[1. Call to order and establishment of a quorum]
[00:00:06]
THIS IS A REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING BEING HELD ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025.
WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH SIX MEMBERS PRESENT. TRUSTEE HUBENAK IS ABSENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO OBSERVE AS YOU FEEL APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG.
LED BY STELLA COUNTRYMAN, A SIXTH GRADER FROM WESTENDORF MIDDLE SCHOOL.
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.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW HAVE RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS, DOCTOR EVANS.
[3. Recognitions/awards]
YES, SIR. MR. PRESIDENT. MISS COLE-HAMILTON IS COMING TO THE MICROPHONE. GOOD EVENING.AND AFTER JANUARY'S WINTER WEATHER FORCED A POSTPONEMENT OF OUR RECOGNITION SCHEDULE.
WE'RE HAPPY TONIGHT TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE RANDALL LIONS FOOTBALL TEAM HERE WITH US.
ALSO THIS EVENING WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING ONE OF THE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PRESENTING OUR SCHOOL BOARD WITH A WELL-DESERVED PRIZE, COURTESY OF THE HEB EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS.
AS THE SEASON PROGRESSED, RANDALL BECAME A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
THEIR OFFENSE WAS POWERFUL AND THEY COULD SCORE QUICKLY AND OFTEN.
MOST OF THE GAMES WERE OVER BY HALFTIME. THE TEAM DOMINATED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE OF 13 ALL DISTRICT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS, FIVE. ALL DISTRICT SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS AND 13.
ALL DISTRICT OFFENSIVE PLAYERS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES.
INDIVIDUALLY, THE LIONS EARNED MULTIPLE ACCOLADES, INCLUDING DISTRICT MVP LEYDEN KALIS, DEFENSIVE MVP CHASE SIMS, DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER CORY SPEARS, AND COACH OF THE YEAR BRIAN RANDALL.
THEIR JOURNEY CULMINATED IN AN UNFORGETTABLE SHOWDOWN IN THE UIL FIVE D2 FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, WHERE THEY FACED THE SOUTH OAK CLIFF BEARS, A TEAM WITH A RICH HISTORY AND FAVORITE TO WIN FOR THE TITLE FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
YET, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COACH BRIAN RANDALL, OUR LIONS ENTERED THE GAME WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEY RESPECTED EVERYONE BUT FEARED NO ONE FROM THE OPENING KICKOFF, SINCERE, TIMPSON'S ELECTRIFYING 82 YARD RETURN SET THE TONE FOR WHAT WOULD BE A THRILLING BATTLE.
BUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE RANDALL LIONS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THEIR STATE TITLE.
THIS VICTORY NOT ONLY MARKS RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT ALSO ADDS TO THE RICH LEGACY OF THE LAMAR ATHLETICS PROGRAM, MAKING THEM ONLY THE THIRD FOOTBALL TEAM FROM THE DISTRICT TO CLAIM THIS PRESTIGIOUS TITLE.
WITH STANDOUT PERFORMANCES FROM OFFENSIVE MVP LADEN LAYTON WILLIAMS AND DEFENSIVE MVP RYAN MALLORY.
THE LIONS EXEMPLIFIED THE POWER OF TEAMWORK, DETERMINATION, AND AN UNWAVERING WILL TO WIN AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT TONIGHT. RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL'S CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY WILL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED AS A TESTAMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME SOME TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING US HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM THIS EVENING. WE HAVE NUMBER 55, CHRIS TAYLOR, SENIOR NUMBER THREE, SHERRARD RIVAS.
RIVAS. NUMBER FOUR, KELLEN CAITLIN SWEENEY. NUMBER TEN ERIC STRICKLAND.
NUMBER 11 RYAN MALLORY. STATE DEFENSIVE MVP. NUMBER 18 MASON NIXON.
NUMBER 75 BRYCE HUSTLE. NUMBER 88 CHRISTIAN MOJENA.
[00:05:05]
ALL-STATE KICKER. AND WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR TALENTED COACHING STAFF WHO HELPED MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.HEAD COACH BRIAN RANDALL, COORDINATORS BROOKE HAAK, PRESTON RAMBO, CHRIS WHITE, JALEN LAVIDGE.
ASSISTANT COACHES FRANKLYN GERMAN, STEPHEN HILL, JOEY JACKSON, MICHAEL JENKS, THOMAS PICKERILL, JASON VEEN, MARK WASHINGTON, AND PAT ROSETTE.
OKAY. COME ON. THE OTHER SIDE. THE BOARD. YEP.
COACH, CAN WE MAKE TWO LEVELS? CAN WE HAVE SOME BOYS DOWN LOWER AND SOME BOYS STAND UP? THERE WE GO. YEAH. OH, THEY'RE NOT METAL. YES.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH. THIS. HOW CAN WE GET YOU TO ANCHOR THIS SITE? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT IT, TAYLOR.
GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH.
LET'S GO. THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN. OH.
GOT IT. IN ADDITION, THIS EVENING WE ARE HONORING ONE OF THE DEDICATED LEAF BOARD MEMBERS, MARSHA HOLMES. COME ON DOWN. AS MANY IN OUR AUDIENCE THIS EVENING KNOWS, THE LAMAR EDUCATIONAL AWARDS FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND CAMPUSES OF LAMAR ISD THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND A RANGE OF ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT INITIATIVES.
GOVERNED BY A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, LEAF WORKS HARD TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND FOSTER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS EVENING, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT MARSHA HOLMES AS A 2025 LEAF BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR.
MARSHA HAS PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AS THE TREASURER FOR THE LEAF FOUNDATION.
WHETHER SHE'S TRACKING CAKE BIDS AT SURF'S UP OR PROVIDING INSIGHTFUL FINANCIAL REVIEWS AT BOARD MEETINGS, MARCIA'S CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INDISPENSABLE. AS TREASURER, SHE HAS SKILLFULLY MANAGED THE FOUNDATION'S FINANCES, ENSURING BOTH TRANSPARENCY AND STABILITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS, MARCIA. AND FINALLY, THIS EVENING, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR VERY OWN LAMAR CISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEM WITH THE $5,000 AWARD THEY'VE EARNED FOR THE DISTRICT.
AFTER BEING NAMED FINALISTS IN THE 2025 H-E-B EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS.
THIS YEAR, H-E-B AWARDED A TOTAL OF $90,000 TO 18 FINALISTS, AND FINALISTS WILL ALSO GO ON TO COMPETE FOR ADDITIONAL PRIZES AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL IN MAY. A PANEL OF JUDGES VISITED OUR DISTRICT LAST WEEK TO SPEAK WITH OUR TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S AWARD CONTEST WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE H-E-B EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION CEREMONY ON SUNDAY, MAY 4TH IN AUSTIN. OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES WAS ONLY 1 IN 5 SCHOOL BOARD FINALISTS THIS YEAR AND THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THIS HONOR WITH THEM AND TO PRESENT THEM WITH A CEREMONIAL CHECK. CONGRATULATIONS, TRUSTEES.
[00:10:08]
THIS CONCLUDES OUR RECOGNITIONS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO INTRODUCTIONS.[4. Introductions]
GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR NIVENS. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TODAY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATOR. RECENTLY, WE HAD AN UNEXPECTED VACANCY COME UP.AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO ALSO ENHANCE OUR SCHOOL SAFETY HERE AT LAMAR ISD SEIZED BY BRINGING ON BOARD ANOTHER SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATOR. I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND THAT INDIVIDUAL AMONGST MY RANKS.
REBECCA SOSA IS THE GOING TO BE THE NEW SAFETY AND SCHOOL COORDINATOR.
SHE SERVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
SHE'S A GRADUATE OF THE WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE.
SHE'S HAD MULTIPLE AGENCY ASSIGNMENTS WITH MEMORIAL VILLAGES POLICE DEPARTMENT, FORT BEND ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SHE JOINED THE LAMAR ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EARLY 2023, WHERE SHE ROSE TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT.
AND SHE CAME AND WE SPOKE ABOUT HER DESIRE TO WIN, TO STEP IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATOR, AND WITH THE UNEXPECTED VACANCY, THIS WAS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT SHE'S A VERY GOAL ORIENTED, DETAIL ORIENTED PERSON WHO TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THAT COMES WITH ENSURING THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE SAFE.
I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HAVE REBECCA TO MAINTAIN ON BOARD.
SHE IS STILL HOLDING THE TITLE OF POLICE OFFICER, SO SHE IS STILL A SWORN POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL AS THE LAMAR C-I-S-D SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATOR. SHE'S JOINED HERE TONIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND, WHO'S A DETECTIVE WITH THE SUGARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT. SCOTT. HIS HER MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE BACK IN SESSION.
RAISE YOUR HAND RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. TAKE A PICTURE.
ONE. TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE.
ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL NOW HAVE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.
[5. Board members' reports]
TRUSTEES, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 1 TO 2 MINUTES.LET ME GO FIRST. OKAY. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SHOUT OUTS.
AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, I WAS CONTACTED BY GEORGE JUNIOR HIGH.
THERE WERE 28TH EIGHTH GRADERS THAT GOT TO PLEDGE AND GET THEIR PINS, AND THEY WERE SO PROUD AND SO ARE THE PARENTS, AND THEY HOPE TO DO ANOTHER CEREMONY IN THE SPRING AND BRING IN SOME SEVENTH GRADERS.
SO I WAS VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF THAT CEREMONY AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER, NEVER DISAPPOINTS.
AT FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL, THEY'RE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS DID ANYTHING GOES, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.
I QUESTIONED IF ANY OF THOSE KIDS KNEW THOSE SONGS BECAUSE I WAS SINGING ALONG.
IF ANYONE KNOWS THAT MUSICAL, IT'S MY GENERATION, NOT THEIRS.
BUT THEY WERE FABULOUS AND IT THEY HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME.
SO THOSE ARE MY TWO SHOUTOUTS. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF OF WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY FOR HAVING THE SCHOOL LOOKING REALLY NICE. WHEN I ATTENDED THE RECENT 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCHOOL IN THE CAMPUS, AND THE STAFF IS LED BY PRINCIPAL LACEY CROSON.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT OUR OWN GREG BUCHANAN LAST NIGHT HANDLED HIMSELF VERY WELL AND VERY PROFESSIONALLY AT ADOLPHUS ELEMENTARY, WHERE WE HAD A TOWN HALL, TO DISCUSS THE REASON WHY THERE'S BEEN A DELAY WITH THE SCHOOL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT AT BEECHNUT AND PEAK ROAD.
