>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MEETING IS NOW CONVENED AT 02:00 P.M.
[00:00:04]
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT IN THE AUDITORIUM ARE TRUSTEE ALLEN, TRUSTEE CRUZ, TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIEL'S, TRUSTEE GUIDRY, AND TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ, TRUSTEE WADE, TRUSTEE BAKER, AND TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
[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 IN THIS NOTICE ]
UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004, 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.082, 551.0821, 551.083, 551.04, 551.089.SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION BOARD OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION BE REQUIRED.
SUCH FINAL ACTION VOTE OR DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE OPEN MEETING, COVERED BY THIS [INAUDIBLE] UPON THE RECONVENING OTHERS MEETING OR AT THE SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING UPON THE BOARD MEETING OF THE BOARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF.
THE BOARD HAS ADJOURN TO CLOSE OR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 02:01 P.M. ON APRIL 13TH, 2023.
[REGULAR BOARD MEETING RECONVENES FOR OPEN SESSION]
[SPANISH]>> GOOD EVENING. THIS MEETING IS NOW RECONVENED AT 05:06 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT AND THE BOARD AUDITORIUMS ARE TRUSTEE CRUZ, TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS, TRUSTEE GUIDRY, TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ, TRUSTEE WADE, TRUSTEE BAKER, TRUSTEE SANTOS, AND TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES.
>> WE WILL NOW BE JOINED BY A MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORE TO LEAD OUR PLEDGES.
THIS STUDENT IS FROM SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 6.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DISTRICT 6 TRUSTEE KENDALL BAKER TO INTRODUCE THE PLEDGE LEADER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ.
CADET LIEUTENANT COLONEL SARAH SOLIS DISTINGUISH HERSELF IN LEADERSHIP, ACADEMICS, SPORTS, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR FOUR YEARS AT SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE RANKED SECOND OF 412 WITH A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 4.5.
SHE HAS SHARP SOUNDS 18TH ARMY JROTC BATTALION COMMANDER.
SHE HAS SERVED AS LOGISTICS COORDINATOR AND PARTICIPATED IN THE COLOR GUARD FLAG DETAIL, JROTC LEADERSHIP, AND ACADEMIC BOWL.
ARCHERY AND PHYSICAL TRAINING TEAMS AS WELL.
SHE HAS ALSO RECEIVED HER SUPERIOR INSTRUCTOR AWARD IN JROTC, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HORSES SPORTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
ALL THIS WHILE TAKING DUAL CREDIT COURSES AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES, AND EARNING HER MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION BY THE TIME SHE GRADUATES FROM SHARPSTOWN.
CADET SOLIS WILL ATTEND DUKE UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE WILL MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY AND PURSUE A CAREER IN THAT FIELD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CADET SOLIS.
AT THIS TIME, WILL YOU PLEASE RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION.
AT THIS TIME WILL YOU PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE TEXAS PLEDGE.
>> EXCUSE ME, THAT'S CADET SOLIS. THANK YOU.
[RECOGNITIONS]
>> APRIL IS ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
[00:05:03]
I'D LIKE TO ASK TRUSTEE PATRICIA ALLEN TO READ OUR PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THIS EVENT. TRUSTEE ALLEN?>> APRIL WHEREAS FOR OVER A CENTURY, ARAB AMERICANS HAVE BEEN MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY IN MEDICINE, LAW, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT, MILITARY SERVICE, AND CULTURE.
WHEREAS SINCE IMMIGRATING TO AMERICA, MEN AND WOMEN OF ARAB DESCENT HAVE SHARED THEIR VIBRANT CULTURE AND TRADITIONS WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHILE ALSO SETTING FINE EXAMPLES OF MODEL CITIZENS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.
WHEREAS THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM TO AMERICA THEIR RESILIENT FAMILY VALUES, STRONG WORK ETHIC, DEDICATION TO EDUCATION, AND DIVERSITY IN FAITH AND CREED THAT HAVE ADDED STRENGTH TO OUR GREAT DEMOCRACY.
WHEREAS ARAB AMERICANS HAVE ALSO ENRICHED OUR SOCIETY BY SHARING IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERICAN SPIRIT THAT MAKES OUR NATION FREE AND PROSPEROUS.
WHEREAS THEY JOIN ALL AMERICANS AND THE DESIRE TO SEE A PEACEFUL AND DIVERSE SOCIETY IN WHICH EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS TREATED EQUALLY AND FEELS SAFE.
NOW THEREFORE, WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2023, ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN HISD.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO JOIN IN THIS OBSERVANCE TO CELEBRATE THE RICH TRADITIONS OF THE ARAB AMERICAN CULTURE AND WITNESS THEREOF ON THIS 13TH DAY OF APRIL 2023.
>> APRIL 17TH THROUGH THE 21ST IS VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNITION WEEK.
I'D LIKE TO ASK TRUSTEE JUDITH CRUZ TO READ OUR PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THIS EVENT. TRUSTEE CRUZ.
>> WHEREAS EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF PARENTS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUPPORT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BY DONATING THEIR TIME, RESOURCES, AND KNOWLEDGE.
WHEREAS THESE VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN A VARIETY OF ROLES IN AREAS SUCH AS MENTORING, TUTORING, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, OFFICE AND CLASSROOM ASSISTANCE, AND MORE WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
WHEREAS VOLUNTEERS HELPING SCHOOLS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
WHEREAS A ROBUST AND SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION SYSTEM REQUIRES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION, AND VOLUNTEERS SELFLESSLY ILLUSTRATE THE POWER OF THAT PARTNERSHIP.
WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBILC SCHOOL VOLUNTEER WEEK IS OBSERVED DURING THE THIRD FULL WEEK OF APRIL.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS PROCLAIM APRIL 17TH TO THE 21ST, 2023 VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNITION WEEK IN HISD, IN HONOR OF OUR THOUSANDS OF ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS AND ENCOURAGE ALL TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THESE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.
THESE DEDICATED SUPPORTERS WHO ASSIST AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND WITNESS THEREOF ON THIS 13TH DAY OF APRIL 2023.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A NUMBER OF OUR HIST STUDENT ATHLETES THIS EVENING.
EACH OF THESE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A BOARD OF EDUCATION CERTIFICATE CONGRATULATING THEM ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
FIRST, WE RECOGNIZE OUR WASHINGTON HIGH-SCHOOL BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACHES. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? [APPLAUSE].
>> THIS TEAM PLAYS SECOND IN THE UNIVERSITY AND TOOK SCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OR UIL FOR A STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
[00:10:12]
>> [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR WRESTLING STUDENTS AND COACHES.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? [APPLAUSE]
>> THESE ATHLETES PLACED AT THE UIL STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP, WITH ONE STUDENT FROM NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL AND THREE FROM WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, INCLUDING ONE, KYLE LOU, WHO IS NOW STATE CHAMPION IN 6A.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
NOW WE ALSO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION REGARDING A MILITARY EXHIBIT AT CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL.
JOE FUENTES OF ADVANTAGE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WILL INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKERS.
MR. FUENTES, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A BUTTON THAT YOU HAVE TO CLICK TO TURN ON THE MIC.
>> A LITTLE BETTER. THANK YOU AGAIN.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDING HOUSE, WE ARE HONORED.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP IN MOTION.
THESE INDIVIDUALS, REAL-LIFE HEROES BEHIND ME ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE ARISEN FOR STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
TO MY RIGHT IS THE HONORABLE CARSON.
THIS IS A CIVILIAN AID TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
UNIQUE AS IT IS. TO MY LEFT IS LIEUTENANT COLONEL MILLEY ESCOLIN.
SHE SERVES AS THE CHIEF OF THE HOUSTON SWORD.
IT'S AN HONOR AND MY DUTY TO PRESENT TO YOU THESE INCREDIBLE HEROES AS THEY SHOW Y'ALL EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD TONIGHT.
AS JOE MENTIONED, I'M MYRNA TREVINO AND I AM THE CIVILIAN AIDE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, TEXAS EAST, CASA FOR SHORT.
MY MISSION IS TO ASSIST THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY BY COMMUNICATING WITH SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, AND INFLUENCERS OF THE MULTIPLE ARMY PATHWAYS.
TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
GROWING UP IN THE '60S AND '70S ON HOUSTON'S DOOR SIDE, JUST DOWN THE ROAD ON OVINGTON STREET, MY PARENTS AND I BOTH KNEW THAT EDUCATION WAS THE KEY TO SUCCESS.
AS A HISPANIC WOMAN IN THAT ERA, THE BARRIERS WERE GREAT.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE DETERMINED TO HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY, YOU FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
FOR ME, THAT WAS WORKING IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WHO PAID FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AS I HAD ATTENDED NIGHT SCHOOL.
THAT WAS BEFORE NIGHT SCHOOL EVEN EXISTED.
AS A RESULT OF BEING A FIRST-GENERATION TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND RECEIVED MY DEGREE, MY SISTERS ALL FOLLOWED IN MY FOOTSTEPS, CHANGING OUR FAMILY'S FUTURE FOREVER.
THIS BRINGS US TO WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
AS THE CASA, IT'S TIME TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I DID NOT SERVE IN THE ARMY, HOWEVER, I AM PROUDLY SERVING NOW IN THIS OFFICE.
[00:15:02]
HOW DO WE GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY? IT'S THROUGH OUR MESSAGE EXPANSION PROGRAM.WE BEGAN WITH BRIEFING THE GROUP OF SCHOOLS COUNSELORS, PARENTS, VFWS, AND AMERICAN LEGIONS.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT LED US TO BRINGING THE COLOR OF FREEDOM AND NATIONAL WOMEN'S VETERANS EXHIBIT TO CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU, PRINCIPAL MARTINEZ, HER STAFF, BOARD PRESIDENT, AND DANNY HERNANDEZ AND JOE FUENTES FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE WOMEN VETERANS FROM ALL ERAS, INCLUDING OUR BELOVED VANESSA GUILLEN, WHO IS FEATURED IN THE EXHIBIT.
WITH THIS RENEWED RELATIONSHIP, THE US ARMY NOW HAS AN ON-CAMPUS OFFICE IN CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION DAILY.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ON-CAMPUS OFFICES IN ALL HIGH SCHOOLS MOVING FORWARD.
YOU MAY ASK WHY SHOULD WE HAVE OFFICES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
WELL, OUR COMMUNITY VIEWS THE ARMY AS ONE PATHWAY STRAIGHT TO THE FRONTLINES.
BUT WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS IT THAT IS NOT TRUE.
REMEMBER I SAID EARLIER, THE ARMY HAS MANY PATHWAYS WHICH INCLUDES ACTIVE DUTY, OFFICER ENLISTMENT, RESERVES, NATIONAL GUARD, WEST POINT, ATTORNEY, AND MEDICAL OFFICER OPPORTUNITIES.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, I GAVE A MINUTE MAN SCHOLARSHIP OF $305,000 TO HUMBLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, 305,000.
THAT'S A LOT. LIEUTENANT COLONEL ESCOLIN AND HER TEAM HAVE AWARDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS IN THAT AREA.
THIS MORNING, THE WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY AWARDED AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO A YOUNG MAN AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS THE FIRST STUDENT OUT OF SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL TO EVER ATTEND WEST POINT.
>> TOMORROW, WE WILL BE GIVING ANOTHER ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO A YOUNG LADY AT WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL AT 8:30 AM.
SO IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND ATTEND, PLEASE COME OUT, 8:30 AT WALTER.
OUR COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PATHWAYS. THE MISSION IS CLEAR.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO SHARE THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY OF THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
LET'S CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TOGETHER AND LET'S SHARE THE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS]
>> IT IS NOW TIME TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS TO SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE 19 AGENDA SPEAKERS REGISTERED THIS EVENING WHO ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES EACH PER BOARD POLICY.
PLEASE SPEAK TO THE AGENDA ITEM YOU HAVE REGISTERED AND SIGNED UP FOR.
WE ALSO ASK THAT SPEAKERS STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, AS THEIR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED UNDER LAW, BUT YOU MAY NEED YOUR OWN CHILD.
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 ON 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 AND TO PROMPTLY END THEIR REMARKS WHEN THE TIMER RINGS, INDICATING THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS WILL GENERALLY BE GIVEN TWO REMINDERS OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT RULES.
IF THE SPEAKER CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE RULES AFTER THESE REMINDERS, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM, WE MUST SEE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR CAMERA ON AS YOU SPEAK.
OUR FIRST ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 1, ACCEPTANCE OF BOARD MONITORING UPDATE, PRESENTATION OF GOLD PROGRESS MEASURES 2.1, 2.2, AND 2.3.
WELL, JERRY MONROE, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS SPEAKER IS ALSO REGISTERED FOR ITEMS 2 AND 3, AND HEARING OTHER COMMUNITY.
>> I IMPLORE THE BOARD NOT TO PASS THE BUDGET THAT IS PROPOSED.
I GOT PRINCIPLES ON MY PHONE ALL DAY LONG.
WHOEVER PUT THAT TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
TEA IS NOW TAKING OVER HISD, GOD IS. HE'S TIRED.
FOR OVER 40-50 YEARS, WE HAVE NEGLECTED KIDS, WE HAVE STOLEN MONEY, WE HAVE NOT DONE THE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
[00:20:01]
BUT HE'S SENDING THE COMMISSIONER THROUGH LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.BECAUSE NOW IT'S TIME AND IT'S NO MORE TALKING.
I'VE BEEN OUT TALKING TO MY COMMUNITY.
IT'S NO TIME FOR MARCHING, IT'S NO TIME FOR PROTESTING.
WHAT IT IS TIME FOR IS TIME TO EDUCATE THEM, IT IS TIME TO PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO TAKE OVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RIDE THE SHIP.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN TWO YEARS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOUR TO FIVE.
IT MAY TAKE LONGER, BUT MY COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO STAND TOUGH AND DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE I'VE MADE THEM UNDERSTAND ONE THING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH HELL TO GET BACK TO HEAVEN.
EVERY ONE OF THESE KIDS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR RACE MAY BE, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE EDUCATION.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE PROBLEM.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS WITH THE STEALING OF THE MONEY AND ALL THE EXTRA STUFF THAT CAME.
I'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS, SOME PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, YOU NEED TO GO, BUT SOME PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO.
BUT THE WAY THE LAW IS SET UP, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE.
BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, TEA IS NOT TAKING OVER HISD, GOD IS, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO ABUSE CHILDREN AND THINK THAT HE WILL SIT PET AND ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.
I WAS COMING WITH THE MATRIX TONIGHT, BUT I'M NOT.
LET IT GO, GET OUT OF HIS WAY, AND LET GOD DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 2, PRESENTATION BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY REGARDING THE TRANSITION TO A BOARD OF MANAGERS.
WELL, MARIE POOSAN, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS SPEAKER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DANIELLE SAMPLES WAS ALSO REGISTERED TO ITEM 7.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M MARIE POOSAN, A RETIRED EDUCATOR AND HISD TAXPAYER.
I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO HAVING OUR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS STRIPPED OF THEIR AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THIS COMMUNITY, NOT TEA.
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR TRANSPARENCY BY A BOARD OF MANAGERS TO THE PUBLIC? THERE'S NO APPARENT REAL PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT GUARANTEED BY TEA BY A CERTAIN DEADLINE.
I DON'T SEE A PLAN FOR TRANSITION IN AGENDA ITEM 2.
HISD'S BOARD USUALLY HAS ITS PRESENTATIONS ATTACHED TO THE POSTED AGENDA PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
I DECIDED TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE THE POSTED AGENDA ITEM WAS A BLANK PAGE.
WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE, IT'S A BLANK PAGE.
WHERE'S THE PLAN? IF I HAD SUBMITTED BLANK PAGES DURING MY 28-YEAR CAREER, MY CONTRACT MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RENEWED.
I HAD TO PLAN FOR SUCCESS FOR MY STUDENTS.
I HAVE YET TO SEE A PLAN NOT AT ANY COMMUNITY MEETING.
WHERE'S THE PLAN? THIS BOARD WAS ELECTED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS, FUND SCHOOLS WITH EQUITY, DEMAND SMALLER CLASS SIZE, CONTINUE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, INCREASE PAY FOR OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, LET TEACHERS TEACH AND NOT TO ATTEST, FIGHT FOR OUR KIDS, FIGHT FOR THEM NOW, ELECTED BOARD.
I THOUGHT I ONLY HAD ONE MINUTE.
WHILE I'M UP HERE, LET'S APPOINT MILLARD HOUSE, THIS BOARD'S ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT, AS THE TRANSITION MANAGER SO HE CAN EARN HIS CONTRACT DIRECT WILL BE PAYING.
>> GOOD EVENING. I RISE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEEDS TO RECLAIM ITS LEGITIMACY AS THE ONLY ELECTED BODY EMPOWERED BY THE COMMUNITY TO GOVERN.
YOU NEED TO PULL THE RESOLUTION FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND VOTE IT DOWN.
THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED AS POSSIBLE TRANSITION MANAGERS RAISE CONCERNS.
THE PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT AND WE HAVE HEARD THINGS ABOUT AT LEAST ONE OF THEM THAT GIVES TEACHERS CONCERN ABOUT THE VETTING PROCESS.
MOREOVER, THIS HOSTILE TAKEOVERS DESIGNED TO DISMANTLE AND DIVIDE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
PROFESSOR DOMINGO MORATH OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ARTICULATED EXACTLY IN THE WASHINGTON POST WHAT THIS TAKEOVER IN HOUSTON IS REALLY ABOUT.
[00:25:04]
IT'S A MANUFACTURED EDUCATION CRISIS TO PREVENT PEOPLE OF COLOR FROM EXERCISING THEIR CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS AND STRIPPING THEM OF POLITICAL POWER.IF YOU HAVE ANY MORAL SENSIBILITIES LEFT, YOU WILL PULL THIS RESOLUTION AND VOTE IT DOWN.
>> KENDRA YARBOROUGH, FOLLOWED BY KARINA QUESADA.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF YOU IN THE PAST AS A TEACHER AND IN OTHER ACTIVISTS ROLES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
MY NAME IS KENDRA YARBOROUGH MERINA.
I WAS A PREVIOUS TEACHER IN HIST UNTIL LAST YEAR TEACHING AT WHEATLEY HIGH-SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AND MORE.
NOW, I'M A PARENT AND JUST A TAXPAYER.
BUT MY PASSION FOR EDUCATION HAS NOT LEFT ME, WHICH IS WHY I STAND BEFORE YOU.
IT HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PRACTICE THAT THE HIST, THE BOARD INCLUDES IN ITS AGENDA PACKET, ANY PRESENTATIONS SHARED WITH THE BOARD SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THOSE MATERIALS.
I NOTICED ON AGENDA 2 UNFORTUNATELY, AS STATED BEFORE, THAT PAGE WAS A BLANK AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT TEA PLANS IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSITION.
NONE OF THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.
MY QUESTIONS ARE REAL SIMPLE AND EACH OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED FOR YOU TO PLEASE GET FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NOT JUST I HAVE THAT MANY OTHERS DO.
WILL THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY OR TEA COMMIT TO SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC, ALL PRESENTATION MATERIALS SHARED WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AS WELL AS YOURSELVES, ANY LOCAL LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS? WILL TEA ENSURE THAT ALL MEETINGS WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS BE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE IN MAY BEFORE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS ARE SWORN IN? WILL TEA PROVIDE IN WRITING, A GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR TAXPAYERS AND PARENTS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS REGARDING DECISIONS MADE BY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL ACTIONS THAT COULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM? THE ELECTED BOARD SHOULD BE DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT APPOINTING A NON HOUSTONIAN.
WE ASK THAT YOU DO WHAT WE ALL DESERVE AS VOTERS.
WE DESERVE SO MUCH MORE AND SO DO OUR CHILDREN.
>> KARINA QUESADA FOLLOWED BY CARMEN NUNCIO.
>> HI. AGAIN ABOUT THE TEA PRESENTATION AT MISSING OUT OF THE PACKET AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING.
THAT'S JUST INDICATIVE OF HOW TEA WILL RUN OUR DISTRICT IF GIVEN THE CHANCE.
JUST LIKE THE SHAM OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH ZERO TRANSPARENCY AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN DONE IN DARKNESS, MARAT AND ABBOTT ARE JUST A COUPLE OF POWER HUNGRY WHITEMAN DECIDING HOW TO CARVE OUT THE SPOILS OF HIST MONEY, RESOURCES, AND LAND.
HIST WILL BE RUN BY THEM AND ONLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
HOUSTONIAN SHOULD NOT FALL FOR MARAT'S LIES.
WE DON'T WANT YOU WRITING RESOLUTIONS, MAKING THINGS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR TEA WHO CONCOCTED THIS IDEA OF TRANSITION MANAGER AND WHAT WAS THE JOB POSTING FOR IT? THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
ANOTHER MOVE DONE IN THE DARK.
WE NEED Y'ALLS VOICES UNITED WITH OURS LOUDLY OPPOSING THIS TAKEOVER.
YOU WANT TO LEAD SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO MAKE STUFF UP, LEAD US AND OUR CHILDREN INTO TAKING DIRECT ACTION AGAINST THE TAKEOVER.
DIRECT ACTION ALWAYS GETS THE GOODS, COME UP WITH IDEAS TO STOP IT.
WE CAN HAVE WELDON SCHOOL, STRIKE SCHOOLS LIKE WE DID IN THE PAST, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? THEY'RE ALREADY TRYING TO TAKE US OVER.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE? COME UP WITH IDEAS OF HOW TO STOP THIS.
DON'T JUST ROLLOVER. THANK YOU.
>> CARMEN NUNCIO FOLLOWED BY TRAVIS MCGEE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARMEN NUNCIO, I AM A PARENT, A GRANDPARENT OF 47 AND THE GRANDPARENT OF 47 YEARS, A VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE IN HIST.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE, [NOISE]
[00:30:05]
IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND STRIPS AWAY OUR LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS.AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION.
IF TEA THINKS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, THEN THEY SHOULD SUPPORT US, NOT TAKE OVER.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE TAKEOVER IS MOTIVATED BY THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT TEA DOES NOT HAVE OUR CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT COMMODITIES TO BE BOUGHT AND SOLD.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER THAN TO BE PAWNS IN A POLITICAL GAME DRIVEN BY POLITICAL GAIN AND WE WILL NOT STAND BY AS TEA TRIES TO TAKE OVER. THANK YOU.
>>TRAVIS MCGEE, FOLLOWED BY RUTH KRAVITZ.
>> TRAVIS IS TWO MINUTES AWAY, HE GOT STUCK BY ACCIDENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK YOU DO.
DURING BUDGET SEASON, I'M NORMALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT KEEPING DOLLARS AS CLOSE TO THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLE, LOWERING CLASS SIZE AND CUTTING USELESS CONTRACTS.
BUT THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL CREATE A BUDGET ABBOTT WANTS, AND WE WILL HAVE NO SAY WHATSOEVER.
TALKING ABOUT IT IS JUST MORE WINDOW DRESSING AND THE DISMANTLING OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE RESOLUTION FOR PAID TRANSITION PERSON REMINDS ME OF THE TIME WHEN ANN RICHARDS BEAT CLAYTON WILLIAMS FOR GOVERNOR.
HE SAID, IF IT'S INEVITABLE, JUST RELAX AND ENJOY IT.
THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON ARE NOT ENJOYING THIS, NOR DO WE WANT OUR OWN ELECTED TO GIVE UP ON DEMOCRACY SO EASILY AND UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS.
HOW MANY OF YOU WILL APPLAUD AS ABBOTS NEW SHAM BOARD OF MANAGERS, HOLLOWS OUT THE DISTRICT AND DIVERTS ALL OF ITS MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS? BY VOTING FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AS SOME OF YOU WILL, YOU ARE PRE-APPROVING THE WHOLE THING.
YOU SHOULD VOTE, NO, TAKEOVERS FAIL, OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.
AS I HAVE SOME MORE TIME, LET'S GO INTO SOME MORE DETAIL.
[LAUGHTER] THIS TRANSITION MANAGER RESOLUTION IS A SAMPLE OF THE ARROGANCE OF THE TAKEOVER AND THOSE OF YOU ENABLING IT.
IN WHAT SECRET MEETING WAS THIS IDEA HATCHED? SINCE I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TODAY AND I'M IN THE KNOW.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT, NO WE DIDN'T GET THAT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE HOUSTONIAN IN THE TRANSITION PROCESS.
NO, WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT SINCE CRAVIAL IS AN EX TEA EMPLOYEE, NOT EVEN FROM TEXAS, MUCH LESS FROM HOUSTON.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT EITHER, SINCE THE BOARD GAVE US A PUBLIC AGENDA WITH THE BLIND SLATE.
>> WE ALSO HAVE SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS, I HAVE TWO VIA ZOOM.
MS. CONROY, PLEASE ADMIT OUR ZOOM SPEAKERS.
PLEASE TURN ON YOUR MIC AND CAMERA AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
ANITA WADHWA, WE NEED YOU TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, PLEASE.
ANITA WADHWA, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR MIC.
[00:35:05]
>> YES. GO AHEAD AND BEGIN, PLEASE.
>> WE CAN HERE YOU GO AHEAD AND BEGIN, PLEASE.
>> ANITA WADHWA, GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I'M UNABLE TO HEAR YOU, SO I AM GOING TO HANG UP MY APOLOGY. YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I APOLOGIZE. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TEAS MAKING SURE THAT THE BOARD OF MANAGER MEETINGS CONTINUED TO BE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE THAT OCCUR IN MAY BEFORE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS SWORN IN.
I WANTED THE TEA TO COMMIT TO SHARING ALL OF THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS THAT THEY SHARE WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WITH THE PUBLIC.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AT CONDIT ELEMENTARY AND ALSO PART OF COMMUNITY VOICES REPUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, THE OTHER SPEAKER WHO IS REGISTERED FOR ZOOM ON THIS TOPIC IS NOT IN THE QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 3, APPROVAL OF THE APRIL BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WELL, LAURA LIM PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> I'LL PUT YOU IN FOR 8. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 7, ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION CONCERNING LOCAL CONTROL, THE TRANSITION FROM LOCAL GOVERNANCE TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH SPEAKERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM.
MS. CONROY, PLEASE ADMIT OUR ZOOM SPEAKERS.
>> PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, NONE OF THE SPEAKERS ARE IN THE QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO ADDRESS ITEM 7 IN THE AUDITORIUM.
WELL, ZACHARY FOREMAN PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, FOLLOWED BY TRACY LACSON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS TRACY LACSON AND I AM A TEACHER AGAINST ITEM 7, RESOLUTION CONCERNING LOCAL CONTROL.
THE HISD COMMUNITY DOES NOT SUPPORT THE TAKEOVER.
SEEING HOW THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS THE COMMUNITY VOICE, THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT REFLECT OUR BELIEFS.
YOU HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED STATE TAKEOVER IN THIS RESOLUTION, YOU ARE CRITICIZING THE PROCESS.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE RESOLUTION IS MEANINGLESS.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STABILIZE HISD DURING THIS HOSTILE TAKEOVER.
DO YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE A ONETIME RETENTION STIPEND? WOULD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE TEA STRIPS AWAY YOUR POWER ON JUNE 1, LEAVING YOU AS PUPPETS FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS? IS IT ETHICAL TO MISLEAD STUDENTS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY AND STAFF MEMBERS INTO THINKING YOU CAN STABILIZE THIS TRANSITION WITH THE RESOLUTION? YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, DENOUNCED TAKEOVER, NOT THE PROCESS.
THE PROCESS IS MESSY BECAUSE THE TAKEOVER IS NOT RIGHT.
MR. HOUSE, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR CABINET FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR HIST.
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE.
ANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.
PERSONALLY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE TEACHERS AND HISD, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR BEING THE FACE OF THIS TAKEOVER.
IT'S NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS THAT WERE ACTIVE IN 2015 THROUGH '19.
[00:40:01]
>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 8, APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED CURRICULUM MATERIAL FOR HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTION ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE, FAMILY VIOLENCE, AND DATING VIOLENCE AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
WELL, MEG SETH, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, FOLLOWED BY JACKIE ABREU HILL.
