Board Meeting - August 18, 2025 - Regular Board Meeting 5:30pm

001All right, the time is 5:30 and we will go to agenda item one. will conduct the public meeting to discuss the proposed budget and tax rate. Miss Mendes. Good evening. I'm Olga Mendes, chief financial officer. The purpose of the meeting today is to discuss the district's budget and to set the proposed tax rate. Uh the tax rate will be set later on in this meeting. Uh the proposed maintenance tax rate is per $100 and the school debt service tax rate is set at proposed to be set at 0.0 I mean 045 for $100. The total appraised value and total taxable values uh for the preceding year that is 1 bill71 million uh 651,272. This current tax year it is 1 bill711,658,984. The um outstanding principle that the district currently has on bonds is 32,848,310. Uh

002the comparison of the proposed rates to last year was the um MO tax the maintenance and operation last year was at 6669. This year it will remain the same at 669. In >> Excuse me, Miss Mendes. Let the record show that Miss Jordan is here at 5:32. You may proceed. >> Okay. Interest in syncing uh for last year it was at 0.45. It will remain the same at 0.45. The total tax rate last year was set at 1.1169. This year the proposed tax rate will be the same at 1.669. uh comparison of proposed levy with last year's levy on average residents. The average market value of the residents here from last year was 150,755. This year it is 146,952. Um the um there will be a decrease in taxes on the average residents of less

003of $126. The fund balance for the maintenance and operation fund balance is 1,999,000 and the interest in syncing balance is 1,336. Um, this concludes the information. If there's any questions or discussions there, you're more than welcome to let participate. Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> My concern is for the senior citizens. So, what is our tax rate going to be? >> Yeah, that's very low because uh the legislator did propose to uh bring the rates down and the um oh >> I think it's >> the homestead exceptions. >> So, all of that is going to be up for elections in November. So I want to say that you know in general for everyone it'sund the proposal is $140,000 >> and I want to say it's an extra $60,000 for senior citizens. So unless your home is

004like the vast majority if not the entire senior citizens in this area would not be paying taxes at all. Property taxes. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean that's again based on the voter the voters um approving that but I don't think there's been a situation the voters have not approved a tax. >> Yeah that's correct. >> Right. So this is bringing it went to $100,000. This is going to go to 140 if the voters It did pass, >> right? >> But then the voters have to go. It has to go to >> it's think they're increasing it. It went to 100,000 and it passed and this time they're proposing 140 and in November when it goes to >> All right. Are there any further questions from the audience? Okay. We'll go ahead and start with

005Miss Jordan. Do you have any questions? >> No. >> Miss Gutierrez? >> No ma'am. >> Mr. Ardondo, >> um, one question. Do we still have some, uh, contested property values that are not included in these numbers? >> Yes, there's always things in pro probate. >> I think I saw that. So, when will we have the final number on that? >> That's always ongoing because there's always things in protest and then if they get uh, you know, honored or not, it it all varies. So, when I see a bill that we pay the appraisal district, is that something that we're refunding back? >> Uh, no. That's the cost of them maintaining the taxes. >> We pay that quarterly or when? >> Quarterly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Miss Vela, >> go for it. >> All

006right. Is that it, Miss Mendes? On that? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> Okay. I'm sorry, Mr. Viel. Do you have any questions? >> No, ma'am. Thank you. All right. You're welcome. Okay. Let's go on to agenda item two. I call this meeting to order. 5:37 p.m. and we will have roll call. >> Liz Gutierrez >> here. >> Charlie Jordan >> here. >> Priscilla Bella >> here. >> Albert Variel >> present. >> Gonzalez. >> Oscar Rodontto here. Rodriguez >> here. >> Let the record show that there is a quorum of board members. We will now stand for the pledges of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the republic for which it stands. One nation under indivisible and justice for all. I aliance to thee Texas one state under God one and indivisible. >>

007All right. Right, we're moving on to agenda item four, public participation. Got one speaker. Okay. Uh, go ahead and read it. At a meeting of the board of trustees, members of the public will have the opportunity to address the board of trustees during this section on any agenda item or any subject within its jurisdiction. Each speaker should complete an open form participation form. If you wish to address the board during public participation, please complete and submit the form online and complete a form in person by 5:30 p.m. on the day of the board meeting. This document will then be sent to Miss Diane Jackson, superintendent secretary. So, our speaker number one is Miss Christine Wilmont on vocation. Vocational. >> Uh, good evening board. Um Christine Wilma, been living in this uh district for so many

008years, working at district going on 26 years, getting ready to retire. Uh my concern is uh I would just want to say thank you to all of y'all uh for all your time helping out and volunteering. And I would like to give thanks to um Miss Moore for helping out the school. She was there helping with those kids birthday days and she's still there out there helping us even for ace and my hats off to her. Good job. And I would just like to say that I know I've been here before and u for vocational classes. I know we have some already at the high school. Uh I would like to see more at the junior high starting at that level because uh as we're familiar with the AI is taking the higher level paying

009jobs. That's what I'm hearing and it's meantly the uh blue collar jobs is not being affected so much. So this is very good for us the vocational so our kids will have hands-on hands and they'll be prepared for the workforce and they're going to be looking for us over here. So that's something we should be looking into besides what we have right now expand, you know, junior high and and it will keep our kids, you know, uh interested and learning a a trade at the same time. And when they get to the high school, they're going to have a certification. That should be something we should be looking into, not just uh certification for associates. They should be looking into certification in school. So when they're already graduates, they have that certification. And I would

010just just like to say uh for the pay raise, we've been holding on and we look forward for that good pay raise mental days. We surely need them. I appreciate it. Thank you for everything you do and our parases on your hands. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Wilmont. Let's move on to agenda item five, presentations, reports, and action items. We're going to go on to 5A, the presentation and discuss discussion regarding the balance scorecard priority. Three, the report broaden and strengthen connections with families and community to achieve a culture of excellent. This is 5A1. the presentation regarding the review of the 2024 2025 special education family engagement activities and the 2025 and 2026 calendar of uh events. Dr. Rana Ria just wanted to say one thing. So yeah, as we've done these

011priority three reports, we've reported on ACE activities, we've reported on title one activities, but it kind of occurred to me, oh, special education has done a lot to intentionally reach out to families. So I wanted Dr. Rivera to have an opportunity to share with you what she's been doing and her whole team's been doing. Um so take it away Dr. River. >> Perfect. Well, a lot of this where it came from was we do have a requirement for child. What this is specifically is reaching out to the community and letting them know of supports that can be provided to children both here at our district and through local ECI and outside programs. So we really wanted to hone in on that and find students that maybe needed additional supports that parents might not be aware

012of the supports that are able to be provided. So we started doing a lot of outreach and it was very successful. We were able to reach additional families that didn't know of some of the programs that could be offered. We were able to provide them supports. we were able to do early identifications and really help bring in those families and answer questions and get everything completed instead of the students just walking in on their first day of school at prek and us trying to okay how do we support them what do we need to get done so it really has helped in regards to our early intervention so some of the things that we have done this year is in October this is something that we continuously do we participate within the trunk or treats

013the homecoming parade and one of the items that we do is we give out those little fruit snacks, but on the fruit snacks, we print out P stickers and it specifically says, as you can see, they're child fine, know a child with disabilities, ages birth through 21, contact ECI or your local LEA, which would be us. And then the phone number there to the ECI. We hope that when families see this, if they are thinking, well, my student or my child might not be reaching that milestone, let me reach out to see what we can do. So everything that we do give away, we constantly put on those stickers so that we're continuing to bring the awareness to families. In November, we did have our Turkey Trot, which we partnered with ACE. It was a

014great success. It was a 5K run that we opened to all families. One of the good things that we really liked about it was it was not only a race for families, but we had boosts. We had boosts from our district along with outside partners. So for instance, we had a child find booth. We had dyslexia booth where they were giving out free books. They also went over procedural safeguards. We have a speech table where they had activities there. So if parents had questions, we also had just a basic FAQ where parents could come and ask for support along with our special Olympics unified assisted technology and that was just from our district providing what we have to offer here. Then from some of our outside agencies, we had Morgan's World Multi-Is Center, the MAC

015program, we had MHID, Driscoll, ECI, Food Bank, Coastal Bid and Aging Disability, New York Life. And our goal is that this year when we do that, we continue to extend to have more outside agencies come to help provide representation. So, we wanted to make sure, well, how are families going to see all this? We were worried that, well, what if they don't get to everything? And that was the whole purpose of it was that they would learn about it. So we set up a bingo card. Miss Leo had a great idea. We did a bingo card and they had to go to each table and get stamped when they learned about it. And then they were entered in for various free drawings. We gave away turkey baskets that were donated and just really brought together

016the community. We had moon jumps and music going and ice cone machines. So just everything that really brought the community together. So we are looking forward to again this year and possibly having it even bigger. Then those are some of our pictures as you can see there. There's our moonjub. They're having the snow cone. Some of our various supporters there and there are some runners too. So it was a great turnout and we were excited for that. So that's what basically kicked off the year and as we move through we do have requirements and then we always want to make that more engaging. So for dyslexia parent nights we always have two. We have one in the spring and one in the fall. And what we do is our dyslexia teachers are specialists and our

017diagnosticians. What they'll do is they'll provide a presentation over the program that we specifically use which is reading by design. the parents will get to ask questions. And what we were grateful about last year was we had parents that actually said, "Hey, I'm kind of seeing something with my student. Is there any way y'all can help?" So just having those open communications gives us the opportunity to then go and look to see is there supports that are needed? Do we need to do evaluations so that we make sure no students fall through the cracks and that we are early identifying? So, also in our celebration of education, one specific table that our dyslexia teachers did was they had a station set up and it's considered a dyslexia simulation. So, there's an activity there that the

018mirror reflects and you actually have to try and draw and write as if you were an individual who had dyslexia. So, it gives you like a little experience of how it feels. So we were excited for that because not only were families were able to do that, then staff members were kind of like, hey, what's going on here? So they started implementing it. So with that, we saw that, you know, it's really making the connection to individuals. So this year we plan on doing that as mini training to our teachers and staff so that they get to experience that as well. >> Our special Olympics and unified. So that we specifically do bowling, track and field, floor ball, baseball and tennis. And then our unified does robotics, flag football and track and field. So the

