>> READY? GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
THIS MEETING IS NOW CONVENED AT 5:02 PM.WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELLPHONES.
A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.
THEY ARE, FROM MY RIGHT, CASSANDRA AUZENNE BANDY, MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, JEANETTE GARZA LINER, MYSELF, AUDREY MOMANAEE, PAUL MENDOZA, AND ADAM RIVON.
IF THERE ARE ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE, I SEE MR. MOORE, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
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 DR. MICHELLE CRUZ ARNOLD, PLEASE INTRODUCE TONIGHT'S PLEDGE LEADER.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. CADET FIRST LIEUTENANT ASHLEY SANCHEZ NAVARRETE IS A JUNIOR AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE OVERSEES 120 CADETS.
SHE SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT TO CURRENT OPERATION IN HER CADET PROGRAM.
SHE MAINTAINS A 3.66-GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE SCIENCE CLUB.
IN HER FREE TIME, SHE ENJOYS SCIENCE, GOING TO THE GYM, DANCING, AND PLAYING THE BASS GUITAR.
SHE IS DETERMINED TO ATTEND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE WILL PURSUE A DEGREE IN NEUROSCIENCE.
SHE PLANS TO ENLIST IN THE MILITARY WHILE STUDYING AT TEXAS A&M WITH THE GOAL OF BECOMING AN ARMY OFFICER.
ONCE AGAIN, CADET FIRST LIEUTENANT ASHLEY SANCHEZ NAVARRETE. [APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE US PLEDGE AND THE TEXAS PLEDGE.
>> THANK YOU, CADET FIRST LIEUTENANT NAVARRETE.
SUPERINTENDENT MILES, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR?
[RECOGNITIONS]
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT AUDREY.
JANUARY IS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD THIS EVENING FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND STAFF OF HISD.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR OUR KIDS IS HELPING TO DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN OUR DISTRICT AND IS ALREADY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND HISD AND TO STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
THIS PROGRESS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP.
YOU'VE ANSWERED A CALL TO SERVE AND ARE PROVIDING AN IMPORTANT CIVIC DUTY.
YOU STEPPED UP TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR CITY.
YOU GIVE OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME TO MAKE HISD AND HOUSTON STRONGER.
THIS IS NO SMALL TASK THAT YOU'VE TAKEN ON.
IT'S NOBLE, IT'S URGENT, IT'S SERIOUS, IT'S IMPORTANT.
CASSANDRA, MICHELLE, JANETTE, ANGIE, AUDREY, PAULA, AND ROLANDO, RICK, AND ADAM, THE BOARD MEMBERS, A COUPLE OF ARE NOT HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO REALIZING OUR SHARED VISION OF PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION THAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, IN THE SPIRIT OF APPRECIATION, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN A NEW TRADITION AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS.
EACH MEETING WILL BEGIN BY SPOTLIGHTING AND CELEBRATING THE HISD COMMUNITY.
EACH DAY, WEEK AND MONTH, OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, LEADERS, AND PARTNERS ACCOMPLISH INCREDIBLE FEATS.
AT EACH MEETING, WE WILL SHOWCASE UP TO THREE MEMBERS OF OUR COM.
TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THE WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL RAM BAND
[00:05:02]
FOR ITS PERFORMANCE IN THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL PARADE EARLIER THIS MONTH.THE MARCHING BAND ALSO WON NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING THE TOP PRIZE AT THE SUGAR BOWL'S FIELD SHOW COMPETITION.
I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE TO THE END.
ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR JOHNNY ALVAREZ, BAND DIRECTOR BRENDA CORAL SMITH, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING.
BAND BOOSTER PRESIDENT CHERRY CHAVEZ, BAND DRUM MAJOR JACOB GAMEZ, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RHONDA MONROE.
[APPLAUSE] ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS THE BAND.
I'M A MARCHING BAND DAD MYSELF.
SPENT MANY TIMES WATCHING MY KIDS ON THE FIELD.
I KNOW HOW MUCH PRECISION AND PRACTICE IT TAKES TO REALLY DO WELL AND THEN BE INVITED TO THE SUGAR BOWL OR ANY OTHER PARADE, SO THANK YOU AND PLEASE THAN THE STUDENTS ON MY BEHALF AND THE BOARD'S BEHALF.
THEN, AS YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAD A CRISIS IN NEW ORLEANS AND I WAS SO HAPPY BECAUSE I GOT THESE CALLS, BUT I COULD REST A LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE THE HISD POLICE DEPARTMENT ESCORTED THE WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL RAM BAND TO NEW ORLEANS FOR THE SUGAR BOWL.
IF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE COULD ALSO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, SERGEANT MELVA DEANDA, OFFICERS MARCUS HENRY, [INAUDIBLE] CONERLY, ANNA CONTRERAS, PEDRO LOPEZ, AND MELISSA GONZALEZ.
PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING COOL UNDER PRESSURE AND REALLY KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE.
THAT'S VERY HONORABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, PRESIDENT MOMANAEE WILL SHARE OUR NEXT TWO SPOTLIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS A BAND MEMBER, SO CONGRATULATIONS. THAT IS SUPER EXCITING.
I'M SURE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT TIME.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MIA DOMINGUEZ TO THE MICROPHONE.
MS. DOMINGUEZ IS AN AMBASSADOR, GIRL SCOUT WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO.
>> HELLO, HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD.
MY NAME IS MIA DOMINGUEZ, AND I AM AN AMBASSADOR WITH TROOP 307221, AND I'M FROM DEBAKEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS.
BEING GIRL SCOUT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF.
IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS, HELP MY COMMUNITY, AND MAKE GREAT FRIENDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY.
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN AWARDS SUCH AS MY BRONZE AND SILVER AWARD, FOR WHICH I MADE A BLESSING BOX AND LITTLE FREE LIBRARY.
TODAY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE GIRL SCOUTS IN HISD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING HISD A PLACE WHERE GIRLS CAN CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, BE CONFIDENT, AND MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
AS A SWEET TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE BROUGHT YOU GUYS GIRL SCOUT COOKIES TODAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE KATHLEEN OWNBY TO THE MICROPHONE.
MS. OWNBY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SPARK PARK PROGRAM, WHICH HAS PARTNERED WITH HISD FOR MANY YEARS TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY PARKS AT SCHOOLS.
MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
THANKS TO THE HISD PRINT SHOP, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AGAIN.
THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR 25TH CALENDAR THAT WE'VE DONE.
IF YOU CAN THINK OF A FRIEND OR RELATIVE THAT NEEDS A CALENDAR, THERE'S SOME IN A BOX AT THE BACK, BUT THIS IS A GREAT CALENDAR, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF IT EACH YEAR.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC ART COMPONENTS IN 12 SCHOOLS, AND THIS CALENDAR, NINE OF THE 12 SCHOOLS ARE IN HISD, AND SO ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS CALENDAR.
[00:10:01]
WE ARE NOW WORKING.THIS IS OUR 42ND YEAR OF HAVING SPARK.
WE HAVE 167 ACTIVE SPARK PARKS, AND WE'RE WORKING IN 18 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AS FAR AS HISD GOES, IN 2024, WE DEDICATED EIGHT PARKS, AND WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN HISD, AND WE APPRECIATE ANY OF YOU.
MR. RIVON, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE OF OUR DEDICATIONS, AND I KNOW MS. LEANER HAS BEEN IN A DEDICATION.
I THINK MS. ARNOLD HAS BEEN IN A DEDICATION, AND WE ALWAYS INVITE ALL OF YOU ALL TO COME TO ONE OF OUR DEDICATIONS AND WITNESS THE TRANSFORMATION WE MAKE ON A CAMPUS AND THE KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THE CELEBRATION OF MAKING THEIR CAMPUS A BETTER PLACE AND THE COMMUNITY ENJOYING WHAT WE DO ON THE CAMPUS.
WE'RE A TWO-PERSON SHOP, AND SO MY OTHER PERSON IS ELIZABETH HALLEY.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH HISD.
I WENT TO RED ELEMENTARY AND THEN JOHNSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL.
MY MOTHER WAS ON THE BOARD OF HISD, AND AT ONE TIME WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, AND SO HISD IS IN MY BLOOD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR KIDS.
THE SPARK PARKS ARE AMAZING PLACES FOR THEM.
BEFORE WE BEGIN TO HEAR SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS,
[CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEMS]
I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE BOARD IS POSTPONING DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON THE SECOND READINGS OF BOARD POLICIES BE LOCAL AND BED LOCAL, WHICH RELATE TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BOARD MEETINGS.THE POLICIES ARE NOT IN THIS MONTH'S AGENDA.
THE COMMITTEE NEEDS MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THEM, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK IN THE FUTURE.
IN ADDITION, WE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERING AGENDA ITEM 7, APPROVAL OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY CH LOCAL PURCHASING AND ACQUISITION FIRST READING TONIGHT.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM OUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
[ SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS]
WE'LL BEGIN WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOLLOWED BY STUDENT SPEAKERS, BOTH IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM.WE'LL THEN HEAR FROM IN-PERSON SPEAKERS TO BOTH AGENDA AND HEARING OF THE COMMUNITY, FOLLOWED BY ALL REMAINING ZOOM SPEAKERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SPANISH LIVE CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE VIEWING THE MEETING VIA LIVESTREAM AND LIVE SPANISH INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORIUM.
PUBLIC COMMENT DURING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK PRIOR TO THE MEETING TIME PER CURRENT PROTOCOL.
VERBAL AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS BY PERSONS DURING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THEY INHIBIT THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO OBSERVE THOSE PROCESSES.
PERSONS WHO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH BEHAVIOR WILL BE GIVEN ONE WARNING AND IF THE BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED, THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING.
WE HAVE 79 SPEAKERS WHO WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH PER BOARD POLICY AS WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
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 TIMER RINGS.
WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
WILL HISD BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEES SAVANT MOORE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE, SIR.
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR [INAUDIBLE].
IF IT CAN BE REVERSED, UNITEDHEALTHCARE HAS A HISTORICAL OF DENYING CLAIMS AND OVERCHARGING FOR MEDICATION, CHOOSE ANOTHER INSURER.
IN THE BIBLE, JESUS CAME INTO THE ROOM AND HE SAID, "YOU HAVE TURNED THIS HOUSE OF PRAYER INTO A DEAN OF THIEVES." I HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT TURNING THIS HOUSE OF EDUCATION INTO A DEN OF DEFICIT.
SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR PLUS MILLION, IF IT TRULY WAS A MISTAKE, WE FORGIVE YOU, SIR, BUT WE ASK THAT YOU REPLACE THE BOARD RULE OF A $100,000 PURCHASE BACK IN STATED LIKE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
READ THE ROOM. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO REMAIN THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
IF NOT, PLEASE PICK SOMEONE LIKE MR. MARTINEZ. HE'S BILINGUAL.
HE'S ACTUALLY SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.
DON'T PICK ANYONE THAT HAS CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.
HE'S A GREAT MAN, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO KEEP US OUT OF NEWS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
THE COMMUNITY WILL BE PUSHING FOR COMMISSION TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION IN JUNE 25.
AS A BOARD, CONSIDER THE THREE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER.
SHOW SUCKER HOSPITALITY, AND IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, AT LEAST ACT LIKE YOU DID TODAY, IT WAS A GREAT START OF THE YEAR.
[00:15:01]
LET'S SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, AND TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS WILL BE ABOUT THE CHILDREN.IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS WILL BE STUDENT SPEAKERS, AND OUR FIRST STUDENT SPEAKER THAT I HAVE THAT IS PRESENT AS ELIANA GOTTLIEB. YES, MA'AM.
>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE LEARNED HISD STATE-APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT, MIKE MILES SPENT $870 MILLION OVER A 16-MONTH PERIOD WITHOUT THE APPOINTED BOARD'S APPROVAL.
CAN I JUST SAY FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO HUNG UP ON FOLLOWING PROCEDURES LIKE CARRYING A TRAFFIC CONE TO THE BATHROOM, YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD FOLLOW YOUR OWN PROCEDURES WHEN SPENDING ALMOST ONE BILLION DOLLARS.
IF YOU WANT THE TRUST AND PARTNERSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO BE FAIR.
YOU HAVE FIRED TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR MUCH LESS.
WHEN ASKED BY THE MEDIA, IF ANY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED OR FIRED BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, MIKE MILES SAID, "NOT YET." SUPERINTENDENT MILES, YOU ARE IN CHARGE, AND THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE ADDRESS THIS LACK OF OVERSIGHT THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD AT YOUR BUSINESSES OR JOBS.
BOTH YOU AND THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT A FORMAL INVESTIGATION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THIS KIND OF INCIDENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKERS THAT ARE STUDENT SPEAKERS, I BELIEVE ARE ON ZOOM.
>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, HONEY. THAT SCREEN IS OFF.
>> WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO RESET YOUR AUDIO.
>> OKAY. WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU. ELLA TAYLOR.
YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF AND BEGIN.
WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. MS [INAUDIBLE] LET'S CHECK.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE IT'S ON OUR END, MAYBE?
>> THE CONTROL ROOM'S GOING TO NEED TO CHECK.
LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN CHECK ON THE AUDIO AND SEE IF THAT'S IF THAT'S OUR PROBLEM OR SOMETHING ELSE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS KATHY BEASLEY.
DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS? IF THE FIRST 10 FOLKS WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD, BE SUPER HELPFUL.
I THINK IT'LL HELP US MOVE ALONG.
THIS IS IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, A TEACHER ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 88TH BIRTHDAY.
I DREAM OF CLASSES OF CHILDREN ENJOYING LEARNING AND NOT FEARING WHO IS COMING TO THE DOOR TO OBSERVE.
I DREAM OF STUDENTS NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR TEACHER AND BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE JOY OF BEING A CHILD.
I DREAM OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES BEING RESTORED TO ALL CHILDREN.
HAVING ACCESS TO THE HELP THEY NEED.
I DREAM OF UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS NOT BEING USED FOR THE SAKE OF APPEARANCES, I DREAM OF ADULTS WHO BEHAVE IN ADULT-LIKE WAYS AS AN EXAMPLE TO STUDENTS.
I DREAM OF A PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS NOT RIDDLED WITH GREED AND BLATANT MISUSE OF FUNDS.
I DREAM OF TEACHERS NOT BEING BELITTLED AND DEMEANED, I DREAM OF RETURNING TO A SCHOOL THAT I ONCE LOVED, I DREAM OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING TO GOOD PEOPLE AND EXPOSURE HAPPENING TO THE BAD.
BUT MOST OF ALL, I DREAM OF AN END TO THIS ODIOUS TAKEOVER AND THE RESTORATION AND RETURN OF THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS, THE TAXPAYERS OF THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARMEN NUNCIO, MISS NUNCIO.
>> GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
THIS IS FOR MIKE MILES, SUPERINTENDENT.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING SO HARD TO WORK WITH YOU, AND YET YOU KEEP DOING THINGS YOUR WAY.
I THINK WE DESERVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO HOW YOU WERE ALLOWED TO SPEND $870 MILLION WITHOUT RECEIVING
[00:20:05]
REQUIRED SCHOOL BOARD APPROVAL.WHEN THE BOND PASSED, YOU SAID WE DIDN'T PUT KIDS FIRST AND THAT YOU WERE GOING TO PUT THEM FIRST.
YOU CAN'T PUT KIDS FIRST WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING TEACHERS LAST.
WE ARE TRYING SO HARD TO WORK WITH YOU.
BUT NOW I FEEL THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TRY TO GET A SUPERINTENDENT THAT CARES ABOUT OUR KIDS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE STUDENT SPEAKERS.
IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE ME ONE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE TWO STUDENT SPEAKERS HERE ON ZOOM APOLOGIES.
>> MISS TAYLOR. JUST A SECOND.
CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF? ELLA TAYLOR? I'M SORRY.
HOLD ON. WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU.
ADIDA, DO YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN? LET'S SEE IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
ADIDA SAGE BENTNER. PLEASE BEGIN.
YES, SIR. MR. STENSON? YES, PLEASE COME ON UP.
>> YEAH. YOU'LL HAND HIM OVER THERE.
>> SUPERINTENDENT MILES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU OR WHAT YOU WILL HAVE BEFORE YOU IS OUR VALUES PROPOSITION PACKET THAT OUTLINES THE PRICING FOR THE KICKSTART KIDS PROGRAM.
AN EXAMPLE OF OUR MONTHLY QUOTE AND OUR COMPLIANCE PROPOSITION WITH T SUBCHAPTER A FOR CHARACTER TRAITS OUR KICKSTART KIDS VALUES CURRICULUM.
I HEARD FROM A LITTLE BIRD THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT OUR COST OF THE PROGRAM.
BUT I WANT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE FISCAL COMMITMENT OF HISD.
ALSO, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE INTANGIBLES THAT COME ALONG WITH OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS MISSIONARY PASSION.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON OUR COMPLIANT VALUES CURRICULUM THAT HELPS ISDS THAT WE SERVE MEET THE SUBCHAPTER A FOR CHARACTER TRAITS MANDATED AUGUST 1 AND 2021.
WE ARE CURRENTLY EXECUTING OUR VARIOUS CURRICULUM IN EVERY KICKSTART KIDS CLASSROOM IN HISD.
YOU ALL NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WOULD NEED IT OR NOT, BUT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, NUMBER 4, MICHELLE WILLIAMS.
>> AND 25 YEARS OF CERTIFIED CURRENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE.
MR. MILES SAYS SPENDING $870 MILLION.
THAT WASN'T AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WAS A GOOD FAITH ERROR.
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT? MR. MILES HAS NOT ONLY VIOLATED HISD BOARD POLICY BY AUTHORIZING PURCHASES WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PROCUREMENT DOESN'T PROCESS PURCHASE ORDERS WITHOUT A SIGNATURE, HIS.
IF HE SAYS THAT THIS IS A GOOD FAITH ERROR, THEN IS VIOLATING CONSULTATION POLICY, A GOOD FAITH ERROR TOO OR VIOLATING TEXT EDUCATION CODE BY MAKING MAJOR CURRICULUM CHANGES WITHOUT TEACHER INPUT ONE TOO, OR WHEN HE HAD THE PRINCIPALS MONITOR THE TEACHERS WHEN THEY WERE TAKING HIS SURVEYS SO HE CAN GET HIS 126,000 BONUS.
MR. MILES IS IN BREACH OF CONTRACT, AND ELECTOR BOARD WOULD HAVE PLACED HIM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BY NOW.
