001off with our public participation. [Music] >> All right. We would also like to let the record reflect that we do have trustee vice president Northeast. He did uh join us at about 6:28. Okay. For our public participation, we do have two um gentlemen who are signed up to speak. You will have a three minute u time frame to speak on our public participation and we will go ahead and start with Mr. Julius Neil. >> Okay, Mr. Before you get started, let him turn on your mic. >> Good to go. All right. just want to touch upon a couple things. Uh especially with the uh dress code. Um and not just the dress code, just some of the negativity uh around the dress code. um as a military person, as a uh put out graduate myself,
002as a manager in the Porta refinery that likes to hire a lot of the kids. Um I think there's too much negativity around the dress code. Dress code is okay. Um what we have to do is when we enforce these kind of rules, uh give it a little time to kind of sink in, right? can't just uh throw rules uh put rules in place and not give it time to kind of mature. And for our sake, just seeing the things that we seen online, uh not saying that they're true, I'm just saying it brings a negative uh attention from our communities around us, from the people we work with on our school district. I know myself, I can put my kids in any school district, but not pick uh P D. So, what that means
003for me is when I'm interviewing the kids that you guys teach, uh, I'm one of the only African-American um, excuse me, African-American um, interviewers. And what does that mean? Does that mean um, our kids are getting looked over? Not necessarily. I think what it means is I feel comfortable interviewing uh, different types of kids, right? Especially the ones that come from PSD. So, one thing I want to talk about is we going to have a lot of parents um that respond to a lot of things that you you all put in place. I just ask that um as a community, as the leadership for our school, we don't go back and forth with parents online. Um I did see uh in one instance a parent from Port Nature's uh complain about the same thing because
004everybody have to deal with it, right? But um the results was a little bit different. Um we they didn't have anybody from the school district, whether it's teachers, uh administrators, anything kind of responding to parents when they put things online. So I just ask that regardless of what some of the parents of Port Arthur is complaining about online, let's try our best as administrators not to respond to it because all it's going to do is uh spiral and go the wrong way. So that's that's all I ask. And I like the rules. I follow the rules at my job. I follow the rules in the army, but it's a way to do it, too. Our kids shouldn't feel like they're in the army. I know what the army feel like. And what you guys are
005doing on a daily basis is not humanitarian. But I I appreciate the uh the standards and the discipline because they need it. But u we have some seniors in here. Uh they going to speak. I don't think a senior in high school should be treated like a ninth grade in high school. That's all I have to say. [Applause] >> Okay. Thank you so much for that um public participation, Mr. Neil. We definitely appreciate that feedback. We will go ahead and move forward to our um other public participation. Um gentlemen, Mr. Jeremiah Roberts. You also have the same three minutes. Um I'll start the time. and I'll let you know when it get to like one just in case. >> How y'all doing? Jeremiah Roberts, I just want to reiterate kind of what Julie said mostly
006on the social media. Some type of conduct, something need to be put in place for people that work in the district to not bring so much so many negative things on social media. Me truly, I feel like the employees are creating a void, creating a line between parents and teachers, admin, board members, or whatever. We can't continue to keep doing it. I feel like we embarrass ourselves all the time. I truly feel that people laugh at us from the things they see that's coming from us online. Um, I saw personally, I know I may joke online, but I see teachers, I see admin, I see board members. I feel like it's bullying that you guys bully parents at times. I mean, that's disrespectful. I know the parents do a lot of things, but they not
007the professionals. You guys are we are we the educated people, so I feel like sometimes we supposed to act at a higher education than most folks does. Um, if we expect to come at expect these kids to be in a classroom and respect us and I see people jump online and say, "Are these kids disrespectful?" What do you expect when they jump online and they see you disrespecting their mom or dad? I expect my son to look at you or my daughter look at you a certain way. If you disrespecting them just like I will, nobody has came at me. I feel like but I still feel like it's disrespectful and that's the only way I think we have to start there to get better that something needs to be put in place Dr. Pery
008with the social media because I think it's getting too out of hand. Also, if a person don't wear a red shirt to a game, if a person choose to not go to some, you know, any sports event, we can't beat those people down. If we stick together, we can come together and we can continue to grow. But we ain't growing right now. We losing, you know, losing big time. Like he said, I'm from this district as well. I'm from Port Arthur. I don't like to harve the past. I don't know Lincoln, TJ, or Stephen F. Austin, or anything we had. But we also look like we was a family. We don't look like that no more. We shouldn't be ganging up on each other. So, that's pretty much all I have to say that we
009need to get better. Know some of y'all might take it personal. Some of y'all may be mad. I truly don't care. You know, I'm an adult just like you guys. I'm a parent in the school district. My kids will always go here. They wasn't here at first. My son wasn't in this district at first. We came to Port Arthur from Sabine Pass to here. I never compare schools, compare districts. because I represent Port Arthur. I love Port Arthur. I love the school district. I don't speak on a lot of negative stuff within the district from online, but I definitely have a lot. So, I just wanted it online to let you guys know I think we need to get better. Appreciate y'all time. [Applause] >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Roberts, for that uh public participation
010as well. We definitely also appreciate you coming in. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm just thankful and glad to see you guys here, period. Uh, to express your concerns as well as, you know, everyone to hear who's here to hear that or um, see what you guys had to say. So, that that means a lot to me personally and we definitely appreciate y'all coming in to give us that information. Um, that's all we had on the agenda for the public participation section. We will now move on to staff reports by Dr. Mark Query. Before we go, can we can I have a a moment before we move to staff reports? >> Yes, sir. Trusty. >> Um, I'd like to thank the parents and the actual students that showed up. Uh, to me that
011this something is very special because we actually uh showing your showing your kids actually the route of getting something done. Uh, I know a lot of people talk a lot of stuff on Facebook and say a lot of things, but the Facebook is not ways of getting business taken care of. This is the proper way and the proper elements to get your business taken care of by coming and standing in front of you in front of the board and expressing your feelings. Although we can't respond, >> but hearing from this desk makes a big difference than hearing it on Facebook. And I appreciate everybody that came here because it shows some type of respect. I understand Mr. Roberts. I understand Mr. Neil. I understand where you're coming from. I see it myself. I get beat
012up from it and some of the decisions is not from me, but I get beat up and I take it the dick. But this is the proper way. And students that are here who standing up on behalf of yourselves, behalf of your family and your peers, I commend you because this is the route that you need to take. It's not always going on Facebook, talking smack, making noise because that's not going to move a mountain. But what you did today by coming here, just your presence alone is doing something that you don't see, but it's actually doing something. And I'd like to thank the parents for bringing your kids here and for you all showing up at this meeting. Thank you. >> Anything else? Thank you, President Johnson and board members. As we move forward
013with the staff reports, I would like to take a moment to just acknowledge the incident that happened in Minneapolis yesterday where two students were killed, 17 injured. It's it is not over and it will not ever be over. We had our meeting last Tuesday, our leadership meeting, and we discussed what we needed to do to ensure that every student, every staff member is safe within our school district. We understand that there are people out there that if they plan to do something, they are going to execute. But it is up to us to ensure that we do everything in our power to keep our staff and students safe. I cannot even imagine having to call a parent and tell a parent that their child is no longer with us. We understand that parents want to
014come into schools. We understand that um they like open door but that will the way it happened before 15 30 years ago that will never be again. That gentleman shot through a window. We are happy that he did not wasn't able to get inside the church where students were praying. So we understand every day we have to think about this may be the day because you never know. So we're always constantly we're never satisfied on how we put in safety in place. Our students and our staff are number one when it comes to safety. And there are too many people out there that are angry for no reason and mental illness that we do not understand. So we are blessed to have facilities that are enclosed. We don't have portable buildings anymore where students are
015walking in and out. A lot of great things that are occurring that has helped us. Dr. Get what does a great job at making sure that we are safe and the drills that we are going to have to do every every so often to ensure our students understand what to do and the vigilance that we must maintain. Dr. Gwood, do you have anything to add? you have uh expounded upon what we're doing and how we're doing it and of course uh safety and security th that has been heightened in the United States in the state of Texas and Governor Abbott and others have uh mandated certain drills and we're doing those drills and I'd like to say that uh recently we uh trained at least 200 Kelly substitute uh teachers on safety and security protocols.
