY AND WHY WE GOT HERE, OR HOW WE GOT HERE.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, BONDS HAVE BEEN
[00:10:02]
A PART OF OUR HISTORY SINCE 1951, AND IN 1996, THE BOARD DECIDED TO MAKE THIS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR FISCAL MODEL WITH A FIVE-YEAR CYCLE, LIKE SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM SAID.WE ARE UP FOR THAT FIFTH YEAR IN MAY OF 2026.
BUT GIVEN THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THIS SPRING, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL BE ASKED TO MOVE THE BOND VOTING ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.
WE OR YOU ALL, THE DISTRICT DECIDED TO START THE PROCESS SIX MONTHS EARLY.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING BOND IF YOU CHOOSE THE COL OF BOND FOR 2026.
ULTIMATELY, BANS ARE THE WAY WE AS A DISTRICT REACH OUR NORTH STAR GOAL THAT EVERY STUDENT, TEACHER, LEADER WILL MEET OR EXCEED THEIR ACADEMIC GROW GOALS.
TO START US, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE NEED, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CHELSEA.
>> THANK YOU, AMANDA. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CHELSEA JEFFERY, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE JOINING YOU GUYS TONIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR BOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SHARE OUR FINDINGS AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
MY HUSBAND, DAVID, AND I HAVE LIVED IN RICHARDSON ISD FOR 10 YEARS, AND WE HAVE FOUR BOYS, TWO WHO ARE CURRENT STUDENTS AT LAKE HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY, AND TWO FUTURE WILDCATS.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF RICHARDSON ISD IN VARIOUS WAYS, INCLUDING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IN 2017.
LIVING IN LAKE HIGHLANDS, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE BOND PROCESS THROUGH THE 2021 BOND PROJECTS AT FOREST MEADOW AND LAKE HIGHLANDS JUNIOR HIGH.
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, MY FIRST GRADER GETS TO PRACTICE SOCCER AT THE NEW FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE FIRST TIME HE HAD PRACTICED THERE, HE CAME HOME SAYING, MOM, THESE ARE THE BEST SOCCER FIELDS THAT I'VE EVER PLAYED ON.
EACH MORNING, I GET TO DRIVE BY LAKE HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEE STUDENTS WALKING THROUGH WELCOMING AND WELL-LIT DOORS.
PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING AROUND THE TRACK, PLAYING ON THE TENNIS COURTS, AND ENJOYING THE NEW LANDSCAPING TREES AND LIGHTS.
I'VE SPENT MANY HOURS IN THE LAKE HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL GYM THIS PAST WINTER, ENJOYING AND CHEERING ON MY FOURTH GRADER AND HIS BASKETBALL GAMES.
THEY'RE THRIVING HUBS FOR LEARNING, COMMUNITY, AND CONNECTION THAT WERE ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY THE 2021 BOND, AND THAT I BELIEVE EVERY RICHARDSON ISD LEARNING COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.
WHEN OUR BOND HEARING COMMITTEE FIRST CAME TOGETHER, ONE THING BECAME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
WE ARE A GROUP THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN RICHARDSON ISD.
MANY OF US CHOSE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE SCHOOLS AND THE FEEL OF THE COMMUNITY.
MANY OF US ARE PRODUCTS OF RICHARDSON ISD VERY CLASSROOMS. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT RSD IS THAT THOSE WHO GROW UP HERE OFTEN DON'T LEAVE HERE.
THEY STAY AND THEY GIVE BACK AS EDUCATORS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, AND PARENTS.
THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT GROWS ITS OWN, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THAT TRADITION CONTINUES.
BUT AS OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR WORLD AROUND US CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, SO MUST OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO THRIVE.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT NOT JUST THE STUDENTS OF TODAY, BUT THOSE OF TOMORROW AS WELL.
THAT MEANS PROVIDING EVERY STUDENT, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY LEADER WITH THEIR RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO MEET AND EXCEED THOSE ACADEMIC GROWTH GOALS EACH DAY.
THESE BONDS ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CAPITAL NEEDS, FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT TEACHING AND LEARNING IN OUR CLASSROOMS. IN 2021, RICHARDSON ISD VOTERS APPROVED A $750,000,000 BOND TO FUND CRITICAL CAPITAL MATERIALS AND FACILITY UPGRADES.
IT LAUNCHED MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION AT LAKE HIGHLANDS EN FEST MEADOW JUNIOR HIGHS, RENOVATIONS AT SEVERAL ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES, AND FUNDED KEY INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES.
WHILE IT MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, IT DIDN'T ADDRESS ALL OF ISD'S NEEDS.
THE DISTRICT HAS NOW ISSUED ALL THE 2021 BONDS AND HAS MADE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE CREDIT RATING FROM MOODY'S AND S&P WHILE KEEPING THE INS TAX RATE STUDY.
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE REFLECTED ON THE NEEDS THAT WERE ADDRESSED AND UNADDRESSED IN THE 2021 BOND, AS WELL AS OUR CURRENT NEEDS, SPENDING MANY HOURS HEARING FROM AND ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
SPECIAL EDUCATION, FINE ARTS, CTE, ATHLETICS, EARLY CHILDHOOD, ESL, TRANSPORTATION, CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THEM ABOUT THEIR MOST PRESSING CAPITAL NEEDS.
THESE NEEDS ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL AND WIDE-RANGING.
UP HERE, YOU SEE A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT KEY RESOURCES FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS, AND THE STAFF ACROSS THIS DISTRICT.
>> THEY INCLUDE FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES FOR LEARNING,
[00:15:03]
LIKE UPDATED DYSLEXIA CURRICULUM, EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND NURSES CLINICS, BAND INSTRUMENTS AND UNIFORMS, THEATER COSTUMES, AND ATHLETIC YEAR AND AGE-APPROPRIATE PRE-K CLASSROOM MATERIALS.WE ALSO HEARD A CLEAR AND URGENT NEED FOR OUR FACILITIES.
LIKE SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM SAID, MANY OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD OR MORE.
WHILE THEY CARRY A DEEP SENSE OF HISTORY AND PRIDE, THEY ALSO COME WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS AS THEY'RE AGENT.
THAT INCLUDES CRITICAL HVAC REPAIRS, UPDATING EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BATHROOM TO MEET CURRENT STANDARDS, ADA ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS SECURITY UPGRADES, AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL IN TODAY'S EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES REMAIN SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND WELCOMING FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
BUT WHAT MAKES A BOND TRULY EXCITING IS ITS ABILITY TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD LOOKING INVESTMENTS IS A PROPOSED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WITH HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-DEMAND JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION BEFORE THEY EVEN GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO IMAGINE WALKING INTO A FACILITY, WHERE STUDENTS FROM BERKNER, PIERCE, LAKE HIGHLANDS, AND RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER TO LEARN, COLLABORATE, AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
PICTURE A STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL TRAINING FACILITY THAT FEATURES THE SAME EQUIPMENT IN METHODIST HOSPITAL, WHERE STUDENTS ARE PRACTICING TRIAGE.
THEY'RE PRACTICING HOW TO DRAW BLOOD.
THEY'RE PRACTICING HOW TO MEET PATIENTS' PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS.
NEARBY IN A MICRO CHIP LAB, 16-YEAR-OLDS COULD BE BUILDING CHIPS THAT ARE THE SAME CHIPS PRODUCED BY TEXAS INSTRUMENT AND POWERING THE TECHNOLOGY A TOMORROW.
DOWN THE HALL, STUDENTS MIGHT BE WORKING IN AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP.
OUTFITS TRAIN THEM ON ELECTRIC HYBRID, AND GASOLINE VEHICLES, SO THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SKILLS FOR TOYOTA AND OTHER REGIONAL CAR MANUFACTURERS.
YET IN ANOTHER WING, STUDENTS ARE TRAINING ON REAL HVAC SYSTEMS TO PASS CERTIFICATION EXAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLAS COLLEGE, PREPARING THEM TO EARN SUMMER JOBS WITH COMPANIES LIKE BAKER BROTHERS TO HELP US KEEP OUR HOME SCHOOL AS THESE TEXAS SUMMER HEAT CONTINUES TO RISE, ALL BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.
OTHER DISTRICTS LIKE DALLAS, GARLAND, FRISCO, ROCKWALL, AND PLANO, ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THEIR STUDENTS WITH THESE EXPERIENCES THROUGH CTE CENTERS, AND MANY MORE HAVE MADE THE LEAP WITH THEIR COMMUNITY TO BEGIN TO BUILD THE CTE CENTERS.
WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT RICHARDSON ISD STUDENTS DESERVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THOSE REAL WORLD SKILLS AND WORKFORCE READINESS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR THE CAREERS THEY DREAMED OF WHEN THEY WALKED THROUGH OUR DOORS AS PRE-K STUDENTS.
ANOTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT NEED IN THIS BOND IS OUR DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION.
