Jun 09, 2026 Regular School Board Meeting

[00:00:03]

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M..

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

WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO OBSERVE AS YOU FEEL APPROPRIATE.

PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG LED BY KAMILAH MORALES, A SIXTH GRADER AT NAVARRO 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 THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

GOOD JOB. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.

[3. Recognitions/awards]

TONIGHT'S RECOGNITIONS HIGHLIGHT EXCELLENCE ACROSS OUR DISTRICTS AND ATHLETICS, AND WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE STATE LEVEL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CHAMPIONSHIPS, HONORS AND THE STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE AN EXCEPTIONAL GROUP OF STUDENT ATHLETES WHO REPRESENTED RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL.

LAMAR CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL AND LAMAR CISD WITH DISTINCTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

FIRST, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR ADAM ROMAN, WHO HAS MADE PROGRAM AND DISTRICT HISTORY BOTH ON AND OFF THE TENNIS COURT.

NOW ADAM, WHO'S ACTUALLY COMPETING THIS WEEK, SO HE'S NOT HERE WITH US TONIGHT, BECAME THE FIRST RANDALL STUDENT EVER TO QUALIFY FOR THE UIL STATE TENNIS TOURNAMENT. HIS SEASON WAS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE, CAPTURING BOTH THE U.

IL225, A DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE REGION THREE FIVE A CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETING AGAINST THE BEST IN THE STATE.

ADAM FINISHED THIRD OVERALL, EARNING STATE MEDALIST HONORS.

HE IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH CC SOLANO AND ASSISTANT CHRIS THOMAS IN TRACK AND FIELD.

LAMAR ISD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRESENCE AT OUR TRACK MEETS, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE DEMONSTRATED A STRONG SHOWING THIS SPRING AT STATE IN THE FIVE A GIRLS TRIPLE JUMP. EGYPT TYLER OF RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL EARNED A BRONZE MEDAL, FINISHING THIRD WITH A JUMP OF 40FT, 3.25IN. SHE IS COACHED BY RAQUEL MCNEILL AND TAYLOR RAMBO AND EGYPT JUST NARROWLY MISSED SECOND PLACE BY TWO INCHES.

ON.

THE RANDALL BOYS FOUR BY TWO METER RELAY TEAM.

DONOVAN MCWILLIAMS, JALEN BURTON, JASON SMITH AND MALACHI OLATERU OLAGBEGI.

OLAGBEGI DELIVERED AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, FINISHING THIRD IN THE STATE.

WITH A TIME OF 12557. THIS TEAM IS COACHED BY KERRY WRIGHT AND PRESTON RAMBO.

AND IN THE FIVE EIGHT GIRLS DISCUS, BRIE LARSON OF LAMAR CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL ENTERED AS THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION AND IN DRAMATIC FASHION, SHE SECURED THE TITLE ONCE AGAIN ON HER FINAL THROW, REACHING 157FT TEN INCHES TO WIN BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

BRIELLE IS COACHED BY TOMMY GRAINGER AND MICHELLE CANNON.

[00:05:10]

IF YOU'RE A PARENT OR FAMILY MEMBER OF AN ATHLETE, PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. THAT'S ALL THE RECOGNITIONS I HAVE THIS EVENING.

ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEES, WE WILL NOW HAVE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND SHOUT OUTS.

[5. Board members' reports]

I'D LIKE TO. GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND ABOUT THIS FANTASTIC TEAM OF PEOPLE IS THAT IN A IN A BASKETBALL GAME OR A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU DON'T NOTICE THE REFEREES UNLESS THEY DON'T DO THEIR JOB.

THAT'S THE WAY THAT'S THE WAY THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT APPEALS TO ME IS THAT THEY DO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

THEY DO SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB BEHIND THE SCENES PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE FANTASTIC EVENTS THAT WE THAT ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT COME TO MIND AND ONE, IN FACT, THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED WAS THE CONFRONTATION, WHICH I THINK WAS A FANTASTIC SUCCESS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND AT THE GATE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY NICE TO HEAR SO MANY STAFF MEMBERS EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THAT EVENT.

SO, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE EDUCATORS WHO HAD SO MUCH VALUE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FEEL VERY SPECIAL AND APPRECIATED. SOME OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT COME TO MIND ARE, OF COURSE, THE BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY, THE NEW STAFF STAMPEDE, AND THE CONVOCATION THAT THIS DEPARTMENT CONSISTENTLY DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB.

OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT MISS SONIA COLE-HAMILTON AND EVERYONE THAT THAT WORKS FOR HER JUST CONTINUALLY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

AND. AND WHAT IMPRESSES ME SO MUCH ABOUT THIS FANTASTIC TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS IS NOT JUST THE TALENT AND THE SKILL THEY BRING, BUT THEIR ATTITUDE. I MEAN, THEY'RE FANTASTIC ABOUT MAINTAINING A VERY POSITIVE, VERY GOOD ATTITUDE.

AND THAT THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES EVERYTHING SPECIAL.

ANYBODY WHO'S EVER BEEN AROUND EVENT PLANNING KNOWS THAT EVENTS DON'T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE TO BE BAD DAYS IN THE PROCESS, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEHAVE AS THOUGH THEY'RE HAVING A BAD DAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOUR TEAM AND, AND TO ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU HOLD BECAUSE IT, IT MAKES OUR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE DISTRICT FEELS SPECIAL AND APPRECIATED, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL.

YES, FOR MINE, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A PUBLIC SHOUT OUT ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MISS JAMIE VINCENT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT SHE'S IN OUR TALENT DEVELOPMENT IN HR.

AND ON JUNE 1ST SHE WENT AND SPOKE AND TESTIFIED AT THE STATE EDUCATION, THE PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING THERE.

AND SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB JUST TELLING THE STATE OF LAMAR, SEE ISD AND OUR GROWTH.

AND WHEN A LOT OF THE OTHER PEOPLE TESTIFYING WERE TESTIFYING ABOUT ISSUES OF CLOSING SCHOOLS AND BUDGETS, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT OUR GROWTH AND ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE LAMAR.

BUT AT THE END OF HER MOMENT OF WHERE SHE WAS TESTIFYING, A LOT OF THE STATE REPS UP ON THE THE PANEL AND THE DAIS THERE CAME TO JAMIE TO ASK HER QUESTIONS. AND SO SHE DID A GREAT JOB ANSWERING IT.

AND SO TO, TO GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT FOR THAT, BUT THEN ALSO FOR ALL OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES AND STAKEHOLDERS AND PARENTS AND PEOPLE, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE SPEAKING UP AND ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC ED LIKE MISS JAMIE VINCENT DID ON JUNE 1ST.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT EXAMPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW TO DO THAT.

[00:10:15]

ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR BOARD SHOUT OUTS ARE BEFORE BECAUSE Y'ALL ALWAYS SAY WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. BUT SO I'LL JUST THIS IS LESS OF A SHOUT OUT AND JUST REALLY FOR THE PUBLIC WHO'S WATCHING ONLINE.

I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T SAY WE ARE BROADCASTING LIVE FROM OUR NEW ADMIN BUILDING, OUR NEW DAIS.

IT DOES SEEM VERY FANCY. I FEEL LIKE THIS BOARD COULD GOVERN FROM ANYWHERE, EVEN COSTCO TABLES LIKE WE USED TO AT BRAZOS CROSSING.

BUT THIS BUILDING HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED. THIS IS OUR FIRST REGULAR BOARD MEETING HERE.

BEAR WITH US IF WE ARE, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING WRONG.

BUT THIS IS ALSO WHERE OUR NEW OUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION IS HOUSED, EXCEPT FOR POLICE AND I.T.

WHO ARE STAYING AT BRAZOS CROSSING. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND THE DID I SAY THE VOTERS APPROVED IT IN THE 2020 222 BOND. SO WE'RE GROWING DISTRICT. IT WAS NEEDED.

IT IS NOT THE TAJ MAHAL BY ANY MEANS, BUT IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT'LL BE GOOD FOR OUR DISTRICT AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ARE THERE ANY BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS? NO. ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR EVANS, IS THERE A SUPERINTENDENT REPORT?

[7. Superintendent's report]

AND SO YES, WE ARE IN OUR BRAND NEW BOARDROOM, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY BOND OFFICE, MY BPO, BPO OFFICE. IF ALL EVERYBODY THAT DEALS WITH THE BOND, PLEASE STAND UP.

BOND OFFICE. PLEASE STAND UP. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THESE, THESE THESE, THESE STAFF MEMBERS WORKED TIRELESSLY AND THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND I CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THEM. AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WE'VE OPENED FIVE CAMPUSES IN THE SAME YEAR WITHOUT A HICCUP PUBLICLY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HICCUPS IN THE BACK. BUT THEY DO A GREAT JOB LED BY MR. MCKEEVER. AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN LA FORCE ISD.

AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GORGEOUS BUILDING AND ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE GOING TO OPEN AND BEEN OPENING.

SO THANK YOU GUYS. OKAY. MISS JOHNSON, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE 2026 2027 FISCAL SCHOOL YEAR AT 6:43

[9.A. Budget and proposed tax rate for 2026-2027 fiscal year]

TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORTH A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED BUDGET TAX RATE FOR THE 2627 FISCAL YEAR.

WE DO HAVE A BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOARD PRESIDENT JACKIE HARTZELL, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT JOHN WELCH AND BOARD SECRETARY SUZANNE BOX AT THE TIME.

WE HAD TWO MEETINGS ON APRIL 2ND AND APRIL THE 29TH, WE DISCUSSED OUR PROPERTY VALUES, THE GENERAL FUND, THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND, AND THE DEBT SERVICES FUND.

SO OUR PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROPERTY GROWTH OF 4.49% BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY VALUES CERTIFIED VALUES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OUR CAD AND THE LOW DEMOGRAPHIC ENROLLMENT OF 50,307 STUDENTS. BASED ON THAT, BOTH OUR FEDERAL AND OUR LOCAL REVENUES ADD UP TO BE $572.2 MILLION.

OUR EXPENDITURES WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN THIS WAY IN PAYROLL, CONTRACTED SERVICES, SUPPLIES.

MISCELLANEOUS. FOR A TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 50 $572.2 MILLION.

SO THERE IS A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.

85% OF THAT IS PAYROLL, 9% CONTRACTED SERVICES, 4% SUPPLIES, 2% MISCELLANEOUS.

THE BOARD ALSO HAS RECOMMENDED A 3% OFF MIDPOINT RAISE FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR, WITH AN ADDITIONAL $10 A DAY FOR EVERY RETIRED CERTIFIED SUBSTITUTE THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

THIS IS OUR 2627 PROPOSED TEACHER PAY SCALE. SO A GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE. AT THE END OF AUGUST OF 2025, WE HAD $95.97 MILLION IN OUR FUND BALANCE.

