001Good evening. I'm Mr. Ornetto, president of Westco ISD Board of Trustees. This regular board meeting is being conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meeting Act. Notice that this meeting has been posted online for at least three business days prior to the meeting date. The time now is 5:32 p.m. and I will call this meeting to order. I [clears throat] will now begin the roll call. >> Mr. Ven Castillo >> here, >> Mr. Eddie Cernna >> here, >> Mr. Mark de Los Santos >> here, >> and myself, Mr. Netto. Unfortunately, Coach Qu couldn't be here tonight, but uh I expect Mrs. Susta and Dr. Haimett to uh come in the next few minutes. Step establishment of a quorum invocation. Dr. Eva. >> Yes, Mr. Dvin. Thank you, sir. This is gentlemen, if you're wearing a
002hat, if you would just please remove it in reverence of the Lord. Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, how great and mighty you are. There is no one like you. Thank you for the gift of life, health, family, friends, strength, and ability to work to provide for our families. Thank you for your faithfulness and protection over the lives of our students, staff, and families. We thank you for the blessing of entering a new year, a season of new opportunities, a season to draw closer to you in humility and reverence. Father, is as always our petition. We ask you to continue to bless and grant greater wisdom to our superintendent, Dr. Rachel Ria, and our board. May your will be done in our board meetings. Bless our administrators, staff and teachers with wisdom, integrity, patience, and
003the physical and mental strength to begin and finish the second half of the academic year very strong. Above all, bless our students with divine protection, physical and mental health, and providence. Father, we humbly bring before you our Mary Hulk Middle School student Naomi Arnandez who finds herself in the midst of a health battle fighting for her life at the Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi. We pray for peace, strength, and love for her family and friends at this most difficult of times. You are our healer and deliverer. Nothing is impossible for you. May your perfect will be done. We ask you all this in your precious, glorious and mighty name of Jesus. And everyone says, "Amen." >> Amen. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Travin. Pledge of Allegiance. Dr. >> Call Mr. Bmer. >> Good evening.
004At this time, we'd ask everyone to please stand, place their right hand over their heart, and face the United States flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We'd ask everyone to please remain standing, right hand over their heart and face the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. >> Thank you, Mr. But [clears throat] uh we continue on with number five. January 2026 school board recognition month. Dr. Ia for Mr. >> Mr. Gard, >> Dr. Divera, Mr. Nethl, members of the board. January is schoolboard recognition month and we want to take the time to acknowledge our board members
005for their service to our school district. Our school board members are responsible for ensuring the structure that provides a solid foundation for our school system. Board members are strong advocates for public education and are responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public and the public's expectations to the district. Following this year's theme, our future is public. We commend our trustees as dedicated champions of public education vital in bridging the needs of our school district with the aspirations of our community. On behalf of our superintendent, all of our departments and campuses, we present these tokens of appreciation. We'd like to start off by recognizing school board presidentto 12 years of service. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> He's not with us tonight. But let's recognize vice president of the school board, Armando Guer.
006Coach Armando Guer completed eight years of service. [applause] Dr. Rodriguez is not here right now. Let's recognize him. Dr. Haime Rodriguez has completed 11 years of service. [applause] We'd also like to recognize trustee Marcos de los Santos for six years of service. [applause] At this time, we would like to recognize trustee Jacqueline Susita. Six years of service. [applause] Now recognizing trustee Ben Castillo. Four years of service. >> [applause] >> Let's recognize uh recently completing his first year of service, board member Eddie Cerna. [applause] and he is now present. So, let's recognize board secretary Dr. Haime Rodriguez, 11 years of service. [applause] Okay, we do real quick. >> Hold on a second, Mindy. I got to say one more. I got one more announcement. Also this weekend, the South Texas School Board Association recognized two of
007our board members, Mr. Isidoro and Yetto, 12 years of service. [applause] And also recognized from the South Texas School Board for 11 years of service, Dr. Haime Rodriguez. [applause] >> Okay. Thank you once again to our board members as we observe schoolboard recognition month. Let's give them a round of applause one more time. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> Is that all the recognitions correct? >> Yes, >> that's it. >> All right, let's continue on. First of all, uh thank you Dr. On behalf of the board for the award here. Uh you know, it's greatly appreciated from each board member. Mr. Saita, anything you want to say on that? >> No, just thank you, >> Dr. Hime. >> Thank you. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Benasio. >> Same. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Eddie.
008>> Same thing. Thank you. >> And Mr. Marcus Lensson. >> Same. Thank you. >> All right, let's continue on. Uh, public comments. >> We have one. >> Okay. >> This is Da Garca. Correct. >> That's right. >> I couldn't read. I couldn't read the writing. I'm sorry. Yeah, >> that's okay. >> All right. Uh Dr. Heinber, we'll read you uh some uh information before you begin. >> Okay, Mr. GarcA, uh go ahead and uh identify yourself with your address, please. >> Darca, 10 11 East 10 Street. >> And uh pursuant to the Texas Open Meeting Act, the board of trustees may not deliberate on any comment made by a member of the public on a subject that is not included on the agenda posted with notice of this meeting. As per the Texas Attorney General,
009the scope of board discussion for a subject not part of of the meeting agenda is limited to only proposal by a board member to place the subject on a future board agenda. Specific factual information or recitation of existing policy may be furnished in response to inquiries, but the board shall not deliberate or decide regarding the sub any subject that is not included on the agenda post agend agenda posted within notice of the meeting. Audience participation at a board meeting is limited to the portion of the meeting again meeting designated for that purpose. At all other times during a board meeting, the audience shall not enter into discussion or debate on matters being considered by the board unless recognized by the presiding officer. No public comment presentation shall exceed 3 minutes. Any disruptive behavior by any
010speaker may result in the speaker's removal from participation in the meeting. Please be mindful of using names or personally identifiable information as there is no immunity from defamatory comments while participating in public comments. I'll start the timer ma'am when you start your presentation. >> All right. So good evening Dr. Divera school board trustees and being uh September is school board recognition month. Thank you for all that you do on those borrowed seats. you're there because you have a passion for the students and you have their best interest in mind, right? So for that, I thank you. So I know at the last meeting there was a comment made by Susta that we needed more counselors. I thank all the counselors for all the work that they do. I was a counselor at an elementary school
011before Coronado decided to move me out. And I served as the only counselor for about 10 years with over 750 at times. and that was Mr. Agilad at Sam Houston and Missaita was a teacher over there when I did elpacking part of the rotation 504 referrals and the list goes on and I was able to do it. So with that being said, we have low enrollment. We don't need more counselors. We need the counselors to do their job continue doing their job. The ones that are there's many of them that have a strong work ethic and some that don't. Truth being said, prime example, today I called uh Friday I sent an email to a counselor and a social worker at a high school on the need for mental health intervention. This and I asked
012that counselor and social worker to reach out to the parent. So I found out today that the counselor and the social worker were gone were out on Friday. However, Monday, today 4:00, I checked in with a parent and they still had not called. Granted, the social worker I think is still out, but what about the counselor? So, what if the counselor's out? We have head counselors and the principal is aware of that. So, I'm very disturbed by that because you know what? We've had suicides before and we need to be serious about when it comes to mental health intervention. We need to do our jobs a better job of communicating and making sure my email was not acknowledged at all. >> Okay. So anyway, the next thing truency court there's there we are pushing sta
013uh staff is is pushing some students out by [clears throat] withdrawing them due to truency instead of citing them and taking them to court right as the last option. There's principles that are real good at reaching out to me and for that I'm very grateful. They know who they are. They call me for assistance and some don't. So with that being said, we should not be withdrawing students without executing everything we can in our power. And if sighting is the last thing, then that should be executed, right? But we're not doing that. We have attitudes from an assistant principal, attendance clerk. What is a judge going to do? They're not going to do anything. Just uh order them to GD. And I've told them that's not your business. Your your duty is to do your
014job and put the packet together. and I'm here to assist you, not to worry about what the judge is going to do. The other thing is Melva Seura once again, there we are again with the same same item posted, you know, wanting a settlement, wanting her pocket lined. So, no, let the jury decide once again. And to all, happy new year, and I thank you for all that you do. >> Thank you, Mr. Gara. All right, let's continue on. Superintendent's report. Uh, Dr. Uh yes I have I have eight slides. The first four will be discussed and then we can have questions after the first four. Uh on page two we have the firm here in the audience if you have questions for them. Carr rigs and Ingram [clears throat] let me start with a
015with a fund balance. We have we have a fund balance of 71 million 109 [clears throat] for B for child nutrition. we have 9 million. So the subtotal is 62 million. I'm rounding off. So on D we have some assigned fund balance projects. The 9 point 9.1. So on E the total is is 52 million almost 53 million and it's a 90 90day reserve. on page three [clears throat] again this is preliminary audit data for 2425 as of June 30th the it's under audit by car rigs in Ingram the auditors they'll present next month [clears throat] so they they reviewed this information and they gave me some input that I changed during the weekend they gave me more information so there was a little revision so the figure they have given me for the general
016fund Now this is for 2425 is 198 million. On B and C on their report they're going to show a minus of almost $10 million and this is for construction projects and upgrades. On C they're going to show a minus of 14 million plus other sources. So after these deductions, the 3-month reserve after deficit payment is still intact at 52 million. So I'm going to I'm going to go over B and C on the following pages. So on page four, this is where you find the 9 million. The 9 million, this is it was it was a minus again. This was where it was where it was spent. board approved construction projects and upgrades from fund balance as of June 30th. And again on on on function 610, we have the majority of the expenditures
017which is a Westico High Wico East baseball softball fields, elementary playgrounds, the billboard conversion, the stadium lighting, and the field tanks which is eight uh I'm sorry, 6.6 six of the total nine the bottom part and again this is under the the uh the audit again from from the auditors and they'll be here tonight uh if you have questions for them but they've told us this that the the 1.3 million is the expended part of remaining income from prior year 2024 bond construction fund uh A and B as per him the auditors. They're stated to us these expenditures are expected to occur as West carries out the planned construction projects for which the bonds were issued and on B as per the external auditors the this expenditure should continue rising until the approved projects are
018completed and or the funds are are depleted from these funds. So that's where you have the the minus 9. So again, if you look back on page on page two, I'm sorry, on p on page five, there's a minus 9.9 and on C, there's a minus14. When they present next month, they're just going to give us a minuses. They're not going to explain where the money went. This is where tonight I'm explaining where B and C where those projects went. on on page five, this is the significant expenditures from the original budget plus other sources paid from fund balance as of June. And again, they'll present they'll present in February. [clears throat] The big item, the 14 million, this is this is what happened. This was a salary increase from previous years that were not
019included in the original budget. the these were the pay raises, the 14 million. Uh what I can explain here is if if the previous CFO who is no longer with us, had he acknowledged and verified these figures, the amount of pay raises would not would have been lower that year. That year we gave to to the teachers and st administrators 2500. We also gave 4% to everyone else. We gave the stipen of 1,000 in December and 1,000 in May. Again, had I known these figures were there, I would probably have reduced this in half uh because it's important for our staff to to get the money and they're they're well compensated. So, they're the real winners on this. They're the ones that got the additional monies and for the most part they did they did
020not leave the district. So this is where the 14 million went again. The previous previous CFO uh was not up front and he's no longer here. So this is where the 14 million went. It went again towards payraises. These are the the four slides that I have. If you have any questions for the auditors or for me, they're they're here to answer your questions. Thank you Dr. Eva. Uh I'll begin on the left with Mrs. Susta. Any questions uh on the presentation from Dr. >> I don't have any questions at this time about this. I I'll wait for the item on the agenda. >> Okay. Dr. H just with the three-month reserve. Dr. Eva, that's that's still going to give us the three-month u >> rainy day fund that for the for the >> and
021that's [clears throat] as of the completion of the audit >> and that's unassigned funds. Yes. those. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Ben Castillia. >> Yes, I have I have a couple. >> Uh, so this is to the auditors. Based on your work over the last couple of years, how would you describe the district's overall financial condition today? Stable stress or trending towards concern and why? over the next the last couple of years um I think a lot of the districts were in a peculiar situation where they received a lot of esser funding so that sort of um distracted from the regular normal operations um over the last few years the fund balance has been pretty healthy I think that's what we have presented in the past couple of years. Um, if this
022number remains unchanged, again, because it's still under audit, there could be adjustments. We're still working through it. Um, it like Mr. Rivera rep, Dr. Ria represented, it does support, uh, the threemonth [clears throat] reserve. We kind of take the, uh, annual expenses and divide that by 12 to determine the amount. I just wanted to make that clear. And that's only in your general fund. Um, so in our in our um in our opinion, a three-month reserve is a health is considered a healthy reserve. Obviously, what you do going forward, you know, on how you're budgeting for your revenues and expenses and how you are adjusting throughout the year is what is going to make the difference, right? And unfortunately, we audit after the fact. So, you've you've already made the decisions. So, um I think
023how you handle this opportunity uh is what will determine where the district can head going forward. >> All right. Are the fund balance numbers being presented consistent with what you've seen historically or do any of the recent changes stand out as unusual? >> Um like I said, we're still um doing our audit procedures. That is an area that we still need to cover uh because we do need to make sure the other areas are finalized as far as audit procedures to make sure that there's no uh prior period adjustments that would impact the fund balance. Um so as of this point we have not encountered any any uh misstatements, let's put it that way, um from prior year uh fund balances. [clears throat] Are there any material variances between what the board approved and how
024funds were actually spent that we should clearly understand as a board? >> Can I repeat the question? >> Are there any material variances between what the board approved and how funds were actually spent that we should clearly understand as a board? >> We have not encountered any any misstatements that were unsupported or were significantly different from what was approved by the board. >> Okay. From your perspective, I'm going to ask you this question. You heard Dr. VA's uh presentation. >> Mhm. >> Where did you see the bigness the biggest weaknesses if any in how the budget was built versus how it was executed? >> Well, um it's it's not a a a good business practice overall, right, to to amend budgets close to year end. That should be done periodically. you should be [clears throat]
025reviewing what's coming in and what you've already allocated to expenditures to see if you need to um you know adjust those out so that you don't end up with deficits. Um so that is the main um uh issue that we're seeing this year right that it it was the amendments were not done until after year end and as a matter of fact with the current numbers that we have even doing that there there it looks like you will end up with um uh a a deficiency right um from budget to actual uh you should end up with positive numbers it looks like in one of the functions you will end up with with a negative u amount. So we will be reporting on that. We we need to evaluate that and consider uh what type
026of deficiency needs to be reported. >> Okay, I'm almost done. I got four or five more left. >> So in your professional judgment, did you encounter any transactions that appeared irregular, unsupported, or inconsistent with normal district operations? >> As of the moment, uh we have not. Yeah. >> Did anything you reviewed rise above a management or budgeting issue and approach potential fraud, misrepresentation, or intentional concealment? >> Not not specifically. >> I know you're not done with your audit, >> right? >> But were there any findings or are there going to be any findings or near findings that cause heightened concern even if they did not meet the threshold for a formal finding? Um again we we need to finish the audit and then we will evaluate in context as as a whole what are the
027different findings. Uh but even if it doesn't merit an actual let's say material weakness or significant deficiency or non-compliance that needs to be reported we still identify any uh control deficiencies or improvement points even you know minor things that we give them asal comments we do discuss those with management that is our practice >> okay so for context you work for the board not the administration or anybody you're are >> we're independent yes >> you're independent So, I'm going to ask you a question. There's a forensic audit on the agenda. I still have not made a decision yet. I'm still kind of going back and forth. So, I'm going to ask you a question. >> Based on what you've seen, do you believe a forensic audit is necessary to answer the board's concerns or would
028it likely confirm what is already known? >> I prefer not to answer that. I I Yeah, >> that that that is a decision that uh you need to make. Uh I will tell you that the purpose of our audit is completely different from forensic audit. Uh we do uh we do look at uh compliance issues. Uh we look at uh materialities which in a forensic audit is you know completely different. So it it really it's it's two separate things. you if if you're expecting that um financial audit means that there's no fraud that that is not the case. It's actually on the opinion, right? So that's >> all right. I got two more questions. >> Okay. >> All right. What specific indicators would you normally expect to see before recommending a forensic audit in a
029school district setting? >> Now I'm just asking you as our auditors. Well, if we identify fraud, then we would report it. We would have to report it in our in our procedures. >> Are those indicators present here partially present or not present at all? >> We have not encountered any any such matters. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good questions, Mr. Castillo. Uh Mr. for Eddie >> just for transparency I guess for us and for the the public explain the differences what you just described about financial audit and forensic audit just give us a layman's terms >> and just a better understanding of that >> sure um our opinion says that we we're auditing the financial statements as they are presented you know financial statements have to comply with certain uh rules uh we look at
030that and we look at the different uh levels you have governmentwide fun without getting too technical. We look at those items and we we do apply materiality and we determine um would those our opinion would support do those financials need to be uh are they materially stated? So we there could be uh minor misstatements that we find along the way and it if it doesn't meet the materiality thresholds uh we might not uh bring them to management's attention unless it's an issue that we feel they should you know get ahead of and and correct going forward. So that is the purpose of a financial audit to ensure that the financials are fairly stated. the forensic audit, you're looking out for for fraud. So I believe uh the district has gone through it before. So you
031understand, you know, they look at everything looking for actual fraud. There's no threshold there, right? They look very there it's very in more more uh intense, more invasive. >> Okay. Mr. De Los Santos. >> Yes. I have a few questions. Okay. Okay. and then com a few questions and then comments. Since you're already up there, I'm going to ask you first, are you comparing the budget expenditures that the board has been receiving monthly or are you doing what you just stated where you're doing samplings and verifying categories and and uh budgeted budgeted amounts and expenses because that was kind of the concern when we're bringing up the forensic audit. We're we were talking about our budget, our monthly budget expenditure reports and also the proposed budget that was brought to the board at the beginning.
