[00:00:02]
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM ARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS TO SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS REGISTERED TO SPEAK TODAY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 2020.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON APRIL 20TH, 2023? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE CRUZ AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WADE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.
AND PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT.
TRUSTEE SANTOS AND TRUSTEE BAKER HAVE JOINED US IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.
GOOD MORNING. VOTING IS CLOSING. MOTION PASSES.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE HEARING PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO CONSIDER THE DISPUTE FILED BY ANGELA WILLIAMS, TEACHER.
COMMUNITY SERVICES HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE IS A SUBJECT OF THE HEARING, UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE, WHO IS A SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING IN THIS CASE, THE EMPLOYEE HAS REQUESTED AN OPEN HEARING.
FOR THE RECORD, MRS ANGELA WILLIAMS IS PRESENT.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE HEARING PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO CONSIDER THE DISPUTE FILED BY ANGELA WILLIAMS, TEACHER.
COMMUNITY SERVICES HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINANTS AGAINST THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING IN THIS CASE.
THE EMPLOYEE HAS REQUESTED AN OPEN HEARING.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071.
IF ANY BOARD MEMBER WISHES TO SEEK ADVICE OF COUNSEL, PLEASE MAKE THIS REQUEST KNOWN TO ME.
FOR THE RECORD, MRS ANGELA WILLIAMS IS PRESENT.
[00:05:02]
ELLEN SPALDING WITH SPALDING NICKEL'S LAMP [INAUDIBLE] LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION IS PRESENT.TO PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE RECORD POSSIBLE OF THIS HEARING.
A RECORDING OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS BEING MADE.
UNLESS ANYONE OBJECTS THE PROCEDURAL BACKGROUNDS OF THE MATTER AND THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED THAT ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SCRIPT WILL BE INCORPORATED AND I WILL PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? NO. THE ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, A POINT OF ORDER.
REALLY QUICKLY. WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
DO WE HAVE A HARD COPY OF THE HEARING? [INAUDIBLE] GRANICUS IS NOT.
ARE YOU ABLE TO. OKAY, IF I CAN'T ACCESS IT, I'LL JUST.
THAT THE ISSUES BEFORE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE WHETHER THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE CORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE GRIEVANCE AND WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION HAS VIOLATED THOSE BOARD POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
MS. WILLIAMS SINCE YOU ASKED THE BOARD TO HEAR THIS MATTER, YOU WILL PROCEED FIRST.
YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE A TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, FOLLOWED BY A TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION BY MS. SPALDING. MS. WILLIAMS YOU MAY RESERVE PART OF YOUR TEN MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL TO MATTERS PRESENTED BY MRS. SPALDING. BOTH SIDES SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AFTER THEIR RESPECTIVE PRESENTATIONS.
AFTER DELIBERATION, THE BOARD WILL RENDER ITS DECISION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WAY THAT THIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED? NO. MS. WILLIAMS HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIVIDE YOUR TIME IN MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD BASED ON THE TRANSCRIPT? I'LL TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO READ MY SUMMARY.
OKAY? OKAY. MS. WILLIAMS, YOU MAY BEGIN.
OKAY. THIS NOTICE IS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS I HAVE AT COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGH SCHOOL.
MY CONCERNS BEGIN THE WEEK OF AUGUST 16TH THROUGH THE 20TH, 2021.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT I WAS OFF DAIS.
I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME TO GIVE THE FIVE MINUTES.
AS THE DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD TO FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION, HOW WOULD INSTRUCTION LOOK FOR OUR HOMEBOUND STUDENTS WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS? I MADE MY CONCERNS KNOWN TO MISS SICILY WILLIAMS PRINCIPAL MS. NATASHA DAVIS, DEAN OF INSTRUCTION.
ON AUGUST 25TH, I REACHED OUT TO MY COMMUNITY SERVICE COLLEAGUES VIA EMAIL, ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON MASKING UP FOR TEACHERS WHO PROVIDED ACADEMIC SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IN THE HOMEBOUND SETTING.
I WAS COLLABORATING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, SEEKING SUGGESTIONS.
SO MOVING FORWARD, SCHOOL BEGINS AND I WAS ASSIGNED FIVE HOMEBOUND STUDENTS, ONE INACTIVE DUE TO A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND PARENT DID NOT WANT FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION AND WANTED AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION.