WE'VE ASKED THAT HIS CONTRACT BE TERMINATED DUE TO POLICY SPEED VIOLATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER BRIANA VAN BORSM.
[00:25:01]
>> HOLD ON. YOUR MIC'S NOT ON. OKAY.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT OF MISHANDLED FISCAL PROCEDURES THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT.
THE PURCHASE ORDERS IN QUESTION BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2023.
WOULD YOU BE SHOCKED TO KNOW, MR. MILES, THAT IT ONLY TOOK YOU 82 DAYS TO START CIRCUMVENTING A PROCESS THAT IS PARTIALLY INTENDED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY? WOULD YOU BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HELD YOUR SEAT FOR 19 MONTHS AND 16 DAYS AND THE ORDER SPANS 16 OF THOSE MONTHS? 72 DAYS AGO, THIS COMMUNITY MADE THEMSELVES CLEAR.
MIKE MILES CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH $4.4 BILLION.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT HE WAS ALREADY PRACTICING WAYS TO MISMANAGE HISD FUNDS.
BOARD OF MANAGERS, TONIGHT, YOU'RE TASKED WITH RETROACTIVELY APPROVING EACH OF THESE ORDERS.
PLEASE DO NOT SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG.
ADD THIS GOOD FAITH ERROR TO THE LONG LIST OF MIKE MILES NEGLIGENCE AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE EAGLETON, SPEAKER NUMBER 6. MISS EAGLETON?
>> GOOD EVENING. I HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR ITEM NUMBER 7.
I'M GLAD YOU'VE PULLED IT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU MY RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK YOU NEED TO ROLL IT BACK TO $100,000 THRESHOLD REQUIRING APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD.
CLEARLY, THIS DEBACLE IS BIG ENOUGH THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONSEQUENCE.
IF YOUR KID CRASHES THE STATION WAGON, YOU DON'T REPLACE IT WITH THE FERRARI.
AT BEST, THIS IS GROSS INCOMPETENCE.
UNTIL YOU HAVE FULLY SORTED THAT OUT AND PUBLISHED A REPORT ON THE WEBSITE FROM AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR SHOWING THIS WAS A GOOD FAITH MISTAKE, ROLL BACK THE SPENDING AUTHORITY.
OTHERWISE, YOU ARE ABDICATING YOUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE.
IT IS YOUR JOB. YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PURSE STRINGS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG CARRIER.
>> THE BOARD'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT BRAGS ABOUT SUPPOSEDLY ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL AREAS. WE'RE NOT BUYING IT.
IF YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND ACTIONABLE OUTCOMES, THEN LONG AGO, YOU WOULD HAVE FIRED MILES.
YOU WOULD HAVE PUT REAL LIBRARIES BACK IN SCHOOLS.
YOU WOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE TOXIC INTIMIDATION AND FEAR THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS CREATED, AND YOU WOULD HAVE HIRED A SUPERINTENDENT TO UNDO THE HARM MILES HAS WROUGHT ON THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THAT. YOUR SURVEYS ARE NOT ANONYMOUS.
YOUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS ARE NOW CONDITIONED TO FEAR RETRIBUTION FOR ANY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
YOU DIDN'T ENGAGE ANY OF THE THOUSANDS OF EDUCATION COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LEFT THE HISD SINCE THE TAKEOVER TO ASK THEIR OPINIONS.
YOU DISINGENUOUSLY CHERRY-PICKED DATA TO PUSH YOUR BOGUS NARRATIVE.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT SOON THIS SHAM ADMINISTRATION IS GONE, AND THE PHRASE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGAINS ITS INTENDED MEANING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EDUARD ABRITO.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I DETEST YOUR SENTIMENT FROM THE ELECTION.
DON'T PLAY POLITICS WITH OUR KIDS.
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU BEING HERE IS PLAYING POLITICS WITH OUR KIDS.
CONTINUOUSLY IGNORING THE PUBLIC THROUGH YOUR TOTALITARIAN RULE IS HURTING OUR KIDS.
KIDS ARE MASSIVELY UNDERSERVED AND SPED BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOUR COLLEAGUE CRIES ABOUT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME AT THE MEETINGS BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSED BY THIS BOARD.
OUR WISH IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND WAY MORE TIME THAN THAT TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM THE INADEQUACY OF THIS BOARD AND ALL THE CHAOS IT'S CAUSED.
UNCOVERING ALL THE MALICIOUS DECISIONS YOU'VE MADE ARE ALREADY COMING TO LIGHT WITH YOUR GOOD FAITH ERRORS.
THE RICK CAMPO DECISION WILL BE NEXT.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYONE THAT WANTS YOU OUT.
THE KIDS, YOU'RE HARMING, WITH YOUR TACTICS OF IGNORING, FRAMING INFORMATION, AND ATTACKING ADVOCATES FOR OUR CHILDREN, SUCH AS MISS CASTRO ATLANTRI, ELEMENTARY.
EVERY FIRST LETTER OF THESE SENTENCES IN THIS SPEECH BEFORE MY SOLIDARITY STATEMENT SPELLS OUT THE WORDS, YOU MOUTH TO A PARENT AS THEY WALKED AWAY, WHICH WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL SANTOS. DANIEL SANTOS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M DANIEL SANTOS.
IT IS MY 19TH YEAR AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I HAVE A DREAM.
A DREAM IN WHICH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTUALLY ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT MY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IS COMPETENT, THAT MY SCHOOL HAS A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY, ALL THE FINE ARTS,
[00:30:03]
AND 100% CERTIFIED TEACHERS, THAT I AM EVALUATED HONESTLY BY A LEGITIMATE EVALUATION TOOL.IT IS A REALITY TO ME AT MY NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOT HISD.
I WAS EVEN EVALUATED AS A DISTINGUISHED TEACHER LAST MONTH.
HISD PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS DESERVE THE SAME.
THE COMMUNITY MUST REMAIN SKEPTICAL AND CRITICAL AND ABOVE ALL ENGAGED.
ONLY THE COMMUNITY HAS THE POWER TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE FOR HISD, NOT A COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS J DEZIX. SORRY.
>> I CAN SPEAK REALLY LOUDLY ANYWAY.
WE MUST ROUSE THE SLEEPING GIANT, THE PUBLIC.
OUR SUPERINTENDENT, HE'S IRRELEVANT.
THIS IS ABOUT US, THE COLLECTIVE GIANT.
SO TO ALL TEACHERS, STAFF, STUDENTS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND EVEN MAYOR JOHN WHITLES MEYER, WE MUST TREAT LIVELIHOODS AS LIVES BECAUSE THEN WE CAN FINALLY REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIRED UPON, AND THE CASUALTIES ARE IN THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS, A HOUSTON MASSACRE, OUR BOSTON MASSACRE.
THEREFORE, THIS ISN'T A SERIES OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS BUT ESCALATIONS TO WAR, A HOUSTONIAN REVOLUTION IN THE DEFENSE OF HOUSTON'S INDEPENDENCE IN OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, AS WE KNOW IT, NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
TEACHERS, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU RESIGN OR FLEE TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
STAFF, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THROWN OUT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS AGAIN.
STUDENTS YOUR LIVES ARE NOT GOING TO GET BETTER.
HELP US. THIS WAR AFFECTS US ALL. [INAUDIBLE]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GUY BUFORD.
MR. BUFORD. IF THE NEXT 10 SPEAKERS, SO NUMBERS 12-22, DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD.
I'D BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GUY BUFORD.
THIS IS MY 34TH YEAR OF TEACHING, AND MY SALARY HAS BEEN CUT.
YOU GOT THE PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT'S BEEN CUT. IT'S LIKE BEFORE YOU CAME, I WAS MAKING $81,000.
THE YEAR THAT YOU CAME, I MADE 80,000.
THIS YEAR, I'VE BEEN DROPPED ALWAYS DOWN TO $71,000.
IT'S LIKE YOU TOOK MY 34 YEARS, MY 20-SOME YEARS, AND YOU JUST THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW.
IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DAYS? I CAME HERE IN 2015.
BUT FOR YOU TO TAKE THE YEARS THAT WE HAD WORKED AND EARNED SO FOR, AND YOU JUST THROW THEM AWAY.
LIKE THEY DON'T EVEN MATTER.I WORKED EVERY DAY. IT IS SAD.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE ME A LEAST FIVE YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VICTORIA FREDETTE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE SAME $870 MILLION IN HISD SPENDING THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT THE REQUIRED BOARD APPROVAL.
I CANNOT SAY THIS BETTER THAN THE FIRST STUDENT THAT SPOKE TODAY, BUT I'LL READ MY SPEECH ANYWAY.
MIKE MILES SAYS, OOPS, BUT IT'S FINE BECAUSE NO LAWS WERE BROKEN.
THIS PUTS THE BAR OF ACCEPTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INTEGRITY PRETTY FREAKING LOW.
BUT WHAT CAN WE EXPECT GIVEN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF COMPLETE CHAOS UNDER THE CURRENT DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, NOT TO MENTION WHEN THIS CURRENT BOARD VICE PRESIDENT HIMSELF IS CURRENTLY BEING SUED BY OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? BOARD, I IMPLORE YOU TO RAISE THE STANDARD AND HOLD MIKE MILES ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN'T THINK SO, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
I DO HAVE A DREAM THAT WE'LL SOON ALL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE.
OUR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, AND OUR TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. MR. MARTINEZ TO JOIN US.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH MOLLER NUMBER 13.
>> IS THE MIC ON? OKAY. I'M SARAH MOLLER, AND I HAVE TWO KIDS IN HISD, AND I HAVE A DREAM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT OUR DISTRICT WILL RISE ABOVE THE SHADOWS OF MISMANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL RECKLESSNESS.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT WE WILL RECLAIM OUR SCHOOLS FROM THE HANDS OF MIKE MILES, WHO SPENT NEARLY $1 BILLION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
[00:35:04]
WE STAND AT A CROSSROADS WHERE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY MUST GUIDE OUR PATH FORWARD.I HAVE A DREAM WHERE AN ELECTED BOARD OF MANAGERS TAKES BACK CONTROL, ENSURING THAT EVERY DOLLAR IS SPENT TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A DREAM OF AN HISD WHERE WE CAN UNITE TO PASS A TRANSPARENT BOND THAT PRIORITIZES CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
I DREAM OF A DISTRICT THAT TREATS TEACHERS FAIRLY AND WHERE QUALIFIED TEACHERS ARE VYING FOR POSITIONS IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE STAND UNITED IN FRONT OF YOU DEMAND CHANGE, TO RESTORE INTEGRITY TO OUR DISTRICT.
LET'S MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE A STUDENT HERE, SOPHIE GRACE ROJAS.
I WAS IN AN NES SCHOOL WHERE I ONLY DID AI WORKSHEETS WHERE I DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS LEARNING.
I HAVE MOVED TO A NEW SCHOOL THAT IS NON-NES, AND I'M DOING GREAT.
NOW I GET TO HAVE FUN WHILE DOING MY WORK.
HERE I WROTE A SONG FOR SCIENCE CLASS ABOUT PUSH AND PULL.
I'M SORRY. I MIGHT BREAK YOUR EARDRUMS WHILE SEEING THIS, BUT PUSH AND PULL IS A FORCE WE BE.
PUSH AWAY OR PULL THINGS NEAR.
FORCES MOVE THINGS HERE AND THERE.
PULL YOUR CHAIR TO TAKE YOUR SEAT, PUSH YOUR PEN TO MAKE A BEAT. PUSH HIM PULL.
THEY HELP US SEE HOW WE USE THEM SIMPLY.
THESE ARE FORCES, BIG AND SMALL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA SOTO, MISS SOTO.
>> A YEAR AGO. >> HOLD ON. I DON'T THINK YOUR MIC'S ON.
PULL IT CLOSER IF YOU DON'T MIND. STRIKE IT.
>> A YEAR AGO, I SPOKE TO YOU IN MY CAPACITY AS A TEACHER IN HISD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
I ATTEMPTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE WAY THAT THE DISTRICT'S POLICIES WERE DRIVING AWAY, EXPERIENCED QUALIFIED EDUCATORS AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT AND HIRE NEW ONES.
TODAY, I'M ADDRESSING YOU AS A PARENT.
MY 5-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AT COLTER ELEMENTARY HAS NOT HAD A TEACHER IN HER KINDERGARTEN CLASS FOR EIGHT WEEKS.
IT APPEARS THAT SHE WILL GO THE REST OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.
SEVEN OUT OF 10 MONTHS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME WITH A SUBSTITUTE, LEAVING HER AND HER CLASSMATES WITH SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR LEARNING AT A VITALLY FORMATIVE TIME.
I'M RETURNING TO YOU AFTER THIS TIME TO IMPLORE YOU TO RETHINK THE PRACTICES THAT ARE DENYING MY CHILD THE EDUCATION THAT SHE IS OWED.
I HAVE THE RESOURCES AND PRIVILEGE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WAY THAT SHE IS BEING SHORT-CHANGED BY THE DISTRICT, BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE BEING AFFECTED IN SIMILAR WAYS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SISTER MAMA SONIA LUCAS ROBERTS.
OH, OKAY, MISS SOTO? YES. YES. COME ON UP.
GOOD EVENING. I AM READING IN AN EXTRACT OF OUR ADVOCACY GROUP TEACHER AND STAFF EXIT SURVEY.
A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON BOTH PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY.
FACING CONSTANT NEGATIVITY OR OVERWHELMING STRESS, IT ERODES MORALE AND LEADS TO BURNOUT A CULTURE OF POOR COMMUNICATION, FAVORITISM, OR LACK OF SUPPORT, STIFLES COLLABORATION.
AS DOCTOR MATIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAID, I HAVE A DREAM ONE DAY THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND DO FEEL VALUED, SUPPORTED, AND EMPOWERED TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR BEST WORK.
I WAS ALMOST CONVINCED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING, DESPITE MY EXTENSIVE WORK EXPERIENCE.
THE DAY BEFORE I RESIGNED, MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 160/98, AND ONE OF MY EYES WAS BLOODSHOT.
I HAVE A DREAM, HOWEVER, THAT ONE DAY I CAN RETURN TO THE DISTRICT I LOVE AND PUT THESE FIVE MONTHS BEHIND.
[00:40:03]
>> THANK YOU. MISS LUCAS ROBERTS.
>> I HAVE A DREAM THAT MIKE MILES WILL GET A HEART AND FOREGO HIS HARD-HEARTED LEGACY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT BE AFRAID TO STAND UP TO MIKE MILES AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT SCHOLARS WILL GET BACK TO LOVING EDUCATION.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT REAL FINE ARTS WILL RETURN.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT TEACHERS WILL BE GIVEN THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT TRUMP'S 2025 PROJECT AT CULLEN GO AWAY.
HAVE A DREAM THAT SCHOLARS BE GIVEN THE RESPECT TO NOT HAVE TO TAKE CONES TO THE BATHROOM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT F MIKE MILES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND ALMOST $1 BILLION WILLINGLY.
AND CUSTODIANS, SALARS WILL CUT.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST.
THANK GOD. ALMIGHTY. WE'RE FREE AT LAST FROM YOU ALL.
F MIKE MILES, THE TYRANT, AND HIS MINIONS.
THEN WE WILL PROUDLY SAY RESPECT BY LETTING US ALONE, GET OUT OF VACANCY.
GO BACK WHERE YOU LONG Y'ALL REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT. [INAUDIBLE]
>> I HAVE A DREAM THAT WE WILL TAKE IT BACK.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MINDON TRAN.
SPEAKER NUMBER 17, MINDON TRAN.
>> SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 2, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT THE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE ELECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THAT HISD WILL TRULY LISTEN TO ALL FAMILIES, INCLUDING THE UNDERPRIVILEGED ONES WHOSE PARENTS DON'T GO ON WALKS WITH BOARD MEMBERS.
THAT THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE TRUE CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIONS OF TEACHERS THAT TEACH YOUR STUDENTS, THAT TEACHERS WILL HAVE 450 MINUTES OF PLANNING TIME EVERY TWO WEEKS AS DICTATED BY STATE LAW, TIME THAT IS AT THE TEACHERS' DISCRETION TO CREATE LESSONS, GRADE WORK, COLLABORATE WITH COLLEAGUES, AND CONFERENCE WITH FAMILIES.
THAT TEACHERS WILL BE VALUED AND TRUSTED AS EXPERTS WHO EARNED A DEGREE AND HOLD PROFESSIONAL LICENSES, AND THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERTISE, TEACHERS WILL ONCE AGAIN HAVE AUTONOMY TO MAKE LESSONS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND HAVE AUTONOMY TO ADJUST THE PACING OF LESSONS TO DIFFERENTIATE FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS WITH VARYING SKILL SETS, PRIMARY LANGUAGES, AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS.
LASTLY, I HAVE A DREAM THAT HISD WILL BE GOVERNED BY AN ELECTED BOARD WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE A BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASMINE TURNER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASMINE TURNER, AND I AM THE SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR FOR THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THEATRE SORORITY INCORPORATED, AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
OUR SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, I URGE YOU TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF ENSURING THAT ALL TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT ARE FULLY CERTIFIED.
TEACHER CERTIFICATION IS VITAL FOR MAINTAINING HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE QUALITY EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD EXPLORE AVENUES TO SUPPORT AND FACILITATE THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR ALL EDUCATORS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORSHIP.
BY INVESTING IN OUR TEACHERS, WE ULTIMATELY INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS' SUCCESS.
FURTHERMORE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREVIOUS INSTANCES OF FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT THAT HAVE IMPACTED OUR DISTRICT.
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ESSENTIAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I URGE THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT TO PREVENT FURTHER MISMANAGEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTI BREWSTER, SPEAKER 19.
>> I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR REAL, OR IS IT JUST THE CHOSEN COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALL ENGAGING? THE PRIVATE INVITATIONS TO THE SO-CALLED PTOS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK TO, THE PRO MILE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO SPEAK WITH, OR YOU JUST ENGAGING TO ENGAGE WITH YOURSELVES AND JUST CHECK IN THE BOX? SEE BOM, YOU'RE RIGHT NOW IS KILLING YOUR LATER ON.
YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, YOU RUBBER STAMPING EVERYTHING HE WANTS.
YOU ALL HAD THE NERVE TO EVEN GIVE HIM A BONUS.
YOU AGREE TO EVERY TERMINATION HE BRINGS UP.
NO POLITICAL CAREERS. FORGET THAT.
