[00:00:01]
>> WE'RE GOOD? GREAT. SORRY TO START A LITTLE BIT LATE, EVERYBODY.
WE HAD SOME HEARINGS THAT RAN OVER.
GOOD EVENING. THIS MEETING IS NOW CONVENED AT 5:41 PM.
[CALL TO ORDER]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELLPHONES.A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.
THERE FROM MY RIGHT ON THE PLATFORM, CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, MYSELF, AUDREY MOMANAEE, RIC CAMPO, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, PAULA MENDOZA AND ADAM RIVAN.
THERE ARE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE TONIGHT WITH US.
IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING AND BEING RECOGNIZED.
ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO STAND.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.
WE WILL NOW BE JOINED BY A MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS TO LEAD OUR PLEDGES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT MR. MARTINEZ, PLEASE INTRODUCE THE PLEDGE LEADER FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
CADET FIRST LIEUTENANT, NEEMA ANDERSON IS A JUNIOR WITH JACK YATES HIGH SCHOOL.
AS A 19TH BATTALION LOGISTICS OFFICER, SHE SUPPORTS 168 CADETS IN THE PROGRAM.
NEEMA MAINTAINS A 3.6 GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND IS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES WHILE BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN HER SCHOOL.
SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE VOLLEYBALL AND SOFTBALL TEAMS AND PARTICIPATES IN GIRL'S FLAG FOOTBALL.
UPON GRADUATION, SHE PLANS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING.
HER HOBBIES INCLUDE SPORTS, GAMING, AND PROGRAMMING.
ONCE AGAIN, CADET, FIRST LIEUTENANT, NEEMA ANDERSON. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU CADET, FIRST LIEUTENANT ANDERSON.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD MEMBER,
[RECOGNITIONS]
PAULA MENDOZA READ OUR RECOGNITION REGARDING BULLYING PREVENTION.A PROCLAMATION ON BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, OCTOBER 2024.
WHEREAS EACH OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING AND TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ITS PREVENTION ANY WHERE AS BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AND PERVASIVE PROBLEMS AT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, STATE, AND OUR NATION WITH ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS REPORTING THEY WERE BULLIED AT SCHOOL.
WHEREAS, BULLYING AND HARASSMENT CAUSE LASTING PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HARM TO OUR CHILDREN, INCLUDING A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF POOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ABSENTEEISM, AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2024 AS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH IN HISD, IN HOPES THAT IT MAY RISE AWARENESS AND HELP AND END BULLYING AND ITS TRAUMATIC IMPACT ON CHILDREN.
HOUSTON, TEXAS, THIS TENTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2024.
>> THANK YOU. THIS EVENING, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS IN A DIFFERENT ORDER FROM USUAL BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FIRST HEAR FOLKS WITH RESPECT TO AGENDA ITEM 1, BOARD MONITORING UPDATE, PRESENTATION OF GOAL 3, PROGRESS MEASURES, 3.1 AND 3.2.
THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE ORDER.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SPANISH LIVE CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE VIEWING THE MEETING VIA LIVESTREAM AND SOME LIVE SPANISH INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE IN PERSON IN THE AUDITORIUM IF YOU NEED IT.
PLEASE TALK WITH THE LADIES IN THE BACK.
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
[00:05:01]
INHIBIT THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO CONNECT 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.
TONIGHT WE HAVE 163 TOTAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS, 36 OF THEM ARE REGISTERED FOR ITEM 1.
SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH PER BOARD POLICY AS WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS AS THEIR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED UNDER THE 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 HAS EXPIRED AND THE TIME RINGS.
THIS EVENING WE'LL START WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND I WOULD ASK THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE, GENE WU, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK. YES, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP AND OPPOSE THE HISD BOND PROPOSAL.
MY PURPOSE OF SAYING THIS IS, I HAVE LOTS OF REASONS BUT I THINK ONLY SINCE I HAVE A MINUTE, MY ISSUE IS THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH IN SUPERINTENDENT MILES OR THIS BOARD TO OVERSEE HIM AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE NOT MISUSED, THAT THE COMMUNITY'S CONSIDERATIONS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION OR THAT THE TRUSTEES HERE WILL ACTUALLY LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND CHANGE THEIR PLANS AND MODIFY THEM AND DO WHAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY WANTS WITH THE MONEY INSTEAD OF WHAT SUPERINTENDENT MILES WANTS TO DO WITH THE MONEY.
THIS IS FOLLOWING A PERVASIVE PLAN TO SILENCE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HISD, SILENCE TEACHERS, SILENCE PRINCIPALS, FIRED PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD SPEAK UP AND OPPOSE THINGS THAT WERE NOT GOOD FOR STUDENTS.
BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD OPPOSE THIS BOND BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUST. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES, I'VE GOT MOLLY COOK AND JOLANDA JONES, EITHER OF YOU WANT TO COME UP FIRST?
>> GOOD EVENING YOU-ALL. I'M STATE SENATOR, MOLLY COOK, REPRESENTING QUITE A FEW OF THE SCHOOLS IN HISD.
I WANTED TO COME AND TELL YOU ALL THAT I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THE BOND, BEEN TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS, TALKING TO EXPERTS, TALKING TO IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE ME.
EVEN WITH ALL THE ISSUES IN OUR SCHOOLS, WITH THE ISSUES WITH THE FACILITIES AND WHAT CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ARE DEALING WITH, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THERE IS NO TRUST, THEN I AM ENCOURAGING MY CONSTITUENTS NOT TO VOTE FOR THE BOND.
[APPLAUSE] SUPERINTENDENT, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU AND AUDREY AND MICHELLE MAKING TIME TO MEET WITH US THE OTHER DAY AND APPRECIATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY TO Y'ALL AND TO EVERYONE LISTENING AND TUNING IN FROM HOME, I DO TRUST OUR TEACHERS WHEN THEY TELL US, DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS BOND. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] REPRESENTATIVE JONES. YES, MA'AM.
>> BULLY MIKE MILES, YOUR UNCERTIFIED SUPERINTENDENT WHO WAS RUN OUT OF DALLAS AND YOUR UNELECTED RUBBER STAMP CREW, HAVE CREATED THE VERY HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES YOU NOW COMPLAIN OF.
ON ONE FRIDAY YOU FIRED OVER 1,200 SUPPORT STAFF, PEOPLE WHO COULD HAVE FIXED BROKEN ACS AND MOWED THE LAWNS.
YOU CUT ESSENTIAL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, WRAP AROUND SERVICES, AND SPECIAL ED EXPERTS.
YET PUSH A BOND KNOWING IT WON'T COVER SALARIES.
YOU'VE WASTED MONEY ON ADULT SOLE CYCLES AND STARTED A $500,000 PLAY, INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT ON LIFESAVING DEFIBRILLATORS.
YOU FUNNEL 41 MILLION OF OUR TEXAS TAX DOLLARS TO YOUR FAILING COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HISD WOULDN'T EVEN QUALIFY FOR A ONE MILLION DOLLAR HOME REPAIR LOAN UNDER YOUR BOND PLAN.
YOU DISRESPECT STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND TAXPAYERS WHILE PAYING ADMINISTRATORS UP TO $150,000, MORE THAN CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
WE DON'T TRUST OR RESPECT YOU AND YOUR VOTERS SHOULD VOTE AGAINST HISD BOND PROPS, A AND B.
WE'LL PROVE IT AT THE POLLS. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKERS THIS EVENING ARE HISD BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE, SAVANT MOORE.
>> I WANT TO REMEMBER SCOTT THE CTO.
HE WAS A GREAT MAN. AT HIS FUNERAL THERE WAS NO UNKIND WORD SPOKEN ABOUT HIM.
I JUST WANT TO MODEL THAT TYPE OF LIFE, AND SO MY MORAL OBLIGATION, I TOLD MY CONGREGATION THAT THE WORLD OF 2024 WAS REBUILT.
[00:10:01]
IT WASN'T COLOCATION, IT WASN'T CLOSURE. I SAID REBUILD.I CAN'T TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL HAS THE RIGHT TO BE CLOSED.
THEY WILL BE GOING TO THE POLL.
WE HAVE REGISTERED THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS THIS SUMMER.
ON OCTOBER 21ST THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, WE WILL BE AT THE POLL.
ONE THING THAT I APPRECIATE THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR AND THE DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, WE ARE BIPARTISAN ON SOMETHING.
[APPLAUSE] THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE SAME QUALITY EDUCATION ON MY SIDE OF TOWN THAT THEY HAVE ON THE WEST SIDE, THAT MY CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE BUS TO GO TO THE BEST SCHOOL, BUT THE BEST SCHOOL SHOULD ALSO BE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN.
BECAUSE OF THAT, MR. MILES, YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT NO ONE THOUGHT YOU COULD DO.
YOU CHANGED TEXAS POLITICS. [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU MR. MOORE. I HAVE MR. GOMEZ, PASO GOMEZ, IS HE HERE. TRUSTEE GOMEZ? NO. ALL RIGHT.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
I THINK THE FULL BOARD IS, AND I KNOW MR. MILES IS AS WELL.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM SPEAKERS WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS STUDENTS WHEN THEY CHECKED IN THIS EVENING.
IF SPEAKERS WILL PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF WHEN YOU STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, THAT WILL BE APPRECIATED.
LET ME GET TO MY LIST. OUR FIRST STUDENT IS ADIDA SAGE BITTNER. IS SHE HERE? THEN I'LL JUST CALL OUT THE REST OF THE STUDENTS.
IF THE STUDENT SPEAKERS COULD COME FORWARD, ACTUALLY, THERE'S SOME SAVED SEATS UP HERE FOR THE KIDS.
I'VE GOT ADIDA SAGE BITTNER, LUCA CANDIDA, NAYA DUARTE, SOHANI DUARTE, ELIANA GATLIB AS THE NEXT FEW SPEAKERS. YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ADIDA SAGE BITTNER, AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT CONDIT ELEMENTARY, SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE.
I KNOW ADULTS WANT US TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL, BUT STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN TEST SCORES.
WE HAVE DREAMS, TALENTS, AND INTERESTS THAT CAN'T BE MEASURED ON A BUBBLE SHEET OR COMPLETION STATUS.
IMAGINE IF HARRY POTTER WAS ONLY JUDGED BY HIS GRADES AT HOGWARTS.
HE'D STILL BE IN THE CUPBOARD UNDER THE STAIRS.
WE NEED TEACHERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE AND QUALIFIED TO TEACH CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CTE CLASSES.
HOW CAN WE LEARN WITHOUT GREAT TEACHERS TO GUIDE US? NO ONE WOULD TAKE POTIONS CLASS IF SNAPE WASN'T THERE TO TEACH IT, EVEN IF HE WAS SCARY SOMETIMES.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED OPTIONS THAT MATCH OUR DIVERSE INTERESTS.
EVERY KID IS DIFFERENT, LIKE HOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE QUIT ITCH, WHILE OTHERS PREFER WIZARD CHESS.
LET'S MAKE SURE CTE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST A FEW THINGS.
THANK YOU. NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUCA CANDIDA.
LUCA. CAN THE TRANSLATOR, PLEASE.
>> CAN WE HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE?
>> YOU GET STARTED. THIS IS THE TIME. GO AHEAD.
I USED TO LIKE SCHOOL, BUT NOW A LITTLE LESS.
>> IT USED TO BE THAT WE HAD LOTS OF PARENTS VOLUNTEERING, HELPING OUT THE TEACHERS, BUT NOW THEY'RE NOT THERE BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXAMS.
>> ALL THE TEACHERS ARE STRESSED OUT, THEY'RE AFRAID, AND THEY'RE TIRED, AND THEY ALSO GET ANGRY QUICKER.
>> I'VE BEEN HERE TALKING FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
I'VE BEEN COMING FOR A YEAR TALKING.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN LIKE MYSELF?
>> DO YOUR CHILDREN NEED TO BEGIN HATING SCHOOL FOR YOU TO CARE ABOUT IT?
[00:15:02]
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NAYA DUARTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M NIA DOWER.
YOU WANT US TO SAY YES TO SPENDING 4.4 BILLION ON SCHOOLS, BUT IT COULD TURN INTO 8.9 BILLION IN DEBT OVER 30 YEARS.
FAMILIES COULD ALREADY HAVE A HARD TIME PAYING FOR EVERYTHING.
WE ALL KNOW SCHOOLS NEED MONEY, BUT HOW CAN WE AGREE TO THIS WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE, IT WILL HELP US TO NOT JUST DISCUSS FOR TOO LATER.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW WE DON'T END UP PAYING TOO MUCH IN THE FUTURE? NO TRUST, NO BOND.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANI DORT?
>> MR. MILES, WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE UNDEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER, AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T IMPROVED HID.
LIBRARIES AND BOOKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY NEW SPIN BIKES, MAP TEST AND TEAMER RELIEF DETENTION CENTERS.
OUR CURRICULUM, WHICH WAS PARTIALLY AI GENERATED, VALUE STANDARDIZED TESTING OVER GOOD TEACHERS OR EXTRA TIME FOR SOMETHING FUN.
EDUCATORS ARE PAID MORE FOR BEING BULLIED AND STUDENTS DON'T HAVE ELECTIVES ON ANY OF CAMPUSES.
YOU SENT MILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS TO YOUR CHARTER IN COLORADO AND EXPECT US TO TRUST YOU WITH $4.4 BILLION WHEN THAT THIRD FUTURE MONEY COULD GO TOWARDS MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE DRINKING LEAD.
MS. MOANA, AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU WERE MORE WORRIED ABOUT AN F BOMB THAN HONORING A STUDENT WHO DIED BECAUSE YOU TRUST MR. MILES PLANS, WHICH NEVER INCLUDE CHECKING AEDS.
ROD OF MANAGERS DON'T EXPECT US TO TRUST YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIANA GOTTLIEB AND THEN NEXT STUDENT SPEAKERS ARE ZEPHAS CON, AUGUST LONGORIA, ROSALIE LONGORIA, HELEN MADDOX.
IS ELIANA HERE? NO. ZEPHAS CON.
YOU'VE GOT TWO KIDS. AUGUST AND ROSALIE.
WHATEVER ORDER YOU GUYS WANT TO GO. GO AHEAD.
>> AN INTERPRETATION OF LADDERS AND WORDS BY JONATHAN LARSON.
WHICH DO YOU PREFER? ASK THE BIRDS.
>> KEATS OR BOOKS, WHICH DO YOU PREFER? ASK THE KIDS.
>> FEAR OR LOVE, DON'T SAY THE ANSWER.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
WHY DO WE NOD OUR HEADS, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THE BOSS IS WRONG AS RAY?
>> WHY DO YOU ALWAYS VOTE YES ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT IS WRONG AS RAY? HOW CAN WE [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HELEN MADDOX.
I'M A SENIOR AT A COMPREHENSIVE HIT HIGH SCHOOL, AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING.
I'M READING THE STATEMENT OF A TEACHER WHO LEFT HIT AND WAS NOT ALLOWED AN EXIT INTERVIEW.
I WANTED TO DO THIS BECAUSE HISD HAS LOST TOO MANY GOOD TEACHERS SINCE MIKE MILES HAS ARRIVED.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
STUDENTS WAS OUT WHEN TEACHERS LEAVE.
AT MY SCHOOL, STUDENTS CAN FEEL THE STRESS RADIATING OFF THE TEACHERS IN ADMINISTRATION, AND I'M AFRAID THEY WILL LEAVE.
I WOULD RATHER LEARN IN A SCHOOL WITH
[00:20:01]
NO AIR CONDITIONING THAN IN A CLASS WITHOUT A CERTIFIED TEACHER.MY STATEMENT IS BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY TAUGHT AT INES HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY LEFT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE MILES ADMINISTRATION.
THEY SAID, HARASSMENT, EVEN IF NOT DIRECTED AT ME IS STRESSFUL.
THE NES PROGRAM DOES NOTHING TO PREPARE MY STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILL MADDOX.
THEN AFTER THAT, AS FAR AS STUDENT SPEAKERS, WE HAVE TRAVIS MCCARRA, LUCKY MORGAN, YASMINE YEARWOOD, AND ELLA TAYLOR, I GUESS SHE'S BY ZOOM. YES, MR. MADDOX.
>> I AM AN HISD SENIOR PURSUING THE IB DIPLOMA AND A FIRST TIME SPEAKER.
THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IN HISD RIGHT NOW IS SO NARROW.
IN A COLLEGE LEVEL CLASS, IT DOES NOT BENEFIT US TO SHARE THE OBJECTIVE OR CAST TO DO NOW ON THE SCREEN.
IN FACT, IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND SELLS US BACK.
ADVANCED STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN TO SUMMARIZE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MENTALITY SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK IN HISD.
IT HOLDS BACK OUR THRIVING SCHOOLS AND DESTROYS EDUCATIONAL METHODS LIKE IB THAT IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WAY FOR STUDENTS TO NOT JUST LEARN BECOME INQUIRERS AND CRITICAL THINKERS.
IT ALSO IS DRIVING FAMILIES AWAY AND PARENTS DO NOT WANT THIS FOR THEIR KIDS.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT I'M GRADUATING.
MIKE MILES, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDER THAT THERE MIGHT BE A REASON WHY ENROLLMENT IS PLUMMETING AND OVER 40% OF HISD TEACHERS HAVE LEFT THE DISTRICT? YOUR NARROW VIEWS OF SUCCESS HAVE LEFT SO MANY BEHIND AND LED TO THE COLLAPSE OF THIS DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRAVIS MCCARRA.
>> MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NEW LEARNING SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING FOR US, KIDS.
IT'S NOT WHAT OUR IB PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
INSTEAD OF INTERESTING PROJECTS AND CRITICAL THINKING, DOLS FORCE US INTO STRICT TIME BLOCKS, AND WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON TEST PREP.
THIS DOESN'T HELP US LEARN HOW TO EXPLORE OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD.
IT JUST MAKES US STRESSED OUT AND OUR SCORES ARE EVEN GOING DOWN.
MY CLASS STARTED A PETITION TO SHOW HOW WE FEEL.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE IB TAUGHT US TO DO SOMETHING WHEN WE SEE A PROBLEM.
WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST DOING WORKSHEETS ALL DAY.
THIS NEW WAY ISN'T LIKE THE IB TEACHING IB TOO, AND IT IS REALLY UPSETTING.
WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO HELP US BECOME BETTER THINKERS AND BE READY TO LEAD WHEN WE GROW UP.
PLEASE LET THE IB LEARNING BE AUTHENTIC AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT STUDENT SPEAKER IS LUCKY MORGAN. LUCKY MORGAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS YASMIN.
I AM AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT IN HOUSTON ISD.
I'M HERE TO READ A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHO IS WORKING ON THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY TAUGHT AT A NON NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THEY LEFT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND TOOK A JOB IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
MY PRINCIPAL, CO-WORKERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS WERE AMAZING AND I WILL MISS THEM DEARLY.
I'M LEAVING THE DISTRICT DUE TO MIKE MILES AND MOVED OUT OF STATE LAST WEEK.
THE THINGS COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP WERE RIDICULOUS AND NOT GOOD TEACHING.
I COULD NOT, IN GOOD FAITH, REMAIN IN MY POSITION.
I'M HERE TO TEACH CHILDREN, NOT HURT THEM". THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I THINK OUR LAST STUDENT SPEAKER IS ON ZOOM, IS THAT RIGHT.
THAT'S ELLA TAYLOR, WHO'S ON ZOOM.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ELLA TAYLOR.
I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH MORE THAN 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY TAUGHT IN A NON NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THEY LEFT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND ARE TAKING A JOB IN ANOTHER FIELD.
I LEFT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING DISRESPECT SHOWN TO CERTIFY ELECTIVE TEACHERS AND THE WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO BE PART OF A RIGID EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT I BELIEVE IS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN." THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR STUDENT SPEAKERS.
YOU HAVE ONE MORE STUDENT SPEAKER? EMILY, WHO IS THAT? WHAT'S HER NAME?
>> CAN YOU TALK TO EMILY REAL QUICK AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER AND THEN WE'LL GET HER IN.
>> I WAS REGISTERED TO SPEAK MYSELF, BUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER FOUND OUT THAT I WAS SPEAKING, SHE WANTED TO TAKE MY TIME.
THEY SAID BECAUSE SHE'S A CHILD THAT WE SHOULD COME NOW.
[00:25:02]
>> HI. MY NAME IS EVELYN BISMA STUDENT AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
I'M READING A STATEMENT MADE BY A CERTIFIED LIBRARY SERVICES STAFF MEMBER WHO WAS FIRED FROM HISD.
THEY HAVE A NEW POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THE ENTIRE LIBRARY SERVICES TEAM WAS CUT BY A REDUCTION IN FORCE.
WE PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO ALL CAMPUS LIBRARIES, LED LITERACY PROGRAMS LIKE NAME THAT BOOK AND THE ASTROS LITERACY BUS, MAINTAINED COLLECTIONS, RECORDS OF ACCESS AND DIGITAL RESOURCES.
APPARENTLY, NONE OF THIS IS ALIGNED TO DESTINATION 2035.
FOR ME, NAME THAT BOOK WAS LIKE A SAFE SPACE THAT I COULD BE MYSELF AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
THE LOSS OF ALL THESE LIBRARIANS HAS REALLY MADE ME SAD AND ANGRY.
[APPLAUSE] I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR STUDENT SPEAKERS FOR THE EVENING.
WE'RE GOING TO TURN OVER THEN TO THE SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEM 1,
[SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS]
WHICH IS THE MONITORING REPORT, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THEM IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE PRESENT.THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS BROOK BAILEY.
ARE THESE FOLKS IDENTIFIED BY NUMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN COME FORWARD OR BY ALPHA.
OKAY. IF YOUR LAST NAME BEGINS TO A C, A, B OR C, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT HERE AND MS. BAILEY, IS THAT YOU, MA'AM? PLEASE COME ON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BROOK BAILEY.
I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN, A WRITER AND ARTIST, AND I WORKED AS A TEACHING ARTIST IN HISD FOR MANY YEARS.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR WITH OVER 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THEIR NON NES SCHOOL.
THEIR WORDS, AS THE MONTESSORI SPECIALIST, MY POSITION WAS NO LONGER ABOUT MAKING THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM AUTHENTIC.
I WAS USED IN A LOWER PAID ROLE.
THE DEMORALIZING CLIMATE AND CONTINUOUS GOTCHA CULTURE WAS NOT HOW I WANTED TO FINISH MY CAREER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMER BARGER. YES, MA'AM.
>> HELLO. I'M DR. AMBER BARGER, A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER.
FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM ABOUT INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING THE TSI CRITERIA, THE RESEARCH SHOWS SCHOOL LEADER AND TEACHER RETENTION HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN HISD, PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER TURNOVER HAVE SOARED WITH ABOUT 50% OF PRINCIPALS AND 40% OF TEACHERS HAVING LEFT THE DISTRICT SINCE THE TAKEOVER.
NOW ONE IN FIVE TEACHERS ARE UNCERTIFIED.
HAVING DISTRICT LEADERS WHO ENABLE THIS LEVEL OF INSTABILITY IN THE WORKFORCE, ALONG WITH A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING DISTRICT FINANCES, THIS ERODES MY CONFIDENCE IN HISD'S ABILITY TO MANAGE THE PROPOSED BONDS EFFECTIVELY.
FOR NOW, I'M VOTING NO TO THE PROPOSED BONDS UNTIL HISD IMPLEMENTS INTERNAL REFORMS THAT PROMOTE WORKFORCE STABILITY AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA BENZAN. MS. BENZAN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DR. MARIA BENZAN.
THE CONCLUSIONS AND THE ANALYSIS OF GPM 3.2 ARE SERIOUSLY FLAWED.
FIRST, IT OVERSIMPLIFIES THE REASON STUDENTS LEAVE CTE PROGRAMS. ACADEMIC PRESSURES AREN'T THE ONLY ISSUE.
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, AND SCHOOL CULTURE.
IGNORING THESE FACTS IS JUST SHORT SIGHTED.
SECOND, WHERE ARE THE STUDENT VOICES? HOW CAN ANYONE FIX PROBLEMS WITHOUT ASKING STUDENTS WHY THEY'RE LEAVING IN THE FIRST PLACE? IT'S RIDICULOUS TO THINK YOU CAN SOLVE SOMETHING WITHOUT HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
THIRD, THE FOCUS ON ALIGNING SEQUENCES MISSES THE POINT ENTIRELY.
IF THE PROGRAMS ARE IRRELEVANT OR BORING, STUDENTS WON'T STAY NO MATTER HOW ORGANIZED THE COURSES ARE.
STRUCTURE IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT QUALITY CONTENT THAT SPEAKS TO STUDENTS INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS.
IN SHORT, THE ANALYSIS IS MISSING THE MARK ON EVERY LEVEL.
IT'S TIME TO STOP OVERSIMPLIFYING.
FIRE MIKE MILE. NO TRUST, NO BOND.
[00:30:03]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLY BLEEKER.
I BELIEVE SHE'S IN THE OVERFLOW, IS SHE HERE? GOOD. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. NO, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT. TRY IT AGAIN.
>> GOOD EVENING. KELLY BLEEKER, HISD PARENT.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE IN COLLEGE WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO RIFF AND RUN OFF EXPERIENCED TEACHERS AND REPLACE THEM WITH UNCERTIFIED STAFF AND AI GENERATED PACKETS.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO READ A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH THREE PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY ACCEPTED A JOB WITH ANOTHER DISTRICT AFTER BEING PART OF A REDUCTION IN FORCE.
THEY SAY, I HELPED MAKE THE FIRST CONVOCATION HAPPEN AND CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT MILES ALMOST BANKRUPTED THE DISTRICT, TRYING TO GET THE LOCATION MOVED.
HE ALSO THREW A PARTY FOR ADMIN WHILE WE WERE AT PD.
MASSEY DESCRIBED IT AS A SPADE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANA CANDIDA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DIANA CANDIDA, HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 1 AND TELL YOU AGAIN THAT DATA IS BEING CHERRY PICKED AND STRATEGICALLY BEING USED TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC.
BOARD OF MANAGERS, YOU'RE BEING LED TO BELIEVE THAT NES IS WORKING AND THAT THE $4.4 BILLION BOND WILL HELP HOUSTON.
HOUSTON NEEDS A BOND, BUT THE BOND PROPOSED BY MR. MILES WILL NOT HELP HOUSTON'S CHILDREN.
IT WILL NOT FULFILL OUR COMMUNITY'S VISION AND VALUES.
ONLY 39% OF VOTERS SUPPORT A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE TO FUND THE BOND.
THE CLAIM THAT IT WON'T INCREASE TAXES IS FALSE.
IN ADDITION, NOT ONLY HAS MR. MILES CREATED A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR TEACHERS AND PRECIPITATED THE DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT, BUT HE HAS A TRACK RECORD OF MISMANAGING PUBLIC FUNDS.
BOARD OF MANAGERS, IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT HOUSTON AND OUR CHILDREN, I URGE YOU TO FIRE MIKE MILES AND IN NOVEMBER, ASK THAT YOU FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF BOTH THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES TO VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION A AND B.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIGI CANDIDA.
I WANTED TO BRING UP A SITUATION ABOUT WHEN MY SON WAS GOING TO ANDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HE'S DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND HE WASN'T TREATED RIGHT.
HE WOULD GET TO SCHOOL AND EVERY DAY I WOULD HAVE TO PICK HIM UP AT 10:00 A.M.
I ENDED UP MOVING HIM TO ALVIN ISD AND HE'S TALKING AND ATTENDING WITH NO PROBLEM.
I FEEL LIKE HISD JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH MY SON.
THEY WOULD SEND HIM HOME FOR ANY REASON.
NOW ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY GRANDSON, THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN LIKE HIM, BUT ALSO FOR TEACHERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND LIBRARIAN WHO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A POWER AND IDEOLOGICAL CORRUPTION.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER TO ITEM 1, THE MONITORING REPORT, IS KATE CHAMPION.
>> IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, YOU MUST HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON AND THE STRONG FOUNDATION MUST START WAY BEFORE 11TH AND 12TH GRADE.
WE ALL KNOW THIS, AND THIS IS WHY MY FAMILY CHOSE HARVARD ELEMENTARY. FUN FACT.
DID YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE ZONED TO HARVARD ELEMENTARY OFTEN PAY MORE FOR THEIR HOUSES THAN OTHER COMPARABLE HOUSES IN THE HEIGHTS? MANY OF THEM GET INTO BIDDING WARS OVER THEM.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, ASK A REALTOR.
WHY? WHY WOULD YOU PAY MORE FOR YOUR HOUSE THAN ANOTHER HOUSE THAT'S EXACTLY THE SAME ONE STREET OVER? IT'S BECAUSE OF HARVARD.
IT'S BECAUSE OF HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
THE MARKET FOLLOWS SUCCESS AND THE MARKET HAS FOLLOWED HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
WE CHOSE OUR PRINCIPAL, WHO BY THE WAY, GETS IN AT 4:30 A.M. TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR AIR CONDITIONER IS WORKING. [APPLAUSE]
[00:35:08]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FORMER TRUSTEE JUDITH CRUZ.>> NOT JUST THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PROGRESS MONITOR AND PRIORITIZING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
THIS DATA REFLECTS THE FUTURE AND POTENTIAL OF OUR STUDENTS, WHAT PATH THEY WILL TAKE WHEN THEY LEAVE HISD STORES AND WHAT OPTIONS WILL THEY HAVE.
EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT IS ON TRACK FOR GOAL PROGRESS MEASURE 3.1, WE STILL HAVE STUDENT GROUPS THAT HAVE A SINGLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO MEET TSI CRITERIA IN 11TH GRADE, SINGLE DIGIT.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DESEGREGATED DATA.
HOW IS THE DISTRICT ADDRESSING THOSE VAST DISPARITIES? AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE COLLABORATIVE WORK THAT THE COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE WILL DO AND THE IMPACT ON THESE POST SECONDARY READINESS STUDENT OUTCOMES.
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT RECOMMENDATION. GRACIAS.
>> THANK YOU, FORMER TRUSTEE FOR THAT CONSTRUCTIVE PRESENTATION.
OUR NEXT FOLKS ARE JESSICA DUGAN AND THEN IF FOLKS WHO HAVE NAMES THAT GO THROUGH K, DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THERE'S SPACE UP HERE TO SIT IF IT'S HELPFUL.
JESSICA DUGAN, AND THEN SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE FAULK, SARAH FISHER, AND HEATHER GOLDEN. YES, MA'AM.
>> CAN'T PROMISE I'LL BE AS CONSTRUCTIVE.
YOU KNOW I'M THE TYPE OF VOTER THAT WOULD SUPPORT A BOND MEASURE.
MORE MONEY IN SCHOOLS THE BETTER, HOWEVER, LAST YEAR LAST YEAR, IS MY MIC ON? HELLO.
>> HOWEVER, LAST YEAR, WHEN YOU CUT AUTISM SERVICES AND OTHER VITAL SPECIAL ED PROGRAMS, I STARTED TO LOOK INTO WHAT THE TAKEOVER WAS DOING AND IT TURNS OUT, THAT WAS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
I'M CLEARLY NOT THE ONLY ONE TO CATCH ONTO YOUR CORRUPTION.
YOU'VE MANAGED TO PISS EVERYONE OFF; THE DEMOCRATS, THE REPUBLICANS, THE THIRD PARTIES, TEACHERS AND WORKERS UNION, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR KIDS, HAVE COME TOGETHER TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST YOU.
SO GO AHEAD AND TELL YOUR BILLIONAIRE AND CEO FRIENDS AT THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE ONES TRYING TO SCORE THE CONTRACTS OFF OF THIS BOND, THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY FANCY GALAS THEY HOST OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEY THROW AT THIS THING, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, AND OUR ANSWER IS NO.
[APPLAUSE] NO. NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE FAULK.
>> I'M A PROUD PARENT OF A HARVARD STUDENT AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES OF OUR IB CURRICULUM AND THE DEDICATED TEACHERS SUPPORTING AN EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
OUR HIGHLY RATED SCHOOL AND ITS CURRICULUM NURTURES CRITICAL THINKING, COMPASSIONATE AND GLOBAL MINDED LEARNERS.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF REMOVING WHAT IS WORKING IN OUR SCHOOL AND IGNORING PARENT, TEACHER, AND STUDENT VOICES OR DISMISSING OUR CONCERNS.
BY DOING SO, YOU WILL BE DISMANTLING A STRONG SCHOOL COMMUNITY, SHAPING PROGRESS, AND SUCCESSFUL STUDENT OUTCOMES.
MANY OF US CAN NAME AT LEAST ONE TEACHER IN OUR EDUCATIONAL CAREER THAT VALUED, INSPIRED, AND ADVOCATED FOR US.
I BELIEVE MANY OF US ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND WE UNDERSTAND THE CRITICAL ROLE EDUCATION HAS IN A CHILD'S FUTURE.
TAKE OUR COMMUNITIES ADVOCACY TO HEART.
TOMORROW'S LEADERS ARE IN TODAY'S CLASSROOMS AND THEIR FUTURE DEPENDS ON US.
>> THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STUDENT SPEAKERS WHO HAVE COME IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, ELIANA GOTLIEB. YES.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ELIANA GOTLIEB AND I AM A STUDENT AT MIRELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HISD DOES NOT DO EXIT INTERVIEWS WHEN EMPLOYEES RESIGN AND LEAVE.
TONIGHT, I AM PROUD TO BE THE VOICES OF ONE OF THESE FORMER EMPLOYEES.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHO LEFT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT TAUGHT AT A NON NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS HIGHLY EXPERIENCED CERTIFIED TEACHER SAID, CHAOS DOES NOT WORK FOR CHILDREN IN AN EDUCATION SETTING.
TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE TRULY FEARFUL, AND THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL CURRICULUM.
>> THANK YOU. EVA KIRSCHEN. YES, MA'AM.
>> MR. MILES, WHEN YOU INTRODUCED YOURSELF TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR PLAY, ALL ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU WERE, I KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME DRAMA AND SO FAR, THAT'S THE ONLY PROMISE YOU'VE KEPT.
[00:40:01]
YOU FIRED OUR CUSTODIANS AND NOW OUR SCHOOLS LOOK A MESS.YOU FIRED OUR WRAP AROUND SPECIALISTS, AND NOW SOME OF MY FRIENDS CAN'T GET WHAT THEY NEED.
AND YOU FIRED MY PRINCIPAL WITHOUT REASON.
DISTRICT PEOPLE INTERRUPT MY CLASSROOM AND BUMP KIDS OUT OF THEIR SEAT TO ASK, ARE YOU ENGAGED? MR. MILES, YOU REMIND ME OF A CHARACTER TRUNCHBULL FROM MATILDA.
BOTH OF YOU ARE MEAN AND INCOMPETENT BULLIES.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MILES. YOU ARE UNFORGETTABLE, JUST LIKE THE TRUNCHBULL.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE FAULK. STEPHANIE FAULK HERE? NO. SARAH FISHER, EXCUSE ME. MS. FISHER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH FISHER AND I'M A PARENT IN HISD.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED SCIENCE TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND SEVEN PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT HISD AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
I WAS A PLC LEADER, WON AWARDS AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS, LED THE ENTIRE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AND STAR SCORES AND HAD HIGH SPOT OBSERVATIONS.
I WAS WELL RESPECTED AND WAS ASKED TO STAY.
I LEFT BECAUSE I WANTED A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WORK IN A HIGH STRESS SITUATION, CONSTANTLY FIGHTING WITH ADMIN ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT FOR KIDS.
SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, THE BRAIN DRAIN WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THIS DISTRICT FROM THE LOSS OF QUALIFIED AND HIGH PERFORMING TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND REPLACING THEM WITH UNCERTIFIED AND OR UNEXPERIENCED ONES WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE ANY PROGRESS MEASURES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER GOLDEN.
>> GOOD EVENING. [OVERLAPPING] I'M SPEAKING TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1 BECAUSE HISD MUST RETAIN CERTIFIED AND EXPERIENCED TEACHERS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.
THIS STATEMENT IS FROM A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH FIVE PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THEIR NON NES CAMPUS.
I RECEIVED TEACHER OF THE YEAR THE FIRST YEAR I STARTED TEACHING.
I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AT OUR SCHOOL.
I DEVELOPED THE CURRICULUM FOR NEWCOMERS.
I WORK CLOSELY WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I HELP BE AN INTERPRETER FOR THE REFUGEE STUDENTS FROM AFGHANISTAN.
I WAS APPRAISED BY AN UNPROFESSIONAL PRINCIPAL THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SO MANY NEWCOMERS.
I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED AND EXPERIENCED SO MUCH ABUSE AND SO LITTLE SUPPORT TO FIGHT AGAINST IT.
OUR SCHOOL BECAME PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY UNSAFE. NO TRUST.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANTHONY GONZALEZ. ANTHONY GONZALEZ.
AND THEN FOLKS WITH A H THROUGH M LAST NAME OR L, I SHOULD SAY, L YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. THE 4.4 BILLION DOLLAR BOND.
>> THE $4.4 BILLION BOND IS A NINE BILLION DOLLAR LIABILITY.
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE TAXES, THE INTEREST.
THE $4.4 BILLION BOND IS ONLY THE PRINCIPAL.
AFTER 30 YEARS OF INTEREST, THE BANKS WILL GENERATE $4.5 BILLION IN PROFIT.
SO AGAIN, THE $4.4 BILLION BOND WILL ACTUALLY COST NINE BILLION DOLLAR.
THERE ARE STILL 400 TEACHER VACANCIES, AND TERMINATIONS ARE STARTING IN DECEMBER.
THIS WEEK, 4,000 TEACHERS WERE PAID THE WRONG AMOUNT.
YOUR TAXES WILL DEFINITELY GO UP.
UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT IS NOT.
VOTE NO TO HISD, BOND A AND B.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA HENRY.
OH, NO, I THINK SHE'S LAURA HENRY.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU'RE GOOD. SORRY. [LAUGHTER] MS. HENRY.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS I
[00:45:03]
HEARD AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT SHOULDN'T BE SAID.NUMBER 1, THAT 2,696 TEACHERS LEFT IN JUNE AND JULY, THAT'S BEGGING THE QUESTION, 47,000 LEFT OVER THE YEAR, AND THAT'S NUMBER THAT MATTERS.
NUMBER 2, THE IDEA THAT THE LOSS OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS IS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE, THAT'S IRRELEVANT.
LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HEAR TONIGHT.
CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN HISD ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF MILES.
THREE, THAT THE AVERAGE SALARY HAS INCREASED BY $9,000.
TEACHERS DON'T CARE ABOUT AVERAGE SALARIES, THEY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY GET PAID.
SO YES, THEY DO CARE ABOUT THEIR SALARY WHICH HAS TAKEN A PAY CUT.
NUMBER 4, MILES SHOULD NEVER UTTER THE WORDS, HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM.
[APPLAUSE] THE CURRICULUM IS A JOKE.
DEMAND TO SEE IT AND REAL AMPLIFY DOESN'T HAVE DOLS.
NUMBER 5, MILES CONTINUALLY TALKS ABOUT HIGH STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT DEMANDS INTEREST, RETENTION.
I'LL SKIP THAT ONE. HISD HAS A HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE SCARED, IT'S NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE, IT'S DANGEROUS.
[INAUDIBLE] DUMB YOU THINK WE ARE. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. RUTH HUFFMANLACK.
>> MS. MOMANAEE, YOU HAVE STATED THAT THE BOARD'S JOB IS TO REFLECT THE VISION AND VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE VISION AND VALUES THAT WERE EXPRESSED AT THE RIVER OAKS ELEMENTARY PTO MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.
AND OF COURSE, THIS JUST MESSED UP, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. THEY SHOULD BE REALLY NOVEL.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A HIGH EDUCATION.
THEY SHOULD HAVE LITERACY AND SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'VE GOT THE WHOLE THING RECORDED, I'M HAPPY TO GIVE IT TO YOU, BUT THE MAIN THING WAS, SHE SAID, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE SCHOOL IS RATING A OR B, I WANT KIDS THAT ARE HAPPY WHO ARE LEARNING.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIA JOHNSON. YES, MA'AM.
>> WHILE IT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR THAT PROGRESS AND SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED SOLELY BY ACHIEVING HIGH TEST SCORES, I WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS NARROW FOCUS WILL ULTIMATELY SET OUR CHILDREN UP FOR FAILURE.
SURE. HIGH TEST SCORES HELP, BUT HOW WILL THEY FAIR ON READING COMPREHENSION? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO WRITE COMPELLING ESSAYS TO BE ADMITTED TO COLLEGE AND SUCCEED BEYOND THE CLASSROOM? WE MUST REMEMBER THAT SCHOOLS WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING.
THEY DEVELOP THIS LOVE BY VISITS TO THE LIBRARY, READING NOVELS, AND ENGAGING IN LESSONS THAT ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS AND FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THIS HAS BEEN STRIPPED FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND REPLACED WITH POWERPOINT SLIDES, EXCERPTS FROM BOOKS, WORKSHEETS, AND QUIZ AFTER QUIZ, NONE OF WHICH ARE FUN OR ENGAGING.
WE CANNOT EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IF THEY AREN'T GIVEN THE TOOLS TO DO SO.
BRING BACK LIBRARIES, LIBRARIANS, LITERACY PROGRAMS, AND ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO READ NOVELS.
SHOW THEM YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS, AND NOT JUST A MEASLY TEST SCORE.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEE KEEFER.
I BELIEVE SHE WAS HERE. LEE KEEFER.
LAST CALL. THANK YOU. YEN LEE.
I AM A MOTHER OF AN HISD STUDENT WHO LUCKILY SCORES HIGH ON YOUR TEST SCORES AND RECEIVES SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
I SHARE STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WITH MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE, WHO LEFT THEIR NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL.
THEY SHARED. THE SPOT SCORES WERE ALWAYS LOW SINCE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP EVERY FOUR MINUTES FOR 1, 2 OR 3 MINUTES.
THE STRATEGIES BECAME THE LESSON AND THE CONTENT GOT LOST.
IN MY WORDS, WHEN THE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM IS FLAWED AND NOT BASED ON EVIDENCE,
[00:50:04]
THEN DATA IS FLAWED.WITHOUT GOOD DATA AND VALID MEASUREMENT, THERE CAN BE NO TRUST.
MY NAME IS BROOKE LONGORIA, AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE PROGRESS MEASURES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, ANY OF THESE GAINS, THEY COME AT WAY TOO HIGH A COST.
I WANT TO ASK, HAVE ANY OF ALL LOOKED AT ENROLLMENT? IT IS CURRENTLY DOWN 5%.
MR. MILES EGO TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE 2.5 OR 3%.
IT WON'T BE THAT, AND IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AT NES SCHOOLS.
MS. LINDA, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU BECAUSE MONGO SCHOOLS CLOSEST TO BOTH YOU AND I, IS BROWNING ELEMENTARY.
ENROLLMENT THERE HAS DECLINED 14% THIS YEAR.
THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL.
THIS IS MORE THAN ANYONE EXPECTED, AND THE EASIEST REASON TO LOOK TO IS NES.
THOSE WHO CAN OPT OUT HAVE, THEY'VE OPTED OUT WITH THEIR FEET.
YOUR ACTIONS ARE DESTROYING HISD, I WILL ALSO BE LEAVING HISD AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
MY TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN DESERVE AN EDUCATION THAT IS MORE THAN TEST PREP.
THEIR SCHOOL HAS ADOPTED MR. MILES POLICIES AND IT'S NOT WORKING FOR OUR FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH MALLER, AND THE FOLKS WITH LAST NAME, STARTING WITH M THROUGH R. WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD? YES, MA'AM.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SARAH MALLER, A PARENT TO A KINDER AND SECOND GRADE STUDENTS AND HISD.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND HISD WERE TOLD TO START GIVING THE PERCENTAGE SCORES TO THEIR KINDERGARTENERS.
THIS REPLACED A 1, 2, 3 SYSTEM BASED ON THE TEACH LEARNING OBJECTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN USED FOR DECADES.
MANY OF THESE OBJECTIVES WERE MEASURED BY OBSERVATION AND PERFORMANCE TASK BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AT THIS AGE.
THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT REQUIRE KINDERGARTEN, SO WHY IS HISD REQUIRING PERCENTAGES? TEACHERS ARE VERY CONCERNED.
THAT REQUIRING PERCENTAGE GRADES WILL LEAD TO INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR FIVE AND SIX YEAR OLDS, ALL THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS NEXT.
THE GRADING CHANGES AS EVERYTHING THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD STANDS FOR.
CHILDREN ARE NOT DEVELOPED AT THIS RATE AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE GRADED AT SUCH YOUNG AGES.
PLEASE REVERSE THIS DECISION BEFORE THE NEXT GRADING CYCLE COMES AND GOES. NO TRUST.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAKSHINA MOODY JANDAYALA.
>> YES. MY NAME IS BODI JANDAYALA.
I AM A FATHER OF HISD STUDENT, AND THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT ME, OF COURSE, THIS IS ABOUT MY CHILD AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
I'M GOING TO READ SOME STATEMENTS BY VARIOUS TEACHERS THAT HAVE LEFT THE DISTRICT.
THE PRINCIPAL WAS INEXPERIENCED.
HE YELLED AT CHILDREN'S FACES AND WOULDN'T LISTEN TO TEACHERS OR ANSWER QUESTIONS.
WE WERE TRULY A FAMILY UNTIL THE TAKEOVER AND PRESSURE FROM THE ED PUSHED ONTO THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION.
THE IN PROGRAM WAS NOT ALLOWED AND IT RUINED EVERYTHING.
OVER 25 STAFF MEMBERS LEFT AND OUT OF SIX ADMINS, ONLY THE PRINCIPAL AND ONE AP RETURNED.
MY SCHOOL OPTED INTO NEWSY AND PROVIDED US WITH THREE-ISH WEEKS TO FIND ANOTHER JOB BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED.
I RETIRED EARLY BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL OUR LEADERSHIP CARED ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE MORGAN. YES, MA'AM.
>> HI. KATIE MORGAN, HISD PARENT.
I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED BILINGUAL EDUCATOR WITH OVER 11 YEARS EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT HISD TO ACCEPT A POSITION AT ANOTHER DISTRICT.
"FOR NINE YEARS, MY STUDENTS HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THEIR CIRCLE ASSESSMENTS.
THAT MEANS I AM AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER.
I KNOW I CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER, AND I AM OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
BUT WHAT I AM NOT OPEN TO IS BEING MICRO MANAGED, STRESSED, AND MOST HUMILIATING OF ALL, BEING BABY SAT.
I AM A GROWN SEASONED PROFESSIONAL, NOT A CHILD WHO NEEDS APPROVAL FOR EVERY DECISION THEY WANT TO MAKE." IN MY OWN WORDS, MY SON'S TEACHER TOLD ME THIS WEEK WHEN I ASKED WHY HE WAS STRUGGLING SO MUCH,
[00:55:02]
AND SHE SAID IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S NO LONGER ALLOWED TO ADAPT HER TEACHING STYLES TO DIFFERENT STUDENTS' LEARNING STYLES.>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TOM MORGAN.
I DO NOT LOVE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR DISTRICT.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME WITH THE IB PROGRAM.
THE WAY THAT OUR CHILDREN WERE GROWING, OUR CHILDREN WERE LEARNING, WE WERE LEARNING.
NOW, LEARNING HAS STOPPED. CAME TO A HALT.
IT'S GOING NEGATIVE, IT'S GOING BACKWARDS.
IT SEEMS TO ME, FROM THE EVIDENCE, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, AND FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, IS THAT IT'S A BIG PLOY TO PUSH A SYSTEM THAT NOBODY THINKS WORKS.
THIS VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT NOBODY WANTS, REALLY.
THIS VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT ESSENTIALLY PUTS OUR SYSTEM AT RISK, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS RAPIDLY WELL WORKING.
ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT ME LIKE, WHAT IS THIS GUY TALKING ABOUT? IT IS A VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT WE DO NOT WANT.
PLEASE LEAVE THE IB SYSTEM WORK THE WAY THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.
WE WILL BE GLAD TO HELP WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA PARISH.
>> AMANDA PARISH, MOTHER OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT.
I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 1 GOALS.
WHEN YOU GUYS ARE REVIEWING THE PRESENTATION TODAY, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THE COST OF THESE GAINS, PROJECTED GAINS.
THE LOSS OF THE TEACHERS, THE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPALS, THE LOSS OF THE STAFF WHO KNEW OUR STUDENTS, THE DROP IN ENROLLMENT, THE INCREASE OF UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS, THE HIGHEST IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
ARE THESE GOALS AND TARGETS EVEN SUSTAINABLE AMONGST THE LOSS THIS DISTRICT HAS HAD AND THE CURRENT MORALE? THEY'RE NOT.
TODAY'S WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, AND I CALL YOU AS A BOARD TO DEMAND A DISTRICT WIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY STAND DOWN AMONGST IMMEDIATELY.
BECAUSE THE TRENDS AREN'T GOOD HERE.
YOU'VE HEARD THEM, IF YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING.
THE FOUR STAGES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ARE INCLUSION SAFETY, LEARNER SAFETY, CONTRIBUTORS SAFETY, AND CHALLENGER SAFETY, AND ARE INTERCONNECTED WITH BUILDING EACH OTHER UPON AND CREATING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR A CULTURE OF INCLUSION, INNOVATION, AND HIGH PERFORMANCE.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF CREATING HIGH PERFORMING CULTURES AND FEAR RETALIATION AND DISMISSAL OF FEEDBACK.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] NOW NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT MS. FLOWERS HAS JOINED US. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CALETTE ROBISHAU. MS. ROBISHAU.
>> MY NAME IS CALETTE ROBISHAU.
I'M A GRANDPARENT AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I AM HERE TO REMIND THIS BOARD OF MANAGERS OF SEVEN EXCEPTIONAL PRINCIPALS REMOVED FROM HISD SCHOOLS AT THE END OF THE LAST TERM.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES OF THEIR REMOVAL WITHOUT A CLEAR EVALUATION PROGRAM, WITH THE USE OF QUESTIONABLE DATA STATISTICS, AND WITHOUT WARNING AND COUNSELING PRIOR TO THEIR ABRUPT REMOVAL.
GRETCHEN, CASPER HUFFMAN, FORMER PRINCIPAL OF GRADY, TANGLEWOOD, 28 YEARS, SECONDARY PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR 2021, SEAN MCCLES, ST. GEORGE PLACE, CAMPUS 22 AB RATING, ADEN SARABIA, FORMER PRINCIPAL OF MIRELAN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS, 29 YEARS, RECOGNIZED AS HISD, MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR '22, '23, AMANDA WINGARD, FORMER PRINCIPAL OF NEF ELEMENTARY, 21 YEARS, AWARDED PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP, DATA-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP AND PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA RUIZ.
IF THOSE FOLKS WITH NAMES AFTER R, WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD THAT BE GREAT.
>> LAURA RUIZ, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND TEACHER.
STUDENTS WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, YOUR TEACHERS ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CHANGES TO MY CAMPUSES IP CURRICULUM ARE MAKING OUR STUDENTS LESS READY FOR COLLEGE.
THE SAT IS A MULTI HOUR TEST THAT REQUIRES KIDS TO BE INDEPENDENT READERS, WRITERS, PROBLEM SOLVERS, AND TO HAVE ENOUGH STAMINA TO DO THAT FOR HOURS.
IF THEY'VE NEVER DONE THAT WITHOUT BEING VERBALLY RE ENGAGED BY THEIR TEACHER, EVERY FOUR MINUTES, THEY WON'T DO IT ON TEST DAY.
IB TEACHING PRACTICES DIRECTLY CONFLICT WITH THE ONES US TEACHERS ARE BEING ASKED TO IMPLEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, NHID CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON SINGLE TEAKS WHILE IB IS TRANSDISCIPLINARY.
HARVARD IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AUTONOMY,
[01:00:02]
BUT TEACHERS ARE FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF EITHER STICKING WITH IB AND RECEIVING A LOW SCORE ON THEIR SPOTS OR DELIVERING DISTRICT CURRICULUM AND NOT BEING TRUE TO OUR IB TRAINING.PLEASE CONSIDER OUR IB CURRICULUM EARNED US A RATINGS FOR YEARS UNTIL WE WERE FORCED TO TWEAK IT TO FIT MORE WITH AN NES MODEL.
DR. C, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY SMITH.
[APPLAUSE] MS. SMITH, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BECKY SMITH.
I'M THE PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AND HISD.
I TOO, AM HERE TO READ A STATEMENT FROM SOME FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE LEFT THE SYSTEM.
WHILE THE SPIRITS ARE HIGH IN THIS ROOM, IT IS REALLY WITH HEAVY HEART THAT I COME TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY OUR CHILDREN BEING AFFECTED IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THESE ARE CAREERS THAT ARE REALLY BEING DISRUPTED.
OUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND VALUE ARE LEAVING IN DROVES, AND THIS IS REALLY DEVASTATING FOR ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND OVER 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
"THE DOI VOTE BY THE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO WHAT THE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS WANTED WAS INCREDIBLY HURTFUL, AND IT WAS ON THAT NIGHT THAT I KNEW I WOULD LEAVE HISD." ANOTHER. "I LEFT BECAUSE OF CHANGES MADE BY MILES AND THE BOARD THAT TREATED TEACHERS LIKE INTERCHANGEABLE PIECES OF A MACHINE." WE CAN DO BETTER. I HAVE FAITH.
WE ALL CAN DO BETTER AS A COMMUNITY HERE. NO TRUST, NO BOND.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GSISTIK. SORRY.
>> STAND IF YOU'RE FOR TEACHERS.
>> NES. NO EDUCATOR IS SAFE, NO EMPLOYEE IS SECURE.
TO START REVOLUTION AND CONSCIOUSNESS, NO TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE TO SET THEMSELVES ON FIRE TO BRING EVEN A PARTICLE OF RESPECT AND ATTENTION TO THE SLOW DEATH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS DISTRICT, THE STATE, AND THIS COUNTRY.
EACH DAY I HAVE TO WITNESS MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR AGONIES INFLICTED BY YET ANOTHER SYSTEM THAT SUFFOCATES RATHER THAN SUPPORTS.
YOU AND YOUR PUTRIDLY ANTI DEMOCRATIC REIGN LEAVES US ALWAYS WONDERING WHO WILL BE NEXT TO SUFFER? WHO? POINTLESSLY, WE'RE SRIPT INTO A PURGATORY OF SELF HATRED AND BURNOUT, STRIPPED OF DIGNITY BY A SYSTEM THAT DEMONIZES OUR DEDICATION.
WHEN WE ASK FOR HELP, WE GET HELP. WE GET HECK.
THE GET TEACHER IN TURMAN CAMP, THIS BOARD, AND YOU, MIKE MILES, USE AS A WEAPON.
THIS IS THE MOST DISRESPECTED PROFESSION IN AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER TAYLOR.
I AM AN ELEMENTARY PARENT, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND A TAXPAYER.
I'M READING THE STATEMENT OF A CERTIFIED LIBRARY SERVICE PROFESSIONAL WITH 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
"THE ENTIRE TEAM FOUGHT TO DO WHATEVER WE COULD TO WORK WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP TO SAVE LIBRARIES ON CAMPUSES WITHOUT STAFFED LIBRARIES SO THAT THEY COULD AT CHECK OUT BOOKS.
WE OFFERED TO ORGANIZE COLLECTIONS FOR BETTER BROWSING FOR STUDENTS ON THESE CAMPUSES, SINCE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A LIBRARIAN TO ASSIST WITH FINDING A BOOK.
WE WERE EITHER SHUTDOWN OR IGNORED.
THE UNSPOKEN UNDERSTANDING FROM LEADERSHIP WAS THAT THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN MAKING LIBRARIES WORK.
WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO ASSIST WITH RELOCATING THE BOOKS OR FREE STANDING SHELVING IN NES AND NESA CAMPUSES, AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THOSE BOOKS OR SHELVING UNITS WENT TO WHEN THEY WERE CLEARED FOR THE TEAM CENTER DESKS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL DEEPLY ABOUT AS THE CHILD OF A LIBRARIAN.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MANDI WILDER.
>> MY NAME IS MANDI WILDER, AND I'M AN HISD PARENT.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER SPEAKING, SO PLEASE ADD ONE TO THE COUNT OF UNIQUE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE QUADRUPLED SINCE YOU ALL TOOK OFFICE.
I'M HERE TO SHARE MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE FOCUS ON THE NES TOOL OF DOLS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY MR. MILES HIMSELF AND HISDS OWN WEBSITE,
[01:05:01]
THESE MANY ASSESSMENTS CONSIST OF MATERIAL LEARNED THAT DAY AND ARE SUPPOSED TO ENSURE STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTRA HELP GET IT.HOWEVER, IN REALITY, THE DLLS FOR MY CHILD WHO DOES NEED THE EXTRA HELP MADE UP AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF HIS FIRST TERM GRADES.
NO MATTER HOW MANY OTHER GRADES HE GOT, HE COULD NOT PULL UP HIS GRADES THAT IS NON NES SUPPOSED LEVEL 3 AUTONOMY SCHOOL.
WHY ARE YOU FORCING THESE UNPROVEN NES STRATEGIES ON OUR SCHOOLS? WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO THE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE LIVING THIS MESS? WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING THIS ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO RETALIATE AGAINST PRINCIPALS WHO PROVIDE CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE AGAINST THIS TERRIBLE EXPERIMENT? NO TRUST, NO BOND.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MR. WOODS. ZACHARY WOODS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A TEACHER.
"I'M A TEACHER AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS A LEVEL 3 AUTONOMY IB STEM MAGNET SCHOOL.
SINCE SCHOOL STARTED, WE HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT NES PRACTICES.
WE RECEIVE LOW SCORES ON OUR SPOT OBSERVATIONS IF WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING NES.
THESE PRACTICES ARE THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF IB, WHICH ALLOWS FOR INQUIRY, TIME TO FORMULATE IDEAS, AND MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LEARNING IN THE REAL WORLD.
AT A RECENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION CONDUCTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHE STATED THAT WHILE HARVARD IS NOT NES, WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE NES IN STRUCTURAL STRATEGIES AND CURRICULUM.
HOWEVER, IN A STATEMENT TO CRON.COM, THE LEAD SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO GET RID OF THE IB PROGRAM, HARVARD IS NOT ON THE LIST.
YET THE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS THEY'RE RECEIVING IS DON'T DO THAT.
WHEN OUR PRINCIPAL, DR. C RESISTED THESE CHANGES, SHE WAS PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
WE HAD ALMOST ZERO STAFF TURNOVER AT HARVARD BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE IB CURRICULUM, LOVE OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AND I FIGURED THAT THIS WILL CHANGE THIS YEAR."
>> SIR THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] ARE, ANY PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO ZOOM SPEAKERS.
ZOOM SPEAKERS, OUR FIRST ONE IS STEPHANIE DRAKE.
>> MIC CHECK. YOU'RE ALL SET. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> HI. I'M STEPH DRAKE, AN HISD PARENT.
I WAS HONESTLY GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NARROW LAGGING AND OFTEN INFLATED DATA THAT AS A STEM MAJOR I FIND WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT.
BUT A WONDERFUL SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SEVERAL OTHERS, WE NEED TO DO IT.
INSTEAD, I'M GOING TO TURN MY TIME OVER TO IMPLORE YOU AS THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO ASK MORE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGE FOR OUR KIDS.
HERE ARE A FEW. WHAT IS HAPPENING AT ASKEW VANGUARD? I'M WATCHING THIS CLOSELY AS A FELLOW VANGUARD PARENT AT ANOTHER SCHOOL.
IS THIS THE FUTURE OF TEACH ROGERS AS A CARNEGIE WORKSHEET PACKET, HISD POWERPOINTS ON LEVEL? HOW CAN THE DISTRICT GAIN PARENT AND STUDENT TRUST WHEN ED E-MAILS, DISTRICT PUBLICATIONS AND HISD HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM ARE RIDDLED WITH GRAMMATICAL AND SPELLING ERRORS? THAT'S A HARD STOP FOR ME.
IF THE DISTRICT CAN'T DO IT RIGHT, HOW ARE THEY TEACHING OUR KIDS? [APPLAUSE] HOW CAN YOU GET SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO SUPPORT A BOND.
I KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SOME OF IT IS NEEDED, BUT THE DETAILS AREN'T THERE.
I NEED THE DETAILS, AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT THIS MUCH MONEY WILL BE [INAUDIBLE] EFFECTIVELY.
PEOPLE GO WITH THEIR FEET, WHERE ARE THEY GOING AND WHY? BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN ES, AND IT'S NOT IN OUR DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. DAVID FRIEDLAND. YES, SIR.
>> WE'RE PULLING OUR TWO KIDS FROM POE ELEMENTARY.
MY 9-YEAR-OLD SON AND OTHER STUDENTS HAVE ALLEGEDLY OBSERVED AN UNCERTIFIED TEACHER FREQUENTLY USING THEIR CELL PHONE FOR PERSONAL USE DURING CLASS.
THIS BEHAVIOR SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SCHOOLS HIRE UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS.
THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISION SUFFERS, AND OUR CHILDREN BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.
ONCE A STRONG STUDENT AT ALL SUBJECTS, MY SON NOW SAYS HE HATES POE.
WHEN I REPORTED BEING KICKED AND BULLIED, THE PRINCIPAL DID NOT RESPOND.
THE TEACHER'S REPLY SHOWED NO EMPATHY OR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS IT.
IN MY SIX YEAR OLD'S CLASS, A STUDENT SAT IN THEIR OWN FECES DUE TO STRICT RESTROOM POLICIES.
WE VALUE A WELL ROUNDED EDUCATION, NOT ONE SOLELY FOCUSED ON TEST PREPARATION.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT ALL SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE TEACHERS LEFT LAST YEAR.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS OR HIRING RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AS APPRENTICES.
THESE ISSUES ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND DO NOT REFLECT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER, BECKY PATE.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BECKY PATE,
[01:10:03]
AND I'M A GRANDPARENT AND A GUARDIAN AND A PARENT OF HISD STUDENTS IN THE PAST.I'M READING TWO STATEMENTS TONIGHT.
THE FIRST IS BY A CERTIFIED MATH TEACHER WITH 16 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO ACCEPT A JOB IN ANOTHER DISTRICT WHEN THEY LEARNED THAT THEIR SCHOOL WAS BECOMING NES THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
A CONSTANT FEAR OF LOSING MY JOB IS NOT WHAT MADE ME GET MY SCORES.
THAT'S WHY I GOT THE SCORES I GOT.
THE SECOND IS BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 21 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY ALSO LEFT HISD AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THEIR WORDS, THE NES PROGRAM IS DIVIDING CAMPUSES AND DESTROYING THE DISTRICT.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 67 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
I WISH THAT YOU JUST HIRE TEACHERS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
THIS IS BEYOND DISTURBING TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES.
ALL THE PARENTS AND ALL THE KIDS.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YEN RABE.
YES, MA'AM. PLEASE GO AHEAD, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS YEN RABE, AND I'M A FORMER TEACHER AT BILLY REAGAN, K THROUGH EIGHT.
EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT TEACH THERE, I STILL THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS, MY FORMER STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW EIGHTH GRADERS WHO HAVE TO START SCHOOL 35 MINUTES EARLIER THAN NON NES K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS NOT FAIR AND UNEQUITABLE.
EVERY MINUTE IN THE MORNING COUNTS FOR STUDENTS TO SLEEP OR TO HAVE RECESS TO EXPEND THEIR ENERGY SO THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO BE IN CLASS TO LEARN TO DO BETTER IN THEIR SCHOOLS, IN THEIR CLASS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND TO DO WELL ON THEIR TESTS, AS WELL AS TO HAVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH AND TO BE SAFER.
PLEASE CONSIDER STARTING SCHOOL LATER FOR BILLY REAGAN AND OTHER SCHOOLS THAT START BEFORE 8: 30.
>> YES, MA'AM. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
ONE OF MILD OTHER ATROCITIES. HEY, FROM DALLAS.
[LAUGHTER] CONGRATULATIONS, FLOYD AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THIS YEAR IS A NEW LEVEL OF HORRIFIC.
YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING 40% OF TEACHERS.
HOW CAN THAT BE? WHO WILL TEACH OUR KIDS THEN? YEAH. THE UNLAWFUL GUN CARING TEACHER AT BASTIAN ELEMENTARY, THE UNCERTIFIED BELLAIRE TEACHER WHO HAD A STOLEN GUN, LEAD, AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL'S SOCIAL SECURITY CARD IN HIS PART.
THE BELLAIRE TEACHER HAD ALSO BEEN ARRESTED IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA.
OBVIOUSLY, THE HISD BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE NOT HAPPENING.
UNDER FLOYD, WE HAVE CRIMINALS TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.
THEY'RE DRAWN TO AN INFLATED PAY AND A VERY LOW BAR FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE CAREERS.
AUTONOMY IS A LIE. MY KIDS A AND B RATED SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO READ NOVELS.
TEACHERS ARE BEING PRESSURED BY PRINCIPALS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO STOP NOVEL STUDIES AND READ ALOUDS.
IN FAVOR OF SHORT PASSAGES, MUNDANE WORKSHEETS, AND A MILITANT USE OF TIMERS.
NEED SOME MORE TIME TO DO THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PACE AND SCHEDULE NOW, GET WITH IT.
TEACHERS ARE JUGGLING A MILLION THINGS AT OUR OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.
FLOYD, YOU'RE A POLITICAL APPOINTEE.
YOU'RE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
WE'LL NOW ADDRESS THE AGENDA ITEM ONE.
[DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS]
SUPERINTENDENT MILES, ARE YOU OR ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE BOARD MONITORING UPDATE ON GOAL 3?>> YES, MA'AM. CHIEF KRISTEN HOLL WILL PRESENT GOAL 3.
[BACKGROUND] YOU KNOW HOW TO HOOK UP? WE NEED SOME TECH ASSISTANCE.
>> SIT IN YOUR SHIT MR. [APPLAUSE]
CAN YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF, PLEASE? MA'AM, WITH THE NO MORE HARM SHIRT, GLASSES, SECOND ROW.
PLEASE DON'T CUSS IN THE ROOM.
>> I SAID WHAT I SAID. I DIDN'T CUSS.
>> IT SOUNDED LIKE A CUSS WORD TO ME AND PROBABLY EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM.
[NOISE] PLEASE GO AHEAD, MS. HOLL.
[01:15:34]
>> TODAY WE ARE PROGRESS MONITORING ON 3.1 AND 3.2.
ONE SECOND. GOAL 3 IS REALLY FOCUSED ON.
>> CAN YOU PUSH NOW PLAY ON YOUR DEVICE?
>> HIT NOW PLAYING ON THE UPPER RIGHT. EVERYBODY GOOD?
>> WE CAN SEE IT AND IT'S UP THERE.
GREAT. YES. MS. HOLL, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> GOAL 3 IS OUR GOAL THAT'S FOCUSED ON COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS, AND IT'S FOCUSED ON THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUATING TSI READY AND WITH AN INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION.
IN PARTICULAR TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRESS MEASURE 3.1 AND 3.2, 3.1 IS THE PERCENT OF 11TH GRADERS MEETING TSI CRITERIA, AND 3.2 IS THE PERCENT OF 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS WHO ARE ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE CTE STATUS.
OVERALL, FROM THE GOAL THAT WE REPORTED ON THIS GOAL LAST TIME.
GOAL 3 OVERALL, LAST YEAR OUR TARGET WAS 12%, AND WE MET 12%.
THAT JUST DEMONSTRATES OVERALL GOAL 3.
BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED TODAY IS 3.1.
SO 3.1 IS AGAIN THE 11TH GRADERS MEETING TSI CRITERIA.
WE ALSO REPORTED OUT ON 3.1 LAST MONTH, BUT WHAT WE REPORTED OUT ON IS END OF YEAR RESULTS FOR SCHOOL YEAR '23 - '24.
THIS PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SCORES FOR SCHOOL YEAR '24-'25.
IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE WE JUST COVERED IT BECAUSE WE DID.
I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR PORTION FOR TODAY.
IF WE LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER, WHAT WE SEE ON THE GRAPH ON THE LEFT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SCORES BY SUB POPULATION.
BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT FOR 11TH GRADERS, TSI PERCENT IS REALLY LOW AND THAT'S TYPICALLY INTENTIONAL.
IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T GIVE THE STATE THE DISTRICT WIDE SAT TEST UNTIL THE END OF THE 11TH GRADE YEAR.
IT'S VERY COMMON FOR THE RESULTS TO BE LOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH ALGEBRA TWO AND ENGLISH THREE, WHICH COVER REALLY IMPORTANT SKILLS THAT THEY'LL SEE ON THE SAT.
SCORES ARE LOW AND THAT'S NORMAL.
WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS HERE, ON THE RIGHT IN THE ORANGE CHART YOU SEE OUR PARTICIPATION COUNTS FOR STUDENTS WHO TAKE THE TEST, AND ON THE LEFT YOU SEE THE STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR TSI.
COUPLE OF THINGS I'LL TALK THROUGH HERE, FOR TSI, THEY CAN ACHIEVE IT VIA ONE OF THESE THREE ASSESSMENTS, THE SAT, THE ACT, OR TSIA.
BUT THE DISTRICT REALLY FOCUSES AGAIN, TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS TAKING THE SAT.
THAT'S WHY ON THE RIGHT, BY THE END OF THE YEAR YOU'LL SEE THE SAT VOLUME COUNT OF STUDENTS WHO TAKE IT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
WE STILL HAVE A SUBSET OF STUDENTS WHO TAKE THE ACT, AND THAT'S REALLY OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING ACCELERATED SCIENCE AND OR MATH IN EIGHTH GRADE, THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS WHO WILL GENERALLY TAKE THE ACT, BUT A VERY SMALL PERCENT.
THEN FOR TSIA, THIS IS A TEST WHERE WE REALLY FOCUS ON GIVING TO 12TH GRADERS ONLY.
IF OUR 11TH GRADERS TAKE THE SAT AND THEY ARE NOT TSI READY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CHANCES IN THEIR 12TH GRADE YEAR TO BECOME TSI READY WITH THE TSIA TEST.
BUT THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE THE ACT AND THE TSIA NUMBERS LOWER.
WE REALLY FOCUS, AND WE'LL TALK MOSTLY ABOUT WHAT WE DO TO SUPPORT STUDENTS ACHIEVING TSI READINESS ON THE SAT, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE THAT CHANCE.
SINCE WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THIS ASSESSMENT YET, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IS JUST THE KEY ACTIONS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING TO PLAN TO ENSURE STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE TSIA TESTS LATER THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST IS CONTINUED FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION, AND THIS ISN'T JUST FOR 11TH GRADERS, IT'S FOR ALL GRADES, GIVEN THAT STANDARD WE WANT THEM TO BE PREPARED WHEN THEY GET TO 11TH GRADE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
[01:20:03]
THE SECOND THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME WE WROTE CURRICULUM FOR ALGEBRA TWO AND FOR ENGLISH THREE, AND EMBEDDED IN THAT CURRICULUM, WE'RE EMBEDDING THE TSI READINESS SUPPORTS BOTH FOR THE TEST AND TO ENSURE WE'RE COVERING MATERIAL THAT WILL SHOW UP ON THE SAT.THIS WILL REALLY PROVIDE TEACHERS AND CAMPUSES WITH A LOT MORE RESOURCES TO PREPARE FIRST STUDENTS BECOMING TSI READY WITH THAT 11TH GRADE COURSE.
THEN THE LAST PIECE OF THIS IS, WE PROVIDE KHAN ACADEMY FOR ALL STUDENTS DISTRICT WIDE WHEN THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE SAT.
REALLY BETWEEN NOW AND BY THE TIME THEY TAKE THE SAT, WE MONITOR STUDENTS ACTIVITY ON KHAN ACADEMY BECAUSE THAT'S THE COLLEGE BOARD'S OFFICIAL PLATFORM THAT HELPS ENSURE THEY CAN BECOME PREPARED FOR THIS TEST.
WE ACTIVELY MONITOR THAT AND WE ENSURE THOSE STUDENTS HAVE SUPPORT.
WE ALSO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS LIKE SATURDAY PREPARATION ACADEMIES AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE TEST ITSELF.
THE SECOND PROGRESS MEASURE IS 3.2.
THIS PROGRESS MEASURE IS THE PERCENT OF 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE CTE COMPLETER STATUS BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE, AND THAT WILL INCREASE FROM 34% TO 49%.
IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THIS IS THE LAST PROGRESS MEASURE THAT WE'RE REPORTING END OF YEAR RESULTS OUT.
WE'VE REPORTED OUT ALL OF OUR OTHER PROGRESS MEASURES FOR SCHOOL YEAR '24- '25.
THIS ONE LAGS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SUMMER DATA FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FINISHING THEIR IBCS FOR THAT SUMMER DATA SO THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT ON THIS END OF YEAR METRIC.
BUT OVERALL, WHAT THIS MEASURE SHOWS IS THAT OUR TARGET WAS 35%, AND WE MET THAT TARGET AT END OF YEAR '23-'24 AND REACHED 42%.
ONE THING JUST TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THIS METRIC AS WELL IS, IT LOOKS AT 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS, AND IT SAYS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PERCENT ON TRACK.
BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS FOR10TH AND 11TH GRADERS, THEY NEED TO TAKE AT LEAST TWO COURSES IN THE SAME PROGRAM, AND THAT'S DEFINED AS THEM BEING A CONCENTRATOR, AND THAT JUST SHOWS THAT THEY'RE STARTING DOWN THAT PATH OF TAKING THOSE COHERENT SEQUENCES IN ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. BUT FOR 12TH GRADERS, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE A COMPLETER, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO HAVE THREE COURSES.
THE BAR IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER FOR 12TH GRADERS BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE PROGRESSING IN THE SAME PROGRAM.
THAT'S HOW WE CONSIDER AND DEFINE WHETHER OR NOT A STUDENT IS ON TRACK IN 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADE.
THAT ALSO ALIGNS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.
LAST YEAR IN ACCOUNTABILITY, STUDENTS JUST NEEDED TO COMPLETE ONE COURSE.
THIS YEAR IN ACCOUNTABILITY THEY NEED TO COMPLETE TWO COURSES AND NEXT YEAR IN ACCOUNTABILITY THEY'LL NEED TO COMPLETE THREE COURSES.
THAT'S ALSO BEING UPDATED THIS YEAR.
WHAT THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS IS A BREAKDOWN OF HOW WE DID BY SUB POPULATION.
ALL OF OUR SUB POPULATIONS DID MEET THEIR TARGET FOR BEING ON TRACK TO COMPLETER STATUS.
ON THE RIGHT, WE ALSO BROKE IT DOWN BY GRADE.
WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN BY GRADE, THE NUMBERS SOMEWHAT MAKE SENSE WITH HOW THE METRIC IS DEFINED.
WHEN YOU START IN TENTH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO COURSES.
THAT PERCENTAGE WILL GO UP IN 11TH GRADE BECAUSE STUDENTS HAVE THAT EXTRA YEAR TO GET THAT SECOND COURSE.
BUT THEN IT DROPS IN 12TH GRADE BECAUSE 12TH GRADERS HAVE TO HAVE THREE COURSES.
A NUMBER OF 12TH GRADERS PROBABLY DO HAVE TWO COURSES, SO THAT WOULD BE HIGHER, BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY MEASURE IT AT THREE IT'LL DROP.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE FLUCTUATION IN GRADES.
BUT OVERALL, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE FOR US, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF NINTH GRADERS ARE TRANSITIONING TO THAT SECOND COURSE IN TENTH GRADE, TENTH GRADERS TRANSITIONING TO THAT NEXT COURSE IN 11TH GRADE, 11TH GRADERS TRANSITIONING TO THAT NEXT COURSE IN 12TH GRADE? WE'RE TRACKING EVERY SINGLE COHORT IN ORDER TO STAY ON TRACK FOR THIS METRIC.
>> THIS SLIDE LOOKS AT NES AND NON-NES BY SUB-POPULATION.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WE HAD A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ON TRACK IN NON-NES SCHOOLS THAN WE DID NES SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT HISPANIC AND ECO DIS STUDENTS DO SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN AVERAGE IN THESE GRAPHS.
BUT THERE'S A COUPLE ROOT CAUSES FOR THIS. A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OBSERVED IN DATA IS THAT OFTENTIMES NES STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE MULTIPLE CTE COURSES,
[01:25:01]
BUT FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM BEING A CONCENTRATOR IN ONE PROGRAM.WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON STREAMLINING THAT WHEN STUDENTS ARE SIGNING UP FOR SCHEDULING.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE NOTICE IS IF STUDENTS ARE STARTING IN A CTE PROGRAM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THEIR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, THEY HAVE TO SOMETIMES DROP THEIR CTE COURSES TO TAKE ADDITIONAL OTHER COURSES THAT THEY NEED FOR GRADUATION.
IF THEY FAILED A COURSE OR IF SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE COURSES, THEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE.
WE ALSO ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING AGAIN, STUDENTS HAVE THE COURSES THEY NEED TO GRADUATE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE SPACE IN THEIR SCHEDULE TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE ON THEIR CTE PATHWAYS.
THOSE ARE TWO ROOT CAUSES OF THIS FOR NES SCHOOLS.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADE DATA AGAIN, BUT BY SUB-POPULATION.
AGAIN, YOU SEE SIMILAR THINGS HERE WHERE 11TH GRADE IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN 10TH GRADE, BECAUSE STUDENTS HAVE THAT EXTRA YEAR, AND THEN 12TH GRADE IS LOWER BECAUSE 12TH GRADERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THREE COURSES INSTEAD OF TWO.
THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY ACTIONS THAT WE STAY FOCUSED ON TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN STATUS AND IMPROVE STATUS IN THIS PARTICULAR METRIC, BOTH BECAUSE OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT FROM THE NUMBER OF COURSES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
BUT THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR THAT OUR IBCS THAT HAVE BEEN SUNSETTED WILL NO LONGER COUNT FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKES ACHIEVING CCMR RESULTS MORE DIFFICULT.
AGAIN, WE'RE STAYING FOCUSED ON HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM.
WE HAVE PRIORITIZED OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND ENSURING ALL OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE COURSES.
WE ALSO WRITE CURRICULUM FOR THOSE COURSES, AND THAT REALLY ENSURES THAT THOSE TEACHERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE CURRICULUM THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN BEING SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THOSE STANDARDS, BUT ALSO OBTAINING THE IBC.
WE'RE ALSO FOCUSED ON HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION HERE FOR CTE TEACHERS THROUGH EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE GROUPS.
I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT TO THE THIRD POINT, WHICH IS AROUND STRATEGIC SCHEDULING.
IT IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AND HAVE SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING SCHEDULED INTO THE RIGHT COURSES, BUT ALSO THAT WE MONITOR THE COMPLIANCE OF EACH ONE OF THOSE COURSES SO THAT IT COUNTS TOWARDS THEIR CREDIT, THE PROPER NUMBER OF MINUTES, THE RIGHT NUMBER OF TEACHERS, ETC.
WE HAVE STRONG MONITORING SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WORK CONTINUES.
THEN FINALLY, WE ARE LAUNCHING CAREER EXPOSURE CURRICULUM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT REALLY HELPS ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE EXPOSURE TO MULTIPLE PROGRAMS OF STUDY BEFORE THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT SELECTION WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL.
THE MORE THAT THEY'RE EXPOSED EARLY ON, AND THE MORE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE WHEN THEY'RE SCHEDULING, THE MORE LIKELY THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY ON ONE PROGRAM OF STUDY PATH THAT WILL HELP THEM BECOME CONCENTRATORS AND COMPLETERS OVER TIME.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING JUST TO HELP MAKE SURE WE CAN STAY ON TRACK TO HIT THIS METRIC, AND THAT'S IT.
I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
>> MR. SUPERINTENDENT, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> I DO. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, GREAT JOB FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF TRAINING, WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPALS, WORKING WITH COUNSELORS, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THESE NUMBERS AND THE SUCCESS OF THE CTE PROGRAM.
WHILE TEA HAS STIFFENED THE CRITERIA TO SEE THIS IMPROVEMENT, I KNOW ALL THE WORK THAT WENT IN.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE] AND ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? MR. RIVON?
>> THANK YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU, MS. HALL.
I GOT A CHANCE TO VISIT BARBARA JORDAN CAREER CENTER EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IT HELPED ME TO FEEL IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I THINK THAT MAYBE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD USE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY TWO COURSES AND THREE COURSES, IT'S HOMOGENEOUS, I GUESS, IT'S NOT QUITE AS TANGIBLE.
BUT IF YOU WOULD TAKE ANY OF THOSE CAREER PATHS AND EXPLAIN BY THE 12TH GRADE, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE THREE OF THOSE COURSES TAKEN AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A STUDENT.
OF COURSE. TYPICALLY, IN ANY ONE CAREER PATH, THERE'LL BE A LEVEL 1 COURSE,
[01:30:01]
A LEVEL 2 COURSE, A LEVEL 3 COURSE, AND A LEVEL 4 COURSE.THE LEVEL 1 COURSE WILL REALLY LAY THAT FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS, WHEREAS THE LEVEL 4 COURSE, ONCE THEY'RE IN 12TH GRADE, MIGHT BE SOMETHING AS MUCH AS A WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH AN INDUSTRY PARTNER OR A PRACTICUM WHERE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING MORE IN REAL WORLD.
YOU MIGHT HAVE THE BASICS OF BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS, A VERY FOUNDATIONAL COURSE.
THEN AS YOU BUILD, YOU ACTUALLY MIGHT BE GETTING MORE IN-DEPTH INTO HOW YOU WOULD LAUNCH A BUSINESS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR.
A LOT OF THE COURSES EARLY ON WILL JUST BE INTRO LEVEL THAT REALLY HELPS SET THE STAGE FOR THAT STUDENT, AND THEN THEY CAN BUILD THAT EXPERTISE IN A MORE DEEP WAY WITH MORE PRACTICE AND WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AS THEY CONTINUE INTO THEIR SENIOR YEAR.
>> GOT IT. SORRY, I'LL CALL IT DROP OFF, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO TERM IT, BUT KNOWING THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE THAT SENIOR YEAR TO GET THE THIRD LEVEL, OF COURSE, COULD YOU EXPOUND ON WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE FUTURE, AGAIN, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT HOW WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT TRACK?
>> FOR SURE. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO FIX IT IS ACTUALLY THE EMPHASIS WE HAVE TO PLACE ON EVERY COHORT AND EVERY GRADE.
BECAUSE IF THEY START ONE IN NINTH GRADE AND THEY STOP IT IN 10TH GRADE, WE ALMOST HAVE NO CHANCE WITH THAT STUDENT WHEN THEY'RE A SENIOR BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO CATCH UP.
I THINK WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A CENTRALIZED SCHEDULING TOOL.
WE HAVE VISIBILITY INTO HOW STUDENTS PROGRESS FROM ONE COURSE TO ANOTHER IN CTE, AND IT ALLOWS US TO MONITOR, ARE HIGH PERCENTAGES OF STUDENTS IN EACH GRADE CONTINUING IN THEIR COHERENT SEQUENCE? IF THEY'RE NOT, WE CAN THEN DIVE MORE DEEPLY INTO MAKING SURE WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR COUNSELORS AND FOR STAFF AT SCHOOL WHO CAN SUPPORT AND HAVE THOSE CRITICAL SCHEDULING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STUDENTS AT THAT TIME.