[00:15:08]

BOARD MAJORITY OF THAT IS DUE TO OUR TEN MONTH BUDGET CYCLE, SO THE 2526 BUDGET WAS A TEN MONTH EXPENDITURE CYCLE WITH A 12 MONTH REVENUE.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE COMING OFF OF THAT BUDGET, GOING INTO FUND BALANCE WITH A BALANCED BUDGET FOR 2627, OUR FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE WITH THIS BUDGET IN JUNE OF 2027 OF $106.5 $6.5 MILLION.

ON THE RIGHT, WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE METER. OUR BOARD POLICY HAS A PROJECTED RECOMMENDED FUND BALANCE OF 12.5 TO 25% OF OUR ANNUAL EXPENDITURES TO BE IN OUR FUND BALANCE. WITH THIS BUDGET, WE'LL BE AT 18.6% WITH WITHIN THE BOARD POLICY RANGE.

THE NEXT ONE IS OUR CHILD NUTRITION FUND PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE LOCAL AND FEDERAL REVENUES, MAKES UP $32.6 MILLION FOR REVENUES.

OUR EXPENDITURES ARE BROKEN DOWN BY PAYROLL CONTRACTED SERVICES, SUPPLIES.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR A TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF $35.3 MILLION.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE SUPPLIES ALSO INCLUDES FOOD.

SO BECAUSE OF CHILD NUTRITION, MAJORITY OF THEIR COST IS WITHIN FOOD PURCHASING AND GETTING IT READY TO BE DELIVERED TO OUR STUDENTS.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE BREAKDOWN, YOU HAVE A 42% FOR PAYROLL, 56% FOR SUPPLIES BOARD.

THAT IS A DEFICIT BUDGET. WE HAD A DEFICIT BUDGET FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH LOWERED OUR FUND BALANCE TO 9.46 MILLION.

THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT NOT ADDING TO OR SUBTRACTING FROM OUR FUND BALANCE FOR CHILD NUTRITION.

WITH THAT BUDGET PROPOSED FOR 2627, WE WOULD DRAW DOWN THEIR FUND BALANCE $2.7 MILLION, LEAVING IT AT $6.7 MILLION AT THE END OF JUNE OF 2027. AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUND BALANCE METER ON THE RIGHT, IT FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF OUR BOARD POLICY.

NEXT IS OUR DEBT SERVICES PROPOSED BUDGET. WE HAVE LOCAL AND STATE REVENUE FOR A TOTAL REVENUE OF $176.6 MILLION.

YOU HAVE OUR BOND PRINCIPAL INTEREST IN PAYMENTS OF THAT TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF $203 MILLION.

AGAIN, OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND BALANCE. WE HAD A DRAWDOWN OF 24, 26 OR 2425 SCHOOL YEAR OF $10 MILLION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING 80, BASICALLY $82.9 MILLION INTO OUR FUND BALANCE FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE A DEBT PAYMENT IN AUGUST OF OVER $100 MILLION.

SO EVEN THOUGH THAT IT SHOWS A PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH OF 142.2 MILLION 100, ROUGHLY OVER 100 MILLION OF THAT WILL BE PAID OUT IN AUGUST BECAUSE WE CHANGED OUR FISCAL YEAR.

SO WE HAVE TWO PROPOSED TAX RATE OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD.

AGAIN WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE IN AUGUST BOARD MEETING.

SO OUR FIRST PROPOSED OPTION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO THE GREEN SECTION IS OUR CURRENT TAX RATE.

SO OUR CURRENT TOTAL TAX RATE IS $1.14 .69. OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE BASED ON THE 4.49% GROWTH IS $1.13 .51 CENTS. SO BASED ON THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT RIGHT NOW, EVERY PENNY OF LEVY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR DISTRICT, WE GENERATE $2.9 MILLION IN LOCAL TAXES. SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU HAVE YOUR AVERAGE HOME VALUE OF $424,000? ONCE YOU TAKE OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND YOUR TAXABLE VALUES EQUALS 202 02,840.65 TAXABLE UNITS, WHEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT TIMES OUR CURRENT TAX RATE, THE ANNUAL COST PER HOMEOWNER IS $3,257.94. WITH OPTION ONE PROPOSED TAX RATE, THEY WOULD OWE $3,224.42 ANNUALLY.

THERE WOULD BE A DECREASE OF $33.52 PER YEAR AND $2.79 PER MONTH.

OPTION TWO OUR TOTAL TAX RATE WOULD STILL GO DOWN.

IT WOULD JUST NOT GO DOWN AS MUCH. SO IT WOULD BE $1 1451.

SO WHAT THAT TAX RATE IMPACT WOULD BE, IT WOULD STILL BE A DECREASE TO OUR HOMEOWNERS, BUT IT WOULD BE A DECREASE OF $5.11 YEARLY AND $0.43 MONTHLY. WELL, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IS A DIFFERENCE IN OPTION ONE.

AND OPTION TWO IS WE WOULD INCREASE OUR TAX RATE FROM $0.48 TO $0.49, ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE TO PAY OFF OUR DEBT EARLIER AND SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS ON INTEREST ON THOSE BONDED DEBTS. SO OUR BUDGET TIMELINE TONIGHT, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW, LATER ON WITH AN AGENDA. THE BOARD HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING OUR GENERAL FUND, DEBT SERVICES AND CHILD NUTRITION BUDGET, ALONG WITH OUR COMPENSATION PLAN FOR 2627. WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING IN AUGUST OF 2026 TO DISCUSS OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE.

[00:20:09]

THEY PROVIDE US WITH OUR TAX RATE, AND THEN WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR POSSIBLE APPROVAL AT THE AUGUST 26TH BOARD MEETING.

SO ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TO TAKE TIME TO SHOW THE BOARD IS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS CONDUCTED A FINANCIAL SURVEY FROM DISTRICTS.

244 DISTRICTS PARTICIPATED IN THAT SURVEY. BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 244 DISTRICTS, IT MADE UP 46% OF THE 5.5 MILLION KIDS THAT ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THESE ARE THE SIZE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN.

BASICALLY, A THIRD WAS LESS THAN 1500. A THIRD WAS GREATER THAN 5000, AND A THIRD WAS BETWEEN THE TWO NUMBERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ASKED IS, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD IF YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT CUTS FOR THE 2627 FISCAL YEAR? A THIRD OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CUTS.

43% OF THEM HAVE TO MAKE MINOR CUTS. 20. ONLY 20% SAID THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY.

SO WE WOULD FALL IN THE 20% BARREL. WE'RE NOT HAVING TO MAKE CUTS THIS YEAR.

WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. 80% OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THEIR BUDGET IN SOME WAY FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE LIKELIHOOD, IF YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE THOSE CUTS, WHERE WOULD THEY BE? THE THREE BIGGEST BUCKETS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT WAS ELIMINATION, ELIMINATING OF UNDER-ENROLLED CLASSES, REDUCTION OF CAMPUS STAFF, AND ALSO REDUCTION OF CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG BUCKETS THAT THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT CUTTING FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? MR. BUCHANAN, WITH RESPECT TO THE SURVEY THAT YOU WERE JUST POINTING OUT WAS THERE ANY DATA WITH RESPECT TO HOW MANY DISTRICTS WERE ABLE TO GIVE A PAY INCREASE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR? I DID NOT SEE THAT IN THAT DATA. I DO KNOW THAT MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICTS THAT I NETWORK WITH ARE NOT GIVING ANY KIND OF PAY RAISES FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.

OKAY. WHICH IS WHICH IS NOT THE CASE HERE. LAMAR CISD, WE ARE INCORPORATING A 3% PAY INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MR. BUCHANAN YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST MONTH, BUT FOLKS ARE TUNING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR THEY MIGHT STUMBLE ACROSS THIS VIDEO.

SO THE THE DEFICIT AND THE FOOD SERVICE BUDGET.

WHY IS THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AGAIN TO US? SO THE DEFICIT IN OUR FOOD SERVICE BUDGET THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IS DUE TO THE FUEL COST.

SO AS FUEL COSTS HAVE RISEN AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, IT HAS REALLY IMPACTED OUR BUDGET.

WHEN WE LOOK AT CHILD NUTRITION, FUEL DRIVES, ALL OF IT FROM FOOD PRODUCTION TO FOOD PROCESSING AND DELIVERING OF FOOD.

SO ALL OF THAT IS IMPACTING THE COST OF OUR FOOD.

SO WHAT WE'VE DEVELOPED IS A BUDGET IS IF OIL PRICES, GAS PRICES DON'T DROP.

SO IF FUEL PRICES STAY THE SAME, THAT IS THE RESULT OF THAT IMPACT TO THAT CHILD NUTRITION BUDGET.

AND WE MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE THROUGH WHAT THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.

IS THAT CORRECT? HOW DO WE MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR? WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THE FUND BALANCE OF CHILD NUTRITION, SO IT WILL LOWER IT FROM $9.4 MILLION TO $6.7 MILLION.

BUT IF IT WERE TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH. YES, SIR.

THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT BUDGET, OR WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE THE BUDGET TO MAKE IT A BALANCED BUDGET.

AND REGARDING THE TAX RATE, ARE YOU THE ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF OPTION 1 OR 2.

OPTION TWO. YES, SIR. RECOMMENDING ADOPTION NUMBER TWO.

THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PAY DOWN OUR DEBT FASTER, BUT STILL DECREASE THE OVERALL TAX RATE TO THE PUBLIC.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND, AGAIN, IS THERE ANY TALKS OF OTHER FORMS OF REIMBURSEMENT, LIKE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AS GAS PRICES ARE GOING TO KEEP? NO, CURRENTLY WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT INCREASE IN REIMBURSEMENT RATE AT THIS TIME.

THAT COULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON ON LAWS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS.

OUR CHILD NUTRITION DEPARTMENT IS IS DILIGENTLY LOOKING AT WAYS THAT THEY CAN INCREASE EFFICIENCIES BUT STILL DELIVER HIGH QUALITY MEALS TO OUR STUDENTS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? MR. BUCHANAN, YOU HAD A SLIDE WHERE THAT INDICATED THE STARTING SALARY AMOUNT AND SO FORTH. DOES THAT REPRESENT AN INCREASE IN STARTING SALARIES? YES, SIR. FROM THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST YEAR TEACHER WOULD GO FROM 66,700 TO 68,900.

[00:25:02]

YES, SIR. AND REDUCING THE TAX RATE. YES, SIR.

AND PAY AND PAYING DOWN DEBT. YES, SIR. OKAY.

THANK YOU. SO I'VE SAID THIS A FEW TIMES IN A FEW MEETINGS.

BUT, BUT I, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO GIVE THE BOARD A SHOUT OUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY'VE ALLOWED ME, THEY'VE SUPPORTED ME TO MAKE SOME, SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS. AND IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TO, TO MAKE, TO BE VERY STRICT ACCORDING TO OUR STAFFING GUIDELINES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS ABLE TO GIVE A PAY RAISE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WE'VE MADE SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY WITHIN OUR STAFFING GUIDELINES AND THAT WE'RE NOT OVERSTAFFED.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING CALLED, YOU KNOW, POSITION CREEP. AND I KEEP SAYING THE STAFF FOLLOW THE STUDENTS.

