May 05, 2025 Special School Board Meeting

[00:00:04]

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:32 P.M..

[1. Call to order and establishment of a quorum ]

WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH SIX MEMBERS PRESENT. TRUSTEE HUBENAK IS ABSENT.

THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.

AND TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TRUSTEE BRUNZELL.

THIS WILL BE HER LAST BOARD MEETING WITH US. AND I PREPARED A STATEMENT I WANT TO READ TO YOU, THEN WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND PASS IT OVER TO YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.

SO TONIGHT WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO TRUSTEE MANDY BRUNZELL.

AS SHE COMPLETES HER EIGHTH AND FINAL YEAR OF SERVICE ON THE LAMAR CISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

HER TERM MAY BE ENDING, BUT THE MARK SHE LEAVES ON THIS DISTRICT WILL LAST FOR YEARS TO COME.

TRUSTEE BRUNZELL HAS BEEN MORE THAN A BOARD MEMBER.

SHE'S BEEN A SERVANT LEADER, A THOUGHTFUL ADVOCATE, AND A STEADY PRESENCE DURING TIMES OF CHANGE AND GROWTH.

AS A TRUSTEE, SECRETARY, VICE PRESIDENT, AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, SHE'S HELPED GUIDE US THROUGH CRITICAL DECISIONS WITH WISDOM, GRACE AND CLARITY, ALWAYS GROUNDED IN WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS.

BUT HER LEGACY STRETCHES BEYOND TITLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

SHE'S BEEN A VOICE OF BALANCE AND A LISTENER AND A BUILDER OF TRUST HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR DECADES.

HER QUIET STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO LEAD WITHOUT NEEDING THE SPOTLIGHT HAS EARNED HER THE RESPECT OF COLLEAGUES, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTY. AND BEHIND EVERY GREAT LEADER IS A IS A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

SO TO CHRIS, TY, CODY AND HANNAH, THANK YOU FOR WALKING THIS JOURNEY WITH HER.

HER YOUR SACRIFICES AND SUPPORT HAVE ALLOWED HER TO GIVE FULLY TO THIS WORK, AND WE KNOW THAT THE TIME SHE SPENT HERE WAS TIME BORROWED FROM YOU.

TRUSTEE SERVICE HAS BEEN MARKED BY COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND AN UNWAVERING BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY STUDENT.

SHE LEAVES THE DISTRICT BETTER THAN SHE FOUND IT.

SO ON BEHALF OF THIS BOARD, OUR LAMAR CISD TEAM, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THIS CHAPTER OF SERVICE MAY BE CLOSING, BUT THE STORY YOU'VE HELPED WRITE CONTINUES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ZACH LAMBERT, LET ME MAKE ME CRY.

I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING TO. YEAH. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE SOMETHING SHORT TO SAY.

I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR NIVENS AND FORMER SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR RANDALL.

I WANT TO THANK OUR FINE EDUCATORS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME EDUCATE THREE AMAZING CHILDREN THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL AND TALENTED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE THRIVING BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION THEY RECEIVED IN THIS DISTRICT. I CAN NEVER FULLY REPAY THAT DEBT FOR WHAT SO MANY OF YOU DID FOR MY OWN KIDS.

BUT I HOPE THAT MY YEARS OF SERVICE HERE GO TOWARDS PROVIDING THAT SAME CARE AND LOVE TOWARDS OTHER FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO DESERVE AND ENJOY THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS OF SUCCESS. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, GREAT JOY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO ANY OTHER TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO WISH ANYTHING? I'LL JUST I ALWAYS WHENEVER I FIRST STARTED RUNNING FOR THIS BOARD IN 2019, I USED TO.

I'M A LIFE. I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND WHEN I WOULD TALK ABOUT RUNNING OR ANYTHING IN ONE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES I'M AFFILIATED WITH, EVERYBODY I KNEW KNEW MANDY BRUNSELL, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY CONNECTED LEADER AND SHE AND I ACTUALLY WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER, AND SO WE WEREN'T THAT CLOSE THEN.

AND BUT GETTING REACQUAINTED WITH HER OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS HAS BEEN FUN.

AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED. WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES AND SOME GOOD LAUGHS, SO I ENJOY OUR TIME.