[00:45:01]
NO BOARD APPOINTMENTS. FORGET THAT.ANY LAND THAT YOU MAY STEAL FROM US, YOU WON'T GET ANY KIND OF REAL ESTATE ADVANCEMENT. FORGET THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING US SEE WE THE COMMUNITY, WE STILL WALKING AND TALKING.
I HAVE A DREAM. WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR LOCAL CONTROL BACK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA DUGAN.
>> I FIND IT SO FUNNY THAT YOU WANTED US TO GIVE YOU $4.4 BILLION OF TAX DOLLARS WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR $870 MILLION.
THIS SUPERINTENDENT IS CONSTANTLY HAVING TO DEFEND HIMSELF ON HOW HE'S NOT BREAKING THE LAW.
YOU, THE BOARD, WAS SUPPOSED TO APPROVE THIS AND RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING, AND IT'S EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS THAT YOU HAVEN'T.
THE COMMUNITY MESSAGE HAS BEEN CLEAR, FIRE MIKE MILES, WHO CONTINUES TO POLICE OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL WE WORK WITH YOU TO DO RIGHT BY OUR KIDS.
SINCE I HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, I'LL TALK ABOUT SPECIAL ED.
I'VE GOT A KID THAT'S SUPPOSED TO START NEXT YEAR.
THE SPECIAL ED PROCEDURES ARE EVEN HARDER THAN EVER.
THE ONLY REASON I MISSED LAST MONTH IS BECAUSE MY KID GOT KICKED OFF OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE IN HOUSTON THAT UNITEDHEALTHCARE WILL COVER TO SEND HIM TO THERAPY.
FOR TWO YEARS. NOW MIKE MILES HAS GOTTEN ALL THE TEACHERS TO BE ON UNITED HEALTH.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH TORRE.
>> YES, MA'AM. YOU ARE BEING TOLD TO SWEEP POTENTIAL FRAUD UNDER THE RUG.
THIS WAS CIRCUMVENTING POLICY.
EMPHASIZING BUDGET COMPLIANCE, MILES INSISTS THAT YOU HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTING US FROM WASTE AND FRAUD.
HE TELLS YOU TO REWARD HIS FAILURE WITH EVEN LESS OVERSIGHT AND YOU KNOW THIS IS WRONG.
A SYSTEMIC 16-MONTH ERROR IN CASH DISBURSEMENTS IS LIKELY A MATERIAL WEAKNESS.
IT REVEALS A SERIOUS WEAKNESS IN THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT.
IF THE TONE AT THE TOP IS THAT COMPLIANCE WITH FINANCIAL CONTROLS IS NOT IMPORTANT, THE ENTITY IS OPEN TO FRAUD.
THIS IS HOW YOU GET A CONTROL FAILURE THAT LAST 16 MONTHS.
GROUPTHINK SETS IN, AND PEOPLE LOSE THEIR CRITICAL ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE.
YOU HAVE FALLEN PREY TO GROUPTHINK.
MILE SUBDUES YOU WITH A LIMITED AUDIT THAT MISSES ELESANDO REFERS TO AS IT DID COME BACK REFUSED TO CLEAN UP HIS MESS, INVESTIGATE THUS.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH HUFFMAN LACK.
>> THIS IS TWO LIKELY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES ON. THERE WE GO.
THIS IS TWO LIKELY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN CASH DISBURSEMENTS AND IN CONTROL ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS A FATAL COMBINATION FOR FRAUD.
ON NOVEMBER 7, WEAVER AND TIDWELL SIGNED A CLEAN AUDIT OPINION FOR HISD.
NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
YET JUST ONE MONTH LATER, ADMIN HAD FOUND THIS LONGSTANDING ERROR, QUANTIFIED IT, AND PREPARED 140 PAGES OF RETROACTIVE APPROVALS FOR OUR DECEMBER CONSENT AGENDA.
WHO KNEW ABOUT THIS AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT? YOUR AUDITOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO MODIFY THEIR OPINION.
HOW TRANSPARENT WAS HISD WITH ITS AUDITORS? WAS THIS HIDDEN FROM THEM? WAS TERRY AND MILES, WOULD TERRY AND MILES ATTEST TO THEIR REPRESENTATION LETTERS TO THE AUDITORS? WHEN DID THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS? ENRON ALSO FAILED BECAUSE THE AUDITORS WERE ACTIVELY OVERLOOKING ACCOUNTING IRREGULARITIES.
HOW CAN PUBLIC HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR AUDITS WHEN THEY MISS A PROBLEM THIS SERIOUS? FIRE THE LIAR.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FRIANA MOHAN.
>> I'M SPEAKING THIS EVENING IN HONOR OF MY LATE FATHER-IN-LAW, AKAI POKER ANOS, WHO WAS AN EXCELLENT INTERNAL AUDITOR AND AN EXCELLENT UNION ORGANIZER IN MALAYSIA.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE NOVEMBER 5.
IS A SYSTEMIC FAILURE IN PURCHASING THE PROCESS THAT IS SUBJECT TO
[00:50:05]
THE HIGHEST RISK OFF AND FRAUD NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR A MEETING.WHO AUTHORIZED THE AUDIT THAT CAME OUT IN PERFECT SHAPE? IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
WHERE IS THIS AUDIT? WHEN WILL YOUR GREAT TRANSPARENCY ALLOW US TO READ IT? WHY DID INTERNAL AUDITORS NOT FIND THIS FAILURE? DOES THIS CHANGE THE 2025 AUDIT PLAN? THERE MUST BE A CLOSER LOOK AT PURCHASING AND DISBURSEMENT.
YET MILE'S SOLUTION IS FOR YOU TO SWEEP IT ALL AWAY, SIGN OFF ON CONTRACTS RETROACTIVELY, AND INCREASE.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH KRAVITZ.
>> GOOD EVENING. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CHANGES.
HOW DID THE 870 MILLION IN UNAPPROVED SPENDING GO UNCHECKED FOR 16 MONTHS? WHY DID THIS COME TO LIGHT PUBLICLY AFTER THE BOND ELECTION AND RIGHT AFTER HISD GOT ITS CLEAN AUDIT OPINION, WHERE WERE THE INTERNAL CONTROLS? AS MAYA ANGELO SAID, WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM THE FIRST TIME.
IF THIS SYSTEM'S FAILURE HAD HAPPENED UNDER THE HISD-ELECTED BOARD, THE TEA WOULD HAVE IMPOSED SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, BUT NOW TEA IS SILENT.
THIS ERROR PERSISTED SO LONG THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE WERE NO BACKUP CONTROLS.
AS REQUIRED BY YOUR OWN LSG GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK, CONTROL SHOULD HAVE DETECTED THIS.
YOU SHOULD SHARE PUBLICLY HOW AND WHY EVERYTHING HAS FAILED.
YOUR FIRST STEP IS TO PUBLICLY STOP CALLING IT AN OVERSIGHT OR SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO MAL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAK SPEAKER IS KARINA CASADA.
>> RICK CAMPO SAYS THAT PROCUREMENT IS COMPLICATED AND MISTAKES REMAIN.
HE LOOKED INTO PEOPLE'S EYES AND THERE WAS NO MALINTENT. AS WELL.
HIS TONE FROM THE TOP MINIMIZES COMPLIANCE WITH CONTROLS AND POLICY AND TOLERATES INCOMPETENCE IN PROCUREMENT.
MR. CAMPO IS ACTUALLY QUITE FRAUD-FRIENDLY.
HE WOULD NEVER BE SO MERCIFUL IN HIS OWN COMPANY.
THE RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE FIRED.
BUT CAMPO IS HAPPY TO PAVE OVER MILES AND TERRY'S FAILURES WITH RETROACTIVE APPROVAL OF 870 MILLION IN CONTRACTS WITH NO DISCUSSION, AND ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT 40% OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
OUR MONEY IS NOT WORTH PROTECTING.
MR. MARTINEZ SAYS IT'S NOT A BOARD ISSUE.
HE APPEARS TO BELIEVE THE BOARD HAS NO FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY.
THE MASSIVE FAILURE IS AN OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE THAT MILES WILL FIX.
PROTECTING OUR TAX DOLLARS IS NOT HIS CONCERN.
OUR BOARD OPERATES UNDER THE OLD MOTTO, GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMENT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY RILEY.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. YOU'RE RIGHT. MISS CANDIDA.
>> BRON. THIS IS A PROCUREMENT FAILURE WHERE THE RISK OF FRAUD IS HIGHEST.
THIS DELIBERATE MISTAKE PERSISTED UNCHECKED FOR 16 MONTHS.
MILES' VERY FIRST ASK WAS TO INCREASE THE UNSUPERVISED SPENDING AUTHORITY 100,000 TO 2 MILLION.
HE WANTED THE MONTHLY AGENDA NOT TO SHOW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
MILES HID 870 MILLION IN CONTRACTS AND ALSO HID THE FACT THAT HE WAS NOT GETTING THEM INTERNALLY VETTED OR BID.
COOPERATIVES WERE A USEFUL LOOPHOLE IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS.
MORE THAN A MISTAKE, THIS WAS CIRCUMVENTION OF CONTROLS.
NOW HE INSISTS YOU MAKE THE LOOPHOLE PERMANENT WITH YET ANOTHER POLICY CHANGE.
THIS SITUATION IS RIPE FOR CONTRACT STEERING.
TAKE OUTREACH STRATEGIES, THE 1.6 MILLION CONSULTANT USED FOR THE BOND ELECTION.
IT SEEMS UNLIKELY YOU'D CHOOSE THAT FROM A COOPERATIVE STOCK LIST.
COULD HSD HAVE PLACED THAT VENDOR ON THE LIST ITSELF THEN CHOSEN IT? THAT WOULD BE CONTRACT STEERING, AND THAT IS FRAUD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA PARRISH.
EVERYONE UP HERE PROFESSIONALLY KNOWS THAT.
A REAL AUDIT WOULD EXPLAIN WHAT WENT WRONG, HOW THIS WAS DISCOVERED AND WHY IT WENT UNDETECTED FOR 16 MONTHS.
[00:55:03]
A AUDIT SHOULD INCLUDE THE REVIEW OF EACH OF THE $870 MILLION CONTRACTS.A SAMPLE OF OTHER PURCHASES TO ENSURE ADMIN IDENTIFIED ALL OF THEM AND IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IS IT JUSTIFIED TO PURCHASE THROUGH COOPS RATHER THAN AN INTERNAL HISD VENDOR, BIDDING, AND APPROVAL.
REVIEW THE COOPERATIVES' PROCEDURE FOR VETTING VENDORS.
DETERMINE WHETHER A MEMBER OF THE COOP CAN REQUEST TO ADD VENDORS AND THEN CHOOSE THEM.
WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC? YOU SAY THAT IT'S NOT YOUR BOARD WORK, BUT YOUR GOVERNANCE GIVES YOU POINTS.
HOW CAN WE SPEND THE CHILDREN'S MONEY THAT DOESN'T GO TO THEM AND HAVE NO REVIEW AND CALL IT NOT BOARD WORK? ASPECTS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTICIPATION, RULE OF LAW, RESPONSIVENESS, EQUITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LOUIS DE COTE.
>> HI. AMANDA PARRISH, A PARENT OF HISD STUDENT AND TAXPAYER, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER.
WHAT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY WAS REALLY HARD TO SELECT.
I AM PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL, SO I REALLY, REALLY TRIED TO REALLY WAS DEFINITELY GRAVITATING TOWARDS ALL THESE AUDIT AND THE CONCERNS, AND THAT THE FACT THAT IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ALARMING.
THAT SHOULD BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NUMBER 14 ON THESE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, PLEASE PULL IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE OTHER POINT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ALSO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, NUMBER 8, AND HOW IT RELATES TO ITEM NUMBER 6 IN REGARDS TO PROGRAMS AND MAGNETS.
WHEN I READ THE COMMUNITY REPORT AND THE FEELINGS FROM THERE, I AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER DO NOT RELATE TO THOSE COMMENTARIES.
WHAT I SEE IS MULTIPLE TIMES PROGRAMS BEING CUT WITHOUT REAL ENGAGEMENT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE TIME PUT INTO ACTUALLY DATA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LOUIS DECOTE.
NEXT SPEAKERS 29-39 DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH OTHERS ON SUPERINTENDENT MILES FAILURE TO SECURE THIS BOARD'S APPROVAL OF 870 MILLION IN SPENDING DURING THE LAST 16 MONTHS.
FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, I HAVE ADVISED CORPORATE BOARDS ON A WIDE RANGE OF CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS.
TO HEAR SUPERINTENDENT MILES CHARACTERIZE A FAILURE OF THIS MAGNITUDE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT AND DEFLECT BLAME TO HIS SUBORDINATES OR HIS OWN GROSS INCOMPETENCE WAS PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING.
SINCE THIS BODY IS EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HOLD SUPERINTENDENT MILES TO ACCOUNT, I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCES IS KINDER-GRADE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS NOT ONLY A BREACH OF TRUST, IT WAS A BREACH OF YOUR DUTY TO OVERSEE THE SUPERINTENDENT.
WHILE I'M ON THE TOP OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS IS NORMALLY THE PART OF VOTERS.
WE STOP ELECTING LEADERS OF THE [INAUDIBLE] BUT THEN I'M REMINDED NONE OF YOU WERE ELECTED.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA DAKOTA.
>> YES, MA'AM. ARE YOU LAURA? YES, MA'AM.
MY NAME IS LAURA, AND I'M A PARENT OF THREE HISD STUDENTS, TWO GT, ONE WITH AN IP, AND ONE WITH A 504 PLAN.
YOUNGEST TO ATTEND WHARTON, AND MY OLDEST IS IN LAMAR'S IB PROGRAM, I'M SORRY, LAMAR.
I ALSO HOLD A MASTER'S IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION.
I'VE WATCHED WITH HEARTBREAK AS CURRENT LEADERSHIP IMPOSED RIGID CHANGES ON OUR SCHOOLS.
RESEARCHERS CONFIRMS THESE POLICIES FAIL TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LEARNERS, AND GIFTED STUDENTS.
MY CHILDREN HAVE LOST INCREDIBLE TEACHERS, NURSES, AND FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO MADE LEARNING JOYFUL.
THE RECENT NEAR-BILLION-DOLLAR ERROR HIGHLIGHTS A TROUBLING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
INSTEAD OF BEING TREATED AS PARTNERS IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, WE ARE DICTATED TO BY THOSE WE DID NOT ELECT.
WE NEED LEADERS WHO VALUE TRANSPARENCY, FOSTER TRUST, AND COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS, NOT WORK AGAINST US FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YEN ROBEY.
[01:00:10]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS YEN ROBEY.
I'M A FORMER HISD EDUCATOR AND A CURRENT HISD TAXPAYER.
ALSO THE HOUSTON AREA CHAPTER OF START SCHOOL LATER, AND I HAVE A DREAM THAT ALL STUDENTS WILL GET ADEQUATE SLEEP AND NOT HAVE TO WAKE UP BEFORE THEY COMPLETE THEIR REM SLEEP IN THE MORNING.
ACCORDING TO MARK RASMUS, MD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF EVERYTHING SLEEP, IDAHO, DELAYING SCHOOL START TIMES IN ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS IS THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT IN REGARDS TO IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND MAKING THE CHANGES CONCRETE, AND THE DATA CLEARLY SHOWS THAT IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE OVER THE LONG RUN.
WHEN STUDENTS DON'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP, THEY BECOME IRRITABLE AND MAKE RASH DECISIONS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANNON SWOOP.
>> NUMBER 5. F MIKE MILES, I ASKED YOU LAST YEAR TO DO THE HARD WORK.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT CREATING A ZERO-BASED BUDGET, YOU OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WITH $125 MILLION OF INCREASE.
YOU CAME IN AND RED-LINED ITEMS, WITHOUT THOUGHT, WITHOUT ANALYSIS, JUST TO HIT A TARGET.
YOU IGNORED YOUR OWN 2024 EFFICIENCY REPORT.
BOARD OF RUBBER STAMPERS, NOW IT'S UP TO YOU DO THE HARD WORK BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED.
DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO AS THEY WANT AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, PLEASE FORGIVE US, AND ASK FOR APPROVAL LATER.
ASK HARD QUESTIONS, KEEP DRILLING.
I WILL ACTUALLY GIVE YOU SOME QUESTIONS.
LOOK AT THE PURCHASE SERVICE AGREEMENTS.ARE THERE REDUNDANCIES? ARE THERE INEFFICIENCIES? WHY ARE WE PURCHASING THESE SERVICES? IS IT BECAUSE WE'VE ELIMINATED OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, HVAC, MAINTENANCE, BUILDING, CUSTODIOS, LAWN, CURRICULUM WRITERS, CERTIFIED TEACHERS? DOES THIS ALIGN WITH OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGY? ANY SUPPORT OR CONSTRAINTS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EDGAR ESCARDO.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN HISD, I, AS WELL AS MY BROTHER, AND MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GRADUATES OF HISD, AS MANY OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS ARE, AS WELL.
I ASK YOU THE BOARD MANAGERS TO HOLD MR. MILES ACCOUNTABLE.
WE CAN'T DO IT. THE COMMUNITY HERE CAN'T DO IT, BUT YOU CAN.
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG TEACHERS ARE LOST.
TEACHERS DO NOT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE LEARNING FUN, WHICH DISINTEREST THE STUDENTS.
MY SON COMES HOME CRYING WITH ANXIETY OVER THE PRESSURE FROM TESTING.
OUR PRINCIPAL NO LONGER MAKES TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THE PARENTS.
I ASK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOUR JOB, HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSE CAMPOS. MISS CAMPOS.
>> I HAD A DREAM. FOR THE MOMENT I LAID EYES ON MY DAUGHTER FOR THE FIRST TIME, I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO PROTECT HER, AND I KNEW THAT I WOULD PROTECT MY KIDS, THAT I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE FOR MY KIDS.
I'M PRETTY SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THAT DREAM FOR YOUR KIDS, TOO.
WHAT I WASN'T COUNTING ON WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE ADULTS LIKE YOU THAT WOULD WORK SYSTEMATICALLY TO DIM THEIR LIGHT AND TO SILENCE THEIR MOTHER.
I WAS SO SURE THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THAT DREAM BECAUSE I AM THEIR MOTHER.
I WAS SURE THAT I WOULD NOT FAIL THEM THE WAY THE ADULTS IN MY LIFE FAILED ME.
I HAVE ANOTHER DREAM NOW THOUGH.
I HAVE A NEW DREAM THAT PARENTS, MOMS, DADS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND EVERYONE STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THIS COMMON ENEMY THAT WE HAVE, YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DARCY LARODA.