AND SO ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE A REZONING AND WHEN YOU MOVE STUDENTS AROUND AND YOU HAVE A CERTAIN, A CERTAIN CAMPUS THAT IS UNDERUTILIZED IN A CERTAIN CAMPUS IS OVER UTILIZED AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE STUDENTS AROUND.

WELL, WELL, ADULTS HAVE TO FOLLOW STUDENTS, AND THAT'S AN EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION WHEN ADULTS HAVE TO FOLLOW STUDENTS.

WHEN THE TEACHER'S BEEN IN THE CAMPUS FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS AND HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR CAMPUS TO GO TO A NEW CAMPUS, THAT'S AN EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND STAFF STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW STUDENTS THAT WAY.

YOU'RE NOT OVERSTAFFED. AND WHEN YOU'RE OVERSTAFFED, THAT MEANS YOU'RE UPSIDE DOWN ON YOUR BUDGET. AND SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW DID NOT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THEN. AND SO NOW THEY HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS NOW BY READJUSTING TEACHER CONTRACTS.

THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEIR BOARD AND CALL A REDUCTION IN FORCE.

AND SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOBS RIGHT NOW MAY NOT HAVE A JOB IN THE FALL WHEN THEY COME BACK.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IN THE PAST, IF WE WERE OVERSTAFFED IN PLACES, WE MOVED TEACHERS AROUND IN EXCESS. AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND SO I CAN'T DO THAT ALONE. I HAVE TO BRING THAT TO THE BOARD.

AND THE BOARD HAS TO GIVE ME PERMISSION AND SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR BEING FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THOSE THINGS. BECAUSE NOW WE'RE STILL ABLE TO GIVE OUR STAFF A 3% TO THE MIDPOINT RAISE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.

BOARD. GREG, COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SALARY PAGE THAT GEORGE JUST HAD YOU ON? YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT SO SOMEONE, THEIR FIRST YEAR LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE MADE 66,700.

AND IF THEY STAYED WITH LAMAR THE NEXT YEAR THEY WOULD MAKE 693, RIGHT? CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. THAT'S ALL. OKAY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. THEN WE WILL WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON THIS LATER.

THAT WAS JUST THE HEARING. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT THEN WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:58 P.M..

AND NOW WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[10. CONSENT AGENDA]

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. I NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.

TRUSTEES, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ELECTRONICALLY AT THIS TIME.

FIRST TIME. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. AND THEN INCLUDED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS THE CELEBRATE THE USA RESOLUTION. AND WHILE THE RESOLUTION HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, TRUSTEE WELCH HAS REQUESTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME.

IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD WITH ALL THE ADMINISTRATION BEING UP THERE AND YOU GUYS NOT DOWN HERE AT THE PODIUM. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR SOME PATRIOTIC MUSIC TO BE PLAYED IN THE BACKGROUND AS I AS I READ THIS. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD IN 2019, WE USED TO READ ALL THE RESOLUTIONS IN THE BOARD ROOM, AND THEN WE'VE KIND OF SWUNG THE OTHER WAY AND WE DON'T READ ANY OF THEM.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD OVER THE NEXT YEAR, IF ANY OF THEM STICK OUT TO YOU, THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE BECAUSE WE APPROVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS TO PULL ONE. AND LET'S JUST READ IT OUT LOUD AT ANY AT ANY GIVEN MONTH.

SO WHEREAS JULY THE 4TH, 2026 MARKS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, A DEFINING MOMENT IN THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND WHEREAS, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AFFIRMS THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS,

[00:30:05]

AND WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM OF SELF-GOVERNANCE GROUNDED IN THE ENDURING PRINCIPLE OF WE THE PEOPLE, CREATING A NATION FOUNDED ON FREEDOM, RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

WHEREAS, FOR 250 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS STOOD AS A BEACON OF LIBERTY OF OPPORTUNITY, RECOGNIZES ONE OF THOSE MOST POWERFUL AND PROSPEROUS NATIONS IN WORLD HISTORY, CONTINUALLY STRIVING TO, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION. WHEREAS THIS ONGOING EXPERIMENT IN SELF-GOVERNANCE REFLECTS THE COURAGE, THE SACRIFICE, AND THE VISION OF GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE WORKED TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC EDUCATION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PREPARING STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE NATION'S HISTORY, TO APPRECIATE ITS FOUNDING IDEALS, AND TO CARRY FORWARD THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITIZENSHIP.

AND WHEREAS THE LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO CULTIVATING INFORMED, ENGAGED, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO HONORS THE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE LAMAR SEE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY THE 4TH, 2026 AS A DAY OF CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

DESIGNATING THE MONTH AS OF JULY 2026 AS. CELEBRATE THE U.S..

A MONTH WITHIN LAMAR. SEE ISD. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE LAMAR.

SEE. ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ENCOURAGES STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE NATION'S HISTORY, TO CELEBRATE ITS FOUNDING IDEALS, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE CIVIC PRIDE, UNITY, SERVICE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE SHARE AS AMERICANS.

ADOPTED THIS NINTH DAY OF JUNE 2026. GOD BLESS THE USA.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WELCH. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE ACTION ITEMS.

[12.A. Consider approval of 2026-2027 Budget - General Fund, Debt Service, and Child Nutrition and compensation plan]

YES. ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST ONE IS JUST WHAT MR. BUCHANAN DISCUSSED. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE THE 2026 2027 BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND, DEBT SERVICE AND CHILD NUTRITION, AND APPROVE THE COMPENSATION PLAN.

TRUSTEE ROSE MAKES. MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2020 627 BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND, DEBT SERVICE AND CHILD NUTRITION AND COMPENSATION PLAN.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE ARROYO MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE BOX MAKES THE SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. I NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE. TRUSTEES, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE AT THIS TIME.

MOTION CARRIES, SEVEN ZERO. ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR NIVENS.

YES, MA'AM. MADAM PRESIDENT, NOW WE HAVE MISS COLE-HAMILTON GOING TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOL COLORS.

[12.B. Consider approval of color track and mascot options for Williams High School, Urbanski Junior High School, and Dresner Middle School]

SO SECONDARY COMPLEX EIGHT IS LOCATED ON FM 359 NORTH OF DOWNTOWN FULSHEAR.

HERE'S A REMINDER OF WHAT THE HIGH SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE.

THE JUNIOR HIGH AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO THIS PROCESS STARTED WITH A SMALL INTERNAL COMMITTEE THAT MET TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS AND PARAMETERS.

THE FIRST SURVEY LAUNCHED MARCH 27TH THROUGH APRIL.

THROUGH APRIL 7TH, WHERE WE COLLECTED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK VIA A DISTRICT WIDE SURVEY REGARDING THE POTENTIAL MASCOTS AND COLORS FOR OUR NEW SECONDARY COMPLEX EIGHT.

AND THEN IN APRIL, A COMMITTEE OF PARENTS, PRINCIPALS, CAMPUS AND DISTRICT STAFF MET TO REVIEW THE SURVEY RESULTS AND DEVELOP A RANKING AND RATIONALE FOR THE MASCOT AND COLOR OPTIONS. SECOND, SURVEY NUMBER TWO LAUNCHED APRIL 22ND THROUGH MAY 6TH, AND WE COLLECTED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK VIA A POTENTIALLY IMPACTED COMMUNITY SURVEY SO THAT ONE DID NOT GO OUT DISTRICT WIDE.

IT ONLY WENT TO THE FAMILIES WHO WERE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW SCHOOLS OPENING.

REGARDING THE POTENTIAL MASCOTS AND COLORS FOR OUR NEW SECONDARY COMPLEX EIGHT, WE HAD MORE THAN 800 RESPONSES FOR THAT FIRST SURVEY, AND THE TOP SUGGESTED MASCOTS WERE TIGERS, WILDCATS, WOLVES, WARRIORS AND BEARS.

BUT THE COMMITTEE EXTENDED BEYOND THE CLEAR TOP FIVE AND CONSIDERED MASCOTS THAT MADE THE TOP TEN, ADDING BRONCOS AND BOBCATS. SO IN REVIEWING THE COMMITTEE'S FEEDBACK FOR TIGERS, THEY LIKE THE IDEA.

[00:35:07]

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT OUR OWN AND DEFINE WHAT IT COULD BE. TIGERS ARE FIERCE AND COMPETITIVE, AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT THERE ALREADY IS BY CLOSE BY SCHOOLS. BUT THE RATIONALE AGAINST IT IS THAT TIGERS ALREADY HAS SOME SOME HIGH SCHOOLS SURROUNDING US AS THEIR MASCOT.

KATY HAS MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF BEING TIGER TERRITORY.

AND SO THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT NOT WANTING TO ENCROACH ON THAT.

SO THEN THEY SAID, OKAY, WHAT ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAT, A WILDCAT? AND THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED FLEXIBILITY AND DESIGNING WHAT A WILDCAT COULD BE.

AND WE REALLY COULD BUILD AN IDENTITY, DIDN'T REALLY BUILD AN IDENTITY FOR THE SCHOOL.

WILDCATS ARE FIERCE, INDEPENDENT. THEY SYMBOLIZE COURAGE AND QUICK THINKING INTELLIGENCE.

AND THE COMMITTEE WAS NOT SO MUCH AGAINST THE TOPIC, BUT WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT A WILDCAT IS.

THE COMMITTEE LIKED THE IDEA OF WOLVES IN A WOLF PACK TRAITS OF FREEDOM, LOYALTY, COURAGE, INDEPENDENCE AND THEY TRAVEL TOGETHER. BUT THE QUESTION WAS WOULD IT OVERLAP WITH THE TAMRON TIMBERWOLVES AND THEN FOR BRONCOS.

COMMITTEE LIKED IT WITH CHARGERS BEING A HORSE IN THE SCHOOL BRANCH OFFICE IN NEARBY TRACK.

IT'S STILL A TYPE OF HORSE, BUT IT'S DISTINCT.

SAME FAMILY BUT A SPLIT. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE DID.

QUESTION WHY WOULD WE WANT ANOTHER HORSE MASCOT? WE ALREADY HAVE THE CHARGERS AND THE MUSTANGS.

AND THEN LASTLY FOR BOBCATS, THE COMMITTEE LIKED THE IDEA OF A WILDCAT OR BOBCAT WHERE BOBCAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE AGAIN, IDENTIFYING WHAT A WILDCAT IS LED THE COMMITTEE TO TO WONDER HOW WE COULD FURTHER FLESH THAT OUT.

AND THEY SAID BOBCATS ARE ACTUALLY LOCAL TO THE AREA.

THEY'RE PATIENT, STRATEGIC, ADAPTABLE AND RESOURCEFUL.