AGAIN, IT STILL IS A STUDENT'S CHOICE, BUT WE DO WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF MAKING A CHOICE AND THE DIFFERENCE IT CAN BE FOR THEM IF THEY TAKE THREE LEVEL 1 COURSES AND THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND THEY MIGHT GET A LITTLE BIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, A LITTLE BIT OF CULINARY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF IT NETWORKING VERSUS IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO VERY DEEP, BUILD EXPERTISE IN ONE AREA, OBTAIN AN INDUSTRY-BASED CERTIFICATION, IN SOME INSTANCES, COLLEGE CREDIT AND JUST THAT ONE PARTICULAR FOCUS, AND IT REALLY SETS THEM UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL POST GRADUATION BECAUSE OF THE EXPERTISE IN THAT ONE AREA, IN A CAREER PATH, OR EVEN INTO A POST-SECONDARY PATH WITH THAT CAREER EMPHASIS OR EVEN NOT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE SCHEDULING DECISIONS AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN THEY'RE MADE, AS WELL AS MAKE SURE COUNSELORS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DURING THAT TIME.
BUT THE MONITORING TOOLS ARE WHAT HELP US FLAG, HEY, THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE AT THIS CAMPUS.
A BIG PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THAT NEXT COURSE AND DIDN'T, LET'S AT LEAST LOOK INTO WHY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT GUIDANCE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
IN TERMS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, IS THIS LIKE THE SAME TIME AS A CORE COURSE OR IS IT EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE SITUATIONS AND SOME'S VIRTUAL OR WHAT IS THAT?
>> THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE COURSES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT STUDENTS SELECT AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND HOW YOU OFFER.
>> I THINK I'M NOT SAYING THE QUESTION CORRECTLY. I'M NOT ASKING IT.
I LITERALLY MEAN IN A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT A BLOCK SCHEDULE, IT MEETS FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR 60 MINUTES JUST LIKE ENGLISH AND MATH, OR IS IT, NO, THIS IS A SPECIAL, THEY DON'T MEET AS MUCH? HOW MUCH TIME ARE THESE THINGS?
>> THERE ARE MINIMUM TIME REQUIREMENTS AND MY TEAM CAN TELL ME IF I MISSPEAK, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO MEET A MINIMUM MINUTES EITHER PER WEEK OR PER COURSE, AND IT CHANGES SOMETIMES FOR COURSES.
OUR BEGINNING LEVEL COURSES WILL REQUIRE LESS TIME THAN OUR SOMETIMES LEVEL 4 COURSES, WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE A DOUBLE BLOCK.
BUT IT'S USUALLY, YOU MIGHT DO YOUR COURSE ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THEN FOR EVERY OTHER FRIDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE IN A BLOCK SCHEDULE.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WERE ISSUES,
[01:35:04]
AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU GUYS ARE SOLVING FOR IT.YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF IF A KID SAY WANTS TO CHANGE SOPHOMORE YEAR, YOU SAID YOU ALMOST CAN'T FIX IT, OR IF IT'S JUNIOR YEAR, THERE'S NO TIME TO FIX IT.
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
IS THERE A WAY TO SOLVE FOR ANOTHER LATE ON-BOARDING SO THAT IT'S NOT THAT WE SAY, WELL, BECAUSE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND OR BECAUSE WE SOMEHOW MESSED UP, IS THERE SOMETHING Y'ALL CAN PROBLEM-SOLVE FOR THAT? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE WOULD STILL COME, OR HAVE YOU ALL GOTTEN TO THAT POINT?
>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF AN ADULT NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CAN PROGRESS-MONITOR.
WE CAN LOOK AT, DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT SCHEDULING TOOLS? BUT WE STILL DO WANT TO GIVE STUDENTS CHOICE, AND SO IF A STUDENT MAKES THE DECISION TO CHANGE, THEY HAVE THAT CHOICE.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS BUILD THE RIGHT DATA SYSTEMS TO SAY, WAIT, THIS STUDENT IS MAKING THIS CHOICE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, AND LET'S MAKE SURE THE COUNSELOR HAS TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THAT, THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT HAPPENING BY ACCIDENT.
>> THE COUNSELORS WOULD HELP THE STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THEM.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE LIKE THE CHILD'S CHOICE VERSUS WHAT WE SAY WE NEED IN TERMS OF METRICS, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL TASK THAT'S HARD TO DO IT IN A LARGE DISTRICT AND WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE HAS TO DO.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE ANSWER TO THE SOLUTION.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE NEXT TIME WITH THINGS LIKE THIS, SOME OF Y'ALL'S PROBLEM-SOLVING AROUND THOSE TOUGH PROBLEMS THAT YOU ALREADY SAW THAT YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN DO BETTER ON OUR END, THAT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT EITHER THE OPTIONS OR LIMITING THEIR OPTIONS.
HAVE YOU ALL STARTED THINKING ABOUT LIMITING OPTIONS SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE CHILD'S CHOICE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS AND IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
IT IS NOT MY JOB TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER AS A BOARD MEMBER, BECAUSE I'M NOT IN OPERATIONS.
WHAT I WOULD LOVE IS MAYBE THE NEXT TIME, I UNDERSTAND YOUR KEY ACTIONS, AND THEY'RE AWESOME.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE BRAINSTORMING AROUND SOME OF THE PROBLEM AREAS THAT MAY STILL ARISE EVEN WITH THE NEW SYSTEMS, EVEN IF THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE, IF Y'ALL COULD SHARE OUT SOME OF THAT LEVEL OF PROBLEM-SOLVING TO THAT SAME END.
THE OTHER WAS ABOUT, ARE YOU STILL ALLOWING THE KIDS TO DECIDE THE SEQUENCES? YOU SAID MANY TIMES, IF THE KIDS TAKE THREE THINGS IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS, DO THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THAT? IS IT GOOD FOR THEM TO HAVE ALL THOSE OPTIONS? OR ARE YOU SAYING IT'S BAD TO TAKE THREE IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS? IF IT'S A BAD, THEN WHY DO WE HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION IN THE SCHEDULE? AGAIN, I'M NOT THROWING QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO SPIT BALL AND ANSWER.
JUST WONDERING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEM-SOLVING Y'ALL ARE GOING TO DO AROUND THOSE THINGS.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN THE NEXT REPORTS OUT FOR US TO HAVE A WINDOW IN ON HOW Y'ALL ARE ALREADY COMING AT IT. THANK YOU.
>> YES. I'M NOW REPEATING BACK.
WHENEVER STUDENTS AREN'T CONTINUING, HOW ARE WE WORKING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM AND GIVING MORE THERE? IS ONE QUESTION THAT I HEARD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO COME BACK WITH.
WE COULD DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT IS, IS THERE STUDENT DATA LIKE A SURVEY OF SORTS TO FIND OUT WHY STUDENTS MAYBE DON'T GO ONTO A SECOND COURSE? ARE WE FINDING OUT IF THEY ARE DISENGAGED OR UNINTERESTED IN WHY THAT MIGHT BE?
>> WE DO LOOK AT ENROLLMENT REQUESTS SO WE CAN SEE WHAT STUDENTS ARE WANTING TO TAKE, AND THAT DOES GIVE US A SENSE OF INTEREST AT THE CAMPUS.
WE ALWAYS USE THAT WHEN WE'RE EVALUATING CTE PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S ONE FACTOR THAT'S CONSIDERED WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM OFFERINGS.
WE DO GET THAT DATA AND THAT GIVES US SOME GOOD FEEDBACK.
>> GREAT. A SECOND QUESTION THAT IS NOT RELATED IS,
[01:40:03]
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH STUDENT MOBILITY IN TERMS OF COURSE OFFERINGS WHERE STUDENTS CAN'T COMPLETE THE NEXT PATHWAY COURSES?>> YES. IT WAS A REALLY BIG ISSUE, AND I THINK PART OF ONE OF THE THINGS WE OBSERVED RIGHT AT THE START OF THIS WORK.
WITHIN ONE PATHWAY, THERE'S TWO ISSUES.
AS STUDENTS MOVE BETWEEN CAMPUSES, ONE CAMPUS MIGHT HAVE A PATHWAY THAT ANOTHER CAMPUS DOESN'T.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE PUT THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY INTO PLACE TO HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY ACROSS COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
BUT THE SECOND PROBLEM IS EVEN WITHIN ONE PROGRAM, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COURSE OFFERINGS.
WE'RE ALSO STANDARDIZING AND STREAMLINING.
WHEN WE SAY THE LEVEL 1 COURSE, HERE IS THE COURSE THAT WE CAN CHOOSE.
EVEN WITHIN ONE PROGRAM, STUDENTS DON'T GET STUCK IF THEY'RE MOVING AROUND FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.
THE STREAMLINING OF COURSES AND THE SELECTION OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY REALLY HELPS WITH THE MOBILITY ISSUE.
WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING, WE STILL WANTED TO ALLOW HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY DID BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT MADE THEM UNIQUE AS A CAMPUS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
I FEEL LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST MONTH WHERE I'M REALLY HONING IN ON THE BIOLOGY AND THE ALGEBRA IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I GUESS THAT'S MY THING. THE TREND HAS SHOWN FOR A WHILE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE TAKING THOSE COURSES.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO TURN THAT AROUND? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SUCCESSFULLY FOR US TO CHANGE THAT TREND?
>> I WOULD SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS THAT FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THAT NEW OPT IN POLICY WHERE WHENEVER STUDENTS ARE PREPARED AND READY FOR THAT NEXT MORE ADVANCED COURSE, WE'RE CREATING SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ENROLL IN THAT COURSE.
BEFORE WE ACTUALLY CREATE OUR SCHEDULE, EVERY CAMPUS WILL GET A LIST OF ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE READY FOR THAT NEXT COURSE, AND THAT HELPS US BUILD THE SCHEDULE APPROPRIATELY SO THAT THERE ARE SPACE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE READY.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SCHEDULING WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ADVANCED COURSEWORK.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS WE'RE REALLY LOOKING CLOSELY AT ACCELERATED MATH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE ARE ACTUALLY EVEN PILOTING FULL SCHOOL ACCELERATIONS THIS YEAR WHERE STUDENTS ARE ON AN ACCELERATED SIXTH GRADE COURSE, AN ACCELERATED SEVENTH GRADE COURSE, AND THEN ALL STUDENTS ARE TAKING ALGEBRA 1.
WHEN WE DO THAT, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY MINDFUL OF THE CURRICULUM AND WHAT IS COVERED EACH YEAR BECAUSE STUDENTS IN SIXTH GRADE HAVE TO COVER A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THEY TYPICALLY WOULD IN SEVENTH GRADE, A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT IN EIGHTH GRADE THEY CAN TAKE THAT ALGEBRA 1 COURSES.
BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE PILOTED THAT AT FULL SCHOOLS THIS YEAR JUST TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GOING THROUGH IT.
WE LAUNCHED IT IN SIXTH GRADE, SO NEXT YEAR WE'LL ADD SEVENTH AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE'RE ADDING EIGHT.
THAT REALLY IS ALLOWING US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE RIGOR AND THE ADVANCED COURSE ACCESS ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY IN MATH.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S BIG.
ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, WE'LL SWITCH INTO CTE A BIT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER CAREER EXPOSURE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS INHERENTLY DO THAT ALREADY.
I'M THINKING ABOUT BAYLOR, RYAN, AND CULLEN MILITARY.
WE HAVE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR MAYBE A COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR EVEN A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT MAYBE JUST DO LANGUAGE OR SOMETHING.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE EARLIER CAREER EXPOSURE FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS JUST MAKING SURE THERE'S A LESSON THAT ACTUALLY FOCUSES ON A PROGRAM OF STUDY, ESPECIALLY OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY.
ONE OF OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY IS IT NETWORKING.
YOU MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
WHAT CAREERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? WHAT TYPE OF SALARIES CAN YOU MAKE? WHAT IS THE WORK LIKE? WE BUILD THESE LESSONS AROUND EACH PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ENTAILED IN THE PROGRAM, WHAT COULD A FUTURE LOOK LIKE.
THEY CAN HEAR FROM SOME REAL WORLD PRACTITIONERS IN THAT SPACE AS A PART OF THE LESSON.
WE'RE BUILDING THOSE LESSONS FROM A CENTRAL OFFICE PERSPECTIVE.
ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES CAN ACCESS THEM.
WE'RE EMBEDDING THEM INTO NES AS WELL.
THAT'S PART OF ALL OF THOSE CAMPUSES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT CURRICULUM,
[01:45:04]
SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT EXPOSURE.THE GOAL AGAIN, IS THE MORE YOU'RE EXPOSED, THE MORE INFORMED YOU ARE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THAT VERY FIRST SELECTION IN NINTH GRADE.
>> THANK YOU. THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE CON TOOL THAT WE'RE UTILIZING TO GET OUR STUDENTS READY FOR THE SAT.
AT WHAT GRADE LEVEL CAN A STUDENT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? FOR INSTANCE, IF WE HAVE A STUDENT IN THE NINTH GRADE OR THEIR PARENTS WANT THEM JUST TO START HAVING AT BAT SO THEY'RE USED TO IT.
WHO HAS ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM?
>> WE DEFINITELY PAY FOR IT, OR WE CENTRALLY BUDGETED FOR IT FOR ALL 11TH GRADERS.
I CAN CHECK IF EARLIER GRADES HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO WITH CON AND REALLY WITH ANY DIGITAL RESOURCE THAT WE IMPLEMENT IS WE STUDY WHAT LEVEL OF USAGE WILL ACTUALLY LEAD TO THE DESIRED OUTCOME.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH CON, HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY NEED TO SPEND IN IT FOR US TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT THEY'LL DO BETTER ON THE SAT? WE RESEARCH THAT, AND THAT'S HOW WE FIGURE OUT, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO PROGRESS MONITOR IF STUDENTS ARE SPENDING ENOUGH TIME ON THE TOOL? THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MONITORING FOR 11TH GRADE STUDENTS.
BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ABOUT 9TH AND 10TH.
>> JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT IS OUR UTILIZATION OF CON RIGHT NOW AND THEN WHAT ARE WE TARGETING? 100%, OF COURSE, IS THE TARGET.
BUT WHAT'S OUR UTILIZATION, OUR KIDS ACCESS? THEN I SAW, I GUESS 20 HOURS WE FEEL LIKE IS A GOOD SWEET SPOT. I SAW THAT SOMEWHERE.
>> THAT IS ONE DATA POINT THAT HAS SHOWN THAT, THAT WILL LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS.
WE REALLY DON'T INTEGRATE CON UNTIL STARTING IN OCTOBER.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT ON CON USAGE MORE RIGOROUSLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE STARTING SOON ENOUGH, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT USAGE YET.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS THAT WE HAVE DASHBOARDS THAT EVERY WEEK, WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
WE LOOK AT WHAT PERCENT OF STUDENTS ARE MEETING THEIR TARGET? IF WE KNOW THAT OVER THE COURSE OF 20 WEEKS THEY HAD TO MEET 20 HOURS, THAT MEANS THIS WEEK THEY NEED AN HOUR.
WE'LL SAY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ARE MEETING THAT? YOU CAN LOOK IT ON THE CAMPUS LEVEL, ON THE DIVISION LEVEL, BUT THEN WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT PERCENT OF CAMPUSES ARE MEETING THE RIGHT PERCENT OF STUDENTS MEETING THAT THRESHOLD? WE REALLY CAN DO A LOT TO MAKE SURE, IF WE'RE SEEING A CAMPUS THAT ISN'T UTILIZING THE TOOL, WE CAN GO TALK TO THAT CAMPUS AND SAY, DO YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING SURE YOUR STUDENTS CAN HAVE ACCESS? REALLY STRONG MONITORING TOOLS WILL POINT US TO WHERE WE CAN FURTHER SUPPORT CAMPUSES IF STUDENTS AREN'T USING IT.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THEY'RE EXPECTED TO USE AT SCHOOL?
>> WE INTEGRATE FOR SURE INTO SOME AREAS, BUT THEN THEY CAN ALSO ACCESS IT IN A NUMBER OF OTHER WAYS.
WE LAUNCH NUMEROUS SATURDAY ACADEMIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS.
THERE'S SATURDAY BOOT CAMPS, AND THOSE WILL HAPPEN FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND ESPECIALLY MORE AS WE GET CLOSER TO SAT DAY.
IT'S OTHER TIME WHERE THEY COULD USE IT, PLUS GET ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION.
YES, WE SUPPORT THE CAMPUSES IN DETERMINING WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER? YES, MR. CAMPBELL?
>> SEE IF I CAN GET THIS RIGHT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAREER AND FOCUSING KIDS ON TRYING TO FIND A CAREER.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AT THE SIGNING OF THE MOU WITH PORT HOUSTON, AND CHEVRON, AND THE HISD AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER 23TH.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED NUMBER 1 WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS.
PRINCIPAL RODRIGUEZ WAS REALLY AMAZING IN HOW HE CREATED THIS ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THAT CAMP BECAUSE WE HAD THE CEO OF CHEVRON SHIPPING, BARBARA PICKERING CAME IN.
THE PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE THREE ENTITIES, CHEVRON, THE PORT, AND HISD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS REALLY AMAZED BY, THEY USED A STUDENT AS AN EXAMPLE, WHO GRADUATED FROM THE MARITIME PROGRAM THERE AS A SENIOR, GRADUATED, AND WAS WORKING FOR KIRBY CORPORATION.
HIS STARTING SALARY WAS $65,000 A YEAR RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE HE HAD THE RIGHT CERTIFICATION.
THEN KIRBY IS PUTTING HIM THROUGH A NUMBER OF ANOTHER COUPLE OF LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION.
WHAT THE CEO OF KIRBY CORP TOLD ME WAS THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WILL BE MAKING SIX FIGURES WITHIN THREE YEARS OF WORKING FOR KIRBY BECAUSE HE WENT THROUGH THE AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL MARITIME PROGRAM.
[01:50:01]
WITH THAT SAID, ONE OTHER COOL THING WAS, CHEVRON GAVE $65,000 OF GIFT CARDS TO TEACHERS TO HELP PROMOTE THESE PROGRAMS AND TO BUY SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.THE QUESTION WITH THAT IS, HOW ARE YOU BUILDING MORE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THAT?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND THEN EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A BUSINESS COUNCIL AND THAT COUNCIL MEETS REGULARLY.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY FOR US TO HEAR FROM INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND HAVE THEM ENGAGE IN THE WORK AND WE CAN BE OPPORTUNISTIC ABOUT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE ALSO PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO INTEGRATE WORK BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH THOSE PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR 11TH AND 12TH GRADE COURSES IN CTE.
FIRST STUDENTS 12TH GRADE COURSE, THEY ACTUALLY MIGHT GO TO A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND ACTUALLY SPEND TIME DOING SOME PART OF THE JOB THERE AND GET COURSE CREDIT FOR IT.
ALSO, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE BOND AND THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION WE ARE LAUNCHING THE CCMR TASKFORCE.
THE APPLICATIONS ARE ACTUALLY OPEN FOR IT NOW.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL DO IS WE'LL HAVE A BUSINESS WORKING GROUP WITHIN THAT, AND WE'LL ORGANIZE AROUND OUR PROGRAMS OF STUDY.
WE'LL PULL BUSINESS PARTNERS TOGETHER AROUND HEALTHCARE.
THAT WILL ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP INFORM US ON WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF WORK LOOK LIKE FOR HEALTHCARE? HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE OUR COURSES ARE RIGOROUS ENOUGH FOR THAT INDUSTRY? BUT IT ALSO IS A REALLY BIG CHANCE TO ADD THOSE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO OUR EXISTING COURSEWORK.
WE'LL LAUNCH A HUB FOR EACH OF OUR CAREER PROGRAMS AS A PART OF THAT TASK FORCE.
IT'LL ALLOW US TO BUILD ON THE EXISTING WORK WE'RE DOING, BUT IN A WAY THAT CENTERS AROUND EACH PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MR. MARTINEZ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
CASSANDRA, YOU GOT MOST OF MY QUESTIONS.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, KUDOS TO THE CTE TEAM, 40 DIFFERENT PATHWAYS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS.
YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'LL HAVE EARLY EXPOSURE.
THIS IS THE QUESTION, AND YOU MAY NEED TO HELP ME GUIDE THROUGH THIS QUESTION.
IF WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE PURSUING CTE, BUT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR OTHER COURSES BECAUSE THEY NEED THEM IN ORDER TO GRADUATE, IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS ON TRACK FOR CTE NOW HAS TO PIVOT TOWARDS COMPLETING THOSE COURSES BUT MAY ACTUALLY GRADUATE NOT READY FOR ANYTHING? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IF THEIR PREFERRED THING WAS THE CTE, BUT NOW THEY HAVE TO GO THIS [NOISE] OTHER ROUTE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE SKILLS THAT THEY'VE OBTAINED ARE NOT LOST AFTER GRADUATION? THAT'S PROBABLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
>> YES. I THINK IN THAT INSTANCE, IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, IF STUDENTS DO GET REALLY BEHIND AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURSES THEY NEED TO GRADUATE, IT IS A TRADE OFF IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN TAKE.
WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE NEW TO THE COUNTRY AND START IN 10TH GRADE, AND MIGHT JUST BE NUMEROUS COURSES BEHIND.
IT REALLY IS A STUDENT BY STUDENT BASIS WHERE I THINK WE TRUST OUR COUNSELORS TO HELP ADVISE THEM ON AND MAKING SURE THEY STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE AND CAN GRADUATE WITH THE COURSES WE WANT THEM TO TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK IT'S IN SOME WAYS A STUDENT BY STUDENT BASIS.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO ENSURE STUDENTS MEET THEIR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S A REALLY BIG PRIORITY AS WELL.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION? LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SESSION, I MET INCREDIBLE STUDENTS FROM LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL IS A SCHOOL THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL AT NIGHT AND THEY GRADUATE.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE BUT HAVEN'T COMPLETED THEIR CTE COULD GO TO A SCHOOL LIKE THAT TO COMPLETE THEIR CTE? BECAUSE AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? YES, THEY GRADUATED, BUT YET, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE WASTED TIME.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING OUR TEAM CAN TAKE AND LOOK FURTHER INTO TO SEE WHAT I'M HEARING IS IF THERE'S POSSIBILITIES AT DIFFERENT HOURS OR AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE STUDENTS COULD STILL HAVE THAT CHANCE TO CONTINUE IN THEIR EXPERTISE WHENEVER THEY ARE HAVING TO TAKE THOSE CREDIT COURSES FOR GRADUATION.
LET US CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THAT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
[01:55:02]
>> TO ECHO CASSANDRA, WE HAVE SMALL NUMBER OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PURSUING BIOLOGY.
I THINK I SAW JUST 3% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PURSUING BIOLOGY, AND THEN WE HAVE A GREATER 23% ALGEBRA, MAYBE OTHER WAY AROUND.
I FORGOT WHAT WAS MY QUESTION. HERE'S MY QUESTION.
IN THE NES ORBIT, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE REGIMENTED.
HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO KHAN ACADEMY, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS EARLIER ON? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SATURDAY TUTORIALS, BUT IS THERE TIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE KNOWING THAT THERE'S, AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT MORE REGIMENTED?
ALL STUDENTS DO STILL TAKE BIOLOGY, IS ONE OF THE REQUIRED END OF COURSE EXAMS. THEY JUST TYPICALLY TAKE IT IN 9TH OR 10TH GRADE.
JUST A SUBSET OF STUDENTS DO THAT EARLIER.
IN TERMS OF NES, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE'VE DONE IN THE COURSE SCHEDULE ITSELF IS REALLY EMBED THE TSI READINESS INTO OUR ALGEBRA 2 AND OUR ENGLISH 3 COURSE.
THAT ENSURES THAT ALL OF THE STUDENTS GOING THROUGH THE NES PROGRAM, WHEN THEY TAKE THOSE TWO REALLY CRITICAL COURSES TO PREPARE FOR THE SAT, HAVE THAT EMBEDDED TSI READINESS PREPARATION IN THOSE COURSES THEMSELVES.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, LIKE WE DID LAST TIME BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT TSI LAST GO AROUND, JUST LOOKING AT THE METRICS, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
ONLY 16% OF OUR 11TH GRADERS END OF YEAR.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, ONLY 16% OF OUR STUDENTS MET READING AND MATH FOR TSI, 16%.
I THINK LAST TIME, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THERE'S 10 HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE 0% OF THEIR STUDENTS MET TSI, 0%.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A BOARD CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD SO THAT OUR KIDS ARE PREPARED.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OPTIONS FOR OUR KIDS, SO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR THEM AT TIME OF GRADUATION. THANK YOU.
>> MISS MENDOZA, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO? ANYBODY ELSE?
>> I THOUGHT OF ONE MORE THING FOR MISS FLOWERS.
MISS FLOWERS, I DID WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE I LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO AUTO ENROLL THOSE STUDENTS INTO THOSE NEXT COURSES.
THE DEFAULT IS THAT THEY CONTINUE.
I DO THINK THAT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT POINT SO THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS MAKING THAT CHOICE.
IT'S JUST WHEN THEY ACTIVELY ARE SAYING.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I [NOISE] REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ACTION STEPS.
THIS IS FANTASTIC WORK, AND IT'S SUCH A HUGE BEAST IN A LARGE DISTRICT.
THESE CHANGES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IMPLEMENTED ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> I'LL SHOUT OUT THE TEAM FOR THAT BECAUSE ALL THOSE LISTENING, I KNOW THEY REALLY DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK HERE.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. NO OTHER QUESTIONS? GREAT. WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE WILL ACCEPT THE MONITORING REPORT.
LET'S GO BACK. I THINK I HAVE TO HIT MY COMPUTER.
>> I SEE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY MR. CAMPO. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MISS CRUZ ARNOLD.
THIS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MONITORING REPORT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO? PLEASE VOTE.
>> THE MOTION PASSES, EIGHT IN FAVOR ONE ABSENT.
WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM OUR REMAINING REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
FIRST, THOSE WHO ARE IN PERSON AND THOSE WHO ARE ON ZOOM, AND SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS AS THEIR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW, BUT YOU MAY YOUR OWN CHILD.
WE NEED A LITTLE BREAK? CASSANDRA WANTS TO GO. WELL THIS IS FINE.
WE ASK YOU, PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS AS THEIR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW, BUT YOU MAY NAME YOUR OWN CHILD.
I ASK, PLEASE RESPECT OUR PROCEDURES AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND END YOUR COMMENTS PROMPTLY WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THE TIMER RINGS.
WE'LL CALL IN PERSON SPEAKERS TO THE MICROPHONE AND GROUPS BEGINNING WITH SPEAKER NUMBER 1-10.
WE HAVE SEATS IN THE FRONT ROW HERE RESERVED FOR THOSE SPEAKERS.
WE ARE NUMBERED. GREAT. LET ME GET ORGANIZED.
[02:00:06]
I HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHELLE BLACKWELL.>> MY NAME IS MRS. BLACKWELL, AND I AM A FAITHFUL VOLUNTEER IN THE HISD PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I FEEL LIKE 70 SCHOOLS, THE BOOKS ARE GOING AWAY.
ALSO, SOME OF THE LIBRARIES BECOMING DETENTION CENTERS.
I FEEL A LIBRARY WAS A SPACE READING.
YOU HEAR THE QUOTE, READING IS KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIBRARIES REMAIN AS A SPACE FOR THE CHILDREN TO READ.
ALSO, I HAVE A SECOND CONCERN.
I TEND TO NOTICE THAT IT'S VERY RIGID.
I FEEL STUDENTS ARE LOSING THEIR ZEAL, NOT WANTING TO GO TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE LOSING THEIR JOY.
I LIKE TO THEM GET THEIR JOY BACK IF THIS CURRICULUM COULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE.
ALSO, THE LAST CONCERN I HAVE IS BETTER QUALITY OF SCHOOL LUNCHES, BREAKFAST.
I JUST FEEL LIKE THE STUDENTS LOOK SAD OR THEY JUST DON'T LOOK AS HAPPY.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARMEN NUNCIO.
MRS. NUNCIO. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY BEASLEY. YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS KATHY BEASLEY. I'M A FORMER TEACHER AT HISD.