WE KNOW THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A CRITICAL TURNING POINT IN A STUDENT'S ACADEMIC JOURNEY, AND TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THIS EXCITING VISION, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MATT JACOB TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU, CHELSEA. MY NAME IS MATT JACOB.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS ACROSS TWO LEARNING COMMUNITIES, EIGHT YEARS IN LAKE HIGHLANDS AND THE LAST 12 YEARS IN PIERCE, THREE CHILDREN.
OUR ELDEST JUST GRADUATED FROM PIERCE AND WE'LL BE SENDING HIM OFF TO ARKANSAS IN TWO WEEKS, WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY.
THEN WE HAVE A RISING SOPHOMORE DAUGHTER AT PIERCE AND A RISING SIXTH GRADER AT BOWIE.
I SEE MY ROLE ON THIS BOND STEERING COMMITTEE IS A BRIDGE.
I RECALL BACK SERVING ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND THEN ON THE DISTRICT GRADE CONFIGURATION COMMITTEE, THE BOND '21 COMMITTEE AND NOW THE BOND '25 COMMITTEE.
IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE ALONG EACH OF THOSE POINTS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM MY PEERS AND FROM THOSE AROUND THE SHOE AND THE DISTRICT STAFF.
WE ARE TRYING TO LIVE INTO THIS NORTH STAR, TO BE THE BEST DISTRICT THAT WE CAN BE FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR FACULTY, FOR OUR STAFF, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
EACH STEP ALONG THE WAY, IT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
WHAT I FEEL WE CAN REALLY LEAN INTO NOW IS THE FACT THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE DISTRICT-GRADE CONFIGURATION COMMITTEE, WHERE OVER 40 PARTICIPANTS PARENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY.
[00:20:01]
SOME OF YOU AROUND THE SHOE, EVEN TODAY IN THE AUDIENCE, WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO LEAN INTO OUR STUDIES, TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS AND REALLY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT MADE SENSE TO TRANSFORM FROM A 7TH, 8TH JUNIOR HIGH MODEL INTO A 6, 07, 8TH MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL, WHICH 95% OF ALL SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS ALREADY SUBSCRIBED TO.WE WERE ABLE TO STUDY STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
WE STUDIED CURRICULUM, STUDENT WELLNESS CONSIDERATIONS, ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS.
WHAT WE CAME DOWN TO IS THAT BY MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION, AND I REMEMBER IT VIVIDLY BECAUSE IT WAS DURING COVID AND I WAS SITTING IN MY STUDY AND I BROUGHT FORTH THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS TRANSFORMATION INTO A MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL.
WHAT WE ULTIMATELY DECIDED IS THAT A MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL ALLOWS US TO HAVE A STRONGER ALIGNMENT TO TICKS.
IT ALLOWS US TO BE PART OF THE 95% IN THE STATE AND NOT THE 5%.
IT REALLY JUST IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT BY BRINGING FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION, WHICH TO THE BOARD IN 2020 AND WAS ADOPTED JANUARY 11TH OF 2021, THREE OF YOU AROUND THE SHOE NOW ARE PART OF THE BOARD THAT APPROVED THAT RECOMMENDATION.
IT HELPED US INFORM BOND '21, AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE AT THAT TIME, IS THAT THE BOARD NOT ONLY ADOPTED A TRANSFORMATION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT MADE SURE THAT ANY BONDS MOVING FORWARD, WE WOULD ACTUALIZE THAT TRANSFORMATION, STARTED IN LAKE HIGHLANDS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AND THE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE BROUGHT ABOUT BY A NEW LAKE HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A RE-IMAGINED FOREST MEADOW MIDDLE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMATIONAL.
WE'VE SEEN THOSE ACTUALIZED IN THE LAKE HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY.
NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE THAT FURTHER ACTUALIZATION OF THE COMMITMENT AND THE INVESTMENT THAT THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT HAS MADE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BY HOLDING TRUE TO THAT INVESTMENT, IT'S CRITICAL.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT PATH FORWARD, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF BOND '25 COMMITTEE, AND BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN A PART OF RICHARDSON ISD FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
LIKE SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM SAID, THIS IS NOT A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE LEAVE FROM.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THIS DISTRICT IN THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT.
I BELIEVE IN OUR STUDENTS, I BELIEVE IN OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TRANSFORMATIONAL IN NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT WE BRING IN TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS, BUT THE PRODUCT OF THIS DISTRICT, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING OUT AND LEADING PRODUCTIVE LIVES.
WE ARE PREPARING THEM FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN BE A PART OF IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS, IS THAT WHEN MY SON GRADUATES, AND HOPEFULLY FOUR YEARS FROM ARKANSAS, HE COMES BACK AND WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS DISTRICT, TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY FED INTO HIM.
MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL LET KRISTIN HOLLAND SHEAR TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KRISTIN HOLLAND SHEAR.
I'VE LIVED IN RICHARDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE 2003.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISTRICT WAS AS THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS EDUCATION REPORTER.
I GO TO SIT OUT HERE AND ENGAGE WITH PREDECESSORS AND LOVED EVERY MOMENT.
WHAT THAT TOLD ME THOUGH WAS THAT WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED HAVING CHILDREN, WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE STAYING HERE.
WE'RE STAYING PUT. WE NOW HAVE THREE CHILDREN.
MY CHILDREN ARE EXACT SAME AGE AS MATT'S.
WE HAVE A JUST GRADUATED CLASS OF 2025 RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO IS GOING OFF TO COLORADO STATE ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO PURSUE TECHNICAL THEATER, WHICH WAS A PASSION THAT WAS IGNITED FIRST AT WEST AND THEN AT RHS.
THEY ARE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS. I HAVE A INCOMING SOPHOMORE WHO HAD MANY OF HER FORMATIVE YEARS IN RICHARDSON.
SHE DID END UP AT BOOKER T, BUT SHE SPENT ALL OF HER EARLY YEARS BEFORE.
RICHARDSON REALLY PREPARED HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HER ENDEAVORS.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE A RISING SIXTH GRADER AT HAMILTON PARK, PACE CENTER MAGNET, WHO IS LESS THAN ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT MOVING TO UNIFORMS THIS NEXT YEAR, BUT I THINK IT'LL HELP HIM GET DRESSED A LITTLE BIT FASTER IN THE MORNING.
[00:25:01]
TOUGH HOW WE CAME TO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS NOT REALLY UNIQUE.I DO WANT TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW WE GOT TO WHAT YOU WILL HEAR MOMENTARILY.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITTEE WAS FORMED TO REALLY EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS OUR EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY, FACILITY, AND INSTRUCTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
ENSURING THAT IT WAS ALIGNED WITH OUR NORTH STAR GOAL, WHICH I WILL NOT REPEAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S HERE ON THE WALL AND WE SPEAK OFTEN TO IT.
BUT THAT WAS REALLY THE GUIDING FORCE OF ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
THROUGHOUT THIS, WE RELIED ON OUR SHARED PURPOSE TO ACT ON THE CHARGE, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ALL APPROVED, GIVEN TO OUR COMMITTEE.
IT WAS TO REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT BAT JUST SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY TO.
IT WAS TO PRIORITIZE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS.
THIS INCLUDED NEW CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONS, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, BUSES, AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.
WE WERE ALSO ASKED TO REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE THOSE TRADITIONAL BOND PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE ALL THE TIME.
THIS INCLUDES THE INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT, STUDENT AND STAFF TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, CORE HENRY HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME, UNIFORMS AND INSTRUMENTS, FACILITY NEEDS, INCLUDING ADA REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN ALSO OUR TECHNOLOGY NETWORKING NEEDS.
WE'RE ALSO ASKED TO CONSIDER THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, REALLY SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OR EXCEED THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH GOALS.
THAT IS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND ALL LEADERS.
WE WERE ASKED TO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WITH THEIR VALUES, THEIR PERCEPTIONS.
WE WERE ASKED TO GO OUT AND TALK TO FRIENDS, PEERS, NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, FIND OUT WHERE THEY SEE OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH.
WE WERE ALSO ASKED TO CONSIDER THE DISTRICT'S CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION AND FUNDING METHODS TO ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAINED OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
AS SANDRA SHARED, 52 COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAID YES.
THEY SAID YES TO SERVING ON THIS COMMIT FITTING.
THEY SAID YES TO THIS WORK, AND THEY YES TO SHOWING UP IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT WAS HOT, AND KIDS WERE ON VACATION, AND WE HAD TO COME TO THE RZL BUILDING AND THEY SHOWED UP.
IT INCLUDED STAFF, INCLUDED PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ALL FOUR LEARNING COMMUNITIES, SO THAT WE REALLY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE RANGE OF ALL PERSPECTIVES AND ALL PRIORITIES.
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WE VISITED FOREST MEADOW MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH, FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN LIKE THE RISD, THE RICHARDSON COMMUNITY, THAT WAS EYE OPENING.
WE ALSO VISITED LIBERTY JUNIOR HIGH, WHERE WE REALLY UNDERSTOOD THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK.
WE COMPLETED A MINI-COURSE IN SCHOOL FINANCE AND ALL ABOUT RECAPTURE AND LEARNED HOW DISTRICTS REALLY USE BONDS, HOW THEY'VE USED THEM HISTORICALLY, AND HOW THEY USE THEM NOW TO FUND EVERYTHING FROM ATHLETIC UNIFORMS TO TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO CONSTRUCTION.