019difference between special Olympics and unified special Olympics is special Olympics is for our individuals with disabilities. And our unified actually combines both their general peers and themselves as athletes. So they go and participate in these various sports. So for instance, in robotics, as y'all remember from earlier in the year, the high school got gold and junior high got bronze when they competed together. So our students do do really well after school during ACE as well. They communicate and they have activities. Our JFK also has our various activities that they do during their groups to see what they'll be working on. So we really try and have that in regards to the entire school district. So some of it specifically is unified sports, youth leadership and then whole school engagements. So they start identifying what students

020are willing to participate and then we continue on with other districts throughout the city. >> And as far as the unified, are you saying that that the participation is for our general ed from prek through 12 also? >> Yes. So it's the teams consist of general ed and students that are already in special Olympics. >> Great. >> Yes. >> Then we had our books, blocks and balls which we partnered with with JFK. This was the first time we did that but we actually were able to successfully identify through early intervention students from here before they came to school. What it's specifically looking at was doing milestone screenings that were completed. And as the parents went through, if the evaluator saw that anything was like, "Hey, these are below levels or there's some concerns or questions,"

021they would go to the special education table and ask questions. And then we'd also get a student list. United Way was really good about providing us the list of names of students. So, we were able to follow up and say, "Hey, you're within our district. These are some items that we saw. can we come and meet? And we actually had three families that we were successfully able to reach from that. So, we are excited about it. We're going to continue it this year and we're already getting ready to prepare for that in October. Then in our fall festival, you can see here our unified Special Olympics and our Special Olympics team. They come and participate. They do fundraisers and have activities for the students just to continue to have families be aware of what programs

022and sports and everything that we do have available. Then in April, we do have our 5K run which again we partner with ACE with this is when our students can and our community has the opportunity to raise awareness for autism. We had a great turnout this year. One of the things that our Miss Buns and Miss Flores did was they had a lemonade stand. So just helping to raise those awareness. I told them this year on all the lemonade ones, we're going to add stickers to those as well. And we're just seeing a really increase in families asking those questions and reaching out. So we're really pleased about that so that we can help provide support to them. So for the upcoming 2025 2026 school year, our dyslexia parent nights we do have scheduled for

023October 22nd, February 25th. Our first books, blocks, and balls will be October 25th. Our turkey trot is scheduled for November 17th, which we will be partnering with ACE again. And then the autism run April 18th, which we will be partnering with ACE. And of course, these are the ones that we have set in stone right now, but that doesn't limit us from continuing to participate in additional ones. >> And I just realized we left out I don't know if it's on JFK's calendar. Um JFK, did you guys they've been doing that sensory night too that was not a district-wide district's invited, but um a JFK parent well basically came from JFK staff parent that had a child with disabilities um did for autism. So, it was like a night because sometimes when we have these

024fall festivals and these big events, children that have sensory issues, it's a little bit too overstimulating. And um I know that sensory night, I want to say that your entire staff last year, I feel like everyone at JFK stayed for that so that there was able to be a lot more stations so any one station wasn't too crowded so that those kids could participate. >> Yeah. So, I do apologize for leaving that one, but that one is a big event that we do have. And Miss Mun said that >> be scheduled on >> Yes, that will be scheduled on there as well. >> Sorry, I reviewed this too and it just occurred to me just this minute that we left that out. >> Well, we're glad that there's so many many now that Exactly. Miss

025Bella, do you have any questions? >> Miss Gonzalez, Mr. Adodondo, >> are we engaging also with communities and schools to help when we have these events? Currently we haven't but that is something definitely that we can include as well. >> That would be another way to get people involved through that are with them. >> Yes, that's a great idea. >> Partner with us. No other questions. >> Yeah, the more the marrier getting you get the help. Miss Gutier, do you have any questions? And Miss Jordan? >> Yeah, I have a question. U initially with the child find the teacher is the one that usually do the recommendation. No, it can come from parents. It can come a grandparent can call. It can be an outside agency that calls us or doctor's office or ECI. It

026can even be a principal, counselor, teacher, whichever. It's just do you know a child and do you have concerns and you can reach out and then we guide them to the correct >> My other question is if we if there's a recommendation from uh the school district and the parent sometimes they're reluctant to identify this child as being special needs or whatever. What do we do to help this child cause uh to be successful? Uh because I know it has to be the approval of the parent to you know to do this but what other uh methods do we use when the parents are in denial. So if a parent does deny services or evaluation for special education because they can either a deny for the child to be evaluated or b after we've gone

027through all the evaluation they say no I don't want the support of the program we do have MTSS which is used to be called RTI that'll help support students. So through there they can get supports and interventions and accommodations that'll still give them supports. it won't be as specially designed because that's specifically what special ed is for. And then every 3 years, we do reach out to the parents to say, "Hey, we can do a re-evaluation. Are you considering at this time our students that may have higher needs that we are giving those interventions to, we may go back then mid year, the end of the year, these are supports that we could still provide. We want to give you the time to think over, but legally we are required within those three years. We

028do great thing about West Oso is parents are appreciative for the support. So we our numbers in regards to are extremely extremely low. >> So uh piggybacking off of her question. So are those students considered regular ed students? >> Yes ma'am. Well, all students are general education. They just get a special ed support. But if the families do or the parents do deny the services, then they won't get the special ed because we have the special ed students that are identified >> and it's in their record. >> Yes. >> And if if you as a teacher, as a specialist know that's that's a sped student but parent has denied, that's why I'm asking. So for the remainder of those three years, they are a regular ed student. >> They won't receive any specially designed instruction,

029but they will still receive >> like modifications, accommodations >> or an inclusion support or content >> that is not going to be received because they have denied services and that is explained to them like >> in detail. >> Okay. All right. I do have questions on the books ball blocks and balls kind of to that effect. Uh so you have these students where you you do find them where they come I I was talking to Miss Moore the toddler readings and all that. So if you have identified or do we identify those uh prek and under >> and do they get assistance during that time because we only have prek three classes. So in they if they are younger than what we provide in our e class they typically what we've seen is our students

030are through ECI they're the service the company or the program that provides them support >> which is home instruction where they go to the home early childhood >> intervention so they have where they may go to the home or the student may go to the program or they might be in some form of head start it just all depends on what the student specifically needs, >> but they are being serviced in some way to where well they have been identified but they can't go to school till they're 3 years old. >> Yes, >> there's something going on. >> So that's where they get serviced first and then when they become of age that's when we're required what before their third birthday we would have already been required to evaluate and have an argument. >> So

031you're already on it because you he's already been identified. >> Yes, ma'am. uh between birth and you know >> like the speech services, the OT, PT for some of those everything like that. Okay. Yeah, that's good to know because I was like I wonder what >> again with that you know we can't >> require you know there's some parent >> I know but like she said I think there are parents like on the other side of the spectrum to where >> I do want you to help my child and he's only a year old >> and that's why we always try and have these events because even if they're not of age we're giving out that number that we're giving out is to ECI because we understand we don't service everyone but let's get you

032to who can help. >> Yes, definitely. I think y'all have done a phenomenal job on reaching out to our community >> and making sure that those children are not falling through the cracks and we are getting to them. You've done, you know, all these different events like we're here. We're here if you ever need help. And I think that's like the first thing that we need to do because some of those parents are just devastated because they see something in their children that hey they're not learning the way you know they should be or whatever. >> And really our biggest challenge and I having daily Dr. V and I having daily conversations is you know in certain places in the district we're at capacity. We have a number of special education transfer students that we

033had to deny because we just didn't have capacity. Like if if if accepting that student means hiring a person, then we had to deny, you know. >> Well, I I will tell you a long list of kids that want to be here. >> Westoso is known for you want to go to a good sped program, you put your child at West. >> Yeah, I heard we were on a mom somewhere. So, >> yeah. And we've been hearing that, you know, for the past what, five, 10 years, Shirley, >> that's why they bring their kids here, that Westoso has one of the best bet programs. >> Yes. >> Uh because we do cater to our students and and that's what we want. That's what we want. Okay, Mr. Varial. >> I'm good. Thank you. >> You're

034welcome, sir. Okay. Thank you so much, Dr. Lou. Job well done by your staff. Is any of your staff here? >> Y'all, y'all do >> y'all do a phenomenal job. >> Thank you. >> All right, let's move on to agenda item 5B. Discuss and consider taking action on the resolution to establish a local school library advisory council SB13. Miss Moore and the campus librarians. Are you going to introduce our campus librarian? >> I sure will. >> So, um Oh, are you representing the others are going to wave or do they all want to come up? It's up to y'all how you want to do it. >> Y'all can come up so we can everybody knows. >> Miss Tanya Dinkler, she's our high school librarian. Um and then Miss Andrea Martinez is our junior high librarian.

035Dr. Malia Perez is our JFK librarian. And at WOE Wosa Elementary School, we still have um Miss Casada who's um part-time and then we have Monica Perez that's at the library full-time. So Dr. Casatada had I mean Dr. Mrs. Casada had another engagement this evening. So >> who are you talking about? >> Adriana Casada is halftime at Westo Elementary and then we still have Monica Perez full I guess uh full-time there. um which as of today, West Coast Elementary has 550 students. So at this point, it's by far the largest campus. >> Yeah. Um so >> um the school library advisory council basically with the legislature, they've created, I won't editorialize on this, I'll just state the facts, a lot more um steps before these ladies can order books. And so this is ordering library

036books. So if you want to kind of give a little summation of what has to happen. >> So what we have to do is we have to establish a school library advisory council of parents that will come in. They will receive training on collection development from us as librarians. And then once they receive that training, we have to hold at least two yearly meetings with our council. And basically what we will do is we will provide a list of books to them that we want to purchase and they um can go book by book if they choose or they can say we trust you. It's really up to them um and give us their stamp of approval on the list of books that we want. And then once the um committee does that for us,

037we have to post it online for 30 days for the public to view the list. And then after that 30 days is over, the list will come to the board and the board will take the school library advisory council's recommendation. Whether they say approve or deny and they can say approve the list or they can say approve the list. But these five books, it'll depend on the council's um recommendation to the board. Then the board will have to approve the list and then once the list is approved by the board, then we can take that list and make our purchases. >> Okay. I just want to make it clear but the board when you bring it to the board did you say that then we get to say you're going to approve it but not

