[00:00:01]
GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MEETING IS NOW CONVENED AT 2:02 P.M..
[ Hearings on August 8, 2024]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYONE, PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES.A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.
THEY ARE FOR MY RIGHT ON THE PLATFORM.
MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JEANETTE GARZA LINDNER, MYSELF, AUDREY MOMANAEE, MR. ROLANDO MARTINEZ, AND MISS PAULA MENDOZA.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT BY ZOOM THIS AFTERNOON.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO HEAR FROM 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 THE 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 ONE REGISTERED SPEAKER WHO WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER BOARD POLICY.
BUT YOU MAY NAME YOUR OWN CHILD.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RESPECT OUR PROCEDURES AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
THERE'S ONLY ONE SPEAKER AND END YOUR COMMENTS PROMPTLY.
WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THE TIMER RINGS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE STARTING YOUR REMARKS.
OUR ONE SPEAKER THIS AFTERNOON IS ANNA MICHELIN.
IS SHE HERE? OKAY, SHE IS NOT HERE.
OKAY, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO CONDUCTING THE HEARINGS THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS MEETING.
WHO IS A FORMER TEACHER AT WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S NOT APPEARING THIS AFTERNOON.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MS. TREVINO IS NOT HERE, AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER THIS AFTERNOON.
IF BOTH PARTIES REQUEST AN OPEN SESSION, THEN THE BOARD CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.
SINCE MISS TREVINO IS NOT PRESENT, WE WILL CONDUCT THE HEARING IN CLOSED SESSION.
MYRA CHICKERING WITH ROGERS MORRIS GROVER LLP, REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION, IS PRESENT ALONG WITH MISS ERICA GRAHAM, HSD ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL OR ASSISTANT DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL.
MISS CHICKERING, WE WILL PROCEED IN CLOSED SESSION.
THANK YOU. THE BOARD WILL NOW RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004 THROUGH 551.089 SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN 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 CLOSE SESSION AT 2:06 P.M.
AND EXCUSE ME IN OPEN SESSION AT 2:12 P.M..
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES. MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER.
[00:05:03]
IMMEDIATELY. OKAY.IS THERE A SECOND? I SEE A SECOND FROM MISS GARZA LINDNER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
FIVE IN FAVOR, TWO ABSTENTIONS, TWO ABSENT.
THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED AT 2:13 P.M..
OKAY. OUR NEXT HEARING THAT'S SET FOR THIS AFTERNOON IS RELATED TO CHRISTINA LETSINGER.
DO WE KNOW IF SHE'S HERE OR HER COUNCIL? I DO NOT SEE HER ON.
THE PRINCIPAL IS SITTING HERE WITH ME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE HIM THE PRINCIPAL'S IN THE HALLWAY, SO WE'LL GIVE HIM A SECOND.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER IN THE MATTER OF CHRISTINA LETSINGER, FORMER CO SPECIAL ED TEACHER AT SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL. MISS LETSINGER HAS NOT APPEARED THIS AFTERNOON, ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE WOULD BE PRESENT, SHE HAS NOT MADE AN APPEARANCE AND SHE HAS NOT INDICATED TO THE DISTRICT THAT SHE WILL NOT BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION, UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE WHO'S THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. SINCE MISS LETSINGER IS NOT HERE, WE WILL CONDUCT THE HEARING IN CLOSED SESSION.
SINCE MISS LETSINGER IS NOT HERE, WE WILL MOVE ON, AND WE WILL RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION.
ALL RIGHT. THE BOARD WILL NOW RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551 .004 THROUGH 551 .089 SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE, OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN 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 CLOSE SESSION AT 2:16 P.M.
I SEE A MOTION BY MISS MENDOZA.
MISS MENDOZA, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER.
ADOPT THE FINDINGS IN FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW RECOMMENDED BY THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER AND TERMINATE CHRISTINA LETSINGER'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DISTRICT, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. OKAY.
AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MISS ARNOLD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS SEEING NONE.
MOTION PASSES. SEVEN IN FAVOR TO ABSENT.
THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED AT 2:22 P.M..