I ENJOY IT. WELL, I WAS INTRODUCED TO MANDY RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME I WAS GOING TO RUN THE FIRST TIME, AND I THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR WHERE YOU WERE LIVING, BUT I AFTER YOU MOVED, I RAN INTO YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER AT HOBBY LOBBY AND I SAID, DO YOU WANT TO COME ON? AND SHE SAYS, YEAH, I THINK I AM. I SAID, COME ON.

AND IT'S BEEN FOR THE, THE LAST WELL, EIGHT YEARS.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT. WE'VE DONE A LOT AND WE'VE HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF HARD DECISIONS.

BUT IT'S BEEN A JOY AND A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ON THIS BOARD.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, ARE WE, MANDY? YES. THANK YOU. MANDY. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR.

[00:05:05]

AND THEN YOU PRESIDING OVER LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS SUCH A BIG YEAR WITH SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REZONING.

I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND LIKE KAY SAID, I KNOW YOU'LL BE BACK.

YOU'LL BE AROUND. SO. YES. THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING.

WE'VE ONLY SERVED TWO YEARS TOGETHER, BUT THANK YOU.

AND MY KIDS HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR LONGER THAN THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. IT'S SO TO ENSURE.

WELL, WE'LL PRESENT YOU WITH THIS, AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW DOCTOR NIVEN TO SPEAK, SO TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL STAY AROUND AND YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THE DISTRICT HAS PREPARED A GIFT FOR YOU THAT WASN'T QUITE READY YET, BUT WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT WITH YOU A LIFETIME AMBASSADOR BADGE.

SO ALL THE EVENTS AND ALL THE THINGS AND ALL THE THEATER AND INQUIRE AND SPORTS AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE WILL WIN. YOU HAVE A LIFETIME AMBASSADOR PASS.

SO THIS IS YOURS. AND SO, DOCTOR NIVENS. WELL, MRS. BRUNZELL, THANK YOU. I WON'T, I WON'T, I WON'T BECAUSE I'LL CRY QUICKER THAN YOU.

SO BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE YOU SEEING SOMETHING IN ME TO TO VOTE FOR ME TO BECOME SUPERINTENDENT HERE.

AND THAT MEANS A LOT. AND OVER THE YEARS THE WAY WE OPERATE IS WE BECOME MORE THAN COLLEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GENUINE CARE FOR EACH OTHER PERSONALLY.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR CHECKING ON AND ASKING ABOUT MY KIDS AND CHECKING ON ME AS A PERSON.

AND YOU'LL BE MISSED. AND I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN. TRUSTEE. BRONZO. WE WILL NOW BEGIN.

[6.A. Consider approval of Lamar CISD Strategic Plan ]

MISS COLE-HAMILTON IS HERE, READY TO PRESENT THAT. IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO REHEAR THAT, OR IF THE BOARD WANTS TO TAKE AN ACTION, YOU CAN DO THAT EITHER WAY. SO I'LL WORK AT YOUR DISCRETION HOW YOU WANT TO LEAD THAT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION AGAIN, WE CAN DO THAT. IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION YOU CAN DO THAT. SO LET US KNOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED. TRUSTEES, DO WE LIKE TO HAVE THE MOTION OR HEAR, HEAR THE PRESENTATION? YEAH, LET'S HEAR THE PRESENTATION. LET'S GO. YEAH.

FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAKE, LET'S JUST SPEAK THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD EVENING.

ALL RIGHT, SO, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, LAST MONTH YOU ALL HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE WHERE THEY PRESENTED A DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THEY ALSO PROVIDED YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS.

AND SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO SHARE THE DRAFT COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN THAT WILL INCLUDE THE VALUES VISION MISSION AND PRIORITIES.

SO THE COMMITTEE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE VALUES.

AND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER THE VALUES THEY PRESENT FOR CONSIDERATION ARE ACCOUNTABILITY, BIG THINKING, COMPASSION, EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, AND JOY. NOW THE VISION STATEMENT TRUSTEES, YOU ALL CREATED THE VISION STATEMENT.

AND SO THE DRAFT VISION FOR CONSIDERATION. WE ARE A VALUES DRIVEN COMMUNITY WHERE INNOVATION THRIVES.

EXCELLENCE IS THE STANDARD IN EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO AN ELITE EDUCATION.

TRUSTEES, YOU ALSO CREATED THE MISSION, AND THE DRAFT MISSION FOR CONSIDERATION IS.