BUT AGAIN, SAME FAMILY AS THE WILDCATS. SO SURVEY NUMBER ONE, THE TOP SUGGESTED MAIN COLORS WERE ORANGE AT 29%, A BURNT ORANGE AT 16%, A BRONZE BROWN OR COPPER AT 15%.

AND THEN TURQUOISE CAME IN AT 13%. AND THE TOP SECONDARY COLORS WERE BLACK AND WHITE.

SO FOR SURVEY TWO, WITH THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT, DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TIGERS, WILDCAT AND WOLVES AND THE COLOR CHOICES ORANGE AND TEAL. FOR SURVEY TWO. WE HAD MORE THAN 950 RESPONSES, AND TIGERS CAME IN AT 36%, WOLVES CAME IN AT 34% AND WILDCATS CAME IN AT 30%.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OPEN COMMENTS FROM SURVEY TWO, FEEDBACK WAS THAT WOLVES REPRESENTS TEAMWORK.

TIGERS ARE TOO COMMON AND WILDCATS MAKE. SOME PEOPLE THINK OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.

OUT OF THE THREE OPTIONS, WILDCAT SEEMS THE MOST FITTING FOR THE SCHOOL.

FOR THE AREA THE SCHOOL IS IN. ALSO, IT PAIRS BEST WITH WILLIAMS. SOMEONE ALSO SAID A TIGER WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS STRENGTH, CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION. QUALITIES WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR STUDENTS BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. ANOTHER NOTED THIS SCHOOL IS TOO CLOSE TO KATY HIGH SCHOOLS FOR US TO BE TIGER.

TWO TIGERS DON'T SEEM NATIVE TO TEXAS, BUT PERSON ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE WOLVES WITH TEXAS.

THEY SAID WILDCATS SEEM THE MOST TEXAN. AND LASTLY, WOLVES ARE STRONG, SMART, EXTREMELY RESILIENT AND LIVE TOGETHER IN PACKS.

THEY BECOME FAMILY AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND THEY ARE THE ANCESTORS OF ALL OF OUR BELOVED DOGS.

SO THAT'S A PLUS. AND IN SURVEY TWO, IN LOOKING AT THE COLOR OPTIONS, TEAL CAME OUT ON TOP AT 56% AND ORANGE CAME IN SECOND AT 44%.

FOR SURVEY TWO, WE ASKED, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAIR WITH THE MAIN COLOR CHOICE FOR TEAL? THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD LOOK REALLY GOOD WITH WHITE OR SILVER, AND FOR ORANGE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD LOOK REALLY GOOD WITH BLACK.

SO TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, TRUSTEES, WE DID GET WITH OUR VENDORS TO DESIGN SOME MOCKUPS.

AND SO IN THE EVENT THAT WE GO WITH ORANGE OR TEAL, HERE'S WHAT BAND UNIFORMS COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE.

WE RECEIVED ONE SAMPLE FOR WHAT A DRILL TEAM UNIFORM COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ATHLETICS AND FOOTBALL, THE MASCOT, IF WE GO WITH TIGERS, THERE'S YOUR TIGER DRAPED IN ORANGE.

BUT THERE'S YOUR TIGER AND TEAL.

NOW, IF WE MOVE THE WILDCATS, THAT'S WHAT A WILDCAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TEAL.

BUT WE ALSO SAID, WHAT IF WE MADE A TEAL WILDCAT? SO THE WILDCAT ITSELF COULD ALSO BE TEAL. AND THEN IN FOOTBALL.

AND CHEER. AND LASTLY WE PUT A WOLF IN A FOOTBALL UNIFORM.

THAT'S WHAT A WOLF MASCOT COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE ORANGE.

THERE'S YOUR WOLF AND TEAL. FOOTBALL UNIFORMS. AND CHEER UNIFORMS. SO, TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.

WE DO ASK THAT YOU SELECT THE COLORS AND MASCOT FOR OUR SECONDARY COMPLEX EIGHT WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL, URBANSKI JUNIOR HIGH, AND DRESNER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

CAN YOU PUT THE SCREEN BACK ON THE THE FINAL SURVEY RESULTS FOR US.

[00:40:06]

SO I'M THINKING TALKING ABOUT THE COLORS FIRST.

WELL ACTUALLY MAYBE WE SHOULD FLIP FLOP IT BECAUSE IF IT WERE TIGERS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO TEAL TIGERS, RIGHT. SURVEY SAYS. BUT WELL, WE CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.

I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING I'M YEAH, WE HAVE WE HAVE THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME.

RIGHT. OKAY. LET'S START WITH THE ANIMAL FIRST.

THE MASCOT. THE ANIMAL. I MEAN, WE'RE FOCUSED ON WILLIAMS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER SCHOOLS INVOLVED AS WELL.

SO WE NEED TO THINK IT THROUGH THOROUGHLY. SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.

MR. COLE-HAMILTON, DID YOU SAY THAT ONE OF THE SURVEYS INDICATES THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILD CATS ARE? YES, SIR. THAT IS SOME FEEDBACK. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE SAM HOUSTON ALUM, INCLUDING MY WIFE, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT A BEARCAT IS EITHER.

BUT. BUT IT'S A CAT. IT'S A IT'S A CAT. SOME SORT OF WILD.

AND TECHNICALLY, A TIGER IS A WILD CAT. YES, BUT SO WE HAVE SEALY SEALY TIGERS.

WE HAVE KATY TIGERS. YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR MIKE'S NOT ON.

YEAH. WE HAVE SEALY TIGERS, KATY TIGERS, TRAVIS TIGERS AND FORT BEND ISD.

THERE'S A LOT OF TIGERS. PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE IDEA OF TEAL WOLVES.

OKAY. AM I THE ONLY THING WITH WOLVES IS THERE? AND I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL THE OTHER MASCOTS IS THEY'RE NOT NATIVE TO TEXAS.

THERE'S NO WOLVES IN TEXAS. ALL THE BETTER. WHY NOT? WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE MOVED IN, ESPECIALLY IN THAT PART OF OUR DISTRICT, FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND THE STATES, AND MAYBE IT FITS. I MEAN, I KNOW THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR 60 YEARS OR WHATEVER, BUT IN TEXAS, YEAH, WE HAVE THE LIONS, TOO. I MEAN, LIONS AREN'T WE DON'T HAVE.

YEAH. THAT'S TRUE. WE HAVE A LOT OF YOU KNOW THERE'S THERE'S LIONS AT THE HOUSTON ZOO.

ARE WE GOING TO LIKE THIS. I AGREE WITH YOU. I LIKE I LIKE I'M JUST GONNA SAY WHAT I LIKE.

I LIKE THE WILDCATS. I DID GO TO SEE YOU. WE ARE ALSO THE WILDCATS.

AND I LIKE TEAL WILLIAMS WILDCATS. DRESDNER WILDCATS.

URBANSKI WILDCATS. THAT'S MY. MY $0.02. COME ON, FOLKS, THIS IS THE TIME TO TALK.

COME ON. VOICE YOUR OPINION. LET'S. LET'S TALK THIS OUT.

FOR ME, IT'S LIKE THIS IS A DECISION WE GET TO MAKE.

THIS IS LIKE. IT'S WILD TO ME THAT WE GET TO DECIDE THIS.

AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE STRESSING OVER IT ALSO.

I MEAN, I LIKE WILDCATS AND I LIKE THE WOLVES.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE DID A SURVEY AND THE WOLVES WON BY NOT BY MUCH.

SO. WELL REALLY TIGERS WON. YES. WELL, I HONESTLY WITH ALL THE LOCAL SCHOOLS NEARBY WITH TIGERS, I FEEL LIKE. YEAH. YEAH I AGREE. THE SAME WITH THE TIGERS AND THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

AND JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE ROAD GOING TO THE SCHOOL IS CALLED TIGER RUN.

WE DID NOT DO THAT. NOBODY DID THAT. WE DIDN'T.

I SAW A COMMENT. WHY EVEN ASK? YEAH. IT WILL BE CHANGED DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS.

NOW, I KNOW THIS IS A VOTE OF THE BOARD, BUT WE DO HAVE THE SON OF MR. WILLIAMS HERE IN THE ROOM. DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION, SIR, YOU'D LIKE TO EXPRESS? JUST CHECKING. COUGH ONCE IF YOU LIKE. THE WOLVES.

OKAY. WELL. WELL, WHAT ABOUT YOU? I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE WOLVES.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE THE PACK MENTALITY. PACK.

RIGHT. WOLF PACKS. CUTE. MONICA HENDERSON, THE WILDCATS LOOK JUST LIKE TO ME, THE WILDCATS LOOK JUST LIKE SOUTHWEST TEXAS BOBCATS.

IS THAT A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING? JUST. IT'S LIKE, WHY DOES THE BOBCAT LOOK LIKE A WILDCAT? IS A WILDCAT, A BOBCAT. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THE SAME FACE AND THE SAME.

BUT IT'S A WILDCAT, NOT A BOBCAT. I LIKE WOLVES.

I LIKE A PACK. I LIKE RUNNING IN A PACK. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT OUR TRACKS ARE.

[00:45:02]

THERE'S A THERE WAS A SECONDARY COLOR. CAN YOU GO TO THAT SURVEY RESULTS.

YEAH. I THINK TEAL ONE TEAL BLACK SILVER AND WHITE AND TEAL WITH WHITE AND SILVER.

WELL, I THINK BLACK HAS TO BE IN THERE SOMEHOW.

YEAH, BUT WHITE AND SILVER ARE THE. WELL, IF I'M WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION AND WE CAN JUST SEE WHERE THE VOTES FALL.

OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO.

THE TRACK COLOR, THE MAIN COLOR, THE ORANGE AND THE TEAL NUMBERS.

OKAY. YEAH. WE'LL GET AN ORANGE TRACK EVENTUALLY.

SONIA, CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT THIS SURVEY NUMBER TWO WAS NOT SENT TO THE WHOLE DISTRICT.

THIS WAS JUST TO THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE POTENTIALLY ZONED TO THE SCHOOL.

YES, MA'AM. THE FIRST SURVEY WENT DISTRICT WIDE.

ANYBODY CAN PROVIDE INPUT. THIS SURVEY WENT SPECIFICALLY TO FAMILIES LOCATED WITHIN THE PURPLE TRACK THAT ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE GOING TO THESE CAMPUSES.

AND CAN YOU SHOW US THE OTHER SURVEY WITH THE ANIMALS FOR NUMBER TWO, PLEASE? ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY GOT A QUARTER? NO. OKAY. ARE WE READY FOR A MOTION? LET'S DO IT. OKAY. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE THAT WE ASSIGN TO SECONDARY COMPLEX NUMBER EIGHT WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL, URBANSKI JUNIOR HIGH AND DRESNER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE COLORS OF TEAL, WHITE AND SILVER WITH THE WOLVES AS THE MASCOT.

ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEE WELCH MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OKAY. TRUSTEE SECONDS. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? OKAY, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE CAST IT.

