[I. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
>> TIME IS SIX O'CLOCK, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COPPELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN THE SESSION, FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
FROM MY RIGHT, WE HAVE TRUSTEES ANTHONY HILL, LEIGH WALKER, BOARD SECRETARY JOBBY MATHEW, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT NICOLE BENTLEY, TRUSTEES RANNA RAVAL, AND JONATHAN POWERS, AS WELL AS MYSELF; WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
[III. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS]
AS WE KICK TONIGHT OFF, WE'RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO OUR BOARD AWARDS, WHERE WE ARE HONORING TWO OF OUR INCREDIBLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A VERY PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL RECOGNITION, AS WELL AS ONE OF OUR OWN, TRUSTEE RANNA RAVAL, FOR ACHIEVING THE MASTER TRUSTEE DESIGNATION.BOARD, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME DOWN FRONT, DOUG WILL LET YOU KICK US OFF AT THE PODIUM.
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
AS A SUPERINTENDENT, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING I ENJOY MORE THAN GETTING TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
NOW, WE HAVE TWO THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE, AND IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY.
TONIGHT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, WHILE I'M READING SOME KIND WORDS, JUST REMAIN SEATED.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE CALLED UP TO THE FRONT.
BLUE X ON THE FLOOR, SO YOU'LL SEE THE X, YOU'LL STAND ON THE X THERE, AND THEN THE TRUSTEES ARE GOING TO GREET YOU.
THEY'LL ALL WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HAND, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PICTURE.
LET ME SEE IF I MISSED ANYTHING AFTER THAT, THEN YOU'LL RETURN TO YOUR SEAT, AND THEN WE'LL DO PICTURES AFTER.
OUR FIRST RECOGNITION TONIGHT IS FOR A RISING SENIOR AT COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL, MISS SHREEYA GEDDA.
SHE HAS EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS CONGRESSIONAL AWARD GOLD MEDAL.
IT IS THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR FOR A YOUTH PRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
SHREEYA WAS HONORED DURING A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION THIS JUNE IN WASHINGTON, WHERE SHE ATTENDED EXCLUSIVE EVENTS ON CAPITOL HILL, AND SHE MET WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND NATIONAL LEADERS.
THIS AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1979.
IT RECOGNIZES YOUNG PEOPLE WHO EXHIBIT LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT IN THE AREAS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND EXPLORATION.
TO ACHIEVE THIS DISTINCTION, SHREEYA DEDICATED MORE THAN 800 HOURS OVER THREE YEARS, INCLUDING 400 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, 200 HOURS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND 200 HOURS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ALONG WITH SEVERAL MULTI-DAY EXPEDITIONS, ONE OF WHICH TOOK HER TO THE ARCTIC IN ALASKA.
HER SERVICE HAS MADE HER A LASTING IMPACT BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
SHE VOLUNTEERS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FOOD PANTRIES TO PROMOTE LITERACY FOR UKRAINIAN YOUTH.
HER ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, ENSURING THAT HER NAME AND THE LEGACY OF HER DEDICATION WILL REMAIN A PART OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
SHREEYA, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT.
I NOW ASK YOU TO JOIN THE TRUSTEES IN FRONT OF THE DIAS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE].
>> OUR NEXT HONOREE IS A RISING SENIOR AT NEW TECH HIGH SCHOOL, ANDY COFFEY.
SHE HAS BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE '25/'26 HOPE SQUAD NATIONAL COUNCIL.
THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS OFFER FOR ONLY 45 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AS A MEMBER OF THIS NATIONAL COUNCIL, ANDY WILL HELP SHAPE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY EFFORTS NATIONWIDE BY OFFERING STUDENTS INSIGHT INTO GUIDING PROGRAMS, PARTICIPATING IN WEBINARS AND RESEARCH, AND CONTINUING HER VITAL WORK AS A MEMBER OF THE HOPE SQUAD AT NEW TECH AT COPPELL.
THIS RECOGNITION IS A TESTAMENT TO ANDY'S COMPASSION, LEADERSHIP,
[00:05:02]
AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HER PEERS.IN KEEPING WITH OUR THEME, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ, ANDY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF BOTH HEART AND BRAINS.
IN ADDITION TO HER MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY, ANDY IS ALSO A NASA HIGH SCHOOL AEROSPACE SCHOLAR AND WAS SELECTED THIS SUMMER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM TO PERFORM SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY RESEARCH.
SOUNDS LIKE A FUN SUMMER ASSIGNMENT.
[LAUGHTER] HER ACHIEVEMENT SPEAKS TO AN EXCEPTIONAL BLEND OF EMPATHY AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH A FAR-REACHING IMPACT.
ANDY, ON BEHALF OF CISD AND OUR TRUSTEES, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND KNOW THAT WHEREVER YOUR JOURNEY TAKES YOU, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I NOW ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN OUR TRUSTEES IN FRONT OF THE DIAS.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT RECOGNITION, I'D LIKE FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, AND SUPPORTERS OF SHREEYA AND ANDY TO PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I'D NOW LIKE TO ASK OUR BOARD VICE PRESIDENT IN LEADERSHIP, SBI ALUMNA, NICOLE BENTLEY, TO COME TO THE PODIUM TO RECOGNIZE A FELLOW TRUSTEE.
TONIGHT, I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF RECOGNIZING MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER, TRUSTEE RANNA RAVAL, FOR GRADUATING FROM THE LEADERSHIP TASB CLASS OF 2025 AND EARNING THE DESIGNATION OF MASTER TRUSTEE, THE HIGHEST HONOR AWARDED TO A TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS.
LEADERSHIP TASB IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE BOARD TRAINING.
IT'S A YEAR-LONG TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT CHALLENGES TRUSTEES TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICTS AND INTO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
PLACES LIKE EL PASO, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, FORT WORTH, AND MORE.
IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING WITH COMPLEX EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, VISITING INNOVATIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND BECOMING PART OF A NETWORK OF FEWER THAN 1,000 TRUSTEES STATEWIDE, WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.
AS A FELLOW GRADUATE, I KNOW THIS TAKES DEEP COMMITMENT, TIME AWAY FROM FAMILY AND WORK, AND A TRUE PASSION FOR SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
TRUSTEE RAVAL HAS DEMONSTRATED ALL OF THAT AND MORE.
SHE NOW CARRIES NOT ONLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LOCAL BOARD MEMBER, BUT ALSO THE VOICE OF A MASTER TRUSTEE, SOMEONE WHO LEADS WITH BOTH HEART AND VISION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ACROSS TEXAS.
TRUSTEE RAVAL, ON BEHALF OF YOUR FELLOW TRUSTEES AND COPPELL ISD, WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. [APPLAUSE].
>> CAN Y'ALL JUST STAY FOR ONE MOMENT FOR A PHOTO?
BEFORE WE CONCLUDE OUR AWARDS, I DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD STAND SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU, WE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS SACRIFICE THE MOST FOR ALL OF US THAT SIT UP HERE IN THE TIME AWAY, AND I LOVE THAT.
[APPLAUSE] MISS MASTER TRUSTEE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
[00:10:01]
AS PART OF THE DESIGNATION, YOU GOT TO TALK.>> I JUST FEEL SO HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO JUST HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU, OF COURSE, MY FAMILY, FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, DR. BRAD HUNT, AND THE BOARD, AND OUR FORMER TRUSTEE MANISH FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY.
JUST LIKE NICOLE MENTIONED, IT'S A LONG LEARNING JOURNEY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, BUT ALSO A LOT OF COMMITMENT AND TIME AWAY FROM OUR REGULAR FAMILY AND JOBS.
BUT IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING AT THE SAME TIME REWARDING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRING IT ALL HERE HOME TO OUR COPPELL COMMUNITY.
I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY THAT I CALL IT HOME. [APPLAUSE]
>> AS WE CONCLUDE OUR AWARDS, THIS IS ALL OF YOUR TIME TO SNEAK OUT IF YOU WANT TO SNEAK OUT, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY EVERYBODY, EXCEPT RANNA.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> SHREEYA, YOU SHOULD CELEBRATE BY GIVING THE WATIAMAMA.
>> I CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU GUYS.
>> SHOULD WE TAKE IT OUTSIDE? [BACKGROUND]
[IV. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Jobby Mathew - Place 7]
>> AS WE CONTINUE ON WITH OUR EVENING, NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA AS WE START THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR MEETING IS OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TONIGHT, LED BY SECRETARY MATHEW.
>> IF YOU WOULD STAND AND JOIN ME IF YOU CAN.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER TODAY.
PLEASE GUIDE US IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS, AND HELP US WORK TOGETHER WITH WISDOM AND GRACE, AND HELP US TO KEEP THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MIND AS WE DELIBERATE TODAY AND MAKE ANY DECISIONS.
[V. OPEN FORUM]
>> WE DID HAVE FOUR PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN OUR OPEN FORUM TONIGHT.
WITH THAT, IF YOU'LL GIVE ME A SECOND, I'LL JUST READ OUR NORMAL STATEMENT, AND THEN WE WILL GET UNDERWAY.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES COMMENTS ABOUT THE COPPELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT, ITS EMPLOYEES, OR FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
ANYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY AND PROCEDURES MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME.
THE BOARD ASKED THAT EACH PARTICIPANT'S COMMENTS PERTAIN TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND BE NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.
JUST REMEMBER THAT PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, DURING REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS, THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK ON ANY TOPIC RELATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
HOWEVER, THE BOARD MAY NOT DISCUSS OR ACT UPON ANY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON OUR AGENDA.
IN ADDITION, THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED COMPLAINT POLICIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SECURE, AT THE LOWEST ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, A PROMPT AND EQUITABLE RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.
COMPLAINTS BROUGHT BY EMPLOYEES MAY BE HEARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES DG BA LEGAL AND DG BA LOCAL BY STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES F&G LEGAL AND F&G LOCAL, AND BY CITIZENS IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES GF LEGAL AND GF LOCAL.
EACH OF THESE PROCESSES PROVIDE THAT IF A RESOLUTION CANNOT BE ACHIEVED ADMINISTRATIVELY, THE PERSON MAY APPEAL THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION TO THE BOARD AS A PROPERLY POSTED AGENDA ITEM.
COPIES OF OUR DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR BOARD POLICIES, INCLUDING FILING COMPLAINTS, ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE COPPELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE,
[00:15:01]
WHICH IS COPPELLISD.COM.SECRETARY MATHEW IS OUR TIMEKEEPER.
WHAT WE'LL DO AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST JUST ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
AT THAT TIME, HE WILL START THE TIMER.
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT, HE'LL SHOW THE ONE-MINUTE PADDLE, AND THEN WHEN YOU HEAR THE ALARM GO OFF, HE'LL WAIVE THE TIME, AND THAT'LL BE YOUR CUE AT THAT POINT TO WRAP IT UP.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT, MR. SUBU VINKAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NEW TECH CONSOLIDATION.
I WANT YOU ALL TO ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO DO WITH THE CONSOLIDATION? IS THE CONSOLIDATION GOING TO SAVE MONEY? IS IT GOING TO MAKE COPPELL BETTER? IS IT GOING TO IMPROVE STUDENT ATTENDANCE? IS IT GOING TO INCREASE STUDENTS? IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE COPPELL THE DESTINATION TOWN IT'S BEEN? ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. IS IT GOING TO REALLY SAVE MONEY.
AGAIN, I ASK YOU ALL, THIS IS A SOLEMN PLEA AND A PRAYER.
AFTER THE MEETING, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE, DO NOT MAKE TODAY A SAD DAY FOR COPPELL.
DO NOT MAKE TODAY A SAD DAY FOR STUDENTS IN COPPELL.
DO NOT MAKE TODAY A SAD DAY FOR FAMILIES IN COPPELL.
DO NOT MAKE TODAY A SAD DAY FOR NEW TECH STUDENTS AND BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER.
LET CISD NOT TAKE A STEP LIKE THEY TOOK FOR PINKERTON.
LET IT NOT BE A HASTY ONE, BECAUSE CLOSING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS SLIGHTLY BAD, BUT CLOSING A HIGH SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT PROPOSITION.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF GRADUATES AND A LOT OF HISTORY IN IT.
THINK ABOUT IT. IS IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC NUMBERS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS? THEN WHAT WERE YOU GUYS DOING FOR FIVE YEARS? WE KNEW THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT FOR FIVE YEARS.
I WAS PART OF THE BUILDING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE CMS VEST FOR THE NEW SCHOOLS IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOWN.
WHEN WE WERE BUILDING OTHER SIDE OF THE TOWN, WE KNEW THAT THE TREND WAS GOING DOWN.
WHY DIDN'T WE SHOW UP THESE BUILDINGS RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY AND MAKE THEM STRONGER THAN BUILDING SOMEWHERE ELSE? WHY DID WE BUILD IN VALLEY RANCH AND CYPRESS WATERS? WE HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF MONEY FROM THESE GUYS, INCLUDING ME TO BUILD THOSE BUILDINGS.
WHY DID WE DO THAT? WE KNEW THE SHIFT, I KNEW THE SHIFT. I SAW THE NUMBERS.
I WAS SITTING WITH BRAD HUNT, AND SAID IN THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ACROSS IN CYPRESS WATERS.
I KNEW THE NUMBERS. MY DAUGHTER KNEW THE NUMBER.
SHE KNEW WE WERE GOING LIKE THIS.
WHY ARE WE BUILDING LIKE THIS? ANYWAY, DON'T MAKE THE ARCHITECTS HAPPY.
THE ONLY GUY WHO'S GOING TO BE HAPPY AFTER TODAY ARE GOING TO BE THE ARCHITECTS.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE SAD.
I GOT ONE MINUTE, BUT LET ME FINISH BY SAYING THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DO NOT BLAME THE BUDGET.
DO NOT BLAME THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE KNEW WHERE THE NUMBERS WAS. DON'T BLAME IT.
THIRD GRADER WILL TELL YOU, DADDY, THE CURVE IS GOING DOWN.
A THIRD GRADER WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU FROM LAKESIDE, OF COURSE, FROM ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THEY SAID PEOPLE MOVED TO COPPELL BECAUSE THIS IS REAL TRUTH.
I WAS WALKING IN THE PARK AND SOMEBODY WHO WENT WITH ME IN COPPELL, THE THING THAT I DID WITH COPPELL, THEY SAID, HEY, I REMEMBER THE GREEN SHIRT, AND SHE SAID, COPPELL IS GOING DOWN.
THEY ARE DOING THE WRONG THINGS.
IT USED TO BE A DESTINATION TOWN.
LET'S NOT LOSE IT. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BYE BYE. [APPLAUSE]
>> COULD YOU JUST HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, AND FORGIVE ME IF I SAY WRONG, BUT SUJI. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THANKS [INAUDIBLE] A LOT ON YOU, ACTUALLY.
GOOD EVENING. LET ME START WITH A QUOTE BY JOHN DEWEY.
IF WE TEACH TODAY'S STUDENTS AS WE TAUGHT YESTERDAYS, WE ROB THEM OFF TOMORROW.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I URGE AND PLEAD TO YOU.
DO NOT CONSOLIDATE NEW TECH HIGH.
IT'S LEADING THE WAY IN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION.
ARE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY CISD UNIQUE? NO. ARE THE ISDS FACING PROBLEMS LIKE FUNDING, ENROLLMENT ISSUES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YES. APART FROM FRISCO AND PROSPER, WHAT ARE THE OTHER ISDS DOING? CUE. JULY 14TH, IF WE FOLLOW NEIGHBORING AND OUR ADMIN TEAM, BOTH ARE COPY PASTE AND BOTH ARE HERE TO CONSOLIDATE OR CLOSE THE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S IT. HOWEVER, WHAT IS FRISCO DOING? OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 34 CITIES.
SOMEBODY SAID TO ME THAT. ARE WE OPENING ENROLLMENT? NO. OUR LAST SPECIAL SESSION REMINDED ME OF THE '80S SITCOM GOLDEN GIRLS.
[00:20:05]
THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF THE DAY.ARE THEY CAPABLE OF SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR TOMORROW, WHICH THE NEW TECH DID? NO. SHOULD OUR CSD HAVE AN INNOVATIVE TEAM READY FOR TOMORROW OR LOOK BACKWARDS, LIKE THOSE ADMINS REPRESENTING GOLDEN FOLKS OF THE YESTER YEARS, NOT FOR TODAY.
ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH BY SRI INTERNATIONAL, NEW TECH HAVE HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, STRONGER CRITICAL THINKINGS, AND BETTER COLLEGE PERSISTENCE THAN THEIR PEERS IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.
THIS IS PROOF THAT NEW TECH MODEL WORKS IF YOU GIVE A CHANCE TO GROW NEW TECH.
WITH A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY, THAT'S HOW MUCH SUPPORT FISD NEVER GAVE TO NEW TECH, AND CONSOLIDATE BY STATING IT FAILED.
LAST YEAR, THE SAME GROUP SAID, NO CLOSURE FOR NEW TECH CAMPUS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
EVEN BEFORE ONE YEAR ENDS, WE ARE AT INTERCHANGE.
NEW TECH ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH BOTH FEDERAL AND TEXT EDUCATION GOALS, IF THERE IS FEDERAL ANYMORE.
THAT EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT AND THE HOUSE WILL FIVE PROMOTES CARRIER READINESS AND FLEXIBLE GRADUATION PATHS, EXACTLY WHAT NEW TECH DELIVERS THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY HANDS ON PROJECTS.
FRISCO ISD AND PROSPER ISD ARE INSPIRING MODELS OF HOW TO SUPPORT AND GROW PBL SCHOOLS LIKE NEW TECH.
FRISCO ISD HAS EMBRACED PBL BY INVESTING HEAVILY IN TEACHER TRAINING, BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIP, AND PROMOTING THESE PROGRAMS TO FAMILIES.
THEIR COMMITMENT UNLIKE OUR ADMIN TEAM HAS LED TO INCREASED ENROLLMENT, HIGHER STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS OUTCOMES.
THEY SEE THESE INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS AS INVESTMENTS IN FUTURE, NOT EXPENSES TO CUT.
WHY NEW TECH IS FACING CONSOLIDATION, I WOULD SAY DULL ADMINS, SITE FUNDING LIMITS, LOWER ENROLLMENT, AND A FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL TEST SCORES.
BUT THESE ISSUES CAN BE OVERCOME WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND STRATEGY PARTNERSHIPS.
HOW MANY OF THE SO CALLED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEMBERS OR PROJECT TEAM HAD STUDENTS IN NEW TECH WHICH WERE USED AS INPUT ARE HERE TODAY? CONSOLIDATING NEW TECH WOULD SEND A WRONG MESSAGE THAT TRADITIONAL EDUCATION ALONE IS ENOUGH, DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT PBL-BASED STUDENTS FOR THE MODERN WORKFORCE AND UNIVERSITY MEANS THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED.
WHEN FRISCO, PROSPER, GROW THEIR PBL, THIS CONSOLIDATION WOULD BE A STEP BACKWARD FOR COPPELL ISD, AND SLEEP WALKING TO A GOLDEN COPPELL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
IF YOU CANNOT GET IT, I'M SORRY. IT'S REALLY SAD.
MISS RANA, SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN TRUSTEE, I HOPE YOUR GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING WILL HELP.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, KRISHNA KELLY.
>> KRISHNA KELLY, 424 GREENRIDGE DRIVE.
I'M A PROUD NEW TECH PARENT WHO HAS SPOKEN AT CISD MEETINGS THIS SUMMER.
NEW TECH STUDENTS FLOURISH IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE, BUT STANDING AT THIS PODIUM FOR ME IS NOT SO EASY.
I DO IT BECAUSE SINCE MAY, OUR ENTIRE NEW TECH FAMILY HAS BEEN UNITED AROUND ONE GOAL, PRESERVING OUR CURRENT CAMPUS HOME.
BEFORE I JUMP ON, I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES LIKE THE MUSIC'S PLAYING, THE RECORDS PLAYING. I LOVE RECORDS.
I JUST WENT ON A BIG TOUR AND I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF RECORDS, BUT THE THING ABOUT A RECORD IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE MUSIC'S PLAYING, THE DJS GOT TO ADJUST.
THE NEEDLE MIGHT BE ON A SONG, BUT IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP, THE DJS GOT TO ADJUST.
WE'VE HEARD THE REFRAIN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN SPINNING, BUT SINCE MAY, A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE ARE LISTENING.
A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
WE WANT TO PRESERVE OUR CURRENT HOME.
OUR BUILDING, OUR PARKING LOT, PICNIC TABLE AREA, OPEN FIELDS, AREN'T JUST BRICKS AND GRASS.
THEY'RE LIVING LABS WHERE OUR STUDENTS COLLABORATE, INNOVATE, AND FORM LIFELONG BONDS.
REMOVING US FROM THIS SPACE WOULD DISMANTLE THE VERY CULTURE THAT MAKES NEW TECH EXCEPTIONAL.
IF YOU WERE AT LAST MEETING, THE BUDGET MEETING, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE NEW SPACE, WHICH WILL BE A SHARED TRACK AND FIELD THAT WE'LL HAVE TO RESERVE SOME SPACE TO GET AS OPPOSED TO THE OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
WE WILL HAVE SPACE, BUT I DROVE PAST NEW TECH TODAY AND IT REMINDED ME HOW BIG THE BUILDING IS, AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THAT SPACE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO REPLACE THAT WITH THE SMALLER SPACE.
QUICKLY. WHAT HAVE WE DONE THIS SUMMER? I WOULD SAY THAT OVER THE SUMMER, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER, SO WHEN I COME UP HERE AND SPEAK OR RC SPEAKS OR BEN CLARK SPEAKS OR ANYONE SPEAKS, WE'RE REPRESENTING A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO'VE TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH MY LANGUAGE TO BE UP ON THAT PODIUM.
IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
GETTING UP HERE AND TALKING, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME.
I'M GETTING UP HERE AND I'M TRYING TO SPEAK ON THE BACKS OF THE HUNDRED OR SO PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE WITH US.
THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE ONLINE, ACTIVE IN PERSON.
WE'VE HAD BIG MEETINGS, 50 PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO?
[00:25:01]
THIS ISN'T ONE CRAZY, WACKY NEW ENGLANDER WHO'S COMING IN HERE AND THROWING A BUNCH OF IDEAS AND SAYING, IT WAS SO GREAT WHEN I HAD EDUCATION.THESE ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT THINGS.
WE'VE DEVELOPED A WEBSITE. WE'VE DONE SO MUCH.
LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS WE HAVE SENT YOU GUYS A LOT OF IDEAS.
I PERSONALLY SENT YOU A LOT OF IDEAS.
