Jun 09, 2022 Board Meetings

>> LEE LOVE, GERALD THOMAS, SIBYL HUNTER.

>> LEE LOVE, SENIOR MECHANIC FOR HISD.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU ALL, PLEASE PASS THE BUDGET.

[LAUGHTER]

>> GERALD THOMAS, SIBYL HUNTER.

HECTOR MIRALES.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SIBYL D. HUNTER.

I'VE BEEN WITH HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NUTRITION SERVICES FOR 17 YEARS AND I'M ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT REPRESENTING OUR FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO SAY APPRECIATION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD ACTUALLY OPENING UP THEIR EARS WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING.

HISD SAYS TEAM HISD, THAT MEANS EVERYBODY, NOT JUST ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC GROUPS, AND YOUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE EACH AND EVERY TIME NO FAIL.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WINTER STORMS, COLD, HOT, RAIN AND YOU NAME IT.

WE'VE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND WE DID OUR JOB.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A RAISE.

WE'RE SAYING WE DESERVE IT.

YOU'RE NOT GIVING US ANYTHING, WE DESERVE IT, AND WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE PASS THIS BUDGET.

ONE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO [NOISE].

>> HECTOR MIRALES, JACKIE WHITE ANDERSON, AMY MADDOX.

>> GOOD EVENING MADAM PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS.

I COME HERE TODAY UNDECIDED ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH DEFICIT WE'RE IN.

WE'VE SPENT NO MONEY ON TRYING TO GET KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL TO HISD.

WE'VE GOT CHARTER SCHOOLS STEALING OUR STUDENTS FROM HISD.

I'M NOT AGAINST ANY INCREASE THAT OUR SUPPORT STAFF GETS.

I SUPPORT OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OUR UNION.

THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS IF YOU PASS THIS BUDGET, I DON'T WANT US TO COME BACK ME AND WRETHA THOMAS 30 DAYS FROM NOW OR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW AND SAYING THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO LAY OFF SUPPORT STAFF.

I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THAT.

THERE HAS BEEN NO MENTION, IF THIS INCREASE PASSES OR THIS BUDGET PASSES, THAT THEY'LL BE LAYOFFS.

THAT'S A CONCERN AND AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED WITH YOU AS SUPERINTENDENT AND YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS.

SHOULD THIS INCREASE PASS, WILL THERE BE LAYOFFS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> JACKIE WHITE ANDERSON, AMY MADDOX, DR. CLAUDIA J. MORALES.

>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND THE BOARD ADMINISTRATION, I WANT TO APPLAUD THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS BUDGET.

THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST INCREASE THAT HISD HAS GOTTEN IN THE HISTORY.

I WAS HERE 25 YEARS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.

YOU'VE REALIZED THAT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE PAY INCREASE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND IT MIGHT SOUND CLICHE, BUT IF YOU'RE CARE FOR STUDENTS, YOU HAVE TO CARE FOR TEACHERS.

A TEACHER'S WORKING ENVIRONMENT IS A STUDENT'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR MONEY, WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE, AND IF YOU WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN, IF YOU WANT STUDENTS TO FEEL SAFE AND I APPRECIATE IT, YOU HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING FOR STAFF.

I HAVE 30,000 PETITIONS HERE WHO ARE ENDORSING THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU.

>> AMY MADDOX, DR. CLAUDIA J. MORALES.

>> THANK YOU. I URGE THE BOARD TO PASS THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S A BIG STEP, AND THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I SEE THREE MAJOR POSITIVES.

ONE, THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

WE ARE BLEEDING TEACHERS AS A PARENT, IT'S TERRIBLE TO SEE ALL THE TEACHERS LEAVING.

WE MUST PAY A COMPETITIVE WAGE TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS.

TWO, IT'S A REASONABLE COMPROMISE AMONG PRIORITIES.

IT MAINTAINS THE PUA WAITED TO GIVE MORE FUNDS TO THE MOST STRUGGLING STUDENTS, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT PUSHES EVEN MORE TITLE ONE DOLLARS TO OUR NEEDIEST STUDENTS.

[00:20:03]

IT MAINTAINS THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL OF PUTTING A COUNSELOR, LIBRARY, AND A NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL.

BUT IT ALSO DOES NOT DESTROY THE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE BUILT TO GET THERE.

IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT LEFT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE.

[NOISE].

>> DR. CLAUDIA J. MORALES.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM DR. CLAUDIA MORALES, AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

BEFORE WORKING FOR THE HFT I WORKED FOR HISD, AND SERVING MANY ROLES INCLUDING BILINGUAL TEACHER, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, AND MANY OTHERS.

IN MY CURRENT ROLE, I GET TO TALK TO MANY EDUCATORS, AND MANY TEACHERS.

I HEAR ABOUT ALL THEY DO, ALL THEIR STRUGGLES, AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TWO YEARS IN A LOT OF HEARTACHE LOSS, AND PAIN.

TEACHERS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HELPING THEIR STUDENTS THRIVE EVERY DAY, AND TEACHERS ARE THERE SHOWING UP, TAKING CARE OF THEIR STUDENTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, AND BEYOND.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

PLEASE APPROVE THE BUDGET, AND HELP US RETAIN, AND ATTRACT TALENTED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SO NEEDED FOR OUR HOUSTON AREA STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

>> MS. TREND, IS DEYADIRA ARELLANO BACK ON ZOOM?

>> SHE IS. WE'RE GETTING HER RIGHT ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MS. ARELLANO, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, UNMUTE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CRUZ, BOARD, AND COMMUNITY.

MY NAME IS DEYADIRA ARELLANO, AND I'M HERE AS A PROPERTY OWNER, AND TAXPAYER TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR A TAX RATE, AND BUDGET THAT PAYS OUR TEACHERS, AND STAFF WITH DIGNITY IN THEIR PAYCHECKS, AND THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

I EQUALLY SUPPORT FUNDING FOR LOWER CLASS SIZES, AND MONEY FOR OUR BELOVED TEACHERS TO GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO TEACH WITH A PEDAGOGY THAT SPEAKS TO OUR CHILDREN'S HEARTS, AND MINDS.

I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY TO BE SPENT ON CONTRACTS FOR SCRIPTED CURRICULUM LIKE EUREKA, AND AMPLIFY THAT OUR WORKSHEET DRIVEN, AND INCORPORATE A LOT OF BENCHMARKING.

A SCRIPTED CURRICULUM DIMINISHES THIS VALUE OF QUALITY EDUCATION.

TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRAINED BY CURRICULUM IN A BOX MODEL, A STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM DOES NOT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS, AND IS NOT A SOLUTION.

PRIORITIZE FUNDING SMALLER CLASS SIZES FOR ALL CAMPUSES.

MAKE TUTORING AVAILABLE FOR LEARNERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR PRIVATE TUTORS OR ENRICHMENT CLASSES.

PAY OUR [NOISE] STAFF WITH THE COLA, AND INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTER SPEAKERS IS C1 PERSONNEL.

WELL, SARAH SANDY'S PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM? THIS SPEAKER IS ALSO REGISTERED FOR C2 LEGAL.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M IN DISTRICT 7.

ONE MONTH AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, WINSTON CHURCHILL'S GREAT-GRANDSON SPOKE TO HISD LEADERSHIP ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

HIS TWO-DAY COURSE BROKE DOWN HOW GREAT WORLD LEADERS COMMUNICATE DIFFICULT TOPICS TO DIVERSE, AND OFF DIVIDED PEOPLE.

PARTICIPANTS LEARNED HOW CHURCHILL, AND HIS GREAT-GRANDSON ALIKE SUFFERED FROM SEVERE LEARNING DISABILITIES THAT NEARLY DERAILED BOTH THEIR ADULT LIVES.

THEY HEARD HOW TRUE LEADERS ARE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, HAVE INTEGRITY, SHARE POWER, AND AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OVER THEIR OWN.

THE REASSIGNMENT OF PRINCIPAL SALVATORE FROM BAKER MONTESSORI HAS SHOCKED OUR COMMUNITY, AND CAESAR MARTINEZ, AND HIS STAFF HAVE PROVEN THEY WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION IN CHURCHILL'S CLASS.

I AM A FIRST-YEAR HISD PARENT.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN THE FIRST STABLE ONE MY CHILDREN HAVE HAD SINCE THEIR FATHER DIED, ARIZONA JANE, AND JESSIE HAVE LIVED THROUGH, LIKE EVERYONE THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEY REQUIRE THE STABLE, PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP THAT PRINCIPAL SALVADOR PROVIDES.

IF POOR PERFORMANCE IS TRULY THE REASON FOR PRINCIPAL SALVADOR'S REASSIGNMENT THEN MY SON JESSIE IS PROBABLY TO BLAME.

HIS LEARNING. [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MUM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICK SANTA YNEZ.

MUM, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.

RICK SANTA YNEZ.

CAN YOU PLEASE LOWER. SORRY, GO AHEAD.

[00:25:05]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RICK SANTA YNEZ VERSUS CECILIA PHILLIPS, WHO ATTENDS BAKER MONTESSORI, AND SHE HAS A FEW THINGS THAT SHE'D LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE PRINCIPAL.

>> PLEASE HELP US KEEP PRINCIPAL SALVADOR HERE SHE'S THE AWESOMEST PRINCIPAL I'VE EVER HAD.

>> THANK YOU. WE LIVE IN DR. ALLEN'S DISTRICT, AND HER GRANDPARENTS LIVE IN MS. WADE'S DISTRICT, AND IN [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT.

I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC PRINCIPAL SALVADOR'S ENSURED THAT WE ALL HAD THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT SCHOOL YEAR WE'VE EVER HAD IN RECENT HISTORY, AND I THINK THAT HER REASSIGNMENT WAS RUSHED, AND ILL-ADVISED, AND WILL BE A BIG DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS TRYING TO HEAL, AND MOVE FORWARD PAST THE PANDEMIC, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR HER REINSTATEMENT AS PRINCIPAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM A REGISTERED SPEAKER WHO'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM REGARDING C1.

AGAIN, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM, WE MUST SEE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR CAMERA ON AS YOU SPEAK.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING THE MEETING LIVE ON ANOTHER DEVICE, PLEASE MUTE THE MEETING AUDIO WHEN YOU SPEAK TO AVOID AUDIO INTERFERENCE, TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS, AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

MS. TREND, PLEASE ADMIT LILIA MARGARITA AMARO.

>> MISS AMARO HAS NOT JOINED VIA ZOOM.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS L1,

[L-1. The 2022–2023 Houston Independent School District Compensation Manual (Part 1 of 2)]

THE 2020/2023 HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPENSATION MANUAL.

WILL SCOTT PARKER, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

>> I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

MY NAME IS SCOTT PARKER, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

EVERYONE HAS WORKED VERY HARD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY, AND UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC KNOWN AS COVID, WE ALL DESERVE A RAISE.

THIS IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS ASSET OF ALL BUSINESSES INCLUDE MUNICIPALITIES WHOM ARE THE EMPLOYEES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, INDEED FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY.

WE THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE OUR FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

WE THE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST DIGNITY, AND RESPECT IN ALL FACETS INCLUDING OUR PAY.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS SCOTT PARKER, AND I AM SPEAKING FIRMLY, AND COURAGEOUSLY ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, AND OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU ALL. [NOISE]

>> NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM A SPEAKER REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM REGARDING L1.

MISS TREND, PLEASE ADMIT CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS.

>> MR. WILLIAMS, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, UNMUTE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS AND I'M A TEACHER AT EASTWOOD ACADEMY.

I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN HISD FOR 15 YEARS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND HIS STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPENSATION MANUAL THAT HONORS TEACHERS AND THAT DOES THE WORK OF HELPING TO MAKE HISD MORE COMPETITIVE.

I URGE BOARD TRUSTEES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE COMPENSATION MANUAL AS PRESENTED AS IT BEGINS TO DO THE WORK OF HELPING TO MAKE HISD ABLE TO RETRACT AND RETAIN GREAT TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS L2 INVESTMENT REPORT.

[L-2. Investment Report]

WILL TRACEY RILEY PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM?

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE INVEST IN OUR FACILITIES AND OUR TEACHERS.

