Oct 12, 2023 Board Meetings

GOOD. OKAY. GOOD EVENING.

[00:00:02]

[CALL TO ORDER]

A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM THERE FROM MY RIGHT.

CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JANETTE GARZA LINDNER, MYSELF, AUDREY MOMANAEE, RIC CAMPO, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, AND ADAM RIVON.

IF THERE ARE ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MS. CRUZ, FOR BEING HERE [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW BE JOINED BY A MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS TO LEAD OUR PLEDGES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOARD MEMBER JANETTE GARZA LINDNER TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT'S PLEDGE SPEAKER.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT MOMANAEE.

CADET LIEUTENANT COLONEL ANGELA MONTELONGO IS THE BATTALION COMMANDER FOR HISD 17TH BATTALION, ARMY JROTC PROGRAM AT SCARBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. CADET MONTELONGO RANKED SEVENTH IN HIS CLASS OF 149, PART OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024, MAINTAINING A 4.1 GRADE POINT AVERAGE [APPLAUSE].

HE HAS DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND AS A GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT.

CADET MONTELONGO HAS SERVED AS THE COMMANDER OF BOTH THE NATIONAL AWARD WINNING ARMED DRILL TEAM AND COLOR GUARD.

AS LOGISTICS OFFICER AND ACADEMIC TEAM COMMANDER, AND WAS A CRUCIAL MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT ADVANCED TO THE JROTC LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC BOWL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.

CADET MONTELONGO IS ALSO ENROLLED IN RIGOROUS DUAL CREDIT COURSE COLLEGE COURSES THROUGH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUTURES PROGRAM, WHERE HE WILL OBTAIN HIS ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PRIOR TO GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AFTER GRADUATION, CADET MONTELONGO PLANS TO ATTEND TEXAS A&M AT COLLEGE STATION, WHERE HE WILL PURSUE A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

CADET MONTELONGO.

PLEASE RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE TEXAS PLEDGE.

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

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOARD MEMBER ADAM RIVON TO READ OUR RECOGNITION REGARDING BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.

[RECOGNITIONS]

PROCLAMATION BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.

WHEREAS EACH OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING AND TAKE ACTION, ACTIVE ROLES IN ITS PREVENTION.

AND WHEREAS BULLYING AND HARASSMENT ARE PERVASIVE PROBLEMS OCCURRING AT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, STATE AND NATION, WITH 1 IN 5 STUDENTS NATIONWIDE REPORTING THAT THEY WERE BULLIED AT SCHOOL.

AND WHEREAS BULLYING AND HARASSMENT CAUSED LASTING PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HARM TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THE TRAUMA MAY CONTRIBUTE TO LONG TERM STRESS, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, DEPRESSION, EVEN DEATH.

AND WHEREAS STUDENTS WHO ARE BULLIED ARE HARASSED OR HARASSED ARE AT MUCH HIGHER RISK OF POOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

ABSENTEEISM DROPOUT.

AND WHEREAS THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WHEREAS ALL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM HARM, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE, WELCOME AND RESPECTED.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM

[00:05:05]

THANK YOU, MR. RIVON.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL HEAR FROM ALL OF OUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS, BOTH THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY.

[SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS]

PUBLIC COMMENT DURING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK PRIOR TO THE MEETING TIME, PER CURRENT PROTOCOL.

VERBAL AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS BY PERSONS DURING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE, AS THEY INHIBIT THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO OBSERVE THOSE PROCESSES.

PERSONS WHO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH BEHAVIOR WILL BE GIVEN ONE WARNING, AND IF THE BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED, THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING.

WE HAVE 41 REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH PER BOARD POLICY, AS WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD TONIGHT.

WE ASK THAT YOU STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, AS THEIR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED UNDER LAW.

BUT YOU MAY NAME YOUR OWN CHILD.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RESPECT OUR PROCEDURES AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS, AND END YOUR COMMENTS PROMPTLY WHEN YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED AND THE TIMER RINGS.

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 ONE.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF REQUIRED BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION.

WILL RUTH HOFFMAN LOCKE PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? DR. LOCKE. YES, MA'AM.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. FIRST TIME. HI.

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANY ONE PERSON CAN KNOW ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO RUN A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES.

I'M SURE THE LEARNING CURVE HAS BEEN PRETTY STEEP.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE CONTINUING ED COURSES INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW EDUCATION RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED, INCLUDING RESEARCH DESIGN, GENERAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, AND DATA INTERPRETATION.

YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRESENTED WITH A VARIETY OF DATA ON EVERYTHING FROM TEACHER ATTENDANCE TO STAAR TEST SCORES AND BUDGET EXPENDITURES AS YOU SERVE ON THIS BOARD, AND YOU'LL BE ASKED TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS BASED ON THAT DATA.

IT'S VERY EASY TO MISINTERPRET DATA AND TO MISS QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ASKED ABOUT DATA, WITHOUT AT LEAST A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH.

DATA MISINTERPRETATION LEADS TO INACCURATE CONCLUSIONS, WHICH LEADS TO UNWISE DECISION MAKING.

AND I KNOW THAT IS THE LAST THING ANY OF US WANTS.

I HOPE YOU WILL AVAIL YOURSELVES OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MORE INFORMED ABOUT EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH, SO THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR HISD.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER ON THIS TOPIC IS REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM MRS. SMITH. CAN YOU ADMIT ANITA WADHWA? OH, OKAY. WONDERFUL. YES, MA'AM.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN NES TEACHER AFRAID OF SPEAKING FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

THIS PERSON STATES, I BECAME A TEACHER TO INSPIRE KIDS TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN A STUDENT GETS A POOR TEST SCORE, THEY FEEL LESS CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR LEARNING.

THIS WEEK WE HAD PSAT AND SAT TESTING TESTS THAT DETERMINED SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE, IT WAS A HOT MESS.

STUDENTS WALKED AROUND WITH THEIR LAPTOPS OPEN TO THE TEST AS THEY MOVED CLASSROOMS INSTEAD OF DOING A PRACTICE VERSION, CODES WERE LIVE FOR A TEST.

A TESTING COORDINATOR WAS RUSHING STUDENTS TAKING THE SAT, AND THEY DID NOT BUBBLE IN A CODE THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

THESE ERRORS WILL NEGATIVELY AND SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THEIR FUTURE.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DO BETTER.

THESE ARE NOW MY WORDS I'M DR.

ANITA WADHWA. I STARTED TEACHING IN 2001 AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

BOM STANDS FOR BOARD OF MANAGERS, NOT BOOTLICKERS OF MILES.

MANAGE HIM.

PLEASE READ SOME BOOKS ON MANAGEMENT AND SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.

ONE OF HIS THREE RULES IS NO DISRESPECT TO ANY ADULT.

LAST WEEK I DID NOT DRIVE FROM KATY TO CHIMNEY ROCK TO GET MY KIDS ALL THE WAY HERE [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM TWO APPROVAL OF NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH SPEAKERS REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE AUDITORIUM.

WILL JAY ALLISON CHAPIN, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? THIS SPEAKER IS SIGNED UP FOR OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.

AFTER HER WILL BE MICHELLE WILLIAMS AND DANIEL SANTOS.

MISS CHAPIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HI, MY NAME IS ALLISON.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND EIGHT AND MANY OTHER ONES I SIGNED UP FOR BUT.

AND TO SHARE THE VOICE OF A PARENT WHO IS AFRAID OF SPEAKING FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

MY CHILD IS IN PRE-K AND ATTENDS AN NESA CAMPUS, AFTER ALMOST TWO MONTHS IN SCHOOL MY FAMILY AND I ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE NEW SYSTEM IS TOO RIGID. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE DAY AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CAME INTO MY CHILD'S CLASS DURING THEIR ALLOTTED 15 MINUTE NAP TIME AND DECLARED THAT IT WAS

[00:10:08]

THE ADMINISTRATOR TOLD THE TEACHER THAT SHE WAS TAKING TOO LONG TO GET THE STUDENTS UP, SO TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION, THE ADMINISTRATOR BEGAN PULLING THE SLEEPING MATS OUT FROM THE CHILDREN.