016So we are extending training to the mandates to our faculties uh as well as our substitute teachers and on September 3rd I believe or 4th uh which date is at September 2nd we will um deal with the adjunct teachers as well as the um uh new employees to the district for the first time. So, we're trying to ensure that we are able to uh be comfortable with the training and those persons who are trained. And we think that um God forbid it's any kind of happens like that that happen in Minnesota, but we think that uh if we have dress rehearsals to events, uh practice before something actually happens, we will u fare better than if we go into a chaotic situation. So I think that um uh the Portouth Independent School District can do
017more, but we're doing a lot. >> So anytime you're dealing with safety and security, you can never be complacent. >> Absolutely. And the last thing I will say on that every day we have to think about just because it has not happened here does not make it that it won't. So every day, safety and security must be on our minds from the moment we wake up until we go to bed at night. Our staff and our students are too important. And one staff member, one child is too many. One. As we move forward, the first 13 days of school have been really great. I think it's been good. It's been there have been some changes and I think everything is calming down, but our kids look great. Our staff is wonderful and we're working really,
018really hard. There have been some challenges and some things that have happened that has caused us to make changes even in transportation um with our younger kids. We understand there's so many things happening now and our little our little younger kids, our kindergarteners and our prek students who actually ride a bus. Some of them ride the bus by themselves. Some of them get off the bus by themselves and walk home. Um, Miss Jacobs, assistant superintendent of operations, has talked with her team and they've put some things in place for our youngest of the Titans. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Dr. Porter. And good evening, everyone. Um, so to just kind of expound upon what Dr. Puerto Ry is uh referencing. Um yes, the school year is off to a great start, but we have um
019we have found a few opportunities for learning as well as for improvement. And so with our prek kinder and kindergarten students, we have implemented a district-wide mandate for backpack tags. Um this will not only help the um the bus drivers, but it'll also help the campus personnel who are aiding the students in getting on the buses and making sure they're on the correct bus to where they can be retrieved um when they exit the bus. So in addition to that, um we're also implementing forms and so we'll see that kind of rolling out across the district. Um, but we're implementing forms where our parents will be able to identify four authorized persons who will meet their prek kinder or kindergarten students at the bus stop for retrieval from the bus and that's with a photo
020ID. And so these two um major changes will be documented in the student transportation manual and that will be updated to reflect the changes and related details and we plan to put that before the board at your September um board meeting. So again, with safety being a top priority of the district, we feel that it is it is imperative that um we do what we can on our side to ensure that our students have um pleasant transportation but also um safe transportation and that um parents and guardians feel the same as well. >> Thank you. Sure. Thank you. >> Also, we as you've seen board members, we have presented to you um teachers and since January, we've been hiring and hiring certified teachers in our district and that is a great thing. So, I definitely
021want to thank Dr. C. drunk for her endeavors and getting all of the onboarding because that was an issue at one time once we found them getting them on board getting them in the class classrooms. Dr. Seung like to say anything on that. >> Yes. found. We've been able to add more teachers, certified teachers into the classroom and we're looking to onboard more as we have more of our visa teachers coming to the country as well because when we created the virtual career fair that expanded our reach for being able to reach and obtain certified teachers. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> You all have done an excellent job. Do do we know how many vacancies roundabout figure that we have open in the district? >> And I'm going to tell you why. Because we
022don't place adjunct teachers, which are our degree teachers, but not yet certified teachers in bilingual, prek, or special education teaching positions. So, we have to use a substitute in those positions until we can get a adjunct uh statement of eligibility. meaning that that adjunct teacher is in a certification program and once they complete so many modules and pass one of the two or three required tests depending on what you're being certified in um they have to remain adjunct and then they can get a statement of eligibility and then we can give them a contract and we're transitioning those adjunct teachers as we speak. They're metriculating through those certification programs and just as soon as they meet those requirements, we move them over to a certified teacher contract. As we talk about instruction, our teachers and
023our students are doing a magnificent job right now delivering the instruction. We have to keep the momentum moving. We have to keep our students engaged. One important thing and as the board and I talked about earlier, Memorial High School and Wilson Early College, the focal point and since our seniors are here, we need help. We need for Memorial High 9 through 12 to own it. And the reason being, we appreciate Wilson. We appreciate the students that attend Wilson. Those students earn 60 credit hours. So, it's difficult for Memorial 912 to have students that will become a valadictorian or top 10. It's one number. What where we're headed if we do well this year is to separate Memorial 9 through 12 and the Wilson Early College. We're hoping that in 2027 we would have two graduations.