SCAPEGOATS. THAT'S WHAT TEACHERS HAVE BECOME.
LOW TEST SCORES, TEACHERS FAULT.
BEHAVIOR ISSUES WITH STUDENTS, TEACHERS AGAIN.
EVERY ROAD LEADS TO TEACHERS IS THE ROOT OF ALL PROBLEMS IN HISD.
NOT AN APPALLING LACK OF LEADERSHIP WITH THE REVOLVING DOOR OF ADMINISTRATORS NOR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS STAFF THAT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY ABUSIVE, THE TEACHER STANDING ALONE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF ABBOTT.
TEACHERS HAVE BEEN SCORNED BY STATEMENTS SUCH AS IF IT'S NOT ENGAGING, I BLAME THE TEACHER.
YOU FORGE AHEAD, EXPLOITING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR CHILDREN WHILE KEEPING YOUR JOBS THAT ASTOUNDINGLY INSULATE YOU FROM THE HORROR OF WHAT THIS DISTRICT HAS BECOME.
YOU NEED TO STAY IN POWER IS PUT AHEAD OF THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS CITY.
YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION, NOT TO MENTION THEIR EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL WELL BEING.
TO QUOTE LORD ACTON, WHO SAID POWER CORRUPTS, BUT ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TRAVIS MCGEE.
PLEASE, SIR. MR. MCGEE. YES, SIR.
>> I'VE BEEN HEARING THE WORD CERTIFIED A LOT TONIGHT, AND YOU ALL ARE GETTING RID OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS FOR CERTIFIED PEDOPHILES.
IF WE CAN'T TRUST Y'ALL TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE, WE CAN'T TRUST TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS, WHY IN THE HELL WE TRUST A WITH $4.4 BILLION DOLLAR? PEDOPHILE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED FOR THEIR CONTRACTS TO RUN OUT.
THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AND INVESTIGATED AS PEDOPHILES.
IT'S NOT INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP.
IN THE HOOD, WE CALL THEM PEDOPHILES.
ALL THE PARENTS OUT HERE CALL THEM PEDOPHILES.
I CONTACTED THREE OF Y'ALL, Y'ALL DID NOT CONTACT ME BACK.
YOU THE ONLY ONE CONTACTING ME BACK.
EVERYBODY ELSE DIDN'T DO THAT.
STOP BRINGING ALL THESE PEDOPHILES TO THESE SCHOOLS.
THEN YOU GO OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I NEVER HAD TO BE WALKED OFF THE JOB BY POLICE OR WALKED FROM THE JOB BY THE POLICE.
STOP PROTECTING THESE PEDOPHILES.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU, SIR. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE DONIS.
>> GOOD EVENING. REMEMBER ME THE F BUM GIRL.
AS MOST OF US HERE KNOW, THAT HARVARD HAS NEVER RECEIVED A RATING OTHER THAN A UNTIL YOU MIKE MILES TOOK OVER THE DISTRICT AND FORCED TEACHERS TO USE YOUR METHODOLOGY, THAT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.
IB LET STUDENTS USE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH CREATIVE PROJECT BASED LEARNING.
IT IS PETTY AND MANIPULATIVE TO RELEASE RATINGS FOR SCHOOLS WHEN THERE IS A COURT CASE BLOCKING THEM.
HISD LIED ABOUT THE ANATOMY AND B RATED SCHOOLS. HAVE, AND MR. MILES IS USING STUDENTS AS PAWNS IN HIS DOG AND PONY SHOW TO STROKE HIS OWN EAGLE AND
[02:05:01]
USES HUMILIATION AS REVENGE FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T FOLLOW HIS IDEOLOGY.THE HARVARD COMMUNITY IS READY TO FIGHT.
MILES, ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO AFTER THE OFFICE STAFF AND CLAIM THEY'RE RECOVERING DOCTOR C'S TARDINESS AND ABSENCES? LET THE BATTLES BEGIN.
>> [NOISE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBBIE JANE.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT MILES AND BOARD OF MANAGERS.
FIRST, I WANT TO CONTRADICT AN EARLIER STATEMENT THAT THE TEACHERS LEAVING THE DISTRICT ARE INEFFECTIVE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS HARASSED, TERMINATED, DRIVEN OUT MANY GOOD PERSONNEL.
LAST YEAR, AND YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT THIS YEAR IN THIS TOXIN CULTURE THAT YOU ARE CREATING.
SECOND, I AM USUALLY IN FAVOR OF BONDS IN ANY LEGISLATURE THAT SUPPORTS HISD.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR, I AM VOTING AGAINST YOUR 4.4 BILLION BOND PROPOSAL.
I SIMPLY DON'T TRUST YOU TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS WISELY THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SERENA HULHAN.
I'M A PARENT VOTER AND BUSINESS OWNER.
MR. MILES, HERE ARE THE FACTS.
SINCE YOU TOOK OFFICE, YOU HAVE GUTTED CRITICAL SPECIAL ED MEDICAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES, PUTTING OUR CHILDREN AT GRAVE RISK.
WE HAVE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED TEACHER AND STAFF TURNOVER, INCLUDING HIGHLY CELEBRATED EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN HEALTH AND SAFETY ACROSS CAMPUSES RESULTING IN TRAGEDY.
YOU HAVE CREATED A CULTURE OF FEAR FOR RETRIBUTION AMONGST YOUR STAFF.
YOU HAVE MISMANAGED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER MONEY.
YOU HAVE REMOVED LIBRARIES FROM SCHOOLS, AND YOU'VE HIRED UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO DESERVE OUR TRUST? YOU ARE NOT ELECTED, SIR, AND THIS IS STILL A DEMOCRACY.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
[APPLAUSE] OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE KENNEDY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS KATHERINE KENNEDY, AND I'M AN HISC PARENT.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF MS. MENDOZA'S STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT BULLYING PREVENTION WHILE I READ THIS.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED COUNSELOR WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 16 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT HISD AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
QUOTE, A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS ABUSIVE.
MANY STUDENTS MAY NOT BE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE ABUSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE IT, OR THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ARTICULATE IT TO ADULTS THAT CAN PROTECT THEM.
YELLING, USING THE BODY TO INTIMIDATE OTHERS, PUBLIC SHAMING, DISMISSING REPORTS OF DISRESPECT, CHANGING AN UNCLEAR EXPECTATIONS, AND TWISTING NARRATIVES TO EXPLAIN AWAY IMPROPER CHOICES AND BEHAVIORS HAVE BEEN PREVALENT.
IS VICTIM BLAMING AND ABUSIVE TO SAY IT'S A CHOICE TO WORK IN HISD.
THE CHOICE SHOULD NOT BE TO LEAVE AND RISK LOSING YOUR CAREER DUE TO LEAVING YOUR CONTRACT VERSUS STAYING AND BEING ABUSED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA WEISS.
IF OUR NEXT 10 SPEAKERS WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
YES, MA'AM. MY NAME IS LISA WEISS, AND I'M A PHYSICIAN AND A PARENT OF AN HISD STUDENT.
AT SEPTEMBER'S MEETING, I DISCUSSED HOW IT TOOK A TRAGEDY TO FIND OUT THAT OVER 170 OF OUR AEDS, WHICH ARE DEFIBATORS IN THE DISTRICT ARE NOT WORKING.
ONE MONTH LATER, I'M FOLLOWING UP TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
PER TE EDUCATION CODE 8.017, EVERY CAMPUS NEEDS AT LEAST ONE AED THAT IS CHECKED MONTHLY.
IDEALLY, THERE SHOULD BE ONE AED WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF EVERY LOCATION IN THE SCHOOL, AND IDEALLY THERE SHOULD BE ONE AED PER FLOOR.
IN ADDITION, PER THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 779.001, AND TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 33.086, EVERY SCHOOL NURSE, ASSISTANT NURSE, PE INSTRUCTOR, BAN INSTRUCTOR, AND COACH, MUST BE TRAINED IN CPR AND TRAINED IN THE USE OF DEFIBATOR.
AS AS PARENTS, WE DESERVE TO KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND WE DESERVE TO HAVE UPDATES ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS ISSUE.
[02:10:02]
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HELEN LEE. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HELEN LEE, AND I'M A HISD PARENT WITH TWO CHILDREN AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRICULUM CHANGES THAT HISD IS PUSHING INTO OUR SCHOOL.
I ATTENDED A SESSION IN JUNE WHERE SUPERINTENDENT MILES SHARED THE DEFINED AUTONOMY FRAMEWORK.
I LEFT HOPING THAT THIS WAS A STEP FORWARD FROM THE CONFUSION AND FEAR OF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT HARVARD TEACHERS WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE IB CURRICULUM WHICH HAS MADE OUR SCHOOL GREAT.
HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.
DESPITE BEING A LEVEL 3 AUTONOMY SCHOOL, HISD IS REQUIRING CHANGES THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH OUR IB CURRICULUM AND THAT ARE RESULTING IN A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR TEACHERS, OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THAT HISD HAS COME OUT AND SAID THAT HARVARD WILL REMAIN A IB SCHOOL AND WILL NOT BECOME NES CAMPUS.
WE, AS A COMMUNITY, ARE GOING TO STAY INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THESE CURRICULUM CHANGES ARE REVERSED.
WHAT HISD HAS SAID IS TRUE, NOT ONLY.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAYM. YES, MA'AM.
>> IN AUGUST, PARENTS ARE GIVEN A MEDIA RELEASE FORM, ALLOWING THEM TO STATE WHETHER THEY GIVE PERMISSION FOR THEIR CHILD TO APPEAR IN MEDIA.
IN NES, THEY PHYSICALLY ALTERED THE FORM SO THAT PARENTS WERE NOT GIVEN THE OPTION TO SAY NO.
MANY VIDEOS FEATURING STUDENTS' FACES ARE COMING OUT OF NES SCHOOLS.
DO PARENTS KNOW? DO THEY KNOW THAT CLASSES ARE ALWAYS RECORDED WITH CAMERAS FACING THE STUDENTS? WHO HAS ACCESS TO THIS FOOTAGE AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH IT? STUDENTS ARE BEING REQUIRED TO USE EDMENTUM, AN AI COMPUTER LEARNING PROGRAM.
BUT STUDENTS ARE TRAINING THE AI.
AI COMPANIES ARE RECEIVING FREE DATA FROM CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT.
FINALLY, TEACHERS ARE BEING EXPLICITLY TOLD TO TEACH THE AI CURRICULUM AS IS, WITHOUT CORRECTING MISTAKES.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE UNLESS HE'S CREATING CONTROL CONDITIONS FOR A STUDY ON EDUCATIONAL AI USING OUR KIDS AS FREE TEST SUBJECTS WITH NO IR.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VICTORIA FREDETTE.
>> MY NAME IS VICTORIA FREDETTE.
I'M THE PARENT OF AN HISD KINDERGARTNER, AND I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I'D BE SPEAKING AT A BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING IN THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL CAREER.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THE EDUCATORS WHO HAVE STOOD UP FOR OUR CHILDREN TO THIS VERY BOARD AND ARE NO LONGER WORK FOR THE DISTRICT.
I ALSO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH A FAMILY OF LAND AND PEYTON.
I'M READING A STATEMENT FROM A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 11 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
LIES, SUBTERFUGE, AND IMMENSE WASTING OF TIME, AND HUMAN POTENTIAL BASED ON ADMINISTRATION DESPERATE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS IN A TOXIC ATMOSPHERE.
PEOPLE I THOUGHT WERE GOOD HAVE SUNK TO NEW BEHAVIOR LOWS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TUBI LARSON.
>> HELLO. I'M A HARVARD PARENT, AND I'M READING THIS FOR A HARVARD TEACHER THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY CONCERNED FOR THE SECURITY OF THEIR POSITION.
I AM WRITING WITH DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT OUR SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY THE FIRING OF OUR PRINCIPAL.
THIS DECISION STEMS FROM HER REFUSAL TO COMPROMISE ON THE VALUES AND PRACTICES THAT MAKE OUR SCHOOL AN INTERNATIONAL B LAUREATE IB INSTITUTION.
SHE'S BEING PRESSURED TO IMPLEMENT THE NES PRACTICE WHICH ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE HOLISTIC STUDENT CENTERED APPROACH THAT DEFINES IB.
IB FOCUSES ON TEACHING THE WHOLE CHILD, FOSTERING CRITICAL THINKERS, AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO BECOME CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
IN CONTRAST, NES PUSHES A RIGID, ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL THAT STIFLES INDEPENDENT THOUGHT AND REDUCES EDUCATION TO WROTE LEARNING.
OUR PRINCIPAL'S INSISTENCE ON PROTECTING OUR IB VALUES HAS PUT HER AT ODDS WITH THE DISTRICT, AND NOW WE ARE RETALIATING BY PUSHING HER OUT.
PLEASE STAND WITH US IN SUPPORTING OUR PRINCIPAL AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR IPE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MICHELLE WILLIAMS, HOUSTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BLEEDING AND THE RED BOTTOM LINE IN HISD.
[02:15:01]
YOU ALL SIT UP HERE BOARD MEETING AFTER BOARD MEET, THINKING YOU ALL DOING SOMETHING GREAT.DOES YOUR COMPANY OPERATE IN A RED? DOES YOUR COMPANY OPERATE IN RED.
DOES CAMDEN PROPERTIES OPERATE IN A RED? DOES YOUR PROCUREMENT COMPANY THAT YOU EVER WORKED FOR OPERATING A RED? OUR ELECTED BOARD TRUSTEES WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED HISD TO OPERATE IN A RED, AND THEN TO PUT OUT BUDGET WITH RED BOTTOM LINE.
THEN IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR OWN LEGACIES AND YOUR RESUMES.
BUT YOU SIT HERE AND CLAP FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DROWNING IN SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BETTER, DO BETTER.
>>OUR NEXT SPEAKER NANCY POCH.
>> MIKE, MIKE. HI, MY NAME IS NANCY POCH.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN THAT ATTEND HISD SCHOOLS.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANTED TO READ A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE THAT LEFT THEIR NON NES SCHOOL BY CHOICE AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
WHO KNOWS WHY MY PRINCIPAL LEFT? I'M TIRED OF THE RULES CHANGING FROM DAY TO DAY.
IN MY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE STRESSED.
I'M A FIRST TIME SPEAKER, SO I WAS APPALLED BY THE NUMBER OF PRINCIPALS BEING LET GO AT THE END OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT DECIDED TO WALK AWAY FROM MANY WONDERFUL SCHOOLS IN HISD.
CONSIDER THIS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, WE ALL KNOW THAT HIGH TURNOVER REDUCES PRODUCTIVITY, DECREASES MORALE, AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE TIME AND COST TO REPLACE THEM.
PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR JOBS.
THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN MISMANAGED AND HAS SO MISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.
REMEMBER THIS, NO TRUST, NO BOND.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS POLA KOBINA. MS. KOBINA.
FOLLOWING MS. KOBINA IS BECKY SEABROOK.
MA'AM, THIS IS A BOARD MEETING.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP AND SPEAK.
COME ON. PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS STARTING. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WEBSTER DEFINES DEMOCRACY AS A FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE BASED ON CONCEPTION OF THE EQUALITY OF MAN.
EXPLOITATION MEANS TO MAKE THE MOST OF, TO UTILIZE FOR PERSONAL GAIN, WHICH LEADS TO THE QUESTION.
WHEN GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT APPOINTED THIS BOARD OF MANAGERS AND SUPERINTENDENT F MIKE MYERS, WHAT MAJORITY WILL OF THE PEOPLE DID HE BASE HIS DECISION ON? WAS THE CONCEPTION OF THE EQUALITY OF MAN CONSIDERED AT ALL? IN A DEMOCRACY, THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN A BICAMERAL CONGRESS.
BUT BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH USURPED THEIR AUTHORITY IN 1989 WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE MANDATED TESTS.
HERE WE ARE 35 YEARS LATER, EXPLOITATION AT ITS FINEST.
INSTEAD OF AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR ALL TO SEE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND F MIKE MYERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY SEABROOK.
MS. SEABROOK IS NOT HERE. BECKY SEABROOK.
>>GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY JUAN.
I AM A MOTHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL BOYS WHO ARE ALSO HISD STUDENTS.
ONE IS AT WEST HU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THE OTHER IS AT LEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
YOU GUYS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EDUCATION OF MY TWO BOYS.
I AM READING AN EXCERPT BY A CERTIFIED DISTRICT LEVEL EDUCATOR WITH OVER 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY RETIRED FROM THE DISTRICT BY CHOICE.
THEY SAID, "I HAVE WORKED UNDER NUMEROUS SUPERINTENDENTS,
[02:20:06]
AND MANY OF THEM WERE QUITE DISRUPTIVE LIKE GREER.BUT MILES TOOK THIS TO AN ENTIRELY NEW LEVEL." NEARLY 30 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT BROKE MY HEART TO LEAVE, BUT WAS EXHAUSTED AND DISCOURAGED BY BEING DEMOTED, NOT APPRECIATED OR LISTENED TO AND BEING BULLIED OR HAVING TO WITNESS BULLYING.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIGITTE KHIAMA. YES, MA'AM.
>>AS A HARVARD PARENT, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE IB PROGRAM.
THE IB PROGRAM IS A REASON MY FAMILY DECIDED TO SEND OUR SON TO HARVARD, AND IT TRULY IS WHAT MAKES HARVARD A SPECIAL SCHOOL.
WHILE YOU SAY THERE ARE NO PLANS TO ELIMINATE IT, I WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE TO BE FRANK, I DO NOT TRUST A SINGLE ONE OF YOU, ESPECIALLY MIKE MYERS.
ALTHOUGH HARVARD IS NOT AN NES SCHOOL, TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE FLAWED NES STRATEGIES, NOT BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO, BUT BECAUSE THEY MUST IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FAVORABLE OBSERVATIONS.
THE IB CURRICULUM NURTURES AND DEVELOPS YOUNG STUDENTS AS CARING, ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN A LIFELONG JOURNEY OF LEARNING.
IN CONTRAST, THE NES MODEL FOCUSES ON WORKSHEETS THAT LACK CRITICAL THINKING, RELIES ON SCRIPTED LESSONS, AND PRIORITIZES TEST SCORES ONLY, NOT THE STUDENTS.
IN REGARD TO THE REBOND, I DO NOT HAVE TRUST IN MIKE MYERS OR THE DISTRICT TO USE THOSE FUNDS CORRECTLY, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT VOTED DOWN.
>> OUR NEXT SIR IS ANAR ABASOV.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANAR ABASOV, PTA PRESIDENT AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS THE CONCERN OF OUR PARENTS AND TEACHERS REGARDING THE RECENT CHANGES IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE IB PROGRAM EFFECTIVELY.
HARVARD ELEMENTARY IS A HIGHLY REGARDED SCHOOL WITH A B RATING.
UNDER THE DEFINED AUTONOMY FRAMEWORK, WE HAVE A LEVEL 3 AUTONOMY GRANTING US CONTROL OVER OUR CURRICULUM AND SCHEDULES TO SUPPORT OUR IB PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, SINCE SEPTEMBER, PRESCRIPTIVE SCHEDULES BROKEN INTO 5-10 MINUTE INCREMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED, ALONG WITH MANDATED USE OF TIMERS AND OTHER CHANGES THAT HINDER OUR TEACHER'S ABILITY TO DELIVER THE IB CURRICULUM.
THIS CONFLICTS WITH OUR PROMISED AUTONOMY.
OUR TEACHERS ARE EXPERIENCING UNDUE STRESS AND FEAR RETALIATION IF THEY DEVIATE FROM THESE MANDATES.
PREVIOUSLY, OUR SCHOOL MAINTAINED AN A RATING WHILE TEACHING AUTONOMOUSLY WITH A FLEXIBLE IP PROGRAM.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO IDENTIFY WHAT CHANGED LAST YEAR THAT LOWERED OUR SCORE RATHER THAN OVERHAULING OUR TEACHING METHODS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE IP PROGRAM EFFECTIVELY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER BLESSINGTON. YES, MA'AM.
>> JENNIFER BLESSINGTON, FORMER HISD TEACHER.
RECENT HEADLINES SUGGEST HALF OF HISD TEACHERS WHO LEFT WERE LOW PERFORMING, BUT WHAT THE STORIES DON'T MAKE CLEAR IS THAT MANY OUTSTANDING TEACHERS WHO WERE PUSHED OUT, REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH POORLY WRITTEN SPOT FORMS RESULTING IN LOW SCORES.
MY OWN SCORES WERE HIGH, MOSTLY BECAUSE OUT OF FEAR.
I PRESSURED MY OWN SWEET STUDENTS.
BUT TO PERFORM A HIGHLY SCRIPTED ROUTINE WHENEVER I WAS OBSERVED, AND I STILL FEEL ENORMOUS GUILT OVER THIS.
BOARD OF MANAGERS, I GET THE DESIRE TO CLING TO A NARRATIVE THAT ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN WORTH IT, AND THAT YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
BUT THE TRUTH IS YOU HAVE BEEN SOLD A STORY FULL OF MANIPULATED DATA AND LIES. USE LOGIC.
IF THIS WERE WORKING, ENROLLMENT WOULD NOT BE PLUMMETING AND OUTSTANDING CERTIFIED TEACHERS LIKE ME WOULD NOT HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.
I DON'T DOUBT THAT A FEW OF YOU UP THERE IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS KNOWS THE TRUTH, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE.
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING.
YOU CAN JOIN US IN THIS FIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIAM LOPEZ.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOANNE BEST.
[02:25:04]
MS. BEST. DR. LACHMAN RUTH, PLEASE.>> YOU'RE WELCOME. [LAUGHTER] YES, MA'AM. ARE YOU MS. BEST?
AS A PROUD HARVARD PARENT OF AN AMAZING FIFTH GRADER.
I AM HERE ALONGSIDE THE HARVARD COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF DR. CEE.
BEST ON LES MARTINEZ'S E MAIL THIS EVENING, IT APPEARS HER CAREER AND REPUTATION ARE BEING DAMAGED BECAUSE OUR RATING WENT FROM AN A TO A B BASED IN LARGE PART TO THE JANUARY 2024 MATH SCORES.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THERE WAS NO HEAT AT SCHOOL THAT DAY, AND ONLY ONE FUNCTIONING BATHROOM FOR OVER 600 STUDENTS? TESTING WAS NOT RESCHEDULED, AND THOSE STUDENTS THAT SHOWED UP WERE TOLD TO PUT ON THEIR COATS AND GLOVES AND TEST.
WHO COULD PERFORM AN A LEVEL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS? THIS IS NOT ON DR. CEE, THIS IS ON YOU.
WE ARE NOT FOOLED BY YOUR GAS LIGHTING, AND WE WILL NOT LET UP.
WE WILL VOTE. NO TRUST, NO BONDS.
>>OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE ESTERS.
IF SPEAKERS 25 THROUGH 35 WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THERE'S SOME RESERVE SPACES IN THE FRONT HERE.
>> HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATHERINE ESTERS, AND I AM THE PARENT OF TWO HISD STUDENTS.
THIS IS MY THIRD TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF YOU.
FOR TONIGHT, I'M DIRECTING MY COMMENTS TO MR. CAMBO.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF YOUR INFLUENCE IN HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE IN A RECENT BOARD MEETING WHERE YOU LIKENED HISDS CHANGES AND THE RESISTANCE TO THE CHANGES TO ADULT POLITICS.
THIS REALLY DISMISSES THE FRUSTRATIONS OF PARENTS LIKE ME.
AS A COMMERCIAL LEADER IN INDUSTRY, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
HISD IS NOT MEETING THESE STANDARDS, AND IT'S INTRUSIVE CHANGES TO MY CHILDREN'S INQUIRY BASED EDUCATION ARE OFFENSIVE.
I'D RATHER ADDRESS MY CONCERNS WITH TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FROZEN COMMUNICATION, FORCING ME TO SPEAK HERE.
WHAT MR. MILES PROMISES IS NOT OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE HANSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY WIFE AND I ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN THAT HISD IS GAS LIGHTING HARVARD PARENTS BY TELLING US THAT BECAUSE WE ARE HIGH PERFORMING LEVEL 3 AUTONOMOUS IB WORLD SCHOOL, NES MEASURES ARE NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED AT HARVARD.
SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR, HISD STAFF HAVE BEEN AT HARVARD CLASSROOMS, CRITIQUING TEACHERS, FORCING THEM TO SET TIMERS FOR THEIR INSTRUCTION, CHANGING THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULES AND REQUIRING THEM TO IMPLEMENT DOLS.
ALL OF WHICH ARE NOT PART OF IB FRAMEWORK.
HISD CENTRAL DIVISION STAFF TELLS US THESE THINGS AREN'T OCCURRING, BUT WE KNOW AND WE ARE HEARING FIRSTHAND THAT THEY ARE.
WIFE AND I ARE ALSO HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG ADMIRATION FOR DR. CALBRES, HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
IN THE FACE OF ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT SHE EXPERIENCES HERE, MANAGING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN HOUSTON WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AC AND THE BOMBARDMENT OF HISD IMPOSING THEIR UNINVITED CHANGES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILDREN AND CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS RICH IN COMMUNITY, LEARNING, INQUISITIVENESS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I WILL NOTE THAT MISS GARZA LINER HAS JOINED US.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ASHLEY NAUD OR NUDE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ASHLEY NAUD.
I AM THE MOTHER TO THREE BOYS, TWO OF WHICH ARE ENROLLED AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WITH 21 YEARS PLUS EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE, WHO IS CHOOSING TO LEAVE THEIR NES SCHOOL FOR A PRIVATE ONE.
I KEEP GETTING LOW SCORES ON SPOTS OBSERVATIONS AND WAS TOLD THIS DISQUALIFIED ME FROM WORKING HERE NEXT YEAR.
SCORES WERE LOW BECAUSE THE RUBRIC IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
OUR CURRICULUM AND ROOM ARRANGEMENTS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
I CONTACTED MY OLD DISTRICT AND I'M GOING TO BE RETURNING TO THEM IN THE COMING YEAR.
SHORTLY AFTER SIGNING, I WAS WEIRDLY OFFERED A CONTRACT FOR MY HISD CAMPUS NEXT YEAR.
THEY SPENT AN ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR MAKING ME FEEL BAD ABOUT MYSELF,
[02:30:01]
TELLING ME HOW AWFUL A TEACHER I WAS, AND TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB.THEN AFTER THE FACT, THEY ASKED ME TO STAY.
OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND PRINCIPALS DESERVE BETTER.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTEN BLOOMQUIST.
MY NAME IS KRISTEN BLOOMQUIST.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THESE BIG CHANGES IN THE DISTRICT, AND I TRULY WANT OUR DISTRICT TO SUCCEED.
I ALSO DESPERATELY HOPE OUR PRINCIPAL CAN COME BACK TO WORK.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED HERE AND IT'S STAFF PERFORMANCE GRADING METRICS.
WE'VE HAD OBSERVERS COME INTO GRADE STAFF BASED ON THE NEW EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHICH HARVARD INHERENTLY IS NOT, AND RECEIVE LOW SCORES AND ARE REPRIMANDED FOR UPHOLDING THE IB CURRICULUM.
WE ARE NOT NES, WE ARE IB, AND IT'S CREATING CONFUSION FOR EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN AND CREATES FEAR BASED CHANGES TO LEARNING IN OUR HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
AS A SUPPORTER OF HIST AND ALSO YOUR LEADERSHIP, I HUMBLY ASK, PLEASE DO NOT GRADE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF LIKE WE'RE NES AND PUNISH THEM AND FORCE THEM TO MAKE CHANGES TO APPEASE THE NES GRADING SYSTEM.
IT'S TRULY AN INJUSTICE TO OUR CHILDREN STAFF AND THE CULTURE.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY STICKLE. YES, MA'AM.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS EMILY STICKLE.
I'M APPARENT TO TWO AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
I WANT TO SAY I RESPECT EVERYBODY AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, MYSELF, HOLDING THAT AS A MASTER'S DEGREE.
HOWEVER, I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR ELECTION WAS OVERTURNED SO WE COULD IMPLEMENT A BOARD OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE.
