[00:00:05]
>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS 7:00 AM.
[I. Call to Order]
A QUORUM IS PRESENT, AND THE MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED AND POSTED IN THE TIME AND MANNER REQUIRED BY LAW.I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PAUL CARPENTER, THE HEAD PASTOR AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO OPEN OUR MEETING WITH PRAYER AND LEAD THE AUDITS AND THE PLEDGES TO THE AMERICAN FLAG IN TEXAS. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. GOOD MORNING, FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR BLESSING US WITH A NEW DAY.
WE ALSO THANK YOU THAT YOUR FOUNDATION OF YOUR THRONE IS TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUSTICE.
LORD, IT'S AN HONOR TO PRAY IN THIS ROOM TO SEEK YOUR BLESSING FOR THESE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE AFTER OUR RIGHTEOUS CAUSE, THE DEVELOPMENT AND EQUALITY FOR ALL OUR KIDS.
FIRST, LORD, WE PRAY FOR SUCCESS THAT YOU WOULD MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRULY CALLED TO THE CRAFT OF TEACHING, THAT THEY WOULD BE MOST ENCOURAGED BY YOU, WHEN LIFE CAN BE AWFULLY DISCOURAGING WITH DECISIONS MADE OUTSIDE OUR CITY.
DEAR FATHER, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM TO BE BLESSED IN THIS ROOM, SO THAT THIS TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO DISCERN YOUR WILL AND TO SERVE THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES IN OUR CITY.
FINALLY, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR PROTECTION AND PROPER FUNDING.
LORD, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN OUR STATE, AND WE PRAY UNDER YOUR WILL, TRUSTING YOUR SOVEREIGNTY THAT YOU WOULD LOOK OUT FOR THESE SCHOOLS, LOOK OUT FOR THIS EFFORT, LOOK OUT FOR THIS MINISTRY, WHICH INCLUDES ALL THE KIDS WHO WANT TO BE INCLUDED.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TEACHERS PRESENT HERE TODAY.
WE ASK, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A SPECIAL SURGE OF YOUR STRENGTH, AND FOR ALL THE STUDENTS, WITH ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE PRAY THEY WOULD KNOW HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE TO YOU.
WE LOVE YOU LORD, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOU LOVED US FIRST.
WE PRAY THIS IN THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OPENING OUR MEETING IN SUCH A WONDERFUL WAY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.
WE WILL MOVE INTO THE RECOGNITION PORTION,
[II. Recognition]
AND WE'VE GOT A FUN ONE TODAY.EVERYBODY GET READY. WE MAY HAVE TO SWITCH THE ROOM THROUGHOUT THE MORNING A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RECOGNITION OF TEA EDUCATOR ITEM REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND I WILL INVITE KIM ALISON, WHO'S ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING TO INTRODUCE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT BRIDGES AND BOARD MEMBERS.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING TO HONOR TEACHERS, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE OUR EDUCATORS WHO HAVE WHO WORKED THIS SUMMER IN SOME REVIEW COMMITTEE WITH TEA REVIEW COMMITTEES, EXCUSE ME.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT RELIES ON THE EXPERTISE OF OUR EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
TEA INVITES THOSE EDUCATORS TO GRADE LEVEL AND CONTENT SPECIFIC COMMITTEE MEETINGS EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE ASSESSMENTS, LIKE THE STAR.
DURING THESE MEETINGS, THEY ARE ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND REVIEW AND APPROVE POTENTIAL ITEMS AND PASSAGES FOR THE STATE ASSESSMENT.
DURING RANGE FINDING MEETINGS, THEY REVIEWED STUDENT RESPONSES USING A RUBRIC.
PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE ASSESSMENTS, AND IT ONLY HELPS OUR DISTRICT WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS.
WE WANT TO THANK THEM, OF COURSE, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
HUNDREDS OF EDUCATORS PARTICIPATED IN THESE COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING FROM OUR DISTRICT.
LINDSAY FITZHUGH FROM TALKINGTON, FOR ENGLISH 1.
[APPLAUSE] OPHELIA SUAREZ FOR MCCARTER ELEMENTARY WITH GRADE 4.
[APPLAUSE] MARIA LAURA FROM MCCOLL ACADEMY FOR READING GRADE 6.
[APPLAUSE] DONNA HAMBLIN FROM TING FOR READING GRADE 7.
[APPLAUSE] KIMBERLY FOSTER FROM TALKINGTON,
[00:05:03]
FOR READING GRADE 8.[APPLAUSE] STACY STEVENSON FROM MONEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR ENGLISH 2.
ONCE AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR SERVICE.
>> HERE GOES. READY, 1, 2, AND 3. LOOKS GOOD.
>> I WILL INVITE MIKE MEEKS, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS TO BEGIN OUR RECOGNITION OF CROSS COUNTRY STATE QUALIFIERS. COACH MEEKS.
>> PRESIDENT BRIDGES, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR. ROLO, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR ATHLETES THAT COMPETED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE HAVE A FEW OF THOSE ATHLETES TODAY, BUT THE MAJORITY TODAY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A TON OF KIDS ROLL THROUGH HERE THAN EVER THAT THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR STATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'LL START WITH OUR STATE CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITORS THIS YEAR.
THEY COMPETED AT ROUND ROCK TEXAS AT THE STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NOVEMBER, AND WE'LL GO FROM CORONADO, STATE QUALIFIER, AND CROSS COUNTRY ZANASHIA HARRIS.
[APPLAUSE] FROM LUBBOCK HIGH SCHOOL, STATE QUALIFIER CROSS COUNTRY ARTURO RODRIGUEZ.
[APPLAUSE] FOR MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL, STATE QUALIFIER SIDNEY SAMOTHAS.
[APPLAUSE] ZEE IS COACHED BY AB WITHROW, ARTURO IS COACHED BY MICHAEL SPARKS AND SYDNEY'S COACHED BY CHRISTA JONES.
I THINK WE WANT TO TAKE ONE CROSS COUNTRY PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY.
THEN WE'LL DO INDIVIDUAL PICTURES WITH THEIR COACHES.
AMY AND ZEE. ONE MORE PICTURE, ZEE. [LAUGHTER].
[00:10:03]
[BACKGROUND] HERE WE GO.THESE ARE MIXED WITH TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION AND THE TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AWARDS.
THERE'S VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL KIDS AT THE END, THEN WE'LL BRING ALL THE VOLLEYBALL KIDS UP AND THEN FOOTBALL KIDS UP FOR THEIR PICTURES AT THE END.
LET'S START WITH ALL FROM CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL, VOLLEYBALL, TGCA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.
[APPLAUSE] SHE WAS ALSO THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM.
CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL, IVAN AYALA.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL, THSC ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, SECOND TEAM, JAYLEE GUTIERREZ.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION, ZAKIRA JAMES.
[APPLAUSE] HE WAS THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM AND TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.
[APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM, DOMINIC PARIS.
[APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM, ABRAHAM REGHLIN. GO ABRAHAM.
[APPLAUSE] ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTIONED, THSCA, JOSE RODRIGUEZ, [APPLAUSE] NO JOSE.
ANIJHA TAYLOR. [APPLAUSE] SHE WAS TGCA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, AND THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
MAYA TREVIN, [APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
ISAIAH VASQUEZ, [APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
MAJOR VERA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE THSCA SECOND TEAM.
VOLLEYBALL PICTURE, HERE WE GO.
VOLLEYBALL COACH IS CANDY STEVENS, AND OUR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IN CORONADO IS ANDREW ROY.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] GOOD JOB, GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] FROM ESTACADO HIGH SCHOOL, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE IN VOLLEYBALL, JASMINE ANDERSON.
[00:15:01]
[APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, OMARI ATKINS, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM, AND ASHONDRA JOHNSON, [APPLAUSE] THSCA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION AND ASHONDRA GOES TO SCHOOL AT TALKINGTON SCHOOL OF YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS.[LAUGHTER] VOLLEYBALL COACH IS GLORIA MAESTAS FROM ESTACADO HIGH SCHOOL.
>> NEXT FROM ESTACADA HIGH SCHOOL IN FOOTBALL, XAVIER LUCIO.
[APPLAUSE] ACADEMIC ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM.
VOLLEYBALL PICTURE. [INAUDIBLE]. THERE SHE IS.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SHIFT CHANGE.
PARENTS WHO ARE NOT ON THIS [INAUDIBLE], WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO AND BRING IN LUBBOCK HIGH AND MONTEREY PARENTS [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE GOING TO RESET THE PARENTS.
[BACKGROUND] WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ACADEMIC ALL-STATE RECOGNITION, AND ALSO, BE ON THE LOOKOUT.