[00:15:07]
AND SO THERE'S REASONS FOR THAT, THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY LAMAR ISD'S.AND HE HANDLED THAT VERY WELL. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
JOHN MAXWELL WAS ALSO PART OF THAT AND KEVIN MCKEEVER WAS PART OF THAT.
SO THEY DID A GOOD JOB. AND I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN THAT, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT. BUT THEY ARE REPEATING THAT PRESENTATION AT MCNEIL ELEMENTARY THIS COMING THURSDAY NIGHT AT 530, I BELIEVE.
AND BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER AND SOME OF HER FRIENDS, AND WE WERE ALL JUST VERY BLOWN AWAY BY THE TALENT, AS USUAL. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THOSE GIRLS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR PASSION AND THEIR ENERGY AND THE COACHES AND EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS THE DANCE PROGRAM. AND THEN THIS PAST WEEKEND, I KNOW THE RANDALL ROYALS WENT TO NATIONALS AND THEY WON.
AND THEY WERE JUST AMAZING. SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF RANDALL JUST EXCEL EXCELLING AND BEING AWESOME.
SO CONGRATS TO THE RANDALL ROYALS. I, MYSELF, AND A COUPLE OTHER TRUSTEES GOT TO GO EXPERIENCE THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON THAT WE HAD. AND IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD, WE SAY A VOLUNTEER HOUR EQUATES TO $33.49.
AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEERED SPEND 40 PLUS HOURS AT THE SCHOOL ALONG WITH OUR TEACHERS, AND THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT A $70,000 EMPLOYEE.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING RIGHT NOW. SO MASSIVE, MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND TO THOSE THAT WERE CHOSEN AS VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
SO ANYONE ELSE? YES, MA'AM. DOCTOR EVANS AND I WENT TO FOSTER THIS LAST WEEK, AND WE GOT TO GO INTO ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS. THEY WERE DOING AUTOCAD, AND THEY WERE THEY WERE DOING THAT ON THEIR COMPUTER, BUT THEY WERE ALSO DOING 3D PRINTING.
THEY WERE PRINTING CHESS SETS, SO THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT.
AND THEN WE ALSO GOT TO BE THERE DURING A PASSING PERIOD.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH THE STUDENTS.
I DIDN'T SEE ONE CELL PHONE, ONE EARBUD, ONE BEATS NOTHING.
I JUST WAS REALLY IMPRESSED. THE KIDS WERE WERE REALLY.
DOCTOR NEVINS IS LIKE A ROCK STAR, SO EVERYBODY WANTS TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIM.
BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE PHONES OUT. SO ANYWAY, I JUST WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH JUST THE WAY THE SCHOOL WAS RUNNING AND THE KIDS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR AND EVERYTHING. SO. THANK YOU.
DOCTOR, IS THERE A SUPERINTENDENT REPORT? YES, SIR.
[7. Superintendent's report]
IN A IN A MINUTE, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR BRIAN MOORE GIVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT OUR PAPER REPORT THAT'S COMING OUT.AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT DATA, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE WE CONTINUE TO BE LEADING THE PACK.
WE CONTINUE TO BE THE TOP IN THE STATE AND THE REGION LEADING THE STATE AND THE REGION.
AND I MEAN, WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN THAT TEACHER WHERE YOU JUST HAD TO BE ON YOUR FEET ALL DAY AND YOU CAN'T GET TO THE RESTROOM WHEN YOU WANT TO. AND IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.
I MEAN, YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR TEACHERS DO AND AND WHAT THEY GO THROUGH.
AND SO YOU SHOULD FIND YOURSELF IN EVERY SUCCESS.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE RANDALL RANDALL FOOTBALL WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SEND A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF BECAUSE, MAN, THEY'RE WORKING HARD.
THEY'RE WORKING HARD. SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE JUST TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM. BUT WE'LL SEE THAT DATA HERE IN A SECOND. AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVE ON. BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF.
TRUSTEES, DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS? NONE. MISS JOHNSON, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
[8. Public Comment ]
IT IS THE DESIRE OF THE LAMAR CISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROPRIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY FULFILL ITS GOVERNANCE ROLE IN ACCORDANCE TO BEST PRACTICES[00:20:04]
FOR QUALITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TO THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.TRUSTEES ALSO DESIRE TO AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST HAVE COMPLETED A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND SUBMITTED IT BEFORE THE PRESIDING OFFICER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING NON-AGENDA ITEMS. TRUSTEES MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, AS THEY ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM DISCUSSING OR DECIDING ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT ON THE BOARD'S PUBLICLY NOTICED AGENDA. ALL PATRONS DESIRING TO SPEAK AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PUBLIC COMMENT FORM WILL BE HEARD DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT OR PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE MEETING BEFORE FINAL BOARD ACTION IS TAKEN ON AN AGENDA TOPIC.
WHILE SPEAKERS GENERALLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY ESTABLISH AN OVERALL TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT, AND ADJUST THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER WHEN NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
HOWEVER, NO SPEAKERS SHALL BE GIVEN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE.
ALL OF THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH HB 2840. EACH SPEAKER TONIGHT WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER MUST ADDRESS THE BOARD FROM THE PROVIDED PODIUM UNLESS SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND APPROVED. SPEAKERS ARE TO PRESENT THEIR REMARKS TO THE BOARD AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
SPEAKERS HAVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES MAY ONLY ADDRESS THE BOARD AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT FORM, AND IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN BOARD POLICY.
BOARD POLICY. IGBA EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS. F AND G STUDENT AND PARENT COMPLAINTS.
ANY SPEAKERS WHO COMPLAIN OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO REFRAIN FROM NAMING THE EMPLOYEE, AND WILL REFER THE SPEAKER TO THE APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT POLICY.
TRUSTEES WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS OR RESPOND TO COMMENTS FROM PATRONS.
SPEAKERS WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DIALOG WITH THE TRUSTEES.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU COME FORWARD.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DEBORAH BLANKENSHIP.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DEBORAH BLANKENSHIP.
I WORK AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL IN THE ECS PEGASUS CLASSROOM AT VIOLA RANDALL ELEMENTARY IN FULSHEAR.
SO THIS IS OUR OUR PICTURE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN REGARDING THE CURRENT WAGES, A SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ALL THE OTHER PAIRS WITHIN LAMAR CISD. WE ARE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF OUR CLASSROOMS. YET OUR COMPENSATION DOES NOT REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES OF OUR WORK.
PARAS, ESPECIALLY US WORKING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT, PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE, AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.
OUR WORK DIRECTLY IMPACTS STUDENT SUCCESS, ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, RECEIVE THE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.
CONSIDER THIS. CONSIDERING THIS, ALL OF US STRUGGLE TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE LEADING TO A HIGHER TURNOVER RATE, STAFFING SHORTAGES, AND AN INCREASED BURDEN ON OUR REMAINING STAFF.
A COMPETITIVE AND FAIR WAGE WOULD NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE OUR VALUE, BUT ALSO HELP WITH RETENTION,
[00:25:02]
RECRUITMENT AND THE OVERALL QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN OUR DISTRICT, SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND STATES HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO INCREASE POWER PAY.EXCUSE ME? ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO CAP ON THE NUMBER OF SPED STUDENTS WHO CAN BE ENROLLED IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WHICH PRESENTS US WITH A RANGE OF MORE RESPONSIBILITIES, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING SAFETY.
WE ARE TASKED WITH SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO EXHIBIT SO MANY DIVERSE NEEDS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ELOPE, CLIMB, PUSH BIKE, HIT AND EXHIBIT OTHER CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS TOWARDS US.
SO NOW WE ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE CLASSROOM.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN A SUBSTITUTE IS REQUIRED, IT IS OFTEN THE CASE THAT THE ASSIGNMENT GOES UNFULFILLED OR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ACCEPTS IT LACKS THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO EFFECTIVELY MEET OUR STUDENTS NEEDS.
WE WERE TASKED WITH CONTINUING TO TEACH THAT CLASS WITH NO COMPENSATION AT ALL.
MY COWORKER FROM LAST YEAR. SHE HAS TO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK JUST TO JUST TO MAKE A MINIMUM, JUST TO MAKE IT. SO AGAIN, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT REASON.
HOWEVER, ALL WE SEEM TO HEAR ABOUT AND READ ABOUT IS HOW MUCH MORE WE SHOULD PAY OUR TEACHERS.
BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR PARENTS. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE WERE GIVEN $60 MORE PER MONTH THAN OUR RAISE, WHICH WE APPRECIATE. I WILL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.
I BRING HOME 18 60 PER MONTH. I DON'T EVEN CARRY THE DISTRICT'S MEDICAL INSURANCE.
THE MIDPOINT PAY. HERE'S ANOTHER FACT THE LOWEST ONE BEDROOM EFFICIENCY APARTMENT RENTS FOR $1,000 A MONTH, AND IT'S LOCATED IN A PLACE WHERE WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT OUR OWN FAMILIES TO TO EVEN LIVE AND WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD THAT.
SO AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE UTILITIES, NOT TO MENTION A SAVING FOR ANY KIND OF RETIREMENT, INVESTING IN OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND IS INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS.
OUR THEME FOR THIS YEAR IS THE URGENCY OF NOW WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CURRENT PAY.
ON HOW LAMAR SEE ISD PLANS TO ADDRESS THIS URGENT NEED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEREK STINSON. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY PASS THESE OUT TO TO YOU ALL.
I'VE SEEN YOU ALL BEFORE. I'VE BEEN HERE THIS YEAR A COUPLE OF TIMES.
AND WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM WINNING STATE.
IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF MY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH.
I'M HERE JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP MY LEGS MOVING, YOU KNOW, NEVER LET GRASS GROW UNDER YOUR FEET, AS HE WOULD SAY. AND, YOU KNOW, ON TO THE NEXT YARD.
[00:30:06]
IS PAYING FOR. I KNOW IT'S A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR.ON THE ON THE FIRST COUPLE OF SHEETS, IT TELLS YOU WHAT WE PROVIDE.
CORRECT. THE NEXT THE NEXT ITEM IS A QUOTE FROM ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN HISD.
AND HOW WE HOW WE BUILD EVERYONE. AND THE LAST ITEM I WANT TO BRING TO YOU GUYS ATTENTION TO IS OUR CHARACTER TRAITS AND PERSONAL SKILLS. THE TO REQUIRES FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE A POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS AND PERSONAL SKILLS. PROVIDE THAT. AND ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL, WELL, WITH KICKSTART KIDS, BECAUSE OF OUR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND THE TEACHERS ARE ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE PACKET.