038these five books. >> So if the coun if the school library advisory council says here is the list of books that the library provided for us. We love everything on the list but these five. So it is our recommendation that you approve this list except for these five. So you can say we are going to take their um >> recommendation and we're going to approve it as they or you can look at those five and say no we we want to include >> right and but so the board will have the final say the library council will be doing all the backend work and you can just say yes we approve what they said. >> Yeah the other option was with this law we could say y'all are the council and y and and the

039board gets trained and the board has to read all of these books. So those were the two choices and so >> correct. So I thought a better option would be to kind of have some uh parents and staff people that would be doing that. >> And are they going to read all the books? >> They don't have to read all the books, but what we have to provide for them um is kind of a record of that book. Kind of, you know, the recommendations from that book. Make sure that it's a highly qualified book. you know, we're going to provide all of that information for them. So, it's not just they're not getting random information or no information. >> You don't you give them a little information about the book. Yes. Not the whole book,

040but >> Right. Right. So, we'll say, you know, this book, we'll give them the title, the author. We have to provide the ISBN as per the law because we have to do the books by ISBN. Um, and then we'll give them, you know, this has won three awards and has this many critiques, you know, those types of things. Um, if they want a synopsis of the book, we can provide a synopsis of the book as well. >> And are we going to get a list on are we going to get a list to see what they picked? >> Yes. Yes. So, that list will go first to the committee and then we will post that list book by book the 30 days online and then you will receive that list as well. And my thought

041is is you would receive that list as soon as the committee approves it, okay? While it's taking that 30 days while it's sitting online. So that way if you wanted to go through the list, you could as well. >> Okay. >> So why couldn't the board be the council if the if the the council right now doesn't have to read the books? So why would the board have to read them? You could just give us the same information. >> We could go that route, but that would be on you to go through book by book. You don't have to read them, but you would have to go through book by book to see if they are appropriate for the book. >> And it's two more meetings, too, right? You have >> It's I'm just asking

042is the committee going to have to do the book by book? Because if the board has to do book by book, then the committee has to go book by book. >> Okay, that that's my question. I don't see the why. as a board, we need to know, you know, you're going to have to wait 30 days to bring it to the board and then we only have a meeting once a month, >> right? >> So now you got to wait another end of the month before we have a meeting before these books are, you know, passed or not passed. >> So why not the board look at them and do the research? I mean, that's what we're here for. That's what we're here for. Oh, you you're saying the board to look at all the

043the books, >> whatever books they're going to ask to buy. I mean, it it's the same thing if an advisory committee and I saw it's parents and teachers you have here. >> We have parent we have voting members, we have parents, we have the two um one elementary, one secondary librarian as a voting member. And then um we have a a retired uh professor that um has some information. Yes. That I think has served on library committees in the city um that I think will be helpful. The idea is that they're vetting them so that by the time they come to you, you're just you're trusting the committee essentially. >> And they're they're doing the vetting. >> They are doing the vetting. Yes. And we're looking at hundreds of books, you know, because if we

044only we can do these meetings more than twice a year, but they will probably be twice a year. So, we are looking at putting together a list for our purchasing and thinking ahead. So, I'm already thinking ahead for the high school and I've probably have more books on there than I'm able to purchase, but I'm trying to plan smartly and plan accordingly in case some get knocked off my list. I don't anticipate that, but I'm looking at over two to 300 books just for my list. And that's one campus. And that's where I'm at right now if I don't add more books. And so you're talking, you know, several hundred if not a thousand or more books total that you'll have to sit in one meeting to go over. >> So it's one committee for

045all campuses. >> Yes, ma'am. >> One. And say JFK has 2,000 books. Uh Westo Elementary has another 2,000. So how are these people going to look at all these books and then you have 3,000? Well, it's not going to it's not going to be thousands. >> I was going to say, well, let's be realistic. So, you already have a library full of books. Yes, ma'am. >> That is grandfather in you're not doing those. >> Yes. So, this is just these are new books for the year 2526. Correct. Which is approximately give me >> what do y'all usually get? >> A couple hundred per campus. >> Per campus. Depending on our budget and depending on how we can squeeze that budget, if we can find better deals. depending on the budget, >> right? And so that's

046why I'm saying I've already created a list that is already more than what I know I can purchase, but if I can find good deals, then I can get more books. >> Okay. >> And so I want more books than my budget allows, >> you know, just in case >> donor or donor. Yes. Because any donations that come through have to be approved. >> Okay. >> Um so it is it is a lot. And so when Miss Moore and I sat down and talked about committee or board, we thought committee because then that would take that off of you vetting every single book. And you said they're being trained. >> Yes, ma'am. >> It's a requirement. And so again, if it was the board, then they would have to get all this extensive train. Y'all

047would have to get extensive training. I think the idea is too is um and tell me about the kind of rating process or a process where if it was like for a mature audience or like that's going to be on what they give to basically like you know movies are like PG whatever um PG-13 there's going to be a similar kind of process so that I would think a lot of the books at JFK wouldn't be I mean I would think the controversial ones would be more at the secondary level. >> So included on that spreadsheet that we're going to provide, it will give the intended grade level for the book that the publisher gives and then that other review sites give because we have places like Kirkus reviews that this is all they do

048is review school library books. And so they give their intended audience, grade levels or age levels. So that'll be included on there so they can see, okay, this book is intended for early childhood kids um or young adults. So why are we putting a young adult book at elementary? So they'll see those types of things in the spreadsheet that we provide to >> my in all of this is your reading of the book might be different than my reading of the book and you're going to bring it to me and and expect me to say yes or no. But if I think differently, you know, of the book, you might think it's appropriate for the high school and I might think no, it's not appropriate, you know. So that's why I'm saying at least one

049here should be on that to be able to get that training to know exactly what we're looking at and what we're, you know, because you're just giving us like that here. >> Right. Right. I mean, that's the board's decision basically though. Um, it's one or the other. We can't have a school library advisory council is not the board. There's not board members on that. >> I mean, so either the board wants to take this on, which would be another several meetings and, you know, more to do. Um, or my recommendation would be, you know, at least we'll have all of our librarians either as voting or non- voting members, and they're the ones that have master's degrees in library science, and that's what they were trained. That's that's the the thinking that I'm going with.

050I mean, I I'm not going to pretend that I'm the expert as far as librarians and books go. I'm not reading 100 books. I'll tell you that. Right now, I can barely read the three that I have right now. >> Uh I have to depend on the experts. And that's what we're here as board members. We We depend on those administrators. We depend on those administrators. We depend on those librarians. I'm not doing anybody's job. librarians. If it comes from the librarians, I know, right? Okay. They have the master, >> right? >> And it's and it's going to be recommended from us first. It's not going to be them making a list. And to reassure you on different people reading the book and getting different opinions on it when we look at books, we look

051at several different review sites. Um we I know I purchased from a site called title wave which is through flet and they actually provide their rating on the book but then they provide all the different ratings from all the different raiders that go through this process. And so you can look and you can say okay rates it as a as a middle-grade book and Kirkus reviews rates it from age 10 to 13. So you see several ratings. So, if they're all kind of matching, we feel very positive about this book. We're not just picking books because we think they're going to be cool in our library and the kids like them. We are really going in and doing that research and that's part of the collection development. Um, if you feel more comfortable knowing more

052about collection development, if you decide to do the committee and we provide that training to them, you are more than welcome to attend that training for your knowledge and to have a little bit more background on that as well if you choose to do that. >> Question, Miss Rodriguez. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, during the process of the 30 days on the online for the parents, if they want to view it, they can see it. What if a parent opposite then? What's the process with that? Do you all go back to the growing t uh to the drawing table or do we proceed with your recommendation? >> I haven't seen a lot of information on that since the law is so new. But in my opinion, um, I would pull that list from the book

053to be able to listen to that parents concerns about the book and then represent it at another committee meeting for it to move forward at another time because I do want to hear that parents concerns about the book. Um, but we don't want to also completely stop the process. So, it'll be paused until we can hear about it a little bit more. >> Yeah. Yeah, from what I understand on anybody that's had a challenge on any material, whether it's something that's up for review or it's something that we bring to the library, um they're in the process of developing a new challenge document that's supposed to be passed down to the district which will be presented to you guys uh at some point um for review and approval because as far as I understand it

054has to be um accepted into our policies as well. And once that um we have a challenge process in place now um where if a parent has a challenge they have to provide the information of what's causing the issue what's raising the alert >> what what issues do they have with your go through that process >> we would be privy to all challenges >> yes and the thing is well I can tell you that we haven't had challenges since I've been here and I think people don't have but that doesn't mean one can't happen but if we do have a challenge Then the committee is required to read the book at that point. The committee is re required to read the book from cover to cover >> and that's the school library advisory council. They

055would handle the process of the um the challenges and they would have to read the book definitely and then it would come to you as the final consent. >> Parents could even challenge a book already that's currently in our collection. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, but the ones that are currently in our collection, do those get to be challenged every year? >> Yeah. I mean, anyone can challenge a book at any time. I'm just saying that in this whole time in I think in people's memory in the last 10 years, there hasn't been any book challenges, but yeah, anyone can. >> Even if their grandfather did, they still can. >> Yes. I already had a process for that. So, if they challenge it, the committee meets, it has to be um it's a simple majority vote.

