Apr 14, 2022 Board Meetings

THANK YOU, DR. BOWMAN, JANICE MARTELL AND THEN MICHELLE LYNETTE WILLIAMS.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

DR. CANDACE MATHEWS, WILL YOU COME UP WITH ME?

[ADJOURN TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTIONS 551.004, 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.082, 551.0821, 551.083, 551.084, AND 551.089 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSES LISTED UNDER SECTION C]

I WAS. I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE PRIOR TO COMING IN HERE.

I'M DR. CANDACE MATHEWS.

I'M THE STATEWIDE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION UNDER THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.

I AM HERE IN REFERENCE TO THE BASEBALL COACH OVER AT BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL.

NOW, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN ISSUE.

THIS IS A MISCARRIAGE IN CIVIL RIGHTS AND ALSO WITH DISCRIMINATION.

I AM DEPENDENT ON EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU.

I JUST MET YOU. I NEED YOU ALL TO HOLD THIS MAN ACCOUNTABLE.

RACISM DOES NOT NEED TO EXIST IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IT DOES NOT NEED TO EXIST WITHIN OUR

[REGULAR BOARD MEETING RECONVENES FOR OPEN SESSION]

YOU ALL ARE IN POSITION BECAUSE WE PUT YOU THERE.

SO WE ARE EXPECTING FOR YOU TO HOLD THIS MAN AND HIS ASSISTANT COACH ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IF NOT, I'M COMING FOR EVERY LAST ONE OF YOUR SEATS.

DR. MATHEWS, JANET MARTELL AND THEN MICHELLE ANNETTE WILLIAMS. HI. GOOD EVENING.

HISD TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BRINGING MONTESSORI EDUCATION TO EAST END OR EAST HOUSTON.

SO IN RECENT NEWS, THE [INAUDIBLE] ACADEMY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAME TOGETHER FOR A TEN YEAR DEAL THAT IS GOING TO BE OPENING FOUR NEW MONTESSORI SCHOOLS FOR KIDS AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS OLD IN EAST END AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AREAS.

WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BASIS ACADEMY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT START FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE EAST END, AS FAR AS MONTESSORI IS CONCERNED, I THINK IT'S A PERFECT TIME FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH A SCHOOL SUCH AS POSSIBLY BRISCO ELEMENTARY AND SEE IF WE CAN CONVERT THAT SCHOOL INTO MONTESSORI PROGRAM.

THAT WOULD ALLOW THE KIDS THAT ARE AT [INAUDIBLE] ACADEMY TO HAVE A SCHOOL TO DIRECTLY GO INTO AFTER THAT PROGRAM.

HISD HAS TWO GREAT PROGRAMS. WHAT MY CHILDREN ACTUALLY HAVE ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS AT BAKER MONTESSORI AND AT GARDEN OAKS MONTESSORI.

I GREW UP. THANK YOU, MS..

MARTEL. MICHELLE WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING. I MEAN, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVENING, LONG DAY.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE WILLIAMS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

AND MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY INTERACTED WITH ME VIA EMAIL.

TONIGHT, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC GAINS.

YOU CAN HAVE ALL OF YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

BUT UNTIL YOU PROTECT THE TEACHER'S RIGHT TO TEACH WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS, DISRUPTIONS FROM DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS, NOTHING IS EVER GOING TO CHANGE.

THIS STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IS INADEQUATE.

AT BEST. IT HAS NOT BEEN REVISED.

IT'S STILL REFERENCE IPODS AND MP3 PLAYERS DON'T EVEN EXIST.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TODAY IS PLEASE REVISE, PROTECT YOUR TEACHERS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS, JUST LIKE MYSELF, TO COME TO HISD TEACHERS AND TEACH THE STUDENTS THAT MEET THESE GOALS THAT YOU ALL TRYING TO SET.

THANK YOU. SAM SMITH.

LARRY MCKENZIE.

JAMES PRITCHETT.

AFTERNOON BOARD PRESIDENT, TRUSTEES.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE DANIELS FOR ANSWERING MY CALL ON LAST WEEK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT'S GOING ON AT FOREST BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NORTH FOREST HIGH SCHOOL.

[RECOGNITIONS]

SHE NEEDED MORE ASSISTANCE AND MORE COPS ON THAT CAMPUS.

FOREST BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL HAVE FIGHTS EVERY DAY, MISS AH, THE PRINCIPAL OVER THERE NEED ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS BEEN REACHING OUT ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE.

CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE HER SOME ASSISTANCE? BOARD PRESIDENT, I NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU REGARDING THE MATTER OF MARSHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO WHEN YOU GET TIME, CAN YOU PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME SO WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION? THANK YOU.

LARRY MCKENZIE, JAMES PRITCHETT, [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

THIS IS DASHIKI THURSDAY.

SO I WEAR MY DASHIKI AND I PROVIDED ONE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SO HE CAN WEAR HIS DASHIKI

[00:05:03]

BUT I'M HERE FOR THE BELLAIRE, WESTBURY RACISM AND BULLYING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCHOOL STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, THEN RACISM AND BULLYING IS A LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR OFFENSE.

SO IF YOU NEED TO GET NOT ONLY THE STUDENTS BUT FIRE THE COACHES, REPRIMAND THE PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO PASS SOME TYPE OF BUDGET WHERE YOU CAN GET A FIELD BUILT FOR BELLAIRE AND YOU NEED TO HOLD ON TO THAT MONEY UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHY THEY NEED A FIELD AND THEN YOU NEED TO PAY SOME MONEY FOR WE ALWAYS PAY THE MONEY FOR THE TEACHERS OF THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE BEST.

BUT I WORK AT SECONDARY DAEP AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T GET A STIPEND FOR WORKING THERE AND WE HAVE THE BEST OF THE WORST AND THE WORST OF THE WORST.

AND I WOULD BET MONEY THAT NONE OF YOU COULD WORK THERE.

AND I INVITE. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING.

YOU CAN USE YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR.

JAMES PRITCHETT, [INAUDIBLE] JACKIE ANDERSON.

PUSH IT.

OH, HERE WE GO. OKAY GREETINGS, BOARD.

GREETINGS, MR. SUPERINTENDENT.

MY NAME IS JAMES PRITCHETT.

I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF PROMISE COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

TODAY I WANTED TO COME TO YOU AND JUST, I WANTED TO COME TO YOU AS A PEER, A COLLEAGUE AND A FRIEND. I STOOD HERE TWO YEARS AGO, AND I TALKED ABOUT USING CERTAIN APPROACHES TO BALANCE YOUR BUDGET. AND OF COURSE, WE WERE IN THE NEWS RECENTLY FOR THE RECENT AUDIT THAT CAME OUT. I'M A PRODUCT OF HISD AS WELL AS A PARENT, AND I HOPE TO HAVE GRANDKIDS THAT GRADUATE FROM THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO I'M PROUD OF IT AND I DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO FAIL BECAUSE IF YOU FAIL, THE DISTRICT FAILED. SO MY FRIENDLY ADVICE IS THIS.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

WE CRITICIZE THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE PLAN, BUT HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT SAME CRITICISM DURING THE JOURNEY, MEANING THAT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND TEXAS SCHOOL BUSINESS, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND LEARN IT.

UNDERSTAND YOUR GL, AND ASK THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS LIKE YOU ASK TONIGHT ABOUT THE BUDGET.

WHY IS IT SITTING THERE? WHERE IS IT GOING AND WHERE IS THE MOVEMENT OF.

[INAUDIBLE] LIGHT, JACKIE ANDERSON, JAMES HAYES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, TRUSTEES.

NEW TEXAS TEACHERS AND RETURNING TEACHERS ARE MAKING LESS THAN THEY DID TEN YEARS AGO, WITH INFLATION FACTORED IN.

BUT HISD HAS FOUND $300 MILLION AFTER CRYING FOR YEARS TO THE MEDIA ABOUT THEIR CATASTROPHIC DEFICIT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RAISE TEACHERS PAY TO OFFSET INFLATION AND MAKE UP FOR THE LOST DECADE OF WAGES WHEN PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE SUFFERED.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR HISD TO SHOW DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PROVE THAT YOU VALUE AND RESPECT US.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO RESTORE, RETHINK, RETAIN THE BEST.

