Apr 02, 2026 Regular Board Meetings

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING. IS THIS THING? IS THIS ON? GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

[I. CALL TO ORDER]

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT IN THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:04 P.M..

DOCTOR HELLER, WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THIS EVENING? YES. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POTEET. THIS EVENING, I AM EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU STUDENT LEADERS FROM DOCTOR CAROLYN BUKHAIR ELEMENTARY, THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN 6TH GRADE. AND I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO GAIL HERNANDEZ, ALANIS OLIVA, ISMAEL HERNANDEZ AND ASHLEY PANIAGUA. AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD AND LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES.

[APPLAUSE] READY? BEGIN! I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

GREAT JOB STUDENTS. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] AND THEY DID SHARE WITH ME THEY ARE, THEY WILL BE ATTENDING WESTWOOD, THE LEADERSHIP MAGNET, NEXT YEAR, 7TH GRADERS.

SO GOOD LUCK, STUDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES IT IS NOW TIME FOR OUR RECOGNITIONS, DOCTOR HELLER.

YES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

THE RISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENTS,STAFF, SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS. OUR TRUSTEES ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MAKE TO THE DISTRICT.

AT EACH REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING, WE TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS.

WE ASK THAT ALL GUESTS AND VISITORS HELP CELEBRATE THESE RECOGNITIONS BY STAYING TO ENJOY THE ENTIRE RECOGNITION PROCESS.

THIS ALLOWS EVERYONE TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION FOR EACH RECIPIENT.

THERE WILL BE A SHORT BREAK AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE RECOGNITIONS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

ANY GUESTS WISHING TO LEAVE THE AUDITORIUM CAN DO SO AT THAT TIME.

AND WE ARE EXCITED. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PARTNER RECOGNITION.

AND I'M GOING TO INVITE OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HERE AS PART OF NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH AND THAT ARE SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR REREAD AND READING EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICT. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND COME UP NEXT TO SONIA HERE.

AND AS THEY'RE COMING FORWARD, I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU WHY WE ARE CELEBRATING THEM.

APRIL, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH.

AND TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE OUR WE READ TOGETHER VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS A SPECIAL READING VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT WAS RECENTLY LIFTED UP.

BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF THESE MOMENTS IS FELT IN THE QUIET, TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENTS OF A CHILD'S DAY BY SHOWING UP EACH WEEK, WEEK AFTER WEEK. YOU PROVIDE ISD'S YOUNGEST LEARNERS WITH A CONSISTENCY, CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

WHETHER YOU ARE PRACTICING PHONICS, SHARING A STORY, OR SIMPLY OFFERING AN ENCOURAGING SMILE, YOU ARE BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF LITERACY.

YOU AREN'T JUST TEACHING A CHILD TO READ, YOU ARE TEACHING THEM THAT THEY MATTER.

WITH, FOR THE WE READ PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE 10 SCHOOLS WHO PARTICIPATE.

WE HAVE OVER 100 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS EVERY WEEK, AND THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME THE HEARTBEAT OF THOSE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE WONDERFUL LIBRARIANS WHO CHAMPIONED THIS PROGRAM ON THEIR CAMPUSES AND MAKE THESE CONNECTIONS POSSIBLE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS.[APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT OUR STUDENTS ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL.

WE HAVE A BOARD GOAL ALL AROUND READING AT GRADE LEVEL AND LITERACY.

WE ALSO WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CASSANDRA WATTS, SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND THE TEAM AT UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS. THEIR PARTNERSHIP RECENTLY SECURED VITAL SUPPORT THROUGH THEIR PARTNERS, INCLUDING TEXAS INSTRUMENTS,

[00:05:02]

THERE WERE OVER 70 VOLUNTEERS AT EACH CAMPUS THAT BROUGHT STORIES TO LIFE, AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT EVERY CLASSROOM RECEIVED BOOKS TO READ, ENSURING THE MAGIC CONTINUES LONG AFTER THE EVENT.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO CASSANDRA, THE UNITED WAY, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR VOLUNTEERS, FOR MAKING READING FUN AND SHOWING OUR STUDENTS THAT THIS COMMUNITY BELIEVES IN THEM. AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO COULD BE HERE THIS EVENING. AND WE HAVE THE AWESOME LISA GREENSFELDER. [APPLAUSE] AND MR. ROBERT GREENSFELDER. AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE SOME FORMER EDUCATORS TOO.

WE HAVE SHERI BRATZ. AND AN AWESOME NEW PARTNER, CASSANDRA WATTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. FATIMA MAROUF. LISA. LISA ENGELTHALER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. LISA. RICHARD ELKINS. MARGUERITE.

JONATHAN ELKINS. MARY HIGHTOWER. THANK YOU. MARY.

LIBRARIAN. RACHEL WITZ, OUR LIBRARIAN FROM ACADEMY.

DOMINIQUE KENNEDY. THANK YOU, MISS KENNEDY. DEBBIE CUMMINGS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JOANNE CALLAHAN THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CALLAHAN.

LIBRARY FROM CAROLYN AND OUR LIBRARIAN FROM CAROLYN BUKHAIR, DENISE SANDOVAL.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ALL OF THESE AWESOME VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF.

WE ARE GOING TO GRAB A GROUP PICTURE. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME BACK AROUND.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE. WE'RE GOING TO PRETEND WE'RE ONE BIG HAPPY VOLUNTEER FAMILY AND TAKE A PHOTO.

AND AS THEY'RE GETTING ORGANIZED FOR THEIR PICTURE, I'M GOING TO INVITE THE TEAM FROM RICHARDSON WEST JUNIOR HIGH.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP FRONT. WE'RE GOING TO GET READY TO CELEBRATE YOU NEXT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ONE MORE TIME FOR THESE AWESOME VOLUNTEERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.[APPLAUSE] AND NOW WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CAMPUS RECOGNITION. I AM SO VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT RICHARDSON WEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED AN AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL, AN ELITE DISTINCTION HELD BY LESS THAN 3% OF ALL AVID CAMPUSES WORLDWIDE.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR RICHARDSON JUNIOR HIGH. [APPLAUSE] THEY HAVE JOINED A VERY ELITE GROUP OF SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW KEY HIGHLIGHTS.

RICHARDSON WEST JUNIOR HIGH IS ONE OF ONLY 200 SCHOOLS GLOBALLY, NOT IN THE STATE OR THE NATION GLOBALLY, AND ONLY 17 IN TEXAS TO EARN THIS STATUS. IT IS THE 1ST MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN ISD TO ACHIEVE THIS DESIGNATION, AND THIS HONOR FOLLOWS A DEMANDING VALIDATION PROCESS, INCLUDING ON SITE OBSERVATIONS AND DATA REVIEWS PROVING THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXEMPLARY COLLEGE READINESS. RICHARDSON WEST JUNIOR HIGH NOW JOINS BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL AS OUR DISTRICT'S 3RD NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SITE, SOLIDIFYING RICHARDSON ISD AS A LEADER IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RICHARDSON WEST.[APPLAUSE] AND WE HAVE THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AND HIS TEAM.

CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW PRINCIPAL VEGA IS VERY PROUD OF HIS BRONCOS. AND WE'RE GOING TO GRAB A PHOTO.

I'LL INVITE THE VFW.

[00:10:06]

WE NOW HAVE A VERY SPECIAL STAFF RECOGNITION.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP MISS GRETCHEN EDWARDS FROM BRENTFIELD ELEMENTARY AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME.

ALSO SOME SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE LOCAL VFW POST IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AS WELL WITH MISS EDWARDS.

I KNOW THEY ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE HER THIS EVENING AS WELL AS SHE IS COMING FORWARD.

I WILL SHARE WHILE WE ARE CELEBRATING GRETCHEN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR BRENTFIELD DYSLEXIA TEACHER MRS. GRETCHEN EDWARDS RECEIVED THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 3530, NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION TEACHER POST RECOGNITION AWARD.

THAT'S SO AWESOME. SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR THIS HONOR AND ADVANCE TO THE VFW AREA COMPETITION.

AMONG APPROXIMATELY 13 OTHER VFW POSTS WHERE SHE WAS SELECTED AS THE WINNER.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING NOT ONLY BRENTFIELD, BUT RICHARDSON ISD SO WELL.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE LOCAL VFW FOR, FOR FOR RECOGNIZING OUR EDUCATORS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. I KNOW. AND AS WE'RE GETTING THEIR PHOTO, I'M GOING TO INVITE OUR STUDENTS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR SPELLING BEE.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD TO MY LEFT AND WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THESE AWESOME SPELLING BEE STUDENTS NEXT.

AND PLEASE BRING YOUR CARD. AND YES, WE'RE GOING TO GRAB A PHOTO. AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PARENTS AND FAMILY HERE, THESE PHOTOS WILL BE ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE WHEN WE RETURN ON TUESDAY.

I'M GOING TO CALL THEIR NAMES. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM COME FORWARD BASED ON. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT.

BY THE WAY, LUCIANA THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDENT GROUPS TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE STUDENTS HERE THIS EVENING WHO RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE AND REPRESENTED RICHARDSON ISD. WE HAVE 5 OUTSTANDING STUDENTS WHO EMERGE VICTORIOUS.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE SAMIK BANDYOPADHAYA FROM MST WHO ALSO REPRESENTED RICHARDSON ISD IN THE DALLAS COUNTY SPELLING BEE. SAMIK, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU STAND HERE.

OKAY. WE HAVE LUCIANA VINALES FROM MOHAWK ELEMENTARY WHO ALSO REPRESENTED RICHARDSON ISD IN THE DALLAS COUNTY SPELLING BEE.

WE HAVE LUCY SMITH. IS LUCY HERE THIS EVENING? SHE IS AT PRAIRIE CREEK AND WE'RE CELEBRATING HER.

WE HAVE PENELOPE GIBBS FROM MERRIMAN PARK. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A RICH AND ELEMENTARY STUDENT, SAFA KHAN, WHO WE ARE CELEBRATING THIS EVENING SO WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THEM.

WE ALSO HELD RECENTLY OUR 5TH ANNUAL SPANISH SPELLING BEE AND THIS YEAR'S WINNERS WERE WE HAD MIGUEL MORENO FROM CAROLYN BUKHAIR AS WELL AS ALLEN [INAUIDBLE] FROM STULTS ROAD AND DANIEL SOLOMON MILANO FROM LAKE HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE AWESOME SUPER SPELLERS.

OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH. YOU LOOK SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE ARE GOING TO GRAB A PHOTO OF ALL OF OUR SUPER SPELLERS.

AND AS WE'RE GRABBING THOSE PHOTOS, I'M GOING TO INVITE UP OUR BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL MARIACHI, WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE YOU NEXT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

LISA.

[00:15:11]

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SUPER SPELLERS. WAY TO GO, STUDENTS.

OKAY, OUR NEXT STUDENT RECOGNITION IS FOR THE INCREDIBLE BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL MARIACHI ORGULLO, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THEM. THEY ADVANCED TO THE U-I-L STATE MARIACHI FESTIVAL FOR THE 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THEM. SOME ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS INCREDIBLE STUDENT PERFORMANCE GROUP. THE ENSEMBLE QUALIFIED BY EARNING A SUPERIOR RATING AT THEIR REGIONAL ASSESSMENT, PERFORMING IN SEGUIN ON FEBRUARY 21ST AS ONE OF TEXAS'S TOP PROGRAMS. THE THE. THE ENSEMBLE WAS FOUNDED IN 2021 BY MRS VILLARREAL.

THE GROUP TRANSITIONED FROM AN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB TO A FORMAL CLASS IN JUST 1 SEMESTER, BEGINNING UIL COMPETITION IN 2023, AND WE ARE SO PROUD AND COMMEND THESE STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND FOR REPRESENTING RICHARDSON ISD SO PROUDLY AT THE STATE LEVEL.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO.

I KNOW, IT'S SO EXCITING. SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE STUDENTS. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE EDSEL SANCHEZ.

ALEXA. MISS. ALEXA VERA. ERIC SANCHEZ.

BRANDON ROJAS. JULIO DE LEON. GABRIEL. GABRIEL NELSON.

ANDREW SANCHEZ. MICAH CASILLAS. CAMILA RIVERA.

