Board Meeting - April 28, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting 5:30pm

001April people. She didn't. Oh, she said she had number five. Okay, the time is 5:33 and I call this meeting to order. We will have roll call. Liz Gutierrez here. Charlie Jordan here. Alra Variel here. Belinda Gonzalez. Oscar Rodondo here. Rodriguez here. We'll now stand for the pledges of allegiance. Ice flag of the United States of America and it stand and indivisible. Okay, we're going to move on to agenda item three, public participation. At a meeting of 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 sign in and the public comment sheet available at the board of trustees meeting. Speakers should limit their comments to three minutes total if speaking on

002a topic which is not on the agenda or three minutes per agenda item. Under the law, the board of trustees may only take action on the items specifically listed on the agenda. Subject matter presented which is not part of the agenda will be referred to the appropriate department for review and subsequent action. Therefore, the board of trustees may not take formal action on any requests made during the public comment period citizens to be heard which are not on the agenda but can refer such requests to school staff for review if appropriate. The board shall not tolerate disruption of the meeting by members of the audience or individual board members. Persons attending board meetings shall delay, interrupt or disrupt the proceedings or refuse to obey the pres uh to obey the presiding officer. Any disruption will

003result in immediate re removal of the public and possible action of the board removal of the disruptive individual or board member. We're going to start off with speaker number two, Sandy Moreno. And let me just preface, you cannot use uh any staff member's name or student. Thank you. Usually, you can adjust. Okay. All I want to talk about is why um Okay, you send Ken. Okay, the dance. My thing is you no longer want this person to teach our dance girls. Our girls have accomplished so much with this teacher. Literally have opened up to this person. My daughter never wanted to come to school. Literally never. She didn't give she didn't care about her grades. She didn't care about nothing. Now she wants to come to school. She's looking forward to this dance. She's opened

004up to this teacher for somebody just to come and take her away and replace her with somebody else for next year is not something that should happen and it's not something good. My daughter's a very shy person. It's a very shy person and for her to open up to this person and her grades have completely gone up to being a honoral student is something good. Now, next year, we don't have the same dance teacher for our kids. A lot of girls are going to get out of it. They've worked so hard to keep this going on, and for somebody to take it away from them, it's not something good for them. So, that's what I wanted to talk about. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Okay. We're not going to have any of that yet. That

005not for audience participation. All right. The next speaker, number three, Shirley Roads. Um I'm dto to what the parent just said. What uh what is the statute or what is the problem with the teacher that you have that's uh over the girls and the girls are being um uh doing better in school. The teach the school does not support them at all. The parents pay for what they need to do. Since the teacher has been here two years, they have taken that team to um New York. Uh they were invited. They go to a um dance uh program at um Ray and at the veterans hospital. I mean veterans school. So I think it's a good thing. I think it's a good thing for not only for Westo but for the entire city because nobody

006else has done that. No recognition from the board. No money from the board. The parents have to do what they need to do to get them there. I think you all need to realize what you have and keep what you got that can do what needs to be done. All right, we said no clapping and if you're continuing then you will be escorted out. All right, we're going to move on to speaker number four, Benny Gunter. Yes, sir. English right there. He needs to stand up and say something. He doesn't run the meeting. She does. I know. She already told him not to. I'm a 70 so graduate. We've never had anything like this team that you have here. And I don't understand. Uh I was told I was informed. I'm the wishful master of

007G Coast Lloyd 361 Prince Hall affiliate. We donate to that team that goes to that Macy day parade. We donate and have a sign out here on your baseball field. And I don't understand. And that's the reason why I'm here is to find out why what what's the problem here with this dance team. I just I I don't understand it. There's two sides to every story. I'd like to hear your I'd like to hear your side here to find out what's going on here because evidently you got a problem. These girls here, they relate to the two people that you have that's coaching that team and y'all want to get rid of them. You want to suspend them? What what is it exactly that you want to do? It's the only thing I can say

008and I don't have a slightest idea. Whoever the one is that's pushing for this, it seems to me like that's the one you need to be trying to get rid of. All right, let's move on. What was the name? All right, we're going to move on to agenda. Thank you. We're going to move on to agenda item 4A. Well, we're going to do the presentations, reports, and action items. First one is 4A, the recognition of the Bear Tips Academy BTA cohort 3 for the 2024 2025 school year. Miss Moore and Miss Yiri year Yuri. Miss Lindy Yuri, is she here? Let's let's go to the next one. Okay. All right. Agenda item 4B, the recognition of the Westo Junior High School softball team district champions. Yeah, we can applaud. Miss Moore, Miss Fillmore, Miss Stacy

009Simmons, and Miss Brianna Nunio. Come on up. Did you my part? Okay. All right. So, um I'm gonna just say one or two very quickly and then I'll let these ladies um speak. But the future is very bright for um softball in West Oso ISD. So, um we're g I'm going to let them share, but they have with much much to celebrate with junior high softball this year. Come on. Hi, I'm Coach Simmons. Um, congratulations to our West Coast Junior High softball team. We're proud to celebrate the 2025 seventh and eighth grade team. And also with district champ, the girls have been working real hard and also with over the season like offseason and stuff. These girls, they play all the time. And just to have a group of girls, seventh and eighth grade, with

010us winning district champs, like we just been kind of just going through with the season just kind of like I don't know, it's like surreal now since we see it. I'm really basketball, but I'm really leading towards softball. I started this program and by it's probably been this probably the fifth year I started softball. I had a group of girls that are now juniors. They asked me if I could start a softball team. I didn't know nothing about it. My son does play B baseball. So, um they was like, "Coach, can you ask Coach Four if we can get some teams?" So, I started that four year about four years ago. We started off with five team five uh games and now we're we're rolling in now. Everybody a lot of people want to play

011us now. So, but we have a lot to come for high school next year, too. Say anything? Um, these girls, they really put in a lot of work on the field, off the field. Um, some girls, they had other sports that they were involved in, but they made sure that they either picked up a bat and went home and hit or got their parents. So, it was a lot of work on the parents as well. So, we do thank parents to help the girls get to that point. Um, but a lot of it softball is usually a mental game and mentally they were there. mentally. They wanted it and they brought it. And the only thing we can do is congratulate them for doing what what they needed to do on the field, off the

012field, and um willing to learn new positions when others got hurt, but they still kept it together. They stayed as a team and they worked for it. So, I'm proud of them. Great. So, our first district champ was our seventh graders. Aliana Gasas, Lyric, Eagland, Jana Garcia, Lexus Garza, Taraji Jackson, Kaylee Fuentes, Ammerst Thervinho, Adeline Ibara, Chrisyn Deleon and Serenity Pña. One thing I do have to add, Aliana Gasas at that tournament for the district tournament, she pitched both games, was even made to pitch seven innings for one game to bring it home for us. She finished that she finished that game with a to I mean the tournament with a total of 18 strikeouts. Okay, come on, guys. Up. Come on up. Scoot up. Scoot up. They're ready. Thank you. Congratulations. You have your

013packet. You need to put in your time. This have it written down. And also our eighth graders were also district champions this year. One of our one of our pitchers who pitched the who pitched the championship game was Cara Desa. Our catcher was Rain Davis. Our pitcher that got us started in the rally was Genesis Gyos. Our shorts stop was Christine Johnson. Our right fielder was Jules Johnson. never playing this position before, but she actually stepped up and did her job. Kennedy Johnson at third base. Second base was Cariana Martin. Our center field center fielder that stopped everything was Tayiana McCclary. Another right fielder was Mia Bella Miranda. Our left field, Destiny Williams. Even though she was injured, she still supported us. Ebony Carlos also coming out. Natividar Gonzalez, Aline I lastly was Aviana Benvides.

014Another person that put up with me and Simmons throughout the tournament and took care of both teams for us was our manager, Marlay Topppsy. One more time, guys. You want to get the shorter ones in the front? [Music] Thank you so much. Okay. Comments from the board. Uh yeah, go stay for a minute. Stay for stay for a minute. uh softball teams. Miss Vela, just want to say a big congratulations to both seventh and eighth grade softball team. Um you guys did an excellent job this season. Uh the high school group is going to get a a great group coming up and our junior high kids. We're looking forward to next year. Keep up the great work, Mr. Viel. Great job. Also proud of Miss Gonzalez. Congratulations to both did an awesome job, Miss Yes.

015Thank you, Mr. Adono. I would like to congratulate all of y'all and especially the parents for your support. Uh we hope to see you here uh next year. Um and uh keep up the great work. Thank you, Miss Gutierrez. Congratulations to all you young ladies that played and played hard. Uh I didn't attend games, but I do hear about them. And I want to say congratulations also to the coaches that coach the girls and you know it's a good program. I'm glad you all are involved and I hope you continue to stay involved because baseball is the game. Congratulations and Miss Jordan. Congratulations to all the young ladies. I watch you all and I was in a when I saw you all. You all are great. And I congratulate the the coaches staff for uh

016being your coaches and did a great job in in in in coaching you all and continue to do well and you all are a great bunch of girls and thank you and congratulations and to the parents for trusting us with your children. Thank you. Definitely. Um we have heard great things about this coming up team the seventh and eighth graders. So, I know we talked with Miss Filillmore and I mean, uh, Coach Filillmore and Miss Moore on getting our fields ready and everything because we have the word has spread that Westoso players are coming up to the high school and they're going to do a phenomenal job. So, thank you to the parents, thank you to the coaches, most importantly, thank you to the students because y'all have really stepped it up. Uh I don't

017think that we saw this uh but now we do and so we definitely have plans to hopefully make your fields a lot better. Of course it's all about money but we know that we have to invest. So thank you for a fabulous job that y'all have done. Okay. Okay. What kind What kind of game, Miss Simmons? Oh, the last for the last one next for the junior high. Yes, ma'am. Okay, great. Good to know. Okay, thank you. We're going to move on to agenda item 4C, recognition of the Westoso Junior High School basketball team. Miss Moore, Coach Filillmore, and Mr. Steven Garcia. I believe we have another top team or two top teams at the junior high level. Um I know we've a lot of times this we decide this this except for one that

018we're going to devote this time this meeting to recognizing our junior high students that have achieved at a high level. And so I'm sure Mr. Steven Garcia has worked really hard with these students and he'll share a little bit about their accomplishments this year. Hi, I'm Coach Garcia. Uh, I coached the, uh, eighth grade team. Coach Carza wasn't able to make it, but we're both very proud of both teams. Uh, all the boys would get here at 7:30 in the morning, and before they're really up and awake, I'm already yelling at them. They're in a full sweat. Uh, really saw the potential in both teams, seventh and eighth grade. Uh, so before they even saw the potential, we saw it and we stayed on them. Stayed on them. Try to keep the the winning program

019and the tradition here of West Basketball. Uh, so we're very proud of them. Like I said, uh sometimes they didn't necessarily see the vision like we saw it, but we stayed on them and uh uh they they made it happen. We don't eighth grade we don't win uh the tour the district tournament without Ohea Jackson's uh crazy buzzer beating shot to win the game uh one by one. Uh but again, they prepare so that in in that moment they're ready to go. Uh it was a really fun time coaching them this year. uh seventh and eighth grade they they battled a lot during practice and my time here that's probably been the most talent in the gym for both seventh and eighth grade uh alto together so practice was very fun um but yeah the

020future is bright for west definitely great oh yeah so for seventh grade first one we have the Noah bossa uh Zedekiah richfor Michael Canu, EMTT Garrett, Giovanni Guusman, Trinidad Martinez, Kane Odum, Isaac Selenus, Jay, Vincandoval, Bradley Romero, Josiah Pinterero. This is the seventh grade. First district, I believe, right? Yes. First district. Thank you. Yes, eighth grade also won first in district. Uh first one, Matthew Escalona, Deari Martinez, Aquarius Chapa, Jayron Howard, Ohea Jackson, Torion Benson, Romeo Ruiz, Jan Burns, and Javon Nelson. All right, if y'all can stay for a while, we're going to have comments from the board. Miss Jordan, I'd like to congratulate these young men. They represented Westo so well and they they did a great job on the courts and off the courts and we congratulate you. You're doing an awesome job.

021And to the coaches, Mr. Garcia and uh the parents, thank you all. Miss Gutieres, congratulations to you all the students, the parents, the coaches, and all the staff. Uh you all did a great job. I understand that you all acted very professional. You all played very well and that's that's great. I I appreciate that from you guys and we just got to continue to keep on going. So, good luck guys. Good luck, Mr. Adono. Uh yes, congratulations to all the players. Uh there's a lot of talent and a lot of potential. Uh you got a lot of more years ahead of you, so stay healthy. Uh keep your grades up. parents, continue to support your kids. Uh they're the future. So to the coaches also, thank you. And uh I know y'all are not only

022coaches, y'all are mentors and y'all guide these uh kids and you counsel them and don't do all that. So coaches wear a lot of hats. So thanks to all of y'all. Miss Gonzalez, congratulations to congratulations to both the other parents. Congratulations to Mr. Varial, congratulations. Great year. Great great year. Proud of you. And Miss Bellow, congratulations to both teams, the parents, the coaches. Uh we're very proud of you guys. We look forward to continu. Yes, definitely. Uh wow. Westoso has been well represented this year as far as basketball. And what's the other one? Volleyball, softball, and now we're coming up with golf team. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you to the parents again. Thank you to the coaches. And thank you again to our students who well represented us. Thank you so much. Okay,

023now we miss Jalila Gonzalez who's going to share about all our golf star. Our golf, our lone golf star. So, I'm coach Gonzalez and I uh led the girls golf team this year. Oh, tennis. Oh, yeah. So, I've been the golf coach for the last four years, and this year I had the pleasure of uh coaching Esmeralda Tjo. She was my lone golfer to make it uh to regionals to qualify for regionals. This was her very first season. Esmeralda dedicated herself to uh golf. She made sure she came to every single practice. She did not miss one practice and she juggled golf and track. Um, so it was very tough for her, but she made it a point if she couldn't make the afternoon practices, she went to the morning practice. So 7 am is

024pretty early for us to be out there hitting balls at Loausano right here. Um, and she's a testament of what hard work um, does where what hard work gets you. She ended up making it to regionals in district. She got second place as a medalist and then we went on to regionals. As Marada, we didn't get to state, but she played her best round of golf that she's played all season. So, we're very proud of her and she represented Westoso very well at the regional track meet this year. Track meet golf tournament. Sorry, golf. I'm surprised I didn't say basketball. But this is Esmeralda Tjo, our lone regional golf qualifier. Wow. She also showed up for TSI and got her academics complete, too. So, she's doing awesome. Yeah. Great accomplishment. Thank you. All right. Um

025All righty. So now, um the technology student assoc student association team. I want to say last month came because the education foundation gave them a um travel grant to go to Fort Worth. Um they brought 19 students to Fort Worth to compete in the technology student association competition in Fort Worth. And as a result of that, four student five of our students um had some kind of recognition right at this na at the state conference and then four of them have been invited to go on to the national conference in Nashville, Tennessee. So Miss Amanda Selenus um is going to come up with her or and then recognize her students. These guys have worked incredibly hard this year. Uh before that, can we give Miss Esmeralda We just want to give you a shout out

026from each one of the board members. Miss Vela, uh Esme, we're so proud of you. Um I it it's been a joy watching you through all of the sports. Um she's one of our uh multisport athletes. She's kind of juggling different things, cross country, uh everything. And so it's amazing to see that in your first year you did so well in golf. We look forward to cheering you on next season. Keep up the great work, Mr. Riiel. Your dedication is astonishing. Congratulations, Miss Gonzalez. Congratulations. We look forward to seeing you next year, Mr. Ardondo. Yeah, congratulations on your accomplishment. Uh, you have a lot more years ahead of you. So, uh, we wish you good luck and keep your grades up and keep your head high. Thank you, Miss Gutierrez. Like to congratulate you. I

027know golf is it's so hot out there. I don't know how you do it, but congratulations on your first time. That's awesome. That's means you're very dedicated. Thank you so much. And Miss Jordan, I congratulate you. I tried to play golf, but I couldn't do it. But congratulations and and and we thank you for representing Bristol. So, thank you. And yes, ditto. And thank you so much, Miss Delila Gonzalez, for being the coach for your sold regional regional finalist regional qualifier. Thank you so much, Miss Esmeralda. Okay, now you can go on, Miss Selenus. Thank you. All right. Well, first we'll call up um Leila Selenus. She um participated in the photographic technology event. She was a semi finalist and she placed sixth in the state in that event. So we'll be entering her portfolio

028at national competition and see how she fares against the nation. All right. And then we have um Chrisel Bettz and Benjamin Molina. So, this is my newly formed debate team this year and they placed eighth this year at state. Yay. And then I have um Mona Erbina. She and as well as Relle Roas, they placed Well, they didn't. Let me What did I say? They placed they got their statesman degree. My goodness. Sorry, I'm trying to see where we're at. I have so many kids. Elaborate on the statesman. Uhuh. What that entails is they take uh what's called the Lonear test at the region competition and these tests are all about um knowledge of TSA. So, they really had to study, immerse themselves, and it talks about like when was the first year and who