MY CARD IS IN THE PACKET AS WELL. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU ALL, WORKING WITH MR. GABBARD AND LAMAR CONSOLIDATED ISD. THANK YOU.
OH. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC
[9. PUBLIC HEARING: 2023-2024 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)]
HEARING ON THE 2023 2024 TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT AT 2 P.M..THIS IS OUR REVIEW OF THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.
IT PROVIDES PERFORMANCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON EACH SCHOOL AND AND DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE DATA ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND STUDENT AND STAFF DEMOGRAPHICS.
THE REPORT ITSELF IS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY WEBSITE OR FROM THE LAMAR ISD WEBSITE UNDER DEPARTMENT'S RESEARCH, ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORTS AND LEGAL POSTINGS.
JUST A REMINDER ABOUT ANNUAL RATINGS. RATINGS FOR BOTH THE 20 2223 AND 2324 SCHOOL YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY DUE TO JUDICIAL ACTION BROUGHT BY RETROACTIVE INCREASES IN COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS PERFORMANCE TARGETS.
HOWEVER, AS WE RECEIVE DATA IN AUGUST OF 24, WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN 84 OR A B RATING. AREAS THAT WILL BE REVIEWING THIS EVENING INCLUDE STAAR PERFORMANCE, AN OVERVIEW OF DEMOGRAPHICS AND ENROLLMENT. SERIOUS DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS.
GRADUATION RATES CCMA INDICATORS AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND PERFORMANCE.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE. JUST AS A REMINDER TO THE BOARD, OUR STUDENTS, WHEN THEY TAKE THE STAR TEST ARE GRADED AT FOUR DIFFERENT POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE LEVELS.
MASTERS GRADE LEVEL, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST STUDENTS THAT SCORE THERE ARE EXPECTED TO SUCCEED IN THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL OR COURSE, WITH LITTLE OR NO ACADEMIC INTERVENTION MEETS GRADE LEVEL.
STUDENTS HAVE A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN THE NEXT GRADE OR COURSE, BUT STILL MAY NEED SOME SHORT TERM TARGETED INTERVENTION APPROACHES. GRADE LEVEL STUDENTS ARE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL WITH TARGETED ACADEMIC INTERVENTION.
THIS IS ALSO THE MINIMUM PASSING STANDARD FOR THE STAR TEST.
AND THEN WHAT'S NOT PUBLISHED IS DID NOT MEET GRADE LEVEL.
THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT FAILED THE STAR AND ARE UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED IN THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.
[00:35:05]
OR HIGHER. LOOKING AT OUR PERFORMANCE THIS LAST YEAR FOR THE READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS AREA, WE WERE AT LEAST FIVE POINTS AHEAD OF BOTH THE STATE AND THE REGION AND ALL GRADE LEVELS FOR APPROACHES.AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT APPROACHES, MEETS AND MASTERS, WE WERE AT LEAST SIX POINTS OR GREATER AHEAD IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE. FOR MATH, WE WERE FOUR POINTS AHEAD IN ALL AREAS EXCEPT FOR GRADE SEVEN. GRADE SEVEN.
WE WERE JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR THE STATE DUE TO A DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE.
THAT'S REALLY A STATEWIDE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. WHEN WE LOOK AT MATH AT PERFORMANCE LEVELS, WE STAYED FOUR OR MORE POINTS AHEAD AT APPROACHES MEETS AND MASTERS IN MATHEMATICS.
MOVING ON TO SCIENCE AT THE LOWER GRADE LEVEL, AT FIFTH GRADE, WE WERE AT LEAST 11 POINTS HIGHER THAN THE REGION AND STATE. AND THEN AT BIOLOGY, WHICH IS AT HIGH SCHOOL, WE WERE THREE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE REGION AND STATE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SCIENCE IN ALL PERFORMANCE LEVELS AND APPROACHES, MEETS AND MASTERS.
WE WERE AT LEAST FIVE POINTS HIGHER IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE THAN THE REGION AND STATE.
FINALLY, SOCIAL STUDIES AT GRADE EIGHT WE WERE TEN POINTS HIGHER THAN THE REGION AT STATE, AND WE WERE AT TWO POINTS HIGHER IN US HISTORY, WHICH IS 11TH GRADE.
THEN THE REGION STATE PRETTY MUCH AS HIGH AS WE CAN PERFORM IN THAT US HISTORY END OF COURSE TEST.
WHEN WE LOOK AT APPROACHES, MEETS AND MASTERS, WE'RE AT LEAST SIX POINTS HIGHER AT EACH ONE OF THOSE PERFORMANCE LEVELS THAN THE STATE AND THE REGION. MOVING FORWARD TO DEMOGRAPHICS AND DISCIPLINE.
AS WE ALL WELL KNOW, WE ARE A HYPER GROWTH DISTRICT.
ONE SECOND, MR. MOORE. YES. ANYBODY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE? FIRST WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY. THAT WAY IT'LL BE EASIER. OKAY. I DO.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MATH WITH THE SEVENTH GRADE ISSUE, YOU SAID IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AT SEVENTH GRADE. AND THIS OCCURS.
LET ME BACK UP TO THAT SLIDE REAL QUICK. THIS OCCURS STATEWIDE.
DISTRICTS ARE INCENTIVIZED FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE ALGEBRA BY EIGHTH GRADE.
SO A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR STUDENTS TAKE THE EIGHTH GRADE TEST IN SEVENTH GRADE INSTEAD OF THE ACTUAL SEVENTH GRADE GRADE LEVEL TEST TO PREPARE FOR TAKING THAT ALGEBRA TEST. SO SO SOME OF THE STUFF THEY HADN'T ACTUALLY LEARNED.
I HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION FOR GRADE SEVEN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GREAT AT EVERY OTHER AGE LEVEL OR GRADE LEVEL AND THEN SEVEN DIPS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT MAKES A DOWNWARD TREND, RIGHT? SO WE GO RIGHT BACK UP. SO WHEN YOU SAY ALIGNMENT, ARE YOU MEANING THE CURRICULUM AND MAYBE THE TEST ARE NOT ALIGNED. THE COTTON THE MISS COTTON GAME CAN GIVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT. AND IT'S PART OF OUR PLANNING PROCESS TO GO IN AND REALLY STUDY THAT AND LEARN IT SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY ALLEVIATE THAT ALIGNMENT ISSUE. RIGHT. SO HOW HOW SPECIFICALLY ARE WE SUPPORTING LIKE THE SEVENTH GRADE MATH TEACHERS, IS THAT I MEAN, DO WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR AGAIN STATEWIDE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE HOPE NOT. AND WE HAVE THE THE THE MATH CADRE WITH THE SEVENTH GRADE MATH TEACHERS THAT'S BEEN ONGOING.
AND THEN ALSO OUR PLANNING PROCESS SUPPORTS THAT BECAUSE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS YOU STUDY THE TEACHERS, BUT YOU ALSO GO IN AND YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THAT IT'S BEEN TESTED SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY MESH THAT ALIGNMENT THAT WAY AS WELL.
OKAY. SO YOU'RE EXCUSE ME. SO YOU'RE SAYING WE LOOK AT THE EIGHTH GRADE MATH SCORES.
[00:40:08]
THAT'S THE ALGEBRA. THAT'S THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ON TRACK TO TAKE ALGEBRA ONE AT EIGHTH GRADE.CORRECT? THEY'RE IN THE EIGHTH GRADE SCORES. CORRECT.
OKAY. SO THEN THE CHILDREN THAT ARE STUDENTS THAT NEED MORE INTERVENTION.
ARE YOUR SEVENTH GRADERS THAT ARE NOT IN ALGEBRA? YES, MA'AM. OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. AND AND SO, FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAKE AND TEACHERS AND EVERYONE WATCHING THIS, WE'RE SEEING THAT THIS AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS A STATEWIDE TREND THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT OUR LAMAR CONSOLIDATED ISD MATH TEACHERS ARE DEFICIENT IN THIS. WE'RE SAYING THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
WHAT TEXAS, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING WE NEED TO TEACH CORRECT IS NOT BEING WHAT IS BEING TESTED.
SO THAT'S A TREND. SO HOW DOES HOW DOES THAT RESOLVE ITSELF WITH THE STATE.
I MEAN DO THEY OR DO THEY SEE THAT THE TESTS DON'T ALIGN WITH WHAT THEY TESTED? I MEAN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S THEY'LL GO IN AND DO CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT AND THEY'LL DO TEST REWRITES AND THOSE THINGS PERIODICALLY.
SO THAT SHOULD WORK ITSELF OUT. OKAY. TRUSTEES, ANY MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PART? OKAY. COULD WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC SLIDE, PLEASE? OKAY. AS AS I WAS DISCUSSING EARLIER, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE A VERY MUCH A HYPER GROWTH DISTRICT IN THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 19 2019 2020 AND 20 2324, WE GREW BY 9353 STUDENTS, WHICH IS A 21.1% INCREASE IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
WE REMAIN A VERY ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE DISTRICT WITH GROWTH IN AFRICAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN POPULATIONS AND ONLY SLIGHT CHANGES WITH HISPANIC AND WHITE POPULATIONS.
OUR BIGGEST AREA OF GROWTH AS FAR AS PROGRAMS IS WITH BILINGUAL ESL.
IN THIS TIME PERIOD, WE ADDED 4200 ADDITIONAL FIRST TIME ENGLISH SPEAKERS OR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SPEAKER. THAT INCREASED OUR PROGRAM 6.5%. NUMERICALLY, WE ALSO HAD INCREASES WITH CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. HOWEVER, THE GROWTH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WAS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS WE HAD SEEN IN ABOUT THE THREE OR 4 OR 5 YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, AS SPECIAL ED SERVICES EXPANDED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OUR ATTENDANCE RATES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WERE COMPARABLE TO THE STATE AND REGION.
AS WE EXITED THE PANDEMIC, WE STAYED AHEAD OF STATE AND THE REGION BY A FEW TENTHS OF A POINT.
STARTING THIS LAST YEAR, WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE RATES.
WE MOVED UP ONE PERCENTAGE POINT. WE DON'T HAVE STATE AND REGIONAL ATTENDANCE RATES YET, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT SAME TREND WHERE OUR ATTENDANCE RATE THIS YEAR IS LOOKING BETTER THAN IT WAS EVEN LAST YEAR.