MY CASELOAD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PARENTS HAVE HAD MANY CONCERNS ABOUT FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION DUE TO THEIR CHILD'S COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE FACT THAT TEACHERS ARE SEEING OTHER STUDENTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF COVID 19 TRANSFERENCE FROM ONE HOME ENVIRONMENT TO ANOTHER.
ONCE AGAIN, I INFORMED MISS WILLIAMS, MISS HOBBS, AND MISS DAVIS ABOUT PARENTS CONCERNS.
[00:10:05]
THE RESPONSE WAS, WE HAVE TO PROCEED WITH THE DISTRICT'S PLAN AND PROVIDE FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.OR PARENTS COULD REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL ONLINE.
WE NEED SEVERAL DOCUMENTS, SCHOOL RECORDS, SPED DOCUMENTS, FULL AND INDIVIDUAL EVALUATION, 504 RELATED SERVICES FROM THE LAST SCHOOL OF ATTENDANCE TO INPUT AND SUBMIT THE DATA FOR A COMPARABLE SERVICE MEETING WITHIN THREE DAYS OF ENROLLMENT.
THESE DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED AT VARIOUS INTERVALS AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
I AM UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED TO OUR CAMPUS.
MISS DAVIS HAS REQUESTED THESE DOCUMENTS AND MEETINGS IN SUCH A DEMANDING WAY.
SHE STATED ALL DOCUMENTS WERE IN ORDER AND TO SCHEDULE THE MEETING.
AS SHE DIDN'T ADDRESS MY CONCERNS, SHE STATED, WHAT AM I PROPOSING? I THEN REACHED OUT TO MISS HOBBS TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION.
MISS HOBBS ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS ON NINE 721.
MY HOMEBOUND CASELOAD HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.
I FEEL THE TONE NOW IS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMMODATED YOU WITH THIS HOMEBOUND SCHEDULE.
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? THIS MEETING TOOK PLACE ON 9/17/21 4:10 TO 4:24.
MY DIRECT QUESTION FOR MISS WILLIAMS WAS WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT WHEN IT COMES TO MASKING UP IN THE HOME AT THE DISTRICT'S READY, SET GO PLAN? DIDN'T ADDRESS THE CONCERN IN THE HOMEBOUND SETTING.
ANOTHER CONCERN WAS ABOUT THE WALL TRIP BOARD MEETING AND THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS ARE UNCLEAR, WITH THE DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON BLOWING ME OFF ABOUT SENDING AN ART INVITATION STATING ON 9/8/21 GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE ART INVITE WAS SENT YESTERDAY.
PER PRINCIPAL HOBBS DIRECTIVE, MISS DANA LOPEZ SENT IT TO YOU.
FOR SOME REASON WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND IT.
ON 9/8/21 MISS HOBBS SENT ME AN EMAIL ASKING, IS EVERYTHING OKAY? I WASN'T PRESENT AT THE ART MEETING SCHEDULED AT WALDRIP.
MY RESPONSE WAS I HADN'T BEEN INFORMED OF THE MEETING AND I WAS IN SESSION WITH HOMEBOUND STUDENT ONE AND HEADED TO HOMEBOUND STUDENT TWO I WAS BEING ADMONISHED FOR A MEETING I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
I ASKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS INFORMATION AND REACHED OUT TO MR. BARBOSA AND THE PARAPROFESSIONAL DANI LOPEZ AND WHEN THE ART INVITES WAS SENT, HIS RESPONSE I'M SORRY, BUT WE SEARCHED AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING.
I SPECIFICALLY ASKED WHEN I'M INVITED TO AN ART, WILL A SUBSTITUTE BE PROVIDED? WILL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MY HOMEBOUND STUDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
THE STUDENT BECAME MY FIFTH ACTIVE FACE TO FACE.
I ASKED WOULD THIS STUDENT BE ADDED TO MY CASELOAD? AND SHE RESPONDED, YES.
I SORT OUT SOME LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE FROM MISS HOBBS AND ASK HOW? IS THAT MY TIME OR.
YES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXTEND IT? YES. OKAY.
AND OUR MEETING I WAS INVITED TO.
I ASKED HER WHAT THIS STUDENT BE ADDED TO MY CASELOAD AND SHE RESPONDED, YES.
I SORT OUT SOME LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE FROM MS. HOBBS AND SHE ASKED, WOULD I BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE STUDENT DEPENDING ON HOW MANY HOURS WERE REQUIRED.