029started it and they it's just all knowledge about TSA. and they pass that exam and then at the state they take the Texan exam which was even more questions and they had to pass with a higher what was it 85% or greater which they did so they earned their statesman pin and were recognized at the state conference so congrats and then another big deal was Relle Mona and Chrisville they earned their bronze pin in the TSA achievement program and then they were recognized at state for earning their silver pin. They will be recognized in Nashville for with their gold pin for having completed a total of nine projects that involve STEM immersion leadership and prof personal development personal professional development all STEM related. Wow. So they have worked extremely hard this year and this will

030be um our first year ever attending a national conference for the Westoso chapter. So TSA was established in what year Mon8 and um the TSA chapter at Westoso was established in the 2017 2018 academic year and this is our first year ever getting to attend the national conference. So, we are so grateful for the district for supporting us and the kids are going to be uh fundraising like crazy. So, just keep watching those uh Facebook posts. We got a lot of things coming up. That is great. Oh, express order they get it. Okay. We're gonna start off with Miss Jordan on giving the a shout out to our T TSA team. Congratulate you all for your accomplishments. You all are representing West Coast so quite well and we do appreciate it and to the sponsors

031and the parents. Thank you. Definitely continue to do well. Keep up the good work. Thank you, Miss Guthis. I'd like to congratulate all of you um for your participation in the TSA state competition. Also to Miss uh Selena's uh thank you for I know uh you have to go and travel with them and and that so that's a lot of travel. So to you guys keep up the good work because this will help you in the future with your college whatever you decide to do it's going to be right there next to you. So congratulations to all of you. Mr. Adono, I couldn't help but notice uh Miss Elise was so excited uh with the accomplishment these uh kids have accomplished this year. Uh Miss Elise, Miss Alenas are doing an outstanding job. Keep it

032up. I know it's very hard. A lot of hours after school, uh even at home and all that. So with the projects, kids, I know it takes a lot of dedicated time. You could be doing sports, you could be playing games, but you decided to do this. So, uh, I give you, um, a pat on the back. And hopefully we can have, um, some of them are going to be seniors already. We have 21. We're losing 21. So, um, hopefully they'll come back and join and go to state again and maybe the national competition. So, thank you to all and to the parents. Thank you, Miss Gonzalez. Mr. uh Viel, impressive to have so many students ranking at the state level. That's just very very impressive. Very congratulations. And Miss Vela, congratulations to all of

033you. We are so proud of this awesome TSA team. Uh you guys are representing Westoso so well. Um we wish you the best of luck at nationals. um to our teachers that are investing your time and committing uh to leading them and sponsoring them. We we appreciate you guys. Uh we look forward to all of your honors that are coming up. Uh great job. Yes, definitely. Thank you, Miss Selenus. Uh I think you've done a phenomenal job with your team, TSA Association. Uh, girls, y'all and boys, y'all have done a fabulous, fabulous job and well reposso again well represented by y'all. Thank you so much. So, um, I'm going to take from Y. I think we had uh couldn't find at the beginning, but then she needed to move on. Um, so we have a

034mentorship program for all of our first, second, and third year teachers. And um we we have three of them here tonight that we'd like to recognize and all three of them are superstars. So it's very exciting to have them. Miss Lucero Scooia um let me just talk about them and then I'll bring them up. Miss Lucero Scooia is a kindergarten teacher and she um has a little bit of energy now. She has a lot a lot of energy and I'm sure you all seen her. She's also a Westoso grad and um she's done a phenomenal phenomenal job with us um finishing up her third year. So come on up. Miss Melanie Solis is gets excited. I mean she was excited about TSA, but she gets excited about just about everything. And so, um, Miss Elise

035is also finishing her third year. This year, she worked with, she does a lot of work with Interact Club, which is our service club with, uh, Flag, and then she, um, I think she sponsors a class, and then she actually teaches classes. She helped with cheer this year. Um, so she's just sort of an all-around um enthusiastic sold out to you know West OSA when doing anything she can possibly do to help out the campus and her students. So, I'm not miss. Miss Galindo, um I want to say since the couple years before we had trouble kind of finding a consistent, really passionate, the right person to do adaptive education at the high school. This is um I really do believe this that the adaptive education positions are the most difficult in the district because

036you're with a group of students that have um a lot of individualized needs and you're with them all day long and and you have to do it. You can't it's not just about training. You have to have the heart to do this job and Miss Galindo absolutely does. She cares so much about each and every one of her individual students. She takes care of them. she has expectations for teaching them um life skills, academic skills to help them function as independently as they can when they leave her. So, thank you, Miss Galinda. Yeah. Take one. Thank you. One more. Go ahead and start off with Mr. Adono. Oh, great. Thank you. We have three outstanding educators here. Uh, very enthusiastic. I know that they encourage their kids and everything to succeed. It takes a successful

037teacher to be successful in the classroom. So, I've I've know a couple of them and I know that they enjoy working for the district. Uh, y'all are shining stars in our district. So, thank you. Continue the hard work and get the parents involved. Miss Gonzalez, congratulations to all three of y'all. Thank you for everything that y'all do for us, the students. Thank you. And Mr. Great job. Appreciate you, Miss Vala. We appreciate you guys. Thanks for all that you do. Um it's we've seen you guys in action when we've gone to visit the campuses. Always smiling. Can clearly see that you guys love your job. You love your kids. Um and we just we're so thankful for all that you do for for us. We appreciate y'all. Miss Gutierrez, thank you. Me? Yes, ma'am. Uh

038congratulations to you all to all three of was it three or four? Three teachers. Uh I hope that you continue to do the job. you, especially Miss Galindo, you really have to be very strong to do that job. I've been adept uh because I have a daughter that does that and it takes a lot of patience. So, thank you so much and congratulations, Miss Jordan. I did everything everyone has said and congratulations and you all are doing a fabulous job and we do appreciate you uh here at West. So, thank you. Definitely. And I think we really have hit the jackpot with that Bear Tips Academy uh by Miss Yuri and Miss Moore uh you know because I hear great great people coming out of that people and people that have stayed at Westo. So

039we really really uh are endeared by that because we do want great teachers to stay here. uh we're we're we're becoming known to have really really teachers that care and uh I believe you three are brightly shining examples of that. So thank you very much for all you do. Now we are we only had missed a miss more. So we can move on to agenda item 4F the presentation discussion and possible action regarding the national teleaalth solutions service agreement. Miss Moore. Yes. So um back in December I believe um uh we were invited by Dr. Zindas to invite um our board president I want um and our CFO to a meeting of the national teleaalth solutions here in town and um I think Mr. Rodriguez was working so Mr. Ardondo came with us and we

040heard this presentation and um we decided to move forward with pursuing this opportunity. Um we've been working since then in December to get get an agreement together. Um there were some kind of uh legal paperwork things that needed to happen, but we're at the point where we can actually make a decision tonight about moving forward with your approval on this agreement. We have is it David Patrick that's going to be presenting? I believe that is correct. Can you hear Can you hear us? Can you hear me? Let's see. So, while he's uh they're getting that on, this is basically an opportunity. He's going to talk about all the details, but the opportunity would be to have um similar to uh the teach program that we have that's for students, but that program is phasing out

041the free version of it. Um this would be a program for mental health services for students, families, and staff. So that it's really expanded not just students, but and similar and he'll talk a little bit when we get him on to the teacher. They have psychiatric services. Um, so there's a number of things that they can offer us and it's completely free. So the district is not paying any money for this. He's zooming in. Yeah. Sorry, David. Could you try one more time, please? Can you hear me? Yes, sir. Thank you. Sorry about that. My bad. No worries. So, you may get started. I just kind of gave a little bit of an introduction, but the floor is yours. Great. We just go through this real quick. Uh, great meeting all you. I'm David Patrick,

042CEO of National Tellalth Solutions. Uh, we're Ohio based company, but we serve the entire nation with a very comprehensive mental health program. Uh, as she mentioned, we've been working on this since I think December, January, uh, with presentations and getting through the agreements and all that. Um, one of the things to keep in mind as you see this real quickly is that uh, we are very preventative mindset with our program, which means we want to provide anonymous access to silent sufferers. We want to make it available 24/7, 365 to the student population, their households, the staff, and the staff population. So, we'll go through this real quickly so you can understand what the program is all about and then certainly I'm here to answer the questions. uh again based in Dublin. Um we uh we

043have a solution for a lot of the challenges that's going on. Uh spent a lot of time building this program for school districts specifically. Um and we know that there's a lot of struggle with mental health issues and again this is why we put this program together to provide that anonymous access uh to student populations. Um one of the keys of this access is quick access. As we know across the country, we see a lot of delays in any type of mental health counseling access. Um, our initial consultations are right now running under 10 seconds for someone to get in touch with with a counselor. Um, we're about two days to a schedule therapy. We see a high rate of success with our with our program. Uh, and about nine out of 10 cases are

044solved virtually before we have to even uh anticipate uh referring out to like local providers and that kind of thing. Um this isn't this is to encourage not only the students but staff and households to engage um in in quality mental health support. Everybody needs to understand it's very important is that we have a very large spectrum of services are available and you'll see as we go through this that this is just not a call-in or a text type program. This is like best way we describe it is like dropping a mental health uh service mental health clinic virtually on a school district. So they have access to a lot of mental health assistance and counseling for for all the folks in the in the populations. Uh some key features it's client specific with customized

045digital portals. Uh here's the part that that's exciting for everyone. We have unlimited telephonic counseling on demand for everyone the student household staff and households. Uh cover all kinds of concerns anxiety, grief, depression. A lot of the utilization is general counseling type in request. Um, it also includes eight virtual or inerson therapy sessions for per person per incident. So, we have a lot of one-on-one capabilities if it's needed. Uh, the thing that separates our program for just about from just about anything out there in the marketplace is our pediatric behavioral health, including psychiatry from 18 months through 17 years. Um, it includes 12 pediatric therapy or psychiatric sessions if needed. Now, again, to keep in mind, we're not focusing just on those that we know that need that type help. We're certainly here to help

046those with what we call high level acute needs, but general counseling is what we really focus on. And we try to help the situation from boiling over like a pot of water on a on a on a stove that it's not going to boil over. We want to get in early so that we don't have a high utilization rate for high level psychiatric. But when we find that uh in a population, we're certainly here to help. We're here here to cover and provide that high level care if needed. Um in the households we alo also offer that at a discount rate for the for the households and the staff if if they're if it's needed at that level. Uh and again all this is very attractive because it provides access to the population. Uh, of

047course what we'll talk about here and have questions is none of this would be possible without funding solutions which is what we bring as part of our company to the table is uh assisting the school and obtaining allocation fundings that we do a lot of the head the the work on and a lot of the weight uh to get that pushed through so that the school has a there is just zero out of pocket cost for the school on this uh district sponsored Hello. I'm so sorry about that. Are you there? Mhm. But we I cut off I lost my internet connection. I apologize. Um up to 10 points of access. We'll show those in a second. And then uh one of the things we addressed with as we do our customization and our rollouts

048with the school district is we overcome a lot of the stigma that still exists in a lot of a lot of the access to services. Uh it's very confidential and one of the keys to this is that there's no mental health diagnosis required to receive care. Obviously we require parental consent. That goes without saying, but once everything is set up, um, we don't have to go through a long drawn out process to figure out something. It's immediate access and we start as part of our program. You can see the the various ways we can have a student or staff for the household interact. Um, various ways of getting in between digital and texting, uh, video conferencing, phone call, obviously. Uh, probably our most popular is the is the phone call. Uh we can even do

049emailing and some other support type activities, mobile codes and that kind of thing. Um a lot of the activity virtually um is done once we get into more of the schedule counseling. Uh so the initial on demand counseling is done with a telephonic and then as it might need to upgrade into a higher level service and we get into some of the schedule counseling with general counseling and uh psychiatry and that kind of thing. Um the key here, we we get this question all the time, especially being a national company, um that we have the bandwidth to take care of these school districts. Uh that number is a little outdated. We're pushing over 40,000 licensed counselors across the country. Um we're able to take care of all different provider diversity, speed to care. Uh that's

050very critical for us. professional credentials. These are all credentialed licensed counselors at all different levels including all the way to full-blown doctorates of psychiatry. Uh we use evidence evidence-based treatments, um cognitive solutions, acceptance commitment therapy, those kind of things. And we have the ability with multiple languages uh obviously in in Texas a big part of it to make sure that we provide age, race, religion, uh language capabilities for for the school district. And again, as I mentioned earlier, what sets our program apart? Uh the pediatric behavioral health is a very important component to our program. Uh it's one of the few we're one of the few companies in the country that have this ability. You'll see here that we have the parent coaching and that graph is kind of hard to follow, but if you

051see the where it says parent coaching kind of goes from 18 months to 11 years, youth coaching from 3 years to 17 years. We have behavioral therapy from about 5 years to 17 years. And then at the high level care, psychiatric, the medication management starts about five or six years through the 17 years. So it is pediatric counseling, it's pediatric behavioral health. Um obviously we get involved at deep levels if we need to. And that's the key to this thing is be able to have that full spectrum of coverage from basic digital all the way to this high level pediatric psych psychiatric care if it's needed. This is one of the keys. Our program is kind of a circle. We we're family focused. We have internal team coordinators for the school district. It's not just

052we come in. Our program that we're talking about is a three-year program. So, we're going to be involved as a partner with the school for for quite a long time. We do coordination with pediatricians and local providers and needed ongoing coordination with the school is very important to us as we roll things out and need to maybe adjust on some of the marketing and drip campaigns and that this kind of stuff. And we can work with birectional referrals if it's needed within the program. uh every school is very different even though they are all K12 and we spent a lot of time in implementation customization making sure we have all this circle complete uh for the school district and and coordinated with the local care and the school district itself. Um sometimes it you know

053when we get outside the school's time frames there's a lot of need for the parents to help coordinate some of the care with with their child's needs and the students needs and we're we're there as part of this circle as we roll this out implement and customize to make sure we have that handled. Uh very simple implementation process. Uh as we mentioned these this program is done with federal allocated funding. There's no out-of- pocket cost to the school. Um we do the funding request. We do a contract execution about 45 60 days roughly for a setup process. Uh introduce the team to everybody. We do a dedicated single point of contact for the school district. Um and then we structure a lot of implementation roll out. We want to make sure this is done correctly

054and that varies with different schools. That's where a lot of the customization of the implementation comes in. Then we we get what's called household census when we're about ready to roll. that is simply a household sentence sentence census to uh get the household and students lined up so we can start getting the the census put together and get the uh account set up. Uh and then uh what's really nice for the school district is we do have a comprehensive and flexible reporting suite that allows them to track uh different things within the school by building or or area, age groups, that kind of thing. So very comprehensive we to be very involved with the school district during the whole the whole process for the whole term of the contract. And then this is just some

055of the product features, but the what we're going for, we go for our premium program. Um, and again, per student per month uh times at the 36-month program. And that's how we come up with our numbers on our agreement. And that's kind of our quick overview on our uh our program. Pretty sure the board members might have some questions. Let them ask their questions. Yeah. First of all, uh do we have this PowerPoint in our packet because I don't see it. Should Yeah, I actually sent it again uh a few days ago. Some of it we have. We don't have all of it. Okay. Uh can we have that before the meeting ends for all the board members? Because I don't see the whole packet in here. It's on page 17. page 17, the agreement,

056but I want the PowerPoint that we're referring to. I don't Nope. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I just I just saw it. Should be there. Oh, okay. I have to. Yeah, but um I'm going by the packet. I'm not going by this. So, can we still have just the PowerPoint here for printed for the board members? I just want to have make sure that everybody has it on hand because uh there were some questions within that PowerPoint that I had. All right, Miss Jordan, do you have any questions? Yes, I do. Um, and starting on I I noticed it said the wait time was three weeks to see a counselor for No, that's the national wait time outside of our program. Our program is less than 10 seconds right now to get to initial counseling. Yep.