BUT IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, WE ADDED 583 MORE GRADUATES, WHICH IS AN INCREASE MATCHING OUR POPULATION AND ENROLLMENT INCREASE OF 21%. LOOKING AT DISCIPLINE, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 39.053 REQUIRES THAT ALL DISTRICTS PUBLISH A SEPARATE ANNUAL REPORT ON VIOLENT AND CRIMINAL INCIDENTS AT CAMPUSES IN THE DISTRICT.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION. PER CHAPTER 37 OF THE EDUCATION CODE, INCLUDING STARTING THE LAST TWO YEARS, THAT INCLUDES AND IT INCLUDES CODING FOR STARTING THIS LAST YEAR.
VAPES AND VAPING MATERIALS. A COPY OF THE REPORT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR LEGAL POSTINGS PAGE.
[00:45:06]
LOOKING AT OUR DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS, WE DID SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS PER THOUSAND STUDENTS MOVING UP FROM 17 TO RIGHT UNDER 21. BUT WHAT WE ALSO SAW SAME TIME WAS EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER OF VAPE RELATED INCIDENTS INCREASED THOSE INCIDENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL ACTUALLY DECREASED.MOVING FORWARD TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
BOTH ARE FOUR AND FIVE YEAR GRADUATION RATES REMAINED AHEAD OF THE STATE AND REGION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REGION. MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE SEE WITH OUR THE AVERAGE OF OUR OTHER SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
LOOKING AT OUR CMR INDICATOR FOR THE CLASSES OF 2020, 2021 AND 2022, WE WERE BEHIND THE STATE AND THE REGION, OR JUST COMPARABLE WITH THE STATE AND THE REGION, BUT STARTING WITH THE CLASS OF 23. AND NOW WHAT WE'RE PREDICTING FOR THE CLASS OF 24, OUR CMR INDICATOR RATES HAVE EXPANDED RAPIDLY. AND SO WE'RE SEEING REALLY GOOD RESULTS WITH THE CLASS OF 24 HAVING 90% OF THE STUDENTS PROJECTED TO HAVE MET ONE OR MORE CMR INDICATORS. LOOKING AT THOSE INDICATORS FOR THE CLASS OF 2023 INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATIONS ONE OUT OF A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN ONE OUT OF FOUR OF OUR STUDENTS HAS AN INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION THAT'S A SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE STATE AND REGIONAL AVERAGE. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN DUAL CREDIT OR ON RAMPS, WHICH IS A COLLEGE CREDIT COURSE THROUGH UT OR THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT MEET AP CRITERIA, WHICH IS A THREE OR HIGHER ON THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST FROM COLLEGE BOARD, OR THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT MEET COLLEGE READINESS CRITERIA BY TAKING THE ACT, SAT, OR TSI TEST. IN ALL THREE OF THOSE INDICATORS WE'RE DOING, WE'RE DOING WE'RE AHEAD OF BOTH THE STATE AND THE REGION. AND WITH DUAL CREDIT AND TSI WERE SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD OF THE STATE AND REGION.
LOOKING AT STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED THE FALL AFTER GRADUATION, WHEN WE LOOK AT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD ABOUT 59% OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WENT TO COLLEGE SOMEWHERE HERE IN TEXAS, WITH 70% GOING TO BOTH IN AND OUT OF STATE COLLEGES. THAT HAS DROPPED WHEN WE LOOK AT STUDENTS, GOING BOTH IN AND OUT OF STATE IS NOW DOWN TO ABOUT 60.5%. BUT OUR STUDENTS STAYING IN TEXAS HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSISTENT FROM THE CLASS OF 20 THROUGH THE CLASS OF 22. THAT DOWNWARD DROP THAT WE SEE IN ALL COLLEGES, THOUGH, IS REFLECTIVE OF A NATIONAL TREND, BECAUSE THE LAST THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN LESS STUDENTS GOING INTO COLLEGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL THAN WHAT WE SAW PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. ALTHOUGH I'M LEGALLY REQUIRED TO MENTION IT, THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WITHOUT DEVELOPMENTAL COURSEWORK ONCE THEY GET INTO COLLEGE.
THAT DATA HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE HIGHER ED COORDINATING BOARD SINCE 2019.
LOOKING AT THE TOP TEN INSTITUTIONS CHOSEN BY THE CLASS OF 2023.
THE FIRST NUMBER ONE WAS WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE, FOLLOWED BY HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LONE STAR COLLEGE DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS STATE, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS A&M.
I TIED OUR BLEND AT BRYAN AND TSTC FORT BEND, FOLLOWED BY SAM HOUSTON STATE, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL
[00:50:02]
RIGHT. TRUSTEES, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? YEAH. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAS THE GRADUATION RATES FOR 2024? I THINK IT'S OH FOUR AND FIVE YEAR. LIKE IT MENTIONED FOUR AND FIVE YEAR GRADUATION FOUR AND FIVE YEAR RATES.YEAH. YES. SO WHEN YOU SAY CLASS OF 2022, WHAT 95% OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE SET TO GRADUATE IN FIVE YEARS GRADUATED IN FIVE YEARS? IS THAT GRADUATED IN FIVE YEARS? YES. AS COMPARED TO 94.1% OF THEM GRADUATED WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, WHAT IS THE TSI TEST? THE TSI TEST IS A COLLEGE READINESS TEST THAT'S CREATED WITH COLLEGE BOARD AND THE TEXAS HIGHER ED COORDINATING BOARD.
AND FOR A STUDENT THAT DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BY TAKING THE.
BY TAKING THE SAT OR ACT, THEY CAN ALSO TAKE THE TSR.
IN MANY STATES IT'S CALLED ACCUPLACER. AND IT'S ACTUALLY A DERIVATIVE OF THE ACCUPLACER TEST.
SO THEY CAN TAKE THAT IN PLACE AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE DEVELOPMENTAL COURSEWORK.
ONCE I GET INTO COLLEGE. OKAY. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE CMR GRAPH AND JUST THAT GIANT JUMP? WHAT WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING TO JUMP UP TO 90 FROM? WE'VE HAD WE'VE HAD A GREATER INCREASE IN NOT ONLY ACADEMIC RIGOR TO HELP KIDS PASS THE OR GET THE COLLEGE READINESS STANDARDS ON THE SAT, WHICH WE GIVE EACH SPRING. WE'VE ALSO HAD A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATIONS FROM OUR CTE DEPARTMENT, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM CALLED COLLEGE BRIDGE, FOR WHICH THEY RECEIVE CREDIT.
DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK SO.
CMR IS WEIGHTED MUCH DIFFERENTLY RIGHT THAN IT USED TO BE.
SO THIS WILL HELP US I'M SURE. YEAH. AND I'LL SAY MISS BAINS AND I HAVE WE WORK AS A PAIR VERY HARD WITH CMR. AND SO WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH OUR CAMPUSES ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SIX WEEKS MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT INDICATORS AND HOW STUDENTS CAN EARN THEM. AND HELPING THEM SET GOALS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE TRACKING THOSE GOALS AND STAYING UP WITH THE PROGRESS OF THAT AS WELL, AND ALSO MAKING CERTAIN THAT CMR IS NOT JUST A SENIOR LEVEL TOPIC, THAT WE ARE STARTING THAT DISCUSSION AS EARLY AS NINTH GRADE, AND THEN OUR WORK WITH HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR CAMPUS INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM IS ABOUT ACTIVE PROGRESS MONITORING AND PLANNING INTENTIONALLY FOR CMR ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS GRADE NINE THROUGH 12 SO THAT HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME A STUDENT IS A JUNIOR IN LAMAR ISD THAT THEY ARE CMR SATISFIED SO THAT THEIR SENIOR YEAR, THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY FOCUSING ON ALL THE INTRICACIES OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE AND OR CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
SO BECAUSE DO THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME ENDORSEMENT ALL FOUR YEARS IN ORDER TO GET THEIR IVC IN ORDER TO GET THEIR IVC FOR THIS GRADUATING CLASS? NO, THEY HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED WHAT'S CALLED A CONCENTRATOR.
OKAY. AND THEN EARN AN IVC FOR NEXT YEAR TO EARN THE INDICATOR, THOUGH FOR CTE, YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE, YES, ALL FOUR YEARS, AS WELL AS EARN AN INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION.
YES. IS THAT A IS. PARDON ME. IS THAT A STATE THING OR IS THAT A LCISD THING? THAT IS A STATE. SO TO EARN THE INDICATOR SPECIFIC TO CTE THAT IS THE STATE REQUIREMENT.
SO BECAUSE I KNOW WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, MY SON CHOSE CULINARY IN HIS FRESHMAN YEAR, AND NOW HE'S ABOUT TO BE A SENIOR NEXT YEAR. AND HE'S LIKE, DO I REALLY WANT TO DO CULINARY? SO SO THAT'S A STATE THING JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAKE THAT THEY'RE SAYING IF THEY'RE CHOOSING THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION, THEN TO EARN THE INDICATOR THROUGH CMR. YES. OKAY. AND THEN WE ARE GRADED BASED OFF OF THE CMR INDICATORS.
CORRECT. AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE LIKE SHE MENTIONED LIKE THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND BACK THEN DID WE KNOW. PROBABLY NOT IF CMR WAS A THING.
SO NOW THAT WE DO KNOW THAT THE STATE IS CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? YES. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAKE? YES. WELL, LET ME LET ME ADD TO THAT FIRST, BECAUSE IN 21 IS WHEN I CAME AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS THAT THE BOARD GAVE ME WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCREASED OUR CMR RATINGS.
HENCE DOCTOR LAZAR AND OF COURSE, MISS BAINES COMING IN, COMING IN THE PICTURE.
[00:55:05]
AND SO MISS BAINES SAID IT EARLIER. SHE SAID THAT ONE WORD.SHE SAID INTENTIONALITY. AND SO IT WAS REALLY JUST A CONVERSATION OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE INTENTIONAL AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS EARN THOSE CREDITS, BASICALLY, AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THOSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT ALSO WE'RE GIVING STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WITH OUR OF COURSE, WITH CTE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LARGE INFLUX AT THE FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE LEVEL, AND THEN IT DIPPED OR DROPPED AT THE JUNIOR SENIOR LEVEL.
AND SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT'S OUR PLAN TO INCREASE THE INTENTIONALITY, TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS CAN FINISH ALL 4 OR 5 YEARS OF THAT? AND SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND THAT CONSISTS OF THE FOUR THINGS THAT WERE ON THAT SLIDE THAT INCLUDED IS THAT CORRECT? THE SO THOSE MAKE UP. BUT THOSE ARE NOT ALL IN IN TOTALITY.