I PROVIDED HER WITH MY CURRENT SCHEDULE AND ADDED ADDED HER TO MY CALENDAR.
MS. HOBBS RESPONSE WAS CURRENTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS THE STUDENT WILL NEED, BUT I DO KNOW THAT ON WEDNESDAY YOU HAVE TWO HOURS AND 40 MINUTES THAT IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR STUDENTS AT COB.
MY RESPONSE TO HER HAS LUNCH TRAVELED TO THE STUDENT'S HOME AND PLANNING PERIOD BEEN FACTORED IN? WHAT IS COB? HOW MANY HOURS IS A STUDENT ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE? PLEASE ADVISE AS TO SCHEDULE OR TOOK PLACE.
THE COMMITTEE DECIDED THAT THE STUDENT WOULD RECEIVE FOUR HOURS.
IN THE MEETING, I TOLD THE COMMITTEE I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HOW I WOULD WORK INTO MY SCHEDULE AND IF I WAS ABLE TO PUT STUDENT IN ROTATION, ANOTHER TEACHER WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUGGEST.
[00:15:01]
OKAY. MRS SPALDING.YOU MAY MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD BASED ON THE TRANSCRIPT.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TODAY TO FIND THAT ALL REMEDIES HAVE BEEN GRANTED AND TO TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION.
FIRST, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE RECORD, I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL LAWYER ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE.
THE ORIGINAL LAWYER ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE HAS BECOME A JUDGE IN DALLAS COUNTY.
SO AS I TOOK ON THIS CASE AFTER THE LEVEL OF TWO HEARING, I WAS STRUCK BY THREE THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WAS STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MISS WILLIAMS, AS PRINCIPAL AND HER TEAM OF TEACHERS SERVICE, SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT'S A HARD AND STRESSFUL JOB FOR THIS LEADER AND HER TEAM.
2021 WAS ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.
WE WERE STILL DEEP IN THE HEART OF OUR COVID SITUATION, AND WE WERE OPERATING WITH SIGNIFICANT COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS AT THAT TIME. WORKING THROUGH THESE COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN A NON TRADITIONAL SETTING MUST HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE STRESSFUL THAN IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING.
AND THIRD, I WAS STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT ACTUALLY THIS GRIEVANCE SHOULD NOT BE A BOARD MATTER.
ALL OF THE REMEDIES REQUESTED HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
ALL OF THE REMEDIES REQUESTED HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS UNDER STRESS AND HAVING A HARD TIME DURING THIS TIME.
BUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE AS I GO THROUGH MY PRESENTATION IS THAT EACH TIME THIS EMPLOYEE RAISED A CONCERN, THE PRINCIPAL ADDRESSED THE CONCERN TO WORK WITH THE EMPLOYEE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYEE AND THE STUDENTS THAT THEY SERVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST CONCERN WAS AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN AUGUST 2021.
MS. WILLIAMS AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING BECAUSE WE HAVE.
MS. ANGELA WILLIAMS THE GRIEVANCE AND WE HAVE MS. SICILY WILLIAMS THE PRINCIPAL.
WHEN I REFER TO THE PRINCIPAL, I WILL CALL HER PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS TO TRY TO AVOID CONFUSION.
SO IN THE START OF 2021, MS. WILLIAMS WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GOING INTO HOMES WITH FAMILIES.
AND WHAT IF THOSE FAMILIES WEREN'T MASKING? AND PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS TOLD HER, WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE ALL FAMILIES TO FOLLOW THE HISD READY, SET, GO PLAN.
AND THAT MEANS THAT ALL FAMILIES HAVE TO BE MASKED IF THEY ARE MEDICALLY ABLE.
THE STUDENTS HAVE TO BE MASKED IF THEY'RE MEDICALLY ABLE, AND WE WILL OBSERVE SIX FEET OF DISTANCE.
AND MS.. WILLIAMS REPORTED, WELL, I HAVE SOME KIDS WHO AREN'T DOING THAT.
AND PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS SAID, THEN TELL ME WHO THEY ARE AND I WILL CALL THEM.
SO SHE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM FOR HER.
AND THIS WAS TROUBLING TO HER.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE EXHIBITS THAT MS. WILLIAMS PROVIDED THAT SHE TALKED TO HER SUPERVISOR ABOUT THAT, AND HER SUPERVISOR SAID, YES, I UNDERSTAND.