032Is it your role right now currently to review that and review those meetings and review what's being presented versus what was in the system? Is that is that what you're doing right now? >> No, it would not be in such detail. We would look at uh board approvals and and we do look at, you know, that it was the [clears throat] amendments were approved, right? >> So that's what we look at. Uh we do look through uh projects through, you know, bids. We look at that ensure that they have uh board approval, >> right? Uh but do we look at each of the months and each of the expenses? No, that's beyond the scope of our financial >> lock. Um only because that was that was one of the concerns. The next question I have
033for you all is at any time did any employees during this process make any outcries of concern about the validity of the proposed budget that went to the board or concerns that the the budgets that were initially put in were like was there any outcries at all from any employees to you telling you that they were concerned about information like about the information in the in the system and the budget? >> Was it was it um Yeah, that's pretty much that's one question. Um I I think just the estimates that uh are done for ADA. >> Okay. >> That that was brought to our attention. So >> Okay. >> Right. >> On the ADA and the funding and the amounts. >> Number three, did the district uh did the district have reports ready for you
034or was there a delay? >> There was there's a big delay, >> right? >> Yes. >> Okay. And the reason I'm asking is just to confirm because the staff wasn't present. The staff was removed from that department. That's why I wanted to make sure I stated that and then they were put in late and they had to work around the clock and through Christmas to get you some data. Right. >> So, I just wanted to confirm that out loud. >> My other questions are for local staff that are here just for clarity. Can I proceed? >> Correct. >> Uh the next one is it's like I said this one would be just for transparency, clarification, and for valid uh val validation on behalf of our community staff and taxpayers. Um my first question is for
035Miss Solano. the 2024 2025 budget was stated by the CFO and the superintendent, right? That there that that 20 2024 2025 budget was used to develop the 2526 budget. Okay, that's what was stated. So before that bud before this year's budget came to the board for a vote, I wanted to ask you that within your job descriptions, your duties and assigned responsibilities, did you hear directly, read or receive notification of accusations or concerns raised by highle employees responsible for budget development development alleging unethical financial behavior, fraudulent behavior, manipulation of financial statements, intentional understatement of expenses in the 2526 proposed budget, and that the board, the community, and the taxpayers were not receiving trustworthy and accurate financial data. You can simply say yes, no, or decline to answer. >> Not directly, sir. >> You didn't hear
036it directly. >> Not directly. >> Okay. The same question. Mr. Butterr, did you hear anything of that? Do you want me to reread it or >> No, I think I can answer your question. So, Mr. Delosantos, anything that would come in was directly turned back to the CFO to get verification with his numbers. >> Okay. Mr. Aguilad, I have the same question for you. Do you need me to read the to read it or >> No, sir. Uh so anything that was brought can you hear me? Anything that was brought to the attention of administration it was discussed with our cabinet level and we discussed it on there and discussed everything when it was brought back to the CFO. >> Okay. Um the next question I have is for Miss Where's she at? Rodriguez. Hi
037ma'am. Um I know that you're working with the budget department correct and you're also on the presentations for the finances. >> Yes I am. I had the question for you and Carri is here too. In last in the car rigs also did our report prior to the 2425 school year last year. Okay. >> Yes. Correct. >> They what was the what was the fund balance the ending fund balance? What was the fund balance at the start of last year? >> Do you know that >> at the start of 2324 >> uh or I'm sorry at the start of 2425 what was the fund balance? You're going to have to take one of those. Sir >> I'll tell you here I have a page from the carbage report. Okay. It was 85 85,519,797. >> That's correct.
038>> Okay. In the presentation that Dr. just showed us, he showed us that the beginning fund balance currently right now is 71,19,255. If you subtract those two figures, and I put that on the second page for my fellow trustees, okay? If you subtract those two figures, that amount is exactly the same amount as a salary overage. All right? And what I want to do is just identify that for my fellow trustees and our community, okay, that salaries is a recurring expense. Just because a year changes doesn't mean it goes away, okay? If you give contracts, you're going to see it again, okay? And it carries over. All right? And that's that has been the topic of discussion since July. And that's the reason that I was asking for a forensic audit because as soon as
039I saw that in June and I brought it up to the attention, we called the special board meeting July 2025 because at that time is when you see that your fund balance is dropping drastically. Okay? And it's a recurring debt and then you're marching your school district toward state intervention if you don't take appropriate actions and start doing proactive taking proactive measures. kind of like what you just stated to them that that if that slide right there doesn't change, it's going to still continue to have an impact because because salaries don't go away if you give out contracts. Okay. The other thing I wanted to ask as well too and since Carl Riggs is here last year, I wanted to ask a question that last that la that you in your report the last one
040that you did the CFO puts a statement in there for the current school year. His plan it was November 15, 2024. And in that statement, he put there that he had his plan for the for the 24-25 school year was to continue to reduce staff staffing levels across the district and to continue to reduce expenses so that they he can maintain the general fund and possibly see a 2.8% decrease in expenses from $199 million to 197 million. That was November 15, 2024. Okay. before spring when then the board was advised to give out raises and stipens okay his statement was the CFOs right that's not here right now he had a plan okay and it was the right one so I'm asking Dr. VA why was what was since you mentioned him what was the
041change why did why did he completely do a 360 and support the district's initiative to give out millions in taxpayer dollars in stipens which are not based on any type of performance other than retention in the show up while no other district was doing that every district was downsizing consolidating and saving expenditures and then on top of that we gave raises that report is online okay under under the financial under the financial report so that's a kind of concern and question I have because I we never had a chance to ask him and he's not here to say it but he did put it on paper November 15, 2024 you'll see that he had a plan. Do you have any comment about that? >> Was the plan was not implemented because if you see on
042page five the 14 million that were there he led us to believe the money was there in the original budget and because of that we gave the raises >> and again that was that was every time we would meet with him he would say these are the figures. So, >> but in June in June in June 2025, he presented and that's the documents that I showed the entire board. He put in there that figure when when the proposed budget was coming, he put in there that you were that there was a deficit which you consistently denied since then up until now. >> He said many things that didn't come out true. Bottom line is is what happened. >> What I want to say what I want to say just for my fellow trustees in the
043community is those documents are signed and approved and viewed by multiple people. So, and I showed everyone there and it's online still. It's there. He he did put it there in June. >> He gave us he gave us figures that were not correct. >> And you know what, Mr. Santos? Good points. But a lot of times if >> Dr. and the cabinet don't have factual information, they don't have the the proper information, you know, and they bring us the information to us and we make decisions. >> Well, what I'm saying, President Neto, is that Dr. Neetta showed us one thing on a slide, right? and the individual in our packets put a different a totally different information. Do you understand? Right. So it's not like he showed you the wrong thing because he didn't present
044that slide. >> Dr. Leetta did. >> Okay. >> There's a difference there. He put it in the same packet. While he was while he was presenting his slide in your packets was the proper information and showing the overage. [cough and clears throat] >> Okay. So the argument of well he gave me the wrong information. No, he submitted the right information presented was the wrong one. >> Okay. No. >> And that's and that those are in recorded meetings June 2025. >> Dr. Eva, >> the slides that I presented was information that he gave to me. >> Correct. >> So he was a CFO and staff and I question him and he would have answers with everything. So but again at the very end at the very end we could not defend what he was doing and
045this is why what happened to him. >> The main thing is the the board has been told multiple things. I still have more questions. Construction costs. board approved construction costs, but they were they were brought to the board by the administration. There's multiple presentations where Dr. Eva went into detail about how we're gonna have surplus to pay for these construction projects and to use savings. If you look at 21 through 23, these board members did a lot of work in putting together that fund balance to provide job security for all our staff. Okay? And that has now been depleted because we were told that that money was going to be put back, that 10 million. We were told that there wasn't a payroll deficit the whole time. There's no payroll deficit in 2425. That was
046the stance. And my whole point here to the trustees tonight because the questioning they're questioning the weaver audit was brought up is that you're wasting valuable time. You eight months have already gone by. It's a 20-day report that will verify and and make sure that estimates are there. And then they'll also and you have whistleblowers that said that these figures were there. Okay? Okay, you have whistleblowers that and the only reason I'm going to say this is allegedly there's a level one and level two grievance before the board before the this year's budget came to the board. Allegedly there's a level one and level two grievance where they told administration that there that there was that ter that type of terminology, financial manipulation, not proper figures, etc. And yet nobody brought it to the board.
047At least not to my knowledge because we never talked about it. That never came to the board. They and during those grievances for the public that is like a court hearing, okay? It's a small court hearing where the staff member has their attorneys there and so does the district and there's administrative staff and yet nobody thought what the highest most important individual in our school district the only one that can actually do the budgeting and creates the budgets is saying this and nobody thought let's take it to the board and now we have wast we have wasted valuable time for us to pivot and start making adjustments and we have spent millions and millions in taxpayer dollars okay >> well there was no cost >> data there was no salaries >> salaries pet projects, things
048like that that we that were all based on surplus. >> But spending on salaries but then jeopardizing people's job security, sir, is not the answer. >> Just like the presentation as well that's on here. If you reszone, I'm going to tell my fellow trustees, if you resone right now, you're going to lose you're going to lose a bunch of kids if you would do a force resone. You're any superintendent in the valley will tell you not to do that because you're going to lose staff, especially in your situation right now. >> Everybody reszone resone. Second, if you sell your land, where are you going to buy it? The taxpayers will take a loss in the millions if you sell that property right now. And first, you don't even know. It's not additional revenue because you
049don't even know if anybody's going to buy it. >> I'm not there yet in the presentation, >> but I'm just getting a head start because those are not answers to our problems. We just gave you the answers. >> I gave you answers >> and I'll continue. I'll wait till my agenda item >> and I gave you the documents there that show the figures. I have a question on this uh on this 14,410542 million uh that we that we took out of fund balance for salary. >> Yes. >> How are we going to cover that so we don't take that out of fund balance this year and next year and the year after that? >> That's part of the presentation the rest of it. >> Okay. Any final comments? Mrs. >> Been wiggling in my chair
050over here. Um ultimately we the board are responsible and are going to be held accountable to the community for the funds. Um, it makes me very upset and disappointed to see this because I always had faith that they're giving us the information correctly and since December when all this things started happening it's very stressful not just for us as a board I'm sure for you know the community the staff and it's very disheartening but but we are held accountable and just like we're held accountable we need to hold the people who are respons responsible, accountable, and and I I always look at the policies and I remember reading because people are scared to speak up. They are everyone tells me I don't say it's me that I told you don't say or it's retaliation. I
051get it. I was I work for the district. I know I know what you mean. But there's a policy that says here it's it's in policy. I have it right here in front of me. It's DGBA, the one that we use, the policy for complaints, and it says informal process. The board encourages employees to discuss their concerns with their supervisor, principal, or other appropriate campus or district administrator. And we always do say that well talk to the principal, talk to Dr. Divera. We encourage that. By the time someone comes to us as board members, it's because they already did. They already tried. It's their last resort. No one's listening to me. Please help me. By the time they come to us, they already tried going through. Or maybe they just gave up and said, "No,
052I don't want to." But firsthand firsthand now after this went down in December. I've gotten to talk to people. I'm sure you guys have too. And I hear it firsthand. They knew, but they didn't tell you. And that's what upsets me. That's what's upsetting. We know what happened. Okay, there's something wrong. They They didn't give us the right numbers, but who knew? Who didn't tell us? Because if you don't care about us and how we look, you're doing it to yourselves, too. Because this is we're all part of the same community. And if you I'm not saying you did, but according to, you know, things that we've been I just want everybody to be transparent and truthful and honest and that's all I'm asking for. We're all accountable and that's it. >> Thank you, Mr.