PLEASE DON'T BE BLINDED BY DATA AND PASS REQUESTS FOR TIME ALLOCATED TO BOARD GOAL CREATION WHILE REAL LIFE IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

IN THE LAST FEW BLAZING HOT WEEKS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN PRE-K AND PALZ AT LOVE ELEMENTARY SAT IN CLASSROOMS WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING.

TEACHERS HAD TO BRING A CHANGE OF CLOTHES BECAUSE THEY WERE SWEATING THROUGH THEIR STARTER PAIR.

SCHOOLS CAN'T MEET BOARD GOALS AND TARGETS WHEN THEY'RE BUSY MOVING STUDENTS AROUND CONSTANTLY SO THAT THEY CAN STAY AT A SAFE TEMPERATURE.

HOW ABOUT SOME FACILITIES DATA? WHERE'S OUR FACILITIES CONDITION INDEX?

[00:30:02]

WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT AND A FOCUS ON THE HVAC AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CRUMBLING PORTABLE BUILDINGS ON SO MANY CAMPUSES.

WE NEED DATA AND MORE OVERSIGHT AND PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION ABOUT OUTDATED WORK ORDERS.

OUR TEACHERS NEED RAISES AND OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF NEED A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN.

PLEASE DON'T USE DATA AS AN EXCUSE.

PLEASE DON'T LET OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS SUFFER FOR BRIAN BUSBY AND HIS TEAM'S PAST.

[NOISE].

>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR AGENDA ITEMS. WE'RE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AGENDA ITEMS. FOR THE RECORD, LET IT BE REFLECTED THAT ITEM B1 IS BOTH NEW AND REVISED AND ATTACHMENTS TO ITEMS G1, I1, I2, I3, AND I10 HAVE BEEN REVISED.

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

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

WE WILL NOW CONSIDER ITEMS HELD FOR ABSTENTION AND/OR DISCUSSION.

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 TRAN BY 08:00 AM 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 AGENDA REVIEW TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

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

THE UP-TO-DATE Q&A WAS SENT TO ALL TRUSTEES VIA EMAIL IS IN YOUR SHAREPOINT UNDER JUNE BOARD MEETING DOCUMENTS, AND HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.

TRUSTEES HAVE REQUESTED TO DISCUSS TWO DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS. L1, THE 2020-2023,

[Items L-1. (Part 2 of 2) & L-3.]

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPENSATION MANUAL, AND L3, THE 2022-2023 RESOURCE ALLOCATION HANDBOOK.

IN ADDITION, TRUSTEES HAVE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO BE HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

A2, APPROVAL OF THE 2022-2023 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

I1, APPROVAL OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES OVER 100,000 AND RATIFICATION OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES UNDER 100,000.

PROJECT 220201, RFP MINOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS LIKE FOR LIKE, PROJECT NUMBER 21080623, COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, AND I10.

ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY THROUGH THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS CONSOLIDATED FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION PERKINS V, STRENGTHENING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY GRANT APPLICATION AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSOLIDATED GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, AND SUPPORTED THE DISTRICT-WIDE AND SCHOOL-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AND AMEND GRANTS.

I UNDERSTAND TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ WOULD LIKE TO HOLD AN ADDITIONAL ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ MAY I HAVE A MOTION.

>> I MOVE TO PULL ITEM J1 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND SAMPLE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? J1 IS THE ANNUAL LEGAL FIRMS THAT ARE APPROVED FOR BUSINESS WITH THE DISTRICT.

PLEASE VOTE.

[NOISE] I'M SORRY, 940 AGAINST 0 ABSTENTIONS.

FOR EACH ITEM OF DISCUSSION, WE WILL DO ONE ROUND OF ONE MINUTE EACH PER TRUSTEE.

IF AN ADDITIONAL ROUND IS DESIRED, THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE MOTIONS SECOND AND BOARD VOTE.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE L ITEMS AND TRUSTEES.

THE L ITEMS, WE ACTUALLY DON'T VOTE ON THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER THE BUDGET, BUT THEY WERE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

TRUSTEE DEIGAARD REQUESTED TO DISCUSS L1, THE 2022-2023 HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPENSATION MANUAL.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND CHIEF JEREMY GRANT-SKINNER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMPENSATION PLAN AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD ON THESE.

THESE RAISES ARE LONG OVERDUE AND CRITICAL TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY IN A COMPETITIVE TEACHER MARKET.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT DOES ENOUGH BUT I WILL STILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, WHICH I NOW NOTICE DOESN'T HAVE A VOTE.

I WAS PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

[00:35:01]

BUT IN ADDITION TO COMPENSATION, I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE DISTRICT CULTURE THAT I THINK IS AN IMPEDIMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR PRINCIPALS RIGHT NOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE CULTURE OF FEAR THAT I THINK THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE WADE?

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE CRUZ.

AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO REITERATE, WHAT TRUSTEE DEIGAARD SAID.

I FULLY SUPPORT US COMPENSATING OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN MAKING HISD RUN ON A DAILY BASIS.

I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR LISTENING TO THE TEACHERS AND TO ALL THOSE SUPPORT STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATION IN THAT REGARD.

LIKE SUE SAID, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS IN MORE THAN JUST FISCAL MANNER.

I'M ALL FOR US LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE WHO LEAD OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN MAKING THE SAME OR LESS THAN THEY WERE A DECADE AGO.

THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING MUCH NEEDED OVERDUE RAISES AND A COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DISTRICT IMPLEMENTING THIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THIS TYPE OF COMPENSATION.

I REQUESTED TO DISCUSS L3,

[L-3. 2022–2023 Resource Allocation Handbook]

THE 2022-2023 RESOURCE ALLOCATION HANDBOOK.

OUR THEORY OF ACTION STATES, IF THE DISTRICT ALLOCATES RESOURCES EQUITABLY THROUGH A WEIGHTED STUDENT FUNDING FORMULA BASED ON STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE THAT DISTRIBUTES ALL RESOURCES TO MEET DIFFERENTIATED STUDENT NEEDS, THEN CAMPUSES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE BOARD STUDENT OUTCOME GOALS WHILE HONORING THE BOARD'S CONSTRAINTS.

THE BUDGET WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY WE'LL ALLOCATE FUNDS TO SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR PUA SYSTEM, WHICH IS MONEY BASED ON STUDENT NEED.

OUR PUA WILL NOT BE CUT TO FUND THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE OR ANY OTHER PIECE OF THIS BUDGET.

OUR PUA HAS SLIGHTLY INCREASED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO TEACHER SALARY INCREASES.

SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE SPENDING POWER THAN THEY DID IN THE PAST.

I RECOGNIZE THAT TEMPORARY SPENDING THROUGH ESTER FEDERAL DOLLARS WILL GIVE SCHOOLS MORE MONEY BUT IT IS NOT A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

IN TWO YEARS THAT MONEY WILL RUN OUT.

I WANT TO SEE SCHOOLS HAVE MORE SPENDING POWER.

I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FRAMEWORK THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED THAT WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GIVE GUARDRAILS TO SCHOOLS AND CENTRAL OFFICE SPENDING.

OUR FIRST ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM A2, APPROVAL OF THE 2020,2023 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

THIS ITEM IS BEING HELD AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS DIE GUARD AND MYSELF, MAY I HAVE A MOTION?

>> TRUSTEE SANTOS.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE MEMBERS.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

>> THANK YOU. PRESIDENT CRUZ, I DO AND GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES.

AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RESPOND TO A FEW OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HEARD FROM TRUSTEES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW DAYS REGARDING THE BUDGET.

AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO A VOTE, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY DISCUSSING ALIGNMENT OF OUR BUDGET WITH OUR GOALS AND THE DATE OF RESOURCES THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE OUR STRATEGIES.

AS YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVEN WORKSHOPS, WE HAVE AS AN ADMINISTRATION FOCUSED THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS ON, OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF CHANGE AROUND COMPENSATION FOR THIS BUDGET.

WITHIN OUR DECENTRALIZED MODEL, WHERE WE EMPOWER PRINCIPALS TO BE ABLE TO LEAD DECISIONS AND BE THOSE DECISION-MAKERS ON HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE ULTIMATELY SPENT AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.

A GREAT DEAL OF ATTAINMENT OF THE BOARD GOALS IS DEPENDENT UPON THE EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR CAMPUS LEADERS AS THEY DRIVE THE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THE BOARD GOALS.

THIS BUDGET MAKES A COMMITMENT TO PUT MORE FUNDS DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF OUR CAMPUS LEADERS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY NAVIGATE LEADING, TEACHING,

[00:40:03]

AND LEARNING IN THEIR CAMPUSES, IN THE SHADOWERS, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE AUDIENCE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SCHOOLS WILL INCREASE THE ABILITY OF OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO ATTAIN THE FULL BOARD GOALS THAT ARE LAID OUT.

THIS INCREASE IS IN CAMPUS-BASED FUNDS, AND THESE INCREASES INCLUDE $50 MILLION AND ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY ESSER FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR HIGHEST NEED CAMPUSES AND ADDITIONAL 36 MILLION AND CAMPUS-BASED DISCRETIONARY ESSER FUNDS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR INNOVATION, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, HB4545 TUTORING, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ACTIVITIES AS WELL.

THEY ALSO INCLUDES 10 MILLION AND INCREASES IN RE-OCCURRING TITLE, $1 GOING DIRECTLY TO SERVE OUR HIGHEST NEED STUDENTS, AND $3.7 MILLION OF TITLE 1 FUNDS GOING TO CAMPUSES IN THE FORM OF READING AND MATH INTERVENTIONS.

THIS BUDGET MAKES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS OF A $133 MILLION IN A COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHER IN FRONT OF THE STUDENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LEVER THAT A SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS FOR ACCELERATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

THIS BUDGET NOT ONLY MAKES THE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR TEACHERS, BUT OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AS WELL AND SUPPORTS OUR SUPPORT STAFF OUT THERE THAT WE KNOW IS DESERVING OF A RAISE AS WELL.

THIS COMPENSATION PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE TEACHERS A RAISE OF 11% ON AVERAGE AND WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN ITS STATUS AS ONE OF THE REGIONAL LEADERS AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR MINIMUM WAGE, WITH MOST EMPLOYEES EARNING AT LEAST $15 AN HOUR AT THE START OF THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

FOR HISD TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN ITS STAFF AT A TIME OF NATIONAL EDUCATION LABOR SHORTAGES, WE KNOW IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE THIS INVESTMENT.

FINALLY, THIS BUDGET REDUCES CENTRALLY FUNDED EXPENDITURES BY $60 MILLION.

THIS IS THE LARGEST CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTION IN A RECENT HISTORY.

AS WE KNOW, THE DISTRICT FACES A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE MADE THIS CUT AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE PATH OF FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS MORE IN DETAIL DURING THIS PRESENTATION.

ALTHOUGH THESE CUTS WERE DIFFICULT TO MAKE, WE DID SO IN A WAY THAT WE BELIEVE WILL ALLOW US TO STAY ON TRACK ON OUR REQUEST TO ATTAIN THE BOARD GOALS AS YOU ALL EXPECT AS TRUSTEES.

AS YOU SAW ON THE PRIOR WORKSHOP, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO BE STRATEGIC IN MAKING THE CUTS WHICH WE DID, AND WE DID SO WITH STUDENTS AT THE CENTER OF OUR FOCUS.

WE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT SAFETY, SO WE DID NOT MAKE ANY CUTS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING FINANCIAL SUPPORTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SO WE DID NOT CUT FROM OUR FINANCIAL TEAM AND WE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE LEGAL SERVICES, SO WE CHOSE NOT TO MAKE CUTS IN THAT DEPARTMENT EITHER.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF DECISIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE DURING THIS TIME, WE PRESENT THIS BUDGET AS ONE THAT PUTS STUDENTS AND ONE THAT WE BELIEVE WILL ALLOW US TO ATTAIN THE BOARD GOALS.

FOR THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BOARD GOAL AT THE VERY TOP AND SOME OF THE MAJOR STRATEGIES THAT WE BELIEVE ALIGNED TO THOSE BOARD GOALS.

AS I SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU IN PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS, THESE STRATEGIC STRATEGIES ARE NOT ONLY SUPPORTED BY OUR GENERAL FUND BUT FROM OUR FEDERAL FUNDS AS WELL IF YOU HEARD US DISCUSS SO MUCH ABOUT EXTRA DOLLARS.

ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE THE STRATEGY, AND ON THE THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE THE DATA AND THAT WE LEVERAGED TO DETERMINE THAT WE USE FOR THAT PARTICULAR STRATEGY.

I WILL NOW GO THROUGH EACH STRATEGY BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE STRATEGY IN DETAIL, BUT WE'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW ON EACH SLIDE.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT IN EXPANDING ACCESS IN PRE-K AND INCREASING SUPPORTS FOR OUR PRE-K INSTRUCTORS.

SOME OF THAT DATA THAT DROVE THIS WORK WAS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WAS HERC, MAPS, DEMAND ACROSS THE AREA, AND WORK THAT WE DID WITH TNTP REGARDING

[00:45:02]

THEIR ASSESSMENT OF OUR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION PRACTICES.

THIS INVESTMENT WAS A PRIORITY GIVEN THAT THE BOARD ALSO ADOPTED BOARD CONSTRAINT AROUND PRE-K, RATIOS, AND ACCESS.

RESEARCH DOES SHOW A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN INCREASED ACCESS TO PRE-K EDUCATION AND THIRD GRADE LITERACY LEVELS.

NOW, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, YOU'VE HEARD A GREAT DEAL ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT TO SHIFT TO HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND READING AND IN MATH, OUR TNTP CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT, OUR GOAL PROGRESS MONITORING DATA AND THE GAPS THAT WE SAW REALLY PUSHED US TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE PROVIDING ON GRADE LEVEL WORK FOR EACH AND EVERY STUDENT IN OUR DISTRICT HINTS, THE INVESTMENT TO HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION.

AS I'VE STATED BEFORE, OUR COMPENSATION PACKAGE IS A CRITICAL LEVER THAT WE ARE INVESTING TO ACCELERATE STUDENT LEARNING.

WE NOT ONLY LEVERAGE OUR COMPENSATION STUDY HERE BUT WE LOOKED AT TEACHER RETENTION, VACANCY DATA, OUR TALENT OFFICE AUDIT FROM THE US HUMAN CAPITAL ACADEMY, FOCUS GROUPS OF STAFF AND LISTENING AND LEARN FEEDBACK.

ALL OF THIS DIFFERENT DATA POINTS POINTED TOWARDS A NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE COMPENSATION WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, IF WE WANTED TO ATTRACT, RETAIN THE TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE.

THIS LED TO A HISTORIC INVESTMENT THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IN THIS BUDGET TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. MANY OF THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU SEE IN GOAL 2 AT THE TOP ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAW ON THE PRIOR SLIDE.

THIS SPEAKS TO THE COHESION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE DESIRE NOT TO OVERWHELM OUR TEACHERS AND LEADERS WITH THE MYRIAD OF NEW AND DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.

THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS INTENDED TO BE EXECUTED OVER SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'LL IMPLEMENT OUR WORK BOTH THOUGHTFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS COHORT.

AS EDUCATORS, WE KNOW THAT SCAFFOLDING OF KNOWLEDGE IS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF MATH PERFORMANCE.

IT REQUIRES THAT A STUDENT RECEIVE A QUALITY EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY IN THEIR MATH CLASSROOM, EVERY YEAR AFTER YEAR TO PERFORM AT THE LEVEL THAT WE WANT AND EXPECT FOR THEM.

THE DATA INCLUDING ACHIEVED 180 RESULTS, STATE ACCOUNTABILITY DATA, AND WALK-THROUGH DATA SHOWED US THAT AT TOO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS, STUDENTS WERE NOT RECEIVING THE QUALITY EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DESERVE AND THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.

WE HAVE TAKEN BOLD ACTIONS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS COHORT TO ENSURE THAT THIS VISION BECOMES A REALITY FOR EVERY STUDENT INDEPENDENT OF WHERE THEY LIVE OR THE ZIP CODE THAT THEY BE MOVED TO OR RESIDING.

WE ALSO HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR LISTEN AND LEARNS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES SURVEYS, CAMPUS LEVEL DATA, AND MOST POWERFULLY DIRECTLY FROM OUR STUDENTS, THAT MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY WERE A HIGH PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY RETURNING TO SCHOOL POST-PANDEMIC.

YOU HAVE SEEN OUR INVESTMENT IN THE FIELDS THROUGH OUR INVESTING IN COUNSELING, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, AND THE DECISION NOT TO MAKE CUTS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BEFORE STUDENTS CAN LEARN, THEY MUST FEEL SAFE WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AS IT RELATES TO COLLEGE AND CAREER, AS WELL AS MILITARY READINESS, OUR DECISION TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSEWORK, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, AND COLLEGE CAREER COUNSELING SERVICES IS ROOTED IN THE SUCCESS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS SEEN OVER THE PAST YEARS AS IT RELATES TO MANY OF OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER METRICS.

DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, HIST CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM MANY OF ITS PEERS.

COLLEGE APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, PARTICIPATION IN AP, IB, AND DUAL CREDIT CERTIFICATIONS AS WELL, AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EARNING CERTIFICATES IN CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

WE USE OUR EXTENSIVE COLLEGE APPLICATION FAST FOR SUBMISSION, NATIONAL STUDENT CLEARINGHOUSE DATA,

[00:50:02]

AND CTE COMPLETION DATA TO DRIVE THE INVESTMENT IN CCMR DATA THAT EXISTS WITHIN THIS BUDGET.

NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF THE TOP CHALLENGES THAT I INHERITED UPON MY ENTRY INTO HIST WERE CHALLENGES WITHIN SPECIAL EDUCATION AS YOU KNOW.

THE DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS EXISTED, BUT IN MANY CASES, THE EXECUTION SIMPLY WAS NOT THERE.

OUR TEAM LEVERAGE, THE AUDITS THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED AS YOU'RE AWARE OF, FEEDBACK FROM OUR LISTEN AND LEARN SESSIONS, FAMILY SURVEY FEEDBACK, CURRICULUM FEEDBACK, FOCUS GROUP FEEDBACK TO DEVELOP THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE OUTSIDE FIRM THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF, WHICH IS SPED STRATEGIES TO HELP SUPPORT US WITH DEVELOPING MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIES AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

ACCOUNTING FOR MUCH OF WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS PAGE, WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THE BOARD MONITORING DATA AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS THAT WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH.

WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, TO GET TO EXACTLY WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET PUTS US ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO INCREASE OUR LEVEL OF SUCCESS.

WITH THAT, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO SHIFT TO AN OVERVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

NOW, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL BUDGET WORKSHOPS, WE HAVE DISCUSSED A LONG-TERM NEED FOR FISCAL TRANSFORMATION, AND HAVE SHARED THE FISCAL TRANSFORMATION ROADMAP TO SEE THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU.

AS I'VE REITERATED THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, I AM KEENLY AWARE THAT ONETIME FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING TO SUPPORT MANY OF OUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS ARE JUST THAT THEY'RE THERE ONETIME FUNDS.

THESE RESOURCES HAVE ALLOWED US TO MAKE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THESE FUNDS ARE NOT PERMANENT AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR TRUSTEES TO KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND.

WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, WE WILL FACE A SERIOUS FISCAL CLIFF IN 24-25.

AS I HAVE SHARED, I'M PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM TO BEGIN TAKING THIS MONUMENTAL TASK ON IMMEDIATELY.

YOU'VE SEEN THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS TRANSFORMATION EVIDENCE THROUGH SIGNIFICANT, AGAIN, CENTRAL OFFICE SAVINGS INITIATIVES INCLUDING IN THIS BUDGET BUT THE HARD WORK, AS WE'VE SAID OVER AND OVER IS STILL AHEAD OF US.

AS WE DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE DISTRICT, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY.

WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS FROM A&M, WE HAVE DEVELOPED AND BEGUN IMPLEMENTATION ON A CAPACITY-BUILDING PLAN WHICH WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR TRANSFORMATION AND SETS UP THE DISTRICT FOR SUCCESS AS WE ENGAGE IN PHASE 2 NEXT YEAR.

BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, THE ADVICE, MY LEADERSHIP TEAM, INCLUDING CHIEF READ AND OTHERS IN OUR CABINET, AND THE GUIDANCE OF A&M, WHICH I THINK JIM BRADY IS HERE SOMEWHERE.

THEY'VE BEEN WONDERFUL IN THIS PROCESS.

WE'VE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF NEAR-TERM INITIATIVES WHICH WILL HELP US BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION THAT THIS DISTRICT NEEDS AND DESERVES AND THAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THESE SIX INITIATIVES IN FRONT OF YOU OUTLINED IN GREATER DETAIL IN THE COMING SLIDES WILL STRENGTHEN THE TOOLS PROCESSES.

THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES OF THE DISTRICT TO BUILD THE CAPACITY WE NEED TO NAVIGATE THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION.

IN ORDER TO LEAD THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED NEW PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES WITH OWNERS WHO DIRECTLY ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THESE INITIATIVES.

WITH THAT SAID, DEPUTY RECRUITERS WILL SERVE AS THE TRANSFORMATION OFFICER AND WILL SERVE AS MY DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT IN ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT WORKSTREAMS. I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO MY LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT THE SUCCESS OF THESE INITIATIVES IS THERE AS WELL.

I HAVE BEGUN ASSIGNING INTERNAL INITIATIVES SPONSORS, OF COURSE,

[00:55:01]

SUPPORTED BY OUR PARTNERS AT A&M TO CHAMPION EACH ONE OF THESE WORKSTREAMS THAT YOU SEE.

NOW ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE WE'VE PROPOSED AGAIN WITH THE GUIDANCE OF A&M.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME CHANGES TO OUR FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM.

WE ARE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR CHIEF READ FOR HIS COMMITMENT AND HIS SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT AND WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN HIST AND CHAMPION MANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEW ROLE THAT HE WILL BE IN.

WITH SUCH BIG SHOES TO FILL, WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN A NATIONAL SEARCH TO FIND A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND ARE WORKING TO FILL SEVERAL KEY FINANCE ROLES WHICH WILL BE CRITICAL AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS AS WE TALK ABOUT SUCCESS IN THIS EFFORT.

WE'VE ALSO BEGUN TO MOST TIME-SENSITIVE PIECES OF THIS INITIATIVE WHICH IS BASED AROUND OUR SCHOOL SUPPORT AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

THE FOLLOWING SLIDES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON ACTIVITIES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE WORK STREAMS WHICH WILL COVER IN JUST A MOMENT IN BRIEF FORM.

WELL, I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY OUR DECENTRALIZED MODEL SINCE I JOINED THE DISTRICT THIS PAST SUMMER I'VE OBSERVED IN MANY CASES THAT THE AUTONOMY AFFORDED TO OUR CAMPUSES HAS NOT BEEN MATCHED WITH THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF SUPPORT.

THIS SCHOOL SUPPORT TRAINING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WORKSTREAM IS ALL ABOUT HELPING US TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING AND SUPPORTS AVAILABLE TO OUR SCHOOL LEADERS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVE USE OF FUNDS ALLOCATED UNDER THE WEIGHTED STUDENT FUNDING MODEL.

AS THIS INITIATIVE PRECEDES THIS WILL PROVIDE THE CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AND THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WITH NEW TRANSPARENCY RELATED TO SCHOOL FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE ALLOCATIONS OF RESOURCES.

A NATIONWIDE DISTRICTS ARE STRUGGLING TO ALLOCATE AND EXECUTE THE UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF ESSER RESOURCES IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC.

FOR HISD, IT IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT ESSER OR FUNDING IS ALLOCATED AND UTILIZE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, AND MOST MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER.

THIS INITIATIVE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORTS, WHICH WILL HELP OUR TEAM MONITOR ESSER INVESTMENTS AND ADJUST PROGRAMMING BASED ON STUDENT NEEDS AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, AS WELL.

AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, UNDERSTANDING THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF OUR RESOURCES IS CENTRAL TO KNOWING THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR STUDENTS THE WAY THEY DESERVE TO BE SERVED.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW AND WHY WE KNOW.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE OUTCOMES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OF COURSE OVERNIGHT.

WORKSTREAMS WILL SUPPORT HISD AND STRENGTHENING ITS ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES WHICH LINK FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS TO ACADEMIC AND OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES.

ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL DEVELOP CAPACITY WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN FORM INVESTMENT PRIORITIES BASED ON THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND ENABLE US TO EVALUATE OUTCOMES OF THE DISTRICT AND ITS INVESTMENTS ON A REOCCURRING BASIS.

IN THE LAST SEVEN BOARD WORKSHOPS, YOU'VE SEEN OUR FINANCE TEAM AND OUR PARTNERS WORK TO GIVE YOUR CLEAREST AND MOST PRECISE VIEW OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCES.

WHILE WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING OUR FINANCES FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES WHICH WILL GIVE US A CLEAR LONG-TERM VIEW OF THE FINANCES.

TOGETHER WITH THE SUPPORT PARTNERS AT A&M, WE'VE RECOGNIZED TRENDS RELATED TO BUDGET PRECISION, WHICH HAVE LED TO UNEXPECTED FALLOUT AND MAJOR DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN BUDGETS AND ACTUALS.

WE WILL WORK TO REFINE OUR FORECASTING METHODOLOGY TO BETTER ACCOUNT FOR MAJOR DRIVERS AND VARIANCES AND DELIVER MORE ACCURATE BUDGETS WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO FULLY INVEST OUR RESOURCES IN LINE WITH OUR STRATEGIES.

BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK, WE'VE TAKEN DECISIVE ACTIONS TO REDUCE CENTRAL OFFICE EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR.

[01:00:01]

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR DEPARTMENTS BY INSTITUTING A NEW APPROACH FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT PUTS STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE.

HISD WILL DESIGN A NEW CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETING PROCESS WHICH BEGINS EARLIER AND IN INCORPORATES BOTTOM-UP IS, AS DANNY AND I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY.

THIS WILL STRENGTHEN BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS AND REVIEW PROCESSES TO PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION REQUIRED TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS.

NOW, IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF BOTH OUR EXISTING INSIGHTS AND THE NEW INSIGHTS WE GATHERED FROM EACH OF THESE WORK STREAMS, WE WILL WORK TO ESTABLISH IMPROVED REPORTING AND ANALYSIS TOOLS TO GUIDE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE BOARD IN FUTURE DECISION-MAKING.

IN THIS WORKSTREAM, WE WILL DEVELOP AND CONSTITUTE A SUITE OF MANAGEMENT AND BOARD FACING REPORTS ON A FINANCIAL OPERATIONAL STATUS OF ALL MAJOR DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS ALIGNMENTS BETWEEN INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIES STRENGTHS.

THE TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE MONTHLY DASHBOARDS AS YOU'VE SEEN SIMILAR TO OUR ESSER OR DASHBOARD OR THE AUDIT DASHBOARD.

WE THINK THIS WILL BE EXTREMELY AS IMPORTANT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE EXECUTIVE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND DECISION SUPPORT.

I'VE TAKEN SEVERAL KEY STEPS TO ESTABLISH THE OVERSIGHT STRUCTURE NEEDED TO TAKE ON THESE INITIATIVES AND SERVE AS THE CORE OF MY TEAM AS WE TAKE THE LARGER LONG-TERM TRANSFORMATION.

AS I'VE MENTIONED EARLIER, DR. CRUZ WILL BE THE CHIEF TRANSFORMATION OFFICER AND WILL SERVE AS MY DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT INTO ALL OF THE IMPORTANT WORK STREAMS. I'VE ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE FROM WHICH I WILL TRACK PROGRESS AND DRIVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE HAVE STARTED THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH AS I INDICATED EARLIER FOR NEW CFO.

FINALLY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS, WE'VE STARTED THE MORE TIME-SENSITIVE INITIATIVES RELATED TO SCHOOL SUPPORT TRAINING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FEDERAL FUND OVERSIGHT.

NOW, JUST A FEW UPDATES TO THOSE INITIATIVES BEFORE I END.

REGARDING THE FIRST INITIATIVE IN REFERENCE TO SCHOOL SUPPORT TRAINING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, OUR TEAM HAS DRAFTED A GAP ASSESSMENT WHICH INCLUDES FEEDBACK FROM PRINCIPLES, THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETING TEAM, AND SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICERS.

THIS FEEDBACK WILL GUIDE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE.

NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY WORK STREAMS, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE LAUNCHED THE EXTERNAL DASHBOARD THAT IS VIEWABLE BY THE PUBLIC.

IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT THE INTERNAL MANAGEMENT OF THESE FUNDS, WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED SEVERAL TOOLS TO HELP GUIDE US IN OUR DECISIONS AND DECISION-MAKING FOR THESE FUNDS AND ESTABLISH FORMAL COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PROJECT MANAGERS, THE RESEARCHERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM, AND OUR FEDERAL FUNDS OFFICE.

THIS WILL BE CRITICAL AS WE START OF ASSESSING THE EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AND SHIFTING FUNDS ACCORDINGLY.

LASTLY, WE HAVE OUTLINED PRELIMINARY TIMELINES, INCLUDING MILESTONES AND DELIVERABLES FOR EACH INITIATIVE AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING UPDATES AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN MAKING PROGRESS.

MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT DOES CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? TRUSTEE WADE.

>> THIS INITIATIVE SPONSORS ON PAGE 10.

CAN YOU FILL US IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS?

>> AS WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM ALVAREZ AND WARSAW IN TERMS OF JUST REALLY BEING ABLE TO TRACK THIS AND MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND WHAT THIS SHOULD LOOK LIKE FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL STANDPOINT, AND WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT AGAIN, DR. CRUZ SERVING AS THE OVERSIGHT INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT THIS MOVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[01:05:02]

>> BUT THE NEXT TO CFR YOU HAVE INITIATIVE SPONSORS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SPONSORS?

>> THOSE ARE EXISTING STAFF MEMBERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, DR. BYRD, MAYBE A SPECIFIC INITIATIVES SPONSOR, IT MAY BE CHIEF WATTS THAT MAY BE A SPONSOR OF A PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.

>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU.

CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION WHILE I STILL HAVE TIME? WE'LL THERE'LL BE METRICS LIKE PERCENTAGE ALONG WITH THIS TIMEFRAMES THAT YOU HAVE THE ARROWS? WILL THERE'LL BE SOME GUIDEPOSTS FOR PERCENTAGE METRICS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OR DECIDED UPON, METRICS THAT WE CAN USE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS FROM YOU AND FROM OTHERS IS MUCH LIKE WE PROGRESS MONITOR FROM AN ACADEMIC STANDPOINT, IS SOME TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON PROGRESS FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AS WELL, AND WE ARE OPEN TO DOING SO AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNER TO BUILD THOSE STRUCTURES AS WELL.

>> YOU'LL KEEP THE BOARD ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL?

>> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE OF MEMBERS.

>> THANK YOU. ON PAGE, THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE A PAGE NUMBER, FOUR.

THERE IS EXPANSION OF PRE-K. IS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON THE EXPANSION OF PRE-K?

>> YES, THERE IS A PARTICULAR AMOUNT.

I LIKE TO HAVE DR. CRUZ TO SHARE SOME INSIGHT AROUND OUR EXPANSION EFFORTS AND AMOUNT AS WELL.

>> SURE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY MEMORY IS NOT THAT GOOD.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMOUNT, BUT YES, WE ARE LEVERAGING FUNDS TO HELP WITH BUILDING THE CAPACITY TRAINING, BUILDING UP CLASSROOMS EVEN FROM THE OPERATIONS.

DR. BYRD, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL INSIGHT.

>> IT'S ABOUT $1.3 MILLION. I'M SORRY.

IT'S 19 CLASSROOMS, ABOUT $12.3 MILLION FOR EACH YEAR OVER THE NEXT OVERVIEWS, FOR THIS YEAR IT'S 19 CLASSROOMS.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE MONETARY AMOUNT FOR THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE ON THIS POWERPOINT.

I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF PAGES ON IT, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR TRUSTEES TO KNOW LIKE, HEY, EXPANSION OF PRE-K, WE'RE SPENDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY SO THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.

>> WHAT I WILL SAY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ SPECIFICALLY IN REFERENCE TO INCREASES, NOT NECESSARILY TO INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS, BUT THE BUDGET PROVIDES AN INCREASE OF $10 MILLION IN RE-OCCURRING TITLE 1 FUNDS AND 50 MILLION IN ESSER DOLLARS IN OUR MOST OF COURSE NEEDED CAMPUSES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND OF COURSE, MANY OF OUR EL STUDENTS ARE AT THESE PARTICULAR CAMPUSES, WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THIS BUDGET AS, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT INCLUDES ESSER PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES OF EL STUDENTS.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO, WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT IN OUR PREVIOUS CABINET MEETINGS.

I THINK I TALKED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CURRICULUM.

YES, DR. BYRD, NOW WE TALKED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH CURRICULUM AS WELL.

>> YEAH. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I STILL THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY RESULTING IN THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT IN THE FUTURE.

THEN THE SAME THING FOR THE REST OF IT.

I AGREE WITH ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT THIS BUDGET IS PERFECT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FOR NEXT YEAR, MORE CHANGES.

WE SPOKE ABOUT HOW A MAGNET IS INHERENTLY INEQUITABLE, THAT THERE COULD BE CHANGES TO THE PUA, ETC.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT OTHER CHANGES COULD BE MADE TO THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT HISD IS NOT ONLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, [NOISE] BUT THAT WE'RE CHOOSING THE BEST FOR STUDENTS.

>> TRUSTEE BAKER?

>> YES. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF AGAIN FOR THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT IN FOR THIS BUDGET, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE INCREASES IN SALARIES AND SO FORTH.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO A PIGGYBACK ON WHAT TRUSTEE WADE SAID, AS YOU ENDEAVOR TO SHOW US IN THE FUTURE HOW FINANCES ARE TIED TO METRICS, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD ALSO PUT IN YOUR PLAN TO DO THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD AT ON POINT,

[01:10:03]

YOU WERE CONSIDERING A GOAL TO DO SOMETHING MONTHLY WITH READING.

WE KNOW THAT READING IS CORE TO SUCCESS, TESTS AND EVERYTHING.

COULD YOU ANSWER THAT ONE FIRST.

>> FROM AN ACADEMIC STANDPOINT, WE HAVE THE PROGRESS MONITORING THAT DOES HAPPEN ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF TRUSTEES IS MORE SO WHERE WE ARE FROM A FINANCIAL REPORTING OUT STANDPOINT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE TABLE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS FISCAL TRANSFORMATION.

>> WHAT I'M TRYING TO CONVEY IS ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS OR AS YOU ENDEAVOR TO APPLY OTHER FINANCIAL ELEMENT, COULD WE SEE HOW IT'S AFFECTING THAT SUCCESS.

IS IT INCREASING THEIR LEARNING OR IS IT DECREASING [NOISE] THEIR LEARNING COMPARED TO THE MONEY BEING SPENT?

>> WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> OKAY.

>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL DO. OKAY. TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

>> THE DEFICIT THIS BUDGET CREATES SHOULD BE APPROACHED WITH GREAT CAUTION, KNOWING ALVAREZ AND MARCEL WILL BE ASSISTING THE DISTRICT AS IT NAVIGATES THE FINANCIAL WATERS AHEAD.

BUILDS TRUST THAT THERE MAY BE A VIABLE BRIDGE CREATED BEFORE WE HIT THE FINANCIAL CLIFF, TO BE CLEAR, THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AHEAD DUE TO THE BUDGET OF SUPERINTENDENT HAS RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD TONIGHT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE CLOSING OF POSITIONS AND POSSIBLY SCHOOLS.

IT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE AND THE SPEAKER EARLIER THIS EVENING WAS ON POINT WITH HIS CONCERNS.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, IF I VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET TONIGHT, IT ISN'T A HOPE AND A PRAYER THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS LIKE REVERSING THE DECLINE IN ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR EL KIDS AT ALL SCHOOLS AS EVIDENCED BY OUR GOAL TO PROGRESS REPORT LAST MONTH.

OR IF THE PROGRESS OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS, IT WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE SAME REPORT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO GROW.

THIS IS YOUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION AND YOU WILL LEARN THE RESULTS OF THIS BUDGET.

THEY ARE TIED TO YOUR EVALUATION.

IF THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION WAS NOT APPROPRIATELY ALIGNED TO THE BOARD GOALS, IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN YOUR PROGRESS.