WE OFTEN DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE NEED TO FILL OUT THIS DOCUMENT.
SO THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED FOR HER.
MS. WILLIAMS RAISED CONCERNS AT THE END OF AUGUST AND EARLY SEPTEMBER OF 2021 ABOUT HER CASELOAD.
AND SHE HAD STUDENTS THAT SHE SAW VIRTUALLY AT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
SO AT THAT TIME, SHE ONLY WOULD HAVE FOUR STUDENTS SHE WAS SERVING.
THAT WAS THE LOWEST CASELOAD AT COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AT THAT TIME, SHE WOULD STILL ONLY HAVE FIVE ACTIVE STUDENTS TO SERVE, NO STUDENTS AT THE JAIL.
AND IT WAS STILL THE SMALLEST CASELOAD IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
MS. WILLIAMS WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SHE WAS GOING TO FIT THIS FIFTH STUDENT INTO HER SCHEDULE.
SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS TOO MUCH.
SHE STATED SO IN THE ARD MEETING AND AFTER THE ARD MEETING, WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STUDENT WOULD GET FOUR HOURS OF SERVICES A WEEK, SHE CALLED THE PARENT AND SHE TOLD THE PARENT, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO FIT THIS KID IN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO DO IT.
AND QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, THE PARENTS SAID, HANG ON, THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.
HISD NEEDS TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I JUST WANT MY CHILD TO GET THE SERVICES HE WAS AWARDED FOR.
AND THE PARENT BROUGHT HER CONCERN TO THE PRINCIPAL.
[00:20:02]
IN THE MEANTIME, MS. WILLIAMS ALSO BROUGHT THE CONCERN TO THE PRINCIPAL AND HER SUPERVISOR AND THE SUPERVISOR AND PRINCIPAL.MS. WILLIAMS SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW.
FIT THEM INTO MY SCHEDULE, HELP ME.
AND SO THEY SAT DOWN TOGETHER AND THEY CREATED TWO NEW SCHEDULE OPTIONS FOR MS. WILLIAMS AND THEY SAID, WHAT ABOUT EACH OF THESE SCHEDULES? THIS WOULD WORK.
MS. WILLIAMS SAID IT WILL NOT WORK.
THESE PARENTS CANNOT CHANGE THEIR TIME.
I DON'T HAVE THE DRIVE TIME TO GET THERE.
AND SO PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS DROVE IT.
SHE DROVE EACH OF THE DRIVE TIMES AND FOUND THAT SHE HAD MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TIME.
AND MS. WILLIAMS RAISED A CONCERN THAT THE PARENTS AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THAT.
THEY'VE HAD THIS TIME FOR A LONG TIME.
THESE SPECIFIC PARENTS AREN'T GOING TO LIKE CHANGING THEIR TIME.
AND PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS CALLED THE PARENT AND THE PARENT SAID, NO PROBLEM, I WILL CHANGE THE TIME.
NOW, AFTER THAT INCIDENT WHERE SHE CALLED THE PARENT AND SHARED THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK SHE COULD FIT THAT STUDENT INTO HER SCHEDULE, SHE DID GET A SUMMARY MEMO AND THAT MEMO IS BEHIND A6, AND SHE WAS DIRECTED TO TRY TO WORK THINGS OUT IN THE FUTURE WITH HER SUPERVISORS AND NOT BY SHARING HISD'S BUSINESS HOUR SCHEDULING ISSUES WITH A PARENT OF A STUDENT.
PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS AND HER SUPERVISOR MET WITH HER AND SHARED WITH HER.
YOU DON'T GET PLANNING TIME EVERY DAY.
THE LAW SAYS YOU GET 450 MINUTES OF PLANNING TIME EVERY TEN DAYS.
AND SHE WAS GIVEN 690 MINUTES OF PLANNING TIME EVERY TEN DAYS.
OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE 30 MINUTE LUNCH THAT SHE ALSO RECEIVED EVERY DAY.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE TRIED TO WORK WITH HER.
SHE DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING TO ME THAT WASN'T SOLVABLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M STRUCK ABOUT BY THIS GRIEVANCE.
WE SOLVED EVERY CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT THE REMEDIES HAVE ACTUALLY BY NOW ALL BEEN GRANTED.
