CSISD Board Meeting 8/19/25

001And so really I just want to point out even though our values go up, that does not mean the district gets any additional money. Uh our cup is set by um our cup is set by our student makeup. And then after we set our student makeup, we get our funding based on our funding formulas. When you slide in your local value, the the rest of your cup is filled with the state value. If on that last screen, if your local value exceeds what your formula said they're going to pay you for, that's when it's recaptured. That's when you send money back to the Texas Education Agency. And again, that's what we'll talk about a little bit later tonight. So, a few things I want to bring to your mind. We have talked about this earlier

002when we were going through the budget process. It's just some of the legislation that is affecting our tax rate this year. Uh, Senate Bill 4 increases that homestead exemption from 100 to 140. Senate Bill 23 increases the over 65 and disabled homestead exemption from 10 to 60,000. Both of those rates, even though it has to go to voters in November, are included in these rates per our comproller. It affects that maximum compressed rate calculations and it's less compression and then the frozen property values will affect our school district as well. I do want to just kind of put something on the horizon so that you can keep in mind because this is really going to affect our school district in the next school year. And even though we still have not increased our tax rate

003the full two pennies that we told our voters that we would would keep us a cap, this could affect us because the legislation has come in and said business propal property exemption from 2500 to 120 for to $125,000. Okay. So when you take when you take into these homestead exemptions, thank goodness we had sold our last debt uh by the deadline. So, we are held harmless to that 140,000. We're talking about debt service. When we sell our next set of bonds, we're not going to be held harmless. So, that we'll have to take on those new values. And so, we could be looking at a possible increase in tax rate for the debt service in the future. Then, to throw a few more kinks in that, uh, they have this other thing where they changed

004the interest in syncing to say the tax rate would provide the minimum dollar amount required to be paid to the service. the district's debt. So basically what that is saying is if I pose a tax rate that is higher than my required tax rate to pay my current debt on the books they could reduce my hold harmless amount. So what they're doing for me right now on the hold harmless is if my uh value from a 100,000 to 140 that 40,000 they're holding me harmless and they're making sure that I get state revenue to cover that loss in funding from debt that I had already sold. So what they're saying is if I pass a tax rate that's higher than that they're going to come decrease that amount a little bit. Okay. So that's what

005we're many districts are faced with. We're in the early stages and so exactly how they'll figure that if they'll use two T two T2 values, if they're going to lose, you know, we're still in the early stages and we don't know how the game's going to be played. So, we don't know at this point how it'll affect us completely. Okay. But I did want to bring that up. Some >> Can I just ask real quick on the um on the previous one because so the majority of our um last bonds you already have gone out and sold those, right? So we those will be held harmless. How much do we have left? >> 100 million. >> About 100 million of it. So that part we would um potentially not be getting the revenue that we

006were used to getting be because of because of um the homestead changes. >> Yes. So when we go to tax on that value, that value will be a little bit less than it would have been. Okay. And we've already kind of taken into effect some because when we passed these bonds, we were at 40,000 homestead exemption. we went to 100 and then you know so we've already taken some of that into account. So we're still behind the eightball and then when you take in some of this new legislation like this one from 2500 to 125, there's a lot of school districts that even though they promised their voters only two pennies, they're going to have to go above that because they keep losing the value that they anticipated. Um thank goodness we're not in that

007point right now, but it's something I just want to put on your radar when we come together next year that that might be somewhere we're at as we lose additional property value. Okay. And so, um, if we wanted to exceed this, it would take 60% of our members. We could exceed I would lose the home hold harmless amount and then we could pay down debt at that point. This is something I don't suggest we do. I think we just raise enough taxes right now to pay our current debt. Uh there's another thing that I want to bring to your attention that has come um I it came on my radar about February and to some point it's something that happens here in College Station ISD or in Brazes County because we are we are a

008huge population of apartment complexes and so sometimes we have cart apartment complex dispute values and we end up having to lower our property values. Okay. uh this is out of the ordinary right now. So what happened is they let those litigations stack and so values were being disputed all the way back to and they have settled settled settled them all in 24 and 25 not all of them but a huge majority of them. These litigations span back to 2018. If you think all the way back to 2018 and if you've serving on the board, you would hear us say things like uh we collect taxes on this year's value. However, we get our T2 values on our previous year values. Just if if you're on the board at that time, that rings a bell with

009you. If not, don't worry about it. The kicker is because of that and because it switched in 2018, I will get none of that money back because doesn't qualify. I lost it all. Okay. So 2019 on what we will do. So right now I just want to kind of explain a few things. When I say value loss that is value times the tax rate that's already taken into account. That's how much value I have lost. I lost $164 million in 2024. Uh this new person came on to the appraisal district in July of 24 and he started settling all of these litigations. And so that's how much value we lost. In 2025 up to now I have lost $86 million in value. So if you kind of see some of these tax rates you kind

010of understand what has that done to College Station. Technically we collect more than 100%. This previous year we only collected 97% of our tax role. And no I know we have a wonderful taxpayers. I am not saying that our current taxpayers are not paying their bills. This is all due to the litigation. And so basically what that means is when I looked at the February, I think it was February, I noticed we were upside down on our delinquent taxes. And because these these, you know, like you might have a $30 million tax bill, they go ahead and pay their taxes. And so they pay their taxes for 2018. We settle in 2025. Therefore, we refund their taxes that they got settled. There was one on the road that was $4.5 million that was settled that

011we had to pay them back. So, that's what's been coming off our delinquent taxes and that's what we've been faced this year. And it's not just it's kind of just a storm when they all go when they're all settled at one time. It just hits us at one time. And so, that's really what we've been going through this year. Uh, as you also are aware, I changed our property value tax attorney that does our property value studies. When I started seeing all of this, I needed someone to get in there and take good care of us. And so, that's what we did several several months ago. They're working on it right now. So, they're going back and doing property value studies. Of course, we can't do 2018, but we can start with 2019 and move

012forward. We're hoping to recoup some of that maintenance and operation taxes that we lost, but any value adjustments that happened in that year. So, like if they went if we went down in value, we wouldn't have to do this, but now we do. So, it's going to be kind of offset. So, we won't be 100% whole. In addition to that, it takes us about 7 and a half% to collect on that money for them to do the property value. So, we're completely out that money. Then on top of all that debt service, the only money we get because we're a property wealthy district is our um EDA money in a sense. That's our hold harmless money. So, that's for homestead exemption. So, if you think about it, these big apartment complex don't qualify for that.

013So, I'm going to lose 100% of our debt service money that we we lost from these settlements. Does anybody have any questions? We're not the only >> That's what I was going to say. >> We're not the only ones that are faced with this and we've got a long ways to go. So, if you look at the certified valued right now that's still in pursuit. That's a beat. 1 bill795 million of certified value. So, that's total value. So, it's don't that's total value. That's still in dispute that they're working on those cases. Now, um we're going to try to get as much of it back as we can and so you're going to see some of that come in and I'll keep you updated as we see those property studies come in and us try

014to recoup that money. The positive about ISD versus a county or a city and they're all faced with this. Everyone right now is faced with this and they're they're all a little um worried because they don't get anything back. we have a chance to recoup because you remember that cup what we don't get in local value we make get made up by state now we're not going to get made a a 100% whole but we're going to get a portion of that money back a city or county does not get that back they're completely at a loss and so those are some of the things that we're faced with right now so what do we do I know it sounds like you're going retroactively to try to get us money back moving forward as the

015the company you've hired do they help us moving forward how do we combat this so we don't get in this keep staying in this situation there is a a new person at the appraisal district that is working on all of these cases and he's staying on top of it. And so that's really what happened. He started that position was vacant for a long time and they let all the the cases stack and he started July of 2024. So he's trying his best to stay on top of this. And then I work with Lacy Harris. She's our attorney. I work with her constantly just where we are on our property value studies. How much you know, you know, and then not only that, she's really good about sending emails. I think the one thing that took

016me off guard on this whole thing is in February, I was asking the questions and I had to find out versus someone come to tell me, Heather, you need to plan on this. Heather, you probably need to set that debt tax rate a little bit higher because you're going to only collect 97% when we're typically I usually estimate about 99%. And so those are things that were kind of missed because of the fact that we just weren't alerted that this was going on until we found out from the upside down delinquents. >> Yeah. The biggest issue is yes, seven years of stacking. That's not common. You know, a year or two is is typically pretty common. So it stacked up for so many years and then it all hits you within two cycles. Then it

017stopped that then it's a it's a bigger pill to swallow at that point in time. >> So um with that being said, we're we are staying on top of it. the CAD is staying on top of it. We're having quarterly meetings right now. We've set it up with all they call us the big five. But anyway, so they uh we are having quarterly meetings uh with the Pride office and just staying on top of what's going on, what should we expect. Uh many many months ago, I even got the um Pride board meetings. If I had to find out that away what was coming and going, I would go sit in a board meeting. So, um, we've been watching this, but I wanted to bring it to your attention because typically I probably wouldn't increase

018the debt service tax rate. I'd hold it 263 and I'm not asking for much, but we're going to take it to closer to what that tax um, TNT is calculating. So, the truth in taxation, it's clo is calculating a little higher than 279, but I think we need to take it to at least what that's calculating at the 279 to protect the school district because we have these litigations to come. You're also going to see in the financial statements that we're going to have to dip into fund balance a little bit this year because we weren't anticipating that in the debt service account. Not in the INS, not in the maintenance and operation, but the debt service account. We were anticipating to receive those taxes and we didn't. And so you're going to see a

019little bit of shortage in that account because of the impact. >> Will we make it up? >> That's your kind of the plan with this tax rate or >> that is my dream. However, you got to take like with this new legislation, I cannot raise the tax rate. If I raise the tax rate, I'll lose the whole harmless list. So, we're kind of stuck in there. So, that's why I said we'll take it to the highest as we can for truth and taxation or really close. It's like, you know, a 0 number. Um or we would take it at least that high. But 279 is where I was I'm suggesting us take the tax rate to try to recoup. But then we don't know, like I said, we've got to see how the TEA is

020going to calculate where they're going to start taking my hold harmless. And we've got to kind of watch that to see how it would calculate. Um, when we originally set the tax rate, we had or when we originally put the notice in the paper, we had to go off of current law and that's what we had at current law. But now we got the new property values and because now we have templates figuring the new current law that was just passed then those are the new rates that are coming out. >> So other than we hired somebody have there been any procedural or policy changes at the appraisal district >> other than >> to deal so this won't happen again >> other than we're all watching. Uh there hasn't been that I'm aware of. I

021know um the meeting we one of the meetings we had last week was with the county judge and and each school district as well as the cities and everyone's watching their boards are watching um now and that was the first time they had gotten together. So >> yeah, it does seem like we we the school district could at least track they could tell us how much value is in dispute at any one time, right? And maybe >> and we can >> they're not going to tell us. Maybe we have to. >> Yeah. The truth in taxation takes a lot of that into account, but it only takes the current year. So, or like the previous year, it only looks at like 2024 when we're figuring 2025. It doesn't look at the other. It's just gotten