053Stega. Any more comments? Just uh Mr. Los Santos. >> No, I think I already made my point as far as I don't know Dr. V is going to go over the reszoning and I'll wait till that that uh are is he going to continue with the slides or >> Yes. Yes. >> Go ahead. That way I'll save my comments for the remaining slides. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Dr. You continue with your superintendent report. >> Yes. Okay. on on page six again these are challenges 25 26 26 27 for next year a there are no new state monies we're concerned on B the loss of enrollment resulting in a reduced ADA uh and right now it's 250 students uh as your superintendent I'm concerned about vouchers for next year and virtual schools right now
054they're 25 voucher schools that have been approved in the valley. Uh staff and I are concerned about the increase pay for substitutes on e we're concerned about the increased health insurance cost. We have safety and security cost increases for the safety of our of our students. uh on G I reported last month that there were 29 positions through federal funds that were going to be cut and now through recent developments there just 14. Uh we have [clears throat] confirmation that gear up and AC will continue [snorts] and through all of this the property taxes will not be increased and we are among the lowest uh tax rates in Hidagro County. On page seven, I'm here. I'm explaining what we're doing to reduce the budget uh since since since uh the school year started. We have
055seen through the red reduced enrollment. We have seen through there's some some slots that we do not that we do not need. So they have been they have been we've not hired for those vacancies have not been replaced and I can say that staff will not lose their jobs again by by this attrition we saved about 2 million for this school year from this budget and it those two million will not be in the new year's budget next year's budget. Uh there's there's again reductions and increase revenues. There's sale and it's on tonight's agenda. The sale of school property that will increase revenues. We're selling the act farm to the city of Wes for 1.5 million and it's on it's on your agenda for approval. The other ones is available real estate that we can
056consider selling again to bring in additional revenues. Uh these will not be sold until the board approves these. But the land that's here is not is not being used at all. There was a section by by bridge that the city said belong to them. After further review by the attorney belongs to us. So again what's here is land that's not being sold. It has been there forever. It's just there. So again, the board will decide if you want to go ahead and and sell this property, but it's property that's there that's not being used. So if it's not being used, we can consider selling this and that will increase increase the revenues. The last slide that I have is that all districts uh do resoning as needed. Uh last year we we had some resoning
057for Margo, for I for Gonzalez. This year we're looking at three schools. Marggo, uh, Raul Gonzalez, and I you have you have the the the zoning there. It's going from Margo from a,00 116 to a,000. And we just don't reszone for no reason at all. Uh, and the reasons are on the bottom. these these schools students are closer to the new zoned and the the zones will be more uniformed and it reduces the transportation cost of these of these uh these transfers and there's fuel savings. We're not going to do any of these until the board approves them but these are just projected resonings. This is my report the last four slides if you have any questions. >> I was talking with Mr. Los Santos. Any any questions on the I believe you said on
058the reasonzoning. >> Yes. If you can put the slide back up on insurance and on the $2 million for the the savings. I can't see it here. Maybe on ours here. Go. >> Okay. Uh the no new state monies. That's the page that I was talking about. >> Okay. So my question is to [snorts] the health insurance cost increases and then also the substitute cost increases. Okay, substitute in cost cost increases kind of concerns me to say that there's a substitute cost increase. A lot of districts when they manage, we know how much do we pay on the daily rate for substitutes. It's what the fix. It's a fix like substitute 150, >> right? 180, right? So let's just go with the 180 figure. So most districts, you know, how many teachers you have, you
059know, they have five state days and five local days. Okay? So you would budget for that. Any surplus funds at the end of the year, you try you use those for additional purposes. You put them back into your fund balance or those are then designated and used towards summer school. Everybody's different. But to say that you have an increase in substitute cost would mean that you they have more additional days that they're taking. Now, of course, I know they have additional vacation days and whatnot, but um it's just kind of a red flag for me. And does it say on the healthcare insurance costs? I'm just curious because the budgeting hasn't been done for the 2526 school year. Is that still correct? Have you done accounting for the 2526 school year, Miss Rodriguez? >> We're
060still in the process of working on that, sir. >> Right. Okay. So, like I said, if you don't know where you're at, you don't know where to go. >> Well, we know because because the budget, we have a budget. >> You have a budget. Let me finish. Let me finish. >> We have a budget for subs and for health insurance. And last year, both of these went over the budget. And this year is projected to be over two. This is why they're concerns. >> All right. And then the additional thing is too on the next slide that you described you described about the attrition in the $2 million you talked about vacancy not being not being replaced and staff would not lose their jobs. Okay. >> The concern here is that by saying that you're
061kind of stating what that nobody's everybody's going to get a contract for next year. >> But the reality is is like I like I've been telling my trustees. [clears throat] Okay there at first there was no salary overage. Now you know you do have one. It wasn't presented to you. Those are things that most superintendents and other trustees will tell you. You don't got to wait for the car rigs to come and tell you that internally. Your HR, everyone should know how many employees you have. You have to upload it into the system. We've done, we've gone through this before. It's on an Excel file. You'll know whether you have the revenues to pay for the staff that you have. That is not something that you have to wait till February the next school year
062to figure out. That's something that's automatic and it can be presented and generated and any district can say that to you. Okay. So what I want to do is just we have to protect our staff, our taxpayers because we have not been doing that already for not just the last eight months but since the beginning of before last year and you have now about $52 million that's what he showed you in his slide. You gave out a stipen in December that you don't have the money for. It's not it wasn't budgeted. It was even tried to be it was he was even tried to be pul it was trying to they were trying to pull it but it was given out. So you don't have 52.8 million right now. Yes, we do. >> You still
063have to subtract the stipen because it wasn't budgeted >> because he's telling you 52 million at the start of this year, but remember you gave out $3 million in December and then you have a bubble waiting for you this year. >> You have a salary as you recall. >> Well, let me finish there real quick, okay? >> So I can continue my point and structure it right. You have a salary bubble that you increased somewhat because you gave local raises. 4% for administration, the highest in the real Grand Valley, 4% across the board for hourly. That one's okay because they get paid by hour. If you give contracts, you're going to have major major issues next year because you're going to deplete your unreserved fund balance and [clears throat] total fund balance even more and
064and you're going to march yourself towards state intervention because you're a 6A school district. Okay? If you roll everybody over again, okay, 14 one year got bigger the next and it's going to get and it's just going to carry over the next if you don't get raises or anything else. And you're going to redline the district, okay? And I've given you the math and I've and I've handed out the the paperworks there. It's very simple. You know, 52US 3 then minus maybe a projected 15 this year and then minus another 15 next year. You're redlining. You can't. So I that's why today I'm going to tell you when he's saying he's putting this here vacancies haven't been replaced and staff will not lose their jobs. You need to push you need to be responsible to
065taxpayers. You need to be responsible to staff as well. And you need to push contracts until May until till Miss Rodriguez and her department can figure out where we stand and and and what what actually are we what impact we're going to have on our fund balance and our reserve funds. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Mr. Let me let me just say quickly on the on the stipen. >> Okay, >> remember I sent the word in December that I saw the red flags about the monies and I told I told the staff there's no stipens. There's no 1,000 stipent. But then there was concerns there. People got called. We met here. You called a special meeting. We met over here and the statement was given. >> Correct. >> And you also voted for
066it, Mr. Los Santos. You voted for the statement. Even though you say you knew these things, you still voted for it >> because you pulled it right before Christmas and the people had you already and you've already put people in financial straits because they spent that money. That's just the way the world works. >> Yeah, I understand. >> Okay. >> Your responsibility. You have 350,000 reasons to know >> and to be right. I don't want to hear nobody told me because you have 350,000 reasons. You're one of the top paid superintendents in the state of Texas. You're the top 25. And the and the and the response that I hear while I'm standing up here while everybody's struggling financially, while people right now are struggling to pay their taxes and employees are scared going into
067Christmas because you announced that principles and assistant principles and teachers are going to get fired and yet nobody told me. Nobody told me. And that's all I hear is nobody told me. >> Yeah. >> And you have 350,000 reasons why you should know. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Mr. Lato. >> Let me just finish what you said. You guys do a lot of curlers out there. Let me just defend myself that that we know what we're doing. Uh I can assure you that this the the one for this year. We still have our 90 days and staff and I are working on 26 2526 by doing reductions and what we're doing and we have interest coming up in the bond elections. So right now I just feel comfortable that we're going to finish the year
068and not not be a disaster is the way you're you're letting us to believe. I just feel that we're not we may have we may hit the 90 days a little bit but not that much and I know what I'm doing. I'm highly I'm highly paid but I produce for this school district and whether you whether you agree to that or not I know what I'm doing. >> Thank you Dr. Da. One quick response. Mathematics is mathematics. >> Yes it is. >> Yes. It's 1 plus 1 is two. >> That's right. Okay. And in July, our staff was at the edge of the cliff. And I'm not and and you're you're being really you announced in December that we were going to have job cuts and you're walking it back. But the math is math.
069>> They were at the edge of the cliff. Now they're hanging now they're over it. They're hanging over and all they and all they're hanging by is fistfuls of grass. >> I am want to be clear. No one is going to lose their jobs. >> We But throughout the state, there were 29 federal positions that there was no money for. Now, now we've cut that in half. And I can assure you those 14 that come May they're going to have jobs. Everyone's no one's going to lose their job through attrition. We're just not going to replace. No one's going to lose their jobs. >> And and if we have to cut positions, we will because of the number of students. >> No one will lose their jobs. Not even the federal people. >> We'll find
070a way. >> Coach, any uh questions there? Mr. Castillo, I know you had several. Now you have another one. >> Yes. Uh on the substitutes, doc. >> Mhm. Is there a way uh where we could maybe have an exit survey of the teacher where the substitutes go? You have substitute cost increases, correct? >> We want to get rid we don't want to employ substitutes that are not effective. We want to we want to be employing effective substitutes. >> Is there a way that we can get our teachers or teachers of record to just let us know which substitutes did a good job and ones that didn't so we don't call back the ones that didn't do a good job? We're doing that already. >> I think uh regarding that question, I believe the principles know
071which substitutes don't do their job or the administration at each campus. >> Okay. >> And that's who you would have to ask and and probably by now uh if a substitute is not producing at a certain campus, the principal will uh block them and they cannot substitute at the campus. >> So, we're keeping we're keeping track of that. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then uh another question. How much money do we currently have in investments? >> Mr. Rodriguez, you want to answer that with your staff? You're in the back. >> Yes, we actually have the investment report in uh in our consent items. Just need to go through that. Non-bonded. I would need to do some math because the total includes the bond. Um, as she's figuring out. Let me continue on questions over here
072and see. >> I got I got one more question. >> Oh, okay. >> On the health insurance, this is just a comment, not even a question. We're going to have to get really creative. >> Yes. on how to design this plan in a way that doesn't affect our employees uh with respect to the benefits that they're getting, but there are ways out there where we could be creative and and think outside the box uh where we could cost we could save some money. So, just be on the lookout for it. Kind of doing what we've always done is not going to work this year. So, that was the only comment I wanted to make. >> Okay. >> We'll wait. We'll continue to wait. Uh Dr. Hammy, any >> I got it. >> You have it?
073>> Yes, sir. Okay. the the total on the investment report as of November what's being reported less the bond monies is 59,457362 >> and that's unencumbered on nothing that >> that's just in the in the investment polls >> okay thank you >> that was your response okay Dr. Hick >> yes um Dr. on the uh property for the city. Uh can we share with the public what what they want to do with that property? Is that something that can be shared? >> You want to come up here and answer that question? [clears throat] >> We're still in the old egg barn, correct? The pit avenue. We're building a new one, but go ahead. >> Yes, sir. So, uh we're looking at the existing uh egg facility the city of West Coast working purchase. Um they're
074looking at a new fire station out there and potentially they've thrown out there uh no commitments yet plans for some recreational facilities out there for the public. But other than that right now we're just working on on that transaction and also they're looking at them demolishing some of the buildings that they're not going to be needed for their project. >> Okay. >> Dr. David, another question. When when you came on board, >> you faced a uh a deficit. >> A deficit. >> How much was that? >> Do you remember how much that was? >> I think it was in 10 10 12 million again. The deficit that was >> 16 >> I'm sorry million 16 million deficit. >> And you feel you feel comfortable that you can um it's 14 million. you feel comfortable where
075you can find, you know, the the adjustments that need to be made to to take on this u this money? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We're looking at 2526 and again the the the same payroll the same is going over to carry to this year. So, we're working with region one to make the adjustments and again we have ways to that we talked about as far as as far as the staff will be reduced and again we're looking at the interest from the bond election and I just want to report that very few districts have passed bond elections and again through all of us working together we have that additional [clears throat] monies so the answer is yes we're working we may have to hit the 90 days we may have to hit a few
076days from it but it's not going to be disaster like Like now we're not going to have a fund balance. We're looking maybe I don't want to give you a figure right now, but it's it'll just be a few days maybe days maybe from 90 to 80 to 75. And if you can look around, most districts do not even have the 90 days. We're one of the few that has the 90 days. You can attest to this, Mr. Mr. Castillo. Not everyone has 90 days fund balance. And again, we're working on it. I'll keep you posted throughout the next four months as to where we are. Well, you've done it before, so and and um I want to fix it. I It's I I trust in in the fact that you can take care of
077it. So, thank you. >> If I can't fix it, I shouldn't be here. Bottom line. >> Thank you, Dr. Mrs. [clears throat] >> Yes. One thing I remembered I was looking at last week when we got the agenda. I And I wanted to ask this not just for myself, but anybody who's not familiar with insurance, what is stoploss insurance? Isn't that where like we don't pay more than a certain amount? What are we not Why are we paying so much if we have that stop-loss insurance? >> Stop loss is because we are self-insured. So this is kind of like insurance on our insurance. So we can hit a certain amount. That's what we call a threshold. >> After that, then that insurance kicks in and reimbures us. Right? So if you have one person who
078hits a $200,000 limit, anything above that $200,000, we would get a reimbursement. individual stop-loss reimbursement. >> It's per person, not let's say the district, we already spent $4 million. >> Correct. And >> it's per person. >> Correct. It's >> so we don't have one as in the district already spent $5 million. Stop loss kicks in. No, you guys don't take anything out of your pocket anymore. >> No, we it's actually per person. And right now, what we have is is a spread of uh claims. We have a lot of people. And I know that we're looking at these numbers and we're saying, "Okay, we're, you know, we're short." But each one of those numbers is somebody who's battling something that they weren't last year. This is unprecedented. I haven't seen so many claims and I've
079only been at it for 3 years, but we have an influx of claims. Everything is is more expensive and we have a lot more people who are going through it. So we have a lot of cancers. Cancers are up by 300%. Right? And just that. So where you have these $200,000 limits all across it spread out. Eventually, we're going to hit those, but at the same time, um it's not necessarily a good thing to have that stop-loss coming in. >> So, then you're uh every person has a 200,000 limit to their insurance before the stop loss kicks in. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Does that apply to pharmacy also? >> Yes, sir. It's it's it's combined. >> It's all combined. >> Combined. >> Now, when we we mentioned this uh item last month and the