I WILL SAY THAT IN ALL THE 10 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN CISD, AUSTIN, EAST, NEW TECH, NEVER SEEN A GROUP OF PARENTS SO INTO IT AND TOGETHER, AND I WOULD SAY, IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS THAT'S ON THE BLOCK OR ELEMENTARY COMING UP, THIS IS GOING TO SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND, PLEASE WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER TONIGHT WILL BE ANTONIA KELLY.
>> GOOD EVENING. DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER TO STAND UP HERE.
ANTONIA KELLY, 424 GREENRIDGE DRIVE.
AFTER THE LAST BUDGET MEETING, IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE DECISION HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE ABOUT NEW TECH'S FUTURE.
EVERYTHING WAS WELL LAID OUT IN A PRESENTATION, A BUILDING PLANNER WALKING US THROUGH THE DESIGN AND LAYOUT, INCLUDING THE FRONT ENTRANCE, THE INTERIOR, AND ITS LOCATION ON THE MAP.
DROP OFF ISSUES HAD BEEN ADDRESSED.
THIS FELT LIKE A PLAN THAT WAS READY TO BE PUT INTO ACTION.
WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS THAT NIGHT, THE OTHER BEING THAT NEW TECH STAYS WHERE IT IS, BUT THE PLAN DIDN'T SEEM AS WELL ORGANIZED.
THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE PLAN OR ACTION STEPS THAT I CAN RECALL FOR THAT OPTION.
I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF ALL THE COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT BY NEW TECH FAMILIES, RESEARCHING, PLANNING, AND CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT I FEEL WE'RE NEVER MENTIONED.
THESE FAMILIES, INCLUDING MINE, WORKED HARD BECAUSE WE THOUGHT YOU WANTED IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE BUDGET AND TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CAMPUS.
I CAN'T HELP BUT TO WONDER IF THIS DECISION IS MADE OFF OF WHAT IS BEST FOR COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS FUTURE SHRINKING NUMBERS AND WHAT'S BEST FOR NOW.
IN TERMS, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS, I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DEALT WITH, BUT ALSO FEELS LIKE MAKING A DECISION TO CLOSE A CAMPUS THAT YOU'VE NEVER WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE KIDS IN ACTION, IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.
I FEEL THIS DECISION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE BY SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE HERE TO SEE IT THROUGH.
IF YOU DO DECIDE TO CLOSE NEW TECH CAMPUS, INSTEAD OF GROWING IT, IT WILL BE A HUGE MISTAKE THAT WILL HURT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN THE LONG RUN.
I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR OPEN FORUM TONIGHT,
[VI. DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS - SUPERINTENDENT]
AND THAT WILL TAKE US INTO OUR DISCUSSION REPORT ITEMS. MR. WILLIAMS.>> THE FIRST THING THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN DISCUSSION IS OUR MULTI-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET PLAN, AND MS. SARKAR IS GOING TO LEAD US OFF TONIGHT.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. WILLIAMS. AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE HAVE SHOWN THIS SLIDE A NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MULTI-YEAR BUDGET PLAN.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE SECTION OF THAT PLAN, THE ONE THAT IMPACTS THE '25-'26 BUDGET.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS SHOWN WHAT WE HAD IN OUR PLAN NUMBERS VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ACTUAL '25-'26 BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD PLANNED [NOISE] ON ABOUT $300,000 REDUCTION IN DISTRICT SUPPORT POSITIONS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE REDUCED THOSE POSITIONS FOR A TOTAL OF $730,000.
YOU CAN SEE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT WERE REDUCED FOR LAST YEAR.
WE HADN'T REALLY PLANNED MORE FOR THIS YEAR.
WE DO HAVE OTHERS IN THE PLAN, BUT WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ATTRITION TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS BY $370,000.
WE CAN SEE THOSE NUMBERS BACK AND FORTH FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE LINE ITEMS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IN THE '25-'26 BUDGET, THE DISTRICT HAS REDUCED FULL TIME EMPLOYEES BY OVER 69 POSITIONS.
THERE ARE 69 POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET, A COUPLE OF MORE HAVE COME THROUGH.
THAT SHOULD GENERATE PAYROLL SAVINGS OF ABOUT $3.2 MILLION.
IN THAT VERY FIRST COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THE DRAFT BUDGET COMPARED TO THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR
[00:30:02]
THIS YEAR AND THE '23-'24 ACTUALS.AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LOCAL REVENUES ARE GOING DOWN BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT'S REALLY A MILLION DOLLARS LESS IN EXPECTED INTEREST REVENUE BASED ON INTEREST RATES.
STATE REVENUE THAT FLUCTUATES WITH OUR STATE-CALCULATED FUNDING, BUT THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE LESS THIS YEAR, AND THAT CAN BE FROM DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND THE FACT THAT JUST VARIATIONS IN THE TEMPLATE.
AS FAR AS FEDERAL AND OTHER, YOU'LL SEE A SIGNIFICANT DROP THERE.
SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN SHA'S MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT REVENUE.
AS WELL AS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN ONE TIME REVENUE THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR FOR THE SALE OF OLD DEVICES.
THAT'S WHY THOSE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE NUMBERS WERE PUT TOGETHER PRIOR TO US RECEIVING OUR CERTIFIED VALUES.
FOR THE AUGUST 11TH BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE THESE NUMBERS VERY SLIGHTLY AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AND STATE REVENUE AND RECAPTURE AS WE WILL BAKE IN THE CERTIFIED VALUES AND HOW WE EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE OUR STATE FUNDING.
>> HERE ARE THE EXPENDITURES PROPOSED FOR THE YEAR.
IF THE DISTRICTS REDUCING STAFF, WHY ARE OUR PAYROLL COSTS INCREASING? WHY DID THEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE? WELL, ONE GREAT THING IS THAT THE STATE HAS PASSED ON A VERY SIGNIFICANT COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR TEACHERS.
THAT HAS INCREASED OUR PAYROLL COSTS.
THE REVENUE THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT, SINCE THAT'S PASSED THROUGH, WAS IN THE REVENUE NUMBERS.
BUT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PAYROLL NUMBERS, ABOUT 3.7 MILLION.
THEN THE BOARD APPROVED A RAISE FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.5 MILLION IN TOTAL.
PAYROLL IS NOW 82% OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET.
WE WERE ALWAYS IN THE LOW 80S.
NOW WE'RE AT A SOLID 82% WITH THIS BUDGET.
PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACTED SERVICES ARE DRIVEN MAINLY BY RECAPTURE, SO THOSE ARE GOING DOWN MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN RECAPTURE.
OTHER ITEMS TO NOTE IS DUE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITHHOLDING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TITLE 2, 3, AND 4, WE DID PUT ABOUT $175,000 WORTH OF EXPENDITURES IN THIS BUDGET.
OVER THE WEEKEND, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASED THOSE FUNDS.
FOR THE AUGUST 11 BUDGET, WE WILL BE TAKING THOSE BACK OUT, AND WE'LL BE PAYING FOR THOSE EXPENSES VIA THE FEDERAL FUNDS.
THOSE ARE THE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUES, AND THIS IS THE SUMMARY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TWO TOGETHER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS DRAFT BUDGET STILL HAS A DEFICIT OF NEARLY $9 MILLION.
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GO.
IF THERE WERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THE BOARD RECEIVED THE BUDGET PACKET.
IT IS POSTED ONLINE OR WILL BE BY TOMORROW MORNING, AND THAT DETAILS ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS AND EXPENDITURES, AND REVENUES, IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PASSED LEGISLATIVELY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FACTOR INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET YET? DO WE HAVE ANY? I KNOW IT'S INCREDIBLY SPECULATIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, DIANA, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY SPECULATION OR IDEA OF WHEN WE MIGHT KNOW WHAT THOSE BUDGET IMPACTS MIGHT BE?
>> WELL, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY BECAUSE IT DEPENDS HOW TEA INTERPRETS THAT LEGISLATION AND WHAT THEY REQUIRE US TO DO, AND WHEN THEY REQUIRE US TO DO THAT.
WE DO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MATH ACADEMIES, AND WE ASSUME THAT THAT'S GOING TO COST, COULD BE $100,000.
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR THE READING ACADEMIES.
WE HAVE THAT BAKED INTO THE BUDGET, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO DO.
FOR EXAMPLE, IPHONE POUCHES, YOU MENTIONED LAST TIME, TRUSTEE WALKER.
WE HAVE THAT FORTUNATELY WAS SOMETHING WE COULD PAY FOR WITH FUNDS FROM THIS YEAR, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'LL IMPACT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, EXCEPT FOR REPLACEMENTS OR NEW STUDENTS THAT NEED THOSE.
THE SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE WAS IN THIS YEAR.
>> IT IS DEFINITELY A QUESTION.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN,
[00:35:01]
AND WE KNOW THAT IT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE A YEAR BEFORE ALL OF THE RULES ARE ROLLED OUT.IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING, WE WON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING TO ASK FOR FUTURE, NOT TO NECESSARILY ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M GETTING SOME QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT THE FOOD BUDGET IS ITS OWN THING.
I WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANY IMPLICATIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS, AND WHAT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO OFFER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THAT?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE OUR FREE AND REDUCED PROGRAMS WILL BE CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY.
I THINK THAT OUR FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THAT OUR ALS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY ARE.
WE HAVE THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN MEAL PRICES.
FOLKS WILL SEE THAT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INCREASE IN MEAL PRICES FOR THREE YEARS, AND THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN ABSORBING THOSE COSTS, BUT WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO ABSORB THOSE COSTS IN THE FOOD SERVICE FUND ANY LONGER.
>> FOR A MINUTE, JUST ABOUT WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THAT YOU SEE THAT WE'VE SPENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WHAT THE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN BASED ON BUDGETS IN A ROW WITH THESE SORTS OF DEFICITS.
>> SURE, THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE A FUND BALANCE, AND THAT FUND BALANCE IS BASED UPON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.
AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE CUT OFF THAT FISCAL YEAR, AND THAT GOES INTO OUR FUND BALANCE IF WE DON'T SPEND AS MUCH AS WE BROUGHT IN.
THE FUND BALANCE CAN BUILD, AND IT HAS BEEN BUILDING SLOWLY SINCE ABOUT 20:14.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STRONG FUND BALANCE IN ORDER TO HOLD A GREAT CREDIT RATING, SO THAT THE COST OF OUR BONDS ARE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE HAVE THE BEST CREDIT RATING, BUT ALSO SO THAT WE HAVE CASH IN THE BANK.
TO FUND PAYROLL FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER, WHEN TAX COLLECTION STARTS.
MOST OF US GET OUR TAX BILLS IN THE FALL, AND THEN WE HAVE UNTIL JANUARY TO PAY THEM.
THE DISTRICT REALLY DOESN'T START SEEING MONEY ROLLING IN UNTIL LATE DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE COLLECT MOST OF THE TAX.
WE NEED TO HAVE CASH TO PAY ALL OF OUR EXPENSES AND PAYROLL FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER.
THAT'S WHAT THE FUND BALANCE HELPS US DO.
AS THESE DEFICITS, THE 2023 ACTUAL DEFICIT, THE EXPECTED DEFICIT FOR 24, 25, THOSE WILL COME OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE AND REDUCES THAT AMOUNT.
WE HAVE SOME WIGGLE ROOM, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.
TAKING $10 MILLION OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO IT.
>> OFFHAND, ABOUT WHAT THE $9 MILLION DEFICIT IN 25 26 WOULD DO TO OUR FUND BALANCE, PROJECTED.
>> WE WOULD TAKE IT? PROBABLY AROUND $50 MILLION.
>> MS. SARKAR, THERE ARE CERTAIN STANDARDS THAT THE STATE LOOKS AT YOU FOR ANALYSIS PURPOSE, WHEN WE SUBMIT OUR AUDIT ANNUALLY TO TEA, AND IF WE ARE UNDER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS IN FUND BALANCE, THEN IT ACTUALLY TRIGGERS SOME WARNING SIGNS TO GO OFF?
WE'VE PRESENTED THAT INFORMATION AS WELL TO THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW THAT'S ABOUT 25% OF ALL EXPENDITURES, AND THAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE KEEP MORE LIKE 40% OF ALL EXPENDITURES IN OUR FUND BALANCE SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS HAVE A STRONG CREDIT RATING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT FINANCIAL VIABILITY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. SARKAR?
>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
MS. SARKAR, GOING BACK TO TRUSTEE POWERS, HOW MUCH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD NEED THIS YEAR TO GET US FROM THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR INTO JANUARY FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT?
>> THEN I KNOW THAT THE OTHER THING THAT WAS BIG WITH THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, BUT AT WHAT POINT WILL THE BUDGET BE UPDATED OR MODIFIED TO REFLECT THAT IF THAT WERE TO PASS?
>> WHAT THE STATE SAID IS THAT WE SHOULD BE SETTING A TAX RATE, ASSUMING THAT THAT WILL PASS,
[00:40:02]
AND SO WE SHOULD BE SETTING OUR BUDGETS, ASSUMING THAT THAT WILL PASS.THE CERTIFIED VALUES THAT WE RECEIVED ON FRIDAY INCLUDE THAT $140,000 EXEMPTION FOR HOMEOWNERS FOR THE HOMESTEAD, AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION FOR THOSE OVER 65 AND DISABLED.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET OR THE DRAFT FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET?
THIS IS OUR BUDGET PLANNING CALENDAR, AND WE WILL BE MEETING AGAIN ON AUGUST 11 TO SEE THE FINAL BUDGET.
THEN, ON THE 25TH IS THE DAY WHEN THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND TAX RATES.
THAT HAPPENS AT 5:30 IN THIS ROOM, AND AT 6:00, THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING, THAT'S WHEN WE TYPICALLY ASK THE BOARD TO ADOPT THE BUDGETS AND TAX RATE.
>> WRONG BUTTONS. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE NEW TECH PROJECT TEAM AND WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
MAY THE 12TH WAS A PRESENTATION BY CERC, THE CERC TEAM.
THE CERC TEAM THAT NIGHT PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT COULD BE TARGETED FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION.
THERE WERE SOME THAT THAT WERE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST MARK, AS TO THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST DO.
THERE WERE SOME THAT THE CERC TEAM RECOMMENDED THAT MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED AT ALL.
IF YOU REMEMBER, ACTUALLY, MY FIRST MEETING WITH YOU, WE WENT THROUGH A CHART THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED THAT.
IN RELATION TO NEW TECH, NEW TECH WAS THE ONE THAT WAS REALLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ANALYSIS.
THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT NEW TECH SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED, BUT IT SHOULD NOT REMAIN STATUS QUO.
IT HAD TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
IN FACT, THE STATUS AND DATA FROM THAT.
THOSE THAT WERE ON THE CERC TEAM, ZERO SAID LEAVE NEW TECH AS IS.
THERE WERE THREE THAT VOTED ON ITEM TWO.
THAT WAS MOVED NEW TECH INTO COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE TWO THAT SELECTED THE OPTION OF, WE REALLY AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT WE REALLY AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH CLOSING.
THEN TWO ACTUALLY SAID CLOSE NEW TECH.
BASED ON THAT, WHEN I CAME ON WITH YOU, JUNE 2, EARLY ON, IT WAS VERY EVIDENT THAT THERE WERE SOME MEASURES THAT WE DEFINITELY NEEDED TO TAKE.
THERE WERE ALSO SOME THAT I ALMOST CONSIDERED TO BE NON-NEGOTIABLE.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE.
THOSE NON-NEGOTIABLES WERE DOING ANYTHING RELATING TO TEACHER SALARIES.
TEACHER SALARIES MUST REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
THAT WAS AN ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN.
ONE OTHER OPTION WAS CLASS SIZES.
THEY BELIEVE THAT CLASS SIZES NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO BE AT OR BELOW STATE STANDARDS.
THE THIRD ONE WERE PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS, SUCH AS STEAM, ART, MUSIC, PROGRAMS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, VERY SIMILAR THERE AS WELL.
THOSE PROGRAMS, THEY BELIEVE THAT MADE THE DISTRICT UNIQUE.
FROM THAT, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS IN THE DISTRICT'S BEST INTEREST TO FORM A TEAM.
IT'S A LONG TITLE, BUT IT WAS A NEW TECH SPECIAL PROJECT TEAM.
THIS GROUP HAS MET A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES.
OUR FIRST MEETING WAS AROUND GOODNESS, PROBABLY MIDDLE OF JUNE.
IT WAS MADE UP OF 28 INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAD STUDENTS, WE HAD FROM NEW TECH, WE HAD STUDENTS FROM NEW TECH, WE HAD PARENTS FROM NEW TECH.
WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE CERC TEAM.
IT WAS REALLY A CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE MET FOUR TIMES, AND THEN REALLY AFTER A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSION, AT THE END OF THE SECOND SESSION, WE FORMULATED FIVE OPTIONS.
ONE OPTION WAS TO CLOSE NEW TECH.
ANOTHER ONE WAS TO KEEP IT AS IS STATUS QUO.
ONE OTHER OPTION WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING STUDENTS AT VICTORY PLACE INTO NEW TECH, THUS REDUCING SOME OVERHEAD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AT VICTORY PLACE, CREATING MAYBE SOME GREATER POPULATION IN NEW TECH.
[00:45:02]
THE TWO THAT RESONATED IN ROWS TO THE TOP WERE RE-IMAGINING NEW TECH WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT AT THE CURRENT CAMPUS.THEN THE SECOND WAS RE-IMAGINING AND RELOCATING NEW TECH ONTO COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.
THAT WAS THE WORK THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
THE NEXT SESSION WAS JUST ALL ABOUT LOOKING AT BOTH OPTIONS.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, THAT WHY WAS THERE MORE INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE RE-IMAGINE AND THE RELOCATION THAN THE STATUS QUO? PRETTY SIMPLE. THE STATUS QUO WAS ALMOST SELF-EXPLANATORY.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SAY OTHER THAN WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, BUT BOTH OPTIONS WOULD BE RE-IMAGINED.
I THINK THE RE-IMAGINING, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE TALK ABOUT PROGRAM AND OFFERINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE HAD TO REALLY BE ABLE TO CAST A VISION FOR WHAT THE RELOCATION LOOK LIKE.
WE SPENT SOME TIME ON THAT, AND THEN LAST WEEK, WE MET FOR OUR FINAL TIME.
I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME SURVEY DATA THAT WE HAD.
THE FIRST QUESTION THAT WHEN WE ASK A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, BUT THE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS, WHAT IS YOUR ACCEPTANCE FOR THE OPTION OF RE-IMAGINE NEW TECH AT THE CURRENT SITE WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT.
SAME FORMAT THAT WE DID WITH CERC.
THE OPTION NUMBER ONE WAS, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT OPTION AT ALL, ALL THE WAY TO FIVE, MEANING THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT OPTION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MOST COMMON THERE WAS THE OPTION OF KEEPING NEW TECH WHERE IT IS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK, YOU SEE ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, THERE WERE FOUR THAT SAID, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE OPTION AT ALL FOLLOWED BY THREE.
THE NUMERIC AVERAGE OF THIS OPTION WAS 3.26.
WHEN YOU TAKE ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER, AND THE NUMERIC OPTION WAS 3.26 FOR THIS ONE, THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, ON A SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, WHAT IS YOUR THRESHOLD FOR ACCEPTANCE FOR THE OPTION OF RE-IMAGINING NEW TECH INTO THE RELOCATED CHS? NOTICE THAT THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE, AND THIS WAS BY THE WAY, 22 RESPONDENTS, TWO PEOPLE RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT OPTION AT ALL, ONE SAID, I'M NOT COMPLETELY UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S NOT MY FAVORITE, THREE WERE REALLY NEUTRAL, EIGHT PEOPLE SAID WE ARE SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE WITH IT, AND FIVE SAID WE WERE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE.
>> 3.86, SO THE AVERAGE FOR THOSE RESPONSES.
FINALLY, THE LAST QUESTION WE ASK, IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CISD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THE SELECTION BELOW AS THE OPTION FOR NEW TECH GOING FORWARD? LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PHRASE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CISD.
IN MY OPINION, MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT IS TO GUIDE YOU IN THE DISTRICT, LEAD THE DISTRICT INTO DECISIONS FOR THE LONG-TERM BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
THAT'S ANY DISCUSSION WE HAVE.
PK-12, ALL 12,800 STUDENTS, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS AS A WHOLE.
BASED ON THAT, WE ASK THEM TO SELECT ONE OF TWO CHOICES, RE-IMAGINED NEW TECH AT THE CURRENT OR RE-IMAGINED NEW TECH RELOCATED.
TWENTY-TWO RESPONDED, 17 SAID RELOCATE, AND FIVE SAID KEEP IT CURRENT SITE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT 77.3%, 22.7%.
THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT THE GROUP CAME UP WITH.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THAT OR METHODOLOGY BEFORE WE GO FORWARD?
>> JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME, I DON'T KNOW.
[INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP IS.
>> AGAIN, THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP, WE HAD A GROUP OF NEW TECH STUDENTS, AND MR. PORTER WAS HERE.
I WOULD THINK WE PROBABLY HAD FOUR OR FIVE NEW TECH STUDENTS.
WE HAD ONE CHS STUDENT THAT ATTENDED REGULARLY.
WE HAD TWO OR THREE NEW TECH TEACHERS, AND WE HAD, I WOULD THINK, FOUR OR FIVE NEW TECH PARENTS.
SHE ATTENDED SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER NEW TECH PARENTS.
WE HAD A COUPLE MEMBERS FROM CERC THAT ATTENDED.
WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ATTENDED AS WELL.
NOW WE'LL TELL YOU THAT WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW TECH WAS FAIRLY REPRESENTED,
[00:50:05]
AND WITHOUT DOING A HEAD COUNT, I WOULD SAY, PROBABLY OF THE 22 THAT WEIGHED IN THAT NIGHT, I WOULD THINK SOMEWHERE AROUND 10-12 HAD SOME NEW TECH TIE, BE IT STUDENT, PARENT, OR FACULTY MEMBER.>> OTHER QUESTIONS UP TO THIS POINT?
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING [OVERLAPPING] THAT MR. WILLIAMS SAID.
ON THE SITE ABOUT THE NEW TECH-
>> THAT'S THE CURRENT SITE WITH THE OPEN.
>> THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS THE RE-IMAGINED.
>> IF SOMEBODY JUMPS IN THE WAY, YOU ACTUALLY SAID THAT FIVE PEOPLE CHOSE FIVE AND IT'S EIGHT.
>> I DID. EIGHT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CHOSE OPTION 5.
A TOTAL OF 16 OF THE 22 PICKED OPTION 4 OR 5.
MEANING EITHER LEANING TOWARD ACCEPTING OR FULLY ACCEPTING.