PUT THAT RESPECT ON OUR CHECKS.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO USE THE 300 MILLION SURPLUS TO GIVE EMPLOYEES A REAL PAY RAISE THAT ACTUALLY INCREASES THEIR TAKE HOME PAY.

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES DESERVE RESPECT, AND FOR ALL THAT THEY DO FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR UNION IS A MOVING FORWARD TO DEMAND THAT YOU RESPECT US AND PROVE IT IN OUR PAYCHECKS. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO RESTORE DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO RETHINK WHICH POSITIONS IN HISD THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENT OUTCOMES AND HOW THOSE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE COMPENSATED.

JAMES HAZE.

BRANDY RAMOS.

REVEREND FN WILLIAMS II THE SECOND.

TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

THE MISSION OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO ENSURE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE TO LEARN.

EMPLOYEES FEEL SAFE TO WORK, AND THE COMMUNITY IS CONFIDENT IN THE SAFETY OF THE DISTRICT. THE DIVISION OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STATES THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUAL ACCESS TO AN EFFECTIVE AND PERSONALIZED EDUCATION IN NURTURING AND PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, BUT IT IS ALSO EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO SAFEGUARD EVERYONE'S FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST HAVE UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, FUNDING SOURCES AND ADEQUATE PERSONNEL TO SUSTAIN AND PROTECT DISTRICT PROPERTY EMPLOYEES.

AND OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, OUR SCHOLARS.

IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE AND PRAYER THAT THIS GOVERNING BOARD CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE MEN

[00:10:02]

THANK YOU. I YIELD MY TIME.

BRANDY RAMOS.

REVEREND FN WILLIAMS II, DEDRICK CARR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TO THE SUPERINTENDENT END OF THE BOARD.

I'M FN WILLIAMS, THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT, WHICH BASICALLY OPERATES OUT OF THE ACRES HOME AREA WITH THE CLUSTERS OF SCHOOLS THERE.

I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE, AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, FOR EQUITY IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH US BY OUR BOARD REP. MR. DANIELS IT CERTAINLY WOULD IDENTIFY AND MOVE US FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.

THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IMPACTED IN DISTRICT TWO THAT ARE IN NEED.

MS. DANIELS CERTAINLY HAS THAT INFORMATION AND THAT LIST.

I UNDERSTAND MR. HERNANDEZ HAS FOUR ALSO IN HER DISTRICT.

THE IDEA HERE IS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

AND WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED HERE, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD EMBRACE THAT AND GO FORWARD IN THIS WAY.

THE INCREASES OF THE DEDRICK CARR, ANITA DANIELS, SANDRA FRANCIS.

DEDRICK CARR.

ANITA DANIELS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANITA DANIELS AND I AM A PARENT, A NEW PARENT TO HISD A NEW PARTNER TO HISD.

I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF THE ANITA DE DESIGNER FOUNDATION.

I AM A PARTNER.

ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THAT.

I AM HERE TO DISCUSS BELLAIRE.

WE'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HISD FOR TWO YEARS.

TWO YEARS.

MY SON HAS BEEN BRUTALLY, BRUTALLY BEAT.

THIS IS AN ISSUE.

AND FOR TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS TO CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY OVER AND OVER AND OVER WHEN I HAVE WARNED THEM IN BLACK AND WHITE.

EMAILS, ALERTING THEM ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY SON? NOTHING. ON APRIL 1ST, MY SON WAS JUMPED ON BY NINE BOYS AT BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL, PULLED OUT OF HIS CLASSROOM.

THANK YOU, MS. WERE YOU ABLE TO FINISH THIS, DANIELS? WERE YOU ABLE TO FINISH? [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL GIVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.

THERE WAS A MOTION. THANK YOU.

DOLLARS IN COVID 19 SUPPLIES AND PPE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND ALL I ASK FOR WAS FOR PROTECTION AND SAFETY MEASURES TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

I HAVE ASKED THE ADMINISTRATORS OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR MY SON TO RETURN TO YOUR SCHOOL FOR SAFETY MEASURES.

HE WAS ESCORTED OUT, THROUGH A BACK WAY OUT OF BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL A FEW DAYS BEFORE

[SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS ]

MY SON HAD ONLY BEEN THERE THREE WEEKS.

HE IS AT HOME.

AND HE HAS BEEN HOME SINCE APRIL 1ST, WITH NO ADMINISTRATOR TALKING TO ME.

I SPOKE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY CANNOT DISCUSS IT WITH ME.

THANK YOU, MISS DANIELS.

SANDRA FRANCIS.

[00:15:06]

I AM A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE STONE STROKE ASSOCIATION, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL OVER FLOOR.

I HAVE APPROACHED AND SPOKEN WITH THE PRINCIPAL.

I HAVE APPROACHED AND SPOKEN WITH CERTAIN OFFICERS AT THE SCHOOL.

I'VE TALKED TO SERGEANT KAPLAN, CHIEF LOPEZ.

I'VE TALKED TO SOMEBODY NAMED TRON.

I EVEN WENT AND SPOKE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND SHE JUST DISREGARDED THE PROBLEM AND ME AS WELL. WE'VE HAD TO GO.

I WENT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH MY COUNCILWOMAN.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL BOARD, OF THIS ISSUE.

WE'VE HAD TO HAVE SIGNS INSTALLED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING BELLIGERENT THREATS FROM THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS.

THANK YOU, MS. FRANCIS.

WE ARE NOW READY TO MOVE ON TO J1, DISCUSSION OF THE REDRAWING OF TRUSTEE DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES AND APPROVAL OF RELATED RESOLUTIONS.

GENERAL COUNSEL.

SORRY.

GENERAL COUNSEL ANITA HUTCHINS TAYLOR HAS SOME INFORMATION TO PROVIDE US.

MS. HUTCHINS TAYLOR, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CRUZ.

THIS IS REGARDING AGENDA ITEM J1, DISCUSSION OF THE REDRAWING OF TRUSTEE DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES AND APPROVAL OF RELATED RESOLUTIONS.

BY LAWS, PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO LOOK AT CENSUS DATA.

IN THIS CASE, THE 2020 CENSUS DATA NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE BOUNDARY LINES FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES DISTRICTS NEED TO BE REBALANCED.

FOR THIS PROCESS, THE DISTRICT HAS ENGAGED THE LAW FIRM OF BICKERSTAFF, HEATH DELGADO AND ACOSTA. WITH US TODAY IS ATTORNEY SIDNEY FALK THAT WILL PRESENT SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE REDRAWING OF THOSE LINES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THIS IS NOT REDRAWING ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY LINES FOR STUDENTS.

IT IS NOT AFFECTING THE SCHOOL BOUNDARY LINES FOR STUDENTS.

IT IS LOOKING AT REDRAWING THE LINES FOR THE TRUSTEES THAT REPRESENT THE NINE DISTRICTS IN HISD.

WITH THAT, I TURN IT OVER TO MR. FALK. MADAM PRESIDENT FORD, PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE TONIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE FOR YOU THE BASICS OF THE LAW THAT APPLIES.

I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE PROPOSE AND THEN GIVE YOU THE PUNCH LINE WE HAVE IN THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT, LOOKED AT YOUR CURRENT TRUSTEE DISTRICTS AND PUT IN THE NEW CENSUS DATA.

WHEN YOUR DISTRICTS WERE DRAWN PREVIOUSLY TEN YEARS AGO, THEY WERE IN POPULATION BALANCE.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN GROWTH IN THE DECADE AND THE TASK IS TO LOOK AND SEE WHETHER THE DISTRICTS ARE STILL PROPERLY BALANCED.

THERE ARE FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO NAME THEM FIRST AND THEN TURN TO THEM IN A SECOND.

THE THING THAT DRIVES THE REDISTRICTING STANDARD AND UNDER FEDERAL LAW DRIVES THE NEED TO REDISTRICT IS THE SO CALLED ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE PRINCIPLE.

IT'S REALLY AN EQUAL POPULATION PRINCIPLE.

FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, WHICH YOU ARE

[00:20:05]

AND SO AFTER EVERY CENSUS, WE LOOK TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE STILL IN APPROPRIATE POPULATION BALANCE. WHILE WE ARE DOING THAT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LEGAL PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT SECTION TWO.