HER SECOND REMEDY WAS THAT SHE WAS SEEKING A WORKPLACE WHERE SHE COULD PERFORM HER DUTIES AND NOT BE CONSUMED WITH WORRY AND OVERWHELMED WITH THE STRESSORS OF RETALIATION BECAUSE SHE CHOSE TO TAKE A STANCE FOR HER WELL-BEING.
WE WERE WORKING TO ASSIST HER.
HER THIRD AND LAST REMEDY WAS THAT SHE WANTED A WORKPLACE THAT COULD OFFER HER MORE SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES AS AN EMPLOYEE WHO FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE LEVEL TWO HEARING OFFICER GRANTED THAT REMEDY IN PART AND SAID, IF YOU WANT AN ACCOMMODATION, YOU MUST GO TO HIS AIR AND YOU MUST FOLLOW THE HISD ACCOMMODATION PROCESS.
AND SHE RECEIVED THE ACCOMMODATION THAT SHE WAS ASKING FOR.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF THE REMEDIES HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
THE EMPLOYEE BROUGHT VALID CONCERNS TO THE SUPERVISOR'S ATTENTION.
THE SUPERVISOR WORKED WITH THE EMPLOYEE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE CONCERNS AS BEST WE COULD WHILE STILL SERVING THE NEEDS OF THESE FRAGILE STUDENTS IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND FOR THIS REASON, WE ASK YOU TODAY TO PLEASE UPHOLD THE LEVEL TWO DECISION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MS. WILLIAMS DO YOU WISH TO MAKE A REBUTTAL STATEMENT? I GUESS [INAUDIBLE] SORRY, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES REMAINING.
WHO ARE YOU REFERRING TO WHEN YOU SAID THEY SAT DOWN AND DID THE PLANNING TIME? SO AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE MAKING A A REBUTTAL TO TO THE BOARD.
[00:25:01]
SO YOU WOULD BE SPEAKING TO THE BOARD AT THIS POINT? OKAY. SO, YEAH.WELL, THEN TO THE BOARD, WHO MADE THAT DECISION? SO THIS IS YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD STILL.
SO YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES FOR PRESENTATION.
OKAY. AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE DONE, THE BOARD IS ABLE TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WELL, I'LL MOVE ON TO THIS.
THIS PROCESS IS SLATED TOWARDS TEAM FROM THE ONSET OF THE INVESTIGATION TO THE HEARING.
OFFICER, HOW CAN THE HEARING OFFICER ALSO BE THE SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES? AT THE TIME OF MY COMPLAINT AND MY GRIEVANCE, NUMEROUS CONCERNS WERE COMPILED AND NARROWED DOWN TO JUST A FEW.
THE INTENSITY OF PROBLEMS EVOLVED WHEN ANOTHER HOMEBOUND STUDENT WAS ADDED TO MY CASELOAD.
I SHARED THAT WITH MISS WILLIAMS. THIS CONCERN WAS MADE KNOWN TO SICILY WILLIAMS AND HEATHER HARRELSON.
I SUBMITTED ONE WEEK OF LEAVE TIME AND ONE SOURCE FOR OCTOBER THE 11TH THROUGH THE 15TH 2021, BEFORE MY FMLA WAS TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 18TH, 2021. ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, 2021, MY TIME WAS REJECTED AND THE NEW NOTE NARRATIVE BOX.
I STATED THIS TIME IS BEING REQUESTED TO PROTECT MY MENTAL WELL-BEING AND HEALTH.
ANOTHER TEACHER DID ARRIVE AND TEAM COLLABORATION TOOK PLACE.
I DID NOT RETURN TO WORK UNTIL MY FMLA ENDED IN A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO ADDRESS MY HEALTH CONCERNS, I WAS IN TOTAL DISMAY AND QUESTIONED MYSELF TO WHY MISS WILLIAMS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR TIME OFF.
WAS IT BECAUSE SHE HAD THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, OR IS THIS WHAT ADMINISTRATORS DO WHEN THEY LACK GENUINE CONCERN FOR OTHERS? HER DECISION LEFT ME PERPLEXED.
WELL, THIS ORDEAL HAS GONE ON WAY TOO LONG, AND AS IT STILL CONTINUES TODAY, SICILY WILLIAMS. I FORGIVE YOU FOR NEGLECTING MY NEEDS TO PROTECT MY MENTAL WELL-BEING AND HEALTH.