080administrative fees had also gone up. What does that in >> I'm not 100% sure what where we're getting administrative fees because administrative fees are actually being rebated back to us because of that uh bundle that we did with um with prime insurance. So for example, we get we get charged uh $35 per employee per month, right? That's would be the administrative fee. Remember that we aren't in the business of insurance. We would need a a huge department to run an insurance selfunded. So we we pay administrative costs only or ASO administrative services only. ASO that would be our Blue Cross. They charge us $35 per employee per month to u negotiate the costs and to adjudicate all the claims to pay the the doctors to pay the the doctors and of course we back that
081up. We then pay Blue Cross what we have plus their administrative fees. However, because we have guaranteed rebates, and I think that was the big selling point for you all, where we knew how much we were going to be getting at least guaranteed rebates in the form of those administrative costs. So, I'm not sure where we're hearing that there's more administrative costs. >> I'm not sure. You guys are the ones who gave us that info last month. I read it on our on our information. Um, [clears throat] one more thing I was uh it was oh because I when this when we talked about this last month, I was looking online to see what other school districts are going through the same thing. The only one that I found here in the valley and I
082may be wrong, but I only found an article on I think it was the monitor was San Benito C ID also I think they were about 1 million uh over with their insurance, but we're looking at 4 million. So just to clarify how that number was calculated and is calculated, I'm looking at policy year, what we're spending per month. Then I'm taking an average of that and multiplying times 12. Except that I'm looking at policy year, right? U starting September, we we noticed, okay, it's a little higher than it was before, but one month doesn't set a trend. October came in and said, okay, now it's a little bit of concern. I mean, if this continues, we're going to have an issue. When November came in and we saw that the trend was continuing, we
083said, "This isn't this isn't rerouting. We now have a big issue." And my estimate is between $4.5 million about 4.5 because the average times 12 equals that much more than what we have budgeted, which is the 22.5 if I remember correctly. So, um that's how we we come up with that number, right? It doesn't include the stop loss that should start kicking in eventually will start kicking in. But then like I'm I'm telling you it's unprecedented that we have so many neoplasms for example that's >> so it's your projection then it's not like the on our report this is how much over it's just a projected amount of what we're going to be >> yes >> okay >> but we have to be ready for it. We need to pivot. >> We need to make
084adjustments as as as we're seeing that this is what's growing. So uh looking at those numbers the only thing we can do is project using existing data to predict future data. In other words, the average of the months that are coming in the months are still climbing. So kind of like that projection is holding. >> Well, let me tell you the way I took it sitting up here and listening. I thought we were already in these last couple of months 4 million over. I didn't understand that this was a projection and we're not sure until the end of the year. So that makes yes, we need to be prepared, but that makes me think about it differently. Okay, it's a projection. It's not [clears throat] what already was spent in the half the first half
085of the year. That's what I wanted. >> Right. But if you look at it being half the year, then we've already spent over spent 2 million or 2.2 million last time. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Sir, I had one question. >> Yes, sir. I wanted to clarify, you know, cuz uh I'm going to say a trustee because I hate these these type of situations, but a trustee asked a question right now that if Dr. Detta took care of the $15 million ESTR deficit, that is the supposed staff overage we had prior to the start of last year. So, you just had a slide there that shows you that you're you have an overage on salaries last year. Okay. So, my question is for Carri since they're here. Okay. And since you already looked at that
086number, well, you're stating there's $14 million in salaries that are that are unbudgeted, right? Or any of those carryover from the previous year, are those any of those individuals because we we had a $15 million ESR deficit, right, prior to the start of last year and the claims being made that it was wiped out? >> It was, >> but there's a slide there that shows $14 million in total salaries >> of new salaries for this year, for last year. >> Okay. So that's why my question because >> everything there is for last year it was not true three years ago. >> What I want to emphasize for the public is there's a universal law right and I've been telling this to trustees called or others there's universal law that we operate by regardless in all
087of our lives. Okay. And no matter how we see things or what we think at the end of the day it's money. You either got it or you don't. And there's no way that you can sit there and promise when we don't even know what the 25 26 accuracy of the budget is. We don't even really know if that's even the 90day and and tell the public and the community again that everything's going to be fine and that nobody's going to lose their jobs because you're right, you can roll everybody over. You can give everyone a contract, but you're going to deplete your your your fund balance, okay, to critical levels >> next year at the end of next year because you're not going to generate more funds than you already have. It's impossible. You
088can cut costs all you want on operations, on funding, on services. A lot of you have felt it. You've said it, right? Different organizations, uh, athletics and things like that, cutbacks, transportation increases and things like that. All these all things tightening up at the campus on expenditures. You're squeezing water of out of a rock. And so what I am speaking to here is my trustees and the taxpayers of the community. Okay? We need to get a forensic audit. We need to do an investigation like Mrs. Taitita said, find out who, what, when, where, and why, and how we had a systematic failure here. Okay? And I'm not talking about the car rigs audit because they're getting the audit from let me just say people that I trust and that that and and that really reached
089out and notified everyone. So I'm talking about the whole process that got us here on us approving bonuses with millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars and giving out raises when we should have done the complete opposite. We should have done what the CFO put in November 15, 2021. >> Thank you. >> The CFO gave us the 14 million. That's that's what I said on my report. He gave us you have 14 million here and he didn't put the salaries from one year to the next. That's that's what caused the problem. He didn't include it >> and and again that's [clears throat] >> but so but my question there is you would have seen it right? You're the superintendent. You just explained it perfectly. The numbers are on paper. >> We saw it later after we
090after we met with him to explain it. He didn't have an answer >> a year later. >> Was he the CFO? I'm not the CFO. >> You're the superintendent of school. >> I'm superintendent but I got a CFO. And again, gentlemen, >> I'm not a co I'm not the CFO. I can do both. >> Correct. >> You want me to do both? >> And when when like I said before, when the information was not provided correctly, >> then how can we make decisions in the best interest of our budget, you know, uh yes, Dr. Superintendent and he's working on that and with the with the audit and then of course the regional audit uh coming up also, then we can make a decision on okay, do we need a forensic audit? You know that's and
091and all this is good information. >> Forensic audit is just going to put try to put blame on who knew and who didn't know. >> Correct. >> But there's no fraud. >> You were told by the audience >> there's accusations of manipulation of the budget. >> There's one thing that Dr. Ramos always tells us and in our lonear governance coach he says you need to stop pretending. >> Correct. >> Stop pretending. And we sit here in a semicircle and we talk about things that we're pretending. And we're pretending right now that we don't know that some employee went and told people who were in charge about this. >> And we're pretending that that they didn't know because the truth is >> people knew. We know that. We need to stop pretending like he says it's
092no no sir. Not I'm not saying Dr. Ria, >> right? >> Because maybe you weren't told. >> Yeah. But what I'm saying is, you know, that we learn through our governance and he says no more politics instead of politics. This is all politics. We don't want politics. We don't we don't want somebody if you know if you knew something and I'm not going to pretend that you guys didn't know because it's not it's firsthand accounts that I'm here that that that's telling me. It's the person themselves telling me. That's what's upsetting. I don't want Dr. Da hanging out to dry because somebody didn't tell him. Mhm. >> If someone had told me the 14 million, I would not have given the raises that we did, 25,000, I would not have given that. But I didn't
093know >> because this guy led me to believe that the money was there. >> And sir, [clears throat] and I told you in the last meeting >> that is not that we are we are trustees, okay, for our community and we got put here >> and I told you in the last meeting in private right there and they were all my witnesses that it's not your decision to fall on the sword for others, okay? It's not. It's just like Missite the same. >> I appreciate that and I appreciate that. But I had to take action on the CFO because he was giving me wrong information and I was giving you wrong information. >> And we have to take action on that. I gave you wrong information. I gave the public wrong information. That was what
094he was giving me until we went out there and and checked with him and squeezed him out. We found out that he was not giving me wrong information. So >> let's continue. I know. I had a real quick question. >> I'm going to I'm going to steer back to our schools and we need to make sure that >> focus back to our kids. >> Correct. And if and if we are going to do this attrition strategy that we're we need to make sure the cabinet I'm going ask the cabinet to make sure you study the people that are not coming back and make sure that we take care of our campuses >> because because we you know make this make that wise choice and make sure we we're covering our kids so that our kids
095are you know we can't lose we're going to lose key people in some positions >> and you all need to make sure we uh Okay, special final thought. Final thought. Okay, so I want to tell the staff this. Okay, >> I'm not going to say who I've been talking, what agency, but I'm going to tell you this. I've been doing a lot of research. I've been giving a lot of information on the reduction enforce process and I've been given a lot of uh information as far as how people set barriers, the trustees set barriers on the comm based on the community's focus. one if you're overstaffed and you do have to let go of staff whether it it's regard I'm going to say categories but never do you start with your campuses especially when you're
096academically successful and and and you have operations there working and you also and in our school district we don't focus on transportation nutrition and also maintenance because those those departments have have if you look at the the budgeting tool from region one have historically been right on target or below staffed so you don't affect those okay it's all it's everyone else that maybe that you can start to look at but the not the campuses and it's not those departments and I just wanted to state that publicly and I'm going to stand on that as a trustee. I'm not saying that if we take the right proactive measures, I think that we can refrain from that, buy ourselves time, just like Carri said, make an adjustment on that 14 million. Carri just stated there that that
097would be an issue if you continue to have it. So that means attrition for the public means if somebody decides to leave, but we're the highest paid district in the rural Grand Valley. We're part of the TIA. Okay, if somebody was somebody else was going to retire, they would have left in December already. So, we already saw that staff drop and you're probably not going to have other staff leave as well either because who would because we're the highest paid. So, that's why I'm just telling my fellow trustees, we need to take proactive measures and just like trustees said, I agree with her 100%. We need to stop pretending. We need to accept the fact first part of crisis management is understand you're in a crisis. Thank you. >> I got it. Got it. I
098just want >> Let me Let me just say real quickly that to solve this and we're going to solve it, but it can't just be me. It has to be my staff and the team of seven here. It's got to be all eight of us working together to solve this problem. >> Correct. >> I need your help. >> And we're just I just want to make one final comment. I want to share where my head space is on this. Right. >> And just like Trusty de loans just said, and I understand the anger and the frustration. I feel it too. >> But in my mind right now, we just got to fix it. >> Yes. >> We got to figure out where we're at. We got to fix it >> as a team of eight.
099>> Yes. and make the adjustments we need to make. And then after that's fixed, then I'm all for chopping heads. But right now, I want to fix it. I want to know I want a true picture of where the district's at. And that's where my head space is right now. >> Thank you, Mr. Castillo. >> Okay. Uh, let's continue. Are you still report? >> I'm finished. >> You finished? >> Okay. >> I just want to say but luckily here in Weso, we have not closed any schools at all. surrounding districts have closed schools and we have not closed any schools and nor do I plan to to close any schools. We'll have to work and solve the problem. Okay. Thank you. Let's continue with number eight. Longar governance. Uh let the record reflect that Mrs.
100Taitita came in at 5:34 and uh Dr. Heck came in at 5:36. Mrs. uh Solano. Uh discussion on the Longar governance board monitoring calendar for January 2026. >> Yes, sir. Good evening. Good evening uh board president, board members and community. So this month we will be focusing our attention on the reading and math benchmark one scores that happened uh throughout mid November all the way to the end of December. So that's why we're presenting them this month. So our focus for our GPMS 3.1 through 3.3 as well as 4.1 to 4.3 will be in the grade levels fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Right. So when we look at GPMs 3.1 through 3.3 that goal focuses in ensuring that we meet our six great that sixth grade students meet or score meets grade level or above
101in the star math and that it will increase from 24% when we started the work with LSG all the way to 56% by August 2028. So um community and board here you will see that we have fourth grade in the dark purple. It's this current year. We are at a 35% as a district for our benchmark one. The end of the year target is 44% and by 2028 it's 56. Um then you have fifth grade that is at 53% as a district at the meets performance level. Um and their goal end of the year goal uh is a 44%. For sixth grade they have scored as a district at a 32% at the meets grade level and their end of the year target uh one star has been taken and administered is a 39%. Right
102there you do have the table of the special populations uh for EBS economically disadvantaged which is very similar to your all students and then your special education um students as well. So um for right now because this is benchmark one data we still have benchmark 2 to administer and then a couple of more weeks until the map star. We uh are competent to say that we are on track to meeting the end of the year targets which we know fifth grade have already met and surpassed the end of the year targets and we'll explain that in a little bit. Right. The next slide um shows you the campus meets performance for math by great uh by grade level and by campus. Right? So this breaks it down by by campus. There you can see that
103several campuses have already met or surpassed the end of the year target. Other campuses are nearing and other campuses are in need um of assistance. Fifth grade, you see how and we celebrate and recognize also the hard work from all the teachers. We know that it has been a different year with the new implementation of a new uh curriculum and we acknowledge that. Uh but fifth grade is doing uh amazing right as well. Um and then you have our sixth grade or our our middle school which is why we monitor this uh this grade level right because at the end of the day it's this goal that we want to impact sixth grade which is the transition grade from elementary to middle school. So there you see central middle school already surpassing the target. You
104have uh qua nearing the target um and then be Garza and Mary Hogue. Then um I'm going to move on to re well to the uh district uh what's working and some opportunities that we have um identified or come across um some of the questions that were asked by the trustees. A lot of this of why UC campus is meeting the goal or surpassing the goal or nearing the goal um you know I think have this in common. So consistent implementation of the the adopted curriculum and we're saying fidelity to the way it's written the way it's supposed to be implemented it's the way that it's being implemented across uh the grade level or the classrooms right maintaining the rigor while supporting all learners. Sometimes we want to teach or water down our instruction right
105and it hinders the performance of students versus teaching at the level uh or the grade performance that the the student should be learning at. Um we are seeing we have seen a tremendous increase in collaboration amongst teachers amongst campus leaders to problem solve implementation challenges. And you know, we thank region one, the service center for doing the work with us, but also our CNI department, our leadership staff, um our instructional coaches, our deans of instructions, our teachers more than anyone, um for putting the time and the effort to ensure that proper implementation of a newly adopted curriculum is working as great as we have seen up until the first semester. Right. However, what we've identified some areas that need more attention is to strengthen the blue bonnet objectives and how they're taught. Sometimes if I've
106been a teacher for a long time, I've always taught it this way. So you telling me or a scripted way to teach it a new way, it's it's different, right? So we have seen in some learning walks where there may be a misconception of how I've taught it before to how it's actually supposed to be taught. So we're addressing that a little bit more closely this semester uh through our learning walks and uh walkthroughs also consistently using the data to drive instructional decisions. Sometimes we have a lot of data right so what data are we using to ensure that it gives us the proper or positive student outcomes. So um you know we are seeing an increase even just in our walkthroughs in our test focus from instruction. Um, so all of that and I
107and I'll explain that in in another slide, but and also one of the things that we are now working with because it's a newly adopted curriculum is the integration of supplementary instruction. Um, usually with newly adopted curriculums, we tend to take more of the time than it's required or prescribed because we're adapting to it, right? So we are learning how to navigate. if the required curriculum says 60 minutes, but I've been taking all the 90 minutes. Well, I haven't had time to reinforce with tier 2 instruction if needed. So, we're navigating through that now that we feel more comfortable with the adopted curriculum as well for reading, which is goal four, uh, and addresses 4.1 through 4.3. Again, this goal addresses that sixth grade students that score meets grade level or above on the star