IS THAT HOW YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TREATED? IS THIS HAPPENING IN THE WEALTHIER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT? IS IT KIND? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL SANTOS AND THEN KARINA CASADA.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS, HOUSTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION I WON'T BE HERE LONG, AND I DIDN'T EVEN WRITE ANYTHING DOWN, BUT I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO DR.

SPENCER KAGAN.

THE AUTHOR OF THESE REBRANDED MULTIPLE RESPONSE STRATEGIES.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

HISD WAS SUED FOR IT.

WE ARE BEING FORCED TO BE COMPLICIT, COMPLICIT AND ACCESSORY TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

MULTIPLE RESPONSE STRATEGIES DO NOT BELONG TO NES.

ITS A ATTEMPT TO REBRAND ACCOMPLISHED EDUCATORS WORK.

WE WANT IT REMOVED FROM THE PRINCIPALS SPOT OBSERVATION.

WE WANT THE FOUR MINUTES TIMERS GONE REBRANDED THEIR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES.

DR. SPENCER KAGAN HAS BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR 20 OVER 20 YEARS.

LOOK IT UP. THINK.

PAIR. SHARE. NEXT UP IS MR. SANTOS, FOLLOWED BY KARINA CASADA AND THEN CAITLYN BRYANT.

YES, SIR. YOU HAVE A MINUTE? GOOD EVENING. I'M DANIEL SANTOS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AND I RISE TO SPEAK ON ITEM TWO.

THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION SYSTEM IS WORTHLESS.

THE UNELECTED BOARD AGAIN FAILS TO PERFORM ITS DUE DILIGENCE.

IT IS A FACT.

NOT ONE PAGE OF THE PUBLICATION CITES A SINGLE EMPIRICAL STUDY SUBSTANTIATING ITS MONSTROSITY.

IT IS A FACT, NOT ONE OF THE SCHOOL ACTION PLANS THAT FACTOR INTO THE SYSTEM WERE RATIFIED BY CAMPUS SITE BASED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEES.

IT IS A FACT THE SYSTEM INCENTIVIZES PRINCIPALS TO SLANDER AND DEGRADE TEACHERS IF SCORES ON RACIST TESTS ARE LOW.

BY APPROVING THE SYSTEM, THE UNELECTED BOARD WILL IMPLICITLY CONFESS HOW THE HOSTILE STATE TAKEOVER WAS NEVER ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS.

IT'S ABOUT DISMANTLING THEM.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KARINA CASADA, FOLLOWED BY CAITLIN BRYANT AND THEN SAM SMITH.

MS. CASADA, YOU HAVE A MINUTE? YOUR DISDAIN FOR CHILDREN OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IS ON FULL DISPLAY.

FIRST YOU TOOK AWAY THE LIBRARIES AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING THEM THEY CAN'T HAVE FIELD TRIPS.

I WANT PARENTS TO KNOW THAT MOST HISD SCHOOLS RECEIVE TITLE ONE FUNDING, AND THOSE FUNDS CAN ABSOLUTELY BE USED FOR FIELD TRIPS FROM THE PRE-APPROVED LIST.

DISTRICTS ACCEPTING TITLE ONE PARTY FUNDS MUST DEVELOP PLANS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN LOW INCOME AND MINORITY STUDENTS ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE, EXPERIENCED TEACHERS COMPARED TO THEIR HIGHER INCOME, NON MINORITY COHORTS.

EXPLAIN TO US HOW SEEKING EXEMPTIONS FROM TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS UNDER DISTRICT OF INNOVATION IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS.

HOW DOES FIRING EDUCATORS FOR SPEAKING UP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION? FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THE CERTIFICATION OF BILINGUAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

MOST SPECIAL ED KIDS RECEIVE THEIR SERVICES IN GENERAL ED.

DUI DOES NOT EXEMPT YOU FROM TITLE ONE PART A FEDERAL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, PARENTS RIGHT TO KNOW CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN, DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND TIME AND EFFORT. THANK YOU MA'AM.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAITLIN BRYANT, FOLLOWED BY SAM SMITH AND PLACIDO GOMEZ.

IS MISS BRYANT HERE? CAITLIN BRYANT.

NO. MR. SMITH. SAM SMITH.

NO, MR. GOMEZ. I SEE YOU.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

LAST WEEK, I MADE THE CASE TO HAVE CAMPUS CULTURE AS PART OF THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION FOR THIS YEAR, THOUGH I KNOW YOU'RE DOING IT STARTING NEXT YEAR.

IF AN ASSESSMENT IS NOT READY TO DO THAT THIS YEAR, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEASURE IT ANY WAY THIS YEAR, EVEN IF IT'S NOT READY FOR USE FOR THE EVALUATION, SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A BASELINE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MEASURE CAMPUS CULTURE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO LEAD DIRECTLY TO STUDENT OUTCOMES.

SECONDLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NORMALIZED DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATIONS.

[00:15:04]

BUT WHAT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR, IF YOU INSIST ON HAVING A NORMALIZED DISTRIBUTION WITH A BELL CURVE, IS TO GIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CASE TO YOU IF THEY BELIEVE A PRINCIPAL SHOULD BE RATED HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION WOULD ALLOW FOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ON THIS TOPIC ARE REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM.

MISS SMITH, CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY AND ADMIT OUR SPEAKERS? HELLO. YES.

MISS BENSON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS MARIA BENSON, AND I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS TWO AND EIGHT AND SHARE THE VOICE OF ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE AFRAID OF SPEAKING FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

HAPPY PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION MONTH TO THE EFFECTIVE ONES WHO WILL GET PAID MORE.

IF YOU'RE BETTER THAN YOUR COLLEAGUES, PLEASE.

WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER.

HAPPY PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION MONTH TO LEADERS WHO ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO THE VAGUE EXPECTATIONS AND MOVING TARGETS ESTABLISHED IN THE LEAD DOCUMENT.

BELL CURVE SEEMED TO CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF RIGOR AND FAIRNESS.

PLEASE. LEADERS NEED CLARITY, NOT MISLEADING STATISTICS.

HAPPY PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION MONTH TO THE LEADERS WHO ARE FILLING THEIR QUOTAS OF WRITE UPS ON TEACHERS.

PLEASE. MEMOS DO NOT MOTIVATE STAFF.

YES. HAPPY PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION MONTH.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE ALSO HAVE ADIDA SAGE BITNER.

SO. YES, MA'AM.

GO AHEAD [INAUDIBLE].

HI, MY NAME IS ADIDA SAGE BITNER AND I'M A FOURTH GRADER AT CONDIT ELEMENTARY [INAUDIBLE] IN HISD.

I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

I'M GLAD TO GO TO A NON NES SCHOOL WHERE TEACHERS ARE NOT USING SCRIPTED LESSONS AND WHERE WE DON'T CARRY CONES TO THE RESTROOMS. MOST OF MY TEACHERS MAKE FUN AND INTERESTING LESSONS, AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN RAISE MY HAND AND ASK QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.

SO WHY ARE YOU FIRING TEACHERS FOR ASKING QUESTIONS? MY TEACHERS ENCOURAGE MY FRIENDS TO BE CURIOUS AND CRITICAL TO THINK THROUGH OUR PROBLEMS. WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE LEARNING.

WHY ARE THE WHY ARE QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE].

WHY IS IT THAT TEACHERS WHO ASK QUESTIONS GET IN TROUBLE? WHY ARE QUESTIONS SEEN AS INSUBORDINATION, INSUBORDINATION WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEEN? WHEN THEY SHOULD BE SEEN AS INQUISITIVE? PLEASE DO NOT FIRE FOR BEING [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM FOUR APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER BUDGET AMENDMENT.