THERE'S ONE ALL-STATE COMPETITOR HERE.
HERE WE GO FROM LUBBOCK HIGH SCHOOL: IN VOLLEYBALL, EMMA BOLIN.
[APPLAUSE] EMMA WAS TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.
FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION. FAITH FORD.
[APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
[00:20:04]
BRYSON GARZA.[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
CAROLINA WAS TGCA, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, AND SHE WAS TGCA ALL-STATE. CHARLES HOGAN.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
REESE PENA. [APPLAUSE] TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
[APPLAUSE] JOSEPH ROSENDO III.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
VOLLEYBALL TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.
[INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION. DEREK TORREZ.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION. WILLIAM TOWNLEY.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
VOLLEYBALL COACH AT LUBBOCK HIGH IS MATTHEW LEESMAN AND OUR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IS JUAN RODRIGUEZ.
>> OH, YOU'RE STILL GOING. IS YOU TAKING THIS PICTURE?
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE]
COACH, YOU CAN COME UP TO THE FRONT.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
[00:25:49]
>> FROM MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE RECOGNITION: WELTON ANSLEY, THSCA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
DON'T THINK WELTON IS HERE. LUKE ARRINGTON.
[APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM. AVERI BOHN.
[APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
VOLLEYBALL TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AND VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] CROSS COUNTRY THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM.
JAYLA HILLIARD. [APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
[APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AND THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] CROSS COUNTRY TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, CROSS COUNTRY THSCA, ACADEMIC ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM, AND TGCA ALL-STATE.
[APPLAUSE] TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION, AND ALSO IN CROSS COUNTRY TGCA ALL-STATE.
SYDNEY SMOTHERS. [APPLAUSE] TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE, THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM, TGCA ALL-STATE, ALL IN CROSS COUNTRY.
[APPLAUSE] THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION. TIFFANY WALLACE.
[APPLAUSE] CROSS COUNTRY THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
[APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL TGCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AND VOLLEYBALL THSCA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION.
OUR COACHES AT MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL, VOLLEYBALL COACH KELLY LOZADA, FOOTBALL COACH JUDD THRASH, AND CROSS COUNTRY COACH CHRISTA JONES.
VOLLEYBALL PICTURE. [APPLAUSE] VOLLEYBALL.
[00:30:26]
[APPLAUSE] FOOTBALL.>> THAT'S LIKE A THING THAT YOU CAN. [BACKGROUND].
>> THANK YOU, COACH MEEKS, FOR ALL THOSE GREAT RECOGNITIONS.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE ALL ATHLETES WHO DO SO WELL ON THE FIELD, ON THE TRACK, IN THE COUNTRY, AND IN THE CLASSROOM, [LAUGHTER] WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM.
I'LL OPEN THE FLOW NOW FOR TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
[III. Trustee Comments]
>> I'LL GO FIRST AGAIN. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK PASTOR CARPENTER FOR HIS PRAYER.
TWO WORDS STUCK OUT SUCCESS AND WISDOM THAT HE PRAYED FOR, I THINK.
WE NEED A LOT OF BOTH IN THESE TIMES RIGHT NOW.
I THINK HIS PRAYER WAS VERY FITTING FOR WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE TEACHERS.
SOME OF THOSE AREAS ARE CRITICAL AREAS, AS WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE, SO TO SEE PEOPLE EXCELLING IN THOSE AREAS AND RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR IT IS GREAT.
THESE ATHLETES TO BALANCE A ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC LIFE, I THINK AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY'RE DOING IS EXCEPTIONAL.
THEY'RE LEARNING LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY'RE LEARNING RIGHT NOW.
THEN FINALLY, THANKS TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAVE PUT ALL THE HOURS OF WORK INTO THIS BOND CONSIDERATION.
IT'S BEEN A LOT, CONTINUES TO BE A LOT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE IN HERE RIGHT NOW OR ANYONE WHO CAME THROUGH HERE THAT THAT DOES NOT AFFECT.
WE HEARD SOME WISE WORDS FROM DR. RAY PERRYMAN YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW CRITICAL IT IS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TO STAY HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL TO FEED OUR WORKFORCE, AND WE'VE GOT LARGE SHOES TO FILL.
I THINK THESE ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO IT.
I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT COMMUNITY TO DO IT, SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. THANKS.
>> I'LL START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS THAT VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME.
WE'RE IN A CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WHERE AT LEAST AT THE STATE LEVEL, TEACHERS ARE HIGHLY UNDERAPPRECIATED.
WE AS WE'RE ASKING THESE TEACHERS STEPPED UP AND DID MORE THAN THEY WERE ASKED TO DO EVEN IN THESE TIMES, AND THAT'S ADMIRABLE.
I GUESS A SHOUT OUT TO STACY STEVENSON, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW HER JUMP UP AND ALL ZEST [LAUGHTER] IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT RAY OF JOY EARLY IN THE MORNING.
TO ALL THE STUDENTS THAT WE'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THIS MORNING, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.
WE HAVEN'T HAD RECOGNITIONS IN A FEW MEETINGS, AND SO DEFINITELY A JOY FOR US TO GET TO DO THAT AND TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT AS THEY'RE COMING UP, THIS PERSON IS GOING TO GO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL AT THIS COLLEGE,
[00:35:03]
AND, THIS ONE'S GOING TO PLAY AT THIS LEVEL, AND MAKES SENSE.ACADEMIC ALL STATE, YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL.
KUDOS TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND THEIR COACHES.
I THINK THE COACHES HAD JUST AS MUCH JOY ON THEIR FACE.
YOU SEE COACH ROD UP HERE HUGGING EVERY SCOOT UP HERE, TELLING A HE LOVES THEM, AND IT'S JUST ENCOURAGING.
WHAT A JOY TO GET TO HONOR THEM TODAY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
IT IS WITH MUCH APPRECIATION TO SEE ALL OF THE STUDENTS, SEE THE FACULTY, AND REALIZE THAT THEY'VE DONE A LOT, AND IT'S GOOD TO BE RECOGNIZED.
I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE TEA, I'M STILL LEARNING BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE, AND IT'S TO AND WE CAN DO IT.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. COMMENTS. DR. ROLLO, ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID, I'M SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR TEACHERS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME IN THE SUMMER TO REVIEW THE ASSESSMENTS THAT THE STATE IS GIVING, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT.
BUT THESE EDUCATORS HAVE ABSOLUTELY STEPPED UP.
THESE STUDENT ATHLETES JUST IS A TESTAMENT TO THE AMAZING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.
>> AS AND GO UNNOTICED, BELIEVE US. THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CITIZEN COMMENTS.
HOWEVER, NO CITIZENS SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE TO SPEAK, SO WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE WORKSHOP,
[V.A. Future Focus Presentation]
WHICH IS OUR FUTURE FOCUS PRESENTATION, DR. ROLLO.>> WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS FOR JUST A MINUTE AND BRING UP THE PRESENTATION.
WHILE WE'RE SETTING UP, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST SAY, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO SERVED ON OUR FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM HERE TODAY.
IF YOU WERE PART OF THE FUTURE FOCUS WORK, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND WOULD YOU JOIN ME AND THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THESE FOLKS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS IN MEETINGS IN THE FALL AND INTO THE SPRING AND HAVE DONE IMMENSE WORK, AND WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR WORKSHOP PORTION.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAD A COMMITTEE PROCESS.
WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING DATA, HAD VERY RICH DISCUSSIONS, AND THEN THEY GAVE US FEEDBACK OVER EIGHT FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WE ALSO IN BETWEEN THOSE MEETINGS, HAD COMMUNITY AND STAFF MEETINGS AT THE CAMPUSES WHO COULD POTENTIALLY BE AFFECTED BY THE WORK.
WE HAD LISTENING SESSIONS, WE'VE CONDUCTED SURVEYS AND MULTIPLE MEETINGS OVER THE TIME THAT WE WORKED ON THIS.
THEN MORE RECENTLY, WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME JUST REFINING AND PRIORITIZING THE WORK, BALANCING THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR DISTRICT, ALONG WITH OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M GOING TO ASK MELON HENRY WHO SERVED ON THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
SHE'S GOING TO GO OVER THE COMMITTEE VOTING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MELON HENRY, AND IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SERVE ON THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO SAY VERY QUICKLY IS THIS NUMBER OF TOTAL APPROVED PROJECTS, 178.3 MILLION, THAT IS A RESULT OF THE SUPERMAJORITY AT OUR TABLE.