>> WE DEFINITELY KNEW THE MOUNTAIN THAT WE CAME IN AND CLIMBED 11 MONTHS AGO AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CLIMB IT HIGHER WITH EACH TRUSTEE, THIS COMMUNITY, STAFF, TEACHERS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROGRESS OF OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

>> TRUSTEE SANTOS.

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CRUZ.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, WE CANNOT HOPE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN BY BEING CLOSE FISTED ON THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF THEIR SUCCESS.

HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS, THE MOST IMPORTANT, EXPENSIVE OF AN ORGANIZATION SHOULD FORM THE FOUNDATION OF ITS BUDGET.

WITH EVERYTHING ELSE BUILT AROUND IT, WITH WHATEVER IS LEFTOVER.

THAT IS WRONG-HEADED BACKWARDS THINKING IN BACKWARDS BUDGETING AND AFTER FIVE YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF TO GET A RAISE THAT THEY DESERVE.

I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WHO'S BROUGHT A BUDGET THAT VALUES OUR GREATEST TREASURE, OUR CHILDREN.

THIS BUDGET HONORS OUR KIDS BY HONORING OUR TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND PRINCIPALS.

IT IS PAST-TIME FOR HISD TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT SETS THE STANDARD IN OUR REGION AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM THAT GETS US THERE.

PAY TEACHERS WHAT THEY DESERVE, AND YOU WILL GET THE TEACHERS OUR KIDS DESERVE. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS.

>> THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO HOLD MY COMMENTS AND AS I LOOKED AT DATA OVER THE YEARS AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT CONTINUOUSLY, ABOUT THE DATA THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR CHILDREN SO NEGATIVELY.

I HOPE THAT AS I LISTENED TO THESE COMMENTS, THAT WE THE BOARD DETERMINED WHAT THE GOALS WERE AND WE SUBMITTED THOSE GOALS TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

WITH THOSE GOALS, THEN, WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR DATA, THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR DATA, AND THE ENDS OF THE YEAR TRACKING DATA TO SEE IF THOSE GOALS ARE BEING MET.

IF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE HAVE A BENCHMARK, WE HAVE A STARTING POINT, THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, IF THEY'RE NOT BEING MET, THEN WE HAVE TIME TO TAKE A DETOUR AND SAY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU'RE NOT MEETING THESE GOALS.

OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IS AS I LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS AROUND THE DESK IS WE'VE HAD ISSUES IN THESE SCHOOLS [NOISE] FOR SO LONG AND WE'D HAVEN'T HAD THAT SAME EMPHASIS AND FRUSTRATION WITH OUTCOMES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU FOR FINALLY DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> TRUSTEE ALLEN,.

>> SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE,

[01:15:02]

I AM ENCOURAGED WITH THIS BUDGET, THE DATA IS CLEAR.

THAT COMPETITIVE SALARIES WILL ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

THE POTENTIAL PAY INCREASE IS ALREADY ATTRACTING TEACHERS BACK TO THE DISTRICT.

RESEARCH IS VERY CLEAR THAT A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM WILL DEFINITELY INCREASE SCORES OVER VACANCIES, SUBSTITUTES, OR LARGE CLASS SIZES.

I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS.

OUR TEACHERS DESERVE OUR BEST.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE].

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ON SLIDE 10, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CREATION OF DASHBOARD AND REPORTING FOR THE BOARD TO SEE THAT.

MY QUESTION GOES ALONG WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WADE ASKED IN TERMS OF METRICS.

IT'S ONE THING TO SHARE.

BUT I GUESS WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION OF WHEN THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED? I THINK IS WHAT MAYBE TRUSTEES ARE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF METRICS AND I ALSO LIKE WHAT TRUSTEE BAKER IS SAYING IN TERMS OF TYING IT TO STUDENT OUTCOME GOALS.

I'M DEFINITELY ENCOURAGED BY MANY PIECES OF THIS BUDGET.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR PURSUING THE ADOPTION OF HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MATH AND READING.

I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY CULTURE THAT WE'LL DEVELOP A STRONGER PIPELINE OF TALENT FOR CLASSROOMS. THE BIG QUESTION THAT REMAINS, WILL ALL OF THIS RESULTS IN HIGHER OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS? I'M ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE CUTS TO CENTRAL [NOISE] OFFICE AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT CUTS BUT NOT PASS THE BILL INTO SCHOOLS.

JUST REALLY WANT TO REITERATE AND SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, YOU MENTIONED HOW CRITICAL THIS WILL BE TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET, IN A YEAR OR TWO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS.

I HOPE THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE ADVOCATING FOR RAISES WILL BE THE SAME ONES THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR BALANCING OUR BUDGET.

I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE RAISES. THANK YOU.

[BACKGROUND] PLEASE VOTE COLLEAGUES.

NINE, FOUR, ZERO AGAINST ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM I1,

[I-1. Approval Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Over $100,000 And Ratification Of Vendor AwardsFor Purchases Under $100,000]

APPROVAL OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES OVER 100,000 AND RATIFICATION OF VENDOR WORDS FOR PURCHASES UNDER 100,000.

THIS IS FOR ITEMS 2022, 0201, RFP MINOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS LIKE FOR LIKE GET TRUSTEE ALLEN'S REQUEST AND PROJECT 21080623 COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND SERVICES HELD AT TRUSTEE GUIDRY'S REQUEST.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON PROJECT 220201, RFP, MINOR MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIRS LIKE FOR LIKE? FIRST A MOTION. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> I MOTION.

>> THE SECOND.

>> WE MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? TRUSTEE ALLEN?

>> I HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION.

>> YEAH.

>> MADAM PRESIDENT CAN WE MOVE TO 21. WHAT IS IT? 06. THE ONE I PULLED AND THEN MAYBE BREAK FOR THE LEGAL QUESTION, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU TRUSTEE?

>> CAN WE DO THAT?

>> YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO MOTION AND A SECOND TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP 21080623.

>> I THOUGHT SHE CALLED BOTH OF THEM?

>> I CALLED BOTH OF THEM THAT REALLY HAD A MOTION FOR ONE.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR 21080623,

[21-08-06-23 - Cooperative / Agricultural and Animal Equipment, Supplies, and Services]

CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND SERVICES?

>> SO MOVED.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND.

>> SECOND, ALLEN.

>> THE MOTION BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD DANIEL'S.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? TRUSTEE, GUIDRY.

>> SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, I SUBMITTED A QUESTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND I DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE WHICH IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING.

[01:20:02]

ONE, THE RESPONSE I ASKED WHAT WAS THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S EXPENDITURES AND IT SHOWS IN 2164000 AND 22262000, THEY'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORITY OF UP TO A MILLION AND I'M JUST NOT SEEING HOW THEY GOT TO A MILLION.

IN FACT, IN 2022, THE ONLY REASON WE'RE AT $262,000 BASED ON THE RESPONSE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME IS BECAUSE LAMAR REQUESTED $202,000 AND RECEIVED IT ABOVE ANY OTHER.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT WAS $326,000.

OF THAT, TWO-THIRDS WENT TO ONE SCHOOL, THE OTHER [NOISE] 50,000 WENT TO THE CTE PROGRAM.

I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE WHEN A INITIAL REQUEST FOR THREE YEARS WAS 285,000, AND NOW IT'S BEING REQUESTED FOR ONE YEAR AN ADDITIONAL UP TO $1 MILLION.

>> TRUSTEE GUIDRY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE PROCUREMENT ALEXIS LAKOTA TO JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM TO SHARE SOME INSIGHT AROUND THESE PURCHASES THAT ARE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, UNDER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

>> I'M SORRY. TRUSTEE GUIDRY, IF I UNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THE NOT TO EXCEED INCREASE? THE MILLION-DOLLAR REQUEST?

>> YES.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, YES.

I BELIEVE THE PROJECT WHAT WE'VE SPENT THUS FAR IS $326,343.32.

WE'VE ALREADY EXCEEDED THE INITIAL 285,000 AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM.

WE HAVE TO RATIFY THE ITEM AND THEN WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE TO GET US THROUGH JULY 31ST OF 2024.

THE NOT TO EXCEED INCREASE OF A MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT FOR ONE YEAR, IT'S TO GET US THROUGH THE TERM.

>> NO. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IF ESSENTIALLY, WE WERE ON AN AVERAGE OF $60000 PER YEAR AND THE ONLY REASON WE WERE AT THE 326 IS BECAUSE $202,000 WAS GIVEN TO ONE SCHOOL.

WHERE'S THE EQUITY IN THAT?

>> TRUSTEE GUIDRY YOU ARE OUT OF TIME.

THAT WE DO ANOTHER MINUTE?

>> YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ASK SOMETHING?

>> TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

>> I THINK THAT PART OF WHERE TRUSTEE GUIDRY IS GETTING TO AN UNINSURED BECAUSE I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER ABOUT THIS, BUT THESE ARE FUNDS FROM LAMAR'S OWN FUNDS.

THIS IS NOT DISTRICT FUNDS THAT THEY'RE NOW GIVEN TO LAMAR.

>> THE REPORT THAT I PROVIDED IN THE RESPONSE I HAD OUTLINED UNDER THE CAMPUS OR DEPARTMENT WHERE THAT FUNDING IN TERMS OF WHEN WE PROCESS A SHOPPING CART IN THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, THIS IS WHERE THE FUNDING HAS COME FROM.

I BELIEVE OUT OF THE 326,000, JUST OVER 49,000 WAS FROM THE CTE DEPARTMENT, AND THE REMAINING FUNDS WERE FROM NUTRITION SERVICES AND CAMPUSES.

>> IS THERE A REASON WHY CTE AND CAMPUSES ARE BOTH USING THE SAME?

>> PROJECT?

>> YES.

>> THE PROJECT IS APPROVED FOR VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTION.

>> TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS.

>> I KNOW WE'VE VISITED THIS BEFORE AND I'M JUST AFRAID THAT IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKED LIKE A DUCK IS A DUCK.

THERE'S SO MUCH RESISTANT AND RESERVATION WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME VENDORS AS IT RELATES TO ONE OF THE VOTING ITEMS WE'VE HAD PREVIOUSLY.

WE WANT TO BUILD A TRUST RELATIONSHIP AND WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID AND I THINK THAT YOU MAY AGREE FOR THE LAST 2.5 YEARS,

[01:25:02]

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS, THAT UTILIZATION FOR THOSE RFPS.

BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME THINGS WILL HAVE TO SAY VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS WHEN IT'S BROKEN DOWN FOR VARIOUS PLACES OR ANYONE OF THE RFPS, I JUST LIKE TO SEE WHERE IT SPENT SO THAT I CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT EVERYBODY'S GETTING AN EQUITABLE AMOUNT AND THE SAME ONES [NOISE] ARE NOT GIVEN THE MONEY ALL THE TIME.

[APPLAUSE]

>> TRUSTEES, THAT CONCLUDES OUR TIME.

YOU ALREADY USED UP ALL YOUR TIME TRUSTEE GUIDRY.

>> I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A ROUND 2, PLEASE.

>> SECOND, HERNANDEZ.

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

THIS IS TO EXTEND TO A ROUND 2.

EIGHT FOR, ZERO AGAINST ONE ABSTENTION. TRUSTEE GUIDRY.

>> TO ANSWER MY COLLEAGUE, TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS, THERE WAS A RESPONSE TO A REQUEST I DID THAT DOES OUTLINE THE EXPENDITURES TO THE SCHOOLS AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT BEING EQUITABLY PROVIDED.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, AGAIN, IF WE'RE GETTING THROUGH YEAR 2024 AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A $202,000 PAYMENT TO ONE SCHOOL, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE THE TOTAL WAS 60 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WHY ARE WE ASKING A MILLION INSTEAD OF ANOTHER 285? WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR THAT THRESHOLD? I'M ASKING IF THERE'S A WAY, I'M TRYING TO GET TO YES.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET TO YES AT A MILLION.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO YES AT A LOWER AMOUNT SINCE WE'VE ALREADY EXTENDED THE 285 INITIAL REQUEST.

>> CHIEF REED, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING SOME INSIGHT AND REFERENCE TO THE BUDGET ALLOCATION PIECE HERE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL CLARIFY SOME OF THIS.

>> SURE. [NOISE] WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE POSTER SEEING THIS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED AS A BUDGET ALLOCATION.

