Aug 18, 2026 Regular School Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 6:30 P.M.

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

THIS IS THE REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING BEING HELD ON AUGUST 18TH, 2026.

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

THANK YOU. BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PLEDGES, I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS ONE IS A LITTLE EXTRA SPECIAL.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WELCOMING LCISD STUDENTS FROM THE SIXTH GRADE TO LEAD US.

BUT TONIGHT, OUR STUDENT GUESTS HAPPENED TO BE SOME OF THE KIDS WHO KNOW THIS BOARD THE BEST.

OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY, SHARE US WITH THIS DISTRICT IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO HAVE THEM WITH US TONIGHT.

SO PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG LED BY BROOKE HENDERSON BRISCOE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

ASHLYN HENDERSON, FROST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WREN LAMBERT, STEENBURGEN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ESTEBAN MURILLO. THE FOURTH, RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL.

PIPER HARTSELL, READING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. AND AUGIE HARTSELL CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. GOOD JOB GUYS.

WAIT. WAIT RIGHT THERE. AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE REAL FAST. YEAH.

GO TO THE FRONT. GO TO THE FRONT. IF YOUR KIDS, I MEAN. YEAH, THE WHOLE PART.

ALSO, HANNAH MASTERS COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE SHE HAS SOCCER PRACTICE.

YES. SO WE MISSED HER. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.

[3. Recognitions/awards]

IT'S THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN LAMAR, ISD, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HONOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF OUR LAMAR CISD PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, WHOSE WORK RECENTLY EARNED LAMAR CISD THE DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION DESIGNATION FROM THE TEXAS ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2026.

SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT LAMAR CISD HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN NAMED A 2526 TEXAS ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION, ONE OF ONLY 109 SCHOOL DISTRICTS STATEWIDE, TO RECEIVE THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR OUT OF MORE THAN 1200 ELIGIBLE DISTRICTS.

DISTRICTS ARE EVALUATED IN AREAS SUCH AS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN TAE, A STUDENT EXHIBITIONS, COMPETITIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, FIELD EXPERIENCES, SERVICE LEARNING AND CROSS CURRICULAR COLLABORATION.

LAMAR ISD MET OR EXCEEDED THE STANDARDS IN EVERY AREA OF EVALUATION, REFLECTING THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF OUR VISUAL ARTS EDUCATORS AND THE DISTRICT'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ARTISTIC LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY STUDENT AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL.

CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO ALL THE DEDICATED TEACHERS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WHO HELP BRING THE ARTS ALIVE EVERY DAY FOR OUR STUDENTS,

[00:05:02]

WE'VE GOT JOAN MARSH HANSON FROM TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

CHRISTIAN FREIBERG FROM THOMAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND JEREMIAH MOORE FROM STEENBERGEN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM ALL COME FORWARD TO JOIN THE TRUSTEES FOR A QUICK PHOTO CELEBRATING THIS INCREDIBLE AWARD AND ALL THE WORK THAT WENT IN BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. AND DOCTOR. DIBS AND TRUSTEES.

YOU CAN RETURN TO YOUR SEAT AS I MAKE THIS NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT. WE ALSO CELEBRATE ANOTHER DISTRICT MILESTONE LAST WEDNESDAY WHEN 46 LAMAR CSC SENIORS CROSSED THE STAGE AT THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL DURING SUMMER GRADUATION. OUR SUMMER GRADUATES SHOW REMARKABLE RESOLVE AND DEDICATION, AND WE'RE PROUD OF EACH OF THEM FOR THE WORK THEY PUT IN TO GRADUATE. AND IT WAS A JOY TO SEE THEM CELEBRATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. LAST WEEK, AS THEY OFFICIALLY JOINED THE LAMAR TASB CLASS OF 2026. CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE GRADUATES AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND OTHER DISTRICT STAFF WHO WORKED WITH THOSE STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER TO MAKE THEIR GRADUATION DREAMS COME TRUE. DOCTOR NIVENS DOES ALL THE RECOGNITIONS WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. WE WILL NOW HAVE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND SHOUTOUTS.

[4. Board members' reports]

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO GO FIRST? MR.. PRESIDENT.

HARTZELL. I COME TONIGHT WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OUTSTANDING DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO TO SERVE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL, SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS MY ATTITUDE FOR OR GRATITUDE FOR.

I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ONCE AGAIN AND EVERYONE, ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE WHO ADDED VALUE TO THE FANTASTIC EVENTS WE'VE HAD PRECEDING THE SCHOOL YEAR, INCLUDING THE BLOCK PARTY, THE CONVOCATION, AND THE NEW STAFF STAMPEDE.

YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO GET US OFF TO A GOOD SCHOOL YEAR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU PRESIDENT HARTSELL, FOR ALLOWING OUR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR MY GRANDCHILD TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE TONIGHT.

THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL. THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY SPECIAL MOMENT.

I WOULD BE REMISS IN MY IN MY DUTIES AS A DOTING GRANDFATHER IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY GRANDSON VAN AND BELLA AND AND TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU FOR, FOR BEING GOOD CITIZENS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WORK HARD TO DO HERE IS, IS PROVIDE IS EDUCATE STUDENTS TO BE GOOD CITIZENS, GOOD, POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE.

I WAS VERY PROUD WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED THIS SUMMER THAT VAN MASTERED ALL HIS STAR EXAMS AND THAT BELLA HAD GRADUATED WITH A 4.0 GPA.

AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL TO THE TO THE SILVER TRACK AND ALL THE ALL THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE THAT HAVE TAUGHT MY GRANDKIDS OVER THE YEARS AT CORA THOMAS AND AT REDDING JUNIOR HIGH AND WRIGHT JUNIOR HIGH AND RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL THE EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME VERY GOOD REPORTS FROM OF ADVANCES THAT SCHOOLS ARE MAKING IN OUR T RATINGS.

AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND I AND, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO TEACH STUDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE WIND UP IN MY COLLEGE CLASS.

IT'S A CORE COURSE. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE TURNING OUT A GREAT PRODUCT HERE.

LAMAR CISD THEY ARE. THEY NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO TEACH STUDENTS FROM EVERY COLOR TRACK EXCEPT THOMAS.

AT THIS POINT. BUT THE GREEN TRACK. BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUST AS OUTSTANDING BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR THE TEA REPORT THIS EVENING, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW THAT THEIR THOMAS IS OFF TO TO A GREAT START.

ALSO, I'M GOING TO END WITH THIS. I'M GOING TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO CONTINUALLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

[00:10:07]

IT'S INTENTIONAL. WE WORK VERY HARD AT THAT, AND WE DO THAT TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE.

AND AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT ABOUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT BEING ALL IN, YOU KNOW, INCLUDES OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALL IN AND OUR, OUR CHILDREN RIGHT THERE REPRESENT THE BABIES THAT ARE IN THESE SEATS THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE EDUCATING AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, ALL IN IS NOT JUST IT'S MORE THAN A SLOGAN AT LAMAR SEE ISD.

IT'S A LIFESTYLE. SO HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THAT I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION, THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE CONTINUALLY SEE FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER THAT WE HAVE UP HERE AND, AND BE HAVING BEEN A PROPONENT OF DEVELOPMENT FOR MANY YEARS.

I KNOW THAT LARGE COMPANIES AND PARENTS LOOK AT GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHEN THEY PLAN TO RELOCATE.

WE ARE GROWING FOR VERY GOOD REASON BECAUSE WE ARE AN ELITE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND TO ECHO DOCTOR NIVEN'S COMMENTS DURING OUR JUNE BOARD MEETING, AN ELITE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A IS A PLACE WHERE A STUDENT CAN GET AN ELITE EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE. AND THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE. AND WHEN WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ELON MUSK LOOK AT LAMAR C ISD TO LOCATE A COMPANY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GOOD GOVERNANCE THAT IS RIGHT HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

AND IT STARTS RIGHT HERE WITH LAMAR C ISD. SO THANK YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS YOU. AND I'M PROUD TO BE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONG WITH YOU.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHO WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THAT? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S TONIGHT I WANT TO GIVE A MASSIVE, MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP, SAYING YES TO THE CALL.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY FEW MINUTES THERE'S ANOTHER ANONYMOUS POST OR COMMENT ONLINE CRITICIZING OUR SCHOOLS, MANY OF THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED AND MANY OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE CLAIM NEED FIXING COULD BE RESOLVED BY SIMPLY GOING TO THE SOURCE AND ASKING A PERSON AND TAKING THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL SITUATION. RIGHT NOW EDUCATION IS COMPLICATED.

THERE'S ALMOST ALWAYS MORE CONTEXT AND NUANCE THAT FITS INTO AN ANONYMOUS FACEBOOK POST.

I KNOW IT CAN BE DISCOURAGING TO OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR EDUCATORS, OUR PARENTS, OUR FRONT DESK ADMIN. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS TO SEE THE INCOMPLETE INFORMATION AND UNFAIR ASSUMPTIONS, AND SOMETIMES INTENTIONALLY UNKIND COMMENTS BEING SHARED BY PUBLICLY BY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWILLING TO ATTACH THEIR NAMES TO THEM.

SO TO OUR EDUCATORS. THANK YOU FOR REFUSING TO LET THAT DISTRACT YOU FROM THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SHOW UP. SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, TEACH THEM, ENCOURAGE THEM AND FEED THEM.

TAKE CARE OF THEM. ANSWER THE CALL EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THE PEOPLE DOING THE ACTUAL WORK SEE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU AND KNOW THE DIFFERENCE YOU ARE MAKING.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS.

I JUST TO ADD TO ALL OF THAT, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY, BUT OUR OFFICERS, THEY JUST HAVE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB THIS WEEK.

I KNOW IT'S LAST WEEK WITH THE START OF SCHOOL, I, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC AND CULTURE IS INSANE ALREADY.

AND THEN YOU ADD 3000 KIDS TO IT AND HALF OF THEM DRIVING.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE THEM BEING OUT THERE IN THE MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS.

I KNOW IT'S HOT AND PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS HAPPY AND KIND, BUT IT REALLY MATTERS.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AND IT MADE THIS WEEK ACTUALLY GO MUCH SMOOTHER.

SO THANK YOU. I'LL GO. I HAVE A SHOUT OUT TO A NEW PRINCIPAL IN LAMAR.

SHE IS THE PRINCIPAL OF BRISCOE JUNIOR HIGH. MISS BRANDY WHEELER ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE OF COMING TO LAMAR, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE DID. BEING IN EDUCATION, PEOPLE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE PEOPLE THAT CREATE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND MISS WHEELER WENT OUT OF HER WAY BEFORE SCHOOL EVEN STARTED.

BUT I WAS TRULY BLOWN AWAY AS A PARENT TO SEE WHAT SHE DID FOR MY OWN CHILD ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

SO I JUST WANT HER TO KNOW THAT HER LITTLE TRINKETS AND HER LITTLE GIFTS.

AND WHILE THEY MAY SEEM SILLY, THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO THOSE KIDS.

AND WHEN YOU BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THEY'RE GOING GONNA YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THEIR HEARTS. AND THAT'S WHERE THE REAL LEARNING BEGINS. SO THANK YOU. AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT IT'S THOSE THAT REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ANYONE DOWN THERE? OKAY, I ECHO THAT SENTIMENT WITH MISS WHEELER.

SHE HAS ACTUALLY COME TO THE PARENTS OF BRISCOE MEETING.

AND SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE HER THAT CLOSE WITH THE CAMPUS.

[00:15:01]

BUT THE AYE RATED CAMPUSES, THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF WORK BEHIND THOSE RATINGS, AND OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED.

AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND TO FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR EARNING THE HIGHEST HIGH SCHOOL SCORE IN THE DISTRICT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE A RATED CAMPUSES.

AND TO ECHO SUZANNE'S SENTIMENT A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING WITH TRAFFIC AT FOSTER BRISCOE AND WERTHEIMER WHILE WE NAVIGATE ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION ON FM. 723. I KNOW IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

SOME OF THESE OFFICERS CAME STRAIGHT FROM THEIR MORNING ASSIGNMENTS AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THEN STOOD OUT THERE IN THE HEAT, HELPING WITH TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS HAVE CONTINUED TO CHANGE.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED AND I AM SURE DEALING WITH THE COMPLAINTS HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

BUT THEY KEPT SHOWING UP AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SAFE AND TRAFFIC MOVING.