WHEN I WENT TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, I SAW THAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SEXUALITY CURRICULUM WAS UP FOR THE BOARD TO VOTE ON.
I WAS VERY SURPRISED, SO I ASKED PARENTS IF THEY HAD RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE NOT.
I COULDN'T FIND A COPY OF THE NEW CURRICULUM, BUT I DID FIND A COPY OF THE OLD CURRICULUM ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, SEX AND SEXUALITY, NOTHING FOR THE LOWER GRADES.
THE STATE BOARD HAD FIVE OPTIONS THEY DECIDED TO CHOOSE, THEY PICK TWO, QUAVERED AND GOODHEART WILCOX.
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS REVIEWED THE CURRICULUM AND ALL FAILED THEIR MEASUREMENTS.
THE MEASURE WAS COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION HARM ANALYSIS TOOL.
QUAVERED RECEIVED FOUR FAILURES OUT OF THE 15 AND GOODHEART WILCOX RECEIVED 10 FAILURES OUT OF 15.
SEXUALITY EDUCATION HARM ANALYSIS TOOL.
OVER 17 TEXAS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ASK THE STATE BOARD NOT TO USE ANY OF THE HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION, WHICH IS ALSO NOT MANDATORY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO DO THIS? ARE WE LESSENING THE ROLE OF THE PARENTS? OUR PARENTS LEAD THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IN THEIR MORAL UPBRINGING.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS HAVE DECIDED AGAINST THIS INSTRUCTION.
WHY ARE WE NOT ONE OF THEM? WHY DID TOM BALL AND MAGNOLIA ISD REJECT THIS? WILL WE INCLUDE ATYPICAL SEXUALITY.
WHERE DO WE END AND WHO DECIDES THIS? WILL IT BE UP TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS? WHAT EXOGENOUS DO THEY WANT? WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING IT? CAN PARENTS HAVE THE KIDS ACT OUT? THIS DOES NOT RAISE EXPECTATIONS FOR PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT.
WHAT ABOUT CONCENTRATING MORE ON CORE ACADEMICS? WE NEED TO START.
>> WE NEED MORE ACADEMIC CLASS. NO LESS.
>> JACKIE ABREU HILL, FOLLOWED BY LAURA LIM.
>> I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF QUAVERED AND GOODHEART WILCOX CURRICULUMS FOR HUMAN SEXUALITY.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS ADULTS, PARENTS AND YOU, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AT ALL COSTS? BOTH WERE VOTED DOWN BY THE SPO IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.
TOM BALL AND MAGNOLIA, LIKE MEG JUST MENTIONED, BOTH REJECTED THESE AS WELL.
QUAVERED HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DATA MINE OUR CHILDREN THROUGH A HEALTH TRACKING SYSTEM ONLINE PORTAL.
THIS PORTAL INCLUDES AN OFFSITE NON DISTRICT ADULT WHO HAS ACCESS TO CHAT WITH YOUR K THROUGH FIVE CHILD.
GOODHEART WILCOX IS NOT SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE CERTIFIED EITHER.
TEXAS LAW REQUIRES ABSTINENCE FOCUSED CURRICULUM.
THIS CURRICULUM ALSO DISCUSSES THE PROMOTION OF CLEAN NEEDLES VERSUS NOT DOING DRUGS.
PREGNANT PERSONS VERSE PREGNANT WOMEN, TEACHES CHILDREN WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE TO THEIR PARENTS AND GENDER IDENTITY.
THESE TOPICS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE TAUGHT.
EITHER REMOVE COMPLETELY OR MAKE SURE PARENTS KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO OPT OUT AND WHY. THANK YOU.
>> I AM HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT OF TWO HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS URGING THIS BOARD TO VOTE NO TO THE RECOMMENDED CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION.
THIS IS A DECISION DISCUSSION TO BE MADE BY FAMILIES, NOT FOR SCHOOLS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT TEA IS TAKING OVER HISD.
EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT HISD PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL NO LONGER HAVE A CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHEN A SCHOOL BOARD REFUSES TO LISTEN TO THE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEY REPRESENT.
SINCE HEALTH IS NOT MANDATED, THE HIST SCHOOL BOARDS SHOULD MAKE THE CHOICE TO LET PARENTS HAVE CONTROL OF WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE RIGHT AND DUTY OF PARENTS TO DISCUSS SEX ED IN THE HOME.
I KNOW THE HOME MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE MOST IDEAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DOES NOT BELONG IN THE SCHOOLS NOR SHOULD BE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION.
THE ADOPTION OF THE GOODHEART WILCOX SEX ED PORTION OF THE TEXT IS NOT SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE,
[00:45:01]
WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF TEXAS ALL 28.04E.TEXAS LAW REQUIRES ABSTINENCE FOCUSED CURRICULUM.
HISD WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS LAW IF IT ADOPTS GOODHEART WILCOX FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AGAIN, VOTE NO TO THIS POORLY WRITTEN AND LAW-BREAKING SEX ED CURRICULUM.
DO ONE THING RIGHT BY OUR KIDS. VOTE, NO.
>> OUR LAST ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM 12, APPROVAL OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES OVER 100,000 AND RATIFICATION OF VENDOR AWARD FOR PURCHASES UNDER 100,000.
WELL, SARAH TERRELL, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM FOLLOWED BY ANN EAGLETON.
>> AN EARLIER SPEAKER, COMPARED THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO TAKEOVER BY GOD.
APPARENTLY, GREG ABBOTT AND MIKE MORATH DO THINK THEY ARE GOD.
PLEASE DO VOTE DOWN THE RESOLUTION TO APPOINT THIS TRANSITION MANAGER FOR THE TAKEOVER.
WE DIDN'T ELECT YOU GUYS TO CAVE IN TO TEA.
IF I WERE A TRUSTEE, I'D BE RESISTING EVERY MOMENT UNTIL THEY DRAG ME OUT OF HERE.
DEMOCRACY IS THAT IMPORTANT AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE SAYING SO.
ON PAGE 88, I NOTICED A $10 MILLION CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR HVAC RENTALS.
THE CONTRACT HAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS LEFT ON ITS FIVE-YEAR TERM.
THE ORIGINAL 2018 CONTRACT AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS, ONE-TENTH OF THIS REVISION IS OMITTED.
WHY IS THIS ENORMOUS INCREASE JUST AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT LIFE? IF THE CONTRACT WAS RAISED IN THE INTERVENING YEARS, WHY IS THAT INFORMATION NOT PROVIDED? IF THERE'S A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS, WHY IS THAT INFORMATION NOT PROVIDED? IS THIS GIANT AMENDMENT REALLY JUST A NEW CONTRACT WITH NO NEED TO DO BIDDING? SINCE IT IS FOR VENTILATION, WHY ARE WE NOT USING ESSER FUNDS FOR THAT? I WAS WONDERING IF A TRUSTEE CONTRACT APPROVAL IS REALLY JUST A RUBBER STAMP PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT LONE STAR GOVERNANCE SEEMS TO EMPHASIZE THAT TRUSTEES SHOULD ONLY SPEND THEIR TIME ON ACADEMICS.
ONE OF THE MANY CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS THAT THEY'LL ABDICATE THEIR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH MR. MORATH IS EVEN NOW SELECTING IN A COMPLETELY SECRET PROCESS.
>> HELLO. I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE CONTRACT THAT INVOLVES THE OUTSOURCING OF OUR INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT.
BACK IN 2016, THE BOARD FIRED THE CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVE.
THEY FIRED HIM BECAUSE HE DID HIS JOB AND WAS FINDING BAD ACTORS WITHIN HISD.
SINCE THAT TIME, INTERNAL AUDIT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISRESPECTED, HAS REALLY BEEN IN FREE-FALL AND IN SHAMBLES.
NOW WE'VE DECIDED WE CAN'T BE BOTHERED WITH HAVING A FULLY FUNCTIONAL INTERNAL AUDIT.
THIS IS OVER TWO BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, AND WE CAN'T GET THAT TOGETHER? THAT IS SHAMEFUL.
I AM UPSET BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A PERFECT STORM IS COMING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE A BOARD OF MANAGERS COMING IN THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD SPECIFICALLY, MIKE MORATH HAS EVEN SAID IT IN THE NEWSPAPER, HE DOESN'T THINK BOARD OF MANAGERS OR TRUSTEES SHOULD FOCUS ON FINANCES.
MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY AND YOU CAN'T KEEP TRACK OF THE BENJAMIN'S, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TEACH BENJAMIN HOW TO READ? [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS AND THIS REALLY IS JUST A LICENSE TO STEAL FROM THE TAXPAYER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, STEALING FROM CHILDREN.
THIS CULTURE OF THEFT FROM CHILDREN MUST CHANGE.
NOW ON A SEPARATE NOTE, SINCE I HAVE EXTRA TIME, IT MAKES ME SAD TO THINK I'M NOT GOING TO BE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF MY ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I'VE HAD DIFFERENCES WITH SOME OF YOU, BUT I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THAT YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AND YOU RAN AND YOU EARNED YOUR COMMUNITY'S TRUST AND THEIR VOTE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, THIS IS ANOTHER SHAMEFUL THING BY KICKING YOU OUT AND PUTTING IN SOME PEOPLE THAT MIKE MORATH HAS PICKED.
I AM SAD TO SEE YOU GO AND I WISH YOU ALL BEST AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[00:50:03]
[NOISE]>> NOW THAT WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS ARE REGISTERED ON ZOOM THAT ARE READY TO GO NOW.
MS. CONROY, PLEASE ADMIT THEM.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIA BENZON AND I AM A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT CONDIT ELEMENTARY AND I'M A TEACHER IN HISD.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE FIRST THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT TEA REALLY AS MUCH AS THEY WANT AND BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS, I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW THE FOCUS WILL BE MORE ON TESTING BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT "ACCOUNTABILITY".
I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ASSESS HOW A STUDENT IS LEARNING AND GROWING.
THE OTHER THING IS, THE FOCUS WILL BE MUCH MORE ON STAAR PREP AND DRILL AND KILL.
AS A TEACHER, I HAVE SEEN AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT CRAZY PROCESS ALL BECAUSE WE WANT OUR KIDS TO LEARN OF COURSE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE HIGH-STAKES TESTING AND THE PRESSURE PUT ON TEACHERS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS CLASS TIME SPENT ON LEARNING AND A LOT MORE STRESS ON STUDENTS.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF LEARNING AND GOING TO SCHOOL IS TO FIND JOY IN LEARNING.
THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE GONE.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS JUST THIS IDEA THAT TEA WILL IMPROVE GOVERNANCE.
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO HISD STAKEHOLDERS.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING A BOARD.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE AND THE CHECKS AND BALANCES AND AN ELECTED BOARD WILL NO LONGER EXIST.
I HAVE SUPER BIG CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
AS ENDING REMARK, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE BOARD.
THERE ARE MANY TIMES UNTHANKED AND UNAPPRECIATED.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING NOW TO TRY TO HELP ALL OF THIS.
BUT AS A PARENT AND AS A TEACHER AND AS A CITIZEN, I REALLY DO NOT SUPPORT THE TEA TAKEOVER.
I WISH THAT OTHER THINGS WOULD CHANGE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> ALLISON NEWPORT, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND YOUR MIC AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> ALLISON NEWPORT, [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE NEED TO SEE YOU ON CAMERA, PLEASE.
THERE WE GO. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I AM CONCERNED THAT TEA COMMISSIONER, MIKE MORATH IS SELLING US LIES AND WRAPPING IT IN SHINY PAPER.
THIS IS NOT WHAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE ABOUT.
HERE ARE TWO OF THE MYTHS THAT ARE BEING SOLD BY TEA AT THE MOMENT.
HISDIANS WILL BE OVERSEEING HISD, NOT THE TEA.
TEA COMMISSIONER MIKE MORATH WILL SELECT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THEY WILL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF MIKE MORATH.
HE CAN REMOVE THEM AT ANYTIME FOR ANY REASON.
THEY WILL ONLY BE ACCOUNTABLE TO MIKE.
HE'LL ALSO SELECT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
HE'S NOT REQUIRED TO USE AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH JUST LIKE THE BOARD USUALLY DOES.
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL ONLY NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT AND JUST FILL OUT AND SIGN THAT PAPERWORK.
MY OTHER CONCERN IS THEY KEEP SAYING THE TAKEOVER WILL ONLY LAST FOR 2-6 YEARS.
BUT REALLY THAT MIKE MORATH DETERMINES THE EXIT CRITERIA AND THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS AND GOVERNANCE GOALS.
THERE'S NO TERM LIMIT FOR THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
I URGE YOU TO RETHINK THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO US AS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
>> PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS IN ZOOM.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS ONE SPEAKER AT THE BOARD AUDITORIUM THAT JUST ARRIVED.
>> AGAIN, MY TAX BILL SAYS HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FRIENDS, NOT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, NOT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS.
HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT'S WHAT MINE IS SAYING.
THAT HAS ONE ON MY TAX LETTER.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHY MY BOARD OF ELECTED EMPLOYEES DID NOT CONTINUE WITH THE LAWSUIT.
WE TOLD YOU ALL TO DO THAT YEARS AGO.
[00:55:01]
WHEN YOU SAY IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY, I DON'T THINK FIGHTING FOR OUR SCHOOLS IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.I COULD THINK OF A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT'S A WASTE OF THE MONEY, BUT THAT'S NOT ONE OF THEM.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL AT THIS POINT AND IT'S DAMN SHAME THAT IT CAME TO THIS.
BUT I DON'T THINK THE TEA IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT OR BETTER.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND 74 YEARS. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? THE ELECTED EMPLOYEE THAT WROTE THIS BILL HAVE BEEN ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR 36 YEARS.
WHAT HAS HE DONE? WE NEEDED YOU ALL TO STAND UP.
IT WAS ONE TIME THAT WE NEEDED THE WHOLE BOARD TO BE ON ONE ACCORD.
THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY THE BLACK AND BROWN SCHOOLS.
WE KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO COME AFTER FIRST.
A MOUTH CAN SAY THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO CLOSE.
A MOUTH CAN SAY THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO BE CHARTERED OVER.
BUT WHAT DOES THE LAW SAYS? IS HOUSE BILL 1842 WE'RE WORKING AGAINST, ITS SENATE BILL 1882 WE'RE WORKING AGAINST, AND THE SENATE BILL 1365 THAT WE'RE WORKING AGAINST.
ALL OF THEM ARE AGAINST WE THE PEOPLE.
BUT WE NEEDED SOME OF YOU ALL ON THE BOARD TO HAVE SOME GALLS FOR JUST ONE TIME.
WHAT WOULD IT HURT IF YOU ALL CONTINUED THE LAWSUIT? IT'S OUR MONEY.
IT'S NOT YOU ALL MONEY TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THAT, TO SAY IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I'M PAYING TAXES FOR FIVE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES BUT NOT I SEEING MY TAX DOLLARS WORK ON ONE OF THEM.
MOST OF HOUSTON WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THIS.
IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T NOTICED, WE HAVE 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IT WAS LESS THAN 400 APPLICATION FOR THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT.
MEANING WE WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
BUT WE WERE AND STILL IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TAX DOLLARS AND OUR SCHOOL STAYING OPEN, WHICH I THINK THEY HAVE NOT ONE.
I JUST WISH YOU ALL WOULD'VE FOUGHT FOR US.
>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR AGENDA ITEMS. WE ARE READY TO CONSIDER NOW OUR DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS BEGINNING WITH ITEM 1,
[1. Acceptance of Board Monitoring Update: Presentation Of Goal 2 Progress Measures 2.1, 2.2, And 2.3]
ACCEPTANCE OF BOARD MONITORING, UPDATE, PRESENTATION OF GOLD TO PROGRESS MEASURES 2.1, 2.2, AND 2.3.SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, WE ARE READY FOR YOUR UPDATE.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE PRESENTATION IS COMPLETE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DR. ALLISON MANDY TO THE PODIUM, BUT SHE'S ALREADY MADE IT TO HELP US DIG IN REFERENCE TO THIS ITEM. DR. MANDY.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, TRUSTEES.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO BRING YOU THE UPDATE FOR GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES 2.1, 2.2 AND 2.3.
THIS IS OUR MIDDLE-OF-YEAR CHECK-IN FOR OUR MATH RENAISSANCE RESULTS.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE PUT IN OUR GLOSSARY THAT'S PERTINENT TO THIS PRESENTATION SO YOU HAVE THAT AT THE BEGINNING TO ASSIST WITH ANY ACRONYMS THAT ARE THERE LOCATED IN THE PRESENTATION.
MOVING ON AS A REVIEW, THIS IS OUR 21-22 END OF YOUR THIRD GRADE STAAR MATH DATA.
JUST AS A REMINDER ON THE PRESENTATION, WE WERE EIGHT POINTS BELOW ARE EXPECTED FOR LAST YEAR AND 14 POINTS BELOW OUR 2024 GOAL WITH THIRD GRADE STAAR MATH.
IN LOOKING AT OUR THIRD GRADE STAAR MATH AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER SLIDE.
THESE ARE THE DATA POINTS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
LOOKING AT OUR STUDENT GROUP DATA, AND WHERE WE WERE ACTUAL VERSUS THE TARGET FOR THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.
THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR MIDDLE OF YOUR DATA.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR FIRST GRADE MATH DATA.
THE GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES STATES THE PERCENTAGE OF FIRST GRADE STUDENTS PERFORMING ON GRADE LEVEL IN MATH, AS MEASURED BY THE END OF YOUR MATH SCREENER, WILL INCREASE EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM 64 PERCENT IN JUNE 2019 TO 72 PERCENT IN JUNE 2024.
THERE'S A LOT ON THIS SLIDE, SO I'M GOING TO REORIENT YOU.
WE'LL START ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.
THAT IS OUR ENGLISH AND SPANISH COMBINED, SO ALL OF OUR TEST-TAKERS IN FIRST GRADE.
YOU CAN SEE OUR RED LINE IS OUR TARGET LINE EACH TIME.
THEN JUST UNDER THE RED LINE FOR '22 '23 OR TWO BLUE DOTS.
BEGINNING OF YEAR WAS 63 PERCENT OF OUR FIRST GRADERS PERFORMING ON LEVEL, AND MIDDLE OF YEAR, AS MEASURED BY A RENAISSANCE ASSESSMENT, WE WERE AT 67 PERCENT.
THAT IS A FOUR-POINT JUMP OVER BEGINNING OF YEAR.
[01:00:01]
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MIDDLE OF YEAR TWO, MIDDLE OF THE YEAR FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, WE DO HAVE A ONE-POINT INCREASE FOR OUR FIRST GRADERS.MOVING OVER TO ENGLISH ONLY, WE DO HAVE A TWO-POINT JUMP FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR, AS WELL AS A TWO-POINT INCREASE FROM 64-66 MIDDLE OF YEAR LAST YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR THIS YEAR.
FOR OUR SPANISH-ONLY TESTERS, WE SAW AN EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE FOR OUR FIRST GRADERS FROM BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR.
THAT EQUATES TO FOUR-POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIDDLE OF YOUR LAST YEAR, AND MIDDLE OF YEAR THIS YEAR.
OUR NUMBER OF TESTERS, YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM FOR THIS YEAR WAS FLAT.
BUT, YOU CAN SEE YOU MAY RECALL OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR CONCERNS MIDDLE OF YOUR LAST YEAR ABOUT OUR DECREASE IN PARTICIPATION, SO WE PUT EFFORTS IN PLACE THIS YEAR TO ENSURE THAT ALL TESTERS WERE ACTUALLY BEING TESTED AND HAD SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES AND SOME REMINDERS ALONG THE WAY.
WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE SET OF DATA VERSUS MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR DATA QUALITY INDICATOR BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE IN PARTICIPATION.
FOR FIRST GRADE, WE ARE SEEING THAT ALL STUDENT GROUPS INCREASED BETWEEN BEGINNING OF YEAR IN MIDDLE OF YOUR THIS YEAR, EXCEPT FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION WHICH WENT DOWN ONE POINT BETWEEN BEGINNING AND MIDDLE OF YEAR, FROM 56-55.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT LOOKING AT OUR 2019, 2020 DATASTORE PRE-PANDEMIC DATA.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE STOPPED AT MIDDLE OF YEAR THAT YEAR.
WHEN WE LOOK AT '19, '20 TO '22, '23, WE ARE ACTUALLY SIX POINTS ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC FOR OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATION, 11.7 PRE-PANDEMIC FOR OUR EMERGENT BILINGUAL POPULATION, AND EIGHT POINTS ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC FOR OUR HISPANIC POPULATION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MIDDLE OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR BETWEEN THOSE TWO YEARS.
WHEN WE LOOK IN BREAKOUT BY OUR RISE CAMPUSES.
THE GAP BETWEEN RISE IN NON-RISE DECREASED FROM 15 AT BEGINNING OF YEAR TO 14 AT MIDDLE OF YEAR, AND BOTH OF THOSE POPULATIONS INCREASED.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A DECREASE IN THE GAP, BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING DOWN.
THE NON-RISE CAMPUSES INCREASED FOUR PERCENTAGE POINTS IN THE RISE CAMPUS HAS INCREASED, FIVE, RESULTING IN THAT SMALLER GAP BETWEEN THOSE GROUPS OF CAMPUSES.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR FIRST-GRADE MATH FOR OUR HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL PILOT CAMPUSES VERSUS ALL OTHER CAMPUSES, WE SEE A SIMILAR TREND.
OUR HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL CAMPUSES INCREASED FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM BEGINNING OF YOUR TO MID, AND OUR NON INCREASED FOUR PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MID-YEAR.
MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS.
WE CAN SEE HERE ON THE FAR LEFT-HAND SIDE, AN INCREASE OF NINE PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR.
WE DID DECREASE WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S MIDDLE OF YEAR TO THIS YEAR'S MIDDLE OF YEAR OF SIX POINTS.
WE SEE A SIMILAR TREND WITH ENGLISH ONLY AS WELL AS SPANISH ONLY.
FOR ENGLISH ONLY, WE HAVE A NET INCREASE OF 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM 43-53.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MIDDLE OF YOUR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, WE DID DECREASE FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS.
LOOKING AT SPANISH ONLY, WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF 11, BUT YEAR-TO-YEAR, A DECREASE OF TWO.
AGAIN, I'M CAUTIONING ON THAT MID-YEAR TO MID-YEAR COMPARISON BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, THAT PRETTY DRAMATIC DIP IN PARTICIPATION RATE THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AND ECHOING THAT CONCERN.
LOOKING AT SECOND-GRADE STUDENT GROUPS, WE HAVE ONE STUDENT GROUP THAT IS ABOVE WHERE WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC AND THAT IS OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
THEY ARE ONE POINT ABOVE RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.
EVERYONE ELSE IN SECOND GRADE IS LAGGING BEHIND WHERE WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.
BUT, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL STUDENT GROUPS THEIR DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR, INCLUDING OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SITTING AT 14 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE BEGINNING OF YEAR.
OUR ELLS, 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS, HISPANIC 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS, OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS AND SECOND GRADE ABOVE BEGINNING OF YEAR.
WHEN LOOKING AT RISE VERSUS NON-RISE, AGAIN,
[01:05:04]
WE HAVE A DECREASE IN THE GAP AND AN INCREASE IN BOTH GROUPS.IT WAS A 14-POINT GAP AT BEGINNING OF YEAR, THAT HAS SHRUNK TO 10-POINT GAP.
OUR RISE CAMPUSES WENT UP 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS, AND OUR NON-RISE UP NINE PERCENTAGE POINTS.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT OUR HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS CAMPUSES, BOTH INCREASED AT THE SAME RATE; BOTH INCREASED NINE PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR THIRD GRADE STUDENTS, WE SEE WE HAVE AN EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR TO, MIDDLE OF YEAR 56-64 AND AN EVEN COMPARISON FROM MIDDLE OF YOUR TWO MIDDLE OF YEAR FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR OUR ENGLISH ONLY.
EVEN COMPARISON FOR MIDDLE OF YOUR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR.
BUT A NINE PERCENT POINT JUMP FROM JUST THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
THEN SPANISH ONLY IT'S AN 11 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AN EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.
LOOKING AT OUR STUDENT GROUPS, AGAIN, OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE COMING IN FOUR PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER NOW THAN WE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.
ALL STUDENT GROUPS HAD INCREASES FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR.
OUR HIGHEST LEVELS WERE WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATION AND OUR HISPANIC POPULATION.
LOOKING AT RISE VERSUS NON-RISE.
AGAIN, WE SEE A SHRINKING OF THE GAP.
EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE FOR NON-RISE CAMPUSES, BUT A NINE PERCENT INCREASE FOR OUR RISE CAMPUSES.
THEN LOOKING AT OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS CAMPUSES AN EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE FOR OUR HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL PILOT CAMPUSES, BUT NINE, FOR THOSE THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING THOSE MATERIALS. SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.
>> THANK YOU, DR. MANDY. AS DR. MANDY INDICATED, THESE RESULTS REALLY REFLECT, OF COURSE, THE HARD WORK AND PROGRESS OF OUR FIRST, SECOND, THIRD GRADERS AND THE EDUCATORS THAT HAVE REALLY PUT IT IN THE PROGRESS SPECIFICALLY ON OUR MATH UNIVERSAL SCREENER ASSESSMENT FOCUSED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR RESULTS.
NOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS SHE PLAINLY INDICATED THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE PROGRESS MEASURES AT GRADE LEVELS, WE'RE NOT REALLY COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
I WON'T REPEAT WHAT SHE INDICATED.
IT'S NOW WHILE THERE'S STILL SOME GAPS BETWEEN OUR PROGRESS MEASURES, TARGETS, AND ACTUAL PERFORMANCE ON THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR EXAMS, WE SEE GROWTH ACROSS ALL GRADES AND TEST TYPES BETWEEN BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, AND BELIEVE THAT THIS GROWTH IS A TRUE SIGNAL OF THE CONTINUED GROWTH WE SAW ON OUR OVERALL THIRD GRADE STAAR RESULTS JUST ONE YEAR AGO.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE GROWTH THAT WE SEE ACROSS A RISE CAMPUSES.
A LOT OF WORK I'VE BEEN PUT INTO THAT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND IT'S A TRUE SIGN THAT OUR TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS ARE SEEING SUCCESS AND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM THE NEW SYSTEMS AND SUPPORTS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK.
NOW THIS DATA FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR EXAM IS USED, OF COURSE, BY TEACHERS AND BUILDING LEVEL PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO BE ABLE TO ANALYZE STUDENT PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE SEASON OF STAAR TESTING AND GET PREPARED FOR WHAT'S AHEAD.
THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF A HIGH-QUALITY CURRICULUM THAT YOU'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT IN THE MATERIALS AND MATH THROUGHOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF EUREKA MATH.
AS TEACHERS BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE RESOURCES AND AS WE EXPAND THESE MATERIALS TO MORE SCHOOLS, WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO HIGHER MATH PERFORMANCE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THERE WAS A CORRELATION THAT YOU SAW BETWEEN HIGHER FIDELITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF EUREKA AND HIGHER PERFORMANCE ON THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR EXAM AS WELL.
I GIVE TRUE KUDOS TO OUR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS WHO HAVE MADE THIS CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION HAPPEN.
I KNOW THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO RIGOROUS INSTRUCTION ON A DAILY BASIS.
TRUSTEES, WE'D BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> COLLEAGUES, WE ARE NOW READY FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
[01:10:01]
WE WILL DO TWO ROUNDS OF TWO MINUTES PER TRUSTEE.IF AN ADDITIONAL ROUND IS DESIRED, THAT CAN BE DONE WITH EMOTION, SECOND AND BOARD VOTE.
IF YOU CLICK ON MY COMPUTER, YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO THE NEW SYSTEM. TRUSTEE BAKER.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, DR. MANDY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON SLIDE 5.
IS THAT SLIDE 5? IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING, THAT'S THE END.
GO BACK TO SLIDE 5 AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION, PLEASE.
GO TO ONE, THAT ONE, START RIGHT THERE.
YOU'VE MENTIONED IN YOUR EXPLANATION THAT WE WERE EIGHT POINTS BELOW.