WILL JACKIE ANDERSON PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? THIS SPEAKER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALLISON NEWPORT.

GOOD EVENING, JACKIE ANDERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I ASKED MR. MILES THE STATUS OF THE COMPENSATION MANUAL.

THE SECOND TIME HE TOLD ME, GO BACK AND TELL YOUR PEOPLE THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES IN THE 22-23 COMPENSATION MANUAL.

I STAND HERE WITH THE 23-24 COMPENSATION MANUAL THAT IS PLAGUED WITH CHANGES, ESPECIALLY AROUND STIPENDS.

IT MAY NOT BE ANYTHING TO YOU BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OR YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE HEAD PERSON IN YOUR HOME.

SOME TEACHERS HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO WORK SECOND JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

NOW MOST EXTRA DUTY PAY HAS BEEN REMOVED.

YOU SHOULD BE HOLDING MR. MILES ACCOUNTABLE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH.

WHERE IS YOUR MORAL COMPASS, OR DO YOU HAVE ONE? OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALISON NEWPORT, FOLLOWED BY SELENA MANZANO.

MS. NEWPORT, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ALISON NEWPORT AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON ON THE OCTOBER BUDGET AMENDMENT AND ON BEHALF OF AN NESA TEACHER WHO IS AFRAID TO SPEAK FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION. ON PAPER, WE ARE OVERSTAFFED AND OUR SCHOOL CANNOT USE DISTRICT SUBSTITUTES WHEN TEACHERS ARE ABSENT.

THE REALITY IS WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

WE DO NOT HAVE LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES FILLING VACANCIES.

[00:20:03]

THIS WEEK WE HAD TO FIT THREE CLASSES INTO ONE TEACHER'S CLASSROOM.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GRAB ANYONE WHO AND HAVE THEM WATCH OVER OUR STUDENTS.

ONE TIME WE HAD A JANITOR SUPERVISING A SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM WHEN NO OTHER STAFF WAS AVAILABLE.

THESE DISRUPTIONS ARE A HUGE DISSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO ARE UNAWARE OF STUDENTS SPECIAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY NEGATIVELY AFFECTS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS. FIX THE BUDGET.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SELENA MANZANO.

MS. MANZANO IS NOT HERE.

OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS ITEM EIGHT, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH SPEAKERS REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE AUDITORIUM.

WILL SARAH RIVLIN PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? THIS SPEAKER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DIANA CANDIDA.

MS. RIVLIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

MY NAME IS SARAH RIVLIN, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN NES TEACHER WHO IS AFRAID OF SPEAKING FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

I WAS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WERE COMING.

I BELIEVED MR. MILES, BUT HE HAS LIED.

TEACHERS WERE TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE HIRED, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO COPY OR GRADE PAPERS AND NOT HAVE TO DO CLERICAL WORK.

IT'S BEEN SIX WEEKS.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT SUPPORT.

TEACHERS WERE TOLD THAT WE WILL INTERNALIZE ONE SUBJECT.

I WAS HIRED TO TEACH ONE SUBJECT, THEN GIVEN ANOTHER, AND THEN ANOTHER.

SERIOUSLY, ONE HOUR OF PLANNING IS NOT ENOUGH TO INTERNALIZE THREE SUBJECTS FIX CURRICULUM ISSUES, MAKE COPIES, GRADE PAPERS, AND CALL PARENTS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT YOU PROMISED.

YOU LIED AND CONTINUED TO LIE.

WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU SAY? THOSE WERE HER TWO CENTS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANA CANDIDA.

YES, MA'AM. HI, I'M DIANA CANDIDA.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT ON BEHALF OF A TEACHER AT A NON NES/NESA SCHOOL, BUT WHO IS STILL REQUIRED TO DO NES THINGS.

SHE'S AFRAID OF SPEAKING FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

SHE SAYS THIS I AM A VETERAN TEACHER IN HISD WHO HAS EXPERIENCED FIVE SUPERINTENDENT CHANGES.

CHANGE CAN BE GOOD.

PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED STUDENT GROWTH, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND SCHOOL CULTURE.

CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF LEADERS AT HISD.

WE HAVE DICTATORS WHO BULLY AND THREATEN THE COMMUNITY, STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THEY GASLIGHT, INTIMIDATE AND DEMEAN OTHERS WHO DISAGREE OR QUESTION THEM.

NOW TEACHERS ARE AFRAID.

PARENTS ARE DISCOURAGED.

STUDENTS ARE NOT LEARNING WELL.

THEREFORE, WE ARE AT WAR AND FEAR, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING WILL NOT WIN.

WHEN YOU ARE GONE, CHANGE WILL BE GOOD.

THOSE ARE HER TWO CENTS.

I BELIEVE THE REAL AGENDA OF THESE AWFUL LEADERS IN THE NOW HOUSTON OCCUPIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TO DISMANTLE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH KRAVITZ, FOLLOWED BY TRACY LOTSON AND MOLLY COOK.

MS. KRAVITZ IS FOLLOWED BY TRACY LOTSON.

MRS. KRAVITZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE TERMINATIONS AND REASSIGNMENTS OF HARDWORKING HISD TEACHERS.

YOU APPEAR TO BE PURGING OUR SCHOOLS OF STRONG TEACHERS TO SCARE OTHERS INTO SILENCE.

AS A FORMER HISD AND AP MATH TEACHER OF THE YEAR, I KNOW IT WON'T WORK.

IN MY REMAINING TIME, HERE'S TESTIMONY FROM A NES FORMER TEACHER OF THE YEAR, SHE SAYS.

BEFORE THE TAKEOVER, WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLED, SHE COULD CREATE SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO HELP THEM.

BEFORE THE TAKEOVER, STUDENTS WERE EXCITED TO SHOW THEIR LEARNING AND DID NOT FEAR MAKING MISTAKES.

BEFORE THE TAKEOVER, WHEN A STUDENT DIDN'T MASTER A SKILL AND PASS A QUIZ, THERE WERE NO TEARS.

SINCE THE TAKEOVER, STUDENTS RECEIVE ONLY 30 MINUTES TO LEARN A SKILL BEFORE THEY'RE TESTED ON IT EVERY DAY.

HER STUDENTS ARE WORRIED AND SCARED BEFORE EVERY DAILY DOL.

SHE IS TOLD SHE CANNOT HOLD SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS AND DIFFERENTIATE.

THAT INTERVENTION TIME IS STRICTLY ACCORDING TO MILES TO REDO THE SLIDE DECK.

THIS IS NOT GOOD INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE.

IT IS ILLEGAL AND YOU NEED TO STOP IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS TRACY LOTSON.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST AGENDA ITEM B.

ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF HISD TEACHERS, WE PUBLICLY CONDEMN ANY REASSIGNMENT, TERMINATION, SUSPENSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO SANCTION EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION FOR MAKING A CONSCIOUS DECISION NOT TO HARM STUDENTS.

[00:25:08]

THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL TEACHING APPROACH IS FLAWED BECAUSE IT ASSUMES ALL STUDENTS LEARN THE SAME WAYS.

TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED FOR EXERCISING THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL AUTONOMY RIGHTS UNDER HB 1605 HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PENALIZING TEACHERS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE PACING OF DISTRICT SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL.

TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED FOR QUESTIONING THE NES MOTTO IMPLEMENTED IN ALL 274 SCHOOLS DUE TO PRINCIPALS ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.

THANK YOU. MA'AM. MA'AM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MOLLY COOK.

I UNDERSTAND MISS COOK IS NOT WITH US THIS EVENING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ON THIS TOPIC ARE ADDRESSED ARE REGISTERED EXCUSE ME TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM.

MISS SMITH, CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY IT AND [INAUDIBLE] OUR SPEAKERS.

[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.

MS. CORTEZ PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON SO WE CAN SEE YOU.