SPECIAL THANK YOU ALSO TO FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR STEPPING IN AND HELPING.

THIS HAS BEEN A MOVING TARGET, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE, OFFICER MAYLING.

ADA. FELICIANO. GUAJARDO. HAHN. RADAR DE LEON SMITH, HARRIS GARCIA, EDGE, K9 SIREN AND SERGEANT TYLER. WE TRULY DO HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY SHOW UP, THEY STEP IN WHEREVER THEY'RE NEEDED AND THEY TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS.

I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR EACH OF THEM AND EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR LAMAR C ISD.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK EVERYONE'S ECHOED EVERYONE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY IT FEELS LIKE THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN ONE OF THE BEST STARTS TO THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD. AND YES, THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE ONLINE, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE POSITIVE RIGHT NOW.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S A HUGE KUDOS TO OUR STAFF AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS, WHO ARE JUST GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THEY REFUSE TO ENGAGE WITH THE NEGATIVE, WHICH IS A VERY HARD THING TO DO, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

AND I SAID SOMETHING AT CONVOCATION LIKE, YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING THIS BATTLE ALONE.

THAT IS TRUE. BUT DON'T BE TEMPTED TO GO FIGHT THE BATTLES ON FACEBOOK EITHER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THAT'S NOT YOURS TO CARRY. SO THAT BEING SAID, WAY TO GO EVERYONE.

FOR A GREAT START TO THE YEAR. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS.

NO. OKAY. DOCTOR NIVENS, IS THERE A SUPERINTENDENT REPORT?

[6. Superintendent's report]

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A FEW FOLKS. FIRST TO THE TRUSTEES FOR RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK OF THE STAFF.

THAT'S NOT COMMON. AND THAT JUST MEANS YOU GUYS ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND SO LAST WEEK, I WENT TO OUT OF OUR 61 CAMPUSES, I GOT A CHANCE TO VISIT 59 OF THEM.

I RAN OUT OF TIME BEFORE I GOT TO THE LAST TWO. AND SO I GET TO THE LAST TWO THIS WEEK.

BUT BEING ON CAMPUS, I MIRROR WHAT OUR PRESIDENT IS SAYING.

IT'S BEEN A SCARY, SCARY, SMOOTH START TO THE YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO KNOCK ON WOOD THAT WE KEEP GOING.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR EVERYBODY WORKING WELL TOGETHER. ALSO WITH TRUSTEE LAMBERT SAID EARLIER. AND WHAT MY PRESIDENT IS SAYING YOU KNOW, I TELL THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, STAY OUT OF THE COMMENTS, YOU'RE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN YOU HAVE A MOMENT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD GOOGLE T.D.

JAKES WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT GIRAFFES AND TURTLES, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

BUT WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE GIRAFFES. WE DON'T FOCUS ON THE TURTLES.

THE TURTLES ARE THE PEOPLE WHO FIND NEGATIVE IN EVERYTHING.

BUT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE GIRAFFES. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WANT TO BE EXCELLENT, WANT TO HELP US BE EXCELLENT.

WE ARE IN NO SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION, A PERFECT SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE ARE AN ELITE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND OUR STAFF IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AND SO WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT.

AND WE LOVE YOU GUYS. WE PRAY FOR YOU ALL THE TIME. AND LET'S KEEP, LET'S, LET'S KEEP ROCKING AND ROLLING.

THIS IS WEEK NUMBER TWO AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO GO.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO ONLY GET BETTER. AND SO I APPRECIATE MY STAFF.

I APPRECIATE THE PARENTS, BUT I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T ASK TO BE HERE.

YOU DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN TO THE FAMILY YOU WERE BORN TO. YOU DIDN'T ASK TO GO TO THE SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO. AND SO IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN ELITE EDUCATION.

RIGHT? SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NIVENS MISS JOHNSON, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?

[7. Public Comment]

[00:20:01]

TRUSTEES ALSO DESIRE TO AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST HAVE COMPLETED A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND SUBMITTED IT BEFORE THE PRESIDING OFFICER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING NON-AGENDA ITEMS. TRUSTEES MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AS THEY ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM DISCUSSING OR DECIDING ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT ON THE BOARD'S PUBLICLY NOTICED AGENDA. ALL PATRONS DESIRING TO SPEAK, AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PARTICIPATION OR PUBLIC COMMENT FORM WILL BE HEARD DURING THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING, BEFORE FINAL BOARD ACTION IS TAKEN ON AN AGENDA TOPIC.

WHILE SPEAKERS GENERALLY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY ESTABLISH AN OVERALL TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT, AND ADJUST THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER WHEN NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

HOWEVER, NO SPEAKER SHALL BE GIVEN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE.

ALL OF THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH HB 2840. EACH SPEAKER TONIGHT WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

EACH SPEAKER MUST ADDRESS THE BOARD FROM THE PROVIDED PODIUM, UNLESS SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND APPROVED.

SPEAKERS ARE TO PRESENT THEIR REMARKS TO THE BOARD AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.

SPEAKERS HAVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES MAY ONLY ADDRESS THE BOARD AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT FORM AND IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN BOARD POLICY D, G, B, A EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS F AND G STUDENT AND PARENT COMPLAINTS G PUBLIC COMPLAINTS. THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR DESIGNEE SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER THE SPEAKER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT.

ACCORDING TO POLICY, ANY SPEAKERS WHO COMPLAIN OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE DIRECTED BY THE PUBLIC, BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO REFRAIN FROM NAMING THE EMPLOYEE AND WILL REFER THE SPEAKER TO THE APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT POLICY. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE MEETINGS HELD IN PUBLIC, BUT THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS.

WHILE THE BOARD VALUES HEARING FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, TRUSTEES WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS OR RESPOND TO COMMENTS FROM PATRONS, SPEAKERS WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DIALOG WITH THE TRUSTEES.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU COME FORWARD.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS ASHLEY WELCH.

I'M NOT GOOD WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST HERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ME.

I AM A PARENT AT BILSTEIN ELEMENTARY. SO NEW TO THE GREEN TRACK.

OVER THERE WE ARE HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THE KIDS COME IN FOR LUNCH AND INSTEAD OF BEING GIVEN THE CHOICE TO SIT WHERE THEY'RE SITTING, THEY'RE BEING ASSIGNED SEATS DAILY AND IT'S NOT THE SAME SEAT EVERY DAY.

THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS SITTING AT A TABLE. THEY'RE SITTING AT RANDOM TABLES WITH RANDOM FRIENDS AND RANDOM PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH NO CHOICE OR AUTONOMY OVER THIS. IT'S AN ISSUE BECAUSE SOCIAL TIME, IT'S LITERALLY THE ONLY TIME THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE TO SOCIALIZE.

THEY'RE COMING FROM ELEMENTARY INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS ALREADY A VERY AWKWARD TIME FOR THEM.

AND SO THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WHERE THEY CAN RELAX, TALK WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND JUST BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

AND TAKING AWAY THAT ABILITY TO CHOOSE WITH WHO THEY SIT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS THAT SOCIALIZATION, EVEN IF THEY WANT TO BUILD NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH NEW FRIENDS, THEY STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY NEW.

THEY CAN'T BUILD A FRIENDSHIP IN 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY.

WITH NEW PEOPLE. WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE REASON IS STRUCTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT BULLYING, I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S BETTER WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE BULLYING CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE DOING THAT OR MAYBE EXCLUDING PEERS, THOSE STUDENTS CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH INDIVIDUALLY.

BUT BASICALLY PUNISHING THE MASS FOR A SHORT FEW DOESN'T REALLY SEEM FAIR

[00:25:04]

MY SON, ALONG WITH OTHER KIDS, ARE WAITING OUTSIDE THE HALLWAY.

THEY'RE TRYING NOT TO GO IN. THEY'RE GETTING YELLED AT FOR DOING SO. THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WE'LL MEET UP IN THE BATHROOM OR WE'LL MEET UP HERE. SO THAT WAY WE CAN NOW WALK IN TOGETHER, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THEY NEED TO BE GOING WHERE THEY NEED TO BE GOING AT ALL TIMES.

I ALSO I KNOW DOCTOR NEVINS HAS PUSHED ON THIS IS CONSISTENCY AMONG ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I HAVE LIVED IN MY HOME FOR OVER TEN YEARS. I MOVED INTO THE GOLD TRACK.

THAT'S WHERE I WANTED TO GO. I WANTED TO GO GOLD TRACK.

SO I MOVED INTO MY HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEBODY COLORED OUTSIDE THE LINE AND I'M A LITTLE SMALL PART THAT GOT ZONED OUT.

THAT IS FINE. SO I'VE GONE GREEN TRACK ALONG WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE EVENTUALLY WENT PURPLE TRACK.

THEY MOVED INTO THAT AREA ASSUMING THEY WERE GOING TO ROBERTS AND LAYMAN, AND NOW THEY WERE ZONED OUT.

I CONTACTED BOTH WERTHEIMER AND ROBERTS AND THEY ALLOW FOR STUDENT CHOICE ON THEIR SEATING ARRANGEMENTS.

SO WHY IS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL BEING PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER? SINCE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT ZONED OUT? AND THEN OBVIOUSLY MY BIGGEST CONCERN OF.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACK WELCH.

HELLO. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AT BILSTEIN MIDDLE SCHOOL LUNCH.

YES, MY MOM JUST TALKED ABOUT IT. BUT ALSO IT'S A CONCERN FOR MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE LIKE ME, I, I STRUGGLE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY AND SPEAKING AND EVERY DAY I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN NEW PEOPLE THAT I DON'T KNOW, AND LIKE DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK TO BECAUSE LIKE I DON'T KNOW THEM AND I GET SCARED TOO. AND BEING ASSIGNED TO SEE NEXT TO A STRANGER CAN CAUSE ANXIETY BECAUSE IT PUTS YOU IN AN UNFAMILIAR AND SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE SOCIAL SITUATION. YOU MAY WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHER THE OTHER PERSON THINKS OF YOU, WHETHER YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CONVERSATION, OR WHETHER YOU WILL FEEL AWKWARD SITTING SO CLOSE TO SOMEONE YOU DO NOT KNOW.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY ARE SHY AND OR NERVOUS IN SOCIAL SETTINGS, BEING UNABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT WHERE THEY SIT CAN MAKE THEM FEEL BEING UNABLE TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY SIT CAN MAKE THEM FEEL TRAPPED OR UNCOMFORTABLE, EVEN THOUGH SITTING NEXT TO A STRANGER MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING, THEN UNCERTAINTY, UNCERTAINTY, AND LACK OF CONTROL CAN CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF ANXIETY.

THERE'S ALSO PETITIONS BEING SIGNED AGAINST IT AT THE SCHOOL.

I HAVE ONE RIGHT HERE IN MY FOLDER. SO YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL, MADAM.

THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. OKAY, WE WILL NOW TAKE ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[8. CONSENT AGENDA]

TRUSTEE BOX MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE WELCH MAKES THE SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, I NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE. TRUSTEES, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ELECTRONICALLY AT THIS TIME.

THE MOTION PASSES. OKAY. WE WILL NOW HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON THE FUTURE ACTION

[9.A. Discussion of design development for new Terry High School ]

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR NIVENS AND SCHOOL BOARD.

TONIGHT WE WILL BRING FORTH A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TERRY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO IT.

SO HERE'S OUR CTE CENTER LOCATED AT SPUR TEN AND KLOSTERHOF.

THE NEW TERRY HIGH SCHOOL WILL GO ADJACENT, WHICH WILL BE THE EAST SIDE OF THIS COMPLEX.

SO HERE'S OPTION NUMBER ONE. HERE IS

[00:30:09]

OPTION NUMBER TWO. OPTION TWO WITH THE CTE CENTER.

OPTION THREE. OPTION THREE IN THE CITY CENTER.

SO THE NEW TERRY HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE A DESIGN COMMITTEE MEETING ON AUGUST 26TH AT 445.

THE COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW EACH ONE OF THESE OPTIONS AND RANK THE THREE OPTIONS, AND WE WILL BRING BACK TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.

THIS IS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION AT THIS TIME.

IT HAS BEEN ASSUMED AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, AND AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY TRANSPORT THE NAMES FROM THE CURRENT BUILDINGS TO THE, TO THIS BUILDING AND TO THE OTHERS.