AND GILBERT. ALVAREZ GONZALEZ. LET'S HEAR IT FOR BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL MARIACHI.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GRAB THAT GROUP PHOTO.

AND AS THEY'RE GETTING THEIR PHOTO, IF I COULD HAVE OUR ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AND ALL-STATE COMPETITION ATHLETES, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU ARE GOING TO BE NEXT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS TO BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL MARIACHI.

OKAY. AND SO, AS WE DO WITH EACH MONTH, AS OUR SEASONS CONCLUDE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT ARE PERFORMING SO WELL, NOT ONLY ON THE COMPETITION FIELD, BUT ALSO IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO THIS MONTH WE HAVE OUR BASKETBALL, POWER LIFTING AND WRESTLING STUDENTS, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZE ALL 3 OF THOSE TEAMS AS 2025, 2026 ACADEMIC, ALL STATE RECIPIENTS, AS WELL AS OUR UIL, ALL 22STATE PARTICIPANTS.

OUR ALL-STATE COMPETITION ATHLETES ARE RECOGNIZED FOR TOP TIER ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IN THEIR SPORTS.

THE ACADEMIC ALL-STATE RECIPIENTS ARE SENIOR STUDENT ATHLETES WHO HAVE EXCELLED THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC CAREER IN THE CATEGORIES OF GPA, CLASS, RANK AND ACT SAT SCORES. WE APPLAUD THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO PERFORM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

WE HAVE 41 STUDENTS DISTRICT WIDE OUT OF THESE THREE SPORTS BEING RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THOSE THAT COULD BE HERE THIS EVENING. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.

WE HAVE WILL MITCHELL FROM PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE ZACH FULLER, LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AND A STATE QUALIFIER IN WRESTLING.

[00:20:03]

ACADEMIC, ALL-STATE BASKETBALL. CARSON JARVIS.

RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE. BASKETBALL.

MAKAYLA CAR. RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL. ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

[INAUDIBLE] RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

SAMANTHA [INAUDIBLE] PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

LILY ANDERSON. PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

GRANT ROEMER. PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. STATE QUALIFIER FOR WRESTLING.

DIEGO. DIEGO GARCIA. PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

RUSH SMITH. PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

SUTTON LASTLY. PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

BRADY KARP. ALSO FROM PEARCE HIGH SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE HENRY MOORE. LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL. SINCERE ANDERSON.

LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH. SCHOOL. ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

LUCAS SUTHERLAND. RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STATE.

BASKETBALL. KENON CROWDER. LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.

BASKETBALL. JOHN NEILSON, LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE BASKETBALL.

SOFIA DEVACA, LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL A STATE QUALIFIER IN WRESTLING.

LET'S GO. [INAUDIBLE] AND ROMY TAMMINGA LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, ANOTHER STATE QUALIFIER IN WRESTLING.[APPLAUSE] ISRAEL. ISRAEL MULLERO LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL STATE QUALIFIER IN WRESTLING.

ZACK NEWCOMER BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL STATE QUALIFIER IN POWERLIFTING.[APPLAUSE] AND ALSO THIS EVENING WE ARE RECOGNIZING SETH JACKSON RICHARDSON, HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, BASKETBALL.

AND COACH LAWSON IS HERE TO TO REPRESENT SETH.

THANK YOU COACH.

THIS IS A BIG GROUP, BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM ORGANIZED FOR A PICTURE.

[INAUDIBLE] I LOVE THAT WE HAVE GIRL WRESTLERS.

AND AS THEY'RE GETTING ORGANIZED, IF YOU ARE HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR BE THE ONE OUR STUDENTS FOR BE THE ONE.

IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD.

WHEN DO THEY NEED TO WE WILL ALSO BE SHARING PHOTOS ON DISTRICT COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE ON TUESDAY, SO IF YOU DON'T GET THE SHOT YOU WANT, WE WILL HAVE SOME.

ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENT ATHLETES.

YUMMY, RIGHT? AND OUR FINALLY AND AND OUR FINAL RATHER STUDENT OR RECOGNITION THIS EVENING, AS WE DO EVERY MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR JUST GOING EXTRA ABOVE AND BEYOND, WHETHER ON THEIR CAMPUS OR IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL STUDENTS THIS EVENING THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING FOR THIS MONTH'S BE THE ONE AWARD AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NOTHING BUNDT CAKES IN RICHARDSON, WHO CONTINUES TO HELP SPONSOR AND GIVES THEM A GREAT LITTLE SWEET TREAT FOR DESSERT.

EAT DINNER FIRST, OKAY? AND THEN YOU. AND THEN WE HAVE DESSERT FOR YOU. BUT LET ME INTRODUCE YOU AND SHARE WITH YOU WHY WE ARE CELEBRATING THESE AWESOME STUDENTS FROM BRENTFIELD. WE HAVE MADELINE AND ASHER MCCLUSKEY AND VIVIAN AND GRAHAM DAVIS, AND WE ARE RECOGNIZING THEM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION.

[00:25:05]

BY IDENTIFYING A COMMUNITY NEED AND EXECUTING A PLAN, THESE STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL EMPATHY AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING IN LEADERSHIP. THEY SERVE AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE POSITIVE IMPACT OUR STUDENTS CAN MAKE ON THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, STUDENTS.

[APPLAUSE] AND WE ARE GOING TO GRAB A PICTURE. FOR THOSE CAKES.

THANK YOU, STUDENTS, FOR BEING THE ONE. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE MORE.

AND AS WE CONCLUDE OUR RECOGNITIONS, WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES, STAFF, COMMUNITY THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE THESE STUDENTS AND STAFF AND GROUPS. AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU. IF YOU IF YOU CAN, PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE, AND LET US CELEBRATE AND CHEER YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR RICHARDSON ISD.[APPLAUSE] AND WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE OUR RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.

[00:30:36]

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION FOR OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

[II. PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION]

SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. AS A REMINDER, SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PROTOCOL, AS NOTED ON THE RISD WEBSITE.

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

OUR 1ST SPEAKER IS SEAN SMITH.

GOOD EVENING BOARD. MY NAME IS SEAN SMITH. I'M THE FOUNDER OF A NONPROFIT CALLED ENPHASE KIDS.

AND OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE. IT'S TO INCREASE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN YOUTH SPORTS.

THE REALITY IS THERE'S A GROWING GAP IN SPORTS PARTICIPATION TODAY BETWEEN THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID IF YOU WANT TO PLAY, YOU JUST PLAYED.

BUT TODAY, OFTENTIMES KIDS WHO WANT TO PLAY HAVE TO PAY.

AND IT'S. AND IT'S A PRETTY PENNY. I HAVE A QUOTE THAT I PUT ON YOUR YOUR STAT SHEET IN THIS LITTLE YELLOW THING.

AND IT, AND IT SAYS TALENT IS UNIVERSAL, BUT OPPORTUNITY IS NOT.

WHEN I WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT LIKE TROPHIES, RECORDS, OR ACCOLADES, RIGHT? THE REALITY IS THIS, THAT, THAT SPORTS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SPORTS CHANGES LIVES.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I REMEMBER I GREW UP IN A SINGLE PARENT HOME AND MY, MY COACHES WERE MY FATHER FIGURES.

I GREW UP IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD. SPORTS KEPT ME OUT OF TROUBLE.

I WAS A SHY, AWKWARD KID. SPORTS HELPED ME TO SOCIALIZE AND HELP ME TO COMMUNICATE AND HELP ME TO LEARN WHAT TEAMWORK WAS, WAS ABOUT. I THINK SPORTS HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ME, AND YOU CAN PROBABLY SAY THE SAME IN YOUR OWN LIVES.

I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCES IS UNIQUE.

BUT I DO BELIEVE MY EXPERIENCE IS BECOMING MORE RARE JUST BECAUSE MY LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES ARE BEING ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS THAT CAN AFFORD THEM.

ON THE PAPERS THAT I GAVE Y'ALL, YOU MAY SEE SOME STATS AND THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT DISTANT OR ABSTRACT.

THEY REFLECT WHAT'S OCCURRING IN THIS DISTRICT AND DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE DISTRICTS ACROSS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CURRENTLY I DO OPERATE IN RISD RIGHT NOW IN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE KIDS IN OUR PROGRAMS PAY LITTLE TO NOTHING TO PARTICIPATE.

ANY KID THAT WANTS TO BE PART OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE DON'T TURN AWAY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ACCESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I HAVE 40S LEFT, SO I WISH I HAD MORE TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT STORIES IMPACT.

BUT I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. SPORTS IS IMPORTANT.

SPORTS IS A MIGHTY TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO UPLIFT, INSPIRE AND BUILD OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A LUXURY, BUT A RIGHT. BOARD MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. AND I'M ASKING YOUR SUPPORT AS IT RELATES TO EXPANDING ACCESS AND REACHING MORE STUDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. EWEN BLACKMAN.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT, BRANUM AND ESTEEMED EMPLOYEES.

[00:35:01]

FUND BALANCES. LONG TERM OUTLOOKS. MONEY, MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND, FOR SURE.

I'VE SPOKEN AT THIS PODIUM MANY TIMES IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AS TO OUR BUDGETS, OUR BUDGET SITUATION WHERE WE PUT OUR MONEY, WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND HOW WE TAX OUR CITIZENS.

JUNE 2025. WE HAD A PROJECTED 60 MILLION. NOW, LOOKING AT A $54 MILLION DEFICIT, THE STATE GAVE A TEACHER PAY RAISE LAST YEAR THAT COST AROUND 9 MILLION. FOR $5,000 FOR TEACHERS OVER FIVE YEARS.

EXPERIENCE LONG OVERDUE FROM THE STATE LEVEL, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS WHAT WE DID ON THE TEACHER LEVEL.

WE ARE A SERVICE INDUSTRY. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE MACHINERIES AND PRODUCTS.

WE HAVE AMAZING STUDENTS. WE EDUCATE THOSE STUDENTS.

WE CAN'T JUST CONSOLIDATE AND SAVE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE HAVE COME INTO OUR CLASSROOM.

THAT'S HOW WE GET FUNDED. YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE ADA THE W ADA.

SO HOW DO WE RUN THAT FROM A STATE THAT PAYS US BY THE DAY? WHEN WE RUN BY THE YEAR. WHEN I SIGN A CONTRACT, MY TEACHING CONTRACTS FOR A YEAR.

SO THERE'S MUCH TO ANSWER FOR THE STATE. AND AS I SAID LAST TIME, I WILL INTEND TO BE DOWN AT THE STATE LEVEL, ALONG WITH SOME OF YOU HOPEFULLY ADVOCATING AS A CITIZEN, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AS AN EDUCATOR, AND AS AN ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION. AND I HOPE TONIGHT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE CUTS, YOU LOOK AT THESE SHIFTS THAT WE WILL MAKE THE THE HARD DECISIONS A LITTLE EASIER BY KNOWING THAT FOLKS LIKE SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM HAS USED THE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT OF HER TEAM, THOSE FOLKS AROUND HER THAT DRIVE THE NUMBERS.

AND LORD KNOWS, MR. PATE, I'VE MET WITH HIM MANY TIMES TO TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.

AND MUCH LIKE YOU, I DON'T GET PAID FOR THAT. IT'S A COMPLETE VOLUNTEER POSITION.

AND WHEN I SELF-ADVOCATE FOR IT. BUT TO LOOK AT THAT.

THE DECISION TODAY WILL HAVE LONG TERM IMPACTS ON OUR STUDENTS, LONG TERM IMPACTS ON OUR FUTURE CLASSROOMS. SO AS I SPOKE BEFORE, WE NEED TO MINIMIZE THAT EFFECT ON TEACHERS.

WE HAVE AN ATTRITION RATE THAT'S GONE DOWN TO 11% FROM 17%.

THAT'S AN AMAZING CELEBRATION. BUT EVEN 11% WAS 2700 TEACHERS.

THAT'S AROUND 285, 290 TEACHERS WHO WILL LEAVE THE DISTRICT FOR VARIOUS REASONS OR LEAVE THEIR POSITION.