057Okay. Okay. And the other thing is uh funding. It says uh uh hold on. The district is not responsible for any payments beyond what funds they receive in grants. Yeah, we it's actually an allocation. It's not a grant. So, they're allocated funds. Um the in the agreement it it's clearly states if for whatever reason we are not unable to obtain those allocated funds, the the contract or the agreement is null and void. So, if if we don't get the grant, uh we're we're responsible for No, the the you're not responsible for anything because again, it's not a grant program. It's allocation program which are set aside funds. Um we do a a preliminary investigation for each school district as we start working with them and determine there are allocations originally given. Uh if for some

058reason that was inaccurate or something's happened or something sunset then and there's not allocations available, the school's not responsible for moving forward the program. There there's not a dime involved of budgetary funds. Okay. I'm just trying to get a clear understanding the money. Yeah, my understanding is there's this money sort of sitting there that there's money that exists out there for this and they're going to help us kind of do the they know how to help us to access that money. Now, in the event something crazy happens with the government or something happens where that money is no longer available, then um we still wouldn't I mean we wouldn't have these services, but we wouldn't have to pay. There's no situation where we'd be having to pay any money. Understanding of the cost to the

059district. No cost at this. No cost. Okay. Miss Guthis, I was wondering about the since the federal programs, you know, a lot of them are being cut. I think that this is the mental health is one of the ones that he plans to cut, Mr. Kennedy does. So, uh, we're going to be, if that happens, would we still be able to access this if we started already? We had some students or families in there, would we still be able to continue or it just Well, we would we would get the allocated funding be for the entire three years. So, if if the funding if the funding's obtained, we're we're good. Um just going through this process and getting the executed contract gives us the ability to earmark it. So if the government decides to pull

060sunset funds or pool funds or whatever, you know, it's out of all of our control. Um we're already earmarked, which is why we're pushing fast to get schools in so we can get those earmarks if they do decide to take um measures and start recapturing and pulling back allocations. Okay. My other question probably is to Miss Moore. I know we had a program like this that we had. How successful was that program and how many of our uh students used that program? Um I think that they if the ones that used it were successful. I know JFK and I want to say we um I think what you have the data on here. Do we get that data? I I can get you that data. I don't have it on me. Okay. So it was

061a su a success throughout the So if we send a student that's having problems um you know we did have a student that committed suicide a young student and we didn't reach her in time but if we had someone like that um if we had anybody in that bubble uh was she successful in getting or he she whoever it was successful in getting the help I just don't want to go into a program if the other one wasn't successful. No, I think it's acceptable. What was what we really liked about this one is that it included the families and my understanding is they'll even do some family counseling. So, there'll be opportunities for the for not just the parents to have counseling, but to actually do counseling as a family. So, and staff and staff,

062you know, I did read it and I also went in and looked it up and it looks like it's a very good program and I know that we do have some that need the help and I hope that uh they will be successful and that they will come in and help our our full staff. I have one other question before we Why did we change from the other company to to uh so again if the other one was successful? Well, no, because it's phasing out. That was a I understand it was a grant paid with ESSER funding, I think. And so it's phasing out. It was um and so this is a new another three years of guaranteed funding for us, but then again, as it's expanding to staff and then that's that's huge. I

063mean, being able to do something with staff onsite for free is going to help I think a lot and families and the entire family. So, anyone living in your household is my understanding for the uh students, it can reach out to them as well. That's all. I'm glad that it's going to be extended to the staff because they get overworked sometimes and sometimes we need someone to to talk to. So, I'm really happy with that. So, that's all, Miss Rodriguez. Okay, Mr. Ardondo, I just want to go back real quick uh and get a little bit more clarification. Um we do have you're saying we do have now that we're in the program do do we have three years of funding secured right now? We once we have our executed contract we will finalize with

064a dedicated person from the school on obtaining that uh those allocations. So there's nobody uh in you know tied to anything yet. Uh we've done initial search that indicates we have those allocated funds. Uh once those allocated funds are secured, then we'll start working on a a time frame to uh begin implementation and and the customization processes. And can we get that uh let us know when all this happens that Yes. Yes. What'll Yeah. What'll happen is we'll work with your school uh our funding department works with the schools. Um there's there's a lot of paperwork that kind of has to be done and we kind of condense it down. Everything comes from the school to to request the funds. So it's not us requesting them. uh we are pretty much acting as consultant uh

065to get your funding request in. Uh there'll be all kinds of confirmations through emails and letters from the various agencies on availability and when we get done with what we're doing, we'll know exactly where it's coming from, how much, uh including some things, especially with Texas, Ohio, some of the states out there that we work in, uh we've got to do some amendments to the LEAS and that kind of thing. So, we work with the school to make sure all that stuff's correct. So, when we apply for the allocation, there's no delays. That's the key is making sure it's right. And most schools don't have the bandwidth to be able to handle allocation requests. They're very complicated. So when when you provide these services and when you take advantage of the services, everyone will be

066certified in their fuel that the calls. Yep. And and and licensed and registered in Texas. Obviously, it's important. Yep. And our point of contact for the district is more. We haven't determined that. I would assume it would either be um Miss Garcia or Miss Alvarado. Miss Garcia, Miss Alvarado for the actual services. We we haven't really even discussed that yet, but right now the Elgen and I of course would be working with the business components of the you know agreements and the money you know and all that kind of stuff. So we we would work on that part. Thank you. Okay, Miss Gonzalez. And other schools already started this program. Yes. Yes. And part of um you know we this has gone through our legal team. They had to have pro uh documentation that this

067company is licensed to do business in the state of Texas and they are. So that was part of the process we've already gone through. Mr. Viel, look like a very good program. I'm still dig digesting it. Miss Vela, no questions for me. Okay. Uh yes, it looks like a very good program especially because of the the highlights that Miss Moore has pointed out the fact that the staff and the whole family can you know can get the counseling or whatever and also you had mentioned something at the very beginning that I thought because I know Miss Gutieres had referred to the student that had committed suicide but a lot of times s they go under the radar because right they either don't go through the counseling they don't want to talk about it but you

068had mentioned about the the people that that don't really I mean not that they don't really need it but that you're accessible they can access y'all right to to get the help that they maybe they don't want to talk to anybody in the district so how how does that Well, we do a lot of lot of marketing and emailing and campaigns and cooperation with this with the district. Um, obviously that anonymous access is huge. Um, sometimes it's just as simple as they can pick up a phone and talk to somebody. Uh, and keep in mind too that, you know, we're pretty sophisticated in our program. So, in the event we come across someone that's dealing with suicidal ideiation or something like that, we have emergency protocols to immediately handle the situation. Um, you know, obviously

069our goal is to is not repeat anything along the lines of a suicide. So, um, it there's a lot I I think part of the success we have in in the program is that I think the population gets comfortable with the fact that it is an honest access. Uh, one of the reasons we put this program together, that component of it was a university in Ohio that um said that a lot of their students will not access the the on-site facilities. They they want something else. And that's we find that that that helps a lot. Sometimes it's just simple as texting. You know, at my age, I I don't even do texting, but u it's big with the students and and uh that's that's a big initial access point. I think the key is with

070our program is to get someone to at least try it and then hopefully we can get out ahead of any problems and and keep them from happening. So, how do I guess Miss Moore and and you how do we get that out there to let our students know that okay, if you feel that you don't have anybody to talk to as far as within our facilities, do we give them that that text number? Absolutely. There's all kinds of marketing and email campaigns. Yep. That goes out to the student and we work with the school district, so we don't want to do anything outside of whatever you guys want, but we're here. We take that load. We're not putting on the school to do all this. Um you you we work with you on how to

071get that information out whether it's you know posters and and lunchrooms or you know as simple as that to email campaigns the household notices a lot of stuff because we want that out there uh as much as possible. And uh it's a lot of that's up to the you know the folks we're working with at the school district to make sure we're doing a good job of of getting the marketing and the information out. And if we need to make adjustments, we do that along the way because we all know as things go along, we need to do some things different and better and change them and that kind of stuff. So hopefully our administrators are going Yeah. I mean I think it would be the whole team, the teachers, everyone, department, every way we

072could have it plastered around our schools that there's somebody out there. You can call there will always be somebody out there. We don't want them to go under the radar. Uh I think it's an excellent program. I hope that it continues even after the three years. But we that is part of our job as well is to get the legacy funding in place. Um we get about a year in we start working on that four, five, six year plans as things are going along and then I know Miss uh Jordan had asked that you know you said it was in three weeks. So as soon as somebody calls what that that report gets uh yeah it's documented. Yeah. when somebody requests access um or requests an initial consultation, they're on hold. Right now, it's less

073than 10 seconds to initial initial interaction. Now, that may not be the person they wind up with in that you ultimately u there'll be a quick assessment conversation. It could be handled by that counselor at that time of if if there's a higher acute level of care needed, it may be referred off to a scheduled counselor. Uh and that's what all the professionals do on our provider side. But how does that work as far as anonymity? because okay, they don't want anybody from the school, but I mean we've we've got to know some information as far as accessing the system. Yeah, it'll be subject to all the HIPPA and FURba and all that kind of stuff in state laws. Um there we have generalized reports. Uh a lot of it's with the parent consent on

074how much information they are willing or want shared with the school district. That's part of the customization implementation we go over with the school. Um some of it we're stuck with. you know, the the laws say we can only go so far and some of it we can be kind of fluid and and customize on how we handle information and that kind of stuff. Um, but that is part of it is a lot of the lower level needs. Uh, a lot of the students and staff population of the households really don't want anyone to know they're having that interaction and it's not a critical care component where we have to worry about, you know, we're at a high level acute care. But the higher in the care we get, the more likely we are to

075interface with the school or the local um community representatives or or counselors that are on staff or something like that. Okay, great. I I hope that our you know, we've got to get those counselors in. Yeah. Where our students are going to be able to access it as soon as possible. Yep. Um because I think I think it's an excellent program. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Thank you so much. What is your name? David Patrick. David Patrick. Thank you so much, Mr. Patrick. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. You're welcome. So, this is an action item. I need a motion and a second for agenda item 4F. I will make the motion that we approve the national teleaalth solutions service agreement to commence on May 1st, 2025 through May 30th, 2028.

076All right. A motion has been made by Miss Cutes and seconded by Miss Gonzalez. We'll go ahead and vote. I sorry Charlie Shirley Dor. Hi. I'm sorry I Albert. Hi Gonzalez. I Oscar. Hi. I This motion passes 70. Thank you. We are moving on to agenda item. Okay. 4G. The presentation and discussion regarding the balance scorecard priority three report broaden and strengthen connections with families and community to achieve a culture of excellence. We're going to have Miss Moore, Miss Don Marshall, and Miss Ren Jackson. They're coming up. I also want to share that I left an updated um kind of a packet of the grants that um Oh, yes. at everyone's um not going to take much time to go through it. I highlighted anything that was recent. One highlight is um we did get

077uh just last week I guess uh an $80,000 grant and that's going to support the the new term is strategic staffing where we're going to put similar to the grow your own program. It's just kind of new name. um support for teacher candidates for the whole year where they'll start with us in August, be there the whole year full-time with us um of course with the goal of them if we have it uh vacancy staying on with us and that's a two-year grant. So give us $40,000 next year so we could pay each of them $10,000 and then $40,000 the next year. And we're I will say we're the only ones in the Coastal Bend in in region two to have received that grant. That's great. Great news. All right. Uh, Miss Marshall, good afternoon,

078good evening. Welcome to school board. I'm Don Marshall, the ACE project director. Waiting for our slide to come up. Thank you, Mr. Byron. Okay. [Music] But we have the presentation here, right? Yes, ma'am. Okay, we'll go ahead and begin uh Byron and whenever you get it up and going because we each have the packet, right? For her. She doesn't have a copy of it. Oh, okay. I see. There it is. There it is. Okay. Okay, there we go. Again, I'm Don Marshall. I'm the ACE project director. Alongside of me is Miss Ren Jackson. She's our ACE project specialist. And our next slide is our team. We have a complete full team right here. Okay, we have a complete full team. Um, our JFK site coordinator is Miss Laura Carberhal. Our WO site coordinator is Miss

079Destiny Solis. As I already introduced our program specialist, Miss Ren Jackson, we have an administrative assistant. We just have her for a little part of a day. I think it's like 25% that we use, Miss Robin Porter. Devon Fox is our West Oso High School coordinator. I have already introduced myself and Leanne Cay is our West Oso Junior High School site coordinator. She's the newest add-on since uh November. This is JFK. We just gave you some um uh attendance participants that uh we have to always put in daily into what is the Texas ACE Teal, the TEA website that we input all of our data. As you can see here, our grant requirements for JFK, which is preK to first grade is 100 student. We have already currently exceeded that. 108 students are enrolled. Total

080number of students that we serve for 2024 2025 is 153. Average daily attendance as of today is 100. Summer enrichment um activities, I'll let Miss Ren talk about that. So, some of the enrichment activities that they do at JFK are culinary. Um, they have, what does she call it? Um, like social and emotional skills. Um, they have bear fitness. She has um she has all these little names for them, so I can't think of them off the top of my head, but um she has about six or seven wonderful enrichment programs for the littles. And I want to add on this one really quick. I'm so sorry. But the where it says um our grant requirements 150 and current, the current is students that have been there for 60 days or more. So there are

081currently more students in the program, but the 230 are the students that have been there that have completed their 60 days. Okay. When you say the JFK enrichment, I I still want to go back to that. Um you said she has and she are these are we going by requirements that ACE is having as far as activities? Yes ma'am. On a daily basis ma'am. So it's not something that your coordinators are coming in. Oh no ma'am they have every day is a is a schedule of enrichments. Yes ma'am. Go ahead. They do they there aren't really requirements but there are things that they can do. I mean obviously they can't go out of the box and create you know right but ACE provides that provides all of these all of the enrichment. Yes ma'am. But

082they don't they I mean the the teachers are still coming up with the activities. Yeah. So I'm sorry. They're just saying you have to have an enrichment component. They're not giving you lesson plans for you're going to make this craft or anything like that. That's all that's all up to us. So that that's what I was asking. So your teachers are coming up with the lesson plans per se. Oh yes ma'am. Okay. Yes ma'am. and but they're going by what ACE is saying this is what's required and so like the first part it's a two-hour program the first part of the is the academic enrichment where we help with I was going to ask yes ma'am where we help with the homework okay and we help with those students that are just needing that extra

083help during that time and then of course we start off with the dinner and then we move into the academic enrichment and then we have the enrichment part to end the rest of the afternoon. Okay. So, as far as the academic, are you all getting like uh progress reports on who's who's at what stage? H how is that handled? Yes, ma'am. We get that information from the testing the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, and the end of the year, and then we group that into our academic teachers. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And each campus has a hit a high impact tutoring instructor. Oh, yeah. You had mentioned that. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. As for uh Westerosa Elementary, um again, this is the grant requirements as Miss Jackson has stated

084that have those students that have already met their mark. Uh as you can see, WO is our biggest number of uh Westo Elementary. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. 150 students are required but as you can see uh current she is averaging 230 students. Yes. Wow. That is that is the biggest campus of students that are we're showing a high impact. In fact um uh our representative from TEA Miss Julia Frell she has asked that the adaptive ed class be highlighted for that. So, we will be doing an interview with the teacher and the site coordinator tomorrow during ACE and she wants an impact because that was the campus that when she came to do a visit, that was the campus that she went to uh visit during her time here. So, are you saying you

085need an additional um Okay, be honest. Well, we only have so much money, right? But I know because but she's handling Yes. that WOE is handling 20 236 as an average daily. So are we looking at that like well that's the biggest staff that we have with the ACE program is at the ele at the West Elementary and she is filled to capacity even with staff and with students as well. Yes ma'am. I know but are are the students being able to Yes, ma'am. We're being they're being serviced because there's enough service. Yes. It's just the style child staff ratio is not where we will want it at the 1 to 15. Sometime it's 1 to 20, 1 to 22. But yes, ma'am, the staff uh the ACE staff is making it they're making it

086work. The children are doing everything hands-on and they're very engaged. So, how does that work again? So, you have a coordinator at each campus. Yes, ma'am. But here you have 230 students that you're servicing. So are these additional teachers that are coming in? Yes, ma'am. So they are already staff that work for the So they work there uh 9 to5 there. So it's not just your coordinators that are handling that. Yes, ma'am. We also have No, that's we also have uh staff and I want to say uh WOE has about 36 at least 36. They have a lot of staff from there from That's good to know. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Well, that's because of the addition of the second grade. If the second grade weren't there, they wouldn't have that kind of number. Yeah. But

087the fact is it's still there. So, I I want to make sure that our our students are being serviced. Yes, ma'am. You know, you can't say, "Oh, this one has 108." Oh, no, but this one has 230. That is doubled. But I want to make sure that we do have enough teachers there to do what they need to do. and mention that again as far as the adaptive ed what what did they want? So um that was a room that our TEA representative went and she saw the wonderful things that was going on. So she wants to highlight it in our end of the year uh celebration. So she picked Westo Elementary. So we'll be doing a testimonial video tomorrow. So we're going to be featured through the whole state of Texas. That is great.

088Really wonderful. Was that was she over it? The one that was presented, Miss Moore, the depth of ed. No, I think that was high school. High school. Yes. No, this is some of the elementary uh stuff. Good news. And you could see one of the pictures down there. I'll let Miss Jackson talk about that's one of She actually saw those uh students doing those the knitting part with the bunny with the hat. Yes. So WOE has some wonderful enrichment. The things that they're doing is phenomenal. Um the bottom photo is of the adaptive ed classroom. They knitted I don't know if it's knitting, crocheting. Um but they made beanies. Um and the students actually worked hands-on and made these beanies and they they took them home for themselves. They I believe they made some for

089their parents. And so that was the activity that Julia walked in. RTA rep walked in and saw them doing. If anybody knows the adaptive ed teacher, Maria um Ramirez, she is phenomenal with these kids and the things she does with them. So, that was um we're very excited to highlight that because like Miss Marshall said, it is throughout the whole state of Texas. So, it's very exciting. That's impressive. It is. Um they have culinary, cosmetology, um STEM, create and design, bare fitness. Um that's all at West Elementary. That was all at Westos Elementary. A question because I tried knitting and I couldn't do it. I mean, there's just no way I could do it. So, I'm kind of like, huh, how did the the did they how much help did they get to make them?