IF THERE WERE EIGHT OUT OF 10, THEN THAT'S HOW THESE PROJECTS GOT PUT IN THE NUMBER CAME TO 178.
THAT WILL BE REFERENCED LATER IN DR. ROLLO'S PRESENTATION.
ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY ALSO REALLY QUICKLY IS TO ARRIVE AT THESE DECISIONS.
THE DISTRICT DID A GREAT JOB OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MEETINGS OF PUTTING EXPERTS IN THE ROOM FOR ALL OF US TO LEARN FROM, TO ASK QUESTIONS FROM.
WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE GOOD EDUCATED DECISIONS WHEN COMING TO A VOTE.
THE FIRST ONE, SAFETY AND SECURITY, 17 MILLION.
THE THINGS THAT WERE APPROVED FOR SECURITY FILM, DOOR REPLACEMENTS, ALSO FIRE ALARM, SECURITY CAMERAS, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE VOTE FELL IN THAT.
THEN YOU'LL SEE THE NOT YET ABOUT 33 MILLION FOR INTERIOR DOORS, DROP OFF LANES, SECURITY VESTIBULES.
ONE THING IS THERE ARE ALREADY SECURITY VESTIBULES.
THIS WAS JUST ADDITIONAL OR ADDING THINGS TO THOSE VESTIBULES.
[00:40:03]
ON EFFICIENCY PROJECTS.I BELIEVE THIS IS 52.3 MILLION.
THE MAIN THING WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF WOLFFARTH AND MCWHORTER.
WE DID GET TO TOUR THAT SITE, SO IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO SEE THE MCWHORTER SITE AND HOW BIG IT IS AND HOW OLD IT IS, WHICH HELPED IN THAT VOTE.
ALSO THE UPDATING OF THE RUSH ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA, AND THEN A SCIENCE LAB EDITION AT ATKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE NOT YET, AND I THINK DR. ROLLO WILL ALSO MENTION THIS IS THE VOTE WAS SPLIT WHEN WE LOOKED DOWN AT THE WILLIAM-STEWART COMBINATION.
WE HAD THE CHOICE BETWEEN A REPLACEMENT OF WILLIAM-STEWART OR A RENOVATION OF WILLIAM-STEWART.
YOU CAN SEE EIGHT OUT OF 10 TABLES WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT CAMPUS. IT WAS JUST SPLIT.
NEXT IS ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, AND THIS WAS A VERY HARD ONE FOR ALL THE TABLES.
BUT THE TWO THINGS THAT HAD THE SUPERMAJORITY WERE REPLACING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUMS, AND THAT WAS PARTLY TOO BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FINE ARTS THAT USE IT, BUT SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, PARENTS, COMMUNITY.
THOSE GET A LOT OF USE AND THEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE LABS BEING RENOVATED.
LAST, THE CAPITAL RENEWAL PROJECTS.
AT OUR TABLE, SOME OF THIS, SOMETIMES IT'S CALLED UGLY MONEY.
THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE [LAUGHTER] AND ARE ALWAYS PRETTY, BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE 10/10 DEFINITELY NEED TO BE DONE, HVAC, PLUMBING, ELECTRIC, SOME RESTROOM RENOVATIONS, AND THEN A FEW HIGH PRIORITY KITCHEN RENOVATIONS.
>> I'M LEONARD WILLIAMS, GLAD TO BE HERE THIS MORNING WITH YOU GUYS.
AFTER THAT MEETING WHERE WE MADE THE PROPOSAL, WE GOT TO DO A SWOT ANALYSIS WITH ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD.
TOGETHER AS A GROUP, I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK SUMMARY FOR HOW THAT WENT.
THERE WAS NO TAX INCREASE WHILE FUNDING CRITICAL NEEDS.
STUDENTS CENTERED IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING SAFETY, STEM, FINE ARTS, AND DUAL LANGUAGE EXPANSION, AND EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS ACROSS LUBBOCK ISD.
NEW SCHOOLS ATTRACT ENROLLMENT AND DRIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I BELIEVE ON OURS, THERE WAS JUST ONE NEW SCHOOL, BUT THE GROUP REALLY FELT AS IF THE NEW SCHOOLS ARE JUST A BIG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY IN A WAY TO ATTRACT ENROLLMENT TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEN THE LAST ONE BEING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING SCIENCE LABS AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS.
WEAKNESSES FOR THOSE FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS, INCLUDING THE INABILITY TO FUND ALL THREE OF THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT WERE OPTIONS FOR US.
THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICT IS SHRINKING, IMPACTING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
THE COMMUNITY PERCEPTION CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY AROUND FUTURE FOCUS AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE DEALT WITH THAT, INCLUDING CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION, AND THEN GAPS AND IMPROVEMENT AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM UPGRADES.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS SWOT ANALYSIS, BIG OPPORTUNITY WITH STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY TRUST THROUGH MESSAGING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ENHANCING STUDENT EXPERIENCES IN STEM, FINE ARTS, AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, ECONOMIC GROWTH POTENTIAL WITH NEW BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL, AND THE LABOR FORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN A BIG OPPORTUNITY IN BOOSTING ENROLLMENT, AND TEACHER RECRUITMENT THROUGH MODERNIZED CAMPUSES.
THE THREATS. RISING COSTS, JUST LIKE MANY OF US ARE DEALING WITH, DUE TO INFLATION, MATERIAL EXPENSES, AND INTEREST RATES, PUBLIC PERCEPTION CHALLENGES OF A BOND, INCLUDING MISINFORMATION AND SKEPTICISM ABOUT PREVIOUS BONDS.
THE COMMUNITY DIVIDE OVER SCHOOL CLOSURES AND IMPACT ON CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN LAST LIMITED TIME FOR MESSAGING AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT BEFORE DECISIONS MUST BE MADE.
THAT IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE SWOT ANALYSIS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE.
>> HELLO TO ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
[00:45:01]
AND I'M A JUNIOR AT TALKINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
GETTING TO BE AN ACTIVE VOICE IN MY COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR.
THE WORK DONE WITHIN THE COMMITTEE IS THAT OF DISCIPLINE, UNDERSTANDING, AND PERSPECTIVE.
THESE THREE QUALITIES WERE ESSENTIAL AND OFTEN CHALLENGING BUT NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS HELD DURING OUR MEETINGS.
THIS COMMITTEE ALLOWED ME TO MEET MANY NEW PEOPLE AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO THEIR VIEWS AND WAYS OF LIFE.
BY EXPLORING VARIOUS MINDSETS, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE BROADER PICTURE AND THE COMMON GOAL WE ALL SHARED TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AND MEMBERS OF ALPA ISD IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
THIS GOAL SERVED AS A UNIFYING FACTOR AMONG OUR VERY DIVERSE GROUP, ALWAYS AIMED AT THE BETTERMENT OF THE DISTRICT.
ALTHOUGH THE EFFORT PUT INTO THIS COMMITTEE WAS CONSIDERABLE, THE TRUE AWARD WAS KNOWING THAT I WAS PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN MYSELF.
THE IMPACT OF THESE DECISIONS I HELPED TO MAKE WILL EXTEND FAR BEYOND MY PEERS AND MYSELF.
IT WILL INFLUENCE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, DR. ROLLO AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS CESSA ARCIA, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE ON SERVING ON THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
AS A STUDENT, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOLS PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE OF LUBBOCK ISD.
THROUGHOUT MY TIME ON THE COMMITTEE, I'VE GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING OUR DISTRICT.
OUR DISCUSSIONS COVERED CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS DECLINING ENROLLMENTS, AGING FACILITIES, AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH MAINTAINING A THRIVING SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL ASPECTS OF MY EXPERIENCE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE.
THIS DECISIONS MADE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL DIRECTLY AFFECT STUDENTS, AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO BRING MY VOICE AND VOICES OF MY PEERS INTO THESE SUPPORTIVE CONVERSATIONS.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT STUDENTS FEEL HEARD AND I COMMEND THE BOARD FOR PRIORITIZING STUDENT REPRESENTATION IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
I ALSO WITNESSED THE POWER OF COLLABORATION.
SEEING EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION WAS INSPIRING.
THE WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS AND DECIDE ON DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT THE END CHANGE IS NEVER EASY.
BEYOND THE COMMITTEE'S WORK, ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS HAS BEEN THE CONNECTIONS I HAVE MADE WITH ITS MEMBERS.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS.
I ALSO BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
THESE CONNECTIONS HAVE GIVEN ME A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND I WILL CARRY THESE LESSONS WITH ME BEYOND MY TIME ON THE COMMITTEE.
SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
IT HAS STRENGTHEN MY UNDERSTANDING OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND REINFORCED MY PASSION FOR ADVOCACY.