024One graduation for Wilson with a validictorian, a saludiatoran, and a top 10. and another graduation for Memorial High 9 through 12 with its own valadictorian, its own saludiatoran, its own top 10. However, in order to do that, Memorial 910 must carry itself academically. It has to. There's no other choice. It has to do that. And it can if you own it and you work it, it can happen. The instruction is there. We have brilliant. We have great kids, smart kids. We just have to calm down, learn, and what you learn. And I'll say this, we teach all year, and it's not everyone, but we look across and we have kids that on a writing test, they put IDK You can't grade an IBK. And I'll say this, as vocal as our children are when we're
025talking to them, when we tell them something, as often as we have conversations, when we're I'm going to say um conversing back and forth when you want to do something and we don't want you to. I can't even imagine you not being able to transfer from your mind to the paper in writing what you would tell us verbally for 30 minutes if you just try and that's all we're asking. But we want Memorial 9 through 12 to be independent. This year will be the goal. This will be the goal. And next year, if everything works out, we will move in that direction. Now for instruction, Dr. Owens. Thank you. Good evening and greetings board members, superintendent, and staff. As a curriculum instruction assessment department, we have been hard at work since this past summer and
026have continued hitting the ground running since August 1st. Our team remains fully engaged in supporting teachers and students, ensuring that they have the resources and guidance needed to s to succeed. As I speak to you, you will see a few pictures highlighting the impactful work happening in classrooms and with teachers, all led by our dedicated team. Our curriculum and instruction highlights include the roll out of the updated curriculum, innovative professional development, emphasizing vertical alignment, and inspiring literacy initiatives led in partnership with Lamar University professors for our kindergarten and first grade teachers. In addition, our district celebrated significant achievements through the teacher incentive aotment program, awarding over 475,000 to teachers for their excellence and dedication. One campus also received additional funds for pair professionals and certified staff through redistribution, ensuring more educators were recognized and supported
027for their contributions. Our back to school activities kicked off by welcoming our new teachers to the district. We held a three-day training where teachers were equipped with curriculum expectations, instructional software, lesson planning strategies, and other essential tools needed to be successful in the classroom. From there, we welcomed all our district teachers with the curriculum technology conference and professional learning days. We provided engaging collaborative opportunity for staff across all departments including spe special education, bilingual migrant technology and more and so on and so on. So since the first day of school, we have hit the ground running visiting classrooms, checking on teachers, ensuring our ensuring students are learning and we're participating in PLC's. We're providing support. We're planning meetings, attending data meetings hosted by Dr. Papon. I'm sure she will give you an update on her
028efforts as I want to, you know, take away from her update. During the second week of school in collaboration with the uh HR department, we welcome back adjunct teachers and new teachers for our new teacher and adjunct academy. The academyy's objective is to provide additional hands-on support including classroom management, strategies in curriculum instruction, unpacking the teques, etc. These weekly clinics will continue until the spring and are led by curriculum supervisors and high performing teachers. And even one of our board members uh as a matter of fact even visited uh the district after our after hours and he w was able to witness you know firsthand how we are building teacher capacity after hours. So that was good to see that uh he could see that how how hard we're working on uh building our teachers.
029And that to conclude these initiatives to reflect a deeply committed to investing in both educators and students. Our team's tireless efforts ensure that every classroom is not only a place of learning but also a place of inspiration, collaboration and growth. A true testament to the dedication, passion and excellence of our educators. Thank you. >> Next we will hear from >> any questions. >> I didn't have a question. I have a statement, but before before I make my statement, just also want to clarify too for everyone who will watch this video later on. I know we plan on separating the schools, but to to clarify that also those students at Wilson will still be able to participate at Memorial. >> Yes. Wilson Early College High School for most of you understand that most schools do not
030allow their students to participate in extracurricular activities. We in Port Arthur, that was our choice to allow extracurricular activities for our students because we did we didn't feel that it was right not to and there are several from Wilson that that do participate. >> And thank you. I just want to make sure we added that point to to clarify for the community that we're they will be separate but still be the same because I understand I was the first graduating class from the early college and of course we all want to be a part of that that high school. You know what I'm making faces. Anyway, um I wanted to also say thank you to you as well um Dr. Dr. Owens and also all your team. Um I did get a chance to to
031come in and see and that was actually one of the things that I asked um Dr. Pery um before and he also did tell me then but it's nothing like being able to actually see the work versus hearing the work or reading the work and it's very very rarely that we get a chance from this perspective to actually go in and see and to see you all um coming in after hours staying after hours working with our adjunct teachers really really really um made a big imprint in my heart to know that we are at least offering the success to help you get there cuz that was my biggest biggest concern with that was okay we're going to give you this pay but how are we going to help you be successful in the classrooms
032that you're actually in for this moment and making sure that we get you not just here but to the finish line. So, I want to say thank you for your commitment. Um, and it seems to be very fun. I got a chance to sit in on a few of the courses I learned some of the things and quite naturally I felt like it was a class in union for me because I seen most of my classmates that are now adjunct teachers. So, it was really good to see the work that you all are putting in and specifically because of how we are currently situated in the world today in education. We have to have that all hands- on deck method and it was really good to see administration and of course those adjunct teachers working
033hand in hand to learn to to be better to get what we have to get. Just wanted to say that. Thank you. >> Um we have we do follow the agenda. However, in order for anyone to speak on the agenda, there is a process in which you have to go through to sign up to do so. As the uh two gentlemen that did, you know, speak during a public participation moment, um they were able to go down and put themselves down to be able to speak on the agenda. And that's able to be done all the way up until I believe 12:00 noon the day before of the meeting. >> Of the day of, I'm sorry, 12:00 noon. You have up until that time. Mr. President, you're you're not going to be able to um
034have anyone speak at the meeting. It's it's against the law. It would be a violation of the law. they would have to sign up uh to do that. >> So, >> um that this this is uh our legal counsel. She's stating she's stating that they would have to actually sign up to speak. It would be a violation of the law if we allowed you to do so otherwise. Um and I do know I just I just want to throw out there because someone did reach out to me. So, I just want to be clear um because I did advise a couple of students on the policy in which they needed to speak. I don't know exactly who I spoke to, but they did advise that the information was passed on. And I just kind of
035want to share that because I don't want anyone to think that we don't want anyone to speak because I did get several questions from students and I advise them on the direct process on how to how to speak. So, I'm not really sure why that >> wasn't communicated. Um, and I think some of our other trustees also shared that information with some um people that contacted them in reference to speak. Ma madam attorney is is there are we able to suspend Robert rules of order to >> okay I'm just asking is there any procedure that we could utilize to move forward is >> at the next meeting >> even after we adjourn >> it's a meeting for or more is a meeting. Let me let me suggest that if we could, we will take the
036names down and during our September meeting, they will already be on the on the agenda. We'll know they're coming. So, we don't want we're not saying no, but during the September meeting, if you would come back and they will be able to participate during the public participation. >> Okay. Okay. what >> come to the >> madam president uh there they can come to the administration building but this is a public meeting uh held under law so we can't and just as a gentleman signed up for that it it has to be it has to be on on the agenda for that and signed up for for public participation. Let me just be clear at it as as as is in this president role right now. I am definitely an advocate for our kids all the