AND I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF A CONVERSATION WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO THAT OR KEEP THE NAMES ON THE CURRENT BUILDINGS.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU A, FOR INSTANCE, BEASLEY ELEMENTARY IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME.

AND WE JUST REPURPOSED THAT SCHOOL AND MADE IT A KIND OF A NEW SCHOOL, BUT WE KEPT THE NAME.

BEASLEY ELEMENTARY ON THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING.

SO MY REQUEST IS THAT DOCTOR NIVENS WOULD PULL THE BOARD TO SEE IF THERE'S A MAJORITY THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A DISCUSSION.

I AM NOT MAKING AN OPINION OR EXPRESSING AN OPINION EITHER WAY ON IT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE JUNIOR HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WILL BE EVENTUALLY BUILT THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY MOVE THOSE NAMES OVER, OR IF IT'S WORTHY OF KEEPING THE NAMES ON THE CURRENT BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A REPURPOSED OF THOSE BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE, LIKE THE FINE ARTS CENTER AT SO AND SO OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DESIGN ITSELF? WHO IS ON THE DESIGN COMMITTEE? THEY'RE USUALLY MADE UP OF OUR PRINCIPAL. AND THEN WE'LL ADD OUR AREA SUPERINTENDENTS ALONG WITH PEOPLE DIRECTOR LEVELS IN THE DISTRICT.

OKAY. AND THEN WITH THE THREE OPTIONS, IS THERE ANY COST DIFFERENCES? NO, MA'AM. AND THE FIRST TWO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A DESIGN ELEMENT OF RED.

DOES THE THIRD HAVE THAT SAME DESIGN ELEMENT? NO, MA'AM. WE WERE WE WERE PRODUCING OPTIONS THAT HAVE VARYING VARIATIONS WITHIN THEM.

AND OPTION THREE WAS ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE RED IN IT.

OKAY. AND WITH THE FIRST TWO, WHAT WHAT IS THAT MATERIAL.

THEY CAN VARY. A LOT OF THEM ARE COULD BE METAL.

THEY COULD BE COMPOSITE PLASTIC, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AS WE FLUSH THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN, ONCE WE GET THE RENDERING DONE, THEN WE START FLUSHING OUT THE MATERIALS.

OKAY. AND BEING MORE SPECIFIC WITH THOSE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. MR. BUCHANAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE LOCATED EAST OF THE CTE CENTER. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

IF I'M. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT MEANS IT WOULD BE BEHIND IT.

NO, SIR. BURTON ACTUALLY RUNS EAST AND WEST RIGHT THROUGH THERE.

SO AS YOU PULL UP TO THAT TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CTE CENTERS TO YOUR LEFT.

YES, TERRY. HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE TO YOUR RIGHT, BOTH FACING SPUR TEN.

BOTH FACING SPUR TEN. OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, I'VE GOT YOU.

I'M. I WAS THINKING 59. EAST. WEST. BUT YOU'RE SAYING SPUR TEN.

THAT MAKES SENSE. OKAY. AND THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS I, I PRESUME THAT THAT THE TRAFFIC FLOW IS PART OF THE THE PLANNING PROCESS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EFFICIENT TRAFFIC FLOW OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

YES, SIR. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED ON ALL OF THOSE SITES.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH TXDOT ALONG WITH THE CITY OF ROSENBERG.

GOOD. OKAY. GLAD TO HEAR THAT. OKAY. PRESIDENT.

HATZEL. I'M I'M. I ALSO WANT TO CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE WELCH'S REMARKS.

I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE WELCH FOR BROACHING THE THE ISSUE.

[00:35:01]

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. I, I COMMEND YOU FOR, FOR THOSE REMARKS.

AND, AND I WOULD CONCUR THAT THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THE, THE NAMING SHOULD REMAIN OR WHAT, WHAT TO DO WITH, WITH NAMING THE FACILITY.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM PRESIDENT. TRUSTEES, WE HAVE MR. BUCHANAN AGAIN, OUR CFO, TO TALK ABOUT OUR 2026 TAX YEAR ASSESSMENTS.

[9.B. Discussion of documents relating to 2026 tax year assessment and levy of property taxes]

NOW WE HAVE TO APPROVE OUR TAX RATE. THIS IS OUR HISTORICAL TAX RATE IN 2223.

WE'RE AT $1 2420. LAST YEAR WE WERE AT $1 1469.

WE'RE PROPOSING THIS YEAR TO BE $1 1390. SO HOW DOES THIS TAX RATE IMPACT AND LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR? IF YOU LOOK AT THE GREEN THE 2526 TAX RATE, WE HAD A TOTAL TAX RATE OF $1 1469.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIGHT PURPLE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL TAX RATE OF $1 1390 DIFFERENCING BEING THAT THE TAX RATE GOT COMPRESSED TO 6390. WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A TWO CENT INCREASE IN OUR INS TAX RATE, STILL KEEPING OUR OVERALL TAX RATE AT A DECREASE.

THAT 50 CENT TAX RATE WILL INCREASE OUR REVENUE BY $6.2 MILLION AND WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO PAY OFF OUR DEBT SOONER.

SO HOW DOES THIS IMPACT AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER? SO BASED ON THE AVERAGE HOME VALUES INSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT, OUR LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE WOULD BE AN ANNUAL COST OF $33,257.94.

THE 2627 PROPOSED TAX RATE WOULD BE $3,235.50, WHICH WOULD BE A YEARLY DECREASE OF $22.44 AND A MONTHLY DECREASE OF $1.87. THIS IS A DECREASE OF THE TOTAL TAX RATE.

BOARD. THIS IS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ACTION AT THIS TIME.

QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MR. BUCHANAN, SINCE WE SWITCHED TO THE JULY 1ST FISCAL YEAR BY THE TIME WE ADOPT THIS TAX RATE AND WE'RE DOING THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

YES, SIR. BY CURRENT LAW, THE TAX RATE HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY SEPTEMBER THE 30TH.

SO WE'LL DO IT IN SEPTEMBER. SO BY THEN WE'LL HAVE THE CONFIRMED VALUATIONS FROM THE CAD THE FORT BEND CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. WE GOT OUR CERTIFIED VALUES AT THE END OF JULY. AT THAT POINT IN TIME IS WE HAVE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.

AND THEN THEY GIVE US OUR TAX RATE, OUR TIER ONE TAX RATE.

APPRECIATE IT. THANKS. SO, MR. BUCHANAN, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PRIOR MEETINGS, BUT I'VE SLEPT SINCE THEN. SO I JUST WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION HERE AND AND ALSO PROVIDE THIS CLARIFICATION FOR ANYONE WHO'S JOINING US, PARTICULARLY ONLINE THAT THAT MAY HAVE NOT CAUGHT PRIOR DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE DEFICIT AT LAMAR SEE ISD.

THIS REPRESENTS A DECREASE IN OUR TAX RATE, WHICH ENABLES US TO STILL PROVIDE A COST OF LIVING PAY INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A LOWERING TAXES, PROVIDING A COST OF LIVING PAY INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES DOES THIS ENABLE US TO PAY DOWN DEBT SOONER? YES, SIR. OKAY. FANTASTIC. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

AND TELL ME, IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO TO SURVEYS OF OTHER DISTRICTS, DISTRICTS WHO ARE, WHO ARE DEALING WITH THEIR BUDGETS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

ARE MOST DISTRICTS, IN YOUR OPINION, ABLE TO PROVIDE PAY INCREASES FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND LOWER THE TAX RATE AND PAY DOWN DEBT SOONER AS WE'RE DOING HERE IN LAMAR, SEE ISD? NO, SIR. OKAY. WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS YOUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE STUDIES YOU'VE REVIEWED? SO SO WE HAVE CONDUCTED BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS IS CURRENTLY, 50% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING AT DECREASING NOT ONLY STAFF, BUT ALSO NOT ALLOWING RAISES FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THEY'RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CUTS BECAUSE ALL OF THEM HAVE DEFICIT BUDGETS AND ARE HAVING TO MAINTAIN THAT.

SO THEY'RE NOT GIVING A COST OF LIVING RAISE.

AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PAID DOWN THEIR DEBT SOONER.

[00:40:01]

OKAY. SO THE LET'S GO BACK ONE TO THE TAX RATE.

A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE IS, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK CFO, MR. BUCHANAN AND HIS TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

WHEN WE GO OUT FOR BONDS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN THE THE TURTLES COME OUT.

WE GO OUT FOR BONDS. THAT'S WHEN THE TURTLES COME OUT AND THEY HAVE ALL THEIR MISINFORMATION. AND SO I ALWAYS CHALLENGE, I ALWAYS WANT TO CHALLENGE THE COMMUNITY TO PAY ATTENTION. AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND SO FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE PASSED BONDS WITHOUT RAISING THE TAX RATE.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOWER THE TAX RATE.

AND SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO, TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE TIME FOR ANOTHER BOND IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE, WE'LL HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW, WE TRY NOT TO RAISE THE TAX RATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, I PAY TAXES TO THE ISD AS WELL. AND SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE NOT TO TAX PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

AND SO WE WANT TO STAY WITHIN OUR MEANS AND STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGET. AND SO WE WANT TO DO THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE KEEP OUR TAX RATE AND WE LOWER IT. IF WE DON'T KEEP IT THE SAME, WE AT LEAST LOWER IT.

BUT ALSO WE TALK ABOUT GIVING A COST OF LIVING, A COST OF LIVING RAISE.

IN LA FORCE ISD. WE ARE SELF-FUNDED WITH INSURANCE.

THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE. WE ARE OUR OWN INSURANCE AGENCY.

VERY FEW DISTRICTS IN TEXAS STILL DO THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A TAX.

WE DON'T HAVE AN INCREASE TO OUR INSURANCE THIS YEAR, DO WE, MR. BUCHANAN? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT. SO AGAIN, WHILE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR INSURANCE, THE MORE OUR ISD HAS DECIDED NOT TO INCREASE THEIR STAFF'S INSURANCE.

BUT WE ARE TAKING ON THAT BURDEN OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PASS THAT OFF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

NOW, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR IS THAT THE DEFICIT IS COMING OUR WAY.

IT HASN'T HIT US YET, BUT IT IS COMING OUR WAY DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.

OF COURSE, LEGISLATIVELY. AND SO WE ARE PREPARING FOR THAT.

AND SO WE'VE TALKED TO THE BOARD AND THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE ABOUT SETTING ASIDE MONEY YOU KNOW, FOR A RAINY DAY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BECAUSE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE'RE OPENING UP SIX CAMPUSES, A LOT OF CAMPUSES.

AND SO I ALWAYS HAD TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY MIND OFFICE, BECAUSE THOSE MEN AND WOMEN DO A PHENOMENAL JOB, PHENOMENAL JOB AT GETTING OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND GETTING THEM OPEN ON TIME, AND STUDENTS ABLE TO WALK INTO THE BUILDINGS AND HAVE THE ARTIFACT AND BE ABLE TO GO TO A CLASSROOM AND RECEIVE AN ELITE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE WITH OUR STAFF.

AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CHALLENGE THE COMMUNITY TO PAY ATTENTION PAY ATTENTION TO THE TAX RATE.

IF YOU SEE IT GO UP, I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT THAT YOU SHOULD TALK TO.

IF YOU SEE ME IN HB OR SOMEWHERE, COME TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

BUT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE, THAT WE, THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.

AND SO YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF MISINFORMATION COME TO YOU, ESPECIALLY AT CERTAIN TIMES, BUT THE TAX RATE IS, IS REMAINING LEVEL OR LOWERING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND YOU CAN SEE IN 2022, IT WAS $1.24 AND NOW IT'S $1.13.

AND SO JUST FOLLOW THE MATH. JUST FOLLOW THE MATH.

DON'T LISTEN TO THE TURTLES, FOLLOW THE MATH.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT EVERYONE HAS GIVEN US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPTIMAL FACILITIES, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR LAMAR ISD TO HAVE SUBPAR FACILITIES.

WHILE OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS HAVE OUTSTANDING FACILITIES. THAT TELLS OUR CHILDREN WHAT WE REALLY THINK ABOUT THEM. AND SO AND IF YOU ASK ME, I'M ALL ABOUT KIDS. AND ANYBODY THAT KNOWS THAT ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT.

AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST. AND SO AGAIN, FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE SUPPORTING US, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT TO EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE MATH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, BUT FOLLOW THE FACTS AND YOU'LL SEE.