THAT'S THE NONDISCRIMINATION SECTION OF THE VOTING ACT.

AND I WILL DESCRIBE SECTION TWO STANDARDS IN A MINUTE.

IN TURN, WHILE WE ARE CONSIDERING THE VOTING ACT REQUIREMENTS, THE SUPREME COURT AND A LINE OF CASES BEGINNING IN THE 1990S CALLED SHAW VERSUS RENO, HAS SAID THERE IS A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH YOU CAN, IN EFFECT, PAY ATTENTION TO RACE AS THE DOMINANT FACTOR WHEN YOU'RE DRAWING A DISTRICT.

AND FINALLY, I WANT TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS ACT SECTION FIVE, WHICH DOES NOT APPLY THIS TIME AROUND, BUT IT HAS A USEFUL STANDARD FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES.

AND I'LL DESCRIBE THAT IN A SECOND.

SO ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE PRINCIPLE, THE EQUAL POPULATION PRINCIPLE COMES FROM THE 14TH AMENDMENT, EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.

COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED IT TO REQUIRE THAT SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS HAVE ABOUT THE SAME APPROXIMATELY EQUAL POPULATIONS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET EXACTLY EQUAL POPULATION BECAUSE THERE IS SOME LATITUDE.

AND OVER THE LAST 40 OR SO YEARS, COURTS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IN COMPARING THE MOST POPULOUS TO THE LEAST POPULOUS OF YOUR DISTRICTS, NO MORE VARIATION THAN ABOUT 10%.

THEN YOU WOULD BE IN SATISFACTORY POPULATION BALANCE.

IF YOU HAVE GREATER THAN 10% DEVIATION OVERALL, YOU NEED TO REDRAW.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TONIGHT.

SO THE TECHNIQUE FOR FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT DEVIATION IS TO DEFINE AN IDEAL DISTRICT SIZE.

WE TAKE THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT AND DIVIDE BY THE NUMBER OF SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS OF TRUSTEE DISTRICTS.

SO DIVIDE BY TEN.

AND THAT IS THE POPULATION THAT GIVES YOU THE POPULATION THAT WOULD BE EXACTLY EQUAL FOR ALL OF THE DISTRICTS IF THEY WERE ALL GOING TO BE THE SAME.

THAT'S THE TARGET.

AS I SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET PERFECTLY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT. SO YOU DEFINE THAT IDEAL SIZE AND COMPARE YOUR MOST POPULOUS DISTRICT TO THAT IDEAL SIZE AND LOOK HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

AND YOU DO THE SAME THING WITH THE LEAST POPULOUS DISTRICT.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE, THERE ARE FOUR DISTRICTS AND THIS PARTICULAR JURISDICTION HAS FORTUNATELY EXACTLY 40,000 PEOPLE.

SO WHEN YOU DIVIDE 40,000 TOTAL POPULATION BY THE FOUR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS, THE IDEAL POPULATION IS EXACTLY 10,000.

THAT'S THE TARGET, THE SIZE YOU WANT TO GET TOWARD FOR EACH OF THE DISTRICTS.

IN OUR EXAMPLE, IN THE THIRD COLUMN, YOU SEE THE DISTRICT TOTAL POPULATION.

DISTRICT A HAS GOT 11,000 PEOPLE.

WE COMPARE THAT TO THE IDEAL SIZE.

IT'S 1000 LARGER THAN THE IDEAL SIZE, AND 1000 IS 10% OF THE IDEAL SIZE.

SO THIS DISTRICT IS 10% OVERPOPULATED AND ITS DEVIATION IS SHOWN IN THAT RIGHT HAND COLUMN. BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE DO THE SAME THING FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS.

DISTRICT D IS THE MOST UNDERPOPULATED, THE LEAST POPULOUS OF THE DISTRICTS.

IT HAS 8000 PEOPLE, WHICH IS 2000 PEOPLE LESS THAN THE IDEAL SIZE.

AND THAT 2000 IS 20%.

SO IT'S 20% UNDERPOPULATED.

SO WE'D LOOK AT THOSE TWO NUMBERS, THE 10% OVERPOPULATION FOR DISTRICT A, THE 20% UNDER FOR DISTRICT D, ADD THEM TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S A 30% TOTAL DEVIATION.

IT'S BIGGER THAN THE 10% THE COURTS RECOGNIZE.

AND SO THIS JURISDICTION HAS TO REDISTRICT.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE.

WE ALL KNOW THE CENSUS BUREAU COUNTS PEOPLE.

WHAT'S IT, MR. FALK I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU FOR A SECOND.

TRUSTEES, THERE WAS A GREEN FOLDER ON YOUR DESK WITH THE SLIDE DECK IN CASE YOU'RE WANTING TO FOLLOW ALONG.

PRESIDENT CRUZ, CAN I HAVE A HOW LONG WILL THE PRESENTATION BE? CAN YOU GIVE US AN ESTIMATE OF HOW LONG THE PRESENTATION WILL BE? ANOTHER TEN, 15 MINUTES.

OKAY. LESS IF YOU'D LIKE TO ACCELERATE.

[00:25:02]

PRESIDENT CRUZ, CAN WE TAKE A BREAK? OH, YES.

OH, ACTUALLY, HE DOES NEED TO GET BACK TO US.

APOLOGIES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. SO SORRY FOR THAT INTERRUPTION.

OKAY. WE KNOW THE CENSUS TAKES POPULATION DATA.

WHAT YOU TYPICALLY DON'T KNOW IS THAT IT ALSO DEFINES WHAT IS CALLED CENSUS GEOGRAPHY.

IN PARTICULAR, IT DIVIDES THE ENTIRE COUNTRY INTO LITTLE GEOGRAPHIC UNITS CALLED CENSUS BLOCKS. THESE ARE THE SMALLEST AREAS FOR WHICH THE CENSUS REPORTS POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.

AND THAT DATA COMES IN TWO BASIC CHUNKS, THE TOTAL POPULATION, WHICH IS THEN BROKEN DOWN BY VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN AND SOMETHING CALLED VOTING AGE POPULATION, OR VAP, WHICH IS THE HEAD COUNT OF EVERYBODY THAT'S 18 OR OVER.

SO WE HAVE THOSE DATA AT THE BLOCK LEVEL FOR ALL THE CENSUS BLOCKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER IN REDRAWING.

IN A CITY LIKE HOUSTON, A CENSUS BLOCK TYPICALLY LOOKS LIKE A CITY BLOCK.

IF YOU GET OUT TO SUBURBAN AREAS, RURAL AREAS, THE CENSUS BLOCKS ARE OFTEN LARGER AND IRREGULARLY SHAPED, SOMETIMES NOT VERY POPULOUS EITHER.

AND THEY ARE THE SMALLEST BUILDING BLOCKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US FOR REDRAWING DISTRICTS. IN ADDITION TO THE.

CENSUS BLOCKS. THERE ARE THINGS CALLED VOTER TABULATION DISTRICTS, VTDS, AND YOU CAN THINK OF THEM REALLY AS VERY CLOSE TO BEING COUNTY ELECTION PRECINCTS FOR A DISTRICT AS LARGE AS HISD.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO SUGGEST IS THAT YOU DRAW WITH BUILDING BLOCKS THAT ARE BASICALLY THE VTDS INSTEAD OF CENSUS BLOCKS.

FOR DETERMINING THE EQUAL POPULATION REQUIREMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TOTAL POPULATION, BUT WOULDN'T WE PAY ATTENTION TO ANY VOTING RIGHTS QUESTIONS? WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT VOTING AGE POPULATION.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT AS WELL.

SECTION TWO OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AS I MENTIONED, IS THE NONDISCRIMINATION SECTION.

AND IT SAYS YOU MAY NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A PROTECTED MINORITY GROUP ON THE BASIS OF RACE, LANGUAGE OR MINORITY STATUS.

THERE ARE TWO MAIN WAYS THAT DURING REDISTRICTING YOU COULD VIOLATE SECTION TWO.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS, BUT THESE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT.

THEY ARE CALLED CRACKING AND PACKING.

CRACKING IS SOMETIMES ALSO CALLED FRACTURING.