I FORGIVE YOU FOR USING YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.
THAT HAD ME TO QUESTION WHY I TEACH AT THIS TIME.
UNDER THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, IT WOULD BE IN MY BEST INTEREST TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WHERE I CAN GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND NOT CONTINUE THIS STATE OF STAGNATION AT COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WITH THE DISTRICT NEEDING TO FEEL 1600 PLUS POSITIONS IN WHICH I HAVE ATTENDED THREE JOB FAIRS, SUBMITTED 13 APPLICATIONS AND ALL 13 HAVE BEEN REJECTED.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AT THIS TIME? TRUSTEE BAKER? THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU, SIR, IS TRUSTEE BAKER YEAH.
MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU, MADAM COUNCILOR, IS THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION IS HOW DOES AN ORGANIZATION OF THIS SORT ALLOW THESE KIND OF COMPLAINTS TO ARISE TO A STEP THREE GRIEVANCE? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL,[INAUDIBLE].
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE EEO DEPARTMENT DID A FULL INVESTIGATION.
AND THAT INVESTIGATION IS BEHIND TAB A FOUR.
AND THEY LOOKED INTO THE CONCERNS SHE RAISED.
AS TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION, AND THEY DID NOT FIND THAT THE DISTRICT WAS CAUSING HER TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE HER MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE. THE DISTRICT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING THAT WAS UNFAIR OR INAPPROPRIATE AS TO THIS EMPLOYEE.
THE GRIEVANCE CHOOSES TO BRING IT TO A LEVEL THREE.
[00:30:08]
SUPERVISOR SHE WANTS TO WORK FOR.NOW, THE YEAR THAT IT WAS FILED IS IRRELEVANT TO THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT.
TO ME, WHICH IS GOING TO MY SECOND QUESTION, YOU SAID THAT ALL REMEDIES WERE GRANTED.
I NOTICED THAT REMEDY THREE STILL SAYS PARTIAL.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. AT THE TIME THAT DOCTOR FRANKLIN, THE LEVEL TWO HEARING OFFICER, HEARD THE GRIEVANCE, DR.
FRANKLIN MADE THE DECISION THAT SHE, DR.
FRANKLIN, WAS UNABLE TO GRANT THE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST, AND SHE SHARED WITH THE GRIEVANCE, MS. WILLIAMS, THAT THE GRIEVANCE NEEDED TO GO TO HIS HR ACCOMMODATION PROCESS, WHICH THE GRIEVANCE HAS SINCE DONE.
AND SICILY WILLIAMS PLEASE CONFIRM.
WAS THAT REMEDY, WAS THAT ACCOMMODATION GRANTED? YES, IT WAS GRANTED, YES, THAT ACCOMMODATION WAS GRANTED.
SO WHILE IT WAS PARTIALLY GRANTED AT THE TIME, IT HAS SINCE BEEN FULLY GRANTED.
BUT WE CAN'T CHANGE THE RECORD ONCE THE RECORD IS SET.
AND MY THIRD QUESTION IS HOW IS IT THAT A HEARING OFFICER CAN PLAY A DUAL ROLE AS AN SSO AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PLAINTIFF HAS STATED? GOOD QUESTION.
AND I HAVE HAD THIS HEARING OFFICER IN PARTICULAR AND OTHER HEARING OFFICERS WHO ARE SUPERVISORS GRANT GRIEVANCES BECAUSE WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT, THEY SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR THEY SEE A WAY A PATH FORWARD.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY? IN MY OPINION, I HEAR AN EMPLOYEE JUST FIGHTING FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND PROFESSIONALISM? YES, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT BASED ON THE RECORD, EVERY TIME THIS EMPLOYEE BROUGHT A CONCERN AND SHE DID BRING VALID CONCERNS, WE'RE NOT SAYING HER CONCERNS WEREN'T VALID.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE KIDS IN THE JAIL ANYMORE, PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS SAID.
FINE, I CAN'T MAKE THIS SCHEDULE WORK, PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS SAID.
HERE ARE TWO OPTIONS WHERE YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK.
THE CHILDREN ARE NOT WEARING MASKS OR THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS SAID.
THAT DOESN'T MEET HISD'S READY, SET, GOAL PLAN.
TELL ME WHO THEY ARE AND I'LL CALL THEM.