056So if the simple there is a thing though that says and I want to say it's two years but you can correct me that once a let's say a book is challenged let's say the committee says no we're we're keeping it then it stays for two years I want to say three years three years we can't keep challenging the same book because they don't want to keep just creating work for people >> all right good that's >> and then the challenge documentation that the person challenging the book fills out they actually have to state in there that they have read the book. So, it can't just be I heard that this book has some bad stuff in it or I read on this website. I want it taken. They have to actually say they've read

057the book and then the committee has like everybody has to read the book. >> Nobody. >> Yes. >> All right. Um, Mr. Ardon, >> I brought this uh question up a couple meetings ago about the book fair. Is it because the parents are purchasing the book, does it have to go through the same process? So what I learned at a recent meeting is any events or activities that our school host do not have to go through this committee. So book fairs do not have to go through this committee. We can hold book fairs because it is the parents choice to purchase the books. Um they they don't have to send their kids to the book fair. They don't have to purchase um any of our novel nights, things like that that we do. the we

058do not have to go through the committee because it is the parents choice to attend those activities and to take the books if they want to or not. >> And for voting members on the committee, do the do you need a quorum? >> Yes. >> And what is that? >> It is four out of the seven. >> And this is similar to Shaq and So we have Shaq and Slack now. Um but it's similar in that there's a 72-hour posting and it is actually recorded. So, if anyone in their spare time wanted to go back for these committee meetings, they will be recorded and posted on the website. >> My main concern right now with the list is that I know we're required by minimum to have so many on there and it looks like

059we did the minimum. My concern is that we don't have enough. >> What? What do you mean the minimum? Well, you're required to have at least more parents than uh non-parents on the committee voting committee. >> Yes. >> I think well no tell me what you said when we >> the majority we have four out of our out of the seven people on the committee are parents which is the requirement. >> So if one of those parents doesn't show where two of them were in trouble then that's why I'm asking about the quorum. >> No the quorum is that the of the seven people >> doesn't mean that four parents have to show up just four out of the seven people on the committee. Can we add more parents? I'm I'm trying to get more

060parents, >> but then we'll have to have more numbers. So, if we have nine, then we'll have to get five people to show up for the quorum. >> I mean, they can be non- voting. >> I just we can get more parent participation. >> We can always get more parent participation. And if we add more non- voting members, that doesn't affect the quorum at all. >> We can we can continue reaching out. We initially reached out to six parents and four said yes. So, so you don't necessarily have to have a quorum of parents on there >> to approve a vote. >> Just of voting members. >> Just voting me. >> Just enough quorum voting members on there whether it be admin librarians, administrators or parents. >> Correct. >> And then the parents that you

061reached out to, are they different? The students go to different schools? >> Yes. Yes. And again, we reached out to be honest with parents that show up to things like different events and that's what I was trying to get. I I basically told these people told them these people our administrators we need parents that are going to show up. I mean you know we don't need parents that will say yes to us but then not >> it's always been that way when you see you pick out the ones that are always coming and you try to >> it's critical that the parents show up because we don't want them all prepared and then we don't have enough people >> what >> you've had that conversation. >> Yes. I'm saying I feel good about the parents

062that we have because they've they have shown up to events. >> Okay. And I think that's it. >> Miss Okay. Miss Gonzalez, >> I asked. >> Okay. Miss uh Vela. >> No. >> And Mr. Varial. >> I'm good. >> All right. Thank you. >> Me, ma'am. >> Well, y'all had it. Y'all were talking. I'll go back to you, man. M Gutier. >> Okay. I sure do want to question. Um >> I know you. these uh parents here that you have on this list, how many of them are employees of Westo ISD? >> You're not the none of the parents could be employees of Westo ISD. That was one of the the things that absolutely none of them are employees. >> And then I'm reading here on this papers that you provided, it states that like

063a if somebody donates a book, like say I go to the book fair and I get a book and I want to donate it to the school. We still have to go those 30 days notice. It can't just be yes, we'll take it. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. That that's I I thought I heard you say that. It didn't follow it, but that was one of the things. Now, old books that we have, old books that we have, though they've been grandfathered in, can those if somebody claims that they want that book removed, uh, it goes through the committee again to have that book removed. >> Correct. >> How many do you see? I don't know. I know you're supposed to do a library u catalog. >> We do. >> Okay. And it's supposed to

064be posted, right? >> Yes, we do. >> And you already have it? >> Yeah. Oh, yes. For many years, we've had an online catalog that anybody can go to depending on the >> know that I know that. Oh, okay. Because >> So, that's the saying we've never had in 10 years that at least probably more, we have not had any books challenge, >> right? No, I I back in the 2000s we did, but not now. there was some stuff going on but uh no I I've so that's under the west ISD library or is there a certain um >> if you go to each campus um it is under the library page for each campus and our online catalog is on our individual library pages. >> Okay. Do you have to have a hard copy?

065Um, that would be >> because we do hear there's a lot of people that don't have internet, which I know it's not true, but anyway, >> we do not we are not required by law to have a hard copy. Um, that would be a whole lot of trees. >> Parents could come, of course. I'm sure if parents came up to the librarians and wanted >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Definitely. >> Okay, that's that was one of the if the parents have access to it. >> Yeah, we if a parent wants access and does not have access, we will make sure they get it. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Okay. Well, I just don't like the 30-day wait. I think that neither do we. >> If you need a library book in your in your library, it should

066be in your library immediately following when you choose it. >> But other than that, I'm okay with it. Thank you, Miss uh Rodriguez. >> All right. Miss Jordan, did you finish, too? >> No, ma'am. >> You don't have any further questions? >> No questions. >> All right. Okay. Any other um information? Miss Dinkler, Miss who's in here too? >> Dr. Bettis, do you have anything to say? Dr. Bettis, you want to say a few words? >> Um, we also have our teachers classroom library that have been posted online as well. >> And that goes through the same >> process, same library web page to our school web page. Um, if you look up on the the library uh site for each school, all of our teachers um with the exceptions of the new ones because

067some of the new ones are still working and then teachers that just came in 15, they're still working on some of their of their list. So, you're not going to see a full listing there. But, anybody that was here with us last year, those are already individuals listed by teacher and grade level. So, those are accessible to the public. >> I did not know that. I was a teacher for 21 years. I never had to turn in a list. No, it's a new law. >> Yeah, that is definitely a new law. And classroom libraries do not have to go through this committee. >> They can they can purchase and put books on their shelves as they want. >> So then what is miss then what is Dr. Pettis talking about >> as long as they're

068age appropriate. >> So the the classroom like classroom teachers have to post the list so that parents can their personal classrooms, >> right? They have to post the list for anybody to go in and look at just like go through that process of >> correct that's not a book that we want here or anything like that. >> Correct. Now, if there's a challenge, it would go through the challenge process, but the committee approving it to say yes, we give you the okay to put this book on your bookshelf in your library or in your classroom. They don't have to go through that process. They have to post it online like we do. >> Yes. >> Okay. Wow. >> Let me get this. I >> don't make the laws. I promise you. If a teacher has

069If there's a teacher in a classroom and I want to buy her a book, >> I can do it without having to go through the whole process. Yes, ma'am. >> Age appropriates. >> Age appropriate. >> No, no, I understand that. I understand. >> Put it on her list. Correct. >> But it has to be on a list. >> She the the teacher will then have to add it to her classroom library list that is posted online for parents to have access to. Now, if I want to donate it to the librarian to the library, how does that >> So, then you would you would hand it to the librarian that you want to donate it to. The the librarian would add it to her list that would go to the next slack committee. >> Okay.

070So, that has to >> Yes, >> that is good to know. Thank you, Dr. Pettis. >> And Miss >> Where's the other one? Martinez. >> Martinez. >> Miss Martinez, do you have any few words to say? >> No, I think that >> it's covered. >> Yeah, it's covered. >> Thank you so much, ladies. Y'all have done a lot of work and uh >> I realize some of this is new stuff coming in because I had never heard that a teacher had to post her list. >> Wow. Okay. >> Okay. Well, I appreciate all the work that y'all have done and I'm sure we're going to have a tremendous, fabulous library for our kiddos. >> That is always what we are striving toward. >> Yes. Thank you for all y'all's hard work. >> Action motion. >>

071Sorry, ladies. >> A motion. >> Okay. >> All right. Let me get my voting sheet. So this is actually divided into two motions. The first one establishes the council and then the second one is the policy and embedded in that policy is the council. So is it two >> two motions >> action items >> and >> all right let me get >> All right. >> No that's yours. >> And who is that? Please listen. >> You want the motion? >> I have the motion. >> I wanted my hard copy. >> Okay. Action item 5B. I need to hear a motion for action item 5B. And I need a second for the motion. I I make a motion that we approve the resolution to establish a local school library advisory council as presented by the librarians.

072I'll >> second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Gutierrez and seconded by Miss Gonzalez for action item 5B. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Okay. Liz Gutierrez. >> I. >> Julie Jordan. >> I Priscilla. >> Hi. >> Albert Reap. I >> Gonzalez I Oscar >> I Rodriguez >> I I apologize Mr. Vada. Did you have any words on this action item 5B? >> Yeah, you're right. >> No, ma'am. It was it was very impressive the work that they've done. It seems very thorough. Uh I I'm glad to hear it. >> All right. Thank you. Okay, the motion passes 70. Thank you ladies. We're going to move on to agenda item 5C. Discuss and consider taking action on board policy EFB local instructional resources library materials. Uh I guess the librarians again.

073>> So I mean it's basically this is just the policy says we're going to have a library council. So there's really not any new information for this. >> All right. I need to hear a motion and a second for agenda item 5C. >> I make a motion that we accept uh changes to the policy EFB as presented to the board. >> Second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Cthetus and seconded by Miss Jordan for agenda item 5C. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Miss Gettes. >> Hi. >> Short. >> Hi. Priscilla Villa. >> Hi. >> Albert Radiard. >> Hi. >> Gonzalez. I >> Oscar Edundo. >> Hi. >> And Velma Rodriguez. >> I This motion passes 70. Thank you. We're going to move on to agenda item six, consent agenda 6

074A1, the approval of board meeting minutes. Uh 681 is special board meeting minutes on Monday, July 21st, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. 2 is the regular board meeting minutes, Monday, July 28th, 2025 at 5:36 p.m. 6B is the approval of the monthly investment report for July 31st, 2025. And 6 C is the approval of the general fund financial report for July 31st, 2025. If I don't hear any objections, uh, do I have a motion and a second for agenda item the consent agenda items 6 A, B, and C? >> President, I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda uh, A through C as recommended by administration. >> I'll second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded by Miss Gonzalez to approve agenda items the consent agenda items 6

075A through C. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Okay. >> Liz Gutierrez. >> Nay. >> Shirley Jordan. >> I >> Albert Read >> I Gonzalez I >> Oscar Arondo Ima Rodriguez I. This motion passes 61. All right, we're moving on to agenda item uh seven, which are items for discussion, deliberation, and or action. 7A is the discussion and possible action on a resolution authorizing the defant defecience is am I pronouncing it correctly? defecence >> of certain portions of the district's currently outstanding obligations and other matters related there too. Miss Mendes, >> uh, thank you. Administration is asking the board to consider and take action on a resolution that allows the district to defease or pay off early certain portions of that standing debt. This resolution does three main things. It authorizes the deficient which allows

076us to set an escrow account to pay off approximately 1.9 million of bonds ahead of schedule. This will be done no later than August 31st of 2026. It delegates authority. It authorizes a district representative which includes the board president, superintendent and the CFO so that they can be able to handle the details of the selected escrow agent moving the funds and to execute any necessary agreements and it also covers the professional fees. The deficients would save us approximately 890,000 in interest costs. This would also allows the district to give us the legal authority and flexibility to complete the deficients properly. I also we also have uh Mr. Tony Hasso, our financial advisor with Estrada Erieosa and Banaso. Uh, Juan Aguilera with U, Eskeamia and Panic, they are there remotely to answer any technical or legal

077questions that the board might have on this defecience process. Y'all have any questions? >> All right, Miss Jordan, do you have any questions? >> Oh, I think this a great idea. I am in favor of it money. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Miss Gutierrez, >> it's a great idea, but where are we getting the money to pay it off? >> It's from the interest in syncing bond B interest and syncing tax rate that is going to be set at 045, which is the same rate that we had last year. wasp interest and syncing tax rate and that's the same exact same rate we had last year. We did do a defeasians last year. >> Okay. >> All right. Mr. Adono, >> it's all part of the budget. So, uh we start this process and we start

078putting money in the ESO in 2026. We'll start we'll start now and and as as we start collecting the taxes as the taxpayers start paying we'll put it aside and then sometime in June like we did last year we'll put it in an escrow account >> and when do you uh have the final when will we pay it off then if once it goes into the escrow how many years is going to take to pay >> that was when the f when we pay it off when the first what's it called when we can call the first one Mr. Hasso, do you want to say that? >> That's it. >> Yeah. >> Yes. U Thank you. And um first of all, can everyone hear me? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Fantastic. Uh yes, sir.