022so behind that it's just a snowball. >> So, you've touched on this a little bit, but just to be clear, because there was an amount that we said when we were going out for bond that we might have to raise the INS tax rate. So where where are we with this new um rate that we're looking at? >> How many pennies have we have we reached? >> Okay, so when we had our original tax rate, it's 27 263. We said two pennies, so 283. This is 279. All right. So this is kind of what it looks like. I kind we kind of already mentioned this. It was 6969 to 6963. That was due to the maximum compressed rate compression. And then if you look at your INS tax rate, it was 276. It's going to

023279. I do want to point out that this is going to be a decrease in how much people are going to pay on their home section based on an average home sale. Our average market value in College Station is $498,000 which seems crazy to me but with that average and it only went up $2,000. So that's only I mean it was $496 last year. It's 498 this year. But if you figure that in the difference and then take the homestead adjustment into account, taxpayers are going to be paying less money than they did in the previous year. Any other questions? All right. If there's no questions, we will uh we'll move to public comment. Anyone? All right. >> I'll make a comment. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Almost. Whatever. Go ahead, man. So, so this

024is another prime example. I always tell people when you talk about school finance, it's like that Spider-Man meme where everybody's pointing the finger at each other. And so the Texas legislature has created this system where because the controllers's office fails at what they're supposed to be doing, the school district or the county or the city or whatever is left in this situation. And until the there's a wholesale change with the way school finance, entity finance in Texas is done at the legislative level level. This kind of stuff is going to keep popping its head up and it's just I'll get off my soap box. >> And to your point, Josh, not to cause a panic, but if you look back at the 0809 crisis that happened in this country financially, a major player was inflated

025appraisals of homes. And that's what led to a significant downfall. All right, we will close the public hearing. We'll >> move to item E1, consideration, discussion, and possible action related to the 2526 tax rate. >> Okay, I'm going to bring this up again so we can kind of look at what we're looking at. We're looking at 6963 for maintenance and operation and INS of 279. And Mr. work. If it's okay with you, may I make the recommendation to the tax rate because it has to be read a certain way. >> Okay. So it is the administrative recommendation that the board of trustees of college independent school district approve the resolution to adopt a maintenance and operation tax rate of 6963 and an interest in syncing tax rate of 276 for a total of 9753 and

026the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 9753 which the tax rate will effectively be raised by 1.9% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operation for on a 100,000 homes uh approximately 1809. >> I move that we approve the resolution to adopt a maintenance operation tax rate of6963 and an interest and syncing tax rate of.276 276 for a total of 0.9753 and the property tax rate to be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of N753 which the tax rate will effectively be raised by 1.9% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home approximately $189. >> But you can you just look at interesting one more time because stay wrong. I'm sorry. 279, not 276. >> Oh, okay. It was Okay. Do you

027want me to say it all over again? >> Yes, it needs to be. >> It needs to be Okay. >> 279 is what it should be on here. Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Um, I move that we approve the resolution to adopt a maintenance operation tax rate of 6963 and an interest and syncing tax rate of.279 279 for a total of N753. And the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of N753, which the tax rate will effectively be raised by 1.9% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home, approximately $189. >> I second. >> Motion by Miss Eigy, second by Dr. Payne. Any further questions or comment? >> I do want to make one quick comment just obviously to Josh's point, this is so complicated, right?

028And so, thank you for all your work you do to um to to figure these numbers out and present them all to us, all all the details. I appreciate it. I also I love the graph that shows that our tax rate has continued to either go down or or be basically flat. And that really is what this board has done and previous boards have done. Even while we're going out and doing uh you know significant bonds, significant improvements um to our facilities. I we work hard to keep that tax rate um manageable as best we can under the circumstances for our community. right now a couple of things affecting this out of our control a little bit, but um I mean I think it's a it's just a teeny tiny increase that that really taxpayers

029won't see because of the reduction in the the homestead exemption or the increase in exemption. >> All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries 70. Thank you, Miss Wilson. Appreciate it. Uh bring us item two consideration discussion and possible action related to the naming of TASBY delegate an alternate for 25 TA Texas Association School Boards Delegate Assembly. Just going to ask it out loud. Who wants to do it? >> I think I was going to be the alternate. So >> you want to be the what? >> The alternate. >> Alternate. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I said less time that I would do it with Miss McAdams kind of giving me some pointers since she's been our representative for a while, I think. >> So, you're delegate? >> Who's delegate? >>

030Delegate, >> but I >> Oh, sorry. I I I was saying that I thought last time I said I was willing to do it if Miss McAles would uh kind of give me some support along the way. So, >> and and same with me. I mean, I um enjoy the the process and I think you learn a lot about and meet a lot of folks from other folks other districts across the state, but I don't want to hold anybody else back from from from doing the role. So, I'm happy to do it, but also >> need a motion. >> What do you think, Kim? You want to try it or not? It's a >> I don't want I mean if you still have a strong desire to do it, I don't really want to take

031it from you. I I have a willingness to serve, but like >> I want to go out in the parking lot. >> But really and truly like happy to let you rem if if uh Kristen really wants to be your alternate, then she could be, you know, learning from you, too. So, I'm good with that. >> I'm willing to I am willing to keep doing it. >> A motion. I move that uh Miss McAdams be named our TASB delegate and that Miss Wilson be the alternate for the 2025 Texas Association School Board's delegate assembly. >> Second >> motion by Mr. Ben, second by Miss Eigy. Further comments or discussion? All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries 70. bring uh we're skipping item three for a later date. Uh is that

032does not apply. Item four, consideration discussion of policy CFB local, Miss Wilson. >> All right. So if you look at CFB local, it really talks about the capital capitalization threshold for classifying individual capital assets. And as you know, inflation's been crazy and our current um board policy says $5,000. The federal government has changed their policies for unified guidance for a fixed asset threshold for equipment from 5,000 to 10,000. And I would like to suggest that college station follow suit. This will just basically we'll keep up with any asset that I call removal by asset. So if there's something less than 10,000 and we're worried about theft, we're going to tag that asset. We're going to manage that asset anyway. This would just be from capitalization thresholds and it would help us kind of balance those

033federal grants out as well. Are there any questions? >> Is there any negative to doing this? >> Um, it'll be a little bit of work on the business office right now because we're kind of capitalized at 5,000 to 10,000, but there shouldn't be a lot of negative. No. What do you mean? >> I'm not sure what I mean. >> Yeah. >> So, here here's kind of my thoughts on it. Um, everything has increased. Um, the 5,000 number just kind of like everything else. I mean, we talked about home insurance or home prices, things like that. Everything's gone up. So, we're just adapting to what the industry and the realistic timelines and pricing is. So I think I think that comes into play and we're not voting tonight. This is just pres presentation, but I think

034that's the main gest behind it. But I I think like what Miss Wilson was saying, the negative is we keep it as is just delaying pushing. So >> and we have two sets of financial statements. So we have a governmentalwide financial statement and then we have a governmental funds financial statement. uh on those financial statements, it does list capital assets on the balance sheet account. And so you do have that on your governmentwide financial statement. You'll see where we have capital assets there. So you might lose a little value there, but we're not talking about a lot of items and a lot of money. So I can't see where there would be a huge effect. But for governmental funds, which we run our day-to-day business on, we don't capitalize unless it's in a proprietary fund.

035So >> any other questions? Okay, that brings us to item five, consideration discussion of policy CH local. >> So this is another change that we're uh bringing tonight. That's a possible change for the future, but I wanted to kind of get your thoughts on it. When you look at our policy, it says any single budgeted purchase of goods and services that cost 50,000 or more regardless of whether the goods or services are competitively purchased shall require board approval. If you look at school districts our size, most of them say 100,000 new KY. Nope. They don't bring anything to the board. Like if you look at some of the other districts, they might say anything for 200,000 or more you take to the board. Uh what we're suggesting is to move it to 100,000 from 50,000

036to 100,000. uh our our guidelines this year, the legislation did come in and say on uh 44.034, I believe, is the Texas Education Code where we're moving assets from 50,000 to 100,000. So, we used to have to bid out any asset that was 50,000 or more or have a purchasing cooperative or or or have some sort of competitive mechanism to that. They moved that to a 100,000. So, that's another reason why I think it might be a good time for us to look at this board policy as well. Uh, that does not mean we're not going to get quotes and we're not going to competitively bid things. It's just there's a lot of time taken into account when an asset I mean when a purchase goes 50,000 and then there's sometimes where we need to

037make a purchase but we can't make that purchase in a timely manner because we need to wait till a board meeting comes together to make a purchase. And again, items are increasing and so a lot of times software costs a little over $50,000 and we're we're having to kind of wait to get that down to a board agenda. >> Do you have any idea what that number is? Like how many say we're we're between 50 and you know 99,000 in the past? >> No, sir. >> No ballpark or anything. >> Just curious. And I was wondering would it make any sense or be worth it for us to at least have um be be some awareness of what they were right even if we weren't having to approve them but at least kind of just

038maybe in transmitt or something that these were >> we could we could keep up with that and send it in a transmitt. >> As a business owner I know time is money. So if this allows the district to lock in at a better price and not have to wait for us to meet, I would support it because yeah, stuff can change from week to week current way our world is. >> So I this to make makes sense to me. >> Also with the changes in it was Senate Bill 12. Uh we cannot have board meetings prior to 5:00 pm starting September 1. So if we had something that was a rush, trying to get you guys up here in the evening sometimes you're busy and trying to get a quorum is be a little bit

039more difficult as well versus more flexibility in the morning or during lunch time. >> That'd be kind of my thought is if if we make this change to CH local if we could just add some language that says we'll receive a report on any of those types of items or something. Okay. >> It' be nice to have just >> any other questions. >> I mean, there's trucks cost $100,000 now. So, Simac buys one, I want to know about it. >> That's right. >> He probably will tell on himself, too. >> Thank you for your time. >> All right, that brings us to item six. Add provision to District of Innovation Plan, Miss Goulsby. Good evening, Dr. Hark Rider, board of trustees. We are coming to to kind of discuss um a client alert we got

040from our attorneys on August 8th about Senate Bill 12. There's several caveats within Senate Bill 12, but I'm specifically speaking on the caveat for grievances. Um it the new guidelines would go into effect September one um if we went with the new guidelines. However, our attorneys have sent um guidance that we are able to exempt through the district of innovation plan and if we exempt ourselves we will maintain our current grievance policies. Um some of the changes that the new guidelines would impact it would be filing requirements. Um, currently the grievances are filed within 15 days of the incident. The new guidelines would be 60. The concern is if we receive a grievance um 60 days outside of the event, we worry about the investigation um at the campus level and at every level thereafter.