LET ME SEE. WE ALSO HAD A ROUND ROBIN SESSION.
I THINK A COUPLE OF YOU WERE IN ATTENDANCE, WHERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT WITH A LINE ITEM SPENT TIME WALKING US THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS, SHARING, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS FOR, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE CONSIDERED, THIS IS HOW WE PLAN TO USE IT, AND EVERY SINGLE RATIONALE DOWN TO THE DOLLAR.
WE PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS AND SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS ON KEY AREAS OF THE PROPOSAL.
WE HAD DEEP DIVES, SEVERAL DEEP DIVES IN TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAD DEEP DIVES INTO CURRICULUM.
WE HAD A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, BOTH WHAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS WHAT WE HOPE TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, RISD LEADERS, SO HERE'S THE ROOF PRESENTED DETAILED DATA EXAMPLES AND CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO HELP US REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE.
AGAIN, WE LOOKED AT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, WE LOOKED AT INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, WE LOOKED AT FACILITIES ASSESSMENTS, WE LOOKED AT PROJECTS, WE LOOKED INTO DEFERRED OR POOR ELEMENTARY RESTROOMS. APPARENTLY, THAT'S A THING.
[00:30:01]
>> WE ALSO LOOKED AT TAX IMPLICATIONS.
WITH ANY BONDS, THERE'S GENERALLY A TAX IMPLICATION, SO WE LOOKED AT THAT TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT MEMBERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT AT ALL OF THE STAFF.
YOU GUYS ENCOURAGED US TO ASK QUESTIONS, SEEK CLARIFICATION, AND CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS, AND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE DID THAT AND THEN SUM.
AS OUTLINED IN OUR CHARGE, WE MAINTAINED TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR SIX MONTHS OF MEETINGS ARE ON THE BOND WEBSITE.
YOU CAN WATCH THE PRESENTATIONS, YOU CAN WATCH THE MEETING MINUTES, AND YOU CAN ALSO JUST FIND OUT MORE DETAILS.
YOU'LL SEE THE NAMES OF THE 52 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED UP ON THE SLIDE, AS WELL AS OUR PURPOSE, AND HERE'S THE TIMELINE.
TODAY, AS I TRANSITIONED, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO LARRY SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR OUR RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OF COURSE, I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON.
>> SHOULD BE IN THE NEW ONE. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT SHOULD BE AN ARROW POINT TO THE RIGHT.
>> THERE WE GO. SORRY. AS MY EYE DOCTOR TOLD ME, MY BODY OUTLIVED MY EYES, SO I GOT TO PUT ON MY GLASSES.
I AM A PARENT IN THE PEARCE LEARNING COMMUNITY.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO GRADUATED IN 2024.
SHE'S AT DALLAS COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, THE RICHLAND CAMPUS, AND HER SON IS GOING TO BE A SENIOR THIS YEAR.
I PARTICIPATED BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG FAMILIES HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES MY FAMILY DID.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
HERE'S OUR RECOMMENDATION, IF I CAN GET IT TO WORK.
AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAD 33 PEOPLE WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE VOTE.
WE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RECOMMEND A BOND REFERENDUM FOR 2025, WHICH I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATED IN ENDLESS GROUPS, AND I CANNOT REMEMBER WHERE I GOT 33 PEOPLE TO ALL VOTE UNANIMOUSLY ON ANYTHING EVER.
BY MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS, WHICH IS SILL PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, WE RECOMMENDED A FOUR-CENT TAX RATE INCREASE TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO COVER THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS THAT WE'VE ALREADY LISTED PREVIOUSLY ON SLIDE 8.
I THINK THE NEXT ONE IS HOW IT BREAKS DOWN.
IT'S A THREE SEPARATE PACKAGES.
ONE IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE LION SHARE OF THE FUND, WHICH IS TO COVER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL REBUILDS, AS WAS MENTIONED, AS WELL AS A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF.
THE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES IS NEXT ON THE LIST.
THAT IS A REFRESH FOR STUDENT AND FACULTY MACHINES.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE TECHNOLOGY TEAM BECAUSE WHEN WE DID DO OUR DEEP DIVE, THEY ACTUALLY CAME BACK AND THEY ADJUSTED THEIR NUMBER DOWN.
THEY EXTENDED THE USABLE LIFE OF THE MACHINES REALLY LONGER.
I'M IN TECHNOLOGY, AS IT SO HAPPENS, AND IT'S LONGER THAN WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.
THEY REALLY SHOWED TAKING FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND DOING WHAT THEY COULD TO MAKE THOSE NUMBERS WORK BETTER. I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LATER.
HERE'S A PIE CHART JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE FUNDS BREAK OUT.
THE STADIUM UPGRADES, REALLY SMALL PORTION OF IT BY COMPARISON TO THE WHOLE BOND PACKAGE.
LET'S SEE, WHERE ARE WE? PROPOSITION A. HERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT IT COVERS.
AS WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS THE CTE CENTER.
WE ALREADY MENTIONED THERE'S GOING TO BE SKILL SETS TRAINED THERE, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, AUTO-MECHANICS, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT, THOSE ARE ALL BADLY NEEDED SKILL SETS IN TODAY'S WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND THEY CANNOT BE OFFSHORED.
MY JOB TODAY COULD VERY EASILY BE OFFSHORED.
I CALL AN ELECTRICIAN, I NEED THE GUY THAT'S DOWN THE STREET.
I CALL THE HVAC GUY, I CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY COMING FROM VERY FAR AWAY, AS I JUST LIVED THROUGH WITH MY HOT WATER HEATER AND A PLUMBER, ACTUALLY.
TECHNOLOGY ALREADY DRAIN THE SLIDE.
[00:35:02]
I MENTIONED THAT IT'S FOR DEVICES FOR THE FACULTY AND THE KIDS.I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, SO I WON'T REPEAT THAT.
THEN PROP C IS FOR THE STADIUM UPGRADES.
MAIN FOCUS HERE IS ADA UPGRADES TO THE HIGH-SCHOOL STADIUMS. OBVIOUSLY, VERY IMPORTANT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SERVING ALL OUR STUDENTS.
THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME LIGHTING AND TURF UPGRADES AS WELL.
THAT IS IT FOR ME. I'M GOING TO HAND IT OFF TO LUIS.
SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO GO OVER THE DETAILED NUMBERS FOR YOU. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> IF I MAY, WHILE OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS COMING UP, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE THREE PROPS, HOW THEY WERE DIVIDED, IS THAT IS WHAT WE ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED.
WHEN WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD ANY BOND RECOMMENDATION, IF YOU HAVE A GENERAL CONSTRUCTION THAT CAN BE IN ONE, ANYTHING WITH TECHNOLOGY DEVICES MUST BE IN ITS OWN REFERENDUM, AND THEN IF YOU'RE DOING ANY UPGRADES TO A STANDALONE ATHLETIC FACILITY LIKE OUR STADIUMS, THAT HAS TO BE IN ITS OWN REFERENDUM.
THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THOSE THREE POTENTIAL PROPOSITIONS THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING TO THE BOARD.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LUIS ROJAS.
BEFORE I GET TO THE PART THAT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT ME.
I CAME TO THE CITY WHEN MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME OVER HERE FROM HOUSTON.
I WAS THE LAST CLASS OF FIRST GRADERS IN 1998 TO GO TO BE IN DOBIE.
I WENT FROM RISD ACADEMY TO PARKHILL JUNIOR HIGH TO JJ PEARCE.
I WAS THE SECOND FRESHMAN IN JJ PEARCE.
I HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW, MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER.
MY SON IS ABOUT TO START HIS FIRST YEAR IN WEST JUNIOR HIGH, AND MY DAUGHTER IS THREE-YEARS-OLD, MY COVID BABY, [LAUGHTER] IS ABOUT TO START IN THIS DISTRICT ALSO.
WHEN MY SON WAS YOUNG, HE REALLY COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK, COULDN'T COMMUNICATE, COULDN'T REALLY VERBALLY TALK TO US.
RISD SENT MY SON TO DOBIE, WHICH DOBIE HELPED HIM A LOT, AND NOW WE CAN'T GET HIM TO STOP TALKING.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN HE WENT TO RISD ACADEMY DURING COVID, HE GOT DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND DYSLEXIA.
IT REALLY HURT US, BUT RISD ACADEMY TOOK CARE OF HIM VERY WELL, TOOK CARE OF HIM THAT ALL HIS NEEDS WAS THERE NO MATTER WHAT.
THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM ON HIS NEEDS BECAUSE RISD ACADEMY HAD HIM.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE RISD ACADEMY FOR THAT.
SORRY. ON THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE, THE ONES THAT ARE BOLDED ON, WE SEE THE CITIES THAT ARE CLOSE TO US.
THE ONES I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IS DALLAS, GARLAND, AND PLANO, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBOR CITIES.