WE EQUIPPED EVERY STUDENT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO PURSUE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES, BOLDLY SHAPING FUTURES FILLED WITH PURPOSE, POSSIBILITY, AND IMPACT.

AND THEN LASTLY, TRUSTEES, THE COMMITTEE DID CREATE THE PRIORITIES.

THERE ARE FIVE PRIORITIES. PRIORITY NUMBER ONE ENHANCED STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES LAMAR CISD STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND SKILLS FOR LIFE THROUGH INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT CENTERED EXPERIENCES.

PRIORITY TWO SAFE LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

LAMAR CISD ENSURES SAFETY AND BELONGING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF BY ADDRESSING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. PRIORITY THREE STAFF QUALITY AND SUPPORT LAMAR CISD ATTRACTS AND RETAINS THE BEST STAFF THROUGH COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS.

PRIORITY NUMBER FOUR HOME AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS LAMAR CISD CULTIVATES LASTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS. AND PRIORITY FIVE ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS LAMAR CISD DRIVES CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH SERVANT LEADERSHIP, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL LEVELS.

TRUSTEES. THOSE ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.

CAN WE GO BACK? ON PRIORITY TWO. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFE LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

CAN WE MAYBE CONDENSE THE END OF THAT SENTENCE TO LIKE ADDRESSING PHYSICAL AND OVERALL WELLBEING?

[00:10:01]

YEAH. ADDRESSING OVERALL WELLBEING WHICH DESCRIBES THE WHOLE PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW. YEAH. WHAT DOES EVERYBODY THINK? CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHY OR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT? YEAH, I THINK IT'S INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THAT AND MAYBE MORE.

IT'S A PERSONAL PREFERENCE, I GUESS. YEAH. OKAY.

SO LAMAR CISD ENSURES SAFETY AND BELONGING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF BY ADDRESSING.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? PHYSICAL AND OVERALL WELL-BEING? YEAH. TRUSTEES. I MEAN, THIS IS A DRAFT FORM, AND I, I OBVIOUSLY RESPECT THE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE DID TO CRAFT THESE STATEMENTS.

BUT I THINK WE AS TRUSTEES HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDS ARE CONCISE AND ALIGNED WITH WHAT OUR GOALS ARE. SO I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

I MEAN, THAT ENCOMPASSES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY THEY PUT IT IN THERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS ESPECIALLY TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT AND WORK TOWARDS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH MORE OF OUR CHILDREN HAVING MORE ISSUES AND THAT WE'RE HAVING TO ADDRESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE SCHOOLS.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST SPELLING IT OUT MORE CONCISELY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S MY WHY. I THINK THEY PUT THOSE WORDS IN THERE.

THEY ARE POWERFUL WORDS. HAVING ATTENDED MOST OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE'S MEETINGS I WAS A FLY ON THE WALL.

I WASN'T PARTICIPATING VERY MUCH AT ALL. THERE WAS AN EMPHASIS ON WORD CHOICE, SPECIFICALLY BY MRS. COLE-HAMILTON. AND AND YOU GAVE A VERY POIGNANT EXAMPLE WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, ONE OF THE WORDS HE WAS GOING TO USE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. AND HE CHOSE ONE WORD OVER ANOTHER, AND IT MADE JUST A AND I REMEMBER YOU PRESENTING THAT LIKE THE SECOND TO LAST MEETING WHEN THEY WERE REALLY WRESTLING WITH THIS, WITH WITH THIS I'M OKAY WITH THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THE COMMITTEE'S WORK AND BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US ALREADY AND BECAUSE I, I THINK, I THINK IT KIND OF CAPTURES WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO.

I'M A LITTLE HESITANT AT THE LAST MOMENT TO MAKE A CHANGE OF, OF ONE SENTENCE FOR A DOCUMENT THAT'S GOING TO LAST AT A MINIMUM FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON IT. CAN WE HEAR ONE? YES. CAN YOU EXPAND ON PRIORITY TWO, PLEASE? AND WHAT SOME OF THE THOUGHTS WERE FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS ON I THINK.

SO ONE, ONE THING THAT THE COMMITTEE DID TALK ABOUT AS THEY WERE DEVELOPING AND WORKSHOPPING THE LANGUAGE FOR ALL THE PRIORITIES, WAS TO BE CONCISE, BUT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE INTENTION WAS.