041It also says that the board can appoint a subset of board members for level three grievances, meaning the entire board does not have to hear level three. I will say um we've had a couple level threes and I will say that the biggest thing that the parents want is your full attention and the ability to get in front of all board members. Um based on that feedback, we would like to retain the fact that the full board would hear level three and that would not be possible with new guidelines. The new guidelines also allow parents to skip the administrative team at the campus level um and go straight to central office. We understand the evidence, the thorough nature and everything they have in their investigation on the lowest level investigation. It's most accurate. it's immediate

042and they have access to that. Our concern is removing the administration from that process um does not allow us to have the most accurate investigation for parents through these processes. This does not we want parents to have access to any answers they have when they have concerns. they don't have to go through the grievance process. But the grievance, the new guidelines for the grievance through Senate Bill 12, it does cause some concern because if you look at the timeline overall, it could delay them getting answers their concerns. Um, and if we have to make changes, we have to intervene. Um, it could potentially delay that process. So, we would like to stay with our current griev grievance process. So just so I heard you correctly, this would allow people instead of handling it at the

043lowest level to come straight to the district. >> Yes sir. >> Whenever um I hear from uh parents, students, anyone who has a concern, always encourage them to start at the lowest level. I can't imagine uh as you pointed out just skipping that if nothing else for the sake of of bringing it to the attention of the school and giving them the opportunity to uh deal with that. Um I think a lot of parents do that and that's that's the right thing to do in my opinion. So I imagine the other big concern would be 60 days. I mean people's memories are not very good anyway. Um I you know that opens up a lot of issues to me of filing a grievance two months after. >> Yes sir. >> One of our legislative priorities

044was u you know more local control and I think this is another situation where legislation is is stepping into local policies and telling us how we need to handle our interaction with with parents, community members, whoever may have a grievance. Our policy has been in place here for years. It works fine. uh we hadn't had any issues with it and like Sarah said, you know, our parents uh would like to be in front of all of you and but the 60-day timeline's problematic for a lot of reasons. Uh I think it's a situation where what we're doing is not broken uh and doesn't require a fix. >> I I think for accuracy of investigating and I know as a board member if there if we have a problem, I would want it fixed way before

045a 60-day timeline. Um, so I I would agree we need to stick with what we have because it seems to be working. Parents are being heard >> and I agree with all that as well, all those reasonings. Um, I'd say the only thing, and we talked about this a few months ago when we were looking at this um, policy is really just making sure as a district that we have this information accessible to um, our parents, you know, so when there is an issue, they do know the process and they do know that there is a timeline, you know, that they they have a pretty limited window that they need to um, do something about it. going to the to the lowest level, you know, going to the campus is the first start and they

046should be able to direct them, you know, to the next level. So, can you remind me where besides the policy because this is in policy, but we also have kind of some procedures and steps on on our website. Is that true? >> Yes, ma'am, we do. And I will say Senate Bill 12 requires digital access to the form. So, it actually we will actually be working on accessibility to that form should parents need it. um whether it be through a QR code, but it is required that it be in um an accessible place for parents. Um we don't ever want to make make our processes or forms hidden. Um and we will work on that. Currently, you can uh request agreements form at the campus level or at the district office level, but it's also

047um located on our digital platform. >> I just Googled CSISD grievance process. It popped up. >> Yeah. The other thing to keep in mind for perspective and historical having you know been here for a year uh even if they don't now I get there's legal limitations um of what people can and can't do legally but not once have I ever seen the district ignore anyone and just say hey oh it's day 16 we're not going to deal with this issue. So um I get the the concern of maybe the different timeline but never once have I seen this school district ignore a parent who's brought anything up. So, I will say timelines have been missed. Um, I'll be very upfront with with that piece. Um, when the timelines are missed and it's not timely, um,

048there is a concern uh of that grievance. Do we um shut off access? Absolutely not. We've had I had um just today someone missed the timeline. I've invited them to come up and have a conversation. Um, but those parameters are set for district and how we work and the efficiency in which we work um for those grievances. This is also one of the few times we normally bring policy changes to workshop and then approve them the following month. However, this is timeline specific. So September one, we've got to have a decision. So it's on workshop. You guys can think about it. We'll get through this meeting and then there is an action item on the regular board meeting and but that's why we received the guidance that we could DOI and then the September one

049timeline. It makes it a little bit more uh we've got to do it sooner rather than later. And you do have a side by side in front of you that shows you um our current or historical guidelines and what those new guidelines would include. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Miss Goldsby. Next item seven, discussion of elementary boundary plans six and seven and intermediate middle school boundary plan five. Miss Wilson. Mr. Dr. Hark Rider, board of trustees. This is just another look at what we proposed the previous month to get additional feedback now that you've had time to digest it a little bit. So, this is plan six that we proposed last month. We kind of have some upclose um maps that could be viewed that were sent out in case you had any questions

050or what some of those adjustments were. In addition, we have uh these are just some of the uplose areas that we had talked about in the previous month. So, you can kind of see that in um you can actually see the street names. Here is just one more of the uh southern part of this school district. And then plan seven, the only thing that really moved on plan seven is that little pocket by Coffee Road at the bottom uh going into Greens Prairie Elementary School. And that was mainly just to make that adjustment to pull those kids over. Um because that elementary is right by that neighborhood. And so from talking to Mr. being you had just mentioned several times that you would prefer kids not go past an elementary school to get to an

051additional elementary school. So that's some of the adjustments for plan seven. And then that's the one little copy bridge. Of course, we brought this to your attention last month when we talked about economically disadvantageous percentages, but I put it in the slide deck again so you would have that information tonight. and I will move on. Uh this is the intermediate plan five where we made the adjustments north part of town and you can kind of see these are the adjustments to those numbers. And then here's just an uplose look at what those neighborhood adjustments would be. Again, if you see the dark gold lines, those are the old um uh old boundary lines. And then of course the green and the blue and the yellow would be the new boundary lines. uh economically disadvantaged adjustments

052here on both of those plans and then I'll leave it with questions. >> Yes, sir. These are all based on the demographer numbers at the time. And so I do want to point that out. One of the thing we want to do uh for the September board meeting is just take our numbers as they currently are. and Transfinder, our current transfinding uh our current transportation software will allow us to take our current students, put these maps in that system and make sure we can verify those numbers one more time before we move forward. Uh it'll tell us down to how many kinder, first, second grade are at those campuses so that we can verify that our demographers are on par with the numbers before we make a final decision. They also can look at economically

053disadvantaged students in the software as well. Do I have any questions? >> It's not so much a question, but I guess a comment. Um, I know it's really hard because we've been doing this and we're looking at elementaryaries, we're looking at intermediates and middles at the same time and sometimes that's that's two different levels of schools and it can get confusing. So, just for the sake of of what I'm about to say, I'm going to put elementary boundaries aside and and focus a little bit on this intermediate and middle school thing. Um, had some time to process some things. Um, been hearing from a lot of people on that. And you know, one of the things that I'd like us to think about is the fact that um there was a point in time where

054a group of people had to make some hard decisions about our high school boundary lines. Um and we like to brag now that our high schools are both amazing high schools and that you can go to either one of them and have great opportunities. Um and I love that and I think that that's true. And I think that it's true partly because groups of people made really hard decisions at a point in time and it was painful. um in the short run, but in the long run, it has served our district and our students really well. And I feel like that's a little bit of where we are with our intermediate and middle schools right now. Um my my kids just went through intermediate and middle school. So from 2017 to last year, I had

055kids in them and so our friends were in those schools. And so hear me when I say this, like I'm not saying that Cypress Grove and CSMS are bad schools or are in a bad situation. if all of our attendance was even across those schools, like the numbers, um, and we were serving kids well, I think we'd be in a place where we could say maybe we don't take action. Um, but that's not the situation. We have a disparity in just the basic attendance numbers. And it it drives me to want to say, hey, is it time to do something? Um, but I've struggled a little bit when I look at at the plans because, you know, the question has come to been asked to this board. Do we do we consider SCES numbers? And

056if you look at plan three, and I'm just going to speak to middle school because intermediate middle, it move shifts a little bit, but you know, plan three moves kids, but it doesn't really significantly shift the SCES imbalance. Plan four shifts, sorry, I can wait for you all to get to that, but >> sorry. >> I mean, plan four shifts those numbers in a way more significant. Is this the middle? This is the middle. Okay. >> Okay. Um >> do you want intermediate? >> No, no, no. This is fine. But um plan four shifts those um a lot more in the direction that we would want them to be. I know that it's been pointed out maybe some things that we don't love about that plan. Um but then we had plan five presented to

057us. Um and and I struggle with it because I feel like it takes it in the opposite direction. Um and I know that SCS numbers are only one thing to consider. Um there's lots of things. Title one funding, keeping neighborhoods together, um traffic considerations, there's um growth area. I mean there I could sit here and name 10 different things that matter. So I'm not going to sit here and say that that's the only thing that we consider. Um but one of the things that I've been concerned about is um making sure that we as a district and board make the right decision for the long run of our community on this. And um I I don't like what I'm about to say because I I'm not like that let's kick the can down the road

058person. Uh but I have had some time to kind of go should we pause a little bit? Um I know we our in our our elementarymentaries are a little more pressing because we have elementarymentaries that are over capacity. Um but can we take a little bit more time um to look at these plans um and maybe even some additional plans? Can we actually have a committee of community stakeholders like we've done in some past resonings? Um, and if if we get went through that process and we came back and we said, you know, whichever one of these is the right one, then I would feel more comfort as a board with going down that road. Um, but I do I know that hear me on this too. I really do appreciate the work that this

059administration has done on this. I know you guys have put a lot of time into it. Um, I'm just feeling a little bit of a hesitation about moving quickly forward on this. Um, when it it's hard for me to feel like either of these plans is just right. So, I guess that's where I am a little bit and would love to hear what the rest of you guys are thinking. >> I would Oh, go ahead. >> I would just say that this is quite a bit different than the high school resoning. Uh, a lot if my my recollection is is correct and and y'all correct me if I'm wrong. Uh a lot of the um angst caused by that was the fact that it was um done in the spring for the coming fall. Well,

060this is going to be you know a year in advance basically. Um the second thing being that there was no grandfathering and I think the administration has indicated that uh they're they're open to some type of of grandfathering which I think is really important for those students. Um and so uh I I I agree on the concern between four and five in those uh economically disadvantages percentages. Um that is it's very eye opening to see it in in that format. Um, but I think, you know, that combined with how far in advance we're doing this, the potential for grandfathering, and if we if we kick the can down the road, all of a sudden we're it's got to be, you know, up for the upcoming year or whatever it might be. So, that's kind of

061the flip side of how I see that, but I I agree with you all. >> And I agree. I I don't think we're critical yet on these campuses. is um I'm very comfortable with where I sit on the elementary plan when we discuss that more. But I also think if we're talking about opening up our district to out of district transfers, I personally would like to see how that impacts us and where our current numbers stand and then people I think know we've been talking about it. I don't think it'll be a surprise if we have to come back and start talking about it again or form a committee. But I'm fine at this point not acting on intermediate and middle just to get a clearer picture. Um, but I also do appreciate the work