WHAT IS THE REASONING OF BEING EIGHT POINTS BELOW AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOUR PLANS TO INCREASE IN THAT AREA?
>> DR. MANDY, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DATA ANALYSIS HERE AND THEN I'LL PUSH IT OVER TO OUR CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT? DR. BURT HAS A REPRESENTATIVE HERE THAT CAN SHARE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE PLAN TO FOCUS ON MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS THE FIDELITY IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION.
WE SAW MORE SCHOOLS THAT TRULY IMPLEMENTED WITH FIDELITY THAT WE KNOW IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT SAW MORE SUCCESS.
I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WOULD LIKELY TALK ABOUT, BUT DR. MANDY, I'LL LET YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT AND THEN WE'LL HEAD OVER TO CURRICULUM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. TRUSTEE BAKER, ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN I PRESENTED THIS DATA ORIGINALLY WAS JUST THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE COMING FROM 22 POINTS BEHIND TO EIGHT POINTS BEHIND WHEN STUDENTS ARE LEARNING MATH AT THOSE YOUNG ELEMENTARY GRADE LEVELS, IT'S VERY HANDS-ON.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO TOUCH, TO MANIPULATE, TO SHOW THE CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF LEARNING MATH.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR THIRD GRADERS LAST YEAR, THEY WERE DRASTICALLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID LEARNING LOSS EXPERIENCE, LEARNING FROM HOME, NOT HAVING ACCESS IS READILY TO THOSE MATERIALS IS THEY WOULD A CLASSROOM.
WE HAVE KNOWN ALL ALONG NATIONALLY, WE'VE KNOWN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES ABOUT THIS.
WE ANTICIPATED THE LEARNING LOSS, HITTING MATH MORE DRAMATICALLY.
BEING ABLE TO MOVE FROM THAT 22 POINTS BEHIND, WE CERTAINLY NOT HAPPY THAT WE STARTED THERE IN 2021, BUT MOVING THAT NEEDLE UP TO EIGHT WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
AT THE HANDS OF OUR FANTASTIC MATH TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS. THEN WE FULLY ANTICIPATE MOVING THAT NEEDLE AGAIN AS DRAMATICALLY WHEN I REPORT END-OF-YEAR RESULTS IN 2023.
>> NEXT QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION THAT THIS WAS A RENAISSANCE PRESENTATION.
IN LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS ON VIRTUAL, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE SWITCHING FROM RENAISSANCE TO IREADY.
WHAT IS THE TRUE AND REAL PERTINENT REASONS FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN THESE TWO CURRICULUMS AND WHAT IS THE REALITY OF SWAPPING FROM RENAISSANCE TO IREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF A YEAR WHEN WE HAVE A PRODUCT THAT IS WORKING BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
>> I'LL LET OUR CURRICULUM AND DEPARTMENTS SHARE SOME INSIGHT AND REFERENCES TO THE QUESTION OR DR. WHITE'S EITHER ONE.
>> ARE WE FACING RENAISSANCE ALL THE WAY OUT? I DON'T QUITE GET IT.
>> YES. EUREKA IS STILL STAYING, RENAISSANCE WAS THE ASSESSMENT MEASURE AND THE REASON WE'RE MOVING TO RID BECAUSE RID PROVIDES NOT ONLY A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THEN IT ALSO GIVES THE TEACHER'S LESSON PLANS AND INFORMATION OF WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE.
THEN CHILDREN CAN GO ON TO RID AS AN INTERVENTION AND IT MEETS THEM WHERE THEY ARE TO CLOSE ANY GAPS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
RID HAS A FULLER PACKAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT IT OFFERS TO TEACHERS, BOTH THE ASSESSMENT AND IT WILL GIVE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BOTH RESOURCES AND BE ABLE TO MEET KIDS WHERE THEY ARE SO THEY COULD BE ON THE COMPUTER USING THAT ASSESSMENT TO GUIDE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND BE ABLE TO CLOSE GAPS FOR THEM.
>> SIMILAR TO THE HOUSE, WE HAD A VENDOR OF A RENAISSANCE.
I SAY THIS THE SAME WITH OTHER VENDORS.
HOW COME WE DON'T GO BACK AND REVISIT WITH VENDORS AND ASKED THEM IF THEY CAN ENHANCE THEIR PRODUCT TO MEET THE STANDARDS RATHER THAN SWAPPING OUT AND ALLOWING A PROVIDING THAT TEACHERS BE RETRAINED WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW SOFTWARE OR CURRICULUM.
>> COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COMMITTED TO AS ENSURING THAT WE PUT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY PRODUCT IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY COULD SEE.
[01:15:01]
AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S OUT THERE, SOMETIMES WE CAN'T WAIT ON WHAT THE VENDOR DOES.WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES WITH WHAT'S BEST ON THE MARKET.
WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A DECISION THAT WAS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK WE'RE YIELDING SOME OF THE RESULTS FROM THOSE CHANGES DIFFICULT.
BUT CHANGE IS WORTH TO CHANGE IF IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE REALLY FELT THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND ALLISON THAT DR. MANDY, I'M SO PROUD OF THE INCREASES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE MADE IN ALL OF THESE LEVERS THAT YOU'RE PULLING.
I WANT TO START WITH MY QUESTION TO SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.
WITH SO MUCH TIME FOCUSED ON TESTING BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYONE GEARED UP FOR IT.
WHAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING BEYOND FOR SCHOOLS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS THAT YOU ARE.
OUTSIDE OF THE RISE CAMPUSES [NOISE] AND OUTSIDE OF THE NEW CURRICULUM.
>> NOW, I'LL HAVE MY CURRICULUM SHARE SOME OF WHAT THOSE STRATEGIES ARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR RISE CAMPUSES.
THERE'S LOTS OF SUPPORTS ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT THERE CAN BE PROVIDED TO LOOK.
>> YES. FROM THE CURRICULUM OFFICE, WE HAVE CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION COACHES.
THEY SUPPORT BOTH THE HQIM AND THE DISTRICT MODEL COURSE LESSONS.
ALL SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION COACHES AND MANAGERS.
THEY'D BEEN WORKING WITH INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE SCHOOL LEVELS AROUND THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND GIVING TEACHERS, HAVING MEETINGS ABOUT LOOKING AT DATA.
HOW DO YOU INFORM USER DATA TO INFORM YOUR INSTRUCTION? LOOKING DEEPER AT THE DATE OF LIKE WHAT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS MIGHT NEED.
MODELING SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A SCHOOL NEEDS WE'VE HAD THE DDIS COMING OUT OF DR. MANDY DEPARTMENT WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH THE CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION COACHES FROM MY DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE INTERVENTION IS COMING FROM SPED.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO COME TOGETHER AND HELP TEACHERS REALLY LOOK AT DATA AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP GIVE CHILDREN THAT EXTRA BOOST?
>> TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT QUESTION.
THE DATA IS INFORMING THE TEACHERS ON THAT INDIVIDUAL CHILD.
I WAS SEEING THE SUCCESS OF THAT INTERACTION.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, DR. MANDY, SORRY.
WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT THESE DIFFERENCES IN THE NUMBERS FROM TESTING DATA.
I'M A LITTLE BIT CURIOUS ON PAGE 15, IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE 15.
THAT PARTICULAR ONE SHOWS A BIGGER GAP IN THE NUMBERS BETWEEN BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND MIDDLE OF THE YEAR DATA.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION OF AS, ESPECIALLY WITH ENGLISH ONLY SPANISH ONLY NUMBERS, IT SEEMS TO BE A FAIR TO DECREASE IN THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR.
ANY REASON BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW OF?
>> YEAH. IT GOES BACK, I REALLY THINK TO THE MONITORING, WHAT WE NOTICED LAST YEAR WAS THAT THERE WAS THAT DIP.
WE INCREASE THE SUPPORT FROM THE STUDENT ASSESSMENT SIDE TO HELP SUPPORT LEADERS IN MONITORING THOSE NUMBERS FOR STARTING AT END OF YOUR LAST YEAR.
THEN WE CARRY THAT OVER FOR BEGINNING OF YEAR.
THEN REALLY SAW THE IMPACT AT MIDDLE OF YEAR.
THIS YEAR SAID THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, CLOSER.
BETWEEN THE ENGLISH ONLY IN SPANISH ONLY YOU SEE SOME DIFFERENCE BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE THE MODALITY IN WHICH STUDENTS TEST AND THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH THEY TEST.
INSTRUCTIONALLY, THEY MAY TEST BOTH.
OR THEY MAY DECIDE, YOU KNOW WHAT THESE, I'M GOING TO MOVE THESE STUDENTS TO ENGLISH OR WE TRIED BOTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND NOW MIDDLE OF YOUR I'M ONLY GOING TO DO SPANISH.
THAT'S VERY COMMON TO SEE THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE THE TEACHER IS THE EXPERT IN THE CLASSROOM, KNOWS WHICH DATA POINTS THAT THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS AS THEY MATRICULATE THROUGH THE YEAR.
>> YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE SUPPORTS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN AND THE DATA BEING DRIVEN BY ALL OF THIS IS HELPING TEACHERS UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THE ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES ARE OR MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING ACCOMPLISHED CORRECTLY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. THEN MY VERY LAST QUESTION IN THE CAMPUSES THAT ARE IN THE PILOT.
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PILOT NON PILOT OUTCOMES AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE, LIKE YOU SAID ON BOTH FRONTS ALMOST EQUALLY.
[01:20:03]
[OVERLAPPING]>> SLIGHTLY HIGHER FOR OUR PILOT CAMPUSES,.
>> SLIGHTLY HIGHER FOR PILOT. SO WHAT DO YOU WANT BESIDES THE CRUSTY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TRUSTEE WADE TIMERS NOT WORKING, BUT YOUR TIME IS UP
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND DR. MANDY, I'M SORRY, I THINK I'M LOSING MY VOICE.
>> ON SLIDE 6, I NOTICED AND I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THAT BEFORE, BUT THAT LITTLE BOX ON THE SIDE THAT SHOWS THE PERCENTAGE OF OVERALL TARGETS THAT WERE MET.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT'S ONLY 17 PERCENT, GIVEN THAT SOME OF THESE TARGETS FOR OUR STUDENT GROUPS ARE MUCH LOWER THAN OUR AGGREGATE TARGET.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN THAT WE'VE SHARED ACROSS THE DIETS THAT IF WE ALREADY HAVE LOW TARGETS FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS AND WE'RE NOT EVEN MEETING THOSE TARGETS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT.
I WANTED TO ASK ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESPONSE.
THIS MAKES SENSE SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, WHICH YOU MENTIONED IN WHAT'S WRITTEN HERE.
IF THERE'S FIDELITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION MATERIALS THAT EQUATES TO HIGHER PERFORMANCE. THAT'S WHAT YOU INDICATED.
GIVEN THAT YOU'VE NOTED THAT WHAT WILL CHANGE FOR NEXT YEAR OR EVEN BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT HOW ARE YOU HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE?
>> I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT DR. BURT ALLUDED TO SEVERAL WEEKS, MAYBE MONTHS BACK.
WE WANT TO LIFT UP THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THAT HAVE SHOWN THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE SO THAT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CAN SEE WHAT THAT IMPLEMENTATION LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY HAVE A MODEL RIGHT HERE IN THE DISTRICT TO LOOK FROM, TO LEARN FROM.
THAT'S ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE TO SEE REALLY STELLAR IMPLEMENTATION AND STELLAR PERFORMANCE.
SHE ALSO TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALISTS MAKING SURE THAT WE TARGET THOSE SPECIFIC SCHOOLS THAT WE KNOW NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
MAKE SURE THAT THAT SUPPORT IS FOCUSED ON GIVING THE RIGHT FEEDBACK TO THE ADMINISTRATORS, TO THE TEACHERS IN THOSE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPROVING.
THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF SPECIFICS THAT I KNOW WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
I'M SURE OUR CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT HAS SOME OTHERS AS WELL, BUT THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF MAIN ONES THAT I KNOW DR. BURT HAS SPOKEN TO.
>> THANK YOU. I TEND TO READ THE DATA AND I HEARD YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE I TEND TO LOOK AT MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND I COMPARE IT TO MIDDLE OF YOUR LAST YEAR AND I UNDERSTAND.
YOU AND DR. BURT HAD SHARED THAT WE WEREN'T HAVING 100 PERCENT OF STUDENTS TAKE THESE SCREENERS.
HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO BE LOOKING AT THIS DATA SO THAT WE CAN GET A TRUE PICTURE OF BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT'S DIFFERENT STUDENTS EVERY YEAR, BUT WE STILL WANT TO SEE THAT UPWARD TICK.
THAT'S OUR TARGET, IS WE MADE THE FIVE-YEAR GOAL.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S DIFFERENT STUDENTS EACH YEAR, WE STILL WANT TO [NOISE]
HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND READING THAT DATA?
>> I COULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT TO TELL YOU.
>> SEVERAL WAYS BUT THOSE NOTES ANSWER VERSION IS NORMALLY WOULDN'T BE MIDDLE YEAR TO THE MIDDLE OF YEAR.
BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S WHY EVEN THOUGH I STATED THAT I DO CAUTION.
CERTAINLY LOOKING AT BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR FOR LOTS OF REASONS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT FIRST GRADE, MIDDLE OF YEAR TO SECOND GRADE MIDDLE OF YEAR.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A PERFECT COHORT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ONLY LOOK AT STUDENTS THAT WERE WITH US.
IT DOES GIVE AN IDEA OF HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE MATRICULATING THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH US.
THEN LIKELY OR SIMILARLY LOOKING AT SECOND GRADE TO THIRD GRADE, MIDDLE OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF YEAR.
WE WERE ALWAYS WARY OF THAT END-OF-YEAR DROP-OFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN I'M UP HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS THE DIP FROM THE SAME COHORT LAST YEAR AS WE ENTER INTO END OF YEAR AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T STILL HAVE THAT.
I'M PUTTING THOSE PROCESSES IN PLACE LIKE DR. DAVIS TALKED ABOUT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SHOWING THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR MIDDLE OF THE YEAR 2.2,
[01:25:03]
ARE WE NOT ABLE FOR SOME OF THE POPS LIKE SPECIAL ED AND ELA, THERE'S NO MIDDLE OF THE YEAR DATA.IS THIS ONE OF THOSE LIKE THE POPULATION IS TOO SMALL?
>> NO, THIS WAS A HUMAN OMISSION ERROR.
I CAN RATTLE THOSE OFF THOUGH FOR YOU.
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED WAS 49, MIDDLE OF YEAR, AN INCREASE OF NINE.
SPECIAL EDUCATION WAS 30, AN INCREASE OF FOUR.
OUR MALES, 59, AN INCREASE OF 10.
OUR FEMALES 53, AN INCREASE OF EIGHT,.0 AND HOMELESS 38, AN INCREASE OF SIX.
>> IS BETWEEN OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE MEETING THE TARGETS AND THE ONES WHO AREN'T, IS THERE A DIFFERENTIAL IN HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME?
>> WE HAVE NOT DONE AN ANALYSIS IN MY DEPARTMENT.
DR. DAVIS, I DON'T KNOW AS YOU GO OUT AND YOU'RE DOING YELLS WALKS IF YOU HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENTIAL IN THE TIME? I DIDN'T THINK SO.
>> MEANING THAT SOME KIDS MIGHT HAVE A LONG-TERM SUB AS OPPOSED TO A EFFECTIVE TEACHER OF RECORD.
SO THERE'S NOT A DIFFERENCE IN THE KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING NOT HAVING THE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
LIKE ARE THEY HAVING MORE HOURS OF LONG-TERM SUBS OR TEACHER ABSENCES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> WE'D HAVE TO DO AN ANALYSIS TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT.
BUT WE KNOW WHAT THE RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT HAVING A HIGH-QUALITY TEACHER IN THE CLASS.
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF HOW A CHILD LEARNS.
I'M WILLING TO BET THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BUT WE HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD WITH A STUDY TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT.
>> SO WE DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU SUSPECT THAT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST HAVE A LOWER LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING A HIGH-QUALITY TEACHER IN FRONT OF THEM ON A CONSISTENT BASIS?
>> NO, I MUST HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT WHETHER THOSE STUDENTS AND KIDS THAT HAD A HIGH-QUALITY TEACHER IN FRONT OF THEM ON A MORE CONSISTENT BASIS, WHETHER WE SAW A CORRELATION WITH THOSE STUDENTS PERFORMING AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
>> DO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE PERFORMING LOWER, ARE THEY MORE LIKELY TO NOT HAVE A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN-TEACHER IN FRONT OF THEM EVERY DAY?
>> WE'D HAVE TO DO A STUDY TO SPEAK TO THAT RATHER SPEAK IN ABSOLUTES VERSUS [OVERLAPPING].
>> SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT LOOKING, I THINK IT WAS YOU, DR. MANDY, ABOUT LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S FIRST GRADERS COMPARED TO THIS YEAR SECOND GRADERS, THIS YEAR SECOND GRADERS COMPARED TO SO ON AND SO FORTH.
FOR SEVERAL POPULATIONS, I NOTICED THERE WAS A DECLINE, LIKE OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIRST GRADERS DECLINED IN SECOND GRADE, THEY DECLINED BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GRADE, [NOISE]
>> SEVERAL DIFFERENT POPULATIONS LIKE THAT.
HAVE YOU ALL DONE A DEEPER DIVE INTO UNDERSTANDING WHY BECAUSE THAT'S A CONCERNING TREND?
>> SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TEST AS WELL.
BUT THOSE SPECIFIC STUDENT GROUP POPULATIONS, WE HAVEN'T DUG DEEPER INTO THAT.
WE ARE AWARE AS ALL STUDENTS MOVE UP, THAT IT IS MUCH MORE RIGOROUS AND IF THEY'RE STARTING LOWER THEN IT TAKES MORE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
BUT WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY GONE THROUGH FOR THIS PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY AND LOOKED AT INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES AND HOW THAT'S PLAYING OUT WITH THEIR PROGRAMMING.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE AND MAYBE A FOLLOW-UP AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT THIS IN MY Q&A, I APOLOGIZE.
SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, HOW DID THESE STATISTICS COMPARE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE US AND IN TEXAS? I WANT TO KNOW, ARE WE WITHIN RANGE, ARE BELOW, ARE WE ABOVE? HAVE WE STUDIED WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO RECOVER.
I NEED TO KNOW HOW THAT RECOVERY RATE IS GOING WORLDWIDE AND SPECIFICALLY TEXAS WIDE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WORLDWIDE OR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE STATE-WIDE.
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY, I THINK AT THE STATE LEVEL,
[01:30:02]
SOMETHING THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOME INSIGHT ON DEFINITELY.>> IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL COULD PRODUCE TO US? BECAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE.
>> I'M SURE WE CAN AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S LOOK AT PAGE 12 AND PLEASE JUST ENTERTAIN ME JUST FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE.
THE SCHOOL YEAR HISD WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS FOR 19 OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, THE VARIOUS GROUPS, WHICH ONES WOULD WARRANT THE MOST ATTENTION?
>> FOR A SECOND GRADE SPECIFICALLY ON THIS SLIDE?
>> SO I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS, BEGINNING OF YEAR TO MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, LOOKING AT THAT AND SEEING THE CHANGE, ARE WE MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR ALL GROUPS? I WOULD LOOK AT THE BASE NUMBERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE GROUP MAY BE MOVING BUT THEY ARE STARTING AT A MUCH LOWER PLACE.
YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ANSWER YOU WANT ME TO SAY, DON'T YOU? [LAUGHTER]
>> I DO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GENERALLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY THAT IS LOOKING AT THIS, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THIS SPECIFICALLY AND SAY IN 2019, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN WERE AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 35 PERCENT, 46 PERCENT, HISPANIC 47 PERCENT, 63 PERCENT, 78 PERCENT FOR WHITES AND THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, ETC.
LOOKING AT THAT DATA, WHICH ONE HAS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT?
>> ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.
>> THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.
>> I'M SORRY, AFTER THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, WHICH ONES?
>> JUST ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE WHEN WE LOOK AT RACE AND ETHNICITY, ARE HISPANIC STUDENTS.
>> THAT'S 2019. FOR 2021 AND 2022, WHICH GROUP WOULD PROBABLY NEED THE MOST ATTENTION FOR 2021?
>> FOR 2021, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.
>> THAT GOES BACK TO THESE JARS THAT'S HAS BEEN HERE FOR TWO YEARS.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DOLL FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT, THIS IS A VISUAL, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE CONCENTRATING OUR EFFORTS ON CONTINUOUSLY, NOT JUST TODAY, NOT JUST AS TEA, BOMS ARE COMING IN HERE.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR CONCENTRATION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AT LEAST.
THOSE ARE OUR LOWEST PERFORMING STUDENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY SAY, RAISING THE FLOOR.
YOU CAN ALL ASK ALL THOSE WE QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO, THIS DATA TELLS US THE QUESTIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING.
WHERE WE SHOULD BE DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION, WHERE WE SHOULD'VE BEEN DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION, NOT JUST NOW FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROUND FOR ROUND 1? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ROUND 1.
FOR THE THIRD GRADE STUDENTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED IS THE FIDELITY OF ALL SCHOOLS TAKING THE BOY AND THE MOI.
I SEE IN THE POPULATION THAT IS ACTUALLY TESTED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THOSE POPULATIONS.
SO HOW HAS THAT PLAN TO HAVE EVERY SCHOOL TAKE THE EXAM, HOW HAS THAT ROLLED OUT?
>> DR. DAVIS, YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS THAT HAD BEEN SET AT SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF TEST-TAKERS, AND WHY WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE INCREASES THAT WE HAVE SEEN?
>> YES, I WOULD JUST SAY THE SCHOOL'S OFFICE ALONG WITH THE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION OFFICE, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE TESTED AND WE SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ON THE GROUND.
I KNOW IT'S COMMUNICATION AT HOME TO PARENTS MAKING SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE THERE CATCHING UP STUDENTS WHO MAY BE MISSED DURING TESTING TIMES.
SO THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE AT THE SCHOOLS AND OUR OFFICES, IT'S LIKE ALL HANDS ON DECK.
EVERYONE IS THERE TRYING TO HELP PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE ASSESSED.
>> PREVIOUSLY, I BELIEVE CAMPUS GOT TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WROTE OUT THAT PLAN OR NOT.
I SEE YOU'RE SAYING NO, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING CURRENTLY.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS TESTING IS ONLY BECAUSE MAYBE ABSENCES. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. THE EXPECTATION FROM THE SCHOOLS OFFICE IS THAT
[01:35:03]
EVERY STUDENT IS TESTED AND I MONITOR THAT SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, SCHOOLS OFFICE BY SCHOOLS OFFICE AND CELEBRATE AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AS IT RELATES TO GETTING TO 100 PERCENT.>> THEN FOR SECOND GRADERS AND FOR FIRST GRADERS, THE PILOT SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THE NON-PILOT SCHOOLS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU THINK THAT IS?
>> DR. MANDY, YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT THIS MAY MEAN, AND DR. DAVIS, IF THERE'S ANY INPUT THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE? DR. WATTS, PLEASE DO SO.
>> SOME OF THE CAMPUSES WERE CHOSEN ON PURPOSE.
SOME OF THE PILOT CAMPUSES ARE OUR RISE CAMPUSES.
YOU SEE AN OVERLAP OF THAT DATA.
THEY WERE THOU SHALL VERSUS SOME OPTED IN BECAUSE THEY HAD A BELIEF THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THEIR CAMPUS WASN'T WORKING.
ALREADY JUST INHERENTLY THESE CAMPUSES WERE STARTING LOWER AS A GROUP THAN THE AGGREGATE OF OUR CAMPUSES.
>> ON PAGE 7, I KNOW IT'S JUST GOING BACK ON THE SPANISH SIDE, GOING BACK TO 2018, 2019, THE SPANISH TESTERS ARE VERY LOW.
IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REPLICATE?
>> DR. DAVIS, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE SOME INSIGHTS AROUND THE STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON HERE?
>> WELL, I THINK COMMUNICATION IS ONE AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT GOES OUT, IT'S IN ALL OF THE LANGUAGES.
I THINK FROM THE EXPECTATION FROM THE SCHOOLS OFFICE, THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT SCHOOLS WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY COMMUNICATE IT AND GOT IT OUT AND THE CELEBRATIONS AND THE RECOGNITION THAT HAPPENS.
SO I THINK THERE WAS JUST A PUSH BEHIND ALL STUDENTS BEING TESTED AND THAT INCLUDED OUR SPANISH-SPEAKING AS WELL AS THE OTHER.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST A RISE IN ALL OF THEM BECAUSE I THINK THE COMMUNICATION IS PROBABLY A LOT BETTER AROUND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS AROUND TESTING.
>> YEAH, BUT BY WAS LIKE 24 VERSUS NOW IT'S LIKE IN THE 50S.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
>> SO I'M GOING TO ALSO ADD IN THAT IN THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, RENAISSANCE WAS RENORMING THEIR SPANISH TEST.
AND SO THAT WAS LARGELY AS A RESULT OF ADDING IN THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM HISD WHO WERE TAKING IT IN SPANISH.
SO AFTER THEY RENORMED IT, THE STANDARDS WERE DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHY WE SAW DIFFERENT RESULTS.
>> SINCE THERE WILL BE A SWITCH TO I-READY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WILL SEE AGAIN?
>> NOT DIRECTLY. HOWEVER, OUR INTENT IS TO BRING TO THIS BODY FOR APPROVAL WHAT OUR TRANSITION PLAN FROM THESE GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES TO THE I-READY GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE RESEARCH TEAM FOR MAKING SURE THAT THOSE METRICS ARE ALIGNED.
THE NUMBERS AREN'T GOING TO BE THE SAME, BUT THE INTENT OF INCREASE IN GOAL IS GOING TO BE THE SAME.
SO I-READY HAS TWO COMPONENTS; THE NORM-REFERENCED SIDE.
EVERY TIME A COMPANY RENORMS, WE CAN SEE A CHANGE IN THOSE PIECES BECAUSE NEW DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ADDED ON THEIR DATASET IS JUST DIFFERENT.
SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD SEE THAT SAME TREND JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR NORMING PROCESS SHOWS.
>> AND THEN ON PAGE 8, I SEE, MAYBE IT WASN'T PAGE 8, I THINK IT'S PAGE 5, THE MOI FROM LAST YEAR OR FROM, YES LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, [NOISE]
THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ROUND 2 AND WE HAVE TRUSTEE CRUZ IN THE QUEUE.
BASED ON HOW YOU WERE SUGGESTING TO READ THE DATA, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT FROM COMPARING FIRST GRADERS FROM LAST YEAR TO SECOND GRADERS, ETC.
AND IF YOU DID, DID YOU SEE ANY TRENDS?
>> DR. MANDY, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE.
I KNOW WE WERE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT COMPARABLE COHORTS, BUT ANY INSIGHTS OR DELIVERABLES THAT YOU CAN SHARE FROM WHAT YOU'VE GATHERED?
>> YEAH. A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING IN THOSE PLC AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL, SO REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE COHORTS OF STUDENTS THERE.
[01:40:03]
SO WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE IN CHARTS OR GRAPHS NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY ARE ORGANIC CONVERSATIONS.BUT WE ARE SEEING SIMILAR TRENDS.
I MEAN, AREAS THAT WE SEE STAGNANT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SEEING THAT SAME TREND FROM FIRST TO SECOND GRADE AND THIRD GRADERS.
TRUSTEE DEIGAARD POINTED OUT WITH THAT ONE EXAMPLE.
>> THANK YOU. I HOPE THAT WE DO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE GROUPS OF STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT IS CRITICAL SINCE IT'S THE SAME GROUP OF STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF FUN DOING MATH THE LAST FEW DAYS AND LOOKING AT DATA.
SO HAVE TWO BIG BUCKET QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST IS, THERE'S SEVERAL CAMPUSES THAT WERE BELOW 10 PERCENT IN THIRD-GRADE MATH ON STAR LAST YEAR, INCLUDING SHARON THAT WAS AT THREE PERCENT WHO ARE NOT RISE CAMPUSES.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE CAMPUSES THAT AREN'T RISE BUT ARE PERFORMING AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE DISTRICT? WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS?