AND SO THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT CONDENSING IT MORE, BUT BEING CLEAR ABOUT HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE STANDING ON AND SPELLING OUT.

SO I DO THINK IT WAS INTENTIONAL WHEN THE COMMITTEE DID SPELL OUT PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING.

I THINK, MISS DANZIGER, YOU BROUGHT UP A POINT THAT THERE WAS SOME INTENTIONAL STEPS IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO REALLY FLESH OUT WHAT MENTAL SUPPORT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS WE ENGAGED IN AND THE COMMUNITY STILL WANT TO HOLD TRUE TO TRUE TO SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT HOW I WOULD WORD IT, BUT I AGREE WITH JOHN THAT WE SHOULD, AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST HONOR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID ALREADY BECAUSE IT IS A LAST MINUTE CHANGE.

SO. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY MORE DISCUSSION FROM THE TABLE? ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEES, WE CAN NOW TAKE ACTION ON IT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE THE LAMAR CISD STRATEGIC PLAN AS PRESENTED.

[00:15:03]

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE DANZIGER MAKES A SECOND.

NOW, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? I'M JUST GOING TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS VIDEO IN THE FUTURE.

GOING BACK TO THIS POINT, BECAUSE THIS DOCUMENT IS GOING TO LIVE FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN IS PRESENTED, THAT THAT MANY OF US ON THE BOARD HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

AND I REALLY FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF OWNERSHIP WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE VERBIAGE AND EVERYTHING.

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN GOING FORWARD, AND I THINK IT REALLY SETS US UP FOR SUCCESS AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATED, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO JG CONSULTING, TO ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS WE'VE HAD JUST TO GET THIS VERBIAGE ON A ON A PIECE OF PAPER OR ON A SCREEN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. AND TO ECHO WHAT SECRETARY WELCH JUST SAID THAT THIS PLAN IS SOMETHING HOW WE'RE GOING TO LIVE AND GO FORWARD WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

SO FROM ALL OF OUR ASSESSMENTS AND FROM GOALS FROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES DOWN TO CAMPUS, GOALS WILL BE VERTICALLY ALIGNED TO, TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY STAFF BUSINESS LEADERS, ALL THAT THEY WORK TIRELESSLY AND HAD SOME GREAT DISCUSSIONS IN THIS AROUND THIS.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. THAT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. NONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, DOCTOR NIVENS WILL MOVE ON TO SIX B, WHICH IS A CONSIDERABLE APPROVAL OF STAFF SALARIES AND TEACHER HIRING SCHEDULE FOR THE

[6.B. Consider approval of staff salaries and teacher hiring schedule for 2025-2026, and other budgetary items ]

SO, MISS LUDWICK, WILL OUR CFO WILL GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. DOCTOR NIVENS, THIS EVENING, I WILL COVER SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE 20 2526 BUDGET AND IN ADVANCE OF PRESENTING A RECOMMENDATION FOR STAFF SALARIES FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO, AS I SAID, WE WILL GO THROUGH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES AND THEN ALSO SALARY INCREASES MAINLY THE FIRST FEW SLIDES ARE A REVIEW OF SOME INFORMATION WE PROVIDED LAST MONTH ON SOME OPTIONS, AND ALL OF THESE OPTIONS ARE ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN OUR EXPENDITURE BUDGET AT THIS TIME. THE FIRST OPTION IS REGARDING INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE PAY.

IF YOU'LL RECALL THIS TABLE GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THE PAY GRADE TABLE, THE PAY GRADES, THE PAY GRADE LEVELS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PAY GRADE TABLE.

AND THEN THE SECOND COLUMN IS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THOSE ROLES RIGHT NOW.

THE THIRD COLUMN ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE TO COME INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMPARISON DISTRICTS.

THE NEXT COLUMN IS THE 3% OF MIDPOINT RAISE ESTIMATE FOR EACH OF THOSE PAY GRADES.

ONCE WE DID GET TO THE COMPARISON LEVELS AND THEN THE ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL INCREASE PER EMPLOYEE IF WE IMPLEMENTED BOTH OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND THEN THE ESTIMATED TOTAL BUDGET IMPACT.

SO TAKING EXAMPLE PAY GRADE ONE, THERE'S 196 EMPLOYEES THERE.