079So, Mr. Great question. Um so, these are are going to be uh bonds that are from the the 2019 series. Um similar to what we uh did um as Miss Mendes indicated in in June. Uh we're going to identify uh some more of these maturities. Um, and so, but technically to to answer your question, once the necessary money is is deposited into the escrow account, um, then technically those are off the the district's books. Um, so it's it's um, you know, again, um, because we're we're paying these down early, what we're going to do, again, as Miss Mendes indicated, we're going to allow some time for the the, um, district to collect its tax revenue. And then at a certain point in time, let's and let's just say, you know, for the sake of example,

080uh, if we do it again in June, we say, okay, we identify the amount uh, that we're going to defease. uh we work with uh Mr. Aguila's firm and also the uh firm serving as the paying agent and we go ahead and deposit a a certain amount and that amount we'll know ahead of time to be sufficient to pay off those maturities and and again um you know from a technical perspective and I'll I'll certainly let um uh uh Mr. you let um you know talk about this too. But from the from the legal perspective, once those necessary monies are certified to be adequate to defease the amount of debt we've identified, once they're placed into the escrow account, uh for all intent and purposes, as far as the district is concerned, those bonds are

081are are defeased. They're they're no longer your obligations. So am I understanding you correctly that let's say in June we say we have x amount of money in the escrow we only pay off what we have in the escrow or and then a year later we see what's in there again and it's not all going to be paid off at once is it >> no sir no sir um so essentially what's what's happening is the the INS tax rate that is being levied is is being levied and and um so that you can collect the amount of tax necessary to pay um the debt that is normally coming due in fiscal 26 >> plus this additional amount we've identified. >> You have an idea of what that amount might be? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

082So, it's it's going to be that one mill 1.9 million uh figure that that Miss Mendes had um had indicated. um if for some reason we get excess collections, let's call it, and you know, maybe we can identify um a little bit more, uh then we have the room to do that. Um but but yes, so essentially what we're going to do is is allow time to take place for the district to collect its revenue, its tax revenue. Um, and then we're going to, you know, once we have that, once we know, okay, we've got sufficient amount to pay what we owe in fiscal 26, we're going to take the that other amount, the approximately 1.9 million, and then go deposit that into the escrow account and we'll have identified which maturities or which portions

083of maturities we're going to be paying down early. So that from that point on those sit in the escrow account until they're they're properly paid. But again from from your perspective uh once those are uh once those arrangements are made and the escrow is done and the defecence transaction is closed those are no longer your obligations. >> So they fall off the books but we still owe on them. >> No sir. Well no they'll fall off the books. So you you do not >> they fall off the book when they go to escrow or when we pay them off? when they go to escrow. >> Go to escro. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Miss Gonzalez. >> No. >> And Miss Bella? >> No question. >> And Mr. Via, >> I'm good. >> Okay. All

084right. Um I know that we had um to switch these agenda items. Miss Mendes, uh correct me again. How which one goes first? We're doing 7 A first, right? >> 7 A is first. >> 7 A. I'm on the I'm on the right track. >> C and B needed to be switched. >> C and B. Okay. Cuz I was like I already lost my notes. >> Okay. So, this is an action item. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. We're on 7 A. I need to hear a motion and a second for agenda item 7A. I make a motion that we do a resolution authorizing the defeasence of certain portions of the district's current outstanding obligations and other matters related thereto. >> Second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Cutes and seconded

085by Mr. Aidondo on agenda item 7A. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Miss Moore, am I going to do the revised one? second. >> Yes. >> Okay. Mr. >> Miss Gutierrez and then seconded by Adith. >> Liz Gutierrez. Hi >> Shirley Jordan. >> Hi >> Priscilla. >> Hi >> Albert Riad. I >> Gonzalez I Oscar >> I Rodriguez >> I this motion passes 70. >> Thank you board and thank you Tony Mr. Hasso and Mr. Aila. I appreciate you all being on. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you all. Have a great evening. >> Thank you. >> You too. >> Yeah. >> All right. Now we're moving on to agenda item 7C. >> Yes ma'am. We're going to take action to approve the Westoso ISD final budget for the 2025 2026 school year. So,

086we're on 7C and then we're we're going to go back to 7B. >> We're going to do C and then go back to >> So, Miss Mendes. >> Okay. Yes. We're asking the board to take action on the ordinance levying a tax rate for 2025 tax year. Uh the proposed tax rate for 25. >> Oh yes. >> Okay. We have to do the budget first. >> So it was right. >> We're here. We're good. We're doing budget. >> It's 7C, >> right? >> Okay. C 7. Okay. Uh for the 2526 budget goals and assumption, we are making sure that we uh in our salaries, we did put the implement this 4,000 and the 8,000 at the levels required by the legislature and we did uh go ahead and put a 3% increase on teachers that

087have a zero to two years experience. Uh we're making sure that all minimum the minimum wage for all employees is at least $15 and we did kind of look at all the um positions and kind of make sure we were around market value. uh we are we looked at all the district's go go goals and priorities and make sure that it aligns with our budget and we continue and it's an everyday practice is that we have to continue aligning staff because it has to do with our enrollment and ADA. So that's a continuous practice. um principles that we we did a zero-based budget. Again, we're making sure that we align with our uh goals of the district. Um we want to leverage all our revenues, all streams of revenues that we can get and we

088want to make sure we address all critical facility needs and um we want to make sure again that we're scaling our budget to meet with the enrollment in ABA. It's a continuous process that we're always having to look at. >> What page are you on, Miss uh Mandis? >> I am on page Well, it's four of my but I'm on page >> 159. >> Factors that influ influence the budget. Um, one of the main factors is state and federal funding. As you all saw, we just had to legislate and pass a lot of different mandates. Um, that we have to comply with. Uh, local and tax revenue. Um, is a is a big source of our revenue that we get. Um, we look at property values, exemptions, um, and thank you board for passing the

089tax deficiency cost and operational expenses. That includes our everyday utilities, transportation, you know, instructional material. Inflation is a big um impact on our budget. um prices are you know really going up it does have a big uh effect on everything attendance against and ADA it's just the moving target uh as we just went over the cash defiance it uh and 24 we did a tax defiance of 045 which will remain the same at 045 for the year of 2526 six. Uh the certified row tax value for um waso ISD's jurisdiction is 1 bill16,7,09. Um this is a comparison of the teacher scale that it compares from the prior year to this current year. U it >> okay so uh which we uh you'll get a three the zero to two will get a 3% increase.

090Uh, of course the legislative is the 4,000 for the 3 to four years and 8,000 for five and plus on the >> administrative and professional. We >> question what was it that you said we I really we really can't hear you uh country over here. >> Uh you said here on that one the one to the one to The teacher scale, >> we're looking at giving 3% for the zero to two years, four uh 4,000 for the 3 to four years, 8,000 for anybody five and plus. >> Okay. Okay. For the administrative and professional scales, um we are looking at at the scale that is 101 to 104 is 6.6%. Uh on 105 to 120 at 3%. And then on your clerical and paras on your scale of 110 is a 7.7%. Uh on the

091111 is a 7.5 on 112 is a 8% on 113 through 115 is 5%. On 116 to 117 is a 4.5%. Accelerate positions. We're looking at positions that are at 201%, 202 to 203 at 8% and 204 to 208 at 6%. This slide right here will show you the increases that I just talked about. It puts them out there by the pay grades. And so again, what we were doing was creating equity because for some of these positions, the way that the pay scales were, it might have just jumped 25 cents. And we wanted to kind of spread it out. And again, of course, to get to that $15 an hour, you had to do a bigger, higher percentage at the people that made the least amount of money were getting the the most amount

092of increase basic percentage wise. Okay. On your stipens, uh, for your athletic stipens, we are looking at paying 215,000. >> 51,000. >> Yeah, this is >> Oh, 251,000. Okay. Okay. And for your academic stipens, it's going to be 108,550. UIL stipens are 2500, a total of 362,000. And again, there's additional stipens that will come out of um non-local funds, but you guys don't when we're voting on the budget, we're not voting on that part. >> Okay? Everybody in the district that has a doctors, they get that. Um, what was it? 2,00 >> just it's just teachers and librarians. >> Just teachers and librarians. >> It's 2500. >> 2,000 is for the masters. >> It's 2,000 for the masters and how much for the >> 2500 if they have both. >> No, they get 2500. They

093don't get 2,000 for the masters and 2500 because you have to have a in order to get a doctorate you have to have a well we don't have to but I think everyone that has a doctorate also has a masters >> we pay a lot out of stipens on stipens we pay quite a bit quite a bit especially the >> Okay this is a recap of the proposed salaries um for 2526 six base salary, we're looking at including all funds, we're looking at 14.4 million. Uh for fund 199 for salaries only is 2.6 million. After you add benefits, stipens, and substitutes, we're looking at 16 million for salaries and benefits. Um for 2526 the district increase is going to be 331,514 and the states increase is going to be 854,674 and that's go back to

094that other one and that state increase. Um those are the increases for the teachers. >> The teachers mainly that teachers is going to be 768,000. >> Where are you at? >> Um the green column on the far right. This is state increase for 2526. >> 7 million five. >> No, 768,000 is on the very top of the state increase and that's for the teachers. Okay. So, yeah, but that's what the legislators proposed. The 4,000, the 8,000, we gave the 3% for those less than 3 years. But what is our portion that they did not include as far as benefits? Where is that in here? That is in it's not separated. It's in there in the benefits of the 2.3 million of all the benefits that we have to pay. So it's included with the benefits

095on the row on the bottom. >> Correct. >> Yes. But I would like to know approximately because of that that we did incur. I mean Yeah. Good. They got a 4,000 8,000. But because of that real fast. >> Yeah. We need to know that part that needs to be separated. I would think >> it's about 153,000. >> Yeah. But I'm just saying for next time cuz I know that this is going to come up again next year. I really would like to I mean this is something that we incurred that really wasn't in the in the budget and 100,000 whatever is a lot of money. >> Y >> but overall it's 331,000 >> that is that sustainable for us for next year. >> Well for the district and then you have the state. >> Yeah.