MS. CORTEZ, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.

YOU MAY BEGIN. OKAY.

YEP. YOU CAN GO AHEAD, HONEY.

MY NAME IS ELENA CORTEZ.

I AM A SECRETARY OF PROJECT CHRYSALIS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MY PARENTS AND I CHOSE THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL THAT OFFERED A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.

IN THE FIRST SEVEN WEEKS OF SCHOOL, WE REALIZED THAT WITH THE NES ALIGNED PROGRAM, THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOL WE SIGNED UP FOR.

MOST OF MY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

I'M A SMART KID WHO LOVES LEARNING, BUT THIS YEAR I AM NOT LEARNING BECAUSE THE LESSONS YOU MAKE TEACHERS GIVE ARE WAY TOO FAST.

I AM UNABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE NOT GIVEN THE TIME TO ANSWER.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STOP TERRORIZING MY COMMUNITY.

STOP TARGETING TEACHERS.

LET TEACHERS TEACH.

THEY ARE NOT ROBOTS.

I WANT THE SCHOOL I WAS PROMISED, NOT THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATALIE REINA, ALSO BY ZOOM.

MISS REINA, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.

YOU MAY BEGIN. ALL RIGHT.

HELLO AGAIN. SORRY.

MISS REINA, CAN YOU PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA? THANK YOU. OKAY.

HELLO AGAIN. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REACHED OUT AND OFFERED ME SUPPORT AND SPEAKING OUT.

I'VE BEEN REMINDED THAT I AM NOT JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH AS AN OPTION AS I DID TO LEAVE OR TO SPEAK UP.

AND FOR THE PARENTS WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHY THEIR CHILD IS FAILING.

WHEN I WATCH MYSELF SPEAK, I SAW THE SAME FEAR THAT I FELT AT GALLEGO'S AGAIN, FROM THE INTIMIDATION AND DISREGARD THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE LEADERSHIP IN HISD.

AND NES SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW, BETTER SYSTEM AND IT JUST ISN'T.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING WE CAN DO BETTER.

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER.

HOUSTON DESERVES BETTER.

WE HAVE EXTRAORDINARY TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO LOVE THEIR JOBS, DO THEM WELL AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THEM COMFORTABLY.

I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE JOB WAS NOT TOO CHALLENGING, I JUST MORALLY CAN'T SUPPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH NES AND I REFUSE TO FEEL INTIMIDATION FROM LEADERSHIP [INAUDIBLE].

I'M AFRAID FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT LEARNING OR ARE FALLING BEHIND BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN ENGLISH PROPERLY, AND FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING ADEQUATE SUPPORT.

I HAVE PLENTY MORE TO SAY.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO [INAUDIBLE] ON OCTOBER 20TH.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM HELD FOR REGISTERED SPEAKERS IS CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL CONSIDER AND APPROVE PROPOSED APPOINTMENTS, REASSIGNMENTS, PROPOSED TERMINATIONS, TERMINATIONS, SUSPENSIONS, CONTRACT LENGTHS.

PROPOSED RENEWALS.

NON RENEWALS AND RESIGNATIONS.

RETIREMENTS OF PERSONNEL INCLUDING TEACHERS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPALS, CHIEF OFFICERS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS AND, IF NECESSARY, APPROVE WAIVER AND RELEASE AND COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS.

WILL MELISSA YARBROUGH, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

THIS SPEAKER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANNA LUNA.

MISS YARBOROUGH, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. YOU HAD THE PRINCIPALS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS TELL TEACHERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A TOTAL COMPLIANCE TO THE NEW MODEL, OR LEAVE THEIR JOB, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO REASSIGN AND

[00:30:07]

WHAT WE TEACHERS ARE TRAINED TO DO FOR STUDENTS.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO USE FEAR AND FORCE IF THE MODEL WERE THAT GOOD.

I HOPE EVERY TEACHER KNOWS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO RESIGN WHEN WE HEAR THAT MESSAGE, THAT ULTIMATUM.

I HOPE THEY KNOW THAT RESIGNING ONLY HURTS THEM AND LETS YOU ALL OFF THE HOOK.

IF A TEACHER IS THAT READY TO LEAVE, THEY SHOULD LET YOU REASSIGN THEM SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR CONTRACTED PAY AND BENEFITS, OR LET YOU TERMINATE THEM SO THAT THEY CAN STILL RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT AND AVOID A SANCTION ON THEIR CERTIFICATION.

I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GIVING THEM A FALSE ULTIMATUM AND AN IMMORAL ONE AT THAT [APPLAUSE].

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA LUNA.

IS MS. LUNA HERE? ARE YOU, MS. LUNA? YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

SORRY I'M LATE, SO I'M FEELING A LITTLE FRAZZLED.

BUT I CAME BECAUSE I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF HOUSTON, I'M A PARENT, AND I'M ALSO A PRODUCT OF THE HISD SYSTEM.

AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH TEA HAS BEEN VERY UPSETTING TO ME, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN HISD.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT WORK IN HISD.

EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING HAS BEEN TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEIR CAREERS.

A LOT OF THEM STARTING BARELY AND ALREADY WANTING TO QUIT.

I HAVE TEACHER VETERANS, IF YOU BELIEVE IT, THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A TEACHER FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND IT'S STILL TO THEM, THEY'RE VETERANS, BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN IN A STEADY SCHOOL.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A VETERAN IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE THEY'RE CHANGING SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT FITS FOR THEM.

AND IT'S LIKE NOTHING IS WORKING.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT TEA IS THE ANSWER BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT IS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I KNOW THE ANSWER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT I DO.

BUT I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PARENTS ARE UPSET.

A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE UPSET, AND A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE UPSET.

AND I JUST CAME TO SAY THAT I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE LITTLE TIME THAT I HAVE LEFT.

THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF AGENDA SPEAKERS.

WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM SPEAKERS WHO REGISTERED FOR HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY.

[HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY]

MISS SETH, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE MOTHER OF A SIX YEAR OLD SPECIAL ED CHILD BEGGED HER SCHOOL FOR THE ABILITY TO ALLOW HER CHILD TO RIDE THE BUS.

IT WAS DENIED THE CHILD WAS FOUND WANDERING ON I-45.

SECOND, A MEMO GOES OUT THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED ON COLUMBUS DAY.

THEN ANOTHER MEMO GOES OUT SAYING, NO, IT'S OPEN, BUT IT'S CLOSED ON THE 13TH.

THIRD, A MEMO GOES OUT TO SCHOOLS SAYING THEY MUST RETURN $30,000 OF THEIR BUDGET.

PEOPLE FREAK OUT.

THEN ANOTHER MEMO GOES OUT SAYING IT WAS AN ERROR.

FOURTH, A PRINCIPAL SENT OUT A LIST OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL'S ESL STUDENTS, INCLUDING NAMES, ID, LANGUAGE GRADE PROFICIENCY, 504 PLANS, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN CONTACTING THE PRINCIPAL, THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS, I'LL LOOK INTO IT. THIS BEING A FERPA VIOLATION WAS SUPERINTENDENT MILES INFORMED? WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN? YOU FIRE TEACHERS FOR ASKING QUESTIONS, BUT NOT FOR SOMEBODY BREAKING FERPA [INAUDIBLE].

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARMEN NUNCIO.

HI, MY NAME IS CARMEN NUNCIO, AND I'M JUST HERE TO ASK MR. MILES TO PLEASE INCLUDE US IN WHAT THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.

WE'RE TIRED OF YOU DOING THINGS WITHOUT OUR INPUT.

I MEAN, WE'RE THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS.

WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS.

AND YOU'RE NOT HELPING US.

THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT I MET YOU, I TOLD YOU WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU.

AND EVIDENTLY, YOU DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH US.

YOU HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE WORSE THAN WHEN WE HAD HISD.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU AND TALK TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.