108reading will increase 38% from August 2023 to 53 by August 2028. Uh we did note make a note of fourth and fifth grade are not on track just because of the gap from here until the end of the year. Sixth grade is on track. So I will say uh fourth grade across saw an increase in performance right uh from from last year to this year one of the things that we're doing based on our learning with the newly adopted curriculum in math we're mimicking a lot of those instructional strategies in the other core content areas and we're seeing the benefit of that right in so we scored at 36% however our end of the year target is a 50% %. In fifth grade, uh we scored a 39% as a district. Um and our end
109of the year target is a 54. And then in sixth grade, you see, uh we scored a 43% in in all four middle schools combined together with the end of the year target being a 46% here. So um fourth grade saw growth, sixth grade saw growth and ironically math saw fifth grade growth and surpassed the target. But in in reading it's vice versa. Right? So when you look at the campuses um you see in fourth grade some campuses like Kleckler Held, Marggo Memorial nearing that end of the year goal. Gonzalez surpassing it with a 71% at the meets performance level. And then you have uh in fifth grade campuses that are also there nearing the goal or surpassing it as well. Um I do want to state that in fifth grade Marggo and airport had
110tremendous growth from last year to this year. So want to recognize that um as well. And then in sixth grade, you see Central Middle School once again surpassing already the end of the year target and the other schools nearing um that end of the year target and Mary Hope needing some additional assistance, but we trust with the new instructional processes um fidelity to implementation of these processes um that they won't get near that target. what is working uh or not working right what needs attention in the RLA area is again uh one of the things that we have stressed is to use the same protocols as our new adoption with blue bonnet. Blue bonnet has taught us a lot of good things and good effective instructional p uh practices that the region service center and
111TA have taught us and and brought down to us as resources. uh we are seeing high performance in those classrooms where administrators and um our CNI staff have uh communicated or documented the high fidelity to the curriculum meaningful data conversations to address student achievement. We see this and we hear this a lot throughout the campus weekly PC's right where the conversations are about rehearsing a lesson uh versus uh just planning for a lesson creating another lesson plan right and again high level of collaboration centered around effective instruction which goes back to aligning it to the test rubric right at the end of the day the state measures us even through TIA on how aligned or effective are you as an educ educator by putting in place the rubric or the dimensions and and we see
112it right what needs more attention um so one of the things that we're working with and in 5.2 to [clears throat] in in one of the CPMs that I'll address in a little bit you'll see is as soon as we do a walkthrough give immediate feedback because if the teacher doesn't know what you observe or what needs attention then it's going to be hard to improve right so that is one of the things that we we have noticed and we've discussed to give that feedback immediately to impact instruction in a timely manner and then again adjust instruction to meet student needs without jeopardizing the rigor of instruction. Again, not watering it down because I need to address it throughout my tier 2. Address tier one as is. And then address the needs of those special
113populations through your tier 2, right? And then the last um the goals or for CPMs, right, for the constraint progress measures, we address tests, right? and we ensure that our focus in the classroom is test so that all external factors stay out of the classroom and we continue to positively impact student outcomes. Right? So one of the things that we have seen is that multiple appraisers um are in charge for each teacher versus we've changed to where if you were the appraiser assigned to that teacher only you appraise right and provide that feedback. So, we've gone away from that in the last couple of years to where multiple appraisers have to calibrate and observe those same teachers so that we're all seeing the same thing and we're all giving feedback that's aligned to the rubric,
114right? um instructional rounds um this year uh tremendously they have an in increase with the region service center uh assistance but also to amongst the teams of uh campus leaderships um our coordinators or CNI um those have increased as well increased emphasis on instructional walkthrough what do we mean by this I don't go into the classroom just to observe the learning environment behavior I go into the classroom to tell you about the instruction is it being effective or not, right? Not just the learning environment. What needs more attention? Again, um more training for appraisers and teachers on t test rubric. So, what we mean by this is not just the PD session, but on the implementation, right? So, we have PD now we need to follow it by monitoring that whatever we received in the
115training is implemented as is, right? as especially the rubric can be left up to interpretation, right? Uh in several of the dimensions on how you rate a teacher. More intracampus observation opportunities. This is giving our leadership teams an opportunity to go visit with other leadership teams and go do walkthroughs. We understand it's a busy life at the campus and it's hard to go and observe others in other areas. But at the end of the day in addition TIA will measure us across all campuses that it's consistent not just in a campus and Test alignment with student outcomes. If we say you are a distinguished teacher do the student outcomes reflect that right what is the percent of students growing and and performing at high levels of instruction so ensuring that we understand that that is
116my presentation. Um Mr. Thank you, Mr. Solo. Uh questions. Uh I'll begin with over here with Mr. Susa. >> Okay, I did not turn them in and I did look at the data, but I'm just going to be real honest. I was so confused looking at this and let me tell you why. Okay, >> I went back and looked at the goals uh our board monitoring calendar. Let's just start there for those people who a lot of people ask me. I they tell me I just don't get it. I don't get what LSG is that you got. It's all these graphs and percentages. Let me try to do it like explain it as basic as possible as I can. So, we have a board monitoring calendar, right? Every month, we're measuring certain goals that we
117have. The one that we're measuring this month, which you see up there, goal three, we measure that or we look at this twice a year. We do that in January and in May. Only those two months out of the whole year. So before this month, the last time we looked at these goals, goal three, was in May of 2025. That's the last time that that we we looked at it, right? >> Uh no, ma'am. It's cuz this one Okay. So the last time we spoke about like sixth grade performance was in August when we do the A throughF accountability ratings. So there that it has an asterk because it addresses all academic performance goals because star ratings are for all grade levels. So we look at all grade levels in specific in that report. >>
118Okay. So >> but it but it's our benchmarks one and two that will give us a projection of how we're going to do in our final rating in August. And that's what I was go I was getting to because I went back as a board member and that's why I always ask I told Mr. Can you please have them put our LSG presentations on our district website uh on board book because people ask me and and I I don't even know. I have to go back into my board book. But anyway, so I went back to May cuz I was thinking when's the last did we even reach our goal? But because the goal is for goal three that we want our sixth graders to get to the approaches level. The goal for uh 2025
119was to have the our sixth graders goal three uh the the goal for them was to get to a 37% on sixth grade math. Then I'm looking at this data and I'm wondering did we even get there in because the goal is by August, right? August is when we're supposed to measure. So that's what that's why you said you gave us the information in August. I would like to see it here though because I don't know how we did uh you know last compared did we reach our goal or did we not reach our goal. I'm looking at this and it's giving me the benchmarks, >> right? >> And and I went back into the 2025 benchmarks and I I wrote them down for benchmark one and 2025 for the for the for the goal
120three. The fourth graders last year were at a 50% approaches is what I see on my data here, but this year they're at a 35. Then I look at uh fifth graders in 2025 benchmark one they were at 62 and now they're at 53. So I see this this trend going down, right? And then I'm thinking, well maybe they they they did good in the star test anyway, right? Because we did pretty good on the star. But then I'm thinking, but where's that on here? I don't see it for this month's. Did we reach that goal uh in 2025? So I don't know. Did did we reach the the the goal? >> Mr. Say that just real quick. Are are you referencing approaches or the meets performance? >> Approver the goal is approaches. It's approaches.
121>> Meets. >> Okay. Meats. It's meats. >> Meets performance. >> Did we did we reach that goal? >> So we um I'm not certain. I would have to go back just to ensure that I'm answering correctly. The only reason we put the benchmark one I know because we have been asked to compare it from benchmark one to benchmark one just to see where in time um are we projected right based on whatever we've implemented for the next round of assessments are we going to meet the goal um I can go back uh to that data just to ensure that I'm answering correctly um at the meets performance level. >> Yes I would appreciate that because we as the board and I was actually looking through this when we're doing our board evaluation. One of the
122questions is does the board use >> the targets met to uh do the superintendent evaluation because there is a superintendent evaluation of if you reach your goals the targets yes yes yes and that's how the superintendent gets evaluated but if I go back and I look at the at the benchmarks it's all no no no no we didn't reach any hardly any of the targets so I want to make sure do we have the accurate information I don't know >> so we will run it. Um our one of our departments runs the data for us and we validate all this data is also shared with campus leadership just to ensure that we're presenting accurate information. But what we can do uh mito and board we can add an extra um bar graph to show you
123the star 2025 results at that needs performance level so that you can see star 2025 benchmark one in addition to right and also benchmark one to this year. >> Yes. Because the main goal of goal three is >> star and and how did they do and we don't even we don't even have on here. Correct. So that would be really helpful. Then we can then I can say and I was just looking at I didn't understand the graph at first cuz I see light purple then dark purple but it's so tiny on the bottom uh last year compared to current >> to current year and then now we have fourth, fifth and sixth grade al together instead of on separate sheets the way we did last year. So that's good to know. Um my other
124question is regarding the CPMs, the constraint progress measures. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And the just to read it out loud, what are we looking at this month for a constraint? Constraint means guardrails. You cannot do this. And one of the constraints is this constraint for this month is the superintendent shall not allow adult or community convenience, preference or private interest to take priority over the academic progress of our students. Now on Friday, um Trustto and uh Trusty Quay and I met here in the boardroom with a lot of the students. We had our student committees. the kids came in and they they they we put them in groups and we we we they got to present up here in the front to each other. It was awesome. It was awesome hearing them. Um and something
125that they had said that they really stuck to me. A lot of things they said was very like hm wow. Okay. But because this has to do with the with the constraints that we shall not let anything take ac priority over academic progress of our students. coming from the students themselves, the feedback was the teachers care about me, but um maybe if they could like bond with me a little bit better. Maybe if they had more of that emotional connection with me, I could learn better. Not all of some. And there were other things coming up that that I I get calls also during the month saying, "Well, you know, the kids the field trips, we didn't have to pay for this before and now we do. There's no money and it's all tied back
126to the mental health and it's all tied back to the budget and and the constraint is nothing takes priority over our kids. Nothing." And and I feel like we're measuring this with tea tests. I don't know if that really aligns to what we want to measure here. I know the teachers are doing a great job. I know. But I would like to see maybe we can talk about it in the future. How can we measure this a little better to to take into account the academic progress as the priority and not, you know, the t test. I don't know that those that's just my two cents on that. >> But yes, that that's all I had for for this month. >> Thank Thank you. Thank you. >> Dr. H. >> You want us to go
127through the questions we submitted? Coach, >> you don't you can ask some of those questions. She incorporated the presentation with all the questions that were uh submitted by the >> So, I'm good. I'm good with it. Thank you. >> And I know Mr. Castillo submitted quite a number of questions, you know, so uh I commend him. >> I did my homework this month. >> That's right. You know, uh any uh comments on the presentation? Well, thank you for reminding me, sir, because you did send me a text late Friday night or whatever night it was to get your questions in and I and I listened. So, thank you, sir. I I guess on the uh going back on what Jackie said on the evaluation uh on the instrument, we need to get it from Sinto.
128>> Yes. So, uh so um [clears throat] Mr. Gastio, uh last summer we did some work with all campus administration, district administration in the summer to revise the DPMS. And one of the works that uh we have pending is now look at our CPMs. We feel strongly about our GPMs. I know Sinto came over actually twice last summer to work with us. So we are going to be doing that work in the summer too but now with the CPMs. >> Okay. But as far as the superintendent's evaluation instrument, we need to get the instrument from Sinto. So going back to >> to Jackie's comment as far as are we evaluating the suit based on these goals. >> Uh we need the instrument. >> Is that something Dr. Damos provides? I'm not sure. >> Yes. >>
129It is in the Lonear participant manual. It just seeks homework to see like did you reach the goal because the one who's held accountable for reaching the goals is the superintendent and we want to make sure we don't leave him hanging out to dry and that we we're we're on prog on the right track. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, yeah. No, I submitted my questions uh and you you guys answered them. So, uh yeah, I mean just uh just to follow up on the one that I asked to report back to the board. uh on how we're measuring that >> that's on the walkthroughs the CPMs 5.2 to increase the instructional focus and that has been already a discussion in our principles meeting with principles and um all of RSC and >> okay thank you
130>> Mr. Coa >> I think uh the questions that I put in I don't know if you got them in time but I did uh >> you did answer them here but maybe just yes >> if you can elaborate a little bit on on the district's plan for the middle schools. >> Yes. So one of the things u Mr. Sanz and there they are there. So our uh the first one is the plan to assist the middle schools that are not meeting the targeted goals in reading and in math. So in reading we feel very confident that um they are nearing the target. However I think with consistent implementation right that is an end of the year target. Um I know Quayad is is very few points away from meeting the target probably three if
131if I'm correct but one of the things that we had each campus principal also give us their action plan to see how is it that we can support right we know we just did some work with them last week on providing the lowest SC's and how is it that we can go back and target and work on improving those five and how many points would those five give you in addition right for the next round of um ben benchmarks, benchmark 2, which we start midFebruary already. So, I know that will continue to take place. Um, I know our content coordinators and our CNI staff have done a tremendous job in reporting data back, not just data from the classroom, but data from walkthroughs to see how it's aligning, but also to even our our special
132population, which is your next question, right? How are we going to address that population of students? Um, one of the things that we've seen an increase this year is with the newly adopted curriculum, special education teachers must be part of the training with core teachers. Um, in other years, special education teachers had their own specific training and they continue to have that, but now they are attending trainings with the grade level teachers as well and they're being part of the PLC's to plan with your fourth grade teacher, fifth grade teacher, whoever it is that they support and also plan with. In addition to I know that Miss Cardinus and Mr. GarcA just had a training on how to use supplemental aids to assist and increase um that possible um achievement in the test. >> Are
133we seeing are we seeing positive impact on >> uh so that we I know we saw a positive u result with the training but those trainings will have to continue throughout the semester to ensure that the implementation is in the classroom. >> Okay. >> Yes. And going back to the previous one and who who who goes and supervises the PLC's at the campuses from our cabinet is it you I mean how we how is it that you strategize to to to get to those campuses? >> Yes. So uh every Monday morning our CNI department with the assistance of Mrs. Morales and Mr. Garlic have a meeting. Right. And by this time we have already strategized campuses in need or prioritize campuses that need um additional support whether it's with walkthrough data whether it's with instructional
134data that we're seeing that's coming in from any uh formal or informal assessments then they meet with them on Mondays to say these are the campuses in need of support and this is what we need to monitor and where we need to attend right and Mr. Garlic and Mrs. Morales do their rounds in addition to the coordinators as well. >> And is anyone from central office doing any kind of modeling for our teachers or do you leave it up to the campus principles or how is it do you all model any strategies with our >> So are you saying like specifically from central office from our CNI department? >> Yes. Our coordinators are out there in the PLC's or in the classrooms with or in planning periods right for the secondaries. And then uh Mr.