THIS IS NOT A BUDGET ALLOCATION.

THIS IS NOT US GIVING DOLLARS TO PAY CAMPUS AND SAYING HERE'S A MILLION DOLLARS FOR YOU TO SPEND ON THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS THE BOARD APPROVING CAMPUSES AND DEPARTMENTS TO USE THAT VENDOR WITH THEIR DOLLARS THAT ARE BUDGETING.

THE SCHOOLS HAVE DOLLARS IN THEIR BUDGET.

ONE SCHOOL MIGHT SPEND 60, ONE MIGHT SPEND A 100, BUT IT COMES FROM THEIR PUA DOLLARS AND THEY CHOOSE TO SAY, I'M GOING TO GO USE THIS VENDOR TO BUY FROM THIS CONTRACT.

THE MILLION DOLLARS JUST SAYS, THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND.

FRANKLY, WE COULD PUT $100 MILLION ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE BOARD ITEMS. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET TO SPEND.

IT'S JUST AN AUTHORITY TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY SITTING OUT THERE IN SOMEONE'S BUDGET AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MILLION, IT'S JUST YOU CAN SPEND UP TO THIS AMOUNT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET TO BUY FROM IT.

>> I GET IT.

>> GOOD.

>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE BAKER.

>> YES. SUPERINTENDENT IS MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT YOUR FUTURE PLAN IS TO COACH THOSE CAMPUS MANAGERS OR PRINCIPLES THAT WERE NOT AS USED TO MANAGING AND REQUESTING CTE FUNDS, AS WELL AS IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND THEN GOING IN THAT DIRECTION WILL IMPROVE THE EQUITY, SO TO SPEAK, OF EVERYTHING IN THE FUTURE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IF WE NEED TO REVISIT THE PROCESS OF ENSURING THAT FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND KNOW WHAT THE NECESSARY SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ARE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN TO THE NEEDS AND THE DATA IN THEIR PARTICULAR SCHOOL THAT WE DO SO.

WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PRESENTATION THAT I SHARED EARLIER, PRINCIPLE AND ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING TO FOCUS ON NOT ONLY CTE, BUT ALSO OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT.

AS I SAID IN THE LAST MEETING HATS OFF TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF BECAUSE ONE THING YOU'VE NEVER SAID IS I DON'T KNOW SO THANK YOU.

[01:30:04]

>> TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

>> FIRST TO COMMENT.

THIS WAS A STRUGGLE FOR ANY NEW BOARD MEMBER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS AND SO REMINDING ME OF YOUR COMMENTS LAST WEEK, I THINK MAYBE THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING FOR THE BOARD ON THIS PROCESS.

TWO QUESTIONS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS DOES NOT PASS?

>> MS. LAGARDE, IF YOU WOULD SHARE WHAT THIS MEANS IF THIS DOES NOT PASS.

>> BECAUSE IT'S A RATIFICATION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE REMAINING MONEY TO PAY THE VENDOR.

THE PAID VENDORS FOR ANYTHING OVER THE 285,000 SO WE HAVE TO RATIFY AT A MINIMUM THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE GONE OVER THE CONTRACT.

IF THE BOARD DOESN'T PROVE ANY AMOUNT, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY VENDORS TO UTILIZE FOR ANY TYPE OF FFA PROGRAM, ANY TYPE OF HORTICULTURE PROGRAM, ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR CAMPUSES OR DEPARTMENTS.

>> IT'S APPROVED RIGHT NOW NOT TO BE SEEN AMOUNT AS SOMETHING AND YOU'RE RAISING THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT FIRST BUCKET IS AVAILABLE TO CAMPUSES, THIS NEW AMOUNT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO CAMPUSES IF IT FAILS, IS IT ONLY LAMAR HIGH-SCHOOL THAT WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE TO OR ALL OF THE OTHER CAMPUSES THAT MAY WANT TO USE THIS VENDOR FOR DOLLAR?

>> IT'S OPEN TO ANY CAMPUS OR DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE.

>> TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

>> I THINK IN THE FUTURE IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THIS TABLE THAT WAS PROVIDED INSTEAD OF CTE.

IT WAS SPECIFIED WHERE CTE SPENT THOSE FUNDS ON WHICH CAMPUSES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY CAMPUS IS GOING TO FOCUS ON A DIFFERENT AREA.

SOME CAMPUSES ARE PROBABLY SPENDING A LOT MORE ON FINE ARTS THAN THEY ARE ON AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL EQUIPMENT BUT THIS CHART THAT WAS PROVIDED IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE CTE ALLOCATIONS WERE ACTUALLY ALLOCATED BY CAMPUS.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? I DON'T NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

>> I HAVE IT RIGHT NOW. SUPERINTENDENT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO SHARE?

>> PLEASE SHARE.

>> SURE. FOR THE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 CTE LINE ITEMS, ONE LINE ITEM IS FOR BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, ONE LINE ITEM WAS FOR LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL, ONE LINE ITEM WAS FOR WORTHING, ONE LINE WAS FOR WISDOM.

ANOTHER LINE ITEM WAS FOR LAMAR AND THE LAST I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE LAST LINE ITEM.

>> TRUSTEE SANTOS.

TRUSTEE ALLEN.

>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED BELOW TO 500,000.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. GUIDRY.

>> I HAD A QUESTION WITH [INAUDIBLE]. LIKE IF YOU CAN ASK IT.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TRUSTEE SANTOS?

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CRUZ. SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED, THAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED.

THIS IS WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT SCHOOLS NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDENTS NOT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THE UP TO AMOUNT.

>> UP TO A MILLION. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE, ALLEN, YOU ARE IN THE QUEUE FROM BEFORE.

TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

>> FROM MY RECOLLECTION OF THE TOPIC THAT WE DISCUSSED, THIS TOPIC FROM LAST TIME, WE'VE ALREADY OVERSPENT THE 285 WE'RE ALREADY AT FOUR OR 500,000 CORRECT.

>> WE'RE AT 326,343.

>> CAN YOU SHARE THAT AMOUNT AGAIN?

>> YES, $326,343.32.

>> THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW. THANK YOU.

[01:35:06]

>> PLEASE VOTE.

WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION MADE BY TRUSTEE ALLEN FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000. THAT'S CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. [BACKGROUND] TWO, FOUR, SEVEN AGAINST ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE OTHER MOTION.

>> NOW WE'RE BACK TO VOTING ON.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> THAT WAS ON THE OTHER ITEM.

WE'RE VOTING ON PROJECT 21080623, COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.

WE ALREADY DID A MOTION FOR THAT ONE.

>> WE VOTED ON THAT ONE.

>> PLEASE VOTE.

>> WE VOTED ON THAT PART, ON THE ACTUAL RFQ.

>> SEVEN, FOUR, TWO AGAINST ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSE YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER CHAPTER.

>> POINT OF ORDER, CAN I MOVE THAT WE FINISHED THE BALANCE OF THESE OTHER ITEMS AND THEN GO INTO CLOSE SESSION FOR THAT ITEM.

FINISH OUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF WHILE WE'RE OUT HERE AND THEN GO DISCUSS THE CLOSED SITE.

>> YOU CAN.

>> MY COLLEAGUE WHO REQUESTED A CLOSED SESSION BE OPEN TO THAT.

JUST TRY TO BE EFFICIENT.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> YEAH.

>> A QUESTION WON'T TAKE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

>> IT WILL TAKES US FIVE MINUTES TO GET THERE [LAUGHTER] FIVE MINUTES, SOMEBODY TO GOING TO SECOND THAT.

>> WHO WILL SECOND YOUR MOTION? [BACKGROUND]

>> THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER

CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004.07.072.073.074.076.082.0821.083.084.089.

[NOISE] SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION VOTE OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN THE CLOSED SESSION BE REQUIRED.

SUCH FINAL ACTION VOTER DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE OPEN MEETING COVERED BY THIS NOTICE UPON THE RECONVENING OF THIS PUBLIC MEETING OR AT A SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD.

UPON NOTICE THEREOF, THE BOARD HAS ADJOURNED TO CLOSE ALL EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:37 PM ON JUNE 9TH, 2022.

FOR THE PUBLIC, WE DO THE HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY NO LATER THAN 07:00 PM, SO WE PAUSE WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.

>> WE WILL NOW CONDUCT OUR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT

[HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY]

SPEAKERS MAYBE HEARD NO LATER THAN 07:00 PM IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY, ONLY THOSE WHO REGISTERED BY NOON YESTERDAY MAY SPEAK THIS EVENING.

COPIES OF HANDOUT MATERIALS MUST HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO BOARD SERVICES BY NOON YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE 20 REGISTERED SPEAKERS REMAINING THIS EVENING'S SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND SPEAKERS THAT WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, AS THEY ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT.

HOWEVER, NAMING YOUR OWN CHILD IS PERMISSIBLE IN THE COURSE OF STATING YOUR CONCERN.

THE BOARD ENCOURAGES AND WELCOMES COMMENTS AND INPUTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE CANNOT RESPOND TO OR DELIBERATE ON ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POSTED AGENDA.

THAT IS, THE BOARD CAN NOT DELIBERATE OR RESPOND DIRECTLY TO A SPEAKER IN THIS FORMAT.

WHILE THE BOARD LISTENS TO CONCERNS OF A GENERAL NATURE, SPEAKERS SHOULD PRACTICE NORMAL RULES OF DECORUM.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND PROFANITY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AS THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING AND OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING.

ADDITIONALLY, DISRUPTIONS OF THE MEETING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

WE ASK THE AUDIENCE TO REFRAIN FROM INTERRUPTING SPEAKERS WHILE THEY PRESENT TO THE BOARD DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.

AGAIN, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH, AND EACH SPEAKER'S ZOOM CONNECTION WILL BE TERMINATED AT THAT TIME.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE MUST SEE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR CAMERA ON AS YOU SPEAK FOR THOSE ZOOM SPEAKERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE MEETING LIVE ON ANOTHER DEVICE, BE SURE TO MUTE THE MEETING AUDIO WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK TO AVOID AUDIO INTERFERENCE, TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

MS. TREND, PLEASE IDENTIFY AND ADMIT OUR SPEAKERS.

>> KEVIN SPARKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

YOU MAY TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, UNMUTE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

[01:40:04]

>> [NOISE] HELLO. AS A PARENT, I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO USE YOUR POWER TO REINSTATE THE PRINCIPAL AT BAKER MONTESSORI.

ON SUNDAY, OUR COMMUNITY WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT THE PRINCIPAL SALVADOR WAS REASSIGNED INVOLUNTARILY AND WITH NO RATIONALE PROVIDED.

SHE IS AN AWESOME PRINCIPAL. SHE DELIVERS RESULTS.

SHE HAS ALL THE INTANGIBLES THAT YOU WOULD WANT IN A LEADER.

THE PARENTS LOVE HER, STUDENTS LOVED HER, THE TEACHERS LOVED HER.

I'VE HEARD YOU GUYS TALKED TONIGHT ABOUT ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT PROVIDING MORE THAN SALARY.

YOU PROVIDED THE BRAVE DECISIONS TO APPROVE THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND TEACHER RAISES, THAT'S AWESOME.

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE TEACHERS AND WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY WANT TO HELP KEEP OUR SCHOOL A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUR HEROES TODAY.

PLEASE LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND HELP US KEEP HER AS OUR PRINCIPAL. THANK YOU.

>> GRANT TURLEY, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, UNMUTE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

>> HELLO, I AM THE PARENT OF MARY THE VIRGIN STUDENTS WHO ATTEND [NOISE] AT BAKER, MONTESSORI.

I DEMAND, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PARENTS WHO'VE SPOKEN TODAY, THAT YOU IMMEDIATELY REINSTATE MS. SALVADOR AS PRINCIPAL OF BAKER MONTESSORI.

FAILING TO DO SO IS AN UNJUST MISTAKE THAT WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO DAMAGE THE TRUST BETWEEN THE INSTITUTION OF HISD AND THE BAKER COMMUNITY.

WHEN MY SON FIRST BEGAN ATTENDING BAKER, HIS BEHAVIOR WAS VERY PROBLEMATIC TO PUT IT KINDLY.

[NOISE] PRINCIPAL SALVADOR HANDLED THIS WITH INCREDIBLE GRACE AND PATIENCE.