IT HURTS ME TO SEE OUR KIDS NOT WANTING TO LEARN TO SEE OUR TEACHERS WANTING TO QUIT.

IT JUST HURTS ME SO BAD.

I MEAN, FOR 47 YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAVANT MOORE.

[00:35:03]

I'M ASKING YOU AS A COMMUNITY, I NEED YOU TO VOLUNTEER AT A NES SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY.

SALUTE TO THE HOUSTON, TEXAS.

THEY CAME TO READ.

YOU KNOW THE DATA YOU KNOW THAT IT'S DOWN.

I NEED YOU TO DONATE.

I'M DONE ASKING.

TODAY, I KNEW A SCHOOL NEEDED SOMETHING, AFTER WORK I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE SCHOOL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THINK ABOUT THE NES SCHOOL LIKE I AM.

I NEED YOU TO APPLY TO AN OPEN POSITION.

THERE'S 980 OPEN POSITIONS.

APPLY TO THEM.

I HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

I DONE WALKED ON AN IVY LEAGUE CAMPUS.

I GRADUATED FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND THEY'RE STILL WAITING TO GET ACCEPTED FOR A JOB AND AN INTERVIEW.

SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS HISD.

I'M OFF TO MY DAUGHTER'S VOLLEYBALL GAME.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIN BACON, FOLLOWED BY PAUL CABENA AND THEN BROOKE LONGORIA.

MISS BACON. IS SHE HERE? NO. OKAY.

HOW ABOUT PAULA KOBINA? MISS KOBINA HERE.

YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

ON AUGUST 10TH, 2023, I SPOKE AND ALSO GAVE CORRESPONDENCE TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY.

THIS CORRESPONDENCE WAS ENTITLED TOTAL DISREGARD FOR YOUR CHOSEN PURPOSE, AND IT WAS FROM A BUSINESSMAN OF THE COMMUNITY WHO IS ALSO A HOUSTON BLACK RETIRED POLICE OFFICER AND VIETNAM WAR VETERAN.

AS OF THE DATE OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING, THE BUSINESS LEADER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

SINCE THEN THE HISD IS OVERTLY ATTEMPTING TO DO WHAT STATE SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNITY BUSINESSES ARE EMPOWERED TO DO BY LAUNCHING SUNRISE CENTERS TO HELP BETTER CONNECT FAMILIES WITH LOCAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES.

IF MIKE MILES IS HAVING MEETINGS WITH SEPARATIST GROUPS SUCH AS LATINOS FOR EDUCATION, AND HE IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK WITH A DIGITAL NEWSPAPER ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023. AND LASTLY, IT WAS REPORTED ON THE NEWS THAT A LAWSUIT FROM THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS HAS BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST M MIKE MILES AND THE DISTRICT FOR APPRAISAL AND PROMISE TO PAY DISCREPANCIES.

AS YOU APPOINTED MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BROOKE LONGORIA, FOLLOWED BY AJ HOLMES AND ANNE GARCIA AND THEN HUGO GARCIA.

MISS LONGORIA, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HI, I'M BROOKE LONGORIA, AND I'M THE PTA PRESIDENT OF MY CHILDREN'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WHEN I FIRST ENROLLED MY DAUGHTER IN HISD FIVE YEARS AGO, I TOLD MY YOUNGER SISTER THAT I HAD NO INTENTION OF JOINING THE PTO, PTA, OR WHATEVER PARENT ORGANIZATION THERE WAS. OBVIOUSLY, I CHANGED MY MIND.

THIS PAST WEEK, A FRIEND AT AN NES SCHOOL SHARED THAT HER PRINCIPAL DOES NOT WANT A PARENT ORGANIZATION AT THE SCHOOL.

THE PRINCIPAL WANTS TO IMPLEMENT NES CHANGES ALONE.

THIS IS NOT THE CULTURE WE WANT IN HISD.

THIS IS NOT HOW SCHOOL LEADERS SHOULD TREAT FAMILIES.

WHY? BECAUSE GRADUATION RATES FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS ARE ALL SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN SCHOOLS WHERE THERE IS A PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU TO THE [INAUDIBLE] STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS OFFERED TO HELP IN THIS INDIVIDUAL SITUATION AND ENTER A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS LITTLE TRUST.

OPINIONS CAN CHANGE.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF SCHOOL LEADERS WHO RESIST PARENT ORGANIZATIONS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AJ HOLMES, FOLLOWED BY ANNE GARCIA.

HUGO GARCIA, AND THEN MURIAL PATMAN.

I AM SPEAKING ON THE AGAINST THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF TEACHERS FOR QUESTIONING THE TEA OCCUPATION OF HISD, SPECIFICALLY MY FRIEND JUAN SUAREZ.

I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE DOZENS OF TEACHERS IN HISD WORKERS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

AT THE COFFEE SHOP I WORK AT, I HAVE SEEN MANY OF MY REGULARS GET GRADUALLY WORN DOWN, DISGUSTED AND ANGRY WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT, RESULTING IN BURNOUT, RETALIATORY FIRINGS AND LEAVING THE DISTRICT OR THE PROFESSION ALTOGETHER.

MR. SUAREZ HAS ONLY SHOWN ONLY EVER SHOWN COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR HIS STUDENTS AND TEACHING.

PLEASE END THE STRANGLEHOLD ON TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THIS DISTRICT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE GARCIA.

IS THIS HUGO GARCIA? YEAH THEN I'M GOING TO FOLLOW. THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS HUGO GARCIA AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT A NON NES SCHOOL.

MY SCHOOL IS A DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL, BUT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN TEACHING MUCH LESS SPANISH.

LAST YEAR, READING AND MATH WERE TAUGHT ONLY BY MY SPANISH TEACHER, MISS HURTADO, AND SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES WERE TAUGHT BY MY ENGLISH TEACHER, MISS

[00:40:05]

THIS AFFECTS ME BECAUSE I'M FORGETTING MY SPANISH AND HOW I WRITE IT.

SPEAKING SPANISH IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A GOOD JOB THAT NEEDS BOTH LANGUAGES, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN SPANISH.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. MS. GARCIA. MY SON JUST TOLD YOU THAT HE IS EXPERIENCING WHAT HE IS EXPERIENCING IS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO WHAT THE DISTRICT SAYS, THAT 50/50 DUAL LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET.

MY NAME IS ANNIE GARCIA, AND I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO GET OUR SCHOOLS BACK BEFORE MIKE MILES HAS BANKRUPTED THE DISTRICT AND RUN OFF ALL THE CERTIFIED TEACHERS [APPLAUSE].

A A MAYORAL DEBATE ON TUESDAY, I REMINDED SENATOR WHITMIRE THAT HE VOTED FOR THE TAKEOVER.

WHILE HE DID EXPRESS HIS CONCERNS TO MR. MILES THAT HIS BANNERS NEEDED IMPROVING, WHITMIRE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE TAKEOVER.

HE SAID IT HAPPENED, SO LET'S MAKE IT WORK.

SENATOR WHITMIRE CLEARLY IS NOT PRIORITIZING OUR KIDS OR OUR DEMOCRACY.

SO I HAVE COME HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS PARENTS AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DEMOCRACY, TO PASS A RESOLUTION UNTIL WE GET OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS BACK.

I CALL ON YOU TO CREATE A PARENT'S OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE SOME SEMBLANCE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO US, THE PARENTS SO WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CLASSROOMS [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MURIEL PATMAN, FOLLOWED BY JANE FRIO AND SHAWNA HALVERSON.

MURIAL PATMAN. IS THAT YOU? YES, MA'AM. PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HI, MY NAME IS MURRAY PATMAN, AND I HAVE A STUDENT WHO HAS SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN HISD.

LAST WEEK, THE DISTRICT PRESENTED A SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS LONG STANDING ISSUES OF NONCOMPLIANCE, NON-IMPLEMENTATION AND A LACK OF TRAINING IN HISD SPECIAL EDUCATION.