135Garlic and Mrs. Morales also attend and are part of those discussions. >> Okay. >> Thanks. Can >> I just make a quick comment? Can you post these along with the presentation? Yes. >> So whoever whoever is interested could see the questions and the responses more importantly. >> Most definitely. >> So we could go back and look at what we asked prior. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Los Santos. >> No, I don't have any questions. Okay. Uh any other questions? >> I just remembered Mr. to um one of the questions that we had asked the kids cuz it was part of the panorama and it's it this is part of the constraint progress measures one of the questions was at your school how much does the behavior of other students hurt or help your learning and on
136the panorama survey 40 half 49% of the kids responded favorably that means that 51% said yeah the the the behavior of other kids hinders my learning so one of the one of the groups of kids that we had here. It was I think it was one of the elementary schools. They chose that question and I told a little girl, it was a little girl. I said, "Um, you tell me. Pretend you're the board member. How can we solve this problem to help you guys learn better?" And she said, "Well, my teacher, she spends a lot of time having to address kids who aren't behaving good, and so that doesn't give her enough time to teach us." And I know as a teacher being in the classroom, I understand. She I said, "So, how can we
137solve that?" "Well, maybe if we could have somebody help my teacher, like a teacher aid," she said. And I I I was thinking in my head, if we had enough money to buy every teacher a teacher aid, we would do that. And I know the principles get very creative and try to get people to go in there and help the teachers, but it was just very eye opening that the kids, even the kids in elementary can see that that my teacher needs help with the kids who aren't behaving good, right? And that gets back to what is the priority. Our academic progress should be the priority. Mental health, because those kids who aren't behaving very well, you know, they're screaming out for attention. There's something going on there. There's a lot of things we need
138to work on, but I just wanted to mention that and hope I know K West was there and they were recording and maybe they'll get to share later on uh some snippets of that meeting, but it's just very very interesting to hear from them >> and and of course Miss Mrs. Sta being the teacher that she is, she provided an activity for the students. But we told the students all the questions you responded to and if everything we're discussing, take it back to the principal. So that way you as a principal can see what the other schools are doing. There's, you know, there was quite a number of questions and some of them said, "Oh, we're doing this, we're doing this, but we're not doing this." So those students need to go back to you
139and I said, "Meet with you for five minutes. That's it." And go over over that, you know, I like uh so thank you, Mrs. And of course, Coach Kra was there also. Later on, we'll have the other uh board members attend also, but uh Mr. Mrs. Solano, I I like what you said. Media feedback is very important and I believe that what that's one thing that Mrs. Garcia uh Miss Garcia Rosa Garcia as her presentation even though I wasn't here I had the opportunity to view it online and uh immediate feedback coaching from the administration uh the walkthroughs but immediate feedback is very important to the teachers because that's the way they will improve you know but and my number one thing that I've always said student engagement is very important not just your best
140six students all 22 students that are there or all 24 if they're engaged and they're learning and you said that it's rigorous instruction then we will have the the good results. All right. Any other final comments? Okay. Let's continue with u do we we have the board self evaluation today? >> Yes. >> Oh yes. >> Okay. So I I know that several of the board members provided this information and I kind of uh average the the scores, you know, and so we'll go with number one >> is uh the board has adopted student outcome goals and we have uh we're still not at the mastery level. the mastery level again I'm going to uh make some comments have committed the vision and student outcome goals to memory no we haven't well I haven't I don't
141know if maybe one of you has right know the current status of each student outcome goal uh not necessarily agree that there is broad community ownership not yet because we haven't presented to parents or uh uh parents at the at the school um communication with students staff and community members. We have to improve in this area. >> Uh so right now that one we're at a 12 meet focus. Number two, vision and goals too. The board has adopted goal progress measures or the GPMS aligned to each student outcome goal. There we meet focus. All board members and the superintendent agree that the GPMS will challenge the organization. Yes. Require adult behavior change. Yes. are influential by the superintendent definitely are all predictive of their respective respective student outcome goals. Yes. But to get into mastery
142level again communication with students where we have done that part like you mentioned Jackie with uh the student advisory board with staff not yet and community members. We still have to work on on that part right there, you know, and and and I know sometimes it it's difficult, but we have to reach out to the principles and say what is a time that is available that we can go and present uh our LSG governance uh information to uh staff members and to teachers and so forth. And that was a U. Okay. So vision and goals three, the board has adopted constraints which we have superintendent constraints and board constraints and we're still at a nine that we still haven't met the mastery level. Uh the mastery level all members and the superintendent agreed that there
143is a broad community ownership of the constraints. Not yet. We're not there yet at all. Now we go to vision and goals number four. Uh the board has adopted superintendent constraint progress measures. We have uh I we rated altogether a four. We're still not at the mastery level. Uh it meets focus. We'll uh the CPN will challenge the organization. Yes. Will challenge the organization to uphold community values? Definitely. Are all predictive of their respective constraint? Yes. and are influential by the superintendent. Yes. But in order to meet mastery focus, all board members, not just a few, all have [snorts] to uh uh agree that there's broad community ownership of the superintendent CPMs we have, but through the involvement and communications of students, staff, and community members, we're still not there. We know we're onethird of
144the way there, but uh so that one was a four. Now we continue on to uh progress and accountability one. The board invests at least half of its time to improving student outcomes. And to meet focus, 25% or more of the total quarterly minutes in board authorized public meetings were invested in improving student outcomes according to the time use tracker. like what M Solano did uh the questions that we're asking on on how students are doing the benchmark results and so forth. Uh we still need uh to improve in that because in order to get masters we have to have 50% or more of the total time which we're not there yet. >> Mr. Neto, uh have you gotten with Dr. Ramos to to to code the minutes for the on the time use tracker
145for with the >> Actually, she was he was supposed to come by. Uh so he's going to come out so we can get together on on that. >> Okay. >> And also on the training uh for Dr. Hman to track the minutes in a board meeting. >> Yeah, >> it's on you, sir. >> He did he did give us a update on some of the meetings recently on on the email. I think he calculated the minutes. >> Okay. Cuz I wasn't even sure about this. I don't know how many but what percent we're at or what? >> Yeah, it was pretty low. >> Yeah, 25%. All right, [snorts] let's continue on to uh progress and accountability two uh which is uh total points possible with five. We got four and again the reason we got
146four which is meat focus the board receives at least annually a report on the average cost of staff uh of staff time spent on governance. Uh one quarter ago the the board performed a self evaluation which we have voted to improve to approve the quarterly progress tracker which we have but in order to get mastery there's again um we have to have modified outcome goals GPMs constraints CPMs or targets and considers superintendent performance um by evaluating the superintendent only on results which you which you mentioned and that's something we're going to do when we do the evaluation this year. >> Mr. Nto I I this is my opinion. I don't think we should get four points and the reason why is because we have to meet all this criteria and the first one says we
147get a report annually on the average cost of staff time spent on governance using the staff use tracker. We've never gotten a staff use tracker, okay, >> and a cost of how much we're spending to have them address our concerns. >> We've never we've never done that. >> so we should not be getting four points. >> So, we should be in approaches. >> That's my opinion. >> Okay. >> Unless we have gotten a report on the staff use that I've never seen. No. >> Okay. But no. and and what I [clears throat] did I took the average of all the points that the uh board members okay presented so systems and processes the board operates in a way that allows the superintendent to accomplish the vision again meets focus that's what we have uh in
148the average uh board authorizes public meetings in the last quarter did not exceed an average of four meetings per month okay an average of three hours per meeting okay an average of five other topics per Not necessarily. You know, the majority has been on budget. >> Mhm. >> Uh the board has reviewed existing local policies. >> Okay. And only local policy pertaining to board work. So we're but again to master focus uh an average of three meetings per month, which we have, an average of two hours per meeting, which we have. No, not necessarily on that one. Board members receive the final materials to be voted at least seven calendar days before the public meeting. Yes, but still uh no edits to the board's regular schedule meeting agenda in the three days prior to now
149remember three d days prior to we cannot change an agenda item you know and I think you mentioned it to uh one of the times that you called me. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> So there we meet focus on advocacy and engagement. Um out of 10 I uh we're at approaches because we haven't met uh the uh the board displays and keeps updated the status and targets of all student outcome goals. Not necessarily >> publicly in the boardroom. It says there. >> Yeah. >> So maybe we can work on that and and put them up here. >> Yes. Exactly. Uh has led or co-led at least one training. Uh I haven't. I don't know if any of you besides uh Jackie and I and coach Quer and uh coach Serna with the student committee. That was
150the only time that we kind of led. >> Uh but it was for students. We still have to focus on the adults. >> The adults. Yeah. And [clears throat] [snorts] >> on this one, uh, advocacy and engagement again, uh, approaches because uh, has led a co-led, students have been included at least one longar governance training in kind of was when we met with the students. uh newly selected board members have received an orientation on longstar governance by fellow board members or an LSG coach and that's upcoming with uh Dr. >> [snorts] >> And then the final one, the board works uh collaboratively with the superintendent to lead towards a vision which we have. But again here I I have it as a three according to uh all the board members that uh submitted [snorts] the
151information maintain an average attendance of 80% which we have. Agrees that all board members have followed policy. Yes. Agree that every member has completed all required trainings. I don't know if we have completed all of them yet. [snorts] And rather than the superintendent let the completion of longar governance tax. So that's something we're working on and masters have completed the longar governance workshop. We did but we still have the second one upcoming uh in the spring. Agree that no board member has give been given operational advice or instructions to staff members during the previous three months. again uh there uh depending on each one of you uh I don't provide information to other staff members if I do I provide it to the superintendent you know and and that's why we have him and his
152cabinet to continue uh on that so the rating with the three going down I have it at comments >> I agree >> Mr. Steel. >> I agree. I'll make a motion to approve. >> All right. And uh as I pass it, you'll you'll sign it. Coerna, any comments on on on what we're doing with LSG? >> No, sir. We're good. >> Mr. Los Santos, >> no comments. >> Okay. And Miss Jackie. >> Um I just kind of feel like we've hit a plateau with this. We're just kind of stagnant. We're not getting any better >> or any worse. And I know we all work. I know we all have a family, but you know, we were elected to at least put a little bit of time into those kids. And it's hard. I get it.
153I know. [clears throat] But when we come together as a board, it makes a big difference. When it's always the same one or two or three of us, >> it's good to work together as a team. We got to we got to work on that. That's that's my comment. >> And and and and again with the student advisory committee, uh uh Miss Mrs. was like that and told them you know whatever information we're going to get from you it will impact on what decision was going to make we're going to make next year you know all the information that they're providing because you know every school is different you know each principal is different but there's common things that that can happen at every school uh just like I mentioned earlier uh with uh Mrs.
154uh Miss Grosa Garcia of you saw the scores there for Gonzalez and and meeting above the target rate, you know. So, there's something going on there that will help other schools and you know, uh but Molano, you'll follow up on on that. >> I would make >> Okay. [laughter] No, I'll go real fast. Um I just wanted them, you know, Mr. Sites is right. Trusty Susites is right. They've always been holding down the fort um for years, for a long time. And and and you too as well, right, Mr. Netto? Um if we could just schedule certain things like at because I work so 12 to 1 or after 5 and I know it's tough for kids after 5. So like or 1 to two, something like that that kind of would open up a
155window. U because you're right, we all have to start putting in that type of work there, especially in that type of area. And and the and I know I was going to say, Mr. setting up them in. I mean, you know, I don't know what his hours are, but yeah, I'm I'm free after 5 for like staff and especially committees and uh cuz it was a safety committee, but it was like at 4, right? >> So, that means I would have to take half a day and I have six-year-old and a 12year-old and and a 15-year-old and they get sick and dental appointments and whatnot and all that. So, yeah, if we could just Yeah, she's right. Yeah. And you all are right. We all have to pull >> and the upcoming [snorts] where adults
156will be uh invited will be after 5. >> Okay. So, that >> and the kids were here during lunch. They they had Chick-fil-A here and cupcakes during lunch. We've had them during lunch. So, >> right. [clears throat] >> Just on the comments that Jackie said on on this this week with or last week's advisory meeting. >> I think we need to listen to the kids because the kids know and I I think I mentioned that to someone. They are there in the arena. We're out here. We need to listen to them. So, hopefully we do. Okay. >> Mr. Neto, >> thank you. >> I was just going to say to Jack, I feel personally attacked. [laughter] I tell them all the time just 1 hour just go. >> Uh but noted I'll be I'll be
157better. So thank you for keeping us accountable. >> Okay. >> And it feels good when the kids start coming up to you like hi miss or you know cuz what is that saying? The kids don't care how much you know. They know how much you care or something like that. >> Okay. >> There you go. >> All right. Let's continue. >> Um so we had a motion to approve, right? Yes. Do I have a second? >> Yes. Second by uh Mrs. Staup. All in favor please say I. >> I. >> All oppose. >> So this is the one we're signing correct. >> Yes sir. >> All right. Let's continue to consent items. Uh >> presentation. Oh yes. My fault. Uh presentations. Mrs. Dorothy. Miss Dorothy Serna. The first time it was a elementary school was
158Miss Rosa Garcia. Now is a middle school uh Miss Miss Dorothy Cerna and uh let's find out why they were so successful uh last year. >> Members of the board, thank you so much for having me here. Um, so you mentioned a lot of things going through the strategies that you were talking about and those are good strategies that all campuses implement and um, I know Miss Garcia and you mentioned um, she presented last uh, what a couple months ago and everything that she had on there, it's it's what we all do, you know. So I said, how am I going to make this different? So I kind of went in and dug into our vault of secrets. And so that's what I'll be sharing with you today. Okay. Um so our best practices um
159first of all we have the culture of success. Um it drives the effectiveness of our best practices. Um and I I chose three important things. Of course there's you know discipline and there's um attendance but I feel that collaboration, teamwork and dedication to student success. And I think um Jackie you mentioned about students at the center of all we do. That is what we practice at Central Middle School. Um so I went in and I said, "Okay, let's choose three of the most important and impactful um best practices that we practice and have been practicing at Central. I've been there close to 16 or 16 years. And a lot of these we've been doing for over, you know, 10 years." and of course we improve it and make it better. So the data analysis and
160goal setting, targeted interventions and support and focus support and programs. So I'm just going to go a little bit and give you some some um information. So the first one is data analysis. Um on the left we have domain one and I'm just sharing what we do with our staff. Um in January we came back, we analyzed the data. on the left is domain one. Um, we had the teachers analyze the data. They set class goals and they set student goals. Um, I met with the teachers. I went over the data and I said, "Okay, and the and if you notice the purple, that is their data for benchmark one." Each teacher had to fill this out and then they had to look and analyze the data and give me a commitment. What is their
161commitment for benchmark 2? What are they? What do they see in their data that they can level up? And when I mean level up, that means from did not meets to approaches, approaches to meets and so forth. And so if you notice this example, the teacher had seven students that did not master I mean did not meets. So her commitment for benchmark 2, she said all of them are going to meet it. And so um and you see her level up and her initial domain one was 57. She's going to contribute to the whole pot like I like to say to Central with the 66. Then once each teach each teacher has their data, they come together and they input it as a grade level and that is their commitment. And if you notice they're
162they're aiming high and that's also very important aiming high. Um and so our goal when we met with leadership uh we as a administration had to set our goal and they've already met the goal that we had placed. So that's amazing. So that means for benchmark two it should go higher. Um on the right my APS and instructional coaches work on domain two uh domain two on growth. So they met with the teachers, they worked on the data. And this template is not normally um made for for social studies. It's for reading and math. But we tweaked it to show our social studies teachers that we need to show growth. Uh normally it's just reading and math, reading, math. So we do that for social studies and we do that for science. And here I
163just want to point out for example uh for the beginning of the year a student got a 16 and for the MOI they improved to the 20 they got a raw score of 20 and so the teacher goes looks at the data looks at the teaks that were missed for the student and then they set a goal for the student. Then they for example in this one the student has a goal of the 24. student goes back to the student, they review it, they conference with the student and then they um the student submits um imp implements it in their data tracker and then that they know that is their goal. So for benchmark 2 they know they need to get a 24. So it's very targeted and it's constant you know reminding them whenever
164we assess all those meets and master um raw score is always posted on the board so the students can see what they need to or and remind them what they need to get to. Okay. Um the second um best practice is targeted interventions and support. And I mentioned about teamwork. It takes teamwork. And here it's showing that our interventions um are implemented based on student data. So it changes from benchmark one to two from year to year. You have different kids and um so we we adapt and we improve and we um always study our data. All teachers including our electives support star tested uh subjects. And if you notice on the right, this is how we have it set up. Our science, sixth and seventh grade, helps the math. Our social studies, sixth and
165seventh, helps the reading. Our PE coaches, they help us with reading. Our seventh grade electives help us with math. And our eighth grade electives help us with science and social studies. So, we're very strategic on our interventions. Okay? and focus supports and programs. Here's an example. We use every single day possible. Um, our campus is very unique. Um, we're upstairs downstairs and in order for us to test in the main building, um, some kids cannot test. So, we we divide um, one grade level test on one day, next day another grade level test. So we utilize that day that the student is not testing and we create camps. So all day and this is a sample um our reading teacher uh and math teacher still do their subject area but their social studies does reading
166and their uh science teacher does math. So all that day for the camp that's all they're doing reading and math. And um when we get closer to a certain let's suppose science and WA or social studies they also pivot to help those subjects. So everybody works together to make sure that all subjects are given that extra help. Um and they're also um it's very focused on what they um you know do in those camps. It's not a free day. It's actual instruction. And then another thing that I feel very proud of is our hashtag Wednesday writing where everybody writes every Wednesday. Um they write and I'm even and this is a sample from the PE all subjects. So a student writes six times in one day. Um and I think that has been very successful.