037time. They know that I have a personal open door policy. I talk to them all the time, which is why when the question was asked, the information was given. Is not that we and I just want to be clear on his statement because I don't want anyone to think that we're turning our back on any of you. But legally as being an elected official if that if our legal counsel is advising us that's against any type of law. I'm not breaking it for anyone you know. So and I don't think any of our board members would do so if there's open meetings act and things. I mean that's something you could probably take up with the governor sen senate or anything like that but we can't change that on our level. So I want to
038be clear and saying it's definitely not us turning or me for sure turning our back on you. You know, as I said, when I was asked, I gave the correct policy so that we can avoid this. But I don't want that to be any type of uh depiction put out that we're turning our back on you as students or don't want to hear what you have to say. But we do have and as you grow and learn that, especially becoming an elected official, there are legal rules we have to abide by. And unfortunately, that's what our legal counsel is saying. I applaud you all for coming and definitely don't want you to think we don't want to hear you. You know, you can always talk to any of us. You know, anyone can ask me
039anything personally, but to speak at the meeting, those are the procedures and it is the law. So, we definitely don't want you to think that we don't want to hear what you're saying. >> And Madam President, nothing keeps uh nothing keeps uh you board members from visiting with the students. Nothing keeps that. But we cannot have, you know, outside of the agenda at an open meeting. >> No, you you have a copy of the policy. Yes, sir. >> Okay. Next we have um on the agenda perfect great during the um and also Dr. Paparon is one. She's working with us with our school leadership. Uh she's uh with the tiniest titans. She works with Wheatly Early uh childhood and a lot of other things. So, Dr. Papon. >> Yes, sir. And um thank you all
040for the opportunity to speak tonight. And I would also like to say if the students do um would like an audience with myself, they also can call my office and speak with me. I'm also willing to um listen and meet with the students as well. Okay. So um spent some time this week and last week working with our leaders, developing our leaders to be true um let's just say statisticians, right? So we have some work to do. And so right now we are working to build capacity in all of our leaders. We are looking to build our pipeline so we can have the strongest of the strongest leading our campuses. And so as of now from August 12th, we have had a very strong and inspiring start to the school year. Our campuses are they're
041demonstrating commitment. When you get a chance to visit, you'll see that they're caring for students. They're working to uh communicate with parents um and staff across the district. And so just want to talk about a couple of things that our office of school leadership is doing. So right now, as Dr. Owens mentioned, we are conducting what we call axiom visits. And so we have gone to all but four campuses where we're working with each campus looking at what we have in front of us with regards to STAR data. So right now our campuses are looking at our students and how they performed in 23 24 compared to how they're they performed in 2425. And so when we say Axiom, Axiom is actually a part of a platform that we have already for data uh student
042manage data student data management edoria. So we're going into this platform. We're looking at our different domains. You know, our state accountability system has three different domains. Our first one is dealing with student achievement across all subjects, all grade levels. We also look at domain two, which is looking at student growth. As Dr. Porter has mentioned, we cannot go backwards. All of our campuses are expected to show growth of some sort for all of our students. And so what we're doing, we're going to the campuses, meeting with their entire leadership teams, and working and focusing on student growth, looking at how our special education services are servicing all of our students as well as our multilingual and migrant student populations. We're focusing and pushing our ELPS, which are our English language proficiency standards, ensuring that
043they are being implemented at tier one instruction. So what we have noticed that we are lacking is just good strong tier one instruction. And so that is what we're pushing on our campuses. We also will be doing another round of visits with our campuses so we can focus on closing the gaps. We have students on our campuses, African-American students, Hispanics, and there should not be a gap in performance. And so we're working on ensuring that we're doing everything that we can to address all student needs. Um we did have, as Dr. uh Portery mentioned our first leadership team meeting and in our leadership team meeting we had our principles, our supervisors, directors in the room where Dr. Portery reviewed our district improvement plan. We talked about how our district improvement plan um we talked about
044our strategic priorities and we talked about all of the performance objectives and the strategies but we talked about ensuring that our campuses are not continuing to keep in their campus improvement plans lowle low value activities and we're doing the same thing over and over and over again and we're not getting the results that we need. So, we're making sure that our campus improvement plans as well as our targeted improvement plans for our campuses that are in school improvement are aligned to our district improvement plan and ensuring their performance objectives are going to get them the biggest bang for their buck. We're ensuring that our objectives are smart, meaning that they're specific, they're measurable. We're making sure that our campuses are truly focusing on the goals that they set in front of themselves. We also reviewed
045um an article which is an opportunity myth. And so what the opportunity myth is saying is that there are about four resources that we want to make sure that our uh campuses are providing for our students. Four key resources and that is access to grade level instruction, strong instruction, grade level appropriate assignments as well as deep engagement and then high expectations for our students. That's four areas that we want to make sure that we're focusing on with all of our campuses. Also, again, we talked about special programs. We talked about safety protocols. Um, ensuring that all of our campuses are doing everything they can to keep our schools safe and secure. We will also continue our quality assurance walks. We talked to our talk with our campuses about the visits that they will have unannounced.
046And we don't want our campuses to uh be prepared for when we show up. and meaning that we will show up on campuses expecting them to stay ready so that they don't have to get ready. So just making sure that we're encouraging our campuses to do the right thing every day by students. Um we're also providing special education some um training specifically for uh crisis prevention intervention uh which is CPI as well as writing IEPs which are individualized education plans. Um and then just specific campus highlights of course we have Adams and Port Acres. are excited about the CHAPS program and other PBIS systems that they're looking to implement. And Champs is a district and I'm sorry, it's a discipline management plan where when our c when our students go from different areas either in
047the classroom or between common areas in the in the um in the campus, we want to make sure students understand the expectations and so we're just trying to put those things in place. Um and then we also talk about Booker T. Washington, DQing, Sam Houston, they're bragging that they are fully staffed. So, we're excited about that. Uh Lake View and Travis Elementary, they said that they had some traffic concerns as well as Memorial uh ensuring that we u are doing what we need to do to address those challenges and they're pretty excited about the changes they've made. Um Terrell Elementary is excited. You know, they have a new principal this year that went back. Mr. Gimenez was at Adams and now Mr. Gimenez is at Terrell. He has his assistant principal there with him. They
048are excited to roll out the Terrell Way. So, we're excited about things that are happening there. And then of course Wheatley Childhood Center, as we've said, yes, that is where learning begins with the littlest of the littles. And so we're excited about that. Um, Abraham Lincoln Fine Arts Academy, they're excited about the cell phone policy. They said that the students are being very receptive to it. And so we're excited that that is increasing the instructional learning time with our students. Um, at TJ, they are uh forming cohorts of students that are moving about the campus so they can provide the best support. And then um they also have the Ignite pilot GT program that they're excited so that they can meet the needs of our um GT students. Memorial High School, of course, there is
049an academic focus. We were there today. She had all of her team in there. She had all from 9th through 12th grade, all of the APs, the instructional coaches. We were there discussing ways in which they can um address the needs of all of their students. Wilson, of course, they're connecting with their um their professors, um providing the support that they need so we can make sure we um obtain those associates degrees. CTE is excited about Hback programs and the construction technology uh PAC is even excited about the new dress code. They're excited. They said that, hey, campus rules involvement is increasing. Don't want to leave anyone out. And so, basically, we are off to a very strong start. Um we're excited about this year of growth. Um we tell our we have some students