TODAY, WE ARE STANDING TOGETHER, ASKING FOR YOU TO HEAR US AND HEAR OUR COMMUNITY AND FIND A WAY TO ENACT WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.
EVERYONE COMES UP HERE SPEAKING TO THE BOND BECAUSE 151 PRINCIPLES ACROSS 130 CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, MINE INCLUDED, AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE OTHER THAN US STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU ASKING TO BE HEARD.
THAT IS WHY EVERYONE TODAY IS ENDING THEIR STATEMENT WITH NO TRUST, NO BONDS. [APPLAUSE].
>> [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LESLIE SANTA MARIA.
>> LESLIE SANTA MARIA, THIRD GENERATION HISD GRADUATE RAISING THE FOURTH.
ONE OF MY FONDEST HISD MEMORIES WAS BEING TEAM CAPTAIN OF THE ROBERTS ELEMENTARY NAME THAT BOOK TEAM AND TAKING HOME THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1988.
THROUGH NAME THAT BOOK AND WEEKLY LIBRARY VISITS, OUR WONDERFUL LIBRARIAN, NUMEROUS TEACHERS LED ME TO A LOVE OF READING I MAINTAINED TODAY.
THIS LOVE OF BOOKS FOSTERED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS WHY IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO SO MANY OF US THAT ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PURGES OF BOOKS FROM SCHOOLS AND CURRICULA IS HAPPENING HERE IN HOUSTON.
I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN MY CHILD, 6TH GRADE ADVANCED ENGLISH TEACHER AT OUR NON-NES LEVEL 3 AUTONOMY SCHOOL SAID AT OPEN HOUSE, IF WE'RE LUCKY, WE'LL GET APPROVAL TO READ A NOVEL THIS YEAR.
RAG AN AGE APPROPRIATE CULTURE RELEVANT NOVEL SHOULD NOT ASKED TO GROWTH.
IT SHOULD NOT BE UP TO LUCK OR AN IP CLASSIFICATION IF YOU GET THE SKILLS TO READ ONE AT SCHOOL.
THIS DISREGARD FOR BOOKS IS WHY I DO NOT TRUST THIS APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD TO MAKE INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS AND IF THEY GET A LIBRARY ACCESS OR NOT.
I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO GO TO A SCHOOL WITHOUT A LIBRARY [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB MARGOLIN. YES, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM HERE AS A FATHER OF AN HISD STUDENT TO SAY THAT OUR FAMILY WILL OBVIOUSLY VOTE NO ON A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BOND UNTIL WE HAVE AN ELECTED AND ACCOUNTABLE SCHOOL BOARD.
ASIDE FROM BEING A PRINCIPAL DECISION, ROOTED AND LOVING DEMOCRACY, IT IS BASIC FINANCE 101.
YOU DON'T GIVE MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNACCOUNTABLE UNLESS YOU WANT THAT MONEY TO BE SQUANDERED.
THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WE SEE YOU MANIPULATING THE SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM SO THAT NES SCHOOLS FORCED INTO A CURRICULUM THAT RESEMBLES DAILY TEST PREP, APPEAR TO EXCEL WHILE ALL OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE FORBIDDEN FROM PREPARING THEIR STUDENTS FOR TESTS.
WE SEE YOU DISAPPEARING PRINCIPALS THAT DEFEND THEIR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, AND RECORD.
WE SEE YOU LEVERAGING MONEY TO REWARD THOSE WHO KOWTOW TO YOUR AGENDA AND PUNISH THOSE WHO DON'T.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR VISION HAS PERSUADED THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON OVER THE LAST YEAR, PLEASE RUN FOR THESE OFFICES IN AN OPEN ELECTION.
AND UNTIL YOU WIN YOUR POSITIONS, THROUGH OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THERE IS NO TRUST,
[02:35:01]
AND THERE WILL BE NO [INAUDIBLE].>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA WILLIAMS ESTEP.
>> WE'RE HAVING FUN HERE, WE CAN TELL.
>> OH, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MARIA LOPEZ.
I DID CALL YOU. YES, MA'AM. COME ON UP.
>> [FOREIGN] HELLO. MY NAME IS MARIA LOPEZ.
AND I'M A MOTHER OF TWO KIDS ATTENDING AN HISD SCHOOL [INAUDIBLE].
I'M READING THIS STATEMENT BY CERTIFIED HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER WITH A MASTER DEGREE AND 20 YEARS AND MORE EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE HISD AND SET A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
HISD HAS MADE IT BOTH A DIFFICULT AND CERTAIN JOB, WHICH IS TOO MUCH.
IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY SALARY WILL BE IN 2025-26, AND THE METRIC WHICH BY A MEASURE KEEP CHANGING AND AREN'T CREATED BY EDUCATORS THAT WHO BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH.
[FOREIGN] NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK AMANDA ESTEP IS HERE.
SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. PAMELA BOVELAND.
>> DR. PAMELA BOVELAND, I AM HERE TOO AS A NAYSAYER, LOUD FEW, ALL THE OTHER NAMES THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED.
I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED BILINGUAL TEACHER WITH FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY RECEIVED A NON-RENEWAL FROM THEIR NON-NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I SHOWED GROWTH, TOOK AND APPLIED ADVICE IN MY CLASSROOM WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
I HAD A BABY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT FORCED ME TO TAKE SIX WEEKS OFF AND USE MY DAYS. SHE'S GONE.
A SECOND TEACHER. I'M READING A STATEMENT FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WHO IS ENROLLED IN A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
THEY ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT AFTER RECEIVING ANOTHER NON-RENEWAL.
IT IS TERRIBLE FOR A FIRST YEAR TEACHER.
HISD PROVIDED NO SUPPORT, NO GUIDANCE, AND NO MENTORSHIP OF ANY KIND.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ISHA ARCHER. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. IF IRTS ARE CONSISTENTLY FINDING THAT HISD TEACHERS ARE NOT ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY PLAN THEIR LESSONS OR TEACH THE TEKS USING BOOKS, THE SOLUTION CANNOT BE TO REMOVE BOOKS FROM THE CLASSROOM.
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS SHOULD INSTEAD BE ASKING QUESTIONS.
FIRST, QUESTION WHETHER THE IRTS ARE TRAINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER TEACHERS ARE USING BOOKS EFFECTIVELY.
SECOND, ASK IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY INSTANCES WHERE AN IRT HAS EVER GIVEN A HIGH SCORE TO A CLASSROOM WHERE BOOKS WERE USED AS THE BASIS FOR TEACHING THE TEKS.
THIRD, PUSH THE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS TO SOURCE BEST IN CLASS CURRICULUM AND TRAINING RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF OUR EDUCATORS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY USE BOOKS TO MEET OR EXCEED THE TEKS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NO INPUT HE WILL LISTEN TO ON INSTRUCTIONAL VALUE OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF AND HIS TEAM.
SO WE NEED THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO BE OUR VOICE ON THE ISSUE OF BOOKS IN THE CLASSROOM.
PLEASE CHALLENGE THE IRT SCORES WHEN BOOKS ARE USED IN THE CLASSROOM AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN OUR CAPABILITIES IN THIS AREA, NOT WEAKEN THEM. [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA YARBOROUGH.
>> HI. I'LL BE READING MY OWN EXIT INTERVIEW THAT YOU NEVER ASKED FOR.
IT WAS THE WORST YEAR IN MY EIGHT YEARS OF TEACHING IN THREE STATES.
I GOT INTO TEACHING TO HELP STUDENTS AND TO DO MY BEST.
I'M A HARD WORKER, BUT HISD WOULDN'T LET ME DO THAT.
I HAVE A MASTER'S IN EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, AND I WAS ASHAMED OF THE CURRICULUM THAT I WAS TOLD TO USE.
IT'S JUST COVERING TEAKS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON, EACH DAY DISCONNECTED.
YOU'RE SMILING, AND IT'S LIKE, YOU NEVER STUDIED EDUCATION. WHAT DO YOU KNOW? [APPLAUSE] A TEACHER WHO KNOWS BETTER IS FORBIDDEN FROM DOING BETTER.
ADMIN SAW LESSONS THAT I MADE IN THE FALL, AND THEY WERE SMILING AND NODDING, AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER, THEY COME AROUND AND SAY, WELL,
[02:40:01]
THE ED SAYS YOU HAVE TO USE THE DISTRICT CURRICULUM ONLY.THOSE LESSONS FOLLOW THE SAME FORMAT.
THEY DON'T TRY TO GET STUDENT BY IN. IT'S ROBOTIC.
YOU CAN'T THINK OR ASK QUESTIONS, AND THERE'S [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS NOT EDUCATION [OVERLAPPING]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY RILEY.
I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHERS WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE WITH FIVE PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THEIR NES HIGH SCHOOL TO TAKE A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
IT WAS THE MOST MISERABLE YEAR OF MY TEACHING CAREER.
MIKE MILES HAS CRUSHED MY SPIRIT.
TO THE POINT THAT I NEED TO LEAVE TO KEEP BEING ABLE TO DO THIS JOB THAT I LOVE IN A WAY THAT ALIGNS WITH MY VALUES.
DO PEOPLE AT YOUR BUSINESS FEEL THAT WAY? I DON'T THINK SO, YOURS, EITHER.
SPECIAL EDUCATION IS SUFFERING AN HISD IN THIS HIRING FREEZE.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, YOUR GOVERNANCE, RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HOUSTON, TO GET US OUT OF THIS MESS IS TO PAY ATTENTION.
PLEASE, IN YOUR CLOSED SESSION, TALK ABOUT THE HIRING FREEZE AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS.
WHY AM I AS A PROFESSIONAL HAVING TO GO ON MY CAMPUS AND HELP IN CLASSROOMS WITH NO [INAUDIBLE].
>> UP NEXT IS GUSTAVO VILLALPANDO.
GUSTAVO, ARE YOU HERE? THERE YOU GO. [APPLAUSE]
>> IN CASE IT'S NOT OBVIOUS TO YOU, WE AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY ARE LIVID THAT OUR IB CLASSIFICATION AND OUR PRINCIPAL ARE UNDER ATTACK.
THESE ATTACKS, IT'S NO SECRET, THEY COME FROM OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT, MILES, AND OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR ALSO KNOWN AS MILES AWAY.
BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS A CONVOCATION OF HARVARD EAGLES.
THESE EAGLES ARE PARENTS, OR STAY AT HOME MOTHERS AND FATHERS, THEIR DOCTORS, THEIR LAWYERS, OR EVEN ASTRONAUTS.
YOU MIGHT SEE WHY THIS ODD NOTION THAT MILES AND MILES AWAY, KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN IS SIMPLY DEAD WRONG.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT IDLY BY AS OUR SCHOOL IS ATTACKED, AND OUR PRINCIPAL IS ATTACKED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. NO TRUST, NO BOND IN SPANISH.
>> ESTHER MARIBE. THERE YOU GO, ESTHER.
>> TODAY IS WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, AND I HAVE A QUESTION.
HOW CAN YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT, KNOWING THAT YOUR POLICIES ARE HARMING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF? YOUR ACTIONS ARE DRIVING AWAY DEDICATED PRINCIPALS, EDUCATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF, CAUSING CHAOS WHERE THERE WAS ONE STABILITY.
THE PUSH FOR WHOLE SCALE SYSTEMIC REFORM IS DAMAGING SCHOOLS THAT WERE NEVER BROKEN.
FURTHERMORE, REMOVING LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS IS DETRIMENTAL TO STUDENTS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING.
LITERATURE FOSTERS EMPATHY AND HELPS KIDS UNDERSTAND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
REMOVING AUTHENTIC FULL TEXTS UNDERMINES THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME ENGAGED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
THE LIES AND FALSE NARRATIVES SURROUNDING THESE CHANGES ERODE MORALE AND CONFIDENCE OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, IGNORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SO MANY.
THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND IS A BETRAYAL OF TRUST.
BOARD OF MANAGERS, WHEN WILL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE POLICIES ARE HARMFUL? HOW MANY FUTURES ARE YOU WILLING TO JEOPARDIZE?
>> IF YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE OUR CHILDREN'S WELL BEING, WE CAN'T TRUST YOU TO MANAGE A $4.4 MILLION BOND.
[02:45:04]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE]
>> UP NEXT IS NORELYS RODRIGUEZ. THERE YOU GO.
>> MY NAME IS NORELYS RODRIGUEZ, AND I AM A PARENT IN HISD.
I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND MORE THAN 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
"THE HIGH SCHOOL DID ITS BEST TO PROTECT STAFF AND STUDENTS.
I'M CARRYING SUCH GRIEF LIVING, BUT MY CHRONIC ILLNESS WOULD ONLY PUT ME BACK IN A PERILOUS POSITION NEXT YEAR WITH FMLA BEING DENIED.
AGAIN, AN ACCOMMODATION IS NOT FULLY GIVEN.
I'M GOING TO A STATE THAT GIVES BETTER INSURANCE FOR LESS MONEY AND A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN FOR TEACHERS.
I FELT LIKE MY SCHOOL WAS MY HOME." THE DISTRICT IS LOSING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AT A RATE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THIS YEAR, ONLY, HISD HAS SEEN A 5% DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT, MAINLY DRIVEN BY THE 7% DECREASE ENROLLMENT AT NES SCHOOLS.
IF IT'S SO GOOD, WHY ARE CHILDREN LIVING? [INAUDIBLE].
>> NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> I AM BRANDY MCDANIEL. I AM HERE NOT AS A PAID ADVOCATE, BUT AS A PARENT WHO HAS PAID INTO THIS DISTRICT WITH MY TIME AND MONEY FOR 13 YEARS.
I'M CHOOSING TO READ A STATEMENT BY A TEACHER TONIGHT BECAUSE I TRUST TEACHERS.
THIS WAS A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 1-2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT AND SEEK A JOB ELSEWHERE.
"I WAS TRAUMATIZED BY MY APPRAISER AND PRINCIPAL UNDER THE NESA MODEL.
I FELT TENSION IN THE AIR THE ENTIRE YEAR, AND NO ONE SEEMED HAPPY EXCEPT FOR TWO 20-YEAR-OLD TEACHERS WHO WERE JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SUCH A HIGH PAYING JOB." I STOOD AT THIS LECTERN IN MAY AND ASKED HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT WAS SPENDING TO REPLACE HIGHLY QUALIFIED CERTIFIED TEACHERS WITH ON THE SPOT HIRES? STORIES THIS WEEK ABOUT TEACHERS ARRESTED WITH STOLEN GUNS AND LONG-TERM SUBS PROSELYTIZING IN THE CLASSROOM ARE MAKING IT CLEAR.
>> IF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE 41-50 COME UP IN THE FRONT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
NEXT UP IS KATHERINE BUCHANAN.
>> MY NAME IS KATHERINE BUCHANAN.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 16 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THIS DISTRICT FOR A JOB IN ANOTHER SECTOR.
MILES' IS CONTEMPT FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY FINE ARTS TEACHERS WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR KIDS.
THE DIAD PROGRAM IS A VERY POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR ARTS INSTRUCTION BY TRAINED CERTIFIED EDUCATORS.
THOUGH PART OF ME WANTS TO STAY AND CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST FOR THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT, I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY OWN MENTAL HEALTH.
THE POINTLESS, DEGRADING SPOT CHECKS AND THE TYPES OF COMPLIANCE THEY MEASURE ARE NOT HOW I WANT TO SPEND MY WORKING DAYS.
MOST OF MILES' REQUIREMENTS DO NOTHING TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE TEACHING AND LEARNING.
FOR ME, AND SO MUCH OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
NO TRUST NO BOND. [APPLAUSE] [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA LUZURIAGA.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNA LUZURIAGA. I'M A PARENT.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN EDUCATIONAL LESSON BECAUSE I FEEL THAT MAYBE IT SEEMS THAT YOU'VE LOST YOUR WAY ETHICALLY AND MORALLY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER SOME DEFINITIONS.
CORRUPTION; DISHONEST OR FRAUDULENT CONDUCT BY THOSE IN POWER, TYPICALLY INVOLVING BRIBERY.
COLLUSION; SECRET OR ILLEGAL COOPERATION OR CONSPIRACY, ESPECIALLY IN ORDER TO CHEAT OR DECEIVE OTHERS.
COMPLACENCY; A FEELING OF SMUG OR DO YOU NEED IT RIGHT HERE?
[02:50:07]
SMUG OR UNCRITICAL SATISFACTION WITH ONESELF OR ONE'S ACHIEVEMENT.I THINK MAYBE HE WAS TAKING A PHOTO OF HIMSELF.
THEN THE LAST ONE IS LEGACY, THAT'S A LONG LASTING IMPACT OF PARTICULAR EVENTS AND ACTIONS.
>> [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNICA ROYSTON.
>> IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT TODAY MARKS THE START OF OCTOBER BEING BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.
THAT SEGUES INTO THE ISSUE THAT I'M ADDRESSING WHICH IS AGENDA NUMBER 18, THE APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH A NEW BOARD POLICY ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE.
SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY BULLIED AND HARASSED IN HER KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.
NEARLY DAILY, SHE WAS BEING PUNCHED, KICKED, PUSHED, STUMPED, AND PUNCHED BY TWO OF HER MALE CLASSMATES.
I COMMUNICATED CLEARLY WITH HER TEACHER ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ABUSE THAT MY DAUGHTER DESCRIBED IN SOLUTIONS TO HELP.
DESPITE MY EFFORTS, EVERY WEEK BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, LEADING UP TO THE THIRD WEEK OF SCHOOL WHEN SHE CAME HOME WITH BRUISES ON HER HEAD.
THERE WERE NO INCIDENT REPORTS EVER DOCUMENTED BY THE TEACHER OR THE NURSE.
THE TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL ALL SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME OR THEM TO SPEAK TO THE BULLIES PARENTS BECAUSE IT COULD BE CONFRONTATIONAL.
THEY TOLD ME THE BULLIES CANNOT BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CLASS BECAUSE IT MIGHT UPSET THE PARENTS.
I HOPE AGENDA 18 HELPS BRING A PROCEDURE FOR TEACHERS TO ADDRESS BULLIES AND THEIR PARENTS PROPERLY.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANITA WADWA.
YES, MA'AM. SIR, IT'S YOUR FIRST WARNING.
>> IT'S VERY INCONVENIENT TO ASK 168 PEOPLE TO WAIT UNTIL 8:00 PM TO SPEAK SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND THE NEXT MEETING.
PLEASE DON'T LET US KNOW THE DAY OF, IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
WE HAVE MADE PLANS TO BE HERE, IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
''I WAS AT A NON NES SCHOOL USING A LOT OF NES METHODS.
I WAS ASSIGNED ALL THE INCLUSION CLASSES FOR NINTH GRADE.
ENGLISH COMPRISED OF SPECIAL ED STUDENTS, MOSTLY EMERGENT BILINGUAL, AND FIVE GENERAL EDUCATION THAT WERE NOT EMERGENT BILINGUAL.
I FEEL THE STRICT TIMING OF THE LESSON CYCLE WAS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR LEARNING THIS TYPE OF CLASS.
MY TEAM WAS USING THE DISTRICT LESSON PLANS, WHICH WERE FULL OF MISTAKES AND VERY BORING.'' THAT'S THE END OF THE QUOTE. I WANT TO SAY TO EVERYONE WHO IS MAKING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN NES AND NON NES, ALL OF HISD IS NES AND YOU NEED TO BEHAVE THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TISHA MAYS.
MISS MAYS. MISS WADWA, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
IS ALLISON CHAPIN HERE? YES, MA'AM. IF SPEAKERS 47 THROUGH 57 WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THAT'D BE GREAT.
THANK YOU. MISS CHAPIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ALLISON CHAPIN.
I WAS GOING TO READ EXIT INTERVIEW FROM ANOTHER TEACHER, BUT INSTEAD, I'M GOING TO READ THE WORDS OF THE WOMAN WHO PUT TOGETHER THE DATA ON THE EXIT INTERVIEWS THAT COULDN'T BE DONE BY HISD.
YOU ASKED FOR EXIT INTERVIEWS, AND TONIGHT, YOU ARE GETTING THEM.
SINCE MAY, WE HAVE COLLECTED 193 SURVEYS FROM STAFF LEAVING THE DISTRICT.
THEY REPRESENT 100 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AS WELL AS A CENTRAL OFFICE.
YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING EXCERPTS FROM THESE SURVEYS, THANKS TO THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT.
THIS QUALITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA SHINES A LIGHT ON A CRITICAL PROBLEM AND CHALLENGES FALSE NARRATIVES PERPETUATED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION. ABOUT WHO?
[02:55:06]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SOMATI PAKI.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SOMATI PAKI.
I AM A PARENT OF AN HISD STUDENT.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED PHYSICAL SCIENCES TEACHER WITH 11 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT HISD AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THEIR WORDS, MY CLASSES WERE MINIMALLY AFFECTED, BUT ONE OF THE TEACHERS OF MY SUBJECT WAS FIRED AS A DEMONSTRATION FOR THE OTHER TEACHERS THAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OUT.
THAT'S THEIR STATEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARRY ROSA. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM THE PARENT OF ONE CURRENT HARVARD STUDENT AND TWO HARVARD GRADUATES.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING AND SPEAKING AT A BOARD MEETING.
IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE, YOU WOKE OUR COMMUNITY UP.
AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR BELOVED DR. C BEING PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, I EMAILED ALL OF YOU ABOUT MY OUTRAGE.
ONLY YOU, MR. MARTINEZ, MANAGED TO WRITE ME BACK.
THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME EMAILING THE BOARD.
WHEN WE WERE REPRESENTED BY ELECTED MEMBERS, THEY RESPONDED TO ME.
THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU ALL NEED TO DO BETTER.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ENGLISH TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE.
WORKING FOR MIKE MILES AND HISD DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST HUMILIATING, ENRAGING AND HEARTBREAKING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.
I AM THRILLED TO BE OUT OF HI.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA COMPASS.
>> ARE YOU PLANNING TO SPEAK IN SPANISH?
>> [SPANISH] I GOT IT. THANK YOU.
[OVERLAPPING] WHY DO I NEED HER TO TRANSLATE.
>> NO, YOU DON'T [OVERLAPPING] SHE WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANT A TRANSLATOR OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRANSLATE FOR YOURSELF.
>> YOU THAT I ALWAYS TRANSLATE MYSELF.
I WILL TRANSLATE MYSELF. [OVERLAPPING] PLEASE START MY TIME OVER.
>> I NEED TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO TRANSLATE FOR YOURSELF.
THANK YOU FOR TELLING US. YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
>> HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN COMING HERE? IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN COMING HERE EVERY FREAKING MONTH.
>> [SPANISH] MY NAME IS JESSICA COMPASS AND MY CHILDREN GO TO NON NES SCHOOLS AND NES SCHOOLS.
[SPANISH] LAST WEEK, SOPHIE HAD AN ANXIETY ATTACK.
SHE CRIED HYSTERICALLY AS SHE HAD TO SORT THROUGH 20-30 PACKETS OF INCOMPLETE AND BLANK WORK.
WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT THE PACKETS WERE FOR, SHE YELLED OUT.
I DON'T KNOW, MUM, I JUST KNOW THAT I NEED THAT BECAUSE THE TEACHER SAID SO.
SOPHIE HAS DYSLEXIA, AND CHUNKING IS ONE OF HER ACCOMMODATIONS.
BUT EACH PACKET HAD 10-12 PAGES.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE? [SPANISH] I HAVE LETTERS [SPANISH] SOPHIE.
I HAVE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM SOPHIE'S PSYCHOLOGIST, HER PEDIATRIC, AND HER CHILD SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS FOR SOPHIE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO REMOVE SOPHIE FROM THE NES PROGRAM.
I AM BEING TOLD THAT I CAN ONLY MOVE MY CHILD TO ANOTHER NES SCHOOL, WHICH I AM ZONED TO. WHAT CAN I DO? DO I NEED LIE, CHEAT,
[03:00:01]
AND STEAL TO BE ABLE TO GET MY KID OUT OF THIS PROGRAM? I GUESS YOU GUYS WOULD UNDERSTAND ME IF I DID, RIGHT? [APPLAUSE]>> THANK YOU MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLEN WALTER.
>> FIRST, I'M GOING TO READ MY DAUGHTER'S SPEECH BECAUSE I FORGOT TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS CONFIRMED.
I'VE ONLY SPOKEN AT ONE BOARD MEETING, BUT OUR SCHOOLS CANNOT LISTEN TO MIKE.
FOCUS WHAT WE NEED, NOT WHAT HE WANTS.
WE NEED LIBRARIES, WE NEED JANITORS.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR PRINCIPALS SO SAY IT WITH ME.
THAT'S FROM ROSE WALTER, SECOND GRADE.
SECOND, I NOTICED A BOND ASSIGNED AT OUR SCHOOL.
IT WAS WEIRD SINCE IT LISTED WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING- ISH.
YET OUR PRINCIPAL STATED NOBODY HAD ASKED WHAT WE NEEDED.
WE WOULD PREFER NEW T BUILDINGS AND CLOSED DOORS, NOT $3 MILLION IN SECURITY.
YET AGAIN, MILE SHOWS WHAT HE OR MILE DOES WHAT HE WANTS, NO MATTER WHAT.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PEKERI BENMA.
>> HELLO, HARVARD PARENT HERE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR DR. SHELBY CAL BRISI, IN HER REINSTATEMENT AS PRINCIPAL OF HARVARD ELEMENTARY.
HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN REMARKABLE AND HER ACHIEVEMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
HARVARD RANKS IN THE TOP 10% OF TEXAS SCHOOLS, BOASTING AN IMPRESSIVE 67% MATH AND 80% READING PROFICIENCY SCORES.
THESE SCORES REFLECT THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF DR. C AND THE TEACHERS.
IN CONTRAST, MANY SCHOOLS WITHIN HID STRUGGLE WITH AVERAGE TEST SCORES SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THOSE ACHIEVED AT HARVARD.
HISD AVERAGES 38% MATH PROFICIENCY SCORE AND 49% FOR READING.
THIS EMPHASIZES JUST HOW EXTRAORDINARY THE IV PROGRAM, THE TEACHERS AT HARVARD AND DR. C ARE.
IMPORTANTLY, DR. C IS COMMITTED TO FIXING THE HVAC ISSUES IN OUR SCHOOL.
HER PROACTIVE APPROACH SHOWS HER DEDICATION TO ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.
MA'AM, THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE HURLEY.
IF SPEAKERS 53-63, DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD.
THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. MISS HURLEY. YES, MA'AM.
>> HI. FIRST, I AM NOT A PAID ADVOCATE.
F. MIKE MILES AND THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
YOU'VE HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER PERSON.
YOU INSPIRED ME TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR, SO I COULD REGISTER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO VOTE SO THEY COULD VOTE NO TO THE BOND.
YOU'VE HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER PTO BOARD MEMBER, INSPIRING ME TO HELP CREATE AN ENTIRE ADVOCACY SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE TO HELP INFORM OTHER PARENTS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF HISD AT YOUR HANDS.
YOU'VE HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER MOM.
MY 6-YEAR-OLD ATTENDED HIS FIRST PROTEST TO PROTEST AGAINST THE TAKEOVER.
MY 8-YEAR-OLD SPOKE HER TRUTH TO YOU AT A BOARD MEETING, WHICH YOU IGNORED AND DISMISSED.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING SUCH SHINING EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIANA VAN BORSAM. MISS VAN BORSAM.
NO. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH KRAVITZ.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M MARTH KRAVITZ, CO FOUNDER OF COMMUNITY VOICES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE ARE PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE POWER AND THE PROMISE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE ALWAYS SUPPORT PUBLIC ED BONDS UNTIL NOW.
HOW CAN WE TRUST HISD WITH A BOND SINCE THE TAKEOVER HALF OF THE LIBRARIES OF CLOTHES? KIDS CAN'T READ NOVELS IN SCHOOL, AND BUILDINGS ARE FALLING APART.
MILES, YOU GUTTED THE NUMBER OF HVAC TECHNICIANS.