THE IDEA OF CRACKING IS THAT YOU DIVIDE A GEOGRAPHIC, COMPACT AREA OF MINORITY VOTERS INTO PIECES TO FRAGMENT ITS VOTING POWER.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DRAW A MAJORITY HISPANIC DISTRICT AND YOU BROKE IT, YOU BROKE THAT POPULATION INTO HALF SO THAT NEITHER OF THOSE HALVES CONSTITUTED A MAJORITY IN THE TWO DISTRICTS YOU PUT THEM IN.

THAT COULD VIOLATE SECTION TWO.

THAT'S CRACKING. PACKING IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, AND THAT IS TAKING A SITUATION WHERE, FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD DRAW TWO HISPANIC DISTRICTS, BUT YOU PACK THE POPULATION OF HISPANIC VOTERS INTO ONE DISTRICT AS TIGHTLY AS YOU CAN AND YOU DON'T GET THE SECOND DISTRICT. BOTH OF THOSE PRACTICES CAN, BUT DON'T ALWAYS VIOLATE SECTION TWO.

YOU HAVE TO VIEW THEM IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THE POPULATION.

AND SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE UNDERPOPULATED, GOT AN UNDERPOPULATED DISTRICT AND YOU WANT TO BALANCE IT, YOU HAVE TO ADD PEOPLE.

AND IT MAY BE THAT YOU'RE NOT ADDING HISPANICS TO A HISPANIC DISTRICT.

SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT.

THE 14TH AMENDMENT ALSO GIVES RISE TO A SERIES OF COURT CASES.

SHAW VERSUS RENO WAS THE SUPREME COURT CASE IN 1993.

THAT LIMITS THE DEGREE TO WHICH YOU CAN LOOK AT RACE AS THE PREDOMINANT OR MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING DRAWING A PLAN OR A DISTRICT.

AND THE COURT SAYS IT'S NOT ALWAYS ILLEGAL TO DO THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE.

AND IN PARTICULAR, THE STANDARD IS, ARE YOU CONSIDERING RACE TO SATISFY WHAT THE LAWYERS CALL A COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST, WHICH IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING A GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST THAT'S IMPORTANT AND LEGITIMATE.

IF YOU ARE, YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER RACE AND ACT ON RACE AS A FACTOR TO THE DEGREE YOU NEED TO SOLVE THE THING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL

[00:30:03]

THIS IS A DISTRICT DRAWN BY THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE IN 1992.

THIS IS THE SHAW VERSUS RENO TEST CASE.

THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THIS YELLOW DISTRICT TO BE A MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN DISTRICT, FOLLOWED AN INTERSTATE VIRTUALLY ACROSS THE STATE, AND GRABBED AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO TRY TO BUILD THIS MAJORITY DISTRICT.

IT GOT CHALLENGED IN COURT, ENDED UP IN THE SUPREME COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID NO, TOO MUCH.

THIS IS CONSIDERING RACE FAR TOO MUCH.

CLOSER TO HOME, 1992 WELL, YEAH, THE CASE WAS 1993.

CLOSER TO HOME ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE REDISTRICTING THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE HOUSTON AREA DREW THE UP MAP AND THE UPPER LEFT.

THE RED DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO BE AND WAS A MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN DISTRICT.

THE LIGHT GREEN DISTRICT THAT SURROUNDS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE AND WAS A MAJORITY HISPANIC DISTRICT. IT GOT CHALLENGED IN COURT AND FOLLOWING THE SHAW VERSUS RENO ANALYSIS WAS STRUCK DOWN. THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT DRAW ANOTHER ACCEPTABLE PLAN, SO THE COURT DREW THE PLAN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, THE RED DISTRICT WAS INTENDED TO BE AND WAS A MAJORITY HISPANIC DISTRICT.

THE LITTLE LIGHT GREEN DISTRICT WAS A MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICT, ONLY A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS LESS STRONG THAN THE DISTRICTS THE LEGISLATURE HAD DRAWN.

BUT THE LESSON IS YOU CANNOT HAVE THIS LEVEL OF GERRYMANDERING ON A RACE BASIS.

SO WELL THE LESSON IS THAT THE COURT DREW SOMETHING THAT WAS NARROWLY TAILORED TO CREATE THE MAJORITY DISTRICTS THAT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, SECTION TWO SAID NEEDED TO BE PRODUCED, BUT DIDN'T GO BEYOND THE NECESSITY.

SO THE LESSON FROM SHAW IS USUALLY CAN'T ELEVATE RACE TO THE PREDOMINANT FACTOR YOU'RE CONSIDERING, BUT YOU CAN BE AWARE OF RACE.

AND IN FACT, YOU HAVE TO BE TO SATISFY SECTION TWO AND NOT VIOLATE SECTION TWO.

SO THAT PART'S OKAY.

AND THE COURTS HAVE SAID SO.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER TO SATISFY SECTION TWO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER RACE, YOU DO ONLY WHAT'S NECESSARY TO SOLVE THE SECTION TWO PROBLEM OR PREVENT THE SECTION TWO VIOLATION. YOU DON'T GO OVERBOARD.

AND BIZARRELY SHAPED DISTRICTS AREN'T THEMSELVES IN AND OF THEMSELVES ILLEGAL.

YOU SEE THEM IN POLITICAL GERRYMANDERING ALL THE TIME.

BUT IF THEY'RE RACE BASED, THEY TYPICALLY WILL VIOLATE SECTION TWO.

ALL RIGHT, SECTION FIVE OF THE ACT, WHICH DOES NOT APPLY THIS TIME AROUND, PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED WHAT WAS CALLED PRECLEARANCE.

WHENEVER YOU MADE A CHANGE TO ANY VOTING PRACTICE, STANDARD OR PROCEDURE, ANYTHING, MOVE A POLLING LOCATION, CHANGE YOUR POLLING HOURS, CHANGE THE FORM OF A BALLOT.

YOU HAD TO GET IT PRE APPROVED BEFORE YOU COULD DO IT.

THE USUAL WAY OF GETTING THAT PRE-CLEARANCE WAS TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LONG BIG APPLICATION FOR PRE-CLEARANCE, TELLING THEM WHY YOU WERE MAKING THE CHANGE AND WHAT YOU WERE CHANGING FROM AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

WE DID ONE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON ONCE.

THAT WAS 36 BOXES OF MATERIALS.

THEY GOT MESSY AND THEY WOULD REVIEW IT ALL AND PRE-CLEAR YOU OR NOT.

THE STANDARD THEY USED WAS SIMILAR TO BUT NOT THE SAME AS THE STANDARD FOR SECTION TWO DISCRIMINATION DETERMINATIONS.

IT WAS A LITTLE SIMPLER IN CONCEPT AND IT WAS CALLED RETROGRESSION.

THE BASIC IDEA WAS, IS THE NEW THING YOU'RE DOING IN THIS CASE, THE NEW PLAN YOU'RE DRAWING, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MINORITY GROUPS BETTER OFF OR LESS WELL OFF.

AND IF IT'S LESS WELL OFF, IT WAS RETROGRESSION.

THAT'S A VERY USEFUL STANDARD FOR LOOKING AT A PLAN THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING AND GETTING A REAL QUICK RED FLAG.

IF THERE IS A RETROGRESSION, IF YOU WEAKEN A DISTRICT, A HISPANIC OR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICT MORE THAN YOU NEED TO, THAT RAISES A RED FLAG AND IT SUGGESTS YOU NEED TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND MAYBE MAKE SOME CHANGES.

SO IT'S A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GET PRE-CLEARANCE.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS TO ADOPT WHAT WE CALL REDISTRICTING CRITERIA.

[00:35:01]

THE TWO LEGAL THINGS ARE BASICALLY FOLLOW THE LAW.

THE ONES THAT I'VE ALREADY DESCRIBED.

SO THE LITTLE BOX AND THE CENTER SAYS ADOPT DISTRICTS OF RELATIVELY EQUAL SIZE.

THAT'S THE 10% RULE.

THE BOX RIGHT BELOW IT SAYS NARROWLY TAILOR YOUR PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. PAY ATTENTION TO RACE, BUT DON'T OVERDO IT.

AND PAY ATTENTION TO SECTION TWO OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE REST OF THEM ARE RELATIVELY PRACTICAL.