[01:05:10]
>> THE UNITED STATES SPENDS THE MOST ON HEALTH CARE, YET PRODUCES SOME OF THE WORST RESULTS.
THEREFORE, IT'S UNSETTLING THAT MIKE MILES FEATURES ARE INEFFICIENT, MOSTLY PRIVATIZED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS A MODEL FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
REVIEW THE DATA REGARDING PAY FOR PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS AND HOSPITALS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY HAVE MIXED SUCCESS RATES WITH KEY STUDIES SHOWING MINOR AND ONLY SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS.
MILES' ANALOGY, TEACHERS ARE LIKE SURGEONS IS ALSO OFF THE MARK.
THEY'RE BOTH FRONTLINE WORKERS, HELPING PEOPLE DIRECTLY.
THEY'RE BOTH PROBLEM SOLVERS WHO ADAPT THEIR APPROACHES TO MEET OTHERS WHERE THEY ARE, AND BOTH DO HARD JOBS UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FOR NOT ENOUGH PAY.
ADDITIONALLY, IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS, DICTATE WHAT TREATMENTS ARE PERFORMED, AND GREATLY IMPACT HOW CLINICIANS WORK IN PATIENT OUTCOMES.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SUPERINTENDENT MILES IS MORE LIKE A HEALTH INSURANCE CEO, USELESS AND DESPISED BY EVERYONE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRANDY DOTA. MISS DOTA?
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM BRANDY DOTA, A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I AM ADDRESSING AGENDA ITEM 9.
$870 MILLION IN PURPOSES NOT APPROVED BY THE BOARD, AND YOU ARE ACTING AS IF IT IS A PAPERWORK MISTAKE.
THIS IS NOT LITTLE MIKEY GETTING CAUGHT FORGING HIS MOM'S SIGNATURE ON A FAILING DOL IN FOURTH GRADE, THEN GIVING YOU SAD EYES AND SAYING, WHAT HAPPENED WAS MR. MILES IS NOT A CHARMING 9-YEAR-OLD HIDING A FAILING GRADE FROM HIS PARENTS.
HE IS A SMALL-TIME INCOMPETENT GRIFTER.
FINANCIAL SCANDAL FOLLOWS WHEREVER HE GOES.
HE SPENT NEARLY $1 BILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.
YET YOU WONDER WHY WE WOULD NOT TRUST YOU WITH 4.4 BILLION DOLLAR BOND.
MR. CAMPO, WOULD YOU SMILE AWAY A CLERICAL ERROR, CALL IT AN HONEST MISTAKE IF AN EMPLOYEE SPENT 870 MILLION OF YOUR MONEY ON FIRE LIER?
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA MURRAY.
>> I HAD A SPEECH ALL PREPARED, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL, BUT I GOT ACCOSTED BY NEIGHBORS, AND I WANT TO SAY, EVERYONE HERE, DON'T DIMINISH IT.
YOU ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
I GET CALLS, I GET STOPPED IN SUPERMARKETS, NAME IT.
IN 1956, MY MOTHER THREW ME ON THE BACK DOOR OF F. W. WOOLWORTH TO PICK IT.
WE WERE IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, AND IT WAS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE SEGREGATED LUNCH COUNTERS IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH.
THOSE PEOPLE SUPPORTED AND STOOD IN SUPPORT AND BOYCOTTED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH.
SO ARE WE, AS WE STAND HERE, REPRESENTATIVE OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
THE PARENTS THAT HAVE TO HAVE RENT TO PAY ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET TO MAKE A 49-CENTS OR AN 87 CENTS MISTAKE ON THEIR JOB.
MA'AM, [NOISE] THE PARENTS THAT HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET TO MAKE THOSE MISTAKES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE DONAS. CATHERINE DONAS.
[BACKGROUND] I'M NOT THERE YET.
>> NO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP IF YOU'D LIKE. YES, MA'AM.
>> CATHERINE DONAS. I HAD A DREAM ADAM, PAULA, ROLANDO, RICK, AUDREY, ANGELA, JANETTE, MICHELLE, CASSANDRA, THAT YOU GUYS CARED.
BUT IT WAS ONLY A DREAM BECAUSE EACH OF YOU DON'T CARE.
BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT, YOUR LEGACY OF DESTRUCTION WILL OUTLIVE YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, AND GENERATIONS TO COME.
I HAD A DREAM THAT THE BOOKS NOTING ALL THE INVESTIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST MIKE MILES FROM COLORADO, FROM DALLAS AND NOW HOUSTON, AND THE LATEST, OOPS, ERROR MADE BY MIKE MILES IN THE SPENDING OF $870 MILLION WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL WILL BE BANNED AND BURNED BECAUSE THAT HAS BECOME THE BOARD'S NORM, A GUARANTEED REALITY.
[01:10:02]
BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF YOU FORGET.>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLEN WALTER. [APPLAUSE]
>> BOSTON WE'RE COMING. I'M ELLEN WALTER.
EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION IN UNAPPROVED SPENDING IS NOT AN IN-GOOD-FAITH MISTAKE.
THIS IS THE POINT THAT WILL MAKE YOU REALIZE THAT HE IS A MISTAKE.
YOU SHOULD BE FIRING MIKE MILES AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD BE APPOINTING ANYBODY BUT RICK CAMPO FOR PRESIDENT TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALLISON NICKFORD.
>> THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS DISTRICT DESERVE BETTER.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS BOARD TO DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNANCE.
PLEASE REJECT THE FLAWED AUDITS FROM THE PAST 18 MONTHS AND DEMAND A TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION INTO THESE EXPENDITURES.
VOTE AGAINST THE POLICY CHANGES THAT FURTHER ERODE YOUR OVERSIGHT.
TAKE A STAND AND ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE TRUST AND SHOW LEADERSHIP.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR KIDS.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKERS AS I HAVE IT ARE ON ZOOM.
YES, MA'AM. YOU'RE SPEAKER 41.
>> I KNOW. GOOD EVENING. KELLY BLICKRE.
WHAT THE BEST AND WISEST PARENT WANTS FOR HIS CHILD, WE WANT FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE WORDS ARE FROM JOHN DEWEY, A TRUE REFORMER OF AMERICAN EDUCATION.
HERE IS WHAT I WANT FOR MY CHILD; A ROBUST, WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION THAT FOSTERS INQUIRY, DISCOVERY, AND JOY.
I WANT HIM TO BE CHALLENGED, NOT JUST TO MASTER TICKS OR COMPLETE PACKETS, BUT TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE WORLD AND HIS ROLE IN IT.
I WANT A STABLE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WHERE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE CELEBRATED FOR THEIR STRENGTHS AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR GROWTH.
I WANT MUSIC, SPORTS, ART, LAUGHTER, AND WHOLE BOOKS TO BE A PART OF HIS SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
I WANT MY CHILD TO BE SEEN AS MORE THAN A TEST SCORE.
I WANT THIS NOT JUST FOR HIM OR THOSE AT HIS SCHOOL, OR THOSE IN MAGNET PROGRAMS OR CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WANT THIS FOR EVERY CHILD IN HISD.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NOW WE'LL GO TO STUDENTS ON ZOOM.
ELLA TAYLOR, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AGAIN.
IF YOU'LL TURN ON YOUR CAMERA.
ELLA, WE'RE GOING TO TRY, ONE SECOND.
GO AHEAD. WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU IN THE BOARD ROOM.
>> THIS WEEK, I SAW A PICTURE OF CROCKETT'S DATA WALLS, GREEN FOR MASTERS, YELLOW FOR MEETS, ORANGE FOR APPROACHES, RED FOR DID NOT MEET.
IT REMINDED ME OF THE CLIP CHART IN KINDERGARTEN.
>> ELLA TAYLOR, CAN YOU STOP AND START OVER, PLEASE? WE GOT YOU BUT YOU START IN THE MIDDLE. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS WEEK, I SAW A PICTURE OF CROCKETT'S DATA WALLS, GREEN FOR MASTERS, YELLOW FOR MEETS, ORANGE FOR APPROACHES, AND RED FOR DID NOT MEET.
IT REMINDED ME OF THE CLIP CHART IN KINDERGARTEN.
THE GOOD KIDS FLOATED AT THE TOP IN PINK, AND I WAS STUCK AT GREEN OR DOWN IN ORANGE, WHICH WAS NEXT TO RED.
SOMETIMES TEACHERS THINK THAT IF YOU CAN'T GET MOVED UP, IT'S BECAUSE YOU AREN'T TRYING.
BUT I WAS TRYING. I DON'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING I GOT CLIPPED DOWN FOR.
I ONLY REMEMBER A GENERAL FEELING OF NEVER BEING GOOD ENOUGH.
I DO REMEMBER GETTING CLIPPED DOWN TO RED WHEN I BALLED UP A PICTURE THAT MY TEACHER MADE ME ERASE AND READ YOU UNTIL I HAD A HOLE IN IT.
NOBODY EVEN ME KNEW AT THE TIME THAT I HAD TO SCRAP HERE.
ALL I KNEW IS I WANTED TO BE A GOOD KID AND THAT I COULDN'T GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTED.
I'M IN 11TH GRADE NOW, AND I STILL REMEMBER THAT.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT THE ADULTS IN HISD WILL TAKE THE CHARTS OFF THE WALL SO THAT ALL KIDS CAN FEEL LIKE GOOD KIDS, EVEN IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CANNOT DO.
>> THANK YOU, ELLA. ADIDA SAGE BENTNER.
[01:15:05]
>> HI. MY NAME IS ADIDA SAGE BENTNER, AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT COLTER ELEMENTARY.
I LOVE LEARNING AND EVEN ON FIFTH PLACE AT THE UIL COMPETITION FOR MAPS, GRAPHS, AND CHARTS, SOMEDAY, I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, SO THE INFORMATION YOU SHARE ABOUT STUDENTS EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
ON PAGE 16 [BACKGROUND] OF THE AUGUST 2024 AGENDA PACKET, MR. MILES SHOWED A GRAPH ABOUT 11TH GRADERS EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT.
IT SAID 24% OF STUDENTS EARNED AP CREDIT IN 2023 AND 26% EARNED IT IN 2024.
BUT IN EXHIBIT 4 OF TODAY'S AGENDA PACKET, A NEW GRAPH SHOWS THAT ONLY 14% AND 15.6% EARNED AP CREDIT FOR THOSE YEARS.
THAT'S ABOUT 10% LOWER THAN BEFORE.
WHY ARE THE NUMBERS DIFFERENT? I HOPE YOU CAN EXPLAIN THIS TODAY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
LIKE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., I HAVE A DREAM THAT THE DATA AND INFORMATION YOU SHARE IS ALWAYS HONEST AND ACCURATE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CHRISTINE HURLEY, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> IF PEACE MEANS KEEPING MY MOUTH SHUT IN THE MIDST OF INJUSTICE AND EVIL, I DON'T WANT IT.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK AT BOARD MEETINGS AND MAKE YOU HEAR MY VOICE UNTIL YOU LISTEN AS SHOWN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS.
THUS FAR, YOUR INACTION CONCERNING MILES' CORRUPTION CONDONES THE NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS OF COMMUNITY TRUST COMMITTED BY THIS MAN.
OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER, AND THE HOTTEST PLACE IN HELL IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN NEUTRAL IN TIMES OF GREAT MORAL CONFLICT.
MIKE MILES IS A CON MAN, A GRIFTER, A SNAKE OIL SALESMAN, AND THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE OPPRESSION AND CRUELTY WROUGHT BY HIM, BUT THE SILENCE OVER IT BY YOU, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED GOOD PEOPLE.
FINALLY, DO SOMETHING RIGHT BY THE STUDENTS OF HISD AND ACTUALLY HELP STUDENT OUTCOMES BY FIRING MIKE MILES.
>> DR. MARIA BENZON, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DR. MARIA BENZON, AND I'M A PARENT AND TEACHER LEADER WHO ONCE RAN TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., I HAVE A DREAM.
I DO SCHOOLS WHERE TEACHERS FEEL VALUED AND SUPPORTED, WHERE WORKLOADS ARE MANAGEABLE, PAY REFLECTS THEIR WORTH AND HEALTHCARE DOESN'T PUNISH THEM FOR TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
I DREAM OF TEACHERS GROWING AS PROFESSIONALS WITH REAL SUPPORT, NOT IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS, UNCLEAR GOALS, OR A LACK OF LEGALLY REQUIRED PLANNING TIME.
I DREAM OF TEACHERS HAVING LIVES OUTSIDE OF WORK, THE FREEDOM TO COLLABORATE FOR A BETTER FUTURE, AND A VOICE IN DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THEIR JOBS.
DO WE SHARE THE SAME DREAM? IF WE WANT MORE 11TH GRADERS EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT AS SEEN IN ITEM 1, WE NEED SUSTAINABLE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR TEACHERS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE LEARNING CONDITIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
HISD DESERVES [NOISE] LEADERS WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, AND COMMITTED TO THIS VISION.
>> THANK YOU. DR. PAMELA BOVELAND, YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DR. PAMELA BOVELAND, AND I HAVE A DREAM WHERE VICE IS NOT TURNED INTO VIRTUE.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE SLANDER IS NOT TRUE.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE ARROGANCE IS NOT HUMILITY.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE PLUNDERING ASSETS IS NOT AIDING QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE THIEVERY IS NOT TURNED INTO A MISTAKE.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE BENEFITS ARE NOT RESERVED FOR THE OVERPAID ELITES.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE THE CHICKEN MANAGERS FULFILL THEIR OVERSIGHT AND DO NOT REWARD THE FOX FOR RIDING THE COUP.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE TOXIC ENVIRONMENT IS NOT THE EXCUSE FOR QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE A NORMAL CURVE IS BASED ON A MATH MODEL AND NOT AN ORDINAL MYTH.
I HAVE A DREAM LIBRARIANS, CUSTODIANS WITH BENEFITS, TEACHERS WITH CERTIFICATION, CERTIFIED, BY LARGE TEACHERS ARE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.
I HAVE A DREAM WHERE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DOES NOT MEAN SCRIPTIVE RESPONSES.
[01:20:04]
[NOISE] I HAVE A DREAM WHERE MANAGERS ARE NOT UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.I HAVE A DREAM WHERE A FOXY SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT CONTINUE HIS HISTORY OF FISCAL MISSTEPS. I HAVE A DREAM [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEREBY AN AGENCY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF RICO CHARGES [OVERLAPPING] EVERY STEP.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CRYSTAL NORMAN, YOU MAY BEGIN.
CRYSTAL NORMAN, PLEASE MUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES, MA'AM.
>> I'M HERE REPRESENTING PARENTS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN HISD.
THE SAID DEPARTMENT IS TERRIBLE.
WE JUST NEED A LOT OF HELP THERE.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METAL DETECTORS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
PARENTS ARE APPRECIATING THAT LEVEL OF SECURITY AT BEST.
THE $870 MILLION MISTAKES, THE COMMUNITY IS NOT SO HAPPY WITH.
ON TOP OF A LOT OF THE ONGOING THINGS THAT WE'RE FINDING THE TIMELINE IS FINISHED.
[BACKGROUND] YOU'VE BEEN THERE MR. MILES, IT'S JUST BEEN HORRIFIC AND WE DESERVE IT AND WE LIKE CHANGE.
WE'RE A WORLD-CLASS CITY, WE DESERVE BETTER AND HE'S NOT CONNECTING.
THERE'S NO CONNECTION WITH COMMUNITY.
OUR VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE HEARD.
WE SHOULDN'T REALLY BE UP ALL NIGHT AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS [NOISE] PLEADING OUR CASES, BUT AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS PLATFORM.
>> THANK YOU. FRANKLIN TIMBERELLO, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> ON IT. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MONDAY'S HOUSTON LANDING ARTICLE DESCRIBING HOW MILES HAS SPENT $870 MILLION WITHOUT BOARD AUTHORIZATION.
WHERE ARE THE BASIC BUDGETARY CONTROL PROCEDURES? THE BOARD OF MANAGERS IS SUPPOSED TO OVERSEE SPENDING, BUT WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHEN MILES BEGAN AS SUPERINTENDENT, HISD HAD A PROJECTED '23-'24 BUDGET DEFICIT OF 99 MILLION.
BUT UNDER ONE YEAR OF MILES'S LEADERSHIP, THAT DEFICIT HAS EXPANDED TO $285 MILLION.
THIS IS NO WAY TO HANDLE TAXPAYER MONEY.
NO DEMOCRACY, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO TRUST. THANK YOU.
>> [BACKGROUND] SORRY. MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AFFECTED ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR QUESTIONABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES FREQUENTLY COMPARE HISD TO BUSINESS, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES ENFORCE STRICT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME BUT INSTEAD, WE SEE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SPENT WITHOUT FOLLOWING POLICY. WHAT NOW? IS THE BOARD BACKED INTO A CORNER TO MASS-APPROVE EVERYTHING JUST BECAUSE A HANDFUL OF HISD EXECUTIVES NEED TO WORK ON THEIR READING COMPREHENSION? THAT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU, THAT'S NOT FAIR TO US.
IT'S NOT LOST ON ME HOW QUICKLY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS CAN BE DEEMED NON-PROFICIENT AND TERMINATED, BUT SUPPOSEDLY NOBODY CAUGHT THIS OOPSY FOR 16 MONTHS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT JIM TERRY, MIKE MILES, AND MANY OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE THAT PROFICIENT. WE SHOULD FIRE THEM.
FIRST THE BOND, THEN THE BILLION-DOLLAR OOPSY, AND RICK CAMPO.
THE SCOREBOARD ISN'T LOOKING TOO GOOD FOR THE TAKEOVER.
>> THANK YOU. JESSICA CATRETT, YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> I'M JESSICA CATRETT, MOM FOR AN HISD GRADUATE AND CURRENT LANIER STUDENT.
TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU WHY ARE PTO NEEDED TO PAY FOR RAT CONTROL WHEN MIKE MILES WAS ABLE TO SPEND ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS WITHOUT PERMISSION.
SPENDING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND FUNDS WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL SHOWS HE'S OUT OF CONTROL AND THINKS HE'S ABOVE THE RULES.
IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU AND A BREACH OF HIS CONTRACT.
HE SHOULD GO. I URGE YOU TO USE YOUR POWER.
PLEASE HELP US GET RID OF THE RATS; THE ONES AT LANIER AND THE ONES SITTING NEXT TO YOU.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES ZOOM SPEAKERS. WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON.
[01:25:04]
>> LAURA HENRY I THINK HAS ARRIVED.