062that you guys have done. Um, but I would be comfortable not moving on these yet because I don't feel like we're to a point that it we absolutely have to. >> Yeah. And I'll add, I mean, I um came here tonight not happy with any of those three plans either. You know, I I um I know this is hard and I am sitting here willing to make hard decisions. I I mean I think I mean this is one of the hardest things our board does and and and our district does but as I've said many times I think we have um reaped the benefits of a boundary adjustment that does consider the socioeconomic status of of our campuses. I don't think that was initially what my understanding this that was not initially what was driving

063us this process. it is the capacity and that you know and that still is important but as you said it's not as you know desperate at the at the middle schools at the moment but I am not comfortable for example moving forward with plan five with such a huge gap in the so socioeconomic balance between between the campuses. Um, so do I want to necessarily put it off? But maybe that's the best answer because I also think um I mean I was okay with not having a committee to to do this, but I think in I at this point I recognize some of the benefits that having more perspectives than just the you know than the seven of us and the administration really looking at at at these different plans and really representing all of

064the neighborhoods. I mean, we are we're representing all neighborhoods here, but you know, we just don't have that same perspective as a as a larger committee would have. So, um, while I don't want to necessarily put it off the air, I think that may be the best a good suggestion for the intermediate middle school. >> I'm I'm a little confused on the statement there, Austin. How many how much um community input did we get in our surveys? How many responses? if you know that off the top of your head >> 1,200. Okay. So, it wasn't just the district and it's not just us. Seven is all I'm trying to get at. And I'm not making a decision either way. I'm just saying I wrote at the top of my paper here, too many variables. There's

065a ton of variables in this whole thing. And we get it. Um, you know, the elementary piece, uh, the district talked to the demographer, came up with five plans. They figured out what the best three I think were. I think is what y'all presented maybe or four three plan. Yeah, something like that. Y'all presented that. We took more feedback because we presented at the board meeting. I think that was two months ago, three months ago, whatever. Um and then on the middle school and intermediate that was presented, those were not favorable. I think everybody in the community, all of us were not in favor of those. So y'all came back and had plan six and seven I believe on elementary redone based on community feedback and then I think plan five was added for intermediate

066middle school or maybe four and five. Yeah. So all based on community feedback demographer going back looking at it looking at the maps talking to y'all. So, a lot of variables there, but there's a lot of other variables outside of us as a school district with the vouchers coming into play next year. Um, I think two months ago, three months ago, I sat up here and said, "I'm all about opening the district enrollment wise. It's the only way I can see combating what the legislature has done. Gives us an opportunity to shine." Um, and so with that being said, my personal opinion is that we that I I think we don't move on the intermediate middle school. I agree with Miss E. I agree with all of y'all on that. There's no sense and and

067I don't think we're kicking the can down the road because there's too many variables that can happen in the next year or two years because like Mr. Ben said, there's there's some grandfathering involved. So this isn't going to change over one year. It's just not because we have those options. And so with the vouchers possibly opening the district up for enrollment, I think those are pluses for us as a school district. I think elementary wise plan seven is is attractive because it's the least amount of movement, but it makes sense. Um it appears I wrote appears to be the best option for the overall district and student experience and expectations. Um whether I'm right or wrong, I don't know. That's just kind of my appearance of of what I'm reading and seeing. So, um I

068guess I'm getting that yes, this was not done lightly and no, we didn't bring a formal committee together and maybe we do that for the intermediate middle. That makes sense. Um but we also had like Mr. Dunson said 1,200 responses that we read every single one of them and we've read every single email we've gotten. I know we have. I do think um having sat not on a uh boundary committee but on a couple of bond committees before I was on this board um I think there is a different process when you have a group of community stakeholders in a room able to talk together and ask questions and look at different options. That's a really different feedback process than um an online thing. That's I mean we asked people for feedback on the specific

069plans we l we laid out. Um, and that's a little bit different than asking for feedback on what do we think is the most important thing when we are drawing boundaries. And so it's just it's a different it's not that we didn't ask for feedback and I I don't mean to imply that and I know uh Mr. Dunen spent a lot of time working on that and we've read through a lot of those ourselves. Um, but it's a different process when you get people in a room that can talk through the pros and cons to something and and can just bring different perspectives. So >> I 100% agree. The reality is the people we have primarily heard from are the specific neighborhoods that would be moved, right? And the and the wonderful thing about our

070campuses and our district is really nobody wants to be moved, right? They want, you know, that that they are no matter seems like what school they're at. So that's who we hear from. And I think a a while we've gotten lots of feedback, I don't think um I think a committee would bring more voices. It would bring more voices to the table. >> Keep in mind to all of your points of bringing this up. We're never going to reach a consensus. There's no way we're going to get a group of people. We're not going to get 1,200 people to agree. We're probably not going to get I mean setting the bond planning committees, we couldn't agree on some of that stuff and has to work through the process and all that. So, um I we

071we do read the emails. I appreciate when people come and speak and voice their opinion. Um because it shows they care and they're engaged, which is a good thing. Um but it's going to be really hard to you you're never going to reach a consensus. And to be honest, that's what we're here to do. Um we are here to vote on what we think is best when you take in that input. I'm all for taking people's input in. Um again, always take notes when people speak, try to reply to every email. Um, but it is a difficult situation and I'm a little hesitant to kick the can down the road when I I don't know Mr. Stewart's here, but he's got a mobile office and I'm worried the guy can get it around his hallways

072because he's always dragging his laptop around when you go through. I mean, we've been in those schools, Kim, our kids are same age. Um, so if you haven't been in those schools in a while, um, I can tell you that, you know, some are a lot more crowded. Um, but to to I think everyone's point, um, I would send my kids to any any school in this district. Um, and and you and I live in some of the neighborhoods that we're talking about. If I could do anything about traffic for any of the people that speak or email, I would do it in a heartbeat. Um, but that's one that I can't control. >> Yeah. Ju just to follow up on Dr. Payne's comment. Let me I know we received an email from a a

073parent and I looked at it and literally I think his kids are zoned currently for AMCMS and and any of the options because he's three houses down from where the line is currently drawn. His kids going to get reszoned to to CSMS or Wellelburn or wherever. And those those things As everybody has noted, this is not a fun process, but those things are going to happen. And when you've got so many more kids in a couple of the schools and the opportunities that they have and the disadvantages that that creates for another school, um, you know, I mean, it's not the end of the world if if this is put off for a year or whatever it might be, but it it's it it has effect on on those kids that are in those schools

074right now. So, >> and I agree. I don't I don't like the idea of waiting a long time or anything like that. Um, I I guess I'm trying to figure out how do we how do we do some more work on this. I guess I'm just sitting here being honest and saying I'm not quite in a place where I think plan three or four or five is looking right. So, you know, and maybe it's not next year. Maybe it's maybe it's we need to work on it this year. Um, still. So, I I I 100% agree with you. um Josh that and and Darren like we've walked through the the schools and we know that the imbalance of the attendance makes a difference. So I don't really want to wait around and do nothing but

075I'd like to ask how we could do more. >> Time's becoming critical because kind of like Josh said, we're working a year ahead of time by design. So, two things. Anyone affected has an entire school year to prepare. And then our team has the entire year to make sure we're staffed properly. Nothing's rushed. The worst thing we can do is get in a hurry and then we're scrambling at the end of this year into next year trying to inform people, get people grandfathered because you're you're talking about affecting a lot of kids and then us at the campus level figuring out who what kids would like to be grandfathered, who has siblings, all of there's a lot of moving parts. So that's concerning to me on intermediate middle. I can bring you three more options

076next month and I think we're going to be in the same situation. and we're going to talk around it. Again, we we just got to get to a comfort level. Uh I don't have an issue with the committee. I think for this year, we're too far along. It's not going to be productive. We don't have enough time to do it right. And I think that's the biggest deal. We want to we want to do it right. Uh Austin had some thoughts. We've got six and seven and five blown up maps that we could put out to get more community feedback. as well as Austin wanted to take a deeper dive into those that are filling it out. What neighborhoods do they live in where their kids go to school? what's important to them on resoning

077and could gather additional information to bring in September or we stick we're going to bring you enrollment numbers uh would be pretty solid by the time we get past Labor Day to you guys and show you a sidebyside of demographer numbers versus where we are right now to see if there's any number one hotspots that we're concerned about or campuses that we felt like were going to be heavy and they're not. Maybe they're a little bit lighter this year. think we're chasing about 50 kids below the demographers numbers right now. So we're in a pretty good shape based on demographer numbers of where we are as a district right now as far as those registered with us today. I think we're at 1488 if those that have registered recently once they become uh enrolled. So,

078you know, there's different options we can do. Intermediate, middle school, uh, like I said, I I can bring you more options, uh, brand new options next month. But I think October is the drop dead date that we have to have a decision to move forward. Otherwise, our team's scrambling and it's not going to be rolled out the way we want it to be rolled out. >> Is the October elementary for sure with the middle school and the intermediate or >> does it matter? I'm I'm pretty comfortable based on individual conversations with you guys and where we are that six or seven and preferably probably seven because we're only talking one road goes into Greens Prairie. They're basically the exact same plan minus that that I think the board seems pretty comfortable with seven and we

079can move forward with that ahead of time and then take some extra time with >> middle school middle if that's what you guys would like to do. I do want to reiterate Darren's comment like we are in CSISD and we're very lucky. Like I didn't buy my house based on the elementary or the middle school or the intermediate school that we were going to go to. It was just being in CSISD. So I do think we need to keep that in the forefront of our mind. And I agree with that because I'm I'm a little different situation than y'all because my kids went were dual language proud dual language parent and they went to all title schools um and got amazing educations. And so I'm not I'm I'm answering seeing all the same emails, but

080I'm probably not getting as hit up as some of y'all are that live on that side of town. And I agree, Dr. Hark Rider, we could come up with more plans, but geographically where the our community is growing and where some of these schools are located, I think it's going to be almost impossible unless we start busing just huge neighborhoods all around, which we've talked about is something we really don't want to be doing is busing kids past schools. So, I don't think we're ever going to achieve really even numbers. Um, but I think the fact that we've achieved it at the high school per se is a testament to our district that our high schools are competing equally on fine arts athletics and the numbers are more balanced there that this is just going

081to be something we're going to have to make a decision on that's probably not going to be um a comfortable decision for all. But um but we have amazing all of our schools are amazing amazing students, teachers, administrators. So um but um and I'm comfortable with plan seven on elementary. I think I I really do feel like we've we've done a lot of work on that. So, >> I'm also I can speak from our leadership team. We're comfortable sitting tight with intermediate middle school for another year. And if we're going to look at out of district transfers as a as a school district, that gives us the opportunity to keep up with enrollment this entire year. Look at what out of district transfers look like. Figure out grade levels of where we're wanting to go.