BASED ON THAT, I AM MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.
NOW, THE RECOMMENDATION IS JUST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
THIS IS A REPORT. WE WILL TAKE ACTION TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION.
I AM RECOMMENDING THAT WE LOCATE A RE-IMAGINED NEW TECH AT COPPELL ONTO THE COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS BEGINNING IN '26/'27.
THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I WILL BE MAKING TONIGHT, AND THEN WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 11TH.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME COMPONENTS OF THAT RECOMMENDATION ITSELF.
FIRST OF ALL, THE DEDICATION OF A SPACE AND RENOVATION, WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT.
THAT IS A RENOVATED D-HALL OF COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN AREA FOR DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP.
IT WILL BE A STANDALONE SPACE, AND WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE ARCHITECTS.
THEY WOULD GO TO WORK TO DESIGN.
THE PLAN WOULD BE NEXT SUMMER FOR US TO DO COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THAT AREA SO THAT IT WOULD BE READY FOR OPERATION IN MID AUGUST.
FEEL FAIRLY COMFORTABLE, MR. GRANT, WORKING WITH CORE CONSTRUCTION, KNOWING THAT AS SOON AS THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WORK TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT RENOVATION.
MYSELF, MR. GRANT, MR. PORTER, AND MS. SPRINGER, WE'LL BE WALKING THAT AREA ON FRIDAY AS WE BEGAN TO REALLY HONE THE SPECIFIC CLASSROOMS. STAFF MODELS, INCLUDING POSITIONS TARGETING SPECIFIC NEEDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE SPENT HOURS IN THESE MEETINGS REALLY LISTENING TO THE NEEDS FOR NEW TECH, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE IN RELATION TO EVERYTHING FROM THE CULTURE THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE CULTURE WOULD TRANSITION.
WE WILL BE HAVING SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT WILL TARGET THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS MR. PORTER'S PARTNER IN IMPLEMENTING NOT ONLY THE PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS, BUT THE CULTURE.
IT WILL BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE ONE FTE, A FULL-TIME FTE, NOW NOT A PARTIAL, FOR SOMEONE THAT WOULD SERVE AS THAT CULTURE COORDINATOR, CULTURE CZAR.
WE HAVE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE IS GOING TO BE IN ON.
HE UNDERSTANDS NEW TECH, AS HE TAUGHT THERE, AND HE'S ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE ROLE OF AN ADMINISTRATOR THERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO THAT FOR HIM YET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAD TALKED TO HIM ABOUT.
WE BELIEVE THAT STRATEGIC MARKETING IS IN ORDER FOR GROWTH AND EXPANSION.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OPEN ENROLLMENT AND EXPANDING THAT OPEN ENROLLMENT.
IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO YOU AS TO WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
MY BELIEF AND MR. PORTER'S BELIEF IS THE BEST MARKETING THAT WE CAN DO, THOUGH, IS WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB MARKETING GRADE 6, 07, AND 8 IN DEVELOPING THAT PROGRAM THROUGH THAT.
WE WILL BE HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SCHEDULE AND TRAFFIC FLOW ADJUSTMENT, WE GET IT.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW TECH TO HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY.
[00:55:06]
THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID WAS WE DID LOOK AT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP.IT'S AT THE SAME LOCATION AS WHERE THE BUSES WOULD BE IN THE AFTERNOONS.
WE HAVE REARRANGED WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND BECAUSE IF WE GO WITH AN AMENDED SCHEDULE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IS NEW TECH WOULD HAVE AN EARLIER START TIME AND AN EARLIER END TIME TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT.
BUT ALSO CREATE SOME FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT GETTING INTO GREAT DETAIL.
IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT THAT WANTED TO BE IN A CERTAIN CHS CLASS, 4:00 OR 8:00, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF GIRLS' ATHLETICS, THAT STUDENT MIGHT NOT COME IN UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK, BUT THEN THEY WOULD STAY THROUGH 4:15.
OTHERWISE, MOST OF THE STUDENTS WOULD COME IN AT 8:00 AND THEY WOULD LEAVE AROUND 3:30.
THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THE SCHEDULE, I BELIEVE MR. PORTER HAS CALLED IT ZERO HOUR AND NINTH HOUR.
IT WOULD BE 45 MINUTE AT THE START, 45 MINUTE AT THE END.
I BELIEVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF IF THE SCHEDULE IS THERE.
THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE WILL NOT MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, YOU TAKE THE ACTION AND THEN HAND IT OFF TO MR. PORTER AND SAY, GO YOU THEREFORE AND EXECUTE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST BE THERE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE RECOMMENDING WILL BE A RE-IMAGINING SPECIAL PROJECT TEAMS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TEAMS DESIGNED TO CONTINUE IN THE WORK SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY.
HERE'S WHAT THE TEAMS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE A CULTURE AND CONNECTION TEAM WORKING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE CULTURE OF NEW TECH, BUT ALSO THE CONNECTION PIECE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD WAS HOW WILL TWO DISTINCT CAMPUSES WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY? THE STUDENTS, OF ALL THINGS, THEY WERE CONCERNED, THERE ARE SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES WE GET LOUD IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK AT CHS? I THINK OUR RESPONSE WAS GET LOUD EXCEPT IF IT'S DURING EXAM WEEK, AND THEY'LL HAVE EXAMS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS CULTURE AND CONNECTION TEAM BE LED BY THE PERSON THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TO COORDINATE THAT.
ALSO, MS. BENZ, SHE WAS HERE EARLY WITH THE STUDENTS, BUT SHE'S A TEACHER AND SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT CULTURE LOOKS LIKE.
NOT ONLY SHOULD WE COME UP WITH A NEW SHINY SPACE, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S INCUMBENT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS COULD BE THERE GOING FORWARD.
THAT TEAM WILL BE CO-FACILITATED BY DR. BROOKS AND MR. PORTER.
MR. PORTER IS GOING TO BE BUSY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR HIS NAME A LOT.
THAT GROUP WILL BEGIN TO MEET AS WELL.
THEIR WORK NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED SOMETIME MID OCTOBER SO THAT COURSE CATALOGS CAN BE PUBLISHED.
ALSO, GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS COMES UP WITH, THEY NEED TO REPORT TO THE NEXT GROUP, FACILITY AND LOGISTICS, TO SAY, WE NEED A LAB THAT HAS THIS ELEMENT IN THERE.
THOSE TWO WILL WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER, FACILITY AND LOGISTICS.
EVERYTHING FROM THE FACILITY ITSELF TO THE LOGISTICS OF LUNCH AND PARKING AND ALL OF THOSE, AND THAT WILL BE MR. GRANT AND MR. PORTER WILL LEAD THAT ONE.
THAT GROUP, AGAIN, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING OPERATIONAL.
THEN FINALLY, THE LAST ONE IS GROWTH AND EXPANSION.
THIS GROUP WILL BEGIN TO FORMULATE PLANS.
AGAIN, SHOULD WE EXPAND OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES? SHOULD THAT BE AN OPTION? POSSIBLY. BUT THEN ALSO FORMULATE PLANS, HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB REALLY MARKETING SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE, TRY TO BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE.
I'VE ASKED AMANDA TO LEAD THAT GROUP.
AGAIN, SHE WILL COME WITH THE PERSPECTIVE, NOT ONLY OF SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING, BUT SHE ALSO HAS A CHILD THAT WILL BE ENTERING THE PROGRAM.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT PARENT PERSPECTIVE.
THE ONE THAT I HAVEN'T BROUGHT UP IS ANGELA BROWN.
I INTRODUCED A NEW TERM TO ANGELA.
ANGELA WILL BE THE WALK-AROUND HEAD COACH FOR THIS PROJECT.
NOT REALLY INVOLVED IN ANYTHING RELATED TO IT,
[01:00:02]
BUT SHE WILL BE THE ONE THAT WILL BE COORDINATING THE EFFORTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MARKS ARE MET, THAT THE COORDINATION IS IN PLACE.IT IS FAIR THAT I AM FORMULATING PLANS THAT I WILL NOT SEE UNTIL NEW TECH OPENS NEXT FALL.
ANGELA WILL BE HERE, AND I THINK THAT SHE IS MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO DO THIS.
SHE HAS BEEN A CO-FACILITATOR WITH ME IN THIS PROCESS.
IF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT THAT YOU CHOOSE IS COMFORTABLE WITH ME COMING OVER, I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO CONTINUE TO COME IN AND MEET WITH THE GROUPS, AND REALLY HELP THEM SEE THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT I WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD LOVE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW FOR ZANE TO SEND ME A TEXT AND SAY, HEY, JUST THAT I'D TELL YOU THE 400TH KID ENROLLED IN NEW TECH.
WE ARE ROBUST, AND WE ARE HAVING TO GO BACK TO THE FORMAT THAT WE HAVE LINES OUTSIDE THE ADMIN OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO NEW TECH.
THAT'S MY DREAM FOR THIS PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JEFF TURNER SAID, LEAVE YOUR MARK.
HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN I WAS A 40-YEAR-OLD SUPERINTENDENT.
HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN I ENTERED TASA AS ITS PRESIDENT '21/'22.
WHEN I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT MY TIME IN COPPELL, HE TOLD ME TO LEAVE MY MARK, AND HOPEFULLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK ON FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY I LEFT MY MARK.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE IN IT.
I THINK, AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, WE HAVE THE IDEAL PERSON IN PLACE TO LEAD THIS PROGRAM FOR US.
I AM INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WITH MR. PORTER AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A LEADER, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING AS SOMEONE THAT HAS A HEART FOR KIDS.
IT'S MY PLEDGE TO YOU, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP YOU BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WHEN YOU HIT 400, YOU BETTER TEXT ME.
[LAUGHTER] ANYWAY, THAT'S NEW TECH.
I DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.
JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, AND THEN THE VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AT THAT TIME.
AGAIN, I'LL FIELD ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> MR. WILLIAMS, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THIS LAST PART ABOUT THE PROJECT TEAMS AND LEADING IT TOGETHER.
I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL OF OUR BOTH CURRENT AND JUST, I GUESS, RECENTLY GRADUATED OR RECENTLY FORMER NEW TECH FAMILIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD CONSISTENTLY WAS, IF YOU'RE GOING DOWN THIS PATH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVOLVED AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND THE FORMULATION OF WHAT IT IS.
I THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT FORWARD THINKING AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS TO SAY THIS IS HOW IT'S GOT TO BE IMPLEMENTED IF WE MOVE FORWARD.
MY QUESTION GOES BACK TO SOMETHING FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THOUGH.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS WORK, IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE BOND DOLLARS, AND WE'RE ALREADY THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE'VE GOT THE FINE ARTS FACILITY THAT'S OPENING THAT TRIGGERS SOME ALREADY PLAN MOVEMENTS WITHIN[NOISE] THE HIGH SCHOOL [NOISE] WITH OUR SAVINGS AND THE BOND DOLLARS ALLOCATED.
I GUESS MY QUESTION THERE IS PAYING FOR IT.
ARE WE GOING TO BE OKAY IN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE SET ASIDE FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS?
>> MR. GRANT, YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT? I'LL CO-ADDRESS IT WITH YOU, BUT AGAIN, CISD HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN MONITORING BOND FUNDS, AND SO I'LL LET YOU ADDRESS.
AS YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE PROGRESSED TO THIS BOND, WE'VE HAD SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE COST A LITTLE MORE THAN WE EXPECTED.
BUT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THAT HAVE ALSO COME IN LESS THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, A FEW MONTHS BACK, WE BROUGHT TO YOU AN ITEM FOR COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL FOR REPLACING 75% OF THE ROOF THAT WAS ACTUALLY ALMOST 11 MILLION UNDER ALLOCATION.
IN ANYTHING THAT WE DO TOWARD COURT IMPROVEMENTS AT COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL AS IT RELATES TO NEW TECH, I BELIEVE COULD EASILY COME OUT OF THOSE SAVINGS THAT WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I THINK IT WAS MAYBE THE FIRST OR SECOND DAY I WAS HERE.
I ASKED SID FOR AN UPDATE ON BOND EXPENDITURES, AND HE GAVE ME A THREE-PAGE, 11 BY 14 BREAKDOWN,
[01:05:01]
BUT THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED.I NEEDED TO KNOW IF WE HAD CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
IT CANNOT BE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CARPET AND SOME FRESH PAINT AND PUT UP A STOREFRONT.
WE WANTED TO BE A SPACE THAT IS DESIGNED FOR THE TYPE OF LEARNING EXPERIENCE THE KIDS HAVE.
I ACTUALLY HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE SOME STUDENTS ON A FIELD TRIP WHERE THEY GOT TO SEE SOME INNOVATIVE SPACES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INNOVATIVE SPACES IN THE DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WEST LEE, SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES LIKE THAT.
BUT WE DO THINK THAT THERE ARE BOND FUNDS AVAILABLE, AND ASSUMING AUGUST 11 THAT YOU CAST A VOTE TO GO WITH THE RELOCATION PLAN, WE'LL BE ENGAGING THE ARCHITECTS RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
I WILL SAY THAT IN THE PROJECT TEAMS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THERE WILL BE MANY MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT NEW TECH TEAM IN PLACE, BUT WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO OTHER PARENTS, OTHER NEW TECH STUDENTS AND JUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, SO IT WILL BE A TEAM EFFORT.
WE ANTICIPATE PROBABLY 8-10 PEOPLE PER TEAM, JUST AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE DOING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS, WE WILL BE UPDATING YOU MONTHLY, JUST AS THE WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE WITH THESE TEAMS. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> [INAUDIBLE] >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO SAY, WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS DONE THIS IN THE PAST, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE VISUALS OF WHAT A REEMERGENCE SPACE AT CHS COULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO COMPARE TWO OPTIONS WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT ONE LOOKS LIKE AND YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE OTHER IDEA MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
THANK YOU AND THE OTHER STAFF AS WELL FOR GOING TO THOSE LINKS FOR US.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT ON THE RE-EMERGING, WHETHER IT STAYS WHERE IT IS OR IT RELOCATES TO CHS, RE-EMERGING IS PART OF THE PLAN REGARDLESS.
WHAT DO WE HAVE BUDGETED THIS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR REIMAGINING, MARKETING THINGS RELATED TO PROMOTING NEW TECH REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT'S LOCATED?
I JUST HAVE TO TALK TO THE CFO AS TO WHAT THAT COST WILL BE.
BUT THERE WILL BE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARKETING EFFORT.
THE IMAGINED EFFORT, I DO NOT ANTICIPATE IT TO BE HIT ON THE BUDGET IN 25/26.
THAT IS JUST A GROUP OF QUALITY EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS, AND PARENTS SITTING AROUND A TABLE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO LOOK LIKE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BRING IN INDUSTRY LEADERS.
WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSION WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD TO SAY, HOW CAN WE ADDRESS NEEDS, AND THEY ARE GOING ON, AND HOW CAN WE PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THAT? I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT BEING A COST.
I THINK WHAT WOULD BE WILL BE SOME MARKETING EFFORT THAT WE WILL BE UNDERTAKING.
>> I'D LOVE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS THAT'S FOR NEW TECH SPECIFICALLY.
MY OTHER QUESTION, AND ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT VERY MUCH, IS WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR STAFF RETENTION? I MEAN, WE KNOW UNCERTAINTY CAN BREED FEAR, CAN BREED PEOPLE TAKING ACTION THAT THEY MAY NOT NEED TO.
AS FAR AS LOOKING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSIDERING HOW MUCH WE VALUE OUR STAFF.
WHAT'S THE PLAN OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO KEEP IN PLACE EVERYBODY WE POSSIBLY CAN IF WE GO TO MOVING IT TO CHS AS AN OPTION?
>> MOVING INTO CHS OR KEEPING IT AT NEW TECH.
I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STAFF AT NEW TECH.
I SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AT NEW TECH, WE ARE OVERSTAFFED.
THAT EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE 250 STUDENTS, YOU REALLY DON'T NEED FOUR TEACHERS PER CORE SUBJECT AREA.
I MEAN, THAT IS JUST THE REALITY OF IT, AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE AN UNDERTAKING.
NOW, I KNOW THAT THAT WILL CAUSE THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME CONCERN.
WE HOPE TO LIMIT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOB.
NOW, WE CALL THROUGH ATTRITION, THROUGH RETIREMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HOPE THAT THOSE THAT WANT TO REMAIN IN THE DISTRICT WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THE DISTRICT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN SIT HERE TONIGHT AND SAY,
[01:10:02]
EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK.THE REALITY WHEN YOU HAVE A 8.8 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT THAT CONTINUES TO CARVE INTO THE FUND BALANCE, WHEN YOU'VE GOT A BUDGET THAT'S 82 TO 85% PERSONNEL.
THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE IS REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL.
THAT IS JUST A COLD, HARD FACT.
OF THE POSITIONS, AND I BELIEVE MS. SARKAR SAID 69 POSITIONS.
I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE SINCE THEN THAT HAVE RESIGNED.
I THINK WE'RE UP TO MAYBE AS MANY AS 71.
IT STILL HAS NOT IMPACTED OUR CLASSROOMS, AND I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
WE ARE NOT HAVING TO, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, CRAM KIDS INTO CLASSROOMS, AND THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR COMMITMENT.
WE WILL TRY TO LIMIT THE IMPACT TO EXISTING EMPLOYEES, BUT THE REALITY IS, IF WE ARE CONTINUING DOWN THAT PATH, SOME TOUGH CHOICES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE.
>> THAT'S REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
>> THAT'S REGARDLESS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HEARD, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT.
>> IT'S REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S AT NEW TECH OR IT'S RELOCATED.
I WILL TELL YOU THE RELOCATED OPTION CAN ACTUALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE SOME OVERHEAD EXPENSES.
EVERYTHING FROM UTILITIES TO SHUTTLE.
IF THAT'S A 500,000 ALONE, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY HAVE ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT COULD BE THERE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE REBRANDED, REIMAGINE NEW TECH AT COPPELL HIGH.
>> IF IT'S RELOCATED, I THINK YOU SAID AT THE WORKSHOP, BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
IF IT'S RELOCATED TO CHS, THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF CHS AND NEW TECH POTENTIALLY SHARING SOME STAFF, DEPENDING UPON THE SUBJECT, THE COURSE OFFERINGS.
>> COULD IN THE COURSE OFFERINGS, NEW TECH IS A PBL SCHOOL, AND WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THE PBL CULTURE, AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS IS, IF WE DO HAVE CHS TEACHERS THAT COME INTO NEW TECH, THEY WOULD NEED TO AGREE TO BE PBL TRAINED, AND THEY WOULD NEED TO WHATEVER THAT REQUIREMENT IS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. PORTER HAS TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE WOULD BE ONE PROJECT PER NINE WEEKS.
I THINK HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS EXPECTATION, AND IF WE OPT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME TEACHERS THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY HOP AT THAT CHANCE BECAUSE PBL IS FINE, IT'S WORK, BUT IT'S FINE.
I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE SOME SHARING, BUT I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS.
THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CULTURE NEEDS TO BE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ABSOLUTES, SO TO SPEAK, WITH NEW TECH.
I THINK PBL IS ONE OF THEM, THAT IF WE SAY, WELL, THIS CLASS TAUGHT BY THIS TEACHER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A PBL COMPONENT, IT BEGINS TO ERODE AT WHAT NEW TECH IS.
>> WELL, YOU CREATE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE IN A COMBINED SCENARIO WHEN YOU CAN SHARE RESOURCES AS OPPOSED TO GOING THE OTHER WAY, NICOLE.
I THINK YOU MADE A POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT.
THE STAFFING OR THE REDUCTION WE'VE GOT IT HAS GOT TO HAPPEN, REGARDLESS, SO HAVING THAT ABILITY TO SHARE AND POOL RESOURCES, I THINK, IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
>> BUT THERE ARE SOME STAFFING DECISIONS THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT, I BELIEVE, ARE AGAIN, ABSOLUTES IN MAINTAINING THE CULTURE OF WHAT NEW TECH IS.
THAT CULTURE PERSON, WHETHER YOU CALL THAT PERSON YOUR AP OR YOUR CULTURE COORDINATOR OR WHATEVER.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU SOMEONE THAT IS POSSIBLY EVEN MORE VALUABLE THAN THE PRINCIPAL HIMSELF, AND THAT'S THE COUNSELOR.
THAT STUDENT THAT NEEDS TO SEE THEIR COUNSELOR DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE TO LEAVE NEW TECH, GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BIG HALL, AND WHEREVER THE COUNSELOR SUITE IS.
THAT TO ME, HAVING BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT THERE WERE SOME KIDS THAT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEY NEEDED TO SEE THEIR COUNSELOR, AND WHEN THEY DID, THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE THEIR COUNSELOR WAS, AND IT'S BROWNSBORO HIGH SCHOOL WAS ONE THING.
COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THING, AND IN MY OPINION, NO OFFENSE.
BUT THAT COUNSELOR POSITION, IF YOU HAD TO PICK BETWEEN THE COUNSELOR AND THE PRINCIPAL, YOU GOT TO GO [LAUGHTER].
BUT ZANE AGREES WITH THAT, AGAIN, IN MY OPINION, THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TARGETED,
[01:15:02]
ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE WITHIN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, BUT CHOOSING NOT TO ATTEND OUR SCHOOLS? I RESPECT THEIR CHOICE.THEY CAN FIND THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR KIDS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WOULD GIVE US SOMETHING TO UNDERSTAND THE GAP.
>> LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION, RANNA, WITH ONE OF THE THINGS I BELIEVE GOING FORWARD IS THE DISTRICT PK 12 NEEDS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WHY ARE PEOPLE LEAVING COPPELL ISD AND GOING TO AN ACADEMY, OPTING TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL? I GET IT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET 100%.
BUT THE GOAL SHOULD BE ASPIRATIONAL THAT 100% OF THE KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT GO TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PARDON SONNY BELL REFERENCE, BUT AS I WOULD BE DRIVING ACROSS THE DISTRICT, IF I SAW A SIGN FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL, HURT MY FEELINGS. IT REALLY DID.
THIS IS THE BEST EDUCATION GOING.
I FULLY BELIEVE IT, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE EVERY STUDENT WITH PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS IN MY OPINION, THAT WILL ATTRACT THEM.
I THINK A REDESIGN NEW TECH WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT, LET'S START AS EARLY AS KINDERGARTEN.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN KINDERGARTEN? WHY WILL A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT OR MORE DIRECTLY? WHY WILL A PARENT OPT TO PUT THEIR STUDENTS SOMEWHERE ELSE? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> OTHER QUESTION IS REGARDING OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS A GREAT IDEA, AND WE HEAR THAT OTHER DISTRICT ARE ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING OPEN ENROLLMENT.