DALLAS PASSED A 3.5 BILLION BOND DURING COVID, WHICH IS IN 2000.
THEN GARLAND PASSED A 1.2 BILLION AND PLANO PASSED A 1.4 BILLION, WHICH IS IN '23.
WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO PASS A FOUR-CENTS TAX INCREASE.
ON THE FIRST TABLE, YOU'LL SEE THE AMOUNTS OF HOME VALUES FROM 20,000-900,000.
ON THE BOTTOM YOU'LL SEE THE PRICES OF HOW MUCH THEY WILL PAY.
ON THE BLUE ONE IS MAINLY THE AVERAGE HOME IN RICHARDSON, WHICH IS 500,000, WHICH THEY WILL ONLY PAY $124 A YEAR.
WITH A MONTHLY, IT WILL BE JUST $10 AND 33 CENTS, WHICH PRETTY MUCH THAT COMES OUT AS A MEAL AT MCDONALD'S, THREE GALLONS OF GAS, A PACK OF MEAT.
THE CALCULATION INCLUDES RISD 10% LOCAL OPTION HOME EXEMPTION, AND ASSUMES A PASSAGE OF THE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT IN AUSTIN TO INCREASE THE STATE MANDATE HOME EXEMPTION TO 140,000.
[00:40:03]
FOUR HUNDRED AND ONE HAD RESPONDED TO THIS SURVEY, AND THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS 4.9%.THE MAIN REASON VOTERS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL IS BECAUSE THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THE TAX INCREASE.
SORRY. THEY DON'T TRUST IT WOULD BE SPENT WISELY, AND VOTERS RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF US DON'T EVEN NEED THE MONEY HERE IN THIS DISTRICT.
BUT WHEN THEY TELL THEM MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT, 61% APPROVES THE BOND.
THERE'S REALLY NO DIFFERENCE IN THE SUPPORT BETWEEN THE BOND AMOUNT OF 999 MILLION AND 1.4 BILLION.
BEFORE I PASS ON TO MY COLLEAGUE, I WANT TO PUT MY LAST INPUT ON THIS.
IF WE DON'T GET THIS PASS TO THE PEOPLE, NECESSARY MATERIALS, SUPPLIES THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE TO THE STUDENTS, KEY CONSTRUCTIONS WON'T BE DONE.
DEFERRING THIS PROJECT WILL COST THE DISTRICT MORE MONEY IN THE FUTURE. I'M SORRY.
WHO KNOWS WE MIGHT HAVE THE NEXT POLITICIAN OUT HERE, THE NEXT SUPERSTAR, OR THE NEXT GORDON RAMSAY HERE? THIS IS THE NEXT GENERATION THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT, AND IT STARTS HERE WITH Y'ALL. THANK YOU.
I AM TIED TO RISD IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.
I ATTENDED RISD FROM SIXTH GRADE TO NINTH GRADE BACK WHEN IT WAS CALLED THE LAKE HIGHLANDS FRESHMAN CENTER.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST OR SECOND CLASS AT THE FRESHMAN CENTER AT THE TIME.
TODAY, I AM A PARENT OF FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN IN RISD, AND I ALSO WORK WITH RISD AS AN AMHARIC-ENGLISH INTERPRETER THROUGH THE COMPANY THAT'S CONTRACTED WITH RISD.
I AM THE MOST FREQUENTLY REQUESTED AMHARIC INTERPRETER FOR SPED.
THAT IS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY HAVE LIVED MANY OF THE EXPERIENCES THESE PARENTS GO THROUGH, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND ALSO AS MY EXPERIENCE AS A PREVIOUS STUDENT IN RISD.
WELL, BEFORE I SAY THAT, I WANT TO MAKE IT EVENTUALLY FULL CIRCLE AS A STUDENT, A PARENT, AND EVENTUALLY, AN EMPLOYEE OF RISD ONE DAY.
BUT TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE BOND PROGRAMS THAT WERE LISTED HERE WILL IMPACT CHILDREN, STARTING WITH MY OWN.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO IN ORDER OF BIRTH TO CONFUSE YOU ALL, SO I'M GOING TO START SOMEWHERE.
LET ME BEGIN WITH MY DAUGHTER, MARIAM.
MY DAUGHTER, MARIAM, STARTED IN RISD'S DOBIE ELEMENTARY IN THE CENTRALIZED PROGRAM IN THE ECSE.
WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED, SHE DID NOT WALK, SHE BARELY COMMUNICATED, AND NOW, SHE HAS BEEN WALKING INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED BY SPED TEAM.
I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL TO HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND I OWE IT TO THE INPUT OF THE RISD SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, WHETHER THE THERAPIST.
I ALMOST SAY, WALKING INTO HER ART MEETING IS LIKE WALKING INTO A BOARD MEETING BECAUSE LUCKILY FOR HER, WE HAVE VARIETY OF SERVICES, AND I FEEL LIKE SHE GETS EVERY SINGLE SERVICE THAT RISD HAS TO OFFER.
BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT SHE HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, WHICH I'M A PART OF, BECAUSE SHE OR AT LEAST I PUSH AGAINST THE STIGMA THAT OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CAN ATTEND SCHOOL, CAN GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, AND CAN IMPROVE, AND HER POTENTIAL IS DEFINITELY SEEN.
[00:45:06]
>> THEN LET ME TALK ABOUT MY OTHER DAUGHTER, AMINA, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.
THANKS TO ADOBE'S TEACHER, WHO I STILL THANKS TO THIS DAY, WHO TAUGHT ME WHAT AUTISM LOOKED LIKE IN GIRLS BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA.
SHE WAS SMART MOUTH, SHE WAS INTELLIGENT.
RISD PROVED ME AGAIN THAT SHE WAS INTELLIGENT BECAUSE SHE MADE IT INTO THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM.
SHE FLOURISHED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
EACH YEAR, GT STUDENTS LIKE HER EXPLORE POWERFUL THEMES LIKE EXPLORATION, PROMOTING CURIOSITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
AGENTS OF CHANGE, EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME AT HER SCHOOL WAS POWER.
WHAT IT MEANS, HOW IT'S USED AND HOW IT CAN BE ABUSED.
GOD KNOWS WE NEED THAT LESSON.
THESE LESSONS ARE NOT JUST ACADEMIC LESSONS.
THEY'RE HELPING HER AND STUDENTS LIKE HER BECOME THOUGHTFUL LEADERS AND CHANGEMAKERS.
SPEAKING OF FUTURE LEADERS, MY OLDEST, WHO'S AT BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL, IS AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR.
SHE DREAMS OF RUNNING HER OWN BUSINESS ONE DAY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN RICHARDSON, WE HAVE A LOT OF FLOURISHING BUSINESSES, AND SHE WANTS TO BE ONE OF THEM ONE DAY AND RICHARDSON, MIGHT ADD.
SHE IS RISD AND BERKNER STEM PROGRAMS ARE LAYING THAT FOUNDATION FOR HER THROUGH THEIR STEM PROGRAM THAT ARE OFFERED AT HER SCHOOL.
SHE'LL HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TAKE COLLEGE-LEVEL BUSINESS COURSES, AND EVEN PARTICIPATE IN THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES LIKE THE STUDENT-RUN SMART BANK WITH RISD CTE AND STEM PATHWAYS.
SHE CAN LEARN HOW TO DESIGN PRODUCTS, CODE, BUILD, AND LEAD, AND ALL BEFORE SHE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS BOND WILL STRENGTHEN THOSE PROGRAMS. STUDENTS LIKE HER WHO DREAM BIG HAVE THE TOOLS, TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO GET THERE.
THEN MY YOUNGEST SON, MY CUTE LITTLE MAN, AS I CALL HIM.
HE ALSO ENTERED RISD IN THE ECC PROGRAM IN ADOBE.
I MEAN IT WHEN I SAID AND I WISH I CAN SHOW YOU A VIDEO.
WE STILL CALL HIM CURIOUS GEORGE, BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW CURIOUS GEORGE, HE WILL SAY, THAT'S HOW HE SPOKE.
NOW, HE IS SPEAKING FULL SENTENCES.
HE THE OTHER DAY, I'M NOT LYING, HE WOKE UP WITH A SORE THROAT.
HE SAID, MY THROAT HURTS, AND I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED? HE SAID, I THINK I HAVE TONSILLITIS.
A MAN WHO WAS SAYING, LIKE CURIOUS GEORGE, TO TALKING, SAYING I HAVE TONSILITIS. WE WERE JUST AMAZED.
THE IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION IS HOW KEY IT IS TO OUR KIDS TO HELP THEM GROW.
I COULDN'T THINK THAT DEDICATED STAFF THAT HELPED HIM GET THERE.
THEN MY 12-YEAR-OLD SON, HE'S 5'11", Y'ALL.
MY HUSBAND IS 6'3", SO HE GETS IT FROM US.
WE WERE THE OTHER DAY READING THE RISD NEWSLETTER. I DO READ IT.
HE'S AN ASPIRING BASKETBALL PLAYER.
HE WANTS TO BE DRAFTED BY THE NBA.