AND TO ALIGN ALL OF PAY GRADE ONE WITH OUR COMPARISON DISTRICTS, IT WOULD COST 553 52 THREE $553.52. IN ORDER TO GET THERE AND THEN A 3% OF MIDPOINT PAY INCREASE PER YEAR WOULD BE 803.56. SO THAT TOTAL IS $1,357.08 PER YEAR.

AND IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE 196 EMPLOYEES ON THAT PAY GRADE, YOU'RE AT ABOUT $266,000.

SO ONCE YOU ADD ALL FOUR PAY GRADES TOGETHER, THAT TOTAL BUDGET IMPACT IS $1.445 MILLION.

THAT BEING SAID, THE $1.445 MILLION IS IN THE THIRD COLUMN FROM THE LEFT HERE AGAIN.

AND THEN WITH THE RAISE THE 3% RAISE THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

THIS PROPOSAL WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $908,000, ROUGHLY.

[00:20:04]

SO LET'S STOP. LET'S STOP AT EACH OPTION TO ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS.

OKAY. SO IN THE WHERE IT SAYS 3% PAY INCREASE DIDN'T ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, DIDN'T YOU ALREADY DO THAT. YOU BROUGHT THEM UP TO COMPARISON DISTRICT AND THEN ADDED THE 3.8%.

YES. SO I WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. SO TO ALIGN OUR PAY GRADE TABLES WITH THE COMPARISON DISTRICTS, WE WOULD NEED TO DO THE COLUMN WITH THAT'S ENTITLED ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO ALIGN WITH MIDPOINT OF COMPARISON DISTRICTS.

THEN ONCE WE WERE AT THAT MIDPOINT, IF WE APPLIED A 3% PAY INCREASE, IT WOULD COST THE ADDITIONAL $803.

AND THEN THE THE COMBINED TOTAL OF THOSE TWO COLUMNS IS $1,357.

AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY THE 196 EMPLOYEES GIVES YOU THE 266.

SO THE TOTAL COST OF THAT INCREASE, ALL THE RAISES AND THE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE THE 1.4 MILLION.

AND THEN I THINK WHERE THE CONFUSION MAY COME IN IS THAT THE $536,621, ROUGHLY IS ALREADY IN OUR BUDGET, AND THAT'S A 3% OF MIDPOINT AT OUR CURRENT THE WAY WE CURRENTLY DO RAISE ADJUSTMENTS.

SO THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE NUMBERS PRIOR TO THIS PROPOSAL.

SO THE ADDITIONAL COST IS 908,000. WHEN YOU SAY COMPARISON DISTRICTS, THE ONES WITHIN OUR REACH OR WITHIN WITHIN OUR AREA, WITHIN OUR AREA, NOT LOOKING AT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF OUR SIZE, JUST IN OUR GEOGRAPHIC AREA, OKAY. WHICH THEY'RE COMPARABLE IN SIZE TO, YOU KNOW, IN GROWTH RATE.

WHERE ARE NOW. YEAH. IT'S LIKE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE EMPLOYED IN THE DISTRICT LOOKING AT THIS CHART OFFHAND, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO GO LOOK AND LOOK IT UP RIGHT NOW. WHO ARE THE FOLKS IN THE PAY GRADE? ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR? DO YOU HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN IN YOUR HEAD? WE DO. I THINK YVONNE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO IT QUICKER THAN I CAN.

MANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE CLASSROOM AIDES.

SO PAY GRADE ONE WOULD INCLUDE AIDES FOR BILINGUAL ESL.

COMPENSATORY, INNOVATIVE SCHOOL DAY PHYSICAL EDUCATION PRE-K PROJECT LEARN PAY GRADE TWO WOULD BE COMPUTER LAB AID, CREDIT RESTORATION, KEYBOARDING, SPECIAL ED RESOURCE, AND INCLUSION PAY.

GRADE THREE WOULD INCLUDE AID FOR ELC, SPECIAL SITES, COMPLIANCE ACADEMIC PROGRAM, EARLY CHILDHOOD IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION RESET PROGRAM, CSC TRANSITION PROGRAM, STRUCTURED LEARNING CLASSROOM.

THEN PAY GRADE FOUR WOULD BE AIDE, THE BRAILLE POWERPOINT SPED INTERVENER, AND REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN.