090Because, like I said, you got to count you got to count numbers. You got to count how many rows. You got to count how many stitches. So, how does how did that work? I believe they have a machine that helps them. Oh, I am not. Yes. So, it wasn't all by hand, but like I said, this was in their adaptive ed classroom. So, that's a lot of work. You got to keep every link. You have to do every number, every line. It's hard. Yes. Yes. But our our little kiddos, they were able to do it. It was They still had to, you know, it was still a lot of work for them. But to me, it's like they're counting math, you know, because you got to count every stick. Absolutely. You got to count every

091single thing that's on there. So, how did they do with that? And how did they they record that? You know, how how did that help? But the fact is that they're doing hands on. Yeah. Well, it's hands-on, but they have the machine. My thing is Yes, it was our adaptive ed students. So, yes, they did have a little bit of help. Yes, that's good. That's what I was like, okay. All right. And then, and if you can see the corner picture over here to my left, your left, that was uh a collaborative partner. Her name is Miss James and she's with the Gulf Reets Institute. And so she brought some authors down from New York, California. And the fourth graders got to uh experience that Gulf Coast marine biology. She's a uh biologist here at

092Texas&M Corpus Christie and she brought in uh some hands-on materials for our fourth graders at WOE. So that's a collaborative partner that we have with Miss James. She's with the Gulf Reach Gulf Reach Institute. This is our West OSO Junior High grant progression. Again, when we get to the junior high and to the high school, you're going to see the numbers. And we did meet our expectations here, but we had to be very, very creative as uh we always say think outside the box because those seventh and eighth graders are involved in extracurricular activities. So, if you're coming to Ace, you're coming to Ace. And we really promote that academic part because um we tell our students that if you want to play sports, you have to be passed. And so use ACE as an

093opportunity. And again, our high impact uh tutoring, uh Mr. A, he does our math, Miss Reeves does our uh English, uh Miss Martinez does our ELA. And so those numbers with those students, who's M? Uh Mr. Alvarado, I'm sorry. Mr. Paul Alvarado, he's doing our math and so he's on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those students know that they need to come and we met our numbers with our high impact tutoring as well. And as you can see here, our grant requirement was just 85, but 91 students have met that progress, the 60 days. Thus, Junior High is averaging at least 85 students currently as of now because they, like I said, our seventh and eighth graders, as you saw here, being recognized for all of the wonderful uh extracurricular sports that they're doing. So, those are

094numbers and that's sixth, seventh, and eighth grade there. Here's our partner enrichment. So again, we have um bear fitness, we have soccer, um STEM, culinary, cosmetology. Some of the partners we have, we just partnered with um I believe it's CCFC. I I messed it up the last name. Is it CCFC? Okay. CCFC is who we partnered with. It is the new sports complex that they are building right here. They come out to our junior high and they um instruct soccer to our students. We've even had some of our high school students who have started to come over for soccer enrichment after school. We've taken a few field trips with the junior high. Um we've done STEM day, girls STEM day in Austin. We've done a few trips to the YW.CA um for a reading a

095reading academy. And then we did a Christmas the photo in the middle of them um wrapping gifts. They were able to go free of charge, pick out gifts for their families and wrap them there. So, that was really nice. They were fed and able to um bring gifts home to their families. What is the last picture? I can't see. Which one? The last picture down the corner. The one in the bottom that was I believe that was um the UT trip. This girl STEM day to UT. Okay. Okay. I couldn't see what it was. I thought it was some kind of a celebration, a holiday celebration. I bet they love that pizza day in the oven. Yes. And our culinary arts at the junior high, the boys seem to get a kick out of cooking.

096So that's the majority that's in there is our boys. And then our high school, again, as we said, when you get into the secondary coming to Ace for high school, uh, our numbers was 50 and Coach Fox really had to think outside to bo outside the box to get those students to attend and what's driving them. Um, when we get to the the enrichment part, um, Miss Jackson, I don't want to steal her thunder, but I'll let her talk about that. But, uh, our numbers were 54. We just had to meet the 50 54 met the uh met the benchmark and we're so proud of that because again high school you have to want to come to ACE to come to ACE. He has uh total number of students that he served from 2024 to

0972025 is 194 which is outstanding. average number that are coming again because they're involved in extracurricular activities is 38 students and there's some of the enrichment. 38 students but you're supposed to have did you say you're supposed to have 50? Yeah, that we already met our mark for 50 and so 50 is the average that we were to have. We had 50 that attended before that attended the 60 days. Oh. And then after that they Yes, ma'am. Then after you just try to keep them the 60 days. Yes, ma'am. Well, no. You try to keep them as much as you can as possible. The hardest thing in the high school too is in addition to these extracurricular now some of them also have jobs. Yes. I mean a bunch of our kids have jobs. So

098that's makes so like Miss Marshall said the high school students that are in the ACE program want to be in the ACE program. They are staying because they want to be there. Um they love culinary. They do culinary with Mrs. Variel. Um the middle photo is TSI. More culinary. We just recently went on a trip to Shriner. Um, one of our students was actually he signed that day and so, um, it was fun. They had a field trip and they got to watch their friend get signed. Um, and then we also have some of our high school students that come out to our family engagement events and they help us. So, the bottom photo is one of our students who just came to um, our recent science event and helped serve popcorn. Like I said,

099these kiddos want to be there. Yeah, I want to be there. Now, this goes into our family engagement grant process um progress, I'm sorry. So, for the 2024 2025 school year center one, we are required to have 22 um parent parents attend our events. We've had a total of um 112. Center two, I'm sorry, that was the junior high. Center 2, JFK, we are required to have 38. We've had a total of 56. Center 3, WOE, required 38. Total 131. And center 4, the high school, we're required to have 25. And we've had 28. Now, these are not the numbers of parents that have showed like showed up to our these are ACE parents that have showed up to our events. So, our events are open to the district. We have a ton of people

100show up, but these are just the ace parents that show up. Is this an average number? Yes. Overall, throughout the whole event? Yes. Of ace parents? Yeah. Just so on your next report, can you put a total of parents that have come? So this this is a total of parents. I'm sorry. I I I misunderstood. This Yes, this is the total of ace parents that have shown up to events. But you're saying in addition we have other we do. Okay. I would like to have that total just absolutely just for number. So I find it you know um I have to center 2 JFK. You would think that you would really you would. So at the beginning of the year some of our events we were hosting them at we would host them at the

101junior high. We did a few at the high school because we weren't having to cancel ACE or, you know, we were able to have ACE at the high school and have an event side by side because of the low number of high school students. So once we started seeing these numbers, we started moving the events to JFK and that's when we started hitting our numbers. Students want to go to their child's school. I also think JFK, they also have all those PTO events, too. So, you know what I'm saying? Like parents are coming to the PTO events and then in addition, so there's just kind of more events in general that are available, right? But I think that that that change probably it did. We saw when we um our recent science event was a

102very successful event and we saw our most numbers. Yeah, because when junior high is beating out JFK as far as attendance, I'm like, we saw most of those numbers from the junior high on our first event. We actually met our numbers. We met our numbers for the whole year um after our first event. So, we had it was our um we had meet the teacher, which we met our numbers at meet the teacher, but after mom night when we had mom night, that's when they all came. Oh, yeah. When they Yes. Yeah. That's really impressive for JF the junior high to be coming out like that. And there's some more family engagement events. Sorry. Okay. So, I want to I'll briefly just go over every event we've had so far. Um in the month of

103September, we had our mum night. We hosted this at the junior high which was very successful. We had reading under the lights also um at the beginning of October where we had um the cheerleaders, the football players, and all of our families come out. We gave um free books away to the first 150 students. Um and that was a really fun event. Then we had our huge fall festival at the end of October where we had a pumpkin patch. We had um over 100 pumpkins. So, first hundred families got to take home a pumpkin. Um, we had the RGV dinosaurs, we had um a gaming truck. We had tons tons of stuff. The whole district was involved in that event and it was really successful. In November, we partnered with the sped department and we

104did um a turkey trot. We found out that everybody likes to run laterally. This was one of my favorite events. We did a gingerbread decorating event in December and we also had the ACE choir perform which was really nice um to have all of those families come out. We had now we're seeing that when your child performs your family comes to an event. So we got smart in December and the Ace Choir performed at that event. We had a movie night in January, which we did host this one at JFK. We had edible art in February where the um we had a presenter come in and the students worked alongside their parents. They played um tic-tac-toe with graham crackers. It was edible tic-tac-toe. And then they also made um bird feeders to take home. In

105March, we had our first annual chili cookoff. This was also um a district-wide event. All of our staff got involved. It was very fun. And we had our ACE choir perform as well. And then my favorite event of the year so far, we've had um our Earth Day extravaganza that was hosted at JFK. Um this was something that when I first started this position, I knew I wanted this event to be successful. Um, some of these people I think I contacted my second week of work and locked them in. Um, we had um people from all over the city of Corpus, the Heart Institute, um, Corpus Christie recycling a mobile dairy cow. We had um the same lady that came in from edible arts. She came in and did a catapult activity with the kiddos.

106We had um my favorite was the creature teacher. He's out of Houston. He came in, he brought a baby kangaroo and all types of animals for the kiddos to um learn about. So that was that was our favorite event and I'm already planning next year. Um that was on a Wednesday and on Saturday we had a we had a 5K color run. This event was really fun. Like Don said, everybody likes to run around here, so that's what we did. Um this was really fun to see all the families. It was our autism acceptance 5K color run. So, it was nice to see all the families come out with their autism t-shirts. Everybody was ready. We had um Melanie Solis, the teacher that was up here um a while ago. Her Interact Club came out.

107I mean, when I when I asked her to come out, I thought she was going to come out with two or three students. She came out with about 15 to 20 students. And they were there to work and they helped us tremendously. They were set up along the whole run throwing color on everybody. It was just a very, very fun event. The whole community came together for this event. Great. So, our summer school registration, we had it on April the 5th here in this particular room. Over 130 students enrolled and registered that particular day. We had it in person. And when I tell you at 7:30 when we pulled up, the line was at the street. So, uh, we had the iPad set up. We made it personal. We got to see some of the

108families that we've never met as, uh, Ren and I, Miss Jackson and I are new in this position. So, we got to meet parents face to face. And so, they registered for our summer school event. And that summer school is all campuses. 30 means from from all campuses. See, like five over here, 10 over here, and 10. Yes, ma'am. Then we still have some because we're combining uh we're getting our numbers for actually students that need to be take part in summer school. So those numbers don't reflect that as well. Yes, ma'am. Even if they're not in the ACE program, they will be in put in the AC summer school. Yes, ma'am. If they are needing to come to summer school for academic purposes and this is our summer school operation schedule. We will be

109uh operating from two different campuses. We will start on June the 3, our first session June 3rd through June 26. And that's um for our first part of a summer school. We will be at John of Kennedy for our elementary operation hours are from 8 to 2. And for secondary, we will be at the high school. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be served. And then our second session will start July the 8th to July the 18th. Some enrichment activities that we're looking forward to uh showcasing that day. As you can see there at Johnf Kennedy, we're doing some gardening, culinary arts, our STEM activities, which we all notice here. That's a big thing that our district is doing. I bear fitness or again Johnf Kennedy and West Elementary would combine together and so those creative

110activities the culinary arts um the creative design the Westole junior high and west high school will be combined together called esports bear fitness uh our sports softball STEM creative activities those are we're uh coming up with a theme a Texas theme And then we want to make sure that we again think outside the box to have the our students engaged for that summertime. But STEM is embedded in each one of those campuses. Yes, ma'am. And that is it. Yes, ma'am. Wow. Um I just I want to make a comment. Um, West Soso is becoming known for our summer school activities. Yes, ma'am. Because our students don't have the the means or or our parents to pay for those $300, $500 camps. So, y'all are doing, I think, a fabulous job because I do have people

111still come up and ask me, "But do y'all accept students that don't go to West?" No, we don't. Yeah, we get that all the time. Yeah, and I'm sure y'all have too. So, I I know this has been going on and not uh just uh this ACE program what the past six years as far as providing this for our student. I know that we when we discussed with the the superintendent before, Miss Moore, um we wanted this to be made available to our students cuz we didn't want our students to be sitting down at home watching TV all day and not having any activities to do or enrichment stuff to do. So, I think the combination of now summer school with ACE is an excellent idea. I'm so glad y'all came up with that and

112the fact that we are addressing academics. Yes, ma'am. You know, it's not something that, oh, it's just fluff stuff. We we need to be addressing academics for those students that are not meeting the academic requirements during the summer pro during the summer. Um I y'all have done a fabulous job. It is impressive the the things that you offer to our students who have never been exposed to some of this stuff. And I'm sure you see their faces light up when they're like, "Wow, I'm I'm knitting or I'm I'm cooking." Just even the trips taking them to Austin and it was like heart-wrenching. We cry. We cry. Yes. To see our students just Yes. And I just think it's fabulous. I think I mean our parents are just so that's why you saw that line because

113our parents are very like I want to get my kid in there, you know. So the 130 I know and I did talk to Miss Moore about this. I'm like wait a minute. Why are you shutting it down? And she said because we need we need uh those the the enrollment for the summer school numbers that they they do have to come for academics. Yes. And that be 30 students per grade level or high school is a little different, you know, with what's needed classwise, but for all of our grades, it's 30 students. 30 students. See, that's a lot. Yes. Wow. So, I I have to commend y'all. Your your program is impressive. Uh, Miss Vela. Okay. [Music] Thank you. Yeah, those slides that she referred to, those are uh that exposure on Facebook. It's

114getting out there. Yes. And I was I told Miss Marshall, I said we should just put our Facebook link up there because if I put photo I mean I couldn't put all the photos. We'd be here all but we do try to try to post as much as we can on social. Yeah, it's it's getting out there. Mr. O sounds like a great great program where students, parents, great job. Thank you, Miss Gonzalez. I feel that this program got stronger and stronger and stronger and y'all just like wow, it's amazing that Thank you, Mr. Ardondo. It's not the same ACE that my children went when we first started ACE. And it's been in the last year or two has been taken to to another level. And I believe it's because of the different programs that

115y'all are offering that I I'm assuming y'all are listening to the kids to see what they want. When I first saw that they were exposing them to cosmetology when we grow grew up, we were exposed to that. But with them, it's totally different. And it was I saw that it it's a lot of hands-on, right? And I think that's what makes the program successful is hands-on. Hands-on learning. Yes. And not to mention, we didn't show it because it hadn't started yet, but we just will start the driver's ed program for our high school students. So, they'll be starting that uh in the month of May. And with your drivers, with your STEMs, you're introducing drones, I believe. Yes, sir. We have all of that. And and in fact, I think last month, those junior high

116students were honored. They're the ones that went all the way to state national. Uh a couple of those students are in the ACE program. I think we saw them when we did our walk. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. They actually brought their little drone into Yes, those are our AE students. They're in junior high. And so, um it's you got to listen to what the kids want. What's what's the future out there is drones, technology, stuff like that. And even though you have cosmetology, it's it's an old trade. Yes. But everybody needs a haircut. Oh, yeah. Money maker. It's pretty nail. You got to have the right programs in order for them to keep coming back. Now, when it comes to uh academics, you're pulling teachers, our teachers, and they're getting paid funding under your program.