I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO LUBBOCK ISD, A PLACE WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN SUCCEED.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> MY NAME IS ALBERT ARCHIE, AND I AM A FRESHMAN AT TALKINGTON.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR. KATHY ROLLO FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME SPEAK.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS OF THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE WHO ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES.
THROUGH THESE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, WORKING WITH THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE, I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY.
AS A STUDENT, IT'S EASY TO GET INTO THE MINDSET THAT DISTRICT DECISIONS ARE MADE BY ADULTS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
BUT NOW I SEE THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THIS DISTRICT WORKS HARDER THAN ANYONE TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND STUDENT PROGRAMMING IS AT ITS TOP LEVEL.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE HOW HARD THIS DISTRICT WORKS TO GIVE STUDENTS THE BEST EXPERIENCE AND ENSURE THEIR FUTURE IS SUCCESSFUL.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH BRILLIANT MINDS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND SEE THE TRUE CARE AND DEDICATION THAT THESE LEADERS CARRY WITH THEM.
LISD IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS AND STAFF BOTH HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE GET OUR FUNDING, ABOUT OUR LOWERED BIRTH RATE IN THIS AREA AND HOW STATE FUNDING IS DEPENDENT UPON STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
EVEN WHEN RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, THE DISTRICT OFFICIALS HERE WORK THEIR HARDEST TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS NEVER FEEL UNSEEN OR UNHEARD.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS DISTRICT AND I FEEL LIKE SUCH A PART OF MY DISTRICT COMMUNITY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BRILEY WICHEL.
I'M ALSO A FRESHMAN AT TALKINGTON.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO DR.
ROLLO AND OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME SPEAK TO YOU.
I WAS RECENTLY ON THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE AND I GOT TO LEARN A LOT OF
[00:50:03]
VALUABLE AND INSIGHTFUL LESSONS ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF OUR [INAUDIBLE].I LEARNED ABOUT ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION IT TAKES TO KEEP ALL OF THE PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT UP AND RUNNING.
I GOT TO BE A PART OF SOME OF THESE HARD DECISIONS AND EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE THIS IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OUR DISTRICT'S FINANCES AND ECONOMICS AND HOW EVERYONE WORKS REALLY HARD TO KEEP THEM IN BALANCE.
I WAS ABLE TO CREATE NEW BONDS AND NETWORK WITH NEW PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE MET OTHERWISE.
I'VE ALSO GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OTHER SCHOOLS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT AND SEE A MORE DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
I'VE GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND BOTH THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT LISD.
OVERALL, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED THIS FOR ANYTHING.
>> HEY, THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
>> I HOPE I CAN ARTICULATE AS WELL AS THEY DID. THAT'S AMAZING.
YOU HEARD FROM THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE AND THE STUDENTS, AND WE GOT SOME GREAT INFORMATION, AND I'M GOING TO FRAME THIS CONVERSATION AROUND TWO NUMBERS.
YOU GOT THE 178 MILLION, AND THEN WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY LARGER NUMBER THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
HOW WE GET TO THE SLIGHTLY LARGER NUMBER IS THROUGH CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH THE LISD TEAM AND THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE OF WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE WE SAW THAT THEY HAD MORE WANTS THAN WE INITIALLY HAD THE FUNDS FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
THE FIRST SLIDE, IF YOU LOOK AT HERE, IS OUR TAX BASE CHART AND OUR ASSUMPTIONS.
IF YOU LOOK ON COLUMN 2, COLUMN 2 SHOWS OUR TAX BASE AND IT SHOWS HOW IT'S RISEN OVER TIME.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR TAX BASE INCREASES AS VALUES INCREASE.
COLUMN 3 SHOWS OUR GROWTH RATE, AND THAT'S A PERCENTAGE ON HOW MUCH IT GREW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT'S AROUND AN AVERAGE OF 3.3 A YEAR WHEN YOU AVERAGE ALL THOSE OUT.
THEN YOU GO TO OUR M&O TAX RATE.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR M&O TAX RATE, IT STAYED PRETTY WELL THE SAME UP UNTIL TAX COMPRESSION STARTED, AND THEN YOU SEE IT START DROPPING OFF.
THEN YOU LOOK AT OUR INS RATE.
OUR INS RATE WAS RELATIVELY THE SAME UNTIL WE DID A TAX SWAP OR A TRE BACK IN 2016, WHERE WE TOOK TWO PENNIES AND WE MOVED THEM TO THE M&O SIDE, AND THEN YOU SEE OUR TOTAL TAX RATE.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OUR TOTAL TAX RATE IS THE LOWEST THAT IT'S EVER BEEN SINCE 1993, SO IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY COMPRESSED AT THIS TIME.
THEN I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF THINGS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO POINT BACK TO THIS HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
IF YOU'LL TAKE 2016-'17, AND YOU ADD THOSE PERCENTAGES OF GROWTH TOGETHER, THAT'S 9.63%.
WE'LL DRAW YOU BACK TO THAT HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT.
THE KEY TAKEAWAYS IS OUR TAX RATES THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE 1993, AND THERE'S A COUPLE ANOMALIES IN THERE DUE TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS BEING ENACTED.
NEXT SLIDE. ON THIS SLIDE HERE, WE INITIALLY STARTED WITH A $223 MILLION NUMBER WITH THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
THAT'S HOW THEY CAME TO THE SUPERMAJORITY OF TRYING TO STAY UNDER THAT AT 178 MILLION.
THE 223 MILLION HERE IS BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS OF A THREE YEAR 1.5% GROWTH, THEN ANOTHER THREE YEAR 1% GROWTH, AND THEREAFTER A HALF A PERCENT GROWTH.
WELL, IF YOU REMEMBER IT FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE OBVIOUSLY SHOW MORE GROWTH IN THAT ANNUALLY.
THOSE ARE VERY MODEST ASSUMPTIONS.
THAT PUTS US AT 223 MILLION IF WE SELL ALL THE AUTHORIZED BONDS AT ONE TIME.
THAT WAS OUR INITIAL NUMBER THAT WE STARTED WITH.
THEN AFTER WE STARTED SEEING THE WEAKNESSES OF MORE NEEDS THAN WE HAD FUNDS FOR.
WE STARTED HAVING TO GET CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE ON HOW WE CAN GENERATE MORE FUNDS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
THE WAY THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS INSTEAD OF BEING SO MODEST ON OUR ASSUMPTIONS, WE CAN RAISE THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND SO THAT GENERATES MORE FUNDS.
THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE THINKING AND PATIENTS, WE CAN GENERATE MORE FUNDS WITH THE SAME TAX RATE.
ON THIS SLIDE HERE, IT SHOWS 250 MILLION.
YOU HAVE 200 MILLION THAT YOU WILL SELL INITIALLY, AND THEN YOU WILL WAIT THREE YEARS FOR SOME GROWTH TO HAPPEN AND THEN YOU'LL SELL ANOTHER 50 MILLION.
YOU SELL 200 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING,
[00:55:01]
AND THEN YOU WAIT SEVERAL YEARS AND YOU SELL 60 MILLION.ON THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, WE CAN SHOW YOU THAT BASED ON THOSE ASSUMPTIONS, THE LEFT SIDE IS 250 MILLION, THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE 260 MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE PERCENTAGES, THE LEFT SIDE TOTALS UP TO ABOUT 8.65% GROWTH.
SIMPLE CALCULATIONS, NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT COMPOUNDING FORMULAS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, JUST SIMPLE CALCULATION, 8.65% GROWTH.
IF YOU RECALL WHEN I PRESENTED EARLIER ON THAT EARLIER SLIDE, WE WERE AT 9.63, 10.28, 9.73.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY EXCEEDING THOSE NUMBERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
YOU ASK, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T MEET THOSE GROWTH MEASURES? WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE WE SELL.
WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT, SO THAT'S HOW YOU CAN EXPAND YOUR BONDING CAPACITY WITHOUT RAISING THE TAX RATE. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE SHOWS FINANCIAL IMPACT.
OBVIOUSLY, ZERO CENT TAX INCREASE IS NO IMPACT.
BUT IF THERE WAS A TWO CENT, IT SHOWS IT, IF THERE WAS A FOUR CENT, IT SHOWS IT.
THE TOP SET OF NUMBERS IS YEARLY ANNUALLY.
THE BOTTOM IS MONTHLY, AND THE NUMBERS IN THERE FOR HOME VALUES ALREADY HAVE THE $100,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TAKEN OUT.
THE NEXT SLIDE HERE TALKS ABOUT HOW WE COMPARE TO OUR PEERS.