CAN YOU GO BACK? JUST ONE SLIDE. THERE YOU GO.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

READY? OKAY. THE SECOND OPTION OR ALLOWANCE THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AND HERE WE LOOKED AT TRAINING AND OBSERVATION IN ORDER TO BUILD SKILLS FOR THE SUBSTITUTES THAT ARE SERVING SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOMS. SO IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE WERE GOING TO PROVIDE TEN PAID DAYS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING AND THEN FIVE PAID DAYS OF OBSERVATION.

THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE 100 SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM SUBSTITUTES, AND THE BUDGET IMPACT IS $187,500, 125,000 OF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAID FOR WITHIN THE CURRENT 20 2425 BUDGET.

AND WE WOULD HAVE PAID TRAINING DAYS AT $125 PER DAY.

TEN DAYS. AND WITH 100 SUBS, THAT WOULD BE A COST OF 125,000.

THEN THE OBSERVATION DAYS WOULD OCCUR IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND THAT WOULD BE $125 A DAY ALSO.

AND SO THAT COST WOULD BE 62,500. THE NEXT AREA WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS TO INCREASE THE SELF-CONTAINED SUBSTITUTE RATE.

AND THE COST OF THAT WOULD BE $220,500. IT WOULD BE $35 A DAY FOR THE 12 LEAVE DAYS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED.

[00:25:03]

AND YOU'LL SEE OUR CURRENT RATE IN THE TABLE IS $90 FOR NON-DEGREED, $105 FOR DEGREED, AND $120 FOR CERTIFIED.

AND WE WOULD INCREASE EACH OF THOSE BY $35. SO YOU'LL SEE THE NEW RATES IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN 125 140 AND 155.

THEN THE NEXT PROPOSAL IS TO ADD WELLNESS DAYS IN THE SELF-CONTAINED SETTING.

WE WOULD PROVIDE TWO MORE DAYS. THEY'RE GETTING ONE DAY RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, TWO DAYS RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY'D END UP WITH FOUR DAYS FOR WELLNESS DAYS.

THE ESTIMATED COST OF THAT IS $147,000. SO BACK TO THIS TABLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGREED RATE, THE NEW RATE OF $140 WE WOULD USE TO COMPUTE THIS 140 TIMES TWO DAYS, AND THE 525 EMPLOYEES GETS TO THE 147,000. AND SO IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER THOSE.

THEN THE NEXT FEW THINGS, WE HAVE A FEW MORE ITEMS ON OUR TO DO LIST WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE RATES OF PAY FOR REGULAR SUBS.

AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT AN ANALYSIS SIMILAR TO THE COMPARISON DISTRICTS THAT WE LOOKED AT BEFORE.

AND WE'LL PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR REVENUE GENERATION MAINLY FACILITY RENTALS AND HOW WE CAN TWEAK THAT PROCESS.

AND WE'LL ALSO PROVIDE THAT TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

JUST ONE SECOND. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON OPTION TWO? WE TALKED ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTES AND THE WELLNESS DAYS.

A COUPLE THINGS. I JUST REAL QUICK. DO OUR TEACHERS OR OUR EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WELLNESS DAYS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, THERE WERE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO BE OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOM.

I WAS ONE OF THEM. ALL RIGHT. AND I GUESS THIS WILL BE FOR LATER.

BUT HAVE WE BEEN? AND I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DO THAT TODAY.

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO START TWEAKING DOWN AND FINDING MORE MONEY FOR THE BUDGET SO THAT WE WON'T? IT'LL GET BETTER AS THE SUMMER GOES ON. YES, WE DO HAVE SOME CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES ON THE REVENUE SIDE, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE PROPERTY VALUE ESTIMATES IN THE IN THAT MODEL.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WE CAN STILL ANALYZE MORE CLOSELY AND FIND SOME SAVINGS. IN ADDITION, LOOKING AT THE TEN MONTH PERIOD VERSUS THE 12 MONTH PERIOD, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME SAVINGS THERE AS WELL. OKAY. JUST SEE.

AND THEN ALSO YOU MENTIONED MAYBE CHANGING HOW WE DO RENTALS.

YES. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING? BECAUSE REMEMBER WE DID KIND OF VAGUELY TALK ABOUT THAT, ABOUT MAKING THOSE CHANGES.