117Yes, sir. That is correct. So we have high impact tutoring on every campus and they are teachers from the from that particular campus and then we pay them through our ACE program and like Miss Ludiga said you're identifying them through the testing at the beginning, the middle and the end of the so we work closely with the admin the principles on campus and we go to the PLC's and so we sit in on that and we know those students that are struggling and then those the teachers that actually teach them can handpick and identify and so they'll even give us ACE application and say uh Dawn needs to be in ACE and so we sign him up right then and there and that was my concern when we first introduced the ACE program is I

118didn't want to I kept my kids from going like a week or two Yes sir because I didn't want it to be a babysitting Yes sir absolutely program but when I started learning uh that it was going to be academics it's going to be hands-on and all that then I let them in the program but it took me I was a little skeptical at the beginning this was uh four or five years ago Yes sir. Um the other thing I wanted to ask was um are you when you're uh when they're coming for and registering for summer, are you also pitching that come join ACE for the following year? We've been pitching we pitch it at every one of our family engagements as well. And even with the the right now that we're registering for

119the next year, we have that pitch as well. Yes. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Miss Gutierrez. Yes. I want to ask first, uh, is this questionable? The the grants, is that part of the ace or it wasn't? No, that was just something you just threw in here. Uh, we can we question them or we can't question it. Okay. So, not not right this minute because these ladies aren't that's not with the president. No. All right. This is an additional handout just to make sure. It was part of the ACE because it's right under with the ACE. It should have been separate from that. I was just sharing that information with you. That's all it was. But there's questions. There's questions. I can put it on the agenda for the next We'll put it

120on the agenda for the next meeting. But no, it's it's just an additional information that's going out. Okay. Just like an email would go out. Okay. Any questions? On the um cosmetology, I noticed that you have it at West Elementary and Westo Junior High. Okay. Is that just a, you know, because they have it like at the different high schools, they have it to where when they graduate, they get their their certificate. Are these young ones going to get anything or is it just for fun? Uh, yes, ma'am. It's just for enrichment. They don't get a certificate for this. Oh, so it won't follow them in any way, no how. It's just a fun thing to do. Yes, ma'am. Because they're not of age. if they were of age. And so we did not have

121any we did not have any interest at the high school as of this school year. We send out a survey at the beginning of the year to see what the students are interested in. If next year we have a big interest in cosmetology that is something we will offer and we will look into having them certified. That is very surprising that school students don't look at it. They really they there there was very little interest in culinary but we offered it and they took on to it. you know, I'm just concerned with the cosmetology because when like when they graduate, I I've seen where they get their certificates and they're ready to go out. So, I thought this would follow them, but if it's just a fun thing to do, it's just an exploratory. I

122think again when they're doing these surveys, these are students that would want to stay after school. So, there might not be that there might be students interested in cosmetology don't want to stay after school. Something that Rhonda does. Well, that that uh most schools have it mentioned you run. Yeah. Should be a pathway. And then my other question my other question that I want certification. Yeah. I want numbers. How many students How many students do you have at the high school right now? Right now currently today 38 that's coming every day. Yes ma'am. Okay. So 38 students and how many of those because you're offering you're offering driver's ed. Of course. Yes, ma'am. Of course I'm going to hear that ours cannot pay for it or whatever. I just paid 565. So I know what

123the cost is, you know, to go to driver's ed. So all these students are going to get it free. I mean, are you going to take in more students so that they can go take driver or is it just going to be to these 38 students? So, the way our driver's ed was promoted, that was something that was offered to them when they first got into ACE. And so, those students who have met their numbers, the 60 num the 60 days as we say, those students are the ones that are being offered the driver's ed course. Okay? So those students would be these 38 students, not students that came and Oh no, ma'am. They had to that was a part of the requirement for them to make these 38. Yes, ma'am. Okay. I would like

124to see the the names of the grades of these that are going to take uh driver's ed. Um I I feel that uh that program I don't I don't know how it came to be, but uh driver's ed is very important. So that ACE is going to pay insurance for the students. No, ma'am. We're just paying for the course. Okay. But they're in they have to have insurance, don't they? Not until they actually get their driving certificate, their driver's license, and then they're out on the road. So, we're just providing the course and then it's up to the guardian, the parent certified to provide the course. Yes. Ring somebody in. We're bringing somebody in or something like that. Yes, ma'am. We're bringing in a driver's course from TEA that was recommended and then we got

125the information from them and then they're the ones that's teaching the course. What is the name of the program? What what program is it? Because it's called Driving Quest. Driving. It's online, right? Yes, ma'am. It's an online course. So, it's really to get that initial permit. I got Yeah, I know. I I did the ASEable uh and we got her permit, but I decided I wanted to just go ahead and pay for her to go drive it. I can't drive with anybody. Nobody can drive me anywhere. So, so it's driving quiz Q. Driving Quest. Yes. Quest S. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And that is here in Texas. Yes, ma'am. And we're providing the course and then it's up to the guardian, the parent to initiate the rest of it, whether they do their hours on the

126road and insure the car. And we just doing the course. You're just doing the course. Yes, ma'am. Are you going to help them? Like I I think it's after the second second uh lesson they get their driving permit. Are you all going to help them with that or or that's not something that's going to be up to the the parent or the guardian who's ever going to be insured with that person with that particular student? They probably get in coordinate with somebody with company because what why I'm asking is this company has altoso ISD ACE program as doing the course. I mean you're we we're paying the course and we have paid like a lesson thing because that that's that's uh that's that's what it is. And okay, because this is I have this and

127it's a it's a driving course that I paid and then I have to teach it, but then I also have to I have to take her to get a permit and all that. Okay, that's why I'm saying if they're teaching this, wouldn't they be required to do the the because they get a certificate. They get a certificate and uh after the I'm going to say they take a test after the second one, they take a test. If they pass the test, then the driving the driving school that that that you're set up with uh sends you the certificate. You print out the certificate and they go get their their permit. So that's why I'm saying somebody from West ISD has to be involved. They're I I just I I I mean they're they're facilitating. They're

128going to help them print the certificates. They'll communicate with the parents, but the parents need to physically take them for the to have an insured car um motivated. I understand that, but I don't think I'm getting through because be a facilitator in the district. I mean, they're not doing it at home, right? Yes. They're doing it all at school. Correct. But, okay, I'm not going to get the answer. I I just think that because I I bought I bought the class. I bought the class and I they sent me as the person that is going to take her to get the license, the the that. So there's got to be a person in this course that's going to do that. Did you put an individual every individual parent? But she's telling you it's only the

129course that we're offering. This is the course and through the course you certificate quest. Okay. This is the same thing like but we don't know if it's the same thing. Are you going through driver's quest? I'll look it up. I'm going through through asable which this was the program the only it's already it's been certified by tea and for us that that is who we go with. Yes, ma'am. They're doing it online. Exactly. And the parents do have to uh Miss Cutes because I know as a I mean my sister her granddaughter they went through it. It was up to Okay, now you need to take her to the driving part and you need to take her to do this. So, yeah, she took a course also and I think it was through Cal Allen.

130She paid for it. Yeah. No. Well, we paid Well, like I said, I'm paying for her. She already got hers with the first company that I went with, but then when I got in the car with her, I was like, "Oh, no, no. I can't drive with anybody in my I drive I've been driving all my life. I don't let nobody drive me anywhere that day. I can't drive. That's it. But I said, "No, I'm gonna go ahead and go to Texas Driver's Ed." I called the the company. But that's another entity and they're doing We're not doing that part. We're only doing the driver's course. Y'all are going to do the that that place is going to do the testing and then all they do is take it to No, we're just doing the

131course. Only the course. Only the course. They will take all of their testing at the DMV. So they're they will take the course, their parents will take them to the DMV, they will get their driving their permit. Then they will complete their logged hours, take that back to the DMV, and they will get their driver's license to get Yes, we are providing the course driving you through the whole process and tells you and helps you with your appointments and all that. They're not going to do that. They're just going to offer the It's up to you to make your own appointment and to go do your driving test. Correct. And to do your your all right. I understand that because I did it with the program I bought. She did the first two. She got

132passed the test. She got her certificate. Took her over there. Got that. It's up to the parent to do the driver. But her practice test too. Oh yes ma'am. To make sure they pass. Like Texas driving school. They're going to do the test there. Yeah. They hold your hand and do everything and then I just take her to get her license. I don't have to. They're not doing that. They're only offering the test. They're only going to offer that. Okay. All right. I'm gonna look into it. That's fine. Thank you. Okay. All right. Miss Jordan, you all are doing a great job. Thank you. I know firsthand because my great grands are in the program. They love it. Thank you. And they offer so many opport different opportunities for these uh these students and I

133commend you all for what you all are doing. It's it's a good program. Thank you. It's a very good program. Um, any more comments from the board? Okay. Thank you so much, Miss Thank you, Marshall and Miss Jackson. Excellent job. We're going to move on to agenda item 4, presentation and discussion on the overview of the West Early College High School and Pathways in Technology Early College High School. Pete, I thought we Yeah, we already did that. PEK for the 2025 2026 school year. Miss Garcia. So, I request for this one to really let if if you would let Miss Garcia go over the whole presentation because I think it's very likely that she'll answer questions and if she doesn't by the end, then you're welcome to ask it. but to kind of get the

134whole picture of what we're going to be offering students um through these two programs. These are not the only programs that are being offered at the high school. These are I want to make that clear. For example, you're not going to hear in this program graphic design. Okay, that's still a pathway. These are two just specific programs. There's other programs that we've shared with you. Graphic design is one, STEM is one. um students, ROC, there's other programs. These are two specific programs that are offered to students at the high school. The ones that you're speaking that are not going to be here are tailored to those individuals that want to go down those pathways, right? Well, and also they just don't fall under these two umbrellas. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Because have you done

135a survey where you know you ask do they want to do mechanics? Yes, ma'am. We have. Yes, ma'am. We've definitely done that. Uh because could we part of it there's we'll we'll do those surveys there are some programs that you can't start until you're 18 so for example fire for example um even the CNA there's so there's constriction what do you mean fire like a fire yeah the um EMT and the right those have to be at 18 but right like so we've yes we've done surveys anybody can do welding yes so let's let yeah could we let Miss miss Garcia kind of go through be a certain Yes, let me let me present and then I'll answer all questions. So, good evening. So, I'm gonna be um presenting on the expanding the college and

136career opportunities at Westoso High School. Um right now for the our early college high school our admission criteria are grades, discipline, attendance, students desire to work towards completing the TSI requirements, commitment to attending tutorials which are on Saturday, a lot of them are on Saturdays and the summer bridge program and student interest in pursuing dual credit coursework during high school. Okay. So, you know, early college has been in existence here at Westoso for 10 years. So, over those 10 years, we've been taking notes every year on how you can make the program better. Um, so this is going to be our reboot year. Okay. Um so for those students who are currently in the program but have not continued to come to tutorials or anything like that, we're going to reboot it. Okay. So um

137criteria to remain in the early college high school program will be of course discipline attendance the same students desire to work towards completing the TSI requirement commitment to attending tutorials and the summerbridge program and successfully taking and completing dual credit coursework with passing grades in both high school and college. So early college high school program needs to be student centered. I mean in 8th grade we go do presentations and of course you know mom wants their child in the program right but mom doesn't do the work. It's the child that needs to want to be in the early college program. Okay. Um so um all students every single student in our district can be successful with an individualized approach. Okay, every single student um we we advise the students, we meet with them individually on

138their needs um and their social emotional needs. Okay. um opportunities exist for students to complete an associates degree which is 60 credit hours um become core complete 42 hours to that when they go off to college they have their core down so now they're just ready to go into whatever field they want to go into or they just start taking college courses and they get their feet wet. you know we've given them that opportunity to say hey I took 12 hours because you know what 12 hours is better than zero hours and we afforded them that opportunity so um that's what that is so in 202526 um the criteria um you know the new criteria students can um enter the program when they're ready you know sometimes times you're not mature enough when you're coming

139into your freshman year, but the summer of you going into your junior year. Oh, I I want to take college courses and I'm ready to take TSI tutorials and I'm doing that. Okay, then you know what? We're going to assist you in doing that. Okay. Um, our current students will be asked to recommmit to working towards their TSI completion and successful dual credit enrollment. uh students who choose to not make the commitment. Maybe I'm a freshman right now and oh, high school's so fun. I don't want to take my Saturdays to do this, but come junior year, they're ready. Okay, we're going to help you. Okay. Um we are also offering a it's called PEK. You know, you have ECS and you have PEK. So, PEK is Pathways in Technology Early College High School. It's

140an innovative open enrollment high school that allows students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive, you know, both your high school diploma and credentials andor an associates degree. Um, so for PEK, you know, you're it's career focused and a provision of work-based education. So for PEK, you enroll historically underserved students targeting at risk and economically disadvantaged students. You provide students grade 9 through 12 the opportunity to complete a course of study that combines high school and postsecary courses. Um, we enable students to uh earn a level one or level two certificate, industrybased certifications, and an associates degree if possible. Um, this will allow them to gain work experience through internships, apprenticeship, apprenticeships, or other job training programs. It aligns to our regional workforce needs, guiding students into high demand, high wage careers. Um,

141we partner with Texas, you know, our Delmare College and regional businesses and industries who give students access to post-secary education and workforce training opportunities. So the PEK uh programs that we offer here are health science, so they can get a phabbotomy and EKG certification, the welding, and of course the our new one which is construction. Again, like Miss Moore stated earlier, we offer more, but through the PEK application, these are the ones that we um chose through student interest. Okay. Um 2425 was our planning year. So for 2526, it'll be our first year of implementation. All PEK schools throughout the state are considered provisional year 1. And um for designated PEK campuses must meet outcomebased measures just like our early college high school in access, achievement, and attainment. These pictures um these are our current

142uh students that are about to earn their second industrybased certification in phabbotomy. I want to thank everyone in the district teachers, everyone who went to the high school to allow our students to um draw their blood. Um thank you, thank you, thank you. They were great. Every single one of them were great. Um um some of our students got some awards through the Rotary Club and every student can learn just not on the same day or in the same way. We also gave you um in your packet that's the end of mine. Um you know the health science career cluster. This is what we give students um when we go present in eighth grade. We give them one for every single pathway that is offered at the high school. So they know, you know, what

143are examples of aligned occupations in say health science? Oh, well, they see everything they can do. Um, what's the course information, what industry based certifications you can receive. So we do give every student this, as I stated, for every pathway that is offered at the high school. So now any questions? Okay. All right. Um, Miss Jordan, I think it's it's wonderful that we've taken another look at it. I'm so happy that um we are offering courses and classes for our students who's not college band, right? and and that's preparing them for uh you know their society and uh I just think it's wonderful that we're reaching try to reach all students regardless of not just the the elite but the other everybody's not college band that's right and I'm so grateful that we are uh

144having some classes set up for for those students. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Okay, Miss Gutieras. Yes. uh in the in the you said that that they have to pass and let me ask you say the student is passing passing everything college course high school he's passing everything he still needs to come to tutorial and no once they Okay so the Saturday tutorials are for TSI oh okay okay so they can pass that college readiness test right okay okay because I was like what if they're No, you still have to come on Saturday. I don't want to get up, you know, like Okay. And then my next question uh on the construction on the construction, I'm glad you added this. I think that instead of welding, we should maybe have thought about plumbing because

145that we need a lot. Well, through construction, they will get plumbing as well. That is embedded in the construction. Yes, plumbing and electrical. They'll um they'll get a small section of it and um will they be building anything here at the school? Okay. Because I know other schools built the little tiny houses and whatever. So that's their second and third year. I mean our students are still in the first year. So the second those that have been here are still Yeah. We just started the program this year. Instead this is no longer the early college. This is PEK. Well construction is through PEK. Right. Okay. So, this is the first year we do it. Okay. Um, I'm glad that it that it was finally added to this. Uh, I think that and I know welding

146is a great paying job. I know we have a a student that graduated from Westoso that went I mean he gets paid quite a bit and congratulations to him and uh but uh I think you know we need to kind of look like at air conditioning because we always have problems here with air conditioning too is construction on the high school look at the in your I'm looking the welding I didn't see no air condition construction okay I'm at the construction Building building building stage practic Oh, well I don't find it, but it's on the third page. I'll look it. Ma'am, what page is the third page? Number uh 98, I believe. 98. Okay, 98. Okay, I'm on 98. Mhm. Okay. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning. Oh, HVA. Oh, that's great. I think that's good. I'm

147so glad that you added that uh and that we're offering it because every student, like Miss Jordan said, is probably not going to college, right? And every student learns different. You might learn by looking at it. I might learn, but I have to read it and have my hands on it. So, every student is different. And I'm I'm glad that we're doing that for every student that we don't leave no student behind and they all get a chance of what we have to offer. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Is this also offered to sped students too as well? Every single student. So like if they struggle, there's someone there to help them but also succeed on on welding. In fact, I think we have a sped student in welding right now is doing fantastic. They

148all learn different. They all are different and if they like that, you know, they're going to to kind of keep their focus on it. They're going to focus do it. So, I'm glad it's been offered. Thank you so much. You're welcome, Mr. Ardono. Well, first of all, I want to say that I'm glad that you're putting the emphasis on having to attend the tutorials for the TSI because a lot of times you were offering it and they wouldn't they don't come. Mhm. And I know that right after CO it was very hard to schedule those classes because we were still under CO. So the classes were limited. And from what I've seen this year, you've triple or quadruple the Saturdays that you come for for those TSI tutorials and it's the key in order to

149get into those classes. So, it's very it's I'm hoping you make it mandatory that they or Well, I mean, for the students who were already accepted into the early college high school program, you know, your freshman, your sophomore, your juniors, it is going to be mandatory for them to recommit, you know, and if if they don't want to do it, that's fine, you know, then you don't do it. You're kind of not in the program at this time. Exactly. Um but if you want to do it, we're here to help you in any way we can. Correct. One of the things that worries me is uh oversaturating the market when it comes to the EKG programs and the labbotomy. Well, never there's never enough are there high schools offering that also? Yes, but there's never

150enough medical help in our region. Two fields were we're we're good. Oh, yes. In fact, there's still a need even if we would graduate a million, you know, there's still Well, we got to look at the trends of the and that's why we need the the labor the regional labor market that the workforce gives us. Okay. So, that's where you're basing off the we still have a need for this. So, continue to do that. Yes. One of the things I'm sorry, Mr. Dondo, but the computers computers is important because that's are we going to add that soon? Well, that is in STEM there. That's computer science, you know. It's just not in PEK, but it is there. We do have students in it at the high school. And that Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me

151finish asking my question. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. I let you speak. I'm sorry, sir. I just wanted When we're going into the construction part of it, are we going to expose them to the permitting part of when you want to build a structure or something that you are going to do that? Mhm. And when they start building um going to have kind of like a crosscurricular because Miss Selenus is going to team up with our construction uh teacher to build the robotics, you know, things. So like they're going to do the blueprints and then the construction's going to have to build it for them. That's what I was going to ask. So you're going to need somebody to design the architect part of it. But you start with that and then the final

152thing is okay, we got to go to the city for permitting. Are are there going to be some kind of steps as to what to follow to do that? Uh well, as far as what we build here, I mean, we're not going to build a huge home, you know, but we are going to build like storage, correct? We can build storage um units which will require permitting. Actually, if you do it in the class, no. And they're going to do it in the class. So, but he did tell us that whatever is needed, they will obtain. So, it's not going to be any extra cost to us. I just want to see if the the kids are going to be exposed to that because that's a bureaucratic obstacle when it comes to building anything around

153here. So, they did build t like tiny model homes which were pretty neat. Um I was like, "Wow, that's kind of neat." But, um Miss Miss Hernandez hears the saws all day long and the hammers and Yes. But it's So, they build small houses and where where are they? No, they're just tiny little models. No, the tiny houses that like models. Where are they that we we have we seen them? I I do have pictures. I can I can send Are they here? Yeah, I like I like to see them. Yeah. Or display them somewhere? I mean, if the students built them, can they be displayed? On display? Yeah. All right. Any further questions, Mr. Ardono? Well, if I had any, they already left me. They're going to come back. Sir, can I ask something

154real quick? Hurry up. Okay. See, I had left me too. Yeah, but you interrupted me and I forgot a couple of those things. You interrupted You interrupted him. I interrupted you. Well, come back to Oh, I know what it was. I know what it was. They're not only going to build those things for robotics, right? No, because I know like Ray High School, all of them, all the other schools, they did um they did the tiny house and then they also did the blinds. They did the blinds for for you know the the what do you call it for hunting deer hunting will that be included in what it's based on whatever project the student wants to do as a final. So they don't tell them students. Yes. They don't tell them come to one.