082if we're wanting to go to K8, establish what those feeder patterns from our standpoint would be and then next fall we would have a cleaner picture of what new enrollment looks like because remember next year too this is the moving part that sitting tight necessarily is not a bad idea. How does vouchers affect CSISD? We don't know. I mean that is a wild card that we don't have any idea. Will it? Yeah, I think it's going to affect us in some form or fashion, but I think taking out of district transfers is that we could offset that and not if not improve and in my opinion, we would improve our enrollment numbers. So, I think there's a lot of factors into the difference between when the high schools went through this when you're talking about

083the age group and the speed of which it had it happened. There were death threats to board members and staff members and things. So, I appreciate the civility. Uh, you know, the emails we do get, the the speakers that do come. Um, you know, everyone's trying to be reasonable and present their case, which again, I appreciate. Um, but I do appreciate the civility. Uh, I'm sure the age groups that we're talking about definitely factors into that. Um, but but clearly, um, things have been handled smoothly where we're getting we're getting important feedback and we're trying to make a good decision. Um, you want to go? Well, I'm gonna first on the on the middle school. I mean, again, not I will clearly say I'm not comfortable with um plan five and the SCS differences because

084I mean I think one reason, yeah, we have had great schools is because of hard work that previous boards did, hard decisions um to set boundaries. You know, I I've shared with a couple people my my children were redistoned um and we went um got moved into a school that had 77% low SCEs. Sounds like we have some elementaryaries with that um in in our current plans. And you know, we moved in there and changed that number to the 43%. Still above the average for the district at that time, but um I think it was a positive for our family and my neighborhood and a positive for that campus much. I mean, there was more involvement. There's lots of data that says, you know, that there's more involvement from parents who um when they have

085a little more free time and a free money or extra money. Um and I believe it is one of the reasons we have um it it's something special about our district. In fact, in the other resoning efforts, one of the first things that the the boards did was actually go out to the community and before they even had any discussion on plans or a committee, it was asked what are the important criteria for when we are going to adjust the boundaries and that's where FC local came into play based on what our community had said was important. So, um, and it's important to me. I hear it from a lot of people that it's important and I and so I am going to continue to say I think we should at least make a more

086of an effort to get those numbers closer than plan five does. I just like I said last time we met there are neighborhoods that we could look at and and move that are contiguous with um CSMS and Cypress Grove. And I think we have not seen those those plans. And so I think maybe either we look at other options very quickly here and if we feel comp if we feel that we really need to do something now or I would be um also willing to go back and and get a committee to more you know take some more time with it and which would take another year. >> Which neighborhoods are you referring to? >> Say again. >> Which neighborhoods are you referring to? I I mean I listen part of this is we haven't

087got into the um into the nitty-gritty of it here, right? You know, we've the administration has um there, you know, we I mentioned Mission Ranch last time, right? Or some neighborhoods in that area that could that could be that could be moved. Um, I know they're they're, as I said last time, they don't have a ton of intermediate middle school kids now, but they're still a growing they're a growing neighborhood. There are other I mean, again, I don't want I want to rely on the administration. I think there are other options out there that they could look at. So, >> so >> if I'm gonna and let go ahead and say since we've been talking about my feedback on plan seven for elementary has been it seems very hard for me to approve a plan

088right now that in really three years after it goes into you know into effect we have yellow on the capacity numbers again and that's um you know yellow meaning that one of our campuses at least one is now over capacity. And I just and I again I know this is hard. Um and there's no perfect plan out there. It's never going to be perfect, but I really think um there's got to be an option that we in three years from when it goes into effect that we don't have a a campus over capacity. That's my biggest concern with the elementary at the moment. >> I would remind you it would be four years and that's a guesstimate. Those are not hard numbers. We don't we don't have a crystal ball of what numbers are going

089to look like in 2930. >> You talking about Pebble Creek? >> Yeah. I mean, if it goes into effect 2026, then we show 27 28 29 it is over capacity at 642 kids. And the other thing is that there's a big capacity at some campuses that you know Right. >> The point of the reasonzoning wasn't to have equal enrollment at all campuses. That was never the gist of what we were doing. You were trying to aliate the three campuses that potentially were going to be over within a year. It wasn't to distribute kids evenly at every single campus. And just I'm asking clarifying. You said there's neighborhoods you think should move, but you also said we should rely on what they're presenting. So, are there neighborhoods you want to see moved or what? I I

090have to believe that there is a um better option for to to meet to get closer to the criteria that we've been talking about, the criteria that's in FC local um which of course is more balanced capacity but also closer on our socioeconomic numbers that again if you >> again so do you have some in mind That's what >> Oh, I'm I do not I I but I It has to be out there. It has to be done be able to be done. We have on average about 40 just over 43% low SCES percentage, right? So technically all three of these schools if you know could be uh a title one school, right? We can get closer than than plan five. We are closer on plan four and community feedback was not in favor of

091it or plan three. >> I understand the issues with four being primarily the to me the real issue with Castlegate even though in many ways it could be a nice move to CSMS and Cypress Grove because it is a a nice a larger community that could move. The traffic issue is is very very real and um >> so you like plan four out of all this. No, but the traffic issue is not >> um I think I I think Castlegate that that problem is very real. I don't know >> how we we come up with ways to help that. I don't know if we have an option and I know it's not under really our control is the problem. As you said, Dr. >> It's at least possible that some of the feedback for plan

0924 Plan 4 to me felt a I mean, we are peacemealing things a little bit and and I understand why. And we don't have >> Oh, sorry. I'm talking about plan four here. The one, right? Because I thought that was where we were we're were Okay. And I know we don't have specific feeder patterns. that's impossible here. So, I'm not trying to suggest that we're we're going that direction, but um it to me it seems possible that that a lot of the feedback from plan 4 was that we're kind of taking pieces of a number of places and and pulling them together as opposed to maybe considering larger areas that are around those. So, I I'm not the demographer and I haven't gotten to look at all the things that you guys have, but I

093I don't know if that's helpful, but I feel like that might have been part of part of the issue with plan 4 um is that we're kind of picking pieces of things as opposed to keeping kids together that are in elementary schools. I >> think too, can you Heather explain that money we get for low ecois doesn't go away if a if a campus is not a title campus. It's districtwide money. And I think some people don't understand that. So, did I speak correctly to that? >> Yes, you did. We'll get the same pot of money. It's just distributed to campuses differently. So, you might have a campus that has higher uh economically disadvantage will get additional money than a campus that has lower will get less. But we don't get any more money because

094we have more title one campuses based on number of students. Um I will say on plan seven uh there is one campus that is right at 500 in a few years and there's one campuses that is close to the capacity of Pebble Creek. Uh I did look at those neighborhoods around there's 100 kids though. So if you take from one and put it in another now you throw another one off. And so that's kind of when you're looking at some of these numbers it's like you've got to methodically take a neighborhood. And if you have a neighborhood that's close, it might have a hundred elementary kids. And if you move it out of this one to this one, now you just took that one that's 581 to 498 and this one to 581. So, so

095you look at some of that when you're looking at it and it it's not a perfect um puzzle a lot of times. Another thing with uh Pebble Creek, yes, we looked to feedback and we were looking at uh tra traffic because I think that was a lot of the traffic patterns there with movement of some of those kids and we can make some adjustments now or we can allow those to stay a little bit longer kind of monitor it and there's some campuses that are close to that Pebble Creek that could absorb some kids easily without making a full adjustment to all the plans. And so that would with plan seven kind of buy some time with the neighboring campuses around there to kind of so that it wouldn't be something like we're coming back

096and moving everything down. We've got some huge pockets of kids that we're transporting from the north part of our district to the south. And some of those are our Pebble kids that we've got to relieve. And I think in that area, if I remember right, there are 100 kids right now or pretty close to it that are in the north area that we're busting down the Pebble when we've got to relieve th those kids. And so that's a huge relief right off the bat to that campus. But it does move the economically disadvantaged students. But when you look at all the kids in an area, you hate to then not take these and bust them somewhere else. And so it's it's just part of it. >> How many numbers are just floating in your head

097at all times? >> I just hope I get them out of the in the right category. >> All right. Good. >> Okay. You I didn't know if you were gonna say anything. All right. Appreciate That will bring us to a journal. >> Yes. [Music] Welcome everybody. We're going to start our regular meeting Tuesday, August 19th, 2025, a little after 7 p.m. Call to order. Declaration of a quorum. Seven members present. Thank you all for being here. Welcome to this meeting of College Station Independent School District Board of Trustees. We are elected at large to represent the interests of our community and our state in educating our students. Our mission for our students in this district is success each life, each day, each hour. We adhere to all pertinent laws, policies, and procedures and posting agendas

098in conducting our meetings. The detailed agenda information was made available to us at least 72 hours in advance. We've all come to this meeting informed and prepared. We just completed a workshop meeting where we heard reports and discussed much of the information needed to make decisions in either this meeting or an upcoming meetings. Is a meeting of the seven trustees in a public setting rather than a public meeting. As such, public comment is included on the agenda at a specific time and requires us to listen rather than take action so as to abide by the open meetings act. We're pleased that you've taken the time this evening to join us. We are very proud of this school district and we thank you for your interest in and support of our students. That'll bring us to

099recognitions. I believe we have the summer day campers here tonight. This year we were at uh Southwood Valley Elementary and uh with me today I have Harper Osk. She is a fourth grader at Creek View Elementary and this summer she was in our Kota's cabin. Hi, my name is Kayla Delejon. Um I am a assistant speech language pathologist at Rock Prairie and Creek Elementary. And over the summer I was a site director at Forest Ridge. And so my two campers are um Lily Johnson and Owen Johnson. Good evening and welcome to the CSISD August Board Meeting. Please stand for the National and State Pledges. >> Wait, I thought I was supposed to say that. Say the pledge to the American flag. >> Pledge for the American flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

100United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Pledge to the Texas flag. In honor of the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, one indivisible. >> Please join us in a moment of silence. Thank you. [Applause] >> All right, we're going to come take a picture right back here. [Applause] Okay, Mr. Horac, members of the board, and distinguished guests here with us tonight. It's an honor as always to recognize the incredible work of our students and staff for their achieve achievements at the state and national levels. This evening, we'll be recognizing the hard work and dedication of our music and art educators for contributing to the district's distinctions and recognitions from state and national

101organizations. This summer, College Station ISD was named one of the National Association of Music Merchants best communities for music education for the sixth consecutive year. This designation is a testament to the passion, dedication, and creativity of our music educators, students, and the community that supports it. Their commitment not only nurtures talent, but also enriches our schools and strengthens the cultural fabric of our district. CSISD currently has over 5,000 elementary students participating in music classes, over 800 intermediate through high school students in orchestra, 1100 intermediate through high school students in band, 500 intermediate through high school students in choir, and nearly 700 intermediate students taking general music classes. Mr. Eric Eekes, our director of fine arts, and several of our music teachers from around the district are here with us tonight to be recognized. So, if