050and we've pointed them out. Students that didn't make any growth from 23 24 to 24 25 and we said that's unacceptable. Students spent 180 plus days in the classroom and they are still where they were when they came in. So that is unacceptable and our uh leadership teams understand that. It's also unacceptable for them to go backwards. So there is nowhere to go but forward. So we're excited for the year. Um, looking forward to some great things to bring over the next few months. Thank you. >> And that concludes our staff reports. I just wanted to say, doc, you did your big one. You did your big one. Dr. CP, you you coming in strong. You coming in very, very strong. Everything I just heard you say um was really especially important for what your
051role is is really taking the data and disagregating it and actually seeing where the weaknesses are and putting a proper plan in place to see, okay, this is how we're going to go from here to there. It's just like a ladder. You know, you can't climb it if you don't have steps. And so what I'm hearing you say is that you all are implementing steps and and actually using factual data to say this is how we're going to go from here to here by this time. So, I really appreciate you saying that and also laying out the plan and I also appreciate you as well because it shows that in these first few weeks of school that you've already gotten acclimated with each entire school by bringing an update from each school that's a personal
052update. So, that speaks to the work that you have been doing. So, kudos to you um and and your team as well. It really makes me excited about this year um and especially in seeing actionable results rather than just talking about what we want to be seeing some action behind our goals. So, thank you for that. when you finish. You go ahead. >> Okay. Just really quick, I want to utter the same sentiment sentiment as uh Trusty Gwood. You know, I talked to you all the time since day one. I was really excited about your energy and it's still there and it still shows. Um we do get a lot of um feedback about the good things that you're doing and I think that's great because you know, of course people say all the time
053the definition of insanity is doing the same thing the same way but thinking you're going to get a different result. So, it definitely has to be something that's changed and I think you are being a great change with our uh principles and all of our administrative staff that works with you. I like the energy, the ideas and I just want to tell you to keep that momentum because we definitely need it to keep going and you know keep your foot on those sticks and make sure that they're doing what they're supposed to do. So I definitely enjoy hearing your enthusiasm and everything and you know in such a positive way and I think that as you said the only way is is forward if we continue with that. I have have a I have a
054comment madam president me and of the board uh I just want to associate myself with the comments of the board members as well as superintendent uh superintendent earlier talked about how students can own the store mentality and do what they need to do to be more successful in school and in life in general and I like the energy in the room appreciative of the speakers for this evening appreciate that we follow the law of course but I've been on school board for two years and this is the very first time we've had any speakers uh speak at the school board meetings. So I'm proud to see the speaker show up today and again and we have to follow the policies the and the law rules and the law. I had a pleasure recently of meeting
055a one of the brigadier generals of the army uh recently a person named a lady named Irby Lewis. She's like 13th or 14th in line to be president of the United States of America. African-American female, young lawyer, trained, works as as regular general. And I was inspired by and appreciative of having an opportunity to meet her partly because it was an example of what can happen. Uh in spite of the politics and all the reasons why people say you can't do something or your background and so forth, this is a demonstration of excellence that I just so enjoyed. inspired by it. But as much as I was inspired by meeting her, I'm again inspired by the conversation this evening by the staff and by super staff superintendent board members about what we can do to
056be more successful. So, thank you all very much. Okay, thank you. That will conclude our staff reports for the evening. We will go ahead. We will go on. I'm sorry to uh the minutes uh consider and if appropriate approve the minutes of the July 24th Oh, I'm sorry. Doc was trying to cut you out. Miss L. >> He told me we was done with staff reports twice. Oh, yeah. >> I apologize. Miss Lock, can you give us our district updates? So this covers July 25th through August 28th. Um we have had very successful media campaigns. Our uh media team has put together some very popular promotional videos for our auxiliaries. Um and we released them one at a time in the uh weeks leading up to our first football game. So, we have uh one
057from the Flames, one from the band, one from the Twilers and the Flags, and up next are our cheerleaders and our volleyball team. Um Dr. Murphy has become a media darling. The media has really been on uh the focus on the high school. They've been all over Channel 6 and Channel 12 several times, and next week she will be interviewing with um the Bulma Enterprise. So, we are informing the public of the changes at the um high school campus. As was mentioned, um Dr. Crochet retired from Terrell Elementary as principal, uh concluding 31 years as a educator. Lincoln welcomed a new assistant principal and so did uh Adams Elementary and we also welcomed a new administrator here at the at uh central office. Um Dr. Maya Turner is our new coordinator for assessment and instructional
058support. We had a very successful convocation on our Facebook timelines and also our employee Facebook timelines were flooded with hundreds of selfies. Dozens of posts and tags and someone in the community said it looked like club convocation in PISD. So PISD is the best district and the place to work and learn. We had some very successful days of professional development as Dr. Owens mentioned earlier from the curriculum instruction and assessment department. We also bid a happy retirement to Harvey um Blankenship in the operations department. So here are some pictures from his retirement party that was held the first um party held across the street in our new uh support services center. Uh we also posted some important dates to remember out to the community. Uh a list of our student holidays, some staff holidays, some
059staff professional development days where the students actually have holidays. We posted the star testing dates and what's not shown on the slide, we also gave parents the calendar for when progress reports and report cards will be posted to the home access center. Our first quarter first progress report is scheduled to be posted tomorrow after 5:00 p.m. On the right hand side, this is uh some work from Thomas Jefferson's ELA students. They did uh autobiographical uh drawings and those posters were in the hall um outside that particular classroom. Here are some pictures from our different meet the teacher events across the uh some of our schools. We had a very successful first day where parents sent in and also uploaded in the comments of our post over 200 photos of their kids in their first day
060of school outfits. And we have a new person at PAC who has taken over their social media moderation. So they have been posting um this is a picture of the staff and you'll see another posting shortly that came from uh one of their classrooms. Our seniors celebrated their senior sunrise breakfast. Even though the weather was bad, they still were able to come out and have a good time in the um practice gym of the high school. One of our teachers at Travis um applied for and was awarded a $500 grant for classroom materials from a local organization. Our staff of uh district social workers introduced themselves on social media and along with their names, contact information, and the campuses they cover. They also included in their post several slides of resources to help um people
061in the community even if they can't reach a social worker. They had slides with resources and contact information of where to go to get different types of help in the community. At the bottom middle, our Wilson Early College freshmen have already made their first college tour visit. And if I'm not mistaken, that actually happened the first week of school. Um Thomas Jefferson educators travel to New Orleans this summer. Uh this article was featured in the newspaper in the past month. They presented during a regional conference on leadership strategies. And at the bottom right, one of the Thomas Jefferson teachers earned her master's degree over the summer. Um, in May, we had a group of our students who partic who participated throughout the summer um for internships with the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation. And this
062is their not inmate, this is their culmination activity uh at the end of the summer. So, these this is a group of our interns and they may have had one student from a neighboring um district to participate. Across the bottom, you'll see that the ninth grade academy has been named and officially recognized by the Ocean Guardian Association as an ocean guardian school. Um and that's from Noah's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. So, what the students have been doing, they've been recycling. They've been uh growing garden gardening um foods, fruits, and vegetables. They've been cleaning up beaches. Um they've been um building different types of new uh watering systems. So, we're proud of that accomplishment uh to be recognized like that from Noah. At the top right corner, Dr. Papon mentioned the students at Wheatley. These