MR. BUCHANAN, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM SO MUCH, SIR, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. DOCTOR NIVENS, CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT IT COSTS, ROUGHLY TO OPEN? OR MAYBE, MR. BUCHANAN, EITHER ONE OF YOU HAS GOT THE FIGURE IN YOUR HEAD WHAT IT COST TO OPEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FUNDING IN THIS DISTRICT, ROUGHLY $2.7 MILLION, 2.7 MILLION. AND THAT THAT WOULD BE AN ELEMENTARY.

SO OF COURSE, NEXT YEAR WE'RE OPENING THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ELEMENTARIES. SO THERE'S A LOT MORE INVOLVED BECAUSE OF STAFFING AND OTHER.

YES, SIR. AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL THAT CURRENTLY LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THOSE IMPACTS.

RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT 2.7 MILLION THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT INS.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT DOLLARS. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE DOLLARS FOR SALARIES AND LIGHTS AND FIELD TRIPS.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FINANCIALLY SOLVENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OPEN SCHOOLS AND HAVE THEM STAFFED APPROPRIATELY AND NOT NOT LESSEN

[00:45:04]

AND SO WE HAVE TO BE STEWARD, WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND SO I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WERE OVERSTAFFED AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, THIS BOARD SUPPORTED ME IN MAKING SOME DECISIONS AND CUTTING 100 POSITIONS THROUGH, THROUGH ATTRITION, SOME, YOU KNOW, THROUGH, THROUGH ATTRITION. SO WE CAN BE IN THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, TODAY THAT WE CAN STILL GIVE RAISES, WE CAN STILL OPEN SCHOOLS AND WE CAN STILL REMAIN UPRIGHT FINANCIALLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SO THOSE COME WITH SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THIS BOARD FOR SUPPORTING ME IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND SUPPORTING MY TEAM IN DOING THAT. AND SO, BUT AGAIN, THAT 2.7 MILLION AND MORE COMES OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE, OUR TAX RATE AND OUR TAX RATE. AND SO THAT'S A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT.

YEAH. AND I'LL JUST FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FOLLOWING THIS, LIKE, LIKE I USED TO BEFORE I WAS ON THIS BOARD, BASICALLY THE M AND O MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION IS HOW WE FUND SALARIES.

YOU CANNOT FUND SALARIES ANYWHERE IN TEXAS WITH BOND MONEY UNLESS IT'S FOR THE BOND OFFICE EMPLOYEES.

SO ALL THE NEW TEACHERS AND ALL THE NEW STAFFING HAS TO COME OUT OF THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FUND, OF WHICH THE OVERALL TAX RATE. ONE OF MY POINT IS WE'RE LOWERING THE OVERALL TAX RATE AND WE'RE STILL OPENING THESE NEW SCHOOLS, AND WE'RE STILL GIVING CURRENT EMPLOYEES RAISES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND IT'S IT'S A VERY GOOD THING. ALL RIGHT. NEXT.

MADAM PRESIDENT. TRUSTEES, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION FOR OUR INSTRUCTIONAL DIE INSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

[9.C. Discussion of annual Certification of Compliance - DEI and instructional requirements (SB12)]

TONIGHT, I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF SENATE BILL 12 AND THE NEW ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT.

THIS PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITIES, THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATION THAT WILL COME BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL AT THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING.

SENATE BILL 12 WAS PASSED DURING THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND ADDRESSES SEVERAL AREAS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION EDUCATION, INCLUDING PARENTAL RIGHTS, INSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, INSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION DUTIES, AND STUDENT CLUBS.

FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISIONS IS THE CREATION OF THE NEW ANNUAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT UNDER THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 39.008. SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST ANNUALLY CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH THE SPECIFIED LAWS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT MUST SUBMIT THAT CERTIFICATION TO T BY SEPTEMBER 30TH EACH YEAR FOLLOWING BOARD APPROVAL.

T SENT THIS FORMAL SENATE BILL 12 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OPEN ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOLS ON MAY 14TH, 2026. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SENATE BILL 12 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

SENATE BILL 12 ALSO INCLUDES PROVISIONS RELATED TO PARENTAL RIGHTS AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES.

SPECIFICALLY, THE LEGISLATION RESTRICTS CERTAIN INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT RELATED TO GENDER IDENTITY, PROHIBITS CERTAIN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, AND ESTABLISHES PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ROUTINE HEALTH SERVICES. THESE PROVISIONS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BROADER STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WHICH WITH WHICH THE DISTRICT MUST CERTIFY OF COMPLIANCE.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF SENATE BILL 12 IS THE PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DIE DUTIES UNDER THE LAW.

THE DISTRICT MAY NOT ASSIGN DIE DUTIES TO ANY PERSON AND MUST PROHIBIT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM ENGAGING IN THOSE DUTIES.

THE DISTRICT MUST ALSO MAINTAIN AN APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE POLICY, WHICH INCLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF TERMINATION WHEN AN EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR INTENTIONALLY OR KNOWINGLY ENGAGES IN OR ASSIGNS PROHIBITED DIE DUTIES.

SO IN SHORT, EVERYTHING TAUGHT OR DISCUSSED MUST BE REPRESENTED IN THE TEACHER'S CURRICULUM.

REQUIRING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLUB OR ACTIVITY THAT SEGREGATES, SEPARATES, OR ASSIGNS ROLES TO STUDENTS BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY, SEX, OR ANOTHER PROTECTED CLASS IS PROHIBITED.

THE LAW ALSO PLACES AN AFFIRMATIVE NOTIFICATION RESPONSIBILITY ON THE DISTRICT.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EVERY EMPLOYEE WITH A COPY OF THE APPLICABLE DISCIPLINE POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

OUR ONLINE BOARD POLICY POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, AND WE ARE TAKING THE ADDITIONAL STEP REQUIRED TO ENSURE EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS RECEIVE THE DIRECT NOTIFICATION OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WAS SENT VIA EMAIL TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS ON AUGUST 17TH.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BOARD POLICIES CONNECTED TO SENATE BILL 12, BUT RATHER THAN READ EACH POLICY TO YOU TONIGHT, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE SCOPE THESE POLICIES ADDRESS THE DEI DUTIES, CONTRACTED SERVICES,

[00:50:02]

COLLECTIVELY, THESE POLICIES PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH THE DISTRICT WILL IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

SENATE BILL 12 ALSO ESTABLISHES SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS AS OUTLINED ON THE SLIDE.

STAFF MAY NOT REQUIRE OR TEACH CERTAIN TOPICS RELATED TO RACE OR SEX AS PART OF THE COURSE.

TEACHERS CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE.

HOWEVER, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO, THE DISCUSSION MUST BE PRESENTED OBJECTIVELY AND ALIGNED DIRECTLY WITH THE CURRICULUM.

THERE IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION WITHIN THIS LEGISLATION.

THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT MEAN THAT STUDENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM RAISING OR DISCUSSING THESE TOPICS THEMSELVES.

DISTRICTS CANNOT PUNISH STUDENTS SIMPLY FOR BRINGING UP THESE SUBJECTS.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE PRIMARY REASON FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.

EACH YEAR, NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE SUPERINTENDENT MUST CERTIFY TO TEE THAT THE DISTRICT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, SECTION 9.008. BEFORE THE CERTIFICATION CAN BE SUBMITTED, IT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

ONCE APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THE DISTRICT WILL UPLOAD THE CERTIFICATION DOCUMENT TO T, A AND T IS REQUIRED TO PUBLICLY POST THE CERTIFICATIONS IT RECEIVES.

OOPS. EXCUSE ME. THERE ARE THREE ACTIONS THAT THE DISTRICT MUST COMPLETE.

FIRST, WE MUST DOCUMENT THE EMPLOYEE AND CONTRACTOR NOTIFICATION THAT WE COMPLETED ON AUGUST 17TH WITH THE EMAIL CONTAINING THE REQUIRED INFORMATION.

SECOND, WE MUST COMPILE THE RECORD OF ANY CHANGES MADE TO POLICIES, PROGRAMS, PROCEDURES, OR TRAININGS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW, INCLUDING ANY ANY ASSOCIATED COST SAVINGS, AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE.

THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THIRD, WE MUST COMPLETE.

EXCUSE ME. WE MUST PREPARE THE FORMAL CERTIFICATION, BRING IT TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND SUBMIT THE BOARD.

SUBMIT THE APPROVED CERTIFICATION TO T A? NO.

NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30TH, SO THIS WILL COME BEFORE YOU ON THE SEPTEMBER 15TH BOARD MEETING.

TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS INFORMATIONAL. THIS IS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM, SO THERE IS NO BOARD ACTION REQUIRED THIS EVENING AT THIS TIME.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

I HAVE A QUESTION. SO WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED LOOKED LIKE NINE BOARD POLICIES.

BUT THERE WAS NO THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS, PROCEDURE OR TRAININGS THAT WERE ALTERED.

CORRECT. IN THE BOARD POLICIES. NO OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD POLICY.

THERE WAS THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS, PROCEDURES OR TRAININGS.

I GO BACK TO YOUR OTHER SLIDE WHICH WON THE LAST SLIDE.

OH I'M SORRY. BECAUSE IN, IN THE I GUESS THE APPLICATION OR THE CERTIFICATION, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT WAS CHANGED WAS THE BOARD POLICY.

WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OF THE THE EXTRA.

OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. NO, WE DO NOT. OKAY.

WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS ANDREWS. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE ACTION ITEMS.

[10.A. Consider approval of architect contract and procurement method for future CTE annex site development project ]

GOOD EVENING. BOARD. TONIGHT WE WILL BRING FORTH A DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF A ARCHITECT CONTRACT AND PROCUREMENT METHOD FOR THE FUTURE CTE ANNEX SITE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THIS IS LOCATED IN KENDLETON, WHICH IS IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF OUR DISTRICT, WHERE THE BLUE STAR IS LOCATED IS WHERE THE THE 80 ACRES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT WILL BE LOCATED. THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE 80 ACRES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THE LAMAR LIVING PROJECT THAT WE HAVE, THOSE ARE IN THE BLUE CIRCLED AREAS WITH THE BLUE ARROW.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE YELLOW PORTION OF THE LAND.

RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST PORTION THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THE FIRST STEP WE HAVE TO MAKE IS WE HAVE TO HIRE AN ARCHITECT TO HELP US GO THROUGH THE PROGRAMING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF CTE PROGRAMS WILL BE OFFERED FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION.

ONCE WE DO THAT, THEN THE THROUGH THE PROGRAMING, THEN WE'LL BRING BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE STEPS WOULD BE ACTION ON THE CONCEPTUAL

[00:55:03]

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE ARCHITECT CONTRACT AND PROCUREMENT METHOD FOR THE FUTURE CTE ANNEX SITE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. SO WITH THE WITH THE CTE UNITS I KNOW THAT NOTHING IS SET IN STONE, BUT DO YOU EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF I MEAN, YEAH, VISION.

LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS IT ONLY GOING TO BE SPECIAL EDUCATION, CTE? IS IT GOING TO BE AN EXTENSION OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE? IS IT GOING TO BE BIG? ARE WE GOING TO FILL THE WHOLE LAND WITH BUILDINGS? ARE WE WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO IN GENERAL? I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF IDEA IN YOUR HEAD BEFORE YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO COME IN.

YES, WE DO HAVE AN IDEA IN OUR HEAD. ACTUALLY, I SPOKE TO THE BOARD ABOUT THIS A FEW YEARS AGO UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS FIT IN EVERY SITUATION.

ALL STUDENTS STILL HAVE TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM READY AND PREPARED FOR LIFE.

AND SO THIS THIS ANNEX IS GOING TO BE FOR STUDENTS THAT MAY NOT FIT IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING, BUT THEY STILL NEED THEY STILL NEED THE, THE.

I GUESS THE TRAINING, RIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING. AND SO THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS I'LL LET MR. BUCHANAN TALK ABOUT. BUT THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT LAND MANAGEMENT. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

SO, MR. BUCHANAN, YOU TALK ABOUT LAND MANAGEMENT, THAT I CAN CLOSE IT OUT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NOT ONLY THE THE USAGE OF THE LAND, BUT THE COST TO MAINTAIN IT.