155Well, no. Everybody's not going to build one thing. It can be a group. Uhhuh. Well, that's what they did. The whole class for their final was build a tiny house and a blind and that's how they got their certificate. Yeah. That's on down. But they get to choose. We don't like we can't say, "Oh, I want you to build." You know, I don't Rhonda, when that happens, it's a two year two or three year process when you build a tiny home. Correct. They can start in the junior year and finish in their senior year. Um I I don't know that, but I can find out for you. I think that might be I can find out. Yeah, just get back with us because I think when they build something that size, it's with the planning

156and the design and all that, it might be like a two-year project, but you can just let us know. Okay. All right, Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Vel, I think it's very impressive that you have something for everybody. Everybody has a chance to to pick up specific skills to make money. Yes. Thank you, Miss Vella. I think personally um seeing the benefits that are afforded to my students, our students um you can really see the the benefits of the program and I think it's it's great. It's an excellent program. It's going very very well. Thank you. Okay. Yes. And um I do have like uh I did discuss this with Miss Moore when we were going over the agenda because I know uh Miss uh Gutierrez alluded to it as far as oh wow they didn't

157pick cosmetology because I'm sure we've seen some other you've seen some other school districts that have really promoted their cosmetology. I mean, they have a whole beauty shop beauty shop in their school located there, which is I I think it's fabulous because it is a pathway for students. Uh you'll always need somebody to do your nails and your hair and Wait, wait, wait, wait. I see a lot of guys out there that are now going as barbers, which I wouldn't have thought. Yeah. And they they get very creative with their designs. I think it's Yeah. And it's it's a lucrative profession. You're going to make money. A lot of women, but a lot of a lot of guys opens up stuff like that. So I know when she had brought it up, I had also

158brought it up because I asked Miss Wow. So our survey didn't really show that, but she did go back and can can you uh elaborate on that the fact that what if you do have one or two girls that want to go into cosmetology, you are still even though it's not listed in your No, we'll still operate. And yes, that's what Miss Moore Yeah, that's what I was I mean, they take a survey, okay, in seventh and eighth grade. So that is, you know, that's what runs your your scheduling at your high school. Okay. But when they're in seventh and eighth grade, that isn't their interest. But that doesn't mean they're not going to switch when they're sophomores. Yeah. And if they come to us and state, I'm interested in cosmetology. Of course, we're going

159to make sure that they're on track for graduation because they're going to have to block out a whole afternoon or a whole morning, right? So, if they're on track for graduation with EOCC's and and and classes, then we will afford them that opportunity, but they really need to be serious about it. Um because cosmetology is expensive but we will still afford them that opportunity which I think is excellent because you know we are providing that absolutely for them. Um they yeah I'm not done so quit interrupting me. Okay. I do want to get back to the new 2025 2026 because you know you're saying students when they are ready academically they can fulfill the or current students will be asked to recommmit or students who choose to not make the commitment. So I mean uh

160in the past they they only were allowed to enter the program at the end of their eighth grade year and once they entered they stayed on our role regardless of anything. So now we're saying let's say um I don't know Cheryl Fillmore moves in spring of their of her she moves in from Ohio spring of her um the freshman year. We up until now we've said oh the rule is you weren't here in eighth grade so you're going to have to wait to do a dual credit. That's where the flexibility is going to come in. So that's where where you're saying if they have the commitment. Yes. If they have the commitment and that was my next question. So, if you have students, okay, I know you're looking at seventh and eighth, but they come

161in, they're freshman, uh they're they want to commit to something. You said you have to look at their graduation, uh make sure all the requirements are met. Do we go over that with our freshmen at least to say if you were gonna if you're looking into cosmetology, if you're looking into welding, I mean they can't come up and tell you their junior year, hey, I want to do this. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. You should have started. I I want them. Are they aware? Those are those are critical conversations our our high school counselors are having with our students. Yeah. You know, all the time in the hallway, in the cafeteria. I mean, they'll talk to you say their junior year, well, you never let me know that I should have started this and

162no, we did let you know. So, it's up to you to commit it back in ninth grade. And that that's my cuz I do hear from parents that no, you didn't let them know. And it's like, I'm pretty sure you let them know. And we bring, you know, all those programs from Delmare College over. Um, it's just a student wanting to commit, you know, to to doing that. Yeah. And I was talking also to Miss Moore and I hope this is also those conversations that your counselors are having with those students. Uh my niece is not going to an Ivy League or any she's staying here. She's going to go to Delmare. She went through the program and that's okay cuz she's in the top 20 but she's not uh I called Miss Moore because

163I couldn't believe it. I was like, "Hey, she's going to Delmare and she's already registered and everything. They're offering her $4,000 every semester. She's living with her grandparents. What is the four? And I asked her, I said, "Lana, what is the $4,000? You're staying with your, you know, your grandparents." They offered that, a Velma. They're offering it to everybody and you just have to, you know, if you because it's for room and border, whatever. The requirements and you keep up. Yes. But our students are being that's being communicated to our students. Yes. We have a lot of students who have committed Delmare College. Yes, I know there's a lot of students that choose not to go away. I mean, they they want to I did I stayed at Delmare. I went to TAMU here in

164Corpus Christi. I didn't want to I did not want I still wanted my mom to wash my clothes. Okay. So, I didn't go. But I I just thought that was so impressive of Delmare College to offer that to our students so that you okay, you don't want to go, you know, outside the state. You don't even want to go outside of Corpus Christie then. Right. Not Delmare is knocking on your door, right? Yeah. All of that to me, it needs to be communicated to our students so they are aware and they can make informed decisions of where they're going. And it does need to start in 8th grade. Yeah. A lot of our students, don't forget your question, write it down. Um, a lot of our students will say, "I don't want to do welding

165because I have football after school." Well, we have those crucial conversations with Miss Filillmore and Coach Johnson. They allow them, hey, that's fine. You just get to practice. When the bus drops you back off, that's okay. You know, they have never been stopped. Um, from doing a program because of a practice, whether it be in the morning or or the afternoon. So no, everyone has those conversations with the students that you are adjusting this so that you know I but I think communication is crucial to all our students so that they are made aware uh because I mean Miss Moore and I just talked about we have you know uh where sometimes you can go to Delmare and and you can go to uh TAMU I know I know I was afraid of that when

166I was and they're not steering you in the right way or you're taking a course that you you really didn't need and you didn't have to pay for it. So, I made sure on that note, but do I need it when I go to TEAMU CC? And they would say, well, not okay, then I I'm not taking it. Well, that's why we're we're very um specific on them taking their core because their core will transfer to any college or university. Um, and that is why it's so important for us to just stay the track. Um, so we know that it'll transfer and you're not just wasting hours. You can't just take random classes. Right. Right. That is that Yeah. That I I think you are really uh getting those pathways open to all like they

167were mentioning all our students. All our students. If you want it, Westa is going to going to offer it to you. Don't don't say, "Oh, no. I'm not gonna like you said, we'll work with Miss uh Coach Filmore." Oh, yes, we will. Very good. And then me. All right, Miss Your turn. Back in the day. Back in the day, we had where we I think we started with kindergarten and it was like a pathway, right? And they would do kindergarten through the 12th grade. But every year, you know how they changed their minds in the high school. So every year they would redo it and you know it kind of worked out to where you didn't want to do this. Back in in first grade you wanted to be a doctor but now you want

168to be a policeman. So you know that that just kind of showed them as from the growing up to going up up up and see what their pathway was. And I think that was very good when we did it. I know my kids were here at the time that it was done. And I'm just thinking, couldn't we do something like that where we could follow from like track it? Yeah. I mean, from fir first grade, we could start at first grade and kind of go up to the 12th grade and then the following year we can see, oh, look, he wanted to be a a doctor, now he wants to be a veterinarian. You know, who knows? And and they change. And we did that for maybe like four years. And every year we would

169get it and we they would bring it to us. We would look at it and we would see JFK their career day and we have huge career days and they give their students those opportunities to you know Oh, what do I want to be? But to track it, we can look into something about something that we can write down. Are they kind of fun? I mean, I think it would be I do it with with my with the king. He he gets he wants to be a policeman, but yesterday he changed his mind. He's gonna be a doctor now. So, it's kind of like I think that it's interesting to see what these children want to do. I I something we could do. Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I thought we'll look into

170it. No promises, but we'll look. It's great. I think you're doing a great job. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Adondo. I I just want to emphasize something as far as when you do your surveys in the seventh and eighth grade that is very critical, very crucial when you get to high school is that when you identify those students that want to follow a certain career path, I really think you need to encourage them to take some of those uh art classes, the the classes that can be taken at junior high that will count for high school. We we were very intentional this year. Uh Dr. Castillo did open up um many of the high school courses back up high school credit courses. We're offering art, uh theater arts, Spanish, um algebra 1. I'm missing something. Um

171yes, but I know those for sure. Spanish. Yeah, we're offering that. Spanish. Spanish is one of them, I believe. But yes, is that required now by law? We haven't finished. I'm going to forget my question. Two years of Spanish is required for graduation. So when we identify those and we do are we encouraging them every year? Yes sir. But are you also involving the parent because a lot of times when you go to a parent say what what's your what's your uh son or daughter studying? I don't know that he's taking some class for this or that. So I think in order to you have to um have the parent support in they have to buy in with a child. Absolutely. So if you encourage them if you take these classes now it's going to

172free you up a little bit in high school because those credits are out of the way at the junior high that you took you took it at the junior high and they counted as a high school. But I'm sure y'all already doing that. We're having those critical conversations. They're fully aware of it because sometimes I had to find out myself that if we did that, it wasn't somebody come a counselor come up to me and tell me that I had to find that that on my own for my kids. And that's why I'm bringing it up because had I had somebody not pointed that out to me and it was an ace person that said, "You know what? It might be a good idea." It didn't come from a counselor. So, I don't know if

173things have changed since then. I mean, we're trying to change it. Um, you know, for our counselors to have those crucial conversations and it is because it's less stress for them at the high school level and then if they want to change your mind about something, well, you have a little bit of wiggle room, right? Right. And that's why, you know, Dr. Castillo did open up those high school classes because then it will open up more opportunities for more classes at the high school level. you and I have had that conversation and we were at one time you did have a lot of courses and then it scaled back to two right but it depends on the principal and then well the principal and and the campus needs so at that time we had to

174look at what the campus needs were and but I'm glad to hear that now you have more options so yes sir I I think based on my experience on my kids it really helped to relieve from their pressures of high school the high school courses the the college courses because those things were already out of the way. So, yes, but the key to it also is the parent involvement, but the buy in. Yes, absolutely. You know, it you'll you'll get ahead if you do this and it's up to them if they want to do it or not. So, anyway, thank you. Okay. Well, thank you for this overview. It's just a presentation and a discussion. Um, Hopefully at the end of the year you can tell us where we're at as far as the enrollments

175on each one of those pathways. Yes, ma'am. I would like to know that uh just to see, you know, how it's coming along at the end of this year. At the end of this year. How about the beginning of next year? Well, because I'm only saying that because students will be enrolled in the courses that what they'll be enrolled in the courses. If I give you numbers in in any of these courses. Well, yes, but you wanted the early college recommit numbers or just I want the early college numbers for 2425. Okay, I can get you that. Yeah, I I want to know uh the enrollment. Yes, ma'am. I can get I mean I'm sure you can get it also at the beginning of the school. That's fine. No, I can get it. I think

176we need to know where were we 2425 as far as early college and how many of our students were actually you know I think they're all going to be successful whether you get the three hours the 42 or the 60 but I want to know that but I also want to know the path the enrollment in the pathways. Yes ma'am. I know the PEK that's just starting for 2526. So you wouldn't have numbers for that right? I mean I could get Yes, I could have the students who are enrolled right now. So we already have students enrolled in Yeah. what happened 24 25 that way we can we can uh see where we're going and then we can look at that again next year. I I think it's an excellent program that you're doing. Uh

177Miss Garcia um also let's mention so who is going to be accompanying her on this? Well, Miss Deagarza helps a lot helps at the high school level with Who is Miss Deagarza? Um, Crystal Deagarza. She's our secondary instructional facilitator. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So, she's really been helping me um with the students, advising um things that I can't do on a daily basis, but when she's at the at the high school, she can do it. Okay. All right. and we work as a team to monitor the TSI. So on a weekly basis pretty much almost daily lately. But yes, talk about that. What roles do the counselors at the high school play? So they get the counselors at the high school really focus on their high school requirements getting because your diploma. Yes. And and it's

178not easy to to mix the college with the high school. So that's where I'll come in and say, "Okay, you know, Kim is taking English three, English 1301 and 1302, so she's not going to be enrolled in an English three course, you know, um, at the high school because she's doing the college level classes." So, okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay, now I can see the overall picture. I will say Miss Filillmore helps us a lot, too, because she used to be an early college counselor. So, she helps us, you know, on the athletic side, you know, hey, I know you're in a college course. Let me see your grades. So, it takes a team. It really does take a team to be on top of every student. So, I'm thankful for every high school

179teacher and coach and everybody. So, well, a lot of times we don't see what Miss Filmore does. I know we hear a lot of good things about it and the mentoring and all that. So, she does a lot. We are especially grateful you're here with us, Miss Filmore. And a lot of times we don't give you a lot of credit because it's always the athletes. Okay, we got to move on. So I am I have been on this presentation. Not that I don't want to hear from you, Miss Rondo, or I want to hear about you, Miss Fillmore, but I got to move on because I know you want to go home. Thank you. Okay. Agenda item I uh 4 I the presentation discussing and consider taking possible action regarding the West OSO ISD student

180dress code for 2526 school year. As far as you're saying possible so we can just say we are going with the dress code we've had. That's actually what we're going to be recommending but we just as formality every year just have you vote on. We still have to do it as an action item. Correct. Okay. I just want nothing is changing questions. I know we're gonna go down. Hold on. Hold without asking. I want to know. No, ma'am. Okay. So, let's We're on agenda item 4 A 4 I. We'll go ahead and start with Miss Gutieres. Go. Okay. Dress coat. Dress coat. Dress coat. Dress coat. You know, you put out this this thing on the dress code and I for one am totally against the dress code. Totally against because all of these people

181sitting here, they don't have the time to Hey, you're out of dress code. Hey, you're out of dress. And I'm going to point out tonight there was a young man with hair all the way down to here, but in your dress code it says it's not allowable. I'm sorry. Where does it say that? Huh? Says they can't have long hair. It's a It here. I don't see anywhere in this dress code. And I've looked at it. He's coming to school. Wait, I'm excuse me. Where does it say he can't have long hair? Let her finish. If you want to have a dress code, but where does it say we can't have long hair? Okay. Go to to here's the hairs. Not allowed. Not allowed. Allowed hairstyles and facials. You got that? Page 110. Then you

182go to 111. All this colored hair not allowed. Then you go to the facial 111. The one that's allowed. Can you put it up, Mr. Byron? I I would like the dress code. Okay. So I think Are you saying that there's not a picture of the long hair? There's nothing against long hair in our dress code. It's here in the dress code. You're saying what's allowed and what's not allowed. So to me, you know, it says hair must be clean and well-groomed at all times. There's nothing about long hair. Hair but yet clean. You don't have it here. Okay. So, we'll add a picture of hair say a fourth grader. And I've seen them. I've seen them here at Westo. So, you have some little It says little children. It says uh kept short and