096I mean it's all incurring. It's going to be >> it's going to be recurring for two year. Well, this is going to be next year's we will be able to afford this again next year. >> Well, we have to say prayers and get people out there. Yeah, we'll have to. >> Yeah, I know. That's what I'm saying. We have to Oh. Oh, >> but it was because of the increases that they did for the >> And that's why I want to make that distinction to to note that this did not come, you know, 4,000 8,000. We had pitch in some of our money local >> had to get out of our general fund and put money in there to make that mandate, >> you know, be realized, which is to me then you should have

097put in 154,000 for the benefits. >> It's like not including the tax. >> By the way, you still got to pay 154,000. Yeah, >> that's >> Yeah, >> it's going to be 8,000, but the tax >> Yeah. Uh this is right here the non-payroll budget by function. So you can see that for instructional we are appropriating 550,000. That's approximately 7.34% of our budget and it goes down and you see what we pay the appraisal district 27,000. So, >> and for the plant the maintenance um percentage of the total budget, uh is that number going to be in any way alleviated by that loan that we're supposedly going to get? >> No, unfortunately. I mean it was very hard to balance this budget and uh um we basically just put just to sustain the district. >>

098So if we the loan would be any kind of upgrades it wouldn't be this is right the loan would be remember to do like lighting it would be to do upgrades it wouldn't be to for cost that we're >> so the loan is not going to help us with the existing expenses. No, the idea is if you save on what do they call it? Energy saving, but it's a it's a long-term savings. It's not an immed right. Yeah, >> it's not gonna have an immediate. >> So, where are we at on that loan? >> We're still working. I mean, we're train is going to uh keep on getting everything um certified and then they'll submit it in August to the state and then from that they'll let us know. Uh hopefully that'll reserve our uh

099fundings and if that goes through then we'll bring it in sometime in September to the board >> September on your plant and maintenance at 4 million. >> We're including the insurance for the whole district in there which is about 2 million. >> No, no, no. >> How much is it? >> It's about It had gone down but it all depends on how hurricane season goes but it's like 1.4 million. >> It's included in that. Yes. >> And electricity, water, everything. So, >> it looks high, but it's not. >> All right. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. >> On that JJ AP, we paid 35,000. Even if we don't use it, have we been using it? >> I think right now, do we have one slot or two? >> Two slots, one student. And have we been

100able to sell one of her slots? Nobody wants it. >> Well, but you you keep it. But you keep it because you never know when you might get a second. >> Need it. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> And then you're going to be lost. >> How long >> that rolls with us, right? That goes >> Yeah, I know. But we have to pay to even if we don't have a a student there. So, how long is the student there that we have to pay for for the whole year? Expulsion placements are there because of the serious nature of whatever the student has committed. The placements run 180 days and those are successful days. >> So it's 180 >> pretty much a year. >> I mean well minimum. >> Yes. Minimum. >> Okay. So we

101just save the other one in case we need it. >> Yes ma'am. Because once you get into the year, you can have districts trying to get seats from other districts because so many students have committed uh felonious acts. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, how many seats did we buy? Two. >> Two. Yes, ma'am. >> And it's 35,000 for both. >> Both. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, we don't have a 35 and 35. >> No, ma'am. No, ma'am. That's good. >> No, ma'am. >> But we have been using it. >> Yes, we have been using it. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. Okay. [Music] That's it. >> Are there any more slides? >> Summary. Continue. >> Okay. Um, this summarizes as a recap of all the budget. It uh has that approximately we should get revenues from the

102property taxes of 6.6 6 million and uh total revenues or we're anticipating is 2 22.3 million for the general fund. Um and expenditures for salary and benefits 16 million. Uh other expenditures is 6.3 million a total of 22.3 million in expenses. That leaves us at a $45,000 deficit. >> That's it, right? >> Yes. >> We're going to get from the general fund. >> Yes. I mean, we're hoping and I know Miss Moore has been working real hard to get that enrollment up and we got to work at ADA, but you know, >> so when you base this budget here, we know that we're trending down. >> Do we know what number we used for this budget? >> Yeah, it says 1570. >> What was it? 1570 ADA. So >> we're at 1690 >> 1640 or

103so. So yeah. So it's >> and we were at what now? >> An ADA of 16 low 1600s. Yeah. >> 1500. >> The budget is based on >> 1570. >> So hopefully we're doing you know we're being conservative >> but we do have to revisit this budget and it doesn't mean that if we don't materialize that we have to scale down. We'll be in good shape if we stay above the 1570. >> Not really. >> Yeah, >> we might be able to make up some of that deficit. >> Well, we have to we have to be above because this is for 1570. So, we really we need to right we need to be higher, you know. So, >> are we going um question are we passing a deficit budget or we passing a >> we're

104passing a 45,000 deficit which is not bad with what >> yeah I mean that's oga worked the Lord knows how much hours and hours and sleepless nights to get it and this is >> I have one more question because I'm always harping on this >> I know that we make so much money on interestion >> from the money that we invest in text full and all that that's been about almost a quarter million. Am I correct? >> That's correct. But it also some of it belongs to the cafeteria, some of it belongs to debt service which a big portion belongs to the debt service since we did that defecience. We have a lot more money in the debt service. >> So what you're telling me is we've already allocated some of that money into this

105budget. >> No, no, no, no. >> Or >> some of that. Yes, it's in there allocated. >> You're anticipating on using that money to pay off some of this. >> That's credit. >> Not all of it. >> We're looking every day. Believe me, we're looking every day. >> Well, the only thing that we have on our side right now with that is interest rates are high. >> So, we're making a pretty penny on it. I was hoping it would go into the >> Yeah. >> our um fund, but >> Yeah. Oh, me too. I was really hoping, but we do. I mean, we're continuously cutting back on a lot of stuff and that's why we try >> throughout the I mean, throughout the year, y'all have been tweaking and tweaking. >> I mean, that's why

106we cut off in April 15th and we >> tried to put some money in the fund last year or the year before even though we didn't know how much or even if we could. >> It's hard though. It's hard. >> It It is. I >> I don't know how y'all do it. I mean, >> school finances. >> That's That's why I want those numbers >> in here. Yeah. to be uh pointed out to to know that we didn't get all this money for free. >> Well, and again, what we're looking at in the summary of finances right now, I I think I shared this, but I'll share it again. That 4,000 and 8,000, we're not even going to see it until March. >> Oh, wow. >> Isn't that what you understood that? Yeah. >> To

107say that seriously, >> we got to figure out how many teachers are meeting the 8,000 level. How many teachers are meaning the I was >> and so they do our winter like our winter submissions. >> I was trying to figure out how do they know >> who we're going to give 4,000 to? Who are we going to give? >> That's what I asked. >> We're not so we have to dish out this money prior throughout the whole year until we get our money in March. >> that's the benefit part. So, say a a sped aid has been here 30 years. >> Where does her pay raise fall under that? >> She's been here 30 years. >> And >> she showed you in the percentages. Remember that she right there? >> So, she's going to get

108um >> depending on like an 8% raise from where she's at now. It's going by the years that she has here or >> no the raises is% the board. >> Yes. >> Oh, are you talking about the midpoint and the >> Yeah. No. Yes. Like the midpoint. Is she going to get from the midpoint? I mean, she's been here 30 years. >> Yeah. On on the teacher scale, you go by the years. on the other pay grades. It's not necessarily even though it's scaled at, you know, at the midpoint and the high is not by the years of service. That scale is meant to that's why when you calculate a raise, you calculate it in a midpoint. That way it allows you to kind of go with the market. It's supposed to be more a

109market value, not a year's service. >> So it's aligned with the market. So you could get a better >> accurate. >> Right. >> Okay. Yeah. And that's the other thing that you know we still don't quite understand the midpoint or hug. I mean I did get a little crash course but it was still kind of >> well I hopefully I mean hopefully again our focus you know based on y'all's recommendation was to really >> Yeah. If you go back to that other sheet on the percentages I do appreciate that. I for next time Yeah. Can you go back to that sheet? >> And it >> I'm just going to say in future I think we sort of leveled some things. So hopefully it'll be more equal in years to come in terms of a percent.