YES, MA'AM. THEN OUR LAST SPEAKER I THINK FOR THE EVENING IS CAMILLE BRO.
>> HI. I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 1.
I REGULARLY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ENROLL AND ADVANCED IN COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ATTEMPTING TO GET SO MANY NINTH AND TENTH GRADERS INTO COLLEGE COURSES JUST TO FULFILL GPM 3.3.
THAT'S AN ADULT GOAL, NOT A STUDENT GOAL.
KIDS HAVE TO WANT TO TAKE THESE CLASSES AND THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED.
OTHERWISE, THEY END UP NOT GETTING CREDIT AND IT HURTS THEIR ABILITY TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO GET INTO COLLEGE.
KIDS WHO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES NEED LIBRARIES, HOMEWORKS, NOVELS, SOPHISTICATED WRITING, AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEY NEED TEACHER AUTONOMY IN THE CLASSROOM.
SCAFFOLD STAR ESSAYS DON'T HELP CHILDREN WITH COLLEGE LEVEL WRITING.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT KIDS THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE CAN PARTICIPATE, BUT KIDS THAT DON'T WANT TO TAKE THESE COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOL, CAN STILL HAVE AN EDUCATION THAT TRULY GETS THEM COLLEGE READY, AND THAT INVOLVES MUCH MORE WRITING AND NOVEL READING AND LONG FOR READING AND NO FOUR-MINUTE CHECKS FOR UNDERSTANDING SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY DEVELOP AUTONOMY.
>> OUR SPEAKER, MS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 9.
THE $870 MILLION IN COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS BYPASSING HISD BOARD REVIEW VIOLATES POLICY AND RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
TEACHERS FACE STRICT DEMANDS WHILE DISTRICT LEADERS DISPLAY A DOUBLE STANDARD.
THE CULTURE OF MISMANAGEMENT AND DISTRUST CONTRIBUTED TO THE REJECTION OF THE $4.4 BILLION BOND.
IF HISD CAN'T RESPONSIBLY MANAGE TAXPAYER FUNDS, HOW CAN IT DEMAND INTEGRITY FROM ITS EDUCATORS? HAVE EACH OF YOU CONSIDERED THE PROFESSIONAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR YOURSELVES? SHOULD YOU NOT HANDLE THIS APPROPRIATELY? OTHERS MAY CONSIDER HOW YOU DEAL WITH A BREACH OF POLICY, MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS OR BRAND CRISIS.
CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT TO REVIEW CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, VENDOR VETTING, FRAUD PREVENTION, AND GO BACK TO STRICTER OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.
OUR FIRST ITEM THIS EVENING IS A REPORT ITEM FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
[DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS]
THANK Y'ALL DOWN THERE.THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME FOR ROLANDO AND I TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT OUR BOARD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE OVERVIEW AND WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2024/2025.
WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT TODAY IS WHY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REALLY A REQUIREMENT FOR WHAT WE DO FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, OUR TIMELINE, PROGRESS MONITORING AND FEEDBACK MEETINGS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS THAT WE'VE MADE.
SOME KEY FEEDBACK THEMES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER.
FIRST, WE WANT TO SET THE FOUNDATION AS TO WHY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S PRETTY INTUITIVE AS TO WHY WE DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT WE WANTED TO SPELL IT OUT HERE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR INTENTION IS TO BUILD STRONG COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A WAY FOR US TO FOSTER TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION.
WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE WHERE WE CAN LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND OR TAKE CONCERNS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO HELP US RESPOND AND MEET THE NEEDS.
WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND MONITOR PROGRESS.
THIS YEAR, WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT GAINS FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO NEEDED THEM THE MOST.
OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS REALLY SHOWED UP AND OUR STUDENTS ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE.
[01:30:03]
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THOSE SUCCESSES.NEXT, WE WANT TO EMPOWER STAKEHOLDERS.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND GOVERNANCE TRAINING, ENSURING THEIR VOICES ARE A PART OF SHAPING THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE.
IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.
IN TEXAS, IT'S NOT JUST A BEST PRACTICE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TEXAS EDUCATION CODE STATUTES THAT REALLY ENCOURAGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THEY'RE CALLED OUT IN DISTRICT AND CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
THIS IS NOT A NECESSITY JUST FOR US TO BRING THE COMMUNITY ALONG ON OUR JOURNEY, BUT THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE REALLY NOT ONLY ENFORCES IT, BUT ALSO REQUIRES IT OF US.
HERE'S JUST THE CALL OUT ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY THE NUMBER, WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE HAVE ENGAGED A NUMBER OF GROUPS IN ORGANIZATION, 24 TO BE EXACT.
SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WE ENGAGED WHEN WE FIRST GOT APPOINTED THAT WE WANTED TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
WE WANTED TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN REVISIT THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY FELT NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE'VE HAD 20 ENGAGEMENTS THAT INCLUDED STUDENT FEEDBACK SESSIONS, HOLIDAY VISITS TO SCHOOLS.
TONIGHT, PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF OUR PTO, WALKS AND TALKS, AND THEN OTHER COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
A LOT OF THESE CAME TO GET ON OUR CALENDARS REALLY BECAUSE SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REACHED OUT TO US, AND WE ENCOURAGE THAT.
WE ARE TRYING TO MEET ALL THE NEEDS AND GET THOSE SCHEDULED ACTIVELY, SO A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM THIS.
WE'VE ENGAGED ABOUT 120 ADULTS AND THEN AROUND 700 STUDENTS.
WE'VE HAD 12 STUDENT AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND EIGHT SESSIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROGRESS MONITORING AND FEEDBACK.
HERE'S OUR TIMELINE. THIS IS AN AYE CHART, BUT I'LL TRY TO GO THROUGH IT.
IN MARCH AND APRIL, ROLANDO AND I WERE APPOINTED TO THIS COMMITTEE.
IN MAY, WE HAD OUR FIRST FEEDBACK SESSION WITH STUDENTS.
THERE WERE ABOUT I THINK TWO STUDENTS FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTED.
THEY JOINED US HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM.
WE HAD LUNCH, WE HAD BREAKOUT SESSIONS, AND THEY WERE VERY VOCAL ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THEM AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, AND IT WAS REALLY A GREAT WAY TO HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE DIRECTLY WITH US.
IN AUGUST, SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDED A NUMBER OF SCHOOL YEAR KICKOFFS.
SEPTEMBER, WE REFINED OUR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY AND INITIATED OUTREACH TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
IN OCTOBER, SOME OF THE MEETINGS WE ATTENDED WAS THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD, WESTBURY AREA IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION AND THE HOUSTON URBAN LEAGUE.
IN NOVEMBER, WE ATTENDED MEETINGS WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER, AND IN DECEMBER, WE MET WITH THE CITYWIDE COALITION, DISCOVERING U, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, AND THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD HOLIDAY VISITS CONDUCTED AT FOUR CAMPUSES WHERE BOARD MEMBERS PASSED OUT BREAKFASTS VERY EARLY AT FOUR DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, WHICH WAS A GREAT WAY TO AGAIN TALK TO THE STUDENTS.
WE HAD SOME PTO WALK AND TALKS, AND THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK, WELL, ACTUALLY, THE 23RD ALMOST TO CHRISTMAS, BUT WE APPRECIATE THOSE PTOS ENGAGING AND ACTUALLY WANTING TO DO THAT WITH US, AGAIN, MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE.
WE ARE ACTIVELY ADDRESSING ALL COMMUNITY REQUESTS AND VISITS.
ROLANDO AND I HAVE MEETINGS WEEKLY, AND SO WE GO THROUGH THE LIST AND SEE WHERE OUR REQUESTS ARE AND WHO WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH AND WE GET ON ALL YOU BOARD MEMBERS CALENDARS.
I THINK YOU'LL HAVE THE NEXT ONE.
AS IT RELATES TO PROGRESS MONITORING AND FEEDBACK MEETINGS.
OUR GOALS HERE AGAIN, TO SHARE THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, '23/'24 SCHOOL YEAR.
WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE BOARD'S ROLE.
WE WANT TO SHARE DATA ON THE PROGRESS AND THEN GATHER COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS.
THESE ARE GREAT WAYS TO REALLY TALK TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW WE SLICE AND DICE THE DATA, WE LOOK AT SUBGROUPS, WE LOOK AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE BOARD, AND IT'S A REALLY SURGICAL WAY TO SEE HOW THE CHANGES ARE IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES.
AGAIN, HERE'S SOME CALL OUTS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED.
SOME OF THEM, CHILDREN AT RISK, ED TRUST, GOOD REASON HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, URBAN LEAGUE, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER HOUSTON, THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE,
[01:35:02]
TEACH FOR AMERICA, LATINOS FOR EDUCATION, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, THE CITYWIDE COALITION, THE PARENT TEACHER COLLABORATIVE, THE MAYORS HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL, DISCOVERING U AND AGAIN, WESTBURY AREA IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION.>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO THANK BECCA AND ASHLYN.
I DON'T KNOW BECCA IS HERE TODAY, BUT THANK YOU TO THEM FOR HELPING US OUT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
NEXT STEP. STUDENT FAMILY CONNECTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD WAS AS CASSANDRA MENTIONED, DIALOGUE.
AUTHENTIC DIALOGUE WHERE WE HAD TWO WEEK CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OR THEIR STUDENTS EXPERIENCES, BUT THEN MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISPERCEPTIONS. IT'S ALL OF THAT.
DURING THE SPRING OF 2024, WITH REGARD TO THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, I THINK THERE WAS A REPORT EITHER IN JUNE, I THINK OF LAST YEAR.
I KNOW SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS JOINED US AS WELL WHERE WE INVITED AS CASSANDRA SAID, HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, AND THEY PROVIDED FEEDBACK.
AS WE MENTIONED, WE HAD BREAKFAST, WE HAD WALK AND TALKS, AND AS CASSANDRA MENTIONED, THIS ISN'T WITH JUST PARENTS IN AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES, YOU WANT US TO VISIT WITH YOU.
THERE'S AN INVITATION. ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER CAN SEND US AN EMAIL.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE REQUESTED MEETINGS AS WELL WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
WHAT ARE THE FEEDBACK THEMES THAT WE HEARD DURING THESE SESSIONS? WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ARE JUST GENERAL OVERALL EXPERIENCES, AND SO THE PAUSES, WE HEARD THAT THE DISTRICT FOSTERS CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH AP AND IB, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MEASURES WE'LL REVIEW TODAY AS A BOARD, AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE ENSURING THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
IN PARTICULAR WITH STUDENTS, THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SUPPORTIVE TEACHERS, AND WE HAD PROGRAMS THAT CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENT THOUGHT AS WELL, AND AGAIN, THAT'S THROUGH AP AND IB, MAGNET PROGRAMS, AND SO FORTH.
FROM A PARENT PERSPECTIVE, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE'VE HEARD IN OTHER MEETINGS, THEY'VE DISCUSSED THEIR NEED OR THEIR REQUEST TO CONTINUE HAVING LIBRARIES, OR AT LEAST IN THOSE SCHOOLS TO CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE AS WELL AND CERTIFICATIONS, DERIVE BCS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
MAGNET PROGRAMS, SUPPORTIVE THIRD PARTY AGENCIES THAT HELP US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT STUDENTS MENTIONED LAST SPRING IS THAT WE CONTINUE THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER AS WELL.
WITH REGARD TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EXPANDING GUIDANCE AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, MAKING SURE THERE'S COUNSELORS AT EACH CAMPUS, THERE'S EQUITY OF THOSE COUNSELORS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.
MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS WITH REGARD TO FEEDBACK, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BALANCING TESTING AND ACTUALLY ON HANDS-ON LEARNING AND CREATIVE LEARNING APPROACHES AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD SINCE THE BEGINNING IS MORE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.
WITH REGARD TO REALLY LSG AND PROGRESS MONITORING, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS PRE-K ENROLLMENT.
I THINK MOST OF THE MEETINGS I WENT TO WITH REGARD TO THIS ASPECT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WERE AWARE THAT WE HAVE SEATS AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS IMPORTANT. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT WE WERE OPEN UP SEATS, THAT WE WERE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SEATS.
I THINK FOR THOSE WHO WERE THERE AT THE MEETING, THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-K, BUT NOW HOW DO WE PUSH IT THROUGH THE REST OF COMMUNITY AS WELL? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO RETAIN EFFECTIVE TEACHERS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES.
WITH REGARD TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, PARENTS JUST WANT OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY BE INVOLVED ON THEIR CAMPUS LEVEL AND REALLY AS A DISTRICT LEVEL AS WELL.
THE REASONS WE'RE DOING THESE MEETINGS OR HAVING THESE MEETINGS IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE BOARD IN A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
FOR MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, PERHAPS IN YEARS THAT THEY HAD FORMALLY RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO TALK TO A BOARD MEMBER.
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO CREATE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE HAVING ACCESS TO SUPPORTS FOR STUDENT EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND THEN THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STRESSING THAT AS WELL.
EFFECTIVE DISTRICT COMMUNICATION.
THAT IS THE ONE THING WE HEARD EVERYWHERE BECAUSE, AGAIN, IN SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP ABOUT RUMORS OR POTENTIAL THINGS THAT THEY HEARD, AND IT, IN FACT, WAS NOT CORRECT, SO WE WERE ABLE TO CLARIFY WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THOSE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
HERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AS A BOARD FOLLOW UP, IN PARTICULAR.
ONE IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SURVEY.
WHILE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED FEEDBACK DURING THE SESSIONS, WE WANT TO INCREASE SURVEY PARTICIPATION AFTERWARDS,
[01:40:01]
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW BACK UP WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO COMPLETE A FORMAL SURVEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE ADEQUATE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED DURING OUR MEETINGS, THAT THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THEM.THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE ENGAGING, EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING, BUT JUST MAKING SURE WE GET FEEDBACK AFTER THE POINT.
AGAIN, BEING ABLE TO COLLECT ANONYMOUS FEEDBACK, CANDID RESPONSES, NOT NECESSARILY FROM PARTICIPANTS, BUT ALSO FROM PARENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AGAIN, I ALWAYS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT.
LAST THING, AND THE THING I MENTIONED BEFORE, AND THIS IS MORE FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS SHARE THIS, IS THAT COMMUNITIES WANT TO HEAR FROM THE BOARD, THEY WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE BOARD IS FOCUSED ON, WHAT IS TRUE LSG GOVERNANCE, WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OUR DUTIES, AND THAT'S WELL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT EFFECTIVELY THROUGH WHATEVER MEDIA OF COMMUNICATION WE HAVE OR METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, BUT ENSURING THAT WE DO THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY.
FOR OUR CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES, WE ALREADY TRYING TO SCHEDULE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH THE PARENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT REACH OUT TO US LATE IN DECEMBER.
WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO A COUPLE OF OUTLINING ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THEIR SCHEDULING AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO REPEAT THE SAME SPRING ENGAGEMENT SESSION THAT WE HAD WITH HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT AGAIN THIS SPRING, AND THEN AGAIN, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL REACH BACK OUT.
NOW, WHERE OUR FOCUS FOR THESE MEANINGS WERE OUTCOMES AS IT RELATES TO OUR STAR RESULTS AND OUR GPMS OF LAST YEAR.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE TO REFOCUS IT AND ADD PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR AS WELL. QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HEADING UP THE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT EASY TO GET ALL OF US TO DO ANYTHING AT ONE TIME OR TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MATTERS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT AND I WONDER WHAT YOU WALKED AWAY WITH IS WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, WHAT DO YOU FIND AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE OR WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING THAT YOU SAW AS A PROCESS OR A TOOL THAT MADE YOU SAY, "WE IF WE DO THIS, THIS WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING WE DID.
WE WE REALLY GOT OUR BANG FOR THE BUCK ON THIS PARTICULAR THING." WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, THAT IS, IF THERE IS ONE, AND PERHAPS AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE COMMITTEE, WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN SOME WAY FORM OR FASHION?
>> I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BANG FOR A BUCK AS A WHOLE AS DISTRICT AND BOARD.
FIRST OF ALL, SMALL GROUP MEETINGS ARE TARGETED MEETINGS THAT CREATE A PLACE FOR TWO-WAY DIALOGUE, IT'S JUST A GAME CHANGER BECAUSE WE SIT HERE ONCE A MONTH AND WE HEAR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND.
A LOT OF TIMES I KNOW SOME OF US MAY REACH OUT IF WE HEAR SOMETHING OR WE'LL ASK SOMEONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME THINGS, BUT BEING IN A SETTING WHERE WE CAN HAVE TWO-WAY DIALOGUE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FEEL WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO US.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE'VE DONE, ALL OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS WHERE WE HAVE SHARED THE PROGRESS OF OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE FARTHEST BEHIND IS JUST AMAZING.
WE ALWAYS GET SOME VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
WE'VE EVEN BEEN IN SETTINGS WHERE WE WERE TALKING TO A GROUP OF PARENTS THAT WEREN'T AT A NES SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE PARENTS WAS A PHYSICIAN IN AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS AN NES FEEDER PATTERN AND SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW, WHEN KIDS GO TO THE DOCTOR, THEY CHECK IN WITH THEIR DOCTOR ON, HOW ARE YOU FEELING.
WHAT'S GOING ON? THERE'S A LOT OF THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH THOSE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASES.
SHE FELT LIKE HER PATIENTS WERE BEING SERVED WELL AT THEIR SCHOOL.
JUST GETTING THAT TYPE OF FEEDBACK IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT ALL OF THE HARD WORK, AGAIN, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR PRINCIPALS, THE LEADERSHIP HAVE DONE IN THIS TIME OF SO MUCH CHANGE, AND THE GAINS WE'VE SEEN FROM OUR STUDENTS HAS JUST BEEN REMARKABLE.
[01:45:01]
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THESE TYPES OF ENGAGEMENT, IS SHOWCASING THAT HARD WORK.>> I'LL AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK JUST THE FACT THAT WE AS A BOARD ARE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE TRUE DIALOGUE, I THINK THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.
HAVING A REAL AUTHENTIC CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR US.
CAN YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE, I BELIEVE? WHEN THEY DO THE SURVEYS OR WHEN THEY RESPOND, WHERE DOES THAT GO AND HOW SOON DO YOU GET THE INFORMATION?
>> WE HAVE BECCA AND ASHLAND WHO SUPPORT US, SO THAT INFORMATION GETS SENT OVER TO THEM AND THEY SHARE THAT WITH US AS WELL.
AGAIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE GREAT PARTICIPATION RATES OF THESE SURVEYS.