THERE ARE THERE ARE ACTUALLY 11 DIFFERENT WAYS A STUDENT CAN EARN CMR. OKAY. BUT SO LIKE IF A STUDENT IS IN AN AP CLASSES AND THEY TAKE THE AP EXAM AND THEY GET THOSE COLLEGE CREDITS, THEN THEY'RE MEETING AN INDICATOR. ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY. JUST CLARIFY. THANK YOU. THESE ARE THE THE AREAS THAT ARE REPORTED.
I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WAS TELLING THEM. THANK YOU. OKAY.
YOU GOT IT. GO AHEAD. OKAY. BUT JUST JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE AREAS THAT I SHOWED ON THE SCREEN ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE REPORTED ON THE TAPE OR REPORT AND THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS AND PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE TIME. THANK YOU SIR.
THIS IS THE TIME THE PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMMENTING ON THE 2023 2024 TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT, PLEASE COME AND STAND BY, MISS JOHNSON. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES FOR COMMENTS.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:27 P.M..
[10. CONSENT AGENDA]
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PULL? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CURRENT CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE SECRETARY WELCH MAKES THE MOTION.DO I HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE BOX MAKES THE SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE WILL NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CURRENT CONSENT AGENDA? SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW HAVE REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE FUTURE ACTION ITEMS.
[11.A. Discussion of Junior High School #8 schematic design ]
DOCTOR NIVENS. ALL RIGHT. BOARD, WE HAVE MR. BUCHANAN AT THE PODIUM.THERE HE IS. GOOD EVENING, BOARD TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR DAVIS, TONIGHT WE BRING FORTH A DISCUSSION ABOUT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER EIGHT ON THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER EIGHT IS LOCATED ON 359, ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN FULSHEAR ON THE COUNTY LINE.
IT WILL BE ADJACENT TO HIGH SCHOOL EIGHT AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF FM 359.
THIS IS THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. FIRST FLOOR FLOOR PLAN OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE REASON BEING IS THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS IS ADJACENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS.
SO THEY'RE ON THE SAME SIDES OF BOTH BUILDINGS.
THIS IS A SECOND FLOOR. IT'S PRETTY MUCH A MIRROR OF THE FIRST FLOOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACADEMIC WING AND THE CLASSROOMS. WE CAN HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS. CAN YOU REMIND US HOW MANY STUDENTS THIS WILL SEAT COMFORTABLY. THE BUILDING, THE ONE FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER EIGHT WILL BE 1550.
THANK YOU. WHAT SIZE IS LEHMAN? LEHMAN IS 1225.
[11.B. Discussion of Middle School #8 conceptual design]
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR NIVEN. TONIGHT WE WILL BRING FORTH A DISCUSSION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL. NUMBER EIGHT. AND THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN. SO THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN IS AN ACTUAL FLOOR PLAN A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN IS LAID OUT MORE ADJACENCIES OF WHERE THOSE AREAS WILL BE.AGAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL NUMBER EIGHT IS LOCATED ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN ON FM 359, BUT IT WILL SIT ON THE WEST SIDE OF FM 359. THIS LAYOUT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
[01:00:02]
THREE CAMPUSES. IT WAS IMPORTANT, THE COMMITTEE TO KIND OF KEEP THOSE LAYOUTS SO STUDENTS, AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH OUR CAMPUSES, WOULD HAVE FAMILIARITY.YES, MA'AM. IT'S ON THE WEST SIDE OF FM 359, THE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH OR ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND THEN THERE'S THERE'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN AN ELEMENTARY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
ON THE WEST SIDE? YES, MA'AM. COULD WE DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIMES THAT THEY STARTED TO, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WAS MORE THE LAND LAYOUT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS LAID OUT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABUTS UP ADJACENT TO BOTH THE ELEMENTARY AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO WE FIGURED MORE WALKERS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD BE OVER THERE VERSUS A JUNIOR HIGH OR HIGH SCHOOL. CAN CAN YOU REMIND THE PUBLIC HOW MANY SEATS WILL BE IN THE SCHOOL COMFORTABLY? THIS WILL BE 725. AND DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEAD OFFHAND WHAT? ROBERTS SEATS 650. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
[12.A. Consider approval of design development for Elementary School #37 ]
YOU STAY. YES. YES, SIR. THE NEXT THE NEXT ONE IS MR. BUCHANAN. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NUMBER 37.AND SO MR. BUCHANAN WILL HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS IN HERE.
AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO HEAR IS THESE OPTIONS AND IF THE BOARD IS WILLING TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT, YOU CAN. BUT WE CAN ALSO TABLE THIS TO THE NEXT MONTH IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AND PLACED FOR PEAK AND BEECHNUT.
IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD ADJACENT TO LONGMEADOW FARMS, NORTHEAST OF FM 99.
THE BOARD. THE LAMAR ISD STARTED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE LAND IN 2018.
WE PURCHASED THE LAND IN NOVEMBER OF 21. TEXAS HAD DETENTION.
AS YOU SEE, THE THE BLUE ARROWS THAT IS DRAINAGE AS IT GOES AROUND THE SCHOOL.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING BECAUSE THERE IS AT THIS CORNER A DOW CHEMICAL PIPELINE AND AN ATMOS PIPELINE.
BOTH OF THOSE PIPELINES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO IT DOES NOT GO TO 99. AND IT DOES NOT WE CAN'T GO ANY OTHER WAY.
THAT'S THE NATURAL DRAINAGE OF THE SITE. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHY DID WE BUILD SOME OTHER PLACE? WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS IS THE PARCEL LAYOUT.
THIS IS MASON ROAD. SO IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THERE'S A SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIRECTLY THERE.
THAT IS IN FORT BEND ISD. SO OUR DISTRICT LINE SITS ADJACENT AS YOU COME TO HERE AND OVER.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH EVERYTHING IS WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED THE DESIGN LAYOUT OF BOTH THE ROADS, UTILITIES AND THE DRAINAGE FOR THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
RIGHT NOW, IT WILL FACE EAST, WILL BE THE FRONT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE WILL EXTEND ROADS OUT OF LONGMEADOW FARMS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN TIE IT INTO BEECHNUT.
THIS IS THEIR PRELIMINARY LAYOUT. THEY STILL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS WITH FORT BEND COUNTY AND WITH SOME UTILITIES TO LAY OUT THIS, BUT THIS IS THEIR DRAFT PLAN. YOU CAN TELL THAT THE DETENTION AS IT GOES ACROSS, THERE'S A DETENTION CANAL THAT COMES OUT HERE AND THEN THEIR DETENTION WILL GO ACROSS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO START CONSTRUCTION ON THIS SITE UNTIL MARCH OF 2026, PUTTING THIS SITE OPENING IN THE FALL OF 27. SO LOOKING AT
[01:05:02]
THE PEAK IN BEECHNUT DELAY, IF THAT SITE DOES NOT OPEN, THIS IS THE CURRENT DEMOGRAPHER'S DATA ALONG THIS LINE HERE.THESE ARE ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT BASICALLY ARE IN THAT GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
IF IT IS ORANGE, IT CAN BE HOUSED BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE PORTABLES.
AND IF IT'S RED, THEN THE DECISION AND ACTION HAS TO BE MADE LOOKING AT THAT SITE.
SO ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS, IS WE HAVE ONE PARCEL OF LAND THAT'S LOCATED IN THE TAMARIN WEST NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE DISTRICT. THAT SITE IS READY TO BE CURRENTLY START CONSTRUCTION THIS MARCH TO BE ABLE TO OPEN IN THE FALL OF 2026. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AGAIN, THE DEMOGRAPHER'S REPORT IT DOES HAVE HAYGOOD, WHICH WILL OPEN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO IT WILL OPEN IN THE FALL OF 25.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE REALLY THREE OPTIONS BEFORE US.
HAGOOD ELEMENTARY AND RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO ADDRESS THE CAPACITY NEEDS.
THE CALLS FOR THAT WOULD BE FOR THOSE PORTABLE MOVES.
MOVE THOSE PORTABLES TO THOSE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE COST ROUGHLY $4.5 MILLION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 2020 BOND AVAILABLE SAVINGS TO ADDRESS THAT.
ONE OTHER OPTION IS TO KEEP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 AT THE PEAK IN BEECHNUT SITE AS WELL, AND MANAGE THE MILTON, HAGOOD AND RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT WITH A CAP AND OVERFLOW PROCESS AGAIN PENDING IF A BOND PASSES.
THAT CAMPUS WOULD OPEN AND BE ABLE TO RELIEVE THAT.
THE OTHER THIRD OPTION WOULD BE IS TO RELOCATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 TO THE TAMARIND WEST COMMUNITY.
ONE THING THAT WAS IN THE 22 BOND WAS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ROAD, INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITIES AND BUILD THE CAMPUS, BECAUSE THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN A DEVELOPED NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DEVELOP ROADS, UTILITIES, OR DRAINAGE ALONG WITH IT.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE, WHAT, 50 MILLION HERE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? 37? YES, MA'AM. APPROXIMATELY THAT. YES, MA'AM.
IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH IF WE MOVE IT TO TAMRON WEST TO BUILD IT NOW? BECAUSE IF WE WAIT TILL 2627, THAT WOULD NEED MORE MONEY FOR BEECHNUT.
NO MATTER WHAT. CORRECT. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT.
YES, MA'AM. IF IT DOESN'T FIT WITHIN THAT BUDGET, THERE ARE AVAILABLE SAVINGS THAT WE COULD ADD TO THAT IF WE NEEDED TO, IF IT GOT DELAYED A YEAR. IF IT CAME SHORT. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THE LAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAD BID WAS ROUGHLY $37.1 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS ONLY. THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE ROADS, UTILITIES, AND OTHER THINGS.
SO BASICALLY WE HAVE THE MONEY AND EVERYTHING READY TO GO.
IF WE WANTED TO MOVE 37 AND WAIT AND MAKE PEAK AND BEECHNUT 39, AND YOU COULD GET STARTED ON IT AND THEN HAVE THE NEXT BOND HAVE THE MONEY AND YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU NEED.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVE THE ISSUES WITH THE OVERCROWDING AT THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
OKAY, SO WHAT IF IT DOESN'T PASS BUT THE BOND DOESN'T PASS? MR. BUCHANAN, ONE QUESTION THAT CAME UP LAST NIGHT AND THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE TOWN HALL I WENT TO LAST NIGHT.