THEN THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE WERE READING THE NEWSLETTER, WE SAW THAT CASON WALLACE AND TRAY JOHNSON WERE OUR PEERS GRADUATES.
HE MIGHT CONTINUE TO GO TO PEERS IF NOTHING CHANGES.
HE WANTED HE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT HE COULD BE THE NEXT NBA DRAFT ATTENDING RISD.
HE'S COUNTING ON THE SUPPORT OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT TO HELP HIM GROW.
NOT JUST AS AN ATHLETE, BUT AS A STUDENT WITH DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND LEADERSHIP.
THIS BOND SUPPORTS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
KIDS LIKE MY SON CAN HAVE A REAL SHOT AT THEIR DREAMS, WHETHER THEY WANT TO MAKE IT TO THE PROS OR SIMPLY GROW THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS.
I MENTIONED ALL FIVE KIDS, I THINK.
TRUST ME, I CONFUSE THEM ALL THE TIME.
WHEN YOU SEE THIS BOND PROPOSAL, I HOPE YOU'LL ALSO SEE MY KIDS, MARIAM, AMINA, YUNOS, YUSEF, AISHA, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT KIDS ACROSS OUR RISD.
THERE ARE FIVE DIFFER IS, FIVE DIFFERENT LEARNING NEEDS, AND ALL FIVE ARE THRIVING.
[00:50:01]
THANKS TO RISD, BECAUSE OUR RISD SERVES EVERY LEARNER WITH CARE, EXCELLENCE, AND VISION.THIS BOND ISN'T JUST ABOUT BUILDINGS OR TAX RATES.
IT'S ABOUT BELIEVING IN WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERY STUDENTS WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS.
LET'S CONTINUE BUILDING A DISTRICT WHERE EVERY CHILD, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY LEADER CAN GROW AND SUCCEED EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
>> I'M SUPPOSED TO CLOSE THIS OUT.
BUT THAT IS REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW.
TO CLOSE THIS OUT, WE WANT TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT OUR KIDS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THINK ABOUT YOUR KIDS.
BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY KIDS, I THINK ABOUT LUKE IN 2026 WHEN HE GETS TO ENTER RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
HIS DREAMS AND HIS SIZE THE SO RIGHT NOW ARE TO PLAY UNDER FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS OR MAYBE IT'S BASEBALL AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL STADIUM.
I THINK ABOUT LANDON, WHO I PRAY FOR HIS TEACHERS EVERY DAY WITH HIS INQUISITIVE NATURE AND HIS LOVE FOR DISCOURSE AND THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT THAT A BOND LIKE THIS COULD PROVIDE THEM.
THEN I THINK ABOUT MY EXCITEMENT FOR LOGAN, WHO WILL BE THE FIRST SIXTH GRADE CLASS AT WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, ALMOST LIKE JUNIOR HIGH AND A FEW YEARS IF THIS BOND PASSES.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR KIDS, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER IS NOT MEASURABLE BY NUMBERS OR TAX DOLLARS.
IT'S MEASURABLE BY THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES.
IT'S THE EXCITEMENT WHEN MY 13-YEAR-OLD SAYS, I DIDN'T GIVE UP.
I PERSEVERED, AND STRUGGLE ISN'T BAD.
THESE ARE THE HOPES. THESE ARE THE DREAMS THAT I HAVE FOR MY KIDS.
THEY'RE NOT VERY DIFFERENT FOR OTHER FAMILIES.
BUT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE REACH, NOT JUST OUR NORTH STAR GOAL, WHICH I'M SUPPOSED TO CLICK TO.
BUT IT'S HOW WE HELP REACH THE DREAMS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR STUDENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT FOR QUESTIONS.
WE'VE ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
NOW YOU GET TO US THE QUESTIONS.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THEM, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE POWER OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THEY ARE BRILLIANT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS DISTRICT.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ALL 36,003 STUDENTS RIGHT NOW REGISTERED AS OF FOUR O'CLOCK.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
I THINK YOU HEARD A THREAD THROUGH EACH OF OUR PRESENTERS TONIGHT THAT TALKED ABOUT DREAMS. OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS ALL ANCHORED IN DREAMS. WE HAVE BIG DREAMS. WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST AND YOU BRING THAT BABY HOME, YOU HAVE BIG DREAMS. WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE DOORS AS A THREE-YEAR-OLD AT RICHARDSON ISD OR A FOUR OR FIVE-YEAR-OLD, THEY HAVE BIG DREAMS. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THOSE BIG DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE BOND AND CREATING AND PROVIDING ALL OF THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT OUR EDUCATORS, OUR COACHES, OUR FACILITIES TEAM NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT BIG DREAMS ARE POSSIBLE AND THAT WE THAT WE HELP THEM COME TRUE.
AGAIN, I WANT YOU TO THIS ALMOST BECAME A FULL TIME JOB FOR THIS COMMITTEE, AND THEN TO ASK THESE PRESENTERS WHO THEN HAD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS TO DIG IN AND PREPARE.
THIS IS REALLY THEIR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS REALLY THEIR VOICE AND WHAT THEY WANTED YOU TO HEAR, REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL NOW BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE DID HAVE A FEW MONTHS OF THAT.
I'M READY, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS.
STAFF HAS PREPARED, AS WELL AS AS THESE AMAZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AGAIN, BOARD, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS TIME TONIGHT TO SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH US, TO SHARE OUR BIGGEST DREAMS FOR WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR BOND 2025.
>> BEFORE YOU ASK ANY QUESTIONS, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL SEVEN OF THESE FOLKS.
THEY DID VERY WELL. [APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THAT, BOARD, LET'S GO AHEAD AND WHO WOULD LIKE TO START WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOT EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME. YES, MS. RENTERIA.
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND START. THANK YOU, MR. POTEET.
I JUST WANT TO DO THAT, WHAT AN AMAZING AND I SAW THE SAME THING, MS. BRANDON,
[00:55:05]
THE PASSION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU GUYS BRING.I'M SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE I DO KNOW WHAT THAT SACRIFICE IS LIKE.
GIVING UP YOUR EVENINGS, GIVING UP YOUR TIME AND I CAN TELL THAT YOU JUST PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT.
WE WANT TO SEE THESE PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY COME OUT HERE AND DO THAT.
FOR THAT, I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I THINK EVERYTHING WAS JUST SO WELL PRESENTED AND EVERYTHING WAS ANSWERED FOR ME.
BUT JUST I DID WANT TO JUST COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I LOVE WHAT MR. JACOB, I THINK IS WHAT YOU SAID, AN ENHANCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH HIS BOND.
I THINK FOR ME, THAT WORD HAS ALWAYS RESONATED WITH ME.
IT'S GIVING OUR KIDS EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE FROM THE PRE-K DAYS, WHETHER IT BE LIKE ADOBE ALL THE WAY UP TO HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND.
HEARING THE STORIES, HEARING YOUR PERSONAL TIES TO THE DISTRICT, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK FOR ME, THAT'S ALSO SUPER IMPORTANT.
I THINK OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MY CHILDREN HAD.
FOR MY HUSBAND AND I, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, ALSO WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED. ALL WE WANTED WAS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS.
WE KNEW THAT IF THEY DID THE HARD WORK, IF THEY WERE COMMITTED AND ALL OF THAT THAT WE TAUGHT THEM, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO ALL THAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
JUST HAVING THOSE DOORS OPEN IS JUST AMAZING.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS, MR. CHIKO.
I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT I HEARD ABOUT THE CTE.
I BELIEVE CHELSEA AND EVEN WITH AMANDA, 100%, I SUPPORT THAT, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID ABOUT THAT.
I THINK GIVING OUR KIDS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, AGAIN, THE OPTIONS, CHOICES, THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO EVEN BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS FROM THAT DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS ARE HERE TO INFORM US ON EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT.
SEEING THE DETAILS, AND AGAIN, BEING ABLE WITH THIS BOND TO ENHANCE THAT, TO SUPPORT THAT, AND THEN JUST TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL MAKE.
I THINK ALSO HERE, LET ME SEE, THINK SUPPORTING THE PROGRAMS. I THINK AGAIN, THAT TIES INTO OPPORTUNITY AGAINST, TOO.
I LOVE HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK OF EVERYTHING AGAIN THAT OUR KIDS GET SO EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT BEING A PART OF.
I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED ABOUT EVEN SEEING OUR OLDER SEEING OLDER SIBLINGS OR SEEING OTHER FRIENDS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK SOMEONE MENTIONED THE U THE TECHNICAL AT RHS, RIGHT, RIGHT, AND THE THEATER.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK THAT SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS, I THINK FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FACILITIES.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDINGS.
WHILE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ALSO.
BUT THOSE PROGRAMS THAT REALLY TIE AND THAT ARE REALLY THE CONNECTION THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE.
AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING I COMPLETELY 100 SUPPORT.
THEN AGAIN, JUST JUST THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS.
I'M SO GRATEFUL, AND AGAIN, I LOVE THE PRESENTATION, AND I 100, YOU PERCENT SUPPORT THIS, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU PUT INTO IT. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE.