USE IDENTIFIABLE BOUNDARIES.

USE STREETS AND ROADS AND BAYOUS.

DON'T USE MAPS THAT HAVE LINES ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF FIELDS.

TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE, MAINTAIN COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN NEIGHBORHOODS, DON'T SPLIT THEM UP IF YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE POPULATION AROUND.

YOU GOT TO MOVE YOUR LINES.

BUT YOU CAN TRY TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT DOING THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S FEASIBLE.

USE WHOLE VOTING PRECINCTS, WHOLE ELECTION PRECINCTS, IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS EVERY TIME YOU'RE ONE OF YOUR BOUNDARY LINES SPLITS A COUNTY ELECTION PRECINCT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT BALLOT ON EACH SIDE OF THAT SPLIT.

IT COSTS MONEY AND TAKES TIME AND IT'S HARD AND YOU ARE PAYING FOR THEM TO RUN THAT ELECTION. IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE THE TDS OR VOTING PRECINCTS AS THE BUILDING BLOCKS, THAT'S A PREFERABLE WAY TO DO IT.

BASE YOUR DISTRICT ON, BASE YOUR DISTRICTS ON YOUR EXISTING PLAN.

THERE'S NO NEED TO COMPLETELY WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND DRAW FROM SCRATCH.

AND IN FACT, IT'S UNDESIRABLE IN SOME RESPECTS TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS AND GIVEN DISTRICTS HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT YOUR DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO SORT OF LOOK KIND OF THE SAME TO THE DEGREE THEY CAN.

SOME CONTINUITY.

DRAW DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS.

CONTIGUOUS MEANS CONNECTED CAN'T HAVE A PIECE OF DISTRICT TEN ON THE EAST SIDE AND A PIECE OF DISTRICT TEN ON THE WEST SIDE.

IT'S OKAY, FINALLY, TO KEEP INCUMBENTS OR AT LEAST BE AWARE OF WHERE INCUMBENTS LIVE AND TRY TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

NOW, THAT'S NOT YOUR RIGHT THAT THE COURTS RECOGNIZE THAT'S THE VOTER'S RIGHT TO HAVE SOME CONTINUITY IN THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY'VE ELECTED.

SO ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE THINGS THAT COURTS OVER TIME HAVE RECOGNIZED AS LEGITIMATE THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

ONE OTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO ADOPT AT THE BEGINNING, SOMEWHERE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS OR WHAT WE CALL GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

AND THEY ARE ALL REALLY COMMON SENSE.

IF THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAD A HEARING OR SUBMITTING A WRITTEN COMMENT IS GOING TO DO THAT, THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND GIVE YOU CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW UP IF YOU NEED TO.

IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO ACTUALLY PROPOSE A SPECIFIC REDISTRICTING PLAN, THEY NEED TO GIVE YOU A PLAN THAT RE DISTRICTS THE WHOLE OF HISD, NOT JUST THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A REDISTRICTING PLAN, ALL OF THOSE THINGS LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE HAVE TO FIT TOGETHER.

THERE ARE RIPPLE EFFECTS.

IF YOU DO SOMETHING TO DISTRICT TWO, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT MAY GO ALL THE WAY AROUND TO DISTRICT SIX.

YOU NEED TO SEE THE WHOLE THING.

THEY NEED TO GIVE YOU THE DATA OF THE KIND THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU IN THE TABLE OF POPULATIONS IN EACH OF THEIR DISTRICTS, WHICH MEANS THEY NEED TO BE USING CENSUS DATA.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THEIR PLAN WHEN THEY SUBMIT IT SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

SO THE OVERALL PROCESS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT TONIGHT, ADOPTING THE PLAN DISTRICT BY DISTRICT CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES.

AND THE NEXT STEP IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PLAN.

WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE LIVE DRAWING SESSIONS WITH OUR GIS, PEOPLE BACK IN AUSTIN, CONNECTING THROUGH THE INTERNET AND SHOWING YOU A MAP ON THE SCREEN OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE YOUR DISTRICT LINES AROUND RIGHT NOW IN REAL TIME AND WATCH THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS IN EACH DISTRICT CHANGE.

THE SOFTWARE KEEPS TRACK OF ALL THAT STUFF, AND THERE'S A TABLE RIGHT BELOW THE MAP THAT YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY SEE THE EFFECT OF MOVING A LINE.

SO WE CAN DO LIVE DRAWING IN AID OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO JUST SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE OUT OF BALANCE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? WE WILL BRING YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLE.

PLANS TO GET YOU THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO DO, MAYBE THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU

[00:40:02]

WE MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T THINK IS GOOD, BUT IT'LL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHANGES YOU NEED TO MAKE AND THE KINDS OF OPTIONS YOU HAVE IN MAKING THEM. AT SOME POINT IN THIS PROCESS, YOU WILL GET TO THE POINT WHERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT QUITE READY TO VOTE YES ON THE PLAN, YOU'RE ALL NODDING YOUR HEAD AND KIND OF COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

AND IT'S TIME THEN TO GET PUBLIC INPUT.

SEVERAL WAYS TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OR PERIODS WHERE YOU ASK FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS.

MORE COMMONLY, WE WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING OR A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME REVIEW THE PLAN AND MAKE COMMENTS JUST LIKE THEY'VE DONE TONIGHT.

WE WILL TAKE THE INPUT THAT WE GET TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IT AND RECOGNIZE THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO CHANGE IN THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE DEVELOPED OR PLANS THAT YOU'VE PROPOSED MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND FINALLY, YOU'LL ADOPT A FINAL PLAN.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT FOR ADOPTION, MAINLY THE TIMING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE, FOR THE NEW PLAN.

YOU CAN MAKE IT EFFECTIVE.

ON THE SAME DATE THAT YOU ADOPT THE PLAN OR YOU CAN MAKE IT EFFECTIVE, FOR INSTANCE, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE NEW BOARD TERMS BEGIN.

IF YOU MAKE IT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, YOUR LINES CHANGE IMMEDIATELY.

AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES CAUSE SOME CONFUSION.

IF YOU WAIT AND MAKE IT EFFECTIVE WHEN THE NEW BOARD TERMS BEGIN, THEN YOU SERVE OUT YOUR TERMS AND WELL, YOU SERVE OUT THE FIRST PIECE OF YOUR TERMS UNDER THE EXISTING DISTRICTS, AND THEN THEY CHANGE WHEN THE FIRST CHANGE TO THE BOARD COMES INTO EFFECT.

YOU CAN PICK ANY TIME IN BETWEEN.

WE JUST NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT.

SO SCHEDULE, ROUGHLY SPEAKING, LOOKS LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE TO PICK A COUPLE OF DATES FOR DRAWING SESSIONS, SOME DATES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT YOU IDENTIFY.

YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME DATES FOR ADDITIONAL DRAWING SESSION OR SESSIONS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND FINAL ADOPTION.

AND WE WILL WORK OUT ALL THOSE DATES.

ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED HOW MANY OF EACH OF THESE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO, HOW MANY PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HOW YOU'D LIKE TO SPREAD THEM OUT AND WHEN YOU WANT THEM TO OCCUR.

OKAY. HERE'S THE PUNCH LINE PART.

THIS IS THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT DATA WHERE WE'VE TAKEN THE NEW CENSUS DATA AND PUT IT INTO YOUR EXISTING DISTRICTS TO SEE HOW FAR OUT OF BALANCE YOU ARE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GROWN LIKE CRAZY OVER THE DECADE.

AND SO HERE'S THE PUNCH LINE.

THESE ARE YOUR CURRENT DISTRICTS.

THIS IS THE TABLE.

IF THAT WILL CLICK THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO REDISTRICT.

LOOK IN THE VERY LOWER LEFT PART WHERE IT SAYS OVERALL DEVIATION, 25.8%.

SO YOUR MOST MOST POPULOUS DISTRICT AND YOUR LEAST POPULOUS DISTRICT DIFFER BY 25%, OVER 25% COMPARED TO THE IDEAL SIZE THAT'S BIGGER THAN THE COURT'S 10% ALLOWANCE YOU NEED TO REDRAW. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S SURPRISED.

SO LET'S LOOK AT THE DISTRICTS.