IF YOU LOOK, THE FIRST COLUMN IS PUT TOGETHER ALPHABETICALLY.
THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK COLUMN 2, WE'RE RANKED FIFTH IN OUTSTANDING BONDS.
WE DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUTSTANDING BONDS COMPARED TO OUR PEERS.
SEVERAL OF THESE ARE GOING OUT FOR OTHER BONDS AS WE SPEAK THAT ARE LOWER THAN US, SO THAT WILL PUT THEM ABOVE US.
YOU LOOK AT COLUMN 4, COLUMN 4 IS THE LAST TIME WE PASSED A BOND.
WE DON'T FREQUENTLY ASK FOR BONDS.
IF YOU LOOK, WE'RE RANKED FOURTH IN THAT COLUMN.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PEERS THAT GO OUT FOR BONDS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WE DO.
IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN 6, COLUMN 6 TALKS ABOUT OUR INS RATE AND COMPARES US TO OUR PEERS.
WE'RE RANKED FOURTH IN THERE COMPARED TO OUR PEERS WITH THE LOWEST INS RATE, SO THAT SIGNALS THAT WE ARE VERY DILIGENT AND FRUGAL WITH OUR MONEY AND WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR STUFF.
IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN 9, COLUMN 9 IS OUR DEBT PER ADA, OUR DEBT PER STUDENT, WE'RE RANKED FOURTH IN THAT.
THAT'S MEANING WE DON'T ACCUMULATE A LOT OF DEBT PER STUDENT THAT WE HAVE.
AGAIN, SHOWING OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
ON THIS CHART ALSO, IT SHOWS THE MEAN AND THE MEDIAN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MEAN, THE MEAN IS THE AVERAGE, THE MEDIAN IS THE MIDDLE NUMBER.
I LIKE TO FOCUS MORE ON THE MEAN, THE AVERAGE.
IF YOU COMPARE THE AVERAGE TO WHERE WE'RE AT, WE'RE DOING VERY WELL WITH OUR BONDING CAPACITY AND INDEBTEDNESS.
NEXT SLIDE. ON THIS SLIDE, I'M GOING TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IN 2019, LEGISLATION CHANGED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT ON THE BALLOT, IT WILL SAY THIS IS A TAX INCREASE IN BOLD LETTERS.
BUT I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE EXPLANATION UNDER THAT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU RAISE IT, IF YOU LEAVE IT THE SAME OR YOU LOWER IT.
THOUGH THAT VERBIAGE HAS TO BE ON THERE DUE TO NEW LEGISLATION. I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU RAISE IT, LEAVE IT THE SAME OR LOWER IT.
THAT LANGUAGE HAS TO BE ON THERE.
>> I WILL JUMP INTO WHAT WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY AS A BOND PROPOSAL.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.
YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB, AND WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN THANKING THEM AGAIN? [APPLAUSE] I WANT TO THANK OUR STUDENTS.
I KNOW THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL AS WE SPEAK, BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS.
YOU HEARD FROM FOUR OF THEM, BUT WE HAD MANY MORE THAN THAT WHO SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND THEY ARE OUR WHY.
THEY ARE WHY WE DID THIS WORK BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING
[01:00:02]
THE VERY BEST EXPERIENCE WE CAN FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE 24,000 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE IN LUBBOCK ISD.WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR VOICE IN THIS WORK AND GRATEFUL FOR THE FOUR WHO CAME AND SPOKE TO US TODAY.
WE WILL JUMP INTO THE BOND PROPOSAL.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE WITH A SUPER MAJORITY OF THE TABLES VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH $178.3 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE 10 DIFFERENT TABLE GROUPS, AND JUST AS A REMINDER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, EACH TABLE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON IT, AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE FUTURE FOCUS MEETINGS TO COME TO CONSENSUS ON DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE BROUGHT TO THEM.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT EACH TABLE GROUP MOVE FORWARD, THEY WANTED TO DO MORE.
THEY REALIZED THAT WE HAD MORE NEEDS.
BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO VOTE BY A SUPERMAJORITY, IN OTHER WORDS, SEVEN OF THE 10 HAD TO VOTE FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, THAT WAS A HARDER STANDARD TO MEET.
BUT YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ALL WANTED TO DO MORE.
>> THE KEY TAKEAWAYS WITH THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE, AS MOLYN BEAUTIFULLY SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE, THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT THEY MOVED FORWARD IN SAFETY AND SECURITY AROUND FACILITY UPGRADES, NEW SCHOOLS AND RENOVATIONS, AND THEN ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING.
BUT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY IS A RECOMMENDATION OF 290 MILLION.
WE CAN DO THAT IF WE SELL OUR BONDS IN TWO DIFFERENT TRENCHES, AND WE ARE COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH OUR CURRENT INS RATE, SO IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN MORE TAXES BEING LEVIED.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. THIS IS A PLUS.
WE WANT TO TAKE EVERYTHING THAT THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MOVE FORWARD, AND THEN WE WANT TO ADD TO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE THE BONDING CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
IN SAFETY AND SECURITY, WE ACTUALLY ARE BRINGING TO YOU AS A RECOMMENDATION WHAT THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MOVED FORWARD, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT IS ADDITIONAL SECURITY FILMING, SOME DOOR REPLACEMENTS, AND SOME ACCESS CONTROL SERVERS.
THEN ALSO ADDITIONAL FIRE ALARMS, SECURITY CAMERAS, AND FENCING.
THE 2018 BOND, WE DID A LOT AROUND SAFETY AND SECURITY.
BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SAFE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN SAFETY AND SECURITY.
INEFFICIENCIES, WITH THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MOVE FORWARD, YOU CAN SEE THOSE ITEMS THERE.
THERE WAS JUST ONE NEW SCHOOL IN THAT, AND THAT WAS COMBINING WOLFFARTH AND MCWHORTER INTO A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AN ADDITION AT RUSH ELEMENTARY, AND THEN SCIENCE LAB ADDITION TO ATKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BUT WHAT WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU IS ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AGAIN, EIGHT OF THE 10 TABLES FELT STRONGLY THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN FOR WILLIAMS AND STEWART.
THE MAJORITY OF THE TABLES WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT WE GAVE THEM TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND SO THAT SPLIT THAT VOTE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT BEAN AND HODGES ARE GOING TO BE CONSOLIDATING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AT THE BEAN SITE.
BUT THAT BUILDING, ALTHOUGH THE BUILDING IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AT THAT BUILDING IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE A VIABLE THING MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
IT NEEDS A NEW BOILER AND CHILLER.
IT HAS A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BEAN AND HODGES STUDENTS AND A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR WILLIAMS AND STEWART, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT TOUCHES ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE OPERATIONAL SAVINGS THAT WE CAN GAIN BY HAVING A NEW MORE EFFICIENT BUILDING ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE COMBINED RIGHT GUADALUPE AND JACKSON INTO CARMONA HARRISON, AS A RESULT OF THE 2018 BOND, WE SAVED 1.8 MILLION DOLLAR IN THE FIRST YEAR, JUST IN OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING FOR THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD TO HAVE THREE NEW MORE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS.
WE'RE ADDING THOSE TWO NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO WHAT WE'RE BRINGING YOU AROUND EFFICIENCY.
IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MOVED FORWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUMS AND FINE ARTS RENOVATIONS, AND ALSO MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB RENOVATIONS.
THESE WOULD TOUCH ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT LUBBOCK ISD.
BUT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU AROUND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING IS SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AND FINE ARTS RENOVATIONS AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB RENOVATIONS.
BUT WE ARE ADDING TO THIS LIST SOME THINGS IN OUR CAREER IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
[01:05:01]
WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE CULINARY ARTS AND WE ARE PACKED TO THE BRIM.WE DO HAVE SOME SPACE AT THE ATC THAT WE COULD EXPAND OUR OFFERINGS AROUND CULINARY ARTS AND ALLOW MORE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS PATHWAY IS A VERY POPULAR PATHWAY AND ONE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A WORKFORCE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE GREAT EQUIPMENT, BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY NEWER EQUIPMENT IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS THAT WOULD ENHANCE THAT EXPERIENCE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS IN THOSE PATHWAYS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED WHEN THEY MOVE INTO THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS.
WELDING. OUR WELDING CLASSES ARE FULL.
WE REALLY NEED TO EXPAND OUR WELDING, AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER OUR STUDENTS ADVANCED WELDING CLASSES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN CAPITAL RENEWAL WITH THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE MOVED FORWARD.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE ITEMS THERE.