AGAIN, I THINK PROBABLY BECAUSE WE HAD TRUE DIALOGUE DURING THE MEETINGS, AND SO THEY FELT LIKE I'VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FOLLOW BACK UP WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT.
>> I THINK JUST IN GENERAL, IT'S HARD TO GET SURVEYS BACK, PERIOD, NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUES OR THE CHALLENGES ARE, THE DAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THEY WENT BECAUSE THEN I SAW IT HAS THE FEEDBACK, MORE ANONYMOUS FEEDBACK.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING WHERE IT WENT.
I KNOW YOU WERE VERY CLEAR THAT YOU WANTED US TO HEAR THE THIRD ONE TOO, COUPLE OF IDEAS OF WHAT YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE THAT WE CAN DO A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY AS A BOARD OR HOW WE CAN HELP?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GONE INTO THAT YET, CASSANDRA.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM THE BOARD.
I THINK WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES THERE MAY BE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR, BUT I THINK WE AS A BOARD NEED TO CONSIDER, HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THIS BOARD MEETING.
>> I'D LIKE TO ADD. I THINK IT STARTS WITH REALLY THE ACCESSIBILITY PIECE, PAULA, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE GREAT IDEAS ON HOW THEY WANT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION.
I THINK IT STARTS WITH OUR ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE I HAVE STARTED SOME OF THESE MEETINGS WITH I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANSWERS, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND WE WILL BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP AND CREATE THAT FEEDBACK LOOP.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS IN THAT MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE ENGAGEMENTS.
WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE.
OFFERING SOLUTIONS IN REAL-TIME IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER FOR US AND SO THAT IS WE HAVE TRIED TO CREATE THIS FEEDBACK LOOP WHERE WE'RE FOLLOWING UP.
BECCA AND ASHLAND ARE THERE SUPPORTING, TAKING NOTES, BUT TO THE SURVEY POINT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD CAPTURE SOME OF THAT, AND THE PARTICIPATION IS POOR, HONESTLY, SO WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO CAPTURE THAT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP IT AND ARCHIVE IT.
>> CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR DOING THIS HEAVY LIFT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING SESSIONS THAT I'M ATTENDING.
I'M WONDERING ABOUT A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
LET ME JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO WANT TO SAY THIS QUESTION.
I REMEMBER GOING TO BOARD-LED MEETINGS BEFORE THIS TRANSITION AND THEY WERE OFTEN JUST VERY INFORMATIONAL.
THEY HAD TO HAVE IT BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS CHANGING AND HERE IT IS, AND HERE'S SOME FLIERS, AND IF YOU GOT QUESTIONS.
THESE AND THE ONES I PARTICIPATED IN HAVE BEEN VERY IMPACTFUL BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VERY TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO SET IT UP IN A WAY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE BOARD.
AS YOU'VE DONE MANY OF THESE AND I'VE ONLY DONE A FEW, HAVE YOU NOTICED SOME WAYS, APPROACHES TO HOW WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION THAT DO HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS START TO PICK UP WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT DOWN ABOUT HOW BOARD WORK IS DIFFERENT THAN ADMINISTRATION WORK AND HOW GOVERNANCE IS DIFFERENT, HOW WE FOCUS ON STUDENT OUTCOMES AND TRYING TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY IT MIGHT BE FRUSTRATING TO COME WITH A COMPLAINT OR A CONCERN, AND IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT RESPONDING.
I WONDER ABOUT MAYBE HOW YOU'VE SEEN THE TRANSITION AS YOU'VE DONE THIS WORK AND MAYBE LEARN SOME THINGS OR APPROACHES THAT MIGHT HELP BECAUSE I FIND THAT TO BE ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.
>> IT'S THE SAME ANSWER TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, BUT I'LL SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL IS THAT GROUP SIZES HAVE BEEN IN A MANAGEABLE SIZE.
I'LL SAY THAT WHEN GROUPS BECOME A LITTLE BIT LARGER, THE ORGANIZATION IS PERHAPS MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME.
I KNOW THAT WAS THE CASE WITH WESTBURY CORPORATION.
THEY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME THAT PERHAPS WE COULD ANSWER.
AGAIN, IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S ON THEIR TIME WHEN THEY'RE INVITING YOU TO
[01:50:02]
THEIR MEETING VERSUS WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING THE MEETING.WHEN WE'RE HOLDING THE MEETING, WE HAVE A WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY HAVE GO BACK AND QUESTIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT I THINK IT'S MANAGING THE GROUP SIZE AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME INTO THIS MEETING TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION.
I THINK THAT'S THE THING. NOW, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, IT'S THE SAME FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD HERE DURING THE BOARD MEETINGS AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, IT WAS QUITE DIFFERENT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGES, AND THEN SOME COMMUNITIES THAT JUST NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON THE CHANGES.
THAT WAS HELPFUL AS WELL, BUT I THINK TO CASSANDRA'S POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS, WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.
BECCA AND ASHLAND WERE THERE TO ANSWER OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS.
WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS DID BRING UP QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CAMPUS OR THIS SCHOOL AND HOW IT'S WORKING.
WE WERE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, ASHLAND AND BECCA CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IF THEY CAN'T ANSWER, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU, AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SO THANK YOU AGAIN, BECCA AND ASHLAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. EARLIER THIS MONTH, I REAPPOINTED THEM FOR THE NEXT YEAR, SO KEEP IT UP.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
REALLY, IT'S AWESOME. THERE ARE TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, I REALLY ENJOYED THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BREAKFASTS DURING CHRISTMAS.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FUN I'VE EVER HAD AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WHILE IT WAS COLD OUT, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING WATCHING THE KIDS COME IN, SOME WITH THEIR HOODS, SOME WITH THEIR BIG COATS, AND BACKPACKS, AND THEY WERE ALL VERY BRIGHT EYED AND READY TO GO.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.
MY SON HAS THIS REALLY FESTIVE, SPORT COAT THAT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON IT, STUFF LIKE THAT THAT I WORE.
THE KIDS WERE AMAZING. I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST AMAZING DOING THAT, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I DID IS I SPENT TIME THERE TOO, BEFORE I GOT THERE WITH THE PRINCIPAL, AND WITH THEIR TEAMS, AND THEIR STAFF, AND THEN WE WENT TO CLASSROOMS AND SAW HOW THAT WAS GOING.
I THOUGHT THAT THE TEAMS AT THE SCHOOL REALLY APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT WE CAME THERE AND I WAS THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER IN THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, BUT I HAD BECCA WAS MY HANDLER THERE AND SHE WAS WITH ME AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN WE SHOW UP AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT I THINK WE NEED A MECHANISM OF REPORTING, AND I'LL TALK TO BECCA AND ALEX ABOUT THIS.
BUT IN THE LAST PROBABLY TWO MONTHS, I'VE HAD AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT DIDN'T START OUT AS HISD.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. ON TUESDAY, I SPOKE IN FRONT OF A LUNCH GROUP, AND IT'S A TYPICAL NETWORKING LUNCH GROUP.
THERE WAS PROBABLY 30 PEOPLE IN THERE INCLUDING ROSIE CARRABBA, WHICH WAS COOL.
THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR THEM INVITING ME TO SPEAK WAS NOT BECAUSE OF HISD, BUT IT WAS JUST BROAD OTHER SUBJECTS.
I SPENT ABOUT 20 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THEN I DID Q&A FOR AN HOUR, AND IT WAS ALL HISD.
SOME PEOPLE WERE VERY POSITIVE, SOME PEOPLE WEREN'T, BUT I THINK THE KEY POINT HERE IS THAT THAT WAS COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
I KNOW THAT EVERYONE DOES THAT HERE, SO WE NEED TO GET A REPOSITORY OF THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE THOSE ARE REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS.
WHEN YOU'RE AT A SEPARATE EVENT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT BECOMES AN HISD THING FOR AN HOUR IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING TO AT LEAST PUT ON THE LIST BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LIST OF A LOT OF GROUPS THAT WE TALKED TO.
IT WAS VERY ORGANIC TOO, WHICH WAS INTERESTING.
>> WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CAPTURE THOSE MEETINGS, SO SEND US AN EMAIL WITH ALL FACTS OF THOSE, PLEASE.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
IT TURNS INTO SOMETHING AND IT BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE.
ABOUT THE BREAKFASTS, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOT OUT TO NAJAH, DEPUTY OF COMMUNITY EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FACE. I THINK I SAW HER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COORDINATING.
WE TOLD NAJAH THE WEEK BEFORE, HEY, WE WANT TO GO TO SCHOOLS BEFORE BREAK.
SHE REALLY HELPED US, SO THANK YOU TO HER AND HER TEAM FOR THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU WERE PROBABLY THERE LIKE SIX O'CLOCK, SO THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU SHARE AGAIN HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A REQUEST FOR MEETINGS, AND ALSO THE SECOND QUESTION.
[01:55:01]
HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO MEET ALL THE REQUESTS FOR ENGAGEMENT?>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. BOARD SERVICES, EMAILING BOARD SERVICES IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR CALENDARS AND WE'LL WORK TO GET BOARD MEMBERS AT DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND WORK WITH THE SCHEDULE. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND QUESTION?
>> HAVE WE MET ALL OF THE REQUESTS?
>> THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, NO AND IT'S BECAUSE I THINK REQUEST STARTED COMING IN EITHER THE END OF NOVEMBER OR MAYBE EARLY DECEMBER, AND WE HAD ALREADY HAD OUR CALENDARS BOOKED AND SO WE ARE STARTING THAT ENGAGEMENT.
SOME THAT WERE LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME SCHEDULED, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE OTHERS, SO WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO MEET THE REQUEST AND WORK ON THOSE CALENDARS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GOOD.
SUPERINTENDENT MILES, YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT BOARD MONITORING UPDATE ON GOAL 3 PROGRESS MEASURE 3.3.
>> YES, MA'AM. I'M GOING TO ASK CHIEF KRISTEN HOLE AND HER TEAM TO COME UP.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TODAY, WE'RE REPORTING ON GOAL PROGRESS MEASURE 3.3.
GOAL 3 OVERALL, IS THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUATING TSI READY WITH INDUSTRY-BASED CERTIFICATIONS, AND WE'VE SHOWN TO BE ON TRACK FOR THAT LAST YEAR, BUT 3.3 MORE SPECIFICALLY IS THE FOCUS ON THE PERCENT OF 11TH GRADERS WHO QUALIFY FOR COLLEGE CREDIT.
THE GOAL IS THAT THEY WILL INCREASE FROM 33% IN MAY TO 48% IN MAY 2028.
I WANTED TO START WITH JUST LOOKING AT THE HIGH LEVEL RESULTS OF THIS GOAL PROGRESS MEASURE.
ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE REPORTS OUT AT BOY, MOI, AND EOI FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
I FIRST WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BOY SCORE EACH YEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WAS 19%, 23%, AND 26%.
AT THE BOY, YOU SEE IT INCREASING OVER TIME, WHICH IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT WE'RE IMPROVING IN THIS METRIC.
ALSO WITHIN ONE YEAR, WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE START SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, IT'S REALLY MEASURING STUDENTS WHO OBTAIN COLLEGE CREDIT IN NINTH AND TENTH GRADE, BUT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO ALSO COUNT STUDENTS WHO GOT COLLEGE CREDIT IN THEIR 11TH GRADE YEAR, WHICH IS WHY YOU'LL ALWAYS SEE IT GO UP FROM BOI TO EOI.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT END OF YOUR LAST YEAR, YOU SEE WE ALREADY ACTUALLY EXCEEDED THIS YEAR'S TARGET.
WE WERE AT 38 LAST YEAR, AND THE TARGET FOR THIS YEAR IS 35, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXCEED IT AGAIN AND THAT WE'RE ON TRACK FOR THIS METRIC, BOTH BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING BEGINNING OF YEAR GROWTH AND BECAUSE LAST YEAR END OF YEAR RESULTS WERE REALLY STRONG.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS DATA SPLIT OUT BY STUDENT GROUP, WE GENERALLY ARE SEEING THAT OVERALL INCREASE FROM BOI TO BOI.
WE'RE SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ASIAN AND WHITE STUDENTS, BUT WE DID SEE A DECREASE FOR BLACK STUDENTS, FOR ECO DIS STUDENTS, AND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
WE DUG INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE OBSERVING IS THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT AND CURRENT COLLEGE COURSEWORK, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING ENROLLMENT INCREASES FOR THESE SUB-POPULATIONS.
FOR BLACK STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW A 6% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT CURRENTLY IN THEIR COLLEGE COURSEWORK, WHICH JUST TELLS US THIS NUMBER WILL LIKELY IMPROVE BY THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY SEEING INCREASES IN ENROLLMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE BOI TO BOI SAW A DECREASE.
IT WAS JUST A WAY TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO IMPROVE THIS DATA FOR SUBGROUPS, WE ANTICIPATE TO BE WORKING BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE ALSO JUST WANTED TO LOOK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS STUDENTS CAN OBTAIN COLLEGE CREDIT.
THERE'S FOUR WAYS IN HISD WHERE YOU CAN GET COLLEGE CREDIT.
FIRST IS OUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES, OUR EP COURSES.
SECOND IS IB, THIRD IS DUAL ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS WITH UT THROUGH OUR ONRAMPS PROGRAM, AND FOURTH IS DUAL CREDIT, WHICH IS COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH HCC AS WELL.
WHAT WE'VE SHOWN IS IN 2022, '23,
[02:00:03]
AND '24, AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR, FOR EACH OF THOSE SUBGROUPS, WHAT THE RESULTS WERE, AND YOU CAN SEE FOR AP, FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, AND DUAL CREDIT, WE'RE INCREASING BEGINNING OF YEAR COLLEGE CREDIT AND ALL OF THEM.THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD SIGN BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS IS WE'RE NOT CANNIBALIZING COLLEGE CREDIT IN ONE AREA BY JUST INCREASING IT IN THE OTHER AREA.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING UP IN ALL FOUR TYPES OF COLLEGE CREDIT.
FOR IB, YOU SEE AT ZERO, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE STUDENTS TAKE THE IB TEST IN 11TH GRADE, SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, IT WILL TYPICALLY ALWAYS BE ZERO, SO THAT'S WHAT THIS HELPS US TRACK AS WELL.
THE OTHER THING WE'LL NOTICE IS THAT STUDENTS WILL GET COLLEGE CREDIT IN MULTIPLE TYPES OF THESE, SO THEY MIGHT GET ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT AND DUAL CREDIT AT THE SAME TIME.
>> OVERALL, THIS REPORT IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE ON TRACK.
I DO JUST WANT TO NAME SOME REALLY BIG SUCCESSES IN THIS AREA.
COLLEGE BOARD DID ACTUALLY CALL UP HISD RECENTLY AND THEY SAID THAT JUST FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES ALONE, WE SAW A 15% INCREASE IN UNIQUE STUDENTS TAKING ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES, A 24% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS THAT WERE BEING TAKEN, AND A 5% INCREASE IN THE PASS RATE OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES.
THEY ANTICIPATED THAT THIS WAS A $15.6 MILLION TUITION SAVING FOR STUDENTS, THIS IMPROVEMENT, WHICH IS JUST SUCH A HUGE WIN.
THEY ALSO SHARED THAT IT WAS FROM THEIR DATA, THE HIGHEST NUMBERS THEY'VE SEEN IN HISDS HISTORY.
IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT PROGRESS IN THAT WORK, AND I DO THINK THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE TO INCREASE THESE NUMBERS ARE DEMONSTRATING TO BE WORKING.
THE NEXT BIG THING IS TO JUST PAUSE AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OPT-OUT SCHEDULING AND ADVANCED COURSE SCHEDULING BEFORE, BUT THAT WORK CONTINUES.
WE STILL HAVE THE OPT-OUT SCHEDULING POLICY, AND WE'RE IMPROVING IT.
WHEN STUDENTS ARE SCHEDULING THEIR COURSES, IF THEIR ACADEMIC DATA SHOWS THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES, THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL SEE IN THEIR COURSE SELECTION TOOL, AND THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO TAKE ON LEVEL COURSES WITH PARENT AND COUNSELOR APPROVAL.
THAT WAY THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ENROLL IN THE COURSES THAT THEY ARE READY FOR.
ONCE THEY SIGN UP FOR THEIR COURSE SCHEDULES AND THEY ACTUALLY GET PLACED IN A SCHEDULE, WE ALSO HAVE A TOOL TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS APPROPRIATELY.
THERE'S MULTIPLE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE SYSTEM.
WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF EXAMPLE DATA.
WHENEVER WE WERE LOOKING AT MATH, WE LOOKED AT THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE READY TO TAKE ADVANCED COURSES WHEN WE STARTED THIS WORK.
IN MATH, WE SAW IT WAS 13% OF STUDENTS WHO ARE READY THAT WERE ACTUALLY GETTING ENROLLED.
IN READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS, 30% OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY READY WERE NOW GETTING ENROLLED.
IN THIS MOST RECENT SCHEDULING, WE ARE AT 73% OF STUDENTS WHO WERE SHOWING THAT THEY WERE READY, WERE ACTUALLY GETTING ENROLLED.
WE REALLY ARE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT USING DATA TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH COURSES STUDENTS CAN BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN.
THAT'S REALLY JUST ONE POLICY THAT FOCUSES ON ACCESS.
THE OTHER POLICY THAT I STILL WANT TO NAME IS ONCE STUDENTS ARE DEMONSTRATING READINESS, WE'RE IMPROVING THEIR SCHEDULING.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO GET MORE STUDENTS TO THAT READINESS BAR.
THAT'S THAT CONTINUED FOCUS ON IMPROVING MATH AND READING EVEN IN NINTH GRADE AND 10TH GRADE, THAT DOUBLE BLOCK IN MATH AND READING FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SO MORE OF THEM ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE READY FOR THAT ADVANCED COURSEWORK AS WELL.
THEN ALWAYS WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM FOR THESE COURSES AS WELL AS HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION FOR THESE COURSES BECAUSE ONCE WE IMPROVE ACCESS, IMPROVING ACTUAL ATTAINMENT OF CREDIT DOES ENSURE THAT ALL OF THOSE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING THOSE STUDENTS AT THE RIGHT RIGOR OF THE STANDARDS FOR THAT COLLEGE COURSEWORK.
>> GREAT WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, I WILL SAY, THIS BOARD HAS SUBMITTED 22 QUESTIONS ON THE MONITORING REPORTS.