BUT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN I SAW WAS ONLY FOUR PAGES OF SLIDES TALKING ABOUT INCREMENTAL CHANGES, SOME WHICH HAVE DUE DATES NOT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC THAT ADDRESSES NEW SYSTEMS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES THAT WILL BE PUT IN PLACE NOW.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ACTION PLAN DOESN'T ADDRESS THE CORE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING PARENTS LIKE ME, WHICH IS HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD'S IEP IS BEING IMPLEMENTED? HOW DO I KNOW IF THE DATA COLLECTED ABOUT MY CHILD'S PROGRESS IS EVEN VALID? THE DISTRICT'S SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN SHOULD FOLLOW THE TEA RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2020 INVESTIGATION.

THE CURRENT PLAN SEEMS TO BE TAKING INPUT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I AM ASKING THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO INSIST THAT THE DISTRICT FOLLOW THE TEA/SAI RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED PLAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANE FRIO, FOLLOWED BY SHANNA HALVERSON AND THEN MINDY WILSON.

MS. FRIO I'M AN HISD PARENT OF A STUDENT RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AND LAST WEEK MEETING THERE WAS A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE, QUOTE, MORE THAN A YEAR TO RIGHT THE SHIP.

WHY DO WE PARENTS, LIKE ME, HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT COMPLIANCE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION MUST COME SLOWLY, IF IT COMES AT ALL, BUT CHANGES TO OVER 80 CAMPUSES CAN BE MADE IMMEDIATELY, [APPLAUSE] AND NEW POLICIES CAN BE ADDRESSED AT NRG TRAININGS PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

IN THE DISTRICT'S PLAN, IT SAYS SPECIAL EDUCATION ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE MONITORED BY SPOT CHECKS.

WHO'S DOING THE SPOT CHECKS? HOW OFTEN WILL THE RESULTS OF THE SPOT CHECKS BE SHARED PUBLICLY WITH THE BOARD? WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR NOT PROVIDING ACCOMMODATIONS? THE PLAN ALSO DOES DISCUSSES REVISING COMPENSATION PLANS TO ATTRACT STAFF, BUT IT WON'T BE READY UNTIL NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE 37 CAMPUSES WITH NO SPEECH THERAPISTS? WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT? THE TEACHING ASSISTANTS? THE NURSES THAT AREN'T HERE.

NO ONE IS COMING TO RESCUE OUR KIDS.

MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANNA HALVERSON.

MISS HALVERSON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HI. I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

LAST WEEK, YOU SAW THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN CONSISTING OF JUST FOUR POWERPOINT SLIDES STATING VAGUE PERCENTAGES WITHIN BROAD AREAS OF A BROKEN SYSTEM AND NO EXPLANATION OF HOW ANYTHING WILL CHANGE.

PLAN ONE MENTIONS A MANDATORY ONLINE CHILD FIND TRAINING FOR IDENTIFIED STAFF.

WHO ARE THEY IDENTIFIED STAFF? WHY NOT EVERY SINGLE TEACHER AND WHO'S CHECKING FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING? THE DISTRICT CAN APPARENTLY ENFORCE UNDERSTANDING WITH STUDENTS IN NES SCHOOLS.

WHY CAN'T THEY ENSURE STAFF TRAININGS ARE BEING UNDERSTOOD? THE TEA HAS ALREADY CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NO METHOD OR SYSTEM IN THE DISTRICT FOR DETERMINING WHETHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND PRACTICES ARE ACTUALLY EVER

[00:45:05]

WHERE IS YOUR DATA? HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF OBJECTIVES ARE BEING MET? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS.

ASK TO SEE DATA DRIVEN METHODOLOGY ON THESE TRAININGS, MAYBE REQUIRE A TEST AFTER THE TRAININGS AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS.

THE BOARD MUST HOLD THE DISTRICT ACCOUNTABLE FOR CORRECTING THE PAST FAILURES.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MINDY WILSON, FOLLOWED BY JESSE HEINER AND ASHLEY BLAYLOCK.

MS. WILSON.

YES, MA'AM. BEFORE ACTING AS MANAGERS OF HISD, MOST OF YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED ON BOARDS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU EVEN RECEIVED PRAISE FROM STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE THEY APPROVED OF THE WORK YOU WERE DOING AND FOUND VALUE IN IT.

SO WHY IS YOUR WORK IN HISD DIFFERENT? WHY, AFTER THREE MONTHS, HAS NO ONE STOOD HERE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOUR VOTES IMPROVE SCHOOLS OR SUPPORTED EDUCATORS? [APPLAUSE] IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE CAUSING HARM.

YOU AREN'T IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU CLAIM TO SERVE.

WHEN YOU ALLOW LIBRARIES TO BE CLOSED AND TAKEN AWAY, YOU YOU CAUSED HARM.

WHEN YOU CONDONED THE REMOVAL OF BILINGUAL PROGRAMING, YOU CAUSED HARM.

WHEN YOU PUNISH DEDICATED TEACHERS WHO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, YOU ARE CAUSING HARM.

[APPLAUSE] YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HARM BEING INFLICTED ON OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS R IGHT NOW, YOU ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECORD DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT AFTER THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE OUR CONCERNS AND INSTEAD SUPPORT THE AUTHORITARIAN ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

YOU ARE CAUSING HARM. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSE HEINER, FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY BLAYLOCK AND CANDICE WEBER.

MISS HEINER, I DO NOT KNOW HOW I WILL FOLLOW THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GO AHEAD. I RECENTLY ATTENDED AN SCMC Q&A MEETING WITH MR. MILES ABOUT THE LEAD PRINCIPAL EVALUATION SYSTEM.

WITH TEST SCORES LARGELY HINGING ON PRINCIPAL EVALUATIONS AND PAY, MR. MILES WAS ASKED WHAT THE PLAN WAS IN THE EVENT THAT TEST SCORES WERE RELEASED LATE OR TIED UP IN THE CURRENT LAWSUIT.

MR. MILES STATED WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

WHEN MR. MILES WAS ASKED WHAT HIS PLAN WAS FOR EVALUATING DAEP PRINCIPALS, HE STATED I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE WILL PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

WHEN ASKED WHAT HE WAS DOING TO ENSURE WHAT HE THAT HE WAS CREATING A POSITIVE CULTURE WHERE PRINCIPALS WANT TO STAY SO THAT THEY CAN PASS THAT POSITIVE CULTURE ON TO OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS, MR. MILES SAID, IT'S ALWAYS A CHOICE TO BE A PRINCIPAL AND YOU CHOOSE TO BE A PRINCIPAL ANYWAY.

THE HISD COMMUNITY IS TIRED OF MR. MILES IMPLEMENTING IRRESPONSIBLE PROCESSES THAT HE IS MAKING UP AS HE GOES.

THIS SYSTEM PITS PRINCIPALS AGAINST EACH OTHER AND DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE CAMPUSES AND THEIR DIFFERENT CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES THAT EACH OF THEM FACE.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ASHLEY BLAYLOCK, FOLLOWED BY CANDACE WEBER AND DANA CASTRO.

MS. BLAYLOCK.

HI GOOD EVENING. I, TOO, AM A PARENT OF A SPECIAL ED STUDENT RECEIVING SERVICES IN HISD.

I'M ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL ED PLAN THAT WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK, BECAUSE IT DOES FAIL TO ADDRESS SEVERAL KEY ISSUES FROM THE TEAS OWN REPORT RELEASED IN 2020.

SPECIFICALLY, THE PLAN FAILS TO ESTABLISH A METHODOLOGY TO ENSURE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF IEPS AND APPROPRIATE TRAINING OF PERSONNEL. SPOT CHECKS AREN'T ENOUGH.

EQUALLY TROUBLING THE PLAN MENTIONS USING STANDARDIZED TESTING TO DETERMINE THE PROGRESS OF STUDENTS WITH IEPS.