SO THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT ALL HER REMEDIES HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
CAN YOU SHOW ME SOMEWHERE IN THE RECORD WHERE THERE WAS A REMEDY YOU REQUESTED THAT HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED? NO. AND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, I.
M.. WILLIAMS WHEN SHE BECAME PRINCIPAL, I DID LET HER KNOW ABOUT MY ACCOMMODATION.
I WAS UNAWARE THAT I HAD TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS EVERY YEAR.
SO I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM 2020, 2021, 2022.
AND WHEN SHE CAME ON BOARD, SHE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE HER WITH A COPY.
SO I DID PROVIDE HER WITH A COPY OF MY ADA ACCOMMODATION.
SO LIKE I SAY, I WAS UNAWARE THAT I HAD TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS YEARLY, ANNUALLY.
BUT YOU DID DO IT, CORRECT? I DID, YES. AND IT WAS GRANTED DURING THE TIME I WAS ON MY FMLA BECAUSE SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, HAD, I BELIEVE, THE INVESTIGATOR.
SHE WAS THE ONE WHO HAD INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THAT STEP TO DO IT.
SO I DID IT. AND AFTER YOU COMPLETED THAT, THEN YOUR REMEDY WAS RESOLVED, CORRECT? YES. AND SO ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, CORRECT? YES, THEY WERE. THANK YOU.
MS. WILLIAMS MY QUESTION TO YOU, BASICALLY, I HAD THE SAME QUESTION THAT TRUSTEE GUIDRY HAD.
SO NOW I'M JUST GOING TO TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY? IF EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GRANTED, WHAT ELSE? WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT ELSE IS IT THAT YOU WANT FROM US? BECAUSE WHERE I'M AT AND I'M JUST TO BE EMPHATICALLY HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S A TOXIC WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR MY HEALTH.
I KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF PROFESSIONALLY.
I KNOW WHAT MY GOAL IS TOWARDS THE STUDENT.
AND I WORK WITH A VERY UNIQUE STUDENT POPULATION.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT TEN YEARS PLUS AND I LOVE WHAT I DO.
[00:35:09]
STUDENTS HAVE 24 HOUR NURSING CARE.SOME OF THEM CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL.
THAT REQUIRED TIME. SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ANOTHER FAMILY TO CHANGE THE TIME AND WE'VE KIND OF SET THIS IN, THIS IS WHAT WE DO, THIS IS THE TIME TO EXPECT BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME THAT THEY ARE ACADEMICALLY ENGAGED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO AND I'M I IT'S WHAT IT'S WHAT I DO.
AND LIKE I SAY, ALL I'M SEEKING IS CLARITY.
AND TO BE IN A WORKPLACE WHERE I CAN GROW, I'M STAGNATED.
WE HAVE THIS THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE COVID, AND I'M NOT IN A HAPPY PLACE.
I NEED TO BE IN A HAPPY PLACE SO I CAN BE MUCH BETTER FOR MY STUDENTS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE MY STUDENTS MY 100%, MY ALL AND ALL, AND I DO THAT.
IT WASN'T I DIDN'T WANT TO SERVICE THAT STUDENT.
I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE SHE WAS AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS ME.
SHE TOLD ME SHE DEMANDED YOU GIVE ME YOUR PRINCIPAL'S NUMBER.
I CAN GIVE YOU THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS AND THAT WORK THEM.
SHE WANTED THEIR DIRECT LINE, SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO DO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO PROTECT ME.
TRUSTEE DEIGAARD. I MOVE THAT WE DETERMINE.
CAN WE WAIT UNTIL I ASK MY QUESTION? I DON'T MIND, BUT JUST GIVE ME.
YOU DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BUT TRUSTEE DEIGAARD.
EVERYONE HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, AT LEAST ONE ROUND OF EVERYONE BEING ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
TRUSTEE SANTOS. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CRUZ HERNANDEZ.
SO FIRST OF ALL, MISS WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL AND VERY VULNERABLE GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION.
SO MY CLARIFICATION, I WOULD LIKE FURTHER CLARIFICATION FROM BOTH SIDES.
ACTUALLY, WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES TRUSTEE, GUIDRY AND TRUSTEE, DR.
SO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOSTER A HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL RETALIATED AGAINST.
IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? YES. OKAY.