WOULD IT? I MEAN, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO DO THAT, YOU CAN.

THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD'S WILL. I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH BEFORE IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED, FOR SURE, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A CHANGE IN POLICY, WOULDN'T IT? NOT ALL THE WAY. BUT IF THE BOARD WANTS TO, YOU CAN.

I MEAN, WE CAN BRING THAT TO THE BOARD AND THEN WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE TO DO, WHAT YOU CAN DO. I'D JUST LIKE TO MAYBE SEE IT IN THE NEXT. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. OKAY. SO HERE ARE THE UPDATED BUDGET ESTIMATES SINCE LAST MONTH.

THERE WERE REALLY NO CHANGES IN THE REVENUE ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME.

SO WE HAVE ESTIMATED 506.9 MILLION ON THE REVENUE SIDE.

AND THEN WE'RE AT 510.2 MILLION ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

SO WHERE WE WERE AT 5 MILLION DEFICIT LAST TIME, WE'RE AT 3 MILLION THIS TIME.

SO WE'RE GETTING THERE CRANKING IT DOWN. YEAH, I STILL WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY WE'RE STILL AT A $3.3 MILLION DEFICIT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HEARS THAT WE'RE STILL WE'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT WE ARE STILL AT A $3.3 MILLION DEFICIT.

AND WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS THE DEFICIT IS COMING OUR WAY. RIGHT. IT HASN'T HIT US YET, BUT IT'S HERE, SO WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

OKAY, SO THE OUR GOAL TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND SALARY INCREASES AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR THIS FOR THIS NEXT 25, 26 BUDGET YEAR. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THESE ADJUSTMENTS THAT I WENT THROUGH ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

THAT WILL WE WILL BE RECOMMENDING. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A STARTING TEACHER SALARY FOR NEXT YEAR OF 65,700.

[00:30:07]

AND I'LL SHOW YOU A SIDE BY SIDE OF THE TABLE IN A MOMENT.

AND THEN ALL OTHER STAFF WILL RECEIVE A 3% OF MIDPOINT RAISE.

AND AS I SAID, THE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS AS OPTIONS ARE IN THERE AS LUDWIG EARLIER THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHO ALL IS ON THE TEACHER PAY SCALE? YES. IF YOU HAD THAT INFORMATION, CAN YOU SHARE THAT NOW OR MISS MISS DAWSON? YES, SHE'S GOT THAT LIST. OKAY. IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL PUT THAT TABLE UP SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE THE MIDDLE COLUMN SHOWS THE 2425 SALARIES AND THEN THE 2526 FOR THE BACHELOR'S AREA OR ON THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN. AND THE WAY YOU LOOK AT OR SEE THE $2,000 RAISE IS IF YOU'RE AT ZERO YEARS EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR, YOU'RE MAKING 64,100, AND NEXT YEAR YOU WILL BE ON STEP ONE AND BE AT 66,100.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE $2,000 INCREASE WHEN YOU MOVE FROM ONE STEP TO THE NEXT.

SO EVERYONE THAT'S ON THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE IS ACCELERATED.

ACCELERATED LANGUAGE PROGRAM FACILITATOR. ART SPECIALIST, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ATHLETIC TRAINERS, BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONISTS, COUNSELORS, DIAGNOSTICIANS DYSLEXIA SPECIALISTS, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS, FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST, GT FACILITATORS, HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRARS, INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATORS, CAMPUS AND INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES.

INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS FOR SPECIAL ED INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, LIBRARIANS, FACILITATORS, NURSES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, PRE-K COMPLIANCE FACILITATORS, PROJECT LEARN SPECIALISTS, ROTC INSTRUCTORS, SHELTERED INSTRUCTION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, TESTING COORDINATORS, AND TRANSITION SPECIALISTS AND THIS SITE CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE UNDER 2425 COMPENSATION PLAN. THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VERY CLEAR. GO BACK TO THE SLIDE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT. SO IF I HAVE IF I'M A FIRST YEAR TEACHER, I HAVE ZERO ZERO YEARS EXPERIENCE THIS.

THIS YEAR I'M MAKING 64 ONE PUT MY GLASSES ON.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR I'LL BE ON STEP ONE. AND SO NEXT YEAR ON STEP ONE I'LL BE MAKING 66 ONE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEES, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS BEYOND THAT? AND IN PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TIA, WHICH IS A TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT, THAT THIS NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE OUR INVESTIGATIVE YEAR.