>> I THINK DR. DAVIS SHARED SOME OF THOSE EARLIER IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE DEPLOYING THE SUPPORTS AROUND OUR IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALISTS AS WELL AS OTHERS.
DR. WATTS'S, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THE SCHOOLS OFFICE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR NON COHORT MEMBERS AROUND THE CURRICULUM ARE SEEING AS WELL AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SUPPORT THEM.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THOSE CAMPUSES, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TIERED CAMPUSES THAT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
THERE'S MORE MONITORING, THERE'S MORE SUPPORT DEPLOYED AS IT RELATES TO THE SSO BEING THERE, SUPPORTING THE PRINCIPAL CAPACITY, BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY.
THERE'S JUST A STRONGER LOOK AT THE DATA IN A TIGHTER WALK WITH THE SCHOOLS AS THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTION ALONG THE WAY.
>> AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH RESOURCE ALLOCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SO FAR BEHIND.
THE BUDGET PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US IS GOING TO CUT ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MUCH MONEY PER STUDENT FROM OUR STRUGGLING CAMPUSES.
SO COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS? BECAUSE I'M STILL STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US.
>> WE WON'T GET INTO THE BUDGET ITEM.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA, AND IF WE NEED TO GO OUTSIDE OF WHAT THOSE NORMS ARE IN SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE'VE SEEN, WE'LL DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE.
>> SO THE BUDGET IS THE STRATEGY? SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR STRUGGLING CAMPUSES WHERE YOU'RE TAKING OVER $400 PER STUDENT OR PROPOSING THAT.
>> AS I INDICATED, WE'LL GET INTO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION, WHICH IS A [OVERLAPPING]
>> SEPARATE ITEM, AND WE'D BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING WHAT THE WILL OF THE BOARD FOCUSES ON MOVING FORWARD.
>> TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S.
>> DR. MANDY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS PATIENCE.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU EXPLAINED THIS SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT THESE NUMBERS MEAN IN THESE JARS.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THOSE ANIMALS MEAN, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES WITH SOME CLOSING THE GAPS FOR SOME CHILDREN AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, CLOSING THE GAPS FOR SOME CHILDREN.
HOW ARE THE RISE CAMPUSES SELECTED?
>> SURE. THEY WERE BASED ON SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY GRADES.
SO SCHOOLS THAT WERE DNFS OR RECURRING DNF CAMPUSES.
>> RECURRING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, SO TWO TO THREE YEARS ARE LONG YEARS OF FAILURE
>> SO THEY JUST HAD ONE YEAR, LAST YEAR, THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY QUALIFY THEM FOR A RISE CAMPUS RIGHT NOW.
NOT TO SAY THEY WOULDN'T NEED ATTENTION.
THAT'S NECESSARILY ARE THE RESOURCES, BUT IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE A RISE CAMPUS, CORRECT?
>> SO THERE WERE TWO CRITERIA.
ONE, IF YOU WERE AN F CAMPUS IN 2019 BECAUSE WE WANTED TO INTERVENE BEFORE YOU BECAME A RECURRING CAMPUS.
THEN THE OTHER TIER OF SCHOOLS WERE RECURRING DNF CAMPUSES.
>> AND YOU ALL EXPLAINED IT TO US WHEN WE DECIDED ON HAVING THESE RISE CAMPUSES.
SO WE KNEW THIS AHEAD OF TIME, RIGHT?
>> WHAT THE CRITERIA WAS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.
AND SO HAVING THOSE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THOSE CAMPUSES THAT DR.
[01:45:01]
MANDY HAS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING CONTINUOUS ISSUES AND CLOSING THAT GAP.THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ALL THE TIME.
LET'S TALK ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP.
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT HOW MANY PENS OR PENCILS THE DISTRICT SHOULD BUY, LET'S TALK ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT CLOSING THE GAP FIRST AND HAVING THAT MONEY AVAILABLE SO WE CAN SEND THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO THOSE CAMPUSES THAT NEEDED MOST TO UPLIFT THOSE CAMPUSES.
AND I JUST DO NOT LIKE ALL HIS FAKERY AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE FOR SO LONG.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SORRY BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
AS I'VE TOLD YOU ALL BEFORE, MOST OF THE CAMPUSES THAT HAVE FAILING SCHOOLS ARE IN DISTRICT 2.
YOU ALL DO NOT LIKE WANT ME TO SAY DISTRICT 2, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY DISTRICT 2 AGAIN.
YOU ALL SHOULD BE SINGING IN HARMONY WITH ME ABOUT DISTRICT 2.
BECAUSE DISTRICT 2, IF WE RAISE DISTRICT 2, IT RAISES THE FLOOR.
>> I GUESS NOBODY ELSE IS IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 2. I WILL GO.
THE CHARTS THAT WE SUBMIT TO TA, WHICH IS ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
USUALLY, THEY COME WITH GOALS OR RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.
I DON'T SEE THE GOALS THIS TIME.
BUT AS A BOARD, WE DECIDED THE PERCENTAGE POINTS THAT WHOLE GROUP WOULD INCREASE BY IF DR. MCNEIL, LET'S SAY IF THE PERCENTAGE WENT 8-12, WHAT WOULD THAT DO FOR EACH SUBGROUP?
>> IF THE TARGET PERCENTAGE OF THE TARGET [OVERLAPPING]
THE THIRD GRADE, MOVING 8-12, WE WOULD GO IN AND WE WOULD RECALCULATE FOR THIRD-GRADE STAAR USING THE SAME METHODOLOGY WE DID BEFORE TO SET TARGETS FOR EACH STUDENT GROUP TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD MEET THAT 12.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC STUDENT GROUP TARGETS FOR OUR GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES.
WE ONLY HAVE IT FOR THIRD-GRADE STAAR.
>> GUESS CORRECT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND.
JUST BECAUSE THESE GOALS ARE EXPIRING SOON AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO UPLIFT EVERY SUBGROUP, NOT JUST CERTAIN SUBGROUPS.
ALL MY QUESTIONS, LAST COMMENT.
>> I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION GIVEN TO US.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASS. WE HAVE EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
CAN WE TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'RE COMING UP TO 07:00 P.M AND WE NEED TO DO THE HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY ANYWAY, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE A BREAK AND THEN COME BACK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS SINCE 02:00 IF NOBODY OPPOSES.
>> WE WILL RECESS FOR SEVEN MINUTES AND THEN DO THE HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THIS PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD HAS NOW RECONVENED AT 07:01 P.M. WE WILL NOW
[HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY]
CONDUCT OUR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT SPEAKERS MAY BE HEARD NO LATER THAN 07:00 P.M IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY, WE HAVE SEVEN REGISTERED SPEAKERS REMAINING THIS EVENING.SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES EACH.
I WOULD 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 INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE CANNOT RESPOND OR DELIBERATE TO ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
WHILE THE BOARD LISTENS TO CONCERNS OF A GENERAL NATURE, SPEAKERS SHOULD PRACTICE NORMAL RULES OF DECORUM OF THE SAME LANGUAGE AND PROFANITY WILL NOT BE
[01:50:02]
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.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE MUST SEE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR CAMERA ON AS YOU SPEAK.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD IN THE AUDITORIUM.
WITH STEPHEN. SORRY, I'M GOING TO PUT UP WITH [INAUDIBLE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS SPEAKER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LOUIS GEIGERMAN [INAUDIBLE] STEPHEN, LOUIS GEIGERMAN AND SAM SMITH WILL FOLLOW. MR. GEIGERMAN.
>> YOU MADE AN [INAUDIBLE] YOU BASICALLY SAID THAT STUDENT'S NAME COULD NOT BE MENTIONED.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, FERPA DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE THE STUDENT IS DECEASED AND BOTH PARENTS ARE IN FERPA, THAT BASICALLY DOES NOT APPLY.
I'VE SENT YOU INFORMATION REGARDING THAT.
I HOPE THEY WILL START THE CLOCK BACK.
COULD WE PLEASE READ THE CLOCK BACK?
>> WELL, ALRIGHT. PROBABLY, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE ON MARCH 3RD, 2023, A YOUNG EINSTEIN OF BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL WHEN HIS PARENTS DIED BECAUSE THE HISD FAILED TO FIND THE STUDENT ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL ED.
THE STUDENT WAS ASSESSED BY HISD WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, BUT WAS RUDE, INELIGIBLE BECAUSE HE WAS THOUGHT TO BE TOO SMART FOR SPECIAL ED, EVEN THOUGH AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION THAT WAS PAID FOR BY HISD DETERMINED THAT HE DESPERATELY NEEDED SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION AND COUNSELING FOR HIS POOR SELF-ESTEEM.
THE STUDENT WAS TWICE EXCEPTIONAL.
THE FACT IS WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION THAT SPECIAL ED COULD HAVE PROVIDED, HE WAS DESTINED TO GRADUATE TO THE COUCH.
THE ONLY WAY HE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY SURVIVED THE COLLEGE WOULD HAVE BEEN THEY HAVE A PARENT MOVE IN WITH THEM AT SCHOOL.
HISD AND TEA MUST INVESTIGATE THE EVALUATION PROCESS FOR SPECIAL ED, ESPECIALLY FOR ACADEMICALLY GIFTED CHILDREN PREVENTS SIMILAR TRAGEDIES IN THE FUTURE.
THE MEMORY OF ALEX GIRARD AND THEIR FAMILY DEMANDED THERE IS BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT BEL AIR HIGH AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
>> SAM SMITH FOLLOWED BY ABNER LYONS.
>> AS ISAIAH 5:20 SAYS WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL GOOD EVIL AND EVIL GOOD.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH FOREST COMMUNITY, NOT HERE ON BEHALF OF TEA NOR HISD, BUT THE CHILDREN.
BASED ON WHAT THE PARENTS HAVE SENT US TO THE NORTH FOREST NEWS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CALL OUT ALL THE ATROCITIES.
NOT SINCE THIS BOARD, BUT THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY AND THE LAST 50 YEARS OF ALL OF THE BAD DEEDS THAT HAS COME FROM THIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I CAN TALK ABOUT BROWN VERSUS WADE BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? WHITE FLIGHT HAPPENED. THEY LEFT US, RIGHT BY OURSELVES.
NOW, WHAT UPSETS ME THE MOST IS THAT YOU THINK WE DON'T HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON THE BOARD.
NOW YOU DESERVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DIVISION. WE'RE NOT IGNORANT.
BUT WHAT HURTS ME THE MOST IS THAT WE WERE THE ONES WHO STOOD UP FOR INTEGRATION.
WE WOULD ONCE HAVE BEEN BIT BY THE DOGS, TAUGHT WITH FEATHERS, PROSECUTED, YOU NAME IT BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE AROUND US.
BUT YET YOU GOT THE NERVE TO THEN TURN AROUND AND NOT SUPPORT US FOR BETTER EDUCATION.
SHAME ON YOU. I'M GLAD YOU'RE GONE.
[01:55:02]
I HAVE NO MORE FAITH IN TALENTED TENTH BLACK FOLKS.YOU CAN'T TELL ME THE THING BECAUSE YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL TO THE EVIL ONE.
WE'RE GLAD TO SEE, IT'S NOT ABOUT TEA, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO SEE A CHANGE BECAUSE NO FORCE HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND.
YOU TREAT US LIKE A STEPCHILD AND SO WHAT THEY SAY, YOU REAP WHAT YOU SAW.
DON'T FORGET, BIG BOY GOT LOST.
BUT HIS LOGAN, THESE YOUNG CHILDREN BACK HERE SAYS HELP US, HELP YOU HELP OUR CHILDREN.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HISD AND TEA AND STOP LYING TO PEOPLE SAYING THAT YOU SUPPORT IT WHEATLY.
WE SIGNED A PETITION, NOT YOU AND YOU USE WHEATLEY TO SAY THEY WERE CLOSE AND THEY WOULD NEVER GOING TO CLOSE [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] MY TRUSTEE AN APOLOGY PUBLICLY BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTED THIS BOARD AND DIDN'T WANT TO HATE ON YOU ALL.
BUT I COULDN'T SPEND [BACKGROUND]
DO THIS ATROCITIES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MR. SPEAKER GEIGERMAN.
ALTHOUGH I DID NOT KNOW THE FAMILY THAT HE'S SPEAKING ABOUT PERSONALLY, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGE AND THE STRUGGLE, AND THE FRUSTRATION OF PARENTS TRYING TO ACCESS TRANSITION SERVICES FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
TRANSITION SERVICES SHOULD EQUIP THE STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FUNCTION IN THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT JUST GET ACCEPTED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE LACK OF TRAINING, DUE TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES, AND DUE TO THE LACK OF INTENT BY THE EVALUATION TEAMS, A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE DISMISSED FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DENIED THOSE SERVICES.
IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO YOU TO KNOW THAT PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE IN NEED OF TRAINING.
HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE DISHEARTENING AND SHOCKING TO KNOW THAT EVALUATION TEAMS, THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON ON THE TEAM DURING A DISMISSAL MEETING, OR TRANSITION MEETING, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE CASE MANAGER FOR A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS.
MOST OF THEM IN THEIR EVALUATION REFUSE TO CONSIDER ANYTHING OTHER THAN ACADEMICS.
IMAGINE HAVING A TOP SCORE ON THE PSAT OR SAT.
IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO APPLY YOUR DAILY LIVING SKILLS OF BATHING, NOT BEING ABLE TO ORGANIZE YOUR TIME, NOT BEING ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE SYSTEM, NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP A CHECKBOOK, NOT BEING ABLE TO COUNT YOUR FINANCES, AND BUDGET YOUR FINANCES.
NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE YOUR NEEDS AND KNOW WHO TO GO HELP FROM.
I STAND HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THOSE THAT ARE TWICE EXCEPTIONAL, ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER, BUT TO MORE IMPORTANTLY, INVESTIGATE AND DEVELOP SOME FIDELITY CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THE TRANSITION SERVICES THAT BASICALLY CARRY OVER ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND MONEY THAT YOU PUT INTO STUDENTS.
IT'S LIKE HAVING THE QUARTERBACK OR THE RUNNER CARRY THE BALL AND FUMBLING.
>> NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.
MS. CONROY, PLEASE IDENTIFY AND ADMIT OUR SPEAKERS.
>> TRACI RILEY, YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND YOUR MIC, AND PLEASE BEGIN.
TRACI RILEY, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND YOUR MIC AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
TRACI RILEY, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR MIC AND YOUR CAMERA AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> GOOD EVENING. LET ME GATHER MY FOLDER HERE.
I CAME TODAY TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE SMALL SCHOOL SUBSIDY TRUSTEES AND THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE REVISIT THIS MULTIPLE SUBSIDY CUT AS MAYBE WE GO FOR A SOFT LANDING.
IT'S SUCH A SEVERE IMPACTS ON ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS DIPPING INTO THE FUNDING RESERVE TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY RELIEF IS A FEASIBLE SOLUTION.
I KNOW IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT'S THERE.
IT FEELS LIKE ALL OUR HARD WORK TO ENCOURAGE ENROLLMENT AND
[02:00:02]
TO BUILD ON TOP OF AMAZING SCHOOL CULTURE IS JUST DESTROYED.I KNOW THAT WASN'T YOUR INTENTION.
YOUR INTENTION WITH A COMMON OF NOT KICKING CAN DOWN THE ROAD, I APPRECIATE THAT SENTIMENT.
BUT WE'RE FEELING IT BIG TIME, AND $100,000 ISN'T A TON OF MONEY IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE ASK.
PLEASE GO BACK AND REVISIT THAT.
INVESTING IN OUR SMALL SCHOOLS WILL BENEFIT THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THEM AND CAN HAVE A REALLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
BUT ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GO DO $100,000 GALAS AND HAVE PTOS FILL THOSE FUNDING GAPS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S WRONG AND NOT A GOOD FIT FOR ONE SCHOOL, BUT PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND WHENEVER WE'RE CUTTING THIS GAP.
LET'S FIND A SOLUTION AND BE A BRIDGE THIS YEAR, AND WORK TOWARDS A STEP PROCESS AND THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, THE OTHER SPEAKER WHO REGISTERED FOR ZOOM, IS NOT IN THE QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION.
THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION UNDER OR CLOSE SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004, 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.082, 551.0821, 551.083, 551.084, AND 551.089.
SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION VOTE ON DECISION ON IN MATTER CONSIDERING CLOSED SESSION BE REQUIRED, SUCH FINAL ACTION VOTE OR DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE OPEN MEETING COVERED BY THESE NOTICE UPON THE RECONVENING OF THIS PUBLIC MEETING WHILE THE SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF.
THE BOARD HAS ADJOURNED TO CLOSE SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:14 PM ON APRIL 13TH, 2023.
OUR SECOND DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEM IS ITEM 2 PRESENTATION BY
[2. Presentation By The Texas Education Agency Regarding The Transition To A Board Of Managers]
THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY REGARDING THE TRANSITION TO A BOARD OF MANAGERS.STEVE LECHOLOP, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF GOVERNANCE FOR THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, WILL PROVIDE OUR PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE PRESENTATION IS COMPLETE.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LECHOLOP, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I'M THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR GOVERNOR THE TEA.
MY TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO THE APPOINTED BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE TRANSITION IS PERCEIVED TO-DATE.
TALK ABOUT THE APPLICATION POOL THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED DURING THE FIRST APPLICATION WINDOW.
THEN, OF COURSE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE TRANSITION PROCESS OR ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THE TRANSITION.
MADAM PRESIDENT WITH YOUR PERMISSION I'LL START WITH THE PRESENTATION. PERFECT. THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU LOOK ON THE SCREEN, THERE IS A CHEVRON CHART THAT WALKS THROUGH THE ENTIRE, AND THAT BEING ABOUT 75-DAY TRANSITION PROCESS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS DURING THIS PROCESS.
WHENEVER THE AGENCY ISSUE THE ENFORCEMENT LETTER.
IN THE ENFORCEMENT LETTER ANNOUNCING THE TRANSITION TO A BOARD OF MANAGERS, THE AGENCY STATED THAT THE BOARD AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE APPOINTED NO EARLIER THAN JUNE 1ST.
THE AGENCY FELT THAT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE AGENCY TO HAVE A THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO RECRUIT AND SELECT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
AS A REMINDER, THE PROCESS DIDN'T START IN 2023.
THE PROCESS STARTED BACK IN 2019.
THERE WAS A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT THAT WAS CONDUCTED BACK IN 2019.
THE AGENCY HAD OVER 300 APPLICANTS BACK IN 2019.
THE AGENCY PRECEDED THIS IS BEFORE MY TIME AT THE AGENCY, A FAIR WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE THE DISTRICT FILED
[02:05:02]
SUIT AND OBTAINED THE INJUNCTION THAT STOPPED THE PROCESS.WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR, ON MARCH 15, LIKE I JUST MENTIONED, THE APPLICATION WINDOW OPENED ON THE TEA WEBSITE.
THAT WINDOW WAS OPEN FOR THREE WEEKS, IT CLOSED ON APRIL THE 6TH.
DURING THAT FIRST APPLICATION WINDOW, THERE WERE 374 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED.
THAT NUMBER EXCEEDS THE NUMBER THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN 2019 DURING THE PROCESS, THAT AT THAT POINT HAD A SIX-MONTH RUNWAY AS COMPARED TO A THREE-WEEK RUNWAY.
RIGHT NOW, THE AGENCY IS IN THE FIRST PART OF THE APPLICATION WINDOW, WHERE WE ARE REVIEWING THE 374 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE APPLICATIONS BROKE DOWN.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE AGENCY IS LOOKING FOR IN THE BOARD OF MANAGERS THAT WILL BE APPOINTED, IS THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MUST LIVE WITHIN THE HISD BOUNDARIES.
OUT OF THE 374 TOTAL APPLICATIONS, 345 OF THOSE, 92 PERCENT LIVED WITHIN THE HISD BOUNDARIES.
WE DID FOLLOW UP WITH THAT EXTRA 30 TO ENSURE THAT THEY DIDN'T MISTYPE ANYTHING.
WE DID OUR DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING AS BIG AND DEEP A POOL OF CANDIDATES AS POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, OF THE 374 TOTAL APPLICATIONS, 232 ARE PARENTS OF CURRENT OR FORMER HISD STUDENTS, 136 ARE ALUMS OF HISD SCHOOLS, AND 238 ARE APPLICATIONS OR FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE WORKED AS A TEACHER OR FOR A SCHOOL SYSTEM AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREER.
ONE REFRAIN, YOU HEAR FREQUENTLY IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OR WATCHED ANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS OR PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, IS THAT THEIR AGENCY DESIRES A DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY ON THE BOARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPOINT.
THIS IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF HOUSTONIANS GOVERNING THAT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ON THE SCREEN, YOU SEE A PIE CHART THAT SHOWS A BREAKDOWN BY RACE OF THE APPLICANTS.
FORTY PERCENT WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL APPLICANTS WERE ANGLO, 5 PERCENT WERE ASIAN, 10 PERCENT WERE HISPANIC, AND 12 PERCENT QUALIFY AS OTHER, WHICH WOULD BE A COMBINATION OF MIXED RACES.
ON THE SCREEN YOU'LL SEE A BAR CHART NOW OF THE BREAKDOWN BY A TRUSTEE DISTRICT.
THE HIGHEST WAS FROM DISTRICT 4, 18 PERCENT OF ALL APPLICATIONS AND THE SMALLEST WAS DISTRICT 3 ONLY 4 PERCENT OF APPLICATIONS.
THIS DOES REFLECT THAT WE'D HAVE RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT.
THERE IS INTERESTS IN ALL AREAS OF THE GEOGRAPHIC RANGE OF HOUSTON ISD TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
WHAT'S NEXT IN THE PROCESS? THE NEXT STEP IS THE APPLICANT SCREENING AND THE TRAINING.
PRELIMINARY APPLICANT SCREENING OF THE 374 APPLICANTS IS UNDERWAY AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, THE AGENCY DECIDED TO OPEN A SECOND APPLICATION WINDOW.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE A SECOND CHANCE OR MORE TIME TO DELIBERATE ON WHETHER THEY WOULD BE GOOD FITS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
THE SECOND APPLICATION WINDOW, IT'S CURRENTLY OPEN AND IT CLOSES ON APRIL 20TH.
IMPORTANTLY, ANYONE WHO APPLIES DURING THE SECOND WINDOW IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE INTERVIEW PROTOCOLS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A SECOND IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE BOARD.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURED AS MANY HOUSTONIANS AS WE'RE INTERESTED AND CREATE AS DEEP OF A POOL AS POSSIBLE.
THIS WEEKEND, THE FIRST OF THREE DIFFERENT INTERVIEWED STEPS IS OCCURRING.
ALL APPLICANTS, ALL 374 HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A REQUIRED LONE STAR GOVERNANCE TRAINING.
ALL APPLICANTS HAD THE CHOICE TO ATTEND EITHER THIS WEEKEND HERE COMING UP IN TWO DAYS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY,
[02:10:04]
OR THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.THEY GOT TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE TWO WEEKENDS.
BUT ATTENDANCE AT THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE TRAINING IS MANDATORY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE IN THE PROCESS.
WE'RE ALSO REACHING OUT TO ANY APPLICANTS WHO HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY APPLIED DURING THE SECOND INTERVIEW PROCESS OR DURING THE SECOND APPLICATION WINDOW, AND ALSO PROVIDED THEM THE CHOICE AS WELL OF EITHER THIS WEEKEND OR NEXT WEEKEND.
WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF LONE STAR GOVERNANCE COACHES PROVIDING CONCURRENT TRAININGS OVER THE WEEKEND AND WE GENUINELY HOPE THAT ALL 374 PLUS ATTEND IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS.
AFTER LONE STAR GOVERNANCE, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PATH FORWARD LOOKS LIKE, THERE WILL THEN BE VIRTUAL AND THE LIST WILL BE PAIRED DOWN AND THE REMAINING CANDIDATES WILL GO THROUGH A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW, LIKE A ZOOM INTERVIEW WITH A PANEL OF AGENCY EMPLOYEES.
THEN AFTER THOSE INTERVIEWS, THERE WILL THEN BE AFTER MORE PAIRING HAPPENS.
THIRD OBSERVATIONAL INTERVIEW, THAT'LL HAPPEN LATER IN THIS MONTH, I BELIEVE IT'S THE LAST WEEKEND OF THE MONTH.
THEN AFTER THAT, THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE INTERVIEW PROTOCOLS AND PROCESSES THAT THE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES WILL GO THROUGH.
WE ARE AS AN AGENCY, REALLY INSISTING ON A ROBUST IN-DEPTH PROCESS TO HELP IDENTIFY THOSE WHO ARE MOST UNIQUELY SITUATED AND QUALIFIED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, I WANTED TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE SLIDES FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IF YOU WATCHED OR ATTENDED.
BUT THERE WERE MANY PASSIONATE FOLKS AT THESE MEETING.
>> THE INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN A DROWNED OUT A LITTLE BIT.
SO I WANTED TO BRIEFLY GO THROUGH JUST SOME OF THE INFORMATION.
WHAT IS A BOARD OF MANAGERS? BOARD OF MANAGERS IS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
THEY HAVE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ELECTED BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE ARE REQUIRING AS AN AGENCY THAT THESE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF HISD AND THIS BOARD OF MANAGERS GOVERNS THE DISTRICT.
THEY CREATE A STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE DISTRICT AND WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEWLY APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT.
THE SAME WAY THAT AN ELECTED BOARD WOULD WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE DECISIONS FOR GOVERNING THE DISTRICT AND THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE IN THE DISTRICT, THEY HAPPEN AND THEY ARE DECIDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
TEA IS NOT MAKING THAT OPERATIONAL DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITHIN HISD.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS LAST BULLET AS WELL AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITION BACK TO THE ELECTED BOARD HERE AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
BUT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS NOT PERMANENT.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY INTERVENTION OF A TEMPORARY GROUP OF FOLKS THAT WHO'S GOING TO APPROACH SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THE DISTRICT WITH FRESH EYES AND IMPLEMENT PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS TO REMEDY THOSE ISSUES IN ORDER TO TRANSITION BACK TO AN ELECTED BOARD.
WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT THE TIME FRAME OF THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ELECTED BOARD ONCE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS INSTALLED? GOVERNANCE AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD.
BUT YOU WILL REMAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ELECTION TIMELINES AND BOARD ELECTIONS WILL CONTINUE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS WILL TRANSITION BACK ON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> THERE ARE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ELECTED FOR WHEN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD BEGINS.
THESE ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE SAME TIMELINES AS THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY AND THE INTERNAL DISTRICT PROCESSES AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY RUNNING THE ELECTIONS IS GOING TO BE THE SAME MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THE BOARD
[02:15:08]
OF MANAGERS WHO WILL BE TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE ELECTED BOARD.IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS STAY INVOLVED.
WE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMAIN ADVISORS TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND WILL ENCOURAGE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH YOU GUYS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS THE DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD AND AS THE BOARD OF MANAGERS PROGRESSES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS TO SERVE ON COMMUNITY COMMITTEES AS WELL.
ONE NEED THAT I HAVE HEARD IS I'VE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY MEETINGS, IS THE NEED FOR A BOND.
IF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AGREE WITH THAT COMMUNITY SENTIMENT, THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A BOND COMMITTEE AND THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS AS ADVISORS MOVING FORWARD.
WHAT DOES THE TRANSITION BACK TO AN ELECTED BOARD LOOK LIKE? THE COMMISSIONER HAS ESTABLISHED THREE EXIT CRITERIA.
ONE RELATED TO ACADEMICS, ONE RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND THE THIRD RELATED TO GOVERNANCE PRACTICES.
THE ACADEMIC EXIT CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO MULTIYEAR FAILING CAMPUSES.
NAMELY, THERE CAN'T BE ANY THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POLICY TRUSTEE.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO ESTABLISH THAT THE SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW CHRONICALLY LOWEST-PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT TO ACHIEVE STUDENT OUTCOMES AND STUDENT RESULTS ON HIGHER LEVEL CONSISTENTLY.