SOME KITCHEN RENOVATIONS, PLUMBING, RESTROOMS, LOCKER ROOM RENOVATIONS, HVAC ROOFING, AND ELECTRICAL PANEL REPLACEMENTS.
WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU ADDS PARKING, PAVING, AND DRAINAGE REPLACEMENTS AS WELL.
THIS IS THE BOND PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THIS.
>> DR. ROLLO, WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY, FOR THAT TO OCCUR?
MCWHORTER AND BEAN ARE BOTH DUAL LANGUAGE CAMPUSES.
WITH NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN ENHANCE THAT MORE AND GIVES MORE STUDENTS ACCESS TO OUR TWO-WAY DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING.
ABSOLUTELY, WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
NOT ONLY THAT'LL BRING OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE WANTING TO TAKE THESE CLASSES, BRING THEM OVER MORE.
>> TAX COMPRESSION HAS BEEN A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AS OF LATE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOLD HARMLESS COMPONENT OF US ADOPTING THIS?
>> YES. CURRENTLY, THERE IS SENATE BILL FOUR BEING PUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE THAT'S TALKING ABOUT MORE TAX COMPRESSION, OBVIOUSLY COMING FORWARD, AND THEY'RE WANTING TO POSSIBLY INCREASE IT TO $140,000 INSTEAD OF $100,000.
WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT WILL LOWER OUR TAXABLE VALUES.
WHEN YOU LOWER OUR TAXABLE VALUES, THAT DOES AFFECT THE AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN LEVY FOR A BOND.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS THEY HAVE HELD DISTRICTS HARMLESS FOR THE AMOUNT OF THAT DIFFERENCE.
JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU PASSED A BOND PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THE PREVIOUS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU PASSED IT AND SAID, "HEY, HERE'S GOING TO BE OUR TAX RATE, HERE'S THE AMOUNT." THEY DID THE LEGISLATION, THEY DID THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND LOWERS YOUR VALUE, THE DIFFERENCE THERE, THE STATE CHIPPED IN, SO THE TAXPAYERS DIDN'T HAVE TO CHIP THAT PORTION IN.
>> DR. DEWAYNE, I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
I'VE BEEN ASKING AND ASKING IT AND KEEP ASKING IT.
IF A PERSON ACTUALLY SAY IT ON THE BALLOT, THERE WILL BE WHERE IT SAYS ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX.
>> THAT'S NEW LEGISLATION IN 2019.
THE STATE WANTS US TO SAY IT IS GOING TO BE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BECAUSE THEY SAY ANYTHING ABOVE THE M&O IS A TAX INCREASE.
THE M&O IS THE TAX RATE THAT THE STATE SETS FOR US THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE BACK IN AUGUST.
THAT IS THE RATE THAT THE STATE THINKS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND THINGS AT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW THAT WE CANNOT FUND THINGS AT THAT TAX RATE? WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL TO DO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WITH A BOND, THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY ON.
WE CANNOT SPEND IT ON SALARIES, AND ETC.
WE HAVE TO SPEND IT ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ASK THE VOTERS TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE MAKING US SAY THAT NOW.
>> JUST LOOKING AT BONDS OUTSTANDING AND AUTHORIZED BUT UN-ISSUED, LOOKS LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST HAVE 640 MILLION TOTAL OUTSTANDING AND AUTHORIZED.
OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH HAVE ABOUT 718 AND TAX RATES THAT ARE ABOUT 21 AND 33 BASIS POINTS HIGHER RESPECTIVELY.
I THINK TO YOUR POINT, MARIAN,
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WE HAVE OUR LOWEST TAX RATE SINCE 1993.WITH THE PROPOSAL OF A $290 MILLION BOND, AND TODAY, IF WE WERE TO SELL ALL $290 MILLION, WE WOULD STILL HAVE $553 MILLION OUTSTANDING.
I THINK A LOT OF GOOD POINTS TO ARGUE.
BECAUSE I AGREE, I THINK PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC ARE GOING TO BE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> I WANT TO JUST JUMP ON TO THAT.
WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY IS OF THE 15 COMPARABLE DISTRICTS, WE WERE THE FOURTH LOWEST IN THE INS RATE, FIFTH LOWEST ON OUR TAX RATE, AND FOURTH LOWEST OF OUR STUDENT DEBT RATIO.
THAT INDICATES TO ME THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
IT IS A BIT COUNTERINTUITIVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING SCHOOLS WHEN WE ARE SO FINANCIALLY STRAPPED, BUT UNDERSTANDING IT'S TWO BUCKETS OF MONEY, AND BY ADDING NEW SCHOOLS, WE CAN THROUGH FINDING EFFICIENCIES AND COST AVOIDANCE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE THAT NEW BOILER IN CHILLER, WE HAVE A NEW BUILDING, NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT ACTUALLY IN THE LONG RUN GIVES US MORE ECONOMIC VIABILITY, MORE EFFICIENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT AND SAYING THAT CORRECTLY.
>> YES MA'AM, YOU'RE 100% CORRECT ON THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR HOME.
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO A YEAR.
WHEN YOU HAVE A SCHOOL THAT IS 100,000 SQUARE FEET, YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO A YEAR IN UPKEEP AND RENEWALS.
THAT COST AVOIDANCE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO DO A YEAR TO JUST MAINTAIN THE BUILDING, NOT EXPAND IT, NOT MAKE IT NEW, JUST MAINTAIN IT.
WHEN WE CAN AVOID THOSE COSTS, THAT IN TURN IS A SAVINGS TO OUR M&O SIDE, BECAUSE YOU ARE CORRECT.
IT'S M&O, WHICH WE CAN USE FOR TEACHER SALARIES AND RUNNING OUR DISTRICT, AND THE INS IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY FRUGAL, I THINK, SO WE'VE BEEN DOING GREAT. WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.
QUESTION FOR DR. ROLLO, IF WE LOOK AT CARMONA HARRISON ELEMENTARY, IT'S BEEN MOST RECENT CONSOLIDATION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO ENHANCEMENTS TO THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE WHEN THAT'S HAPPENED? AS THERE'S BEEN A LARGER POPULAR STUDENT BASE, WHAT BENEFITS HAVE WE SEEN FOR THOSE STUDENTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. OF COURSE, THE BUILDING ITSELF IS DESIGNED FOR A RICH LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, WHEN YOU HAVE A SLIGHTLY LARGER SCHOOL, YOU HAVE MORE WRAP AROUND RESOURCES.
YOU HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, YOU HAVE A FULL TIME COUNSELOR, YOU HAVE FULL TIME, ALL OF THE ACADEMIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT YOU CAN PUT IN PLACE WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGER SCHOOL.
WHEN YOU HAVE TEENY, TINY SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES SOMETIMES.
THEY HAVE COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS.
CARMONA HARRISON IN PARTICULAR, WE DESIGNED THAT SCHOOL WITH SOME UNIQUE ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE THE AGRA STEM FOCUS, THEY HAVE A GREENHOUSE, THEY HAVE GARDENS.
WHERE THE EGGS AT THE GROCERY STORE COME FROM NOT JUST FROM THE STORE, BUT THEY ACTUALLY LEARN VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT WHERE OUR FOOD AND FIBER COMES FROM.
THESE THREE NEW SCHOOLS, WE HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME UNIQUE ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING.
IF YOU HAVE ONE TEACHER OR TWO TEACHERS TEACHING FIRST GRADE, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH TIME FOR THE TEACHERS TO REALLY COLLABORATE AND BRING ALL OF THEIR EXPERTISE AROUND THE TABLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE FIVE TEACHERS AT A GRADE LEVEL, YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO COLLABORATE WITH AND TEAM WITH, AND THEN MORE FRIENDS.
IF YOU HAVE FIVE CLASSES OF FIRST GRADE, YOU HAVE MORE FRIENDS IN FIRST GRADE.
OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW AND NETWORK WITH MORE STUDENTS.
>> I NEED TO ADD INTO THE BEAUTY OF ALL THIS DISTRICT, WELL, WE'LL BE GETTING TWO NEW SCHOOLS IF THIS BOND PASSES, AND IT IS MUCH NEEDED, GUYS, SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HARD WORK UP IN FRONT OF US. THANKS.
>> DR. ROLLO, DO ANY OF THESE ON THE BALLOT? IS THIS ONE PROPOSITION, OR DO WE HAVE TO SEPARATE THEM OUT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME STRATEGY THERE MAYBE.
>> YES. ALSO OUT OF THE 2019 SESSION CAME PROVISIONS AROUND WHAT HAS TO BE CARRIED AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION.
[01:15:04]
BUT THIS PARTICULAR BOND THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL IS ONE PROPOSITION.IT'LL BE ONE ITEM ON THE BALLOT.