102you are here with us this evening, if you'll please stand and come forward so that the board can shake your hand and recognize you and we will take a group photo with you. Please give a round of applause to our fine arts department. [Applause] Our [Applause] finance department also had another recognition this summer. CSISD was recognized as a district of distinction by the Texas Art Education Association for the sixth consecutive year. CSISD received this honor for providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and builds social emotional learning that connects learners to their community and beyond. CSISD is one of 109 districts out of,200 that met high standards and will receive this outstanding honor. This places CSISD in the top eight percent art education statewide. We also have some

103of our art educators here with us this evening. So, if you guys would please stand and come forward so we can congratulate and recognize you as well. [Applause] I feel like I'm addressing y'all, but we have our back to you, so it's always strange. Uh, Mr. Hor, Dr. Hark Rider, and distinguished guests, as well as members of the board. I'm Teresa Bendon, the executive director of the Education Foundation. And tonight, um, with along with our board president, Gary Brown, um, we are honored to recognize Daily Company and its owner, Chris Dailyaly, uh, for their incredible commitment to our mission. For the past nine years, Daily Electric or sorry, y'all used to be called Daily. It's it's hard to hard to change that. Daily Company has proudly served as the title sponsor of our employee giving

104campaign. Their generosity makes it possible to provide the incentives that inspire and thank our employees who support the education foundation each year. This evening, we are pleased to present this check for $79,368 to Dr. Hark Rider. And this represents half of the funds that are personally donated to the foundation from our teachers and staff, which is very humbling to think that our own staff has done such a great job of supporting the foundation. These contributions will be given back to the schools to be used where they are needed most. On behalf of the Education Foundation, we extend our deepest gratitude to Chris and the Daily Company for their unwavering support and commitment to CSISD students and staff. Thank you. All right, we have one more recognition. I'm gonna let I'm gonna give Chris a hug

105first. Thank you. All right, Gary, you can stay up here with me. The Education Foundation is also proud to recognize several students who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer service to Chrissy's closet, our free clothing closet for our students employees. Um, if I could have Stephanie and Matteo and Nicholas, y'all go ahead and come on up for us. So, I'm gonna start with Stephanie. Stephanie Rivas, a freshman at College Station High School, generously collected and donated more than 300 boxes of crayons for Chrissy's Closet back to school bash. Her contribution was directly will directly benefit students in need and we are honored to celebrate her efforts and the positive impact you have made. So, thank you so much for that. We're also here to recognize Nicholas Carrera. This is Nicholas and his brother

106Matteo. So Nicholas is a fifth grader at Pon Trail and Matteo is a fourth grader at Forest Ridge Elementary. Both of these young men dedicated countless hours over the summer helping sort clothes and shoes and preparing the closet for the start of the school year. In addition to volunteering throughout most of last year, Nicholas graciously used his bilingual skills to help translate for families at the closet. All of these students thoughtful acts of service are a shining example of compassion, generosity, and the strong community spirit that defines College Station ISD. Thank y'all so much what you do. Here, let's get we'll sandwich you. [Applause] Thank you all so much. [Applause] All right, that brings us to item C3. We want to recognize the artwork at the back of our boardroom from our summer day campers.

107So, as you can see, they're very extraordinary uh students and spent their summer decorating our boardroom. So, we appreciate them sharing that with us. Uh brings us to item C4. We have a TASBY trustee recognition this evening. Mr. President, fellow trustees, Dr. Park Rider and most importantly com members of the College Station ISD community. Good evening and thank you for allowing me to be here. My name is Brian Hollyback. I serve on the board of trustees at Thral ISD. also serve on the TASBY board of directors and and in addition to that serve as a director to the leadership TASBY um alumni association executive d uh executive board and on behalf of the leadership leadership tasby alumni association and the Texas Association school boards. I'm here to recognize a a really special accomplishment of one

108of your own. Tonight, it's my honor to recognize trustee Kimberly McAdams, who officially graduated as a member of Leadership Tasby, class of 2025, and earned the distinction of master trustee, which is the highest recognition of honor bestowed on the trustee by the the association of school boards. So, to put this in kind in context for you, what this what this is about is leadership TASBY is not just uh traditional continuing education. Uh it's a it's a one-year program. It's a journey through uh five different sessions scattered throughout the year and around the state and it pushes individuals outside of that state of of personal comfort and into a a state of personal growth. as I talk about the the different locations and the process. Something that is unique about this presentation as as opposed to

109number of the other ones is College Station was one of the destinations this year. And so there's a number of people in the room who I'm sure had had a key role in creating the the the events that took place here in College Station that that make the program so special and and challenging and and provide that growth for for not only Miss McAdams but but number of us throughout the state. So, thank you to the to the district and and the participation of all those individuals who contributed that. But now back back to bragging on on Kimberly. Um it is a it is a program where we travel around the state to to different destinations and and face complex policy issues challenging situations that challenge it challenge individual assumptions. Um it it takes a

110commitment uh away from jobs and family and other board responsibilities all in the effort to become a better servant leader once they return home. Over the course of the five sessions, in addition to College Station, they also this this class also traveled to Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, and the Rio Grand Valley. Um there there were members of this class that traveled up to 3,500 miles over the course of this over the course of the year. They visited innovative school systems, met thought-provoking leaders, and engaged in deep meaningful dialogue about the future of public education. And only the trustees who demonstrate who demonstrated full participation, a commitment to learning, and vision for public school excellence completed the program. and Kimberly did exactly that. Tonight, with the conferring of master trustee title, Miss McAdams joins a

111a network of fewer than a thousand trustees across Texas who have ever reached this level of professional growth in school governance. Master trustees are individuals who not only lead locally but think statewide. And these are people who see the role not as simply as a seat on a das but but as a personal calling. So trustee Kimberly McAdams on behalf of your fellow Leadership TASBY alumni we welcome you into our into the Leadership TASBY family. We recognize your growth. We honor your commitment and we thank you for investing the kind of effort and leadership Texas students deserve. You now carry not just the responsibility of a board member but the voice and perspective of a master trustee. If y'all would please welcome uh join me in congratulating [Applause] I'm not I'm not going to take

112it much more time, but I do want to say thank you to our district for allowing me to do this. Thanks to Mr. Hak and Dr. Hark Ryder for both um supporting me doing this effort and again thanks to our whole district who welcomed our whole class here. It was a wonderful growth experience. Um, and it's just there are so many people out there across this state who are fighting for our public schools and that's what we were that's what it was all about really and learning how to be a better board member so we can continue to have better uh better school districts and support all our students. So again, thanks to TASBY for the recognition but also for for the program. So thanks [Applause] That'll bring us to C5 staff recognitions. Miss Goulsby.

113>> Good evening, Dr. uh Dr. Hark Rider and board of trustees. I have the opportunity and the honor I have the honor of welcoming and recognizing new team members across the district in their new roles. We'll begin with our new APs that are assuming roles across the district. Mr. Hayden Bell is the new AP, one of the new APs at College Station Middle School. He comes with eight years of experience in education and he is coming from a social studies position at&m Consolidated where he was also a coach. >> Um, I would like to thank uh Mr. Ryan for giving me this opportunity. I'd like to thank Miss Elder and the rest of the staff at&m consolidated for helping prepare me for this. And uh lastly, thank my wife and children who aren't here today

114cuz it's bedtime for the littles. So, we're not throwing that off. Sorry, guys. [Applause] Mrs. Lauren Cummings, she is an AP at Cypress Grove Intermediate. She comes to that role with nine years of experience in education and she is previously serving as an English teacher at Cypress Grove Intermediate. Um, I just wanted to thank Piper Cameron for giving me this opportunity and Dr. Hark Rider and the rest of the district for the opportunity. Um, as well as Jeff Man for his work in our aspiring admin program because that helped a ton get to where I'm at. So, thank you. Oh, and my parents. They're kind of important, too. >> Mr. Jeremy Dawkins. He is assuming a role as AP at College Station High School. He comes with 10 years of experience in education and he

115previously served as a chemistry teacher at College Station High. >> Awesome. Thank you guys. Uh wanted to big shout out to Justin Grimes over there uh and the team of six for all the hard work we've already put in this year. I'm joined by my beautiful bride Ashley who uh is uh going on her ninth year in the district, six years at Southnull and uh starting her third year at Greens Prairie. And uh yes, this will be my 10th year uh all of years spent at College Station High School. Cougar Pride. [Applause] Mr. David Espinosa is assuming the role of AP at Oakwood Intermediate. He comes with six years of experience in education and he was previously serving as a history teacher at&m consolidated middle school. >> I just want to start off by thanking

116uh Roco Grandandy for allowing me this opportunity and the entire College Station ISD. Similar to what Lauren said, uh Jeff man helped prepare me a lot for this whether it was in teacher leadership academy and an inspiring admin. And so also Omar Spedia with my principal last four years at AMCS helped guide and shape me into the leader I am today. And I'm joined here by my beautiful wife, Shelby, and our five-month old daughter, Stella. So, [Applause] >> Mrs. Allison Gilmore, she is assuming the role of AP at College Station Middle School. She comes with 23 years of experience in education and she's coming from Oakwood Intermediate where she previously served as an instructional coach. >> Um, I would just like to say thank you. I'm super excited to be at CSMS. Um, I'd like

117to thank my husband. He's been with me um through all of it. Um, he's the one who encouraged me to get a masters and a doctorate and I am thankful for that. Um, I have to say thank you to Piper and to Mr. Grandandy because they also trained me and fed me and gave me lots of wisdom. And lastly, Mr. Ryan, thank you for taking a chance on me. I'm excited. Go Knights. Last but not least, uh, of our APs joining our new staff, Mr. Joseph Sledge. He is an AP at College Station High School. He comes to College Station High School with 18 years of experience in education. He comes to us from Brian ISD where he previously served as a special education teacher. >> So, I just want to say thank you to

118Mr. Grimes for the opportunity and the school board for letting me have an opportunity to do this. Excited and just ready for the new change. So, thank you very much. >> One more round of applause. The AP job is very difficult and to embark on that from the classroom or from an instructional standpoint. Um, we appreciate your bravery, your commitment, and the kids and staff are lucky to have you. So, thank you for what you do. Our last recognition is a new team member at central office. She is our new community engagement coordinator, Mrs. Melanie Ward. She comes to us with 15 years of experience in education and community engagement. She began her career as a teacher at Forest Ridge Elementary and has served in various roles supporting the public education in the nonprofit and