BUT COULD YOU ELABORATE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
>> A STUDENT THAT [INAUDIBLE] FOR A SECOND.
>> THERE WE GO. A STUDENT THAT ENROLLS IN COPPELL ISD, WHETHER THEY ARE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES LIMITED OPEN ENROLLMENT, OR WE THREW IT WIDE OPEN.
WE SAID, COME ONE, COME ALL FROM AS FAR AWAY AS FRISCO TO COME HERE.
THOSE STUDENTS WOULD DRAW FUNDING IN THE FORMULA, SO THEY WOULD COUNT TOWARD WATER.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE WOULD GET FUNDING FOR THEM ON THE M&O SIDE, WHERE WE WOULD NOT GET FUNDING WOULD BE AN INS FUNDS IN THE DEBT SERVICE.
THE DEBT SERVICE IS ONLY PAID BY OUR TAXPAYERS, DAVE [LAUGHTER].
THEY ARE ONLY PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS.
THOSE THAT ARE HERE UNDER OPEN ENROLLMENT, OR EVEN LIMITED OPEN ENROLLMENT, DO NOT GENERATE FUNDING FOR INS.
THERE ARE SOME THAT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ONLY EDUCATE THOSE WITHIN THE BORDER.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THOSE THAT HAVE DONE FULL OPEN ENROLLMENT HAVE NOT BROUGHT IN THE STUDENTS THEY HAD HOPED TO BRING IN.
NOW WE WON'T REALLY KNOW UNTIL EVERYONE GETS PAST LABOR DAY, AND WE SEE THE DISTRICTS LIKE FRISCO THAT REACHED OUT FOR COMPLETE OPEN ENROLLMENT, HOW MANY THEY'RE BRINGING IN.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
I DO THINK THAT AN INNOVATIVE, ATTRACTIVE PROGRAM COULD GENERATE SOME ADDITIONAL STUDENTS.
>> BUT AGAIN, IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE THE NUMBER OF OPEN ENROLLMENT, BIGGER FUNDING A DISTRICT CAN AFFORD.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
AT NO POINT SHOULD IF OUR CEILING AT NEW TECH IS 400 KIDS, AND WE'VE GOT 400 KIDS FROM COPPELL THAT WANT TO GO TO NEW TECH, I WOULD HATE FOR US TO HAVE STUDENTS FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT ENROLLED IN NEW TECH, AND IT WOULD EXCLUDE OUR KIDS FROM BEING ABLE TO GO.
BALANCE, RIGHT? THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT DOWN THE LINE.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE DONE OPEN ENROLLMENT AROUND.
WHAT'S A PERCENTAGE YIELD NOW? DO WE KNOW OFFHAND? OR DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER IT? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST TIME.
>> THE YIELD WOULD BE ABOUT 4% OF EVERYONE THAT WE REACH OUT TO FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT WOULD ATTEND, AND THEN ABOUT HALF OF THOSE THAT ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND STATISTICALLY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITHIN
[01:20:01]
HIGH SCHOOL THAT OPT TO COME UNDER OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR NEW TECH IS, I WOULD THINK PROBABLY AT MAX AROUND MAYBE 6-10%.>> PUT SOME BECAUSE THE NUMBERS GO UP HERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE TAX RATE, I THINK RANNA TO YOUR QUESTION.
WHEN WE NET OUT WHAT GOES TO THE STATE VIA ROBIN HOOD, A THIRD OF WHAT WE KEEP IS PAID FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, OUR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES AND MAKING SURE THEY STAY OPERATIONAL.
I THINK THAT'S THE TRUE NUMBERS WHEN WE TALK OPEN ENROLLMENT OF WHAT WE DON'T GET REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE FOR OUT OF DISTRICT STUDENTS.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT CRC AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE PREDOMINANT THOUGHT WITH SRC WAS THAT WE KEEP OPEN ENROLLMENT WHERE IT IS.
WE KEEP IT TO A LIMITED OPEN ENROLLMENT.
THERE WASN'T MUCH FROM THE CRT COMMITTEE ITSELF TO EXPAND OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.
IN FACT, THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT SAID, WE NEEDED TO ROLL IT BACK TO NO ONE OUT OTHER THAN THOSE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FROM A BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL IN CULTURE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT STITCHES TOGETHER A SCHOOL DISTRICT; AS A COMMUNITY THAT'S IN.
THERE'S A LIMIT THERE IN TERMS OF HOW FAR YOU CAN GO OUT AND YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE AND COME TO THE GAMES AND COME TO THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING AFTERWARDS.
THAT'S THE BALANCE THAT WE STRIVE I WOULD THINK TO LOOK AT.
>> YOU DO SEE A HIGH DEGREE OF MOBILITY FOR STUDENTS THAT TRANSFER INTO THE DISTRICT.
THEY'RE NOT AS LIKELY TO GO FROM FIRST DAY OF ENROLLMENT ALL THE WAY TO GRADUATION.
THERE ARE SOME, BUT THEY ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO STAY AS YOU WOULD A STUDENT THAT LIVES HERE.
>> IN REGARDS TO THE FOUR BULLETS, DO YOU LOOK AT PUTTING TOGETHER SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENT THAT WEAVES US TOGETHER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME? BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE YEARS AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE NEW TECH HAS OPENED AND YOU LOOK AT PERIODS OF FIVE YEARS AND I DO THINGS IN BLOCKS, THAT YOU SEE SWIFT CHANGES IN TERMS OF FAMILIES, INTERESTS, ETC.
IN ORDER TO YOUR POINT TO MAKE THIS WORK; RELOCATING, HAVING THE SCHOOL WITHIN THE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT IN OUR DISTRICT, HOW DO YOU BALANCE BETWEEN DOING THIS AND ENSURING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE EXCESSIVE RUNOFF? BECAUSE YOU CAN GET TO THE PROGRAM, STAY THERE ONE OR TWO YEARS AND SAY, "I LIKE IT, BUT I LIKE SOMETHING ELSE OVER HERE," AND YOU WIND UP HAVING RUNOFF AND THEN INSTEAD OF HAVING 400, YOU HAVE EVEN 200 OR 150.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT TO ENSURE THAT YOU MAINTAIN THE NUMBERS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE LONGEVITY OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH CULTURE, THROUGH PROGRAMS, FACILITIES IN GROWTH AND EXPANSION?
>> YOU ALWAYS ASK ONE THAT'S A STUMPER.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT MAY BE THE OVERARCHING QUESTION FOR THESE FOUR TEAMS. I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY CAN DRAFT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AS CONCRETE AS THE CONSTITUTION, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME GUIDELINES.
TO ME, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
FACILITIES AND LOGISTICS IS GOING TO BE TEMPORARY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST ONE AND DONE.
THE OTHER THREE, I THINK WILL CONTINUE TO STAY IN PLACE BECAUSE IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT DON'T WORK WITH GROWTH AND EXPANSION, THEN AMANDA IS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SHE'LL KEEP TALKING ABOUT WHAT WORKS FOR GROWTH AND EXPANSION.
I THINK THAT WILL BE ONGOING AS WELL.
WHILE PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS, WE DON'T NEED TO APPROACH IT WITH THE SHINY NEW TOY OF THE YEAR, BUT WE DO NEED TO FIND SOME THINGS THAT WILL ACTUALLY ATTRACT SOME KIDS TO COME INTO NEW TECH.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THE REASON I TALK ABOUT THAT FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS SITTING IN THIS POSITION THAT WHEN PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED, PEOPLE HAVE AN EXCITEMENT, YOU ADD A SMALL CORE GROUP.
BUT THIS ADDITIONAL GROUP THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A VIABLE, SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM DOESN'T TICK FOR SOME REASON.
I DON'T KNOW THOSE REASONS, BUT THEY JUST DON'T TAKE OFF.
I'VE SEEN THAT OVER THE YEARS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF MOVING IN THERE BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE AN OF INTEREST OF SAYING, "HEY, THIS IS GREAT." THEN THEY GET THERE LIKE ARE LIKE, "I DON'T THINK IT WAS AS GREAT AS I THOUGHT IT WAS SO I'M GOING TO GO AND TAKE THE AP CLASSES OVER
[01:25:02]
HERE IN THE MAIN OR I'LL TAKE THE IB BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A FIT FOR ME OR I JUST OPT OUT ALTOGETHER." SO JUST TRYING TO BALANCE AND UNDERSTAND THAT IN TERMS OF THE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT TO BE SUSTAINABLE.THE OTHER THING IS A PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PAST.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS THREE YEARS THAT WAS THROWN OUT AS SUSTAINABLE.
THEN THIS YEAR OBVIOUSLY FOR OTHER REASONS, NOW WE'RE BACK AND HAVING A SIMILAR DISCUSSION.
WHAT DO WE PUT IN PLACE FROM A SUSTAINABILITY SAYING, HEY, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IRONCLAD COMMITMENT OF X AMOUNT OF TIME, ALIGNING ALL THESE THINGS TO PLAY OUT AND WORK TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU WILL WIND UP HAVING TO REDESIGN AND RE-UTILIZE THAT SPACE FOR SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THOUGHT PROCESS.
>> THE FACILITY ITSELF WILL BE GREAT FOR ENGAGED LEARNING.
IT'LL BE GREAT FOR COLLABORATION.
IF THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENS AND NEW TECH DOESN'T EXIST FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, WE WON'T HAVE TO GO IN AND RE-GUT THAT BUILDING.
THIS WILL STILL BE AREAS THAT STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CLASS IN.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE TEACHERS THAT WILL BE COMFORTABLE GOING IN THERE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE SEEN RENOVATED BUILDINGS OR EXPANDED BUILDINGS WHERE TEACHERS FIGHT OVER THOSE CLASSROOMS BECAUSE FLEXIBLE LEARNING SPACES IT'S A GREAT FEATURE ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS THAT BELIEVE IN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.
I CANNOT ADDRESS THE THREE-YEAR THOUGHT.
I'VE HEARD DISCUSSION OF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT THREE YEARS.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS SAID AND WHERE THAT IS.
I DO THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM DOES NEED SOME TIME TO BUILD.
WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT ANY PROGRAM OR WHEN YOU CHANGE ANY PROGRAM, IT CAN'T BE TOMORROW.
HOW DOES THIS THING WORK? WE DO A GOOD JOB RECRUITING AND MARKETING.
WE TALK ABOUT PROGRAMS AND THEN THE CLASSES THAT WILL BE IN EIGHTH GRADE, WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAT GO IN THAN WHAT THIS YEAR'S ROOKIE CLASS WOULD BE.
THEN THE SEVENTH GRADERS THAT HEAR THAT THERE ARE GREAT THINGS GOING ON THERE, WE HAVE EVEN MORE THERE.
I DON'T FORESEE A GREAT DEAL OF STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE FRESHMAN CLASS THIS YEAR THAT WOULD BE SOPHOMORES WHEN WE OPEN NEW TECH.
I DON'T SEE A GREAT INFLUX; MAYBE SOME, BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT GROWTH IN GRADE 6, 7, AND 8.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR US TO REALLY REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
>> IN MY LAST COMMENT, THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION I THINK TRUSTEE RAVAL TOUCHED ON THAT.
I THINK TO YOUR POINT TO US AS A BOARD, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THAT METHODOLOGY THAT WE UTILIZE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE TA TRANSFER REPORTS, THE OLD ONES OUT THERE; I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE THE ACCURATE ONES, BUT THERE HAVE SOME TRANSFER REPORTS OUT THERE AND YOU LOOK AT THE PLACES PEOPLE GO AND YOU SEE THAT AND YOU'RE LIKE, "WOW, HOW DO WE HAVE THAT?" THIS IS MULTIPLE YEARS THAT I'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT IT FROM 22/23.
I THINK WAS LAST ONE OUT THERE GOING BACKWARDS FOR FOUR YEARS AND YOU SEE THE SAME PLACES AND HOW CAN YOU PLUG INTO THAT? NOW IT GETS INTO STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND DATA MINING.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? IS THERE SOME IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT AREA TO SHORE UP WAYS TO IDENTIFY THE PLACES AND ALSO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OPTIONS TO DRAW BACK PEOPLE?
>> AS I STATED WITH RANNA AND HER QUESTION, TO ME IT'S NOT JUST A NEW TECH.
I THINK IT IS STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN.
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PARENTS THAT OPT TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN COPPELL ISD; KIDS THAT ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT? ARE WE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS? ARE WE ASKING PARENTS THAT DON'T HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT? ARE WE ASKING THEM, WHY ARE YOU NOT ATTENDING HERE? I KNOW IN JOBBY 'S NEIGHBORHOOD YOU HAVE TO CROSS 635.
[01:30:03]
IT'S A 10-15 MINUTE DRIVE.IS IT PROXIMITY? I DON'T THINK WE CAN ADDRESS PROXIMITY.
BUT IF IT'S PROGRAMMATIC, I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY AT THE WORKSHOP AND I ASK YOU WHAT MADE COPPELL ISD UNIQUE AND HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE GOING FORWARD? THE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE STARTED.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION IN CABINET THIS MORNING AROUND THOSE TWO QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S JUST A START.
I THINK WHEN NEW LEADERSHIP GETS HERE, I THINK THAT HAS TO BE A QUESTION THAT HAPPENS EARLY WITH NEW LEADERSHIP.
IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD INTERVIEW QUESTION EITHER.
>> ANTHONY, YOUR POINTS ARE ALWAYS GREAT.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE COMMENT YOU MADE ABOUT THE RUNOFF AND I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE RUNOFF TO THE OTHER DIRECTION.
INSTEAD OF YOU BUILD THIS THING AND IS THERE, BUT NOW THAT IT'S THERE AND CLOSER, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS WHO CHOSE CHS TO NOW COME INTO NEW [INAUDIBLE]? AS WE'VE HEARD IN A COUPLE OF WORKSHOPS BEFORE, THAT DISTANCE WAS THE BARRIER.
ONE ASPECT AS WE DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT TOO.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE WHO DID NOT CHOOSE IT BECAUSE OF THE REASON OF SPACE OR NOT? I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT POINT.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THERE.
THEN WHEN IT CAME TO THAT, YOU MENTIONED THE THREE YEAR THING.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO THINK ABOUT AS WE GO THROUGH.
BECAUSE AS I RECALL OR AS I FELT WAS LIKE YOU WOULD GET THE PLAN AND WHATEVER PLAN THAT IS, YOU LET THAT PLAN RUN FOR THREE YEARS.
I THINK AS WE TALKED IN THE WORKSHOPS AND OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT, WE'RE GETTING THE PLAN OR WE WILL BE GETTING THE PLAN AND IS THAT THE KIND THING THAT WE WANT TO COMMIT TO FOR THAT LONG BECAUSE HERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND BOND DOLLARS AND WE'RE GOING TO LIKE RESOURCES AND SPEND OUR PROJECT TEAMS AND HAVE PEOPLE'S EFFORT SPENT IN HERE TO REALLY COMMIT TO IT, AND IS THAT GOING TO BE VIABLE? I THINK THAT WAS MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT.
AS WE ALL DELIBERATE ON THAT, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT AS WELL.
WAS THAT OUR INTENTION AND IS THAT ALIGNING WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING NOW?
>> TRUSTEE MATHEW, I WANT TO PIGGY BACK TRUSTEE BENTLEY BECAUSE SHE BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION ABOUT STAFF AND I THINK THE CULTURE IS DRIVEN BY THE STAFF.
THE LONGEVITY OF THAT STAFF HAS BEEN THE CATALYST TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO AND STAY IN THE PROGRAM.
IF YOU LOSE TOO MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, YOU CANNOT DUPLICATE THAT.
YOU CANNOT BRING ANYBODY IN TO DUPLICATE.
I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU FLAT OUT.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN THE FACILITATORS OVER THE YEARS FROM 2008 GOING TO THE PRESENT, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE ANCHORS.
THEIR NAMES THAT YOU WON'T KNOW, YOU WON'T HEAR ABOUT, BUT THEY ARE ANCHORS TO THAT.
TO YOUR POINT, I AGREE YOU COULD DO THAT IF THEY STAY.
IF YOU LOSE TOO MANY OF THEM, THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT BASED ON THE PREMISE OF THE NEW TECH MODEL GOES AWAY.
NOW YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THERE; I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T, BUT FROM THAT STANDPOINT, THAT CHANGES THAT DYNAMIC CONSIDERABLY IN MY OPINION. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
>> WHAT POTENTIALLY CHANGES THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR SOMETHING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS WELL? IF YOU'RE REBUILDING CULTURE AND STAFF AND BUY IN WHILE YOU'RE RECRUITING AND RE-IMAGINING, IT COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER WHICH IS PART OF WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.
>> WHICH I THINK THAT'S WHY THE INTENTIONALITY UNDER THE EMPHASIS OF IF THIS IS ULTIMATELY WHAT'S DECIDED; THE INTENTIONALITY OF MAKING THE MOVE, HOW DO WE GET THERE AND HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IT'S GOT TO BE IMPLEMENTED EXTREMELY WELL.
TO YOUR POINT, THAT CULTURE THAT WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT DOES DRIVE BACK TO OUR STAFF.
>> ABSOLUTELY, PRESIDENT CAVINESS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK DEEPLY ABOUT WHERE DO WE WANT TO TAKE THIS.
BECAUSE DO I BELIEVE IT CAN WORK? I THINK IT CAN WORK.
EVEN IF YOU STAYED IN THE OTHER SPACE, YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE RETENTION OF PEOPLE BECAUSE TO MR. WILLIAMS POINT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NAMES, YOU MENTIONED A NAME FROM THE BEGINNING THAT WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS TO DRIVE THAT.
[01:35:01]
BUT THE PROGRAMS AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE PROCESSES AND THE OUTCOMES AND I THINK IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND YOU PUT THE RIGHT PROCESSES IN PLACE, THE OUTCOMES WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF IN THIS PROCESS AND I THINK THERE'S A FOUNDATION THERE.MY CONCERN IS JUST SEEING IT THROUGH BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION AND NOW WE HAVE A PLAN, BUT DOES THAT PLAN START? IS THIS PLAN YEAR 1 OR IS THIS YEAR 2? THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THAT BECAUSE IF THIS IS YEAR 2 ON A 3 THEN-
>> NO, IT CAN'T BE YEAR 2. IT CANNOT BE YEAR 2.
NOT 25/26, YEAR 1 WOULD BE 26/27.
>> IN MY OPINION, YEAR 1 IS 26/27.
IT'S STATUS QUO FROM THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, I WILL TELL YOU THAT SHOULD STATUS QUO BE MAINTAINED COMPLETELY MEANING NEW TECH WHERE IT IS AND CURRENT STAFFING MODEL, YOU WOULDN'T SEE ANY DEFICIT REDUCTION IN THAT MODEL.
IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SECRETARY MATHEW AND TRUSTEE HILL, BOTH ON THE THREE YEAR, THAT WAS MY RECOLLECTION TOO AS THAT DISCUSSION UNFOLDED.
NOT ONLY THAT MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, BUT I THINK OVER THE SUBSEQUENT AND INTO; I BELIEVE IT WAS A JANUARY WORKSHOP THAT ANGELA BROUGHT TO US AGAIN, ONE FINAL QUESTION AS THE KICKOFF OR BEFORE THE CERC COMMITTEE CONVENED.
BUT BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL NIGHT, WHERE DID THE THREE-YEAR TERM COME INTO PLAY? I THINK THAT WAS FROM DR. HUNT THAT NIGHT OF TELLING US IF WE'RE ASKING FOR STAFF TO COME BACK TO US WITH A PLAN, IF THERE IS A NEW PLAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GIVE A THREE-YEAR OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T DISAGREE IF THIS IS THE PLAN WE ULTIMATELY ADOPT, WE'D HAVE TO BE WILLING TO STAND BEHIND IT FOR THAT TIME TO IMPLEMENT AND SO I VIEW IT RIGHT NOW AS THIS IS WHAT WE GO WITH, THE CLOCK STARTS TICKING A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD.
>> I WANT TO PIGGYBACK AT LEAST A NUGGET FROM WHAT TRUSTEE BENTLEY WAS SAYING TOO.
THE THREE YEARS ARE ARBITRARY IN CONVERSATION.
BUT AS YOU WERE MENTIONING, THAT STAFF PERSONNEL CHANGES, HOW IT TAKES TO IMPLEMENT, YOU ACTUALLY RECRUITING, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING ON.
THESE TEAMS ARE BEING FORMED WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE AND THEN YOU'RE THERE TO IMPLEMENT THAT STRATEGY.
WE THREW OUT THREE YEARS ARBITRARILY I THINK IS WHAT I THOUGHT.
MOST OF US, IF WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A PLAN UNLESS YOU'RE A CONTRACTOR FIXING A HOUSE, WHICH THEY ALWAYS PUSH OUT LIKE TWO OR THREE WEEKS OR MAYBE LONGER, YOU HAVE AT LEAST A PROJECT SCHEDULE WHERE YOU KNOW THESE ARE MY MILESTONES, THESE ARE THINGS I'M GOING TO LAY OUT.
BUT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GET IN THERE AND START WORKING ON IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW.
YES, WE ANECDOTALLY THROUGHOUT A THREE YEAR IT COULD BE LONGER THAN THAT.
>> WELL, I THINK THE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IN OUR DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE VOTE IN TWO WEEKS; NOT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S A FOUR-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL, YOU GUYS.
>> YOU'VE GOT SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS CONSIDERING THIS.
ARE FAMILIES GOING TO MAKE A THREE YEAR COMMITMENT? NO, PROBABLY NOT.
FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH FOR PEOPLE'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT, IT'S A FOUR YEAR HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF WHATEVER CHANGE WE MAKE.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT IN WHATEVER COMMITMENT WE MAKE TO THE NEW TECH COMMUNITY.
>> DO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CHANGE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE CHANGE IN PERSONNEL, THE CHANGE IN RELOCATION, WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT COST AVOIDANCE TO THE DISTRICT.
THIS WOULD STOP THE BLEEDING, SO TO SPEAK. IT WOULD.
BUT THAT DOES GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO GROW.
IF THE CLOCK STARTS RUNNING IN 26, 27, THAT YEAR 1, I WOULD GIVE IT FOUR YEARS, SO THAT THAT GIVES THE DISTRICT TIME TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRAM, AND IT'S MY PREDICTION THAT WITHIN FOUR YEARS,
[01:40:01]
IT'S GOING TO BE VIBRANT. IT REALLY WILL BE.>> I'LL HOP IN HERE BECAUSE IF WE JUST SAY THREE YEARS, THAT'S JUST AN ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ON.
IT DOESN'T ACHIEVE ANYTHING THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO. IT'S NOT A PLAN.