063tiny titans. This is the cutest thing. Use Q-tips to make X-rays of their bodies. And then um some of our eighth grade students at TJ used the Jenga game, which is very popular, to apply scientific reasoning to show balance and unbalanced forces. Uh this is some more pictures of learning taking place across the district heavy on the science labs. We'll we see some kids learning aviation in the bottom right corner with paper airplanes in the bottom in the middle Sam Houston students the teacher is making taking notes more interesting by being creative with the note takingaking um you can see it looks kind of like doodling and if the kids I don't know if they're still reading those um dork diary books but that was pretty popular in that series of books in the middle
064um we have students and staff participating in our college t-shirt Thursdays Um, Dr. Papard also mentioned we have a new construction teacher at the CTE campus. And so that's a picture of the him engaging his students at the top left corner and the top bottom left corner. Some of our students in the computer maintenance class are actually fixing broken Chromebooks. So the students are able to fix some of the issues that we're having with the Chromebooks to get them back in service and back into the hands of other students. uh Senate Bill 12, we just alerted parents about this this week where we have to have consent forms for uh parental consent before we can provide routine physical or mental health services. So simple things like going to the nurse um we have to have
065parent permission. uh unless it's a case of an emergency. That's not parent permission, but routine nurse office visits, mental health services, um and participation in student clubs. We sent the information in all cause emails and text messages. It was very simple to click on the link. It didn't even take five minutes to give consent. Um and that's something that was uh Senate Bill 12. So, something that the parents must complete. If they don't um complete the forms, then it's considered refusal. So then the children won't be able to receive um services from the nurse or mental health services or participate in clubs. We have a new teacher at our um high school for theater arts who is also an alumni of the school and her students have already produced and filmed and posted a video
066and is very funny but is very informative about theater rules. So as you can see in this clip that's a clip about not using your cell phone in the theater. the bottom right corner, our pack students are engaged in science activity, uh, science experiments. As far as our Titan elite athletics, our volleyball season is in full swing. Our students have participated in several tournaments. We have one student who was named to the all tournament team at Silsby and another student who was named to the all tournament team at CE King. And so far, um, our students were 3 and 0 to beat Western Stark last week and 3 and 0 to beat Jasper on, uh, Tuesday. So, um, our volleyball team is off to a good start. Our first home football game is tomorrow night
067and the I believe this is the cheerleaders have themed it um, the Titan Hoown and the theme is boots on the ground. So you wear your cowboy attire to the game is suggested. It's not mandatory. Um and we also suggested um red out to wear your Titan red tomorrow. The dance team at Lincoln um did a beautifification prog uh project where you can see that they have transformed their dressing room area. As far as community engagement is concerned, um our parent and family engagement coordinator, Miss Calco, organized and produced an event to engage uh fathers districtwide, and as you can tell, it was a very good turnout. Looks like they had to bring in extra chairs. Um a lot of the fathers were able to come out and get a lot of good information and
068we hope to keep the momentum going. Hopefully when there is the same type of event for mothers, there will be twice as many present. We had a event where we were helping parents to register students for school at the in the practice gym and a group called Everlasting Changes donated all those rows of backpacks with school supplies in them for parents who came to register that day and all of those backpacks were given out. our new Lady Titans basketball head co head basketball coach was out in the community at another type of back to school giveaway at um Lamar Port Arthur. And so that's the middle picture on the right. And then we have been receiving positive feedback from the community because our cheerleaders have posted their professional um photos to social media. In the
069bottom left corner, we did inform the public that we are continuing with the free meals program for the school year. So, all of our students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch. We also shared a post from the city of Port Arthur. Uh it's a resource where it tells you who to call today in Port Arthur. So whatever type of issues, whether it's utilities, whether it's the streets, the police, street flooding, a plethora of different resources, we shared that so that our community can be aware of who they can call when they need help. And as a personal testimony, the water department, they did uh take care of a issue for me. So the numbers do work. our some of our football players and some other um football players from neighboring districts um volunteered
070their time to uh have a phone party at Bonv Nursing Home. And this was a big hit with the residents and it was social media really love to see the fact that the guys took the time out of their um busy schedules to go and put smiles on the faces of those residents. Our cheerleaders helped to volunteer at the back to school event from uh that was given by Linda's Lighthouse and our class of 2026 project graduation parents and students are already actively engaged in fundraising for that particular um event. We have started posting scholarship uh opportunities and application deadlines. We have curriculum night open houses coming up at all of our campuses and we have posted those dates and times and locations and we've also sent those in all calls emails and text messages
071and um we are also going to start well we have started sending all calls emails and text messages depending on what the message is to uh inform the community of things going on in the district that's may not necessarily be a crisis or emergency. For example, um tomorrow we have scheduled u a text message that's going to have the YouTube channel link to those um flames band and twirler videos that I was telling you about to kind of get the community in the mindset of the football game tomorrow night. Um and we sent we're going to send out a text message in the morning about the progress reports being posted by 5 tomorrow. So, um, today we sent out a text message with the link to the student of the week's video and it was
072viewed hundreds of times, uh, by the end of the day. So, just so people know what we're doing and how we're putting it out to the community. Um, Violia gave donations of school supplies to Travis Elementary and I know for sure that the girl on the left is a product of Broadarth ISD. Some more announcements from community engagements. Um, our flames participated in a back to school event at HB in the middle on the left. The foster grandparent program which is active in our district is celebrating 60 years. Uh, we are partnering with T-Mobile to enter a sweep stakes. It's called the 5G Friday Night Lights experience. Uh it's a social media campaign and if we run up our social media presence and um posting um our fans in Titan gear with certain hashtags and
073certain um tech uh when you tag T-Mobile and you tag the high school, it puts us in a drawing to possibly win anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000. Um, and then the ultimate grand prize is a $1 million um prize to update the stadium. The Girl Scouts have focused on elementary girls for the last couple of years. This year they are extending an invitation to our sixth through 12th grade girls to meet them at Milan's Bakery which is not too far from the high school from 10 to 12 on Saturday to introduce them to Girl Scouts and let them know the opportunities that they have available for our secondary girls. And this is our um social media summary for the month and some of our alumni and staff accomplishments. uh our flames director who was also
074an alumni of Memorial and the dance teacher. She attended professional development in New York and she was able to meet Misty Copelan who was the first African-American to be a featured dancer in the American ballet. Um, Kayn Hunt, who is um, Memorial Alumni, is featured in Variety, which is the biggest trade magazine in Hollywood, New Leaders for 2025, and he is vice president of Viola Davis's production company. Um, one of our recent grads from 2025, Carmen Nixon, survived a um, horrific act of violence and as a result, she is now entering Prairie View. She has um, made that move to Prairie View, starting her fall semester. she wants to be a nurse so that she can help people in similar situations from her and she was channel 12 did a follow-up story to show um
075her going off to college. And then um David Martin who's also he's a Thomas Jefferson alumni. He recently authored a children's book and he has an upcoming event at Chick-fil-A and he has also um been a motivational speaker for sever several of our campuses. And that concludes my report. May I please, Madam President, ask a question. Dr. You or Miss Jacob, please say a little bit more about that backpack tags. I I heard a snippet of it, not all of what you said, but that sound like a great idea. I'd like to hear more. >> Yes, sir. Uh, so I can expound upon that. Um, the backpack tags will have, and I'm going to try to remember all of the the points, but uh the students name, their teacher, their grade, and their bus route.