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE 80 ACRES, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN IT? ONE THING THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS BEING ABLE TO PUT A BARN AND USE ANIMALS AND ROTATE THE ANIMALS THROUGH SECTION OF THE LAND TO MAINTAIN THE LAND, KEEP THE TREES DOWN, KEEP THE GRASS, GRASS DOWN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SOME OF OUR STUDENTS DON'T HAVE SHOW ANIMALS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT THEY CAN USE THIS AS A LAND MANAGEMENT TO SAY, HOW DO YOU ROTATE IT, DOCUMENTING IT? HOW ARE YOU MOVING LANDS BACK AND FORTH, BUT ALSO TAKING CARE OF THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BUILDINGS OUT THERE OR STRUCTURED LIKE A SCHOOL, BUT ARE NOT WORTH PUTTING IN THE MONEY TO DEVELOP THEM LIKE THAT.

BUT ALLOWING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE IT FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING SO THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND USE THOSE FOR THOSE AREAS AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE INITIAL STEPS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO EXPLORE THE PROGRAMS OF WHAT'S BEING OFFERED AT OUR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOLS, WHAT'S BEING OFFERED AT THE CURRENT CITY CENTER, AND THEN HOW WHAT GAPS ARE THERE THAT WE CAN SERVE OUR STUDENTS WITH THIS FACILITY? AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PROGRAMING ALLOWS US TO DO.

I'M SORRY IF YOU SAID THIS DURING YOUR PRESENTATION. HOW LARGE IS THIS YELLOW AREA? 80 ACRES. 80 ACRES. OKAY. SO AGAIN, TO REITERATE, THE ENTIRE GOAL IS IS FOR YOU HEARD ME.

EVERYBODY'S HEARD ME SAY THIS. WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM US, THEY HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND BE YOUNG, POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. BUT AGAIN, EVERY STUDENT DOESN'T FIT IN EVERY SITUATION.

AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT FIT IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING TO STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE HANDS ON EXPERIENCES EARN SOME ENERGY INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATES, AND DO THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND MAKE A GOOD LIVING. AND SO ALONG WITH DOCTOR LAZARRE AND HER TEAM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS WE CAN OFFER.

BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST PHASE AND THE FIRST STEP TO THAT. BUT THE MAIN THING IS, IS TO HELP US GIVE STUDENTS AS MANY CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS AS WE CAN.

SO WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY CAN GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND BE SUCCESSFUL YOUNG ADULTS. SO WITH HIRING AN ARCHITECT AND ALL OF THAT, THE OTHER STEPS THAT YOU MENTIONED WILL COME BEFORE BEFORE THAT.

NO, THEY COME AFTER WE HIRED THE ARCHITECT. SO THE ARCHITECT IS THE FIRST KEY COMPONENT THAT WE NEED TO TO START DEVELOPING WHAT THAT PROGRAMING LOOKS LIKE.

SO BY HIRING THE ARCHITECT, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SET AND START GOING THROUGH OUR PROGRAMING, BECAUSE ALL THE REST OF YOUR DESIGN IS BASED OFF THE PROGRAMING THAT'S INSIDE THAT WILL BE UTILIZED ON SITE.

SO THE ARCHITECT HELPS THE DISTRICT VET THROUGH THAT AND WALK THROUGH IT.

WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING STANTEC, WHICH IS THE SAME ARCHITECT THAT DESIGNED OUR CTE CENTER.

SO THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT PROGRAMING IS. CURRENTLY. THEY'RE ADDING WHAT'S CURRENTLY AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO HELP US DEVELOP WHAT THIS PROGRAMING ALONG WITH DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, WHAT WILL BE ON THIS FACILITY. SO ARE WE ENVISIONING POWELL POINT STUDENTS AS WELL AS OTHER OTHER DISTRICT STUDENTS. SO EVENTUALLY A LARGER BUILDING.

YES. YES, MA'AM. JUST THE LAND MANAGEMENT. I KNOW WE'RE I KNOW THE ACTION ITEM IS ABOUT AN ARCHITECT, BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, WHEN TRUSTEE HENDERSON BOX AND I WENT OUT TO

[01:00:04]

I GUESS THERE'S SOMETHING VERY CALMING ABOUT HORSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I WONDER IF WE COULD LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT OUT THERE.

POSSIBLY. YEAH. EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS ALL IN AND CHANGING THE GAME.

WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE GAME. SO EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT SAYING NO TO ANYTHING.

WE'RE GOING TO SAY YES AND OKAY. AND THEN THE, THE MONEY FOR THIS IS COMING FROM FUTURE BOND.

IF YOU REMEMBER BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WE HAD A PROPOSITION THAT WAS A SEPARATE POT FOR A CTE CENTER.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS USING THE SAVINGS FROM THAT CTE CENTER TO LEVERAGE AN ADDITIONAL ANNEX AT THIS SITE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO THAT'S THE 2022 BOND THAT WE BUILT THE CURRENCY.

SO THAT SO THAT THAT WAS MY QUESTION TOO. SO WE DON'T HAVE A NECESSARILY A SET BUDGET OTHER THAN WHAT WE DIDN'T SPEND FROM THAT APPROVAL.

WHAT WE DIDN'T SPEND ON THE NEW CTE CENTER, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON TIMELINE.

LIKE IS THIS SOMETHING YOU SEE HAPPENING IN FIVE YEARS, LIKE OPENING DOORS, KIDS ARE ON THE LAND OR IS THIS FURTHER OUT? USUALLY IT TAKES US BETWEEN 12 TO 18 MONTHS FOR THE DESIGN PHASE TO GET THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS OUR PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE TO START CONSTRUCTION TO OPEN WITHIN THE NEXT 2 TO 2 AND A HALF YEARS FOR THE FACILITY TO BE OPEN.

ONE MORE QUESTION. FOLLOW UP, AND I SHOULD HAVE ASKED BEFORE, MISS HENDERSON, DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE IN YOUR HEAD ABOUT WHAT WE SPENT ON THE CTE BUILDING THAT WE JUST OPENED? I DO NOT, SIR. CAN CAN YOU GUYS GET CAN THE ADMINISTRATION GET THAT TO THE BOARD? BECAUSE I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT. AND SO THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE STANTEC ARCHITECTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FUTURE CTE SITE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT USING THE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL PROCUREMENT METHOD, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.

TRUSTEE LAMBERT MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE WELCH.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. CALL FOR THE VOTE.

TRUSTEES, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE AT THIS TIME.

MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, MR. BUCHANAN. WE WILL NOW HAVE REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE INFORMATION ITEMS.

[11.A. Lamar CISD Demographics Report and Enrollment Projections]

GOOD EVENING. BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR NIVENS. TONIGHT I'LL BE SHARING THE 2026 QUARTER ONE DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS CREATED BY ZONDA DEMOGRAPHICS.

I'LL BEGIN BY GOING OVER SOME MOBILITY DATA POINTS THAT IMPACT THE DISTRICT ENROLLMENT AND PROJECTIONS.

I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME DATA POINTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR DISTRICT TO BE AWARE OF. OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE STATEWIDE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN TEXAS HAS SHIFTED.

THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS DECLINED FROM ABOUT 94% TO ABOUT 92%.

WHILE THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ATTENDING CHARTER SCHOOLS HAS RISEN FROM ABOUT 6% TO 8%.

NOW, 2% DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 STUDENTS SHIFTING FROM PUBLIC TO CHARTER SCHOOLS OVER THAT TIME FRAME.

THIS MAP SHOWS THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS EITHER IN OR NEAR LAMAR.

SEE ISD BORDERS. THIS SLIDE ALSO SHOWS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ATTEND EACH OF THESE ENTITIES SERVES.

WHICH IMPACTS LAMAR ISD'S ENROLLMENT. ANOTHER ASPECT THAT IMPACTS ENROLLMENT IN OUR DISTRICT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF VIRTUAL OR ONLINE SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS. THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN VIRTUAL OR ONLINE SCHOOLS IN TEXAS OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF OVER 345%, OR 56,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN VIRTUAL OR ONLINE SCHOOL DURING THAT TIME FRAME.

OTHER DATA POINTS THAT ARE MONITORED INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF STUDENT TRANSFERS IN AND OUT OF LAMAR.

SEE ISD TRANSFERRING IN REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN LAMAR ISD BUT RESIDE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT.

BOUNDARIES. TRANSFERRING OUT REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT RESIDE WITHIN LAMAR ISD BUT ATTEND ANOTHER DISTRICT OR EDUCATIONAL ENTITY.

ONE CLARIFYING ASPECT OF THIS CHART IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRANSFERRING OUT NUMBER INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED.

ATTENDED ANOTHER ISD A VIRTUAL ACADEMY, CHARTER OR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NUMBER OF BOTH TRANSFERRING IN AND TRANSFERRING OUT HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

[01:05:02]

THESE ARE MOST LIKELY STUDENTS OF LAMAR ISD, STAFF MEMBERS OR CHILDREN OF ACTIVE MILITARY OR PEACE OFFICERS, BUT ALSO AS IMPORTANT. WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING OUTGOING DURING THE 2020 526 SCHOOL YEAR, 1203 STUDENTS ATTENDED ANOTHER ISD 2326 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND 379 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN VIRTUAL ENTITIES.

LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF PERCENTAGES OF THESE THREE POSSIBILITIES, PLEASE NOTICE THAT THE VIRTUAL OPTION IS THE ONE THAT IS GROWING.

THIS OPTION MOST LIKELY INCLUDES STUDENTS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE HOMESCHOOLING SITUATION.

WE ALSO COMPARE NEWCOMERS AND LEAVERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

NEWCOMERS ARE. INCLUDE ANY STUDENTS IN GRADES FIRST THROUGH 12TH GRADE THAT WERE NOT ENROLLED IN OUR DISTRICT THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

WHILE LEAVERS ARE ANY STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 11TH GRADE WHO ARE IN OUR DISTRICT THE PREVIOUS YEAR BUT ARE NOT CURRENTLY WITH US.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE MORE NEWCOMERS COMPARED TO LEAVERS WITH A GAIN OF 1731 STUDENTS.

ALSO OF NOTE, OUR LEAVERS DECREASED WHEN COMPARED TO THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR.

SO NOW LET'S LOOK AT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN OUR AREA.

THE NUMBER OF ANNUAL HOUSING STARTS AND CLOSINGS IN THE HOUSTON REGION IS ALMOST IDENTICAL 36,588, COMPARED TO 36,599, RESPECTIVELY. THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA EXPERIENCED 38,568 NEW HOME CLOSINGS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, AN INCREASE OF 1.1%. BUILDER SURVEYS AGAIN REPORT THAT AFFORDABILITY AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE ARE KEEPING CONSUMERS ON THE SIDELINES, LEADING TO A TEMPERING OF NEW HOME ACTIVITY. I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT WHEN COMPARED TO OUR OUR AREA TO THE NATION, WE HAVE MUCH MORE POSITIVE GROWTH OUTLOOK IN COMPARISON FOR THE NATION AS A WHOLE.

NEW HOME CLOSINGS DECLINED IN 2025 AFTER INCREASING IN 2024.

STARTS ALSO DECLINED AFTER A SIGNIFICANT UPSWING AFTER 2023.

THIS IS OUR FAVORITE TABLE, WHICH FROM REGION ISD REGION FOUR ISD IS RANKED BY ANNUAL CLOSINGS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026.

AGAIN, LAMAR SEE ISD IS NUMBER ONE ON THIS LIST IN ALMOST EVERY CATEGORY.

ONE NUMBER THAT WE ALWAYS KIND OF WANT TO LOOK AT IS THE FUTURE HOUSING SITES, WHICH IS AT 61,230.

THIS SHOWS THAT OUR GROWTH SHOULD CONTINUE WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

SO TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT LAMAR, SEE ISD STARTS AND CLOSINGS.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE WERE 1248 STARTS AND OVER 1000 CLOSINGS FOR QUARTER ONE, WHICH IS AN INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

SO THE MARKET MAY BE PICKING UP AGAIN IN OUR AREA.

LCISD STILL HAS NEARLY 4300 STARTS FOR THE ENTIRE 2025 YEAR.

AND AS FOR CLOSINGS, THERE WERE NEARLY 4600 CLOSINGS FOR THE YEAR.

NOW. THIS SHOWS HOUSING DATA BY ELEMENTARY CAMPUS ZONES.

OUR HIGHEST ACTIVITY AREAS ARE SLAVINSKI ELEMENTARY, BECERRA ELEMENTARY AND MORGAN ELEMENTARY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT VELASQUEZ, THEY HAVE OVER 15,000 FUTURE SITES, WHICH IS ATTRIBUTED MAINLY TO THE AUSTIN POINT DEVELOPMENT.