I THINK WHAT WE WANT IS A PLAN WITH BENCHMARKS, WITH NUMBERS.
ARE WE HITTING THOSE BENCHMARKS? ARE WE HIT WHATEVER WE'RE LOOKING FOR? WELL, THEN YOU LAY THAT OUT STRATEGICALLY, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND YOU CHECK IN AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING AND THEN CALIBRATE AS NEEDED.
YOU DO THAT WITH ANY STRATEGY.
WE'VE JUST HAD WORDS AND THOSE WORDS HAVE CHANGED.
LET'S JUST CALL THINGS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN.
I'M GOING TO START WITH MY THREE THINGS, AND MY FIRST ONE IS POSITIVITY.
I WANT TO PRAISE AND APPRECIATE YOU, MR. WILLIAMS, BECAUSE I FEEL THERE'S BEEN INTENTIONALITY IN THIS PROCESS.
I FEEL YOU'VE LOOKED AT THESE THINGS HEAD ON.
I REALLY LIKED THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE COME WITH.
IN TERMS OF MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND REALLY DISCUSSING.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD THAT I'M VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR MAY ALL THE WAY HERE.
I THINK IT'S WHAT NEW TECH HAS DESERVED FOR YEARS, FRANKLY, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
I CAN HOLD TWO IDEAS AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S GOING TO MOVE ME TO MY SECOND ONE, WHICH IS, I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS AND I LOVE ALL THE ALIGNMENT.
I'M HEARING ON THE BOARD BECAUSE WHAT IS OUR STRATEGIC VISION? WHAT IS OUTSTANDING EDUCATION IN COPPELL ISD? WHEN I THINK ABOUT NEW TECH, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THE BUDGET CONCERNS.
I HEAR THAT LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IT'S 1.5 MILLION BEST CASE SCENARIO, GUYS, WE'VE GOT EIGHT MILLION MORE THAT WE WE'VE GOT TO DO.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH A STRATEGIC LENS, WHICH IS, WHAT DO WE WANT TO OFFER? WHO DO WE WANT TO BE? HAVING A SMALL CHOICE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR COPPELL ISD FOR YEARS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY INTENTIONAL AS WE LOOK FORWARD STRATEGICALLY.
YOU SAID IT SO WELL, MR. WILLIAMS, AS WE LOOK AT HIRING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, AND WHERE DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO NEXT STEP? BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PUBLIC EDUCATION SCENARIO NOW WITH VOUCHERS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HOME SCHOOLS AND CHARTERS IN A WAY THE LANDSCAPE JUST LOOKS DIFFERENT.
STRATEGICALLY, I WANT TO POSITION COPPELL ISD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT A SMALL CHOICE HIGH SCHOOL, A ROBUST, STRONG CHOICE HIGH SCHOOL IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, MR. WILLIAMS ABOUT THIS THAT I'M LOOKING AT, I THINK WOULD BE AMAZING IF WE CONSOLIDATED.
I THINK IT WOULD GENERATE SOME EXCITEMENT.
BUT I'M LIKE, WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL THESE THINGS IF IT'S A STANDALONE FACILITY AS WELL.
I DON'T THINK OF IT AS IF WE DO CONSOLIDATE WITHIN CHS, THEN WE DO ALL THESE THINGS.
TO ME, WE DO ALL THESE THINGS PERIOD BECAUSE OUR SMALL SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO THRIVE IF IT JUST IS ALLOWED TO EXIST.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS. BUT FOR IT TO THRIVE AND GROW, IT HAS TO HAVE THIS.
I ALSO GET EXCITED THAT I THINK IF YOU DID ALL THESE THINGS AND YOU KEPT IT IN ITS CURRENT FACILITY, YOU WOULD SEE GROWTH AS WELL.
WE WOULD HIT THAT 400 NUMBER IN FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.
AS I'M LISTENING TO THAT, I HONESTLY DO THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A WIN-WIN SITUATION HERE.
IT'S JUST CHOICES, IT'S JUST DECISIONS.
AS WE LOOK STRATEGICALLY, NO ONE ELSE, OBVIOUSLY LOOKED UP.
WE'RE OTHER NEW TECHS, OTHER SMALL CHOICE SCHOOLS IN A BIG DISTRICT, AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OUT THERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO US.
IF WE INVEST IN IT AND GROW EITHER OPTION, I THINK IS A WIN, BUT I THINK EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE IF IT STAYED IN ITS OWN FACILITY.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I'LL WRAP UP IS I'VE HEARD IT AROUND THE [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M SO GLAD IS I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT OUR FACILITATORS.
BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, LIKE YOU SAY, PRE-K12, THE DIFFERENCES IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THOSE CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
IN NEW TECH, YOU SAID IT SO WELL.
TRUSTEE HILL AND I'VE HEARD IT.
HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING THESE FACILITATORS? WHAT IS THE FACILITATOR VOICE IN THIS AS WELL? WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? HOW DOES THAT LOOK? AS IN THE NEXT LITTLE BIT, I'D BE REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT, I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FACILITATOR PERSPECTIVE AND HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM, NO MATTER WHAT THE OPTION IS.
I JUST WROTE A BOOK BECAUSE I'M VERY INTO EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW, BY JILL POPELKA, WHO WAS PLACED TOO, A FORMER BOARD MEMBER, WROTE A BOOK, AND TALKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR EMPLOYEES AND AS WE'RE LOOKING AT HIRING A NEW EMPLOYEE.
[01:45:04]
SHE SAYS THERE'S FOUR MAIN THINGS.YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE, TO HAVE AN AMAZING EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PURPOSE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AGENCY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BELONGING AND YOU HAVE TO BE APPRECIATED.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT NEW TECH, THOSE FIRST THREE THINGS, PURPOSE, AGENCY, AND BELONGING ARE EMBEDDED IN WHAT NEW TECH OFFERS.
I KNOW WITH OUR KIDS ON THEIR PHONES AND NOT IN SCHOOLS, BY THE WAY, ANYMORE, BUT OUTSIDE THAT FACE-TO-FACE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THAT THIS IS INNOVATIVE, ENGAGING LEARNING.
LET'S SUPPORT IT. ALL OF THAT IS TO SAY, I AM EXCITED BY THIS AND I AM APPRECIATIVE AND WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD, I APPRECIATE THE WORK, THE INTENTIONALITY, THE THOUGHT, THE ENGAGEMENT.
I THINK THAT COULD ALSO WORK IF WE STAYED.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT WE CONSOLIDATE BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS, IF YOU DO THEM ACTUALLY IN THE EXISTING FACILITY, WE WOULD DO AMAZING THINGS THERE AS WELL.
IN TO THAT POINT, I WAS WONDERING, THOSE BOND DOLLARS, SAID THAT WE HAD, COULD YOU USE THOSE AT THE NEW TECH FACILITY NOW? THOSE CHS, THAT 11 MILLION, COULD YOU USE IT IN A DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY TO DO SOME RENOVATIONS OR SOMETHING IN THAT SPACE? I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
>> ALL OF THE DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PROPOSITION A DOLLARS.
IT'S AT WHATEVER THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECIDES HOW TO ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS.
THERE'S NOTHING WITHIN THE LAW OR THE LANGUAGE IN THE ELECTION THAT WOULD PREVENT THE BOARD FROM ALLOCATING THOSE DOLLARS FOR ANYTHING THAT FALLS WITHIN PROPOSITION A.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> DID BEAUTIFULLY. THANK YOU.
>> MY VOICE WAS WAVERING A LITTLE BIT AND I DIDN'T BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL ENTIRELY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT'S WIN-WIN, BUT I DO WANT US TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I THINK WE COULD DO ALL THIS AT NEW TECH PROPER AND REALLY BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER.
TO EVERYONE'S POINT IN A VERY SYSTEMATIC WAY WHERE WE CHECK IN AND WE SEE AND WE KNOW.
COULD YOU JUST TALK TO US ABOUT WHY THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION OVER THE OTHER OPTION AND IN PARTICULAR, WHAT THE DISCUSSIONS LOOK LIKE IN THE SPECIAL PROJECT TEAM IN THE RESULTS WERE SLIGHTLY SURPRISING TO ME.
I'LL BE HONEST GIVEN THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEE.
CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHY YOU THINK MAYBE THE NUMBERS CAME OUT THE WAY THEY DID?
>> TWO THOUGHTS. THE SPECIAL PROJECT TEAM, THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT COMING FROM THE TEAM.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS COMING FROM ME.
BUT WHAT THE NEW TECH PROJECT TEAM BELIEVED WAS THAT NEW TECH COULD BE RE-IMAGINED AT THE NEW LOCATION.
REALLY, WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THAT, I DO THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME COST AVOIDANCE CONSIDERATION.
BUT THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONSIDERATION THAT A RELOCATED FACILITY WOULD ALLOW FOR SOME REVITALIZATION THAT THE EXISTING WOULD NOT.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN WITH CONTINUING EVERYTHING FROM THE SHUTTLE ITSELF, SHARING PERSONNEL, THAT RELOCATING ONTO THE CAMPUS WOULD NOT CREATE.
IN REGARD TO, MY RECOMMENDATION REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT AND IT'S NOT JUST DOLLARS.
IF IT WERE DOLLARS, THEN THE DECISION WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE JUNE 2ND, FIRST DAY HERE, BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE SENSE DOLLAR NUMBERS AND CENTS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WHEN IT IS RELOCATED, IF IT IS RELOCATED, THEN IT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE NEW TECH, BUT BE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS WITH COPPELL HIGH,
[01:50:02]
NOT SPEND TIME ON A SHUTTLE.IT WOULD ALLOW NEW TECH, FOR US TO DO SOME REALLY INNOVATIVE THINGS THERE AT THE CURRENT FACILITY.
I HAVEN'T SPENT ANY TIME WITH AN ARCHITECT TO SAY, WHAT COULD WE DO AT THE EXISTING? I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE OPT TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, THEN WE COULD DO THAT AS WELL.
>> [NOISE] I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
THINKING ABOUT YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF BRINGING NEW TECH TO CHS FACILITY.
I'M THINKING FROM CHS PERSPECTIVE.
HOW WILL DEDICATING D HALL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TO NEW TECH WILL AFFECT THE CURRENT CHS CROWD.
I'M THINKING STAFF AND STUDENTS.
I KNOW WE ARE NOT AT 100% RIGHT NOW AND DOWN, IN YEARS 3 OR 4, WE MIGHT EVEN HAVE MORE, WE HAVE A SMALLER INCOMING CLASS.
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT TWO YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE WERE TO BRING NEW TECH TO CHS.
>> ARE YOU JUST TALKING PHYSICAL CAPACITY?
>> PHYSICAL. ALSO, IF WE ARE TO SHARE STAFF PERSONNEL TEACHERS.
>> THE PHYSICAL FACILITY, THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO MOVE NEW TECH PRIMARILY BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINE ART FACILITY.
WHEN THE FINE ART FACILITY IS COMPLETED, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN D HALL BECAUSE THE PLAN ALREADY IS TO REDESIGN THE CURRENT FINE ART, TOWARD CTE.
CTE, THAT AREA WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE.
THE ACTUAL CAPACITY WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED.
WE'RE ACTUALLY INCREASING THE CAPACITY BECAUSE OF THE FINE ART FACILITY.
SHARING OF THE STAFFING ITSELF, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WOULD NECESSARILY HAPPEN.
I DON'T SEE A GREAT NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT WOULD TEACH, HALF DAY IN NEW TECH AND THEN GO TEACH AT CHS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY AGAIN, WOULD DO THAT.
THE PBL MODEL, WILL BE A STANDARD FEATURE OF NEW TECH.
I DO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME STUDENTS AT CHS THAT WANT TO TAKE CERTAIN CLASSES IN A PBL MODEL THAT'S NOT OFFERED AT CHS, THEY WOULD GO TO NEW TECH FOR THAT CLASS.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A BENEFIT, NOT JUST FOR NEW TECH, BUT FOR CHS AS A WHOLE. YES, MA'AM.
>> MR. WILLIAMS I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.
HE TALKED ABOUT UTILIZATION OF BUILDINGS.
WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, THE SPACE WOULD BE VACATED.
HOW WOULD THAT SPACE BE RE-IMAGINED UTILIZED POTENTIALLY?
>> NOW, I SHARED WITH THE BOARD A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT WE HAD FORMED A PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES TEAM.
THAT PROPERTY AND FACILITIES TEAM WILL BE LOOKING AT AT ALL DISTRICT PROPERTIES THEMSELVES, AND THEN ALSO JUST THE FACILITY, PINKERTON, WE HAVE NOT REALLY COME UP WITH A DEFINITIVE PLAN AS TO WHAT WE WILL DO WITH PINKERTON.
SHOULD WE OPT TO DO ELEMENTARY RECONFIGURATION, WHICH, BY THE WAY, THAT'S ON THE HORIZON.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AUGUST THE 11TH.
SHOULD WE OPT TO HAVE THAT? BUILDING THAT WOULD BECOME VACANT.
I THINK THE QUESTION ARISES, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IF NEW TECH WERE MOVED, THAT FACILITY WOULD BE AVAILABLE, PINKERTON, POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO ELEMENTARIES.
THE DISCUSSION THERE, THAT PROPERTY AND FACILITIES TEAM THAT TRUSTEE CAVINESS, TRUSTEE PORTER SERVING ON, SAID IS FACILITATING THAT.
WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IN FACT, I THINK I SAW ONE JUST WALK IN.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE'VE GOT VARIOUS PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE SITTING AND HAVING DISCUSSION WITH THAT.
[01:55:03]
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT PLANS FOR THOSE.I THINK THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO RE-PURPOSE SOME BUILDINGS AND POSSIBLY TO HAVE SOME FACILITIES THAT COULD BE REASONABLY THAT AND THE PROPERTIES THEY SIT ON THAT, COULD BE SOLD FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
ALL OF THAT SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON AS WELL.
I ANTICIPATE THOSE REPORTS COMING TO YOU PROBABLY SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT HAVING SOME I THINK SAID THE FIRST SESSION, I BELIEVE IS AUGUST 4TH, THAT THAT GROUP WILL BE GETTING TOGETHER.
BY THE WAY, SCHOOL STARTS ON THE 13TH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIAMS THOUGHTS, COMMENTS ON THE NEW TECH RECOMMENDATION OR WHAT WILL BE THE RECOMMENDATION? NEXT ITEM..
>> NEXT ITEM IS THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS CONFIGURATION.
MISS EICHEL IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THAT ONE.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL STEP OUT AFTER THIS. PERMISSION.
>> WITNESSES TO PERMISSION TO LEAVE.
IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE WE LAST MET FOR THE BOARD WORKSHOP ON JULY, AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MONITOR ENROLLMENT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE CAME TOGETHER ON THE 14TH ALL OF OUR CAMPUS REGISTRARS AND SECRETARIES, PARTICULARLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, HAD JUST COME BACK THAT MONDAY FOR THEIR FIRST DAY TO PREPARE FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS IS THE ENROLLMENT AND SOME UNENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THIS CHART ACROSS THE DISTRICT IS AN OVERALL INCREASE OVER THAT TWO WEEKS OF RIGHT UNDER 300 STUDENTS, 298 STUDENTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE OF 184 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, 78 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND 36 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THAT TIME FRAME.
IF YOU DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LARGEST NUMBERS IN EACH OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES OR BUCKETS ARE AT THOSE ENTRY OR TRANSITION PERIODS, WHICH IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE.
KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GOING UP, SIXTH GRADE AND AT NINTH GRADE.
PART OF THAT SURROUNDS THE FACT THAT BETWEEN LAST TIME AND THIS TIME, WE HAVE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO APPROXIMATELY 60 NEW OPEN-ENROLLMENT STUDENTS.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE TAKEN US UP ON THAT OFFER AND HAVE ENROLLED, AND THE TRENDS ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT THAT MOST OF THE FAMILIES, WHEN THEY'RE ENTERING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ARE LOOKING AT STARTING THEIR STUDENTS' CAREER AT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND OR HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT MAKES UP ABOUT 20% OF THE INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR.
WHEN WE COMPARE EACH CATEGORY TO THE DEMOGRAPHERS' NUMBERS, WHAT THEY'VE PROJECTED FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE STILL NEEDING 165 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TO ENROLL TO MEET THAT NUMBER, 37 ADDITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 15 ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE TRENDS FROM OUR DEMOGRAPHERS, WE DO SEE INCREASED ENROLLMENT AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, PRIMARILY BASED ON THE COST OF HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT IT COSTS TO COME TO COPPELL.
IT TYPICALLY ISN'T A STARTER HOME OR A FIRST OR SECOND HOME FOR MANY FAMILIES THAT MAY HAVE THE YOUNGER AGE STUDENTS; IT'S FAMILIES THAT THEY MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, A LITTLE MORE ESTABLISHED IN THEIR CAREERS, AND THEIR STUDENTS TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT OLDER AS WELL.
ALSO, AS A REMINDER WHAT HAD BEEN SHOWN IN THE NUMBERS AND JUST TO CONTINUE THE OPEN ENROLLMENT DISCUSSION, WE HAVE RIGHT UNDER 200 STUDENTS THAT ARE RETURNING THROUGH THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.
SO 200 PLUS 60 NEW, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE ABOUT 260 STUDENTS ATTENDING OUR DISTRICT THROUGH LIMITED OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND OUR DISTRICT OR THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF COPPELL, NOT ZONED TO US.
THE PROXIMITY MAKES IT EASY NOT ONLY FOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, BUT TO BE PART OF THOSE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, EVENING ACTIVITIES.
AGAIN, WE SEE LOTS OF SUCCESS.
ALSO, SIDE NOTE ABOUT OPEN ENROLLMENT.
THE OTHER FACTOR, THOUGH THAT CREATES A SUCCESSFUL OPEN ENROLLMENT PROGRAM IS A VIBRANT, THRIVING, DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAM.
[02:00:02]
THERE ARE SOME CONNECTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THE NEW TECH PROGRAM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT ENDS UP.I DO ALSO WANT TO BE REALISTIC IN WHAT I SHARE WITH YOU.
HISTORICALLY, DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS OF SCHOOL, WE START ON A WEDNESDAY, THE 13TH IS A WEDNESDAY.
BY THAT FRIDAY, WHEN WE ASK OUR SECRETARIES AND REGISTRARS TO UNENROLL THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE NOT SHOWN UP, WE TYPICALLY HAVE AN AVERAGE DROP OF BETWEEN 180 AND 200 STUDENTS AT THAT POINT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.
WE'LL BRING THOSE NUMBERS BACK TO YOU CONSISTENTLY JUST FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION.
BUT AS MR. WILLIAMS SUGGESTED, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ELEMENTARY DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CURRENT AND UP-TO-DATE DATA IN FRONT OF YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
>> CYCLE, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR PARENTS OR WHOEVER THEY MOVE TO NOTIFY US THAT, HEY, WE'RE NOT COMING, YOU JUST STOPPED SHOWING UP ONE DAY.
WE TYPICALLY FIND OUT THROUGH ONE OF THREE WAYS.
THE RECEIVING SCHOOL DISTRICT REACHES OUT AND ASKS US FOR SCHOOL RECORDS, SO THAT'S ONE WAY WE FIND OUT.
ANOTHER WAY, SOMETIMES PARENTS WILL OUT OF COURTESY, SHOOT US AN EMAIL, LET US KNOW.
WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT STAFFING, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PRINCIPALS AND THOSE REGISTRARS.
IF WE'RE NEEDING TO MAKE A STAFFING DECISION, DO WE NEED TO MAYBE MOVE A TEACHER OR ADD A TEACHER? WE ASK THE CAMPUSES TO REACH OUT TO THE FAMILIES IN THOSE GRADE LEVELS.
WE HAVE SOME SMALL POCKETS WHERE WE'VE BEEN PROACTIVE, SO WE CAN MAKE STAFFING DECISIONS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES THEY DON'T COME FOR THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AT SCHOOL.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE GET THAT REQUEST FROM THE DISTRICT WHERE THEY ARE NOW ATTENDING.
>> THE SECOND THING WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR COMMUNITY DIALOGUE MEETINGS, IN LISTENING TO FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF OUR PARENTS, AND THEN TRUSTEE POWERS.
JONATHAN, I THOUGHT YOU HAD A GREAT POINT THE OTHER NIGHT AT OUR WORKSHOP ABOUT GIVING OUR PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, THE EDUCATION PIECE, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNGER PARENTS.
GIVING THEM THE EDUCATION PIECE, AND THEN ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS PRIOR TO TAKING STEPS.
WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE FIVE MEETINGS ACROSS THE DISTRICT BEGINNING AUGUST THE 14TH.
WE'LL WRAP THOSE UP TWO WEEKS AFTER.
THE FORMAT WILL BE WHEN WE GO IN, WE WILL HAVE MEETINGS AT THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AT 3:30 WITH THE STAFF.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE FACULTY AND STAFF MEETINGS SEPARATE AND APART.
WE'LL HAVE STAFF MEETINGS WITH THEM AT 3:30.
WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK.
THEN AT 5:30, WE'LL HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME IN AT THE MEETINGS AT BOTH OF THE SESSIONS.
THE EDUCATION PIECE WILL REALLY REVOLVE AROUND SCHOOL FINANCE.
NOW, MS. SARKAR AND I WILL NOT DO FULL SCHOOL FINANCE 101.
THAT'S A GOOD TWO-HOUR COURSE IN ITSELF.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO A 10-MINUTE OVERVIEW OF SOME SCHOOL FINANCE AND THE DEFICIT ITSELF.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO EXPLAIN THAT THE DEFICIT IS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE DISTRICT.
THE OTHER THING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT IS THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ALREADY, 71 POSITIONS FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR, $3.2 MILLION, AND THAT IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS, THE RESULT WILL BE.
IF IT'S YOUR PERSONAL HOUSEHOLD, THERE CAN BE MONTHS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR THAT YOU'RE SPENDING MORE THAN YOU'RE TAKING IN, BUT YOU CANNOT DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
YOUR FUND BALANCE AS A HOUSEHOLD GOES DRY IF THAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE'VE GOT HUGE ISSUES.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE HAVE TO GET THAT BALANCED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE'LL GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
EVERYTHING FROM SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CERC HAS MADE.
IN REGARD TO ADDITIONAL REVENUE CREATION TO EXPENDITURES, BUT AGAIN, NOTHING MOVES THE NEEDLE MORE THAN PERSONNEL.
[02:05:01]
IT DOES. IT'S JUST AROUND 80-85%.WE HAVE TO, AND I THINK THE WORD THAT I USED WITH Y'ALL IS IT HAS TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINABLE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH THEM.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS WE ARE GOING TO SHARE WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE NON-NEGOTIABLES.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR STAFF TO HEAR THAT.