183neatly groomed. It says kept short. Yes, ma'am. Right here. I was reading that. That's on page 111. Mhm. 2011. Facial hair. Facial hair. Oh, but it's under facial hair, Miss Jordan. Facial hair. Oh, we're talking about facial talking about nothing. In fact, you you're on thin ice. We're not allowed to anymore distinguish between a male and a female dress code. CCSD should not have a dress code. We're allowed to have a dress code, but we can't say girls can have long hair. Dress code. I would say the hair, the facial, the earrings because you have them from kinder. You have kids wearing earrings. You have kids in kinder that have different colored hair and you can see it. You can actually see it and and throughout you have because times have changed. You can't tell

184a a student, I mean, you know, if they want to have pink hair, who are we to say they can't have pink hair? It doesn't it doesn't bother. They come into school with pink hair. It's okay. We're going to get paid because they're in school. Okay. And and uh and you have here not allowed is all these different colored hairs which I don't to me this dress code needs to be really really looked at because you have a lot of things that I think legally the pants that the young ladies wear. What is the problem with them? What is the problem with them wearing these pants? Jeans not allowed. Okay. jeans. Jeans that are allowed. You can wear them if you have leggings. Well, torn jeans. I've se I've seen them with I've seen them

185with pairs, but they're wearing leggings. Okay, I've seen them. But what is the problem if they don't have leggings? They're coming to school. Okay, they're coming to school. The the most important thing is that they come to school. We get paid for them being here. No matter if their color is pink, purple, or blue. No matter if now I tank tops I can see that tank tops you but you still have young ladies wearing them with the sweatshirts on top. You do. You're not going to tell me you don't but you do. Then um cuz over there they don't have a dress code. You see little girls with a bikini top going to school Monday morning. A bikini top. And I thought wow. Okay. What is this? Flower bluff. That's what but we're not talking

186about flower bluff. Let's let's stick to the agenda. West OSO dress code. Let's go to page 104. So, you wanted to come like that or not wanting to come? I'm confused. No, the the tank tops I have a problem with. I But t-shirts, blue hair, purple hair. What is the problem? It doesn't It doesn't stop them from thinking. They still can think. I agree with you. I agree with you. I don't You can't have a skirt that's too low. Well, no. Okay. Well, then color is a distraction at a minimum distraction. Wear them. The hair fine. Whatever. They're they're they're coming to school. They want to come with pants. They wear leggings, right? But you can't have a short shorts or shirts. You have to draw the got to draw the line somewhere. You have

187to draw the line. You have to draw the line somewhere. Well, seriously, because otherwise and and and I was going to say they don't always have leggings on. They don't. They don't they don't well in those incidents you are right uh Miss Gutis and Miss Jordan uh your teachers administrator with with the current dress code but yes the current the administrators the ones that are still here um you do you need to enforce that if it's in your dress code that you cannot wear torn jeans that's the dress code that we have that's the dress code that the board approvedly So for 2425 it is up to your administrators your teachers and we were told this last year we were told it needs to be the administrators and the teachers will be enforcing it hasn't

188been enforced that I don't think excuse me is are we asking questions or just kind of yelling because it's a question if there's a question I think that's what we're here for. Well it's a discussion so let's move on. If you go to page 110, 110. Okay. And I think you said that you cannot say that the boys can't have long hair because now it's illegal. Miss, is that what you said? You can't have a separate dress code for ma males and females. And and that then that I'm I'm okay. Examples of hairstyles not allowed, which is the color here. I think that one there needs to be just taken out because that is the trend right now. I don't know if you're living in the 1920s, but this is the trend. Everywhere you go,

189you go to the store, you have pink hair, blue hair, orange hair, green hair. I don't see a problem with that unless you can prove to me that it keeps them from learning. And I don't think it does. And I don't think that other kids are, "Hey, Mr. Ronaldo, I like your hair. It's pink." You know, it I don't think I feel like it'll be a distraction. It's not a distraction. Well, I'm going to tell you as a teacher, yes, it is a distraction. Yes, it is. When I have when I have a classroom of different colored hair and everybody's talking and that's the hype right now, it is a it is a distraction for a teacher when I'm trying to teach that whole day. All I say is if we're going to have a

190dress code, it just needs to be in for and the only thing that I saw mostly when when I was at the high school was the young ladies with the mid. I don't I I think that's inappropriate. I think there's two problems. There's two issues here. Not a dress code problem. All right. Let Miss Alvarado go ahead. Say what, Miss Alvarado? There's two issues here, ma'am. Okay. There's the dress code itself and there's the enforcement of the dress code. Okay. So, let's start with the first one. In my office during the 2425 school year, I have had not had one parent complaint about the dress code. Not one. Okay. And usually parents will come in, you know, I don't like this, I don't like that. I've not had one parent walk into me and say,

191I don't like the dress code. that that goes pretty far because sometimes I did in years past. The second situation we have is enforcement of the dress code of which we have. That's why we put it into play. Okay. But I will tell you it is a distraction going onto campuses seeing students and things that draw attention, things that reflect the lights onto the board. I've seen that. uh me having to see body parts I don't want to see. Okay, there's a multitude of things and and I don't have any control about how each student dresses when they're outside of school, but there needs to be parameters and I will tell you this dress code we have not received complaints on. This is why we wanted to go ahead and pass it early because registration

192is already open. We want to get this out on parent square. We want to make sure that people have plenty of time in which to address the issue before August. I agree with you. They need the parents need to know beforehand. Yes, ma'am. What the dress code is is it is but I'm going tell you the mostly at West High School, it's not bad. Those kids are you have some that's going to be out and what they'll do is they'll put the shet on when when when someone's walking and then they'll Yeah. But I've had to tell some of them, you need to pull that shirt down. Right. I I've had to say, and we do this all the time. Yes. I just think that if it's u if it's um the ones I know,

193I don't get Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. In my opinion, if it's not going to be enforced, why have it? You got teachers and I've seen teachers with shorter dresses, and that is something if the teacher can do it, why can't the student do it? So, we're actually um we've talked about this there um we're going to be adding some things to the employee handbook. In fact, we were just having a conversation about that. So, it's a work in progress. You're never going to be 100% to say that it is enforced. It's not enforced. I mean, it's it's a work in progress because the kids are good at, you know, bait and switch also. So, okay. Okay. I need to have everybody's input. Mr. Adono, let's go. No, it's just the enforcement of it and you

194have to have parameters. All right. my take on it. Miss Gonzalez, the same. Mr. Vadial, same. Miss Vela, I do too. Uh I I I think the the major thing is the enforcement. I think that this dress code is a lot more lax than what we used to have in the past where you had to wear the Walmart t-shirts and the Walmart polos and all that stuff. And we had parents that say, "I couldn't afford it." Really? They're just $5. Your Takis bag is like 550. Uh yeah. So yeah. So yeah, as teaching have to get the legislators involved in this one. It is totally totally Well, okay. But we're g Yeah, right now. We right here. Right now we're here. I haven't heard a lot of complaints either, like, "Oh, these kids are dressing

195awful." Yeah, you're going to have I'm talking. I'm talking. Yeah, you're going to have those that are going to push that parameter. That's up to you all administrators. That's up to your assistance uh as far as enforcing it. And I think that's the major thing that board members have a problem with is the fact that they're not a I don't hear it. that complaint. I have not heard it to where they're just I mean I do hear Miss Jordan sometimes and they wore a little and that's part of enforcement. That's part of enforcement. So I think that we need to vote. We used to hear it. We we used to have couple of parents that came and complained about it but we haven't had it in a while but no we haven't. So, we're gonna

196move on. What happens when a student at the high school is out of thresh? They can do that. They can. A lot of times, to be very honest with you, ma'am, if a student is corrected, they actually have the correct things in their backpack. Okay. They've brought it along with them. They know they do that. Yeah. And it's just a matter of calling them on it. Okay. But do we have a protocol of calling home? Yes, ma'am. Uh, can they be disciplined if they continue? Yes, ma'am, they can. All right. So, this is an action item. So, I need a motion and a second for agenda item 4. I make a motion that we approve the address for 2526 school years. I'll second. All right. A motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded

197by Mr. Donzo for agenda item 4. I we'll go ahead and vote. Liz, I'm against the dress code. I think they should be allowed. So, I'm going to vote nay. Say yes or no. All right. Charlie Jordan. Charlie Jordan. Oh, I Albert Riad. I Gonzalez. I Oscar Edundo. I Rodriguez. I this motion passes 6 one one you don't count 61 I don't count yes you do okay let's move on to agenda item 4J discuss and review the academic behavioral and social impacts of student cell phone use in classrooms across Westo ISD no policy changes will be made at this meeting. We're just She's wanting your input because you talking about the legislature that this one they are talking this might be passed. They need to do the dress code also. That's not an this is

198an issue already. No, ma'am. Not yet. That's why she's saying there are no policy changes that will be made at this meeting. No, ma'am. I know there's a discussion. There's a discussion and that's what I'm going to kind of get into. All right. Go ahead. All right. As anyone in this room knows, cell phones can be a distraction to schools. Yes. Classrooms and learning. The things that we are trying to get accomplished, cell phones can detract from because of this. And it is not just a Westoso problem. It's not a Texas just a Texas problem. It is a nationwide international problem because I did quite a bit of research in looking at this. Every time cell phones get brought up, then you start talking about the negative impact of cell phones in classrooms. I've just

199kind of provided you some information. Okay. Basically, when you're looking at issues with cell phones, you're looking at distractions from learning. You're looking at them using those cell phones in an attempt to cheat. Uh cyber bullying, social issues coming up because their social media is are loaded to the phones. negative impact on their mental health just like with their social media. Basically, because of this, Texas is now looking at something called House Bill 1481, which basically is looking at putting stricter restrictions on cell phone use in schools. The reason that this is a discussion right now is because it has not been passed. It has not been passed to the Senate and it's not passed. It's not gone to the House as of yet. We are keeping a very very tight eye on this right

200now. I actually took the liberty of visiting over the phone with several other school districts, not just in Texas. I actually talked to several out of state who are doing a number of things with cell phones. The first thing is they see the exact same problems that we see. Second thing, some of them have gone ahead prior to their own legislatures doing something. They've taken kind of the bull by the horns as my grandmother would have said and done some things on their own. Actually talked to a school last week in Minnesota. Okay. He was the first principal to respond to me. Call me back. Um they do are using something called Yodor pouches. Yodar pouches basically you put a cell phone in it and it blocks a signal is what it does. The the

201problem with that is they run about 15 to $18 each. So that's going to run a school district our size, assuming every kid had a cell phone, that would run us between 25 and $30,000 to do so. So then I asked the logistics of doing that. Basically, a pouch is assigned to each student. They have to keep up with it. It has to be in the pouch that it cannot be out during the school day at all. Okay. If they they are consequences, if they take it out, they start using it. They've kind of enlaid the logistics. Talk to another school district here in the state of Texas. They actually have kind of a locker system that they come in, the kids check it into some form of a locker. Those are actually secured down

202all day long. The kids don't get them back until the end of the day. There's a number of ways to look at this. What is not up for negotiation right now is the fact that there will be stricter policies and so we have to begin to prepare the community for that as we speak. Miss Moore and I have had lengthy discussions regarding this. She has also put it on the data agenda. I actually covered it last week in the shack meeting agenda. It is coming up next week in the school safety committee agenda. everywhere that we can kind of put out what's going on with this. Even though we do not have answers yet, we are putting it out so that people get used to the idea that the kids are not going to be

203able to have the the cell phones like they have had them in the past as far as the classroom usage is concerned. Honestly, the parents in some cases are the ones that are going to have to make the biggest shift. Yes. So, um Yes. So all the things that we put in this packet, I had gone to a these are just samples. This is not what we're saying we're going to do, but I just put a sample district and they're sample consequences. So um uh we want you to be aware before the legislation comes down because once it comes down then the implementation will be a short time frame. So if we're talking June, then we must implement by the time we start school in August. So that's what's making things difficult right now because

204we simply don't know which way it will go at the moment. Well, I'm glad it's been implemented because my granddaughter is be on the phone and I'll be like, "What are you doing on the phone at school and but her mom let her keep it only because of she has to call for a ride in the evening or whatever, right? But uh but during the day they be on the phone and I'm like one of the problems that we find seriously and I've talked to teachers and teachers have contacted me they've talked to the principles is teacher will be teaching all of a sudden that phone goes off and the kid will say oh it's my mom calling. Okay. So the parents will actually call them while they're in class and then the kid will

205pick up the phone. you know, totally disrupting the educational environment that's going on. That needs to be stopped. And the parents need to understand you're part of the problem. This should not be happening while your students are engaged in classrooms. That's true. That's true. But some some what I've heard what I've heard is what if there's an emergency? There's phones in the office. You could we used to go to the office to use the phone and and my daughter my granddaughter text me like in the morning like at 11:00. Why are you texting me? Aren't you supposed to be in class? Well, some of the she says that the teachers and I don't know if it happens. I'm sure it happens everywhere that teachers if you finish your lesson then you can be on your

206cell phone. Now that I think is wrong. I don't care if you finish your lesson do something else, you know, do some reading or something. Yes, ma'am. And I did go and talk to the teacher and told her, "No, you don't allow her to use the phone, right? The phone is for her to call me if something happens outside of the school, not in the building." But I think it's very good. And and I'm hoping it passes. And I'm hoping that we again again I don't think we'll be able to really enforce it like we can enforce the the dress code. If we can't enforce the dress code, we can't enforce the phone because they're very easily hidden. That or the watch, the phone and the watch. Are you going to those things are still

207Yes, ma'am. And I understand where you're coming from. Is that I didn't read the watch as part of the of the House bill. Yes, it is on there. Okay. Well, I'll reread it, but my thing is they're they're going to find a way to do it just like they find a way to bring a knife and a and a gun and all that. So again, it's going to be real hard to to enforce it. And I know that a lot of parents maybe they'll be okay with it in our district. Maybe they won't. We'll get a lot of, you know, we'll get some push back. And I know that, but there will be some penalties if being remember when our kids were older, the folks first came and y'all picked them up, we had to

208pay $15. I remember, okay, you're not taking the phone. If you look at pages 14 four times $15 remember yeah that's why I'm asking will there be so if you look at pages 140 and 141 that's what I pulled not to say this is again our exact policy because it's but this is an example 140 yes ma'am 140 okay let me try to get there on 129 this is a sample that uh Miss Moore has put into this packet on a a district and some of the things that they have done we of course are not adopting any policy. Of course, we're not recommending anything tonight because we don't know which way this is going to go, but this is what they put in. So, this is something that we would be looking like if

209it does pass, we would be looking at something like this for September one. Yes. September 1st or I guess when school goes back. But usually, let me ask you, I know that there used to be like the dress code if we changed the dress code, you had to give them like three weeks before um to start the dress code. So, is that going to be the same thing with the There'll be a phase in. Yes, ma'am. So, that's Yeah, just like we did with IDs. Same thing. And for the timeline, it says that we're the goal would be to bring this back to y'all in two months at the end of June to actually do a policy. So, that way we'd be plenty of time and it should be passed. I'm pretty sure it's going

210to be passed. Now, I see here, Miss Moore, on page 141 where it says that at the third offense, they they'll be charged $15. Again, this is just standby. This is what one day. But I'm asking, is that something that we're looking at? Could be three days and we decide. It could be four. It could be Yeah, I know. I mean, we used to do it. They used to do it the day that they got it. They'd call you uh $15 if you want to pick your phone up. It will be up to us. You know, that'd be up to us, but at the same time, you know, you have $15. What do you do? Keep the phone. Well, that's on you. Then it gets kept. You shouldn't You shouldn't follow the rules. Eventually, what

211could happen? worst case scenario. So, let's say kid continues to do it, parent continues to perpetrate that situation, that phone could actually be taken. Police department could have it. Oh, really? Yes, ma'am. Oh, wow. That's Yes, ma'am. So, why isn't that done with the vaping? That's a whole another situation, ma'am. Under Do you not take the vaping away from them? It is secured and once it has x amount of percent in it. Yes, ma'am. It is taken and secured immediately. Okay. And then can't that be turned into the police or all it is. They they take it and tag it. Ma'am, I don't. The These are minors. Don't they get charged some way? They do. They do. Depending upon the amount in which they have or intent to deliver. Yes, ma'am. Well, what about intent

212to use because they're using it and it's possess. Okay. Okay. Well, I I think it's good that we're we're getting ahead and I do like the fact that we will charge them if it keeps happening. I think we should do it the first time. That That's the way we used to do it. That's the way they used to do it to us. First time, $15. Second time, another 15. I think I must have paid like four times because she is hard-headed. I finally took it away from her. But yeah. Yes. Even Luca knows to leave a phone in the car. But yeah, I think it's a good thing. I pretty sure it's going to pass. Yes, ma'am. I'm more than sure it's going to pass. So, we need to be prepared. We need to start