WHO VOTED AGAINST YOU. WHY IS THAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION CARRIES SIX ONE. OKAY. OH, WE DID IT AS TWO. IN THE SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK. CAMARADERIE. I GIVE GEORGE. SORRY. SAM. HOUSTON GRADS. I'LL GO TEAL.

AWESOME. OKAY. THAT WAS THAT WAS ACTUALLY IT.

BECAUSE I HAVE TWO MOTIONS, BUT WE DID IT AS ONE.

SO THERE YOU GO. THAT WORKS. OKAY. NEXT. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT, MR. COLE-HAMILTON, WE'LL TALK ABOUT MASCOTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

[12.C. Consider approval of mascots for Danziger Elementary School, Cantu Elementary School, and Adams Elementary School]

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE'VE GOT SOME NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS JOINING THE ROSTER. KAY DANZINGER ELEMENTARY, INOCENCIO CANTU ELEMENTARY AND MARJORIE ADAMS ELEMENTARY.

SO JUST A REMINDER DANZINGER ELEMENTARY WILL POSSIBLY BE A SPLIT BETWEEN THE GOLD AND THE GREEN TRACK.

HERE'S WHAT THE CAMPUS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND JUST SOME REMINDERS OF THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT.

IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT MISS DANZIGER WAS A TEACHER.

HER CLASS MASCOT WAS A DINOSAURS. AND SO THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THE DANZIGER DINOSAURS AS THE MASCOT.

THEY GAVE FEEDBACK REGARDING COLORS WE SHOULD USE.

THEY REALLY WANTED TO INCORPORATE THE COLORS OF GREEN AND GOLD, KNOWING THAT THE CAMPUS WAS GOING TO BE LIKELY TO BE SPLIT.

AND THEY SAID THAT MISS, MISS DANZIGER'S FAVORITE COLOR IS PURPLE, SO THEY WANTED TO SEE PURPLE INCORPORATED AS WELL.

AND SO THESE ARE THE INITIAL MASCOT OPTIONS WE SHOWED YOU LAST MONTH AND WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR GRAPHIC ARTISTS AND WE'VE GOT SOMETHING MORE CLOSE, LIKE WHAT'S ON THE LEFT SIDE. WE'RE STILL WORKING TO TWEAK OUR FONTS, BUT THE REQUEST IS FOR YOU ALL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVING THE MASCOT AS THE

[00:50:08]

JUST A REMINDER OF WHERE THAT CAMPUS IS LOCATED.

NOW THIS CAMPUS IS GOING TO SIT IS GOING TO JOIN WILLIAMS, DRESSNER AND URBANSKI.

AND SO NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT IT IS TEAL, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE COLOR INCORPORATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR MASCOT.

SO JUST A REMINDER, MR. CANTU WAS AN AVID RUNNER.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A GREYHOUND.

GREYHOUNDS REPRESENT SPEED, GRACE AND AGILITY.

THEY'RE SMART AND THEY'RE LOYAL. AND SO THIS WAS THE OPTION IN CASE WE GO ORANGE.

BUT NOW KNOWING THAT THE SECONDARY CAMPUS IS A TEAL, WE'LL LOOK AT THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM.

HIS COLLAR SAYS CHAMP. SO HE'S NAMED CHAMP. AND THEN IT'D BE THE OPTION ON THE RIGHT.

AND IF YOU NOTICE, THE SEAL IS IS A TRACK. WE'VE GOT TRACK MARKS AS A NOD TO MR. CANTU AND HIS RACE HISTORY. OKAY, MOVING ON TO ADAMS ELEMENTARY.

JUST A REMINDER WHERE THAT CAMPUS IS LOCATED.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, MISS ADAMS WAS A WELL KNOWN FIGURE IN THE PENDLETON COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO WAS AVID IN GETTING THE FIRST PAPER STARTED.

AND SO THE COMMITTEE INITIALLY WANTED THE SILVER CATS.

THEY WANTED TO KEEP SOME OF THE BEASLEY BOBCAT LEGACY SINCE THE CAMPUS IS IN BEASLEY.

AND SO THEY WANTED THE MASCOT TO BE A CAT. THEY THOUGHT THAT SPELLING IT WITH A K WOULD MAKE IT DIFFERENT AND FUN AS A NOD TO KINDERGARTEN, AND THEY CHOSE SILVER AS A BASE COLOR AS A NOD TO MISS ADAMS SILVER HAIR.

NOW, AS WE SHARED DURING OUR LAST MEETING, WE WANTED TO HONOR THE WISHES FOR K, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO PURPOSELY MISSPELL THE MASCOT OF AN ELEMENTARY CAMPUS.

AND SO THAT WAS THE DRAFT OF THE KENDLETON KITTENS.

WE DID. I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE ADAMS KITTENS, WE DID RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM TRUSTEES ABOUT PERHAPS A KITTEN WOULD NOT BE WELL RECEIVED AMONG ALL THE STUDENTS. SO WE ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO THE ADAMS FAMILY.

AND AS FOR OTHER IDEAS, AND THEY PICKED A REALLY COOL ONE.

THEY CAME BACK WITH THE ADAMS OWLS. AND SO AGAIN, OWLS ARE SMART.

THIS OWL IS HOLDING A NEWSPAPER AGAIN AS A NOD TO MISS ADAMS HISTORY WITH THE KENDLETON PRESS.

AND SO THE COLORS FOR THIS CAMPUS WOULD BE GREEN AND GRAY, OR WE COULD SAY GREEN AND SILVER.

BUT TRUSTEES, THOSE ARE THE THREE MASCOTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I LOVE THE OWL.

THAT WAS A GOOD SWITCH. VERY CUTE. ALL RIGHT.

NO, I THINK THIS ONE'S A LITTLE EASIER. YES. MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MASCOTS AS PRESENTED.

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT OKAY? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. SO IN YOUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, IT SAYS IF THIS IS FOR DANZIGER, IF IT WOULD GO ALL GREEN, THE DINOSAUR WOULD BE GREEN AND PURPLE. IF IT STAYS.

SO WE CAN VOTE ON THAT NOW AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE.

SO THE REQUEST WOULD BE FOR US TO UTILIZE ANY PARTICULAR COLOR COMBINATION.

THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO OUR TEAM, THEY SAID THAT CAMPUS WOULD LIKELY BE SPLIT. IT WOULD BE GREEN AND GOLD.

AND SO INCORPORATING ALL THREE COLORS, THE GREEN, THE GOLD AND THE PURPLE IS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE REQUEST FOR TONIGHT.

OKAY. BUT IN THE EVENT, IF IT WERE TO CHANGE, IT COULD JUST BE GREEN AND PURPLE.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. CAN YOU PUT CAN YOU PUT THAT BACK ON THE SCREEN FOR US? THAT. DANZIGER.

THREE SEPARATE, THREE SEPARATE MOTIONS. OKAY.

IT IS CUTE. AND I THINK. I MEAN, WE WILL REZONE FOR DANZIGER IN THE FALL.

CORRECT. SO. AND WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUSES, WE AREN'T NECESSARILY APPROVING THE COLORS.

WE'RE JUST APPROVING THE MASCOTS. SO. CORRECT.

OKAY. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE BOX MAKES THE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEES, CAST YOUR VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. YEAH. OKAY.

WE WILL NOW HAVE REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE INFORMATION ITEMS.

[13.A. Instructional Update - Advanced Academics ]

[00:55:01]

FOR TONIGHT'S INSTRUCTIONAL UPDATE. I'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM.

BY DEFINITION, DUAL CREDIT IS A SYSTEM IN WHICH AN ELIGIBLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLLS IN A COLLEGE COURSE AND RECEIVES CREDIT FOR IT FROM BOTH THE COLLEGE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL IN LAMAR CISD. DUAL CREDIT COURSES ARE OFFERED BOTH FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE WITH AN APPROVED LC ISD INSTRUCTOR.

STUDENTS WHO TAKE DUAL CREDIT GAIN FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH COLLEGE LEVEL WORK WHILE ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY TRANSITION MORE SMOOTHLY BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

THEY CAN TRANSFER CREDIT. EXCUSE ME. TRANSFER CREDITS EARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL TO TEXAS PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

THEY COMPLETE A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE FASTER, AND THEY CAN ULTIMATELY SAVE MONEY ON COLLEGE TUITION.

OUR ACADEMIC DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS, LONE STAR COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERSHIPS, OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO OVER 30 DUAL CREDIT COURSES.

THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LONE STAR COLLEGE, LAMAR CISD TEACHERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS OF DUAL CREDIT COURSES. TEACHERS MUST HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE OR 18 GRADUATE HOURS IN THE SUBJECT AREA ASSIGNMENT TO BE CREDENTIALED TO TEACH DUAL CREDIT.

DUAL CREDIT TEACHERS EARN AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THEIR CLASSES.

THE CHART ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS IN LAMAR CISD FROM FALL 2024 TO FALL 2025.

WE SAW A 22% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ISD TEACHERS CREDENTIALED TO BECOME DUAL CREDIT TEACHERS FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAVE 65 TEACHERS CREDENTIALED ACROSS ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

THIS REPRESENTS A 44% INCREASE FROM 2526 AND A 76% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CREDENTIALED FACULTY SINCE 2024.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN OUR DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW FROM FALL 2023 TO FALL 2025.

WE EXPERIENCED A 25% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING DUAL CREDIT COURSES, A 47% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DUAL CREDIT COURSES TAKEN AND A 51% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS ATTEMPTED.

THIS DATA REFLECTS THE BIG THINKING AND COMPASSION OF OUR DUAL CREDIT COUNSELORS, OUR DUAL CREDIT TEACHERS, AND OUR CAMPUS DUAL CREDIT TEAMS. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 37, LAMAR C ISD SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2026 EARNED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN EITHER ARTS OR SCIENCE FROM LONE STAR COLLEGE.

THIS REPRESENTS AN ASTOUNDING 1,750% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE DEGREES AWARDED TO LAMAR CISD GRADUATES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

FROM 2024 TO 2025, WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EARNING 30 AND 15 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS BY 100% AND 12%, RESPECTIVELY. SO THIS MEANS 610 SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2024 AND 685 SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATED FROM LAMAR ISD WITH AT LEAST 15 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS, WHICH EQUATES TO HALF OF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE ALREADY COMPLETED. 96 SENIORS AND 192 SENIORS IN THE CLASSES OF 2024 AND IN 2025, RESPECTIVELY, GRADUATED FROM US WITH AT LEAST 30 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS COMPLETED, WHICH EQUATES TO COLLEGE SOPHOMORE STATUS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING FINAL COUNTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2026 THIS COMING FALL.

THE SUCCESS OF OUR DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH OUR ADVANCED ACADEMICS TEAM HAS TAKEN TO INSIST UPON COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS FOR ALL STUDENTS. AS A RESULT, WE'VE ACHIEVED 36% OF CMR ATTAINMENT THROUGH DUAL CREDIT.

TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE, WE LAUNCHED THE PATHWAY TO AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE PILOT AT THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE WILL EXPAND THAT PROGRAM WORK TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES TO MAKE EARNING AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE IN LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCREASE STUDENT AWARENESS, ACCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT.

WE HAVE LEVERAGED HOUSE BILL EIGHT FAST, WHICH IS FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER FUNDING THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH TO TAKE DUAL CREDIT AT NO COST. WE ALSO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH SUMMER DUAL CREDIT TUITION AND TEXTBOOK SCHOLARSHIPS TO INCREASE STUDENT ACCESS AND CHOICE.

WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR DUAL CREDIT COURSE OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE DUAL CREDIT IN SPANISH AND IN AVID.

AND LASTLY, WE ARE ONE OF SEVEN LOCAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO PARTNERS WITH HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY AS PART OF THE GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS PROGRAM.

OUR SENIORS WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA WILL BE ADMITTED TO HCU WITHOUT NEEDING THE TRADITIONAL APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION, AND THEY ARE ALSO GUARANTEED AN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, I MENTIONED THE BENEFITS OF TAKING DUAL CREDIT COURSES WITH A PARTNERSHIP LIKE THE GAP OR THE GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS PROGRAM WITH HCU.

[01:00:08]

NO ACTION IS REQUIRED. THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU SAID THAT YOU LAUNCHED A PILOT AT THOMAS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS? SO WE IN OUR QUEST TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WE WORKED WITH THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL TO CREATE WHAT THE CONSTRUCTS OF THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT 50 FRESHMEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PILOT PROGRAM.

THEY WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BE SOPHOMORES. AND THEN WE'RE WELCOMING 35 NINTH GRADERS AT THOMAS.

AND REALLY, AGAIN, WE'VE, WE'VE CREATED WITH THAT PATHWAY IS AND BEFORE WE EXPAND TO ALL THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS, WE'RE WORKING OUT THE KINKS WITH THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

OKAY. SO WHEN IT COMES TO FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES, IT REALLY CONSISTS OF WHATEVER AP CLASSES THAT YOU'RE AVAILABLE TO TAKE.

YES. CAN YOU TAKE AN AP CLASS AS A FRESHMAN? ABSOLUTELY.

YES. SO THEY HAVE SAT FOR AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, HUMAN GEOGRAPHY.

AND SO ULTIMATELY, WHAT THAT DOES IS A STUDENT EARNS A QUALIFYING SCORE OF THREE, 4 OR 5 ON THAT AP EXAM THAT CAN ACTUALLY TRANSFER OVER TO LONE STAR COLLEGE TOWARD CREDIT.

AND SO AND THEN AS A SOPHOMORE, THERE'S MORE THAN WHAT AP CLASSES ARE THERE.

SO THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MIX OF AP AND THEN SOME INTRODUCTORY DUAL CREDIT.

SO YOU HEARD ME MENTION WE'VE NOW CROSS WALKED TO OFFER AVID AS A DUAL CREDIT ELECTIVE.

AND SO WE'VE CROSS WALKED AVID WITH EDUCATION 1300.

THAT GIVES STUDENTS ANOTHER THREE HOURS OF ELECTIVE CREDIT AS WELL.

OKAY, SO IT STILL IS KIND OF SPECIFIC BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY JUNIORS AND SENIORS THAT CAN TAKE DUAL CREDIT TYPICALLY. YEAH.

YES, MA'AM. AND SAME WITH AP. RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU WOULD DO PRE AP AS WELL.

EXACTLY. BUT WE DO HAVE AP COURSES THAT DO EXTEND TO NINTH GRADERS AS WELL.

OKAY. AND BOARD THE GOAL IS IN THREE YEARS IS EVERY GRADUATING CLASS WILL HAVE 10% OF THEIR CLASS WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE ME, I APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF DUAL CREDIT SINCE I PERSONALLY AM A DUAL CREDIT INSTRUCTOR AS WELL AT A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICT AND REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING THIS GROW HERE AT LAMAR SEE ISD.

YOU MENTIONED THAT WE OFFER BOTH A FACE TO FACE AND AN ONLINE MODE FOR DUAL CREDIT CLASSES.

NOW, WITH RESPECT TO CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS, LAMAR ISD, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT LAMAR ISD TEACHERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS. ARE THERE ANY INSTANCES WHERE WE ARE OFFERING CLASSES THAT ARE BEING CONDUCTED BY AN INSTRUCTOR WHO IS NOT A LAMAR ISD CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTOR OR, OR, OR A TEACHER OF LAMAR ISD? CORRECT. SO THAT'S NOT LAMAR CISD EMPLOYEE. YES, MA'AM.

NO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INSTANCES LIKE THAT. SO ALL OF OUR DUAL CREDIT INSTRUCTORS ARE LAMAR CISD EMPLOYEES.

CORRECT. NOW, IF THEY'RE CREDENTIALED, THAT MEANS I AM THE INSTRUCTOR OF RECORD.

YES, MA'AM. IF IT'S A VIRTUAL MODALITY, THEN WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED AN LSP, A LEARNING SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL.

YES. AND THAT'S JUST A LAMAR CISD CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO IS REALLY STANDING IN PLACE OF CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTOR FROM LONE STAR COLLEGE.

YES. OKAY. OKAY. SO THEY'RE SORT OF A FACILITATOR.

OKAY. SO YOU MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO PARTNERS IN LONE STAR COLLEGE AND UT.

YES, SIR. SO? SO. ARE BOTH LONE STAR COLLEGE AND UT PROGRAMS OFFERED ONLINE, OR DOES UT OFFER SOME FACE TO FACE MORTALITY? CORRECT. SO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, THE ON RAMPS PROGRAM IS VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

SO IT IS ALL ONLINE, BUT IT IS STILL USING A C ISD INSTRUCTOR.

SO JUST LIKE I MENTIONED THAT LSP, THE LEARNING SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL MODEL WITH LONE STAR COLLEGE.

SO WITH ON RAMPS, IT'S NOT CALLED AN LSP, BUT IT IS THE SAME EXACT IDEA.

IT'S A LAMAR CISD TEACHER, A CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO'S SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY'RE ENGAGING IN DISTANCE COURSEWORK WITH A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN PROFESSOR OF RECORD.

SURE. OKAY, GREAT. AND SO I NOTICED THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE OFFER 31 COURSES.

YES. SO THAT WOULD EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY 90 HOURS.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE SCIENCES.

SO THE SCIENCES GIVE YOU FOUR HOURS OF CREDIT.

SO WE'VE GOT DUAL PHYSICS, BIOLOGY CHEM ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.

OKAY. SO SO ARE ALL THE CORE COURSES ARE OFFERED.

[01:05:02]

37 DID HOW MANY OF THOSE CAME OUT OF TERRY HIGH SCHOOL? 30, 31, 30, 30 FROM TERRY HIGH SCHOOL, THREE FROM FULSHEAR, THREE FROM GEORGE RANCH AND ONE FROM FOSTER.

OKAY, GREAT. AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I NOTICED DOCTOR SMITH IS IN THE ROOM.

AND SO SHOUT OUT TO IT'S 31 FOR THE, FOR THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S VERY, VERY THAT'S COMMENDABLE.

THANK YOU FOR DOING FOR, FOR YOUR HARD WORK WITH RESPECT TO, TO THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

HOW DOES HAVING OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DUAL CREDIT CLASSES HELP OUR T RATING? SO WITH RESPECT TO COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS, A STUDENT WHO EARNS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, THAT IS A KEY INDICATOR. SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE CMR SATISFIED.

BUT EVEN IF A STUDENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE AND OUR STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, A STUDENT WHO EARNS THREE HOURS IN ELA OR MATH OR OR NINE HOURS WITH A COMBINATION OF ANY KIND OF DUAL CREDIT GETS US A CMR. CHECK MARK. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT HELPS.

THERE'S A PAYOFF. YES, SIR. OVERALL, NOT TO MENTION TO HELP THE STUDENT.

ABSOLUTELY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALSO PARTNER WITH TSC.

THAT WOULD BE FOR OUR YOU HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT OUR ACADEMIC DUAL CREDIT.

SO THAT WOULD BE ON OUR CTE DUAL. YES, MA'AM.

AS I NOTICED DOCTOR LASER STANDING THERE. THAT'S PART OF WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.

ABSOLUTELY. AND INCIDENTALLY, RECENTLY I NOTICED A POST DOCTOR LASER WHERE I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING I READ ONLINE. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.

BUT, BUT BUT I BELIEVE HALF OF IT. SO, SO THE HALF THAT I, THAT, THAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS THAT I NOTICED THAT THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING USING WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER AS WELL.

YES, SIR. SO WE ARE IN TALKS RIGHT NOW WITH W C JC ABOUT EXPANDING OUR DUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CTE REALM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT AN AGREEMENT AND EXPANDING IN ENGINEERING DESIGN AS WELL AS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

GOOD. I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT. YES. I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

AND HEIDI RUIZ, THE THE HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT, INCIDENTALLY, SHE'S ONE OF OUR PTO PRESIDENTS AT BOWIE ELEMENTARY.

YES, SIR. AND SHE'S JUST A FANTASTIC INDIVIDUAL.

THAT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM. SO THAT WARMS MY HEART.

YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION, FOR THAT UPDATE.

SO LET'S SEE HERE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IN THREE YEARS, OUR GOAL IS TO TO HAVE 10% OF ALL OUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

YES, SIR. OKAY, FANTASTIC. WELL, I'M GOING TO EXPRESS I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO EXPRESS ONE CONCERN THAT I HOPE THAT THAT WE CAN ALL ADDRESS AT SOME POINT. I CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO TO KEEP MY STANDARD VERY HIGH AS A DUAL CREDIT INSTRUCTOR BECAUSE I WORRY FOR MY STUDENTS.

I WORRY THAT MY STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY'LL GET TO A UNIVERSITY LIKE TEXAS STATE OR SAM HOUSTON STATE, OR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OR TEXAS A AND M, WHERE MANY OF MY STUDENTS WON'T ATTEND. AND SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, THEY WILL GET STARTED AT TEXAS A AND M IN JUNIOR LEVEL CLASSES.

AND I'M NOT SURE OUR STUDENTS SOMETIMES HAVE THE GRIT AND THE EXPERIENCE TO THRIVE IN THAT CAPACITY.

SO I'M I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS THERE.

THE SOLUTION THAT I IMPLEMENT IS I MAKE MY CLASS VERY TOUGH.

IT'S A VERY HIGH STANDARD. AND, AND I DO THAT ON PURPOSE.

AND INCIDENTALLY, SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT I USE IN MY CLASS, I BORROW FROM DOCTOR DAVID'S.

HE'S, HE'S MY, MY EDUCATIONAL MENTOR. THERE, THERE, THERE'S SOME THINGS I'M INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES THAT I'VE BEEN USING.