WITH REGARD TO SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, THE EXIT CRITERIA IS COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPECIAL ED POPULATION IN HOUSTON ISD.
THIS IS AN ACHIEVABLE OUTCOME.
OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THIS PARTICULAR CRITERIA AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT HOUSTON ISD WILL AS WELL.
THEN THE THIRD OBJECTIVE REQUIREMENT IS EFFECTIVE BOARD GOVERNANCE.
THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, THE BOARD WILL PROVIDE IN-DEPTH AND CONSISTENT TRAINING AND TOUCH POINTS WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO EVALUATE THE BOARD PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE TO ENHANCE THEM, BUILD ON THEM, AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE CULTURE OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THAT WILL OUTLAST THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THAT WILL SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ELECTED BOARD TO RETURN ONCE THE EXIT CRITERIA ARE ACHIEVED.
THE TIMELINE FOR A RETURN TO ELECTED TRUSTEE CONTROL IS ALL BASED IN STATUTE.
THE FIRST TOUCH POINT IS TWO YEARS FROM IMPLEMENTATION.
AFTER TWO SCHOOL YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER WILL EVALUATE THE DISTRICT'S PROGRESS TOWARD THE EXIT CRITERIA.
AT THAT POINT, HE HAS TWO CHOICES.
IT CAN EITHER ANNOUNCE THE TRANSITION TIMELINE BACK AT THAT POINT OR HE CAN EXTEND FOR UP TO TWO YEARS.
ONCE THE DISTRICT HAS ACHIEVED ALL OF THE EXIT CRITERIA, THERE'S THEN A THREE-YEAR TRANSITION BACK TO ELECTED BOARD CONTROL.
LET'S SAY THE FIRST STAGE TAKES FOUR YEARS.
AFTER THE END OF THE FOURTH YEAR AS A HYPOTHETICAL, A THIRD OF THE BOARD, SO THREE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS WILL ROLL BACK ON TO THE BOARD.
AT THAT POINT, THERE WOULD BE SIX BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THREE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS.
IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL AT THE END OF THE FIFTH YEAR THEN, THREE MORE WOULD ROLL BACK ON.
AT THAT POINT AFTER THE FIFTH YEAR, AGAIN, JUST AGAIN HYPOTHETICALLY, THERE WOULD BE A MAJORITY OF BOARD CONTROL, AND THEN IN THE SIXTH YEAR, THE LAST THREE WOULD RETURN.
THE TRUSTEES I HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS ARE DETERMINED IN TEAS AND IN WHAT ORDER THEY WOULD RETURN.
[02:20:04]
TEAS LEGAL COUNSEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING ME AN UPDATE ON THAT, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, BUT DEFINITELY NEXT WEEK.I WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE FULLY AWARE AND THEN AT THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING THAT I HAVE, I'LL CLARIFY TO THE PUBLIC THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AS WELL, JUST SO WE CAN CREATE EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU GUYS, ESPECIALLY AS YOUR ELECTIONS START TO COME UP HERE IN NOVEMBER.
THAT IS WHAT I HOPE THAT WAS A SHORT AND PLAIN EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS TODAY WHERE WE ARE WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD AND THEN SOME BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT A BOARD OF MANAGERS IS AND WHAT THE TRANSITION BACK TO AN ELECTED BOARD WOULD LOOK LIKE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
>> TRUSTEES, WE'RE NOT READY FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
WE WILL DO TWO ROUNDS OF TWO MINUTES PER TRUSTEE IF AN ADDITIONAL ROUND IS DESIRED, THAT CAN BE DONE WITH A MOTION SECOND AND BOARD VOTE.
I HAVE TRUSTEE BAKER IN THE QUEUE FIRST.
>> THANK YOU. STEVE, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER COMING TO HOUSTON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY FIRST QUESTION TONIGHT AND I THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MOST OF OUR QUESTIONS IN THE STATE SESSION.
WE'RE FIRST QUESTION OUT HERE.
YOU MENTIONED ROLLING BACK THREE-YEAR PIECE, WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT GIVEN IN ROLLING OUT THREE, AS YOU ALL INTERVENE ROLLING OUT THREE PER YEAR AS YOU WILL BEGIN?
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, TRUSTEE AND IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THIS STATUTE IS PLAIN THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF A BOARD OF MANAGERS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ENTIRE BOARD AND IT'S NOT A PIECEMEAL BOARD OF MANAGERS.
>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU GOING TO FORWARD THIS PRESENTATION TO US BY CHANCE?
>> YES. THE PRESENTATION WILL BE APPEARING ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING IS OVER.
>> I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, BUT FINALLY, IT'S JUST WHAT'S ON MY MIND TONIGHT IS COULD YOU RESTATE THE THREE MAIN REASONS THAT THE STATE IS INTERVENING WITH OVER HISD SINCE 2019, WHAT HAPPENED? YOU SAID.
>> TRUSTEE YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE WHY IS TEA DOING THIS NOW.
THE FIRST REASON IS THAT IN 2019, WEEKLY HIGH SCHOOL COUNTED TO FIVE UNDER THE EXISTING STATE LAW, THE CURRENT IS STILL EXISTING STATE LAW.
WHAT THAT MEANS TO COUNT THE FIVE IS THAT WEEKLY AT THAT POINT HAD FIVE OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS.
WHAT THAT DID, IT TRIGGERED A LAW THAT REQUIRED THAT COMPELLED THE COMMISSIONER TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.
THE STATUTE SAYS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.
EITHER NUMBER 1, CLOSE DOWN THE SCHOOL THAT COUNTED TO FIVE OR APPOINT A BOARD OF MANAGERS OVER THE DISTRICT.
THE COMMISSIONER AT THAT POINT DETERMINED THAT IT DIDN'T SERVE THE STUDENTS COMMUNITY OF WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO CLOSE DOWN THE SCHOOL AND IT DIDN'T ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND SO HE DECIDED TO APPOINT A BOARD OF MANAGERS.
SHORTLY AFTER HE ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FILED A LAWSUIT AND OBTAIN AN INJUNCTION THAT PREVENTED THE COMMISSIONER FROM MOVING FORWARD IN THAT APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT LAWSUIT WAS FILED, I BELIEVE, IN NOVEMBER OF 19 AND IT WASN'T UNTIL JANUARY OF 23, AFTER A NUMBER OF APPEALS THAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT INTO THE RULING, I THINK IT WAS JANUARY 15TH, THOUGH AROUND THERE THAT SAID THAT THE INJUNCTION WAS INVALID, WHICH ALLOWED THE COMMISSIONER TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISION POINT TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AT THAT POINT RESTED IN THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENT UNDER STATE LAW THAT HE DO ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS AND IN 2023, JUST LIKE IN 2019, IT WAS THE COMMISSIONER'S PERSPECTIVE THAT APPOINTING A BOARD OF MANAGERS WAS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR HOUSTON ISD.
THAT IS THE MANDATORY REASON WHY TEA MADE THE DECISION THAT THEY DID, WHY THE COMMISSIONER MADE THE DECISION.
[02:25:01]
THERE WERE ALSO IN 2019 TWO OTHER REASONS.YOU REFERENCED 3 AND YOUR QUESTION.
UNDER STATE LAW, IF A CONSERVATOR IS IN PLACE FOR TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER HAS A DISCRETION TO APPOINT A BOARD OF MANAGERS.
IN 2019 AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS A CONSERVATOR WHO HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS.
I THINK AT THAT POINT IT WAS THREE CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS.
THAT WAS ANOTHER RATIONALE, A DISCRETIONARY ONE, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER RATIONALE AND THEN THE THIRD RATIONALE WAS WHAT WAS CALLED A SPECIAL ACCREDITATION INVESTIGATION.
THIS INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAD VIOLATED STATE LAW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, SPECIFICALLY BY VIOLATING THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS THAT WERE CONTAINED IN THAT REPORT.
BUT AGAIN, UNDER STATE LAW, THE COMMISSIONER CAN/MAY DECIDE DISCRETIONARY TO INTERVENE ON THE BASIS OF A SPECIALTY ACCREDITATION INVESTIGATION AS WELL.
IN 2019, THERE WERE THREE BASES FOR MOVING FORWARD, MANDATORY ONE AND TWO DISCRETIONARY ONES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL JUST PAUSE RIGHT THERE, AND I WILL ALLOW MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IN THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THEN YOU STATED THAT NO ONE WOULD BE SELECTED BEFORE JUNE 1ST.
HOW IS IT, SIR, THAT THERE ARE NAMES SERIOUSLY CIRCULATING OUT THERE WHO HAVE SAID THEY'RE ALREADY APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, WHICH WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU'VE STATED THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR NINE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT IF YOU'VE ALREADY SELECTED THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE, AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE STATING THEY'RE SELECTED, THEN THAT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TO THE COMMUNITY.
TRUSTEE, I CAN STATE UNEQUIVOCALLY TODAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO SELECTIONS MADE, NOT A SOUL IN HOUSTON OR ELSEWHERE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THEY WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
EVERYONE WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED IN 2019 AND WAS INTERESTED AGAIN, WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN, AND THAT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT ANYONE WOULD BE SELECTED.
WE HAVE 374 APPLICANTS PLUS, I THINK ANOTHER 25 OR 30 THAT HAVE APPLIED IN THIS SECOND WINDOW, AND WE ARE EVALUATING EVERYONE ON EQUAL FOOTING AND WITH FRESH EYES.
TRUSTEE, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THE QUESTION, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROMISES MADE, NO COMMITMENTS MADE TO ANYONE.
>> I CAN ASSURE YOU, SIR, THAT THOSE NAMES ARE OUT THERE AND IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE SELECTED, THERE WILL BE SOME NOTICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
LET ME GO BACK TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKED.
WILL TEA COMMIT TO SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC?
>> YES, MA'AM. TEA IS COMMITTED TO HAVING A TRANSPARENT AND OPEN PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE SELECTION AND TRAINING OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THERE ARE PARTS OF IT THAT REQUIRE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE APPLICANTS LIKE THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE TRAININGS THAT WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BUT WE ARE INVITING ALL OF THE APPLICANTS TOO.
ANY OF THE MATERIALS PRESENTED DURING THESE TRAININGS WILL BE SUBJECT TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> ALL MEETINGS EXCEPT, OF COURSE CLOSED SESSIONS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, CORRECT?
>> ALL MEETINGS OF THE ELECTED BOARD?
>> YES, MA'AM. THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL HAVE THE SAME RULES AS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THEY WILL HAVE THE NOTICE MEETINGS, THEY WILL HAVE OPEN MEETINGS ACT REQUIREMENTS.
THEY WILL HAVE TO NOT ONLY COMPLY WITH THE LAW, BUT COMPLY WITH LOCAL PROCESSES AS WELL.
>> YOU STATED IN THE THREE REASONS FOR TAKEOVER THAT IT WAS THE BEST SOLUTION TO APPOINT A BOARD OF MANAGERS IN 2019.
WHAT ABOUT RIGHT NOW? WHY DOES HE FEEL LIKE IT'S THE BEST SOLUTION RIGHT NOW?
>> TRUSTEE, THE COMMISSIONER HAD TWO OPTIONS IN ORDER TO ACT.
ONE IS TO CLOSE WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
HE COULD HAVE DONE A SOFT CLOSE WITH A RE-PURPOSING.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S CORRECT TRUSTEE.
>> YES, THAT IS A CORRECT STATEMENT AND I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GO LOOK AT IT, NOT THAT IT MATTERS, BUT THAT WAS AN OPTION THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE A SOFT CLOSE, RE-PURPOSE, OPEN WHEATLEY WITH ANOTHER SEGMENT TO IT.
[02:30:08]
YOU'VE READ THE BILL, CORRECT?>> AND SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A PART OF IT, THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE THAT?
>> TRUSTEE, ULTIMATELY, THE COMMISSIONER DECIDED THAT CLOSING WHEATLEY RE-PURPOSING, IF WHAT YOU SAY IS ACCURATE, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M PERSONALLY AWARE OF.
THAT THAT WASN'T THE BEST SOLUTION FOR HOUSTON ISD, THE SYSTEMIC CONCERNS THAT ARE PREVALENT ACROSS HOUSTON ISD AND ALSO, HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME, SIR, CAN WE HAVE MR. MORATH TO EXPLAIN TO US WHY NOT? BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT I ASSUME [NOISE]
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. MORATH, WHY HE FEELS IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS THAT HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO RE-PURPOSE ONE SCHOOL, BUT HE DECIDED TO TAKE OVER 200?
>> YES, I GOT IT. NEXT, AND THE INTERVIEW WITH THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE WITH LISA FALKENBURG.
SHE ASKED HIM WHO WOULD [NOISE]
>> BE BOARD OF MANAGERS REPORT TO? HE REPLIED, "ME." WE SPENT WHAT I CONSIDER A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FOR REDISTRICTING SO THAT EACH DISTRICT SERVES 160,000 VOTERS.
IF THE VOTERS WANTED CITY WIDE REPRESENTATIONS, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
IF THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT, LIKE I HEARD ON THE NEWS THE OTHER DAY, I'D HEARD ON THE NEWS, I FORGOT WHAT CHANNEL THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH HISPANIC REPRESENTATION, SO THEY OPENED IT UP AGAIN AND BASICALLY SAID THAT IN DISTRICT 3, THEY DIDN'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE.
IF THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE IN THOSE APPLICATIONS FROM EACH DISTRICT, WILL HE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAYBE HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT OR HAS HE DECIDED AND CHOSEN THAT HE'S GOT TO DO CITY WIDE AND HE'S GOING TO PICK WHO HE WANTS? WILL HE CONSIDER A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT, IF IT IS POSSIBLE?
>> YES. CERTAINLY IT'S A CONSIDERATION AND IT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AGENCIES COMMITTED TO GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY, WE WANT ALL OF THE AREAS AROUND THE DISTRICT OF HOUSTON REPRESENTED.
>> DID YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION? DID YOU SAY THAT HE WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION?
>> CERTAINLY, IT WOULD BE A CONSIDERATION WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS LIVE, BUT IT'S NOT A DETERMINING FACTOR OR A DISQUALIFYING FACTOR IF PEOPLE LIVE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE LINES.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION, THE DISTRICT HAS OVER 200,000 STUDENTS WHO LEARN IN DIFFERENT STYLES.
THE COMMISSIONER IS STUCK ON THE DIRECT APPROACH TO READING.
HE CALLS THE DOT STAR, WHICH TURNS OUT THESE COOKIE CUTTER STUDENT'S ON THE SAME LEVEL.
WHAT ABOUT PROJECT-BASED SCHOOL CURRICULUMS? IS HE PLANNING TO PUT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS ON A DIRECT APPROACH READING, EVEN THOUGH SOME SCHOOLS ARE BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL?
>> THE COMMISSIONER WON'T BE MAKING ANY PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT HE SAID IN THAT INTERVIEW.
MAYBE YOU NEED TO READ IT. USE THE CHRONICLE.
>> I WATCHED THE INTERVIEW THAT WAS POSTED ON THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE'S WEBSITE.
>> THE COMMISSIONER WAS GIVING EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE IMPLEMENTED, BUT HE WAS VERY CLEAR TO POINT OUT AS HE HAS IN EVERY PUBLIC STATEMENT HE'S MADE AND ME AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE ABOUT THIS INTERVENTION THAT THOSE PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS WON'T BE MADE BY THE AGENCY.
IT IS THE AGENCY'S JOB TO APPOINT LEADERSHIP, A SUPERINTENDENT, AND A BOARD OF MANAGERS WHO ARE GOING TO SET THE STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE DISTRICT AND IDENTIFY AMONG THEMSELVES THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR STUDENT OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU I HAVE ONE SECOND LEFT.
>> THANK YOU. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE EXIT CRITERIA, PLEASE.
MY QUESTION IS, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID THIS, SORRY, IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG DAY.
FOR THE THIRD ONE, EFFECTIVE BOARD GOVERNANCE.
[02:35:02]
BECAUSE AS A BOARD, HISD WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE EARLY ADOPTERS OF LONE STAR GOVERNANCE.WE OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT PERFECT IN IT, BUT WE HAVE DEFINITELY MADE A LOT OF STRIDES, AND WE ADHERE TO THE MONITORING CALENDAR.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MEASURE HOW THE BOARD IS DOING ON THAT?
>> TRUSTEE, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THAT IS FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED EVEN BEFORE TONIGHT, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING MORE OBJECTIVE MEASURES WITHIN THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK SO THAT EXPECTATIONS OF ATTAINING THESE EXIT CRITERIA CAN BE CREATED AND WOULD BE CREATED.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING WHAT THE OBJECTIVE METRICS WOULD BE.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 1? I SEE TRUSTEE DEIGAARD IN THE QUEUE.
DEIGAARD, SANTOS, AND BLUEFORD-DANIELS.
TRUSTEE SANTOS, YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE ON THE COMPUTER.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH GOING NEXT, TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS?
>> SURE, I'M READY. I'M GLAD YOU CAME IN HERE AND TOOK THIS HEAT, BUT WE'D LIKE TO SEE COMMISSIONER MORATH TO DISCUSS ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WITH ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY.
WE HAVE BEEN A BOARD, YES, WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES, AND ETC., BUT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM BECAUSE I KNOW HE TALKED TO PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, BUT PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ DIDN'T GIVE THE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS CONCERNED WITH.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE COLLECTIVELY.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE 374 APPLICATIONS EXCEEDED THE 2018 NUMBER.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS LEFT IN 2018.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT, EVEN WHEN YOU BRING UP ABOUT THE 2018, 2019 ISSUES IN THE WALK-IN QUORUM, THERE'S ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS LEFT FROM THAT GROUP.
WHY WOULDN'T THE COMMISSIONER USE THE SHELVE AND REMOVE THE TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT HE KEEPS REFERRING TO PART OF THE REST OF THE GROUP IF I'M 2018 AND '19 AS OPPOSED TO CHANGING THIS ALL UP? BECAUSE WE'RE ALL MAKING STRIDES, UPWARD STRIDES, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I THINK EVEN WITH THE LSG, YES, THAT'S A GUIDE THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING BY, BUT IT'S STILL JUST A GUIDE.
EVERYTHING IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE, THERE'S ALWAYS GRAY AREA.
YOU CAN'T USE ONE STENCIL TO PAINT AN ENTIRE PICTURE OTHER THAN UNLESS YOU HAVE IT TAILORED TO EVERY PARTICULAR DISTRICT.
I UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUE'S QUESTIONS AND CONCERN WITH OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED TO YOU BRIEFLY IN PASSING, DISTRICT 2 HAS BEEN THE MOST OVERLOOKED DISTRICT IN HISD, IT HAS THE LOWEST PERFORMANCES.
I JUST WISH MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR A WAGON TO CONTINUE TO ROLL WITH ONE BROKEN WHEEL, YOU'VE GOT TO FIX THAT BROKEN WHEEL.
ANOTHER THING I SUGGEST TOO, AND THANK YOU FOR JUST TAKING THIS.
BUT CROSS-TRAINING, WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]
>> ABOUT CROSS-TRAINING WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
DON'T GET SOMEBODY FROM THE WEST SIDE THAT APPLIED AND SEND THEM OVER THERE TO LEAVE THEM IN THE WEST SIDE, SEND THEM OVER TO DISTRICT 2, IT'S AT THE PARK, KASHMERE GARDENS, SEND THEM OVER THERE, LET THEM CROSS-TRAIN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ.
COMMISSIONER LECHOLOP, WHICH LARGE DISTRICTS IN TEXAS CURRENTLY MEET ALL THREE OF THE EXIT CRITERIA?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, TRUSTEE.
>> YOU'RE THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF TEA? WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO ABBOTT STAFF ABOUT VOUCHERS?
>> I HAVE NOT TALKED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF ABOUT VOUCHERS.
>> HOW MANY PARENTS HAVE YOU TRIED TO CONNECT TO ABBOTT STAFF WHILE YOU WERE ACTING IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY?
>> I RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF, WE FREQUENTLY, AT THE AGENCY CONNECT LEGISLATORS WITH FOLKS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT POLICY EXPERIENCES AND THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
[02:40:02]
>> THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME YOU ABUSED YOUR AUTHORITY TO HELP ABBOTT PUSH A VOUCHER PROGRAM OR WAS THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU GOT CAUGHT?
>> I RESPECTFULLY, TRUSTEE, I NEVER DID SUCH A THING.
>> HAS MIKE MORATH EVER SPOKEN WITH ABBOTT ABOUT VOUCHERS?
>> HAVE YOU EVER SPOKEN WITH ABBOTT OR HIS STAFF ABOUT TURNING EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS?
>> HAVE YOU EVER SPOKEN WITH MIKE MORATH ABOUT TURNING EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN HISD OR ANY OTHER DISTRICT INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS?
>> WILL YOU PROMISE NOT TO ENTER INTO ANY CHARTER CONTRACTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY OF OUR DISTRICT-MANAGED SCHOOLS?
>> ANY PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ARE NOT GOING TO BE MADE BY TEA, THOSE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO MADE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, AS THEY ANALYZE WHAT PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES ARE NEEDED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT'S NOT A DECISION THAT TEA WOULD MAKE.
>> DID YOU NOT JUST TELL MY COLLEAGUE THAT THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY MIKE MORATH?
>> ULTIMATELY, THE COMMISSIONER HAS THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY WHETHER TO REPLACE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, SO IN THAT SENSE, THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM.
>> YOU CAN'T PROMISE THAT YOU WILL NOT TURN OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS?
>> TEA WILL NOT BE DOING THAT. NO.
>> BUT THE APPOINTED BOARD OF MANAGERS HAND SELECTED BY MIKE MORATH WOULD BE CARRYING OUT HIS ORDERS?
>> TRUSTEE AS I EXPLAINED JUST A MINUTE AGO, ANY AND ALL PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED IN HOUSTON ISD AFTER THE APPOINTMENT OF A BOARD OF MANAGERS AND A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE THE DECISIONS EXCLUSIVELY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THAT RELATES TO CURRICULUM, IT RELATES TO PERSONNEL ISSUES, IT RELATES TO ANY PROGRAMS OR POLICIES THAT RELATES TO GRANT OFFERINGS, AND SO EVERYTHING THAT IS PROGRAMMATIC WITHIN THE DISTRICT WILL BE A DECISION OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND THE APPOINTED BOARD OF MANAGEMENT.
>> HOW WILL THAT SUPERINTENDENT BE SELECTED?
>> THE COMMISSIONER SELECTS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> THE COMMISSIONER WHO WILL SELECT THE APPOINTED BOARD OF MANAGERS, HE WILL THEN SELECT THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU'RE HAVING ME BELIEVE THAT THE DECISION IS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS NOT TO VOUCHER OUT OUR SCHOOLS?
>> THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO YOUR QUESTION, YES THE COMMISSIONER APPOINTS BOTH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF MANAGERS THEN CREATES THE STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS, POLICIES NEED TO BE PUT INTO PLACE TO ACHIEVE THAT STRATEGIC VISION, ULTIMATELY TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
>> I'LL RESERVE THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. REGARDING SUPPORTING ALL CAMPUSES, IN ADDITION TO MONITORING THE SCHOOL RATINGS, YOU CAN HAVE A BIG CAMPUS WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUDENTS IN THEM THAT ARE MULTI-YEARS BEHIND GRADE LEVEL.
WILL THERE BE MONITORING OF HOW KIDS ARE DOING OR JUST THE SCHOOL RATINGS? HOW WE'RE DOING, ARE WE INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE? ARE WE INCREASING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN THOSE SUB-LEVELS OF CAMPUSES, NOT JUST THE ABCDEF?
>> IT IS OUR ABSOLUTE EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE PROGRESS MONITORING TOWARD GOALS THAT ARE SET BY THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE BOARD OF MANAGERS JUST AS A NORMAL FUNCTIONING BOARD WOULD.
THESE ARE 30,000-FOOT EXIT CRITERIA THAT THE COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER TO EXTEND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OR START THE TRANSITION BACK TO AN ELECTED BOARD.
THE SCHOOL BOARD, THOUGH, IT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE UNQUESTIONABLY TO IDENTIFY GOALS, CONSTRAINTS, AND CONDUCT PROGRESS MONITORING TOWARD THOSE GOALS.
THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THE EXIT CRITERIA, THAT IS A BEST GOVERNANCE PRACTICE, THEN IT IS OUR FULL EXPECTATION THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONDUCT SUCH PRACTICES.
>> YEAH. LONE STAR GOVERNANCE, THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT IS THESE DATA HAS SHOWN, THESE ARE THE PRACTICES THAT IF A BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT TEAM ENGAGE IN THESE PRACTICES, THEY ARE CORRELATED WITH AN INCREASE IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
[02:45:04]
CERTAINLY, BOARDS CAN DO IT WITHOUT THE FRAMEWORK, BUT THE FRAMEWORK HELPS PROVIDE A ROAD-MAP AND A SELF-EVALUATION PROCESS SO BOARD MEMBERS CAN KNOW THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT THE THIRD BULLET IS ABOUT? YOU'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING THAT SELF-EVALUATION WITHIN LSG TO MONITOR IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY MOVING THROUGH THAT.>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, TRUSTEE.
>> YES. THANK YOU. WE HAD STARTED OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY TO ENVISION OUR NEW GOALS, WE ARE STARTING THE PROCESS, WE WERE EARLY IN THE PROCESS BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, IF THEY PLAN TO DO THE SAME THING WITH COMMUNITY, IS MAKE SURE THEY GO OUT AND GET THE VISION AND VALUES OF THE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER HOUSTON?
>> YEAH. IT WILL BE AN ABSOLUTE EXPECTATION, TRUSTEE, THAT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS CONDUCTS A THOROUGH, EFFECTIVE, COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
THAT JUST LIKE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENTS OF SERVING AS A GOVERNING BODY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS, THE WANTS, THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND THEN USING THAT INFORMATION GATHERED TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE OR ENHANCE OR MODIFY THE VISION, MISSION, VALUES OF THE DISTRICT, AND THE GOALS THAT WILL THEN BE MONITORED THROUGH THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK.
>> I WILL END ROUND 1. TRUSTEE BAKER.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
WHEN YOU SAID ON THE EXIT CRITERIA 1 THAT HIV WILL NOT HAVE ANY MULTIYEAR FAILING CAMPUSES, DO YOU MEAN GOING FORWARD YOU GET READY TO TRANSITION OUT? OR DO YOU MEAN THAT BECAUSE A NEW CULTURE HAS BEEN SET, BECAUSE NEW STANDARD THAT HAS BEEN SET, AND BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVING SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TEA, YOU MEAN THAT GOING FORWARD EVEN WITH A BOARD OF MANAGERS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ARE TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE USE OF A FAILING SCHOOLS OR DO YOU HAVE A PLANNING READY TO PUSH OUT TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE FAILING SCHOOLS?
>> LET ME CLARIFY WHAT MULTIYEAR FAILING MEANS BECAUSE IT IS A SOURCE OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AT THE AGENCY.
MULTIYEAR FAILING CAMPUSES WOULD BE ANY CAMPUS THAT RECEIVES AN UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY RATING FOR TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, SO 2022, '23 AND 2023, '24.
THAT WOULD BE TWO YEARS IN A ROW OF UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
UNDER THE SENATE BILL 1365, UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IS DEFINED AS A D OR AN F.
TO SATISFY THIS EXIT CRITERIA, THERE ARE NO CAMPUSES IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF D OR F RATINGS.
ESPECIALLY SERVING STUDENTS THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, I KNOW THIS FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN SAN ANTONIO ISD, IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT WORK.
THERE ARE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SCHOOLS AREN'T RECEIVING THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED AND THEY ACHIEVE A D OR AN F ACADEMIC WRITING.
THE KEY TO THIS EXIT CRITERIA IS FOR THE DISTRICT TO THEN FOCUS RESOURCES ON THOSE PARTICULAR CAMPUSES THAT HAVE A BAD YEAR, WE UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETIMES SCHOOLS HAVE BAD YEARS.