213writing a policy. We need to get TASBY involved and so that when it comes I think we need to do it in June. That way, you give them two months to get used to. That's what I was saying. Yeah. So, the June board meeting, it was actually in the um summary sheet. We said in June, plan would be to bring it back to y'all. So, they're going to take action when in the end of the session is the end of May. by the end of the session. They're going to wait till the end of the session. Yes. It's not It's not even to the House as of yet. It passed the House. I I just Have you Have you checked it? Okay. Because basically, they were still in pretty massive negotiation right now. It says

214u it says uh because then they have to come back to committee between the Senate and the House. Okay. Well, we'll have to come back to that. Both passed both houses. Texas bill has passed. Yeah, it has passed. So now we're just waiting for the Senate to pass it or change it in or change it. Okay, we got to move on. Who's next? Miss Jordan, did you do yours? Okay, Mr. Arondo. Good. Okay, Mr. Varial. Miss Vela. Okay, we are moving on to Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, thank you, Miss Alvarado. We're moving on to consent agenda 5A, the approval of board meeting minutes. Uh A1 is the regular board meeting minutes March 24th, 2025 at 5:30. 5B, the approval of the monthly investment report for March 31st, 2025. And 5C, the approval of

215the general fund financial report for March 31st, 2025. Do I have any May I ask one general question? One one general question. So when we got audited, we had a fund balance, correct? Correct. So that fund balance stays the same until we have another audit and we say we're going to dedicate so much money into that fund balance. Technically, yes. But when we do the amendments, that budget amendment, correct? when we do the the budget that we when we when we come to the board for a budget amendment for an additional money like for the boilers anytime that changes but throughout the whole year it stays the same until an audit determines that we or we determine that we want to put more into the fund. That's correct. Thank you. Okay. All right. Any other

216questions on the consent agenda? It is an action item. Okay. Okay, I need to hear a motion for agenda item 5 A through C and a second. Make a motion that you accept agenda item 5C consent agenda items. I'll second. All right. A motion has been made by Miss Gutierrez and seconded by Mr. Adono. We'll go ahead and vote. Liz Gutierrez. Nay. Jody Jordan. Illa. Hi. Albert Riad I Gonzalez I Oscar Dondo I Rodriguez I this motion passes 61 A six. The items for discussion, deliberation, and/or action. 6A is to conduct the first reading on the following WesttosoD local policies according to TASBY localized policy manual update 124. Miss uh Gomez, you will state each one before you discuss, please. That way I don't need to state it. State each one. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Because

217I don't want to do it and then you have to do it, right? Yes, ma'am. Okay. They said the policy committee made on met on April the 2nd of 2025. There was eight policy updates that were discussed and reviewed. CAA local fiscal management goals and objectives, financial ethics, recommended revisions to this local policy at federal awards disclosure are to align text with updated rules regarding federal grants found in the code of federal regulations. This guidance became effective October the 1st of 2024 and is reflected in CBB legal. The phrase or designate is recommended for deletion throughout the policy except in places where the designation of another individual could be in place of the superintendent or the board president and not just the superintendent as is the case in most other policies. Uh who were the

218board members that met with you? ordered. Okay, thank you. So, we're just getting rid of the word or designate. That's it. CD A local other revenues and investments. The section on sellers of investments is recommended for revision to specify that representatives with distributors of investment pools must be registered with the Texas State Security Board, have membership in the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and be in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Distributors distributors of investments pool must also be registered in good standing with the municipal municipal securities rulemaking board. Miss uh Mendes, are you in this committee to help them with these kind of financial? Yeah, I came in. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, because I want to make sure you're Yes, ma'am. You're okay. You remember y'all remember when we pull Miss Mendes in?

219Yes. So, you do pull Miss Mendes when it comes to these kind of board policies. They did. Thank you. Thank you. CY local intellectual property revisions are recommended throughout this local policy to clarify the circumstances under which the district's intellectual property may be used and where ownership of intellectual property lies when material is created by a district employee. Other recommended revisions clarify how district employees may use other copyright copyrighted material including copyrighted material used for performances and displays in instruction. DH local employee standards of conduct. The provisions addressing tobacco and ecigarettes are recommended for revision to include nicotine products regardless of whether the product contains tobacco. This language aligns with the language included in the model employee handbook. Again, my question is so when you have these issues uh is this first disseminated to the

220proper person that's designated to that way you have their consent like yeah that is right. that way. I mean, you wouldn't have to pull them all the time for the the committee meeting, but they have read it and they have given us their uh knowledge about this because we're not all knowledgeable about this stuff. So, actually one of the thing processes that eventually we'll share with y'all maybe um in June is we've been working what we've called a key work. And so, even though Miss Gomez is sharing this, we've kind of divided up the different board policies. So the ones that have to do with personnel or the D's go to you know go to Miss Gomez. The ones that have to do with finance and some they're the overseers and we've kind of created

221some clarity around those student services curriculum because as committee members uh I know they're board members and we're not all knowledgeable about this kind of stuff. So, I would like the experts to weigh in on it and let the board know, yes, I consented to that or I've already read it. We're good to go. What's Yes. And actually, it's been kind of a recent practice where we've really fine-tuned that with the cabinet. Thanks for that clarification. EHB local curriculum design special programs recommended revisions to this local policy on special programs reflected updated administrative code rules addressing dyslexia and related disorders specifically inclusion of references to the dyslexia handbook and admissions review and dismissal which would be the art committee decisions and miss Dr. Rivera was involved with that. EHB local special programs gifted and talented

222students changes to the Texas state plan for the education of gifted and talented students approved by the state board of education in September of 2024 prompted updates in terminology throughout the local policy. Recommended revisions at funding are to align the text with requirements in the education code and in the administrative code rules. FFG local student welfare child abuse and neglect under reporting child abuse and neglect. A new subsection on oral reports is recommended to comply with revisions to the family code and administrative code. Recommended revisions at making a report are to clarify new requirements in the education code stating that reporting individuals must provide their name and contact information when making a report. The policy still states that the identity of a person making the report of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be kept

223confidential and disclosed only in accordance with the law. And the last one is GKA, local community relations conduct on school premises. Recommended language prohibiting electronic vaporizing devices has been added to the tobacco and ecigarette section of this local policy. And that's basically stating that the vapes have now been included. Can you move that to GKA? Oh, I'm sorry. It's FFG that we're talking. Okay. GKA. Okay. Yes. I'm sorry. I got ahead of myself. So that's GKA. That concludes our policies. April the 28th, it was brought for the first reading. And on May the 19th, we will have the second reading for approval. For approval. All right. Any other questions from board members? No. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. I'm just joking. Ali. Okay. Thank you, Miss Gamus. We are moving on. Okay. Okay. Agenda

224item 6B, discuss and consider taking action on the approval of a board resolution extending depository contract for funds with Westo ISD for a 2-year term beginning September 1st, 2025 to August 31st, 2027. Miss Mendes, good evening board. Uh we're asking the board to adopt the resolution to extend the depository contract with Clayberg Bank. We've been with Clayberg since uh September 1st of 2019 and we had a good experience and work good working relationship with them. Uh the credit earning rate will still remain at 1.5% and u uh just asking the board uh to approve that. Any questions as far as uh Claybird Bank? Any questions board members? As far as the chosen bank is Claybird Bank, Miss Miss Jordan, so we we're going under contract with them to seek funds in case we need it.

225No, ma'am. Um we have to go out for bids every um two years. So, uh, we got they got awarded the contract back in 2019, but TA does allow us to do three two-year extensions. So, yeah. So, we're just want to extend it because we that's just where we have our checking accounts in there. Banking. Okay. M Miss Gutierrez. Yes, I do. I don't like labor. It was brought in by Mr. Garcia, but I want to ask, have we checked with other banks as far as like interest rates and if we get better deals because this Okay, but have we done that? Uh, you really uh we have to go out for bids because it's kind of complex. It takes a lot of different uh items that they have to look. You have to look

226at the earning rates, the cost, and this and that. Right now with Claybird we're actually experiencing where we don't have to pay nothing. Most of the time there is a fee for you them to handle your text and all these other items along with that to convert it's really intense a lot of work. It's pretty complex and sometimes um some banks they may when you upload your payroll they want it like three days two days earlier. Clayberg actually you can do a same day upload. So, you know, when things happen, they work with us really well. Okay. Mr. Arondo. Okay. So, we use clayboard for our payroll checks. Yes, sir. What other uh services? We use that for our general fund uh and where we usually uh transfer the funds from text pool into a

227general fund and then when we need the money to go to payroll or to accounts payable then we convert it to there. And most of the time what is our minimum balance that we hold that that account? We uh typically it's like maybe a 100 or 200,000. Um during payroll it usually goes up to about you know maybe 900,000. So at at any given time we won't have more than or less than uh less than 100,000 because the rate is just ridiculous and it's always been wherever you go. But could we possibly do like a CD with them for 50,000 for three months? Liquid money and we just kind of move it. I I don't move it till a payroll person tells me, "Oh, you know, two days from now, I'm going to do a

228payroll. I need 700,000." I move it and then then probably within a day or two we do that payment. So that gets liquidated. That's why typically, you know, the 700 or 800,000 will be there for a couple of days. It has to be really liquid. And the reason that the rates so low because most most banks, you know, even your bigger banks are going to charge us a fee. I I understand the rates. It's just that if we're always having at least $100,000, couldn't we have some of it working for us? I mean, that's about the best you're going to do with industry. They usually do a client analysis and it's going to cost you. Okay. Thank you. That I did learn from Mr. Palosius. Um Miss uh Gonzalez. No. Mr. Variel, I'm good. And

229Miss Vela, no question. Okay, I'm good also. So, this is an action item. Yes, ma'am. Okay, I need on agenda item 6B, I need a motion and a second for agenda item 6B. Madam President, I make a motion that we approve the board resolution extending the depository contract for funds uh with the Clayboard Bank for the school year of September the 1st, 2025 to August 31st, 2027. Second. All right. A motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded by Miss Vela to approve agenda item 6B. Uh we're going to go ahead and vote. Hey, Jody Jordan. Hi, Priscilla Bella. Hi, Albert. Riad, hi. Gonzalez, I Oscar Donto, Ima Rodriguez, I. This motion passes 61. We're going to move on to agenda item seven, the close session, government code section 551.074, 074. Personnel matters. The

230evaluation, employment, reassignment, duties, discipline, dismissal of a public officer or employee, order to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee, and government code section 551.071, 071 the consultation with attorney closed meeting and government code section 551.129 the consultations between governmental body and its attorney pursuant to Texas government code section 551.074 074, the renewal of administrator contracts for the 2025 2026 school year. And item 7B, pursuant to Texas government code section 551.074, the renewal of contracts for professional employees for the school year 2025 2026. And agenda item 7 C pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.0 071, the consultation with attorney regarding legal issues related to employee contracts. And agenda item 7D, pursuant to Texas government code section 551.074, the discussion regarding the recommendation of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School principal. The

231time is 8:59 and we are going into close session. Thank you. Don't say It's gonna go off when I turn it off. You don't have written down or something else. Somebody was demoted to the very bottom. Luis, is that you? I thought I recognized you from far away. I saw your Yeah. Busy, right? Yes, I am. I was able to get a two more positions for next year. Yeah. So I'll be on the region board of directors national. I'm like really excited. I am I'm actually doing a research paper on like right now. Yeah. Yeah. We're getting we're getting it working on it. We're doing better, right? We're doing a lot better. Yes. Uh yeah, I have multiple papers going on. Yeah, I'm uh one of them is about CTE and early college and full

232credit. That's I was like, okay, I need to come to this one. Um the other one is charter schools. Right. And I have my all my all my grandkids go to school. They go to science and technology. They grow over at my school. Well, the one in San Antonio is awesome. in San Antonio. I know him and she's a teacher. Garcia and she did achievement. That's what Yeah, we could choose and say no, not you. Yeah. The only way or like the only level like all that, but they also don't. Yeah. They're not required to, right? So they don't because that's Yeah. So that's like my paper right now. equity and teacher certification. Is that correct? Yeah, I can send it over. Yeah. Yeah. Um but yeah, I'm like my main focus on chart schools

233is like the teacher certification and how they're still receiving public funding even though public schools are not allowed to with emergency permits and all and they don't have the same. So that's like my main thing right now. Your book. Yeah. Unlike teachers certification which are schools like they shouldn't be recei Um, Longhorn RGB. Oh, the community there is super. Yeah, they we're not allowed to protest on campus. Yeah, they shut down. Yeah, they're very They're shutting down my my office. I work for the new student service student services building that helps out like first gen and all that shut down. Yeah, they are. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. And I feel like right now because like the capital is right across the street. It's like you can't really Yeah. No, we do. Yeah. A lot

234of teachers live here right now. Well, because I I've lived in Austin for 12 years. that regressive. They are. When I was there, I was like, "Oh, wow. Y'all are like, "Oh, yeah. I mean, I lived there in n 198 [Music] 1983 for 12 years." So, what 1995? 96. Yeah. So, yeah. So, and the thing is that I would I hop on their bus because it would take me directly to my work like a student too. So I would hop on except I would be dressed up and they look at me like is she a professor or what? Yeah. But yeah, wow. I I I know because people say that's just four more years. Yeah, four years of especially Texas education is not my professor. this poster prof my teacher today or like my professor

235today uh had a slide about inclusion because we're learning about how that no longer can [Music] that you're right about that dude that is just that's the program that I'm in is a grad program and I'm not the only undergrad student in So all the people like they're all students and one of them is friend to teach you profess a professor who has the credentials. Yeah. No you can't say that. It's like yeah inclusion even though the whole course is about individual differences. Next Wednesday we're going to go we're gonna go early in the morning because I'm meeting with him and he's meeting my grandson. Yes. I'm trying to get him to come to WTO. That would be a good good surprise. I want him to come and talk to the kids. Right. Well, the

236the teachers can all be there, but you know, the kids the kids really need it. That's my hope. Yeah, I saw where they they're going to pardon him. Why are they pardoning him? Cuz he got a record. Well, yeah, but he's No, he's they've been supporting him. Really? Well, I knew I know. Erase all of that. Oh, hell no. They need to keep it there. No, that I'm not a gonna don't agree to. Yeah, they did it. You pay for the crime. Yeah, that's all there is. But yeah, he uh talk. We talk every day. We talk every single day. And he's going to be in Dallas on the 6th and in San Antonio on the 7th. Okay. So, I was thinking maybe I should go to the Dallas one. Jim Wells major car accident.

237Did she make it? I put this upside down. Yeah. Oh, see. No wonder it didn't connect this this computer. I I love this. I put it upside down. Oh my god. Yeah, this is the one I put in. Jeez. Okay, let's go. You ready to put your computer up? Look at you. Look at you. I'm gonna do that, too. You gonna give me one of them? Yeah. Yeah. Huh? Yep. Okay. 8:59. It's 11:12 midnight. You going to San Antonio? Good night. All right. Board members, please turn your mics on. All right. We're back into open session. The time is 11:03. 11:04. All right. So, we're going to 8A take action on the administrator contracts for the 2025 2026 school year. I need a motion and a second. Just for administrators. Yeah, we're going to 8A

238right now. I'll make the motion that we accept the administrator's contracts as presented. All right. A motion has been made by Miss Guthis and seconded by Miss Jordan for agenda item 8A. We'll go ahead and vote. Liz Gutierrez, Jordan, I Albert Valenda Gonzalez Oscar Rodondo. I Rodriguez I this motion passes five five zero I don't know no two aren't here okay it's zero okay all right let's move on to agenda item 8B discuss and consider taking action on the professional employee contracts for the 2025 2026 school year I need to hear a motion and a second that's all the schools right this yeah the professional employees I make I make a motion that we accept the the contracts for all professionals as presented by the administrator for the 2025 2026 school year. All right. Uh

239a motion has been made by Miss Gutierrez and seconded by Miss Jordan for agenda item 8B. We'll go ahead and vote. Miss Gutierrez. I Shirley Jordan. Hi Priscilla. Hi Albert Viel. Belinda Gonzalez I Oscar Rodondo I and VMA Rodriguez I. This motion passes 5. Let's move on to agenda item 8 C. Discuss and consider taking action on the recommendation of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School principal. I need a motion and a second. So move accept. Okay. So okay, a motion has been made by Miss Jordan and seconded by Miss Vela to uh for agenda item 8C. We'll go ahead and vote. Miss Gutierrez, I'm going to vote nay because we have very qualified people in our district that could perform the duties of the principal at JFK. Mord I Priscilla Bella I Albert Vielendo

240Gonzalez Oscar Rodondo I Roman Rodriguez I this motion passes 41. All right. Uh we're going to move on to nine the superintendent update 9 A through L. All of these are already listed on our Yes. Okay. Yeah. So you can see all of the different activities starting this week. Um we'll be busy. Um you can see the activities. We are going to do the teacher of the year reveal beginning this time. We'll go backwards at the high school at 9:00 if you can join us. And then we'll kind of move our way down to junior high, West Oso Elementary, and JFK. All right. Okay. The time is 11:07 and this meeting is adjourned. Thank you, ladies. Thank you.