MR. ANZINGER WAS THERE AS WELL. IT ADOLPHUS, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THE CROWD THERE WAS, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE OF 99, THE QUESTION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS IS, WHY AREN'T WE FINDING PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 99? AND YOU ADDRESSED THAT LAST NIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT AGAIN TODAY.
[01:10:08]
BILSTEIN AND FAGGART COMPLEX. CURRENTLY WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER TO TO GET THE LAND THROUGH THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO PLATS WHATSOEVER FOR THIS SIDE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, NOR WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DIRECTLY WEST OF 99 THAT IS OWNED BY A INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS A DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL 300 THAT IS ALSO THEIR FAMILY'S ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.SO WE DON'T SEE THAT DEVELOPING ANYTIME SOON.
THE OTHER THING IS, IS WHEN YOU LOOK ON THE WEST SIDE OF 99, THERE ARE NO MUDS, THERE IS NO DETENTION, THERE IS NO WATER, THERE IS NO SEWER, THERE IS NO ANYTHING.
SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE, ANYTHING WEST OF 99 WOULD COST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE UTILITIES TO THAT AREA. OKAY. SO ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WERE SAYING LAST NIGHT IS THAT WE WOULD BUILD AT PEAK IN BEECHNUT, WE WOULD BUILD THE UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THE SCHOOL.
HOW MUCH OF THAT ROUGHLY IS OF THAT 50 MILLION.
WOULD THAT BE? ROUGHLY TEN. THAT'S OUR BUDGET TO COMPLETE THE ROADS, UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE WILL BE PRORATING A LOT OF THAT WITH THEM.
THE REST OF THAT WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER, SO IT DOES PROVIDE US SOME COST SAVINGS, AS WELL AS WHEN THE DEVELOPERS COME ALONG AND BE ABLE TO INSTALL THAT DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AS A PARTNER.
THE OTHER PART, IF WE MOVE IT THERE, IF WE KEEP THE 10 MILLION OVER THAT BEECHNUT PEAK FOR THE UNDERGROUND, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THE UNDERGROUND HERE? THIS SITS WITHIN THE CAMERON WEST NEIGHBORHOOD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENT WITH IS AS WE BUILD OUR LAND BANK, IS WHEN WE PURCHASE THAT LAND. WE MADE SURE THAT OUR IMPACT FEES, OUR ROADS, OUR UTILITIES ARE ALL INCLUDED.
DRAINAGE IS INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE OF OUR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE IS A FLAT SITE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON.
SO IF WE USE THE 40 MILLION OVER HERE AND NOT AT BEECHNUT PEAK RIGHT NOW, AND WE TAKE THE RISK OF PUTTING ANOTHER BUILDING, ANOTHER 40 MILLION ROUGHLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT INFLATION WILL BE BY THAT TIME IN THE NEXT BOND.
AND THAT BOND FAILS, THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE.
WELL, WHAT IF WE DO HOLD THAT MONEY? IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
THE BOND FAILS AND WE CAN'T COMPLETE THE BUILDING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. YES, SIR.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? IS THAT. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. AND THE LOGIC AND THE RATIONALITY OF THAT? YES, SIR. WE WOULD HAVE TWO AREAS POTENTIALLY, DEPENDING ON THE INFLATION AND CONSTRUCTION COST, THAT WE COULD NOT BUILD SCHOOLS. AND WE AND WE NEED SCHOOLS IN BOTH AREAS.
SO AS A BOARD, WHILE THIS WAS PROMISED AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THE PUBLIC SAID LAST NIGHT, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CATCH SOME HEAT TOMORROW NIGHT OR THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN PROMISED TO US.
THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN PROMISED TO US. IT WAS 35. NOW IT'S 37.
Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BUMP IT AGAIN. IT'S GOING TO BE ELEMENTARY. NUMBER 39.
IT'S GOING TO BE ELEMENTARY. NUMBER 41 EVENTUALLY.
WELL, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE NEEDING SCHOOLS OVER HERE AND WE HAVE THE MONEY.
WE CAN'T BUILD THERE. SO I'M WONDERING HOW PRUDENT IT IS TO HOLD ON TO THAT MONEY, TO POSSIBLY NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD UNLESS ANOTHER BOND PASSES WHILE THAT'S TAKING PLACE. WE MISS THE CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY HERE BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT COST OF EVERYTHING.
WELL, AND IF THEY IF THEY DID BUILD IN TAMRON WEST, WHEN WOULD THAT SCHOOL BE READY? IT WOULD OPEN IN THE FALL OF 26. OKAY. ALONG WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 38, WHICH IS LOCATED IN BROOKWATER.
BUT I'M SORRY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT.
WHAT WAS MENTIONED LAST NIGHT IS THAT THE PEAK IN BEECHNUT SCHOOL WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2017 BOND AND DIDN'T MAKE IT WAS ELEMENTARY 33, WHICH BECAME MELTON. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ELEMENTARY 35, IN THE 22 BOND, AND IT BECAME FAGOT BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES WITH THE SITE.
YES, MA'AM. WE WOULD HAVE AN OPTION IF WE WANTED TO GO BACK.
BUT IF WE DID THAT. WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A SECTION OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN EMINENT DOMAIN,
[01:15:04]
PRIVATE PEOPLE'S HOMES. RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY OTHER OPTION TO BE ABLE TO DO.HE WILL BE AT THE MEETING ON THURSDAY NIGHT. ONE THING THAT HE SAID IS THEY HAVE INVESTMENT BANKERS, THEY HAVE INVESTORS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THIS, AND THEY HAVE A TIMELINE THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET TO MEET THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SO THE DRAINAGE WILL HAVE TO GO IN. IF NOT, THEY'LL BE LOSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO THAT'S WHY WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN THE FEBRUARY OF 26 FOR IT TO BE DRAINAGE TO BE COMPLETE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY HAVE TO START DELIVERING LOTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO START MAKING THEIR MONEY.
HOW MANY HOMES OR FAMILIES OR STUDENTS DO WE KNOW? THERE'S 567 HOMES CURRENTLY WITHIN THEIR THEIR LAYOUT.
SO IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 130 TO 140 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WOULD BE PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEY WILL MOVE IN WHAT YEAR? RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT DEVELOP, HAVING LOTS DEVELOPED IN THE SUMMER OF 26 BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HAVE ANY THEY CAN'T MOVE ANY DIRT.
NOBODY CAN MOVE ANY DIRT AROUND HERE UNTIL ALL THE DRAINAGE IS PUT IN.
DRAINAGE HAS TO GO IN FIRST BECAUSE IF NOT, WE'LL END UP FLOODING SECTIONS OF LONGMEADOW FARMS, AND THEN WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE.
IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT DOING THE DRAINAGE? LIKE I DON'T KNOW NOW.
WELL, THE PIPELINE, THE PIPELINE, THE PIPELINES.
BUT THE PIPELINE IS NOT MOVING, IS IT? NO, BUT IT HAS TO BE.
OH, IT'S BEING LOWERED. OKAY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FEBRUARY 26TH FOR ESTIMATED DRAINAGE COMPLETION, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT MARCH APRIL ISH LIKE THAT.
OR WE COULD HAVE A SCHOOL OPEN FALL OF 26. YES, SIR.
I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN THE FEBRUARY 26TH NUMBER AFTER WORKING WITH TAYLOR MORRISON. THEY THINK IT WILL BE AHEAD OF THAT. BUT THAT'S THEIR WORST CASE SCENARIO WITHIN THEIR SCHEDULE. SO. YES, SIR. IT WOULD EITHER MOVE IT AND OPEN IT IN 26 OR WE DELAY IT AND IT OPENS IN 27.
SO WE'LL BE SO STEEL WILL GO VERTICAL PRETTY QUICK.
OKAY, OR WE CAN OPEN A SCHOOL FALL OF 26 IN CAMERON WEST.
YES, SIR. FALL 27. FALL 26. THE ROAD WORK AND ALL OF THAT WORK.
ONCE THE THE IN IN FEBRUARY OF 26. CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
SO WHEN WE SAY UTILITIES LET ME GET BACK. SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE PARKING LOT.
SO THIS IS ALL ON SITE. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ROAD THAT RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH AND THE ROAD THAT RUNS EAST AND WEST, ALONG WITH THE UTILITIES AND PAY FOR OUR PORTION OF THE DETENTION DRAINAGE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'D BE ABLE TO KEEP AT THE CURRENT SITE.
WELL, AND THAT ROAD ITSELF, I'VE DRIVEN OUT THERE, IT'S NOT EVEN REALLY COMPLETE, IS IT? I MEAN, THE BEECHNUT IT'S THE COUNTY HAS PLANS TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND BEECH-NUT, BUT THEY'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME DESIGNS AND SOME ARO.
SO WE'RE ALL WAITING ON THE SAME THING TO GET.
YES, MA'AM. AND I KNOW MISS BRUNZELL AND JOE AND I, WE'VE ALL BEEN ON THE BOARD WORKING ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR YEARS, AND IT'S JUST BEEN ONE OBSTACLE AFTER ANOTHER.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S JUST NO OTHER PLACE TO HELP THAT AREA THAN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO IT'S A PROPERTY WE NEED TO SEE COME TO COMPLETION IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD. HOW CROWDED DO WE ANTICIPATE ADOLPHUS TO GET WITHOUT THE SCHOOL? SO THIS IS BASED OFF OUR Q3 NUMBERS THAT MR. TEMPLETON CAME AND DELIVERED TO THE BOARD.
RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ROUGHLY JUST OVER A THOUSAND.
YOU NOTICE IT KIND OF DIPS JUST A LITTLE 20, 30 STUDENTS AND THEN IT COMES BACK UP.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THOSE STUDENTS OUT OF PORTABLES, BUT IT WOULD. IT WOULD STAY ROUGHLY AT THEIR CURRENT ATTENDANCE, AND THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT WOULD STAY STEADY OVER AT LEAST THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
AND THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF WE'RE NOT READY IN THOSE HOMES, START GETTING KIDS.
WOULD THEY BE? WE'D HAVE TO SEE WHERE THEY GO, EITHER TO MCNEIL OR ADOLPHUS OR OR.
YEAH. WE WOULD FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY COULD FIT MOST COMFORTABLY UNTIL THE SCHOOL OPENS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, NO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD, THE BOARD KNOWS THAT YOU DON'T.
[01:20:01]
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT. IF YOU WANT US TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH AND MAYBE OUTLINE A PLAN FOR ONE AND TWO AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE KIDS WOULD GO. AND PORTABLE BUILDINGS.AND SO IF YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS AND WE CAN DO IT NEXT MONTH, WE CAN DO THAT NEXT MONTH.