>> I THINK [NOISE] PROBABLY THE DISTRICT COULD HAVE EXPRESSED THIS, BUT I'LL DO IT BECAUSE I DON'T WORK FOR THE DISTRICT, AND IN MY CAPACITY, I CAN SAY WHAT I WANT.
I DO WANT THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT RIGHT NOW THAT SCHOOL FUNDING.
THE STATE WOULD TELL YOU THEY'VE PUT IN BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW MONEY.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IF FACTUALLY, THEY SAYING THAT, THAT IS CORRECT.
BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE SIX BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE STATE PUT IN LAST SESSION WAS TO BUY DOWN MY PROPERTY TAXES, TO BUY DOWN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WENT 40,000-100,000.
THEY CAN FACTUALLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE FUNDED PUBLIC HEAD TO A LARGE EXTENT.
FACTUALLY, THEY WOULDN'T BE WRONG, BUT PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS THAT PUBLIC HAD GOT LAST SESSION WERE TO HELP YOU AND I AS CITIZENS WHO OWN REAL ESTATE.
LISTEN, I'M HERE TO THANK THEM AND I APPRECIATE THAT AS A CITIZEN, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP OUR TEACHERS BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
IT DOESN'T HELP OUR TAS TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE.
IT DOESN'T HELP US TO MAINTAIN BUILDINGS THAT HAVE AN AVERAGE AGE OF 65-70 YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S A MISNOMER THAT THE PUBLIC, THOSE OF YOU WHO LOVE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND ARE A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CAN GO AND ARM THE GENERAL COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FALSITIES GOING AROUND.
THE NUMBER OF UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WE'VE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD IS ASTRONOMICAL.
>> I CAN'T ADD UP PRIOR TO MY TIME, BUT ALL THAT GOES UNRECOGNIZED, UNNOTICED.
WHEN YOU ARE FUNDING PUBLIC ED AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT YOU WERE IN 2019, FOR THE VAST MAJORITY, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CHANGES, BUT THE BASIC ALLOTMENT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 2019.
IF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WAS MAKING THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE IN 2019, YOU WOULD BE IN A CRUNCH.
SHOOT, WE'RE IN A CRUNCH AND WE'VE MADE MORE PROBABLY SINCE 2019.
I KNOW MANY FOLKS WHO ARE DOING WELL FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY FEEL THE PAIN WHEN THEY SHOP FOR GROCERIES, WHEN THEY BUY A CAR, WHEN THEY BUY A HOUSE, INSURANCE, PROPERTY INSURANCE, WHATEVER YOU HAVE IT.
I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE, TO MS. SHARP'S POINT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE'RE SITTING HERE, WE COMPLAIN ALL FALL THAT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY.
THEN WE'RE LIKE, WE'D LIKE TAKE A LOAN OUT.
BUT THAT IS LITERALLY THE ONLY WAY A SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN DO THE THINGS THAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO CONTINUE TO SERVE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE MY TIME ON THE BOARD, WE WILL HAVE BUILDINGS THAT WILL LITERALLY BE FALLING DOWN UPON US, WE'LL HAVE WATER LEAKING INTO BUILDINGS, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT NOW, AND THEN THE BIGGEST THING IS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETAIN TEACHERS.
WHILE WE'VE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE OVER THE LAST SEVEN-PLUS YEARS, AND I'M SURE THE BOARDS PRIOR TO THAT, TEACHERS ARE NOT IN LINE WITH ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR PAY, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, AND IT'S NOT IN LINE WITH STATE EMPLOYEES.
THOSE RAISES ARE VOTED ON BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO VOTE ON NOT TO GIVE US MONEY.
I WOULD LOVE FOR A LAW TO BE PASSED THAT THE STATE INCREASES THE PUBLIC ED INCREASE. IT'D BE SUPER EASY.
YOU PUT IT IN PLACE AND YOU'RE DONE OR TIE IT TO THE CPI, SOMETHING TO WHERE IT GOES UP AND DOWN.
THERE'S A LOT OF LOGICAL THINGS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC ED IS AS CHALLENGING TO UNDERSTAND AS IT IS ON PURPOSE.
I THINK IT'S BY DESIGN BECAUSE THE LESS YOU UNDERSTAND, THE MORE PISSED OFF YOU GET AT THE GENERAL TAXING ENTITIES.
WHILE I'M APPRECIATIVE OF OUR STATE IN MANY AREAS, THIS IDEA THAT THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO FOR PUBLIC ED IS A JOKE.
I HOPE THAT CITIZENS WAKE UP BECAUSE I'M A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC ED, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IN MY LIFE ARE A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC ED.
WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC ED INTO EACH THEIR OWN.
YOU GO WHERE BEST SUITS YOUR FAMILY.
BUT PUBLIC ED IS WHAT IS GOING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE, IT'S GOING TO BE WHO I HIRE,
[01:20:01]
IT'S GOING TO BE WHO YOU HIRE, IT'S GOING TO BE WHO TAKES OUR GROCERIES OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE WHO FIXES OUR CARS, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.IF YOU WANT OUR STATE TO CRUMBLE, THEN STOP WORRYING ABOUT EDUCATING OUR KIDS, AND THAT IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN A SHORT TIME.
I HATE THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE THIS DEFICIT AND WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
BUT WHILE SHORT-TERM IT MAY LOOK LIKE FINANCIAL MALPRACTICE, LONG-TERM, THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.
TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE TEACHERS AND TO THE ADMIN, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE MORE CHANGES MADE BEYOND JUST THESE CONSOLIDATIONS.
WE HAVE TOO MANY BUILDINGS, WE HAVE TOO EMPTY SEATS.
WE HAVE OVER 5,000 EMPTY SEATS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
YOU CANNOT FINANCIALLY AFFORD TO OPERATE A BUSINESS, WHICH PUBLIC ED IS, WITH THAT LACK OF DEMAND, BUT THE FACILITIES AS IF YOU HAVE THAT FULL DEMAND.
I THANK THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND READING THE BOOKS ON HOW HOT DOGS WERE MADE, NOBODY REALLY LIKES THE PROCESS, BUT EVERYBODY LIKES THE OUTCOME.
[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO THANK YOU.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT ALL SPENT WAS INSANE, AND I KNOW THERE WERE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS AND SOME HARD TRUTHS, AND I THINK IT WAS GOOD FROM BOTH SIDES FOR US TO HEAR IT AS A DISTRICT AND A BOARD, AND WE DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY WHAT YOU VOTED FOR, WHAT YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU ALL SEE THAT WE DIDN'T GO OFF AND SAY, WELL, NO, WE WANT X BECAUSE YOU SPENT ALL THAT TIME, YOU WANT YOUR OPINION TO BE VALUED.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND THE REST OF THE 90-SOME-ODD PEOPLE THAT HELPED BECAUSE YOU ALL TOOK A LOT OF DARTS AND DIDN'T HAVE TO.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING AND THINK THAT IT COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR OUR DISTRICT.
>> I WANT TO ADD ON AND THANKING THE COMMITTEE. WHAT A GREAT WORK? THAT'S SOMETIMES VERY THANKLESS WORK.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND HELPED INFORM OUR DECISION TODAY.
ALSO, TO JUMP ON SOMETHING YOU SAID, MR. CURRY, WE DIDN'T JUST WAKE UP THIS YEAR SINCE 2010, 14 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED IN THIS DISTRICT, SO IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS.
WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FUNDING, THERE'S NOT ANY FAT TO CUT, WE'RE CUTTING MUSCLE.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN ON THE FACILITY SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION TO TRY TO FIND EVERY EFFICIENCY, EVERY COST AVOIDANCE SO WE CAN PROPERLY FIND TEACHERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, THAT IS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS MADE, IS IN THE CLASSROOM.
TO OUR TEACHERS, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WE WERE SO DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR DR. RAY PERRYMAN YESTERDAY, WHO IS A HIGHLY TOUTED RESPECTED ECONOMIST WHO IS VERY WELL-VERSED ON EDUCATION.
I'M GOING TO READ THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I QUOTE HIM CORRECTLY.
HE SAID, "EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS A RATE OF RETURN OF $56.71." EVERY DOLLAR HAS A RATE OF RETURN OF $56.71.
NOTHING ELSE HAS THAT A RATE OF RETURN IN OUR ECONOMY IN TEXAS.