AND SO HOW COULD WE HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? BECAUSE I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU APPLIED TO 12 DIFFERENT POSITIONS, 13 DIFFERENT POSITIONS INSIDE OF HISD, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN REJECTED.
YES. IS THAT DOES THAT ENCOMPASS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS FOSTERING A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT? YES, BECAUSE MS. SPALDING CONTACTED ME VIA EMAIL ON MONDAY ASKING A WAY TO REMEDY THIS, AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF ODD AND STRANGE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE I CAN GROW, WHERE I CAN THRIVE SO ME AND MY STUDENTS CAN GROW AND THRIVE TOGETHER.
SO AND LIKE I SAID, WITH THE DISTRICT NEEDING TO FULFILL THESE POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I LACK TO SAY THESE POSITIONS THAT I APPLIED FOR THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO OBJECT AT THIS TIME.
OKAY. WELL, SO MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE IF WE WANTED TO GRANT OR UPHOLD DECISION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO THEN CAN YOU SHOW ME THAT AGAIN? IN WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT.
[00:40:08]
DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? TRUSTEE SANTOS. I'VE.JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO THAT 0.5 OF THE REMEDY THREE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE IT WASN'T GRANTED AT THE TIME.
DOCTOR FRANKLIN WROTE HER DECISION.
SO AS REMEDY THREE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GRIEVANT ASKED FOR WAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION SO THAT SHE COULD HAVE LUNCH BETWEEN 12 AND 12:30 EVERY DAY DUE TO HER MEDICAL NEED.
AND THE GRIEVANCE DID SO, AND THAT REMEDY HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME.
YES. SO, ANGELA MS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE TODAY.
SO YOU FEEL YOU'RE BEING BLACKBALLED, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT ON THE RECORD.
OKAY. SO. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, SHOULD I READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST? YES, I DO HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE REGARDING THE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED OR HAS BEEN MADE.
THE PARTIES HAVE BOTH SAID THAT THE REMEDIES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE GRIEVANCE HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
SO IF YOU SUSTAIN THE GRIEVANCE AND GRANT THE GRIEVANCE REQUEST, WHAT ADDITIONAL ARE YOU REQUESTING TO BE DONE? BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION, IF THIS VOTE WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THIS VOTE MEANS.
WHAT ADDITIONAL ACTION ARE YOU REQUESTING? SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT FIRST TRUSTEE BAKER OR IF YOU WANT THE INSTRUCTIONS READ BEFORE ENTERTAINING THAT MOTION, GO AHEAD AND READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
I HAVE A QUESTION. THEY SAID IF I WANTED IT CLOSED.
CORRECT. I SAID THE BOARD IS GOING TO GO INTO A CLOSED WITHOUT YOU.
OKAY. EXCUSE ME. WE WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
OPEN MEETINGS ACT SUBSECTIONS [INAUDIBLE]. AND 551.089.
SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION BE REQUIRED? SUCH FINAL VOTE, ACTION OR DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE OPEN MEETING COVERED BY THIS NOTICE.
THE BOARD HAS ADJOURNED, ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 10:17 A.M.
THIS MEETING IS NOW RECONVENED AT 10:26 A.M..
WE HAD A MOTION BY TRUSTEE BAKER.
TRUSTEE BAKER, CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE SUSTAIN THE GRIEVANCE AND GRANT THE ACTION REQUESTED OR OTHER REMEDY AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? DO NOT SEE A SECOND.
I MOVE THAT WE DENY ALL REQUESTED RELIEF REMEDIES NOT PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE LEVEL TWO HEARING OFFICER AND UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE LEVEL TWO HEARING OFFICER AND MADAM PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD AND SO THAT BOARD SERVICES CAPTURES IT ON THAT PREVIOUS MOTION BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET A SECOND, IT FAILED.
AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING ON TO THE TRUSTEE DIGARD'S MOTION.
TRUSTEE. OH, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD.
TRUSTEE BLUEFORD-DANIELS HAS JOINED US IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DEIGAARD AND I SAW A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WADE.
[00:45:04]
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.MOTION PASSES, FIVE IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
THE BOARD HAS VOTED FIVE FOR AND TWO AGAINST A LETTER NOTIFYING BOTH PARTIES OF THE ACTION.
THE BOARD SHALL BE PREPARED AND SIGNED BY THE MANAGER OF THE BOARD SERVICES AS SOON AS IS PRACTICAL.
THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED AT 10:28 A.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.