167reading teachers, all they want from our teachers is punctuation and capitalization. And as long as they work with the students with that and our hashtag Wednesday writing, they're happy. And it it shows. Okay. And at the heart of the of of Central's um success is our teachers. All of this can't be done without our teachers. They're the ones that make it happen. um they're the ones that believe in order to get it done. our expectations um are basically high and therefore our teachers strive just like our students and we work as a team like I said on campus we work as a team but we also work as a team you know with central office students and parents and um with this um collaboration it really makes central stand out because we have a a
168culture of success Yes. And let me see. And that's it. Thank [clears throat] you. >> Okay. [applause] Yes, sir. Now, let me let me see if anybody has any questions. Even though you know, >> you know, and it was evident in in the benchmark results where uh Miss Solando presented that you all already have met the target rate. uh in in in uh in in the different subject levels. Miss Jackie, any uh comments or questions? >> No, just great job. I mean, you're doing awesome. I was actually when you said the teachers rotate that, you know, like science is teaching. How do they do that? Just going to a different subject. That's kind of like, wow. >> Um it's a lot of collaboration between the team. So, we're in a team concept. So, it's very
169easy. So, you have a team of four and they they they have the same kids all day long. So they have that that trust, they they collaborate, they work together, so they help each other out. >> That's awesome. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that, >> Dr. Great job. A lot of great things happening there. And you know, the the uh recurrent theme is is teamwork. You know, I like that. You know, as a team, you guys are having that success. But keep it up. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Castillo. >> Jo, just great job. Uh thank you for for leading by example. And, you know, hopefully, you know, some of our lower performing, uh, middle schools could, you know, come together and try to get some of those strategies so we could be
170>> uh, second to none across the board. [clears throat] >> Yes, Coachella. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Love the graphics. >> They got my attention real. >> visual was good. But real quick, uh, can you explain to us a little bit of is there a preparation of the elective teachers going into the court? Is there some sort of preparation that you give them or and do they have a game plan going in? >> So um as as after benchmark two and it depends like for example we analyze data uh at benchmark one and if we see we're okay we'll go wait till benchmark two benchmark two PE coaches get a packet a reading packet and they focus on vocabulary depending on on our needs. Um last year it was vocabulary and sentence structure. Yeah, setting
171that game plan is is key because now you maximize your your time with them. Good, >> Mr. Los Santos. >> Yes, I guess everybody has said a lot of things, but yeah, the graphics, the presentation, the structure, the process, I mean, everything you have going on there. We all of our our schools are are great and uh are doing an outstanding job and you're and you're also one of them that consistently uh delivers and and also not only that, but I also have my kids have gone through there too and and every single time when Or Mr. Nellis was there and now you're there as well too. They have an amazing time there right as children in the classroom and out of the classroom. So continue to do a great job and amazing job you
172and your staff and I I wish you all the best for the remainder of the year. Thank you so much and a good pres great great presentation but you know uh I had the opportunity uh when I was at Mary Hope I had Miss Morales so she took care of that the data data analysis working with the teachers uh the tutoring a lot of times in middle school those teachers will tutor them their conference period you know and they would they Miss City Ped was one of them that she would say Mr. Miss Morales already have the tutoring schedule uh for those students that need assistance and that's the only way you can provide that information for the students so they can be successful and of course being with Mr. Ornell's there for the last
173few years uh that leadership was very important and you're going to carry on uh this year. So best of luck and thank you for the presentation. >> Thank you. >> One more I just remembered I want do are the teachers the ones who track the data or the students kind of reminded me the leader in me you know how the kids track the data. So um the actual data like their benchmark students do that the goal >> that the teacher works at conference with the students they they chart that okay um they chart any assessment that the teacher chooses to track but for sure benchmarks >> that's a lot of work for teacher to do everybody's but no the kids are in charge which is awesome. It's it's, you know, um it's holding them accountable
174and letting them, you know, understand >> Absolutely. >> the math and what they need to where they're at and where they need to get to. >> Yes. Absolutely. Because even the little elementary ones when we did the leader in me and they had their progress trackers, they know how to do it. So, I'm glad to see that middle school's doing it also. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Let's continue on. Now, we'll do do consent agenda. So, uh, I'll give you a minute or two. Uh, most of you should have probably already read it, uh, yesterday or a day before yesterday or Sunday. Well, yesterday, Sunday, I'll begin with uh, on the right side, Mr. Los Santos, you any agenda you need to uh, pull? >> Yes. Item 9H1A.
1759H1A. All right. >> Uh, Coa, >> None. Uh, Mr. Castillo, >> None. Uh, Dr. Hime. >> No, sir. >> And Mrs. Suza. >> Yes. 9H1B. >> Okay. So, I have a motion to approve the consent agenda except for 9H1A and 9H1B. >> Move to approve. >> I have a I have a motion by Dr. Heman, second by Mrs. Stita to approve the consent agenda except for 9H1A and 9H1B. Uh, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose. Motion carries. All right, let's go back to uh NH1A, approval of the interim financial report for the month ended November 30th, 2025. Mr. Los Santos. Yes. My question is for uh Miss Rodriguez [snorts] on these on this document. Do you have it there with you or do you need a copy? >> Yes, I
176have it. >> Okay, great. [clears throat] Um, on this agenda item, I just wanted to ask you a few questions. Mr. Rodriguez, these documents being presented to the board uh in in our packet. [snorts] Are the bud are the budget line items and actual as they're presented, are they accurate? >> We're still working on the accounting, sir. >> Okay. So, so, so just to be clear for the public, for my trustees, okay, the 2025 2026 budget has not been finalized. Accounting hasn't been done. And these budgeted items that are being given to us as trustees are it's not your work and it's not 100% accurate. Correct. >> It is not 100% accurate due to the uh priority we've been placing on the audit. >> Right. Okay. Um I think we talked about that. I just
177want to I wanted to pass this out to our board members as well too. Okay. When we're looking at this, you take this one and pass one down please. >> Yeah, it's here. This is the actual okay and I highlighted some areas because as we discussed and during the process like I said now that we have the preliminary audit findings we see that there's a $14 million gap. We've had discussions about how to read this, right? Because when we get our packet, there's a cover sheet and then there's the general fund, the general fund sheet, right? The you have one the first sheet shows you all the accounts and all this other type of of uh >> that's where you stick in the bond monies and whatnot and you see these massive numbers ofund something
178millions, right? So that's confusing for trustees um at all cases. But when you go to the second page, which is usually like page 411, and you look where it says at the very top general fund, this is the packet that you can look at. Okay. And and and should be posted every single month online just for transparency to our community. But every single board member and every single employee, including the people that review these packets and when they're submitted, should be looking at this. And if you and for my board members, if you look at the area that's highlighted in green, because I highlighted for them, the area that says the sources, local, state, and federal sources, and totals, that's how much money we currently right now, they're showing you as of November 30th, 22,530,783.
179And then what you do is you subtract those circles that I circled for you in red. Okay? Which is all your functions which are right here, those budget line items and then also other resources and other uses. Those two categories get subtracted from that and then you get what you see there an excess, okay, which means surplus, extra money or you have a deficiency parenthesis. If the number is in parenthesis, that's a negative. Okay. So, even even as of now, I could completely go through this this document right here and show you all the different inaccuracies, especially the the stated fund balances, the fact that you have 106 under line item 11. I highlighted in yellow >> instruction, >> you have 106,561,81, okay, that's itemized there for instructional costs. Last year you ended according to
180what was given to us in in Sep the September in September you had okay 105 million in that line item okay there's only a $900,000 increase from last year to this year but how can that happen when you had 5,000 you know had all this money come in from the state for employees and then from zero to two-year teachers we gave them raises as well okay so it's it's almost impossible it's only just that amount so there's inaccuracies here and I just want I want I want to show my trustees that this is a by and like I said there's we have legal here our legal council it's required that trustees get a monthly report according to a certain level of accounting standards that is that's part of Texas educational code it it can't be
181off because you're dealing with public taxpayer dollars it's not a oh we made a mistake and it's not like okay we made a line item or it's somebody else's fault at that time you should have just not even reported the budget at That's been my whole concern. Okay, I've been asking for the I was asking for it before since July and then now that we're kind of now I want to say we're up to date, but I want the my trustees to understand this. Imagine going to the bank and asking for your balance and nobody can give it to you. This is a 200 plus million dollar organization that's operating yet with no accounting. If that does not raise massive red flags, then I don't know what else does. and and nobody can sit there
182and say that they know that we have a 90 days and and nobody can sit there and say that they know what our actually our our amounts are. We're flying blind right now and that's the reason that I have the agenda item that I have so that we can have a forensic audit that will come out and find out the who, what, when, where and why like Trusty Susa says and she's 100% accurate and then also they can verify 2526 accountables. Okay. and and our team locally, you stated, ma'am, just started the 2526 because they were behind on 2425 and we're in February 2026. >> And do you think that your team did these individuals have been through a lot? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> And I admire them and I'd go to war with
183them any day of the week for what they did. Okay. And they even worked through Christmas after what they were put through. >> Yes, we did. >> Okay. And so they're not I'm not going to have them work day and night, okay, for people that didn't even care about them or respect them and in in a proper way. So we need to bring in a team so they can help and verify because they're they're way behind. You just started halfway through a year on on a over $200 million budget to start doing accounting. Correct. >> Correct. >> Thank you. That's all I have for my agenda item. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Los Santos. Uh Mrs. Sus Tita. >> Yes. Uh 9H1B. This is having to do with the legal fees for the month of December.
184>> Approval of legal fees for the month of December. Correct. >> Now to to to give context to my question, the board is in charge of hiring three people. that is the superintendent, the lawyer, our legal counsel and uh if we have an internal auditor which we do uh Miss Outerk but every month because we are in charge as board members and accountable for this what we pay I always look at these uh I look at the even though I don't understand it much the finances like Mr. Los Santos said, uh, and I also look at the the legal fees, but this last month I it was concerning. Several months have been concerned to me. I brought up my my my concerns, but this last month, because it's January and we had totals for all
185the years, um, just last year in legal fees, we spent almost half a million dollars on lawyers. That to me is way too much. And if I look at 2024, we more than doubled in 2025 in legal fees, which is not okay with me. It's not it's too much. Especially when we have I see two lawyers on here that we're we're paying. So then I go and look at invoices. I'm not going to go to line items, but I see that one lawyer charged us and the other lawyer charged us for the same services, which I don't understand why. It doesn't make sense to me. Um, that's those are th that's one of my concerns that that we're getting you. Why are we paying double? Why are we paying two lawyers when we just have
186to pay one and why are you paying half a million almost half a million dollars in legal? We want to save money. It starts under our nose right here with the invoicing. We have to put in the homework and look because we're in charge of the superintendent, the lawyer, internal auditor. Um, and there is there is a a policy. Once again, me and my policies, you're going to get tired of hearing it, but policy BDD is has to do with the attorney, local policy. And it says here, uh, individual board members shall channel legal inquiries through the superintendent, board president, or board's designate as appropriate when seeking advice or information from the district legal counsel. Yet I see invo on the invoice that there's over a thousand something dollars a month on one board member's
187request which is against policy. Uh we're not a personal attorney to any one individual board member. Why are we getting build for this? I don't know. I've brought this up before since last year that this is not our personal attorney. He is the board's attorney. He doesn't work for one board member and we should not be getting builds for this. That is my opinion and I'm basing it on what I read in policy and what I see in the invoicing and I am not happy with what I'm seeing. So I am not going to approve this item. >> Okay. And again that one you know uh in next board meeting we have an we can have an agenda item on on on that. >> Okay. Right. So, uh, let's go with 9H1A, uh, approval of
188financial report. Do I have a motion to approve that or we're not going to approve it, Mr. Los Santos? >> Well, I don't want to approve anything that's inaccurate. >> Yeah, I would say we don't approve it. >> Okay. So, we have a motion. Uh, uh, >> Not to approve. Uh, by Mr. Los Santos, second by Mr. Ben Castillo. >> Uh, all in favor, please say I. I. >> Okay. So, it's not approved. Now, let's go to 9H1B. Approval of legal fees for month of December 2025. Do I have a motion not to approve or >> I'll make a motion till it gets fixed. Okay. Possible. >> Not to approve. Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. We have a second by Mr. Ben Castillo. Not to approve legal
189fees for the month of December 2025 until we get further clar clarification. >> Right. >> Correct. >> Right. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose. So we don't approve 91 9H1A and 9H1B. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. So let's continue on. Let's go to discussion items. Update on trainings, conferences, events, and consider f consider future agenda items requested by the board of trustees. Dr. >> uh none. None this month. >> None. Okay. >> I do want to share something that I'm kind of excited about. >> Okay. I applied for a stipen or like a scholarship uh with TASBY I think in November to go to uh Washington DC in February to go and uh do some advocating at the White House and meet with legislators and I got the there
190was only five stipens awarded in Texas for this conference and I got one of them. Yay. >> All right. Congratulations. >> Yes. So they're going to pay they're going to pay for all that and and it will be coming up in two weeks to go to Washington DC to go and um fight. I'm just kidding. >> So So we'll have an agenda item for you to pro uh present all that information that you're going to learn over there. >> Yes. >> All right. [laughter] >> Okay. >> So Mr. Just one [cough] >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Go ahead. >> Future agenda items kind of related to item 10B. >> Okay. Uh since it's for discussion for the next meeting if and this is an ICE statement I would like for the agenda items to be
191I think we have the audit right a regular audit. >> Yes. >> If we could have the audit a presentation from region one. >> Okay. >> And then uh a potential action for a forensic audit after we get that information. >> Correct. Okay. And we'll put those on the agenda items with Dr. at the at the agenda review. >> Okay. >> Thanks, sir. >> 10B. Discussion regarding the fee and scope of work for Weaver to conduct a potential forensic uh financial audit as requested by trustee uh Mark de los Santos. Uh Dr. Rivera. >> It's up to the board. >> I'd like to make a statement to the board as to why I put this on the agenda. First, I want to acknowledge the fact that this was a discussion and action item and apparently
192they said that they stated Dr. stated there was a typo. So action was left out, but I do want to just say a statement and this is the last statement I'm going to make to my trustees and at that point you all can decide what you want to do. All right? And I want a statement for the record. I want to clearly explain the district's financial situation. I and I think I did that today using documented numbers and and audit information because this directly affects our responsibility of taxpayers, employees, jobs, security, and more important students now and in the future. I've already discussed the fund balance changes. I've told you that we've already had a starting fund balance last year in the at $85,519,797 and I've and Dr. David I showed you today that has
193dropped to 71,19,255 and you know that the difference is a sal is a salary overage. That means that you did have a deficit, okay, in in your budget. I you had a deficit budget and you had an overage. That's plain and simple. And at the time we've been told as trustees since July when I brought it up that it did not exist. It was not there that we needed we did not need to do a forensic action uh a forensic audit that nobody had heard of any outcries or anything of that nature of any type of fraudulent activity or manipulation or misrepresentation of the budget allegedly. I've discussed that payroll overage and the impact that it's had because we've already spent eight months, right? Waiting to be told by an audit firm about last year.