OVERALL, WE ARE STILL SEEING HYPER GROWTH NUMBERS IN MULTIPLE ELEMENTARY ZONES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

SO NOW TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ACTIVITY ACROSS LAMAR, SEE ISD. THIS MAP SHOWS ALL SUBDIVISIONS, BOTH ACTIVE AND FUTURE INSIDE LAMAR ISD.

THE DISTRICT HAS 92 ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS, WITH MORE THAN 1700 HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND APPROXIMATELY 6600 LOTS READY TO BE BUILT ON.

GROUNDWORK IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ON MORE THAN 6700 LOTS WITHIN 30 SUBDIVISIONS.

THE MOST ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT INCLUDE TAMRON WEST AND THE SLAVINSKI ELEMENTARY ZONE, EMBERLEY AND BROOKWATER, AND THE BECERRA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE.

THE PRESERVE AT ROSENBERG IN THE MEYER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE AND CROSS CREEK WEST, LOCATED IN THE HAGOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE.

THE TOP FUTURE SUBDIVISIONS INCLUDE AUSTIN POINT, AMANDA HERITAGE BEND, THE GEORGE AND WENZEL RANCH.

FROM THESE TWO MAPS, YOU CAN SEE THAT GROWTH IS OCCURRING OR WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

NOW JUMPING INTO MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ACTIVITY.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE DISTRICT, COMPRISING 2500 UNITS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 14 MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PLANNING STAGES, COMPRISING NEARLY 7500 FUTURE UNITS. BUT JUST AS A REMINDER FOR OUR APARTMENT STUDENT YIELD IN LAMAR CISD, ON AVERAGE, FOR EACH UNIT, WE RECEIVE 0.251 STUDENTS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGE OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING, THE NEWER COMPLEXES BUILT DURING OR AFTER 2021, THE YIELD DROPS TO 0.151 STUDENTS PER UNIT AS THE OLDER COMPLEXES PRODUCE MORE STUDENTS ON AVERAGE PER UNIT.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THESE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, HERE IS ALEX IN FULSHEAR.

WITHIN THE RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE, 330 TOTAL UNITS PLANNED, WITH LEASING EXPECTED TO BEGIN VERY SOON.

ASCEND AT THE PARKWAY WITHIN THE TAMRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE.

343 TOTAL UNITS PLANNED WITH LEASING CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

U.S. FAIRGROUNDS WITHIN THE MEYER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE.

[01:10:01]

TOWN STONE AT 359 WITHIN THE TERRELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONE, 384 TOTAL UNITS PLANNED, WITH LEASING EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOON.

SO NOW LET'S JUMP INTO SOME PROJECTIONS. THIS TABLE SHOWS THE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS BY COHORT OR GRADE LEVEL OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

FOR THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, OUR NINTH GRADE COHORT WAS THE LARGEST, FOLLOWED BY THE FOURTH GRADE.

SO NOW LET'S LOOKING AT TEN YEARS. AS A REMINDER, THIS TABLE SHOWS PROJECTIONS FROM ZONDA FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

LOOKING AT OVERALL TRENDS, THE DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO GROW BY AN AVERAGE OF 2.5% TO 3.9% ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

AND PUT ANOTHER WAY, WE ARE PROJECTED TO ADD BETWEEN 1600 AND 1900 NEW STUDENTS ANNUALLY.

AND JUST SO THE BOARD IS AWARE, THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT FOR LAMAR ISD AS OF THIS MORNING WAS 49,849.

THESE ARE THE PROJECTIONS BY ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES.

THE GREEN INDICATES APPROACHING CAPACITY WHILE YELLOW INDICATES OVERCAPACITY.

ONE CAMPUS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THE NEW CAMPUS THAT JUST OPENED THIS AUGUST, BECERRA ELEMENTARY.

THESE NEW PROJECTIONS HAD THE CAMPUS AT 904 STUDENTS BY LATE OCTOBER 2026.

THIS PROJECTION IS APPROXIMATELY 90 MORE STUDENTS THAN THE PROJECTIONS THAT WERE USED TO CREATE THE ZONE.

THIS CAMPUS WAS RECENTLY CAPPED WITH NEW STUDENTS OVERFLOWED TO CULVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT ADAMS ELEMENTARY WILL OPEN IN AUGUST OF 2027, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE ENROLLMENT AT BECERRA ELEMENTARY.

ALSO, HAYGOOD ELEMENTARY HAS APPROXIMATELY 100 MORE STUDENTS THAN PROJECTED.

CURRENTLY, MELTED ELEMENTARY HAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MORE STUDENTS THAN PROJECTED.

THUS, BOTH CAMPUSES WERE CAPPED ON AUGUST 12TH AND NEW STUDENTS TO THE ZONES WILL BE OVERFLOWED TO TAMRON ELEMENTARY IN THIS AREA.

CANTU ELEMENTARY WILL OPEN IN AUGUST 2027, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE ENROLLMENTS AT BOTH HAYGOOD AND MELTON ELEMENTARIES.

THESE ARE THE PROJECTIONS BY THE SECONDARY CAMPUS.

AGAIN, THE GREEN INDICATES APPROACHING CAPACITY WHILE YELLOW IS OVER.

JUST BE AWARE BOARD, THAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR NEW SECONDARY CAMPUS.

ALL THREE CAMPUSES WHICH COME ON BOARD IN 2728 AND WILL RELIEVE THE PURPLE TRACK OF FULSHEAR HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH AND ROBERTS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ZONDA HAS GIVEN US PROJECTION RANGES LOW, MID-RANGE AND HIGH, WHICH ARE SHOWN ON THE SLIDE.

YOU CAN SEE THE SLIDE. THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD NEED TO OCCUR FOR EACH OF THE PROJECTIONS TO COME TO FRUITION.

ZONDA IS PROJECTING LAMAR SEE ISD TO BE AROUND 57,600 STUDENTS BY 2030 AND 66,200 STUDENTS BY 2035.

BUT I DID WANT TO INFORM THE BOARD THAT ZONDA DOES INCLUDE DATA ABOUT VOUCHERS OR THE TEXAS EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS IN THEIR PROJECTIONS.

AND SO I KNOW THIS SLIDE HAS A LOT OF DATA AND GRAPHS ON IT, BUT I DID WANT TO SHARE THAT APPROXIMATELY 76% OF VOUCHER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WERE FROM THE MAJOR METRO REGIONS OF DALLAS, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, AND HOUSTON.

ALSO, OF THE APPLICANTS, 54% WERE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AT THE END OF QUARTER ONE, 3855 STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN LAMAR ISD BOUNDARIES APPLIED FOR VOUCHERS.

OF THESE, 937 WERE STUDENTS WHO WERE ENROLLED IN LAMAR ISD DURING THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

WHEN WE COMPARED THE NUMBERS OF VOUCHER APPLICANTS AND TOTAL APPLICATIONS AWARDED, LAMAR ISD IS LOWER THAN OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS OF FORT BEND ISD AND KATY ISD.

ZONDA HAS INCLUDED THESE DATA POINTS IN THEIR PROJECTIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FOR FUTURE PROJECTIONS.

SO IN SUMMARY, LAMAR ISD ENROLLMENT INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 12,450 STUDENTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THE DISTRICT SAW AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 2000 STUDENTS IN THE.

FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. THE DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 2300 HOMES AND ACTIVE INVENTORY, ROUGHLY 6600 LOTS AVAILABLE TO BUILD ON AND MORE THAN 61,300 PLANNED IN THE FUTURE.

NEW HOUSING STARTS WERE UP BY 5% YEAR OVER YEAR IN 2026, WHILE CLOSINGS DECLINED 12%.

LCISD IS FORECASTED TO HAVE MORE THAN 57,600 STUDENTS BY THE 2030 31 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO EXCEED 66,200 STUDENTS BY THE 2030 536 SCHOOL YEAR. BOARD. THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM, SO NO ACTION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THIS ISN'T ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING THAT THAT YOU SHOWED HERE, BUT I'VE I'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, SPECIFICALLY EVERMORE, WHICH IS BEING ZONED TO FROST ELEMENTARY.

AND SO I HAVE A, A CURRENT LISTING I PRINTED OUT FROM HR.

AND WHILE THAT MAY BE ACCURATE TODAY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO BUYERS BUYING HOMES TO BE ZONED TO CERTAIN SCHOOLS? YES, MA'AM. AND JUST THE BOARD IS AWARE IN THE PUBLIC.

[01:15:05]

I ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT A HORROR EVENT EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THE ONE THING THAT I ASKED THEM IS TO NEVER GUARANTEE WHERE A CAMPUS IS BEING ZONED IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE OF THE FAST GROWTH THAT HAPPENS IN OUR DISTRICT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

AND BY WE, I MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON WHERE THE ZONES ARE GOING TO BE FOR NEW SCHOOLS AND CURRENT SCHOOLS.

AND SO WHAT I SHARE WITH OUR REALTOR FRIENDS, OUR DEVELOPERS, AND ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY IS TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE FIND MY SCHOOL, BUT ALSO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE OPENING AS DOCTOR NIVENS MENTIONED, SIX CAMPUSES NEXT YEAR, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO OPEN CAMPUSES AS NECESSARY TO RELIEVE OUR CURRENT CAMPUSES AND TO TAKE IN THE NEW STUDENTS THAT MOVE INTO OUR DISTRICT.

AND SO I TELL EVERYONE, I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.

I CAN'T TELL WHERE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ZONED IN FIVE YEARS, TWO YEARS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE NEW SCHOOLS OPENING.

WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH THE ZONING FOR DANZIGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE FALL AND BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD.

SO THAT COULD CHANGE ZONING IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO ONE OF THE WARNINGS I HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE TRUSTEES AT OTHER DISTRICTS IS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERBUILD.

AND SO WHAT WHAT IS THE SECRET SAUCE THERE? HOW ARE WE MANAGING THAT CONUNDRUM? SO I YOU KNOW, THE ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT DOES NOT MONITOR JUST THE FAST GROWTH CAMPUSES.

WE ENROLL MONITOR THE ENROLLMENT AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.

AND THEN I REPORT TO DOCTOR NIVENS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT WE SEE IS GOING ON IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO AGAIN, THEN WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR OUR CAMPUS TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET OVERBUILT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CLOSE CAMPUSES. HOW DO WE THEN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD OF WHERE SHOULD WE MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE CHANGES? IT'S LIKE DOCTOR NIVENS TALKING ABOUT THE OPENING OF THE BRIGHT FUTURES ACADEMY AND REPURPOSING SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS.

SO THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING, BUT CONSTANTLY MONITORING ALL OF THE DATA THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US TO THEN MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DOCTOR NIVENS, WHICH THEN HE BRINGS TO THE BOARD TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. WE SET OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR FOR THIS YEAR BASED ON MODERATE PROJECTIONS FOR 25 OR 26, 27.

SO ARE WE ARE WE ON TRACK FOR THAT OR WE ARE ON TRACK FOR THAT TOO.

AND JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I MONITOR THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROJECTIONS IN EACH CAMPUS AND THE PROJECTIONS AND THE DISTRICT.

THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN PLUS OR -1% WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT FOR PROJECTIONS.

WOW. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK WAS WHEN I VISITED SOME PURPLE TRACK SCHOOLS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1093. AND I DID SEE ALL THOSE HERITAGE, HERITAGE, HERITAGE BEND.

I DON'T THINK I HAD SEEN THOSE BEFORE. I THINK YOU SAID 7000 HOMES IN THERE.

YES, APPROXIMATELY. IT'S A 3000 ACRE DEVELOPMENT WITH HERITAGE PARK, TEXAS HERITAGE PARK. WE GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE, APPROXIMATELY 3000 HOMES GOING IN THAT AREA. OKAY. SO WHEN WHEN WE SEE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MASSIVE COMING IN, HOW, HOW MANY NEW HOMES HAVE TO BE BUILT TO JUSTIFY. OKAY, WE NEED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE GOOD THE GOOD THING ABOUT ZONDA IS BECAUSE THEY BRING IN ALL THAT INFORMATION INTO THE PROJECTIONS.