WAS IT TO USE OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN AS HOTHOUSE PONDS TO GET THIS BOND PASSED? THIS IS THE WORST DESIGNED BOND IN HISD HISTORY, 4.4 BILLION, 9 BILLION WITH INTEREST,
[03:05:01]
BUT ONLY 35 SCHOOLS WITH MAJOR RENOVATIONS.SUSPENDING DISBELIEF, YOU HAVE ALLOCATED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SCHOOLS SLATED FOR CLOSURE.
THAT IS WHY MANY ARE OPPOSING THE BOND, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE HARRIS COUNTY GOP, LU LAC, AND AACP, THE CAUCUS, TMO, CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES, PARENT GROUP, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR KIDS.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> NO THIS TIME, NOT THIS BOND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENISE WILBORN.
>> OKAY. I AM DR. DENISE WILBORN.
I AM A READING SPECIALIST AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AN ACTIVE ONE.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE.
THEY RECEIVED A NON RENEWAL NOTICE FROM THEIR NON NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I HONESTLY DID NOT REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPOT SCORES.
MY MOY AND EOI CONFERENCES WERE GOOD.
I WAS NOT PUT ON A GROWTH PLAN, NOR WAS I WARNED HOW LOW SPOT SCORES WOULD LEAD TO TERMINATION.
MY SPOT SCORES IN JANUARY WERE LOW BECAUSE I DID NOT ALWAYS HAVE MY DOL AND LO UP.
I TEACH PRE-K, THEY CAN'T READ.
MY CIRCLE TEST SCORES, THE REQUIRED TEST SCORES FOR PRE-K WERE VERY GOOD.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIN DON TRAN.
>> HI. MINHDAN TRAN, CERTIFIED TEACHER, FREQUENT NAYSAYER.
TEACHERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED UNDERSTAND THEIR CONTENT AND PEDAGOGY.
WE KNOW WHEN DISTRICT-SUPPLIED MATERIALS ARE INACCURATE AND INCORRECT.
APPRAISAL SHOULD NOT REPRIMAND TEACHERS WHO MODIFY DISTRICT MATERIALS THAT ARE WRONG.
AT A PLC LAST WEEK, AN APPRAISER ASKED TEACHERS TO VOW WITH THEIR HANDS UP, "I PROMISE NOT TO CHANGE THE CURRICULUM, NOT EVEN A SINGLE COMMA." THIS FEALTY TO FAULTY CURRICULUM BY A PSYCHOTIC APPRAISER IS HARMING HISD STUDENTS.
STUDENTS AT TITLE 1 SCHOOLS USED TO GET FREE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER EVERY DAY.
DUE TO DISTRICT BUDGET CUTS, THEY NO LONGER GET DINNER.
STUDENTS WHO COME EARLY FOR BREAKFAST ARE FORCED BY ADMINISTRATORS TO DO STAR REVIEW PACKETS EVEN IF THEY ALREADY PASSED THE TEST.
FEWER STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL FOR BREAKFAST NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET YELLED AT BY AN AP FOR NOT DOING STANDARDIZED TEST PREP AT 6:30 AM.
WE CAN'T TRUST YOU TO TEACH OUR KIDS, WE CAN'T TRUST YOU TO LET OUR KIDS EAT, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T TRUST YOU WITH $4.4 BILLION. NO TRUST?
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG CARRIER.
MR. CARRIER? OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SEAN LEADER.
>> SEAN LEADER, LOVETT, PERSHING, BEL AIR ALUM.
EVERY SELF-RESPECTING HOUSTONIAN WOULD VOTE NO ON THIS HISD $4.4 BILLION BOND.
ANYONE THAT BELIEVES TAXATION DESERVES REPRESENTATION WILL VOTE NO ON THESE BONDS.
STANDING IN FRONT OF ME, THESE UNELECTED THUGS ARE LYING TO YOU.
THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE BOND THAT ALLOWS Y'ALL TO CHANGE WHERE THE MONEY GOES AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
THEY HAVE COME HERE TO BURDEN US WITH DEBT AND THEN SELL OFF OUR SCHOOLS TO THEIR BILLIONAIRES.
IN JUST ONE YEAR, THEY HAVE TRAFFICKED OVER $10 MILLION OUT OF THE STATE TO YOUR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN COLORADO AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
WE ARE ALREADY BEING SUED FOR YOUR CRIMES AND YOUR MISMANAGEMENT.
THIS IS OUR ONLY TIME TO HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD AND FOLLOWED.
THAT'S WHY I SAY VOTE NO ON THE HISD BONDS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANE NAGEL. YES, MA'AM.
>> SHANE NAGEL, WESTBRAE, MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT.
THE DELETION OF A SMALL ONE-HALF PAGE SECTION OF THE STIPEND MANUAL HAS HAD FAR REACHING RAMIFICATIONS THAT I DOUBT YOU REALIZED WOULD HAPPENED.
[03:10:03]
THE AD HOC SECTION OF THE STIPEND MANUAL USED TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO PAY TEACHERS WHO TAKE ON EXTRA DUTIES THAT ARE NOT ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE STIPEND LIST.COACHES OF SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS CAN NO LONGER BE PAID STIPENDS, SPECIFICALLY, NON-UIL SPORTS, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, WRESTLING, AND TENNIS.
THESE SPORTS ARE UIL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
MANY HISD MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN THESE SPORTS FOR DECADES.
OUR FEEDER SCHOOL, WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL CONSISTENTLY DEVELOPED STUDENT ATHLETES WHO ARE RANKED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
ATHLETES ARE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE VIA SCHOLARSHIPS.
OUR NEW PRINCIPAL HAS ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THE COACHES OF THESE SPORTS DO THESE JOBS FOR FREE WHILE THEIR COLLEAGUES ARE PAID FOR THE SAME JOBS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE'VE ALWAYS USED PARTICIPATION FEES TO PAY FOR MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS' NEEDS.
WHAT PARENTS CANNOT LEGALLY DO IS PAY THE COACHES, ONLY HISD CAN DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NIKOU MCCARRA.
>> TONIGHT, I'M REQUESTING HISD TO HONOR ITS DESIGNATION OF HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A LEVEL 3 AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING ONE, ITS PROGRAMMING, TWO, ITS CURRICULUM, AND THREE, ITS INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY MODEL.
AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, HISD IS ARBITRARILY AND CAPRICIOUSLY FORCING HARVARD TO IMPLEMENT A LEARNING PLAN AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA IN CONTRADICTION TO THE DISTRICT DEFINED AUTONOMY FRAMEWORK.
THIS HAS THE EFFECT OF INTENTIONALLY FORCING HARVARD INTO A LOWER LEVEL OF AUTONOMY FOR WHICH IT SQUARELY DOES NOT QUALIFY.
HISD'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ITS OWN GUIDELINES AMOUNTS TO AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION.
MOREOVER, HISD'S WATCHDOG APPROACH TO TEACHER EVALUATIONS AND LESSON PLANNING HAS FORCED TEACHERS TO FOLLOW MINUTE BY MINUTE PLANNING AND ALLOWS US NOT TO FOLLOW THE IB PROGRAMMING. THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOU TIME IS UP.
MA'AM, THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSI HEINER. MA'AM?
>> THANK YOU FOR IDENTIFYING THAT AFTER THE FACT.
>> GOOD EVENING. TODAY, MY SPEECH IS DIRECTED AT RICK.
THE REASON I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IS BECAUSE YOU CALLED US CONSPIRACY THEORISTS LAST MONTH.
MIKE MILES HAS BANNED ALL BOOKS FROM THE CURRICULUM IN 130 NES SCHOOLS.
MIKE MILES CLAIMED HE IS EXPANDING DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IN NES SCHOOLS, BUT IN REALITY, OUR DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATORS ARE HAVING TO TRANSLATE THE DISTRICT MANDATED POWERPOINT SLIDES.
OUR DUAL LANGUAGE NES CAMPUS DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ONE SINGLE BILINGUAL ADMINISTRATOR.
OUR NES CAMPUS HAS ROOMS WHERE BRAND NEW SMART BOARDS ARE PLACED IN FRONT OF THREE-YEAR-OLD SMART BOARDS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED DOZENS OF BRAND NEW KEYBOARDS AND SPIN BIKES EVEN THOUGH OUR MUSIC COLLECTIVE WAS REMOVED UNDER NES AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A SPIN DYAD CLASS.
NO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, NO BOND.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH TERRELL.
>> I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN I SAW THAT YOU'LL BE VOTING UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE MILES PICKS FOR THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
BUT THE NAMES OF THE CHOSEN ONES ARE SOMEHOW MISSING FROM THE AGENDA.
YOU ALL CAN'T BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT ANYTHING.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO BOARD MEETINGS SINCE 2016 SO I ACTUALLY AM A USUAL SUSPECT.
UNTIL YOU GUYS CAME, A BIG NIGHT WAS 20 OR 30 PEOPLE AND NO STUDENTS.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING MONTH AFTER MONTH IS JUST AN ASTONISHING LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT BY THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD 164 REGISTERED SPEAKERS TONIGHT AND THAT'S NOT EVEN UNUSUAL ANYMORE.
YET YOU STILL DISMISS US AS NAYSAYERS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WE'RE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS; I JUST FOUND THAT OUT.
I DO FEEL SAD FOR YOU GUYS. [INAUDIBLE]
[03:15:03]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENEDETTE NINAMANIEZE.
YES, MA'AM. IS THAT YOU? BENEDETTE NINAMANIEZE?
>> [FOREIGN]. TRY TO TRANSLATE.
>> I WANT YOU TO CALL TRANSLATOR.
>> OH. IF YOU NEEDED A DIFFERENT OTHER THAN SPANISH TRANSLATION, THE POLICY IS ACTUALLY THAT IT'S REQUESTED 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
YEAH, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT'S STANDING FOR MANY YEARS.
>> I'M SORRY, MA'AM. ARE YOU ASKING FOR A SPANISH TRANSLATOR?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE THAT TRANSLATION.
>> MA'AM, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU AND WE DON'T HAVE A TRANSLATOR FOR YOU TONIGHT.
THERE IS A POLICY. I THINK IT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] POLICY.
[OVERLAPPING] MA'AM, YOU HAVE A MINUTE. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
>> MA'AM, WE DON'T HAVE A TRANSLATOR FOR YOU.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK WITH MS. SMITH FOR A MOMENT PLEASE?
>> MA'AM, WE DO NOT HAVE A TRANSLATOR.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK FOR ONE MINUTE.
>> MA'AM, THE SECOND MINUTE IS FOR THE TRANSLATION AND WE DO NOT HAVE A TRANSLATOR TODAY FOR YOU SO GO AHEAD.
>> SHE CAN TRANSLATE FOR HERSELF.
>> ARE YOU TRANSLATING FOR YOURSELF?
>> [FOREIGN]. MY NAME IS BENEDETTE NINAMANIEZE.
I AM AN EX-HISD CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 29 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
I LEFT HISD WHEN YOU CAME IN MIKE MILES.
[FOREIGN] I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 21 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE HISD AND NON-HES HIGH SCHOOL.
[FOREIGN] HE HAD BEEN HOPEFUL.
"WHAT REALLY DROVE ME OUT OF HISD WAS THAT THE DISTRICT CULTURE BECAME TOXIC UNDER MIKE MILES.
HE LEADS BY FEAR AND THAT TRICKLES DOWN.
HIS SUBORDINATES ARE TERRIFIED OF LOSING THEIR JOBS SO THEY PUT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON CAMPUS LEADERS WHO THEN PUT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON TEACHERS.
MORALE WAS DOWN AND I GREW TIRED OF WORRYING ABOUT WHAT MILES HAD IN STORE FOR US NEXT." [FOREIGN].
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GEORGE FREY.
MR. FREY? OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA CASTRO.
MS. CASTRO? IF SPEAKERS 66-75 WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN HISD EMPLOYEE AND PARENT.
IMAGINE WALKING INTO A FIRST OR SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM FILLED WITH EAGER, BRIGHT-EYED CHILDREN, BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING; A PERMANENT TEACHER.
INSTEAD, THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE.
ONE WHO HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR WEEKS, MAYBE MONTHS BECAUSE A DISTRICT CAN'T HIRE A FULL-TIME TEACHER.
WHY? BECAUSE OF A HIRING FREEZE IMPOSED NOT FOR BUDGETARY REASONS,
[03:20:04]
BUT MOST LIKELY TO PUSH AN UNWANTED BOND PROPOSAL DURING ELECTION SEASON.THE SITUATION ISN'T JUST UNFORTUNATE, IT'S UNFAIR.
FIRST AND SECOND GRADER, CRUCIAL STAGE, WHERE STABILITY AND CONSTANT GUIDANCE SHAPE THEIR ACADEMIC FUTURE.
BUT INSTEAD, THEY ARE LEFT WITH UNCERTAINTY WHILE A POLITICAL AGENDA TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER THEIR EDUCATION.
THIS BOND IS NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS USING THESE STUDENTS' FUTURE AS LEVERAGE.
THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD OUR KIDS BE THE ONE PAYING THE PRICE? NO TRUST, NO BOND.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA LICHLYTER AND SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ELENA DICKINSON, KARINA QUESADA, LINDA MURRAY, AND PATRICE WRIGHT. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. LIKE THE VERY SMART MICHELLE WILLIAMS SAID EARLIER, "IF YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER." ALL Y'ALL KNOW BETTER. Y'ALL KNOW BETTER.
IF A CURRICULUM IS PRESENTED TO YOU THAT HAS NO BOOKS, SERIOUSLY Y'ALL EDUCATED.
Y'ALL ALL HAD NOVELS; NOVEL STUDIES, BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO BE EDUCATED WITHOUT BOOKS, WITHOUT CHARACTER STUDIES. COME ON.
WE NEED TO REMOVE THIS POOR MAN'S BETSY DEVOS, AND THIS SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
HISD DESERVES BETTER. DO BETTER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELENA DICKINSON. YES, MA'AM.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ELENA DICKINSON AND I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS ATTENDING A NON-NES SCHOOL.
WE ARE NEW TO HISD THIS YEAR AND I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE CHANGES ABOUT NES AND NON-NES SCHOOLS.
AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, I DUG AND DID RESEARCH ON THE NES CURRICULUM AND I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT THAT WAS NOT RESEARCH-BASED AND HEAVY WITH TEST PREP AND NOT CONDUCIVE TO A HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION FOR ANY CHILD.
LONG STORY SHORT, WE CHOSE AN IB AND STEM NON-NES SCHOOL; A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL, AND IT WAS LISTED AS HAVING AN AUTONOMY LEVEL THAT WOULD GUARANTEE MY CHILDREN WOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO A WATERED DOWN, TEST PREP, BORING CURRICULUM.
BUT FRANKLY, NO CHILD SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THAT.
WITH AN IB APPROACH, THE CHILDREN RECEIVE A HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION THAT PRIORITIZES INQUIRY, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, AND A HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE AUTONOMY LEVEL BE RESTORED AT OUR SCHOOL AND I STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATOR.
>> IT'S OBVIOUS THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> MA'AM, THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS QUESADA KARINA. YES, MA'AM.
>> THIS STATEMENT'S FROM A TEACHER WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION.
"THIS SUMMER, I WAS BLINDSIDED AS MY CONTENT WAS CHANGED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION AND MY CLASSROOM WAS STRIPPED AWAY.
DESPITE CLEARLY EXPRESSING MY DESIRE TO RETAIN MY ORIGINAL CONTENT, I WAS ASSURED EVERYTHING WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED ONLY TO BE FORCED INTO TEACHING A COMPLETELY NEW SUBJECT WITH A MERE WEEK OF PREPARATION AND IN A CROWDED COMMONS AREA NO LESS.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS DISSERVICE NOT JUST TO ME, BUT TO THE STUDENTS WHO WERE EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH THE SUBJECT I AM GENUINELY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
ONE OF THE STUDENTS APTLY REMARKED, 'THIS PLACE WANTS US TO BE ROBOTS,' AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
THE LEADERSHIP HERE TREATS BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AS DISPOSABLE ENTITIES RATHER THAN HUMAN BEINGS.
EVERY DAY I GRAPPLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE OF PRIORITIZING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS OR CONFORMING TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT CLEARLY DOESN'T VALUE OUR HUMANITY." THIS ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME'S UP. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA MURRAY.
I THINK YOU'RE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
I HAVE YOU IS NUMBER 69, MS. MURRAY. IS THAT YOU?
>> WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GET YOU A MICROPHONE? ARE YOU GOING TO COME ON IT?
>> I BORE OUT MY KNEES GOING AND PLANTING DOWN THOSE SIGNS.
>> I HOPE THIS IS RICK FROM THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD THAT WE INTERVIEWED.
YOU'RE NOT FROM NEW YORK, ARE YOU? THANK HEAVENS.
[03:25:04]
WELL, FIRST THING, I'M SPEAKING ON 11.WHY ARE WE PAYING TO TRAIN THESE FOLKS? WILL SOMEBODY ANSWER THAT TO ME? I'M AGAINST THAT, VEHEMENTLY, ARE YOU OFF FOR TRAINING THEM? THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WHY ARE YOU TRAINING SOMEONE TO GO UP? THEY KNOW HOW TO GO UP HERSEY HIGHWAY.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP LIKE THEY HAD FOR $215 MILLION IN 2015 UNDER DR. TERRY GREER, WHO DIDN'T THROW A BRICK ON ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND TOLD US THAT FOR THE ONE BILLION DOLLARS WASN'T ENOUGH.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO? YOU ALL NEED TO GIVE A COURSE.
HOW TO COLLECT $200,000, GET PAID FOR IT AND THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO TELL US [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME'S UP.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICE WRIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICE WRIGHT.
PATRICE WRIGHT. SORRY, NUMBER 57. YOU ARE?
>> YOU WERE CALLED AND YOU WERE NOT SHOWING.
GREG, I CALLED YOU. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS GREG.
I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND LIFELONG SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR WITH SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHO LEFT THEIR NON NES MIDDLE SCHOOL BY CHOICE.
"I HAD A 13 OUT OF 15 AVERAGE ON SPOT CHECKS.
JUST TIRED OF THE BEING BLAMED FOR LOW PERFORMANCE WHEN STUDENTS ARE SEVERAL GRADE LEVELS BEHIND.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, NIGHT SWEATS." LET ME REPEAT THAT. YOU DESTROYED THEIR SLEEP.
YOU DESTROYED THEIR HEALTH, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
HAPPY WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, EVERYONE.
THE IRONY IS NOT LOST ON ANYONE HERE.
BOARD, LET ME HELP DEMONSTRATE TO YOU HOW YOU CAN HELP GET OUR SCHOOLS THE BOND THEY DESERVE.
I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. WHEREAS SPEAKERS HAVE RIGHTLY EXPLAINED HOW MR. F. MIKE MILES HAS DESTROYED HISD.
MR. MILES IS HEREBY FIRED FROM HIS POSITION. [NOISE]
SIR, THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING.
SIR, THIS IS YOUR SECOND WARNING.
[BACKGROUND] SIR, YOU'VE RECEIVED TWO WARNINGS.
PLEASE EITHER EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM THE BUILDING. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] MS. PATRICE WRIGHT.
>> YES, MA'AM. HI. MY NAME IS PATRICE WRIGHT, AND I'M A PROUD PARENT AND PTO PRESIDENT IN HISD.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ALL.
WHAT TYPE OF MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS HISD DONE IN A THIRD WORLD COMMUNITY? YOU HAVE PROPOSED A BOND THAT NOT ONLY AFFECTS BLACKSHEAR ELEMENTARY, BUT DISRUPTS THE ENTIRE FEEDER PATTERN, AND WE HAVE HAD VERY MINIMAL SUPPORT AND ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE BOND ON OUR CHILDREN AND OUR BROADER COMMUNITY.
I'VE WATCHED SCHOOLS LIKE FLEMING RECEIVE ALL TYPES OF DISTRICT SUPPORT FOR THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY WHILE OUR BLACKSHEAR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN DISTRICT LEVEL COMMUNICATION.
WHERE IS THE TITLE ONE PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FORM FUNDS GOING? THIS BOND WILL NOT CHANGE HISD'S LACK OF SUPPORT FOR PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
I'D APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE GUIDANCE AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW FAY STAFF CAN SUPPORT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AT SCHOOLS LIKE BLACKSHEAR INSTEAD OF CREATING WAYS TO [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.. MA'AM, THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP, MA'AM. THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSEY FORSYTH.
THE MISUSE OF OUR STUDENTS AS POLITICAL PAWNS MUST END.
STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM TO LINE YOUR OWN POCKETS.
CHILDREN RETRONG SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS PERFORM BETTER ACADEMICALLY.
[03:30:02]
NES CLAIMS TO SUPPORT THIS. IT'S A LIE.NES RELIANCE ON ERRONEOUS WORKSHEET STIFLES CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING.
NES SUPPORTS THE REMOVAL OF KEY PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT HINDERS A TEACHER'S ABILITY TO TEACH AND CHILDREN TO LEARN.
WE MUST EMPOWER OUR CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
THE IB CURRICULUM PROMOTES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CRITICAL THINKING, AND GLOBAL AWARENESS, OFFERING A HOLISTIC EDUCATION OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AND OUR LEADERS OF TOMORROW NEED.
NES CURRICULUM COMPARE WITH IBE.
IT'S A LIE. DESPITE THE NUMBER OF EMAILS YOU HAVE SENT TRYING TO APPEASE THE COMMUNITY.
HARVARD HAS AUTONOMY, ANOTHER LIE.
NES CURRICULUM HAS BEEN FORCED.
WE ARE NOW BE RATING FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF YOUR CURRICULUM.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JADI GOTCHA.
>> MY NAME IS JADI GOTCHA, AND I'M AN HISD PARENT.
I'M DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE SUSPENSION OF HARVARD ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, DOCTOR C. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHRONICLE, LEAD SENIOR ED RAY WINKLER SUGGESTED, "IT'S NOT ABOUT NES.
IT'S NOT ABOUT MIKE MILES NOT LIKING HER.
IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO GET RID OF THE IB PROGRAM.
HARVARD IS NOT ON THE LIST TO CHANGE ITS IB STRUCTURE." FIRST, WHAT IS THIS LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT CAN EXPECT TO HAVE THEIR IB PROGRAM SCRAPPED? WHY ARE WE TRYING TO GET RID OURSELVES OF IB? IB IS THE REASON WHY MANY OF US CHOSE OUR SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE'RE IN THE DARK ABOUT WHY THIS PRINCIPLE WAS SUSPENDED, AND HER SUSPENSION CONTINUES THE THROUGH LINE OF DISTRUST IN HISD LEADERSHIP.
BEING IN THE DARK IS A FEATURE, NOT A BUG.
EVERY HISD PRINCIPAL CONTINUES TO WORK IN FEAR OF NOT KNOWING WHAT MISSTEP WILL END THEIR CAREER.
WHAT KIND OF WORKING CONDITIONS ARE THESE FOR THE LEADERS OF OUR CAMPUSES? NO TRUST. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLY PAGET.
NO PROBLEM. DO YOU WANT US TO SKIP YOU AND COME BACK? THEN AFTER HER, IT'S GOING TO BE MATTHEW BERNSTEIN, ZOE MCCOY, KATE WONG, JENNIFER PERRY, SUSAN LEMON, NOEL RUSHIN, JUSTIN SINNERS, BRANDY DADA, ANNA MISLIN, AND JESSE MARINO.
IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME FORWARD, THAT'D BE GREAT.
YES, MA'AM. PLEASE GO AHEAD. COOL.
>> DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FOUR STATE OF THE ART CAREER CENTERS BUILT IN DALLAS, ONLY COST A TOTAL OF $250 MILLION.
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU SIGNED OFF ON A BOND PACKAGE THAT EARMARKS $375 MILLION FOR ONLY THREE NEW CAREER CENTERS AND ANOTHER 54 BARBARA JORDAN'S CAREER CENTER? THAT'S TWICE AS MUCH FOR LESS CONSTRUCTION.
DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU OR YOU? THAT SOUNDS FISHY TO ME, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE PACKAGE.
YOU SIGNED OFF ON THIS, SO THAT REALLY BEGS THE QUESTION.
ARE YOU DUMB, MISANTHROPIC OR COWARDLY.
IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH THE LINE ITEMS, THERE ARE TEACHERS IN THE ROOM TO HELP.
IF YOU ARE COWARDLY, SINCERELY, WE INVITE YOU INTO OUR STRENGTH, AND IF YOU JUST ARE MORALLY BANKRUPT, UNDERSTAND, YOU NEED TO BRACE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER KNOW PEACE.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW BERNSTEIN.
>> IF THE BOARD FAILS, WILL THE TA OR THIS BOARD OF MANAGERS DISSOLVE HIST AND SELL OFF THE BUILDINGS? I READ THE BOND, AND I WENT THROUGH A LINE ITEM AND COMPARED IT TO THE AVERAGE COST OF BUILDING SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA.
WHAT I FOUND WAS THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ELEMENTARY IS 25 MILLION.
THE AVERAGE COST OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL IS 35 MILLION AND THE AVERAGE COST OF A HIGH SCHOOL IS 55 MILLION.
THE LAST ELEMENTARY AND HIC TO BE BUILT WAS 23 MILLION.
THE PROPOSAL IS BROOK LINE, ELEMENTARY, DURHAM, FRANKLIN, GRISSOM LOVE, $80 MILLION ABOVE OR MORE.
THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF $57 MILLION.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WERE HORRENDOUS.
IT JUST COST ABOUT $35 MILLION OR $190 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[03:35:02]
178 MILLION, 150 MILLION, 144 MILLION, 149 MILLION, 108 MILLION, BARBARA JORDAN $44.2 BILLION [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]>> THANK YOU, SIR. TIME IS UP, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ZOE MCCOY. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ZOE MCCOY AND I'M AN HISD PARENT.
I'M ALSO AN HISD ALUM WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY.
I CONTINUE TO BE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES UNDER CURRENT LEADERSHIP.
THE DISTRICT IN THIS BOARD IS ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO FUND THE LARGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL BOND IN TEXAS HISTORY, BUT SEEMS UNABLE TO COMPLETE WHAT SHOULD BE THE VERY FIRST STEP IN ANY MASSIVE PROJECT, A THOROUGH NEEDS ASSESSMENT BUILT THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
YOU ASK US TO PUT OUR FAITH IN YOUR OVERSIGHT, BUT HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO LISTEN TO OUR VOICES.
DESPITE DEEP OPPOSITION TO ADOPTION OF THE NES SYSTEM AND ITS DEVELOPMENTALLY AND PEDAGOGICALLY QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES, YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO ALLOW ITS EXPANSION AT GREAT EXPENSE TO OUR LIMITED SCHOOL RESOURCES, THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.
AS THE DAUGHTER OF A RETIRED HIT TEACHER, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY THAT I WOULD VOTE AGAINST FUNDS FOR AN HISD SCHOOL, BUT I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS SUPPORT THE USE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP, MA'AM.
MA'AM, THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE WONG.
>> AS A PARENT AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN OVER THE REMOVAL OF OUR PRINCIPAL WHO HAS TRANSFORMED OUR SCHOOL INTO ITS BEST VERSION IN RECENT YEARS.
SHE ACTIVELY LISTENS, ENGAGES, AND UNITES OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MAINTAINING OUR STATUS AS AN IB INSTITUTION.
AS A TAXPAYER WHOSE CHILDREN ATTEND THEIR OWN SCHOOLS, I'M FRUSTRATED THAT I MUST FIGHT FOR MY CHILDREN TO RECEIVE A RESEARCH BASED STUDENT CENTERED EDUCATION, THE CORNERSTONE OF THE IB METHODOLOGY.
WE WANT TO NURTURE INDEPENDENT CREATIVE THINKERS, NOT RELY ON ROTE LEARNING WHERE STUDENTS SIMPLY REGURGITATE INFORMATION.
I DID NOT MOVE TO THE HEIGHTS FOR MY CHILDREN TO ATTEND AN AWARD WINNING SCHOOL ONLY TO HAVE IT REPLACED BY NES PRACTICES.
OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STAFF WORK TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE WORK WITH US TO PRESERVE OUR IB STATUS AND REINSTATE OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED LEADER, DR. CALRES.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER PERRY. YES, MA'AM.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER PERRY.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS IN TWO DIFFERENT NON NES SCHOOLS AND HID.
I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU A STATE OF THE UNION.
I THINK EVERYONE HAS COVERED THE BOND.
I'M NOT FOR THE BOND, EITHER, AND HIGHLY AGAINST IT.
BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH OUR KIDS.
I'VE COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE TO TELL YOU THAT THE DOLS THAT YOU'RE GIVING OUT COMPLETELY IGNORE THE 504 IEPS FOR A SPECIAL ED POPULATION.
THEY HAVE A DOL AT THE END OF EVERY CLASS THAT'S TIMED AND IS GRADED.
EVERY SINGLE CLASS WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN A NEW CONCEPT, AT THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD, THEY ALL KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRADED ON IT.
THE TEACHERS ARE TOLD WELL, IT'S JUST TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE MASTERED AND WHAT I NEED TO GO OVER THE NEXT DAY, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY GET A GRADE IN THE GRADE BOOK AND ALL THE KIDS KNOW IT.
THE KIDS COME HOME AND THE FIRST THING THEY SAY TO ME IS, I GOT A 80 TODAY, I GOT A 60 TODAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING.
I'VE NEVER HEARD THEM SAY, I LEARNED ABOUT FRACTIONS TODAY.
I READ A REALLY COOL BOOK TODAY.
WE HAD A REALLY HARD [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN LEMON. YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS SUSAN LEMON, AND I'M AN HSD PARENT.
I'M READING A STATEMENT MADE BY A CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WITH 21 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
AFTER BEING AWARDED TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND GIVEN TEAM LEAD RESPONSIBILITIES, THEY RECEIVED A NON RENEWAL NOTICE FOR "WILDEST YEAR EVER.
I APPRECIATE CHANGE BECAUSE I BELIEVE CHANGE IS HOW WE GROW AS PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS CLEAR OR JUSTIFIED".
YOU ASK US TO BE PATIENT WITH CHANGE, BUT YOU ARE NOT PATIENT WITH THE STAFF WHO ARE WORKING TO INTEGRATE THESE CHANGES WITHOUT ABANDONING THEIR BEST PRACTICES.
IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT TEA SENT SOMEONE WITHOUT A PLAN FOR OUR DIVERSE POPULATION.
[03:40:03]
NO TRUST. [APPLAUSE]>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOEL RUSHIN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NOEL RUSHIN.
I'M AN EAGLE SCOUT CLASS OF 1996.
I'M A TEXAS AGGIE CLASS OF 2001.
I'VE BEEN AN ENGINEER IN THE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS.
I'M ALSO A SITTING MEMBER AND TRUSTEE OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL BOARD.
A PRIVATE SCHOOL I TOOK MY DAUGHTER OUT OF TO PUT HER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE IN.
MY MOTHER IS A 34 YEAR VETERAN OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
SHE'S A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED EDUCATOR.
MY WIFE HAS A DEGREE IN PEDAGOGY.
SHE'S GOT A DEGREE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE.
TO SAY THAT I HAVE A PASSION FOR EDUCATION.
A TRUE PASSION FOR IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
I DO WHAT YOU GUYS DO AT A LOWER LEVEL.
YOU OWE IT TO THE STUDENTS, THE FACULTY, THE STAFF THAT YOU ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BOND.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT IS JUSTIN SINNERS.
>> MY NAME IS JUSTIN SYNHORST.
I'M READING AN EXCERPT BY A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND 21-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
"THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THEIR NON-NES HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS UNDER LESS SCRUTINY THAN MY COLLEAGUES WHO TAUGHT STAR-TESTED SUBJECTS.
BUT I WAS STILL OBSERVED FREQUENTLY, EXCESSIVELY, EVEN.
THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE, BUT I CAME TO FEEL THAT ADMINISTRATORS COULD HAVE BEEN DOING OTHER MORE IMPORTANT THINGS AND MONITORING EXPERIENCED, SUCCESSFUL TEACHERS.
DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS BECAME NOTICEABLY WORSE, WITH FIGHTS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND MORE VIOLENT WITH KIDS ROWING THE HALLS DURING CLASS.
BUT BECAUSE THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS HAD TO DO SO MANY MORE TEACHER OBSERVATIONS, THEY HAD ONLY SO MUCH TIME FOR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES." THAT'S THE END OF THEIR STATEMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD NO IB, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRANDY ESDATA.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO NEED EYES UP HERE, PLEASE.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 11-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT HISD FOR A JOB IN ANOTHER SECTOR.
"LAST YEAR, LANTRIP WAS A B-RATED SCHOOL, BUT HAD NO AUTONOMY AND WAS TREATED LIKE AN NES SCHOOL.
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO COLOR, PLAY MUSIC, DIM LIGHTS, OR DISPLAY CREATIVE WORK ON HALLWAYS.
IT WAS HORRIBLE. THEY COMPLETELY DISMANTLED A GREAT SCHOOL.
MANY HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS LEFT, INCLUDING ALL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
THIS YEAR, THEY ARE AN A-RATED SCHOOL, AND I'VE HEARD THAT THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE NES CURRICULUM." AS FOR MY VIEWS, MR. MILES, I WARNED YOU AND MAY THAT WE WOULD NOT GIVE YOU A MOMENT OF PEACE.
WE SACRIFICE TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN DESERVE AN EQUAL INTEGRATED EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA MICHELIN.
>> MY NAME IS ANNA MICHELIN, AND I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 11-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT FOR A JOB IN ANOTHER SECTION.
"EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS HAVE NO REGARD FOR SAFETY AND ASSIGNING LAB.
WE WERE FORCED TO CUT OUR SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
NON-NES SCHOOLS HAD NO AUTONOMY AS MILES REPEATEDLY STATES.
THE TENDRILS OF HIS DESTRUCTION IS EVERYWHERE.
THE TIMERS, MRS STRATEGY, DOL, AND LO FORMATTING AND POSTING WERE ALL REQUIRED OR TEACHERS RISK LOW SPOT SCORES.
THE SPOT CHECKLIST WAS MADE FOR NES AND HAS NO EXCEPTIONS FOR NON-NES OR AP COURSES.
ONE OF MY LOWEST SCORES WAS DURING FALL FINALS.
ADMINISTRATION WAS EXPECTED TO DO SPOT CHECKS DURING TESTING.
IT'S INSANITY WITH THE INTENT TO LEAD TEACHERS WITH ANXIETY AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM." FOLLOWING THAT, I WILL SAY I'M ALSO MARRIED TO DR. [INAUDIBLE] MICHELIN.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.
[03:45:02]
THANK YOU. THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING, MA'AM.THIS IS YOUR SECOND WARNING, MA'AM.
MA'AM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LEAVE THE ROOM.
MA'AM, YOU ARE GIVEN TWO WARNINGS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSE MARINO. YES, MA'AM.
>> IN A PERFECT WORLD, I COULD COME HERE TONIGHT AND ASK FOR ACTION AND EXPECT RESULTS, BUT I'VE WATCHED FOR OVER A YEAR AS THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
YOUR INACTION AND INDIFFERENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS DISGUSTING, SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO DEMAND THAT NOW YOU SEE ME, AND YOU HEAR ME BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER.
I'M NOT SURE WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU'RE SMARTER OR BETTER THAN CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS, THESE TEACHERS, OR OTHER EXPERTS, BUT THEY ARE WRONG, AND YOU ARE NOT.
YOU ARE A MISTAKE AND YOU ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
EVERY TIME YOUR GUTS TELL YOU TO DO SOMETHING HERE, DO THE OPPOSITE SO WE CAN GET RESULTS, PLEASE.
EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE IS SO OBVIOUSLY SELF-SERVING AND IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN OR GAIN POWER, AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
AS SOMEONE WHO DEALS WITH CRISES EVERY DAY, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
YOU ARE IN CRISIS AND IN A CRISIS, TIME IS YOUR ENEMY, AND THIS IS YOUR 11TH HOUR, AND WE ARE STILL NOT GOING QUIETLY.
IF I HAVE TO TAKE ONE OF YOUR JOBS TO FIX IT, I WILL DO IT.
WE DESERVE BETTER. NO TRUST, NO BOND. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE ARE GOING TO HOOK OVER TO ZOOM SPEAKERS.
>> CAROL ARREAGA, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
CLAUDE BITNER, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
>> I'M READING IN SPANISH AND TRANSLATING IN MY TWO MINUTES.
I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN. THE OLDEST IS IN COLLEGE, THANKS TO THE GOOD EDUCATION SHE RECEIVED AN EDUCATION BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENTED NES.
NOW, MANY OTHER CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING.
THEY TOOK AWAY THE TEACHER WHO CARED ABOUT THEIR LEARNING.
THE NEW ONES ARE THERE JUST FOR THEIR JOB AND COMMITMENT TO THE CALLING.
THEY AREN'T READING OR LEARNING LIKE BEFORE.
WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO READ WITH THEM.
WE PARTICIPATED IN THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THAT MOTIVATED THEM.
THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED ANYMORE.
AT THIS RATE, THEY WON'T EVEN TRY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
YOU'RE DAMAGING THEIR FUTURE, OUR FUTURE.
EVERYONE DESERVES A QUALITY EDUCATION.
WHY ARE YOU TAKING IT AWAY? DON'T DESTROY THE FUTURE. THIS ISN'T WORKING.
MAKE A CHANGE. NO BOOKS, NO BOND.
>> CAROL ARREAGA, YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HELLO. I COME HERE AS A PARENT OF A CHILD ATTENDING DAVID G. BURNET ELEMENTARY, LOCATED CURRENTLY IN THE EAST SIDE OF HOUSTON.
MY CONCERN TODAY IS REGARDING THE EDUCATION AND RIGHTS STUDENTS ARE GETTING LEFT OUT OF.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO THE MOST RECENT BACK-TO-BACK ADVERSE EVENTS THAT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN THE SCHOOL,
[03:50:04]
THE LIES AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION IS VERY DISAPPOINTING.AS PARENTS, WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN THE SCHOOL WHERE OUR CHILDREN SPEND FIVE DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK.
MY SON HAS EXPERIENCED DISTRESSED SITUATIONS AT SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS LEFT UNATTENDED AFTER SOILING HIS PANTS AND GOT LOST DUE TO POOR COMMUNICATION AMONG ADMINISTRATORS.
HIS CLASSROOM TEACHER WAS NOT CERTIFIED LEADING TO HER RESIGNATION.
THESE INCIDENTS HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HIS WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS, AS WELL AS THOSE OF HIS CLASSMATES.
THAT SAID, THE SCHOOL CAN POTENTIALLY LOSE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN THIS WINTER BREAK AS THE PARENTS CONSTANTLY ENCOUNTER ONGOING ISSUES THAT NEVER SEEM TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M A THIRD GRADER AT HARVARD ELEMENTARY, AND I LOVE MY SCHOOL.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM OUR IB PROGRAM.
IT'S TAUGHT ME NOT JUST MATH AND READING, BUT ALSO HOW TO BE KIND AND UNDERSTAND MY FRIENDS FEELINGS.
AT HARVARD, I KNOW I'M DOING REALLY WELL IN MY CLASSES.
HARVARD STUDENTS ARE GREAT AT MATH AND READING COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON AND TEXAS.
I'M TOLD WE ARE IN THE TOP 10% OF ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
>> KEEP GOING. JUST KEEP GOING.
>> NO, YOU'RE STILL THERE. KEEP GOING. YOU'RE STILL THERE.
>> HONEY, ARE YOU ALMOST DONE? YOU ABOUT DONE?
>> I KNOW THIS BECAUSE OF OUR RV PROGRAM.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR MY BROTHER AND I TO LEARN, AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF WE LOSE OUR PRINCIPAL, DR. CALABRESE, THINGS AT OUR SCHOOL WILL CHANGE EVEN MORE.
SHE'S HELPED MAKE HARVARD SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE WE LOVE LEARNING.
PLEASE LET DR. CALABRESE COME BACK TO OUR SCHOOL SO WE CAN KEEP LEARNING AND DOING OUR BEST.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MS. CALZADA. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I AM A PARENT OF TWO HISD STUDENTS.
I HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO CREATE A STATEMENT BY A NOW-FORMER HISD EDUCATOR.
THIS AWARD-WINNING CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND OVER 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE LEFT THE HISD AND ACCEPTED A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT AND HAD THIS TO SAY.
I'VE SUFFERED GI STRESS-RELATED ISSUES.
I'VE HAD SOBER TEACHER FRIENDS RELAPSE, TWO EXPRESSED SUICIDAL IDEATION, ANOTHER INSTITUTIONALIZED.
TWO SUFFER PANIC ATTACKS ON THE JOB, RETIREMENTS DESTROYED AND AGE DISCRIMINATION." AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A PTO PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND NOW PAST PRESIDENT AND HAD A SIMILAR FIGHT WITH OUR PRINCIPAL THAT HARVARD IS OBVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH NOW, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.
STAY VIGILANT. NO TRUST, NO BOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MA'AM, YOU'RE EITHER ON MUTE OR, GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA CATHERINE I AM AN HISD PARENT.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 16-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY CHOSE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT. FARE WORDS.
"I HAVE A BACHELOR FROM PRINCETON, A MASTER'S FROM NYU, A SECOND MASTER'S FROM TEACHER [INAUDIBLE] UNIVERSITY AND A CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE AND [INAUDIBLE] I LOST AT [INAUDIBLE] THIS YEAR.
[03:55:06]
THEY ARE GOING NES NEXT YEAR, SO I KNEW I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE A LOT OF AUTONOMY." MY WORDS. YOU ARE CHASING AWAY OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST TALENT.NO RESPECT FOR TEACHERS, NO BOND.
>> LUCY CHRISTIAN BELL, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> YES, MA'AM. PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANKS. MY NAME IS LUCY CHRISTIAN BELL.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CAMPUS LEADER WITH A DOCTORAL DEGREE AND 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY WERE GIVEN THE DECISION TO RESIGN OR BE TERMINATED FROM A B-RATED CAMPUS.
"THE MOST TOXIC SCHOOL DISTRICT CULTURE I'VE EVER LIVED THROUGH.
THEY ATTEMPTED TO FORCE ME TO MAKE UNETHICAL LEADERSHIP DECISIONS WEEKLY, AND I REFUSED.
ALSO, THE MOST UNINTELLIGENT GROUP OF LEADERS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
SIMPLY EXECUTIVES WITH POWER, NOTHING MORE.
NO REAL DECISION-MAKING IS HAPPENING AND WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO QUESTION OR MAKE SUGGESTIONS." FROM ME, MEYERLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOW 10 POINTS OF GROWTH LAST YEAR.
MR. MILES TOLD YOU ALL IN THE LAST MEETING THAT MR. SARABIA AND OTHER ESTEEMED LEADERS WHO WERE FIRED WITHOUT CAUSE WERE LOW-PERFORMING, AND YOU SAT THERE AND LET HIM LIE WITH DATA TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
>> AMANDA FERRIS, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS AMANDA FERRIS.
I AM MOTHER OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED STUDENT IN HISD.
I'M ALSO ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TAX DOLLARS FUNNELED TO THIRD-PARTY SCHOOLS IN AURORA COLORADO WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.
THIS EVENING, I AM READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED SCIENCE TEACHER WITH 21-PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, FOR OUR DISTRICT, LIKE MANY OTHERS UNDER THIS TAKEOVER, THEY DECIDED TO RETIRE EARLY.
"THIS IS BY FAR THE SINGLE WORST YEAR IN MY ENTIRE 24-YEAR CAREER IN EDUCATION.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I HAVE EVER THOUGHT I'D BE WITNESSED TO SUCH A LACK OF SOUND, RESEARCH-BASED, EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IT'S SURREAL AND HEARTBREAKING.
>> YES, MS. HOPMAN BRIAN. GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS VICTORIA HOPMAN BRIAN.
I AM AN HISD PARENT, A FORMER HISD TEACHER WHO LEFT IN 2018, AND A BUSINESS OWNER.
I AM READING THE STATEMENT WRITTEN BY A CERTIFIED HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHO CHOSE TO LEAVE HISD.
"WORST YEAR OF MY 30-YEAR TEACHING CAREER ENDED YEAR WITH VERY HIGH APPRAISAL AND PROSPECT OF MORE MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
WE'LL SIT OUT A YEAR AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS OR CHANGE DISTRICTS." DUE TO THE ABSURD APPRAISAL GUIDELINES PUT FORTH BY MIKE MILES' ADMINISTRATION AND THIS BOARD, EXCELLENT TEACHERS WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF EDUCATION ARE LEAVING IN DROVES.
50 PER CENT OF TEACHERS LEFT AFTER ONE YEAR OF MIKE MILES' DYSTOPIAN NIGHTMARE OF LOCK STEP, SCRIPTED SLIDE READING THAT HE CALLS HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
THIS BOARD NEEDS TO CHANGE TACTICS AND FAST, FOR IT IS CULPABLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD IN HISD.
FIRE MIKE MILES. NO TRUST, NO BOND. SAVE HISD.
>> MONICA HOLTKAMP, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS MONICA HOLTKAMP.
I AM HERE REPRESENTING MY CHILDREN WHO ATTEND DAVID G.
BURNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE CLASSES.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT IN HISD'S ABILITY TO RETAIN TEACHERS AN ISSUE THAT IS DRASTICALLY AFFECTING OUR SCHOOL.
GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES INCLUDING MY CHILDREN'S GRANDMOTHER HAVE ATTENDED BURNET, BUT THIS IS CHANGING.
OUR FAMILIES ARE MOVING TO OTHER DISTRICTS TO MEET THEIR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, AND IT IS NOT HARD TO SEE WHY.
THE MAJORITY OF THE 2024 EDUCATORS AT BURNET ARE MALE INCLUDING OUR PRINCIPAL WHO'S IMPLEMENTING THE NES CURRICULUM.
THIS CHANGE IS STRAINING OUR CHILDREN AND TEACHERS.
MANY ARE NEW HIRES THAT ARE UNCERTIFIED LEADING TO A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND STABILITY.
[04:00:01]
THERE ARE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE NO FOURTH GRADE TEACHERS WITH LITTLE COMMUNICATION AS TO WHEN THESE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED AND WITH QUALIFIED EDUCATORS.MY DAUGHTER WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> HI. I AM AT LO HOLTKAMP, AND I MISS MS. WALKER.
>> MISS NEAL, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS NICOLA NEAL.
I AM AN INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND PARENT TO TWO HISD STUDENTS.
I WANTED TO CALL TO ATTENTION THE ANTIDOTES OF MANY WHO ARE REPORTING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR IN THEIR CHILDREN.
ANXIETY ABOUT SCHOOL, BEGGING NOT TO GO TO SCHOOL, STOMACH ACHES, LOSS OF JOY FOR LEARNING, KIDS JUST SHUTTING DOWN.
TEACHERS STRESSED TO THE POINT OF SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP, SOME IN MY VERY OWN PRACTICE.
IDENTIFIED STRESSORS, THE USE OF TIMERS, DISTRICT MICROMANAGEMENT, RUSHED CURRICULUM, BORING CURRICULUM, A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND SKIPPING RECESS TO FINISH WORK.
THE UNWAVERING FOCUS ON RIGOROUS ACADEMICS AND NES TRANSFORMATION HAS CONSUMED THE DISTRICT AND LEFT NO ROOM FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
WITH MENTAL HEALTH BEING A DISTRICT-WIDE PRIORITY, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE HELP MOVE YOU IN THAT DIRECTION.
MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO SAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAROLINE SHIPP, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON. YOU MAY BEGIN.
SHANNON SWOOP, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON. MRS SHOOP, GO AHEAD.
I'M A RETIRED HISD TEACHER OF 38 YEARS WITH THREE GRANDCHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
TALK AGAIN ABOUT GOAL 3.1, THE PERCENTAGE OF 11TH GRADERS MEETING TSI CRITERIA ON SATACT OR TSI, AND BOTH MATH AND READING WILL INCREASE FROM 15% IN MAY 2023 TO 30% IN MAY 2028.
I FAIL TO SEE HOW THE CURRENT CURRICULUM CAN PREPARE ANYONE FOR ADVANCED TESTING.
I TAUGHT PRE IB 10TH GRADE ENGLISH AND WAS IB COORDINATOR FOR MY CAMPUS.
THE 10TH GRADE ENGLISH LESSON THAT I SAW TRIED TO CRAM EIGHT POETRY CONVENTIONS AND ONE LESSON ABOUT AN UNINSPIRING POEM WITH TEDIOUS RHYME.
STUDENTS NEED TO READ NOVELS AND DISCUSS WITH THEIR PEERS IN A TEACHER DIRECTED SETTING.
CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT ENGLISH CURRICULUM WILL NOT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM, MISS SWOOP, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SHANNON SWOOP.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO HISD STUDENTS AT NON-NES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
I'M READING A STATEMENT BY AN AWARD WINNING CERTIFIED MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER WITH THREE PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY LEFT THEIR NON-NES MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TAKE A POSITION IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THIS IS VERY CONCERNING FOR ME, AS I HAVE A FIFTH GRADER WHO'S LOOKING TO MOVE ON TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL OF HISD MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
THE TEACHER'S STATEMENT IS MY CAMPUS BECAME A VERY DIFFERENT ONCE MIKE MILES ARRIVED.
MY ADMINISTRATORS BEGAN THROWING TEACHERS UNDER THE BUS FOR EVERYTHING.
ANY CONSIDERATION FOR STUDENTS OR THEIR NEEDS WERE IGNORED, SUCH AS INSTRUCTIONAL CHOICES, FREEDOM OF CHOOSING OF ACTIVITIES, OR LESSONS FOR STUDENTS, FIELD DAYS, ETC. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. MISS. SILVA, PLEASE GO AHEAD. MA'AM, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> I'M MISS. SILVA. WE ARE DEALING WITH AN UNDENIABLY CATASTROPHIC TEACHER TURNOVER RATE UNDER MIKE MILES' LEADERSHIP.
TODAY, I'M READING A STATEMENT BY A CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND OVER 21 YEARS WORK EXPERIENCE WHO CHOSE TO WORK IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
IT'S THE FIRST PLACE I'VE WORKED WHERE I WOULD SEND MY OWN KIDS IF I HAD ANY.
WHEN WE HAD A MEASURE OF AUTONOMY,
[04:05:02]
WE WERE A GOOD SCHOOL AND A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.NOW THAT WE LOST AUTONOMY, WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE DISTRICT PEERING OVER OUR SHOULDERS EVERY WEEK.
IT'S NOT THAT I'M DOING ANYTHING THAT I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE.
IT'S THAT WATCHING ME ALL THE TIME GIVES ME THE SENSE THAT YOU DON'T TRUST ME.
IF I FEEL LIKE IT'S A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT, THAT CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING MY MOTIVATION.
THE LAST PARTS FROM ME AND NOT A STATEMENT.
OUR KIDS AREN'T HAPPY OUR BEST TEACHERS ARE LEAVING, AND STAR TEST ISN'T WORTH THE MISERY.
NO TRUST, NO BOND. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
THE BOARD IS GOING TO RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF
[RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS 551.004 THROUGH 551.089 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSES LISTED IN THIS NOTICE]
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT SUBSECTIONS 551.004-551.089.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 THE SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF.
THE BOARD HAS RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 9:46 PM ON OCTOBER 10, 2024.
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS WE GOT TO DO.
[BACKGROUND] WE ARE ALL PRESENT AT 12:59 PM.
[RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
DO I HAVE A MOTION?>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DATE'S CORRECT.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVES
[CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION]
THE CLOSED SESSION PERSONNEL AGENDA INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY, THAT THE BOARD APPROVES PROPOSED TERMINATIONS, NON-RENEWALS OF CONTINUED TERM, PERFORMANCE AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZE A SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD APPROVED SUSPENSIONS WITHOUT PAY FOR CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZED AS SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE SAME, THAT THE BOARD VOIDS TERM, PROBATIONARY AND PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE SAME, AND 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 CLOSED SESSION, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 11TH, 2024.>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. MARTINEZ AND A SECOND BY MRS. LINDNER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
>> THEY'RE NOT LOGGED IN. HOLD ON.
>> IS EVERYBODY GOOD? PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES SEVEN IN FAVOR, ONE ABSTENTION.
ANY OTHER MOTIONS OUT OF CLOSED SESSION, MR. MARTINEZ?
>> YEAH. TWO MORE. YES, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPOINT ANDY CANALES, ANDY CHAN,
[7. Approval Of 2024 Bond Oversight Committee Membership]
BOB EURI, CHRIS BROWN, CHRISTOPHER COLA, DARIA WENAS, FELIX CHEVALIER, LAUREN HALLER FONTAINE, MARCOS ROSALES, MARK MALLETTE, MICHAEL DAVIS, TAYLOR CHAPMAN, WENDEL ROBBINS III, AND ALTERNATE JARRED MORGAN AND KAREN DUFFY, TO THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.>> THAT WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7, APPROVAL OF THE 2024 BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE BY MR. MARTINEZ.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MRS. MENDOZA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP? PLEASE VOTE.
[04:10:13]
PLEASE VOTE. THANK YOU.>> MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR ON THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
MR. MARTINEZ, DID YOU HAVE ONE MORE?
>> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. LAST ONE FOR ME.
THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AND RATIFY THE USE OF EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR INTERNET SECURITY ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 11TH, 2024.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE USE OF EMERGENCY FUNDS BY MR. MARTINEZ AND A SECOND BY MRS. AUZENNE BANDY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MATTER? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
>> YES. I HAVE A MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE PLAN RECOMMENDATION AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 11TH, 2024.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. CAMPO AND A SECOND BY MRS. ARNOLD.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
THIS IS ON THE MOTION THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD BY MR. CAMPO.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE PASSES EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
ANY OTHER MOTIONS COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION?
>> NO. THE FIRST ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION IS ITEM 6,
[6. Approval Of The Bond Oversight Committee Charter]
APPROVAL OF THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHARTER.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 6? MR. CAMPO, AND A SECOND BY MRS. MENDOZA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ITEM 7, WHICH WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE ARE NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA BY CONSENSUS? MOTION BY MRS. FLOWERS AND A SECOND BY MRS. ARNOLD.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
WE ARE NOW READY TO HEAR ANY REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS,
[BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
AND I WILL BEGIN WITH OUR ANNOUNCEMENT OF A REQUIRED BOARD MEMBER CONTINUING EDUCATION, EXCUSE ME.UNDER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE, 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 SUB CHAPTER A, SECTION 61, AN ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO THE STATUS OF BOARD MEMBERS CONTINUING EDUCATION MUST BE MADE 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.
MY ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS, CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, RIC CAMPO, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JANETTE GARZA LINDNER, ANGELA LEMOND FLOWERS,
[04:15:01]
ROLANDO MARTINEZ, PAULA MENDOZA, ADAM RIVAN, AND I, AUDREY MOMANAEE HAVE FULFILLED REQUIRED FIRST YEAR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AS OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR.WE ARE NOW WORKING TOWARD COMPLETING OUR SECOND YEAR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WILL BE REPORTED IN OCTOBER OF 2025.
BOARD MEMBERS CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, AND I AUDREY MOMANAEE HAVE COMPLETED THE REQUIRED 10 HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION.
BOARD MEMBERS RIC CAMPO, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JANETTE GARZA LINDNER, ANGELA LEMOND FLOWERS, PAULA MENDOZA, AND ADAM RIVAN HAVE EXCEEDED THAT REQUIREMENT.
NEXT, WE'LL ADDRESS ANY OTHER REPORTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS THIS EVENING.
ANYBODY OVER HERE HAVE A REPORT THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE AT THIS TIME?
>> MR. MILES, ANY REPORTS FROM YOU, SIR? VERY GOOD.
THEN OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2024.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AT 1:08 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.