LIKE I SAID THE WORK IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO REDIRECT RESOURCES SO THAT, THAT CAMPUS THAT HAD AN UNACCEPTABLE RATING DOES NOT FOR A SECOND YEAR HAVE ANOTHER UNACCEPTABLE RATING.
[02:50:01]
THAT IS THE KEY TO THIS PARTICULAR EXIT CRITERIA, NO CAMPUSES WITH TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.>> UNDERSTOOD. ALSO, HOW WILL YOU PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO MORE CHEATING ON THE STAR TEST, [NOISE]
>> ON ALLEGATIONS OF CHEATING?
>> CHEATING ON THE STAR TEST WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS PUT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEVER HAPPENS.
>> TRUSTEE DEIGAARD, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS IN YOUR FIRST TIME. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?
>> SURE. I HAVE ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION.
YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE APPLICANTS, YOU'RE GOING TO PICK NINE.
I IMAGINE THAT WITHIN THAT POOL, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WHO COULD BE GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK WITH THIS NEW BOARD OF MANAGERS ON SOME CAPACITY.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GUYS ARE EXPLORING SOME A COMMUNITY COUNCIL OR WHATEVER TO HELP BROADEN THE CONNECTION THAT THESE NINE INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE WITH INCREDIBLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TRUSTEE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE YET, BUT ABSOLUTELY WE INTEND TO LEVERAGE THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SELF EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HELPING HOUSTON ISD MOVE FORWARD AND ENGAGE WITH THEM.
EVEN IF NOT ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, THERE WILL ONLY BE NINE BUT TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND PARTNER WITH THEM IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PRECISELY THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT WE FULLY INTEND TO UTILIZE THE INTERESTS OF THESE, I WAS NOT A MATH MAJOR, 365 EXTRA FOLKS WHO ARE NOT SELECTED.
>> NOW, I DON'T SEE ANYONE ON THE NICU WITH TIME LEFT, SO I WILL GO.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE EXIT CRITERIA OVER SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN TWO SPECIAL ED CONSERVATORS IN THE DISTRICT FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE DIRECTIVES TO THE DISTRICT OVER SPECIAL ED, AND WE STILL NEED TO WORK ON THAT.
WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CHANGE THAT SO THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE AN EXTRA TWO TO FOUR YEARS TO GET THE SPECIAL ED WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE?
>> ABSOLUTELY SPECIAL ED PROGRAMMING WILL BE A FOCUS NOT ONLY AT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, BUT ALSO OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THE TWO SPECIAL ED CONSERVATORS WILL REMAIN PARTNERING WITH THE DISTRICT AS FORCE MULTIPLIERS TO HELP IMPLEMENT WHATEVER CHANGES TO SPECIAL-ED PROGRAMMING OCCUR UNDER THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND THE NEW BOARD OF MANAGERS.
BUT FROM A PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE, THE ACTUAL POLICIES, PROCESSES, PROGRAMS, THOSE WILL BE DETERMINATIONS MADE BY THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE CRITICAL POINT OF FOCUS.
IT IS ONE OF THE EXIT CRITERIA AND IT NEEDS TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST AND PRIMARY OBJECTIVES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BOARD FOCUS ON.
>> IF THE CONSERVATORS WILL REMAIN WITH THE DISTRICT TECHNICALLY, HIST CAN TRIGGER THE LAW AGAIN BY HAVING CONSERVATIVES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF THE EXTRA CRITERIA?
>> TRUSTEE, THE LAW IS ALREADY TRIGGERED.
>> IT CAN KEEP ON TRIGGERING IT, CORRECT?
ONCE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS APPOINTED, THE TRIGGER HAS ALREADY BEEN TRIGGERED.
NOTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE INCLUDING LIKE AN EXAMPLE THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE DISTRICT.
THIS YEAR IF THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DOESN'T RECEIVE AN ACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC RATING, IT WOULD TECHNICALLY TRIGGER THE COUNT TO FIVE RULE UNDER SENATE BILL 1365.
BUT THE TRIGGER WOULD BE UNNECESSARY BECAUSE OF BOARD OF MANAGERS WAS ALREADY APPOINTED.
YOU WOULDN'T NEED MULTIPLE TRIGGERS INCLUDING THE TWO-YEAR CONSERVATOR WHETHER IT'S A SPECIAL ED CONSERVATORS, THE ACADEMIC CONSERVATOR OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THE LAW HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
>> OKAY. FOR THE MULTIYEAR, IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CONSECUTIVE FIVE-YEARS,
[02:55:02]
YOU JUST NEED ONE YEAR TO BREAK THAT FOR THE SCHOOL TO GET OUT OF DRF STATUS.>> UNDER THE LAW. IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CHAIN, A SCHOOL WOULD ONLY REQUIRE ONE YEAR, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I WAS REFERRING TO THIS YEAR WOULD GET A C ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY RATING. IT WOULD BREAK THE CHAIN.
>> WOULD ENCOUNTER ANYMORE. THAT SCHOOL IS AUTOMATICALLY OFF.
THAT'S TRUE FOR ANY DISTRICT ACROSS THE STATE, TRUSTEE.
>> I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADY, AND I HAVE OTHER TRUSTEES WHO ASKED THE QUESTION, BUT THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF MANAGERS, ONE OF THE EXIT CRITERIA IS THAT THE EFFECTIVE BOARD GOVERNANCE.
BUT NOBODY ON THIS BOARD AND NOBODY FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH HAS ANY INPUT THAT CAN CHANGE THAT.
HOW WOULD WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IN PLACE? OTHER THAN THE COMMISSIONER, WHO ELSE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE BOARD GOVERNANCE?
>> THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL HAVE A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE COACH.
THAT COACH WILL WORK INTENSIVELY WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO EVALUATE, TO TEACH, TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, TO ATTAINING THE PLATONIC IDEAL OF WHAT LONE STAR GOVERNANCE, WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE WILL BE.
THEY WILL BE RECEIVING EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THIRD EXIT CRITERIA IS ACCOMPLISHED.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE COACH AND HAVE HAD ONE FOR AWHILE.
WHEN I JOINED THE BOARD, [NOISE]
>> THAT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A LOT MORE CLARITY OVER THAT.
I SEE TRUSTEE ALLEN IN THE QUEUE.
>> DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH TEA FOR SEVEN MONTHS.
YOU MAY NOT EXACTLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND THAT NEW SUPERINTENDENT DOES A TERRIBLE JOB? THE STUDENTS REGRETS BECAUSE A DIRECT READING APPROACH TYPE OF STUDENTS AT A GRADE LEVEL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A CRITERION BASED TEST RATHER THAN NORM-REFERENCED TEST.
THE TEACHERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADJUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO GRADE-LEVEL GUIDANCE.
WILL HE JUST WIPE THEM OUT GIVE A NEW GROUP OF CHANCE, OR WHAT WILL HE DO WITH THAT? IF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS A TERRIBLE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU SAID THAT THEY WERE GOVERNED BY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, THE WIPE OUT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO OR JUST WIPE OUT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, AND JUST KEEP WIPING UNTIL THEY GET THE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE IN STABLE AND UNSTABLE RATHER, AND DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.
YOU'RE GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE NOT GIVING US A CHANCE TO DO.
YOU'RE NOT GIVING US A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THREE THINGS ARE EXTRA CRITERIA.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT A BOARD OF MANAGER IS GOING TO COME IN AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT? THEY WON'T EVEN KNOW THE SYSTEMS, THEY WON'T KNOW THE ACRONYMS. OUR NEW MEMBERS CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY HAD TO LEARN.
IT TOOK ALMOST A YEAR FOR THEM LEARN ACRONYMS. BY THE TIME THEY TRIED TO LEARN SOMETHING, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO THAT TERRIBLE JOB? WE CAN'T GET BACK BECAUSE THEY KEEP DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.
>> JUST SEE THE HISTORY OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BOARDS OF MANAGERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.
>> THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL HISTORY.
>> THERE IS A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, AND WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE, BASED ON THAT TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, THAT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN HERE.
>> YOU THOUGH, THE PERSON THAT KNOWS THIS TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS AND EVERYBODY ELSE DOES NOT.
>> WE'VE PRESENTED THIS TRUSTEE AT A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
WE PRESENTED THIS CHART, THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE SEVEN DISTRICTS.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH THAT SLIDE.
AT THE NEXT TIME I PRESENT TO THE BOARD AND I WILL SEND IT TO.
>> WHAT'S YOUR BOARD. WHAT IS IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY KEEP TAKING?
>> WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE, AND WE HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE BOARD WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND IMPROVE STUDENT ACADEMIC OUTCOMES IN HOUSTON.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO KEEP TANKING.
>> WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'LL HAPPEN TRUSTEE, WE HAVE EVERY.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY KEEP TAKING THIS OTHER QUESTION WHILE I'D HAVE 23 SECONDS? WE'LL CANDIDATES WHO LOST TO A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER BE DISQUALIFIED FROM SERVING BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN REJECTED BY THE PUBLIC.
>> WE'LL COMMISSION THEM AROUND.
YOU STOP THE VOTING PROCESS BY TAKING OUT THE PERSON THAT THEY VOTED FOR AND REPLACING WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS REJECTED BY THOSE SAME.
[03:00:03]
[NOISE]>>TRUSTEE, THAT IS NOT A DISQUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS.
IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE A BROAD AND DEEP POOL OF APPLICANTS.
THERE ARE ONLY THREE DISQUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS THAT THE AGENCIES IDENTIFIED.
NUMBER 1, BY STATUTE, ANY STAFF MEMBER OF HOUSTON ISD CANNOT ALSO SERVE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD.
ANY APPLICANTS THAT COME FROM HOUSTON ISD WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OR WHETHER THEY FIND ANOTHER JOB.
IT WOULD BE DISQUALIFYING IF A STAFF MEMBER IN HOUSTON ISD DID NOT.
>> THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION. WILL IT TAKE OUT A PERSON VOTED AND PUT IN? IS THAT POSSIBLE TO PUT IN A PERSON THAT WAS REJECTED?
>> IS IT POSSIBLE? BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE THAT RAN AGAINST ME THAT ARE NOW RUNNING FOR THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HE COULD TAKE ME OUT AND PUT IN A PERSON THAT THE VOTERS SAID NO TO.
>> WE ARE NOT DISQUALIFYING ANY PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY.
>> I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE. YES.
>> I GUESS YOU COULD TELL I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
I AM AN ATTORNEY, AS ARE YOU, AND I SET ASIDE MY PRACTICE TO STEP IN TO HELP THESE CHILDREN.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, WE HAVE MOVED UPWARD, LEAP UP.
TO STEP IN AT THIS POINT REALLY CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE STATED THAT THE LAW HAS BEEN TRIGGERED AND THAT MR. MORATH HAS TO TAKE THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE MUST DO.
WILL YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS BOARD WITH A BOARD OF MANAGERS?
>> IS ONLY OTHER OPTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO CLOSE WEEKLY HIGH SCHOOL.
>> OR REPURPOSE IT, BUT YOU HAVEN'T READ THE STATUTE TO THAT DEGREE.
YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN A COUPLE OF I THINK IS A DOWN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR LEVELS AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
INSTEAD OF CLOSING ONE SCHOOL POTENTIALLY, AND OF COURSE, I'M NOT ADVOCATING CLOSING WEEKLY.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN I KNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED.
BUT EVEN IF THAT WERE THE CASE, INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, HE BELIEVES IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST TO TAKE OVER 274 SCHOOLS AS OPPOSED TO HELP IN ONE SCHOOL.
>> CLOSING LATELY HIGH SCHOOL WOULDN'T ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PERVASIVE IN THE DISTRICT FOR.
>> BUT THIS SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IS NOT WHY YOU STATED THAT, INITIALLY THAT YOU CAME IN AND SAID BECAUSE WHEATLEY WAS FAILING HAD FAILED FOR FIVE YEARS, THAT WAS BACK IN 2019.
I WAS NOWHERE AROUND THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, AND MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT.
AGAIN, I'M SORRY, I'M COMING THIS IS COMING OUT TOWARDS YOU BECAUSE I PREFER REALLY TO SPEAK TO MR. MORATH, AND I PREFER THAT HE WOULD COME BEFORE US.
>> ESSENTIALLY, I CAN NEVER WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, WHAT THE STATE IS DOING RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST GOING TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, I CAN'T DO IT.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 2? TRUSTEE SANTOS?
>> DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LECHOLOP, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE LARGER DISTRICTS THAT MEET EXIT CRITERIA 2.
ARE THERE LARGE DISTRICTS THAT MEET EXIT CRITERIA 1?
>> ZERO MULTIYEAR FAILING SCHOOLS?
>> I BELIEVE SO. YES. I'LL HAPPILY CHECK.
>> I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I WILL HAPPILY CHECK THEM, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE.
>> ARE THERE ANY THAT MEET EXIT CRITERIA 3?
>> YOU CAN'T NAME ANY LARGE DISTRICTS THAT DO?
>> NOT STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW MANY DISTRICTS IN TEXAS CURRENTLY HAVE A MINIMUM ONE SCHOOL THAT HAVE RECEIVED A D
[03:05:03]
OR F RATING FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS?>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME TRUSTEE.
>> DOES THAT EXIT CRITERIA MEAN THAT HAC WILL NEVER HAVE AN ELECTED BOARD IF THERE ARE ANY CAMPUSES WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE FAILING GRADES?
>> THE FIRST EXIT CRITERIA IN ORDER TO TRANSITION FROM THE BOARD OF MANAGERS BACK TO THE ELECTED BOARD REQUIRES THAT THERE ARE NO CAMPUSES IN HOUSTON ISD THAT HAVE RECEIVED UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY RATING FOR TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
>> WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY OF RANDOMLY SELECTING 240 TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHOUT ANY OF THEM HAVING HAD FAILING GRADES AT MULTIPLE YEARS?
>> I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THE STUDENTS IN HOUSTON ISD CAN ACHIEVE AT A HIGH LEVEL.
I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE STUDENTS AND EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL WITHIN THIS DISTRICT CAN ACHIEVE AT A HIGH LEVEL, CAN ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT RECEIVES AN ACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC RATING.
YES, I BELIEVE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
>> LET ME ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN.
WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY OF RANDOMLY SELECTING 240 TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHOUT ANY OF THEM HAVING HAD FALLING GRADES IN MULTIPLE YEARS?
>> THERE ARE 1,200 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.
I'M SURE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS TRUSTEE.
I COULD NOT ANSWER THAT PROBABILITY QUESTION STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW.
>> IF YOU'RE SO SURE THAT THERE ARE ISDS THAT CAN MEET THAT EXIT CRITERIA.
I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW THE LIKELIHOOD IT IS TO HAPPEN.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND ASK THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME.
WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY OF RANDOMLY SELECTING 240 TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHOUT ANY OF THEM HAVING HAD FAILING GRADES IN MULTIPLE YEARS?
>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR A PROBABILITY BASED ON THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
>> WILL TEA COMMIT TO NOT CHARTERING TO OFFER SCHOOLS?
>> AS I EXPLAINED TO YOU IN YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS TRUSTEE TA WILL NOT BE MAKING PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL BE MAKING PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS.
>> YOU CAN'T COMMIT NOT TRY TO ENOUGH OUR SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS THAT THEY ALL WILL BE TAKEN OVER?
>> TRUSTEE, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, THIS BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL BE MAKING ALL PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS.
COMMISSIONER HAS SAID THIS TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO PRESENTED THE COMMUNITY MEETING SAID THIS, IT IS NOT THE AGENCY'S INTENTION FOR ANY CHARTERS TO BE PUT IN PLACE UPON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL ULTIMATELY BE CHARGED WITH MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HIST STUDENTS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
>> I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, TRUSTEE.
>> WILL YOU PROMISE TO NOT CHARTER OFFER SCHOOLS? YES OR NO?
>> TEA WILL NOT BE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
>> YOU CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY THAT YOU [NOISE]
>> WILL NOT FURTHER OUT OUR SCHOOLS?
>> TEA WON'T BE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
>> LET ME JUST CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS WHICH ARE ON RECORD.
LET ME ASK YOU, THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS THAT OUR INTERVENTION IS ABOUT POLITICAL PARTY AND COLOR OF SKIN VERSUS STUDENTS.
COULD YOU CLARIFY THAT IF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED OR WHETHER IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS?
>> THIS INTERVENTION IS 100 PERCENT ABOUT STUDENTS AND IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS, THIS ISN'T ABOUT SKIN COLOR.
THIS IS ABOUT STUDENT OUTCOMES, 100 PERCENT.
>> THEN I ALSO HEARD THAT [NOISE]
>> THIS WAS INEVITABLE THAT BASED ON SOME OF YOUR REASONS IT'S EARLIER ESPECIALLY THE 2019 BEFORE THEY FOLLOW OF LAWSUITS THAT THE COMMISSIONER MORATH WILL BE BREAKING THE LAW IF HE DID NOT INTERVENE AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?
>> THE COMMISSIONER IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY SWORN OFFICER.
HE IS CHARGED WITH UPHOLDING THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SAID THAT HE SHALL INTERVENE IF A SCHOOL WITHIN ANY DISTRICT IN THE STATE ACCOUNTED TO 5.
[03:10:01]
IN 2019, THERE WAS ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAD A SCHOOL ACCOUNTED TO 5.SIMILAR TO THE STEPS THAT HE TOOK FOR HOUSTON ISD, HE ALSO APPOINTED A BOARD OF MANAGERS IN SHEPHERD ISD.
OVER THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS IN SHEPHERD WHILE AT THIS PROCESS WAS ON PAUSE BECAUSE OF THE INJUNCTION, SHEPHERD HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC GAINS AND IS ACTUALLY ABOUT TO START THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING BACK TO AN ELECTED BOARD.
YES, THE COMMISSIONER HAD TO ACT UNDER THE LAW.
>> ALSO NEXT QUESTION IS, COULD YOU NAME SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS WHERE THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND INTERVENTION OF SUCH?
>> YES, SIR. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN BOARDS OF MANAGERS PLACED SINCE 2008 AND ALL OF THOSE SEVEN PLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS.
NOW, SOME OF THOSE WERE PLACEMENTS FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, SOME OF THEM WERE FOR GOVERNANCE REASONS AND SOME WERE FOR ACADEMIC REASONS.
THOSE ARE THE THREE LARGER REASONS WHY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS CAN BE PLACED.
IN SIX OF THE SEVEN DISTRICTS, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC INCREASES.
IF I CAN REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THEY WERE EL PASO, SOUTH SIDE, EDGEWOOD WHICH ARE BOTH IN BEAR COUNTY IN SAN ANTONIO.
THERE WAS SHEPHERD AND MARLIN, BOTH CURRENTLY HAVE BOARDS OF MANAGERS AND HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC GAINS.
ALSO NORTH FOREST BACK IN 2008 THERE WAS A BOARD OF MANAGERS PUT INTO PLACE A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE ANNEXATION OCCURRED WHICH HAPPENED THREE YEARS AFTER NORTH FOREST RETURNED TO ELECTED CONTROL, AFTER THAT BOARD OF MANAGERS WAS PLACED.
IN SIX OF THE SEVEN WE SAW ACADEMIC INCREASES IN ADDITION TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE EXIT CRITERIA THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE AT THE TIME.
IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT WHICH IS BEAUMONT, BEAUMONT WAS A BOARD OF MANAGERS THAT WAS PLACED FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS CORRECTED THE FINANCIAL REASONS AND THE ACADEMICS STAYED STEADY WHILE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WAS ADDRESSING THOSE FINANCIAL CONCERNS.
AGAIN A SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT FOCUSED ON THE FINANCIALS IN BEAUMONT.
IN ALL SEVEN PLACEMENTS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS THE AGENCY HAS SEEN SUCCESS THAT WOULD PORTEND TO THE SUCCESS HERE.
IT GIVES US EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THIS PROCESS WILL ALSO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HOUSTON ISD.
>> I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DON'T REALLY LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I BELIEVE IT'S A SAD DAY AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, THAT THIS HAS COME TO THIS POINT BUT I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE IN FIGHTING AGAINST A MANAGEMENT THAT'S ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND AND SO WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED INTO THESE OPTIONS.
LISTEN, I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON MY RACE.
A LOT OF KNOCKING ON DOORS, SO I'M NOT ROLLING OVER EITHER AND THEN I REPLACED A LADY WHO WAS INVOLVED ESPECIALLY IN CREDITATION OF INVESTIGATION AND THE WHOLE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ME AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WILL HELP TRY AND READ THE DISTRICT OF CORRUPTION BY STAYING HERE AND NOT LEAVING, BUT HOWEVER I'M NOW READY TO BE A PARTNER AND MOVE FORWARD IF THIS IS IT, I GOT TO BE A PARTNER.
I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT I'M READY TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, WITH THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER AND MOVE FORWARD.
LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
LET'S GET OFF OF OURSELVES AND GET TO THE STUDENTS.
IF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET TO STUDENTS, THEN LET'S GET TO STUDENT OUTCOMES INCREASED [NOISE] AND LEAVE
>> EVERYTHING ELSE TO GOD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT.
>> I'M PROBABLY GOING TO REGRET EVERYTHING THAT I SAY FOR THE NEXT TWO MINUTES.
THIS LAW WAS PASSED IN 2015, HOW MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRIGGERED SANCTIONS UNDER IT?
>> SINCE 2015, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE TWO IN 2019.
I THINK THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE BETWEEN 2015 AND 2019, SO I THINK THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]
>> IN THE 1,000 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MOST DISTRICTS THAT HAD FAILING SCHOOLS IN 2015 TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO AVOID THIS.
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2018, DR. GRENITA LATHAN HAD A PLAN FOR ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE GOING TO TRIGGER SANCTIONS.
ALL OF THE ONES THAT WERE COMING UP ON THE RUNWAY, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT POPPED IN AND OUT LIKE A GAME OF WHACK-A-MOLE.
OUR DISTRICT AT THE TIME LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY WHO WANTED NO PARTNERS, NO CHARTERS, AND TO SUE TEA.
[03:15:02]
WE DID THAT AND WE LOST.WE OWN THIS, AND I'M SO UNBELIEVABLY ANGRY THAT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 2? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
THE BOARD HAS SAID TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET ON JUNE 8TH, THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS SAID TO COME IN ON JUNE 1ST.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT TO SEE THAT PROCESS LOOKING LIKE.
>> UNTIL THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS PUT IN PLACE AND SWORN IN AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS APPOINTED.
YOU GUYS ARE THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE DISTRICT AND IT IS THE HOPE OF THE AGENCY THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DURING A NORMAL BUDGETING CYCLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE HAVING CONTINUED MEETINGS OF BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
I HEARD SOME REFERENCES DURING THE MEETING TONIGHT FROM MR. HOLLIS ABOUT AN UPCOMING BUDGET WORKSHOP.
DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD, YOU GUYS ARE THE GOVERNING BOARD AND SO THE BUDGETING PROCESS MOVING FORWARD UNTIL THAT NEW APPOINTMENT IS MADE IS OWNED BY THIS BOARD.
>> THE NEW BOARD HAS TO PASS THE BUDGET BY JUNE 30TH BY STATE LAW.
ARE THEY EXPECTED TO LEARN EVERYTHING IN ONE MONTH?
>> THE HOPE IS THAT YOU GUYS WILL TAKE THE LABORING OR AND DO MOST OF THE WORK AS YOU GUYS KNOW AS TRUSTEES, THERE ARE PROCESSES EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO MAKE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
WHAT IS VOTED ON IN JUNE IS NOT WHAT ENDS UP BEING PUT INTO PLACE BY THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO EVALUATE THE BUDGET THAT IS PASSED TO CONDUCT THREE WEEKS OR FOUR WEEKS OF DILIGENCE ON THE BUDGET TO UNDERSTAND THE SKELETAL STRUCTURE OF THE BUDGET, AND THEN TO CONTINUALLY EVALUATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DECIDE IF AMENDMENTS NEED TO BE MADE TO THE BUDGET THAT IS PASSED BY JUNE 30TH.
>> IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S SOME HIST VENDORS THAT HAVE APPLIED TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR EVALUATING VENDORS WHO ARE APPLYING TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS?
>> EARLIER, TRUSTEE, I MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE A FEW DISQUALIFYING FACTORS.
ONE IS, IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE HIST BOUNDARIES, THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT.
NUMBER 2 IS IF YOU'RE A VENDOR OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ASKED ON THE APPLICATION WHETHER YOU ARE A VENDOR AND THIS WAS LANGUAGE THAT I ALWAYS FORGET.
I THINK WITHIN TWO DEGREES OF FAMILIAL RELATIONS OR CONTANGO ANNUITY IS A LEGAL TERM FOR THAT.
THAT IS ALSO A DISQUALIFYING FACTOR IF THEM OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER IS A VENDOR TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOW THAT'S NOT A STATUTORY RULE, THAT IS JUST TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, A DISQUALIFYING FACTOR THAT THE AGENCY PUT INTO PLACE.
THEN THE THIRD ONE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT IS STATUTORY, IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS.
>> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY I APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR HAVING TO STAY IN HERE AND TAKE THIS.
BUT ONE THING WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE YOU WILL HAVE THICKER SKIN. THAT'S FOR SURE.
BUT PLEASE, AS YOU GO FORWARD, AS A GRADUATE OF THE PHILOS WILLY HIGH SCHOOL, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH UTILIZED TO DETERMINE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, CHILDREN CAN'T HELP IT BECAUSE THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
LET'S FIND ANOTHER WORD FOR THAT TO DESCRIBE THAT BE IT FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED BUT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, THEY'RE HEARING THIS CONTINUOUSLY AND THEY GET INGRAINED IN THEM THAT THEY'RE LESS THEN, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
IF WE'RE ALL CONCERNED WITH CHILDREN AND LET'S WORK ON THAT FIRST.
WHO'S PAYING FOR THE ADDITIONAL COACHING AND WE'LL TEA SEND ADDITIONAL FINANCING FOR THE COACHING TO THE DISTRICT.
BUT WHO'S PAYING BUT THE COACHING PROGRAMS.
[03:20:01]
>> THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE COACHING, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THEN AFTER THE APPOINTMENT OR LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT.
LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT THAT ALL OF THE TRAININGS ARE COVERED BY TEA.
AFTER THE APPOINTMENT, THERE ARE AGENCY GRANTS RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO LONE STAR GOVERNANCE.
THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED AN EXEMPLAR COHORT THAT ALLOWS FOR THE INTENSIVE COACHING THAT THIS BOARD WILL BE EXPECTED TO UNDERTAKE.
THAT IS A GRANT OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT THEM IN THIS COACHING THAT IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
>> IT KEEP SENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN SHEPHERD, AND HOW MANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS DO THEY HAVE?
>> I THINK SHEPHERD HAS ABOUT 1,000 STUDENTS.
WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION.
>> WHAT DOES THE BOARD WOULD LIKE THE BOARD?
ONE DISTRICT IF NOT FOR INSTANCE, I MENTIONED TO YOU IS NOW GOING THROUGH IT'S SECOND TAKEOVER.
THE SECOND ONE AFTER YOU SAY ANNEXATION, BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A TAKEOVER.
THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
AGAIN, THE PSYCHE OF STUDENTS IS TELLING OUR KIDS THAT, YOUR LOW-INCOME.
YOU'VE BEEN TAKEN OVER, YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WE'VE ANNEXED YOU AND YOU'RE STILL NOT PRODUCING, SO IT PLAYS ON THE PSYCHE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN THE '60S WITH THE BLACK DOLL AND THE WHITE DOLL.
WE GOT EDUCATE YOU ON THAT ONE.
COULD THE BOARD OF MANAGERS DECIDED TO CLOSE WHEATLEY?
>> THEORETICALLY, THEY COULD DECIDE THAT TRUSTEE, BUT THAT IS NOT OUR EXPECTATION AT ALL.
IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSIONER COULD HAVE MADE THAT DECISION IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE IS AN AGENCY THAT THIS IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS AT WHEATLEY OR THE WHEATLEY COMMUNITY TO CLOSE WHEATLEY.