WE CAN THEN LOOK AT NOT JUST NUMBER OF HOMES, BUT HOW MANY STUDENTS WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM THAT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN, AS DOCTOR NIVENS MENTIONED, THE AMAZING WORK BY THE BOND OFFICE, MR. BUCHANAN, OF HAVING A LAND BANK AVAILABLE, WORKING WITH THOSE DEVELOPERS TO HAVE LAND AVAILABLE OR PURCHASING LAND IN SOME OF THOSE NEW AREAS, THEN WE CAN BE READY TO GO IF SCHOOLS ARE NEEDED TO BE BUILT IN THOSE AREAS TO COMPENSATE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE MOVING IN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR MAXWELL. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP OUR TRUSTEES.

[11.B. Final STAAR Scores and Accountability Ratings for 2025-2026]

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR NIVENS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT.

WE'VE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 2026 FINAL STAR SCORES AND ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS.

JUST AS A REMINDER, THE STAR TEST IS THE CURRENT MEASURE OF STUDENT SUCCESS UTILIZED IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE TEST MEASURES SUCCESS BASED ON THREE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE LEVELS, WHICH IS APPROACHES GRADE LEVEL, WHICH IS PASSING MEETS GRADE LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'VE MET THE EXPECTATIONS AND THEN MASTER'S GRADE LEVEL, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE FULLY PREPARED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL BECAUSE YOU'VE MASTERED THE CONTENT.

LOOKING AT OUR RESULTS FOR READING LANGUAGE ARTS AT THE APPROACHES LEVEL, WE REMAIN STEADY.

WE HAD A MODERATE GAIN, A MODEST GAIN WITH MEETS, AND ALSO A MODEST GAIN WITH MASTER'S GRADE LEVEL.

[01:20:11]

LOOKING AT SCIENCE PERFORMANCE, THIS IS WHERE WE SAW THE GREATEST GROWTH.

WE SAW GROWTH IN APPROACHES, MEETS AND MASTERS WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OF BEING IN THE MASTER'S GRADE LEVEL, MOVING FROM 23% UP TO 35% OF STUDENTS MASTERING THE SUBJECT AREA.

FINALLY, WITH SOCIAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE, WE REMAIN STEADY AT 82% AT APPROACHES MEETS MOVED UP TWO POINTS.

AND THEN ALSO MASTERS MOVED UP TWO POINTS. JUST SOME UPDATES TO CONSIDER.

THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE THE FINAL TIME THAT STAR IS SCHEDULED TO BE IMPLEMENTED STARTING NEXT YEAR.

IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH WHAT'S CALLED THE STUDENT SUCCESS TOOL.

WE PRESENTED TO YOU LAST FALL. THAT'S A TEST THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED UP TO THREE TIMES A YEAR.

AS WE RECEIVE MORE DETAILS FROM THE AGENCY THIS FALL ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION WILL BRING IT FORWARD TO YOU ALL AS ANOTHER INFORMATION ITEM.

THE A THROUGH F ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM HAS THREE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.

THE FIRST ONE IS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WHAT STUDENTS KNOW AND CAN DO.

WE HAVE STUDENT PROGRESS, HOW STUDENTS HAVE COME OR HOW CAMPUSES HAVE DONE COMPARED TO OTHER STUDENT GROUPS OR OTHER CAMPUSES.

THAT HAS TWO DIFFERENT SCORES WITHIN IT. AND THAT'S ACADEMIC GROWTH, WHICH IS INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BASED, AND THEN RELATIVE PERFORMANCE, WHICH IS THE CAMPUS COMPARED TO OTHER CAMPUSES OF LIKE DEMOGRAPHICS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE CLOSING THE GAPS, WHICH IS HOW DIFFERENT STUDENT GROUPS DO.

AND ARE WE CLOSING THE GAPS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT STUDENT GROUPS? SO IN TEXAS WHEN ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS ARE DETERMINED, THEY HAVE A 70% WEIGHTING ON THE BEST SCORES THAT COME FROM EITHER DOMAIN, ONE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OR DOMAIN, TWO STUDENT PROGRESS OR SCHOOL SCHOOL PROGRESS, AND THEN 30% IS WEIGHED BASED ON CLOSING THE GAPS.

FOR 2026, OUR SCORES WERE 88 FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, 80 FOR ACADEMIC GROWTH, 87 FOR RELATIVE PERFORMANCE, AND 86 FOR CLOSING THE GAPS.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHICH ARE THE BEST SCORES, THE AGENCY TOOK THE 88 FROM STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND THAT WAS 70% OF THE WEIGHT. AND THEN 30% OF THE WEIGHT WAS THE 86 FROM THE CLOSING THE GAPS MEASURE.

IN TOTAL, WE RECEIVED A SCORE OF 87, WHICH IS A B RATING.

WE DID DROP ONE POINT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, BUT WE STAYED AT A VERY STRONG STRONG OVERALL SCORE AT A B.

LOOKING AT OUR CAMPUSES. OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES THAT EARNED AN A RATING INCLUDED ADOLPHUS AUSTIN, BENTLEY, CAMPBELL, CARTER DICKINSON, FAGOT, HUGH BANNOCK, LINDSAY MELTON, THOMAS, AND WILLIAMS. OUR SECONDARY CAMPUS REMEMBERED THAT ACCOUNTABILITY SCORES FOR JUNIOR HIGHS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE COMBINED.

OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES THAT EARNED AN A INCLUDED BANKS AND BILSTEIN.

BRISCOE, WERTHEIMER, LEHMAN AND ROBERTS REDDING AND RYAN FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL.

FULSHEAR HIGH SCHOOL, GEORGE RANCH HIGH SCHOOL AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE ARE VERY MUCH CELEBRATE THOSE GAINS.

GOING TO OUR B-RATED CAMPUSES AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, OUR B RATED CAMPUSES INCLUDED ARREDONDO, BOWIE, CULVER, FROST, GRAY, HAYGOOD, HUGGINS, HUTCHISON, JACKSON, MEYER, MCNEIL, MORGAN, PINK, RANDALL, CAMERON AND TERRELL.

[01:25:06]

THEY WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE, SO HOPEFULLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THEM ON THE A LIST AS WELL.

OUR C RATED CAMPUSES INCLUDE FALLON SMITH, TAYLOR, RAY VELAZQUEZ, GEORGE AND NAVARRO, LAMAR AND WESSENDORF. THEN OUR D RATED CAMPUSES INCLUDED BEASLEY, WHICH IS NOW CLOSED. WE'VE TRANSITIONED THAT INTO BRIGHT FUTURES.

JANE LONG AND TRAVIS. TRAVIS IS A SECOND YEAR D RATED CAMPUS.

IT'LL BE RECOMMENDED THAT THEY ENGAGE IN WHAT'S CALLED THE EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS FRAMEWORK TRAINING, WHICH IS TRAINING ON STAFFING, HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, ASSESSMENTS AND STAFFING, AS WELL AS SCHOOL CULTURE. SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL IT WILL BE HIGHLY SUGGESTED WE IMPLEMENT IT, BUT IT WILL STILL BE IN THE BOARD'S HANDS AND ADMINISTRATION HANDS AS FAR AS HOW WE SUPPORT THAT CAMPUS.

THE DISTRICT DID NOT HAVE ANY F RATED CAMPUSES THIS YEAR.

LOOKING FORWARD TO DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS. DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS ARE AWARDED TO SCHOOLS THAT PERFORM IN THE TOP 25% OF THEIR COHORT GROUP OF 40 CAMPUSES. THEY CAN EARN DISTINCTIONS IN AREAS SUCH AS READING, LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, STUDENT GROWTH, POST-SECONDARY READINESS AND CLOSING THE GAPS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE. AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE HONOR ROLL, THAT THE FOLLOWING CAMPUSES EARNED ALL DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS THAT WERE POSSIBLE. AND THAT WAS ADOLPHUS CAMPBELL, DICKINSON, FAGOT, AND WILLIAMS. THOSE CAMPUSES THAT EARNED ALL BUT ONE DISTINCTION DESIGNATION INCLUDE THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, AUSTIN ELEMENTARY, AND BENTLEY ELEMENTARY. AND FINALLY.

CAMPUSES THAT EARNED AT LEAST FOUR DESIGNATIONS INCLUDE FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL, GEORGE RANCH HIGH SCHOOL, MEYER, THOMAS CARTER, AND GRAY ELEMENTARIES. AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, MISS COTTINGHAM. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. SO WHILE THE DISTRICT IS IN A GOOD PLACE AND NEAR THE TOP WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE AREA, THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

ONE OF THE AREAS WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR IS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS ENSURING STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE.

PARTICIPANTS IN LEARNING LESSONS SHOULD NOT BE SIT AND GET, BUT INTERACTIVE AND INTERESTING.

ANOTHER AREA WE WILL FOCUS ON IS INCREASING THE LEVEL OF RIGOR, WHICH MEANS ENSURING THERE IS ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE STANDARD AND WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING THE STUDENTS TO DO TO DEMONSTRATE MASTERY. TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS, WE PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AS WELL AS DURING OUR BACK TO SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, FOCUSING ON ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND THE SC ANALYSIS PROCESS.

WE WILL CONTINUE THIS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR BY WORKING WITH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND PRINCIPALS DURING OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS. DISTRICT LEVEL SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED DURING COLLABORATIVE PLANNING MEETINGS. LEARNING WALKS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH CAMPUS LEADERSHIP AND TEACHING STAFF.

MODELING WILL BE PROVIDED AS NEEDED AND FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CAMPUS STAFF.

THESE AREAS OF FOCUS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY IMPACT ALL STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. PRIORITY CAMPUSES ARE CAMPUSES WITH AN ACCOUNTABILITY RATING BELOW A B.

THESE CAMPUSES RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH CAMPUS PERFORMANCE REVIEW MEETINGS FOLLOWING STAR AND EACH DISTRICT ASSESSMENT.

CAMPUS LEADERSHIP TEAMS MEET WITH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS TO REVIEW THEIR DATA AND PRESENT ACTION PLANS, ADDRESSING THE AREAS OF NEED. THE DATA REVEALS DISTRICT LEADERS PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND ASSIGN TARGETED SUPPORT TO GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION BEYOND DISTRICT ASSESSMENT DATA. AREA SUPERINTENDENTS PARTNER WITH CAMPUSES TO TRACK AND ANALYZE UNIT ASSESSMENT RESULTS AND MONITOR PROGRESS, PUTTING ACTION PLANS IN PLACE AS NEEDED AND THE DATA IS ALSO MONITORED CENTRALLY.

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP WILL VISIT CLASSROOMS ON EACH CAMPUS TO MONITOR THE DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CAMPUS LEADERSHIP, AND BASED ON THE NEEDS SEEN IN THE DATA AND CLASSROOM VISITS, TARGETED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING WILL BE PROVIDED.

[01:30:02]

AT THIS TIME WE CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

MR. MOORE, WAS IT THIS PAST YEAR THAT THIS THAT THE TEA CHANGED THE STANDARDS FOR THE STAR TEST OR OR THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THE STANDARDS FOR THE STAR TEST IN QUITE A WHILE.

BUT IT WAS THE PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE S T RULE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE STAR TEST AND MOVE TOWARDS THE STUDENT SUCCESS TOOL AND THE THREE TEST.

MAYBE THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING OF. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK OF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. YES, SIR. DO YOU HAVE BY ANY CHANCE, DID YOU PREPARE A CHART COMPARING US TO SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS? NO, I DID NOT, BECAUSE I WANT TO. I WANT TO JUST POINT OUT TO THE PUBLIC THAT MY OLD DISTRICT WHERE I WENT TO K-12, FORT BEND ISD, IS A B, BUT IT'S A LOW B COMPARED TO US.

FIRST OF ALL. SECOND OF ALL, A LOT OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT GET A LOT MORE ATTENTION IN THIS CITY THAN WE DO SEAFAIR AND KATY, WE ARE RIGHT THERE, NECK AND NECK WITH THEM IN OUR SCORES.

AND THAT'S A THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO DOCTOR NIVENS AND MISS COTTINGHAM AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO ALL THE TEACHERS OUT THERE, EVERYBODY'S KICKING BUTT.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO FORM MY QUESTION SO THAT IT MAKES SENSE.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD. 23 2023 I THINK THE THE WAY THEY WERE WAITING, ACCOUNTABILITY HAD JUST CHANGED. I THINK WE HAD GONE THROUGH A PERIOD WHERE WE WEREN'T GETTING SCORED BECAUSE OF COVID, AND THEN THE WAY THEY WERE WAITING CHANGED. CORRECT? YES. THERE WAS TWO THINGS THAT HAPPENED BACK TO BACK.