SO THERE'S SOME ATTRITION THERE THAT CAN BE HAD WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO LAY ANYBODY OFF. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE LAYOFFS WILL NOT BE SOMETHING WE'LL BE DOING IN MASS, EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS CENTRAL ADMIN AND THAT MIDDLE MANAGEMENT THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

AND THAT ALSO WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE, I BELIEVE, ON TEACHERS BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT MIDDLE MANAGEMENT IDEAS THEY SPUR IN THOSE MEETINGS UPON MEETINGS IS ROLLED DOWN ONTO THE TEACHER, AND THE TEACHER HAS TO THEN ROLL THOSE OUT AND TEACHER HAS TO ADJUST TO SOME OF THAT STUFF. SO I'M EXCITED FOR OUR TEACHER FOR THAT.

I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH TIME AND OUR HEART GOES OUT.

I KNOW FOR ME PERSONALLY, I TOOK A $12,000 CUT TO MAKE MY DISTRICT'S BUDGET WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. BLACKMAN. MR. POTEET, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.

GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT SPOKE TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU, MR. RENTERIA, FOR FOR COORDINATING THOSE SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN ACTION ITEM FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[III. CONSENT / CONFIRMATION AGENDA ITEMS]

OKAY. AND THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THAT MOTION PASSES 6 TO 0.

OUR NEXT ACTION ITEM IS TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT GIFTS.

[IV.A. Consider Gifts]

AS ALWAYS, EVERY MONTH, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR OUR MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH BASED PARTNERS, OUR PTAS. I HAD THE HONOR LAST NIGHT OF SPEAKING AT ONE OF OUR PTA ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, AND TO HEAR WHAT THAT PTA IS DOING FOR FUNDRAISING, HOW THEY'RE GIVING DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT STUDENTS.

IT'S JUST AN AMAZING THING TO HEAR, AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, TO KNOW THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS, THESE ORGANIZATIONS STAND READY TO HELP FILL IN THE GAP, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND SO JUST OUR APPRECIATION. AND I'VE ASKED MR. PAYNE TO PRESENT OUR GIFTS OF $5,000 OR MORE.

THANK YOU, MRS. BRANUM. I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT GIFTS RECEIVED THIS MONTH.

WE HAVE 4 GIFTS, OVER $5,000 SUBMITTED FOR BOARD APPROVAL.

[00:40:03]

THE RISD COUNCIL OF PTA DONATED $8,866.67 TO THE DISTRICT.

THE STULTS ELEMENTARY PTA DONATED $5,900 TO STULTS ELEMENTARY.

THE WHITE ROCK ELEMENTARY PTA DONATED $70,120 TO WHITE ROCK ELEMENTARY, FOR A TOTAL OF $96,099.29.

AND WE HAVE 6 GIFTS, LESS THAN $5,000 FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, TOTALING $3,103.14, WHICH ARE SUBMITTED FOR THE BOARD'S INFORMATION, BRINGING OUR TOTAL GIFTS THIS MONTH TO $99,202.43. THANK YOU, MR. PATE. AND WITH THAT, I DO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE GIFTS OF $5,000 OR MORE AS PRESENTED. GREAT. THANK YOU.

MR. PATE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE GIFTS? SO MOVE. THANK YOU. MR. EAGER, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. MCGOWAN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE GIFTS? YES. MR. MCGOWAN, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR TAS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL AMAZING.

AND OUR PARENTS AND TEACHERS MAKE UP OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT 1 SPECIAL AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS STILL SHERWOOD ELEMENTARY.

I'M PART OF THIS PTA AND BEEN PART OF THE GROWTH OF THIS.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT STARTS WITH A REALLY SMALL GROUP OF MOMS THAT HAVE REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD THIS YEAR AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THEM.

SO I WANTED TO HAVE THAT ON RECORD THAT CONGRATULATIONS TO THAT LITTLE STARTUP PTA.

IT JUST GIVES ME HOPE ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT WE CAN DO THIS.

WE CAN DO HARD THINGS. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. WITH THAT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY. AND THAT MOTION PASSES 6 TO 0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN INFORMATION ITEM REGARDING THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD TRAINING HOURS.

[IV.B. Board Training Hours]

I WILL GO THROUGH AND READ THE THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE NUMBER OF TRAINING HOURS THEY HAVE EXCEEDED FROM THE REQUIREMENT.

SO THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS EXCEEDED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING.

BOARD MEMBER CHRIS POTEET EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING TRAINING BY 0.5 HOURS.

OVERACHIEVER. BOARD MEMBER. BOARD MEMBER RACHEL MCGOWAN EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 12 ADDITIONAL HOURS.

CONGRATULATIONS. BOARD MEMBER DEBBIE RENTERIA EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 20 HOURS.

GOOD JOB. BOARD MEMBER REGINA HARRIS EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 18 HOURS.

BOARD MEMBER ERIC EAGER EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 0.0 ADDITIONAL HOURS. YES BOARD MEMBER MEGAN TIMME EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 7 HOURS. OH, I'M SORRY, 2 HOURS ON THE EXCEEDED.

SO SORRY. OKAY. I SHOULD HAVE JUST GONE WITH THE ORIGINAL.

AND FINALLY, BOARD MEMBER VANESSA PACHECO EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING BY 21 ADDITIONAL HOURS. OH 16 I'M SORRY, MAN, I KEEP LOOKING AT THE WRONG COLUMN.

I'M SORRY. THIS IS WHERE WE COULD JUST ROLL WITH IT.

SO 16 HOURS FOR MISS PACHECO. SO WITH THAT REPORT BEING READ THAT IS HOURS.

AND FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO COUNT TOWARDS THIS YEAR, WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH.

IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP FOR OR ATTEND A CONFERENCE OR GET SOME MORE HOURS.

SO IT ALL BENEFITS THE DISTRICT. IF I MAY MR -POTEET.

ON THAT, I THINK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AGAIN, THESE 7 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COMMITTED THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, THEIR INSIGHT, THEIR PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT BETTER, ALSO INVEST IN THEIR OWN GROWTH.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NORTH STAR GOAL, IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO OUR STAFF.

YOU ALSO CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE THOSE LEADERS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THAT NORTH STAR GOAL AND INVEST IN YOUR OWN GROWTH SO YOU CAN POUR INTO OUR KIDS.

[00:45:02]

THAT'S A LOT OF TIME IN WHICH YOU MIGHT BE MISSING WORK.

YOU MIGHT BE MISSING TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY. AND SO JUST ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, WE THANK YOU.

AND AND BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM I DID, I WILL JUST GIVE THE SUMMARY THERE ON THE, THE, THE TOTALS, BUT JUST FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AS A BOARD TO THAT THERE WERE OVER 90 HOURS OF CONTINUING ED AMONGST US, WHICH IS IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE COMMITMENTS BACK ON BACK ON THE HOME FRONT WITH FAMILY, WITH JOB, EVERYTHING ELSE. AND IT WAS IN EXCESS OF ALMOST 60 HOURS OF WHAT'S REQUIRED.

SO VERY WELL DONE. AND PRESIDENT POTEET ARE DO THOSE HOURS ALSO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED TRAINING THAT WE HAVE TO DO? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. AND WE HAVE STATE MANDATE.

YES. GO AHEAD. YES. MR. POTEET, IF YOU CAN OFFICIALLY FOR THE RECORD, GO AHEAD AND READ THAT PART.

YES. THANK YOU.

OKAY. AND TO GET TO THAT POINT, MR. MCGOWAN, THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE DOES REQUIRE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, HELD BEFORE AN ELECTION OF TRUSTEES, TO REFLECT WHETHER EACH TRUSTEE HAS MET OR IS DEFICIENT IN MEETING TRAINING HOURS.

THE LAST REGULAR BOARD MEETING BEFORE THE MAY 2ND, 2026 TRUSTEE ELECTION IS TONIGHT, APRIL 2ND, 2026. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING ARE MEASURED AS OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THE TRUSTEES ELECTION, OR APPOINTMENT, OR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS OR HER PREVIOUS TRAINING, AS APPLICABLE.

THERE ARE 8 TRAINING AREAS FOR BOARD MEMBERS FOR BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION LOCAL DISTRICT ORIENTATION, PRIMARILY FOR 1ST YEAR TRUSTEES. ORIENTATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.

AGAIN FOR FIRST YEAR TRUSTEES. POST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.

EXPERIENCED TRUSTEES TEAM BUILDING ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION, EVALUATING STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SETTING GOALS, IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING ABUSE, TRAFFICKING OR OTHER MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN, AND FINALLY SCHOOL SAFETY.

AND THEN WITH THAT, I HAVE ANNOUNCED THE COMPLETION OR DEFICIENCY OF EACH AREA FOR EACH TRUSTEE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS INFORMATION ITEM. YOU'RE WELCOME.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN INFORMATION UPDATE ON THE 26-027 BUDGET.

[IV.C. 2026 - 2027 Budget]

I'M GOING TO GET THE CLICKER. THANK YOU.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PRESENTATION, AS ALWAYS, WE GROUND EVERY PRESENTATION IN THIS NORTH STAR GOAL.

AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS THROUGH THE LENS OF HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE OUR HUMAN AND OUR FISCAL RESOURCES TO HELP US ACHIEVE.

EVERY STUDENT WILL MEET OR EXCEED THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH GOALS, HOW EVERY TEACHER AND LEADER WILL MEET OR EXCEED THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH GOALS.

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN ADD OR ENRICH SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING.

AND THERE ARE SOME TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN ORDER TO PRIORITIZE HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE EXPENDED.

AND TONIGHT, THAT IS PART OF OUR CONVERSATION.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH, REMIND OUR COMMUNITY, REMIND OUR BOARD WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR GENERAL FUND AND THE WHY BEHIND THIS CONVERSATION.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT I AM BRINGING FORWARD FOR OUR 26-27 BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK, YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE PROCESS.

SO WHY ARE WE HERE? THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT A NEW ONE.

I WISH IT WAS, BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE NOW IN OUR 4TH, ALMOST 5TH YEAR OF HAVING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT NOT JUST RICHARDSON ISD IS FACING WITH BUDGETARY CHALLENGES, BUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND TO MY CORE, IS THE BELIEF THAT THIS BOARD HAS IN RETAINING OUR STAFF, INVESTING IN OUR STAFF, MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATORS IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS SO THAT WE CAN REACH THAT NORTH STAR GOAL.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE THAT INVESTMENT, THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

[00:50:09]

AND ON THE HEELS OF, OF COVID, WE'RE NOW ALMOST, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE 5 YEARS PAST COVID, 6 YEARS PAST COVID LOSING OVER 3000 STUDENTS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO ALIGN THAT STAFF WITH WHERE OUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT LIES. SO I JUST WANT TO WALK THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AND OUR BOARD THROUGH ULTIMATELY WHERE WE ARE WITH REVENUE, WHERE OUR EXPENDITURES EXPENDITURE LINE SITS, AND IN THE END, WHERE WE WOULD BE AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

AND IF WE WERE TO ROLL THAT FORWARD, IF YOU ROLL THAT DEFICIT FORWARD AND REALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR THAT DEFICIT IS REALLY A $37 MILLION DEFICIT MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT ONE TIME SALE OF OUR PROPERTY AT SHERMAN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF SUPPLANT OUR FUND BALANCE TO HELP ABSORB SOME OF THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A $37 MILLION DEFICIT BUDGET, IF YOU USE THE DEMOGRAPHERS NUMBER NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY LOSING 408 STUDENTS, INCREASED EXPENDITURES. AND THEN IF WE WANTED TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF INCREASE OF COMPENSATION, YOU ARE LOOKING TOWARDS A $50 MILLION DEFICIT BUDGET.

AND IF YOU LOOK WHERE OUR FUND BALANCE IS, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT SUSTAINABLE.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND OUR CABINET TEAM AND OUR CENTRAL STAFF WHO BEGAN WORKING EARLY FALL.

AND WE WENT DOWN TO EVERY LINE ITEM, EVERY ALLOCATION, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, WHAT ARE THE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN ON OUR TEAM.