THE LEFT HAND COLUMN IDENTIFIES THE TRUSTEE DISTRICT.

THE NEXT COLUMN LABELED PERSONS, GIVES THE ACTUAL CENSUS HEAD COUNT FOR THE DISTRICT.

THE IDEAL SIZE, OF COURSE, IS THE SAME FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S THE TOTAL POPULATION DIVIDED BY TEN.

OH, SORRY BY NINE.

THE DEVIATION OF EACH OF THESE DISTRICTS IS SHOWN IN THE NEXT COLUMN.

THAT'S REALLY THE CRITICAL COLUMN.

WHAT WE DID WAS EXACTLY WHAT I EXPLAINED.

WE LOOKED AT THE TOTAL HEAD COUNT POPULATION COMPARED TO THE IDEAL SIZE, LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCE, EXPRESSED THAT DIFFERENCE AS A PERCENTAGE DEPARTURE FROM THE IDEAL SIZE AND CALCULATE THE TOTAL DEVIATION.

DISTRICT SEVEN IS THE MOST OVERPOPULATED AT 11.17% OVER DISTRICT FOUR IS CLOSE AT 9.69% OVER, AND DISTRICT THREE IS THE LEAST POPULATED AT 14.63% UNDERPOPULATED. SO WHAT WE DO TO GET THE 25.8% TOTAL IS ADD THE DEVIATION FOR DISTRICT SEVEN TO THE DEVIATION FOR DISTRICT THREE, ADD THOSE 11.17 AND 14.63 TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S HOW THAT DEVIATION IS DERIVED.

[00:45:06]

OTHER DISTRICTS MAY GET AFFECTED WHEN YOU ACTUALLY ARE DOING THE REDRAWING, DEPENDING ON

[DISCUSSION REGARDING 2022–2023 BUDGET ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED ON APRIL 7, 2022]

BUT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO DO THE DISTRICTING IN A WAY, THE REDISTRICTING IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T AFFECT MANY OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS.

YOU CAN THINK OF THE DRAWING EXERCISE IS TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY WITHIN A PLUS OR MINUS FIVE PERCENT. NOW, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THAT.

YOU COULD HAVE ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT PLUS 6% AND ANOTHER DISTRICT, THE LEAST POPULATED DISTRICT, HAD -3.99%.

SO THAT YOU'RE LESS THAN 10% OVERALL.

IT'S THE TOTAL OVERALL DEVIATION THAT MATTERS.

BUT A GOOD WAY OF THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GET THERE IS TO HAVE EVERYBODY BE PLUS OR -5%.

WE ALSO HAVE A TABLE THAT SHOWS COMPARABLE DATA FOR THE DISTRICTS FOR VOTING AGE POPULATION ALONE.

AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS VOTING AGE POPULATION THAT YOU LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE DECIDING WHETHER YOU HAVE A SECTION TWO ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, DISTRICT THREE IS 75.5% HISPANIC.

DEFINITELY A MAJORITY VOTING AGE HISPANIC DISTRICT.

AND WHEN YOU REDISTRICT, YOU WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS OF NOT UNNECESSARILY REDUCING THAT HISPANIC STRENGTH BEYOND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET INTO POPULATION BALANCE.

FOR EXAMPLE. BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NON-HISPANIC BLACK PERCENTAGE COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL VERY STRONG NEAR MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICTS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE SENSITIVE NOT TO DILUTE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STRENGTH IN THOSE DISTRICTS TO THE DEGREE WE CAN AVOID IT.

SO THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.

YOU HAVE TO REDRAW AND WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF VARIABLES AT THE SAME TIME. BUT IF YOU SAY TO YOURSELF RIGHT NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE FUN, I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS, THEN YOU'LL GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

AND I WILL EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT MS. HUTCHINS TAYLOR SAID AT THE OUTSET.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND REDRAWING THESE LINES DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE DISTRICT SERVICES, DOESN'T AFFECT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONES, IT DOESN'T AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE.

IT IS JUST THE TRUSTEE DISTRICTS THAT ARE BEING CHANGED.

MR. FOXX, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

AND I KNOW TRUSTEES HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, SO PLEASE INDICATE IN THE QUEUE WILL DO TWO ROUNDS OF 2 MINUTES.

TRUSTEE GUIDRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

AND I KNOW THIS HAS TO DO WITH VOTING AND I KNOW THAT IT NOT REALLY THE DISTRICTS, BUT HERE IS MY ISSUE.

I ONLY HAVE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT.

I'M NOT AFFECTED.

I'M DISTRICT NINE, SO I'M NOT ONE OF THE FOUR AND PROBABLY NOT CLOSE TO ONE OF THE FOUR.

BUT WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF I BRING YOU A PRESENTATION THAT DRAWS IN ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL? I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS, Y'ALL.

ALL THE REST OF YOU ALL HAVE FOUR AND FIVE.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR A FEEDER OF ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND IF I BRING YOU A PRESENTATION, WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT, SIR? DRAWING ANY PLAN YOU WANT AS LONG AS IT SATISFIES THE EQUAL POPULATION AND THE VOTING STANDARDS. IF YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE OR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THAT'S FINE.

IT WILL ALWAYS BE SOME KIND OF A BALANCE OF CAN WE GET THAT THIRD ONE IN THERE WITHOUT DOING SOME DANGER TO SOME VOTING RIGHTS ASPECT? IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BALANCING.

BUT YES, YOU CAN YOU CAN PAY ATTENTION TO OTHER THINGS.

THE OTHER OPTION, OF COURSE, WOULD BE A SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE FOR YOU TO BUILD ME ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL WITHIN DISTRICT NINE AND ALSO THOSE SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO BE REBUILT.

[00:50:04]

I KNOW. THANK YOU.

AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU.

I JUST I DO HAVE I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON THESE DATES. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT US TO EMAIL YOU ON? I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MS..

HUTCHINS TAYLOR.

I GUESS MY THOUGHT WAS, ARE YOU COME TO OUR NEXT MEETING? WE NEED AN OVERALL I NEED AN OVERALL SENSE OF HOW LONG YOU WANT THE WHOLE PROCESS TO TAKE AND OVERALL SENSE OF HOW MANY PUBLIC HEARINGS YOU HAVE IN MIND.

BECAUSE THAT MAY, FROM A CALENDAR POINT OF VIEW, TAKE A WHILE.

AND ONCE WE'VE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT, MY THOUGHT IS I WILL GET WITH MS. HUTCHINS TAYLOR AND TRY TO WORK OUT A LIST OF SUGGESTED DATES FOR YOU GUYS TO REACT TO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME, FORTUNATELY, SINCE YOUR NEXT ELECTION IS A YEAR AND A HALF OFF.

AND I THINK WE HAD DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY HAVING IT DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND I KNOW SOME TRUSTEES, WHEN YOU HAD PROPOSED DOING THE DRAWING SESSIONS BEFORE THE SUMMER AND THAT WAY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, THINK IT OVER, AND THEN WE WOULD START OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AS SOON AS WE'RE BACK IN SESSION FOR SCHOOL IN THE FALL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SET MEETING DATES ALREADY, I THINK JUST ATTACHING ON LIKE I MEAN, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO Y'ALL.

LIKE IF WE ALREADY HAVE A GENDER REVIEW MAYBE COMING EARLIER THAT DAY AND HAVING MR. FAULK COME OR THE DAY OF HEARINGS DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE CAN EITHER DO ONE EVERY ONE MEETING A MONTH FROM NOW UNTIL DECEMBER, OR WE CAN KNOCK THEM ALL.

WE MEET THREE TIMES A MONTH, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.

SO, MR. FAULK, I'LL GET WITH MISS HUTCHINS TAYLOR AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THE CLEAR DATES SO THAT YOU CAN BE HERE FOR THAT, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DRIVE SAFELY.

MY PLEASURE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE ARE TWO RESOLUTIONS.

OH, YES. THAT ARE POSTED, AND IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

YOU CAN VOTE ON EACH OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT.

YOU GAVE THEM AN OVERVIEW IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

DO YOU WANT TO GO ONE MORE TIME? JUST VERY BRIEFLY WHAT EACH OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS IS ABOUT.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I'M READY TO MOVE. CAN I MOVE TO VOTE ON THEM.