THAT WILL BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT IN PROCESS, NOT IN STEP YET.

THIS IS NOT THEIR THERE. CORRECT. AND AND THESE NUMBERS ARE WITH CURRENT LAW.

AND SO IF THE IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT THE END OF THIS SESSION, THEN THOSE NUMBERS WILL REFLECT LATER.

BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW ARE UNDER THE CURRENT LAW AND THE CURRENT STATE STATUTES OF EVERYTHING WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE.

SO THE INCREASE OF BASIC ALLOTMENT COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THOSE NUMBERS GIVEN THAT'S WHAT IF THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OR ANYTHING THE STATE LEGISLATORS SAY THAT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO. SO THAT IS NOT REFLECTED BASED OFF OF RUMOR YET.

CORRECT? JUST TO BE CLEAR. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. SO IT WAS PRESENTED AS OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO.

ARE WE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AN OPTION OR NO.

THESE ARE JUST THE PRESENTED THINGS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED AND PROPOSED.

THOSE ARE INCLUDED IN OUR EXPENDITURE BUDGET CURRENTLY.

OKAY OKAY. AND SO WHAT WE'RE MAKING A MOTION ON TONIGHT IS THE TEACHER SALARY AND THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE MEETINGS COMING UP WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET AND BE VOTING ON THE OVERALL BUDGET, BUT WE WANTED TO PUT OUT THE TEACHING SALARY.

NOW WE'RE JUST VOTING ON THAT LAST CHART. WE'RE NOT VOTING ON INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS.

ARE WE VOTING YES. THAT'S PART OF SALARY. YES.

OKAY. BUT THERE WAS A SLIDE. THERE WAS A SLIDE, I INTERRUPTED MISS LUDWIG.

THERE WAS A SLIDE ABOUT THE. WHAT? THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ASKED US TO GO TO START RESEARCHING MORE OF.

IS THAT IN HERE, JILL? YES. I INTERRUPTED YOU WHILE WE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT HERE.

NO. SORRY. RIGHT THERE. YES. TO DO THIS? YES, SIR.

[00:35:06]

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE REVENUE GENERATION OPTIONS.

I'M SURE THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL THAT MIGHT COME UP.

ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEES, MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE STAFF SALARIES AND THE TEACHER HIRING SCHEDULE FOR THE 2025, 20, 26 YEAR AND OTHER BUDGETARY ITEMS AS NECESSARY.

VICE PRESIDENT HUTZEL MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE BOX MAKES THE SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. THE MOTION PASSES.

WE'LL NOW HAVE REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE INFORMATION ITEMS, WHICH IS ME OF.

[7. INFORMATION ITEMS ]

SO UNDER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ROLE COMPLETING REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION.

YEAR OF SERVICE IS A BASIC OBLIGATION AND EXPECTATION OF ANY BOARD MEMBER.

AS BOARD PRESIDENT, I AM REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF EACH MEMBER WHO HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION HAS EXCEEDED THE REQUIRING CONTINUING EDUCATION AND IS DEFICIENT IN MEETING THE REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION.

AS BOARD PRESIDENT, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE ALL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED TO READ THESE OUT LOUD SO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS. FOLLOWS.

EXCUSE ME. SUZANNE. BOX 32.5 HOURS. MANDY BRONZELL 21 HOURS.

KATE DANZINGER 39.5 HOURS. JACKIE HUTSELL 32.25 HOURS.

JOE HUBENAK 14 HOURS. ZACH LAMBERT 39 HOURS. JOHN WELCH 31.25 HOURS.

ANY DISCUSSION QUESTION HERE. ALL RIGHT. IT IS.

IT IS 609. WE ARE ADJOURNING TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.071551.072551.074

[9. CLOSED SESSION ]

WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. IT IS 6:55 P.M..

WE HAVE A QUORUM. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE? YES, SIR. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO ACCEPT AND ADOPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR PROPOSED ACTION TO GIVE NOTICE OF PROPOSED TERMINATION TO EMPLOYEE FARRAH HARKRIDER. WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE BRUNZELL MAKES A MOTION.

TRUSTEE DANZINGER MAKES A SECOND. WE NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. NONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 6:56 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.