076Some of the critical information that's needed to make sure that they are placed on the the correct bus, right? And then on the on the back side of that, we're also um going to have a authorized person. So, it doesn't necessarily have to be a parent, but it has to be a per a person that the parent authorizes to retrieve the child, and they'll have to present a photo ID at least until the bus driver becomes uh, you know, best acquainted with that person. But um you know coming from a pandemic and even just the idea that some of our students are >> five years old, six years old um they may not be comfortable or even just have the wherewithal to communicate like hey that's my bus stop or you know looking at the
077number and realizing they may have been um inadvertently placed on the wrong bus. Wow. And so to help alleviate those types of gaps, this is the >> Now, which grade level is here? Which grade level would they >> This is for prek kinder and kinder. >> Okay. Remember to piggy back off for uh Mrs. Jacobs, we also are requiring every student to have an ID and that is how they will be able to get on that bus. And then parents will be able to track their students where they are once they get on the bus. Wow. They will be able to get on their phones and track to see where the bus is and where their children to see make sure that kid first of all got on that bus and where they got off
078the bus. >> Now, which grade levels >> districtwide every student, >> if I may, that's why registration is critical. >> Yes. because the IDs the IDs facilitate that entire process knowing the child's whereabouts as well as all of their critical personally identifi uh personally identifiable information being linked to that card. >> You talk safety that that's that's that's outstanding. I'm just glad to hear that. Thank you. >> Yes. I'd like to also add that with regard to those campuses. And so we also Yeah, safety is number one. We know academics is as well. There a side by side. That concludes our staff report. >> Okay, now that concludes our staff report. Thank you, Miss Lot, for our amazing highlights that you do so graciously every meeting. We love seeing all the different things that you
079do and what you do in in general on our social media um to put out to everyone. So, we definitely appreciate that. U moving on to our minutes. Consider and if appropriate approved minutes of July 24th, 2025 board of trustees meeting. Can I get a motion? >> So, move for approval. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved by trustee um vice president Norse and Trusty Gatwood. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay, that motion passes. Um we will now um on the next five items we will actually vote on those individually. So I will read and call for a motion on each one of those five items in reference to our budget considering if appropriate adopt the proposed 2025 2026 budget. Can I get a motion? >> So move for approval. >> Second. >>
080Okay. It's been moved by Trusty Norse and second by Trusty Gwood. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Uh number two, considering if appropriate approve the interest and syncing fund rate tax rate of 0.49916 per $100 of taxable value for the 2025 appraisal role. >> So move for approval. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved by Trusty Gwood and second by Trustee Diane Brown. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Number three. Considering if appropriate, approve the maintenance and operations tax rate of 0.770500 per $100 of taxable value for the 2025 appraisal role. >> Second. >> Okay, it's been moved by Trusty Diane Brown and second by Trusty Gatwood. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Number four, considering if appropriate approve the tax rate ordinance setting the tax rate for 2025 2026.
081>> So move for approval. Second. >> Okay, it's been moved by Vice President Noris and second by Trusty Getwood. All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? And lastly, number five, considering if appropriate approve agreement for the purchase of attendance credits 2025 uh for the 2025 2026 school year, we delegated contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code TEC11.1511C4 to the superintendent solely for the purpose of obligating the district under TEC section 48.257 257 NTEC chapter 49 subchapters A and D and the rules adopted by the commissioner of education as authorized under TEC section 49.006. This includes approval of the agreement for the purchase of attendance credit or the agreement for the purchase of attendance credit netting chapter 48 funding. Can I get a motion? >> Approve. >> Second. >> Okay. It's
082been u moved by trustee Diane Brown and second by trustee Norse. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Moving forward to our consent agenda. Um I will give you a brief moment to read through numbers 1 through 30. >> Yes. Yes. I will pull the number 29. Pull it. >> Okay. Correction. and we will be pulling item line 29 under consent agenda. So I will be having you review numbers 1 through 28 and number 30 for approval. >> Some move for approval. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved by Trusty Gwood and second by Trustee Diane Brown to approve numbers 1 through 28 and number 30 on the consent agenda. All in favor? >> Any opposed? that. >> Okay, there's no discussion on that item 29. We
083will now go on to discussions on amending uh the 2025 2026 PISD student code of conduct. Do we have any comments on that? I do have a comment. Um and hopefully you all will follow me on this, but just after of course today's meeting um an idea came came to my mind. Um because obviously we we see that there's some some work that we have to do of course as it relates to making sure our community is aware as to how processes work and I think we can take this as an opportunity to work collaboratively to collaborate with both board admin students and community um by possibly discussing this item at a workshop and inviting of course those students maybe the student council in a tandem to the superintendent advisory board um and working with
084those students is been brought to our attention mentioned that of course Dr. Murphy has already held a senior meeting um with the students so they're already aware as to what they want to deem as um a distraction. So um as it relates to this policy maybe just coming together um as a community and working collaboratively on this policy and putting it on the agenda for a September meeting to approve if you all would be obliged to that. >> Yeah, if I may. Um it probably would be better if we could to move that to October. Remember the student code of conduct under the 89 legislative session was changed. So we don't even have a copy of it yet. It still need to come and then the board will have an opportunity to look at it
085and make changes if they well within the law of course but we don't even we don't even have the student code of conduct yet. >> Well I think that's fair. Just as long as we can, as long as we're all on board at taking that that um that approaches, that would be that would be my um >> I guess motion to um discuss this with the student body president and super superintendent advisory board at a workshop to um further develop this policy. >> Yeah. You don't need a motion for that. Okay. And at a workshop at your workshops, people can actually come and speak at the mic. >> Yes. So it be it'll be public so we can have their their participation. >> They don't have to sign up ahead of time for workshops. >>
086Yes. I I've spoke with a few people that uh parents that's in the community. One has been Mr. Neil about uh getting a parent advisory together on the secondary level and elementary level to speak on not just um the dress code but just a code of conduct book that having them have some input also in it because it's their kids you know it's our kids to be honest. So, I think we that'll be good if we could sometime in October. Uh I'm not going to say a forum, but basically a workshop that we put out in the community. It's not a gripe session. It's a uh thing that we can actually have parents come to to discuss stuff we can add or take away from them. >> Okay. Let me uh and Mr. Lawson, please.