119private sectors. She comes from comes to CSISD from capturing kids heart in the flipping group where she served as a leadership development strategist and she is also a console grad class of 07. >> She is she is known for her natural connections with and has a track record of turning ideas into action enhancing communication across stakeholders and bringing energy and clarity to every initiative. Welcome Melanie. >> Thank you. Welcome. Um, well, thank you so much, y'all. I am so excited. Obviously, we are we are very excited. Um, I grew up here. I was born and raised here. Uh, my mom was actually the counselor at Rock Prairie for like over 20 years. And so, I was raised in the Rock Prairie office essentially. Um Oh, okay. We're just gonna Yep. We love it. Okay. Um,

120but truly, you know, after high school, it's just like, oh my gosh, I could not wait to get out of my hometown, you know? like, "Are you going to&m?" No, I want to get out of my hometown. I want to go explore all the places. Um, but you know what's so funny is that what I realized is number one, there is no place like home. And number two, there is no place like College Station. I tried to run away from it. And what I realized is this is the best place. This is the best people, the best town. Um, we have such good schools. I mean, I was raised here by chance, but I'm raising my children here by choice because it is such a good school district and it's such great people. And so,

121I am so excited to um get to just bridge the gap between the community and the school district. And uh I know how hard teachers work and how hard staff works. I've heard it say once that um students are like the seed and teachers and admin and all of the school staff are the water and then the community is the sunshine. And so when all of that is together, that's when students thrive. And that's why we're all here today is because we love kids. Um and so I'm just really excited to partner with you guys. And if you have ideas or anything, I'm all ears and um just super excited to plug back into CSISD in a different way now. So, thank you. Oh, and this is my family. Sorry, should have said that. So,

122sorry. This is my husband, PC. This is >> Parker. He is a second grader. Riverbin Bear. And then, Whoop. And then we have our future bear. Um, coming maybe quicker than they want. This is what Can you say your name? >> Preston. >> This is Preston. And he's for at Longire Learning Center. So, okay. Thank you, [Applause] All right. Welcome everybody. That'll bring us to item D1, board reports. I know we've just started the year, so I don't know how many we have, but >> Oh, I'll go first. >> Go right ahead. Uh we hopped right into it um with our first meeting this year of education foundation and I'm taking over for Kim Eggy here um kind of representing for the board members and it was a privilege. We had a few bullet points

123while we were at our meeting. We have four new members. Um there's a real electric energy in the room during our meeting. Um and then the other things are grant applications are open. So really encourage teachers to get out right now and apply. Uh they're due October 1st. And then we just had our back to school bash. It was a huge success. We had about 350 students get served which was great. And then lastly, um make sure that you get in on the partnering campaign. It's in full swing and you can get all that information on their website. And our theme this year is deep in the heart of te of of CSISD. And there is a really great commercial featuring yours truly, Tim Hark Rider. So be sure to catch that commercial online. >>

124Where can we find that? >> Our YouTube >> YouTube. >> Oh, our YouTube channel is down. It's not working. Please don't try it. >> Nice. Uh, any others have met? No, >> I don't. But I just want to add really quickly. I everybody else did a great job of thanking their families. My I wanted to thank my mother who came here this evening. All my family's at college or are traveling, but my mother was a schoolboard member also. She's there front row and so definitely an inspiration. So, thank you. >> I know it's not on there. Um safety and security met, we meet three times a year. Um we can't divulge a whole lot because it's all executive type session. Um, but Miss Budro is doing a phenomenal job making sure she and the district

125are up to date on all the new safety regulations and unfunded mandates because I think that was a very popular word in the meeting uh unfunded mandates uh that the state has put out all in the name of security for the kids and our teachers and and campuses. So appreciate everything she's doing and uh keep up the good work. So we're we're moving right along there. uh brings item E hearing of citizens. During this time, we will hear from citizens who registered to speak prior to the meeting in accordance with board operating procedures. Open meetings act prevents us from responding to speakers regarding items not on the agenda. Comments related to items on the agenda may be discussed during deliberations on that specific agenda item. Public comments are limited to three minutes per person. Those

126needing an interpreter may have up to six minutes. Each person has one opportunity at the microphone regardless of minutes used. Unused minutes may not be acred by another speaker. The executive assistant will time the comments and alert the president when time has expired. Board asks that those addressing the board refrain from any derogatory comments. And our first speaker is Terenza Jacobs. Miss Jacobs. No. Okay. Uh, next is Kristen Hit. right there in front. Yeah. >> Good evening, Dr. Hark Rider and board members. My name is Kristen Hit and I'm here to speak on behalf of our small but special community of Williams Creek Lake Estates regarding the elementary resone proposals. I would love to share how our second grade daughter Kora who attends Pebble Creek has demonstrated relentless bravery in overcoming daily battles with anxiety

127and who always extends kindness to others. About our first grader Emory who is affectionately described as the mayor of PCE and has been recommended for GT testing this year. Or how excited we are to have our youngest Monroe join her big sisters in two years. While these are deeply personal stories to me, I acknowledge the weight of of the decision in front of you. I understand there are hundreds of kids just like ours that fall across the maps you have stared at for many hours. No matter which way you choose, someone will be affected. As board members, I respect that you have to separate feelings from facts and make decisions on facts alone. Pebble Creek has a population problem. Our school is over capacity and trending to have increased enrollment numbers over the next 5

128years. Tonight, I will present several important facts to you and I'm confident two key truths will be clear. one that our community of 25 school children is not and will never be the contributing factor to capacity issues at Pebble Creek. And two, Williams Creek Lake Estates needs to remain zoned to Pebble Creek, not just for now, but in the future as well. The first lot at Williams Creek Lake Estates was sold in October of 2016. Our neighborhood tops out at 97 lots with no plans for expansion. Of the 97 lots, 68 have established homes. Of the 68 homes, only 15 have elementary age children in attendance at Pebble Creek for a total of 25 kids, a mere 22% of our neighborhood. Southern Point opened to the public in April 2019. An article titled Demolition of

129Texas Speedway states that by March 2020, less than one year after opening, Southern Point had already built 150 home sites, 53 more home sites than the entire Williams Creek Lake Estates community. And that was just Southern Point's first phase. Southern Point now has over 2,000 home sites, a number that is proudly boasted on their website. Should you apply the same 22% reflected by our own neighborhood to Southern Point, it equates to 440 elementary children with the potential to grow exponentially in the next 5 years. Southern Point clearly needs their own elementary school, not just for the betterment of their community, but to provide relief to class sizes and allow for effective learning to continue at Pebble Creek. We are grateful that you are heavily weighing proposal six and seven for the elementary reszone, both of

130which keep our neighborhood and Southern Point at Pebble Creek. But if you are truly seeking a long-term solution to address overcrowding, I would implore you to ask yourselves when and where did the issue of capacity at Pebble Creek truly begin? Based on the facts, it did not start with our 25 children, and it won't be resolved by moving them out now or in the future to Creek View. It is with the utmost respect and urgency that I ask the board to keep Williams Creek Lake Estate zone to Pebble Creek and to consider the cap the capacity implication should you keep Southern Point there too. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh Carly Bumball. Did I say that right? >> Yeah. >> Did I say that? Yeah. Right here. >> Wait, say it again. >> Carly

131Bumball. >> Yeah. >> Sweet. >> Good job. All right, 17 minutes, two additional traffic lights, three more stop signs, and one extra school zone. Those would be the new obstacles our small neighborhood of Williams Creek Lake Estates would have to navigate in order to attend Creek View Elementary School in the newly proposed elementary resoning under plans 1 and five. Good evening board members. My name is Karly Bumba and I'm here on behalf of the Williams Creek Lake Estates community to voice our support to keep our community zoned to Pebble Creek Elementary School where our average commute time is 5 minutes. As a lifelong resident of College Station and a product of the school district, I take great pride in this community. I have fond memories of the dedicated teachers, attendant principles, and selfless board members

132who continue to strive to make College Station ISD the best possible school district for my children. When I was 9 years old, because of reasonzoning, I was pulled away from my beloved Rock Prairie Elementary School to attend my fourth grade year at Pebble Creek Elementary. I was devastated to have to leave behind some of my very best friends. But I eventually learned to understand the impact that neighborhood schools have on a family's lifestyle. Because we were blocks away from my new school instead of miles, I could ride my bike to school. My mother could be an active school volunteer. And I had time to participate in various UIL after school programs. This was all made possible because the distance to my school was a short and easy route from my home. Many public schools across

133the state agree on the importance of having a short commute from home to school. In fact, according to the US Department of Education, the average distance between an elementary school in Houston ISD is just 1.1 miles. Right now, Williams Creek Lake Estates is 2.6 miles to Pebble Creek Elementary and 5.1 miles to Creek View Elementary. With a school day starting at 7:40 a.m., this potential change would not only create a more cumbersome commute for caregivers, but it would also require an earlier than usual wake up time for young children who already have a long school day. Board members, I want to clearly state that attending Creek View Elementary School is not the problem. Like I stated earlier, I have tremendous faith and support for all of our wonderful elementary schools, and I know my children

134would find a way to adapt and excel at any school within College Station ISD. What is the problem is a change in commute time and distance. No parent should have to pass one school to get to another school at the elementary level where community is essential. Before passing the new boundaries, I would challenge you to think of our small Williams Creek neighborhood with fewer than 25 students. While we celebrate the potential zoning of plans six and seven where we would stay at Pebble Creek, it is not lost on us that these zoning routes are simply short-term band-aids that don't necessarily keep us safe for the long road. Our neighborhood is fervently requesting to remain in place as our presence will not contribute to the overpopulation concerns at Pebble Creek Elementary. Thank you. >> Thank you.