LET'S NOT GO OVER TACTICAL STUFF THAT WE'VE ALREADY ASKED, STRATEGIC IF WE CAN TRY.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE MY QUESTION, I WANT TO COMMEND THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE USE OF AP POTENTIAL AS A DATA-DRIVEN TOOL TO GET STUDENTS INTO COURSES THAT THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY ARE READY FOR.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND DISTRICTS THAT DO NOT USE THE TOOL, AND WHEN THEY ASK FOR DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, THE COLLEGE BOARD MENTIONS THIS PARTICULAR TOOL.
KUDOS TO THE DISTRICT FOR DOING THAT.
MY STRATEGIC QUESTION IS ABOUT THE GOAL.
[02:05:03]
IF THE GOAL IS TO GROW THE DEMAND FOR THESE COURSES, HAVE WE HAD A PROBLEM OR DO WE SEE A PROBLEM HAVING THE RIGHT TEACHING FORCE AVAILABLE TO TEACH ALL OF THESE COURSES?>> YES, AND THAT DIFFERS BY THE TYPE OF COLLEGE CREDIT COURSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN DUAL CREDIT, THE INSTRUCTORS THAT TEACH THE COURSE THEY CAN EITHER BE HCC INSTRUCTORS THAT THEY'RE SENDING TO US OR THERE ARE INSTRUCTORS, AND THAT REALLY CAN JUST DEPEND ON AVAILABILITY, BUT THAT CAN BE A REALLY HARD THING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETIMES IF WE CAN'T GET THAT INSTRUCTOR.
IT REALLY DOES OFTEN DEPEND ON EVEN PREREQUISITES TO BE THAT INSTRUCTOR, WHICH ALSO CAN BE A BARRIER.
SOMETIMES WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.
IF HCC DUAL CREDIT PATH DOESN'T WORK, WE ALSO CAN LOOK AT UT ONRAMPS.
THEY HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR HOW YOU CAN BE INSTRUCTORS, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A REALLY HELP AND GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY.
OVER I THINK IN THE LAST YEAR, WE GREW THE DUAL ENROLLMENT 237%, THOSE AVAILABLE COURSES BECAUSE THEY HAD A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE COULD FIND INSTRUCTORS FOR THOSE COURSES.
THEN FOR AP COURSES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROPERLY TRAINED AND THEY ATTEND THE AP TRAININGS AS WELL.
>> I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT IN THIS REGARD.
THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN BRINGING MORE STUDENTS INTO THE FOLD IS SO IMPACTFUL.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE READ THE KUDOS FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD, BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON NOT ONLY STUDENTS THAT ARE CHALLENGED, BUT STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING THE SERVICE THEY SHOULD AND BE PUSHED TO EXCEED AND EXCEL IN THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE RESULTS, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME.
I DO THINK ABOUT CAPACITY AS WELL IN ENSURING THAT NOT ONLY WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THOSE STUDENTS, BUT IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE IT'S NEEDED SO THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THAT PLACE.
>> ANY OTHER? YES, MA'AM, MS. AUZENNE BANDY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION.
THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR THOSE STATS THAT YOU CALLED OUT.
I'M WONDERING IF I'M A STUDENT AND ALL MY SCORES IDENTIFY ME AS SOMEONE WHO COULD BENEFIT OR WHO QUALIFIES FOR AP OR DUAL CREDIT COURSES, AND MY SCHOOL DOESN'T OFFER THEM.
WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE IF I WANT TO DO AP CHEMISTRY AND THERE'S NO AP CHEMISTRY CLASS AT MY SCHOOL?
ONE IS, IN ALL OF OUR CORE CONTENTS, WE ARE STANDARDIZING THE COURSE SEQUENCE TO SAY WHAT COURSES FOLLOW OTHER COURSES TO ENSURE WE CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES IN OUR CORE CONTENT AREAS SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST SAY THOSE ARE A COMMITMENT.
SOMETIMES THERE'S AP COURSES EVEN OUTSIDE OF THOSE THAT MAY DIFFER ACROSS CAMPUSES, BUT FOR OUR CORE CONTENT AREAS, WE WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN THAT PATH FOR STUDENTS.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT THE SCHEDULING.
ONCE WE IDENTIFY WHAT STUDENTS ARE READY, STUDENTS GO AND COLLECT THEIR SCHEDULES, AND THAT ACTUALLY WILL TELL US THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WE NEED AND THE NUMBER OF COURSES THAT WE NEED AT A PARTICULAR HIGH SCHOOL SO THAT WHEN WE GO TO DO OUR SCHEDULING, WE ACTUALLY CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF TEACHERS TO TEACH THOSE COURSES.
THAT ACTUALLY IS A BIG PART OF HOW WE MAKE SURE WE'RE PLANNING APPROPRIATELY ON THE SCHEDULE SIDE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. FEW QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST, I CAN'T SEE THE SLIDE ANYMORE, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PERCENTAGES OF DUAL CREDIT IS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT AP IS.
I'M WONDERING WHY WE DON'T SEE MORE DUAL CREDIT.
LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A HUGE SAVINGS POTENTIALLY FOR STUDENTS IN COLLEGE.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT.
>> THE FIRST THING I'LL CLARIFY, THERE ARE SAVINGS ACROSS ALL OF THESE AS WELL.
THE SAVINGS, THE $515.6 MILLION NUMBER, THAT WAS ACTUALLY FOR AP.
FOR OUR DUAL CREDIT COURSES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO FIND A COURSE AT THAT INSTITUTION
[02:10:01]
THAT MATCHES ONE OF THE TEA REQUIRED COURSES AND CROSSWALK THAT.EVERY TIME WE COULD FIND THE LIKE COURSE BECAUSE AGAIN, STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN HCC AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY'RE ENROLLED IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL, SO THOSE COURSES HAVE TO MATCH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING EVEN FOR DUAL CREDIT IS INTEGRATING OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY FOR CTE WITH OUR HCC PARTNER.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH EVERY COURSE TO SAY, DO YOU HAVE DUAL CREDIT COURSES IN OUR CTE PROGRAMS OF STUDY THAT CAN OVERLAP SO WE CAN PROVIDE DUAL CREDIT AND CTE AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT FOR US, IT'S BEEN A PROCESS OF SITTING DOWN AND FINDING THOSE POINTS OF OVERLAP, BECAUSE WHEN WE DO, THEN WE CAN INCREASE THE COURSE OFFERINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN DUAL CREDIT.
>> I WANTED TO GET TO THAT, WHICH IS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS OR THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS TO TRY TO MAKE THIS MORE AVAILABLE TO MORE STUDENTS AND BRING COURSEWORK THAT TIES TO REALISTIC WORK OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE PREPARED FOR?
>> ONE OF THE HARD PARTS IS WE CAN'T JUST GIVE THEM ANY HCC COURSE THAT HCC HAS, IT HAS TO ALIGN.
AND SO WE'RE INCREASING BY DOING THAT ALIGNMENT WORK WITH THEM.
>> RELATED TO THAT, I'M WONDERING ABOUT COLLEGE READINESS.
I HEAR ANECDOTALLY SO MANY EXAMPLES OF EVEN THOUGH STUDENTS GOT INTO COLLEGE, THEY SHOW UP AND REALIZE THEY ARE JUST TERRIBLY UNPREPARED FOR THIS.
I WONDERED ABOUT WHILE THEY MIGHT BE EARNING DUAL CREDIT, HOW DOES THAT EQUATE TO ACTUALLY COLLEGE READINESS AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GAPS OR BARRIERS THERE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT?
ONE REASON WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE RESEARCH DOES SHOW THAT EVEN IF YOU TAKE A COLLEGE CREDIT COURSE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T PASS, YOU ACTUALLY INCREASE YOUR PREDICTABILITY OF COLLEGE GRADUATION.
EVEN BEING INVOLVED IN THE RIGOR OF A COLLEGE COURSE BEFORE YOU GET THERE, RESEARCH SHOWS COULD HELP.
THAT'S I WOULD SAY ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THEN THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS AS WE FOCUS ON THIS MORE, STUDENTS WILL GET MORE AND MORE CREDIT, WHICH GETS THEM EVEN FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR COLLEGE ENTRY POINT, WHICH CAN SAVE THEM MORE MONEY.
IT CAN BUILD THEM TOWARDS A PATH OR EVEN TOWARDS SOME STACKABLE CREDENTIAL CERTIFICATE.
THAT ALSO CAN JUST REALLY HELP RELIEVE SOME OF THE BURDEN ON COLLEGE WHENEVER THEY'RE TRANSFERRING.
THEN THE LAST PIECE I WOULD SAY THAT TRULY IS IMPORTANT IS SOME OF THE RIGOR OF THESE COURSES AND THE FOCUS ON THIS CAN STILL HELP MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS ARE MEETING THAT TSI READINESS THRESHOLD, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT REMEDIAL COURSEWORK.
>> ONE MORE. AS WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE WE SEE THE BREAKOUT BY STUDENT POPULATION, I THINK SOME OF THOSE DISPARITIES ARE UNFORTUNATELY NOT SHOCKING, BUT THEY ARE DISAPPOINTING.
I WONDER ABOUT WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO ACCELERATE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER STUDENT POPULATIONS, TO REALLY ACCELERATE THEIR GROWTH IN THIS AREA AS SOON AS WE CAN?
>> I THINK TWO THINGS FOR THIS.
FIRST IS WITH THE FOCUS ON A STUDENT'S READINESS DATA TO BE THE DECISION THAT PLACES THEM IN THE CLASSROOM, THAT ACTUALLY HELPS RAISE THAT EXPECTATION FOR ALL STUDENT GROUPS.
OUR DATA HAS SHOWN THAT A LOT OF THESE STUDENT GROUPS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN ADVANCED COURSES AT SUCH LOW RATES EVEN WHEN THEY'RE READY.
USING DATA TO MAKE THAT DECISION THROUGH PROCESSES THAT HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES I THINK RAISES THAT EXPECTATION THAT ALL THE KIDS ACROSS THE STUDENT GROUPS WITH READINESS DATA CAN RISE TO THAT LEVEL.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
THE SECOND THING IS REALLY THAT REALLY IMPORTANT FOCUS ON IF STUDENTS ARE NOT YET READY, HOW ARE WE MAKING THEM READY? THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN ALL GRADES, KINDER FIRST, SECOND, ALL THE WAY UP.
EVEN WHEN WE GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, THAT DOUBLE BLOCK IN NINTH AND 10TH AND READING AND MATH, AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY STUDENTS ARE READY FOR THAT AS WELL.
BECAUSE THE OTHER THING I DIDN'T TALK EXPLICITLY ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE WAYS TO SAY IF A STUDENT IS NOT READY WHEN THEY COME IN NINTH OR EVEN 10TH BUT THEY BECOME READY, WE HAVE WAYS TO CATCH THEM UP SO THEY CAN STILL GET TO THAT ADVANCED COURSEWORK BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.
WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN THE SCHEDULE TO CATCH THEM UP.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S THAT FOCUS TO RAISE THE ACHIEVEMENT AND GROWTH FOR ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT YET AT THAT THRESHOLD.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, CHIEF HOLE.
THAT WAS GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
[02:15:03]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BOARD MONITORING UPDATE PRESENTATION OF GOAL 3, PROGRESS MEASURE 3.3? HATE MY COMPUTER, [INAUDIBLE] A COUPLE OF TIMES.WELL, MINE'S NOT WORKING. THERE WE ARE.
MOTION TO ACCEPT MS. LEANER AND A SECOND BY MS. BANDY. PLEASE VOTE.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THE ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 6, APPROVAL OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY AE(LOCAL) EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY, SECOND READING.I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. CAMPO AND A SECOND BY MR. MARTINEZ.
NOW, THIS ITEM RELATES TO CONSTRAINT 3.
THE COMMITTEE MET AFTER LAST MONTH'S MEETING TO CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING.
THE COMMITTEE SENT OUT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO EVERYBODY.
HOPEFULLY, YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT.
WE CAN PULL IT UP IF WE NEED TO TALK THROUGH THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AND THE REASONS FOR THEM.
THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE MADE, WE HAD A PRETTY ROBUST, I GUESS WE MET ONCE OR TWICE.
WE MET TWICE TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS RAISED DURING THE MEETING LAST TIME.
THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK A LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THE COMMITTEE IS READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M SURE THE ADMINISTRATION IS AS WELL.
WE CAN PULL UP THE POWERPOINT IF WE WANT TO AND WALK THROUGH THE CHANGES IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO.
BUT ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YOU WANT TO PULL UP THE POWERPOINT? I MADE A PROMISE, AND NOW I HAVE TO FULFILL IT.
I NEED HELP. [LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE THE POWERPOINT.
IT'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN POSTED.
CAN WE PUT IT ON THE SCREEN? SORRY.
>> I HAVE IT UP ON MY IPAD IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE MEANTIME BEFORE WE PULL IT UP?
>> THANK YOU. CAN WE SPEAK TO ONE OF THE BULLETS UNDER THE RECOMMENDATION THAT READS THE RESULTS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO THE ANTICIPATED CHANGES TO PROGRAMMING OR SCHOOL OPTIONS.
CAN WE DEFINE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OR JUST TALK WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT READS THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT? YES. CHIEF HALL ACTUALLY DID A NICE JOB OF TALKING ABOUT THAT LAST TIME.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.
I THINK WE'RE COMPARING OR EXPLAINING THROUGH EXAMPLES THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WITH RESPECT TO PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES THAT WERE DONE TO
[02:20:02]
THE SCHOOLS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WHAT WAS DONE IN THOSE ENGAGEMENTS.IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT THE ENGAGEMENT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CHANGES, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHAT'S ANTICIPATED IN TERMS OF SOME STANDARDIZATION OR OTHERWISE.
>> YES, OF COURSE. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE MAINLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE SUPPORTING PRINCIPALS AND COMMUNITIES IN DOING WAS ENSURING THEY WERE GETTING STAFF ENGAGING THE STAFF IN THE DECISION, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN THE DECISION AS WELL, AND THEN ENGAGING THE STUDENTS WHEN THAT MADE THE MOST SENSE.
THEN THEY COULD USE THOSE THREE POINTS OF INPUT ACROSS ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS WHEN THEY WERE PROPOSING THE CHANGE AND CONSIDERING THE CHANGE, AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH OF THE IMPACT REPORTS THAT ARE PART OF MEETING THE CONSTRAINT.
>> WHERE ARE THESE IMPACT REPORTS LOCATED? ARE THEY ACCESSIBLE TO US, THE PUBLIC? HOW DO WE BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PLACING THOSE SOMEWHERE BECAUSE FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES, MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE WHY WE MADE CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THE BOARD DOES HAVE THEM AND WE CAN LOOK INTO A PROCESS FOR THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WITHOUT THE AID OF DEMONSTRATIVES?
>> THERE WAS A THERE WAS A TIMING PIECE, I THINK THAT YOU BRING UP THAT TIED TO, LIKE, EHPJ, WHERE WE HAD, LIKE, MAYBE A FISCAL YEAR AND WE CHANGED IT TO A YEAR OR VICE VERSA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE?
>> CHIEF HALL TALKED ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THE PART OF THE QUESTION AT THE LAST MEETING WAS ABOUT COMMUNICATION TO THE PARENTS AND TIMING ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS DIRECTLY ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMITTEE THOUGHT ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE CONSIDERED WAS SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT SOME DEADLINE BECAUSE FROM CHIEF HALL'S DISCUSSION, IT SOUNDED LIKE FOR THE MOST PART, THESE CHANGES ARE GOING TO OCCUR IN THE FALL BEFORE SCHOOL CHOICE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CHOOSING.
THE ONE EXCLUSION FROM THAT IS THE NES CHANGES.
AND SO WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE BOARD SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DETERMINE THAT DATE OR PUT SOMETHING IN THE CONSTRAINT IN THAT REGARD.
AND IT WAS OUR COLLECTIVE VIEW THAT NO, THAT'S REALLY A DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE CHOSE NOT TO PUT THAT INTO THE CONSTRAINT.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERN, WHICH IS PARENTS WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING OR THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING MORE ABOUT IT. COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
>> I THINK TO ADD TO THAT SENTENCE, I THINK IT WAS WE KNOW COMMUNITY WANTS TO KNOW, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIVE.
IN THE CASE OF NES, THERE'S A RESPONSIVENESS TIMINGNESS THAT I APPRECIATE AS THAT I TAKE AWAY FROM THE DISCUSSION AS BEING SIGNIFICANT.
>> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? CAN WE PULL UP? CAN WE START FROM THE BEGINNING? WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE I MEAN, I OUGHT WHOEVER DID THE SCREENSHOTS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF THAT.
CONSTRAINT 3 COMMITTEE. WHY DID WE DO IT? WE HAD A LACK OF CONSISTENT INTERPRETATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD OF THE INTENT OF CONSTRAINT 3.
WAS THE CHARGE LOOK AT AE LOCAL TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CONSTRAINTS PROPERLY REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY'S VALUES, WHAT WE EXPECTED WHEN WE PUT CONSTRAINT 3 IN PLACE.
OFFER SOME WRITTEN CLARIFICATION OR DEFINITIONS.
THAT BECAME EVIDENT AS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COMMITTEE.
THEN AS APPROPRIATE, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO POLICY.
LANGUAGE. WE CONSIDERED ALL THINGS FROM ADDING ADDITIONAL CONSTRAINTS TO TAKING AWAY CONSTRAINTS.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE DECISION WAS BY THE COMMITTEE, LET'S STICK TO CONSTRAINT 3 LET'S FOCUS ON IT AND MAKE IT BETTER SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEN, WHAT WERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS? NUMBER 1, RECOMMENDED UPDATES TO CONSTRAINT 3 TO ADDRESS THE TIMING CONCERNS.
THAT IS, WHEN IS THE REPORT GOING TO COME TO THE BOARD? NUMBER 2, CLARIFY THE APPLICATION.
WHAT IS IT THAT'S THE SUBSTANCE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO GET AN UPDATE ON? THAT'S NUMBER 2, CLARIFY THE WORK TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO MEET BOARD EXPECTATIONS OF CONSTRAINT 3.
THIS IS WHERE CHIEF HALL REALLY DUG IN
[02:25:04]
AND HELPED US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, AND WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND HOW ALL CAN FUNCTION WITHIN THIS CONSTRAINT.BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A CONSTRAINT IN PLACE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAMSTRUNG THE ADMINISTRATION IN ANY WAY AND WAS CONSISTENT REALLY WITH WHAT YOU WERE PLANNING TO DO ANYWAY.