I WAS AT COTTONWOOD CREEK LAST WEEK, AND THERE WERE SOME TEACHERS THERE, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE STEM TEACHER.
THE FIRST QUESTION THAT SHE ASKED ME WAS, SHE SAID, SO IS STEM GOING AWAY? I SAID, THAT'S NON-NEGOTIABLE.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THE LADY SITTING ON THE BACK WALL COULD MAYBE GET ON BOARD WITH, BUT YOU BEGIN TO ELIMINATE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
[LAUGHTER] WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NON-NEGOTIABLES.
THAT MEETING, WE WILL HAVE STRUCTURED CONVERSATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM SOME KEY QUESTIONS IN CIRCLES AND SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE CONVERSATION, WE CAN RECORD THAT FEEDBACK, AND THEN THAT FEEDBACK, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THAT FEEDBACK SPECIFIC FOR EACH CAMPUS, BUT THEN AFTER THE TWO WEEK PERIOD, A HOLISTIC VIEW OF WHAT WE HEARD OUT ON OUR MEETINGS.
AUGUST 28, PRIOR TO LABOR DAY, BECAUSE AFTER LABOR DAY, EVERYTHING KIND OF RAMPS UP. THIS IS THE CHART.
AFTER LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER THE 4TH, WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE INFORMATION DESIGN.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO A SECOND DEMOGRAPHER THAT CAN DO SOME CROSS-CHECK FOR US.
WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OURS, AND WHO DO YOU USE FOR CROSS-CHECKING? THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CHECKING INTO.
ONE OF THEIR CONCERNS IS, YOU'RE NOT GIVING US A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO WORK WITH, AND WE'RE TELLING THEM WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.
BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
WE WILL GIVE THEM THAT INFORMATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 4TH.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT BEING BACK TO US PROBABLY A WEEK LATER, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP WHAT THOSE PLANS AND THOSE OPTIONS WOULD BE.
OUR ANTICIPATION WOULD BE SEPTEMBER THE 22ND, A BOARD WORKSHOP WHERE WE WOULD HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF KEEP IT AT 10 CAMPUSES, MOVE IT TO NINE CAMPUSES, MOVE IT TO EIGHT CAMPUSES AND WHAT THE RECONFIGURATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE WILL GO BACK OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS, WE ARE GOING TO THOSE TWO SCHOOLS.
THAT WOULD NOT BE AS STRUCTURED A CONVERSATION, BUT WE WOULD STILL WANT IT TO BE STRUCTURED.
I'M GOING TO BE AS COMPLETELY HONEST AS POSSIBLE.
LISTENING TO 50 PEOPLE SAY, PLEASE DON'T CLOSE OUR SCHOOL IS NOT PRODUCTIVE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO HEAR THAT.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET GOOD FEEDBACK ABOUT, TELL US WHY YOURS IS NOT A GOOD OPTION, OTHER THAN MY KID ONLY HAS TO WALK A BLOCK TO GET THERE.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
WE'LL GO BACK TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ALL FIVE, BUT WE'LL GO BACK TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE 22ND.
SEPTEMBER THE 29TH, WE WILL HAVE A BOARD MEETING.
THAT BOARD MEETING MORE THAN LIKELY WILL BE THE NIGHT THAT YOU OFFICIALLY TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
SHOULD YOU NAME A LONE FINALIST ON THE EIGHTH? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THAT SEPTEMBER THE 29TH, WHEN THAT CANDIDATE IS OFFICIALLY HIRED, THAT CANDIDATE IS GOING TO WANT TO BE IN THE DISTRICT SOON.
THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 6TH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE A BOARD WORKSHOP, WHERE WE PRESENT THE PLAN TO YOU AND YOU TAKE ACTION ON THE PLAN.
THAT'S THE TIMELINE. IN A MINUTE, YOU WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE WE WILL ADOPT THIS CALENDAR.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT, OR DO YOU WANT TO DELAY AND DISCUSS WHEN WE GET THERE? BECAUSE WE CAN DISCUSS IT HERE AND THEN WHEN WE GET THERE, WE CAN JUST WE CAN TAKE A VOTE AND MOVE FORWARD.
>> WELL, WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT TO DO? YOU WANT TO TALK NOW OR WAIT TILL WE GET TO THAT AGENDA ITEM, ASK QUESTIONS.
>> WE CAN WAIT TIL LATER AND ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU THINK IT'S MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN DUPLICATING THE CONVERSATION.
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH SOME QUESTIONS.
THAT'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO PERCATE.
[VII.A. CONSENT]
[02:10:02]
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF GET INTO THE ACTION ITEMS.
>> GIVE ME JUST A SECOND BEFORE WE GET THERE.
>> WELL, WE SKIPPED OVER CONSENT.
>> LET'S KNOCK THAT ONE OUT REAL QUICK.
DOES ANYBODY AS WE MOVE INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS, ANYBODY WISH TO PULL AN ITEM FROM CONSENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> PRESIDENT CAVINESS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING.
IT'S REALLY ONE ITEM ON THAT, BUT IT'S APPROVAL OF ITEM A. SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
>> IN THAT ON THE JUNE 23RD, 2025.
LAST NAME NEEDS TO BE SWITCHED TO POWERS IS INCORRECTLY IN THERE.
>> TURNED INTO TRUSTEE HILL SON IN THAT [LAUGHTER] I WAS HONORED.
HE'S THE ONE CHANGING. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THAT IS THE ONLY CHANGE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THEN APPROVE IT WITH THAT CHANGE.
>> LET'S DO THIS. WE'RE PULLING ITEM ON1 FROM CONSENT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ONE NAME CHANGE TO TRUSTEE POWERS IN THE MINUTES.
LET'S GO WITH AN APPROVAL OF ALL CONSENT ITEMS, EXCLUDING ITEM 1, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE WITH THE OFFICIAL MOTION WITH THE UPDATE, AND THEN WE'LL GO THERE. YES. PLEASE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7.
>> MOTION BY TRUSTEE WALKER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY, TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS 2 THROUGH 7.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE, ALL IN FAVOR.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO CONSENT ITEM 1.
TRUSTEE HILL, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THOSE MINUTES TO CORRECT?
>> YES. I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE MINUTES AS RECOMMENDED FOR THE JUNE 23RD, 2025, AND ALL OTHER MINUTES REMAIN THE SAME. NO CHANGE.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE HILL, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY, TO AMEND THE JUNE 23RD, 2025 MINUTES TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF TRUSTEE POWERS' LAST NAME.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE, ALL IN FAVOR.
NOW, MR. WILLIAMS, WE'LL GO TO SOME CONCRETE REPAIR. [LAUGHTER]
[VII.B. Discuss and consider approval of concrete trip hazard repairs at Cottonwood Creek Elementary and the assessment of additional campuses for needed repairs]
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING ACTION ITEM.
ARAMARK DISCOVERED A COMPANY CALLED PRECISION CONCRETE CUTTING THAT SHAVES SIDEWALKS IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE TRIP HAZARDS.
IN FACT, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THESE AROUND THE CITY OF COPPELL AND THE CITY OF COPPELL HAS ALSO THIS COMPANY TO ELIMINATE TRIP HAZARDS.
ONE THING, THE COST OF DOING THIS, LET'S SAY WE HAVE A HALF-INCH GAP ON A SIDEWALK, AND TO REPLACE THAT SIDEWALK, WE CAN DO THIS INSTEAD AT ABOUT 20% OF THE COST OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST TO ACTUALLY REMOVE AND REPLACE THE CONCRETE.
WHILE WE DO STILL HAVE SIDEWALKS IN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR OR BADLY CRACKED, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE; THIS IS A WAY OF MAKING SIDEWALKS 88 COMPLIANCE, ALSO BEING MUCH SAFER.
THE PHOTOS YOU SEE ARE OF LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY.
WHAT WE DID, WE WENT AHEAD AND DID A TRIAL RUN AT LAKESIDE.
IF YOU SEE THE PHOTO ON THE FAR LEFT, THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS ACTUALLY THAT REPAIR.
THE SAME THING WITH THE AIR ON THE RIGHT, THAT WAS ABOUT A HALF-INCH GAP AND WHAT IT DOES,
[02:15:02]
AND YOU'VE ALL PROBABLY SEEN CONCRETE GRINDING BEFORE, WHERE IT LEAVES IT JUST ROUGH AND IT'S NOT REALLY SMOOTH.THIS IS IT'S A HORIZONTAL SAW THAT THEY ACTUALLY UTILIZE THAT WILL SHAVE THE CONCRETE DOWN TO MAKE IT FLUSH WITH THE JOINT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO EVEN IT UP AT.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS TO APPROVE US GOING AHEAD AND MAKING PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 120 AND 140 REPAIRS AT COTTONWOOD CREEK ELEMENTARY, AS WELL AS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE IS THIS COMPANY EVALUATING ALL OF OUR OTHER CAMPUSES AND GIVING US QUOTES FOR DOING THESE SIMILAR TYPES OF REPAIRS AT ALL THE OTHER CAMPUSES, EXCLUDING LAKESIDE AND COTTONWOOD.
AGAIN, CITY OF COPPELL HAS BEEN DOING THIS, IRVING ISD, BIRDVILLE ISD, CFB, FRISCO, HUB, PLANO, THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON.
IT SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR, VERY COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF ELIMINATING TRIP HAZARDS AND MAKING SIDEWALKS AND CONCRETE AREAS MORE ADA COMPLIANT.
WITH THAT, I ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
>> IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. GRANT?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF FINDING EFFICIENCIES FOR US, AND IT SEEMS LIKE ARAMARK IS LIKE-MINDED, AND I APPRECIATE YOU FIGURING OUT WAYS FOR US TO GET IMPORTANT WORK DONE AT LESS OF A COST.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE COPPELL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED THE PROPOSAL FROM ARAMARK FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FOR CONCRETE TRIP HAZARD REPAIRS AT COTTONWOOD CREEK ELEMENTARY, AND FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ALL ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES AT A TOTAL COST OF $46,101.02.
>> MOTION BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HILL.
>> I WOULD HAVE JUST LIKED TO SEE A DEMONSTRATION OF THE HORIZONTAL SAW HERE.
[LAUGHTER] WE'LL HAVE IT BRING IT IN.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT TRUSTEE BENTLEY SAID.
>> SID YOU'RE SUCH AN ASSET TO US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A BIG ANALYSIS.
AS SOMEONE WHEN I WAS A THIRD-GRADE TEACHER THAT BIT IT REALLY HARD WALKING IN WITH A BOX FULL OF STUFF, AND I STILL HAVE THE SCARS ON MY KNEES AND THE CHILDREN CRYING AROUND ME.
I WAS I AM THANKFUL BECAUSE I THINK OF ALL OUR GRANDPARENTS' DAYS AND OUR SPECIAL FRIENDS' DAYS AND ALL THE RUNNING THAT GOES ON.
THANK YOU FOR THE FORESIGHT OF THIS ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU, SID.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS.
AS A ONE-MAN RUNNING CLUB IN THE MORNING.
BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP, I HAVE TRIPPED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE CITY, AND NOBODY IS THERE TO LAUGH AT ME.
THANK GOODNESS, BUT IT'S NOT FUN.
THANK YOU FOR AGAIN, FINDING WAYS TO BE VERY COST-EFFECTIVE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR. THE MOTION PASSES 7-0.
[VII.C. Discuss and consider approval of Network switching at the new Fine Arts Building at Coppell HS]
>> NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER NETWORK SWITCHING AT THE FINE ART BUILDING.
>> WHEN WE GET NEW BUILDINGS, WE HAVE TO PUT THINGS INSIDE OF THEM [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR THE LAUGH.
THAT WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY.
I'M WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT LATER, SO KEEP IT UP.
NO, BUT WE HAVE EVERY PHONE, EVERY COMPUTER, EVERY TIME CLOCK.
ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED A NETWORK CONNECTION, AND WHEN YOU FOLLOW THE NETWORK CABLING BACK, THEY GO TO SWITCHES.
THE SWITCHES GO BACK TO OUR MAIN BUILDING.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS SID KEEPS ON BUILDING, WE HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING AND ADDING SWITCHES TO THEM.
THIS IS FOR THE SWITCHING AT THE JUNIPER SWITCHES AT THE NEW CAPPELL FINE ARTS BUILDING, AND WE'RE GETTING A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR TO DO THIS FOR US.
THEIR NAME IS RED RIVER, AND THAT'S NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.
>> MY ASSUMPTION IS THIS WILL COME FROM BOND FUNDS.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
I MOVE THAT THE COPPELL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM RED RIVER FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NETWORK SWITCHING EQUIPMENT, NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.
>> I'LL GET QUICKER ON THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY TRUSTEE HILL,
[02:20:05]
SECONDED BY TRUSTEE MATHEW.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL IN FAVOR.
[VII.D. Discuss and consider revised Campus Planning and Boundary Realignment Timeline]
>> NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE ELEMENTARY PLANNING BOUNDARY REALIGNMENT TIMELINE.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THIS, AND THEN WE'LL FLIP BACK IN THE SLIDE DECK WHEN WE START TALKING POLICY.
AGAIN, HERE'S THE TIMELINE FOR OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUS PLANNING, AND THEN ALSO THE BOUNDARY REALIGNMENT TIMELINE.
>> I HAD A QUESTION AS I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND YOU WERE PRESENTING IT EARLIER.
I KNOW WE GO FROM THE 22ND TO THE 29TH.
WE'VE GOT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN BETWEEN.
THE 29TH TO THE SIX IS ABOUT A THREE-WEEK DELAY.
IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT? SHOULD WE SHORTEN THAT? I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION TO POSE TO EVERYBODY IN THAT.
>> 29TH TO THE 6TH THAT'S ONE WEEK.
>> I LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR WRONG.
>> THAT'S ONE WEEK. THE 22ND IF WE MET MONDAY, OCTOBER THE 6TH WOULD ACTUALLY BE TWO WEEKS.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I DID? I WAS LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR AND I COUNTED THAT BLANK SPACE BETWEEN THE 29TH AND THE 6TH.
[LAUGHTER] I'M STILL LEARNING Y'ALL.
[LAUGHTER] SCRATCH MY COMMENT.
>> IT'D BE TWO WEEKS. ALSO THE BOARD MEETING ON THE 29TH, THAT WOULD GIVE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR WEIGH IN FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND I EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT IF IT WAS JUST ONE MEETING IN BETWEEN, NO MEETINGS IN BETWEEN, THAT REALLY WOULDN'T GIVE MUCH CHANCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I ANTICIPATE THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE.
ALSO THE NIGHT OF THE 29TH WOULD BE APPROVAL OF CONTRACT.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE THAT WORKSHOP SOMETIME THE WEEK OF THE 6TH.
I HAVEN'T CHECKED THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.
THERE'S A CHANCE THAT FAIR DAY COULD BE THE 6TH.
>> WE HAVE IT ON OUR CALENDAR FOR THE WORKSHOP ON THE 6TH LECTURE.
>> I THINK IT'D BE PERFECT. WE WOULD ACTUALLY SET IT FOR THE 6TH AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THAT NIGHT AND TAKE ACTION.
>> I AGREE THAT MAKES SENSE WHEN I COUNTED THREE A WHILE AGO, THINKING THAT MIGHT BE AN EXTRA WEEKEND THERE.
>> I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF PUSHBACK ON THIS AT THE WORKSHOP TWO WEEKS AGO.
I JUST WANT TO CHIME IN AND SAY, I LOVE THE FIVE MEETINGS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BEING DIRECT AND HAVING THAT OUTREACH.
AND SO YOU'VE ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS IN THAT WAY.
I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT WE HAVE TO NAME SCHOOLS TO DO THE OUTREACH.
IN FACT, I THINK IT'S MORE HELPFUL IF OUR COMMUNITY WEIGHS IN NOW.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING AND WATCHING, AND YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON WHICH CAMPUSES SHOULD MAYBE BE NAMED OR NOT NAMED, AS WE'RE CONSIDERING CONSOLIDATIONS FOR CAMPUSES.
NOW IS THE TIME TO START TALKING TO US.
IF YOU WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22, AT THAT WORKSHOP AND THAT TWO-WEEK TIME FRAME.
I'M GOING TO SAY THE CAKE IS BAKED AT THAT POINT, BUT IT'S A LOT HARDER FOR US TO CHANGE PATHS.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK, NOW IS THE TIME; THE MEETINGS IN AUGUST ARE THE TIME.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION UNTIL THEY'VE HEARD THEIR SCHOOL NAMED, POTENTIALLY, BUT WE'RE AT LEAST GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY AND ESPECIALLY GOING ON THEIR CAMPUSES. I LOVE THAT.
>> LET ME MAKE JUST A GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT RELEASE OF THE DATES AND THE SITES FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.
WE REALIZE THAT WHEN THE SITES ARE RELEASED, THAT PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.
I THINK THAT IT'S A LITTLE QUICK TO BEGIN TO JUMP TO CONCLUSION.
THERE ARE CERTAIN CAMPUSES THAT IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF CURRENT ENROLLMENT OR LOCATION.
WE HAVE THREE CAMPUSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DISTRICT THAT ARE BETWEEN SIX AND 700 STUDENTS, AND THAT IS THE GROWING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL RELEASE THAT TOMORROW.
IN MEETING WITH OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, OUR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS REQUESTED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR STAFF.
[02:25:04]
IN THE MORNING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, THEY'LL BE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR STAFF.WE WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, THE SITE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE AMANDA, DID YOU SAY IT AT NOON, 12 O'CLOCK? THAT WILL GO OUT TOMORROW.
IT'S CONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE AT 12 O'CLOCK TOMORROW, I WILL BE IN THE CAPITOL.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL BE IN THE CAPITOL DISCUSSING SOME GOOD LEGISLATION WITH OUR SENATOR AND STATE, COOPER, AND I WILL BE HEADING TO AUSTIN IN THE MORNING, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT VISIT.
BUT WE WILL RELEASE THAT AT 12 TOMORROW.
AND WHEN I SAY NOT JUMPING TO CONCLUSION, THIS IS A PART OF DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
IF THEY CANNOT BE REASONABLY TAKEN OUT OF CONSIDERATION, WE AT LEAST NEED TO GO OUT TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO THAT'S OUR APPROACH.
OUR PLAN WILL BE TO BE AS TRANSPARENT IN THIS PROCESS AS WE ABSOLUTELY CAN BE.
THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL TELL YOU IS FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT, IT IS, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS.
>> THESE MEETINGS WOULD BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT SPECIFIC AREA, NOT JUST FAMILIES, BUT ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANTED TO ATTEND?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND ANY AND ALL.
NO MORE THAN THREE AT ANY GIVEN SPOT.
MORE THAN LIKELY, I WOULD RECOMMEND TWO.
I DO NOT WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE THE DISTRICT ENTOURAGE IS SHOWING UP.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FREELY.
AS WELL, MY GREAT TEAM ON MY LEFT.
I'VE TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND A COUPLE, BUT IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THAT ENTOURAGE.
IT'S US JUST GOING OUT AND HAVING REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE.
>> THEN WE'LL FOLLOW OUR NORMAL PROTOCOL.
CARE, WOULD YOU MIND PUTTING TOGETHER A SIGN-UP FOR THOSE FIVE DATES. THANK YOU.
>> REALLY, IF YOU'RE IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT INPUT, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU KNOW WHICH FIVE COMMUNITY AREAS ARE GOING TO BE VISITED BEFORE EVERYBODY STARTS THINKING THE SKY IS FALLING TONIGHT ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIAMS?
>> NO. I JUST LIKE TO CHIME IN ON A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO I LIKE THE APPROACH THAT YOU'RE TAKING.
I LIKE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC COMPONENT.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN CONSTERNATION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, IF WE KNOW DEMOGRAPHICS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WEATHER FORECASTING.
IT MAY GET YOU CLOSE, BUT MAYBE NOT BE ACCURATE AT TIMES.
TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND TO USE OTHER MEASURES AND FACTORS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THE OTHER PART, THIS IS A QUESTION TO YOU IN REGARDS TO THE INVITATION.
THE INVITATION IS CAMPUS-WIDE, I MAKE THE PRESUMPTION.
BUT THE SECOND LEVEL IS TRYING TO GET THOSE FIRST-TIME PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW TO THIS DISTRICT, WHETHER THEY'RE YOUNG OR WHETHER THEY HAVE TRANSFERRED IN BASED UPON CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT THE PEOPLE FROM AN OPEN ROMAN STANDPOINT BEING INVITED IN.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S AN AREA THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, SO THE EXPERIENCE OVER HERE WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PLACES.
>> WITH THE PARENTS THEMSELVES, I DO THINK THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS THAT CAMPUS E-MAIL.
IT COULD BE THAT SOME COMMUNICATION GOES HOME WITH THE STUDENT IN A FOLDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE THERE.
MY GUESS IS THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS STARTING SOMETIME TOMORROW.
>> I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK STORY.
I WAS OUT AND ABOUT DURING THE SUMMER AND I RAN INTO AN ELEMENTARY PARENT AND HAS A YOUNG CHILD.
THERE WAS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THAT SCHOOL WILL GO AWAY, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS SCHOOL.
THEY ARE THOSE THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR MINDS ALREADY ABOUT WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS MAY LOOK LIKE, AND SO THEY MAY BE THE ONES THAT NOT NECESSARILY PLUG INTO THOSE UNTIL AFTER DECISIONS ARE MADE.
>> I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH.
THIS COMMUNITY, THIS TOWN DOES NOT NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS MULTIPLE YEARS,
[02:30:02]
WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT THE TROUGH IS, AND THAT'S MAYBE A NEW TERM, BUT THE DEMOGRAPHER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY PREDICT WHAT THE LOW POINT FOR ELEMENTARY ENROLLMENT WOULD BE.I THINK THAT THAT CONVERSATION REALLY WILL HELP DRIVE THE DECISION.
AGAIN, A TROUGH AT 4,800 IS ONE CONSIDERATION, A TROUGH AT 5,000 IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S, HONESTLY, WHAT WE PAID THE DEMOGRAPHER FOR.
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, DO DUE DILIGENCE, LISTEN.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK AT ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, TELL US SOME THINGS WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION.
WE WANT TO KNOW. I THINK THE ASSUMPTION IS, HERE ARE THE SEVEN OR EIGHT THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.
BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE THOUGHTS FOR THOSE SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS ARE UNTIL WE ASK.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR AGILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS IN LOOKING AT, HEY, THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD BEFORE, THE TIMELINE DIDN'T MATCH UP.
IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST RESULT, WE NEED TO ADJUST AND CHANGE.