ONE, ONE DOCTOR DAVID'S TAUGHT ME WAS THREE, THREE BEFORE ME.

I ASKED MY YOU KNOW, WHEN MY STUDENTS WILL ASK ME A BASIC QUESTION THAT THAT INSTEAD OF ME SAYING, READ THE SYLLABUS AGAIN, I'LL, YOU KNOW, I, I IMPLEMENTED THIS STRATEGY WHERE I, I'LL TELL THEM TO ASK THREE, THREE PEOPLE, THREE OF THEIR ASSOCIATES BEFORE THEY ASK ME.

AND NOW THAT MY STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT I REQUIRE THEM TO READ THE SYLLABUS, BECOME INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE SYLLABUS.

AND I'M TRYING I'M NOT TRYING TO BE HARD ON THEM.

IT'S JUST THAT I WANT THEM TO, TO THRIVE IN, IN THE, IN A UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT AND IN THE REAL WORLD.

AND ONE OTHER STRATEGY THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU RIGHT QUICK THAT I THINK RELATES TO CTE VERY WELL IN THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE I, I HAVE A COMBINATION OF STUDENTS, I HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE, THAT I TEACH HERE ON CAMPUS IN RICHMOND AT THE RICHMOND CAMPUS.

SOME OF MY STUDENTS ARE TRANSFERRED TO A UNIVERSITY. IN FACT, MOST OF THEM ARE.

BUT SOME OF MY STUDENTS ARE STUDYING A TECHNICAL PROGRAM LIKE NURSING OR PROCESS TECHNOLOGY OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

[01:10:05]

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOCTOR NIVENS AND I HAVE DISCUSSED.

IS THAT OFTENTIMES WE WILL TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO FIND A SOLUTION.

WE'LL TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO FIND AN ANSWER. BUT, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY TRUST THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND SO FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR, I, I GAVE MY STUDENTS AN OPEN BOOK FINAL EXAM.

THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY TO, TO KNOW THAT THAT FINAL EXAM WOULD BE OPEN BOOK.

BUT THEY, WHAT THEY REALIZE IS IT WASN'T ANY EASIER THAN, THAN, THAN, THAN NOT HAVING AN OPEN, OPEN BOOK ACCESS TO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S IN THE BOOK IN ORDER TO FIND THE ANSWER.

BUT JUST A COUPLE OF TECHNIQUES THAT THAT DOCTOR NIVENS HAS PASSED ON TO ME.

I'M CONTINUALLY PICKING HIS BRAIN YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO THOSE TECHNIQUES.

BUT REALLY THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS WITH RESPECT TO HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP THAT GRIT SO THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE US LEAVE LAMAR SEE ISD THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN HAND THAT THEY'LL THRIVE AT THAT NEXT LEVEL REGARDLESS OF WHERE, WHAT, WHAT UNIVERSITY THEY'LL ATTEND. AND, AND MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, OF COURSE, WILL ATTEND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AS WELL, LIKE RICE OR SMU OR BAYLOR. AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS, IS NOT ONLY HAVING THE ACADEMIC PREPARATION, BUT ALSO HAVING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT GRIT THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

BUT, BUT KUDOS TO YOU. I COMMEND YOU BOTH AND FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU BOTH CONTINUALLY DO.

I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE US MAKE THESE KINDS OF STRIDES HERE.

LAMAR ISD VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE STUDENTS WHO, WHO HAVE YOU KNOW, EMBARKED ON THIS PATHWAY AS WELL.

AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. CAN WE I NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE TIMES FOR THE STUDENTS THEY ATTEND, THEY ATTAIN THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS GET TO GO TO THEIR SCHOOL OF CHOICE BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSFER CREDITS AND THEIR GRADES WHEN THEY TRANSFER IN. CAN YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THAT A LITTLE BIT? IS IT HARDER FOR THEM LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE AT THE TOP BECAUSE OF THEIR MULTIPLIERS? THEY'RE GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO IN OUR CLASSES.

BUT WHEN THEY GO TO PICK THEIR SCHOOL OF CHOICE, THEY MAY NOT GET INTO THEIR SCHOOL OF CHOICE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO. CAN YOU TALK TO THAT AT ALL? THAT IS THE POWER OF OUR COUNSELING, OF OUR SECONDARY COUNSELING TEAM.

AND WE HAVE PHENOMENAL DUAL CREDIT COUNSELORS STAFFED AT EACH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

THAT IS THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY TO TEND TO THE STUDENT FROM THE ACADEMIC SIDE, BUT REALLY SPEAKING TO THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF THINGS THAT TRUSTEE ARROYO WAS SPEAKING TO.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE JOB TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE PROVIDING STUDENTS LEGITIMATE GUIDANCE SO THAT WHATEVER THEIR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAY IS, THAT IT'S NOT A SURPRISE WHEN I STEP FOOT ONTO THAT FOUR YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, WHETHER OR NOT THESE CREDITS ARE GOING TO TRANSFER.

AND SO AGAIN, JUST SPEAKING TO JUST THE STRENGTH OF OUR SECONDARY COUNSELING TEAM AND SPECIFICALLY OUR DUAL CREDIT COUNSELORS.

I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE 45 TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT THAT WERE ELIGIBLE OR, OR ACTIVE AS DUAL CREDIT TEACHERS CREDENTIALED FROM THIS PAST YEAR.

DO THEY NOT ALL TEACH EVERY YEAR DUAL CREDIT COURSES? HOPEFULLY, YES, THEY WILL, BUT THAT DOES. REALLY.

THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR MASTER SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE.

BUT THE IDEA IS YOU BECOME A CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTOR THAT YOUR CREDENTIALED TO TEACH GOVERNMENT, AND THE HOPE IS THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO TEACH THOSE GOVERNMENT COURSES.

IS THERE ANY COST TO THE STUDENT TO TAKE DUAL CREDIT? YES, YES. AND SO WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LONE STAR COLLEGE, OUR FEE IS $129 FOR A THREE CREDIT HOUR COURSE, BUT IT ACTUALLY PANS OUT TO $43 PER CREDIT HOUR.

SO WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THOSE SCIENCE CLASSES, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER OF A RATE.

BUT ALSO REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT US LEVERAGING WHAT'S CALLED HB EIGHT FAST.

THAT FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER. ANY STUDENT WHO IS IDENTIFIED AS FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, DUAL CREDIT FOR RIGHT NOW IS ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO THAT STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THAT MONEY IS WITHOUT THE STUDENT BEING INVOLVED IS TRANSFERRED TO LONE STAR.

SO THEY'RE BEING PAID BETWEEN THE TEXAS, THE TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD AND THOSE SPECIFIC ENTITIES LIKE LONE STAR COLLEGE.

ABSOLUTELY. BUT THERE IS NO EXCHANGE ON OUR PART.

AND SAME WITH UT. IS THAT RIGHT? WITH THE ON RAMPS PROGRAM? WELL, WITH UT ON RAMPS, IT'S THERE IS STILL FAST.

THERE IS STILL, IF I'M ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, THEN THERE IS NO FEE.

BUT WITH THAT ONE, IF THERE. IF THE STUDENT IS NOT ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

IT IS $150 FOR THE COURSE. AND ON OUR CAMPUSES, WHERE OUR ON RAMPS PROGRAMS ARE HAPPENING,

[01:15:05]

CORRECT. THAT'S IF IT'S NOT THE STUDENT'S PERSONAL FINANCES, FAMILY FINANCES, IF THEY ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT HAS AN HONORS PROGRAM.

AND IN THE ABSENCE OF IF THE IF THERE WAS A CAMPUS THAT HAD AN ON RAMPS COURSE AND THE CAMPUS DID NOT ABSORB, THEN THAT WOULD BE A FEE THAT THE STUDENT WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF THEY ARE NOT ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

IS THE LAMAR TEACHER COMPENSATED BY THE SCHOOL FOR ON RAMPS FOR.

FOR. ARE THEY COMPENSATED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM FINANCIALLY FROM THE LONE STAR COLLEGE OR UT? YEAH, FROM LONE STAR COLLEGE, YES, BECAUSE THEY ARE CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ON RAMPS.

THEY ARE NOT CREDENTIALED INSTRUCTORS. THEY ARE LIKE A GO BETWEEN. SO THERE IS NO COMPENSATION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE ACTUAL TEACHER OF RECORD OFFERING THAT CREDIT.

BUT FOR LONE STAR COLLEGE. YES. SO IN A CERTAIN SCENARIO, WOULD THERE BE A CLASS WHERE IT'S A DUAL CREDIT CLASS? BUT NOT EVERY KID IN THE LAMAR CLASS IS ALSO ENROLLED IN DUAL CREDIT.

YES. SO AGAIN, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT MASTER SCHEDULING, SOMETIMES THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO MASTER SCHEDULING.

AND SO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED A COURSE CROSSWALK.

SO WE IT'S A DUAL CREDIT AS HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT AND DUAL AND COLLEGE CREDIT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE SOME CLASSES THAT WE CAN DO THAT'S CALLED STACKING.

WE CAN STACK A CLASS. LIKE FOR INSTANCE, WE COULD STACK AP ENGLISH THREE WITH ENGLISH.

1301. WE COULD STACK THAT IF OUR NUMBERS PER SE DID NOT NECESSARILY EQUATE TO US HAVING TWO SEPARATE SECTIONS.

AND SO IN THAT INSTANCE, YOU WOULD HAVE A CLASS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE LONE STAR COLLEGE ENGLISH 1301 COURSE.

AND YOU'D HAVE CERTAIN KIDS IN THE CLASS WHO WERE ONLY ENROLLED IN THE AP COURSE.

THERE IS AN ACTUAL DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TO THAT STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILY TO LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE ENROLLED IN A STACKED COURSE, AND YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY ENROLLED ON THE LONE STAR COLLEGE SIDE.

YOU WILL NOT BE RECEIVING THE DUAL CREDIT, BUT YOU ARE ASPIRING TOWARD THAT AP EXAM, RIGHT? LAST QUESTION. DID YOU SAY THAT ALL GRADUATES ARE AUTOMATICALLY ACCEPTED IF THEY WANT TO GO TO HQ, IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND THAT IS ACADEMIC.

IT IS AT LEAST A 3.0 AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE PASSED ALGEBRA TWO SUCCESSFULLY.

WELL, PASSING IS SUCCESSFUL, I GUESS. YES. THANK YOU.

YES. YOU'RE WELCOME. BACK TO THE FEES PORTION.

IF THEY ATTEND A TITLE ONE SCHOOL, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS FREE AND REDUCED.

RIGHT? NO. SO IF THEY ATTEND A TITLE ONE CAMPUS, CURRENTLY, ALL OF OUR TITLE ONE CAMPUS PRINCIPALS HAVE IN THEIR PLAN, THEY HAVE IN THEIR TITLE ONE FUNDS. THEY ARE APPROPRIATING THOSE FUNDS TOWARD DUAL CREDIT FOR ALL STUDENTS ON THEIR CAMPUSES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ATTEND A TITLE ONE CAMPUS. IT'S BECAUSE THOSE CAMPUS LEADERS HAVE DECIDED HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SAY COST WILL NOT BE A FACTOR FOR ANY STUDENT HERE.