135Um, we're gonna have to back up because we had so much in the front that I completely skipped over. Dr. Hark Rider's update. All we did was start school. So, I guess you can talk about that. I mean, started school last week. Thank you. >> No, I want to take just a quick minute and brag on uh our teachers, Paris, students, administrators, and teaching and learning team. Our 24 and 25 preliminary score star scores were released last Friday and it's uh they do not define who we are and what we do as a school district. However, the hard work that our kids put in along with our teachers and staff uh deserves a celebration and so I want to recognize some accomplishments at the campus level. Campuses have the opportunity to receive what they call

136a distinction. There are seven different categories and each campus is given a comparison group of 40 other campuses across the state that look like them. Same economically disadvantaged kids, same makeup, same student group makeup, and then they're compared one through 40. And to get a distinction, you have to finish in the top 10 of those 40 campuses. So in 2023 as a district, we received 21 distinctions. our first year as a team here in 24 that number went to 37 distinctions and in 25 that we just finished we had 49 distinctions across our school district and I I just cannot thank our team enough. Uh we made some changes uh that came with some learning curves and some growing pains but our kids and our staff responded and did an absolutely wonderful job. And to

137get you into comparison, 31% of of campuses across the entire state improved on star scores from 24 to 25. 79% of the campuses in College Station ISD improved from 24 to 25. So, I just want to take time to recognize our staff, our administrators in the room, the teachers. Uh, your work does not go unnoticed. There's a reason why we're a destination district and this type of work and productivity shows what you're capable of, what our kids are are capable of. So, I just want to tell you thank you. It means a lot. Uh, and it's the reason why we have this amount of support. Uh, we've got great teachers, great kids who love and now we've got great results. So, thank you. [Applause] That'll bring us to consent agenda. of those items are G,

138H1 through H4, I1, I3, J3 through J8. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion by Dr. Payne, second by Miss Simmon. Any further question or comment? >> All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. 70. That will bring us to H5, consideration, discussion, and possible action regarding policy EFB, local library materials. Miss Goulby. >> Yes, sir. Good evening. We spoke last month or the last board special board meeting about um Senate Bill 13 uh went into effect after the 89th legislative session and it stated that school boards may establish a slack committee, a school library advisory council, but it does not have to unless 10% of the parents enrolled in the school district or 50 parents, whichever is fewer, petition for the formation of the slack. we can be in

139compliance of Senate Bill 13 um without a Slack committee which allows librarians to determine collections but also provide public viewing ensures parents notifications of student checkouts and now it would also require board approval on all purchases. So this is a an update for EFB local that Mrs. Hester worked collaboratively with our librarians. they gave feedback. Um, you know, the recommendation if we look at all o our experienced librarians across our district that we honor and recognize, um, you know, it's something that they do take pride in every day. Um, you know, it would be our recommendation to the board for you to approve option one without a slack committee. Um, this would not establish unless again that threshold was hit for 10% of the parents or 50 parents, whichever is fewer. Um so it would

140be the recommendation that the College Station Independent School uh school board approve policy EFB local as presented and this is option one without a slack committee. A motion to approve as presented. Um as discussed last time uh support our librarians uh don't want to slow down the timeline or give away the rights for them to purchase acquire books. Um and again we we want to give books to kids that they want to check out and they want to read and this allows them to do that. So absolutely recommend this. I'll second >> I'll just add on to what Dr. Payne said that this this may be uh an important committee in some school districts. It may be an important committee in ours in the future, but but as of today it's a solution to a

141problem that to the best of my knowledge doesn't exist. And um so instead of adding all these additional steps and burdens to the staff and so forth um I would again vote to not approve not not create the slack at this point. >> Am I correct we have the motion. Does it have to be read since it's a Senate bill? Does it have to be read as recommended or is it okay in the way Dr. Payne presented? Are we okay on that? >> Okay. Just making sure. Okay. Any other comment, question? >> All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carry 70. Bring us to item I2, consideration, discussion, and possible action related to adding a provision to the district of innovation DOI plan. Schoolsby. >> We spoke about this in workshop,

142but this is about Senate Bill 12 that goes into effect September 1. Our attorneys sent a client update in on August 8th. Um they sent it to all their clients across the state and gives us the option to actually be exempt from these new guidelines of grievances. Uh and we can add that into our DOI um plan. And so some of those uh this Senate bill would allow us to stay with the current grievance process that we have within the district. Those new guidelines um would provide days like currently we're 50 15 days you can report an incident and grieve that. This new bill would give 60 days. The concern is that if we're 60 days into a concern, that evidence, that data, those investigations at the campus level, that's going to be a struggle.

143It also cuts out the administrative piece at the campus level. That means parents can circumvent the campus and come straight to central office. We know that our teachers and our administrators have the details, have the concerns, address it immediately and it is a collaboration um throughout meeting concerns from parents and fulfilling grievances to the most efficient way possible. If you look at the timeline, it also could delay parents getting their concerns and grievances heard. uh the current policy that we have expedites um and it does not prolong. You also have access to the administr administrators throughout that process. So, it is a recommendation that the College Station Independent School District approve the approve the revision to the district innovation plan to exempt the Senate Bill 12 grievance policy changes to local policies DGBQ, FNG, and

144GF and keep the current CSISD grievance policies in place. I move to um approve that the College Station Independent School District approve the revision to the District of Innovation Plan to exempt the Senate Bill 12 grievance policy changes to local policies DG BQ FNG and GF and keep the current CSISD grievance policies in place. >> Second >> motion by Miss Simmons, second by Dr. Payne. Any further question or comment? >> I think just something I want to reiterate for the workshop. there's more people in the room and if there's more people watching. But I think the most important thing for me on this is that it allows parents to solve it at the lowest level, which I always encourage everyone to do. So, if you can solve it in the classroom with the teacher, if

145you can solve it with an AP or principal, wherever you can do, um that's where I want to see issues being resolved and we want to be able to keep them there. >> I go ahead. >> Well, and I I agree with that. And also, this is another one that if it's if it ain't broke, you know, don't fix it. We have processes in place and that have worked for our district and um and also discussed at the the workshop was that we want to make sure all of our parents are aware and easy and can easily access um what they need to do to access the grievance policy. And I think you know we we have it in many places out there. You can search it and um again it it's it's working. So

146>> yes, ma'am. I will say some of the patterns of feedback that we've gotten throughout the gre grievance process also is that the community likes access to the entire board uh with Senate Bill 12, it actually allows a subset of board members to hear level three. So it does not require all board members. And I know that that's been um something that we have heard throughout the grievance process that it is nice to have access to those that are um helping serve the district. And and this may be a question that y'all don't have an answer to because it's new legislation, but is this something that later on we could vote to unexempt ourselves? Yes. And I will say Senate Bill 12, we have received um recommendation from region six and state level to wait

147on guidance. Senate bill 12 is a very robust bill with many caveats. This is just one caveat of Senate Bill 12 and region six has said to wait for guidance. We were supposed to get it at the end of July. It is not the end of July. Um, but yes, sir, it's always a a policy that you can take feedback if it's not efficient, but we are accessible and we want to be able to serve our community without the grievance process, but we feel very confident in the grievance process that we currently have. Yeah, Senate Bill 12 ended up being a bunch of bills that couldn't get across the finish line by themselves that were packaged together in one huge bill uh at the very end of the session. >> Just to clarify, we're waiting

148for guidance on a lot of this legislation from the state, right? From the from TEA, right? >> Yes, ma'am. Typically, when that legislative session when it happens, it's passes. TEA will give you guidance. Um we have not received that but school has started. >> All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carry 70. Brings to item J1. Consider authorizing the superintendent to renew insurance coverage for the property and casualty general liability auto liability physical damage school leaders underground storage and crime fidelity for the 20 202526 fiscal year. Miss Wilson. All right. Um, we work with Anco, specifically Mr. Graham, and he is here with us tonight if we have any additional questions. So, we put this out to bid. I am excited to say that our uh our property insurance went down

149223,000. However, our total insurance went down 166,000. So, that's our total savings for property and auto educators liability. and then just your general liability. Uh the main difference between the two, the thousand difference really lies in the coverage in Travelers and Liberty Mutual. Liberty Mutual has a 10 I mean a $5 million uh auto liability for catastrophic and then um Travelers has a $5 million. However, Liberty Mutual has a $10,000 auto liability deductible and Travelers is not included. So, they don't have one. And we know from our accidents that when you're driving big yellow buses, you kind of swipe things every once in a while. And so, we feel like we need to not have a $10,000 uh deductible that was provided through Liberty Mutual. So, it would be the administrator's recommendation. Sorry, Mr. SAC.

150It'd be the >> For the record, that gate never should have been there. That gate never should have been there. >> It would be the administrator's recommendation to go with Traveler's Renewal. >> And then, of course, we layer our property. >> Any questions? >> Motion to accept as presented. Got a motion by Mr. Ben. >> Second by Dr. Payne. Any further questions, comments? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion carries. 70. >> That is exciting to actually have insurance go down even a tiny bit. >> Yes. 166,000 to me is huge. And then property going down 223. They say the market has softened, but I know someone that would disagree with me. >> So, I'm just full of it tonight, I think. >> I I have a question. So,

151this is a savings. We adopted our budget without the savings in there. So, does that >> No, we worked with them before just to see where we were. We were anticipating a 10% deduction in property and knew that auto was going up and so even though we didn't have definite numbers, I kind of knew where the market was and I took it into consideration. So, sorry. So everyone understands >> there's not any savings to be had in there. No. >> Nice try though. >> There you go. J2 consideration and possible approval of the board of trustees for the 202526 school year to delegate contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code TEC 11.1511C4 to the superintendent solely for the purpose of obligating the district under TEC 48.257 257 and TEC chapter 49

152subchapters A and D and the rules adopted by the commissioner of education as authorized under TEC 49.06. This includes approval of the agreement for the purchase of attendance credits or the agreement for the purchase of attendance credit netting chapter 48 funding. Miss Wilson. >> Okay. So, you have to have this accepted by TEA before you can adopt your tax rate that we did tonight and we did have that accepted. We have till January to actually get the contract in place, but we're going to go ahead and do that tonight and get that out of the way. So, just understand a kind of a little bit about what they're talking about is basically what they used to call chapter 41 Robin Hood school districts. We've had recapture here in College Station before. So, just to kind

153of put it in perspective, there's two tiers worth of funding. There's your tier two one, your tier one funding, which kind of just is your characteristics of your student makeup. Tier two funding is usually experienced where they talk about enrichment funding. So we talked about this earlier tonight. Your tier one funding is basically set by tier by tea. It is your maximum compressed rate that became this this adopted tonight at 6163 and with the eight additional golden pennies that have to have a yield of 12952. Our current yield based on their calculations is 7477. So we're under that golden penny. We're not in in um we're not consideration for recapture when it comes to that tier one funding. However, if we were to take advantage of the copper pennies, we would be in recapture to

154tea. And because they this has to be adopted before we adopt our tax rate, before we do anything else, basically what they're doing is doing a safety net to say if we were to go get those copper pennies that we would understand and we would have a contract in place uh before we did that. So, that's what we're trying to do tonight. It's just something that is required by TEA so that we all understand and then we give uh Dr. park rider authority to make a contract with tea in case we were to go into recapture. Does that make sense? Uh like I said, it goes to the balancing act. Again, we showed this earlier tonight. We talked about recapture. It's just that the amount that spills over that cup. If we were to go

155into that second part of the tier 2 funding, the copper pennies, we would go into recapture. That amount would have to be sent back to TEA and we would have to establish how that we would do the credit netting basically. So if everybody is in agreeance, this is the exact motion we have to make tonight. I move that the board of trustees for the 2025 2026 school year delegate contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code 11.1511C4 to the superintendent solely for the purpose of obligating the district under TEC 48.257 257 and TEC chapter 49 subchapters A and D and the rules adopted by the commissioner of education is authorized under TEC 49.06. This includes approval of agreement of the purchase of attendance credits or the agreement for the purchase of attendant

156credit netting chapter 48 funding. >> Second. >> Did I get my numbers right? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> Motion by Dr. Payne, second by Miss Simmon. Any further question or comment? All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carry 70. Thank you, Miss Wilson. That'll bring us to adjournment. Thank you all for being here. Have a great rest of the week.