[00:10:09]
IS THIS YOUR MATTER, MR. GREEN AS WELL? OKAY. DO WE KNOW IF SHE IS PLANNING TO ATTEND? SHE DID NOT APPEAR SO.OKAY. SHE DID NOT ATTEND HER TERMINATION HEARING.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MISS BROWN INDICATING THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
SO, WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING HER ATTENDING.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER IN THE MATTER OF TERESITA BOYETTE BROWN, FORMER TEACHER, VALLEY WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION, UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING HERE, BECAUSE MISS BROWN IS NOT PRESENT, WE WILL CONDUCT THIS HEARING IN CLOSED SESSION.
MYRA CHICKERING WITH ROGERS MORRIS GROVER LLP REPRESENTS THE ADMINISTRATION AND IS PRESENT.
AND ERICA GRAHAM, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL, IS ALSO PRESENT.
THE BOARD WILL NOW RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004 THROUGH 551.089. SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE, OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN 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 CLOSE SESSION AT 2:24 P.M.
ON AUGUST 8TH, 2024, AND I DO NOT SEE ANYONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'M SORRY.
CAN SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME TALK TO YOU.
SO IF THIS WOMAN IS OUR NEXT HEARING, SHE'S WELCOME TO SIT IN.
YOU WANT TO LET HER KNOW? SHE CAN.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I SEE A MOTION BY JEANETTE GARZA LINDNER.
MA'AM, WHAT'S YOUR MOTION? MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER TO DISMISS THE RESPONDENT'S APPEAL FOR FAILURE TO EXHAUST HER ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES AND FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION, AND TO TERMINATE TERESITA BOYETTE BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DISTRICT, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
OKAY. AND I HAVE A SECOND FROM MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES. SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO ABSENT.
ON THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER TO DISMISS THE RESPONDENT'S APPEAL FOR FAILURE TO EXHAUST HER ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES AND FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION, AND TO TERMINATE TERESITA BOYETTE BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DISTRICT, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED AT 2:29 P.M..
AND IS THAT ON THE HEARING RELATED TO JOHN AND CARLA WOMACK? YES, MA'AM.
[00:15:17]
OKAY. ARE YOU MISS WOMACK? OKAY. THANK YOU.THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS.
AND, MISS CHICKERING, YOU'RE ALL SET.
MISS WOMACK IS MR. WOMACK JOINING YOU AS WELL? OKAY. OKAY.
THANK YOU. WHO ARE PARENTS AT LORENZO EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER? STUDENT HEARINGS ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION, UNLESS BOTH PARTIES TO A HEARING REQUEST THAT IT BE CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION.
IN ADDITION, HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING. IF BOTH PARTIES REQUEST AN OPEN SESSION DURING THIS HEARING, THE BOARD MAY GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSULT WITH ITS ATTORNEY.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071.
IF ANY BOARD MEMBER WISHES TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, PLEASE MAKE THIS REQUEST KNOWN TO ME.
MISS ERICA GRAHAM, EXCUSE ME, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL, IS ALSO PRESENT.
MISS WOMACK, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE AN OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION? CLOSED. OKAY.
IN THE BACK. YEAH. NO WORRIES.
ANY PARTIES WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE HEARING ARE LEAVING THE AUDITORIUM AT THE MOMENT.
THE BOARD WILL NOW RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT SUBSECTIONS 551 .004 THROUGH 551 .089 SHOULD BOARD FINAL ACTION, VOTE OR DECISION ON ANY MATTER CONSIDERED IN 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 HEREOF, THE BOARD HAS RECESSED TO CLOSE SESSION AT 2:33 P.M.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION FOR MR. MARTINEZ.
SIR, WHAT'S YOUR MOTION? YES, MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT WE HAVE STOPPED, LOOKED AND LISTENED, AND THAT WE TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER.
THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A SECOND FOR MR. CAMPO. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
THE BOARD HAS VOTED SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO ABSENT ON THE MOTION TO DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE STOPPED, LOOKED AND LISTENED, AND THAT WE TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER. A LETTER NOTIFYING BOTH PARTIES OF THE ACTION OF THE BOARD SHALL BE PREPARED AND SIGNED BY THE MANAGER OF BOARD SERVICES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED AT 2:58 P.M..
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS OF THE BOARD IN THIS MEETING.
THE TIME IS 2:58 AND WE ARE ADJOURNING ON AUGUST 8TH, 2024.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.