SHE WORKED AS A UNIFIED AND LOVING FORCE WITH TEACHERS.

I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I COULD COUNT ON HER BEING THERE TO HELP HIM BECAUSE OF THIS FACT, NOT ONLY HIS BEHAVIOR IMPROVED BUT HIS ACADEMICS.

[NOISE] TO GO FROM A STUDENT WHO AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR COULDN'T READ TO [OVERLAPPING].

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

MADAM PRESIDENT, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP FOR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY VIA ZOOM.

>> THANK YOU MISS TRIN. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS APPEARING LIVE IN OUR AUDITORIUM.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.

THE CLOCK ON THE WALL IS TO YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE PODIUM WILL COUNT DOWN YOUR TIME AND WILL SIGNAL WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RESPECT OUR PROCEDURES AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND END YOUR REMARKS PROMPTLY WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

WILL GEORGE CALDWELL PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

AS I CALL THE NEXT THREE NAMES, PLEASE TAKE A SEAT ON THE FRONT ROW.

SISTER MAMA SONYA LUCAS ROBERTS, KATRINA MOORE.

>> MY NAME IS GEORGE CALDWELL AND I'VE TAUGHT IN HOUSTON FOR 19 YEARS.

MY CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES, I TEACH AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND MY STUDENTS EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES OF FIGHTING CANCER, RECEIVING HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTS, EATING DISORDERS, AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES.

BECAUSE OF THIS, I SUPPORT THE BUDGET.

HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE T-TEST EVALUATION SYSTEM BECAUSE FOR TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE GROWTH MEASURES THAT WE HAVE WILL NOT BE EQUITABLE ON THE ACCESS TO THE INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT PROGRAM WILL NOT BE FAIR TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES.

FINALLY, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISDAIN FOR A POLITICALLY CHARGED EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED ON MAY THE 26.

I RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM THE PRESIDENT OF HFT JACKIE ANDERSON, THE PRESIDENT OR THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.

SHE USED THE MURDER OF 19 STUDENTS AND TO TEACHERS TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR THEIR MEMBERS TO COME TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND DEMAND AT 10 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE.

I URGE EVERY TEACHER TO LEAVE HFT THAT TAKES OVER $600 A YEAR FROM YOU AND JOIN TEXAS TEACHERS [NOISE] [BACKGROUND]THANK YOU.

>> SISTER MAMA SONYA LUCAS ROBERTS KATRINA MOORE [INAUDIBLE]

>> REMEMBERING UVALDE AND BUFFALO.

HOW STUDENTS AT BELEN WHO MADE THE RACIST MONKEY SOUNDS AND RACIST GESTURES RECEIVED SOME DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.

THEIR PARENTS SAID THEY WERE JUST YOUNG KIDS AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THEY MEANT NO HARM.

BUFFALO, UVALDE, THEY WERE YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO.

I'M NOT SAYING THE BELEN KIDS ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WHAT THEY DID WAS WRONG AND THE RACIST BEHAVIOR

[01:45:03]

SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY STUDENTS IN HISD, AT LEAST I HOPE NOT.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE NAME OF DELMAR STADIUM.

IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED FROM THIS RACIST TRUSTEE.

IT MIGHT AS WELL BE NAMED THE KKK STADIUM.

DISMISS US, IGNORE US, DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO US? WE HOPE YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT US.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN SEPTEMBER. I'LL BE BACK.

>> KATRINA MOORE [INAUDIBLE] ADAM BLAIR.

>> TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL SHOEMAKER, WHO HAD THE SALMON SCHEDULED TO BE REASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.

AS I THOUGHT ABOUT HER, WHAT CAME TO MIND IS FIVE PRINCIPLES OF AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE, PRACTICING CERTAIN VALUES, LEADING WITH THE HEART, ESTABLISHING CONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS, AND DEMONSTRATING SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND THAT IS WHO PRINCIPAL SHOEMAKER IS.

THROUGH THE AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, SHE'S BEEN A LIGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT HAS WARMED US AS A COMMUNITY FROM STAFF TO THE PTOS HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS TO THE GENERAL BAKER COMMUNITY TO GIVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT AT BAKER BECOMES EVERYTHING THEY WERE MEANT TO BE.

I'M ASKING YOU, I'M NOT EMPLOYING YOU, PLEASE DON'T SNUFF OUT HER LINE AND REMOVE HER FROM OUR CAMPUS. THANK YOU.

>> ADAM BLAIR [INAUDIBLE] SAM SMITH.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ADAM BLAIR.

I'M A TEACHER AT BAKER MONTESSORI AND A PARENT.

THE DISTRICT'S POSITION ON PROVIDING MONTESSORI EDUCATION FOR ALL, LIKE BAKER MONTESSORI IS UNDER CONSTANT THREAT DUE TO HISDS, LEADERS SCRUTINIZING OUR MONTESSORI PEDAGOGY AND VASTLY DIFFERING LEARNING SEQUENCE THROUGH A VERY NARROW TRADITIONAL LENS.

OUR DISTRICT'S TRADITIONAL LENS IS WHAT DETERMINES THE CONSTRUCTS OF HISD'S SCOPE AND SEQUENCE AND SUBSEQUENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS SUCH AS SNAPSHOTS AND DLAS.

THESE ASSESSMENTS DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE PROGRESS OF MONTESSORI SCHOOLS NOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PRINCIPAL.

EVERY YEAR, DISTRICT OFFICERS THROW UP RED FLAGS WHEN THEY SEE LOW SNAPSHOT IN DLA SCORES THEN CHEER FOR OUR PRINCIPALS WHEN THEY SEE IMPROVEMENT IN OUR STAR SCORES.

THIS IS A PREDICTABLE PATTERN.

IT'S BECAUSE OUR SCOPE IS ALIGNED, BUT OUR SEQUENCE IS NOT.

IF HISD WANTS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE PATH FOR ALL STUDENTS TO RECEIVE FREE MONTESSORI [NOISE]

>> [INAUDIBLE] SAM SMITH, TRAVIS FIVE.

>> IN THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL, THE BAKER COMMUNITY RECEIVED NOTICE THAT OUR MUCH LOVED PRINCIPAL IS BEING REASSIGNED.

SEVENTY-TWO HOURS LATER, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP CALLED STAFF AND PARENT MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PRINCIPAL SELECTION.

INSTEAD, OUR COMMUNITY BEGGED FOR ANSWERS.

WE RELIVED THE TRAUMAS OF THE PAST THREE YEARS IN HOPES OF GAINING UNDERSTANDING.

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP REFUSED TO ANSWER A SINGLE QUESTION.

WHEN SUPERINTENDENT MARTINEZ DID SPEAK, IT WAS TO SMUGLY TELL OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND TO DERIVE THE PARENT OF COLOR FOR NOT BEING PROFESSIONAL.

BAKER MET ALL ACADEMIC TARGETS FOR THE YEAR.

PRELIMINARY STAR DATA TELLS US THAT OUR KIDS MADE HUGE GAINS, WHICH WERE CELEBRATED BY DISTRICT LEADERSHIP OVER EMAIL.

OUR PRINCIPAL HIT EVERY TARGET AND THEY MOVED HER ANY WAY.

BY ALLOWING THESE PERSONAL ATTACKS TO CONTINUE, YOU ARE COMPLICIT THE CULTURE OF FEAR AND RETALIATION.

IF THE MID-LEVEL MANAGER IS ALLOWED TO TEAR OUR COMMUNITY [NOISE] [BACKGROUND]

>> SAM SMITH, TRAVIS FIVE, ASHTON MILLET, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM AUDIBLE NOISE.

>> YOU COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, YOU REPLACE PRINCIPALS WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT AND PARENT INPUT.

THE PRINCIPAL OF [INAUDIBLE] MIDDLE SCHOOL, SHE'S LEAVING.

THEN YOU SEND US A PRINCIPAL IN NORTH FOREST HIGH SCHOOL, WHO DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL AT ALL.

PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO STOP AND NO ONE KNOWS.

WE ARE REQUESTING A NEW PRINCIPAL.

THEY HAVE STUDENTS WHO SAY THEY WOULD NOT BE GRADUATING.

I'M ASKING ADDITIONAL TO THE AUDIT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE SCHOOL.

EVERY DAY THEY HAVE INVITEES ON THE CAMPUS.

PRINCIPAL SHE LET GO THE WHOLE ESPECIALLY A DEPARTMENT AND CONSONANT, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO DECISIONS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE'RE REQUESTING A NEW PRINCIPAL IN NORTH FOREST HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN YOU PLACE A PRINCIPAL AT WHITLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

THE SAME PERSON WHO HAD ME ESCORT OF A CAMPUS WHEN I REPRESENT A PARENT.

DO WE REALLY WANT A PRINCIPAL ON THEIR CAMPUS LIKE THAT?

[01:50:01]

>> TRAVIS FIVE, ASHTON MILLET [INAUDIBLE]

>> GOOD EVENING SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND HISD BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TRAVIS FIVE.

I AM A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.

WE WORK ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AS ADVOCATES AND LAWYERS, BOLDLY SERVING TEXAS COMMUNITIES.

I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO ASK THIS BOARD TO DO A COMMUNITY-BASED REVIEW OF HISD STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.

I DON'T THINK I NEED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL, BUT DECADES OF RESEARCH SHOW THAT EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE, EARLY CONTACT WITH POLICE, AND OTHER FORMS OF PUNITIVE ACTIONS AT SCHOOLS DRIVES STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL, INCREASING DROPOUT RATES, INCREASING CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE ADULTS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HISD HAS MADE STRIDES TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES [NOISE]

>> ASHTON MILLET [INAUDIBLE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH ONE HOUSTON.

WE ARE A NETWORK OF OVER 2,000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ONE HOUSTON AND MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND POLICY CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THE SHOOTING AT ROBB ELEMENTARY IN UVALDE, CISD THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF 19 STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS IS ALL OF OUR WORST NIGHTMARES.

AS A FORMER TEACHER, I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY GRIEVES THIS COLLECTIVE TRAUMA.

THE CDC GUIDANCE EXPLAINS THAT SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS REDUCES RISKY BEHAVIOR, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, AND VIOLENCE AMONGST STUDENTS.

THIS MEANS THAT SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS NOT ONLY MAKES SCHOOL SAFER BUT MAKES STUDENTS FEEL SAFER AT THE SCHOOL.

I URGE THE BOARD TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS SAFER SCHOOLS AND INCREASE SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS THROUGH RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING INSIDE OF THE STUDENT CODE.

>> [INAUDIBLE], I'M SORRY IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME.

KOFFI ELBY AND HURT SMITH.

>> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

MY SON ATTENDED SAM HOUSTON MSTC.

HIS TEACHER, MR. PATRICK [INAUDIBLE].

HE WAS HIS CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

HE WAS ALSO A WRITER ABOUT MAGAZINE.

[INAUDIBLE] MAGAZINE.

HE PUBLISHED ARTICLE WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS IN THEM WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.

HE RECRUITED MY SON.

HE ALSO TOOK MY SON TO A DRUG SHOW WHEN HE WAS UNDERAGE AND IT WAS A REALLY BAD EXPERIENCE.

HE ALSO PUT HIM NEXT TO THIS SEX OFFENDER WHEN HE WAS OUT THERE WITH MY SON.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF BUT NOTHING GOT DONE.

I HAVE A LOT OF INFO, A LOT OF VIDEOS, TEXT MESSAGES, POLICE, HISD HAS A LOT OF MESSAGES, IT WAS REALLY BAD. [NOISE]

>> KOFFI ELBY, HURT SMITH, SAVIOR HAGEN.

>> HISD HAVE A LOT OF INCOMPETENT EMPLOYEES HERE AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND BOYS SERVICES.

ONE NAME IS SHONDA HAMILTON AND MONIQUE, THAT'S IN BOY SERVICE THE RECEPTIONIST.

THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION, CONSPIRACY [OVERLAPPING]

>> MA'AM, YOU CAN'T NAME INDIVIDUALS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION, CONSPIRACY, AND COVER-UPS GOING ON.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GOT ASSAULTED BY A MALE TEACHER, HISD EMPLOYEE HERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY TRYING TO COVER UP EVERYTHING.

WHEN YOU FILE A GRIEVANCE, THEY VIOLATE THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS.