THIS IS NOT HOW MEANINGFUL BENEFIT AND MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IS MEASURED.

I BELIEVE THERE'S PROBABLY EVEN SHAKY LEGAL AUTHORITY TO MONITOR WHETHER MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN BY LOOKING AT STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES.

SO SINCE BRINGING SPECIAL ED INTO COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CANDACE WEBER, FOLLOWED BY DANA CASTRO.

CANDACE WEBER.

MISS WEBER HERE? NO.

OKAY. IS DANA CASTRO HERE? YES, MA'AM.

MS. CASTRO, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HELLO. I AM A PARENT OF A CHILD THAT USES SPECIAL ED.

MY NAME IS DANA, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT.

AND ON BEHALF OF A NSA TEACHER WHO IS AFRAID TO SPEAK FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

YOU CLAIM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS EDUCATION, THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, COMPLIANCE, SCHOOL ACTION PLANS.

IT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT YOU ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT OVER TESTING OUR STUDENTS.

SCRIPTED LESSONS, FIRING NEEDED SPED CONTRACTORS, AND STACKING DISTRICT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES LIKE THE DAC AND THE SDMCS WITH YOUR PEOPLE. THUS, YOUR POLICIES AND ACTIONS ARE ACTUALLY NOT ABOUT CARING FOR STUDENTS.

A CLASSROOM IS A CHILD'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

[00:50:01]

YOU CHARACTERIZE THEM AS A SMALL GROUP OF CRAZY, MISGUIDED AGITATORS.

YOU ARE WRONG. THEY SPEAK OUT BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY SHOW YOU CARE.

VOTE NO ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS. THESE ARE MY TWO CENTS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD VIA ZOOM.

MS. SMITH, CAN YOU PLEASE ADMIT OUR SPEAKER.

NO. SPEAKER. OKAY.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

WE ARE READY TO CONSIDER A DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEM.

[DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS]

COMPLETING REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION EACH YEAR OF SERVICE IS A BASIC OBLIGATION AND EXPECTATION OF ANY SITTING BOARD MEMBER.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CHAPTER 61, SUBCHAPTER A, SECTION 61, AN ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO THE STATUS OF BOARD MEMBER'S CONTINUING EDUCATION MUST BE MADE AT THE BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT AT THE LAST REGULAR BOARD MEETING BEFORE AN ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.

BOARD POLICY BBD LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS TRAINING AND ORIENTATION STATES THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT WILL ANNUALLY ANNOUNCE THE STATUS OF EACH BOARD MEMBER'S CONTINUING EDUCATION AT THE LAST REGULAR BOARD MEETING BEFORE THE DISTRICT'S UNIFORM ELECTION DATE.

EVEN IF AN ELECTION IS NOT SCHEDULED OR HELD.

TYPICALLY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ALMOST A YEAR TO COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING.

HOWEVER, SINCE THIS BOARD WAS INSTALLED ON JUNE 1ST, 2023, WE HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING AND UNDERSTANDABLY SOME OF US ARE STILL WORKING TOWARD THE GOAL. MY ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT BOARD MEMBERS CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, RIC CAMPO, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JANETTE GARZA LINDNER, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, PAULA MENDOZA, ADAM RIVON, AND ME AUDREY MOMANAEE HAVE FULFILLED THEIR REQUIRED TRAINING CREDIT HOURS FOR THE FIRST 120 DAYS ON THE BOARD.

BOARD MEMBER ANGELA LEMOND FLOWERS MUST STILL COMPLETE TRAINING IN THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, ORIENTATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, AND SCHOOL SAFETY.

ALL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MET THE REQUIRED TEN HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE.

BOARD MEMBERS MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JANETTE GARZA LINDNER, PAULA MENDOZA, AND ADAM RIVON HAVE EXCEEDED THE REQUIREMENT.

NEXT, WE WILL CONSIDER ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

[CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEMS]

BOARD POLICY BBFA LOCAL DEFINES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT COULD CAST DOUBT ON A BOARD MEMBER'S ABILITY TO ACT WITH TOTAL OBJECTIVITY WITH REGARD TO THE DISTRICT'S INTERESTS.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WE WILL PULL ITEM TWO APPROVAL OF NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS AND ITEM EXCUSE ME FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR

[2. Approval Of New Evaluation System For Principals]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM TWO APPROVAL OF NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS.

I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JANETTE GARZA LINDNER AND A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER RIC CAMPO.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS MATTER? MR. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU.

SORRY, I FORGOT TO USE THE NEW SYSTEM.

SO DID I. GOOD AFTERNOON, BUENAS TARDES.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD ALREADY IN THE Q&A DOCUMENT.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD WAS REGARDING TO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE WILL NEED FOR NEXT YEAR TO PAY FOR THESE EVALUATIONS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BALLPARK FIGURE AS TO WHAT WE CAN EXPECT? I KNOW THERE WAS GENERALITIES.

OBVIOUSLY, IT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL WE'RE DOING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

JUST GENERALLY, HOW MUCH CAN WE EXPECT AVERAGE WISE OR A GENERAL NUMBER? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR. THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND BASED ON THE DISTRIBUTION.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T RUN IT BECAUSE THERE MAY BE MORE STRONGER OR MORE WEAK THEN WE'LL ESTABLISH THE CUT POINTS.

BUT IT WILL PROBABLY BE JUST A FEW MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION.

THERE'S 273 PRINCIPALS AND THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 500 ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

THANK YOU, MISS GARZA LINDNER.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT MILES.

THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS RELATED TO CCMR FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION SYSTEM.

I WAS HOPING YOU COULD MAYBE EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BETTER FOR FOR ME IN THE COMMUNITY, I SEE THAT I DO SEE THE CHANGE IN THE APPENDICES, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE QUESTION AROUND JUST UNDERSTANDING THE THE WEIGHTING OF CCMR MEASUREMENTS.

[00:55:01]

THANK YOU. YES.

SO CCMR IS VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM.

BUT TO ADDRESS THE WEIGHTING AS A RESULT OF INPUT, WHAT WE DID WAS INSTEAD OF 12 POINTS ON THE ACHIEVEMENT GOING TO ENGLISH ONE, ENGLISH TWO AND ALGEBRA ONE, WE PUT ONLY SIX POINTS TOWARDS THAT.

AND THEN WE ADDED SIX POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT ON CCMR. AND THEN ALSO INSTEAD OF THE STAAR SCORE BEING TEN POINTS, IT STILL IS TEN POINTS.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY RATING WE HAVE AN OR IMPROVEMENT ON THE TSI SCORES.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER MEASUREMENT OF HOW WELL HIGH SCHOOLS ARE DOING.

THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN PARTICULAR.

AND SO INSTEAD OF THE TEN POINTS ON STAAR, THEY CAN ALSO CHOOSE IMPROVEMENT ON TSI, WHICHEVER IS STRONGER FOR THEM.

SO IN THAT WAY, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO FOCUS OR PUT MORE ATTENTION ON OUR JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND THE CCMR. I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WORK WAS DONE TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATORS WERE CONSULTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVALUATION SYSTEM? [LAUGHTER] YEAH, SO WE DID FOUR DIFFERENT SURVEYS AND THREE DISCUSSION GROUPS.

SO ON THE SHARED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEES, WE HAD A SURVEY OF JUST THE SHARED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEES.

ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.

WE HAD A SURVEY OF PRINCIPALS, AND THEN WE HAD A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC.

ANYBODY COULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT.

AND THEN I HELD TWO DISCUSSIONS WITH SDMC MEMBERS.

IT WAS VOLUNTARY, OF COURSE, HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM ON SEPTEMBER 26TH AND ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, WE MADE IT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN PERSON AND THEN AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE ONLINE.

IN BOTH CASES ABOUT 70 PEOPLE TOTAL IN PERSON AND ONLINE IN THEN ON EACH DAY.

THE SURVEYS ARE VERY GOOD.