110>> Well, I think so. And I I mean I know it's not, you know, well, it's not the $1,000 that I thought I was going to get or whatever, but look at those percentages in the clerical and the paraprofessional and the auxiliary, >> right? uh 9% 8% and that was to get them at at least the $15 minimum uh wage. >> Uh and I I know we're not even close to what they should be getting as far as, you know, economics goes, but >> that's what that >> that's all we can work with. I mean, look at the >> least they got an increase >> uh 9% increase to where you know if you see the other ones which I did point out to Miss Moore or uh you know they they gave their nine

111and 8% to the administrators and by all means you do deserve it but we also get have to have those people making less than $15 an hour be brought up. >> Yes. because they're not even making it with they're not even going to make it. >> Well, and 3% of $15 or 3% of $12 an hour. >> Yeah. When we saw that, it was like, okay, so you you're giving them a 50 cent raise. I mean, we we've got to do something. >> Yes. >> So, but again, it comes back next year. So, we >> Right. Miss Mendes is going to be juggling with those numbers again. >> Well, again, we're constantly looking >> juggling. Yeah. question. >> I do appreciate that they have really worked on this budget to where we're trying to be

112equitable among all categories. >> Yes. Uh with the property taxes being eliminated by the state, does how does that affect us? >> I'm going to see. Well, um they usually would do a whole harmless, but because we're doing that defeasians, we'll um not qualify for that. So, we we are going to feel an impact on that. >> Yeah. And we're we're not at that year to where what do you call those? Payouts. >> Call. >> No. When you say you have to pay them back, what do you call those? >> Settle ups. We're not there yet because y'all do it by two years. >> No, no, it's every year. Settle up is every year and um it looks like where are we at? >> We're we're going to get probably hit this year. >> We

113might settle up again >> because of our enrollment. >> Our enrollment administrators, our enrollment is killing us. We need to >> raise when we have to do the enrollment again. Can't we lower? >> I did lower it. I was basing that from two years ago. I lowered it quite a bit. >> I know you lowered it because I know we were at a high high one and then we came down but >> and we didn't have to settle up right for >> two years ago. Not much. >> Yeah. Or last year not much >> but that enrollment continues to decrease and it it hurts us >> in the two years when we have to redo it. we go down some more so >> we can go down but remember as I go down we have

114to go down and >> the funding is going to go down too it's going to hurt us all around >> you is it sustainable >> well we're going to I mean >> well and that's where even in a year I mean in a year after Labor Day we're going to have to look at how many you know we've talked about this maybe even shifting and having if there's attrition doing it during the year the st admins know I sent you an We're going to have to do something. Let's just say this year we have to do something. >> Well, eventually, I mean, it just makes common sense. If our enrollment continues to go down, you're you're not going to need as many teachers as you had when our enrollment was up. I mean, it's just

115common sense. It's not something that we're looking for as far as laying off teach I mean, letting teachers go, but you're if you're enrollment is decreasing, why would you have the same number of teachers? And also take into consideration that our student teacher ratio is not >> where we had it 5 years ago where we had it 14 to1 12 to that's not going to happen anymore because we're losing enrollment >> and ading. >> Yeah. >> And we did that because you know as a teacher I I I would propose that because we do want the teachers to have a smaller class. We all know smaller classes you can deal better with them. You can work with them much better than having 25 kids in your classroom versus 12 or 15. But >> you can

116manage and control your class. You should be able >> you can always do that. U Miss Cutis, but I'm just saying that since we had the money at that time or h you know had the luxury well we don't have that luxury anymore. We do not have that luxury. real lowest in the in the electives, some of the electives. >> No, but I'm talking about where our ratio was low in the core subjects and that that's not going to happen. We can't afford it anymore. >> All right. Any further question? Oh, I'm sorry. Do you need to continue, Miss Mendes? >> No, that's conclusive, Mr. >> Mr. Varial. >> Yes. Any other questions on the the final operating budget? >> No, ma'am. Thank you. >> All right. >> Okay, let's go. >> I need a

117motion for agenda item C and a second. >> Okay, I will make the motion. >> Oh, you know what? Let me read this first. >> I read it first. >> Sorry, I got to read this first. Statement required in the ordinance. This year's levy to fund M expenditures exceeds last year's M levy. >> No, that's for the next one. >> And it's the one already. >> Well, because they switched out >> on the budget >> and then I couldn't find the paper. I have one last question on the budget. No, >> the questions have stopped. Okay, never mind. Go ahead. >> Ask the question. >> Go ahead. >> I'll ask you later. >> I'm back on questions because >> I was writing >> the other one. >> Where am I at? >> Just call for

118a motion. >> Okay. >> All right. I need a motion on agenda item 7C and a second. I'll make the motion that we the West ISD school board approve the final annual operating budget as presented for the 2526 school year. >> Oh, I second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Gutierz and seconded by Miss Gonzalez. We'll go ahead and vote. Hi Albert Riad. >> I Gonzalez. I Oscar. >> Velma Rodriguez. >> All right. This motion passes. Uh 70. >> Yes. Now we're going to agenda item 7B. >> 7B. >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's the one we had skipped. Okay. Uh we're asking the board to take action on the ordinance levying the tax rate for the 25 tax year. The proposed tax rate for 2526 is 1.1169 per $100 of property

119valuation and this is the same rate as last year. Your maintenance and operation tax rate is 6669. it remains unchanged as last year. Uh and the interest in syncing is 0.45 which again remains unchanged from last year. The total tax rate of 1.169. Okay. Okay. And included in there, you'll see in your packet, you'll see the tax assessor's uh certification collections and you'll also see the calculation worksheet that I use to determine this tax rate um along with other items. Okay. All right. Uh Miss Val, do you have any questions? >> No question. >> Miss Gonzalez? Yes. Mr. Adono, >> Miss Mendes, um when we're doing this right here, we've considered uh that there's be passage of the increase on the homestead in November. >> Yes, sir. We we uh the calculation worksheet actually uh

120we'll put in there the homestead at 100K and also at 140 and it calculates it. >> And then any difference the state's paying for that? Well, we did a deficient so no >> because of that we're we won't >> correct but the benefits do outweigh >> I understand that loss. >> So that's that going to continue for next year. >> Yes sir. >> Until when? >> Um till the law changes probably >> September 1st next year. >> Until when? >> Till the law changes. >> September. So even though we pay these bonds off and they're off the books and we pay completely off >> because the payoff it it goes into an escrow, the payoff doesn't actually take in place when we we put that when we pay that funding. We put in an escrow

121account as we're going the bonds get paid off. >> I understand that. But uh as far as the state paying their portion, we won't be able to collect on that until when? I'm not sure on that. I mean, it would be they would have to change the law that because as long as we have a deficiency that off once we pay that off, I know it's going to take several years to >> Yeah. Once we paid it off. Yeah. But I mean, we're looking at 15 so years. That's why I say it's not toll. >> We're looking at what? 15 30 years depending on how long the the defecience goes on. >> So over those long 15 to 20 30 years this is the best option >> July. I thought it was in July. >>

122No year by year we agree. Yeah. >> So the benefits are still outweighing >> Yes sir. >> No questions. So if we didn't have the defecience that that would still I mean we would because didn't you say in the past that if we have the $100,000 exemption and the 40,000 we still get covered? >> Yeah, that was the state uh aid that we would get. But we did the deficience. So even though we're losing that funding, the amount that we're getting by not having that paying that interest along with the extra funding that we're getting to pay off that debt, it's going to give us the debt capacity that we're needing to get the, you know, bond, hopefully a bond or something, the ratings in the bond. >> So what you're saying is you've take

123that into consideration when we're dealing with our local budget. >> Yes, sir. So Mr. Mr. Hasso, Mr. Mr. Aguila, they're they're advising us because we don't know any of this stuff as far as >> the experts go. >> Okay. Okay. I'm done. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, Miss Gonzalez >> and Miss Fella. >> No question. >> Or did I go that way? >> Miss I keep cutting you off. Miss Gutierrez. >> Yes. I want to hear it said to be said that we are not raising taxes taxes for our community. Are are we that's correct. It's no in fact as we looked at the tax um notice it actually they're going to be paying about what I don't remember >> 126 $126 less the average homeowner >> tax rate stayed the same but valuations went down

124a little bit. >> Good. Thank you, >> Miss Jordan. >> None. Mattial. >> I'm good. >> All right. Uh, any further information, Miss Mendes? >> That's it. Thank you, board. >> All right. And do I have I don't have to read this resolution 7B. >> I think that was >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Did you need a motion? >> Give me all these papers I don't have to read. It makes me up. >> All right. Let's go to I need a motion for agenda item 7B and a second. >> Make the motion that we accept the ordinance levying a tax rate for the West Oso Independent School District for the tax year 2025. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion has been made by Miss Gutieres and seconded by Mr. Miss Jordan for agenda item 7B.

125We'll go ahead and vote. >> Miss Gutes. Hi >> Shirley Jordan. >> Hi >> Sila Villa. >> Hi >> Albert Riadi. >> Hi >> Olenda Gonzalez. I >> Oscar Adonte >> I >> Rodriguez >> I This motion passes 70. Now we're going on to 7D. >> Okay. Oh no. D. Yes m. >> Okay. Um. Okay. The state law requires us uh and also the board pol policy CDA require the board to review the investment policy at least annually. Um we're currently with text pool. We have uh several funds with them. We have a general fund, debt service fund, cafeteria fund, and a construction fund. Uh they're all invested with the text pool and um as of July 31st, we have approxim we have uh 5.3 million invested. Um in regular text pool, there's 3.4 million

126and it's earning 4.3%. and text pool prime we have 1.8 million earning of 4.4 42%. Okay. As of September from September the 1st of 24 to January 31st of 25 the district has earned 229,580 in interest income. The investment um policy is on page 177. It re we it remains the same. We didn't make any changes to the investment policy. >> All right, Mr. Adondo, do you have any questions? >> No, but I remember when I used to bring this up, they said that would go into our fund balance, but now it changed. Well, it it used to when we had a little bit more funds, but I know I asked several meetings ago and it was still going in there. >> It's okay. We're giving the teachers and our maintenance people at least $15

127an hour and that's something that we really have been struggling to even get them there like Miss Liga said and uh we still need to do more. So, >> we sure do. >> M Gonzalez, >> no. Miss Bella, >> no questions. >> Miss Jordan, >> nine. >> Miss Gutierrez, >> no. >> All right. I need a motion for agenda item 70. >> Oh, and Mr. Viel, I'm so sorry. >> No questions. >> Okay. Thank you for being so patient, Mr. Viel. I really appreciate it. Okay, agenda item. I need a motion for agenda item 7D and a second. I make a motion that we approve and sign the resolution regarding review of the district investment policy and strategies for 2526 with no changes. >> I'll second. >> All right. A motion has been made by

128Miss Gutierz and seconded by Mr. Aondo. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Liz Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Shirley Jordan. >> Hi. >> Priscilla. >> Hi. >> Albert Vidia. >> Hi. Belinda Gonzalez I. Oscar Adondo. >> Hi. >> And Rodriguez. >> I. This motion passes 70. And board members, please. Uh, Miss Mendes is going to come around because we do need to sign this before you leave. >> Okay. All right. >> No, she has the original. And then we need to sign this. We need to sign this. I mean, they have the original. All right. So, let's move on to agenda item 7E. Discuss and consider taking action on the 2025 2026 TEST teacher appraisal calendar and list of certified appraisers. Dr. Rietta, >> good afternoon. Attach, you do have our draft appraisal calendar for test

129evaluations. We did begin with our new teachers getting trained July 30th and then by July 12th all our returning teachers were trained. We have set up for our goal setting to go through August 12th to September 18th. Our formal observations are listed there with our highlighted dates for any new hires are required to be done by December 17th and then our other staff by February 16th. As you go through the timeline, you'll see at the end of the year conference, we do have those highlighted as well as the last day to give the teachers at the end of the year is April 28th. And then the end of the year summitive conference period will end May 6. From there, we do have our observation observation dates where you cannot observe listed on the second page.