WELL, SINCE WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER MEETING, TOWN HALL MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT, SHOULD WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE GET FROM THAT MEETING? I'D HATE TO MAKE A DECISION. AND THEN IT'LL BE THE SAME MEETING AS THEY TALKED ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT.
DO WE NEED SOME MORE OF THAT FEEDBACK, OR WOULD IT BE BETTER GOING THERE WITH WHAT WE'VE DECIDED? I LIKE YOUR IDEA. OKAY. I DO BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT COME TO THAT MEETING WHO HAS A, YOU KNOW, A MIRACLE IDEA OR IT WOULD GIVE IT WOULD GIVE US TIME AS A BOARD TO TO RECEIVE NEW IDEAS BY EMAILS OR SOMEBODY COMING TO NEXT MONTH'S MEETING IF IT'S NOT A AN URGENT THING THAT WE NEED TO DO HERE IN FEBRUARY 2025, I THINK WE SHOULD TABLE IT TILL NEXT MONTH. WELL, IF WE WERE TO APPROVE IT TONIGHT, WOULD YOU ALL BE STARTING THE NEW VET SCHOOL IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS? IF YOU APPROVE IT TONIGHT. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE CONSTRUCTION FOR CAMERON WEST.
IF IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD CHOOSES TO GO TO AT THE MARCH MEETING.
SO WE DO HAVE WIGGLE ROOM, IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO ALSO IF WE CHOSE OPTION THREE WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO DO OPTION 1 OR 2 AS WELL, CORRECT? YES. WE STILL YEAH WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE SCHOOL THERE. BUT BUT YOU KNOW, AS I, YOU KNOW I KNOW THIS IS IN THE 2020 BOND.
AND SO WHEN I GOT HERE I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOL WAS PROMISED. AND THEN I SAW THE PIPELINES IN THERE, AND I WAS LIKE, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE TOUGH TO DO. AND SO JUST FOR, JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S CLEAR UNDERSTANDING, THE PIPELINES ARE THE ISSUE WITH THE DRAINAGE.
AND SO I'VE WORKED WITH PIPELINE COMPANIES AND I'VE BUILT SCHOOLS OVER PIPELINES.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING WE'RE GAINING SOME PROGRESS IN THAT.
BUT ALSO A DECISION HAS TO BE MADE, YOU KNOW, AT THE MARCH MEETING BECAUSE EITHER WAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SCHOOL READY FOR STUDENTS TO BE TO COME. FOR STUDENTS TO BE READY. SO WE'LL NEED A MOTION, WHETHER IT'S TO DO THIS ONE OF THESE THREE OR MOTION TO TABLE IT. SO, TRUSTEES, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT TILL NEXT MONTH TO MARCH 2025.
ALL RIGHT. SECRETARY WELCH MAKES A MOTION TO TABLE IT TILL MARCH 2025.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. TRUSTEE DANZIGER SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. WE NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO TABLE 37 TILL MARCH 2025. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. NONE OPPOSED.
THE MOTION CARRIES, SO WE WILL TABLE THIS TILL NEXT MONTH.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT TRUSTEES, WE'LL HAVE MISS COLE-HAMILTON TO TALK ABOUT OUR CALENDAR OPTIONS.
[12.B. Consider approval of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 District calendar options]
GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR NIVENS.THIS EVENING WE BRING FORTH TO YOU A ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL APPROVAL OF THE CALENDAR OPTIONS FOR THE 25, 26 AND 2627 SCHOOL YEARS. TRUSTEES, AS WE SHARED BEFORE, THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS FOR OUR SCHOOL CALENDARS GOES THROUGH A SYSTEM IN WHICH OUR DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING FIRST DRAFTS SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS, PRIORITIES, AND NEEDS. WE ENSURE THAT ALL CALENDAR OPTIONS ARE COMPLIANT WITHIN THE STATE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY COLLABORATE WITH OUR ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS, OPERATIONS, STUDENT SERVICES AREA.
SUPES ARE ALL A PART OF THE REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS.
WE ALSO RUN THE OPTIONS THROUGH THE DISTRICT WIDE STUDENT IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL.
PRINCIPALS GET INPUT. ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS GET INPUT AND CENTRAL OFFERS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE PUT THE CALENDAR OPTIONS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY.
THIS YEAR. THE SURVEY WAS NOVEMBER 15TH THROUGH DECEMBER 18TH.
47,473 EMAILS WERE DELIVERED AND WE RECEIVED SLIGHTLY OVER 12,000 RESPONSES.
95% OF OUR SURVEY TAKERS TOOK IT IN ENGLISH, WITH 5% TAKING IT IN SPANISH.
[01:25:01]
AND WE PRESENTED TWO OPTIONS FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR THE SURVEY WENT TO PARENTS AND STAFF VIA A DIRECT EMAIL, WHICH MEANS THAT EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE LINK AND THAT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE SUBMITTING MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS.AND SO WE PRESENTED TWO OPTIONS FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR AND TWO OPTIONS FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR. AFTER REVIEWING THE SURVEY RESPONSE, MAJORITY PREFERRED OPTION ONE FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR COMING IN AT ABOUT 79%, WITH 21% PREFERRING OPTION TWO. SOME REASONS WHY SURVEY RESPONDENTS INDICATED THEY PREFERRED OPTION ONE WERE THEY REALLY LIKED.
THE THANKSGIVING BREAK WAS A WHOLE WEEK LONG.
THEY LIKED THE FACT THAT KIDS STARTED SCHOOL EARLIER IN OPTION ONE.
THEY NOTED THE EXTENDED FALL BREAK WAS ALSO A NOTABLE ATTRACTION FOR SELECTING OPTION ONE.
SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS WERE THAT THE SCHEDULE BENEFITED BOTH STAFF AND STUDENTS LESS RANDOM DAYS OFF, MORE CLUSTERED DAYS TOGETHER, AND THE BREAKS MAKE IT EASIER TO GIVE STUDENTS A TIME OUT WHEN WE PRESENTED THE CALENDAR OPTIONS FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.
TRUSTEES. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL APPROVAL.
TRUSTEES. THANK YOU, MR. CULBERTSON. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE CALENDAR? ALL RIGHT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO SELECT AND APPROVE ONE OF THE CALENDAR OPTIONS FOR 2025, 2026, SCHOOL YEAR AND CALENDAR OPTION? WHATEVER THE MOTION IS FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OPTION ONE FOR BOTH BOTH SCHOOL YEARS.
WE DO AT THE SAME TIME. YES. ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE BOX MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE CALENDAR OPTION ONE FOR BOTH THE 2025 2026 AND THE 2026 AND THE 2027 SCHOOL YEAR. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
TRUSTEE BRUNZELL MAKES A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. NONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
DOCTOR NIVENS, WE'LL HAVE INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS ON THE INFORMATION ITEMS.
[13.A. Review of 2023-2024 annual comprehensive financial report ]
YES. SO, TRUSTEES, YOU REMEMBER LAST MONTH, MISS LUDWIG GAVE US A SHORT PRESENTATION OF OUR FINANCIAL REPORT, OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, BECAUSE WHETHER WE HAD TO CHANGE THE MEETING.BUT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WE'RE HERE TO GIVE US A FULL REPORT ON THAT.
READY, JIM? GOOD EVENING. BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR NIVENS.
AS HE SAID, WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 2324 FISCAL YEAR AUDIT.
WHITLEY PENN DID DO A THOROUGH AUDIT OF OUR CONTROLS, BOOKS, RECORDS.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE ASSISTED US IN MANY WAYS TO IMPLEMENT SOME NEW PROACTIVE MEASURES TO HELP US ON OUR FIRST ACCOUNTABILITY RATING IN THE FUTURE. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE OUR LEAD AUDITOR, SELENA CERECERES WITH US AND SHE WILL PRESENT ALL OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS LUDWIG, PRESIDENT LAMBERT, DOCTOR EVANS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AS MISS LUDWIG INDICATED, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 RESULTS.
AND, OF COURSE, THE PURPOSE OF THE AUDIT IS TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AS WELL ON AS ON YOUR MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND SO YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ONE OF THESE THREE OPINIONS.
IT TAKES QUITE A BIT, AND WE START THE PROCESS IN THE SUMMER TIME FRAME AND WE BEGIN OUR PLANNING SESSIONS TESTING INTERNAL CONTROLS, IDENTIFYING THOSE KEY CONTROLS AND THEN DETERMINING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF OUR SUBSTANTIVE TESTING, WHICH I'LL COVER IN IN A FEW SLIDES. ALL OF THAT WAS TO ISSUE THAT OPINION THAT WAS DATED JANUARY 23RD, 2025 LAST MONTH. AND OF COURSE, YOUR TEAM SUBMITTED IT TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, AS WELL AS TO THE FEDERAL AUDIT CLEARINGHOUSE, WHICH WAS THE LAST PROCESS, THE LAST STEP OF THE PROCESS, THE INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT WE FOCUSED ON, OF COURSE, THE BIG FOUR PAYROLL, NON PAYROLL PAYROLL AND HUMAN RESOURCES PROCUREMENT, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOCUSING ON ACCESS RIGHTS AS WELL AS YOUR TEAM'S SUBMISSION.
AND THEN ON IN OUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, WE ALSO HAVE TO TEST FEDERAL SPECIFIC TEST.
AND WE ALSO LOOK AT OTHER REVENUES. THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER.
[01:30:04]
PROCEDURES. THESE OCCUR AFTER THE DISTRICT CLOSES ITS BOOKS.AND SO WE PERFORMED THESE TESTS IN THE NOVEMBER 2024 TIME FRAME.
AND AS YOU MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, YOU WE BEGIN TO EXCUSE ME.
SORRY. MY ALARM. WE BEGIN TO GAIN MORE AUDIT EVIDENCE AS WE MOVED FORWARD.
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES ARE FINE, BUT THEY'RE NOT SUFFICIENT IN AN AUDIT.
AND WE HAD TO VOUCH CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS, LOOKING AT BANK STATEMENTS, LOOKING AT INVOICES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THIRD PARTY REPORTS SUCH AS THE TEXAS EDUCATION PAYMENT REPORT, THE COMPTROLLER'S PAYMENT LEDGER TO SUBSTANTIATE YOUR STATE AID PAYMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS ARE GAS, WE ALSO HAVE TO PERFORM OUR.
YOU SPENT $46.5 MILLION. YOU HAVE EARNED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WITH NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OVER INTERNAL CONTROLS FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING AND NO FINDINGS RELATED TO COMPLIANCE.
AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR PATIENCE, NOT JUST WITH THE FINANCE TEAM, BUT ALL AREAS IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE WE DO VISIT WITH OTHER FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER, YOUR FEDERAL AWARDS TOTALED $46.5 MILLION, AND WE HAVE TO PERFORM AUDIT PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THAT COMES FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
AND THOSE REGULATIONS ARE TWO CFR 200. THE MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS THIS YEAR THAT WE SELECTED WERE SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER AND ALL OF THE ESSER FUNDS, ESSER THREE T-CLASS AND THE HOME HOMELESS PORTIONS.
THOSE ARE LARGE PROGRAMS. AND OF COURSE, SINCE 2020 WE HAD ESSER IN THE MIX IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.
AND SO WITH THESE TWO PROGRAMS, WE OBTAINED 38% COVERAGE.
IF YOU WERE NOT A LOW RISK AUDITEE, WE'D HAVE TO TEST AT LEAST 40% OF YOUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AGAIN, TESTAMENT TO YOUR STRONG INTERNAL CONTROLS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING CAPABILITIES, YOU HAVE EARNED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION OVER EACH OF THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, WITH NO INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS RELATED TO EACH OF THE PROGRAMS. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET INTO THE GENERAL FUND SUMMARY? OKAY. YOU BEGAN FISCAL YEAR 2024 WITH $92.5 MILLION.
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES WERE $438 MILLION. YOUR TOTAL CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE BEFORE OTHER FINANCING RESOURCES WERE $5 MILLION, THAT EQUATES TO 1.1% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES. OTHER FINANCING RESOURCES IS JUST ACCOUNTING JARGON TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFSETTING MECHANISM WHEN YOU ENTER INTO SUBSCRIPTION BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARRANGEMENTS, OR SAMHITAS, AS WELL AS LEASES THAT TOTALED $2.8 MILLION.
BUT THE IMPORTANT NOTE THE REASON WE HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT IT IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT A CASH EVENT.
THE TOTAL ENDING FUND BALANCE AS OF 831 2024 WAS $100.46 MILLION.
ON THIS SLIDE ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF FUND BALANCE.
AND IT'S MADE UP OF PREPAID AND INVENTORY ASSET ITEMS ON YOUR BALANCE SHEET.
YOUR COMMITTED FUND BALANCE WAS AS A RESULT OF BOARD RESOLUTION.
[01:35:04]
COME. UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TOTALED $91.6 MILLION.AND WITH THIS SLIDE DOES ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS IT COMBINES THE ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
BECAUSE THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY LOOKS AT THESE TWO METRICS IN COMPARISON TO YOUR EXPENDITURES, TO LOOKS AT A MINIMUM, WHICH IS 30 DAYS AND A RECOMMENDED LEVEL AT 75 DAYS.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS LOOKING AT YOUR FUND BALANCE IN COMPARISON TO EXPENDITURES.
IF ALL REVENUES WERE TO CEASE, HOW LONG WOULD THAT FUND BALANCE LAST? WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S A GOOD MEASURE.
LOOKING AT THAT. SO THE DANGER ZONE ARE 30 DAYS WOULD BE IF FUND BALANCE WERE TO REACH A LEVEL OF $36 MILLION, AND YOUR EXPENDITURES WOULD CONTINUE AT $438 MILLION.
YOU'VE REACHED 81 DAYS, OR 22%, MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
SO THAT FIRST RATING IS SAFE. GOING INTO THE 2025 FIRST RATING, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS MADE UP OF 3 OR 2 ACTUALLY MAIN COMPONENTS. YOU HAVE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES AT $173.7 MILLION.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT STATE AID, THAT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL.
THE OTHER REVENUES INCLUDED IN THAT $33.8 MILLION IS MADE UP OF TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS.
YOU HAVE ABOUT $6.8 MILLION IN INTEREST INCOME.
IN ADDITION, YOU HAVE $22 MILLION WITHIN THAT $33.8 MILLION OF TRS ON BEHALF REVENUES.
THAT IS NOT CASH EITHER, BUT WE HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT IT.
AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THERE'S ALSO AN OFFSETTING EXPENDITURE FOR THE SAME AMOUNT.
SO IT'S A WASH TO YOUR FUND BALANCE. BUT WHAT THE STATE WANTS IS TO FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH IS TRS CONTRIBUTING ON BEHALF OF LCISD AND ALL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT THAT BOOK ENTRY AIMS TO DO.
THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES TOTALING $438.2 MILLION.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THE BULK OF THOSE EXPENDITURES ARE IN CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED SERVICES AT 62.4%.
WHAT I DID TO FOR DOCTOR NEVINS AND MANAGEMENT TEAM IS I LOOKED AT THE DISTRICT'S.
YOUR PEER DISTRICTS WITHIN REGION FOR THE 2023 DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR ME TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING, AND YOU RANK THE SECOND BEST OUT OF ALL OF THOSE REGION FOR DISTRICTS.
MEANING IF WE LOOK AT YOUR TWO POINT, IF WE LOOK AT YOUR GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SLICE OF THE PIE, THE PURPLE PIECE HERE, THE 2.4%, LAST YEAR IT WAS 2.3%, A SLIGHT INCREASE, BUT YOU STILL RANK SECOND RIGHT BEHIND, I BELIEVE, CLEAR CREEK ISD. THE INSTRUCTIONAL PORTION IS ALSO THE SECOND HIGHEST AND IT'S 100TH OF A PERCENTAGE IN SECOND PLACE. SO THAT'S THAT'S AN AWESOME JOB.
WE'LL SEE 4% IN GENERAL ADMIN. SO AGAIN, VERY LOW.
AND KUDOS TO MANAGING YOUR GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
HERE. YOU'LL SEE THE INCREASE IN FROM PRIOR YEAR TO CURRENT YEAR.
JUST IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU'LL SEE A 38.9% INCREASE, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT $30.8 MILLION IN PAYROLL COST INCREASING AND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR PAYROLL COSTS AND INSTRUCTION YOU HAD AN INCREASE OF $16 MILLION, AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT WAS IN IN PAYROLL COST AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, ABOUT 81% OF THAT INCREASE IS IN YOUR YOUR PAYROLL COSTS.
YOU'RE ASSIGNED AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. IS IS ALSO TRENDING POSITIVELY.
YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT AS YOUR EXPENDITURES ARE INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR, THAT FUND BALANCE IS MAINTAINED AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND TIA CONTINUES TO ASSESS YOUR ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN COMPARISON TO YOUR EXPENDITURES FOR FIRST RATING PURPOSES, AS WELL AS OTHER REGULATORY AGENCIES AND RATING AGENCIES AS YOU GO OUT TO SELL BONDS.
THE FINAL SLIDE FOR YOU TONIGHT IS LOOKING AT YOUR GOVERNMENT WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
[01:40:03]
BUT IT ALSO ADDS YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS, YOUR LONG LIVED ASSETS, AS WELL AS YOUR LONG TERM LIABILITIES.BUT HERE WE SEE A BALANCE SHEET OR THE NET WORTH OF A DISTRICT AS IF YOU WERE A CORPORATION.
REMEMBER THAT YOU ISSUED BONDS AND YOU HAVE $1.5 BILLION IN YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
THAT MAKES UP THAT 1.8 BILLION. AND THEN CAPITAL ASSETS IS 1.7 BILLION, WITH CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS, AS WELL AS YOUR BUILDINGS MAKING UP THE BULK OF THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO LIABILITIES, THE NET PENSION AND NET OPEB LIABILITIES AT 148 AND $58 MILLION.
YOU HAVE TWO NOTES OR TWO ASTERISKS HERE BY EACH OF THEM.
THE OPEB IS THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT LIABILITIES THAT'S ALSO SITTING AT TWO.
SO THOSE ARE THE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO RETIREES.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE PENSION IS THE PENSION FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE TRES SYSTEM.
AS MISS LUDWIG INDICATED AS WELL. YOU KNOW THIS, WHEN YOU ADD THESE TWO, YOU WILL HAVE A POSITIVE $38 MILLION IN IN YOUR NET POSITION WHEN TI DOES THEIR CALCULATION. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE EXERCISE.
WE DID THE WE PUT IT INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
BUT AGAIN WE THANK YOUR MANAGEMENT GOING THROUGH THE EXERCISE.
THERE WAS A NEW GASB STANDARD THAT ALLOWED YOU TO IDENTIFY GROUPS OF ASSETS THAT MAYBE INDIVIDUALLY DID NOT MEET THE CAPITAL PROJECT CAPITAL ASSET THRESHOLD, BUT IN THE AGGREGATE IT REPRESENTS A CAPITAL ASSET AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE USING BOND FUNDS.
IT COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME. SO WE WORKED THROUGH THAT WITH YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
AND SO EVEN WITHOUT THAT, THAT EXERCISE YOU WOULD BE OKAY.
BUT NOW YOU HAVE THAT CUSHION AS YOU MOVE THROUGH, THROUGH THE THE REMAINING YEARS TO COME.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. IT'S.
AN INCREDIBLY THOROUGH AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU. TRUSTEES.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE.
WE DID THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. TO OUR TO WILLIE PENN FOR DOING THAT.
[14. FUTURE CONSENT AGENDA]
YEAH. ITEM NUMBER 14 E 14 E. THAT'S DISCUSSION OF RFP. 12 DASH 20225 TB. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BASED DETECTION SYSTEMS. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. IT IS[15. CLOSED SESSION]
814 AT NIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 1551.072551.074 AND 551.082. THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL LAND ACQUISITION OR CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY.WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. IT IS 9:13 P.M..
WE HAVE A QUORUM. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE? MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED TERMINATION OF DAVID POLLARD'S EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AS MOOT, GIVEN HIS RESIGNATION OF EMPLOYMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION.
[01:45:03]
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE BOXER MAKES THE SECOND.TRUSTEE BRUNZELL MADE THAT MOTION. WE'LL NOW TAKE A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I. MOTION PASSES. ARE THERE ANY MORE MOTIONS? YES. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE RENEWAL AND OR EXTENSION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SURE. TRUSTEE MAKES A SECOND. WE WILL NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES.
SECRETARY WELCH MAKES THE MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE BOX MAKES A SECOND. WE NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. MOTION PASSES, AND I MOVE THAT.
THE BOARD APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S 2024 2025 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY VICE PRESIDENT. ALSO. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECRETARY BOX MAKES A SECOND. WE'LL NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. MOTION PASSES.
THE MEETING ADJOURNED. IT IS 9:15 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.