>> THE OTHER THING IS HOW WILL THE BORDER MANAGER REPORT ANY GIFTS, ANY ASSOCIATION WITH ANYTHING THAT RECEIVED BECAUSE WE'VE HAD [NOISE]
>> IN THE PAST ABOUT MONEY ISSUES OR DISCREPANCIES AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO CONTINUE.
HOW WILL THEY REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE? WILL THEY REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE FINANCIAL RETURNS LIKE WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE WE ARE ELECTED.
>> THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTION, TRUSTEE.
BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL NOT BE RECEIVING OR WON'T NEED TO RECEIVE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD THEN NEED TO BE REPORTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE SECOND ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION THOUGH, IS ABOUT GIFTS AND FROM AN ETHICS LENS?
>> I IMAGINE, THOUGH I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A POLICY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ABOUT REPORTING GIFTS THAT EXCEED, IN SAN ANTONIO IT WAS $25, I THINK MAYBE EVEN $10.
IF THAT POLICY IS IN PLACE, CERTAINLY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL ABIDE BY THAT POLICY JUST LIKE THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
IF THAT POLICY IS NOT IN PLACE, I SUSPECT THEY MIGHT PUT ONE IN PLACE BECAUSE IT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE TO REQUIRE THE REPORTING OF GIFTS.
>> WRITE THAT DOWN SO YOU CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO MORATH.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 2.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIRST FOR ME EVER.
>> BUT I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A ROUND 3.
I MOVE THAT WE HAVE A ROUND 3.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE BAKER.
PLEASE VOTE. AGAIN, LET'S BE PATIENT, AS THIS IS A NEW SYSTEM. AWESOME.
>> I'M OKAY, TRUSTEE. THANK YOU.
MOTION PASSES SEVEN IN FAVOR ONE OPPOSED AND ONE ABSTENTION.
[03:25:01]
>> LIKE I SAID, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND ONE COMMENT THAT WE DID NOT LOOSE.
I KNOW TRUSTEE DEIGAARD PUT A NO ON THERE BECAUSE WE DID NOT LOOSE, WE GAVE UP THE FIGHT.
WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR A VOTE WHEN MORATH TOLD US THAT WE HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL AND FIVE PEOPLE DECIDED THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT LAST.
I'M ONE OF THOSE THAT FIGHT TO THE END.
MY QUESTION, THIS PROCESS THAT YOU OUTLINED FOR US, IT SAYS ONE THING, THAT A SUPERINTENDENT HAS ALREADY APPROACHED ONE OF OUR CHIEFS TO CONVINCE THAT CHIEF TO STAY.
HOW CAN WE TRUST A PROCESS, OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT EITHER THAT PROSPECTIVE SUPERINTENDENT IS LYING OR THE CHIEF IS LYING, OR IS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT COMING IN CORRUPT?
>> TRUSTEE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SUPERINTENDENT SELECTED, APPOINTED, HIRED, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE COMMISSIONER IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING.
IS GOING THROUGH THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION PROCESS AND HE WILL ANNOUNCE A DECISION ON OR AROUND JUNE 1ST, JUST LIKE HAS BEEN PLANNED SINCE.
>> IF WE FOUND OUT THAT THAT SUPERINTENDENT THAT ASKED OUR CHIEF TURNS OUT TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT MARK MORATH SELECTED THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG AND NOT THE BOARD BEING CORRUPT, BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND COMMISSIONER MORATH.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON ANY THESE ALLEGATIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR ROUND 3.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. LECHOLOP.
[REPORTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT]
I WILL MOVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS UP TO THIS SECTION.MR. HOUSE, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS AT THIS TIME FOR US?
>> I HAVE ONE ITEM. AS DISCUSSED IN THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST PROJECTIONS, ENROLLMENT IN HISD WILL HAVE DECREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 31,000 STUDENTS SINCE 2017 AND IS PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE OVER THE FUTURE YEARS.
THIS MEANS THE INCOMING REVENUES TO THE DISTRICT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO DECLINE, QUITE FRANKLY, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
ADDITIONALLY, AS OUR ENROLLMENT DECLINES OR DISTRICT'S RECAPTURE PAYMENT ONLY CONTINUES TO RISE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE PAID OVER 200 MILLION BAT TO THE STATE IN THE FORM OF RECAPTURE.
THIS ALONE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR EXPENDITURES FOR QUITE FRANKLY THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR OF COURSE, THE ADDITIONAL SPECIAL FUNDING ALLOCATED BY THE DISTRICT DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC ISSUE AROUND HURRICANE HARVEY, AS WELL AS THE STATE HOLDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS HARMLESS FOR ADA DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND FINALLY, THE $1.16 BILLION THE DISTRICT RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN REFERENCE TO SF FUNDING, THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DIRE DISTRESS FINANCIALLY AS WE STAND.
THE HARD TRUTH IS THAT THE FY 2026, THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE WILL BE EXHAUSTED IF NOTHING IS DONE.
THAT'S BEEN A PART OF WHILE WE'VE FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS ON DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
I UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM IMBALANCE OF HAVING REVENUES COME IN AND LESS EXPENSES GOING OUT WAS SIMPLY UNSUSTAINABLE.
AS A LEADER, I FELT OBLIGATED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WANT IT TO GET THE DISTRICT TO A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PLACE.
THAT'S A PART OF MY JOB AND MY RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS FISCAL TRANSFORMATION WORK BEGAN LAST YEAR WITH THE $60 MILLION CUT THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH HERE AT HATTIE MAE AND WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DELIVERING A HISTORIC TEACHER COMPENSATION INCREASE AND INCREASING CAMPUS LEVEL FUNDING RESOURCES TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THE TRANSFORMATION WORK FISCALLY THIS YEAR WITH ADDITIONAL CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS AND CHANGES TO CAMPUS ALLOTMENTS THROUGH CHANGES TO OUR SMALL SCHOOL ALLOTMENT OR SMALL SCHOOL SUBSIDY, HIGH-SCHOOL ALLOTMENT, AND THE ADA HOLD HARMLESS AS WELL.
WE STARTED THIS BUDGET PROCESS EARLIER.
QUITE FRANKLY, JUST TO GIVE OUR PRINCIPLES A RUNWAY AND ALLOW THEM AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR BUDGETS WERE GOING TO LOOK LIKE SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM INFORMATION AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR, THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY CAMPUS LEVEL BUDGET REDUCTIONS.
[03:30:05]
GIVEN THIS, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AND PRESS PAUSE IN REFERENCE TO ANY BUDGET CUTS MOVING FORWARD, IN THOSE THREE PARTICULAR AREAS THAT I MENTIONED, THE ADA HOLD HARMLESS, THE HIGH SCHOOL ALLOTMENT, THE SMALL SCHOOL SUBSIDY THAT GOT US TO THE $46 MILLION CUT.THIS IS ALREADY A TIME OF SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY FOR SCHOOLS AND I HOPE THAT AGREEING TO THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WILL REDUCE A LAYER OF UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR CAMPUS LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AGENDA ITEMS.
[Superintendent agenda items]
FOR THE RECORD, LET IT BE REFLECTED THAT REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ATTACHMENTS TO ITEMS 12, 13, AND 14.THE ATTACHMENT TO ITEM 11 IS NEW, AND ITEM 2 IS NEW, AND ITEM 7 AND ITS ATTACHMENTS ARE NEW.
BOARD POLICY REQUIRES TRUSTEES TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL DISCUSSION AND BOARDS PERTAINING TO CONTRACTS THAT MIGHT INVOLVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AS DEFINED BY 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 REGARD TO THE DISTRICT'S INTEREST.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER ITEMS HELD FOR ABSTENTION AND OR DISCUSSION.
IF WITHOUT OBJECTION, I AM PULLING ITEM NUMBER 7 FROM THE AGENDA AND THERE'LL BE NO DISCUSSION.
>> ITEM WAS THAT? CAN YOU NAME THE AGENDA.
>> ITEM 7, ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION CONCERNING LOCAL CONTROL OF THE TRANSITION FROM LOCAL GOVERNANCE TO TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY GOVERNANCE OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> THERE'S STILL NO OBJECTION.
>> THE REMAINING ITEMS HELD FOR DISCUSSION WERE ALL IN THE AGENDA AND AGENDA REVIEW.
IN KEEPING WITH OUR STANDARDS, WE'LL DO ONE ROUND OF ONE MINUTE PER TRUSTEE ON EACH ITEM.
IF AN ADDITIONAL ROUND IS DESIRED, THAT CAN BE DONE WITH A MOTION, SECOND, AND BOARD VOTE.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE WADE.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO PULL ITEM 23, 141, APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR HUMAN SEXUALITY AND INSTRUCTION ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE, FAMILY VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE WADE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND BY TRUSTEE ALLEN.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> TRUSTEE WADE WANTS TO DISCUSS IT.
[BACKGROUND] PLEASE VOTE. I THINK WE'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME TRUSTEES TO VOTE.
[03:35:01]
VOTING IS NOW CLOSING.MOTION PASSES SEVEN IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS THIS ITEM SINCE WE'RE ALREADY HERE.
[8. Approval Of Recommended Curriculum Materials For Human Sexuality Instruction And Instruction On The Prevention Of Child Abuse, Family Violence, Dating Violence, And Sex Trafficking]
TRUSTEE WADE.>> YES. THANK YOU. I PUT MY NAME IN THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.
THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING ANSWERS I NEED BEFORE I PROCEED TO THIS VOTE.
DOES HISD HAVE A PARENT PORTAL FOR GUARDIANS TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION CURRICULUM THAT'S BEING GIVEN REGARDING SEX ED? SPRING BRANCH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A PARENT PORTAL THAT IS EASILY ASSESSED AND HAS PROVEN USEFUL.
THIS SHEDS LIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
QUESTION 2, DOES HISD EMPHASIZE THE OPT-IN POLICY THAT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS IN SEX ED CURRICULUM? HOW CAN HISD BETTER COMMUNICATE ALL AREAS THAT REQUIRE AN OPT-IN, OPT-OUT OPTIONS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS? NUMBER 3, HOW IS THE DISTRICT FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOLS FOR ELECTIONS ON THE SHACK? THE NUMBER OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE SHACK DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT.
HOW CAN THE DISTRICT BE PROVIDING $1,000 SUPPORTS FOR ORGANIZATION CALLED ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING STATE GUIDELINES FOR THE CURRICULUM? [NOISE]
>> I'M HAPPY TO SUBMIT THESE, IF WE CAN WAIT.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE TO VOTE TONIGHT.
>> IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WE'LL NEED TO HAVE THOSE SUBMITTED AND WE CAN BRING THOSE BACK IF POSSIBLE.
>> IS SOMEONE MAKING A MOTION TO POSTPONE, OR ARE WE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM OR ARE WE MOVING TO THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM?
>> I MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM 8 UNTIL WE CAN GET ANSWERS FROM THE AGENDA REVIEW TO NEXT MONTH'S.
>> IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT THE TIMELINE ON THE CONTRACT?
>> IT'S NOT AN RFQ. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN AND A SECOND BY? [OVERLAPPING]
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO ASK FOR CLARITY AND FOR THE MINUTES.
HAVE WE DECIDED ON THE TIME CERTAIN THIS POSTPONEMENT IS?
>> IS THAT THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING?
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> MAY 4TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE AGENDA REVIEW, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK.
>> WE'RE VOTING TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL MAY 11TH [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO THE MAY AGENDA. PLEASE VOTE.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS THE CURRICULUM ITEM.
>> JUST MAKING SURE. THINK I SEE DR. MANDY AND HE'S SAYING THIS IS GOOD TO GO TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM.
>> PLEASE PRESS "MY COMPUTER" TO GET TO THE VOTING SCREEN.
[03:40:02]
>> YEAH. HE DOESN'T HAVE A VOTING SCREEN, BUT TRUSTEE WADE.
>> WE'RE WAITING. VOTING IS CLOSING.
>> WE HAVE MOTION PASSES, SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED, AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
OUR NEXT ITEM BEING HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM 3,
[3. Approval Of The April Budget Amendment]
APPROVAL OF THE APRIL BUDGET AMENDMENT.THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION BY TRUSTEES CRUZ AND DEIGAARD.
>> ACTUALLY, MY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE GOT ANSWERED.
>> YEAH, THIS IS THIS DISCUSSION.
>> I THINK YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.
>> TRUSTEE CRUZ, I SEE YOU IN THE QUEUE.
>> YES. LET ME FIND MY QUESTIONS.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SOME MATH.
CAN WE PUT THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT ON THE SCREEN THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ON THERE OR NOT.
>> OUR CURRENT FUND BALANCE IS OVER $1 BILLION; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT FUND BALANCES, YES.
>> UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, OUR EXCESS IS OVER $100 MILLION.
IF I DID THE MATH, IT'S LIKE $107 MILLION EXCESS UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
>> SORRY, I'M A LITTLE SLOW RIGHT NOW.
>> UNASSIGNED IS 664 AND OUR MINIMUM IS 487.
>> THIS IS WHERE WE ADOPTED AS UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE WAS 556.
IT'S MORE THAN 107 MILLION IS OUR EXCESS UNASSIGNED.
FROM THE TIME WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET IN JUNE, OUR FUND BALANCE WAS 852 MILLION AND SOME CHANGE, CORRECT?
>> NOW OUR FUND BALANCE IS 1.1 BILLION SO THAT'S 274 MILLION.
>> MORE IN OUR FUND BALANCE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. BUT IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND WE ALWAYS PUT THOSE NOTES [NOISE]
>> IN THE BUDGET THAT WE DO NOT PROJECT WHAT ENCUMBERED THE RESERVE FROM CURRENCY IS GOING TO BE.
WE ZERO THAT OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEN WE UPDATE THAT ONCE WE ARE DONE WITH THE AUDIT.
IT WILL ALWAYS INCREASE BY THE AMOUNT THAT ENDS UP BEING IN CARRY OVER ENCUMBRANCES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT 274 MILLION SEEMS LIKE A REALLY LARGE AMOUNT TO ME SO I MOTION FOR A SECOND ROUND, PLEASE.
>> TRUSTEE BAKER IS IN THE QUEUE FOR THE FIRST ROUND.
>> YES. CHIEF HOUSE, WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR BUDGET AT THIS POINT, WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS BEING HEALTHY AT THIS POINT?
>> THE GOAL IN THE FISCAL TRANSFORMATION WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.
LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS TO PAT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT BEYOND FY 2026, THINGS WERE GOING TO GET DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE THE HARVEY SUPPORT, WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL A LOT, WE WEREN'T GOING HAVE THE SR DOLLARS ANYMORE, SO TO CREATE A PAD WAS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE LOOKING TO FOCUS OUR EFFORT ON MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT CUTS AND CHANGES TO HOW WE OPERATE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT,
[03:45:03]
BUT WE'VE MADE A MODIFICATION THIS EVENING AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.>> DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION OR YOU WANT ME TO ASK MOTION FOR ROUND 2?
>> I UNDERSTAND HOW THE EXTRA MONEY [NOISE]
>> COMES, I'M NOT A FINANCE EXPERT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS EXCESS AMOUNT EVERY YEAR.
LOOKING AT OUR OVERALL FUND BALANCE WHEN WE ADOPTED OUR BUDGET, IT WAS 852 MILLION AND NOW THAT FUND BALANCE IS OVER $1.1 BILLION.
WHY AREN'T WE SPENDING THE MONEY ON EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND ACCELERATING THEIR LEARNING? WE AREN'T MEETING THE TARGETS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OR DISTRICT GOALS.
WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP ADDING TO A RAINY DAY FUND.
WE HAVE TONS OF EXCESS AND IF MORE THAN HALF OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL.
>> THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INTENTIONALLY INCREASING FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SPENDING THE DOLLARS.
WE CONSCIOUSLY PUT SPENDING CONTROLS IN PLACE.
WE DID HIRING FREEZES FOR CENTRAL OFFICE LAST YEAR.
WE DID CLAW BACKS OF NON-SALARY TO PUT FUNDS AND FUND BALANCE TO GIVE US A RUNWAY TO DO BUDGET REDUCTIONS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS AND TO GIVE US SOME FUNDS FOR POTENTIALLY BRINGING SOME THINGS IN AFTER SO DOLLARS GO AWAY.
THOSE INCREASES IN FUND BALANCE WERE INTENTIONAL.
>> IN 2024, WE WILL BE SPENDING FUND BALANCE.
>> I DON'T HAVE CLARITY AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS.
I UNDERSTAND PUTTING THINGS IN RESERVES.
WE SHOULD HAVE SAVINGS AND WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE PUT IN SO MUCH MORE IN SAVINGS AND OUR STUDENTS ARE [NOISE]
>> IN DESPERATE NEED OF MORE RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT, I BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDS FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR SHOULD BE USED FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THAT SCHOOL YEAR ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR RAINY DAY FUNDS ARE PRETTY LARGE.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND I'M GOING TO HAVE MR. GUIDRY TO COME UP AND JOIN US AS WELL TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHT.
IN REFERENCE TO FUND BALANCE, WE'RE SPEAKING TO QUITE A FEW NUMBERS THAT ARE NOT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE RIGHT NOW.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER FINANCIAL MIND TO SPEAK TO EXACTLY WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS, MR. GUIDRY IN TERMS OF FUND BALANCE AS HE'S BEEN A WELCOMED PARTNER IN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE ALONG WITH GLENN.
>> YES. THANK YOU MR. HOUSE, TRUSTEES.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST BOARD BUDGET MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WILL LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE IT HAS SAID BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY, BECAUSE OF SR, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S SPENDING LEVELS HAVEN'T BEEN NECESSARILY AT THE LEVEL THAT WAS FORECASTED.
YOU HAVE BUILT UP A RAINY DAY FUND, RESERVE OF FUNDS.
HOWEVER, KEEP IN MIND THAT ENROLLMENTS ARE STARTING TO DECLINE, WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN DECLINING.
YOU'VE LOST 31,000 STUDENTS OVER THE LAST 45 YEARS.
THAT TREND APPEARS TO BE CONTINUING. THAT'S ONE.
KEEP IN MIND ALSO THAT ESSER IS GOING AWAY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AS WELL.
THOSE MONIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SOMEHOW BE ABSORBED IN THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL.
I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE WE'VE SHOWN PROJECTIONS THAT BY 2025, YOU HAVE A DEFICIT OF POTENTIALLY $250 MILLION AND ANOTHER $250 MILLION IN 2026 WITHOUT ANY ACTION OR COST CUTTING OR ANY TRANSFORMATION THAT OCCURS HERE.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE NUMBERS PLAY OUT.
YES, YOU DO HAVE FUND BALANCE TODAY TO COVER THAT UP UNTIL ABOUT 2026, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THINGS START TO GET TOUGH FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT.
[03:50:13]
>> I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. PLEASE VOTE.
>> I THINK ITSELF, IF YOU CLICK MY COMPUTER, YOU'LL SEE YOUR VOTE AGAIN.
MOTION PASSES SEVEN IN FAVOR ZERO POSE TWO ABSTENTIONS.
>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM
[4. Approval Of Proposed Revisions To Board Policy AE(LOCAL), Educational Philosophy, Regarding Constraints 2.1, 2.2, And 2.3-Second Reading]
FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY, A LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY REGARDING CONSTRAINTS 2.1, 2.2, AND 2.3, SECOND READING.THIS ITEM IS BEING HELD BY DISCUSSION BY TRUSTEE CREW.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WADE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE YOU [INAUDIBLE]?
>> AS I SHARED LAST MONTH, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT WENT INTO DRAFTING THESE PROGRESS MEASURES.
I WANT TO MEASURE OUTCOMES NOT INPUTS FROM PROSE CONSTRAINT 2.1 IS EXACTLY THAT.
THE OTHER TWO PROPOSED PROGRESS MEASURES, HOWEVER, MEASURING THINGS THAT ARE INDEED CRITICAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, BUT WE AREN'T ACTUALLY MEASURING STUDENTS ACCESS TO THESE THINGS. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES SIX AND FAVOR TWO ABSTENTIONS AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> TWO POSED AND ONE ABSTENTION.
OUR NEXT ITEM BEING HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM 5,
[5. Approval Of Proposed Revisions To Board Policy EHAB(LOCAL), Basic Instructional Program: Required Instruction (Elementary)-First Reading ]
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY.EHAB LOCAL BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, REQUIRED INSTRUCTION, ELEMENTARY FIRST READING.
THIS ITEM IS BEING HELD FOR DISCUSSION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN AND THE SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE ALLEN?
>> YES. I FLAGGED THIS ITEM LAST AND THE AGENDA REVIEW SO THAT WE CAN PUT IN THERE THAT THE DYSLEXIA LESSONS WILL BE EMBEDDED IN THE CURRICULUM.
I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGE IN HERE.
>> WE ARE FOLLOWING BACK AND CHECK THE NOTES AND MAKE SURE THAT MODIFICATION IS MADE.
>> DOES THE ADMINISTRATION WANT TO SUGGEST LANGUAGE? OR WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BOARD MAKING AMENDMENT TO THE TABLE ON SECOND READING?
>> DR. ALLEN, THEY'RE OKAY WITH EITHER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT LANGUAGE TO SEE? [LAUGHTER]
>> THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I SURE CAN.
[03:55:04]
>> JUST IF YOU AGREE WITH ME GO WITH ME.
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND AS FOLLOWS.
FOR STUDENTS KINDERGARTEN GRADES 5 WHO HAVE DYSLEXIA, THE RECOMMENDED TIME A LOT, THIS SHALL BE 45 MINUTES, FOUR DAYS PER WEEK, 180 MINUTES WEEKLY EMBEDDED IN THE READING LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM.
>> DR. MANDY, HE'S GOING TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> ASSIST YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU SOME TIME, DR. ALLEN.
>> AFTER LAST WEEK WE WENT BACK AND DUG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
IT IS IN ADDITION TO THE READING TIME, SO THERE'S NO NEED TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT, IF NOT EMBEDDED, IT IS AN ADDITION.
THE CURRICULUM TEAM WORKS WITH THE INTERVENTIONS TEAM AND CAMPUSES ON THEIR MASTER SCHEDULE, SO STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA ACTUALLY GET SCHEDULED THIS ADDITIONAL TIME ON TOP OF THEIR REGULAR READING TIME.
>> THEN MY ORIGINAL QUESTION FROM LAST WEEK WAS, WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS ADDITIONAL 45 MINUTES FROM? ARE WE PUTTING IN AT THE END OF THE DAY? BECAUSE OUR CURRICULUM IS FULL AND I DON'T KNOW ANY EMPTY PARTS OF THAT CURRICULUM WHERE WE CAN DO SOME DYSLEXIA LESSONS.
>> YES, MA'AM, THAT'S ONE THING THAT THEY LOOK AT.
WHAT THAT MASTER SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE? HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE? IT COULD LOOK DIFFERENT AT EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR FIFTH GRADE VERSUS SECOND GRADE, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S WHY THE INTERVENTION TEAM WORKS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WITH EACH CAMPUS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS IS GETTING THAT ADDITIONAL TIME.
>> SO THAT THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS WOULD BE PULLED OUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER INCORRECTLY.
>> FIRST QUESTION, THIS IS FIRST READING, CORRECT?
>> THIS SHOULD BE FIRST READING.
>> THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, I'M LOOKING AT THE CORRECTION AND HELP ME, MAYBE I'M MISSING IT.
BUT THE LANGUAGE STAYS THE SAME, YOU JUST CHANGE THE TITLE, CORRECT? YOU JUST TOOK OUT DYSLEXIA AND THE MINUTES CHANGED.
JUST NEEDED TO GET TO YES. THANK YOU.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH WITH ALL THE CLARIFICATION NECESSARY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
DOES DYSLEXIA COUNT AS SPECIAL ED OR IT'S THAT ONE THAT'S SEPARATE?
>> MY QUESTION I GUESS IT'S, DOES IT COME UNDER THE UMBRELLA FOR THE SPECIAL ED CONSERVATORS AND WHAT IS THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS? BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH YOU, TRUSTEE ALLEN, THERE'S AN INTERESTING TIME DILEMMA.
YOU STILL HAVE SOME TIME, TRUSTEE ALLEN.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEY ARE DYSLEXIC.
THEY HAVE TO WEAR THE BLUE GLASSES OR THE BLUE PAPER.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO 45 MINUTES OF BLUE GLASSES AND BLUE PAPER?
>> THAT'S WHAT THE [INAUDIBLE] 504 COMMITTEE GETS TO DECIDE.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
THIS IS FIRST READING, SO PLEASE VOTE.
>> DO I MAKE A MOTION TO PULL IT AND BRING IT BACK?
[04:00:04]
[BACKGROUND]>> IF THIS IS FIRST READING, THE ADMINISTRATION ON FIRST READING HAS AGREED TO BRING IT BACK ON SECOND WITH THE CHANGES PROPOSED.
>> VOTING IS CLOSING. MOTION PASSES.
WE HAVE SIX IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
[12. Approval Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Over $100,000 And Ratification Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Under $100,000 • 23-10-08 – RFP / Awards, Trophies, and Promotional Items (Part 1 of 2)]
>> OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM 12; APPROVAL OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES OVER 100,000 AND RATIFICATION OF VENDOR AWARDS OR PURCHASES UNDER 100,000.
TRUSTEES HAVE PULLED A FEW PROJECTS FOR DISCUSSION.
THE FIRST PROJECT, 23 DASH 10 DASH 08, RFP AWARDS, TROPHIES, AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS HELD AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEE CRUZ AND TRUSTEE DEIGAARD MAY HAVE A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE WADE AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE CRUZ.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE CRUZ.
>> THANK YOU. I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE APPROPRIATING $20 MILLION ON AWARDS.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DEFICIT, THIS IS MORE THAN OUR ENTIRE LINE ITEM FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR BOARD GOALS.
THE ASK TO INCREASE THE SPEND AMOUNT DEMONSTRATES TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A LACK OF GUARDRAILS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ANALYSIS ON HOW PRINCIPALS AND DEPARTMENTS SPEND MONEY.
WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTS TO OUR BUDGET, IT SHOULD BE ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY IMPACTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SUCH AS THIS.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.
>> AGAIN, LET ME CLARIFY THIS RFP THING.
WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THE MONEY, WE'RE VOTING ON THE VENDORS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YOU'RE VOTING ON THE VENDORS, AND YOU'RE VOTING ON A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
>> CAN WE REDUCE THAT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT?
>> YOU COULD REDUCE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
HOWEVER, HISTORICALLY AND I PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION, WE SPEND JUST OVER $3.2 MILLION A YEAR.
IF I MAY ADD, THERE IS NOT A $20 MILLION LINE ITEM ON A BUDGET FOR AWARDS, TROPHIES, AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. IT IS MONEY WITHIN A CAMPUS OR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
>> ALEXIS, THAT MEAN THAT THAT MANAGER ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL, THAT'S DISBURSED TO ALL THE CAMPUSES FOR THAT PURPOSE; FOR UTILIZATION.
>> TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE FOR AWARDS AND TROPHIES, IT'S PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PROVE IS BY CODE, ANYTHING THAT WE SPEND IN THE AGGREGATE OF OVER $100,000, THE BOARD HAS TO APPROVE.
CLEARLY, WE SPEND MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR ON THESE ITEMS. WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOU TO APPROVE AN ITEM THAT HAS 21 VENDORS THAT A CAMPUS OR DEPARTMENT CAN UTILIZE SHOULD THEY WANT TO PURCHASE AN AWARD TROPHY OR PROMOTIONAL ITEM.
WE COULD SPEND, DEPENDING ON WHAT A CAMPUS DEPARTMENT WANT TO SPEND, PERHAPS THIS MAY COME IN AT $200,000 A YEAR, WE DON T KNOW.
WE'RE GIVING YOU THIS ITEM BECAUSE WHEN WE RUN HISTORICAL SPEND ANNUALLY, IT'S UP TO $3.2 MILLION THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING.
>> ALONG THOSE LINES TOO, THEN I GOT THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION.
DOES THAT MONEY ROLL OVER THAT LINE ITEM OR NO? IT HAS TO BE ABSORBED.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE CAMPUSES CAN SPEND, $20,000.