SECOND HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU INDICATE WHICH RESOLUTION YOU'RE VOTING ON FIRST? JUST. JUST SO THERE'S THE GUIDELINES FOR PERSONS SUBMITTING SPECIFIC REDISTRICTING PROPOSALS AND PROVIDING COMMENTS.

AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS RESOLUTION ADOPTING CRITERIA FOR USE IN 2022 REDISTRICTING PROCESS. SO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE FIRST ONE AND A SECOND AND A VOTE AND THEN ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE SECOND I MOVE THAT WE PUT THE RESOLUTION, NUMBER ONE, TO A VOTE. GUIDELINES FOR A PERSON SUBMITTING SPECIFIC REDISTRICTING PROPOSALS AND PROVIDING COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND HERNANDEZ.

I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS IN A SECOND BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE. 940 AGAINST ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WADE.

ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.

9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

YEAH. WE ARE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. FAULK. FOR THE RECORD, LET IT BE REFLECTED THAT AGENDA B ONE HAS BEEN REVISED.

ONE OF ITS ATTACHMENTS IS NEW AND ONE HAS BEEN REVISED.

THE ATTACHMENT TO I1 HAS BEEN REVISED AND THE ATTACHMENT TO J.

ONE HAS BEEN REVISED AND ITS ATTACHMENTS ARE NEW.

BOARD POLICY REQUIRES TRUSTEES TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES AND ABSTAIN FROM ALL DISCUSSION AND VOTES PERTAINING TO CONTRACTS THAT MIGHT INVOLVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS DEFINED IN BOARD POLICY BBFA LOCAL.

A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT COULD CAST DOUBT ON A TRUSTEE'S ABILITY TO ACT WITH TOTAL OBJECTIVITY.

WITH REGARDS TO THE DISTRICT'S INTEREST, WE WILL NOW CONSIDER ITEMS HELD FOR ABSTENTION

[00:55:04]

EACH MONTH, ALL ACTION ITEMS BEGIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IF A TRUSTEE WOULD LIKE AN ITEM HELD FROM CONSENT, THEY NEED TO NOTIFY SYLVIA TRINH BY 8 A.M. ON THE MONDAY PRIOR TO THE VOTING MEETING.

TRUSTEES AS A REMINDER, EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY PRIOR TO THIS MEETING TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER A GENDER REVIEW TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

THE Q&A DOCUMENT HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THE UPDATED Q&A WAS SENT TO ALL TRUSTEES VIA EMAIL IS IN YOUR SHAREPOINT UNDER APRIL BOARD MEETING DOCUMENTS AND HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.

THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS BEING HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEE WADE.

F ONE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO CONVENE LOCAL SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTION ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE.

FAMILY VIOLENCE, DATING, VIOLENCE, AND SEX TRAFFICKING.

WE WILL DO ONE ROUND OF ONE MINUTE PER TRUSTEE IF AN ADDITIONAL ROUND IS DESIRED.

YOU KNOW THE RULE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? THANKS, YOU GUYS, FOR FOR STICKING THROUGH THIS.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UH, I JUST DON'T. THE REASON IT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT IS THAT I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE FULL NOTICE THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL RECONVENE, THE MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE WILL BE POSTED, AND THE MEETINGS HAVE PUBLIC INPUT.

THIS IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT SUBJECT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

MY QUESTION ON THE INFORMATION IS IT SAYS STATED THAT LAST MEETING WAS MARCH 3RD, 2022 AND APRIL SEVEN, 2022.

BUT WE HAVE NOT MADE THE VOTE TO RECONVENE THE COMMITTEE, IS THAT CORRECT? DR. BIRD, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING THE KIND OF NEXT STEPS HERE.

SO THE DISTRICT EXCUSE ME, THE DISTRICT [INAUDIBLE] MEETS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

YOU'RE THIS PARTICULAR VOTE IS TO CONVENE THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS PARTICULAR REASON.

RIGHT BUT SO THIS IS NOT THE COMMITTEE, THE ONE THAT YOU SPOKEN OF ON THE Q&A DOCUMENT AT PAGE SEVEN. SO, YEAH, SO THE COMMITTEE IS IS SELECTED BY APPOINTED BY YOU GUYS, BUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBCOMMITTEE IS APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONVENED.

THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE.

THIS IS ITEM F1 AGAIN.

YES TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

I MOVED TO MOVE ITEM B1 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT WAS THE SELF EVALUATION THAT WE DID IN EARLIER TODAY.

SECOND SAMPLE. WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE CRUZ AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS ANY DISCUSSION? JUST WANTED TO SAY.

OKAY, YEAH, LET'S LET'S GO AHEAD AND PLEASE VOTE.

YES, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE.

BUT THANK YOU TRUSTEE GUIDRY YES.

EIGHT FOR, ONE AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

SO I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE FIRST QUARTERLY PROGRESS TRACKER SCORES AS DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

SECOND SANTOS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE CRUZ AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS, ANY DISCUSSION? JUST WANT TO SAY GREAT WORK COLLEAGUES TODAY ON THE SELF EVALUATION.

OF COURSE I'M LIKE SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST ONE WE'VE DONE IN QUITE SOME TIME AND IT WILL SERVE AS OUR BASELINE AND I THINK GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE FROM HERE ON OUT AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF US AS A BOARD.

PLEASE VOTE. OH, SORRY.

SORRY, TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

GREAT JOB.

AND CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THIS PUBLICLY POSTED ONLINE TO THE PUBLIC? CAN SEE AND KEEP TRACK OF OUR PROGRESS.

THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THAT'D BE A GREAT IDEA.

PLEASE VOTE.

OK, OKAY. ALL

[01:00:04]

9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S PART OF THE RECORD THAT WE THAT I'M REQUESTING THAT IT'S MORE REFINED TO COINCIDE WITH THE EVALUATION.

I THINK THAT IT'S TOO BROAD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT BE PART OF THE RECORD IF WE CAN PROBABLY MAKE IT BULLETS AS OPPOSED TO SO MUCH INFORMATION.

SO YOU'RE SAYING JUST BREAK IT DOWN? BREAK IT DOWN. AND YEAH, DEFINITELY AND HAVE TO COINCIDE WITH EVERY EACH ONE OF THE THANK YOU METRICS.

I THINK SHE IS. YEAH.

MAKE IT REFINED. THIS IS JUST TOO BROAD.

YEAH. SO THAT'S THE INSTRUMENT.

YEAH. LIKE THAT'S THE, THE, THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE INSTRUMENT.

SO WE CAN'T CHANGE IT. I MEAN, WE COULD BREAK IT DOWN AND MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE.

AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BREAK IT DOWN, BECAUSE IF NOT, I'M GOING TO BE ALONE WITH SANTOS BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE MORE DEFINED AND BROKE DOWN FOR EACH ONE OF OUR TRACKING MECHANISMS. WE CAN DEFINITELY CONTINUE THAT.

LET'S SEE. WHERE ARE WE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING HELD ON MARCH TEN, 2022? SO MOVE SANTOS. SECOND HERNANDEZ.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.

READY. 9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

WE ARE NOW READY TO CONSIDER ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS? I MOVED AT THE BOARD, AUTHORIZED THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER REGARDING PROPEL FINANCIAL SERVICES, EMINENT DOMAIN ORDER OF FORECLOSURE CONCERNING 5525 GASMER DRIVE HOUSTON, TEXAS 77035.

ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022, WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS.

PLEASE VOTE. SANTOS.

9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF ALEX CURTIS JUNIOR VERSUS HISD IN THE DISTRICT COURT.

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 198 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT CAUSE NUMBER 2019 21692 ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS.

PLEASE VOTE. 9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF FLOYD DAVIS VERSUS EARL SMITH RICHARD AND HISD ATOLL IN THE DISTRICT COURT.

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 1/33 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT CAUSE NUMBER 2019 51480 ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

SECOND SANTOS THE MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS PLEASE VOTE.

8 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ONE ABSTENTION.

I MOVED AT THE BOARD, AUTHORIZED THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF RAYMOND FREEMAN ATOLL VERSUS HISD IN THE DISTRICT COURT.

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 11 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT CAUSE NUMBER 2020 78459, ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

SECOND SANTOS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS, PLEASE VOTE.