THEY'RE MOSTLY AGREE AND STRONGLY AGREE.

AND YOU GUYS GOT THAT INFORMATION IN THE PACKET.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THOUGH, WE HELD A DISCUSSION AMONG THE DAC MEMBERS.

THAT WAS ON TUESDAY.

AND SO GOOD DISCUSSION THERE.

LOTS OF FEEDBACK.

AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT DISCUSSION WE WE PUBLISHED A SURVEY OF THAT.

GOT THE RESULTS THIS MORNING.

SO THE BOARD WILL WILL GET IT PROBABLY TODAY OR AND WE WILL PUBLISH IT ONLINE.

BUT THE DAC RESULTS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE PRINCIPAL AND THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT ON THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION.

SO A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION SYSTEM.

SO OVERALL OVERALL VERY VERY POSITIVE.

CAN I CAN I ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION IF WE CAN IF WE CAN HAVE ORDER A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT THERE WERE TWO APPENDICES WHICH WERE ADDED FOLLOWING THE CONSULTATION THAT WAS HAD BETWEEN YOU AND ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

CAN YOU TALK? I THINK YOU JUST TALKED TO JANETTE ABOUT ONE OF THOSE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION? YEAH. SO APPENDIX E IS THE RUBRIC WE'LL USE FOR COMPLIANCE, PRINCIPAL COMPLIANCE.

YOU'LL RECALL THAT'S TEN POINTS.

THE OTHER TEN POINTS ON SPED IS RELATED TO ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS.

SO YOU'LL FIND THAT APPENDIX OR THAT RUBRIC ON APPENDIX E.

AND THEN APPENDIX F IS NOT JUST THE CCMR, IT'S THE CALCULATION METHODOLOGY FOR THE OTHER PARTS OF THE PRINCIPAL EVALUATION.

OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

DOES ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? ITEM NUMBER TWO APPROVAL OF NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS.

ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, THEN WE WILL NOW VOTE.

OKAY. WE HAVE ALL VOTES IN.

WE HAVE SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO ABSENT.

THE MOTION PASSES.

WE'RE NOW READY TO CONSIDER THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ITEMS?

[01:00:07]

PLEASE VOTE.

THE VOTE IS COMPLETE.

THE VOTE IS SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO ABSENT.

THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA BY CONSENSUS PASSES.

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

[BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS]

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOOD AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT DEDICATED A HISTORICAL MARKER IN REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR TURKEY DAY CLASSIC THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN YATES AND WHEATLEY FROM THE YEARS 1946 TO 1966.

IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT WITH ALUMNI, FOOTBALL PLAYERS, CHEERLEADERS, MISS YATES, MISS WHEATLEY'S AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF THIRD AND FIFTH WARD COMMUNITIES.

AND THE FIRST GAME, JUST A LITTLE HISTORY HERE.

THE FIRST GAME WAS IN 1927.

EVERY THANKSGIVING FOR 20 YEARS, BETWEEN 30 AND 60,000 FANS PARTICIPATED IN BREAKFAST, PARADES, FLOATS, FANCY DANCES, AUTOMOBILES.

AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO MARK A VERY HISTORICAL EVENT FOR HISD AND HOUSTON.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THANK YOU. MS. CRUZ OR MS. GARZA LINDNER.

NO. ANYBODY OVER HERE? HI. HOW ARE YOU? MISS MENDOZA HAS JUST JOINED US.

PERFECT TIMING. THANK YOU.

YES, MR. MARTINEZ? YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY NATIONAL PRINCIPALS DAY TO ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I KNOW IT CAN BE CHALLENGING SOMETIMES.

THANK YOU FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU GIVE TO OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR TEACHERS, ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE CHANGE THAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUR FAMILIES TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU. MR. CAMPO, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

SURE. THANK YOU.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND AN OPENING OF THE SUNRISE CENTER THIS WEEK AT.

IT WAS OVER ON REED ROAD.

IT WAS A COMBINATION OF THE STAR OF HOPE BUCKNER AND NEW HOPE HOUSING, AND IT WAS REALLY AMAZING TO SEE ALL OF THE LOCAL SUPPORT OF THE FOLKS AT THOSE FACILITIES. AND THIS STAR OF HOPE IS IS SORT OF THE FIRST STOP AFTER HOMELESSNESS.

AND THEN THEY GO INTO NEW HOPE HOUSING, AND THERE WERE OVER 300 CHILDREN THAT ARE SERVED AT THAT SUNRISE CENTER.

THAT'S OUR SECOND ONE THAT WE'VE OPENED.

AND I BELIEVE WE'RE TRYING TO GET SEVEN OPEN BY THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER OR SIX OPEN BY THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER.

SO I HEARD THERE WAS A HOPE FOR ANOTHER ONE.

BUT MAYBE THAT HOPE ISN'T ISN'T THERE YET? THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE, MR. RIVON? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. SO I WANTED TO RISE FOR A SECOND AND SHOW MY SHIRT ONE THAT I'M REPRESENTING FOR THE THE CENTRAL DIVISION, NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE REASON I'M WEARING THIS SHIRT TODAY IS, IS BECAUSE OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS AT RECLAIMING STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK FOR DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.

AND SO EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THAT DON'T RETURN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

AND EVERY SCHOOL IS WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE THE ENROLLMENT.

BUT THIS SCHOOL HAS DONE A PARTICULARLY EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN THE CENTRAL DIVISION.

PRINCIPAL GARCIA GAVE ME A WALKTHROUGH OF THE MAGNET PROGRAMS, AND I ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THE SCHOOL IS REALLY KNOWN FOR THE CULINARY AND THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT MAGNETS THAT THEY HOLD, AS WELL AS OTHERS.

BUT THEY'VE GOT THIS AMAZING KITCHEN WHERE STUDENTS GET TO LEARN TO COOK AND DO ALL THE REALLY COOL THINGS.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM, A CCMR PROGRAM THAT THAT IS BENEFITING THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS VERY WELL.

SO I JUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF THE SCHOOLS AND, AND I ALSO SPOKE TO THE OTHER DIVISION SUPERINTENDENTS ABOUT THEIR RECLAMATION EFFORTS. AND SO IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THOSE VARIOUS AREAS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. MILES ANY REPORTS OR UPDATES FOR US FROM YOU?

[REPORTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT]

IT WAS THE SECOND SUNRISE CENTER.

[01:05:02]

THESE ARE GREAT THINGS FOR OUR KIDS.

WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE OR HELP SERVE THE STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS, ESPECIALLY EMOTIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD POVERTY, AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO VISIT A SUNRISE CENTER, I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS

[CLOSED SESSION]

SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THE CLOSED SESSION BE REQUIRED.

SUCH FINAL ACTION, VOTE OR DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE OPEN MEETING COVERED BY THIS NOTICE UPON THE RECONVENING OF THIS PUBLIC MEETING, OR AT A SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF, THE BOARD HAS RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:10 P.M.

ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2023.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS MEETING IS RECONVENED AT 6:34 P.M..

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

ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS? YES, I HAVE A MOTION.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL AGENDA, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY THAT THE BOARD APPROVES PROPOSED TERMINATIONS.

AM I GOOD? GO AHEAD.

OKAY. THAT THE BOARD APPROVES.

WHERE AM I HERE? PROPOSED TERMINATIONS OF CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD APPROVES SUSPENSIONS WITHOUT PAY FOR CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD APPROVES WITHDRAWALS OF CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVES ISSUANCE OF FINAL ORDERS ON CONTRACT TERMINATIONS AND NON-RENEWALS AS DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 13TH, 2023.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY RIC CAMPO AND A SECOND BY JANETTE GARZA LINDNER.

PLEASE VOTE.

THE VOTES ARE IN.

EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE ABSENT.

THE MOTION PASSES.

IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTION? THEN OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AT 6:36 P.M..

THANK YOU. GOOD JOB.

RECORD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.