I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOUR EYES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, OUTSIDE APPROACH, BUT NEW EYES ON SOMETHING THAT WE KNEW YOU HAD TO DO.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE WITH THE DEMOGRAPHER, I LIKE HAVING A SECOND LOOK AT THAT, A SECOND DEMOGRAPHER, A SECOND OPINION AS IT WERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A HEAT MAP.
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I HOPE THAT'S A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
I ALSO WOULD JUST WRAP UP WITH, I AM GETTING A SENSE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING ALL OF THESE THINGS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER.
IT FEELS STRATEGIC TO ME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I KNOW WE'VE ALL GOTTEN A LOT OF E-MAILS, AGAIN, PRESIDENT CAVINESS, WHEN IT'S DIRECTED TO ALL OF US.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT AND RESPONDING.
BUT I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, THESE PEOPLE JUST MOVED INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY ARE HOMESCHOOLING, AND JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.
KEEP THAT COMING, ESPECIALLY AT OUR INPUT AT COPPELLISD.COM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I STILL THINK THIS COMES BACK TO OUR KEY QUESTION OF WHAT MAKES PEOPLE CHOOSE COPPELL ISD AND WHAT MAKES THEM NOT CHOOSE COPPELL ISD? I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT DISCUSSION PUZZLE.
I KNOW POSITIVITY IS ONE OF MY TRAITS, BUT I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS WORK BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
THANK YOU. I REALLY LIKE YOUR VIBE.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE AT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS?
>> UNFORTUNATELY. [LAUGHTER] YES, MA'AM, I WILL BE. THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY. WE WANT THAT CONSISTENT MESSAGE, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE A TREMENDOUS TEAM.
THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS FROM OUR ELT TO OUR CABINET, WE'VE GOT CABINET MEMBERS HERE, IT'S A TEAM COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
THAT'S THE WORLD THAT I GREW UP IN.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN TWO SHORT MONTHS TO REALLY GENERATE GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUST A WONDERFUL TEAM.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS THE LEADER OF THE TEAM, I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE BUCK STOPS, AND I'M COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE SEEING, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, NOT ONLY TO THIS GROUP, BUT, AGAIN, CABINET.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION THIS MORNING.
I WISH YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF, AND EVENTUALLY, WE PROBABLY NEED TO POST AN AGENDA AND HAVE CABINET AND THE BOARD SITTING AROUND THAT TABLE BECAUSE WE WERE VERY FORWARD -THINKING THIS MORNING IN WHAT COULD THE DISTRICT LOOK LIKE.
BUT, AGAIN, AND I COMMEND THIS GROUP JUST HOW RECEPTIVE THEY ARE, AND IT'S FAST-PACED RIGHT NOW, YOU ALL.
I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SAY IT OTHER THAN THAT.
BUT THANK YOU, TEAM, AND THANK YOU, BOARD. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MR. WILLIAMS, I WANT TO PIGGY BACK ON YOUR COMMENT THERE BECAUSE WE WERE AT SLI IN [INAUDIBLE], THEIR SESSION AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS.
HAVING THIS CONCEPT OF TEAM OF 15.
THE NUMBER OF 15 WAS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN IS THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, SUPERINTENDENT, AND BOARD, BEING AROUND THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK, TO YOUR POINT, AND YOU SAID THIS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
I THINK WE'RE AT THIS INFLECTION POINT.
WE NEED TO SIT DOWN COLLECTIVELY AND JUST TALK FREELY.
[02:35:04]
IN THE MILITARY, THEY HAVE THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DO THAT, YOU LEAVE YOUR RANK AT THE DOOR.I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO AND HAVE THAT AND SET THAT PERIODICALLY.
I KNOW THAT YOU WON'T BE HERE FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE SET THAT IN MOTION TO HAVE THAT INTERACTION AND CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY INTERCONNECT TO DRIVE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL FOR THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS IS ESSENTIAL.
IT COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER TO TRUSTEE WALKER POSITIVITY OVER HERE.
I WOULD AGREE, I'M ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT THIS DISTRICT, IF NOT ANY OTHER DISTRICT CAN DO THAT, NOT ONLY MAINTAIN THE ENROLLMENT WE HAVE WITH GROWTH THE ENROLLMENT IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE LOOKING FORWARD AS WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN '26-'27, WE HAVE TO BE AGILE ENOUGH TO BE OPEN-MINDED TO TAKE IN OTHER SOURCES OF ENROLLMENT THAN WE HAVE TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ALL HAVE ENOUGH ORGANICALLY HERE TO DO THAT, BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THAT, AND YOU'VE OPENED THAT DOOR, SO THANK YOU.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> MOVE THAT THE COPPELL ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE REVISED CAMPUS PLANNING AND BOUNDARY REALIGN TIMELINE AS PRESENTED.
>> SECOND. [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] SEE ME A LITTLE COMPETITIVE OVER THERE [INAUDIBLE].
>> NO, I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE ALL NIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE POWERS, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE WALKER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT MOTION PASSES 7-0.
[VII.E. Discuss and consider action regarding the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Policy Update 125 affecting (LOCAL) policies:]
I BELIEVE MS. FORD, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE.>> [INAUDIBLE] FOR IT AND I HOPE THAT WE GET THE PRAISE THAT SID GOT FOR BRINGING NEW POLICY AND EXCITEMENT OF [LAUGHTER] ADDITIONS AND REVISING, AND REPLACEMENTS.
WE SENT THIS TO YOU EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND SO I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY DATE 125.
THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT DID APPROVE IT [INAUDIBLE].
THIS WAS JUST PREVIOUS STUFF THAT THEY WERE REVISING AND ADDING.
WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS TO ANY OF THESE POLICIES?
>> NO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON THE RED LINES, AND SEEING THAT IN LINE, THAT WAS FANTASTIC, HELPING FOR UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTEXT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SEE, SID, YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] LAWYER. [LAUGHTER] AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THOSE TO US EARLY IN TIME TO REVIEW.
YOU'RE ALWAYS SO GOOD AT THAT TIME [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR MS. FORD? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, PRESIDENT CAVINESS.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE TASB UPDATE 125 REVISIONS TO LOCAL POLICY AND ADD LOCAL POLICY AS RECOMMENDED.
>> [INAUDIBLE], WHO SAID THAT?
>> YOU DID. SORRY. MOTION BY TRUSTEE HILL, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? HEARING NOW, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE, ALL IN FAVOR.
THIS MOTION PASSES 7-0. ITEM F.
[VII.F. Discuss and consider approval of a resolution regarding the Texas Association of School Board (TASB) Policy EFB (Exhibit)]
>> THE SECOND PART IS PART OF THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, AND IT CAME UP WITH A RESOLUTION WHERE WE HAVE TO PUT INTO PLACE A SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS ASKING.
IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER PUTTING THAT INTO PLACE IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF.
>> WHAT'S THE OPTION IF THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR?
>> IF THEY ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>> THIS IS BASED OFF OF LEGISLATION WITH SENATE BILL 13 FROM THE RECENT LEGISLATURE.
THEY ALLOW DISTRICTS TO ADOPT POLICY ESTABLISHING THE SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL.
IF BOARDS CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT, WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE AN INFORMAL COUNCIL IN PLACE THAT IS STILL REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE BEST PRACTICES FOR THE ADOPTION OF MATERIALS, AND ALSO REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ALL OF THE MEETING REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS THAT INFORMAL COUNCIL MEETING IN PUBLIC POSTING AGENDAS, PUBLISHING RECORDS OF VOTES.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SLACK IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?
>> I KNEW THE ANSWER, I JUST WANTED YOU TO SAY IT.
>> IF THE BOARD CHOOSES NOT TO PURSUE THAT NOW, THE BILL DOES REQUIRE THAT IF PRESENTED WITH A PETITION FROM 50 PARENTS OR 10% OF OUR DISTRICT'S PARENTS, WHICHEVER NUMBER IS FEWER, THAT AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THAT COUNCIL.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE GET OUT AHEAD OF IT, HAVE THE TIME TO PLAN,
[02:40:01]
AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.
>> I WOULD AGREE. I THINK THAT THE OPTIONS BEFORE US, REALLY, THERE ARE NO OPTIONS, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO INFORMALLY HAVE SOMETHING, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT FALLS UNDER OUR PURVIEW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP AN EYE ON, AND I WANT TO SAY CONTROL, BUT NOT NECESSARILY CONTROL, BUT JUST BE THAT WATCHDOG OR WATCH GUARD UNDER VERSUS SOME INFORMAL COMMITTEE.
THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS ON IT.
>> JUST FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE NOT READ THIS, CAN YOU SHARE WHEN IS THIS COMMITTEE SUPPOSED TO BE CONVENED AND IN PLACE?
>> THE LOG IS INTO EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, SO IT'S A PRETTY QUICK TIMELINE.
THE COUNCIL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING LIBRARY MATERIALS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR SELECTIONS AND OUR CATALOGS REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE MAKEUP OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN ALSO OBVIOUSLY ENACTING PROCESSES FOR CHALLENGING OF MATERIALS, REMOVAL OF MATERIALS.
THAT'S A PRETTY QUICK TURN AROUND FOR THAT HAPPEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BY AUGUST, [INAUDIBLE] TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AND ALSO GET MEMBERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD.
>> BASICALLY, SLACK IS LIKE OUR EXISTING SHACK, BUT FOR LIBRARIES.
>> WE'RE NOT VERY CREATIVE WITH THE ACRONYM.
>> JUST SO THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND LIKE WE ALREADY HAVE A PARALLEL COMMITTEE IN PLACE THAT OPERATES VERY SIMILARLY TO THIS.
REALLY, IF WE WOULD VOTE NOT TO DO THIS TONIGHT, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD REALLY BE DIFFERENT IN SUBSTANCE IS THE NAME MIGHT BE MORE CLEVER.
>> THIS IS LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED, WHETHER IT IS FORMALLY ENACTED, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO DO TONIGHT, IT'S A FALSE CHOICE.
SO EITHER YOU DO IT OR IT GETS IMPLEMENTED INFORMALLY.
WE'RE IN IT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE TASB RESOLUTION AS RECOMMENDED.
>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE HILL, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE CAVINESS, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS RECOMMENDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? I'LL JUST SAY THIS, AND I'LL COMMEND OUR STEPS.
I THINK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC IN COMMUNITIES THAT BECAUSE OF YOU ALL'S WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S IN OUR LIBRARIES AND THE LITERATURE THAT WE'RE USING COMPLIES WITH, I THINK, OUR GENERAL COMMUNITY STANDARDS.
WE'VE AVOIDED SOME OF THAT OUTCRY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
GOING INTO ALL OF THIS, AND THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION PASSES 7-0.
>> THESE POLICIES ARE FROM THE 89TH LEGISLATURE.
[VII.G. Discuss and consider action regarding the Texas Association of School Board (TASB) Policy Update affecting (LOCAL) policies:]
THESE ARE NOT ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT WENT THROUGH, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE PRIOR TO ALL OF THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE BEING DRAFTED.ONE OF THOSE DOES ALIGN WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES RESOLUTION THAT YOU JUST PASSED.
IT'S PUTTING THAT POLICY INTO PLACE BASED ON IF YOU PASSED THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN JUST SOME REVISEMENT TO THE ADMISSION, STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
THEN, AS YOU KNOW, THE PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES.
THAT ONE WAS NOT REDLINED BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE REWRITING THE ENTIRE POLICY FROM PAGERS DOWN TO PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES.
THEY SAID THERE WASN'T A REDLINE VERSION BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO BULKY, AND IT WOULD BE MORE CONFUSING TO READ IT THAT WAY.
>> I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THERE.
EFB IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE SLACK.
FD LOCAL IS A CONTINUATION OR JUST REALLY REVISING A POLICY WHERE A STUDENT ENROLLED IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL, INCLUDING A HOME SCHOOL, SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT IN THE DISTRICT OR PARTICIPATION IN CURRICULAR OR EXTRACURRICULAR.
I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN YOUR PRACTICE,
[02:45:01]
BUT IT'S JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT.FM LOCAL IT'S RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY OF PRIVATE SCHOOL OR INCLUDING A HOME SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR.
THEN FNCE IS THE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.
>> 1481 THAT PROHIBITS STUDENTS FOR THEM TO USE PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE BEFORE WE LOOK AT THAT ONE BECAUSE THIS ONE HAS SOME LAYERS IN IT.
IT IS ADDRESSED IN POLICY, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN POLICY THAT IT ADDRESSES, IT ACTUALLY STATES THAT IMPLEMENTATION.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL DEVELOP REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY, AND THEN IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN A MINUTE.
ON PAGE 12 OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT, THERE IS A NEW SECTION RELATING TO POSSESSION OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TWO ACTIONS RELATING TO THIS IMPLEMENTATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON FNCE, BUT THEN YOU'LL ALSO TAKE ACTION TO ADOPT THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT IS ADDRESSED THERE THAT STUDENTS SHALL NOT USE A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND IT OUTLINES THAT THE DISTRICT MAY AUTHORIZE THE USE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THEN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
WHAT THAT'S SAYING IS THE CODE OF CONDUCT SPECIFIES THAT IF A STUDENT USES A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE INAPPROPRIATELY, THE SCHOOL CAN DETERMINE WHAT THAT IS.
NOW, FOR US, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT WHAT THOSE PROCEDURES WILL BE FOR CONSEQUENCES IF THE STUDENT USES THAT DEVICE.
WE RELEASED SOME INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
SINCE WE RELEASED, WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE PRACTICE OF A FINE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AND DO SOME REVISITING WITH THAT.
WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THEN, ALSO WE HAVE OUR DEVICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE STUDENTS STORE THEIR DEVICES DURING THE DAY, AND WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT.
ALL STAY WHERE YOU ARE, AND DITE COME ON UP, AND WE CAN WE COLLABORATE ON THIS ONE.
>> THIS APPEARS TO BE A NORMAL BAG, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY COOL.
WE HAVE SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS THAT WE WANTED TO DO.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S LIKE THE IPADS, WHEN YOU START PUTTING ALL THE IPADS OUT THERE, THEY LOOK ALL THE SAME AND THE SAME.
WELL, THE BAGS ALL LOOK THE SAME, TOO, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE POCKET FOR YOUR ID.
SECOND OF ALL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
WE NEVER WANT AN EMERGENCY ON CAMPUS, BUT IF THERE IS, SOME OF THE BAGS HAVE A LOCKING DEVICE ON IT AND TWO THINGS.
ONE LOCKING DEVICE, CAN YOU IMAGINE COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL, 03,000 PEOPLE TRYING TO UNLOCK THE BAGS ON THEIR WAY OUT? I THINK THAT COULD BE CRAZY.
WHAT WE DECIDED ON, I'M GOING TO DO IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT.
THE LAST PIECE THAT I REALLY LIKE, PEOPLE ARE SELLING BAGS, BUT THIS ONE IS A FARADAY POUCH.
WHAT A FARADAY POUCH IS, IT BLOCKS ALL SIGNALS.
IT BLOCKS BLUETOOTH, WIFI, AND CELL SIGNALS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE EVEN NOTICED, LIKE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, LET ME PUT MY PHONE HERE.
I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE, AND I'M TALKING ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR A BUZZ, AND THEN IT'S LIKE I WONDER WHO THAT IS. IS IT IMPORTANT? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS WILL DO IS IT WILL BLOCK ALL THE SIGNALS COMING IN.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET 01,000 SNAPS THAT THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE DURING THE DAY, BUT MAYBE NOT BECAUSE ALL THEIR PHONES WILL BE IN THE BAGS, TOO.
THAT'S LIKE I'M SAYING IT'S ALMOST LIKE LIKE WHILE IT'S DISTRACTED DRIVING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE DISTRACTIONS FROM LEARNING.
I THINK THAT'S A REAL BIG WIN FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE THAT.
LIKE I SAID, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING HAPPENED, THEY COULD GET IT OUT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO BE SNEAKY WITH LCRO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED, AND I REALLY LOVE THIS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE PHONE POLICE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS CAN LEARN WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED,
[02:50:03]
AND I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S POSITIVE.MS. WALKER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I'M A REALLY POSITIVE PERSON, TOO.
I TAKE THE TECHNOLOGY HOME AND LET MY OWN KIDS TRY IT OUT.
WHEN THEY SAW THIS, THEY'RE LIKE, WHOA, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? BUT WHEN YOU PUT THOSE PHONES, I'M IMAGINING DINNERS AROUND COPPELL NOW.
THEY'RE LIKE, EVERYONE PUT THEIR BAGS IN THEIR PHONE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DISTRACTED.
I'M NOT DISTRACTED THE ONLY LEARNERS, BUT DISTRACTED WHILE EATING, DISTRACTED WHILE DINNER.
I THINK THIS, LIKE I SAID, GLASS HALF FULL, BUT I THINK THIS COULD BE A REAL POSITIVE THING FOR OUR FAMILIES, TOO, WHEN THEY TAKE THEM HOME.
>> WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THOSE WILL ARRIVE.
>> THEY'LL BE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR STUDENTS.
NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT I DID WANT TO STATE IS THE PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS THAT VIOLATE THIS POLICY.
THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT A STUDENT WILL VIOLATE THE POLICY BECAUSE I JUST FORGOT TO, AND WE GET THAT.
I EQUATE EVERYTHING TO DRESS CODE.
I WAS A PRINCIPAL DURING THE DRESS CODE ERA.
TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN, WEAR A BELT.
I WAS THAT PRINCIPAL YEARS AGO. WHAT?
>> CUT YOUR HAIR. SHAVE EVEN THOSE TIMES OF THINGS.
BUT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY VIOLATED THE DRESS CODE, WE WOULD REMIND THEM, THE SECOND TIME, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PUNITIVE.
WHEN IT GOT TO THE THIRD OR FOURTH VIOLATION, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF INSUBORDINATION, AND WE TREATED IT ACCORDINGLY.
WHAT I'VE TASKED THE STAFF WITH DOING, WE SPENT SOME TIME IN CABINET THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT STEPHANIE HAD A GREAT POINT.
ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID WAS, I REALLY HATE THE THOUGHT OF SENDING STUDENTS TO ISS.
EARLY ON, FOR CELL PHONE OCCURRENCES, COULD WE USE DETENTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE SOME OF THAT.
THE TEAM IS GOING TO SEND A DRAFT TO ME.
I'M GOING TO REVIEW IT, LOOK AT IT, AND THEN I'LL SEND IT OUT TO YOU PRIOR TO SENDING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
MORE THAN LIKELY, REDUCING THE FINE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT HAVING TO TAKE ON.
THERE AREN'T GOING TO BE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WILL CHARGE FOR PARENTS TO COME PICK THAT UP.
THEN WE WILL LOOK AT SOME PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCES.
AGAIN, A REMINDER, MAYBE A DETENTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ISS WOULD BE ISSUED IF WE DEEM IT TO BE REPETITIVE, AND REALLY, AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD ENTER INTO INSUBORDINATION.
I THINK THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE'LL USE FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
JUST EXPECT SOMETHING FROM ME.
I WOULD THINK SOMETIME IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
THEN FREE TO CALL ME, SEND ME SOME EMAILS, WE CAN DISCUSS IT, AND THEN WE'LL SEND IT OUT.
THAT DOCUMENT WOULD NOT REQUIRE YOUR APPROVAL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE CODE OF CONDUCT DEFINITELY IS THAT WOULD JUST BE A REVIEW ITEM, AND THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO GO FROM THERE.
>> GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE POUCHES.
>> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND HERE, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS BECAUSE I THINK THINGS ARE JUST GOING TO EMERGE AS THINGS HAPPEN AS WE ACTUALLY DO IT.
BUT THE DISTRICT PROVIDES A POUCH.
>> IT'S THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE.
IT'S CHECKED OUT MATERIALS TO YOU.
JUST LIKE YOUR IPAD IS CHECKED OUT TO YOU, THE POUCH IS CHECKED OUT TO YOU.
IF THEY LOSE IT, THEY DO HAVE TO REPLACE IT.
LET'S SAY I HAVE A SEVENTH GRADER THAT I'M SENDING.
ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THEIR CELL PHONE DURING LUNCH?
>> NO. IN THE LAW, IT'S SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE IT OUT DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. YOU CANNOT USE IT.
THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF HALLWAYS, THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF LUNCH.
IT'S FROM WHEN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY STARTS TO WHEN THE SCHOOL BELL ENDS.
HOWEVER, WHEN THAT SCHOOL BILL ENDS, WE DO HAVE THEM ALLOWED TO USE THEIR PHONE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS ON PICK UP CLUBS, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS, THAT INSTRUCTIONAL TIME HAS ENDED, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THAT.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OTHER INSIDE THE POLICY TOO.
IF THERE'S A SAFETY CONCERN OR THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S MEDICAL WITH A STUDENT, THERE ARE BUILT-IN PROTECTIONS FOR THAT.
IF THEY NEED IT FOR SOMETHING WITHIN THEIR FIVE OH FOUR, THEY NEED SOMETHING WITHIN THEIR IEP.
THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS OF THINGS THAT WOULD BE LOOKED AT BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO DECIDE THAT, YES, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE YOUR PHONE BECAUSE YOUR IPAD CANNOT PROVIDE THAT, SUCH AS A DIABETIC, WHO'S CHECKING THEIR BLOOD SUGARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THE EXPECTATION THIS YEAR IS THAT IF YOU SEND YOUR KID WITH THEIR PHONE, IT'S GOING TO GO IN THIS POUCH IN THEIR BACKPACK,
[02:55:02]
AND THEN YOU'LL TALK TO THEM OR COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AT 3:30 OR AT DISMISSAL TIME.>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TRAINING THE STUDENTS IN THAT FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.
PARENTS WILL BE RECEIVING THE COMMUNICATION AFTER IT'S APPROVED.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE WEBSITE.
IT'S LINKED TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN THAT PROCESS.
IT'S NOT THE LINK IS LIVE IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT AS OPPOSED TO HAVING IT ALL WRITTEN IN BLACK AND WHITE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT IS CHANGING WITH THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO PUT INTO PLACE SO QUICKLY.
BUT IF A PARENT NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR STUDENT DURING THE DAY, WHAT WE'RE SAYING TO THAT PARENT IS YOU HAVE YOUR STUDENT'S GCOPPELL EMAIL ADDRESS.
YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR STUDENT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM, THAT THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGING ON THEM, AND THE STUDENT CAN LOOK AT THAT, AND THE PARENT CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THAT WAY THROUGH THEM.
IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE EMERGENCIES.
THERE'S PHONES IN CLASSROOMS, THERE'S PHONES IN THE FRONT OFFICES FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, WHERE THEY STILL ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANYBODY THAT THEY NEED TO.