HE SAID, "THE TEXAS MIRACLE IS BUILT ON TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IF YOU DECLARE WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, YOU ARE DECLARING WAR ON THE FUTURE OF THE STATE." HE WENT ON TO SAY, "TEXAS HAS CONSISTENTLY RANKED FIRST OR SECOND IN WORKFORCE READINESS." WE ARE DEVELOPING A WONDERFULLY SKILLED WORKFORCE.
"BUT 35TH IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING." THAT WAS REMARKABLE TO ME.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT LUBBOCK ISD AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAVE DONE GREAT WORK AND HAVE PRODUCED STUDENTS WHO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES SECOND TO NONE IN OUR DISTRICT.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT THE PROPOSAL THE DISTRICT HAS BROUGHT TOUCHES EVERY CAMPUS, PROVIDES SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SCHOOLS, BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, JUST SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY WILL BE GIVEN TO OUR STUDENTS.
PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT YOU SAID, IT WAS SUCH A JOY.
IT WAS A UPLIFT TO HEAR DR. PERRYMAN SPEAK.
[01:25:05]
AS JASON SAID, HAVE YOU HEARD HIM SPEAK? I SAID IT WAS ONE TIME THAT I DID.HE WAS BEING UPLIFTED, AND I WANT TO CONNECT SOMETHING WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME IN THE US OF A RIGHT NOW IS LABOR AND HAVING TO DO WITH CAREERS AND FOCUSING ON OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
>> WELL, I'VE ALREADY THANKED AND EXTENDED MY GRATITUDE FOR THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE, THE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH.
LIKE I SAID THE OTHER DAY, YOU GUYS HAVE FAMILIES, YOU GUYS HAVE ANOTHER LIFE AS WELL, AND TO DO THIS, IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU GUYS.
BUT IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GETTING READY TO DO AND YOU'VE DONE.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND GUIDE YOU. THANKS AGAIN.
>> I THINK ONE THING, AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS.
I THINK TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DON'T LOVE TAXES AND DON'T LOVE BONDS, NOT ONLY IS THIS GOING TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD BACK IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO SETTING PARAMETERS THAT THIS BOARD AND FUTURE BOARDS CAN USE TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY, THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS, THE STAKEHOLDERS OF WHEN THEIR CAMPUS MAY NEED TO BE CLOSED.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE REALITY IS THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT IF IT'S WHEN.
THERE'S EMOTIONS THAT ARE ALWAYS GOING TO GO WITH THAT NO MATTER HOW YOU DO IT.
BUT I THINK BEING GIVING SOME DATA POINTS UP FRONT FOR EVERYONE TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WOULD HELP.
I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, I'M COMMITTED TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL HELP NOT ONLY OUR CURRENT BOARD BUT FUTURE BOARDS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY TRANSPARENT, I'M NOT A HUGE FAN BECAUSE I THINK IT GETS THROWN OUT, BUT TO ME, THAT'S AUTHENTIC.
PUTTING NUMBERS WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOUR SCHOOL SO YOU KNOW AND YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO WANT TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T INCREASE SIZE, BUT THE UTILIZATION OF THE SEATS THAT YOU HAVE, PTAS CAN GET INVOLVED IN THAT AND OTHER THINGS.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S KNOWN.
WE'RE NOT JUST ASKING FOR MONEY WITH MAKING NO SACRIFICES ON THIS SIDE MOVING FORWARD.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE SAID THANK YOU TODAY.
I HAVE TO THE FUTURE FOCUS COMMITTEE, THE FEW TIMES THAT I GOT TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU, I HOPE I CONVEYED MY APPRECIATION, AND IF NOT, AGAIN, LET ME SAY THANK YOU.
WE ARE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, ALL OF OUR FAMILIES ARE WORKING HARD AS WE SEE THE INFLATION HAPPEN, AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
I REALIZE TAKING OUT A LOAN DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO AS WE CONSOLIDATE CAMPUSES, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO INCREASE, AS DR. ROLLO SAID, THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE, AND TEACHER RETENTION, AND TEACHER SATISFACTION.
[NOISE] ALL OF THE IDEAS AND SUPPORT THAT YOU GAVE US ARE GOING TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I THINK IT WAS NECESSARY, TO MR. RATLIFF'S POINT, WE'RE JUST SEVEN PEOPLE.
THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A DECISION THAT SEVEN PEOPLE SIT UP HERE AND MAKE.
THE FACT THAT WE HAD OVER 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS.
THAT'S WHERE THESE DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THESE BUILDINGS EVERY DAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE DROPPING THEIR KIDS OFF AT THESE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED.
I THINK THAT IT MADE PERFECT SENSE FOR US TO MAKE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY, AND THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT AFFECTS.
I THINK DR. ROLLO POINTED OUT, WE CARRIED FORWARD EVERYTHING THAT FUTURE FOCUS RECOMMENDED AND THEN ADDED SOME THINGS THAT MANY OF YOU DID AT YOUR TABLES.
I FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
>> THANK YOU FOR CARRYING THE TORCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
NO OTHER COMMENTS? WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE SIGNED IN TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING A POSTED BOARD AGENDA ITEM? HEARING NONE, WE WILL MOVE INTO ITEM 6,
[VI.A. Approval of Resolutions Regarding Grant Program Applications to the Office of the Governor]
[01:30:03]
WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ITEMS. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. DR. ROLLO.>> YES. WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF FIVE DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY YOU BEFORE WE CAN SUBMIT THE APPLICATION.
AS YOU GUYS VERY WELL KNOW, WE APPLY FOR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP US INCREASE OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY IN OUR DISTRICT.
THESE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT GRANTS RELATED TO SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR WITH YOUR APPROVAL.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK DR. LANE SOBEHRAD IS HERE.
HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THESE, AND I'LL CALL UPON HIM IF YOU HAVE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I SAW SOME LANGUAGE IN THE CYBERSECURITY PIECE ABOUT MATCH FUNDING ON THE DISTRICT'S PART.
DO WE MATCH FUND SOME OF THOSE GRANT DOLLARS THAT ARE PUT IN ON THAT PARTICULAR GRANT?
>> YES, SIR. THE PACKAGE THAT DAMON AND HIS TEAM ARE REQUESTING IS WORTH A $400,000 PACKAGE.
HE CAN AFFORD THE $400,000 PACKAGE.
HE INDICATED WE COULD AFFORD A $200,000 PACKAGE, SO WE'RE REQUESTING $200,000 TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
THE MATCH FUNDING WOULD BE US COMPLETING THE PROJECT IF THE GRANT FUNDS ARE PROVIDED.
>> IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, THEN WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.
>> OKAY. GREAT. THEN I DIDN'T SEE THAT LANGUAGE IN ANY OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS.
SO THOSE ARE COMPLETELY FUNDED? YEAH. OKAY. GREAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FOR ANY OF THE OTHER FOUR.
>> A COUPLE OF THESE, IT LOOKS LIKE ARE FOR ACTUAL OFFICERS FOR SOME SHIELDS AND ARMOR, I GUESS, FOR BULLET-RESISTANT ARMOR, THAT'S GREAT TO PROTECT OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSETS AND THEN ALSO OUR BUILDINGS.
THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT THE BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. QUESTIONS?
>> I THINK WE'VE THROWN OUT A LOT OF APPRECIATION THIS MORNING, AND LANE, JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU, BECAUSE YOU DO SO MUCH FOR THE GRANT WRITING AND ALL THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND ARE INVALUABLE TO US AS A DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AS PRESENTED?
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0. THANK YOU.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION
[VI.B. Consideration and Possible Approval of an Order Calling a Bond Election on May 3, 2025]
ON MAY 3RD, 2025. DR. ROLLO.>> YES. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO SHARE WITH YOU OTHER THAN WHAT WE'VE SHARED DURING THE WORKSHOP PORTION OF OUR MEETING TODAY, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD?
>> CAN WE READ THAT MOTION, PLEASE?
>> I WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AT IT [LAUGHTER] AND I SAID THE SAME THING.
I MOVED THAT THE BOARD ADOPTED AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION WITH A PROPOSAL A IN THE AMOUNT OF, WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER AGAIN?
>> TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND.
>> HOW ABOUT HOW ABOUT A MILLION?
>> LET'S START OVER. [LAUGHTER]
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT AN ORDER CALLING A BOND RELATION WITH PROPOSITION A IN THE AMOUNT OF 290 MILLION. HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN? MOTION CARRIES 7-0. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] AN EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION
[VII. Executive Closed Session]
WILL BE HELD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551.IT IS 8:34 AM, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION.
[VIII. Reconvene from Executive Closed Session]
AND WE ARE RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION.DO WE HAVE ANY ACTIONS FOLLOWING CLOSED SESSION? HEARING NONE. IT IS 9:05 AM AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.