8 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ONE ABSTENTION.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF ANGELA JOBERT VERSUS HISD IN A DISTRICT COURT HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 269TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT COS NUMBER 2016 30814 ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS.

PLEASE VOTE. 8 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO AGAINST, ONE ABSTENTION.

I MOVED THAT THE BOARD, AUTHORIZED THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF THE REQUEST OF FOR TEA SPECIAL EDUCATION MEDIATION REGARDING SUMMER D, TEA MEDIATION DOCKET NUMBER 050

[01:05:01]

I MOVED THAT THE BOARD APPROVED CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS PLEASE.

8 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ONE ABSTENTION.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE A FINDING OF NO GOOD CAUSE FOR EDUCATORS TO RESIGN OR ABANDON EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITHOUT DISTRICT CONSENT UNDER SECTION 21.1 05C 21.160 C OR 21 210 C OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO SBC TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022, WE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS PLEASE. EIGHT FOR, ONE AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

I MOVED AT THE BOARD, APPROVED THE BALANCE OF THE CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL AGENDA, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY THAT THE BOARD APPROVED PROPOSED TERMINATIONS OF CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS APPROVE END OF TERM TERMINATIONS OF PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED, PROPOSED NON RENEWALS OF TERM CONTRACTS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED ISSUANCE OF FOUR YEAR PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, AND THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE A NOTICE OF SAME THAT THE BOARD APPROVES SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENTS AT THE BOARD APPROVED WITHDRAWS OF CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ISSUANCE OF FINAL ORDERS ON CONTRACT TERMINATIONS AND RENEWALS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2022.

A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS.

PLEASE VOTE. 9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS? WE ARE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE BALANCE OF TODAY'S AGENDA.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BALANCE OF TODAY'S AGENDA BY CONSENSUS.

PLEASE VOTE.

9 FOR, ZERO AGAINST, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

ALMOST THERE.

MR. SUPERINTENDENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS FOR US AT THIS TIME? I DO. I HAVE JUST ABOUT 3 MINUTES WORTH OF INFORMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD. THE FIRST REALLY IS HAS TO DO WITH SEVERAL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO LIBRARY BOOKS.

WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST TO TAKE 30 SECONDS AND AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS ON RECORD THAT THERE IS A PROCESS THAT IF THERE IS A BOOK THAT THAT ANYONE HAS A CONCERN WITH, THEY CAN ACTUALLY BRING THAT BOOK BEFORE THEIR SCHOOLS, A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE. DR. BIRD, DO YOU MIND SHARING JUST A 25/2 SNIPPET AND ANY INSIGHT THAT YOU HAVE IN REFERENCE TO THIS? SURE. SO THERE IS A PROCESS.

IF A CITIZEN HAS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A CERTAIN MATERIAL, THEY SUBMIT A FORM TO THEIR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. WE THEN FORM A COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER THAT MATERIAL.

JUST FYI TO DATE OR SINCE 2017, WE'VE HAD ZERO OFFICIAL CHALLENGES.

BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A PROCESS AND TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE SECOND ITEM THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE AWARE, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, WE WENT AHEAD AND RELEASED ALLOCATIONS SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE ON THE DAIS. SO THAT HAS HAPPENED THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND AND DO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT KIND OF LEADS ME TO MY LAST ITEM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PILLARS, OF COURSE, OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, IS OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTIVATE THE WORLD CLASS TALENT THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TO DATE, WE'VE BEGUN TO TO EXECUTE ON ON THIS PARTICULAR COMMITMENT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE PROPOSAL OF COMPREHENSIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT, STIPENDS FOR TEACHERS AND CRITICAL SHORTAGE AREAS, INCLUDING A $2,000 STIPEND FOR MATH, SCIENCE AND CAREER TECH TEACHERS, AS WELL AS A $5,000 STIPEND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, ESL AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

AND FINALLY, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL PAY FOR TEACHERS WITH TRACK RECORDS OF IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TO TO SERVE AS ESPECIALLY IN OUR TRANSFORMATION COHORT.

THESE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STIPENDS COULD INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL SALARY UP TO $10,000. TODAY, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER PROGRAM ALIGNED TO THIS

[01:10:02]

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL STIPENDS AND COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITIES I JUST SHARED, COMMIT HISD PROVIDES AN EXTRA $5,000 BETWEEN JUNE OF 2022 AND JUNE OF 24 TO EACH TEACHER WHO COMMITS THIS SPRING TO TEACH IN HISD FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE'RE ASKING ALL TEACHERS TO COMPLETE THE OFFICE OF TALENT'S INTENT TO RETURN FORM, WHICH CAN BE SUBMITTED ONLINE BY THE DEADLINE OF MAY SIX.

WITHIN THIS FORM, YOU CAN DECLARE YOUR INTENT TO PARTICIPATE AND COMMIT HISD.

WE KNOW THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE THE CORE OF ENSURING THE HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING HAPPENS IN OUR CLASSROOMS ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO WE SEE IT AND COMMIT TO HISD, THE PROGRAM NOT ONLY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REWARD THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILLING TO COMMIT TO OUR STUDENTS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ONE STEP CLOSER TO PROVIDING OUR TEACHERS WITH THE SALARY THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING TO STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES ON A DAILY BASIS. MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

TRUSTEES WE ARE NOW READY TO HEAR REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR TIME TO ONE MINUTE PER TRUSTEE.

TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ, WE'LL START AT YOUR END.

I WANT TO SAY AGAIN THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO CAME EARLY FROM THE HOUSTON MINISTER AGAINST CRIME.

REVEREND F.N. WILLIAMS, THE SECOND.

AND PASTOR GERALD SHANKS WERE HERE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY.

HAPPY EASTER. AND HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU. I AM SO GLAD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED TONIGHT AND ENGAGED.

IT WAS VERY REFRESHING TO SEE THAT.

AND I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE FAMILY OF DEPUTY DARREN ARMENDARIZ AND CONSTABLE NUMBER SEVEN, JENNIFER CHAVIS, WHO ARE BOTH WERE BOTH LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

PRAYERS FOR THEIR FAMILY AND CONDOLENCES.

AND HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE.

TRUSTEE GUIDRY. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY AND SAFE EASTER TO EVERYONE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MY COMMUNITY MEETING, WHICH WILL BE ON APRIL 23RD AT WINDSOR VILLAGE ELEMENTARY AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

PLEASE, PLEASE JOIN US AND HEAR MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVES GOING ON HERE AT HISD.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL THE STAFF WHO STAYS AND HELPS US OUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAD A WONDERFUL VISIT TO SINCLAIR AND LAMAR.

I WAS ENJOYING MY MEETING AT LOVE ELEMENTARY, WHAT AN AMAZING LIBRARY AT LOVE ELEMENTARY AND I ENJOYED BEING THERE WITH TRUSTEE SANTOS.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY AND WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY EASTER.

STARTING TOMORROW WITH A GOOD FRIDAY AND ALSO WITH PASSOVER.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

I WANTED TO SALUTE THE VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE HONORING HONORING THEM ON THEIR CELEBRATION ON NEXT FRIDAY.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE SCHOLARS.

WE CELEBRATED THE VALEDICTORIANS AND THE SALUTATORIANS ON PAST TUESDAY, I WANT TO SAY HAPPY EASTER. AND BECAUSE WE DON'T GET TO SPEAK, BUT ONCE A MONTH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

WE WON'T GET TO SPEAK UNTIL AFTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS THAT SPOKE TODAY AND REALLY THE ONES THAT COME AND SPEAK AT ANY TIME.

I ADMIRE THEIR COURAGE AND THE TIME THAT THEY TAKE TO COME AND SPEAK TO US SINCE WE.

THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOARD SERVICES FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PARTICULARLY MISS JONES, WHO WILL BE LEAVING THE TEAM.

SHE'S BEEN LEADING THE TEAM FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND I KNOW BEFORE THAT SHE'S DONE A REMARKABLE JOB AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.

SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND SHOUT OUT HER.

SHOUT HER OUT PUBLICLY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON MAY 12TH, 2022.

AGENDA REVIEW FOR THAT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MAY 5TH, 2022.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AT 8:46 P.M.

[01:15:01]