>> ANOTHER FOUGHT BECAUSE MY WATCH JUST TALKED TO ME JUST NOW.
>> THE TWO THINGS WE'RE EXPECTING TO GO INTO THE POUCH ARE THE CELL PHONES AND THE SMART WATCHES.
THEN, IF THEY HAVE A LAPTOP FOR SOME REASON THAT THEY'RE BRINGING, THAT HAS TO STAY IN THEIR BACKPACK, BUT CLEARLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIT INTO THE POUCH.
THE SMART WATCHES AND THE CELL PHONES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE POUCHES.
>> ALSO, JUST TO BE SAY THING THAT SOMETHING THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR EVERY CAMPUS, EVERY CLASSROOM.
>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY AND THE SECONDARY SECONDARY BEING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THAT IS THE ELEMENTARY DON'T HAVE THE POUCHES.
THEY'RE NOT BEING PROVIDED THE POUCHES.
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH KEEPING THEIR DEVICES IN THEIR BACKPACKS.
FOR THE PRE-K THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE POUCHES.
THAT'S JUST GOING TO START AT THE SIXTH GRADE.
THEN ALSO THE TIME OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY WILL VARY BY ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
>> THE LAW PERTAINS TO STUDENT DEVICES.
I'VE HAD A QUESTION OR TWO FROM STAFF.
THEY'RE NOT ESSENTIALLY BANNED FROM.
>> CORRECT. IT'S APPLICABLE TO STUDENTS.
>> BEING ABLE TO USE THEIR DEVICE IN AN OFF PERIOD OR WHATEVER DURING THE DAY?
>> HOW MUCH MONEY WAS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THESE POUCHES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BUY ACROSS THE STATE?
>> THAT WOULD BE A GRAND TOTAL OF ZERO.
>> I JUST SAID TOO. I WANT TO COMMEND THE TEAM BECAUSE, AS A PART OF THE LAW, IT INDICATED THAT TEA WOULD DEVELOP A MODEL POLICY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE AND MIRROR IF WE CHOSE.
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE READY FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THIS TEAM HAS WORKED WITH OTHER DISTRICTS AND RALLIED TO CREATE ONE THAT FULLY ALIGNS WITH THE STATE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN BE READY TO GO.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION?
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT TO MS. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE IN THIS AREA WITH THE POLICY UPDATES.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS COLLECTIVELY, TRUSTEE BENTLEY, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LOCAL STAFF MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, ARE PUT ONLINE TO GO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE.
WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE STILL PENDING, AND THEY'RE NOT FINALIZED, AND WHEN THEY MAKE CHANGES, YOU HAVE TO PIVOT.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THE GENERAL AUDIENCE COMMUNITY AUDIENCE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.
THE CERCAR TALKS ABOUT IT EACH TIME.
IT COULD BE A YEAR, 12, 14, 16, 18 MONTHS LATER BEFORE YOU GET A CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, INFORMATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
BUT IN BETWEEN A TIME, YOU HAVE TO GO MAKE DECISIONS AND TAKE ACTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS PROCESS, AND MAKES THESE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES SO DIFFICULT, AND BY THE WAY, JESSIE MATHEW, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON HEAD AS WELL.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE STATE MANDATES.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S LOCAL CONTROL BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ADDRESSING MATTERS OF EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS, THANK YOU FOR THINKING THROUGH ALL THE DETAIL, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WHEN AS I WAS A CHILD, YOU JUST CALLED THE SCHOOL IF YOU NEEDED ME, THEN YOU SEE ME WHEN I CAME HOME.
BUT WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD, AND THERE'S A LOT OF AVENUES AND CONCERNS FOR PARENTS.
BUT ALL OUR QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED VERY WELL, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE POLICY, AND WHAT COULD THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE KIDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THINKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND PUTTING AN EFFECTIVE POLICY.
>> I WAS A RATHER LARGE COMMITTEE OF PRINCIPALS AND
[03:00:01]
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE IN THERE THAT WERE A PART OF THAT AND ABLE TO REALLY TEASE OUT THOSE DIFFERENT DETAILS.IT WASN'T JUST THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THAT COMMITTEE THAT WORKED TO COME UP WITH THAT PROCESS.
>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE TAB UPDATES TO LOCAL POLICY AND ADD POLICY AS RECOMMENDED.
>> MOTION BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HILL, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
HERE, NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE, ALL IN FAVOR.
THE MOTION PASSES 7:00, AND THAT WILL TAKE US DOWN TO OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
[VII.H. Discuss and consider adoption of the Coppell ISD 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct]
>> PERFECT. AS YOU KNOW, OUR CODE OF CONDUCT HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD.
YOU WERE PROVIDED WITH THE VERSION OF THAT, AND COOPER HAD AN EXCELLENT IDEA, PUTTING THAT IN THE GOOGLE DOC SO THAT WE COULD PUT THE COMMENTS OUT ONTO THE SIDE.
I WAS LIKE A RED LINE VERSION, SO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE DIFFERENCES, AND SO THAT WAS COOPER'S IDEA AND TAGGED OUT THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS, SO YOU COULD EASILY SEE THROUGHOUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT WHERE THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THERE.
>> I WANTED TO DO A SHOUT-OUT FOR THAT BECAUSE IT MADE IT SUPER EASY TO GO THROUGH.
I WAS LIKE, HEY, COOPER, HEY, ANNE, WHOEVER HAD DIFFERENT COMMENTS DEPENDING.
ANYWAY, TO READ THROUGH A PRETTY DRY DOCUMENT, BUT IT WAS HELPFUL.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WAS A HUGE VALUE ADD.
>> IT WAS WEIRDLY FUN DOING IT WITH COOPER.
I'VE NEVER ENJOYED UPDATING THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE A PARTNER AND THEN FOR HIM TO COME UP WITH THAT IDEA, THAT WOULD JUST MAKE IT SO READER-FRIENDLY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT 30 COMMENTS.
I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER, BUT I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I'M ON COMMENT AND 29.
I GOT. I GOT IT. IT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
>> WILL THE CHANGES BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE VERSION THAT'S PROVIDED TO PARENTS?
>> THERE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
>> A BAD TIME READING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE 2025/2026 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AS RECOMMENDED.
>> RANNA. MOTION BY TRUSTEE HILL, SECOND BY TRUSTEE RAVAL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT MOTION PASSES 7-0.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, AND ALL OF YOU, REALLY, ON THE STACK.
THAT WILL CLOSE OUT OUR ACTION ITEMS FOR TONIGHT, AND WE'LL GO INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS.
[VIII. DISCUSSION AND REPORT ITEMS - BOARD OF TRUSTEES]
I'VE GOT THE FIRST ONE WHICH IS JUST A COMMUNITY UPDATE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, YOU GUYS ARE ALL GETTING THE FRIDAY UPDATE FROM THE JG TEAM.
I'LL GO BACK AND JUST SAY REAL QUICK.
BECAUSE I THINK I SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING.
WE'RE IN THAT PERIOD NOW, AND I WAS PULLING UP THE TIMELINE, WHERE THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN.
THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON OUR END YET THAT'S COMING UP HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
IT CLOSES ON AUGUST 8TH, AND THEN WE'LL START THE CANDIDATE REVIEW PROCESS ON THE 19TH.
JAMES AND HIS TEAM WILL BE BACK WITH US FOR THAT, BUT TO THE POINT OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE HAVE RECEIVED 23 APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES, NOT ONLY ACROSS TEXAS, BUT REPRESENTED BY NEW MEXICO, ARKANSAS, ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, ALABAMA, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, AND WASHINGTON.
WE'RE GETTING NATIONWIDE ATTENTION.
I KNOW, MR. WILLIAMS, YOU AND ANGELA OR MAYBE SOME OTHER STAFF MEMBERS TOO HAVE BEEN AT A FEW CONFERENCES AND YOU-ALL HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY POPULAR FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TOO.
>> IT REALLY IS. I THINK, JAMES, AT OUR LAST MEETING WITH HIM, HIGHLIGHTED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE PREMIER OPENING ACROSS THE STATE AT THE TIME.
I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT WITH THAT [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE.
WE WILL BE BACK ON, I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE NOW, THE 19TH, AND WE'LL START REVIEWING THOSE APPLICANTS, BUT THERE STILL IS A FEW MORE WEEKS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED OR FAMILY MEMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED TO GET THAT APPLICATION IN.
THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY REPORT. TRUSTEE BENTLEY.
>> I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF ON THE LEGISLATIVE REPORT.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, BUT IF YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, THE REGULAR SESSION HAS CLOSED AND THINGS LIKE RULES ABOUT DIGITAL DEVICES ON CAMPUSES CAME OUT OF THE REGULAR SESSION,
[03:05:01]
A TINY BIT OF INCREASE TO THE AVERAGE DAILY ALLOTMENT OR THE BASIC ALLOTMENT WAS GIVEN TO US, BUT NOT MUCH HAPPENED ON THE FUNDING FRONT, BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE ARE IN A SPECIAL SESSION JUST LIKE WE WERE DURING THE LAST BIENNIUM.THAT STARTED LAST WEEK ON THE 21ST AND SPECIAL SESSIONS LAST 30 DAYS.
THERE COULD BE ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION.
WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE GET CLOSER TO THE END OF THIS ONE, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE STILL ON THE DISTRICT'S RADAR.
IF YOU WEREN'T PLUGGED IN IN THE SPRING AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ANY OF US, BUT ONE KEY THING THAT HAS SOME TRACTION, WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES, IS ADVOCACY.
IT'S BEING PAINTED THAT TONS AND TONS OF PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT ON THESE REALLY EXPENSIVE ADVOCATES LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD THINK FOR SOMEBODY DOWN THERE LOBBYING FOR OIL AND GAS, FOR INSTANCE.
THE INTERESTING LOOPHOLE IN THIS IS A LOT OF GROUPS HAVE BEEN EXEMPT.
THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO SHERIFFS ASSOCIATIONS.
THIS MAY NOT APPLY, BUT IT DOES STILL APPLY AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW TO MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IF IT MOVES FORWARD, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TASBY COULD NOT HIRE, THEY COULDN'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT ANYMORE, AND IF THEY DID, WE COULD NO LONGER BE MEMBERS, AND WE GET OTHER BENEFITS LIKE A CONTINUING EDUCATION AT A REALLY REASONABLE PRICE.
BOARD BOOK AND OTHER WAYS TO LEVERAGE PURCHASING THAT, WE, A DISTRICT OUR SIZE, COULDN'T DO.
I SUSPECT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU AND COOPER WILL BE SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT TOMORROW, BUT THAT IS ONE REALLY CONCERNING PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT, NOT JUST ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT ALSO, ON OUR COMMUNITY.
A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING THINGS, OUR BONDS INVADERS, THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING AT CHANGING THE RULES ON THIS.
THE ORIGINAL DRAFTS DURING THE ORIGINAL SESSION WERE THINGS LIKE YOU COULDN'T BRING ONE BACK FOR OVER A YEAR IF IT DIDN'T PASS.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO TEASE THEM APART EVEN MORE DIFFERENTLY THAT WE WOULD BE EVEN MORE RESTRICTED ON WHEN THOSE ELECTIONS COULD BE.
AGAIN, TO TRUSTEE HILL'S POINT, REALLY CHIPPING AWAY NOT JUST AT LOCAL CONTROL, BUT AT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVING A SAY IN WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO THINGS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU GO TO THE POLLS TO VOTE ON BIDDERS AND VOTE ON BONDS AND VOTE ON SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES.
IT'S REALLY TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S VOICE IN MY OPINION.
THEN ONE HAPPY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WE'LL SEE IF IT GOES ANYWHERE OR NOT, BUT OUR REPRESENTATIVE, CASSANDRA GARCIA HERNANDEZ HAS ACTUALLY PUT FORTH A BILL THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW AI TO GRADE STAR ESSAYS, WHICH I THINK IS A BRILLIANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
ANYWAY, THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPENING, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU CHECKED OUT BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS DONE, NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND. IT IS NOT DONE.
IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ONE OF US BECAUSE WE STILL REALLY DO NEED OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
PART OF WHAT HAPPENS DURING THESE SPECIAL SESSIONS IS WE'RE ALL TIRED AND PEOPLE ARE BUSY AND ON VACATION IN THE SUMMER, AND IT'S REALLY EASY FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO SLIP IN AND GET TAGGED ON TO THINGS.
WE DID A GREAT JOB ADVOCATING THIS REGULAR SESSION, SO PLEASE DON'T WAVER IN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT.
>> ON TUESDAY, JULY 1ST, AT THE COPPELL CHAMBER OFFICE, THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS MET FOR THE CHAMBER.
MR. WILLIAMS SPOKE GLOWINGLY AT THAT EVENT AND GAVE KEY UPDATES FOR COPPELL ISD, TALKED ABOUT BUDGET, ENROLLMENT, RECOGNITION, AND SEARCH PROCESS TIMELINE WITH JG CONSULTANT PLUS MORE.
I THINK THAT WAS HELPFUL TO THEM TO HEAR HIM, TO SEE HIM FACE TO FACE.
THE KEY DISCUSSIONS INCLUDED OTHER ITEMS AS THE NEW TEACHER EMPLOYEE BREAKFAST THIS THURSDAY, JULY 31ST, SO WE'LL BE THERE FOR THAT AND ENJOY THAT.
THEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE STUDENT TEACHER OF THE MONTH PRESENTATIONS WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, STARTING SEPTEMBER 3RD, AT CHS.
IT WILL BE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, NEW TECH WILL HAVE TWO, CHS NINE AS WELL, AND THEN VICTORY PLACE WILL HAVE ONE OF THOSE.
THEN THE STATE OF EDUCATION BREAKFAST IS 2BD, BUT LOOKING ABOUT THE FIRST QUARTER OF '26 IS BASICALLY, I THINK, WHAT I'VE HEARD OUT OF THAT, AND GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.
THE OTHER THING, JUNIOR BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE OFFERED THIS YEAR WITH APPLICATIONS OPENING.
THEY SHOULD HAVE OPENED ALREADY BY NOW.
THEN ROBYN AGUINAGA, WHO IS THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, IS WORKING ON REVISED THE ROLE OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE FALL OF '26.
'25 WILL BE GOOD, BUT '26 MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO LIE MORE WITH THE MISSION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THEN LAST WEEK THE TASBY RISK MANAGEMENT FUND BOARD MEETING,
[03:10:05]
WE MEET QUARTERLY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.WE WERE DOWN IN THE CEDAR CREEK AREA AND MEETING THERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE GOALS AND PREFERRED APPROACH OF A BIENNIAL BOARD SELF ASSESSMENT.
THAT WAS THE LAST THING THAT WE DID.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S THE LAST ITEM.
THE SECOND TOPIC AREA WAS THE STEWARDSHIP REPORT.
THAT IS, BASICALLY, OUR SCORE CARD ON HOW WELL THE RISK MANAGEMENT FUND DOES.
IT COMES OUT IN NOVEMBER EACH YEAR.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MODIFYING THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN, AND SO THAT'S FRONT AND FOREMOST IN MY MIND.
THAT WAS CONCLUDED FOR THE '25 THROUGH '28 YEARS.
THEN OUR CLAIMS COMMITTEE WHICH I SERVE ON AS THE VICE CHAIR OF IT, WE TALKED ABOUT SIGNIFICANT AND NOTABLE CLAIMS. WE TALK ABOUT WEATHER, A LOT OF WEATHER.
IT HAPPENED BOTH IN MARCH, AS WELL AS JULY, AS YOU KNOW, AND ALL THOSE THINGS WITH THE FLOODING, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND EVEN LOSS OF LIFE.
WE TALKED ABOUT HERE, AROUND THE DAIS, THOSE THINGS WITH THE BOARD, THE UPDATES FOR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, AS WELL AS THE UPDATES FROM TASBY, AND THE POLICY UPDATES.
WE TALKED ABOUT WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS, MAINTENANCE, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT SLIPS AND FALLS ARE PROMINENT THINGS THAT OCCUR, AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT.
WE DID RECEIVE A REPORT ON THE SPRING STORM SEASON VOLUME THROUGH THE 30TH OF JUNE.
OUT OF THE 48 OCCURRENCES, 53% WERE WEATHER-RELATED CLAIMS WERE DUE TO WIND AND IN '28, 31% OF THE WEATHER-RELATED CLAIMS WERE DUE TO HAIL.
HAIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BANE OF OUR EXISTENCE AS I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHICH AFFECTS THINGS THAT MS. SARKAR KNOWS NEAR DEAR TO HERE HEART, AS WELL AS MR. GRANT OVER THERE AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO HAIL AND RUTH.
THE OTHER THING THAT CAME UP, OUT OF THE 133 PROPERTY LOSSES REPORTED IN 2025,90 WERE WEATHER-RELATED, SO WEATHER ONCE AGAIN IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
THE CLAIMS COMMITTEE HEARD AN UPDATE FROM MITCHELL INLET.
IT'S THE FUNDS WORKERS COMPENSATION BILL PROCESSING VENDOR SINCE 2021.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED INCREASED OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, PROVIDED ENHANCED TECHNICAL CAPABILITY AND DELIVERY OF CONSISTENT COST SAVINGS.
WE APPROVED THEM FOR A FOUR YEAR-CONTRACT EXTENSION.
THE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON JANUARY 2026, AND THEN WE ADDED A SHORT-TERM AUTO BUILD AND DEMAND PACKAGE REVIEW SERVICES COMPONENT AS WELL BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THAT SERVICES ALSO.
WE DID DISCUSS LARGE CLAIMS REPORTS, WHICH HAVE RESERVES GREATER THAN 500,000.
THERE WERE 107 OPEN CLAIMS WITH TOTAL RESERVES OF $238.4 MILLION.
BREAK DOWN, 45 WERE PROPERTY CLAIMS, WHICH 153.9 MILLION RESERVES, AND THEN WE HAVE WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS, 26 ADULTS FOR 42.2 MILLION RESERVES, AND THEN 30 WERE ASO CLAIMS FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR 44.3.
IN A REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON A FRIDAY, WE DID APPROVE THE 2025/'26 TASBY ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IN RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES WORK PLAN.
WE ALSO APPROVED THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE APRIL MEETING, AND THEN WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING IN JUNE DUE TO A 89TH LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT TO INSULATE THE FUND FROM THAT.
AS WELL AS WE APPROVED THE 2024/'25 INTERNAL AUDIT, A REPORT IN APPROVAL OF THE 2025/'26 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN.
PROTIVITI PROVIDES THAT SERVICE TO US FOR THE FUND AND LOOKING AT THE INTERNAL SIDE.
WE APPROVED THE HARTFORD STEAM BOILER EQUIPMENT TAKE DOWN, WE [INAUDIBLE] BOILER INSPECTION SERVICE VENDORS.
WE APPROVED A CONTRACT SENT FOR THE BILL REVIEW SERVICE AND EXPANSION OF SERVICES WITH ALL THE CLAIMS FROM THE FULL BOARD.
THEN WE APPROVED SPONSORING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TASK EVENTS SUCH AS THE DELICATE ASSEMBLY AND GRASSROOTS MEETINGS.
ALSO, WE APPROVED PUBLIC SCHOOL WORKS, ONLINE TRAINING VENDOR FOR FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENTS.
FOR STAFF MEMBERS WHO NEED ONLINE TRAINING IN SPECIFIC AREAS, THEY WILL USE THAT AS A WAY TO GET THEIR ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
THEN WE APPROVED THE 2025/'26 EXCELLENCE AWARDS BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HILL, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TRUSTEE RAVAL.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF PARTICIPATING IN THE LEADERSHIP TASBY 2025 PROGRAM, A YEAR LONG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO DEEPEN TRUSTEES UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN TEXAS AND STRENGTHEN OUR GOVERNANCE SKILLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RECENT AND THE LAST SESSION.
[03:15:07]
DAY 1 WAS ALL ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCE AND THE EVOLVING SUPERINTENDENCY IN TEXAS.I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WITH MY TEAM, WHICH WAS CALLED TEAM BRAVO, ON THE BASICS OF SCHOOL FINANCE, DIVING INTO THE CRITICAL FINANCIAL FACTORS THAT SHAPE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETS AND PRIORITIES.
WE ALSO ATTENDED A POWERFUL MASTER CLASS TITLED THE EVOLUTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY IN TEXAS, LED BY VETERAN EDUCATOR MIKE KING.
HE OFFERED VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO HOW THE ROLE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT CONTINUES TO SHIFT.
WE WRAPPED UP THE DAY WITH GRADUATION PREPARATION AND THE LEADERSHIP TASBY ALUMNI RECEPTION, CONNECTING WITH COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
ON DAY 2, WE JOINED THE TEXAS TRUSTEE INSTITUTE TO CONNECT WITH NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS FROM ACROSS TEXAS.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR VERY OWN NEW TRUSTEE, MR. POWERS, TAKING PART.
THE DAY INCLUDED ENGAGING RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS ON SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND A SHARED LUNCH TO WELCOME AND SUPPORT INCOMING TRUSTEES.
TEA LED MASTER CLASS BY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER STEVE LESHLOP [PHONETIC] AND DIRECTOR KARIN FRENCH [PHONETIC] EXPLORED BOARD GOVERNANCE IN TEXAS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRUSTEES AND THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
THE FINAL DAY, OUR COHORT GATHERED FOR A FINAL DEBRIEF SESSION, REFLECTING ON KEY TAKEAWAYS AND HOW WE WILL CARRY THESE LESSONS BACK TO OUR OWN DISTRICTS.
WE WRAPPED UP WITH THE FINAL CLASS PICTURE AND A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE JOURNEY AS IT CAME TO A CLOSE.
I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT COPPELL ISD IN THIS EXCEPTIONAL STATEWIDE PROGRAM.
THE INSIGHTS AND CONNECTIONS I HAVE GAINED WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME IN SERVING OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY WITH THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD AND TO OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, DR. BRAD HUNT FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY.
>> THANK YOU AND VERY BIG CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT IS A HUGE TIME COMMITMENT AND A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.
WITH THAT, THAT WILL END OUR BOARD REPORTS FOR TONIGHT.
WE WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR ONE ITEM WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
[IX. CLOSED SESSION (Texas Government Code, Section 551.074 - Personnel)]
PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL.TIME IS 9:51, AND I'LL CALL US BACK INTO OPEN SESSION OUT OF OUR EXECUTIVE.
NO ACTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE FROM THAT DISCUSSION, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN ONE FINAL MOTION FOR THE NIGHT.
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY TRUSTEE BENTLEY, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HILL.
ANY DISCUSSION HERE? NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR. THAT MOTION PASSES 7-0.
THANK YOU. WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 9:51.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.