YOU COME HERE TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS THEY THINK THEY'RE AT HOME.

LIKE IT'S A PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, THIS IS A PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

WHEN YOU COME HERE TO TAKE BUSINESS AND REFERENCE TO A CHILD, THEY WANT TO PROTECT AN ADULT THAT'S IN THE WRONG THAT ASSAULTED A FIVE-YEAR-OLD ON A CAMPUS.

THAT'S JUST WRONG. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY TRAINING PRIOR TO COVID-19 OR IF THEY GET ANY TRAINING NOW DURING COVID-19, BUT THEY NEED SOME.

>> [NOISE] HURT SMITH, SAVIOR HAGEN, DR. PAMELA BOVLAND.

>> FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT MR. HOUSE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE

[01:55:01]

WAS AT PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 11TH OF MAY, THE WAY THEY BROUGHT CUBE KING IN, THAT WAS A VIOLATION AND TOTAL DISRESPECT TO THE ENTIRE FAITH WORLD COMMUNITY THE HISTORY OF PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

WE CELEBRATE NOW 95TH ANNIVERSARY AND SOME PAPERWORK WAS FILED HERE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD ON CUBE KING ON MAY 6.

FIVE DAYS LATER SHE WAS AWARDED PRINCIPLE OF PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

MR. HOUSE YOU SAID MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY ABOUT FEEDBACK FROM THIS, AND FEEDBACK FROM THAT, FEEDBACK FROM THAT, AND YOU GATHER NOW LIVES HERE.

WHERE IS THE FEEDBACK FROM THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF, AND THE STUDENTS FROM PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL. WHERE IS THAT? BECAUSE THE PROCESS THE WAY YOU HIRED CUBE KING, THAT'S A VIOLATION.

NO ONE HEARD FROM HIM.

WE CAN'T ACCEPT THE BULLET TEXTS OF Y'ALL JUST BRINGING US SOMEONE WHO HAS NO CREDENTIALS FROM [NOISE] IT JUST DON'T GET [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]

>> SAVIOR HAGEN, DR. PAMELA BOVLAND.

SIR, MR. SMITH, YOUR TIME IS UP.

SAVIOR HAGEN, DR. PAMELA BOVLAND, JUDY CHENG.

>> I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS ASSAULTED IN [INAUDIBLE] HISD STAFF THAT DAY.

MY DAUGHTER HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO SCHOOL SINCE APRIL, 28.

SHE WAS SCARED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, SHE DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIM OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.

MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T EVEN GET THE JAR UNDER THE SCHOOL YEAR.

MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE SAME PLACE SUFFERED.

HE SEEN EVERYTHING.

HE WAS TELLING THIS TO MR. DAY, ''STOP.

GIVE ME MY SISTER BACK TO ME.'' SHE CAN DO NOTHING.

SHE WAS JUST CRYING.

SHE SAID MY NINE YEAR OLD WALKED PAST THE CAFETERIA, SHE WAS CALLING FOR HELP.

NOBODY HELP YOU, YOUR SISTER CAN'T HELP YOU.

SHE DOES HER FIRST YEAR IN SCHOOL IN PRE-K AND NOW SHE JUST DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AT ALL.

I'M SAD BECAUSE I WALKED IN ON THAT WHY HE WAS DOING IT TO HER.

I DON'T KNOW. [NOISE]

>> DR. PAMELA BOVLAND, JUDY CHENG, LUCIO MORENO.

>> FIRST OFF BEFORE MY MINUTE RUNS OUT I WANT TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AT BAKER MONTESSORI.

YOU SHOULD REASSIGN THE PRINCIPAL TO THEIR SCHOOL.

SHE'S A DEDICATED PERSON AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT LET'S FIX THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET.

NOBODY HAD PROBLEMS. THERE WERE NO THREAT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ON PREVIOUS BUDGETS WHEN THEY CLOSED ALL THE SCHOOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY SO DON'T TAKE ANY OF THAT SERIOUSLY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

IT AMAZES ME WHEN WE START PUTTING MONEY INTO OUR SCHOOLS THEN SUDDENLY WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT FINANCIAL CLIFF.

WE CAN FIX THE CLIFFS BEFORE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T FIX THE CLIFFS WHEN THE MONEY IS GOING INTO OUR SCHOOLS.

LAMAR HAS GOT $200,000 TO SPEND ON SOMETHING.

[INAUDIBLE] HAVE $200,000 TO SPEND ON ANYTHING.

WE NEED TO REALLY KEEP THAT IN MIND.

ALL OF THOSE PEOPLES. [NOISE]

>> JUDY CHENG, LUCIO MORENO, CASE MONDY.

>> THANK YOU. CHILDREN ARE THE REASONS WHY WE ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.

EVEN WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IN CONSTANT TURMOIL, MY CHILDREN HAD GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AT THEIR SCHOOLS WITH THE PRINCIPALS HELPFUL FACTORS CHILDREN FIRST AND THE TEACHERS WHO HAS FREEDOM TO TEACH AND BE TRUSTED.

APOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS AND TO SUPPORT STAFF WHO TOUCH OUR CHILDREN'S LIFE EVERY DAY WITH THE PAY RAISE TODAY.

BUT I ALSO ASK YOU TO PLEASE INSTALL THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS BY STOP INSTILLING THE CULTURE OF FEAR AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AT SCHOOL WHO ARE WITHOUT CHILDREN EVERY DAY AND LISTEN TO YOUR STUDENTS.

WHILE YOU HAVE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE STUDENTS, YOU HAVE MEASUREMENTS FOR THE TEACHERS, FOR THE PRINCIPAL WHAT HAPPENED.

>> LUCIO MORENO, CASE MONDY.

>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS THE NEXT TEACHER.

HISD WAS MY HOME AND MY COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

[02:00:03]

YOU SEE, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT TAUGHT THEY DON'T KNOW WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE SAY WE REPRESENT THE STUDENTS, WE REALLY DO.

YOUR PREDECESSOR BULLIED, HARASSED, AND RAN MANY GOOD TEACHERS AWAY JUST FOR SPEAKING OUT.

DON'T YOU WANT TEACHERS THAT HAVE INVESTED TIME AND LOVE IN YOUR KIDS? GIVE US THE TIME AND LISTEN TO US.

MY EX STUDENTS THE MAJORITY ARE DOING VERY WELL.

ONE WILL BE INTERNING FOR THE MAYOR AND ADVOCATING IN DC FOR STUDENTS SAFETY.

OTHERS IN MAGNET SCHOOLS AND SOME IN LOCAL SCHOOLS WITH 4.0 GPA'S.

THEY INTERVIEWED PRESIDENT BIDEN IN-PERSON OR HOUSE SPEAKER, NANCY PELOSI, AND INVITED TO ATTEND THE DEMOCRAT DEBATE.

DID THEY LEARN? YES, THEY ALL LEARNED.

THEY LEARNED THEY HAVE A VOICE.

WHY? BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN A DOOR TO GO THROUGH TO SEE [NOISE] TO THE WORLDS OUTSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> CASE MONDY.

>> I HOPE YOU HAVE TIME TO SPEAK TO ME.

>> HELLO. [NOISE] MY NAME IS CASE MONDY AND I REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OF WAINWRIGHT ELEMENTARY AS THE PTA PRESIDENT.

WHEN MY PRE-K DAUGHTER'S TEACHER HAS BEEN ABSENT THIS YEAR 20 PLUS FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED IN ADJACENT AND GRADE HIGHER CLASSES, EXPONENTIALLY INCREASING LEARNING LOSS FOR ALL.

I BELIEVE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE KNOWN SHORTEST OF SUBS IS TO RECRUIT FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND EACH SCHOOL.

THIS WOULD REQUIRE A MODIFICATION TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM OR CREATION OF A SEPARATE TIER OF ASSOCIATE TEACHER.

ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ASSOCIATE TEACHERS TO INCREASE THE CANDIDATE POOL, THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED PER MONTH CAN BE LOWERED FROM EIGHT TO FOUR.

THE REQUIREMENT OF A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OF 60 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT SHOULD BE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY LIFTED.

WHILE I RECOGNIZE THE MERIT OF ASSOCIATE TEACHERS SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION ANY RESPONSIBLE ADULT WOULD BE BETTER THAN NO SUBSTITUTE.

I RECENTLY ATTEMPTED TO HELP A FRIEND APPLY FOR SUBSTITUTE POSITION, THERE WERE NO GENERAL POSITIONS FOR SUBS LISTED ON THE DISTRICT CAREERS PAGE.

I EMAILED THE DISTRICT AND WAS BOUNCED AROUND TO FOUR DIFFERENT EMAIL ADDRESSES BEFORE I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND A DIFFERENT APPLICATION SITE MENTIONED WITHIN AN AUTOMATED REPLY, THE PROCESS OF PLANNING NEEDS TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD, KNOWN BY HISD STAFF AND MARKETED TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY TRUSTEES.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO PROJECT 220201,

[22-02-01 - RFP / Minor Maintenance and Repairs (Like for Like)]

RFP MINOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS LIKE FOR LIKE.

TRUSTEES PLEASE VOTE.

THE ONE MINOR MAINTENANCE REPAIRS LIKE FOR LIKE THE ONE PAT HAD A QUESTION ON.

OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM I10 ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM

[I-10. Acceptance Of Federal Funds From The Texas Education Agency Through The Every StudentSucceeds Consolidated Federal Grant Application, Perkins V: Strengthening Career And Technical]

THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY THROUGH THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS CONSOLIDATED FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION, PERKINS V STRENGTHENING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY GRANT APPLICATION AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSOLIDATED GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR, AND SUPPORTED THE DISTRICT WIDE AND SCHOOL-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AND AMEND GRANTS.

THIS ITEM IS BEING HELD AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVE SANTOS.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUE? TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.

>> SINCE I'VE PULLED THIS ONE I'M READY TO VOTE. IT'S FINE.

>> PLEASE VOTE.

[BACKGROUND].

OUR LAST ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM J1, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE 2022/2023 PANEL OF LAW FIRMS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVES SANTOS.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? PLEASE VOTE.

SIX FOR, ZERO AGAINST, THREE ABSTENTIONS.

WE'RE 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?

>> MOVES SANTOS.

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

[02:05:08]

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

ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS?

>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT AND THE MATTER

[N. Consideration and approval of settlement in the matter of Danielle Nicole Nixon v. HISD; in theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Civil Action No. 4:20-Cv-01699]

OF DANIELLE NICOLE NIXON V HISD UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS.

CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 4; 20-CV-01699, ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE JUNE 10TH 2022.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY PLEASE VOTE.

>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT HAS SETTLED ON

[O. Consideration and authority to settle in the special education mediation matter regardingKyandria H. b/n/f Wesykita L. v. HISD; SOAH Docket No. 701-22-2247 IDEA; TEA Docket No.195-SE-0322B.]

SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTER REGARDING KYANDRIA, W-E-S-Y-K-I-T-A-L V HISD, SOAH DOCKET NUMBER 701-22-2247, IDEA TEA DOCKET NUMBER 195-SE-0322B ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE JUNE 10TH 2022.

>> HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY, PLEASE VOTE.

>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL AGENDA INCLUDE WITH

[E. Consider and approve proposed appointments, reassignments, proposed terminations,terminations/suspensions, contract lengths, proposed nonrenewals, renewals, and resignations/retirements of personnel including teachers, assistant principals, principals, chief officers, assistant superintendents, executive officers, and other administrators, and, if necessary, approve waiver and release and compromise agreements.]

SPECIFICALLY THAT THE BOARD APPROVE PROPOSED TERMINATION OF CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, APPROVED END OF TERM TERMINATION OF PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS THAT THE BOARD APPROVE PROPOSED NONE RENEWALS OF TERM CONTRACTS THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ISSUANCE OF FOURTH YEAR PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS AND THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME THAT THE BOARD APPROVES SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENTS, THAT THE BOARD APPROVED WITHDRAWALS OF CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ISSUANCE OF FINAL ORDERS ON CONTRACT TERMINATIONS AND NONE RENEWALS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE JUNE 10TH 2022.

>> HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY. PLEASE VOTE.

>> TRY AND PRONOUNCE THAT NAME [LAUGHTER]

>> WE ARE MISSING A COUPLE OF TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE.