001Friday is 6 p.m. February 9th, 2026. This is a regular meeting on the board of trustees. There is a quorum established. Everyone will please rise for a moment of silence. >> 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. Moving on to item two, public comments of the board. We do have three public comments tonight. Each of you will be provided two minutes to speak. Miss Kaylee present. >> Yes, sir. >> You are first up. Let us start with we are 100% okay with the OAP program. I grew up in Toronto. We love it. We think it could be a great thing for the kids to do. We're bringing a concern that we
002have though before you. It has come to light that the play is a dark play about se female sexual oppression, desire, passion, and social conviction. There is adultery, rape, and suicide. This was a movie. If this was a movie, it would be rated R. We do not feel that this is appropriate for children to be acting out. Our son has told us that the bad scenes have been cut, but it will be hinted at so the students understand. Preleving to such acts is just as bad as acting them out there. These are all heavy topics that should not be normalized. We have pulled our son from participating in the play. We have spoken with Mr. Gonzalez, the teacher in charge. She informed us that the play has been cut down and the bad scenes will
003just be shadows on a sheet. For me, that is just as bad and is also a stronger trigger due to being left to the imagination. We have spoken to Miss Harris whom was not aware of all the details and she promptly took it to Mr. Humanis. We have spoken with Mr. Humanis about our concerns and felt that we were dismissed arrogantly. We informed him that our son will not be participating any further unless a different play is done. Mr. Humanis did inform us that the play is UIL approved and that he has the final say in the matter. He also said that they will spend it so that it comes out as a life lesson. This happened, but this is not what we'll do. We have emailed Miss Diaz and she has informed us that
004after reading the 40minute cut they will be performing that they would be performing they are going forward with the play. In conclusion, we like the OAP program but we do not approve of such a dark and immoral play being acted out by students and normalizing such tragedies. Thank you. Next up, Miss Melanie Jones. >> Hi, thank you for the opportunity. Sorry to stand. I am also here regarding the one I have to play. I've taught here for a number of years, have had family taught here, children, grandchildren. I've always been very proud of Bracket ISD. I am not proud of the selection of Bernella Powell. I did a little bit of research. One of the things that the administrator has to sign off on is that this play fits our community standards. I do not
005see whether you take a few things out how you're going to honestly and truthfully sign on that dotted line that goes into UIL and say this play fits our community standards. Our kids are already in a very hormonal tough time in their life. I don't believe that this play is a positive thing for them, our school or our community. In fact, I will be very embarrassed when Bracket ISD presents this play to the public at your district and any other place that it is presented. I I'm just and very very disciplined. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Next up, Miss Watner. >> Good evening. I was asked to kindly address this. So here I am. Um I am the I'm a parent of six children that all have participated in OAP. I'm a
006teacher and I'm also the OAP assistant director. I have participated like the last five six years off and on depending on the need and I would like to tell you what the play is about here. So the show is on the UIL Texas list of approved long plays list. It was already approved by UIL. The show was then cut from a three-act play to a 40minute one-act play and submitted to the publisher. The publisher has to approve the cut and only then are we allowed to apply for performance rights which it was approved and we did receive performance rights. All profanity and any inclination of inappropriateness has been cut out first and foremost and anything that does not contribute to the story is also removed. Everything is thought out carefully, keeping the integrity of the
007author's work in mind. So, the synopsis is that Bernarda Ala is a three-act tragedy depicting a tyrannical widow, Rarda, who forces her five almost past their prime daughters into an 8-year warning period in the rural 1930s Spain. The intense, claustrophobic atmosphere leads to jealousy, conflict, and a tragic fatal conclusion when the youngest daughter or when the daughters fight over a su a sutor. There is no rape. There is no incest. There is no adultery. There is very no no profanity. There's only they damn you. And that's the that's the worst thing. We have been very careful with the message and the delicate nature of the ending. There are no shadows with this play goes through many different we try things. We try we figure out what works, what doesn't work. It's just the girls on
008stage. There's no shadows. The boys are only in the crew. We have no male actors. whatsoever. It shows what women had to go through in the past during that period of time with their social, religious, and society norms and how we are not that far removed 100 years later. You are welcome to come to our open rehearsals. We rehearse every night from 5 to 7. I have yet to see most people in this room at any of the rehearsals. And I bet once you go and watch the rehearsals, you probably will have a different take on it because it is not like the full play. It is appropriate. We've had no complaints from the children from the girls that's in it. They have had plenty of opportunity to voice their opinions. There's no silhouettes. Everybody's
009thriving. The rehearsal is great. Miss Connley is over there. She just watched it. She was giving us giving the girls some feedback. And tomorrow we go to our first clinic. So, >> thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. rehearsal. That's >> all the public comments. Moving on to item number three. >> Um, well, this evening I have a very special group that I wanted to be here tonight for recognition. Um, last week we celebrated National School Counseling Week and it is a time set aside to honor the professionals who are truly the heart and of our school. So tonight I have asked Miss Welch, um Miss Hla, Miss Benette, Miss IL um to come forward. Um so if y'all will please come forward and the principles, if y'all will help me hand those out. Um I'd
010just like to read a little bit um to to recognize you all. Um to our counselors, we have seen you wearing a million different hats. From helping a student navigate a friendship issue to guiding them through complex college applications, from stepping into crisis to supporting a teacher in the classroom, you are our listeners, our problem solvers, and our biggest cheerleaders. Your compassion, unwavering dedication to our students social emotional well-being do not go unnoticed. You create a safe space for them to express themselves and more importantly you provide them with the space to turn big emotions into positive action. Thank you for being the calm in the storm for so many staff included sometimes. Um for showing up with patience and for making a tangible difference in our students lives. You are valued beyond measure. So
011thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do for Racket ISD. We'll start with Miss Welch of certificate of recognition. You'll come forward. We'll take a group picture. Um Miss Ilsie could not join us today. Um Miss His if you will come forward. >> And Miss Maya who will join us also up at the front. Thank y'all for coming and for being here to be recognized tonight. >> Thank you. Moving on board consent 4 a minutes from previous meetings and 4 B donations. Donation we do have is the cafeteria emergency fund. donor Miss Yolanda Rea, excuse me, Yolanda and donated $50 to the cafeteria. So, we want to thank her. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? I'll >> second. Any discussion? I'm going to get
012>> and we actually sent it to the attorney um the agenda and all the verbiage to make sure that it was correct. We do have a written email that she responded yes at this time. >> So the motion on the table is to move to approve the consent agenda as presented. All those in favor unanimous. >> Moving on to item five information items. >> So our first 5A shattered dreams and we have Brad co here who will give us a short presentation on shattered dreams. Thank you for getting in at the very last moment. >> You made it off. Story of my life went to the very u I've been wanting to do this for a number of years but over the last four or five years when we had the massive immigration everything else
013was off the table. So we got that under control. Now it's under control. Uh I bring up stuff after Miss P. I've been in conversation off that way. Uh what this is if you're trying to put something together to get the kids attention as far as maybe in this day and age is texting right be on your thumb and help. >> The fire department's willing to help EMS is willing to help have maybe good with border patrol. We can get everything rigged up where we can stage an accident scene and have the kids come out and take a look at it. But it would be in real time. In other words, if you have an accident, somebody may not want to call or you have to show up. EMS will be like showing up. Fire
014and rescue, it's going to take them 20, 30 minutes to show up to show these kids exactly how long it takes from start to finish. Uh I'm willing to go all out. We've got a car that we cut up in pieces to cut somebody out. Uh we can go as far as having somebody deceased covered with a blanket. We can have however far we want to push this. But I To me, if we get one kid's attention out of 500 kids, we're done here. Talking to the board, they've got the capability where we can film all this, mic up the car so we can hear the conversations and use this as a training episode, not just for law enforcement and us, but fire rescue work from all parts of the car. How's school going to
015react? How are the kids going to react? Like I said, we one kid attention on this. I think we got a good We're shooting at a date for March 26th, which is I think the third party. Okay, we may be pushing that date a little bit, but I've got a meeting with EMS tomorrow on fire tonight and got 30 minutes to see if we can pull this off. We've got makeup crew. We've got EMS that come in and put the fake entries on. Uh we're going to reach out to air life out of San Anton or St. Angelo. They're not doing anything. They will send the helicopter. That way we can actually perform the rescue, the removal, put them in the ambulance and take them to the chopper. And then once this is all filmed,
016once there initial impact, we go back and look, review to see if we want to do this again on a yearly basis, every other year. If we did good, if we did bad, we need to do this first shot. Were there any mistakes? Probably 155. But I think it's something that we need to pursue and we'll be working very closely with them as well to see whatever supports we can provide. Um I think it I've seen it done before with other school districts and it can be very powerful um for students to to see what happens in an e you know in an emergency type situation like that. So that gives us another advantage. Um you've been through it while EMS has been rest of us really agree with this. So we will be gathering
017information as much as we can to make this a success. >> It's a huge it's a it's a huge production. It's like a movie set, >> you know. It's like a movie set. >> Is it in the spirit of scary? >> Okay. to the spirit of scar >> pretty much so like we get one or two kids to react to this say hey I've been doing this wrong >> and just for high school students correct >> um possibly um we we have to again finalize everything um we want to send notices out to parents so they're aware um it is quite a bit of a shock you know there's there's a there's a shock factor to it so we would want to definitely make sure that we let parents know um what's happening um what
018they're going to see, what it's going to be like, give them a little synopsis prior to taking them out there to experience it. But high school for sure and then I think just kind of the more we we talk about it, probably junior high. Um and they kind of perform, my son-in-law actually did it. He was one of the main characters who was actually killed uh in an accident. But they went to to measures to get a hold of the parents. The parents were called in. They signed a permission slip, not just know about it, they knew mom read the letter. She read everything. And even looking back at that, it was produced so well that he would not know. But he even watches it to this day and it scares the crap out of
019him because of how impactful. But that's with everybody, you know, involved in or knowing what they're signing up for because looking back on it, it's a little scary. >> So, it's it does the job if it's done correctly. >> I think I think it's something worth pursuing. I talked before I went to church with one of them and he is an IT guy to many put the drone up from the air. We can do this live on Facebook. We can do this how long it takes. If it takes all day, it takes all day. But I think the the benefits how we >> and and if and if any of our students choose to participate, absolutely would even go further to ensure that we have parental permission. >> I think one of the big things
020is hey, we got to get parents to sign off on we try to keep it a secret. The kids are going to find out, >> right? So we try to keep as quiet as we can because there are kids that won't know that that's that shot. So I mean I will go get him come out but I think that need to agree as contentious as time gets closer. If y'all have any questions I'm free to answer them. If you think of something after I leave, text me, call me, email me. I really, really want to. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to 5B, the lasso brown board. So, um, back in October, TEA put something out, um, for a competitive grant for instruction. Um, so the first the first attachment, just give you
021a little bit about the grant. I actually had shared it with the board and let y'all know that we would be applying for it. It was a competitive grant. Um, we basically had to submit a plan of what we would do, how this grant would impact us. But the focus of the grant is instruction. Um we received notification um last week that our competitive grant was awarded um in the amount of $533,000. So um that grant will help what with leadership and instructional foundations in Texas. It's uh under last what was called the lift grant. So again a lot of planning will take place um a lot of budgeting um but we're excited to bring another $533,000 over the course of three years. So we have three years to spend the full amount um to
022our district. >> Very nice to go. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> I see the best update. >> So the vestibule project um has been an an ongoing project that I have shared with the board. Um it is being funded out of safety grant and it is something that came out of the district vulnerability audit. Um the original plan was to close off the entrance area of the main high school. Um put two walls up and that way when parents came in they didn't have access to the full entrance of the high school. So we bid out the project. Um then we had some delays due to materials and um just different things that that didn't come in on time. We were supposed to start the project in December and it kept
023getting pushed back. However, we were expecting to start it. So we moved the office to a different area and started to work the um entrance of the high school for parents and visitors a little differently. And I think that sparked another conversation of what if we didn't do two walls? what if we did just one wall and had a vestibial entrance that would keep parents um and visitors to one side, one corner of the high school entrance? And so we visited with our engineer and our um contractors and we requested a change order. Um so this changed the project setup just a little bit. Well, not a little bit. It changed the project setup to where now the the vestibule would be um coming in from Ann Street. If you've gone to the high school
024recently, since we started since we thought the vestibial was going, they'll come in. There'll be a waiting area there. You only have to build one wall and then that first first classroom becomes the new office. And that closes off the high school, the instructional part of the high school to all parents and visitors. So, um, engineer was able to redo the specs. Um, it is out to DLP. U Mr. CIS has played a phenomenal role in our communication with DLP, with the engineers, with the contractors, and we're just waiting final approval um to accept the change order as presented by the engineers. >> This is coming in off the street right now. coming in off >> all the the double doors. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> And originally it was going to be in the
025front or where they enter now >> where the tiger where the the main tiger is right behind that. It was going to be the middle doors would have been for visitors and we would have kind of sealed it off. So students would have had to have come around every outside every time they wanted to go from one side of the hallway to the other and it still had um the potential for parents and visitors to have access to that area. This kind of takes all of that. >> So the kids don't have to leave the building. >> The kids never have to leave the building. Correct. >> Much better idea. >> Yeah. >> And that was a lot of uh that a lot of that came from Mr. Himemenz just kind of because we put
026this practice into place, you know, preparing. Um I think it worked out better. >> Moving on. 5D, the district property value study, Miss Gar. So, as part of the financial integrity rating report, we are required to be in communication with the board regarding certified values. Um, because they are part of the they're a main part of the uh budget. And so, there's a presentation that I have there, but if you'll allow me first just to maybe go back in history a little bit about how the budget is uh approved in June. We have preliminary values in April and our budget is approved in June, but certified values are released until July. So, what we've done is we approve a budget with preliminary values. We then um receive certified values and adopt a tax rate uh
027in September. By October, we receive the certified row from the appraisal district with the final certified values. And that's when we come back uh and bring a budget amendment to amend the approved June budget which was we've talked about it before somewhat of a moving target. So at that point we have certified values. So, we've been operating on the amended uh budget with certified values up through the 30 30th of January when we receive a letter from the uh state controller where they tell us um where they're certifying the values that were submitted by the appraisal district in the fall. So our letter this year indicated that we were going to be assigned state values because they the values submitted by the appraisal district we're not lining up to market values is the way they
028calculate them. So if we look at this at the U agenda item or I have property value study you compare both of those little buckets if local values are used a gap in the middle there. But if the state values are used, and of course, keep in mind that we don't get these results until January, then there's this small funding gap. It looks small there, but for our school district, if if we had to give it a levy dollar value, that was $800,000. So, basically, the values that were certified by the uh chief appraiser and bills were sent out. Then the state come back comes back and says, "No, your value should have been higher." That gap was $800,000. But because we are a recapture district, the um state has given us somewhat of a
029credit and so that gap is reduced. Still not enough to close the gap, thus impacting our budget. If you look at the second uh page there, the values are at the bottom, the certified values for levy were a million a billion 28 and the the uh controller is certifying a 12.3% value higher than that. So that's the gap right there. So why are those important? because TEA is going to receive the values from the controller and those are the values that TA will use to calculate bracketized these entitlement. So with that said that makes our budget now short um about $181,000 um because excuse me because of these values. So in in an agenda item um after this we'll be talking about our budget amendment but if you'll note since 2021 we the the values
030have been certified invalued consistently for about 3 years. In 24 they were originally valued because that year there was not a um property study from the appraisal. the school district has the option to protest those values which we've done every year and in 23 we were able to get back into value values uh which means that the TEA will be certified the new values but not until the next budget school year. So that impacts two of our budgets, but the original budget that it impacts is the year in which those values are determined to be uh invalid by the state. So for 2025, if you see the blue area there, those values are determined invalid. We don't have a grace period because a grace period is granted to a school district who has had two
031years of valid uh study results and we haven't had one. So, is BIC going to protest? Yes, we're going to protest that um before the deadline, which is in March. And then the results could be one or the other. If we're found valid, we will get our local values back. But again, we won't know that until September of next year. If we are found invalid, we are going to keep those uh values. And again, it impacts our district for about $180,000. Now, I did take it a little further as possible scenarios. We don't we don't know what in 26 or 27 those values are going to be. But um if we continue to be in value then we continue to find ourselves 6 months out of budget in this same situation because we have to
032come back to the board and let you know that state values were certified and we have to go back into fund uh drawing or we have to start cutting somewhere to be able to cover what that gap is. So, I think overall the reason I wanted this guy to present this to y'all is uh for a couple of reasons. Um number one, she mentioned we're always saying that school finance is a moving target, right? So, when we meet all summer long to create our budget, we do it based on a whole lot of estimations. Okay? So, one of the first estimations was enrollments and attendance, right? So, we said, okay, our enrollment is going to be approximately this and we're hoping that attendance is approximately this. So we're going to generate so much ADA. So
033that goes into our bucket. Okay? And then we look at the preliminary values. Okay? And we say based on the current values, we're going to generate so much tax money. And so that goes into our bucket. And we plan our budget based on the money that we estimated put in the bucket. We already came to you once before and I think we came in September. Um maybe after the first six weeks because enrollment was down. Okay. and we said we're not going to we we can't we don't have the students to generate that those funds but we've planned a budget so we need to do a budget amendment. So we've come to you once the board before and we had to ask for a budget amendment to fill that gap. Okay. So now here in
034a little bit we're going to come to you again with another budget amendment. Okay. Um to do another fund. Okay. which means it comes from fund balance. Um because we're not generating the amount of funds that we were expecting based on the preliminary values that we worked our budget on. So normally we're looking at ways to save so that way I can come back at the end of the year and tell y'all instead of using 700,000 from fund balance, we only use 500,000 which has been the past couple of years, right? So we say we need this much and we always go less. This year already we're having to draw from fund balance just to be able to have the bucket that we planned on. And that's why I think if you go back to
035that other um that's just a very clear picture for me of you know we this is what we planned with the orange and the green. Okay. And now we're missing a piece. So tonight when we bring the budget amendment it is to fill that missing funding. >> Miss got some clarification. >> Yes. >> The school budget is established based on the the numbers provided by the local cabinet. Correct. >> Yes. >> So we establish our budget. Fast forward, the state of Texas tells us and K your numbers are wrong. Not us, K that their numbers are wrong. >> Well, they don't necessarily say they're wrong. They say they're not aligned to market. Basically, they're saying you didn't hit our target. And so, because you did it and you fell outside of our targets, we're just
036going to assign you certified the state values. >> Okay? So, instead of us attempting thinking we're going to get $10, we're only going to get $5. Okay. >> In the big picture. >> So then the school is forced. Uh it now has to depend I guess our honor and go back and be a an expense to the school district to tell the cat we're going to protest your numbers because they don't align with the state of Texas. >> That's correct. So only a school district can protest those values. And so uh we have hired an attorney firm to do so and there is a cost assessed to that. >> Okay. So then there's a cost there's a there's an immediate cost because the numbers are not aligned. There's another cost to the school district because
037now we have to protest. >> Correct. And we have to pay for >> we going to have to pay and then there's no guarantee we're going to win. >> Correct. So then now it's going to cost the school again. Instead of keeping our lunch money in the bank, we got to take out a few dimes to cover the loss because the numbers were not aligned. Correct. >> All right. >> And on the opposite end, we can also protest and win the protest. Okay. And they say, "Okay, you're now within the 5% margin that they give us." And that's great. Okay. the problem becomes that we don't see that money until 2027. So, it takes it takes a while for the protest to come back as valid. So, there have been multiple times where um it's
038it's protested. Okay, protest filed and so it came back. So, in 2023 protest was filed and it came back as valid. So, it it's about closing the gap. It's it's state says here, we say here. It's not that they're wrong. It's not that we're wrong. It's that we're not we're not aligned enough, you know. And I think that there's an understanding that there can be a gap. It's not going to be perfect, but the gap has just been too large. But when we protest, they go back and they look at it and they make some changes to see if we can close the gap. If we go to valid status like in 2023, okay, then it would go back and we would get the local values assigned. Okay, but by that time it's 2027. So
039that doesn't help us with the with the current cost. >> But if the numbers were aligned, there wouldn't be an expense to the school via hiring insurance. And and then it it appears it appears based on the numbers not being in line that we the board and administration is not doing a a good enough job to keep the budget in line >> though it has nothing what we're not doing here is being caused on the outside >> potentially because the the very much so so because here I am again asking for money from the fund from the office okay and so you know there there is that potential that people hear, "Oh, look, the school district is having to pull money from the fund balance." Well, not because we're overspending, but because of the missing
040funds because of the misalignment from the taxes. >> How long does it usually take when you uh hire a lawyer and have them go back before they can declare it valid? How long does that usually take? >> A year. So, we won't know until September. September of 2027. Um, we might know this this September 2026. Okay. >> So, that puts us at a risk though when we're What do you do in the meantime while they're evaluating? Do you are you >> We're bringing a budget amendment to you all. >> Well, thankfully we have a >> take out of savings >> because we have it. If we didn't, this is where some districts let people go. They cut where they need to cut. But thankfully we have a fund balance to be able to absorb that
041in hopes >> in hopes that we'll be able to recover it next year. >> So that's that missing fund is an obvious budget amendment for today. So because we have to finish off the year and we won't know till September and we're not generating that money. We're coming to y'all today saying we need to draw we need to we need to do a fund drawing. We need to we need to borrow from ourselves to be able to get through this school year. And then you'll recover that within the next year after by making the cuts that you had mentioned. If they had to be, would that how would that work if you take it out of the savings? How do you build the savings back up? >> By reducing expenditures next year, >> By not
042drawing from it. By making cuts where we need to. It's getting tighter and tighter every year. >> But she won't know right away. No. And because TA is going to use these values to be funding us, we have to align with them immediately >> and because the auditors are going to check their calculations. So we have to be in line with TA by the time the turn around which is why this amendment is is coming to you as quickly as we know about it. Can you put up that chart about the validity? >> So right now what CAD has provided to us is invalid and that's why we're protesting. Correct. >> But the state console has provided. >> So they say it's invalid in 25 and it was invalid in 23. It was invalid in
04322 and 21. So we've been doing this merrygo round now for several years. >> Yes. Yeah, but before we put this off CAD completely, what you would be asking so the community knows is it would really that's a big difference. 126 million. So it's the state who's saying not us and not the cat that he's off by that much. and the state, you know, you got to give him credit, too, because then we are would punish the community raising taxes. That's >> that's the only way to fix it. >> That's how you fix that is people's property taxes has to go up. So, I don't want to sit here and say cat because he's also looking out for everybody in this place. I just don't know how they can get that 12% down. I think
044it's got to be within 5%. Right. For >> if you're within 5% of their deviations, it's still it's valid. Anything outside is >> so I don't want to sit here and just say CAD because he's that office is probably looking out for everybody in the county in some way. But in the back seat, we're the ones that have been getting, you know, >> and I and I agree with what Mr. Pas is saying. It's very difficult because the way to fix it is to increase taxes, you know, and so that hurts our community because their taxes go up, but that's the only way to fix the financial burden on the school, you know. Um, so it's it's it's difficult. It's a very challenging situation um to be in. Um, >> so the conduct office has
045been doing this for I don't know since 21. Are we allowed We can't see their values ahead of time to base our budget off of that? >> No. >> Instead of the local? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Well, we're required to use uh certified values for the budget, but since we have to approve ours on June 30th, the law says we can use the preliminary certified, which come out in April. So we build our budget on the preliminary certified but as I mentioned earlier then we we approve the budget and then we immediately turn around and come back and realign it one more time after he sends these values to the state. So yes in October when the limit comes that's when he sends them to the state that's when we know about that's when
046we bring another budget amendment. So, as he's sending, we're also aligning with that budget amendment, but at that point, we don't know what the state is going to um certify to him because then from October through January, the state is is doing their study and it doesn't come out until January 30th. So, that's the blind window for us to touch for the new homestead. They did. >> Oh, they did. Even with the program, >> where was the biggest >> as far as I don't have it, but I want to say utilities. >> Utilities. >> Any utilities? And then um underdeveloped or undeveloped, >> your rail yard pipelines. They're not they weren't taxing >> the soldiers and things of that nature >> and that's not that's outside of our community so to speak. >> Well, I
047think it's safe to say you're going to have to make some hard decisions. M >> this is already 3 4 years uh that these values aren't >> aligning and I I mean I want to push the community here you know >> it's it's really I think of like you asked right now finding out where where is the gap you know and and identifying that okay it's utilities and then let me work let me let me work there to try to close the gap. Um, and I think the other one was underdeveloped a agriculture. Okay, let me work there, you know. Um, so I think that there are some things that we can that look at to see what we need to do moving forward. Well, not us, but the appraisal. >> Yes. >> Because this
048is all related to appraising, >> right? >> We get their values the based on his appraisal processes. Then we calculate our budget from there. So we do no appraising. >> Yeah. And strictly his office, >> right? And we don't do any of that either where we go in there and say, "Oh, you came out really low here. Fix this." You know, that's we we take his numbers. Amalia is emailed certified values, preliminary values, any updates, she gets that. She reads the numbers, but it's stuff that comes from their office to us. It's not us massaging the numbers. and the attorneys that are working for the for us on the protest. That is their job to go look at these differences between what the um chief commissioner submitted and what the state is deciding and try
049to close the gap hopefully get it to zero. So they make a case on each one of these type of properties on our behalf to try to convince the state to bring them down. >> Still, >> yes. >> What do you what they say? They're going to protest for us, but >> they feel the gap is kind of wide this year. >> The gap is pretty big. >> Yeah, they feel I don't know about their confidence, but that was a comment that the gap was kind of wild and we actually were very fortunate that that um protection law passed because originally when we were looking at the numbers, we were looking at $800,000. Um, but then the state passed some new legislation that gave us some credit which brought it down to right under $200,000,
050you know, dollars. Um, it could have it could have been a really bad situation, >> right? >> Because we're a recaptured district, they're basically saying, "Well, we're not going to make you send us money you didn't get, >> right?" >> So that's why they're giving us that, right? But we're still being deemed by 180,000 or so, >> which that's an estimate right now. I don't know until the very end of this fiscal year where we actually end up >> Well, my great worry is that we don't want to short change the school via me, the children of this community. They're part of this community. They're all here. They're being served and no fancy building. We have nothing fancy here. Everything is pretty plain and so for all school related. here. Basically, TA said, "We think
051you're richer than what you said." So, based on the kids you have and the class of kids you have, you get less. Moving on to 5D department reports. >> So as practice um all the department reports have been uploaded uh for all the different departments and my directors are present if there's any questions. If not it's just for information. See, my strap was running around pretty hard last week or the week before. That affect us quite a bit. >> I'm sorry. >> Strep. >> Yes, there's been some cases of kids. >> He has started the little ones right now. >> That's affecting attendance. Well, it's affecting staff and students. So, right now, everyone's taking a hit. So, I did reach out to Mr. Elise today. Um, and we're going to start with the misters when
052we used to use the co misters. So, we'll be missing buildings and classrooms and see if it >> anybody. >> All right, moving on to item six, action items 6A. >> So, for 6A, um we do have a presentation today um for background. So, the background presentation will be done by KC KCHC um person I believe. >> Oh, this um for those of you who don't know who I am, I'm Becky Moore. I'm with the King County Commission. Um I believe all of you um members received a copy of our report and uh it's pretty self-explanatory. So, I'm here requesting that um or asking that you approve it. Uh I did make my presentation to the commissioners this morning and once I have your approval here then I will present it to the appraisal office.
053>> So it is the recommendation of the administration to approve the 2026 annual review and assessment of recorded Texas historic plant properties. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrative recommendation? So I makes a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Let's see. now open for discussion. >> I just note that there's uh you know there's been controversy last year problems under this and there's been revamping of policies and procedures and uh you know it's nothing nothing too significant but probably should have done it. >> More appreciate your hard work. I know how hard you work. Well, it's all volunteers that have prepared this work. And how this um how we do it is of course I will use next year's report. I'll be using this report as our worksheet and it lists all
054the items, all the discrepancies and Sandy Herman uh walks with me through the properties. We take photographs. We'll make notes and we hand it off to Daryl Wharton and another group of individuals. They actually do the rating. So it's um it's a team effort but um um as all of you know that the Smithsonian project is going to occur in November. I think this is just a a great way to improve these buildings because they are landmarks for our community and um our history is really important to us. We need to take care of them. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> The motion on the table is I move to approve the 2026 annual review and assessment of recorded Texas historic land mark property. All in favor >> thank you. >> No thank you.
055But y'all doing a good job. Thank you, Miss Warren. >> Moving on. 6B general election May 2nd, 2026. >> So 6B1 is as per section 3.004A3 Texas Education Code. The following authority shall order an election the governing body of a political subdivision other than a county or city that has elected officers for the general election for those officers. An election ordered by an authority of a political subdivision shall be ordered no later than the 62nd day before election day. So it is the recommendation of the administration to call order of the general election for the school board of trustees to be held on May 2nd, 2026. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrator recommendation? So move that >> makes a motion. Do I have a second? Ed makes a second. Board is now
056open for discussion. >> Yes. How much is this election we anticipated the cost the school district? >> Oh goodness. Um I don't know. >> More or less. >> Six. We end up saying about six 6,000 at one point >> if we if we um contract out with the county. How about four? If we do it on our own. Nobody has a contract with the county 46,000. >> Thank you. There >> no more discussion. The motion on the table is I move to call order of general election for the school board of trustees to be held on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. All those in favor? >> Um 6.2. Um, the governing body is also required to to appoint an election judge and an alternate judge for each single election. It is the recommendation of the administration
057to appoint Miss Ida Ortiz as the election judge and Lisa Jaclyn Kilo as the alternate judge for the May 2nd, 2026 general election. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrative recommendation? I make a motion. Second memo makes a motion. Matt seconds. It's now open for discussion. No discussion. The motion on the table is I move to appoint Ida Ortiz as the election judge and >> Luisia >> Camille as an alternate judge for the May 2nd, 2026 general election. All >> 6C. So 6 C has to do with one of the changes that came about um over the summer with the new legislation as part of Senate Bill 11. So Senate Bill 11 requires a dis requires the district to take action or no action on the condition of a period of prayer um
058or Bible reading or other religious text in accordance with section 25.0823 of the Texas Education Code. We still do in the mornings our moment of silence. We have opportunities where students can participate in prayer. Um, but it is the recommendation of the administration not to adopt a resolution or corresponding policy that would require a period of prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious text as permitted by Senate Bill 11 from the 89th Texas Legislative Session which took effect September 1st, 2025. Further, this vote of the governing body is taking place within six months. six months um to bring it to the to the board um of the bill becoming effective as required by law. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrative recommendation? >> Jess makes a motion. Do I have a
059second? I'll second. >> Have no seconds. It's now open for discussion. >> You're talking about a group of people reading the Bible in public or >> so um Senate Bill 11 actually said that if we wanted to, we could designate first period as religious period. Okay? And during first period, religious period, there could be Bible studies, there could be a religion class, it could there could be so but it would be a designated period. Um, so my recommendation is that we don't have a designated period, but that we continue our design our practices, which is um we have fellowship of Christian athletes. We do prayer at the poll, we have a moment of silence. um if a student wants to pray, they can pray before a test. So, we don't take away their amendment right
060from praying, but we don't have a designated period for um prayer or biblical sense. >> All right. >> Correct. >> Not just the Christian. >> Correct. >> Okay. The motion on the table is I move that on February 9th, 2026, the governing body of Bracket ISD not adopt a resolution or corresponding policy that would require a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text as permitted by Senate Bill 11 from the 89th legislation session which took effect September 3rd, 2025. Further, this record this record will vote of the governing body is to take place within six months of the bill becoming effective as required. All those in favor unanimous >> 6D. >> So 6D is our resolution for our inclement weather day. Um so we did have enough minutes in the
061day um so that students will not be required to make up the time. However, our employees are hourly and or contractual employees and so therefore um the board delegates to the superintendent the authority to close schools uh for reasons of public health and safety. And on January 26, 2026, decision to close the school was made to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families during severe winter weather conditions, possible hazardous road conditions, including ice, increased risk of accidents during travel, and the extreme cold um that posed additional safety concerns. Closing the school, we feel helped prevent unnecessary exposure to the dangers, and allowed families and staff to remain at home. Um so today's resolution is for us to be able to pay employees um even though we did not have um school on that day.
062It is the recommendation of the administration to approve the school closure resolution as presented. >> I have a motion to accept the administrator's recommendation. >> No makes a motion. Do I have a second? >> That second discussion. Good thing you did close it because we didn't have any water in town that day. >> I know. We would have sent everybody home. >> Motion on the table is I move to approve the school closure resolution as presented. All those in favor I say all those jurisdiction sheriff's office 6. >> Okay. 6E is to consider and take possible action regarding the request to purchase um a trust property and it's listed there. This property was struck from the rolls following the unsuccessful sheriff sale. The properties held in trust by the KY County Appraisal District for Kenny
063County recognized via the city of Brackavville and the King County Groundwater District. It is the recommendation of the administration to approve the offer submitted by Travis Bonner for the amount of $500 to purchase the Kenny County Appraisal District Trust Properties account number 11433 bracket code block 42 lots 51. Do I have a motion to accept administrative recommendation? >> I make a motion. >> Memo makes a motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> That second. It's open for discussion. >> No discussion. The motion on the table is I move to accept administrator's recommendation and approve the purchase of the properties as presented by 6F. >> Okay. Um 6F has to do with the district plan to delay the implement teacher implementation of teacher certification. Um again, another house bill that was passed last
064summer and so we have to submit a plan in regards to what is recognized going to do in order to make sure that we meet that new required house bill. So districts are required to submit intentions regarding compliance with the commissioner of education teacher certification requirement established under house bill 2 and TEC 21.0032 which was passed in July 2025. A formal request in the form of a plan must be approved by the board and then submitted to TEA no later than March 2nd, 2026. The plan includes the district's transition to full certification no later than the beginning of the 2029 2030 um school year. So, Mrs. Christie Price, our director of instruction and accountability, um worked on our plans, um looking at our data from previous school years, um looking and ensuring that we met
065all the criteria that's required in the TPA plan. So, one of those is that we have a program that we're working with our teachers on. So our program is 240 certification. Um Miss Price can definitely answer any additional questions regarding the plan. Um if there is any um but it is the recommendation of the administration to approve the bracket district plan to delay the implementation of teacher certification. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrator's recommendation? >> Jesse makes a motion. Do I second the second is open for discussion. So, is this an addition to the plan that we already have or is this staying with the plan that we have now for the teachers and the accountability that we've been following? >> No, it's a it's a new plan according to House Bill
0662. Um, it's we can no longer include certain things in our DOI. So, we have to revamp and this this supersedes that. So, we have to we have to make changes. >> So, how does that affect what you've already been doing? Because I know you've had minds on getting things turned in and having moving forward with decreasing our percentage. So what does that do? Yeah. So basically the hospital bill too comes back and says by next year um it it has those things that are right right there. Um what this plan allows us to do is to be able to delay that implementation until 2930 school year. So for us, it's just going to basically take and push things back about a year so that we can make sure that those that have started in
067a prep program can finish up until their second year. Um they'll finish their whole their whole program, but in but for next year we'll we won't I'm sorry. We won't um we'll push back everything a year basically. >> But push push forward. So now they have to finish sooner. So before we like when we were doing our original DIY plan, we were giving teachers three years. Okay? So like you had year one, year two, by year three you had to be finished. Okay? Now with this new house bill, we can't give them three years. Okay? Because depending on when you get hired, you've got to be fully certified according to this to the law by 2029 2030. So like if we choose to hire anybody that's not certified this coming school year 26 27 we
068can't give them three years that you've got two years. Okay. And really the way Miss Price wrote the plan I actually a little bit um even more meaningful because we're saying we're going to have everybody certified a year earlier than what the state is requiring because we've already been working on it. So, I feel like our plan gave us a jump start on what the state was doing. So, we already had a plan before the state was requiring a plan. So, I think that we're actually a few steps ahead of the game because we already had a plan to get teachers certified and we were already putting time frames on them. Now, we're just making sure that we get everything done before 29:30. Mr. >> Price, how many teachers are going to affect potential teachers?
069>> Seven. So that's our current our current um uncertified teachers is seven. Um most of those if if not all of them um are scheduled to be done before 2030 anyways. So based on our current DOI plan, they were already going to be finished before the new house requirement. So did it impact us? Yes. For new hires. Does it necessarily impact us for current hires? No, because we already had a plan for those teachers. And I think that's what you were. >> Yeah. Just making making sure that we're staying with the original plan because it did decrease the number of uncertified teachers, which was our goal and we want to stay. So, if we're doing new hires, we have to keep that in mind that we may be losing a certifying some if we're hiring
070more. >> Right. And that's why if you go back to Miss U to the U keep going. So basically with our D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do plan now we can hire somebody before they actually get to that second year where they have their intern certification and that's where we're going to start next year. >> So if you look here this is the incoming 2627 for the 2627 school year. We will not hire anybody that's not in their second year. So before we would say as long as you're in a program, we'll hire you. Not anymore. Okay. Now we want you to be further along in the program in order for us to consider hiring you. So I think
071we're actually making it a little bit more strict than what's required because we don't want to go backwards. We've done a great job getting teachers certified and lowering that number. We want to we want to make it challenging, you know, challenging but doable, you know, challenging but doable. So, we can hire but we want them to be already in their second year. Um, motion on the table is I move to approve the bracket ID district's plan to delay implementation of teachers certification as present. All those in favor unanimous. >> 6G um has to do with um an adjunct professor. So we do have one of our students who um has been working with the Valvery A&M Agglife. So we need to get them on our list of adjunct professors. So the state board of education
072passed an amendment to 19 TAC 129.21J. 21J requirements for student attendance accounting for state funding purposes allows public schools to be considered in attendance when participating in off-campus activities with an adjunct staff member of the school district. Section three of the student attendant intend says the student is participating in an activity that is approved by the local board of school trustees and is under the direction of a member of the professional staff or an adjunct staff member who has a minimum of a bachelor's degree and is eligible for participation in the teacher retirement system of Texas. So the attachment that you all see um does does list that um adjun professor that we would be adopting. And so it is the recommendation of the administration to approve the Valry County&M agro life extension adjunct faculty
073agreement and a resolution as presented and hereby appoint Tommy Gagger and Alana Pikink as the adject faculty members for bracket IC. So when our students are out with these two adjunct professors, they're not considered. That's that's the main reason. >> Do I have a motion to accept the administrator's recommendations? >> So move second. >> That makes the motion seconds. So open for discussion. No discussion. The motion on table is I move to approve the Valy County&m and agent agitant. Agent >> adjunct >> back to the agreement and resolution as presented and hereby appoint Tommy Eer and Aliana picking Picking Hank as the agent faculty members are recognized. All in favor >> 6H all yours back and recommendation. So to consider and take appropriate possible action regarding second quarter investment report CDA legal not listed quarterly
074the investment officer shall prepare and submit to the board a written report of investment transactions for all files covered under the public funds investment act for the preceding reporting period and the report needs to be presented not less than quarterly to the board and the superintendent within a reasonable time period. We are presenting the second quarterly report as of uh December as attached >> and it is the recommendation of administration to accept the second quarterly investment report as presented. >> I have a motion to accept the administrative recommendation. Jesse makes a motion. Do I have a second? I'll >> second. Second for discussion. There's no discussion. The motion on the table is I move to approve the second quarter investment report as presented. All those in favor six I >> this is the budget amendment
075that we discussed earlier. So basically we're going to fund drawing with 181363 to um adjust for the decrease in the funding that we'll be receiving through tea. And >> I'm sorry we forgot the verbiage there. So it's the recommendation of the administration to present the budget amendment 0201 as presented. >> So I have a motion to accept administrative recommendation. Jess makes a motion. Second. Memo seconds. Open discussion. >> This money savings. Correct. >> Yes. >> All right. The motion on the table is to approve VA0201 as presented. All those in favor? >> Unanimous. Moving on to item number seven 7A. >> These are the monthly um finance reports. the budget and expense comparison with revenue district to last year and also the well I'm get ahead there the budget and expense comparison report and we
076are pretty much on targeting relatively speaking when you compare to last year both on revenue little bit under revenue but we know what that is that should correct itself All right. Moving on to 7B >> and that is >> check uh transactions of over 5 minutes for the month of January. Moving on to item eight, superintendent report. >> Okay. Um so we'll start with first and past and completed events. On January 28th, Jones Elementary hosted their second grade and parent meeting. Um the parent meetings at Jones Elementary have been very successful. So um I just really want to point that out. They get really good parent turnout. Kids perform and then the teachers provide a little presentation of how they can help their students at home. Um we have district advisories scheduled for February the
0775th. Um but we did cancel that. Um the main part of that February the 5th meeting was to start our calendar development. and I have region 20 helping us um with some samples of what other school districts are doing for calendars and we hadn't finished compiling all the samples. So we went ahead and canceled that and we pushed that back to February 26. Um upcoming events February 13th uh which is this Friday is the end of the six weeks. We do have an early out for students. Um in the past we that's when we held our district faculty meeting. However, this February 13th, we will not be doing district faculty meeting type events um because it is our first parent conference um opportunity. So, that was part of one of the new um Senate bills
078also that we provide specific days for parent conferences. Um so, we've advertised uh teachers have made phone calls and so um the teachers will have that afternoon to meet with with parents that have scheduled meetings. Uh February 16th is President's Day. It is a holiday. Um February 24th is the fourth and fifth grade uh parents night. So again, same type of thing. Fourth and fifth graders will have some sort of showcase of of their their work and then the fourth and fifth grade teachers will go over some things that they can do um at home to help with um instructional activities. February 26 for the school board. Um that's our workshop and training day. We were able to contract somebody from TASBY to come give a 2-hour overview um no more than two-hour overview on
079Robert's rules of order. Um and so they can just they're they'll review our meetings. They'll see how we're doing things and then if we have questions on um the process we can ask him at that time and then we'll go into the goals workshop. So um it'll be TAS me with Robert and then the goals workshop on the 26th. Um March 2nd is the one act play district contest. Um March 9th is our regular board of trustees regular meeting. And then um just for those of you who are not attending and we didn't put it on here, but if you're not attending the budget, sorry, the um board summit um then you're going to be missing your hours so that you will be eligible to u register uh for SLI. And so um that those
080dates are June 10th through the 13th. So it's it was an either or type situation. Um and that's all the events that we have. >> Okay. Pursuant to Texas Governor Code 551.074, the record Bell is school board. We're going into close session at 7:14 p.m. Sure. >> Okay. >> All right. The board of trustees for recognized D will be coming out of close session at 7:54 p.m. There's one agenda item needs to be discussed that is going to be 10D. >> So it is the recommendation of the administration to approve the one-year extension exempt term contracts for 2728 for Senor Kimenez, Kenneth Miller, Holly Harris, Christy Price, Cindy Welch, Andrea Hluck, and Cody Baker. A one-year extension exempt non-certified term contracts for 2728 for Amaya Vessa, Michael, and Javier. And then a one-year exempt probationary
081contracts for um 26. Is that right? 26 27 26 27 for Ashley Santal, Taran Cornney. Oh, yeah. And Vivian L. That's correct. >> Do I have a motion to accept administrator recommendation? Jesse makes a motion. The most seconds. It is open for discussion. No discussion. The motion on the table is I move to accept the superintendent's recommendation to approve the exempt contracts as presented. All those in favor? Unanimous. The meeting is adjourned at 7:55 p.m. >> Angle.