I'M JUST USING THAT NUMBER, AND THEY DON'T SPEND IT, DOES IT ROLL OVER AT THE CAMPUS OR IS IT RETURNED TO HATTIE MAE WHITE?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD CALL FALLOUT.
[04:05:01]
>> IT JUST GOES TO FUND BALANCE, YES.
IF THEY DON'T SPEND THE DOLLARS.
>> WHO ENSURES THAT IT WAS RETURNED FROM THE FALLOUT OR DO PEOPLE JUST GO AHEAD AND UTILIZE IT JUST TO ABSORB IT AND NOT HAVE TO RETURN IT? I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURTAIL SOME COSTS, THAT'S ALL.
>> THEN IF HISTORICALLY THE SPENDING IS APPROXIMATELY THREE MILLION OR SO, IS THAT WHAT YOU JUST STATED? WE'RE STARTING FROM APRIL 2023 AND EXTENDING TO 2028.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT CLOSER TO $15 MILLION INSTEAD OF 20, CORRECT?
>> IF YOU TREND WITH THE $3 MILLION.
>> EXACTLY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRENDING.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON IN THE QUEUE BEFORE YOU MAKE A MOTION.
TAKE DISCUSSION, TRUSTEE CRUZ.
>> I STILL HAD A COUPLE OF SECONDS, SO THANK YOU.
MISS LUCAT, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW WHEN I WAS INITIALLY ON THE BOARD, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AS THE LINE ITEM, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE AREN'T GUARDRAILS INTO TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S POINT IF THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND IT DOES GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THE FUND BALANCE, AND WE CAN USE IT ON INSTRUCTION.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE'VE LACKED THAT, AND SO I CAN'T [NOISE]
I GUESS SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE HAVE A NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER?
>> ALEX, WHY WE HAVE A NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER WAS THE QUESTION.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO BRING YOU PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE A NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER.
BUT FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, WE PUT A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT ON A BOARD ITEM AND WE UTILIZE IF IT'S A PROJECT THAT HISTORICALLY WE USE, WE UTILIZE HISTORICAL SPEND TO GIVE YOU AN AMOUNT.
>> YOU'VE BROUGHT US THIS EVERY YEAR.
IF YOU DON'T WANT A CAMPUS TO SPEND MONEY ON TROPHIES, COULD YOU JUST NOT STOP THEM AS THE DISTRICT?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE BOARD HAS.
>> I KNOW, BUT YOU'RE JUST TELLING ME THAT, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A GUARDRAIL HERE.
BUT THE NEXT YEAR, JUST KIDDING, I'M GOING TO PUT A GUARDRAIL HERE. NO, JUST KIDDING.
I'M GOING TO PUT A GUARDRAIL HERE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR GUARDRAILS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE TELLING A CAMPUS NOT TO EXCEED OR EMPLOYEES EXCEEDING THAT, I'M NOT DISCOUNTING OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR SUCCESS OR STUDENTS AND THEIR SUCCESS, OR THEIR CAMPUSES AND THEIR SUCCESS, BUT SHOULD THESE NUMBERS, THESE GUARDRAILS, NOT HAVE GUARDRAILS? SHOULD THERE NOT BE LIMITS AS TO HOW MUCH OUR CAMPUSES CAN SPEND, WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK TO US AND ASKING US TO INCREASE THIS NUMBER?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT A PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS TONIGHT.
IF THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS DEVOTED DOWN, WE WILL ADHERE TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> I MOVE THAT THIS RFP REQUEST IS REDUCED FROM THE 20 MILLION TO 12.5 MILLION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY.
>> I JUST WANTED TO [NOISE] BE CLEAR, YOU'RE MOVING TO AMEND THE ITEM.
YOU'RE MOVING TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION?
>> I HAVE A SECOND BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE CRUZ?
>> MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT AS THE TOTAL DISTRICT AND WHETHER THAT'S 20 MILLION OR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, IS THERE A LIMIT FOR A DEPARTMENT OR A SCHOOL? SCHOOL A SAYS I WANT TO SPEND HALF OF MY BUDGET ON AWARDS AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, AND SCHOOL B SAYS I ONLY WANT TO SPEND THIS.
IS IT JUST LIKE I CAN SPEND WHATEVER I WANT? [BACKGROUND]
>> IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, YOU CAN GO AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNDERLYING QUESTION, WHICH INCLUDES THE ITEM PLUS THE AMENDMENT.
[04:10:02]
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE AMENDMENT IS A SPECIFIC DOLLAR REDUCTION.YOUR QUESTION NEEDS TO BE LIMITED TO THAT PRODUCTION.
>> YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON WHERE WE ARE PROCEDURALLY TO ASK QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
YOUR QUESTIONS NEED TO BE GERMANE TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS TO REDUCE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM 20 MILLION TO 12 MILLION.
YOU CAN ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT MOVING TO 12.
IF THAT AMENDMENT PASSES THE NEXT VOTE THAT YOU WILL TAKE IS THE ITEM AS AMENDED AND DISCUSSION HAS NOT CLOSED ON THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS INTERRUPTED TO ENTERTAIN THIS MOTION TO AMEND.
>> TRUSTEE CRUZ, DO YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
>> TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S.
>> QUICKLY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING BE FIT IN THIS AREA HERE, BUT COULD THAT NOT EVEN AT 12 AND A HALF MILLION, SHOULD THAT MOTION PASS, VERSUS THE 20 MILLION? COULD THAT NOT BE CONTROLLED AND HAD HIM A WHITE AS OPPOSED? WHAT WOULD HAVE TO DO TO HAVE THAT BROUGHT BACK AND CONTROLLED IF IT HADN'T BEEN WHITE AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES HAVING THAT CONTROL?
>> TO TRY TO CONTROL THAT AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS LEVEL, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE TO DO BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDE WHETHER TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS.
WE DON'T HAVE A CENTRAL BUDGET TO CONTROL THAT BY.
>> I GOT THAT, BUT I TELL YOU IF I GAVE MY GRANDKIDS OR CREDIT CARD AND JUST TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND JUST USE IT, WHENEVER THEY GOT RID OF USE IT, THEY WOULD KEEP USING IT AT MAX IT OUT.
GRANNY QUEEN IS GOING TO CONTROL IT.
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SAVE SOME COST BY JUST MONITORING IT.
BUT I'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION AGAIN BEFORE WHEN I WAS ASKING YOU ABOUT DOING AN AUDIT OUT THERE FOR THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS. THAT SPENDING THOSE VENDOR AWARD AND PURCHASES.
I JUST WISH WE'D HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER IT [NOISE]
>> MY FIRST QUESTION, LAST WEEK DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT WE HAD A BALANCE THAT WE STILL OWED SOME PEOPLE SOME MONEY? THAT'S WHY YOU WERE TRYING TO RAISE IT?
WE'RE HOLDING SHOPPING CARTS BECAUSE THE PROJECTS THAT IT IS EXPIRING AND THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
WE HAVE NO MONEY ON THE PROJECT HAS EXPIRED, SO WE'RE HOLDING ALL THOSE SHOPPING CARTS.
WE HAVE NOT PROCESSED THEM BECAUSE WE'LL BE PROCESSING THEM AGAINST THIS SHOULD THIS ITEM PASS.
>> IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE THIS TO THE LOWER AMOUNT, WOULD THAT FORCE PRINCIPALS TO LET'S JUST SAY, LIKE WE WERE HAVING A SCIENCE FAIR? OUR I SCIENCE FAIRS USUALLY AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TROPHIES.
WOULD THAT FORCE PRINCIPALS TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY BUY ALL OF THEIR TROPHIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR SO THAT THEY WON'T GET BLOCKED OUT OF THE AMOUNT?
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE. SHOULD YOU PASS IT AT 12 MILLION DOLLARS OR 12.5 MILLION, I DON'T ANTICIPATE SPENDING THAT FULL $12 MILLION IN YEAR 1.
THAT WILL COVER US FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
>> GENERALLY BECAUSE I MAY PULL MY MOTION BACK [LAUGHTER]
GENERALLY, WHAT DO YOU SEE THE EFFECT OF REDUCING ON THE CAMPUSES?
>> I WANT TO JUST TO BE CLEAR, RESPECTFULLY, THIS ARE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, THAT COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
OUR JOB AND MY TEAM'S JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT DEBATE NO MATTER WHAT CONTRACT IT IS.
THAT WHEN A SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT IS ORDERING SOMETHING, THEY'RE ORDERING IT FROM A BOARD-APPROVED VENDOR, AND IT'S WITHIN WHAT YOU HAVE APPROVED.
I CAN SAY THIS TO YOU, IF YOU LOWER THE AMOUNTS TO $12 MILLION, I HAVE A FEELING THAT IN THREE YEARS I'LL BE COMING BACK AND ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME A NOT TO EXCEED INCREASE TO GET US THROUGH THE REMAINING TWO YEARS OF THE PROJECT.
[04:15:02]
OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT'S IN THE BASKET? I JUST HAVE AN INTEREST.>> THE PENDING SHOPPING CARTS?
>> I COULD NOT TELL YOU THE VALUE.
BUT WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 50-75 PENDING SHOPPING CARTS, BUT I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A DOLLAR VALUE.
>> THAT WOULD BE END OF YEAR THOUGH.
ARE PRINCIPALS PURCHASING FOR FIRST OF YEAR RIGHT NOW?
>> I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT, THE PRINCIPAL PURCHASING FOR?
>> FIRST OF THE YEAR OR IS THAT END OF THE YEAR?
>>NO, MA'AM. I BELIEVE IT IS ALL END OF THE YEAR.
>> IS THERE ANY HISTORICAL EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS PRINCIPALS DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY MANAGE YOUR CAMPUS, WITH PERHAPS HAVING ACCESS TO THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY?
>> NO, I THINK ANYTIME WE'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A PARTICULAR PRINCIPAL, WE TRIED TO GET BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO ENSURE THAT THAT SUPPORT IS THERE.
IF THERE ARE CONCERNS, WE HANDLE THOSE CONCERNS WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS THEY COME SCHOOL BY SCHOOL.
>> BECAUSE I'M HAVING PROBLEMS UNDERSTANDING IN LINE OF QUESTIONING TONIGHT IN MOTION TO MODIFY THE AMOUNT.
WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $100,000, CAMPUS SPACE MANAGEMENT FOR AWARDS, TROPHIES, PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. THERE'S NO HISTORICAL ISSUE, JUST ASKING FOR PERMISSION SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK IN THREE YEARS FOR A LITTLE SMALL CHANGE LIKE THIS.
ALTHOUGH IS 20 MILLION, STILL, THIS IS NOTHING UNUSUAL FOR CAMPUS BASED ON THAT BEFORE YOUR PRINCIPLES, RIGHT?
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
>> IS THIS UNUSUAL? IS THIS A HUGE AMOUNT? IS THIS BRAND NEW FOR THEM TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN TROPHIES AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND AWARDS?
>> HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE IS THIS?
IF YOU USE THE 3.2 MILLION THAT HISTORICALLY IS SPENT ANNUALLY.
THERE'S 20 MILLION IS ABOUT 1.8 ANNUALLY, MORE THAN WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY SPENDING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, BECAUSE THEY DO WATCH OVER, WHAT YOU PUT WHAT YOU'RE BUYING.
THEY DON'T JUST LET YOU BUY ANYTHING WILLY NILLY.
I HAVE HAD SOMEONE CALLED ME AND ASKED ME, WHY IS YOUR SCIENCE TEACHER BUYING BUBBLES? IT WAS THREE-DOLLAR BUBBLES.
I HAD TO HAVE THE SCIENCE TEACHER COME AND EXPLAIN TO THE DEPARTMENT WHAT SHE WAS DOING ON THE CURRICULUM WITH THOSE BUBBLES.
THEY DON'T JUST LET YOU BUY ANYTHING.
WILLY NILLY OF WHAT YOU WANT TO BUY.
>> NOW WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT, FROM 20 MILLION TO 12.5 MILLION.
>> THIS IS TO AMEND THE ITEM FROM 20 MILLION TO 12.5 MILLION.
WE'RE GOOD NOW. VOTING IS CLOSING.
MOTION FAILS FOR IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSED AND ONE ABSTENTION [LAUGHTER] NOW, WE GO BACK.
>> REGULAR AGENDA ITEM, THE APPROVAL FOR THE PROJECT 231008, AWARDS, TROPHIES, AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST SO THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS ON THE TABLE FOR CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
>> CORRECT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE VOTE.
[04:20:28]
WE HAVE EVERYBODY, VOTING IS CLOSING NOW.WE HAVE FOUR IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
THE NEXT PROJECT PULLED UNDER ITEM 12 IS PROJECT 231108,
[12. Approval Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Over $100,000 And Ratification Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Under $100,000 • 23-11-08 – RFQ / Internal Audit Management Services]
INTERNAL AUDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES HELD AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEE DEIGAARD, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE TRUSTEE DEIGAARD IN THE QUEUE.
>> I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT.
AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WE'VE BEEN REBUILDING OUR AUDIT FUNCTION SINCE I ARRIVED ON THE BOARD IN 2018.
THIS AGENDA ITEM IS PART OF AN ONGOING EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THE AUDIT FUNCTION.
THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OR BOARD'S OVERSIGHT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE IMPROVEMENTS TO EXECUTION OF OUR AUDIT PLAN.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE BY THE TIME A PRICE IS NEGOTIATED, AND WE'RE IN THIS PERIOD OF TRANSITION TO NEW, A NEW GOVERNANCE TEAM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW THAT NEW GOVERNANCE TEAM TO DECIDE IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO OR NOT.
THEREFORE, I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROJECT TERM TO START ON JULY 1ST, 2023.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> I HAVE A SECOND, BUT WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS. TRUSTEE GUIDRY.
YOU WANT TO AMEND TO JULY 1ST AND YOU WANT US TO APPROVE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT TO $2.5 MILLION FOR JULY 1ST.
>> I'M NOT ASKING TO CHANGE THE DO NOT EXIST.
THIS IS THE CONTRACT TO OUTSOURCE THE AUDIT FUNCTION, RIGHT? YEAH. I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CHANGE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
JUST THE DATE SO THAT THERE'S MORE TIME.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
PLEASE VOTE. WE ARE VOTING TO AMEND THE START DATE TO JULY 1ST.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROJECT TERM JUST START ON JULY 1ST 2023.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE CRUZ. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES EIGHT IN FAVOR ZERO OPPOSED AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> WITH THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THIS ITEM AS AMENDED.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS. PLEASE VOTE.
[04:25:19]
VOTING IS CLOSING.MOTION PASSES EIGHT IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION.
THE LAST PROJECT PULLED UNDER ITEM.
>> I MEAN, WE'RE STILL IN ITEM 12.
BECAUSE I MADE IT TO MAKE A MOTION BECAUSE WE JUST VOTED THAT NOBODY CAN BUY ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, NO TROPHIES, NO NOTHING BECAUSE ALL OF THE VENDORS JUST GOT REJECTED.
>> LET ME FINISH WITH THE LAST ITEM FOR ITEM 12 AND THEN WE CAN GET LEGAL ADVICE ON THAT.
THE LAST PROJECT PULLED UNDER ITEM 12 IS
[12. Approval Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Over $100,000 And Ratification Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Under $100,000 • 23-02-16-04 – Cooperative / Nutrition Services Branding & Design Concepts]
PROJECT 2302-16-04 CROP A DAY OF SLASHING NUTRITION SERVICES, BRANDING AND DESIGN CONCEPTS HELD AT THE REQUEST OF TRUSTEE ALLEN.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE ALLEN?
>> NO DISCUSSION. I WANTED TO PUT BACK ON CONSENT BUT WASN'T IN TIME, SO I'M [INAUDIBLE].
>> IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION PLEASE VOTE.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR A FEW TRUSTEES.
>> OKAY. VOTING IS NOW CLOSING.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE ALLEN.
LET ME ASK THE QUESTION BEFORE, DIDN'T WE JUST VOTE THAT NOBODY CAN BUY ANYTHING FROM ALL OF THOSE VENDORS?
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT WE DID.
I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ITEM 2310.8 ON THE RFP, THAT WE CHANGE THE EXCEED AMOUNT TO 18 MILLION, 15, WHATEVER WE NEED TO BUY SOME TROPHIES.
NOW WE VOTED DOWN, WE CAN'T BUY ANYTHING NOW.
>> PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, CAN I HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE VOTING ON THE NOT TO EXCEED IT LIKE THAT.
>> CAN WE GET LISA TO CHANGE WHAT COUNCIL DETERMINED?
>> YOU TOOK TWO VOTES ON THAT ITEM AND THEY BOTH FAILED BECAUSE YOU HAD A FOUR AGAINST AND ONE ABSTENTION.
THE FIRST VOTE WAS TO REDUCE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT THAT FAILED BECAUSE OF THE 4-4-1 VOTE AND THEN THE SECOND VOTE WAS LOOKING AT THE UNDERLYING ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WHICH AGAIN FAILED BECAUSE YOU HAD 4-4-1 VOTE.
IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE TO THAT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT ITEM.
SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OF THAT AND THERE WAS NO PREVAILING SIDE.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING ROBERT'S RULES QUESTION WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
BUT YOU HAVE VOTED ON THAT ITEM AND IT IS IT'S GONE.
UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
>> LISA I VOTED ON BOTH SIDES.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT VOTE. I DID VOTE NO.
>> I GUESS TECHNICALLY BECAUSE IT FAILED, I GUESS SOMEONE WHO VOTED NO, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO PREVAILING SIDE.
>> YOU VOTED NO ON WHICH ONE? ON BOTH?
>> ON THE 20 MILLION. YES, THE LAST ONE.
[04:30:01]
>> FOR THOSE WHO HELP IF WE COULD SEE THE ITEM ON OUR SCREEN OR IN GRANICUS, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE DETAILS WE CAN'T SEE.
A FEW PULL UP GRANICUS AND YOU GO TO ITEM 12.
IT IS THE THE SECOND ONE, NUMBER 12, I HAVE NO ATTACHMENTS.
>> OR EVEN WHEN I GO TO THE AGENDA ON THIS SCREEN.
>> WE CAN GO TO THE AGENDA PACKET PAGE 78.
>> I MOVE TO RECONSIDER ITEM 12, APPROVAL OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES OVER 100,000, NEW RATIFICATION OF VENDOR AWARDS FOR PURCHASES UNDER 100,000.
THE PROJECTS NUMBER IS 231008.
AWARDS, TROPHIES, AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE ALLEN.
>> TRUSTEES THIS REQUIRES A VOTE OF SIX TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
>> THIS IS JUST A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM.
>> THIS IS THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER?
>> WE'RE TESTING BRIAN OVER THERE.
ZERO OPPOSED, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
[12. Approval Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Over $100,000 And Ratification Of Vendor Awards For Purchases Under $100,000 • 23-10-08 – RFP / Awards, Trophies, and Promotional Items (Part 2 of 2)]
>> TRUSTEES, NOW, THE ITEM IS BACK ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
>> THE ITEM IS BACK ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AS PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> I HAVE TRUSTEE WADE IN THE IN THE QUEUE.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN YOU CAN AMEND IT.
MY QUESTION GOES TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS, AND THAT IS THE CAMPUSES TO HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO BE ABLE TO ORDER WHAT THEY NEED REASONABLY.
IT'S THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE BUYING THINGS THAT MAYBE WE DON'T NEED AN EXCESS OF WHAT IS [LAUGHTER]
AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED MIGHT BE A WAY TO HANDLE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OVER WHAT COMES OUT OF THE CAMPUSES. SELL MY COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST A REMINDER TO ALL TRUSTEES IT'S CURRENTLY 11:50 PM.
>> I HAVE TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S IN THE QUEUE.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE TEDDY BEARS WERE FOR AND THE TWINS HAD THEM SUTRA OCCURS DOWN.
YEAH, WE'RE DOING A DEMONSTRATION OF THE BEARS, AND I KNOW CAMPUSES HAVE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY ITEMS FOR PARENTS OR FOR YOU EVENT ET CETERA, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE IT MORE CONTROLLED.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY EARLIER.
LIKE BRIDGET SAID, HAVING THAT AUTONOMY BUT NOT JUST OVERBOARD BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW T-SHIRT.
WE'RE VOTING ON THE AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> I HAVE MORE TRUSTEES IN THE QUEUE.
[04:35:09]
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE MRS. LAKOTA.
WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WADE IS ASKING FOR, WHAT WOULD THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT BE, IF POSSIBLE, TO REDUCE THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO SPEND MONEY ON TROPHIES.
>> WE DON'T OF COURSE, HAVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IN FRONT OF US AT THIS JUNCTURE.
BUT QUITE FRANKLY WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS, THAT'S TO VOTE THE ITEM COMPLETELY DOWN.
>> I THINK THAT WE CAN POSTPONE IT TO THURSDAY DURING HEARINGS, SO THAT WAY WE DO GET THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
TRUSTEE HERNANDEZ DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID? TO HONOR TRUSTEE WADE'S POINT, IT WAS THAT HAD HIM A WHITE CENTRAL ADMIN DOESN'T LIKE SHE WANTS A DISTRICT THAT THE CAMPUSES TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS, BUT MAYBE NOT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS 20 MILLION, WHETHER WE APPROVE IT AT 20 OR 12, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE ON THEIR OWN.
I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE SANTOS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE ALLEN.
YES. TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> WE ALREADY VOTE TO APPROVE IT.
>> I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU DO, BUT IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, WHO WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO DISCUSS THIS?
>> CAN YOU JUST PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO DISCUSS THIS?
>> I MOVE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM.
>> THE BOARD SERVICES, IS THAT CLEAR IN YOUR SYSTEM?
>> BUT THEN IT'S GETTING READY TO COME OUT. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
>> I REMEMBER TRUSTEES WHEN HE TAKES IN FAVOR IN ORDER FOR THIS ITEM TO PASS.
>> WE HAVE ONE TRUSTEE THAT STILL NEEDS TO VOTE.
TWO OPPOSED, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
WE'RE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE REMAINDER OF TODAY'S AGENDA.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BALANCE OF TODAY'S AGENDA BY CONSENSUS? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD, WE HAVE A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
WE'RE NOW READY TO CONSIDER ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION]
ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS?>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT ADDENDUM FOR EACH CHIEF OFFICER WHO ON OR BEFORE MAY 31ST, 2023, MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED AND AMENDED AND CLOSE SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH 2023.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS. PLEASE VOTE.
>> WE'RE GOOD SO VOTING IS CLOSING.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO EXTENSIONS.
[04:40:02]
>> YES. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF BOYD FULL WEEK ETL VERSUS HIST IN THE HUNDRED AND 29TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
CAUSE NUMBER 2018-63327, ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND THE SECOND BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS'S, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> YES. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF THE PATRIOT CONTRACTING, LLC VERSUS HIST IN THE 127 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, CAUSE NUMBER 201-96-9389, ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WADE. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE A SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTER OF MOHAMMED S BNFOB VERSUS HOUSTON ISD SOA, DOCKET NUMBER 701-23078481, TEA DOCKET 116-SE-1222 ON A TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.
>> WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO SETTLE IN A MATTER OF REGINA HOMES VERSUS HOUSTON ISD.EEOC CHARGED NUMBER 460-2022-01186, ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE A FINDING OF NO GOOD CAUSE FOR EDUCATORS TO RESIGN OR ABANDON EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITHOUT DISTRICT CONSENT UNDER SECTIONS 21.105C, 21.160C, OR 21.210C OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AS DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO SBEC TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE SANTOS, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
>> FINALLY, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE BALANCE OF A CLOSED SESSION OF PERSONNEL AGENDA, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY THE BOARD APPROVED PROPOSED TERMINATION, SOME CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, OR APPROVE END OF TERM TERMINATIONS OF WHICH THE RE-CONTRACT THE BOARD APPROVED, PROPOSED NON RENEWAL OF TERM CONTRACTS, THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF 4TH YEAR PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, AND THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAYING THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THAT SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENTS,
[04:45:05]
THAT THE BOARD APPROVE WITHDRAWALS OF CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ISSUANCE OF FINAL ORDER ON CONTRACT TERMINATIONS AND NON RENEWALS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2023.>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
NOW, WE WILL, DRIVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF
[CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS]
THE REGULARLY MONTHLY BOARD MEETING HELD ON MARCH 9TH, 2023? WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GUIDRY.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.
WE HAVE ONE TRUSTEE THAT NEEDS TO VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
WE ARE NOW READY TO HEAR REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
[TRUSTEE REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO 30 SECONDS PER TRUSTEE.>> WE'LL START WITH TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.
>> OUR CARRIAGE IS TURNED INTO A PUMPKIN AND WE LOST HER SHOE.
IT'S TIME TO GO HOME. GOOD NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. AT NINE IS I SUPPORT A STABILITY STIPEND FOR AGE THE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL CAREER TO OUR DISTRICT PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT WE AS A BOARD WAS TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS THAT THEIR RIGHT TO A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR.
THIS RIGHT IS A FOUNDATION FOR THAT CORNERSTONE WE ARE BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WISH TO STRIP LOCAL CONTROL OF UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES AND ARE BEING FORCED TO HAND OUR PROPERTY RICH DISTRICTS WITH A $2.2 BILLION BUDGET OVER TO A HANDPICK BOARD OF MANAGERS AND CHERRY-PICK SUPERINTENDENT THAT ARE SELECTED THROUGH A VERY NON-TRANSPARENT PROCESS WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE'LL BE ASKED TO HAVE LESS OVERSIGHT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND HANDOUT OUR SCHOOLS FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
IF I'VE A LOT MORE I WILL BE POSTING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE JUST GOT TO FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY.
>> WELL, I SAY, MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE CHILDREN OF A HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY.
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS STAYING HERE TONIGHT WITH US IN THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD SERVICES STAFF AND ALL THE TIME THEY GIVE AND EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TONIGHT.
>> WHAT TRUSTEE SANTOS SAID AND WHAT TRUSTEE BAKER SAY.
>> THANK YOU. DEFINITELY WHAT TRUSTEE BRIDGETTE WADE SAID, THANK YOU ALL FOR STAYING UP ALL NIGHT HERE.
IT'S LATE AND WE KNOW UNTIL I APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR FAMILIES FOR US.
MY HUSBAND TEXTED ME RIGHT NOW AND ASK ME WHERE IN THE NAMESAKE ARE YOU? [LAUGHTER]
CONGRATULATION AGAIN TO THE BOOKER T WASHINGTON MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM GO EAGLES.
LET ME JUST SAY TOO, I WANT TO SEND OUT HEARTFELT CONCERN AND LOVE TO THE FAMILY OF ALEX CONROY SHARAD, THE GENTLEMAN CAME HERE TODAY AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THAT FAMILY THAT'S PROBABLY WATCHING THIS MAYBE NOT THIS TIME OF NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S 02:00 IN THE MORNING THERE, BUT I CAN SAY THAT I HONESTLY KNOW HOW THEIR FAMILY FEELS AND SO THAT'S WHY I WENT OUT THERE AND GAVE THAT YOUNG MAN A HUG AND YOUNG LADY A HUG BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN BEFORE ME AND IT'S NOT JUST ME SAYING THAT HAVING TO LIVE THROUGH IT AND BE SANCTIONED TO A LIFE OF GRIEF FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THAT FAMILY.
[04:50:03]
>> FIRST, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STUDENTS THAT WERE HONORED AT THE SCHOLARS RECOGNITION CELEBRATION LAST TUESDAY.
THE VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTED TO SOME LIBERTARIANS.
ALSO WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO THOSE STUDENTS IN THE GI UNITY PROGRAM THEY ARE COMPETING IN THEIR SHARK TANK STYLE HUSTLE TANK.
ON SATURDAY THE 22ND, MADISON WORTHING AND YATES WILL BE COMPETING AND BEING ON SATURDAY THE 29TH, KASHMERE, WASHINGTON AND WHEATLEY WILL BE COMPETING. GOOD LUCK.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON MAY 11TH, 2023 AGENDA REVIEW FOR THAT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MAY 4TH, 2023.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AT 12:07 AM.
[SPANISH]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.