AND WE RESEARCHED 8 OF OUR BENCHMARK DISTRICTS SO THAT WE COULD EVALUATE WHERE DID WE HAVE ALIGNMENT, WHERE DID WE HAVE MISALIGNMENT? AND THERE IS NOT A ROLE, NOT A POSITION, NOT A PROGRAM, NOT A BUDGET NUMBER THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT, WHERE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD AMAZING JUSTIFICATION OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY MAKE IN RICHARDSON ISD, THE DIFFERENCE THEY MAKE FOR OUR KIDS, EVERY ROLE, EVERY POSITION, EVERY PROGRAM THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE TREMENDOUS VALUE. THE REDUCTIONS THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD ARE NOT A STATEMENT OF VALUE OF, OF A PERSON BEHIND THAT ROLE. THIS IS SIMPLY AN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE TOWARDS A BALANCED, SUSTAINABLE BUDGET SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE SO WE CAN KEEP THE BEST PEOPLE IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE EXPECT FOR OUR FOR OUR EXPENDITURE INCREASES FOR NEXT YEAR.

I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO JUST HIGHLIGHT WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR DECLINE OF STUDENTS AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN REAL DOLLARS. AND AGAIN, THIS LOSS OF ENROLLMENT IS NOT UNIQUE TO RICHARDSON ISD.

IN FACT, WE RIGHT NOW ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER PLACE THAN SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS WITH OUR STUDENT LOSS, BUT IT STILL MEANS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF REVENUE SITTING AT OVER $20 MILLION.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE ENROLLMENT IS CONTRIBUTED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS, WHETHER THAT IS A DECREASING BIRTH RATE, NOT JUST IN THIS AREA, BUT ACROSS THE STATE. WE KNOW WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN RICHARDSON. THERE ARE OTHER POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN POLICIES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

AND THEN WE KNOW THERE'S INCREASED CHOICE AND AN INCREASED FOCUS ON CHOICE.

AND ALL OF THOSE ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON WHERE WE SIT RIGHT NOW WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE AT THE SAME TIME.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT SOME OF THESE INCREASES ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

SINCE 2018 2019, WE ABSORBED PROGRAMS LIKE OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT THAT WAS IN DALLAS COUNTY AND IS NOW A PART OF OUR RICHARDSON ISD STAFF. AND 2 LEGISLATIVE CYCLES AGO, THERE WAS A UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT WE WERE GOING TO PROVIDE AN ARMED

[00:55:09]

AND WHILE WE HAD OUR AMAZING SRO PROGRAM AT OUR SECONDARY LEVEL, WE DID HAVE TO ADD 30 POSITIONS AT OUR ELEMENTARIES FOR FULL TIME SECURITY OFFICERS, AS WELL AS IN THE SUPERVISORS TO OVERSEE THAT DEPARTMENT.

SO SOME OF THESE INCREASES ARE NOT JUST ADDING MORE PEOPLE.

SOME OF THESE ARE VERY PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

BUT DESPITE THAT, WE RECOGNIZE WITH 2,757 LESS STUDENTS, WE HAVE TO BRING OUR OUR CURRENT STAFFING MODEL TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE, WHO SPENT ALMOST A YEAR STUDYING OUR BUDGET, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM IN THE AUDIENCE.

BUT THEY SPENT A YEAR LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET NOT ONLY LOOKING AT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE COULD BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO HOW DO WE FOCUS ON HOW TO GENERATE REVENUE? AND YOU CAN SEE THE ONES, THE AREAS WITH THE CHECK MARKS.

EACH OF THOSE AREAS ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH THOSE.

WE'VE EITHER COMPLETED THEM OR WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO HAVING THOSE COMPLETED.

AND THEN THE AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE THE DASHED ARROW, THOSE ARE WE ARE MOVING, WE'RE MOVING THOSE FORWARD, BUT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THEM. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THAT COMMITTEE WHO REALLY ALLOWED US TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT DOES MOVING TOWARDS A BALANCED BUDGET LOOK LIKE? THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THESE CONSIDERATIONS KEPT OUR TEAM GROUNDED WHEN WE WERE HAVING THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS BECAUSE AGAIN, EVERYONE OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD, WE COULD JUSTIFY WHY WE NEED TO KEEP THEM. BUT IN THE END, WHEN WE LOOKED AT ALIGNMENT OF STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSING, EVERY RESOURCE WE HAVE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THAT CLASSROOM BETWEEN OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS, THE IMPACT ON ON TEACHING AND LEARNING. ARE WE ABLE TO HAVE THE PERSONNEL WE NEED TO MAINTAIN LEGAL COMPLIANCE? HOW IS IT GOING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE INSTRUCTIONAL DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS? HOW DOES IT ALIGN WITH THE GRADUATE PROFILE? AND ONE THING I HEAR AT EVERY BOARD MEETING FROM THE SEVEN OF YOU IS ALSO WHAT IS THE IMPACT GOING TO BE ON CULTURE, WHETHER WE ARE ADDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SYSTEM OR WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE TONIGHT'S DIFFICULT DECISIONS, IT'S IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT OUR CULTURE, AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT OUR CULTURE? AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO SUPPORT THAT IMPACT ON THAT CULTURE? BECAUSE AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF PAY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH ARE ALL SUPER IMPORTANT, WE ALSO KNOW TEACHERS AND STAFF WILL STAY IF THEY'RE IN A CULTURE THAT'S HEALTHY AND FOCUSED ON OUR WHY.

WHAT HAVE WE ALREADY DONE? THIS JOURNEY OF MOVING TOWARDS A BALANCED BUDGET DID NOT START WITH THIS CONVERSATION TONIGHT.

IT ACTUALLY STARTED WITH PROJECT RIGHT SIZE. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR STAFF WHO ALL EXPERIENCED CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVE AS A RESULT OF THAT DECISION, THAT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT DECISION.

ANNUALLY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE $12 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN IF THOSE CAMPUSES WERE WERE OPERATING AS NORMAL TODAY.

THE LAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE WORKED TOWARDS FINDING REDUCTIONS, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH DEPARTMENT REDUCTIONS, POSITION, ABSORPTIONS, ELIMINATING STATEMENTS, STIPENDS REMOVING CONTRACTED SERVICES.

SO WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MOVED CLOSER TO A BALANCED BUDGET.

BUT AS WE'VE TAKEN BOLD MOVES TO ADDRESS COMPENSATION, MOVING OUR TURNOVER RATE TO THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN IN 13 YEARS AND LOWER THAN WHAT IT IS IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW, OF WHICH WE CAN'T REALLY FIND A RECORD OF WHEN WE WERE LOWER THAN THE STATE.

THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU MADE, MOVING US TO BE THE TOP OF OUR AREA IN COMPENSATION FOR OUR VETERAN TEACHERS,

[01:00:03]

AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST AND CONTINUE TO BE BOLD SO THAT WE CAN BE NUMBER ONE, THEN WE DO HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW DO WE BRING OUR EXPENDITURES DOWN AND HOW DO WE MOVE TOWARDS A MORE BALANCED BUDGET? I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THE PAST 2 WEEKS TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH OUR CAMPUS LEADERS.

I HAVE SPENT TIME WITH OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, IN WHICH I RECORDED A BUDGET OF 101, DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND THE WORDS, DESPERATELY TRYING TO MODEL FOR OUR STAFF HOW THE BUDGET WORKS, HOW WE ARE FUNDED, HOW WE ARE UNDERFUNDED TO HELP LAY THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE WHY BEHIND THESE DECISIONS.

I WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO KNOW THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, IN THE END, ARE GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT'S NOT LOST ON ME. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ARE A PART OF RICHARDSON ISD.

THEY ARE A PART OF THE HEART OF RICHARDSON ISD.

AND MOST OF THEM, MANY OF THEM HAVE GIVEN MOST OF THEIR CAREER TO THIS DISTRICT AND FOR NO OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THEY LOVE KIDS.

SO FOR ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE RECEIVING THE NEWS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR WORK.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW I UNDERSTAND AND I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY WE'RE IN THIS POSITION. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT AS A DISTRICT, IT'S ALSO MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A A FINANCIAL STEWARD OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO SUSTAIN THIS DISTRICT LONG BEYOND WHEN ANY OF US ARE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.

AND AS GENERATIONS OF BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE DONE BEFORE US.

SO I AM GOING TO TO GO THROUGH THESE BUDGET EFFICIENCIES AS I FINISH AT THE END.

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU OUR COMMUNICATION TIMELINE, HOW WE WILL BE SUPPORTING THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND WHAT WE WILL DO TO MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE LOVE THEM AND WE CARE FOR THEM AND THAT THEY WILL BE OKAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT WE WILL BE OKAY. ALSO, BEFORE WE GO THROUGH AS EVERYONE READS THIS AND REVIEWS THIS, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL IMPACTED WILL HAVE A POSITION IN RICHARDSON ISD IN 26-27.

IT MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT ROLE, IT MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT SITE.

IT MAY HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT OUR TEAM WILL COLLABORATE WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND THEM, THAT NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THAT NORTH STAR GOAL STAYS OUR FOCUS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHAT WHAT ARE OUR REDUCTIONS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO START WITH OUR GENERAL BUDGETS THAT EACH OF US HAVE AND LEAD IN OUR RESPECTIVE AREAS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE REDUCING OUR CENTRAL OFFICE DISCRETIONARY BUDGETS BY 13%, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A $250,000 ELIMINATION OF LINE ITEMS RELATED TO TRAVEL AND FOOD.

SO THIS MEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CENTRAL OFFICE, THERE'S GOING TO BE LIMITATIONS ON CONFERENCES.

WE REALLY LOCAL CONFERENCES ARE GOING TO BE PREFERRED.

AND IF THERE IS ANY TRAVEL THAT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VERY STRINGENT APPROVAL PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN EVALUATE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

WE ARE ELIMINATING SOME MEMBERSHIPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MEMBERSHIPS SUPPORT AND ALIGN WITH THAT DEPARTMENT'S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THEN WE WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTING HOW WE PROVIDE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A PRINCIPAL MEETING AND WE MIGHT BRING IN LUNCH FOR THAT PRINCIPAL MEETING, IT MAY BE THAT WE SAY LIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A SACK LUNCH OR WE MAY LEAVE TIME SO THAT THEY CAN GO OUT TO LUNCH.

BUT AGAIN, JUST MAKING THOSE THOSE, THOSE SMALLER MOVES THAT WHEN YOU ADD THEM UP ACROSS MEETINGS, THEY, THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, IN THIS LINE ITEM OF THE BUDGET.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS A 13% REDUCTION IN ACROSS THE BOARD IN EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE HAVE EVALUATED EVERY STIPEND.

WE'VE EVALUATED OUR SUBSTITUTE SCHEDULING SYSTEM AND HOW WE CAN OPTIMIZE THAT AND WORKING WITH SS AND OUR PROVIDER TO OPTIMIZE

[01:05:10]

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH SOME PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CURRENTLY USE OUR FACILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE WEEKEND AND CURRENTLY DO NOT PAY OUR CUSTODIAL FEES.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING THEM TO PAY THE CUSTODIAL FEES WHEN THEY ARE USING OUR BUILDINGS.

BECAUSE, AND OUR CUSTODIANS, WHEN THEY WORK ON THAT SATURDAY, THAT'S TIME AND A HALF.

AND AGAIN, THAT ADDS UP OVER TIME. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED OUR, OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN WITH US AND HELPING COVER SOME OF THOSE BASIC COSTS.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECTED SAVINGS THAT THAT WILL CAPTURE FOR US.

1 OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, SPECIFICALLY OF THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE, WAS TO ALIGN OUR STAFFING MODEL.

AND I WANT TO SEND A GREAT APPRECIATION TO DOCTOR GOODSON AND HIS TEAM WHO HAVE STUDIED BENCHMARK DISTRICTS.

AND WHAT DOES THAT FRONT OFFICE AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF AT OUR CAMPUSES? WHAT DOES THE WHAT DO THOSE ALLOCATIONS LOOK LIKE? SO WE HAVE A STANDARD STAFFING MODEL THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT ELEMENTARY SECONDARY.

IT IS BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF A CAMPUS BASED UPON A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY SERVE.

AND SO OUR DOCTOR GOODSON AND OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING WITH EACH CAMPUS TO, TO ROLL OUT THAT STANDARD STAFFING MODEL, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO RICHARDSON ISD. THIS IS A STANDARD PRACTICE ACROSS MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RESET AND ENSURE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES IS ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S OUR PARENTS WHO INTERACT WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET WITH THIS THIS RECOMMENDATION.

THEN AGAIN, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE EVERY CENTRAL OFFICE POSITION.

THERE WILL BE 38 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS THAT WILL BE CUT FOR 26-27 WE HAVE NOT LISTED EACH OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS PERSONALLY.

BUT WHAT WE DID WANT TO REPRESENT IS THAT THIS IS NOT JUST 1 DEPARTMENT.

THESE REDUCTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO RUN THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SOME OF THESE POSITIONS, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S POINTED OUT HAVE BEEN VACANT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE MADE A DECISION EITHER TO RETIRE AT IN AT DECEMBER OR MAYBE THEY HAD ANOTHER CAREER OPPORTUNITY IN THE FALL.

WE HELD THAT POSITION VACANT KNOWING THAT THESE POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS COULD BE COMING AND WE EVALUATED.

OKAY. WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT POSITION FOR 3 MONTHS, 4 MONTHS.

IS THE DEPARTMENT ABLE TO STILL FUNCTION? ARE WE? IS THERE ANY LOSS OF SUPPORT TO OUR CAMPUSES? AND BASED UPON THAT, WE WERE EITHER ABLE TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST OR SAY, NO, WE NEEDED TO REFILL THAT POSITION.

SO SOME OF THESE ALLOCATIONS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT.

VACANT AND WILL NOT IMPACT A CURRENT INDIVIDUAL THAT IS SITTING IN THAT ROLE, BUT THERE ARE SOME ALLOCATIONS THAT CURRENTLY ARE FILLED.

THEN ADDITIONALLY, IF WE LOOK AT SPECIFIC CAMPUS ALLOCATIONS, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WHICH OVER TIME, AS WE KNOW, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR CAMPUSES.

AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH COVID, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL THAT WERE ADDED TO CAMPUSES THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ALLOCATE DIFFERENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT PARENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT OVER TIME THAT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENTLY. AND HOW DO WE PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS AND THOSE SERVICES DIFFERENTLY? AND AGAIN, EVERY ONE OF THESE REDUCTIONS THAT YOU SEE LISTED, IT IS BASED UPON OUR BENCHMARK INFORMATION.

SO WE EITHER LOOK AT A. STUDENT TO STAFF ENROLLMENT RATIO AND WHERE DO WE FALL COMPARED TO OUR BENCHMARK DISTRICTS? OR EVEN PROGRAMMATICALLY DOES THIS PROGRAM EXIST IN OUR OTHER SIMILAR DISTRICTS?

[01:10:06]

AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS OUR SECONDARY SCHEDULE.

WE, AS WE WERE EXPERIENCING COVID. 1 OF THE REQUESTS THAT WERE MADE FOR, FOR KIND OF HEALTH SAFETY REASONS WAS TO REDUCE TRANSITIONS AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THE HALL AND HOW MANY TIMES THEY WENT THROUGH PASSING PERIOD.

AND IT WAS THROUGH THAT THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THE BLOCK SCHEDULE, THE BLOCK SCHEDULE.

WHEN YOU DOUBLE BLOCK COURSES, WHEN YOU DOUBLE BLOCK ATHLETICS IT IS AN INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE MODEL.

IT HAS VALUE, BUT IT IS AN INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE SCHEDULING MODEL.

AND AS WE LOOKED AT THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WE HAD TO EXAMINE, IS THAT THE MODEL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CARRY FORWARD, KNOWING WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR DEFICIT BUDGET? AND WE OUR, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM FELT STRONGLY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE BELIEVE IN OUR FINE ARTS AND OUR ATHLETIC STAFF THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS, TO PRODUCE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WILL HAVE GREAT OUTCOMES.

EVEN IF WE HAVE TO MAKE A SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT.

AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS SAVINGS RIGHT HERE IS, WILL BE CAPTURED BY WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING A MORE TRADITIONAL 7 OR 8 PERIOD DAY.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT DOUBLE BLOCKING YOUR ATHLETICS, SO YOUR COACHES ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE 2 PERIODS WHERE THEY'RE COACHING AND THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSTRUCTION. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHEDULE ALONE THE CAPTURE OF SAVINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE.

AND THEN YOU WILL SEE HERE IS THE NUMBER FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT FOR OUR SECONDARY SCHEDULES WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT MAY TAKE US 2 YEARS TO FULLY REALIZE THE SAVINGS BECAUSE WE, AS WE IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO ABSORB POSITIONS, WE WANT TO DO THAT THROUGH ATTRITION.

AND SO WE MAY NOT HAVE, AGAIN, THANKS TO Y'ALL, WE MAY NOT HAVE AND OUR AMAZING PRINCIPALS WHO CREATE A GREAT CULTURE ON THEIR CAMPUS.

BUT WE, WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT NUMBER OF TEACHERS WHO LEAVE, WE MAY NOT SEE THAT KIND OF TURNOVER IN JUST ONE YEAR.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO RIGHTSIZE THESE FTES AND THE RIGHT SUBJECTS AND THE RIGHT PLACES BEFORE WE'RE FULLY WHERE WE WHERE WE EXPECT TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SCHEDULE CHANGE.

SO IN THE END, IF YOU WERE TO LOOK ACROSS EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS, WE'RE AT 25,708,000. WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.

IT REDUCES OUR DEFICIT BUDGET MOVING INTO NEXT YEAR, BUT IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE IT.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S CONTINUED WORK AHEAD, BUT WE DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HONOR THE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE AND KEEP THE NORTH STAR GOAL CHARGED BY THIS BOARD TO OUR TEAM.

WE KEEP THOSE AT THE FOREFRONT AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT, EVEN WITH THE REDUCTIONS THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD TONIGHT.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE FOR EVERYONE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING OR YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE VIEWING THIS AT A LATER TIME, EVERY RICHARDSON ISD STAFF MEMBER, AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN GOOD STANDING.

HR WOULD WANT ME TO PUT THAT IN THE CAVEAT. WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A POSITION IN RICHARDSON ISD FOR NEXT YEAR.

OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM WILL WORK WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET INPUT FROM THEM ON.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ROLE NEXT YEAR, WHAT KIND OF ROLE WOULD YOU LIKE? WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO BE? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM AND WE WANT TO MATCH AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY HOPE FOR THEIR NEXT OPPORTUNITY IN RISD TO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE, WHAT AN OPENING WOULD BE AND WHERE WE WOULD FIND THAT THAT RIGHT FIT.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A VERY TIGHT COMMUNICATION PLAN.

AGAIN, THANK YOU TO TO DOCTOR HELLER AND HER TEAM.

[01:15:01]

MEETING WITH TEAMS, MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH 1 ON 1S MEETING WITH PRINCIPALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFICS AND HOW THIS IMPACTS THOSE THAT THEY LEAD.

BUT DOING THIS WITH INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF HEART AND AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COMPASSION AND AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF REASSURANCE TO ANYONE THAT MAY BE IMPACTED. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, OUR CABINET TEAM MET THIS MORNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A CHANGE.

AND THE IMPACT OF THIS CHANGE IS NOT JUST WHAT IS FELT IN THE NEXT 7 TO 14 DAYS, AS INDIVIDUALS REALIZE THAT THEIR WORK MAY BE DIFFERENT OR AS A TEAM RECOGNIZES.

WE HAD THESE SUPPORT ROLES AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CHANGE MANAGEMENT WHEN WE'RE IN SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT ROLE AND HOW THAT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT.

IT'LL BE CHANGE MANAGEMENT WHEN A STAFF MEMBER DOES COME TO A MEETING AND THERE MAY NOT BE, YOU KNOW, A NORMAL MEAL THAT IS PROVIDED. IT MAY BE WHEN ANY OF US, WE ARE USED TO HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO MULTIPLE CONFERENCES.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO PICK JUST THAT ONE THAT WE BELIEVE IS GOING TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT TO HELP US BE A BETTER LEADER.

SO THAT CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS CAN'T JUST BE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS SHORT TIME PERIOD.

THIS IS A CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAD THROUGH.

FOR, FOR THE NEXT YEAR, I HAVE REMINDED OUR STAFF THAT WE HAVE SOME CHOICES IN HOW WE LEAD THROUGH THIS.

AND I STILL BELIEVE WITH MY WHOLE HEART IN RICHARDSON ISD, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A CHOICE TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AS WITH A LENS OF ABUNDANCE, WE HAVE RESOURCES.

YES, WE COULD CHAMPION WHY WE NEED MORE. AND YES, WE WILL BE IN AUSTIN ADVOCATING LOUDLY FOR FUNDING CHANGES TO BE MADE IN AUSTIN. BUT WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR KIDS AND FOR OUR STAFF. AND THIS IS JUST A NEXT STEP IN MOVING FORWARD FOR THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF RICHARDSON ISD. I WANT TO THANK OUR INDIVIDUALS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CAMPUS STAFF AND OTHERS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE WHY, AND WE STAND BY THE BOARD AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN US AND THESE ARE THE NEXT DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

SO WITH THAT THIS IS OUR BOARD CALENDAR. AND JUST TO KIND OF MARK THROUGH WHERE WE ARE BASED UPON YOUR FEEDBACK TONIGHT.

AS WE BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT THESE REDUCTIONS, OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL BE DIGGING IN WITH YOU AT THE WORKSHOP AROUND COMPENSATION.

SO WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES THE MODEL OF COMPENSATION LOOK LIKE? THE CAPACITY OF OUR BUDGET BASED UPON THESE REDUCTIONS, WHAT WOULD THE BOARD LIKE TO SEE? SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE COULD THEN COMMUNICATE TO OUR OUR OUR INDIVIDUALS.

THIS IS WHAT COMPENSATION WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR 26-27 SO JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.

AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK OUR TEAMS. I WANT TO THANK OUR CENTRAL OFFICE TEAMS WHO HAVE LED BEAUTIFULLY THROUGH THIS.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CAMPUS TEAMS WHO ARE THEY'RE ALL IN.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS THIS BUDGET THE BEST BUDGET IT CAN BE FOR.

26-27 SO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. BOARD.

ALL RIGHT. A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST THERE AND HOPEFULLY DISCUSS.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

AT THIS TIME IT IS AN INFORMATION ITEM. OKAY, WELL.

OKAY, I WILL GO FIRST. YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU.

I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF, I WANT TO THANK OUR STEERING COMMITTEE.

YOU DID NOT ASK TO BRING THIS FORWARD. WE ASKED YOU TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

WE ASKED YOU TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT ALLOWED US THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE SOME STRATEGIC DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DID.

[01:20:06]

THAT'S WHAT WE DID. AND WE DON'T JUST GET TO BE HERE FOR THE CELEBRATIONS AND THE GOOD THINGS.

WHEN WE ASK FOR THINGS, WE NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN WE ARE REQUESTING INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY. THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR MAKING HARD DECISIONS WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE WHILE WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT GROUPS AND BIG THINGS. YOU GUYS LOOK AT THEM AND SEE EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND WE'VE ASKED YOU TO DO SOMETHING VERY DIFFICULT.

SO I WANT THAT TO BE ON THE RECORD. I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I KNOW EACH OF US UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. JUST REALLY MORE COMMENTS. I MEAN, WE ARE OUR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GET SMALL.

I MEAN, THEY'RE SMALLER. THEY JUST ARE. AND WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO THAT.

JUST LIKE, AS IF THEY WERE BIGGER, WE WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST TO THAT. I HATE IT.

I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOWER BIRTH RATES AND WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE IMPACTING HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL LIVE IN OUR AREA AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL ATTEND OUR SCHOOLS. SO THAT PUTS US IN THE POSITION WE MAY GROW AGAIN AT SOME POINT, AND WE MAY BE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS DOWN THE ROAD. THERE TENDS TO BE LIKE CYCLES, YOU KNOW, IN THESE THINGS.

AND SO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE IN A POSITION AT SOME POINT TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO SAY THAT LIKE I HOPE THAT AS A BOARD AND I AND I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE ACTUALLY.

OF OUR BOARD, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, IS THAT WE ARE GROUNDED IN THIS NORTH STAR GOAL THAT WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD GROW AND THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GROW AND THAT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE A NEED TO GROW. AND IF WE WANT TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT WE SAY WE DO, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THAT EVERY DECISION WE'RE MAKING AS FAR AS A STRATEGY LEADS TO THOSE OUTCOMES AND NOT JUST OUTCOMES FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR HIGH ACHIEVERS, THEY ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO GROW AS WELL, THOSE PROGRAMS AND THOSE THINGS.

ALSO, WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION TOO, BECAUSE OUR NORTH, OUR NORTH STAR GOAL TALKS ABOUT EVERYBODY GROWING.

SO I WANT TO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'VE INCLUDED THAT.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I THINK WE CAN IMPACT OUR NORTH STAR GOAL THE MOST IS TO HAVE THE BEST AND DEEPEST POOLS OF TEACHERS AND OTHERS TO PULL FROM IN THESE POSITIONS SO THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN AND WHO ARE EDUCATING THEM ARE THE VERY BEST THAT THAT OUR AREA HAS TO OFFER, AND THAT THEY COME TO RICHARDSON ISD. AND IF IF WE DO THAT AND WE HAVE THE TOP QUALITY, WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER OUTCOMES.

AND THAT'S A PART OF IT BECAUSE YOURSTAFF'S GOING TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT AND TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

I KNOW THAT UNCERTAINTY IS AWFUL. NO ONE LIKES IT.

CERTAINLY IN THIS SITUATION. BUT WE AS A BOARD HAVE A CHARGE AND WE HAVE TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ACADEMICALLY RESPONSIBLE.

AND WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE RESOURCES THIS DISTRICT HAS.

AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FUNDING IS, WHICH IT IS WHAT IT IS, I COULD GO ON ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT, BUT I WILL RESTRAIN MYSELF ABOUT WHY AND WHAT I AGREE WITH AND WHAT I DON'T.

IT REALLY MY OPINION DOESN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WHAT MATTERS ARE THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

AND WE GET A LOT OF THE GOOD. AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S IN THE DISTRICT'S BEST INTEREST TO GET THE BEST OUTCOMES, BECAUSE WE ALL GROUNDED IN THAT NORTH STAR GOAL.

AND SO ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR DOING HARD WORK.

I KNOW THE TOLL IT TAKES ON YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE.

I ALSO KNOW THAT BEING A SUPERINTENDENT CAN BE THE LONELIEST JOB IN THE WORLD. WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO PRESENT THINGS THAT ARE NOT FUN AND KEEPING YOURSTAFF FROM HAVING TO PRESENT THAT AND TAKING THAT YOURSELF THAT, THAT AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT AS A BOARD, WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE HERE TO SUPPORT AND BACK THAT UP IN THE YEARS GOING FORWARD AS WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MISS TIMME.

MISS MCGOWAN, ARE YOU READY OR DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DEFER TO.

OKAY, MR. EAGER. YOU'RE UP. YOU MAY WANT TO NOT TALK AFTER ME BECAUSE I HAVE NO PROBLEM TALKING ABOUT OUR FUNDING IN AUSTIN. AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE AS MISS TIMME SAID, HEY, THANK YOU FOR THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS. THEY'RE NOT EASY. AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST.

AND WE HAVE TO GET GREAT OUTCOMES. WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND, AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE OPERATING IN A FINANCIAL DEFICIT.

THE DEFICIT AND KEEP DIGGING INTO OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES HERE IF WE CONTINUE ON THAT PATH.

[01:25:05]

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE UP TO SPEED ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND WHY WE'RE IN THE SPOT WE'RE IN.

$55. THAT WAS THE BASIC THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT IS THE BASIC AMOUNT THAT WAS ADDED TO OUR STUDENT ALLOTMENT. YOU KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WE HAD TO WAIT FOR $55, 6 YEARS, 6 YEARS IN THAT TIME FRAME. AND LET ME GIVE YOU ONE POINT IN PERSPECTIVE ALSO.

WHEN ONE OF OUR CHILDREN, WE DON'T GET PAID THE 63.55 WE THINK WE DO.

YOUR CHILD MIGHT, YOU KNOW, ANY OF OUR CHILDREN MISS A DAY OF SCHOOL AND THEY GET SICK.

IT HAPPENS. $44. THAT IS HOW MUCH WE GET REDUCED.

SO WE WAITED 6 YEARS FOR OUR STATE TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND WE GOT $55.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A MINUTE. WAS THIS A SITUATION WHERE THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY? BECAUSE BELIEVE ME, I'M YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, I AM A CPA.

I HAVE AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN TAXATION. I HAVE RUN AND BUILT BUSINESSES.

SO I UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE A DOLLAR WORK. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU GOT TO DO IN TOUGH TIMES.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE STATE PULLS TOGETHER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE 6 YEARS.

2021 $11.2 BILLION SURPLUS 2023 32.7 BILLION IS THE BIGGEST SURPLUS IN TEXAS HISTORY. 2025 $24.5 BILLION OVER THAT 6 YEAR PERIOD, $55 PER STUDENT WENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION $55.

OKAY. SO WE FINALLY GOT RELIEF IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. BILLION DOLLARS WENT TO EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

GOVERNOR WANTED THEY DELIVERED. 10,000 STUDENTS.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON TO ADVOCATE. AS OF RIGHT NOW, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE STUDENTS THAT APPLIED FOR THAT BILLION DOLLARS ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, 10,000. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THEY WERE DANCING.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE CELEBRATING THE HOW MUCH WENT INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT WAS 7 OR $8 BILLION. YOU KNOW, JUST THIS STUFF IS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED.

SO I APOLOGIZE IF I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE MR. PEYTON KNOWS THAT THIS IS I THOUGHT TAX CODE WAS HARD.

BUT MOST OF THAT FUNDING, IT'S SIMPLY REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND. I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLICATED, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT. IS THAT A BIG CHUNK OF THAT MONEY WENT TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES.

SO IT REDUCED OUR PROPERTY TAXES. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I PAID LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT DIDN'T RAISE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO PUBLIC.

WE DIDN'T GET MORE. BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY SUPPLANTED YOUR PROPERTY TAXES AND DID NOT INCREASE.

SO WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THIS KIND OF MOVING SHELLS AROUND, THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS REDUCED HERE.

SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE, BUT MORE DID NOT GO TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO OF THAT 7 OR 8 BILLION, IT REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES BUT DID NOT INCREASE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

AND I'M TALKING APPROXIMATELY IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET DOWN THERE, WE CAN GET INTO IMMATERIAL AMOUNTS, IF YOU ASK ME $55. SO IMAGINE THIS IF YOU'RE IN PUBLIC, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AND ALL OF US HAVE MORTGAGES, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE TRYING TO PAY OUR BILLS.

IMAGINE PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS. IMAGINE PAYING YOUR TRANSPORTATION BILLS TODAY.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, WITH HOW MUCH YOU GOT PAID IN 2019, IMAGINE THAT.

AND SO THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER.

OUR TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER. AND I WANT TO SAY WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

YOU NEED TO REMIND BECAUSE WE CANNOT GO INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THEY CONTINUE THIS DEFUNDING OF

[01:30:08]

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO POLITICAL SIDES OF THIS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL NEED TO CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS TOO VALUABLE. I'VE SAT THROUGH TOO MANY CELEBRATIONS OF THE GREAT TEACHERS WE HAVE THE GREAT THINGS OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER.

AND SO WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN MORE BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER.

I'VE SEEN EVERY BUDGET AND EVERYTHING LIKE THIS. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GET CAPS BECAUSE HERE'S THE OTHER THING.

WE PUT MONEY BACK IN THE STATE. WE'RE ROBIN HOOD.

SO IMAGINE TRYING TO OPERATE WHERE WE GET CAPPED ON THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, AND YOU STILL HAVE TO DO EVERY YEAR.

SO WE GET NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

AND WE CONTINUE BECAUSE WE NEED IT TO PAY AND PROVIDE FOR OUR TEACHERS, AT LEAST INFLATIONARY COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? MY MEDICAL INSURANCE. EVERYTHING'S GOING UP.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP. OUR TEACHERS WHO DESERVE IT ARE ADMINISTERING.

EVERYBODY DESERVES THE INCOME THEY GET. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

BUT WE CAN'T KEEP OPERATING. WHERE YOU ADD 10 TO $12 MILLION, 3% RAISE IS BETWEEN 10 AND A HALF AND $12 MILLION EACH YEAR BUT EACH YEAR WE DO THAT. WE DON'T GET ANY MORE FUNDING.

SO IF YOU CAN SEE REAL QUICK, IT GOES NEGATIVE VERY QUICKLY.

AND SO I DON'T MEAN TO GO ON TO THIS, BUT IT IS A COMPLEX SITUATION, BUT IT'S NOT THAT COMPLEX.

AND IT'S SIMPLY THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE LIKE THIS.

OUR STATE CANNOT ALLOW. WE HAVE BEEN THIS BOARD HAS BEEN DOWN THERE, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES.

AND WE TALKED TO A BLUE IN THE FACE WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WE GET THE NOD AND THEY, THEY BASICALLY DO WHATEVER THEY'VE BEEN TOLD.

SO I YEAH, I SOUND FRUSTRATED AND MAD, BUT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE CAN'T OPERATE THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS AND HAVE 5.5 MILLION KIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY CONSTITUTION, PROVIDE A GOOD EDUCATION AND WE DESERVE BETTER AND OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER AND OUR TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER. AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.

AND IT'S NOT JUST RICHARDSON. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE IS DEALING WITH THIS, EVERY DISTRICT.

SO IT'S NOT ISOLATED TO US. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS.

SO PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK, PLEASE GO AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICE IS HEARD.

BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY IS IF THE PUBLIC FINALLY SAYS THERE IS CONSEQUENCES TO SOME OF THESE DECISIONS, THERE WILL AND SHOULD BE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE LIKE THIS OR WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP MAKING THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE TOUGHER AND TOUGHER BECAUSE WE DO WANT POSITIVE INCOMES.

WE WANT TO HAVE THESE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT AND NEED FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS, AND WE JUST CANNOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

THEY ARE PUTTING US INTO ALMOST A INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT SITUATION TO OPERATE, NOT NOT LUXURIOUS, JUST OPERATE A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO WITHOUT BEING SAID, I DO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ABUNDANCE HERE.

I DO SUBSCRIBE TO THE GLASS AS HALF FULL AND WE WILL OVERCOME THIS.

WE WILL PULL TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

WE ALWAYS HAVE IS JUST MAKES IT HARDER AND HARDER WITH WHAT THE PIECES WE HAVE ON THE TABLE TO EXECUTE WITH EXCELLENCE AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCE.

IT JUST GETS HARDER AND HARDER EVERY DAY AND IT WILL GET TO A BREAKING POINT.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG. I'VE SEEN HOW THIS COMMITTEE OPERATES.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE IN RICHARDSON, BUT YOU, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU OPERATE IS SUCH A EVERYBODY'S WELCOME, EVERYBODY PULLS TOGETHER, EVERYBODY TAKES CARE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.

EVERYBODY HELPS ONE ANOTHER. WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

BUT IT IS TIME THAT I'M JUST GETTING TIRED OF GOING DOWN TO AUSTIN AND GOING.

THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

AND THIS NEXT TIME, PLEASE GO DOWN THERE AND SAY SOMETHING.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE US SERIOUSLY TO SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR KIDS.

AND I WILL KEEP RAMBLING ON. I THINK I'VE SAID ENOUGH AND THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

THANK YOU MR. EAGER. ALL RIGHT. YES. ARE YOU READY? YES. MR. MCGOWAN. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

[01:35:02]

COMING THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU'VE ALL SAID THE SAME THINGS THAT WE WOULD.

I THINK WE'D ALL AGREE WITH. BUT TO MISS BRANUM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM'S LEADERSHIP.

AND ALL THE TIME WE ALL SPEND IN THIS SPACE WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS YEAR OVER YEAR AND THERE ARE NO SHOCKS.

THERE'S NO SECRETS. WE'VE BEEN COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

1 QUESTION I HAVE IS THE EFFICIENCIES THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED HERE AND THERE A LOT.

DO YOU THINK THESE EFFICIENCIES AND I AND THIS MAY I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO.

BUT DO YOU THINK THESE EFFICIENCIES WILL SUSTAIN.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THESE EFFICIENCIES WILL SUSTAIN THE DISTRICT.

THESE ARE. THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN CONTINUING TO RIGHTSIZE OUR BUDGET.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT AGAIN, WE WILL BE OPERATING UNDER ANOTHER DEFICIT BUDGET NEXT YEAR.

THE SIZE OF IT WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON WHAT TYPE OF COMPENSATION PLAN THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH 26-27.

BUT WE KNOW WE WILL BE IN A DEFICIT BUDGET. AND SO AS WE PROJECT TO.

27-28, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS TEAM HERE, WE'RE ALREADY BEGINNING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THOSE NEXT THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT TO BRING FORWARD FOR.

27-28? IF WE WOULD NOT SEE ANY CHANGES COME FORWARD THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IN AUSTIN IN THE NEXT SESSION.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I GUESS 1 OF MY COMMENTS AND MAYBE 2 ARE THAT I'M A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT.

RIGHT. AND I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR TEACHERS, OUR LEADERS ON CAMPUS AND HOW THEY ARE MADE TO FEEL, HOW THEY'RE SUPPORTED HOW THEY FEEL SUPPORTED BY LEADERSHIP AND THEIR VOICES.

RIGHT. AND I WANT TO ENSURE THEM THAT THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THAT AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, I THINK YOU HAVE COINED THE SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING, RIGHT? AND THE MAIN THING FOR ME, AND I THINK THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE, ARE OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO YOU SAID GREAT THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR TEACHERS. SO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DO THAT TO ME IS WHAT HAS TO BE OUR PRIORITY. AND THAT'S LIKE MISS TIMMY SAID, THOSE ARE HARD DECISIONS.

THESE ARE ALL REALLY TOUGH AND HARD DECISIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE HERE IN THE FUTURE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR TEAM'S LEADERSHIP.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL AND IN ALL THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

AND I HOPE AND I, I HOPE AND I KNOW TEACHERS ARE LISTENING TO US TONIGHT THAT THEY TOO ARE COMMITTED TO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE HONESTLY ASKING THEM FOR, LIKE PARTNER COMMIT LOCK IN ON THIS WITH US BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE WANT HERE.

THOSE ARE THE TEACHERS, THOSE ARE THE LEADERS WE WANT IN OUR DISTRICT AND IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS, THOSE THAT ARE LOCKED IN AND COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE LIVES OF KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET PAID WHAT WE SHOULD GET PAID TO DO THESE THINGS.

WE WORK FOR NOTHING. WE ARE VOLUNTEERS AND IT IS THE BEST JOB THAT I HAVE, RIGHT? AND IF I COULD DO IT FULL TIME, I WOULD DO IT FULL TIME.

BUT THAT'S NOT THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE CAN DO.

SO AGAIN, I JUST HOPE THAT COMMUNITY TEACHERS AND LEADERS HEAR THAT, THAT WE, WE FEEL YOU, WE UNDERSTAND WE WORK FULL TIME TOO. AND THE ECONOMY IS NOT GREAT TO US EITHER, A LOT OF US RIGHT NOW.

SO IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I JUST ASK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND REALLY LEAN IN AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THIS. BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT'S GOING THROUGH IT. SO THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, MISS MCGOWAN. MISS HARRIS, NO QUESTIONS.

JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. 1ST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SUPERINTENDENT BRANUM AND .

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, AND I DO HAVE TO SAY DITTO, DITTO, DITTO TO MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE EVERYTHING THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY, I AGREE.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE, SO I KNOW THE FEELING.

THE THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TRANSPARENT.

[01:40:06]

WE ALL KNOW THAT SCHOOL FINANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX FINANCE SYSTEMS THERE IS, AND YOU HAVE MADE IT PRETTY CRYSTAL CLEAR.

SO I ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES, PROBABLY LIKE MY COLLEAGUES AS WE SIT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND WE LISTEN TO MR. PATE TALK ABOUT BUDGETS, WE'RE ALL KIND OF LOOKING CROSS-EYED, LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? BUT YOU HAVE HAD THE ABILITY, YOU HAVE PUT IT JUST CUT AND DRY RIGHT HERE.

THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, THIS IS MY 3RD TERM.

I HAVE DONE SOME DIFFICULT THINGS IN THIS HORSESHOE, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT EMOTIONAL THINGS THAT I PROBABLY WILL EVER DO ON THIS BOARD, AND I. IF ANYBODY KNOWS MY TRACK, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT IN MY 3 TERMS HERE AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE FOR RICHARDSON ISD.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

YOU HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT. YOU'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE BEEN WALKING THIS WALK FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF TO REACH OUT, STAY ENGAGED, LOOK AT THE VIDEOS.

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO COME TO THE BOARD MEETINGS, ASK THOSE QUESTIONS SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.

WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND I THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU, MISS HARRIS. I THINK MS. RENTERÍA WILL BE BACK HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND AND I HAD A FEW COMMENTS HERE UNTIL SHE GETS BACK.

AND I WROTE DOWN A LOT OF THESE AND AGAIN, I, I ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I WROTE DOWN THAT THERE ARE NO EASY DECISIONS OR CHOICES REMAINING.

I THINK WE'RE ALL OUT. AND NOT THAT ANY OF THE DECISIONS PRIOR TO TONIGHT HAVE BEEN EASY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALWAYS A BUCKET OF SOME CHOICES WE COULD MAKE THAT WOULD HAVE 0 TO LITTLE IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

AND THAT BUCKET'S KIND OF GONE DRY. SO HERE WE ARE.

AND THAT'S, I THINK WHAT THAT DOES SPEAK TO IS OUR FOCUS ON THE NORTH STAR GOAL AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF, BECAUSE OUR STAFF ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS RIGHT THERE, DIRECTLY, EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM. SO I THINK THE FACT THAT WE HAVE EXHAUSTED A LOT OF THOSE CHOICES THAT HAD VERY LITTLE IMPACT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT THAT THE LEADERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE IN HOW WE APPROACH THIS CHALLENGE.

I'M KIND OF LIKE MR. EAGER HERE. I MEAN, I'M A NUMBERS GUY AND LET'S JUST BE FRANK, EXPENSES GO UP, REVENUE GOES DOWN. AND WHEN YOU PUT THOSE ON A GRAPH, YOU'RE NEVER IT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. SO IN THE LONG TERM, AUSTIN HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASING EXPENSES.

AND SOME OF THESE ARE VERY FRANK OR LIKE FUEL.

IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED, I PAID 5 AND A QUARTER A GALLON WITH A DIESEL TODAY.

AND OUR BUSSES, YOU KNOW, OUR FUEL COSTS THAT WE RUN.

I THINK I WAS TOLD LAST YEAR WE RAN OVER A MILLION MILES IN BUS MILES.

YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF EXPENSES. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SALARIES. I'M TALKING ABOUT EXPENSES LIKE THAT.

THOSE ARE INCREASING AND WE CAN OFFSET THAT IF WE ARE DECREASING IN STUDENTS, WHICH EQUATES INTO THE REVENUE THAT WE APPLY. SO THAT'S JUST A REALITY. I WANTED TO SAY THAT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF DETAIL YOU MENTIONED. I THINK WHEN YOU STARTED THAT THE STAFF STARTED LOOKING AT THIS IN THE EARLY FALL.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS THINKING, HEY, WHAT IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF DOING OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, SCRAMBLING AT FOOTBALL GAMES ON THE WEEKENDS AND ALL THIS? BUT THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING AT THIS. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR JOB.

THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

LEADERSHIP HERE, THAT TELLS ME A LOT. I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE LENSES THAT THEY APPLIED, THESE DISCUSSIONS, ANALYSIS EVALUATIONS WITH INCLUDED THE IMPACT TO THE STUDENT, THE IMPACT TO THE STAFF,

[01:45:06]

IF YOU AREN'T USING THOSE LENSES, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS. YOU NEED TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. THERE'S 2 SIDES OF THIS LEDGER.

AGAIN, BACK TO MR. EAGER AND I HOPE YOU ALL WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE HYPER FOCUSED ON ONE SIDE OF THE LEDGER, BUT THERE'S THE REVENUE SIDE AS WELL. AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN DOLLARS, BUT THAT'S IN STUDENTS.

AND IF YOU HADN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON OUR MAGNET PROGRAMS, OUR CHOICE PROGRAMS, OPEN ENROLLMENT, SOME OF THOSE KIND OF INITIATIVES WE TALKED ABOUT, EVEN SOME OF IT IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ON NUMBERS ON THAT SIDE, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME LONG TERM WORK.

THIS SIDE HAS A MUCH MORE KNOWN IMPACT. BUT YOU GOT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO.

THE DISTRICT IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES OF THE LEDGER, AS THEY SHOULD, AS WE SHOULD. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A SHIFT IN OUR CULTURE OR FOCUS.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR CULTURE. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR FOCUS.

THIS IS A TASK, THIS IS AN ACTION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN.

AND WE'RE USING OUR FOCUS AND WE'RE USING OUR CULTURE AND HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK AND THAT ACTION.

SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK OUT THERE THAT WE'RE SHIFTING OR BEING FORCED TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS OR OUR CULTURE, THAT NORTH STAR GOAL, WHEN WE DEVELOPED THAT IN 21, I THINK.

22, 22 I THINK. YOU KNOW, I, I DID NOT KNOW HOW DEEP IT WOULD PERMEATE WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND IT HAS.

AND I'VE SEEN IT, I'VE BEEN IN SOME MEETINGS WITH STAFF AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT IT TO THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEVEL AND REFERENCE IT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN PLENTY OF PLACES AND WORK AND ARMY AND PLACES WHERE YOU YOU PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU PUT TOGETHER A VISION AND YOU PUT IT IN THE SHELF AND IT COLLECTS DUST AND PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT IT.

A YEAR OR 2 LATER, THAT HADN'T HAPPENED HERE.

THIS FOCUS IS REAL. IT'S ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND AND ALL THE WAY BACK UP TO THE TOP, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE PERFECT LENS. AND THAT GIVES US THE PERFECT TOOL TO DO THIS EVALUATION.

THE FINALLY, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, AND I, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, NOT JUST TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, I, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD ANALOGY, SOMETHING TO KIND OF PICTORIALLY EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON.

IF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH FIRST AID, THIS IS A LITTLE HOKEY.

OKAY, SO BEAR WITH ME. BUT IF YOU EXPERIENCE SHOCK WHEN YOU'RE TAUGHT HOW TO TREAT SOMEBODY FOR SHOCK OR EVEN FROSTBITE WHAT HAPPENS IS YOUR BODY RETRACTS RESOURCES, MEANING THE BLOOD TO YOUR CORE.

AND WHY DOES IT DO THAT? TO PROTECT YOUR VITAL ORGANS.

AND I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE MAY HAVE SOME AT RISK WITH OUR FINGERTIPS, OUR TOES. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT OUR RESOURCES ARE HAVING TO BE BROUGHT IN TO OUR CORE VITAL ORGANS.

AND SOME OF THOSE VITAL ORGANS THAT WE'VE GOT ARE STAFF.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE'RE MAKING CUTS TO GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO ENTERTAIN COMPENSATION CHOICES FOR OUR STAFF.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO. AND WE'VE GOT TO PULL THOSE RESOURCES FROM THE EXTREMITIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

NOT THAT THEY AREN'T IMPORTANT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF IF WE'VE GOT LIMITED RESOURCES, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT VITAL PIECE OF THE DISTRICT.

AND WE HAVE DECIDED THROUGH THE NORTH STAR GOAL.

THAT'S OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. SO THAT'S WHERE OUR RESOURCES ARE GOING TO GO.

AND IF YOU WANT TO, YOU WANT TO CALL US OUT ON OUR VALUES AND CALL US OUT ON OUR CULTURE AND OUR FOCUS AND OUR THEN THEN LOOK TO SEE WHERE OUR RESOURCES GO, BECAUSE THAT SHOULD TELL THE STORY. SO WE'VE TRIED REALLY HARD TO KEEP THAT, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND BE CONSISTENT AS LONG AS I'M ON THIS BOARD.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT LIKE HECK. AND I THINK EVERY ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT WOULD DO THE SAME.

SO I JUST WANTED TO OUTLINE SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS.

I DON'T SPEAK THAT OFTEN, BUT WITH MISS RENTERIA AWAY FROM THE TABLE AND MISS PACHECO GONE TONIGHT, I TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME. THAT'S RIGHT.

SO OKAY. AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN SHE IS RETURNING.

ARE THERE ANY LAST QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AGAIN, THANK YOU TO STAFF.

I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING EFFORT FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S NOT STOPPING TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS WORK AS WE HAVE TO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE THEN. LET'S TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

ON THAT NOTE, IT'S 7:53. LET'S PLAN ON BEING HERE.

08:05. LET'S GET STARTED AGAIN. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.

THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED AGAIN.

[01:50:02]

[IV.D. Review and Discuss Local Board Policies: •Revision to BDAA (LOCAL) — Officers and Officials: Duties and Requirements of Board Officers •Revision to BDB (LOCAL) — Board Internal Organization: Board Committees •Addition of BDF (LOCAL) — Board Internal Organization: Advisory Committees •Revision to CJA (LOCAL) — Contracted Services: Criminal History •Revision to CLE (LOCAL) – Buildings, Grounds, and Equipment Management: Flag Displays 4 •Revision to CSA (LOCAL) – Facility Standards: Safety and Security •Revision to CV (LOCAL) – Facilities Construction •Revision to EHBB (LOCAL) – Special Programs: Gifted and Talented Students •Revision to EI (LOCAL) – Academic Achievement •Addition of FA (LOCAL) – Parent Rights and Responsibilities •Revision to FDE (LOCAL) – Admissions: School Safety Transfers •Revision to FFG (LOCAL) – Student Welfare: Child Abuse and Neglect •Revision to GKD (LOCAL) – Community Relations: Nonschool Use of School Facilities]

THANK YOU. PRESIDENT POTEET. AND I THINK I'VE USED ENOUGH WORDS TONIGHT.

SO MISS MCGOWAN IS GOING TO PROVIDE US THE INFORMATION YOU NEED ON THIS FIRST READ OF PROPOSED CHANGES FOR OUR BOARD POLICY.

SO, MISS MCGOWAN, GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEE SUPERINTENDENT, COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

I'LL TRY TO USE AS FEW AS POSSIBLE. AND I WILL SAY THAT COLLECTIVELY, THE CHANGES THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ARE REALLY ABOUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATES UNTIL WE GET TO THE LAST ONE.

SO THE FIRST THREE ARE RELATED TO KIND OF BOARD DUTIES AND COMMITTEES.

THE FIRST IS BDAA, WHICH ADDRESSES THE DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF BOARD OFFICERS.

THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES INCLUDE FORMAT CHANGES TO ALLOW FOR GREATER WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY WHEN IT'S POSTED.

AND ONE CHANGE IS TO ELIMINATE LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT IS ACTUALLY BELOW THE LINE OF GOVERNANCE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD TALKS ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN THERE THAT SAID THAT THE BOARD WOULD ASSIGN A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE TO PROVIDE CLERICAL ASSISTANCE IS DELETED BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE ONLY EMPLOYEE.

THE BOARD HAS IS THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND SO THOSE DUTIES ARE ACTUALLY ASSIGNED TO AN EMPLOYEE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND SO THE LANGUAGE UPDATE WILL REFLECT THAT.

THE OTHER CHANGES IN THIS PARTICULAR POLICY INCLUDE MOVING LANGUAGE UP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS A VACANCY. AMONG OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT, THE LANGUAGE IS NOT CHANGING.

IT'S JUST MOVED UP LOCATION WISE IN THE POLICY.

AND ALSO JUST MAKING THE LANGUAGE AROUND TERMS AND DUTIES, VICE PRESIDENT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER.

THAT WHEN THE VICE PRESIDENT BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES THE PRESIDENT.

IF THERE'S A VACANCY IN THAT PRESIDENT POSITION, AND THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL SERVE AS PRESIDENT UNTIL THE BOARD REORGANIZES.

AND THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ELECTION, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, AND THAT IS BDAA.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO BDB.

I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD MAKE UP A NAME AGAIN. BLANCHE.

DAVID. BECKY. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH BDF SO.

BRAD, DIANE, FRANK. THE LANGUAGE IN THE SUBTITLE IS CHANGING.

IT USED TO BE REFERRED TO AS INTERNAL COMMITTEES, BUT THAT'S REALLY SOMEWHAT MISLEADING AND DOESN'T PROVIDE THE CLARIFICATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. SO THE REVISION TO BDB IS TO CHANGE THE NAME TO BOARD COMMITTEES AND MAKING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN BOARD COMMITTEES THAT YOU ALL, AS TRUSTEES ARE SERVING ON, VERSUS THE TYPE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEW BDF POLICY. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATE IN. AND SO BDB, THE REVISION IS TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION AND TO ESTABLISH HOW THOSE COMMITTEES ARE FORMED AND OUTLINE THEIR PURPOSES, BUT ALSO HOW THEY'RE RESOLVED.

AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY AT SPECIAL COMMITTEES IS ACTUALLY MOVED TO THE NEW BOARD POLICY BDF, WHICH IS, AS I MENTIONED, OUR REALLY OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

AND SO AGAIN, CLARIFYING HOW THOSE ARE FORMED AND THE PARAMETERS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE 2? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE TO CJA.

CONTRACTED SERVICES CRIMINAL HISTORY. AND THIS IS REALLY OUR POLICY SERVICE HAS JUST UPDATED THE THE SUBTITLE SUBTOPIC NAME FROM CRIMINAL HISTORY TO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND REQUIRED REPORTING.

THAT'S GOING TO BRING IT INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE LEGAL NAMING.

[01:55:05]

CLE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT FLAG DISPLAYS.

JUST CHANGING THAT SUBTOPIC NAME FROM FLAG DISPLAYS TO REQUIRED DISPLAYS BECAUSE WE HAVE REQUIRED DISPLAYS THAT ARE BEYOND JUST FLAGS. SO JUST REFLECTING THAT. CSA FACILITY STANDARDS, SAFETY AND SECURITY. THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO REFLECT AND THE LANGUAGE CHANGE FROM SENATE BILL 8 IN THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE BOARD INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN ITS POLICY RELATED TO DESIGNATING IN THE USE OF PRIVATE SPACES.

SO IN THOSE AREAS WHERE SOMEONE MAY BE UNDRESSED, THERE ARE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A REGULATION, WHICH WE DO DO.

AND JUST WANT TO THANK DOCTOR GIBBONS TEAM, BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY DONE THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE.

BOARD POLICY. CV FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION. AGAIN, A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND IT IS JUST BECAUSE THE PURCHASING THRESHOLD CHANGED FROM $50,000 TO $100,000. IT'S JUST REFLECTED IN HERE.

AND RATHER THAN PUTTING A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT JUST SAYING THAT THE IT'S GOING TO BE RELATED TO THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT ESTABLISHED IN LAW. SO THAT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY TIME.

EHBB SPECIAL PROGRAMS, GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE TO ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE TEXAS STATE PLAN FOR THE EDUCATION OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED PREVIOUSLY.

AND IT'S JUST UPDATES IN TERMINOLOGY. TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICY IS UPDATED.

AND ALSO THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS THAT FUNDING ARE TO ALIGN IT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE RULES. AND WE ACTUALLY ALREADY DO THESE THINGS.

AND SO IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR POLICY IS UPDATED.

IE EACH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. AND IT IS SOME LANGUAGE CLEANUP AND RATHER SEEING COMBINED GRADE FOR THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE IS AVERAGE OF.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONLY UPDATE. FA WILL BE A NEW POLICY.

AND AGAIN IT IS TO ADDRESS LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FROM THE LAST TIME, SPECIFICALLY SENATE BILL 12.

AND THIS IS ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF PARENT PORTAL THAT ALLOWS PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS AND THE BOARD, AND TO ALSO HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS RELATED TO THAT IN THE DISTRICT. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A PORTAL, SO THAT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT LIFT FOR US.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING. AND THE POLICY, THOUGH, IS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW.

FDA, I'M SORRY FDE. SO FRANK, DIANE, EDWARD. IT HELPS WHEN I GIVE NAMES.

ADMISSIONS, SCHOOL SAFETY TRANSFERS AND THIS IS AGAIN TO ADDRESS CHANGES THAT WERE IN THE UNSAFE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION GUIDANCE HANDBOOK, AND THE CHANGE THAT YOU WILL SEE US TAKING OUT THAT IT'S ONLY VIOLENT CRIMES AS DEFINED BY THE PENAL CODE. IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THAT, BUT ALSO ADDING THAT BULLYING IS ALSO ONE OF THE OFFENSES AND THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION FOR DATA MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE. IT IS JUST UPDATING THE POLICY TO MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS THAT AND FFG STUDENT WELFARE, CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

[02:00:03]

THESE ARE CHANGES FROM THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SPECIFICALLY SENATE BILL 571, WHICH CHANGED THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM 48 HOURS TO 24 HOURS. AND THIS IS WHAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN TRAINED ON ALL YEAR AND HAS BEEN DOING.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS NOT A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

GKD COMMUNITY RELATIONS, NON-SCHOOL USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES.

AND IN THE DISTRICT WE OFTEN WHENEVER THERE IS ELECTION SEASON, WE'LL GET CALLS, EMAILS, AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE ALSO GETTING TEXT MESSAGES AND ABOUT SIGNS THAT COME UP ON DISTRICT PROPERTY.

AND WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IS THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROL OVER WITH THOSE SIGNS, IT'S USUALLY CONTROLLED BY CITY ORDINANCES.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY WITH THE LAYOUT OF THIS DISTRICT, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF GARLAND, THE CITY OF RICHARDSON AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND THOSE ORDINANCES DON'T ALWAYS MATCH UP. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT IS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING TO KIND OF PROVIDE SOME GUIDELINES AROUND, LIKE WHERE ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN SIGNAGE IS GOING UP ON OUR FACILITIES? AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBOR PLANO ISD, WHERE THERE ARE JUST SOME GUIDELINES IN THE POLICY.

AND SO WE ARE MIRRORING THOSE GUIDELINES IN THIS PARTICULAR POLICY.

SO ADDRESSING WHEN THEY CAN GO UP. AND AND SO ACTUALLY AT SITES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE POLLING LOCATIONS, NOT JUST AT A RANDOM DISTRICT BUILDING.

WHEN THEY CAN GO UP THE NUMBER OF DAYS BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTS AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO COME DOWN AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER, THE NUMBER AS WELL. AND IN ADDITION, ANYBODY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STATE GUIDANCE ON ELECTIONEERING, WHICH INCLUDES SIGNAGE AS WELL.

BUT THIS IS JUST TO HELP US TO GET SOME PARAMETERS AND AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.

YES, MA'AM. WOULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE NAME OF THAT LAST POLICY? MAYBE PROVIDE A NAME TO IT. GKD. GEORGE KELSEY, DAWN.

YOU'RE WELCOME. MISS TIMME, DID YOU SAY? AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT.

WHEN THIS POLICY WOULD TAKE EFFECT. YES. SO IT WILL NOT IMPACT.

LIKE WE HAVE AN UPCOMING. OBVIOUSLY TRUSTEE ELECTION.

IT WILL NOT IMPACT THAT ELECTION. SO IT WILL BE AFTER.

IT WILL BE FOR ANY FUTURE ONE AFTER THE CYCLES.

CORRECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THESE POLICIES? AND WHAT WILL WE SEE THESE AGAIN? YES. AT THE MAY MEETING, BOARD MEETING OR WORK SESSION.

THE BOARD MEETING. BOARD MEETING. OKAY, GREAT.

OKAY. YOU WILL SEE PROBABLY SOME NEW POLICIES AT THE WORK SESSION.

OKAY. AS INFORMATION ITEMS AS WELL. YES. RIGHT.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC COLLEAGUES AND STAFF FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. IT IS NOW 8:23 P.M., AND THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE TO A CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS

[V. CLOSED MEETING]

THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT. THIS MEANS GOING TO CLOSED SESSION.

ALL RIGHT. THE BOARD IS RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION AT 10:11 P.M.

[VI. RECONVENE]

[02:05:02]