087And Miss Carrier may be able to help me with this as well. I don't want to and I understand what you're saying and that's great but we don't want to give the parents the notion that they would be able to change the law the law >> yeah the student code of conduct is the law. Yeah. >> So we can't change the law just like um the the cell phone you know that is a law. We can't change that. But there are some things that we could talk with our and look at. Yeah. We don't want parents to think they can come and change >> what is given to us. >> I was going to tell you >> on the Yeah, we can't address questions from the audience. I'm sorry, sir. >> On the on your
088student code of conduct, for the most part, that's going to be chapter 20, chapter 37 of the education code. So, there's not much in that you're going to have any kind of, >> you know, outside input on, >> but your dress code. Yes. And that's a part of your student code of conduct. Correct. >> So, and and like I said with workshops, then anyone can come and speak. You know, they don't get three minutes, but they do, you know, you don't have to sign up according to your policy and so forth. >> I have a couple comments. Um, first, I was going to acknowledge Trusty Gwood before he spoke, but uh since he already spoke, I just said do it afterwards and then make a comment about the workshop. But somebody in this room is
089going to be playing Prince um >> in a movie called Seven >> Eight Notes to Heaven. >> Eight Eight Notes Eight Notes to Heaven. >> And I I think he knows who I'm talking about. Everybody may know, right? >> So congratulations on that part. That I don't want to sit here and act like nothing's going on this big amongst members of this board. That's that's a big deal. Congratulations sir. >> Thank you. >> Now that's one. Having said that, I uh want to just acknowledge I want to be careful about the role the board plays and the role the principal plays and the role that the staff plays. And um I think you know if the principal wants to call a meeting or have a conversation with students you know about an issue or has
090already had some conversations I understand about this issue which is on which which brought rise to this comment this this this meeting uh on the agenda. Yeah, I want to I want to support the principal and staff having such meetings in accordance with their role, student advisory, whatever way that they meet with stu she meets with students. >> That's one. Secondly, uh if the superintendent wants to work with the board president or the board and having a town hall meeting or something of that nature for general conversations about issues, let's give the superintendent an opportunity to set that up. But as attorney Kerry just said, for the most part, the student code of conduct is going to be pretty much consistent with what the what the law >> is that we have to follow. So,
091I just want to separate uh what our role is from what you originally suggested like a workshop and then talk about setting policy. >> Yeah. Well, and and let me let me kind of because I also put that out there without expounding more and that's that's my apologies. I I definitely understand that our role we we play different roles and and as to Dr. Porter's point as well. We don't want to empower people to think that they that we can just change everything. I'm not going to make this a them and us thing because we have to ultimately make the decision and we are still community. We all well I'm not a parent yet but you know I I said that because we we have to at some point create some foster of communication between
092board parents community and that is one outlet that we can utilize. Not saying that we're going to be able to change it but it gives us a chance to actually educate the community on the things that we can and can't do. Simple point our students didn't even know that they had to sign up. And I know and and I do also want to take this this moment too to thank um President Rockov Johnson um because of course this this role is a very hard role and and living in Port Arthur making decisions for Port Arthurans is a very hard and for you to to to stand your ground but also make your point clear. I do want to acknowledge that. But today should have showed us that we have a disconnect between us and the
093community and we have to at some point utilize the avenues that we can. I'll say this too and I'll be done. I got on this board at 18 years old, not knowing anything about nothing. But all I knew was that I care about this district and I knew for a fact that we have other like minds who do care. And I knew for a fact that as an 18-year-old, the first 18-year-old to do it, hopefully more to come, that I would be able to add a perspective. Where did I get this this this this fire from? It didn't just happen when I went to TSU. No, it happened when I was in 12th grade at a superintendent advisory meeting, meeting with my superintendent, talking about dress codes. That's where I was able to see these
094changes. And I take this seat personal because we have every opportunity to work with our students to teach them these things because they are the future. Just think about it. Those are seniors who don't even understand how a basic civic process is supposed to work. So, think about when they become parents and they do want to be involved. You know, we have a community that's not involved not because they don't want to, but it's because they don't understand. And we can't take for granted that, oh, because you're a parent, you should know this, or because you you want to you want to be involved, you should know that. We have to use every outlet that we can to collaborate. And I think that that is a way for us to say, hey guys, we want
095your input, which we already have it because the principal has already done it. So, it's not stepping over the principal. was literally just inviting those students who she met with per their representation from the from their SGA president which is who the students elected to represent them to come to the board and we say hey we we are aware that you all have made some changes we're going to consult with um madam attorney to see exactly if these changes are possible and if they are guess what we want you to come to our next board meeting and we'll approve it and that that will foster a sense of collaboration for them to first understand how policies work secondly see how to positively promote change and work in change. And then thirdly, get them civically involved
096to actually want to do better. Because quite frankly, if we if we survey our community, if any one of us was to leave this board, who would we be competent to say can come and replace us? Most of us have been here for five years plus. I've been here five years going on six, and I know I'm not doing no longer than six. But who who's going to come and replace me? We have students who are valued, who have valued input, who don't understand these processes. And this is our opportunity to work with them to teach them these things. So that way we can say when you walk across that stage, you can be a trustee. You can't you can go out in the world and be great. You don't have to just go off
097to work. You can be right here in your community and actually make make positive change and not have to to come in and make the mistakes that I made at 18 years old, but come in prepared. Why? because you had an opportunity where you and when you were in school to actually affect some positive change that's lasting. So that's the only reason why I offered the workshop because I was aware and thank you madam attorney for for clarifying that as well. I was aware that it is a public setting that people can come to that they don't have to and we know for a fact that it's not a secret. We've never had anyone show up to our workshops just like we've never had anyone come to speak to the board since I've been here
098for 5 years with the exception of one person. So this is our chance to foster that that community and that collaboration. If we want their if we want their help, we have to is issue out our hand and go beyond our seats on the Thursday every fourth Thursday. That's just where I was coming from with that. >> Okay. Thank you for the information. I'll go ahead and sum it up with the final comment on that. We have all spoken and we do understand the direction that we need to go in. I appreciate everybody's comment. Um from Mr. Gwood to Dr. Brown, Mr. often and even our speakers that we have and I do not want anyone to think that it's falling on de ears. We hear it and we know the direction that we need
099to go in to try to make it better and get that information out. So, we'll discuss that going forward along with other ideas that we've discussed amongst the board as and in ways to engage the community. We'll continue to work on that as we work on other things. So, we definitely appreciate that. We'll go ahead and move on to personnel. Yes, madame president, board members, I've given you the list of teachers for consideration. >> So, move for approval. >> Second. >> Okay, it's been moved uh by Trusty Gwood and second by Trusty Norse uh for our personnel. All appro all in favor, I'm sorry. >> I >> Any opposed? >> Okay, can I get a motion for adjournment? >> So, move for approval. Board members, if you would be seated, Miss Boyce has papers for
100you to sign. So, please do not leave.