>> THANK YOU, MS. RENTERIA. WELL SAID, YES, MS. HARRIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL SPENDING SO MANY HOURS JUST DIVING DEEP.
IT CAN BECOME VERY CONFUSING, VERY TECHNICAL.
THE WHOLE SCHOOL FINANCE THING IS JUST INTERESTING IN ITSELF.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT.
BUT ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THE KEY TO HELPING OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH AND REASON BEHIND WHY WE NEED THIS BOND IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EDUCATED.
MAKING SURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
WHAT I APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF YOU BROUGHT HERE TONIGHT WAS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND HOW THIS BOND CAN IMPACT NOT JUST YOUR CHILDREN, BUT OUR CHILDREN AND ALL OF OUR RISD'S CHILDREN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE HERE ON THE BOARD, WE HAVE PASSED THE BOND BEFORE, THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS TRYING TO GET BEYOND THE INCREASE IN THE TAX.
[LAUGHTER] SOME KIND OF WAY, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY TO
[01:00:03]
UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST AN INCREASE IN TAXES.IT'S AN INCREASE IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL OF YOU COMING TO THE FRONT, SPEAKING ON THAT AND BEING SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
>> AS YOU KNOW, I'M A RICHARDSON ISD STUDENT MYSELF AS WELL.
I AM EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A PIECE WHERE WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY THE TAX INCREASE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO INCREASE OUR KIDS' EDUCATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
AGAIN, I LEARNED FROM YOU ALL HOW TO PRESENT THIS A HECK OF A LOT BETTER THAN JUST TALKING ABOUT A TAX INCREASE.
I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. YES. GO AHEAD, MR. MCGOWAN.
>> I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING, THANK YOU ALL FOR DEDICATING YOUR TIME TO THIS EXCITING TIME IN EDUCATION AND THE NEED OF OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, MS. BRANUM, AND YOUR STAFF AND TEAM THAT ARE AMAZING AT WHAT YOU DO.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH PEOPLE WHO WE TRULY CAN TRUST IN TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR STUDENTS RESPONSIBLY.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH LEGACY ON THIS BOND COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT JUST AS MS. HARRIS STATED, I LOVE IT.
I TOO AM RISD STUDENT AND GRADUATE OF LAKE HOLLINS HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH PRIDE IN OUR HEARTS FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR KIDS.
I'M EXCITED THAT YOU ALL, IT'S RISD THROUGH AND THROUGH ON THIS ENTIRE COMMITTEE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS COMING BACK TO SERVE HERE BECAUSE LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, MS. RENTERIA MENTIONED, IT'S TIME CONSUMING, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS CAN BE SPENDING A LOT OF YOUR TIME AND DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TESTIMONIES THAT YOU SHARED WITH US, AND HOW THE SERVICES THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TOUCHED YOUR LIVES AND MADE A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE.
THANK GOD THAT MS. BRANUM AND YOUR TEAM, YOU ARE CREATING THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND THESE SERVICES FOR OUR FAMILIES THAT SO DESPERATELY NEED THEM.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND THAT WE JUST GET STRONGER AND BETTER AT THAT BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, WITH THE FINANCIAL CLIFF THAT SO MANY ARE ON, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE OF THOSE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET CUTS THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL DO NOT STUNT THE GROWTH OF THE PROGRAMMING AND THE NEEDS FOR OUR KIDS.
I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL SERVES ALL KIDS OF ALL DEMOGRAPHIC ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
WHEN I LOOK AT, I'M A TAXPAYER HERE, TOO, BUT MY TXU BILL IS MORE DAUNTING THAN WHAT YOU SAID, SIR. THE $10 INCREASE.
I WANT SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT MY TXU BILL IS SELECT IT DOES.
I'M NOT GETTING THAT TRANSPARENCY EVERY DAY.
I TRULY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE HERE IN PROVIDING US THAT TRANSPARENCY PIECE.
I DON'T SEE WHERE ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SAY, I AM NOT WILLING TO GIVE AN EXTRA $10 A MONTH TO THE SCHOOLS AND MANY TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND FOR THE FUTURE TO COME.
I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION AND IT WAS PROBABLY, I PROBABLY HAVE, THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN ANSWERED BEFORE, AND I JUST HAVE FORGOTTEN.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE THAT THEY CAME BACK AND LOWERED THAT AMOUNT.
WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S?
>> SURE. I'LL LEAN ON MR. HALL.
ACTUALLY, AND FOR ONE PIECE OF IT, I WANT TO COMMEND BOTH MR. HALL AS WELL AS OUR FACILITIES TEAM FOR LOOKING AT AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME TASK, BUT DO IT MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY.
MR. HALL, CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS?
>> THANK YOU, MS. BRANUM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE LOWERED THE NUMBER BY 50 MILLION.
WE USE SOME INNOVATIVE METHODS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH FACILITIES TO INSTEAD OF BUILDING A STAND ALONE DATA CENTER, HAVING THAT BECOME A COMPONENT OR ADDITION TO ONE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATIONS, AND THAT QUITE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE INCREASED THE LIFE CYCLE OF OR TIME SPAN WHICH WE USE DEVICES.
WE ALSO MOVED SOME OF OUR NON CRITICAL STAFF MEMBERS TO USING REFURBISHED DEVICES THAT WE WOULD TAKE OUT OF CIRCULATION.
[01:05:02]
LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WE WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MET WITH THE COMMITTEE AND TOOK SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEIR INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE TO UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES ON THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE.>> AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN YOU GUYS CAN EXPLAIN THESE THINGS, WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS, AND THERE'S THE FULL TRANSPARENCY THERE AND I THINK THAT'S KEY AND IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I WANT OUR DISTRICT TO BE THE ONE.
I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE AND WHEN WE WERE KIDS, THIS WAS THE DISTRICT.
I WANT US TO CONTINUE THAT REPUTATION AS BEING THE DISTRICT, WE ARE THE ONE, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, EDUCATION IS JUST GOING TO GET MORE COMPETITIVE.
IT IS OUR JOB. TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN.
I HAVE A RISING SECOND GRADER IN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
THERE'S SO MUCH I WANT FOR HER.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I WANT HER TO THRIVE IN THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I COULD THINK OF AND GIVE YOU ALL THESE WONDERFUL IDEAS, BUT THAT'S NOT MY JOB.
ANYWAY, JUST AS A PARENT, I SUPPORT THIS. I WOULD PAY $20.
I PAY SOMEBODY ELSE'S PIECE, [BACKGROUND] 10, 20 EXTRA DOLLARS AND TXU CAN MY DEAL A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
I APPRECIATE THAT. [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE HERE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MCGOWAN. MS. PACHECO?
>> THANK YOU, BOND STEERING COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF THAT LET THEM ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.
THAT WAS A JOB, REAL FULL TIME JOB, AND YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT.
I LOVE IT, AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
THIS PRESENTATION WAS PHENOMENAL.
IT ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS TO ME AND THE WHY, NOT ONLY THE WHY YOU JOINED AND DECIDED TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT, BUT THE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
SEVERAL THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM ALL WAS WE ARE A HIGHLY INVESTED COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS TRUE.
EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS HIGHLY INVESTED IN OUR DISTRICT.
WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND THE COMMUNICATIONS YOU PROVIDE AND THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY, I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THIS IS SUPPORTED BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED AND NECESSARY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS AND FACILITIES.
ALTHOUGH IT'S BORING, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE HAS TO BE A WELL UTILIZED SPACE SO THAT OUR STAFF, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS GO IN AND ARE READY TO LEARN ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THEM.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? ALSO, AGAIN, BY IMPROVING ALL THE PRODUCT AND SYSTEMS AND TRANSPORTATION THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT MOVING AND CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION.
I THINK THAT IS WONDERFUL AND NECESSARY FOR OUR KIDS IN PROGRAMMING AND TEACHERS. WHAT ELSE? THE CTE BUILDING IS SUPER EXCITING.
I KNOW WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
IF WE CAN INCREASE THAT OUR COMMITMENT, BUT THE ENROLLMENT, THE ACTIVITIES, THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS, THEY GRADUATE, WITH CREDITS THAT ARE TRANSFERABLE, THEY GRADUATE WITH CERTIFICATES, THEY CAN UTILIZE FOR WELL PAYING JOBS SO THEY CAN PAY FOR SCHOOL OR LIFE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
THESE ARE EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY GET AND USE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, AND THAT IS SO VALUABLE.
I'M PROUD THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED THOSE THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS, STRONG FOUNDATION, GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT THEY USED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AGAIN, FROM Q PRE-K ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THE FACILITIES, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY, WE WANT MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND PROVIDING THESE UNIFORMS. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THE PROGRAMS. THAT REDUCES BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE DISTRICTS DO THIS.
I DON'T THINK SO, BUT WE HAVE, AND I KNOW WE ENGAGE MORE STUDENTS AND MORE STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL.