THANK YOU. SO THAT COMES FROM A CAMPUS. THEIR CAMPUS BUDGET? YES. OKAY. I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS TOO. SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CLASS, THE DUAL CREDIT CLASSES THAT HAVE FACILITATORS IN THEM.

SO THOSE TEACHERS ARE FACILITATORS. THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY TEACHING.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO THEY, THEY ARE BECAUSE THE STUDENTS HAVE.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED IN THAT PARTICULAR CONTENT AREA.

RIGHT. AND SO THERE MIGHT BE QUESTIONS THAT THE, THAT COME UP THAT STUDENTS HAVE ABOUT SOMETHING.

A TEACHER IS STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MASTER A PARTICULAR OBJECTIVE, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE DUAL CREDIT TEACHER OF RECORD.

RIGHT? OKAY. AND THEN ALSO LET'S SEE THE WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM AT THOMAS.

ARE Y'ALL ALSO FOCUSING ON HOW TO PROMOTE THIS STUFF TO FAMILIES? LIKE FOR INSTANCE DO ALL FAMILIES KNOW THAT WHEN YOU TAKE AN AP COURSE VERSUS A DUAL CREDIT, DUAL CREDIT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR COLLEGE CREDIT AP. YOU GOT TO EARN IT THROUGH THE FINAL EXAM.

YES. AND THAT'S NOT THAT IS NOT JUST AT THOMAS.

THAT'S RIGHT. OF COURSE DISTRICT WIDE JUST MAKING CERTAIN. YES.

AND AGAIN I KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR COUNSELORS AND THE PHENOMENAL WORK THAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, TO COUNSEL AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO FAMILIES TO ENSURE FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT AP VERSUS DUAL CREDIT, BUT ALSO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE.

IF I'M TRYING TO GO TO A SPECIFIC UNIVERSITY, WILL THOSE AP COURSES TRANSFER OR AP CREDITS TRANSFER WITH THOSE DUAL CREDIT COURSES? TRANSFER? YES, MA'AM. AND THAT'S GROWING WORK FOR US AS WELL.

RIGHT? YEAH. BECAUSE I JUST I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

YES. AND IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT MAYBE WHO DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION OR DOESN'T CARE, THEN THAT MIGHT NOT BE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE PARENT OR THE PARENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MINE IS LESS QUESTIONS AND MORE. SO JUST I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHOSE KIDS ARE COMING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATING, AND I MYSELF JUST HAD A DAUGHTER GRADUATE.

[01:20:03]

BUT WHEN YOU KNOW THE STATE, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CHOOSE PATHWAYS.

WE WANT KIDS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF IDEA WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

AND REALLY JUST, I THINK THE, THE MODEL OF GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT.

THAT JUST DOESN'T IT'S NOT WORKING ANYMORE. IT CAN'T WORK FOR KIDS.

AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW WE WANT THE STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE FROM US TO BE POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS WHEN THEY GRADUATE, BUT I. I WANT THEM TO MORE THAN THAT, HAVE LEVERAGE, AND I WANT THEM TO HAVE OPTIONS WHEN THEY GRADUATE AND WHETHER THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF EVERY GRADUATE LEFT LAMAR WITH AT LEAST ONE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE ALREADY IN HAND, WHETHER THAT IS THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, WHETHER THAT'S 30 HOURS OF DUAL CREDIT LIKE MY DAUGHTER HAD, THAT IS A FULL YEAR OF TEXAS A AND M THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR.

AMEN. WHETHER THAT'S A WORKFORCE CREDENTIAL OR AN IT CERTIFICATION, WHEN A STUDENT WALKS ACROSS OUR STAGE, WHAT LEVERAGE DO THEY HAVE? YOU KNOW, CAN THEY START COLLEGE AS A SOPHOMORE? CAN THEY ENTER A HIGH PAYING CAREER WITH WITHOUT ANY COLLEGE DEBT? ARE THEY, ARE THEY ABLE TO EARN A CREDENTIAL THAT WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FOR THEIR, YOU KNOW, GENERATIONALLY AND MOST OF ALL, CAN THEY COMPETE WITH GRADUATES FROM SCHOOLS THAT SPENT 3 TO 4 AS TIMES MUCH EDUCATING THEM. I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND WHO HER NEPHEW WAS GRADUATING FROM KINKAID AND GOING TO HARVARD.

AND I'M LIKE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SPEND $40,000 A YEAR ON OUR KIDS, RIGHT? BUT WHY SHOULDN'T A LAMAR SEE ISD GRADUATE HAVE JUST AS MANY DOORS OPEN TO THEM AS A GRADUATE FROM ANY ELITE SCHOOL IN TEXAS? SO I FEEL LIKE THAT IS WHERE OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MATCH THEM IN SPENDING, BUT WE CAN MATCH THEM IN OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

SO THAT'S MY THAT'S MY CHALLENGE. HOW VALUABLE CAN WE MAKE LC ISD DIPLOMA GOING FORWARD? I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT JACKIE SAID ABOUT PEOPLE ASKING, WHY? WHY DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO PICK A PATHWAY IN EIGHTH GRADE? AND I ALWAYS JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOUR KIDS THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND THEN IT CAN CHANGE.

LIKE, IT'S OKAY TO BE A SOPHOMORE AND CHANGE YOUR MIND.

LIKE YOU'RE NOT SET ON A TRAJECTORY THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE.

BUT LIKE SHE SAID, JUST TO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS DO THE DUAL CREDIT THINGS TOO IN CLASSES TOO, AND AP CLASSES. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO KNOW THE WHY.

WHY? BECAUSE THIS CAN, LIKE SHE SAID, THIS CAN PUT THEM IN BETTER, A BETTER WAY TO LEVERAGE ONCE THEY GET OUT OF COLLEGE.

I HAVE TWO THAT DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE. I HAVE ONE THAT JUST GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, AND I STILL HAVE TWO MORE. SO I MEAN, EVERYBODY, ALL THE KIDS GO A DIFFERENT WAY. AND SO BUT IT IS GOOD TO HAVE OPTIONS AND IT'S GOOD TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THEN IT'S OKAY IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, IT'S NO BIG DEAL. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AS A SOPHOMORE. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AS A SENIOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THESE COURSES TO GRADUATE ANYWAY. YOU JUST CHANGE YOUR PATH A LITTLE. SO IT'S NOTHING THAT'S DETRIMENTAL, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THEIR NAMES AGAIN BECAUSE I DON'T NEED ANYBODY POACHING MY STAFF. BUT I HAVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE THE WORLD'S BEST STAFF IN EVERY SINGLE AREA, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM AN ELITE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME KIDS THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS, BUT WE'RE PERFORMING JUST AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE.

AND SO THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE ADULTS IN THIS ROOM AND THE ONES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM. BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY IN LAMAR.

SEE, ISD IS THAT WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE IS THAT THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND THEY ARE POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE YOUNG CITIZENS. AND SO THAT MEANS WE SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

AND SO TO TRUSTEE ARROYOS COMMENT. I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH DOCTOR WAITES AND THERE, THERE, THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF MATURITY THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE WHEN YOU'RE 18 AND YOU GO TO COLLEGE AS A JUNIOR.

AND SO, BUT THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT COUNSELORS HAVE TO HAVE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, YOU HAVE TO BE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS. AND I HAVE MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. AND SO THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING INTERNALLY. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, TRUSTEE ARROYOS TALKED ABOUT OPEN BOOK EXAM.

YOU KNOW, LAMAR SAYS, OUR GOAL IS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO SCHOOL IN THIS NATION.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR IMPACT ON FORT BEND COUNTY.

LAMAR ISD IS GOING TO IMPACT ON THIS NATION. AND SO THE WAY WE TEST NOW IS THAT STUDENTS MEMORIZE AND WHO ALL MEMORIZES EVERYTHING NOW? I MEAN, WE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE MUCH.

[01:25:02]

RIGHT. AND SO OUR JOB IS TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO FIND THE ANSWER AND HOW TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND HOW TO BE NICE AND KIND, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE ANSWER. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TESTING STUDENTS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MEMORIZATION, I THINK WE ARE SETTING THEM UP FOR FAILURE IN THE WORLD.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE THINGS ANYMORE, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO FIND THE ANSWER. AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION I'M HAVING WITH MISS COTTON GAME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SLOWLY IMPLEMENTING THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A CHANGE AND THAT'S MOVING PEOPLE'S CHEESE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CHANGE IS DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. ESPECIALLY FOR A CLASSROOM TEACHER THAT'S BEEN DOING IT 30 YEARS.

WHEN YOU SAY CHANGE HOW I TEST, THAT'S THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO SET STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS WHEN THEY LEAVE US AND BE ABLE TO GO FIND US THE ANSWER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO THE PHILOSOPHY OF LA FORCE ISD IS TO BE AN ELITE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR, MY, MY STUDENT ZIP CODE. AND I SAY MY STUDENTS, THEIR ZIP CODE DOES NOT DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY.

WE HELP THEM DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY. AND IF THEY HAVE THE GRIT AND THE WILL TO DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THERE.

BUT THAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF TOMORROW. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PHILOSOPHY OF TOMORROW IS SATURDAY. AS LONG AS I SIT IN THE SEAT, IS THAT EVERY CHILD IS WORTH ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET, THAT THEY ARE GOING TOWARDS THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE LADY AT THE PODIUM BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO SAY YOUR NAME.

BUT SHE DOES, SHE DOES. I MEAN, SUPERINTENDENTS DO CALL ME AND ASK QUESTIONS AND AND SOME I HAVE THREATENED TO LEAVE HER ALONE, BUT THANK. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND THANK YOU ALL MY STAFF AND THE COUNSELORS AND EVERYONE.

BECAUSE THE ISD IS AN ELITE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF YOU.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU. ALL RIGHT. YES. THANK YOU.

LADY AT THE PODIUM. IT IS IT IS 757. WE ARE ADJOURNING TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071551.072551.074 AND 551.082. THE.

OH, I'M SORRY, I DID FORGET SOMETHING. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT THAT TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO PULL.

[14. FUTURE CONSENT AGENDA]

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, NOW IT IS SEVEN, 7757.

[15. CLOSED SESSION]

THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL, LAND ACQUISITION OR CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY.

OKAY, WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. IT IS 8:19 P.M..

WE HAVE A QUORUM. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE? MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TERMINATE DONNA HOFMANN'S PROBATIONARY CONTRACT AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT TERM IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT.

I SECOND. TRUSTEE MASTERS MAKES A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. YOU MAY CAST YOUR VOTE. ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IT IS 8:20 P.M.. RECORD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.