NUMBER 4, RECOMMEND UPDATES TO HPJ LOCAL TO MAKE CONSISTENT WITH CONSTRAINT 3.THE FIRST WHY IS IT BLACK?
>> WE HIGHLIGHTED, BUT IT CAME OUT AS A BLACK STRIKE THROUGH.
>> THE WORD IS FIRST. YOU WANT TO PULL IT UP? CAN YOU PULL IT UP IN POWERPOINT? WE GET THE TIME.
FIRST, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE CONDUCTING OF THE WORK AND THE COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE CHANGE. THAT WAS ONE.
LET'S MOVE ON. NEXT. THAT'S OKAY.
DO NOT MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO PROGRAMMING.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT.
WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WAS DEFINE WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
THESE ARE THE VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT BECOME A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
WE HAD A DISCUSSION AND I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION IN THE Q&A ABOUT, WHERE DID WE COME UP WITH THESE 30%, 10% NUMBERS? AND THE REAL REASON THAT WE CAME TO THESE CONCLUSIONS WAS WE DID SOME ACTUAL TESTING AMONGST OURSELVES.
WELL, WOULD THIS CHANGE ACTUALLY HAVE TRIGGERED A REPORTING OBLIGATION ON THE ADMINISTRATION? DO WE WANT THAT? IS THAT APPROPRIATE? WE THOUGHT COLLECTIVELY THAT THESE NUMBERS WORK TO MS. BANDY POINT AT OUR LAST MEETING.
IF IT BECOMES BURDENSOME OR IF IT'S NOT TIGHT ENOUGH, THEN WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT LATER.
LET'S GO DOWN. WHAT IS A MAGNET? AND WHAT IS A SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING? WE WANTED TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION AGAIN HERE TO WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CHANGING THAT ARE THEN GOING TO TRIGGER THIS OBLIGATION.
THE WORK TO MEET THE BOARD CONSTRAINT.
THESE ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DONE.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO WITH CHIEF HALL.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REPORTED ON STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, IMPACT TO THE PROGRAMMING OR THE SCHOOL OPTIONS, INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON BOARD ADOPTED OUTCOME GOALS, ENROLLMENT, AND BUDGET, WHICH WERE ITEMS THAT THIS WERE VERY IMPORTANT.
THEN ANY RELATED OR POTENTIALLY RELATED RESEARCH BASED STUDIES, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME.
RECOMMENDATION FOR OTHER POLICY IMPACTS BECAUSE EHPJ AND AND THIS POLICY AE LOCAL ARE INTERTWINED IN ONE REGARD, THE MODIFICATION OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN TERMS OF TIMING OF WHEN THE CHANGE CAN ACTUALLY OCCUR, AND IT WILL BE THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT MAJOR MODIFICATION, MINOR MODIFICATION, AND A QUESTION OF REQUESTS THAT THE THE COMMITTEE CAN CONSIDER AND COME UP WITH A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT A MAJOR MODIFICATION IS.
THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM THE LAST VERSION THAT YOU ALL SAW IN DECEMBER.
IT REALLY IS INTENDED TO SAY, IF IT'S GOING TO UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE AROUND, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MODIFY OR UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF MAGNET PROGRAM? THIS IS INTENDED TO CLARIFY THAT SO THAT THERE'S NOT ANY DIFFERENCE IN UNDERSTANDING.
THIS PARTICULAR CHANGE THAT WE SEE ON SLIDE 14 IS A CLARIFYING TERM THAT WAS ADDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO SPEAK TO IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MAGNET PROGRAM, WHAT IS EXPECTED IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND IT SETS A BAR OF WHAT MUST HAPPEN.
THAT WAS A WELCOME CHANGE AND THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED IT,
[02:30:02]
AND WE'RE HAPPY WITH THAT CHANGE.THIS IS A PICKUP BY THE BOARD SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR THIS.
WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THIS PORTION OF EHPJ LOCAL TO MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH OUR CURRENT STATUS IN TERMS OF OUR VISION STATEMENT.
THIS JUST HAD SOME OLD LANGUAGE IN IT THAT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED.
THERE'S NO MATERIAL CHANGE HERE.
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT SO THE BOARD COULD SEE THE CHANGE.
THEN THE LAST. AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO, WE CONSIDERED ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE MEETING IN DECEMBER, AND WE DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD MAKE THE CERTAIN CHANGES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
SOME THINGS WE HAVE LEFT OUT INCLUDING SPECIFICITY OF APPLICATION OF CONSTRAINT 3 TO CAMPUSES WHICH ARE MOVED INTO OR OUT OF THE NES SYSTEM.
THE CREATION OF A TIMELINE FOR REQUIRED CHANGES, I, WE'RE NOT DICTATING A PARTICULAR DEADLINE BY WHICH CHANGES HAVE TO OCCUR? WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THAT TO THE DISTRICT TO DECIDE THE ADMINISTRATION.
THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION LAST TIME, I THINK, FROM MISS FLOWERS ABOUT THE CREATION OF A PLAN OF COMMUNICATION OR HOW THAT ACTUALLY SHOULD WORK, LIKE THE OTHER, WE LEAVE THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW BEST TO COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE STRUCTURES WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
THAT'S IT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
>> JUST ONE. WHEN IT COMES TO THE MONITORING OF THE ITEM, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT SUFFICIENT SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE MONITORING REPORTS AT ALIGN TO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING?
>> I HOPE SO. [LAUGHTER] CHIEF HALL DOES. I KNOW SHE DOES.
>> WE ARE PREPARED TO SUBMIT OUR IMPACT REPORTS FOR ALL CHANGES.
>> YES. I THINK SO. WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE.
I THINK IF NOBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS WE'LL TAKE OFF. YES MA'AM.
>> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS THE LANGUAGE THE LAST BULLET, I'M ON PAGE 7, ANY PART OF A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT IS IMPACTED IN A WAY THAT BOTH THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AGREE IS SIGNIFICANT.
I JUST WANT TO RAISE THE POINT THAT IF THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT, AND WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
THERE'S STILL THIS WIGGLE ROOM.
HOW ARE WE BOTH GOING TO AGREE TO SOMETHING EVERY TIME SOMETHING'S GOING ON WHEN HE'S WORKING AND THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.
>> WE CAN NOW COMMUNICATE? I THINK YOU.
>> ALMOST EVERYTHING WILL BE CAPTURED BY THE BULLETS BEFORE THAT.
THIS WAS JUST A WAY TO SAY, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING OUTSIDE THESE BULLETS THAT WE STILL BELIEVE IS SIGNIFICANT.
MAYBE FOR SOME REASON, THE SCHOOL HAS A HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM AND IT'S NOT 30% OR 10% OF A CLASS, IT'S, EIGHT STUDENTS OUT OF 25 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE SAY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT ANYWAY.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE SOMETHING THAT IT'LL BE AN EXCEPTION.
>> MY ONLY QUESTION IS, I COULD SEE HOW YOU COULD REASONABLY THINK THAT.
BUT WHAT IF A BOARD MEMBER DISAGREES WITH YOUR ESTIMATION AND THEN DOESN'T KNOW WHY YOU BROUGHT IT TO US.
I'M SAYING WHEN WE'RE SAYING BOTH.
IF WE DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU DO, AND THEN AFTER THE FACT, COME BACK TO YOU SAYING WE DON'T AGREE, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE IT'S PROBLEMATIC.
WE WOULD HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WELL AND EXPLAIN THE RATIONALE.
IF IT DOESN'T MEET THE THRESHOLD OF THE OTHERS, THEN THE DEFAULT IS, IT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
>> I THINK TO YOUR POINT, IT HAS TO BE BOTH PARTIES BELIEVING THAT IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
I THINK CHIEF HALL TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME AND BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM PRINCIPALS TO CHANGE PROGRAMS. IF SOMETHING COMES TO YOUR ATTENTION, THAT YOU THINK, IT DOESN'T MEET THESE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, BUT LET'S GO TALK TO THE BOARD AND SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO HEAR A REPORT ON.
PROBABLY AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE DOING THE RESEARCH ANYWAY, SO YOU PROBABLY DO A REPORT. THAT'S MY GUESS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK IT WAS A WAY TO GIVE US ADDITIONAL ABILITY TO SAY SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT BEYOND WHAT'S IN THE BULLETS.
IF IT MEETS SIGNIFICANT, WE WILL DO THE REPORT REGARDLESS, THAT SENTENCE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO NOT DO A REPORT, IT JUST ALLOWS US TO ADD REPORTS.
[02:35:06]
SOMEBODY'S GOT THEIR SCREEN UP.>> THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TO AE LOCAL. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES NINE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.
OUR NEXT MOTION THAT'S NEEDED IS WITH RESPECT TO EHBJ LOCAL, WHICH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.
IT'S ALSO BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 8, PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY EHBJ LOCAL SPECIAL PROGRAMS, INNOVATIVE AND MAGNET PROGRAMS, SECOND RATING.
A MOTION BY MS. ARNOLD AND A SECOND BY MISS MENDOZA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
NEXT, MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 9, RATIFICATION OF COOPERATIVE VENDOR AWARDS FROM AUGUST 11, 2023 TO PRESENT.
>> WE WILL AFTER I WANT TO GET A MOTION.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY MISS LEANER AND A SECOND BY MR. CAMPO.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM.
[RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS 551.004 THROUGH 551.089 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSES LISTED IN THIS NOTICE]
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF 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 A SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF.
THIS BOARD HAS RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION AT 7:40 P.M. ON JANUARY 16, 2025. WHAT WE MEAN? WE ARE BACK FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 10:14 P.M. WE
[RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE [NOISE] THE RATIFICATION OF COOPERATIVE VENDOR AWARDS FROM AUGUST 11,[CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
2023 TO THE PRESENT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 17, 2025.THAT WAS PENDING BEFORE WE WENT TO CLOSED SESSION, THAT'S AGENDA ITEM 9.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR HAS A COMMENT TO MAKE, AND THEN I WILL MAKE A COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. YES.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
YES, I WANTED TO UPDATE THE BOARD TO JUST MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ASKED OUR INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM, WHICH IS AN EXTERNAL FIRM, RSM TO REVIEW THE ITEMS WHERE THE PURCHASES WERE OVER $1 MILLION TO VALIDATE THAT THE SPENDING FOLLOWED THE APPROPRIATE PROCESSES, APPROVALS, BUDGETING, RECORD KEEPING.
THERE WAS A MEMO THAT WE SHARED TO SUMMARIZE THAT WORK THAT WAS DONE.
JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THE RESULTS OF THAT WORK WERE THAT OUR INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM FOUND THAT ALL OF THE PROCESSES THAT WERE FOLLOWED WERE APPROPRIATE.
I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS NOTED FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DID LEVERAGE OUR INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM TO REVIEW THOSE PURCHASES.
>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. WE'LL PUBLISH THAT TO MAKE SURE IT'S AVAILABLE.
>> OKAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE NOTE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE ANTICIPATED ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS.
THE FIRST BEING THAT THERE WILL BE A FULL AUDIT OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY, WHICH IS TO BE MANAGED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
THERE WILL BE QUARTERLY FOLLOW UP AUDITS, ALSO TO BE MANAGED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ADOPT A REGULATION THAT WILL REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL LEGAL REVIEW OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND OTHER PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S FAIR. ARE THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WISHES TO HAVE, TALK ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM NUMBER 9?
>> JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WE'LL POST IT ON THE AUDIT WEBSITE.
IS THAT THE PLAN? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. WE'VE GOT A PLACE ON
[02:40:02]
OUR WEBSITE THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.IT SHOULD BE IN THE SAME AREA WHERE FOLKS WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE AUDIT REPORTS WHEN THOSE COME OUT.
JUST ANOTHER CLARIFYING POINT.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REQUESTED THE INTERNAL AUDITOR TO CONDUCT THE REVIEW.
THE INTERNAL AUDITOR BEING RSM, THE COMPANY THAT IS EXTERNAL TO THE DISTRICT.
>> YES. IT IS RATHER CONFUSING, BUT IT CAN BE, SO THANKS FOR CLARIFYING.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ASKED OUR INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE FORWARD IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY MISS LEANER AND MR. CAMPO. CAN WE VOTE? WE HAVE ONE AGAINST SEVEN IN FAVOR.
I DIDN'T READ IT. ONE ABSTENTION ON THE RATIFICATION.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
[NOISE] ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO LIST TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FIRST.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA BY CONSENSUS?
[CONSENT AGENDA]
I HAVE A MOTION BY MISS CRUZ ARNOLD OR DR. CRUZ ARNOLD, AND A SECOND BY MISS MENDOZA.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? NO? LET'S VOTE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.
[CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
WHO HAS THE MOTION OR MOTIONS, I SHOULD ASK. YES, SIR.>> I HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYEES?
>> I MOVE AS THE BOARD APPROVES THE TERMINATION OF THE PROBATIONARY CONTRACT FOR THE EMPLOYEE LISTED AS TEACHER FOUR-A GENERALIST EMPLOYEE ID 224380 ON THE PERSONAL AGENDA ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> A MOTION BY MR. MARTINEZ AND A SECOND BY MISS LEANER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.
[NOISE] EIGHT IN FAVOR ONE ABSTENTION.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVES A CLOSE SESSION, PERSONAL AGENDA, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY THAT THE BOARD APPROVES PROPOSED TERMINATIONS, NON RENEWALS OF CONTINUING TERM PERFORMANCE, AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZE A SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNATED TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD APPROVE SUSPENSIONS WITHOUT PAY FOR CONTINUING TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNED TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD AVOIDS TERM, PROBATIONARY, AND PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZE A SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF SAME, THAT THE BOARD APPROVES WITHDRAWALS OF CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVES ISSUANCE OF FINAL ORDERS ON CONTRACT TERMINATIONS AND NON RENEWALS AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16, 2025.
>> MOTION BY MR. MARTINEZ, [NOISE] SECOND BY MR. CAMPO.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
ANY OTHER MOTIONS OUT OF CLOSED SESSION?
>> A MOVE THAT THE BOARD DECLARES THE BROOKLINE FACILITY, CHATHAM FACILITY, EAST AREA OFFICE, FAIRCHILD FACILITY, FWWOOD FACILITY, GRIMES FACILITY, HARPER FACILITY, HAVILLAND ACREDGE, KIRBY AND OHAM ACREAGE, NORTH FOREST ACREAGE, NORTH FOREST MESA STRIP, ROADS FACILITY, RYAN FACILITY, SOUTH AREA OFFICE, SOUTH BANK ACREDGE, TERRELL FACILITY, AND TIDWELL ACREAGE, AS SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZED SALES PROCEDURES.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION.
[INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A MOTION, MADAM, PLEASE.
>> YOU'RE THE MOST DISAPPOINTING.
>> THIS IS YOUR SECOND WARNING, MADAM.
THANK YOU. PLEASE LEAVE THE BUILDING.
[02:45:01]
AS I DIRECTED EARLIER TODAY, TWO WARNINGS, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE.[INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE LEAVE THE BUILDING, MADAM?
>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT? NO. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE BOARD IS GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AT 10:22 P.M. 10:26.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FACILITIES BY MISS LEANER AND A SECOND BY MS. BANDY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES. ANY OTHER MOTIONS OUT OF CLOSE SESSION? THE LAST ITEM WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
[ELECTION OF OFFICERS]
WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY BDAA.BUT BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO SAY TO THIS BOARD, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO SERVE THIS BOARD AND THE DISTRICT AND THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT.
DURING THESE LAST 18 MONTHS, THE BOARD HAS WORKED TO MAINTAIN OUR FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS WHILE ALSO BEING ATTENTIVE TO MATTERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
ULTIMATELY, THE WORK TO MOVE THE DISTRICT BACK TO ELECTED CONTROL.
NO MATTER WHO IS IN THIS SEAT, THIS BOARD, I KNOW, WILL CONTINUE THE WORK TOGETHER.
AS WAS OUR PROCESS LAST YEAR, I WILL TAKE A MOTION FOR A SLATE OF OFFICERS.
MISS MENDOZA, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION?
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT SLATE THE RICK CAMPO AS PRESIDENT, AUDREY MOMANAEE AS VICE PRESIDENT AND ANGIE FLOWERS AS SECRETARY.
>> YOU HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND BY MISS LEANER.
>> NO DISCUSSION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
WE'RE TRYING TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
>> JUST A COMMENT, NOT A QUESTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? LET'S VOTE.
EIGHT IN FAVOR. ONE ABSTENTION. MOTION PASSES.
WE'LL NOW INSTALL THE NEW BOARD PRESIDENT CAMPO.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SWITCH UP ANYTHING.
WE'RE NOW READY TO HEAR REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
WE CAN START DOWN HERE. MS. BANDY.
[BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
I UNDERSTAND, WELCOME TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT YOU.YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO CONTINUE YOUR SERVICE ON THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND YOU BEGAN A THREE YEAR TERM ON JANUARY 1ST, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR THAT.
>> A QUICK ONE. I KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING THEIR MOI RIGHT NOW AND SO THIS WEEK THE MILL YEAR TESTING.
I JUST BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS MAKING IT HAPPEN AND TO ALL THE KIDS WHO ARE JUST DOING THE NEEDFUL, AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD SOME COMPLAINTS FROM MY KIDS.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK, BUT I'M GLAD FOR DOING IT.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO TEACHER MASAHARAN, OUT OF HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL.
HE JUST RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AS AN ALGEBRA TEACHER AND COUNSELOR, AND HE WAS MY SON'S HOMEROOM TEACHER BACK WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
[02:50:03]
I WANT TO GIVE HIM A STRONG CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS RETIREMENT AND ALL THE STUDENTS THAT HE PROVIDED SUCH GOOD GUIDANCE TO ALL THESE YEARS.>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? MR. RIVON?
>> JUST WANTED TO GIVE RECOGNITION, AT THIS TIME, ALSO FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SPENT AND THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE EXHIBITED FOR THIS BOARD.
ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT COMING UP WE HAVE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.
ONE OF MY ESTEEMED FRATERNITY BROTHERS.
I HOPE THAT WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND EACH OF YOU CONSIDER WAYS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN YOUR OWN SPECIAL WAY IN RECOGNITION OF THAT DAY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE ON THIS BOARD AND THIS MONTH OF BOARD APPRECIATION.
>> MR. SUPERINTENDENT, ANYTHING?
>> VERY GOOD. THEN OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025, AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO CONDUCT, WE ARE DONE TONIGHT AT 10:31 P.M. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.