MORE STUDENTS GET BETTER GRADES, AND MORE STUDENTS GRADUATE BECAUSE THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING, AND WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WHATEVER IT IS THEY NEED SO THEY CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T REALLY SEE HOW THE TAX INCREASE, AGAIN, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TALKED ABOUT. IT'S NOT HUGE.
IT'S VERY DIGESTIBLE, AND I REALLY DO HOPE OUR COMMUNITY SEES IT, UNDERSTANDS IT, AND SHOWS THAT SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION BECAUSE WE NEED THAT HIGH CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT, AND THEY ALL DESERVE IT. THANK YOU.
[01:10:03]
>> THANK YOU, MR. PACHECO. MR. EAGER?
>> LAST ONE, AT LEAST. A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WISH WE COULD CHANGE THE TERM FROM BOND TO INVESTMENT.
BECAUSE THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE GET THE TECHNICAL AND WE HAVE TO CALL IT A MOM. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
BUT WHAT IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND INVESTMENT, AND IT'S INVESTMENT.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO LIVE AND I LOVE THE STORIES AND THE IDEA THAT, MY CHILDREN HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS, IT'S PAY IT FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE SCHOOLS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE AGING.
IT WAS THE INVESTMENT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR KIDS DESERVE AND OUR TEACHERS DESERVE UP TO DATE FURNITURE, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE NEED TO REFLECT THAT BECAUSE THAT SHOWS TO OUR TEACHERS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS.
I REALLY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A BIG COMMITMENT.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT TOO IS A NUMBER, GOT TO KNOWN AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU SHOW UP AND THAT THE CROSS-SECTION OF EVERYBODY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, SHOWING UP TO SAY, WE ALL CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS.
WE ALL KNOW DO WHAT WE CAN FOR NOT ONLY OUR KIDS, BUT THE NEXT GENERATION KIDS.
THE MED SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
IT WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE ONE SOFT REASON, BUT I THINK THE PRIMARY REASON, IS THAT WHEN WE TALK TO THOSE PRINCIPALS.
WHEN YOU GET TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WE WITH MY OWN KIDS, SPEED BUMP, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.
BY THE TIME THEY WERE FIGURING OUT, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE GETTING READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS TRANSFORMATIONAL BECAUSE NOW THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO ADJUST THOSE TEACHERS AND THOSE PRINCIPALS ARE GOING TO GET TO HELP THEM ON SUCH A CRITICAL TIME IN THEIR LIFE TO GET READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
MAN IT'S GAME ON AT HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS IN THAT CTE SUMMER.
I WORK IN TECHNOLOGY IN AI QUITE A BIT.
A NUMBER YOU MENTIONED, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE REPLACED BY AI.
YOU WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE OTHER THING, TALKING ABOUT FROM AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
HAVING A CTE CENTER, GUESS WHAT? THOSE JOBS, THOSE CAREERS, GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE OWNERS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
HAVING THAT FULFILLED IN CTE CENTER, YOU'RE PLANTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS.
THE LAST THING, IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE OTHER THING TOO, WE KNOW THAT WE COULD DELAY THESE EXPENDITURES.
WE COULD HAVE JUST KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIG IN.
UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT NOW AND A NUMBER OF THESE THINGS, BECAUSE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THE COST WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
YES, IT'S HARD TO ASK YOUR COMMUNITY IN THESE TIMES TO GO, I NEED TO.
I FEEL LIKE, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MS. MCGOWAN AND SAY, I'M GOING TO BE OUT THERE IN THE BOOT ON THE CORNER AND SAY, CHIP IN 10 BUCKS.
WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE AT THE STOP SIGN, SO I'M GOING TO BE WITH HER AND SAY, CHIP IN 10 BUCKS.
LET'S PASS THE HAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR KIDS.
IS IT WORTH $10 A MONTH INVESTMENT TO PAY IT FORWARD BECAUSE ALL OF US TOOK ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT PAID IT FORWARD BEFORE US? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M OBVIOUSLY VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE IT IS TIME THAT WE CONTINUE.
JUST IMAGINE I LOVE THE PAINTING THE PICTURE OF WHAT A CTE CENTER CAN DO BECAUSE WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT AND DON'T BE SCARED OF AI, IT'S GOING TO UNLEASH CREATIVITY THAT FOR A NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS,
[01:15:04]
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE PRESENTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.THANK YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I FEEL EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS THAT WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE CARE AND WE WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS.
LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT AS A PARENT ALSO, I HAVE KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM, AND THEY WENT THROUGH.
SEEING THAT ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE IN THOSE ORG MEETINGS, I WANT TO GO AND THANK EACH ONE OF THEM.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE, CATCHING THAT EARLY AND SHOWING THAT THOSE KIDS HAVE SPECIAL, THEY HAVE SPECIAL BUT THEY ALSO HAVE GIFTS, AND THEY HAVE SPECIAL GIFTS AND RECOGNIZING THAT IMPACTS THOSE KIDS THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
ENOUGH SAID, I'VE TALKED ENOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
>> THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY TODAY.
>> I'VE ASKED PRESIDENT POTEET TO POP IN HERE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK SO FAR.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO ADD IS, AND MISS HARRISON, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION.
JUST A COUPLE OF REMINDERS TO OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH BONDS AND HOW THEY CAN BE USED AND HOW THEY CAN'T BE USED.
WE MENTIONED WE KNOW EVEN DESPITE INVESTMENTS FROM HOUSE BILL TWO, WE'RE STILL OPERATING IN A DEFICIT BUDGET.
WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE FACING POTENTIAL CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH OUR TITLE FUNDING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BONDS CANNOT BE USED FOR PERSONNEL, THEY CANNOT BE USED FOR SALARIES, THESE REALLY ARE THINGS THAT HAVE THAT LONGER LIFESPAN.
I PROMISE YOU THIS COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO RECOMMEND THINGS LIKE ADDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND HUMAN RESOURCES, BUT THAT REALLY IS NOT HOW A BOND CAN BE SPENT.
WHEN YOU HEAR THEM TALKING ABOUT THOSE CAPITAL, IT REALLY IS MEANT TO BE AN INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT IS THAT WHEN YOU SEE THIS LIST, I ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL OF THE NEEDS, OR WANTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE DISTRICT.
AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND AS WE DIG IN AND WE CONTINUE TO REALLY EDUCATE AND INFORM OUR COMMUNITY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES THAT NEED TO HAVE COMPLETE REFRESHES, LIKE WE ARE EXPERIENCING AT NORTH RICH AND STOLTZ AND HAMILTON PARK CURRENTLY.
WE KNOW THAT. BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE CAPACITY.
IN THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE, BASED ON THE BASE SURVEY, WE REALLY FELT LIKE THAT THAT FOUR CENT MARK WAS REALLY AS FAR AS WE COULD GO, AND CONTINUE TO BE FINANCIALLY PRUDENT WITH OUR DISTRICT RESOURCES.
WE WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHING IF THE BOARD MOVES FORWARD A LOT WITH THIS BOND, AND IT WILL TAKE US A LONG WAY IN THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT, FOR WHERE OUR FACILITIES ARE, BUT IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE THINGS.
I ALSO DO WANT TO ADDRESS, THIS IS NOT A WISH LIST.
YES, WE ARE ALL DREAMERS, AND YES, EVEN AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE HAVE BIG DREAMS FOR OUR FACILITIES, BUT THIS IS NOT, WE JUST SAT IN A ROOM AND SAID, "OH MY GOSH, HOW COULD WE SPEND THESE FUNDS? HOW COULD WE USE THESE FUNDS?" IT REALLY BEGAN WITH, WHAT DO WE NEED? FIRST, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF PROGRAMMING THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TO EXPECT, AND THAT WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE? THEN WHAT DO WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SET UP FOR THE FUTURE IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE? THIS BOND REALLY IS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A COMMITMENT TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS NOT JUST FRIVOLOUS WISH ITEMS THAT MIGHT EVEN BE CONSIDERED DECORATE.
I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL, FUNDAMENTAL THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR FAMILIES.
THE OTHER THING THAT I ALSO THINK IS SO IMPORTANT AND THAT THE COMMITTEE REALLY TALKED ABOUT AS WELL, NOBODY TOOK A POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION FOR A TAX INCREASE LATELY.
WE KNOW RIGHT NOW WITH THE STATE OF WHERE THE ECONOMY IS, EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS.
WHEN A FAMILY IS GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING AT PAYING THEIR BILLS,
[01:20:04]
IT'S NOT EASY AND INFLATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS HITTING EVERY HOUSEHOLD, AND THERE'S NO HOUSEHOLD THAT IS IMMUNE TO THAT.WE REALLY HAD TO DO A LOT OF INTERNAL REFLECTION AROUND.
DO WE FEEL LIKE THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO MERIT THIS ASK.
I DO THINK THAT WE HAD FAR MAJORITY OF THAT COMMITTEE WHO SAID, YES.
WHAT OUTCOMES WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE BELIEVE WOULD OUTWEIGH THE ASK AND THE INCREASE OF THAT FOUR CENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY HEARS THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE ASK, AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US, IF THEY WERE TO SUPPORT THIS BOND, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER ON THAT ASK BECAUSE OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES NOTHING LESS.