THE FIRST WAS COVID, AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER COVID, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN SEVERAL STANDARDS WITHIN THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.

WITHOUT LETTING DISTRICTS KNOW IN ADVANCE. AND THAT HAD PRECIPITATED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STOPPED RATINGS FROM BEING ISSUED. IF MEMORY SERVES, THE 2320, THE 22, 23 AND 2324 SCHOOL YEARS. OKAY. AND THEN STARTING AFTER THAT, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND CONTIGUOUS YEAR WE'VE HAD RATINGS RESUME.

OKAY. AND I READ SOMETHING THAT SAID THAT THE RATINGS ARE KIND OF THE YEARS ARE BLOCKED IN FIVE YEAR. THAT IS CORRECT PERIODS. SO ARE WE AFTER THIS NEXT STAR YEAR? ARE WE ENTERING A NEW FIVE YEAR BLOCK? DID ANYTHING CHANGE WITH THAT? WE'LL ENTER A NEW FIVE YEAR BLOCK STARTING IN 2828 WITH THE THE SSST SO MANY NEW ACRONYMS AND BY THAT TIME WE'LL BE IN THE NEW WE'LL BE IN THE NEW ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WITH THE NEW TEST.

OKAY. SO WE'RE KIND OF ALWAYS CHASING, YOU KNOW, A NEW STANDARD SET BY THE STATE.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WELL, 87 AIN'T BAD, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THIS DISTRICT.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAT THROUGH A MOCK PLC AT OUR TEAM OF EIGHT TRAINING.

AND I THINK TRUSTEE HENDERSON WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

THE REST OF US WERE JUST MIND BLOWN. AND SO I KNOW THAT FOR ALL THE NEW TEACHERS WHO WERE GIVING OR WHO WERE PREPARING KIDS FOR STAR THIS YEAR, IT'S A IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DID NOT GET A DEGREE IN TEACHING, BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS STUFF JUST ISN'T TAUGHT.

YOU HAVE TO COME HERE AND LEARN IT, AND WE DO OUR BEST TO TEACH IT.

BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TEACHERS, ALL THE PARENTS THE BUS DRIVERS WHO GET OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND EVEN CHILD NUTRITION WHO FUEL THESE KIDDOS BRAINS. YOU'RE ALL DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND WE'RE JUST VERY PROUD.

SO THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? I'VE GOT OH, LET ME JUST I CAN I CAN MAKE YOU GO AHEAD.

OKAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OVERALL DATA WE ARE DROPPING AND LOWEST IN ACADEMIC GROWTH.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT WE ARE DOING TO TEACH ALL KIDS AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST GETTING THEM TO THE TEST, BUT OUR DATA IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE NOT GROWING THEM.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT QUESTION IS BETTER ANSWERED BY MISS CODDINGTON.

[01:35:01]

AND OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS ZERO DROPPERS. AND SO WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CAMPUSES ON HOW TO MONITOR THAT DATA AND WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE, HOW TO GROUP THOSE STUDENTS, HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE DATA, AND THEN WHAT TO DO WITH THE STUDENTS IN THOSE, IN THOSE GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GROWING STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S A CONCERN THAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA AS WELL, IS WE HAVE SOME HIGH PERFORMING CAMPUSES, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GROWING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

I WANT, I WANT, I WANT TO ADD TO THAT. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE HERE. SO. DO YOU HAVE DATA THAT REFLECTS THE HOW RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMED IN COMPARISON THIS YEAR IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR? THAT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE. I DO NOT HAVE IT RIGHT OFF OF GENERALLY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY INCREASED IN PERFORMANCE.

THEY DID IMPROVE. I JUST CAN'T QUANTIFY THAT.

OKAY. OKAY. AND MY, MY, I'M THINKING IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 82 TO 87, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE YOU'RE RIGHT.

I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER 3 TO 5 POINT GAME. SO, SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT PROGRESS.

THERE'S, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CHANGES OF ADMINISTRATORS AT, AT RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL FOR, FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT.

BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW PROUD I AM OF TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE DOCTOR SMITH IS WITH US THIS EVENING.

GREAT JOB. JUST SHOUT OUT TO YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM OVER THERE.

KUDOS, KUDOS. WE ARE. I'M SO PROUD OF THAT. GREAT WORK.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO LAMAR CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL 89.

IN MY CLASS, I ROUND UP. SO THAT'S AN A, THAT'S AN A, MY GRADE BOOK.

SO GREAT JOB. LAMAR CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL.

MR. BEN HERNANDEZ AND THE BLUE TRACK TEAM OVER THERE.

YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW PROUD I AM OF TOMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

GREAT JOB, TOMAS. COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE BLOCKS WITH AN A! THAT'S THE WAY TO BE SO GOOD. GOOD JOB TO TOMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU LOOK. I MEAN, FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL REMAINS AN A RATED HIGH SCHOOL.

FULSHEAR HIGH SCHOOL REMAINS AN A RATED HIGH SCHOOL.

GEORGE RANCH REMAINS AN A RATED HIGH SCHOOL. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, WE PRIMARILY HAVE A RATED HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE. AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT IMPROVED, YOU KNOW, WENT FROM GENERALLY AN 82 TO 97.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, LAMAR LAMAR'S GOING TO BE THERE.

AND SO GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY WHO ADDS VALUE AND TO ME.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE YOU WANT MOST OF YOUR AYE RATINGS.

I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT A RATINGS ARE NOT IMPORTANT AT MIDDLE SCHOOL OR AT ELEMENTARY.

OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE. WE WANT OUR OUR STUDENTS GETTING A GOOD START.

BUT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GRADUATING STUDENTS FROM FROM A RATED HIGH SCHOOLS IS, IS A TESTAMENT THAT THAT WE'RE SETTING THEM UP TO THRIVE, TO MAKE A LIVING. BECAUSE AS DOCTOR NIVENS GRANDMA SAID, STUDENTS WHO CAN'T MAKE A LIVING WILL TAKE A LIVING.

AND OUR STUDENTS ARE THRIVING. THEY'RE GOOD, POSITIVE CITIZENS, AND WE ARE TEACHING THEM HOW TO MAKE A LIVING AND TO THRIVE.

AND. AND WHEN I GET THEM IN MY IN MY CLASSROOM AT THE COLLEGE, I KNOW, I KNOW, WE'RE TURNING OUT A GOOD PRODUCT, AND I'M NOT IN THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED BY ANY OF THESE RATINGS AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THOSE KIDS COME IN MY CLASSROOM AND THEY PERFORM OKAY.

AND, AND AS, AS DOCTOR NIVENS POINTED OUT EARLIER, WE'RE NOT PERFECT, BUT WE ARE AN ELITE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN A, AT AN ELITE EDUCATION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE.

SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CHIME IN. I ALSO THINK, LIKE GEORGE DID SAY, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY AT A CERTAIN LEVEL JUST BECAUSE THEY STAY, THEY'RE NOT BE DISMISSED, BUT ALSO BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE WE SEE THAT TOO.

SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE PRAISING OTHER SCHOOLS, WE'RE PROUD OF ALL OF ALL OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT, DISTRICT. BUT ALSO, I THINK WHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING, MAYBE ANOTHER TIME WHEN YOU PRESENT IS FOR US TO SEE, OR EVEN JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO THE BOARD LIKE A.

FEEDER PATTERNS, LIKE THE GRADES EVEN BROKEN DOWN INTO THE INDIVIDUAL GRADES, AND THEN ORGANIZED IN A CHART BY FEEDER PATTERN.

SO WE CAN KIND OF SEE JUST OVERALL KIND OF GIVES A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT. ANYWAY, THAT'S IT.

[01:40:02]

ALL RIGHT. SO TO, TO GO BACK TO TRUSTEE HENDERSON'S QUESTION, AND MISS CUNNINGHAM DID A GREAT JOB ANSWERING IT.

I ALSO WANT TO I WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.

AND SO AT A TEAM OF EIGHT TRAINING YOU KNOW, AS, AS ONE OF THE TRUSTEES MENTIONED, IS THAT THE BOARD WENT THROUGH A POC YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THE GROUP IS THE POC. THEY WENT THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PLANNING MEETING. WE TRAINED THEM AND TAUGHT THEM THROUGH THE SC ANALYSIS.

RIGHT. AND SO STUDENT EXPECTATIONS, THE SC ANALYSIS IS A TOOL THAT WE HAVE SO WE CAN DIG DEEP INTO THE CURRICULUM.

SO WE ARE TEACHING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING.

WE'RE TEACHING IT THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TEACH IT. WE AND, AND AND WE'RE HAVING INTENTIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THE ACTIVITIES LOOK LIKE, WHAT THE DATA LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. AND SO THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ELITE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS WHEN YOU MEET EVERY CHILD INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THE CTE ANNEX, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, EVERY STUDENT DOESN'T FIT, YOU KNOW, EVERY ROUND BALL DOESN'T FIT INTO THE SQUARE PEG, RIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MEET INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS.

AND SO THE SC ANALYSIS AND OUR LESSON PLANNING DOCUMENT AND TEMPLATE GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND GIVES TEACHERS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND KNOW THAT ROOSEVELT NEEDS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN JACKIE.

SO THEY BOTH CAN GROW. AND SO THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING, AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THE STAFF, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DOWNPLAY ANY OTHER PROFESSION. BUT EDUCATION IS DIFFICULT.

IT IS VERY HARD. TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM IS EXTREMELY HARD.

THAT'S WHY THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS REAL. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE SCORES LIKE THIS THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING, WE HAVE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN CLASSROOMS, WE HAVE ADULTS IN ADULTS IN THE CLASSROOMS PROBABLY THAT ARE STILL IN THE CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TEACHERS STILL ON CAMPUS RIGHT NOW DOING BULLETIN BOARDS, WRITING LESSON PLANS, CALLING PARENTS.

I SHARED I WAS EMAILING BACK AND FORTH LAST NIGHT WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE WAS CALLING PARENTS LAST NIGHT AT 9:00.

AND SO OUR STAFF IS Y'ALL, I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO BE THE LEADER OF THE MR ISD AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH.

AND SO IT'S NOT JUST THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AGAIN, BUT IT'S OUR IT'S OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS.

IT'S OUR CHILD NUTRITION EMPLOYEES. IT'S OUR BUS DRIVERS.

IT'S OUR POLICE OFFICERS. IT'S OUR SECURITY OFFICERS.

IT'S EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT THAT'S PULLING THEIR WEIGHT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF KIDS. AND SO MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS I ALWAYS GIVE A CHALLENGE IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ON A CAMPUS AND YOU SEE A TEACHER, YOU SEE A PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE SAY THANK YOU SAY THANK YOU, BE NICE, BE KIND, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, GIVE, GIVE THEM A DONUT OR SOMETHING OR A MUFFIN.

BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. AND SO LAMAR ISD WE DOCTOR ANDREWS PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

WE, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR VACANCIES. HOW MANY VACANCIES DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? 76.

WE HAVE WE HAVE 76 VACANCIES IN OUR IN OUR DISTRICT WITH 6500 EMPLOYEES.

OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND US ARE STILL IN THE HUNDREDS, 500 OR SO.

AND SO WE HAVE 76. SO THAT MEANS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN TOMORROW'S ISD.

AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO I WANT TO STAND AT THE ROOFTOP IN THE MOUNTAINTOP AND SHOUT THAT.

AND I ALWAYS WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS AND EVERYONE THAT SPEAKS LIFE INTO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BUT THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THIS WORK AND SUPPORTING US AND DOING THIS WORK. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, MR. MOORE, FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

I'LL ALSO ADD THAT WE HAVE LOST THE LEAST AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION AT THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING?

[12. FUTURE CONSENT AGENDA]

BUT WITH ITEM 12 C, OKAY. UNFORTUNATELY, IT CONTINUES TO BE A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC IN THIS WORLD FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ME, BUT JUST HAVING A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT ITEM WILL DETAIL WOULD WOULD SET US UP FOR A DISCUSSION IF ONE IS NECESSARY.

OKAY. ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS, I DON'T KNOW, 08:15 P.M.

[13. CLOSED SESSION]

[01:45:05]

WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. IT IS 9:53 P.M..

WE HAVE A QUORUM AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 9:53 P.M.. AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU STAYED?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.