194And that in itself, I mean, is really ridiculous. I'm just there's no other word to use other than that, right? As a board, as a board of trustees, right? Especially across the real Grand Valley. Okay. And the whistleblower information. All right. Allegedly, it has been stated that employees allegedly raised concerns to administration prior to last year and again prior to this year. According to the those statements, which the majority of you, like Mr. Saita has said, have received, especially from one of Mr. Blau themselves, documentation such as emails and records exist and allegedly documented level one and level two grievances like which I've told the community or like public small little court sessions with attorneys present from the employee and the district. Okay. took place and at that time prior to this year's budget being
195brought to us, prior to us approving it and these individuals were making out cries that we were going to continue to deplete our savings, our fund balance, and we were going to march our district into state intervention if we did not turn the tide, if we did not change our actions. And we continued to spend and we continued to hire staff. There's staff on the there's staff on the agenda for tonight. This is all after announcements of pulling back stipens because money wasn't there and then announcing before Christmas that staff may be let go. The financial impact and decisions and lack of transparency like I told you have caused us to waste valuable time. A report that would only have taken us 20 days has been delayed eight months. Okay? Because the superintendent has and
196his administration at the time had continuously come with presentations telling us otherwise. Those are facts. Those are recorded. Those are on YouTube. Those are in sessions. the current financial reality that we face as as far as the numbers that have been showed to us. At the beginning of this year, we're down to 52 million in our unreserve fund balance. You gave you gave out almost $3 million as stated by Mr. Butterm at the meeting. There was about maybe 2.8 million with benefits in stipens in December. Okay? [clears throat] And it was a difficult decision for the board at the time. Why? because right before Christmas and staff had already spent monies and there was outcries to all these trustees and and the failure to act and the failure of transparency because of someone else shouldn't
197impact households across our district. Okay? And the fact is, I'm telling you, is that you can you cannot say that you don't have a a a s a debt in staffing and that it's somehow going to disappear without letting go of staffing. It's just universal. So the new year outlook. So how do we look at I'm looking now like he said not just this year but next year 26 27 you're going to take an impact this year. It's going to lower that that 49 million down even lower. estimates out there by the whistleblowers is at least maybe in the eight in the eight digit range and it's only logical if you had $14 million last year in an overage it's even higher this year because you gave raises at the direction of the superintendent. Okay.
198You're going to continue to drop the fund balance to critical lows and and we have to avoid actions that can make this worse as well. Selling district land would strip strip from the taxpayers millions of dollars. Imagine if I told you let's sell land to take care of a debt that's going to continue to recur. That is not the answer. And reszoning may make an impact. I'm not saying it is, but it may make an impact on parents if we force them to move from the campuses that they currently are at. They may choose to go somewhere else, creating a even larger financial burden on our on our district and jeopardizing the the the jobs of more staff. Okay. My closing statement is this and this is my closing statement. The board made decisions based
199on the information presented at the time. The current audit findings showed that that information was not complete. Our responsibility now is to acknowledge the financial reality, stop actions that worsen the situation, protect taxpayers, students, and staff, and ensure full transparency going forward. These are documented financial facts, not personal accusations. So therefore, I am calling for a special board meeting next Monday, January 26, 2026. And it can only be called if one trustee supports me. If there is no meeting that means that there was no support to call it the two agenda I am going to ask for two agenda items. Okay. The second agenda item could be discussed but the one the first one I really do want it on the agenda. The first one is to approve the weaver quote so they can get
200started as soon as possible because we need to act quickly so that we can take proactive measures once we get results. And you've heard it already here from the individuals that work with from the b from the business office in the budget department that they're requesting help. The second item, which is something that I can discuss with the board president and and and maybe feel out the other trustees. It's very difficult because as a board member, I still feel for retaliation politically and by the administration against my family and friends who work in WestD. But to them, I say that I'm sorry because you are not more important than 2500 families of staff and taxpayers and more importantly 16,000 students. So the second agenda item that I'm requesting is for executive session and that is
201for and that is for the board for the discussion to authorize the board president, myself and possibly another trustee of your choice to begin searching for an interim superintendent that has specific experience in the reduction of force process. Okay. And this specific situation. Thank you. That's all I have to say. >> I can't be here on the 26th. >> Okay. >> I have a board meeting in PSJ. >> Okay. And and and Mr. Mr. Mr. Castillo mentioned that, you know, uh waiting to get the uh final region one audit. You know, we can have a special board meeting and we can vote on it. Uh the majority of the uh of of the board members, they can be here and uh we'll take it for a vote. And I want to clarify region one audit,
202but is region one going doing the 2526 accounting right now, Miss Rodriguez? >> Yes, they are. >> In conjunction with who? >> Right. >> With us. >> Okay. But is that going to answer the questions as far as the who, what, when, where, and why, and the responsibility and accountability to report to the board? >> No, sir. They're only going over the financials. >> That's just numbers. >> Correct. >> Thank you. I just want to clarify that. >> Are they supporting your staff? They're supporting your staff and the work needs to be done. >> No, they're just going over the the financials that were presented by the previous CFO. They're going over all of those numbers in detail. >> Yes. Okay. And on on your uh what you mentioned, Mr. Los Santos. >> Mhm. >>
203We wanted to know what the estimate was going to be first, you know, uh that's why it was a discussion item to see cuz we didn't know when that we're going to provide >> what we said to clarify because the meetings are recorded. We said that we were going to wait to see if there was actually a overage of staffing from 2425 that has been presented already to the community. While you have staff here that were denying it for the last seven seven uh eight months, you have we we are a board of trustees that are supposed to be financially responsible and we cannot choose a few over 2500 employees. >> Right. But what I'm saying is the forensic audit. We were waiting for the estimate from Weaver >> to see how much it was.
204>> Yes. Now we have it. Now we can proceed at the for the vote when the special board meeting >> and if we need to move it to a Tuesday. I mean I don't know if everyone should be here. We'll have Miss uh our [clears throat] board secretary uh pulled the huh >> pulled the board members. >> What's that? >> I got PSJ Monday STC Tuesday. >> Well, we can we'll do it Monday then. >> Arizona wins. >> We can do it Monday. Those that want to show can show and and and that's fine with me, but I just want to put it to a vote. >> As long as we have a quorum, then we can uh vote on it. If we don't have a quorum, we we can vote on it. Right. >>
205I hope we do. Okay. Right. >> Uh Mr. Eloy, can you explain why there was no action on this item? because he said he said I didn't take action. Can you explain? >> I received a call from the board member requested this item. I called the board president that an individual had requested this item and I told him that we couldn't post it because the posting had already >> correct >> had already lapsed. >> Correct. >> I told Mr. I got case law that I sent to the individual that wanted this item posted. He wanted I said, "You can't do it. Can't do it while posted." There was a case on point. Mr. Medler said, "You know what? Can you go ahead and send me that?" I said, "Yes." I told Mr. Also, "Look, I'm
206not charging for this research. I was doing it for my own good to know that I was right with the law, but I sent him a copy of the of the the case law." >> Correct. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> And again, and the reason I >> But there was no action. There could not have been action because he said he said that I didn't put action. >> I asked for discussion in action. So we had discussed that when we met with >> it could not have been done. >> You you did ask for that but again >> I think that >> but that's fine. We'll have a special board meeting. >> We we I we hadn't uh met with Weaver and he had provide provided the estimate until just recently. >> So you
207know uh we couldn't do the action until we knew how much the estimate was going to be and then we could vote on I got the I got the text message of weave the weaver quote prior to the window closing for the agenda item. It was it was sent to me. You texted it to me. >> Okay. >> And it was before the window. >> Okay. >> It was only the day of when I saw that it was posted then then I said, "Hey sir, this is wrong." Because it's supposed to be discussion and action cuz why would we meet here to discuss something when in December we voted that we put it we get a quote and then come back and vote on it. >> And again, >> but that's fine. I'm not accusing
208anybody of anything just other than we would have voted today cuz people in the public had asked me what is taking so long or why are you guys just going to discuss again and I said it was in my mind >> waiting for the estimate the final estimate. >> Okay. >> And then I even told you if we have to have a special board meeting we will have the special >> and and I just want to say I am going to be requesting it. I'm going to request a special board meeting today. I'm going to reach out or somebody wants to publicly acknowledge that they'd support me because you just need two board members to request it. Now we don't have a quorum that's fine. Okay. I mean the public will see who shows and
209who doesn't show. So thank you. Okay. All right. Let's continue. [clears throat] Disc 11. Discussion and possible action. Discussion possible action to sell the pet ago facility to the city of WCO. Dr. >> Yes. [clears throat] Recommend approval. >> I do have a motion to uh sell the Peter Ago facility to the city of West Coco. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve. >> We have a motion by Mr. Castile to approve this. And I know Dr. presented the amount of how much uh the land was going to be uh sold for, right? And the appraisal value. So, do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Be Castillo, second by Dr. Hime Rodriguez to sell the Pablo facility to the city of
210Wesco. Um any discussion? Yes. Okay. >> No, you go for >> No, no, no. I I was >> ahead. I I'm real estate, right? Everybody says you don't give up real estate and you don't sell real estate. But my question is here though, I know that initially the city had reached out that they wanted to do a swap in a trade. I understand that now we've identified that the property at Central that corner on Illinois and Sixth Street belongs to us. Great. That's that's outstanding. >> But even then, like I said, you know, it's just a rule of law. You don't companies don't give up real estate. All right. McDonald's isn't McDonald's because of the burgers they sell. It's because of the land they own. All right. And so my question is I'm it's just
211real tough that that's Westgate, right? And you got two you got elementarymentaries there, future growth, pre-K3, four campus. I mean, you never know. But have would the city still be inclined if we were because all they wanted was for us to gift them about half an acre so they can build the the build the the fire station and police substation, right? to provide those extra services for the community, which I think was a fabulous idea. So, are we sure that they're going to use it for a recreational park and center? Like, that's for sure in the books. Like, as part of this deal on sale, it's going to be it's going to be a park for the community. What not? >> Yes, they present it to uh Dr. Vetta and the cabinet. >> Okay. >>
212On on a couple of occasions. >> Okay. And if and I think under those conditions, I think they're it's outstanding. I think the first phase of it the, you know, expanding those services to the community there and then if they do a park then I then I'm all for it because that's still a benefit for everyone. >> Yeah. And the fire department especially for the neighborhood area and the schools that we have over there, you know, the uh ability to be there within a couple of minutes. >> Definitely. No. Okay. I just want to clarify that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other before we uh vote on it? Any other discussion? Coach, anything? >> Dr. Motion. Okay. Jackie Ma. No, I'm good. >> So, uh, we have a motion by Mr. Ven Castillo and
213second by Dr. Heimett to sell the P PW facility to the city of WCO. All in favor, please say I. I. >> All oppose. Motion carries. >> 11B. Discuss discussion and possible action to approve an agreement of consulting uh consultant services with Dr. Sinto Ramos uh group LLC for Longar Governance. Dr. >> It's a board item and you want to approve it. Make a motion to approve. >> Second. We have a motion by Mr. Susita, second by Mr. Dos Santos. Any uh discussion? >> No, I just find it very positive and beneficial for our um our community, our district to focus uh with Lonear Governance on academics and kids. It's brought us to a great point. >> Yeah. Okay. It's a it's a great program and he he does an outstanding job and uh I
214agree with Missa. It's just it's just something, you know, we have to continue to do. Okay. Only motion. Uh all all in favor please say I. >> I. >> All oppose. Motion carries. >> Close meeting. Item 12. Discussion uh regarding superintendent's recommendation of contracts for certified professional, non-certified professional and non-contractual p uh personnel. 12 A2 discussion regarding resignations, retirements of certified professional, non-certified professional and non-contractual p uh personnel. 12B consultation with attorney regarding Texas government code section 551071 pending or contemplated litigation settlement offer uh matter in which the duty of the attorney of the Westco Independent School District under the Texas disciplinary rules of professional conduct of the state of bar of Texas clearly conflicts with chapter 551 of the Texas government code 551071 and 12B4 pursuant to section 551071 Texas Government Code Consultation with
215legal counsel regarding cost number C402621A Mela Sigura versus Wesco ISD in the 92nd Judicial Court of Hago County, Texas. It is 8:20 and we go into second session. It is 8:44 and recommitting an open meeting. Possible action necessary on items discussed in close meeting 13B. [clears throat] Discussions possible action regarding superintendent's recommendation of contracts for certified professional, non-certified professional and non-contractual personnel. We have the list recommending approval. >> There was only one record. >> Yes. >> Move to approve. >> Yes. >> It was a retirement. >> Yes. Uh we have a motion by Dr. Hime. A second by Do I have a second? No second. So >> no action table. >> Motion dies. Okay. 13C discussion of possible action regarding resignations, retirements of certified professional, non-certified professional, and non-contractual uh personnel. Dr. Eva, >> you
216have the list. Recommended approval. >> So move. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Castillos, second by Mr. Deos Santos. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> All oppose. Motion carries. 13D. Discussion uh consideration and possible action regarding cost number C 402621A Melva Sigura versus Wesco ISD in the 92nd Judicial Court of Idalago County, Texas. Dr. >> uh recommend no action to discuss and close session. >> So no action. All in favor please say I. I. >> I. All oppose. Motion carries. It is 8:45 and we adjourn. So move.