130And then we do have our appraiser list. So for our JFK we have Miss Sha Carpenter, Miss Erica Gomez. For WOE, Miss Marcy Davis, Miss Ginger Hol for Weso Junior High, Dr. Gastio and Mr. Sepeda pending completion of training courses. And then Westoso High School, Dr. Gutierrez and Mr. Flowers pending completion of training courses. And as far as West Coast ISD appraisers on central office, we do have Miss Alvarado, Miss Moore, myself, Miss Garcia, and Miss Gomez. >> All right. Any questions from the board on the test? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Mr. Val, do you have any questions? >> No, ma'am. Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. Any other questions for the rest of the board? >> No. >> Okay. I need a sec. Um, I need a >> motion and a second

131to approve agenda item 7E. >> Madam President, I make a motion that we approve the 2526 TEX teachers appraisal calendar and the list of certified appraisers as recommended by administration. >> I'll second. Okay, >> Miss Priscilla. >> Okay. A motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded by Miss Vela to approve agenda item 7E. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Miss Gutierrez, >> she's not here. >> Shirley Jordan. >> Illa. >> Hi. >> Albert Riad. >> I Gonzalez. I >> Oscar Edundo. >> I Rodriguez. This motion passes 6. Let's go ahead and go to agenda item 7F. Discuss and consider taking action on the education service center region 20 commitments agreement for ascender and Texas student data system tsds for the 2025 2026 school year. Miss Moore and Miss Mendes. Uh we're asking the

132board to take action on the education uh service center region 20 commitment. Uh that includes a sender and the Texas student data system. Uh we've we're currently this I think this is the second year. >> This will be the third I think coming up. >> Um we're coming up on the third year that we've been with region 20. They seem to have a larger staff, more trained. So, we've um enjoyed having the support that we've needed. Uh the total cost for that would be 51,549. On page, what is it? 20 page 130. You'll see the cost that it is. For the business side, it's 20,159 and for the student side is 29,396. And then there's a support service of 1,993. And so that totals up to 51,549. All right. Um, any questions? Any questions from

133the board for agenda item 7F? >> I don't. >> Nope. All right. We're going to move on to I mean seven >> motion. >> I'm sorry, Mr. Oallo. Do you have any questions? >> No, ma'am. Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. Agenda item 7F. I need a motion and I need a second. Motion that we take re take action on the education service center region 20 commitment agreement for a sender and the Texas student data for the 2526 school year. >> Second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Gutierrez and seconded by Miss Jordan to approve agenda item 7F. Go ahead and vote. >> Miss Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Shirley Jordan. I >> a readyi. >> I >> Gonzalez. I Oscar Adondo. >> Hi, >> Elma Rodriguez. >> I This motion

134passes 70. >> Thank you, board. >> You're welcome. All right. Agenda item 7G, discuss and consider taking action on the West Coast ISD professional development plan. Miss Moore. Um so what we are required to do every year is there's certain mandatory trainings and those are the ones that are kind of in the grid. A lot of them have to do with um uh safety kind of issues um and you can kind of see those laid out and we do some of them face to face but we do quite a few of those um through edge hero which is I want to say we teachers have these like bragging rights who gets who finishes their edge hero courses first. Um but that's where we talk about everything from you know sexual harassment, dating violence, signs of

135suicide, you know all of those kind of things. Um so there's a uh proper use of the internet this kind there's a whole list of those things. Some of those are done uh also face-toface. Um, Miss Alvarado does half a day of safety training with all the staff and then so those are the mandatory and then I also we also included in the packet all of the trainings that we did um prior to school starting with various people um population special education has a whole bunch of things that they're like the CPI training assist of technology all kind uh the seating adaptive seating training so there's just a whole bunch of required trainings that have to happen each year. Um those are the required ones. And then this year, um we also always do surveys

136with the staff and say, "What are your professional development needs?" And so we kind of laid out what we've we're doing all year. Some of those are at during uh PLC meetings, professional learning communities, some of them are during faculty meetings, some of them are virtual, and then some of them are on our professional development days. All right. Any questions from the board on this agenda item 7G? >> One. >> Okay. >> Are there times when you pull the teacher from the classroom to have because it's a lot of training. >> Correct. So just it's a variety. I mean so in terms of um like our beginning of the year teachers uh our first beginning year our first year teachers they will have what we we're doing a little bit differently this year. So they'll

137be pulled in the beginning uh one time in the first semester, one time in the second during the day, but then there'll be two late afternoons like four to six o'clock sessions, after school sessions. Um this year there's a a readingmies is different. So in the past readingmies has been virtual where the teachers did it on their own pace on um but this time they got rid of all the virtual options so it's only face to face. I'm trying to think. Um that first one is next week. Yeah. So that will happen. We're actually a hub. So trying to remember uh Kell and several of the districts are coming here. So that will be all of our secondyear teachers with us. There's about eight of them will be doing the readingmies training. So it's just

138a variety. Sometimes not too much after school, a lot of it PD days, some virtual and then some during the school day. So when you do pull, you get the subs in there ahead of time and all. >> So we just try to balance it all out. It's it's hard, you know, it's a hard balance. >> Any other questions from the board? >> All right. I need a motion and a second for agenda item 7G. >> I make a motion that we approve the West Professional Development Plan. >> Second. >> All right. Right. A motion has been made by Miss Gutierrez and seconded by Miss Vela for agenda item 7C. We'll go ahead and vote. >> Liz Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Shirley Jordan. >> Hi. >> Priscilla. >> Hi. >> Albert Ria. >> Hi. >>

139Priscilla. I said, >> you have Priscilla here twice. >> Who am I missing? >> I got Jordan. Yeah, it's you. >> Oh, you [Laughter] >> Okay. Well, they did. Y'all say I? >> Yes. >> Did you say I? >> I said I said I. >> I guess I didn't say I. All right. This motion passes 70. We're going to move on to agenda item 7H. Discuss and consider taking action on the West Coast ISD school board operating procedures good governance handbook. Miss Moore. Um so all we've added we the most of the good governance um board operating procedures have remained the same. The only addition is on page 242 which was that list that we kind of generated a few weeks ago when we did the strategic round table of how the board can support

140administration, how the administration can support the board. Everything else is exactly the same. All right. Uh do you have any questions? Miss Vala? >> No question. >> Miss Gonzalez? >> Mr. Aridondo? I don't I don't know if it pertains to this or not but the campuses when will they be bringing their uh plans for their campus >> so that we bring those in November the improvement plans >> campus action >> but when we have those learning walks which will start I think we I gave you the list of the um the learning walks yes you did >> that will be part of the conversation when we meet with the principles the admin team like so JFK's in September that we can be talking even then about um uh kind of some of those those items

141but then October we're going to have a deep dive round table a strategic round table in October and we could do like the deep dive into the changes in October so then with then when we present it in November it will really be just refinement >> the only thing that I had I think I had met with you about seeing how we did with whatever goals they had the prior we if said we were going to increase math scores by 10%. >> Where did we fall in that range? Because if you come back to us and say we're going to increase math scores by 10%. >> Well, how did we do prior to that so that we know >> where we fell. >> Yes. Yeah. I brought that up. >> Yeah. A lot of times

142we don't see if we what did we accomplish that they set the goal to. >> We just go with the next goal and the next goal, >> right? And so we will definitely have that reflected. Thank you. >> We need to follow up on that. Yeah. >> All right. So, uh, Miss Gutierrez, do you have any questions? >> I wasn't present at the when it was discussed. Therefore, I don't know what you >> packet all in here. >> That that the chart that she's talking about is on page what, Mr. >> 242. And that's really because we were at that meeting we this is the final chart that that they as far as the guidance and it's just to have effective meeting uh conversations and not to get off track. I'll come back to you

143Miss Jordan. >> I don't hear me. >> Okay. >> None. >> All right. Actually, uh, Miss Moore, this packet doesn't Well, maybe it did. I have a different number. Did you find it? >> No. >> Okay. All right. If there are no further questions, I need Well, did you have a question? No ma'am. >> And Mr. Mr. Vial, do you have any questions? >> No, ma'am. Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. A I need a motion and a second for agenda item 7H. >> Madam President, I make a motion that we approve the West Soul School Board operating procedures, good governance handbook for the 25 26 school year. Okay. >> Second. >> All right. A motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded by Miss Vela. And we we're going to go ahead

144and vote. >> Liz Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Shirley Jordan. >> Hi. >> Priscilla. >> Hi. >> Albert Radiard. >> I Gonzalez. I Oscar Edonto. >> Hi. Rodriguez. >> I This motion passes 61. We're going to move on to agenda item eight, the superintendent update. Miss Moore, you want to read those or what? >> Um, y'all can read. I know we've already started getting getting some customers for athletic gold card. Um, school this school year. Um, the team has done an amazing job job, everyone in this room, at starting the year off on a really good note. Uh I'm real excited about that and I'm very thankful to this team because they've worked very very hard as have all the teachers on the campuses. Um and uh you can read the other items. All right. Uh

145do y'all have any questions on that update? >> Make sure you note down those dates. You can just set it >> and then the announcements. Miss Moore. supposed to >> um just the you have in your packet the athletic schedules, the campus calendars of events um which you can look at and then we I had Diane type up these are the learning walk >> dates um we might have some flexibility about the times but I wanted to kind of have on the calendar the dates for the year. >> All right. >> Okay. If there are no further questions, the time is 7:39 and this meeting is adjourned. >> Thank you. >> Let me sign this one so everybody else Oh, well, y'all did already. Hello. >> These are Dian. This one's the new one that

146we >> but I put my name because I took hers by accident. >> Next meeting we should have the new