A NEXT STEP OF THIS, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FEEDBACK AND BOARD, WE KNOW YOU'RE HEARING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AS YOU PROCESS, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO PROCESS THAT.
IF THERE'S NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL THAT YOU HAVE A CONCERN WITH, WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BRING THE COMMITTEE BACK, BUT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE.
WOULD BRING THIS FORWARD TO YOU IN AUGUST 7TH, WITH A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION WITH A BOND RESOLUTION, TO CALL THE BOND FOR NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND THAT ASK.
WE WILL HAVE A LET'S TALK CHANNEL, THAT IS SET UP ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE OR ANY CLARIFICATIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FROM HEARING THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ACCESS THAT LET'S TALK CHANNEL.
THEY CAN SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INFORMATION.
IN OUR BOND PLANNING WEBSITE THAT WE HAVE HAD SET UP SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PLANNING PROCESS, IT REALLY TRACKS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOND PROPOSAL FROM THE VERY FIRST MEETING ALL THE WAY TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
MEETING NOTES, PRESENTATION SLIDES, THERE IS A TON OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD REALLY WALK ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND TO SEE HOW THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS EVOLVED FROM DAY ONE TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE HEARING TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET FOR A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE, JUST TO PROVIDE A FEW OF THOSE CLARIFICATIONS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COMMITTEE, AND I GUESS WE'LL SEE MORE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE SEVENTH AS WELL.
FOR ALL OF THEM, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE CHARGE ISN'T OVER.
THAT THE PRESENTATION AND IF THIS IS APPROVED, AND WE CALL A BOND.
YOU ALL RAISED YOUR HAND TO HELP US WITH, I THINK, MISS HARRIS MENTIONED EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THAT'S CRITICAL AND GETTING THIS OVER THE LINE IS THAT WE ANSWER QUESTIONS.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'VE ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF ANSWERS OUT THERE, BUT IF THERE'S NEW QUESTIONS, WE'LL HELP FEED YOU THE ANSWERS, BUT YOU GUYS WILL BE CRITICAL PIECES TO THAT COMMUNICATION AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT EDUCATION PART AS WELL.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK WITHIN THE BOARD, WE HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE BOND, SO THAT'S ERIC AND RACHEL AND VANESSA, THAT ATTENDED ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT YOU ALL HAD WERE A PART OF THAT, AND THEY PUT A LOT OF EXTRA WORK INTO THAT AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK THEM. COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND AS WE DISCUSSED.
I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MY PEERS HAVE SAID.
ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION, I SEE THAT AS IT'S NOW TIME TO COMPLETE THE COMMITMENT.
WE MADE THAT COMMITMENT, THE PUBLIC ASKED FOR THE COMMITMENT.
WE MADE THE COMMITMENT AS A DISTRICT TO THE PUBLIC.
WE TOOK THE FIRST STEP ON THAT JOURNEY.
IT'S TIME TO NOW FINISH IT OUT.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT TWO SYSTEMS BASICALLY IN THIS DISTRICT THAT WE'RE RUNNING VERY INEFFICIENT, AND WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT NOW WE HAVE KIDS THAT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER KIDS DO NOT.
IT'S TIME TO NOW FINISH THAT COMMITMENT AS WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, BUT I SEE THAT ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION IS OVER HALF OF THIS BOND AMOUNT, SO BIG PIECE.
I HEARD THIS FROM A SUPERINTENDENT SOUTH AT DALLAS IN A MEETING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THE NUANCE SHE APPROACHED ON THE DOLLAR FIGURES WAS INSTEAD OF SEEING THIS AS A COST, SEE THIS AS AN INVESTMENT.
[01:25:01]
A CHANGE IN WORD, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, IT'S HUGE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT.I THINK THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AROUND THE TABLE AND IN THE PRESENTATIONS ON THIS IS INVESTING GOING FORWARD FOR THE KIDS, THAT'LL BE THERE THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, POST BOND.
WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS AN INVESTMENT, AND THAT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MESSAGES OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BIG OPERATING BUDGET, AND I KNOW YOU ALL GOT THE CLASSES ON FINANCE, AND I THINK 88% OR 80 SOMETHING PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO BASICALLY LABOR COSTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
WE CAN'T COVER AIR CONDITIONING, REPLACEMENT TURF THAT WEARS OUT, MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSFORMATIONS WITH 20% OF AN ANNUAL BUDGET OR 15% OR WHATEVER IS REMAINING.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT WE HAVE TO DO ON ANOTHER METHOD.
ANYWAY, JUST THINKING OF THAT AS AN INVESTMENT, AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF INVESTING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'VE DONE IT ON COMPENSATION WITH STAFF.
IT'S NOW TIME TO DO IT WITH PROGRAMMING, WITH FACILITIES, THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PUT ON THE SHELF A LITTLE BIT.
IN DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP INVESTING.
IF WE DON'T INVEST, WE'LL GET WHAT WE PAY FOR, WHICH IS NOT WHERE WE'RE HEADED TO AND NOT WHAT THE NORTH STAR GOAL IS PREACHING.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THE NEEDS ALWAYS OUTWEIGH THE RESOURCES, ALWAYS.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WANTS YET, BUT WE WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MATCH THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN A DISTRICT.
THESE BUILDINGS AREN'T GETTING YOUNGER.
THE WORLD'S CHANGING. THE PROGRAMMING CHANGE HAS TO CHANGE WITH THE CURRICULUM, THE DEVICES, WHATEVER, ALL OF THIS STUFF HAS TO CHANGE AND HAS TO UPDATE.
THOSE THINGS COST A LOT OF MONEY.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FULLY DO IT.
I LOVE THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE TOOK IN LOOKING AT, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE? HOW DO WE FOCUS ON THE NEEDS AND NOT THE WANTS? THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR? ARE WE PAYING FOR MERCEDES BENZ? ARE WE PAYING FOR A TOYOTA CAMRY? WE'RE PAYING FOR THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
SOME OF THAT WORKS STILL TO BE HAD BEYOND THE PASSING OF THE BOND WHEN WE GO INTO DESIGN AND STUFF ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
I LOVE THAT, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD.
THAT'S ALL I HAD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, MISS PACHECO.
>> YES. ACTUALLY, SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM, AS YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE INCREASE AND THE SENSITIVITY BEHIND IT, WHICH I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW THERE'S STRUGGLE OUT THERE FOR FAMILIES AND AMOUNT ANY INCREASE HAPPENS, CAN YOU HELP EXPLAIN TO OUR COMMUNITY HOW THESE TAX DOLLARS STAY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, OR IF THEY WOULD GO TO RECAPTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MISS CHECO. THE FOUR CENT TAX INCREASE THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER IS ON THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND SIDE OF THE TAX RATE, AND THAT PORTION OF THE TAX RATE IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE.
ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS STAY WITHIN RICHARDSON ISD TO SUPPORT THE BOND PROGRAM.
>> MR. PATE, IF YOU WOULD JUST EXTEND ON THAT FOR A MOMENT, IF THE BOARD MADE A DECISION TO CALL THIS BOND, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT FOUR CENT INCREASE OVER 65, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE FREEZES?
>> YES, MA'AM. I GUESS ONE ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THE BOND ELECTION, IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO CALL ONE, WOULD OCCUR IN NOVEMBER, AND THE BOARD IS SETTING A TAX RATE FOR THE '25-'26 SCHOOL YEAR IN SEPTEMBER, THAT FOUR CENT TAX RATE, AGAIN, IF THE ELECTION WERE CALLED, WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT EXCUSE ME FOUR CENT TAX RATE.
THE FOUR CENT INCREASE IN THE INS TAX RATE, WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE '26-'27 SCHOOL YEAR, AND THE OCTOBER OF '26 TAX BILLS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.
THEN AGAIN, AS YOU REFERENCED, MISS BRANUM, OUR OVER 65 TAXPAYERS HAVE A FROZEN TAX LEVY.
THAT MEANS THEIR TAXES ARE KEPT, AND CHANGES IN THE TAX RATE DO NOT INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL.
THEN AS LUIS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, THOSE CALCULATIONS PRESENTED IN THE PRESENTATION REFLECT THE IMPACT OF THE INCREASES IN, THEY ASSUME THAT THE INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION,
[01:30:04]
THE STATE MANDATED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT VOTERS WILL ALSO BE VOTING ON IN NOVEMBER ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT.THAT IS THE WAY THAT WAS DRAFTED, ASSUMING THAT DID PASS, AND AGAIN, THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE DISTRICT'S 10% LOCAL OPTION HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. DID I COVER?
>> WELL THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE COMMITTEE.
THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK ON YOUR ALL'S PART AS WELL, JUST TO BRING THE COMMITTEE ALONG AND EDUCATE THEM AND AS USUAL, EDUCATE US, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF, OUR VISITORS, AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
WE WILL NOT HAVE A CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT, WAITING FOR CHEERS.
[LAUGHTER] THEREFORE, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 7:34 P.M.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.